HIGHLIGHTS OF VIETNAM

HIGHLIGHTS OF VIETNAM

 (11 days/10nights)

DAY 1:           HANOI (L)

Pick up from the airport by our coach and guide.

After lunch at local restaurant, we start to discover Hanoi by visits to Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son temple, One-Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature built in the 11th century as Vietnam’s first university, Vietnam Ethnology Museum & the Old Quarter of Hanoi.

Pm: Enjoy water puppet show. Overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 2:           HANOI – HA LONG 2D1N CRUISE (B/L/D)

Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Ha Long and embark on a cruise – Paloma Junk or similar

***Itinerary and activities are subject to change

12.30   Arrive at the pier. Transferred by tender to the Junk – Enjoy welcome drink. Receive cruise briefing, check in cabin and begin your cruise.

13.30   Having lunch – delicious Vietnamese set menu (Massage service is available after lunch and throughout the tour).

15:00   Head to Bai Tu Long Bay, pass the towns of Hon Gai and Cam Pha, Oan Lagoon, Monster Head and Teapot Islets and VungVieng fishing village. Visit the VungVieng floating fishing village by bamboo sampan for an hour or kayak in to the village. Short visit to Pearl Farm to learn how natural pearls are created. Then return to Paloma Cruise for your leisure or join one of the following optional     activities: Sunbathing, traditional massage, swimming etc.

18:00   Drop anchor in the calm water surrounded by islets near Hang Trong. Happy Hour (sunset party).

18:30   Vietnamese cooking demonstration on boat.

19.15   Sumptuous set-dinner onboard.

21.0   Relaxing on your cabin or join the on board activities: film entertainment, light music for dancing in the dining room (please book in advance with your tour guide), board games and playing cards are available, and massage services are available. Passengers may also try their luck at squid fishing from the boat.

DAY 3:           HALONG – HANOI – HUE (B/L)

06.15     Starting your day with Tai Chi on the Sundeck while complimentary tea & coffee are served.

07.00     Have breakfast

08.00     Explore the Surprise Cave (Sung Sot Cave ).

08:15    Transfer by tender to the Surprise Cave. Walk up about 100 steps to the cave entrance and tour the cave for approximately 45 minutes. Walk down about 100 steps and return to the boat.

10.00     Upon return to the boat you will have 30 minutes to freshen up and finish packing. Please remove all of your belongings from your cabin, you may leave heavy luggage outside of the cabin (staff will transfer directly to the pier).

10:30    Enjoy Set Menu for lunch in the dining room.Relaxing on the sundeck or in the dining room, enjoying the rest of Halong bay before getting back to harbor.

11.45      Arrive at Hon GaiHarbour. Transfer by tender to the pier. Transfer back to Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi approximate 4:30 PM. Transfer to the airport for departure flight to Hue. On arrival pick up and transfer to the hotel for check-in. Overnight in Hue.

DAY 4:           HUE (B/L)

Breakfast at hotel.

Take a boat trip on Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda (Heavenly Lady Pagoda), then transfer to visit the Mausoleum of Emperor TuDuc. This is the most beautiful architecture complex among the tombs of Nguyen dynasty. Lunch at local restaurant.

Pm: continue to visit the Imperial Citadel and Dong Ba market.

Overnight in Hue.

DAY 5:           HUE – DANANG – HOI AN (B/L)

Breakfast at hotel.

Drive to Hoi An via Hai Van Pass (Pass of the Ocean & Clouds), passing through many pretty red-tiled villages with fruit orchards, enjoying spectacular views of sky and sea. Visit Marble Moutain and stone carving village in Da Nang. Have lunch at local restaurant.

P.m: Arive Hoi An, check-in hotel then enjoy a walking tour of Hoi An to the Japanese Covered Bridge Pagoda, Sa Huynh Museum, Phuoc Kien Assembly Hall, Lantern Making Workshop. Hoi An is a favorite destination of many tourists by an unique architectural style with Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese influences.Overnight in Hoi An.

DAY 6:           HOI AN – DA NANG – NHA TRANG (B/L)

After breakfast, transfer to Da nang airport for departure flight to Nha Trang. On arrival, pick up from the airport and transfer to the hotel for check-in. Lunch at local restaurant.

Pm: Nha Trang city tour with visits to Vietnam Oceanographic Institute, Long Son Pagoda, Chong Promontory Rocks and the Po Nagar Temples. Overnight in Nha Trang..

DAY 7:           NHA TRANG (B)

Breakfast at hotel. Free day at leisure for discovering the city by yourself, or mud-bathing or island optional tours (surcharge applied).

Overnight in Nha Trang

DAY 8:           NHA TRANG – HO CHI MINH CITY (B/L)

Breakfast at hotel then transfer to the airport for departure to Saigon. On arrival pick up and transfer to the hotel for check-in.

 After lunch at local restaurant, sightseeing around the city including Reunification Hall (Former Presidential Palace), History Museum, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda. Continue to visit City Hall, Grand Theatre, Notre Dame Cathedral and Center Post Office. Free shopping at Ben Thanh market.

Overnight in Saigon

DAY 9:               HCMC – CU CHI TUNNELS

 After breakfast, you will leave Ho Chi Minh for Cu Chi tunnels visit. Here you will have the opportunity to witness how rice paper is made and to explore the amazing labyrinth of tunnels used by the guerrillas during the war. Head back to HCMC for lunch.

Pm: Free time at leisure. Overnight in HCMC.

DAY 10:         MEKONG DELTA (B/L)

After breakfast, at 0800 depart for the 2-hour drive to Cai Be, deep in the Mekong Delta. The tour begins with a boat trip, discovering local trading boats followed by a visit to some home factories that produce rice paste, rice popcorn and coconut candy. Proceed to evergreen islands among the Mekong River through a large network of meandering tributaries, crisscrossed with countless arroyos. Following take a 10-minute walk through a local village and fruit gardens before coming to a preserved ‘Mandarin’ house. Built centuries ago, at least four generations of the same family have lived here. The owner of the house will serve you an appetizing Vietnamese lunch. Take a stroll through the family’s fruit orchard before continuing to Tan Phong Island where you will take a local rowing boat through the canals before returning to Cai Be.

Head back to Ho Chi Minh city for overnight stay.

DAY 11:         HA LONG – HA NOI (B)

After breakfast, take time to pack your luggage and get ready for departure flight.