Includes internal flights, twin shared accommodation, English speaking guides, private cars, sightseeing and meals listed. Excludes visa and travel documents, travel insurance, international flights, local tipping, etc.
This itinerary is to give you a flavor of what is possible. We can tailor this trip to suit your specific needs and expectations. You may alter any aspect of the itinerary from excursions to accommodation.
Day 1: Saigon | Arrive in Saigon | Welcome Dinner Cruise
International Flight: Excluded Meals: Dinner Welcome to Vietnam! Upon arrival in Saigon, our guide will greet you at the airport welcome area and transfer you to the hotel for check-in.
Saigon(officially Ho Chi Minh City) is a bustling metropolis of the South and the economic muscle of Vietnam. During the Vietnam War, it was the main base center of the US military with the largest airport in the region. Prior to that, it was under French colonial rule and was an Asian hub of sea trade. The city is based in the Mekong River Delta region – the rice basket of Southeast Asia and where many exotic fruits are cultivated. Full of history and culture, Saigon will certainly be an interesting visit.
As dusk is setting, take a cyclo tour around 45 minutes to the Dang Pier on Saigon River, where you’ll enter a replica of the emperors Saigon Boat Cruise for a magnificent and memorable dining and entertainment spectacle along the Saigon River. The dinner cruise features soft traditional ethnic music while you enjoy the passing lights of the city. The captain will welcome you onboard and introduce you to the specialties which have made this boat a culinary experience in Ho Chi Minh City. While onboard, relax on the upper deck and enjoy a panoramic view of Saigon lighting up the evening sky.
Accommodation: Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon
Day 2: Saigon | Adventure in Cu Chi Tunnels
Meals: Breakfast Take your adventures underground today for an adventure in history you won’t forget.
Underground tunnels of Cu Chi – 14 Days Family Adventure South North Vietnam
Wake up early to enjoy breakfast at the hotel before you depart for the Cu Chi Tunnels. Your private tour guide and chauffeur will meet you in the morning and escort you to the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh. Discover these amazing systems developed by the guerrillas fighting in the Vietnam War.
Then you’ll be taken to see the innovative ways the guerrillas survived and fought back in the war. See how they built an impressive underground system as your tour guide tells of the stories and history of the Vietnam War.
You’ll also have an opportunity to shoot the various guns used in the war at a firing range near the tunnels(extra charges apply).
Then you’ll have the chance to see rice paper and coconut candy being made. After, you’ll enjoy jasmine tea and a boiled cassava root snack that was a common food eaten by guerrillas during the war.
You’ll return back to Ho Chi Minh.
Accommodation: Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon
Day 3: Saigon | Mekong Delta: Vinh Long
Meals: Breakfast Discover the Mekong River, essential to life in the heart of Vietnam.
After you’ve finished breakfast at the hotel, we will take you to Vinh Long where you’ll embark on a boat cruise to the vibrant Cai Be floating market. Be prepared to see fresh spices, mints, and local fruits. If you’re adventurous, you can take one of the many colorful fruits in season.
The next stop is the Hoa Binh Phuoc islet, full of local homes where the families produce tiles and ceramics. You’ll visit the rice-paper kiln and coconut candy kiln where you can walk around and observe daily country life. You can have the opportunity to taste fresh-made coconut candy which has a soft and chewy consistency.
When the tour is finished, you’ll return to Ho Chi Minh.
Accommodation: Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon
Day 4: Saigon – Hoi An | Saigon Impressions | Flight to Hoi An
Internal Flight:Included Meals: Breakfast See the highlights of Ho Chi Minh City today while enjoying the culture, history, and the iconic landmarks.
After you’ve finished breakfast at the hotel, your private guide and car will greet you to see some of the most important places in Ho Chi Minh. You’ll start by visiting the War Remnants Museum. This museum provides an interesting perspective of the Vietnam War. The museum shows the realities of the war from the Vietnamese point of view.
The next stop is the Reunification Palace. This residence was the home of the president of South Vietnam during the war. The war ended when a tank from the North came through the gate.
Then you’ll visit the Notre Dame Cathedral constructed by French colonists during their settlement. Crossing the road is the Old Saigon Post Office, a neoclassical architectural building that is considered one of the main tourist attractions in the city.
In the afternoon, take a flight to Hoi An. Upon arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel near Hoi An ancient town for check-in.
At the end of a long lane of sandy beaches, palms and the blue sea turns the Thu Bon River. Take a step back in time 300 years to cobblestone alleys and aged wood and stone homes. Time stands still in this quiet part of the world where ornate doorways and bridges could keep the curious passerby entranced in amusement. The setting – a Far Eastern port that was forgotten in time. Japanese, French, Chinese, and Vietnamese designs and styles melt together along every street.
