The Best Of Vietnam (International Group Tour)

The Best Of Vietnam (International Group Tour)

This exotic trip to Vietnam covers all UNESCO World Heritages sites, including one of the new 7 wonder of nature Halong bay, ancient capital Hue, historic Hoi An town, iconic Cham Towers in My Son sanctuary. From vibrant Hanoi to dynamic Saigon, into the depths of ancient heritages and modern culture, and the extravagant landscapes and beaches, you will see the country packed full of diverse ethnicity, etiquette, and elegance. Can’t stop surprising at incredible beauty and rich tradition of Vietnam. Specially designed for first time traveling to Vietnam, the "World Heritages Vietnam" which runs from North to South is the best direction to learn the traditional culture and history of Vietnam before you reach its development and excitement. Excellent to visit Heritages of Vietnam within a short time and to extend to Cambodia at the end by riverway.

Itinerary

Day 1: ARRIVE SAIGON

Pass By: Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam
Welcome to Saigon – Vietnam!
Upon arrival, transfer from Tan Son Nhat airport to the center of Saigon then check-in at hotel. At leisure to relax and get rid of jet lag. Overnight in Saigon.
Meal: None
Please note: Hotel check-in time is around 14.00.


No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Liberty Parkview - Deluxe room (3*) /Bay hotel - Deluxe room (4*) / Pullman Saigon - Superior room (5*)


Day 2: SAIGON – CITY TOUR - CUCHI TUNNEL (B/L)

Stop At: Cu Chi Tunnels, Phu Hiep TL15 Phu Hiep, Ho Chi Minh City 700000 Vietnam
We start the city tour at the Reunification Palace, the witness of the fierce Vietnam War ended in 1975. The grand building today is a Museum and Hall of official receptions. Nearby the Palace are the colonial-styled Central Post Office and the Notre Dame Cathedral, built between 1877 and 1883 and one of the city’s major landmarks. Our last stop this morning will be War Remnants Museum.
Lunch will be served at local restaurant.
In the afternoon, we drive overland to Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible underground network constructed by Vietnamese guerrillas to protect the region against the American attacks during the Vietnam War. We can even crawl a part inside the tunnel, visit their infirmary, kitchen.... to discover how people had survived hereby.
Back to your hotel later on. Overnight in Saigon
Meal: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch at local restaurant.

Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Lunch
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Liberty Parkview - Deluxe room (3*) /Bay hotel - Deluxe room (4*) / Pullman Saigon - Superior room (5*)


Day 3: SAIGON – MEKONG DELTA – SAIGON (B/L)

Stop At: Mekong Delta, Mekong Delta
This morning, we leave Saigon for My Tho, in the heart of Mekong delta with visit to the beautiful Vinh Trang pagoda on the way. Upon arrival, we will take a leisurely boat ride along the river, view the stilt houses, fruit plantations and fishing villages along the river bank. Proceed to Tortoise islet, have lunch in the orchard garden. Then a boat ride to An Khanh – a less touristy attraction in Ben Tre, enjoy cruising on a hand-rowed sampan under the shadow of the water coconut trees along natural canals, then enjoy seasonal fruit& honey tea to the sound of "Southern Vietnamese folk music", performed by locals.
Visit a family business which epitomizes the idyllic rural lifestyle, taste the delicious coconut candy & observe the pastoral life as you roam through the fruit plantation and village. Overnight in Saigon
Meal: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch at local restaurant.

Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Lunch
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Liberty Parkview - Deluxe room (3*) /Bay hotel - Deluxe room (4*) / Pullman Saigon - Superior room (5*)


Day 4: SAIGON – DANANG – HOIAN ANCIENT TOWN (B)

Stop At: Hoi An Ancient Town, Hoi An 560000 Vietnam
Moring transfer to airport for your onwards flight to Danang.
Upon arrival, picked up from Da Nang airport to your hotel in Hoi An to drop off luggage.
Together with our guide in Hoian, we’ll walk over the tile-roofed Japanese Bridge, visit taciturn Chinese Assembly Halls, visit ancient houses and Trading Houses, pagodas and stroll into the market located by Thu Bon river, where we may find out the same feelings of the artists, who see the rooftops of Hoi An a magical old world of Oriental feel and source of inspiration. This is also a wonderful town to shop for lanterns, soft silk, raw silk, or get your clothes tailored within a day.
Overnight in Hoian
Meal: Breakfast at hotel

Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Lotus Hoi An - Superior room (3*) / RoseMary Boutique Hotel- Deluxe room (4*) / Palm Garden resort - Superior room (5*)


Day 5: HOIAN – TRA QUE VILLAGE – HOIAN (B/L)

Stop At: Tra Que Vegetable Village, Cam Ha Commune, Hoi An 560000 Vietnam
Depart from your hotel by bicycle in 30 minutes or Motor taxi/ Car (optional surcharge) to Tra Que herb village. Take a short stroll around the vegetable garden and listen to the history of the village. Then join gardening activities in preparing the land, fertilizing with seaweed, raking the ground, sowing, watering, picking vegetables... Enjoy foot soak before getting to preparing lunch with a local family. Join cooking with ‘Tam Huu’ spring roll, ‘Banh xeo’ - a local pancake of people in Viet Nam middle region ... After your morning excursions and lunch, you learn how to harvest and wrap the vegetables. Bid farewell to your host family before cycle back to your hotel. Overnight in Hoi An.
Meal: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch at Tra Que vegetable village.


Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Lunch
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Lotus Hoi An - Superior room (3*) / RoseMary Boutique Hotel- Deluxe room (4*) / Palm Garden resort - Superior room (5*)


Day 6: HOIAN – MYSON – HOIAN – HUE (B)

Stop At: My Son Sanctuary, Duy Phu Commune, Duy Xuyen District Vietnam
Breakfast at hotel, we will then depart from Hoian to My Son, where you can discover the hidden treasure of the Cham culture that once rightfully developed in the location of present Central Vietnam. Thanks to the mystery and construction secrets of the Cham towers hereby, My Son had been also designated by UNESCO as one of the five World Heritages in Vietnam.
Drive back to Hoi An for your onward bus transfer to Hue.
Overnight in Hue.
Meal: Breakfast at hotel

Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Rosaleen hotel - Superior room (3*) /Moonlight hotel - Superior room (4*)/Indochine Palace Hotel - Deluxe room (5*)


Day 7: HUE CITY TOUR – STREET FOOD – HANOI (B/L)

Stop At: Hue Imperial City (The Citadel), Hue Vietnam
Being recognized by UNESCO as the 1st Cultural World Heritage for Vietnam, Hue is highlighted by the old royal architectural works and the most traditional Vietnamese lifestyle. This morning, we will discover the charm of the city from the Royal Citadel, Forbidden City. Move on to the colorful Dong Ba market where you can see many of ingredients for making Hue local food, and explore the local business life.
The best way to explore local culture is through its unique cuisine. Around noon time, we shall embark on a special street food tour to discover the other side of Hue. Our journey start from Sticky rice dumplings on a fried dumpling (Ram It) or Filtered tapioca dumplings (Banh Loc) to the well-known Hue beef vermicelli soup (Bun Bo Hue). The street food tour finish at a small restaurant serve Sweet soup (Che), a scrumptious local delicacy made of tapioca and various local ingredients. Or, if sweet soup is not your style, a Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk awaits.
Heading straight to Phu Bai airport or your onward flight to Hanoi.
Upon arrival, pick up from the airport to your hotel in center area. Overnight in Hanoi.
Meal: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch at local restaurant.

Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Adamas hotel - Deluxe room (3*)/ Thang Long Opera hotel - Superior room (4*) /Melia Hanoi - Deluxe room (5*)


Day 8: HANOI CITY TOUR (B/L)

Stop At: Hanoi, Hanoi
Breakfast at hotel
It is your day to visit the Capital of Vietnam today. Let's start from the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his simple house-on-stilts and the One-Pillar pagoda near Ba Dinh Square, where the most solemn ceremonies of Hanoi take place. Go on to Tran Quoc pagoda and the Temple of Literature, the very first high school of Vietnam Scholars.
After lunch at local restaurant, we will visit Hoan Kiem Lake - the heart and soul of Hanoi.
If today is not Monday, move on to Museum of Ethnology. This superb museum showcases the depth of Vietnamese cultural diversity with an astounding collection of 15,000 artifacts gathered from throughout Vietnam. Maps, displays and dioramas are labeled in Vietnamese, French and English. Displays portray a typical village market, the making of comical hats and a Tay shamanic ceremony; videos show the real thing. You can also check out a traditional Black Thai house reconstructed in the museum. There's also a Centre for research and conservation where scientists from all over the world study traditional Vietnamese cultures.
If today is Monday, depart for Bat Trang ceramic village which is about 20 km away from Hanoi, this is pottery village with a half- millenary historic development.
Back to your hotel in Hanoi later on to relax. Overnight in Hanoi.
Meal: Breakfast at hotel. Lunch at local restaurant.
Please note: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum closes on Monday and Friday, late September to November for annual maintenance.

Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Adamas hotel - Deluxe room (3*)/ Thang Long Opera hotel - Superior room (4*) /Melia Hanoi - Deluxe room (5*)


Day 9: HANOI – HALONG BAY OVERNIGHT CRUISE (B/L/D)

Stop At: Halong Bay Vietnam
If you wish to see how the Hanoi people rise and shine in the morning, wake up early and run to a lake close by your hotel, you can join an exciting scene of hundreds of locals, passionately attentive in their morning exercises of Tai Chi quan, jogging, martial arts, classical dance and so on. After breakfast at the hotel, we will head to Halong Bay, a Natural World Heritage as designated by UNESCO since 1994 and 2006, and check-in our overnight boat. Enjoy a trip on Halong with stops to visit caves or to swim and enjoy the sunset on the sea. Dinner with fresh seafood. Overnight onboard.
Meal: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch and dinner on board.
Please note: The program may change due to the weather without notice.

Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Phoenix Cruise - Deluxe cabin (3*) /Grayline Halong-Deluxe cabin (4*) / La Regina Royal Cruise-Noble Suite cabin (5*)


Day 10: HALONG BAY – HANOI (B/Br)

Stop At: Halong Bay Vietnam
Morning wake up with a taichi-quan or yoga exercises guided by the crew before having breakfast whilst your boat goes on between Halong islets. Return to the Wharf to be back to Hanoi by shuttle bus at midday. Arrive in the city around 3-4pm. Overnight in Hanoi.
Meal: Breakfast and brunch on board.

Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Adamas hotel - Deluxe room (3*)/ Thang Long Opera hotel - Superior room (4*) /Melia Hanoi - Deluxe room (5*)


Day 11: HANOI DEPARTURE (B)

Pass By: Hanoi, Hanoi
After breakfast, free at leisure for relax or shopping (your own arrangement) before transferring to the airport for your onwards flight back home. End of service.
Meal: Breakfast at hotel
Please note: Hotel check-out time is around 12.00.


Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.