Accommodation: Hotel Royal Hoi An – MGallery Collection
Day 5: Hoi An | Photo Treasure Hunting at Hoi An Ancient Port Town
Meals: Breakfast Ready for an adventure? Today you’ll go on a photo treasure hunt to discover Hoi An Ancient Town. You’ll split up in teams and receive a map and a list of unusual objects or places that you’ll need to find and take a picture of. Whoever finds the most on the list wins! For an added twist, the participants need to be in the picture as well.
The port of Hoi An Ancient Town – 14 Days Family Adventure South North Vietnam
Morning is at your leisure to relax.
Explore the 16th Century Port Town
In the afternoon, your tour guide and driver will escort you from your hotel to Hoi An Ancient Town. This town features the 16th-century Hoi An port town in it’s preserved state. You’ll start by visiting the Museum of Trade Ceramics. This museum houses art and pottery dating from the 1,500s to the 1,700s.
Then you’ll briefly visit the Chua Ong Pagoda, a temple from the 17th century which features China’s influence in the region. You’ll continue through the Ancient Town as the streets take on a magic of their own with old lanterns, French-style houses, intricately carved wooden doors and more. You’ll take a stroll through the Old Tam Ky House to see it’s imperial styles meshed with French overtures. Continue on to stroll along the river and see traditional boats and locals on bicycles passing by. You’ll then approach the Japanese Covered Bridge. This bridge has connected the Chinese and Japanese sides of town over the waterway for centuries. The old wooden structure has shown amazing resilience for more than 400 years.
At dusk, enjoy walking along the riverside as old colorful lanterns light up the town. After you’ve finished the tour, your guide and driver will return you to your hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel Royal Hoi An – MGallery Collection
Day 6: Hoi An | the Traditional Lantern Making
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Learn how to do the famous Lanterns in Hoi An.
In the morning, our local guide will meet you at the hotel and you will ride by bicycle to the home of a craftsman in the old streets. Here you will have a brief introduction to the history, shape, and color of the Lanterns as well as the many stages of making them. You can make your own lantern and keep it as a souvenir.
After that you will learn to cook traditional Hoian food, have lunch and relax.
After lunch, you will be shown how to decorate and pack the lantern, before saying goodbye to your host and returning to hotel by bicycle.
Accommodation: Hotel Royal Hoi An – MGallery Collection
Day 7: Hoi An | Cham Island Discovery
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Discover the amazing Cham Island.
In the morning, you will be transferred to the pier where you will continue by boat to the island. Then you will start with a visit to the Cham Island Museum where you’ll see relics from the ancient Cham civilization which were found on the island and learn some quick facts about Cham history. Next, visit Au Thuyen which shelters smaller boats during big storms. Next, you’ll walk along with rice fields to the temple of Hai Tang for a brief visit. Then you’ll return back to the boat for snorkeling for half an hour at Xep beach. Here you can see the forests of tropical coral under the sea. After, you’ll go to Chong beach for lunch and relaxation.
You’ll return be returned to the hotel when you’re ready.
Accommodation: Hotel Royal Hoi An – MGallery Collection
Day 8: Danang – Hanoi | Leisure | Flight to Hanoi
Internal Flight:Included Meals: Breakfast Morning is at your leisure to relax.
In the afternoon, take a flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel for check-in.
After check-in, enjoy a stroll on your own around Hoan Kiem Lake outside your hotel. Feel free to also pick up a souvenir at the night markets or at one of the many trinket shops in the alleys and small roads of this historic part of town. Accommodation: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
Day 9: Hanoi – Halong Bay | Voyage to Emerald Halong Bay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner In the morning, our guide and chauffeur will transfer you to Haiphong where you’ll enjoy some time at Orchid’s Private Lounge for refreshments until boarding. Then board Orchid Cruise.
Receive a safety briefing and check in your cabins. The boat sets adrift for Da Chong islet, home to an old French lighthouse. Enjoy a sumptuous feast in the panoramic dining hall while en route to the isles of Con Vit and Gia Luan. The bay opens up to you with stunning green karsts towering above the water. This area receives very few cruise ships as it has just been newly opened up. Continue to Ba Trai Dao beach of Lan Ha Bay. A paradise with perfect beaches and natural beauty. Stop at one of the beaches for swimming or kayaking during the afternoon.
Halong Bay Sunrise – 14 Days Family Adventure South North Vietnam
As dusk approaches, welcome the sunset with a local specialty – “Ba Kich”(a liquor made from Noni fruit). Back on board, you’ll join a cooking demonstration to learn a few Vietnamese culinary secrets. Enjoy your creation! Then time for supper in the dining hall. Delicious Vietnamese cuisine and seafood in a romantic setting. After dinner, you may enjoy watching the stars from the sundeck, watching a movie in the restaurant, or give night squid fishing a try with the staff(subject to seasonal availability).
Accommodation: Orchid Cruise
Day 10: Hanoi – Ninh Binh | Sunrise Halong | Bai Ding Temple Sunset
Meals: Breakfast Rise early for one of the top best sunrises in the world. Then head to the sundeck for an invigorating Tai Chi session amongst a picture-perfect backdrop of karsts, sea, and nature. Enjoy breakfast in the dining hall before taking a journey to explore the area around Sang Tai sea cave via canoes.
Then disembark for a road transfer to Ninh Binh.
Check-in at the Emeralda Resort with stunning views all around.
Time to stretch your legs! Go with our guide to visit Bai Dinh Temple, the largest temple in Vietnam. This Buddhist temple was built into the mountain with 3 terraces and faces the river. Explore the many halls, rooms, carvings, and statues during the late afternoon. Our guide will then take you to the best place for watching the sunset over this untouched part of Vietnam. Shortly afterward, you’ll witness the 13-tier pagoda – Chau Bai Dinh – be lit up for the evening: a true spectacle to behold! Return to the resort for overnight and leisure.
Accommodation: Emeralda Resort Ninh Binh
Day 11: Hanoi – Ninh Binh | Wonders of Ninh Binh
Meals: Breakfast , Lunch
After breakfast, enjoy some time at the resort to relax and take in the stunning views. Check out late morning and then you’ll go to visit Hoa Lu, the ancient capital. In 968, Dinh Bo Linh declared himself as the King. Since then Hoa Lu existed as the capital for only 41 years. In 1010, King Ly Thai To moved the capital from Hoa Lu to Thang Long – present-day Hanoi. Hoa Lu became the old citadel. In Hoa Lu there are now two temples dedicated to two Vietnamese kings, which have been built on the grounds of the old royal palace. The visit offers a chance to learn more about the feudal dynasties and historical periods in Vietnamese history.
Next, you’ll take an amazing boat trip through Trang An Grottoes. A gathering of 31 valleys and 50 cross-water caves are home to 600 kinds of flora and over 200 kinds of fauna many of which are listed in the Red Book of Vietnam. Rowing through the Trang An Grottoes is a peaceful trip of serenity. The highland air is a respite from modern living and the sounds are only that of birds and the oars stirring the clear water. Towering overhead is magnificent forested mountains upon which you might catch a glimpse of grazing white-bearded goats.
Accommodation: Emeralda Resort Ninh Binh
Day 12: Hanoi | Cuc Phuong National Park
Meals: Breakfast Visit Cuc Phuong National Park, the largest nature reserve in the country.
After you’ve finished breakfast, check out the hotel and transfer to Cuc Phuong National Park.
You’ll start on foot trekking. There are excellent hiking opportunities in the park. Their park features diverse animal species, several ancient trees, caves, and Muong villages.
Cave of the Prehistoric Man: delve inside this huge cave, with only the illumination of your torch(or cellphone). In this cave was discovered one of the earliest human habitations in Vietnam.
Primate Rescue Center is an important rehabilitation center of monkeys and apes in the park. See the different species from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia and observe the process of reintegrating rescued animals into the wild.
The Turtle Conservation Center has over six hundred turtles that are bred and released back into the wild.
When you’ve finished the tour, you’ll continue to your hotel in Hanoi.
Accommodation: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
Day 13: Hanoi | Best of Vietnamese Capital
Meals: Breakfast In the morning, you’ll be escorted to see the Tran Quoc Pagoda. This 1,400-year-old temple features ten tiers surrounded by gardens and which also hosts a bodhi tree grown from a cutting of the original Buddhist tree under which Buddha sat. Next, you’ll take a stroll around the Hoan Kiem Lake where you can see the Tortoise Tower sitting on the water. Then you’ll enjoy a half-hour cyclo tour through the Old Quarter in Hanoi. The cyclo is a historic mode of transportation in the cities of Vietnam where a cyclist escorts you while you sit in a seat affixed to the front with a canopy over top.
Next, you’ll visit the One Pillar Pagoda – a pagoda situated on a pillar made of a single stone, in the middle of a lotus pond. This pagoda was built by a 9th-century emperor who saw it in a dream and regarded this as divine inspiration to recreate the structure in the vision.
You’ll pass by the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum before visiting the highlight of this tour – The Temple of Literature. This ancient university was erected almost a millennium ago and has hosted many of the most prominent scholars through Vietnamese history. The site features many gardens, pools, buildings, and ancient trees where the best and brightest of Vietnam studied under the guidance of Confucius’s teachings.
Accommodation: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
Day 14: Hanoi | Farewell!
Meals: Breakfast Today our guide will transfer you to the airport before your homeward flight and will bid you a fond farewell. Thank you for traveling with us!
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One of our Travel Experts will reach out to you and assist you with an itinerary and quote. Also, feel free to leave your phone number and we will give you a quick call just to say hello and clarify any questions we have about your inquiry.
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