Day 1: Sai Gon Arrival
Upon your arrival at Saigon airport look for our driver and guide who will be waiting for you with a sign bearing your name. The journey from the airport to your hotel will take approximately half an hour and is an entertaining experience full of chaotic traffic and millions of motorbikes.
Day 2: Sai Gon city tour – Cu Chi tunnels (B/L)
our car will pick you up to depart for Cu Chi tunnel, the trip will take approximately one and a half hours bus driving. Upon arrival, before exploring the tunnels, you will have some short introduction followed by introductory video about how the tunnels were constructed and how the people survived in the harsh conditions of the war time. Then, spend your time to explore the remaining area and tunnel systems which included the special constructed living areas with kitchens, bedrooms side by side with other martial facilities like storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, and command centers helping whoever lives inside the tunnels meet their basic needs. Besides, there are also many hidden trap doors and dangerous traps within the maze-like tunnels for security purpose during the war. Afterward, special tea and cassava (guerilla’s food during the war) will be served. Break time for relax or time for those who want to try the real shooting gun. Have lunch at local restaurant
After lunch, back to Saigon to visit Independence Palace, also known at the Reunification palace, was built on the sight of the former Norodom palace. The Independence palace is a widely known landmark of Ho Chi Minh City and was designed by the architect Ngo Viet Thu. Continue seeing the beautiful structures from the French Colonial times such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, the historic Central Post Office. Followed by the remarkable site of the War Remnants Museum the museum has a vast display of the both the Indochina wars.
Day 3: Mekong – Mekong Delta tour (B/L)
Our car will pick you up and transfer to Mekong Delta area.
On arrival in Hàm Luông pier. Cruise the Bến Tre river exploring the lively activities along the river such as fishing, water transferring, brick making in our traditional style by printing and baking. Visit one of the coconut processing workshops located along the canal. Turn onto natural scissors creeks where they look smaller and smaller as we’re approaching the village. Take a walk to the family workshop where they handmaking sleep mats and enjoying some fruits and tea.
Riding a motor cart (xe lôi) or bike on narrowed paths, pass by green rice fields and vegetable gardens, this is an amazing opportunity for you to fully observe the local life. Once the tour finishes, our car and guide will bring you back to Saigon.
Enjoy the afternoon at your leisure.
Day 4: Sai Gon – Danang by flight & Hoi An walking tour (B)
Our car will pick you up and transfer you to the airport to catch your flight to Danang. Upon arrival in Danang, our driver and car will meet up with you and bring you to your accommodation in Hoian. Check into your hotel and relax at your own leisure.
In the afternoon, you guide will pick you up at your hotel for a half day walking tour. Known as Faifo to early Western traders, Hoi An was one of the major trading centres in South East Asia between the 16th & 17th centuries. A charming 16th century merchant town, with strong Japanese and Chinese influences, Hoi An is best explored on foot. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved architecture, it is also a thriving centre of traditional handicrafts. Wander through the cobbled streets, past low tile-roofed buildings, the bustling central market and the small harbour where colourfully painted boats are moored. Your walking tour will include visits to a private house where members of the same family have lived continuously for centuries in a traditional setting to one of the family chapels built by prominent merchant or offical families as centers for ancestor worship. Continue to Sa Huynh Museum which contains exhibitions from the earliest period of Hoi An’s history. Finally, continue to the famous Japanese Covered Bridge Pagoda, first constructed in 1593 by the Japanese community of Hoi An to link the town with the Chinese quarters across the stream.
Day 5: Hoi An cooking class (B/L)
Challenge yourself to be a professional chef of Vietnamese traditional food by taking this cooking class where you are in charge of your dishes from picking the right ingredients to cooking them. Savor the finest traditional food made by you, appreciate Hoi An’s beauty while listening to Vietnam’s rich culinary history and touch our culture. Follow by shopping time
Day 6: Farming & Fishing – local life in Hoian: (B/L)
Our guide will meet you at your hotel and we will bring you to our biking point
Cycle to a local farming village traveling along picturesque country roads (45 MINUTES, 5K to 6KM)
Share in the daily work life of local farmers – hoeing and a soil, watering veggie at an organic herb garden, riding water buffalo in the field, learn and take picture about rice and enjoy the freshest air of the countryside beauty.
Board our boat, enjoy fruit & cake with cup of tea/ café and then cruise to the mouth of the river where it meets the Cua Dai Sea. Join local fisherman on the river and enjoy hands-on experience of round net and cast net fishing
Enjoy learning and experiencing cultural folk music of Bả Trạo with local fishermen
Learn and try your hand at local traditional fishing techniques using round and cast nets
Learn to paddle the unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boats Enjoy basket boat dancing on the round boat -THUNG CHAI shown by our crews
Explore the now tranquil coconut-palm flanked waterways of a past war and hear of the extreme conditions endured by soldiers on both sides between V.C & US army.
Learn how to make an origami creation from reeds of palm leaves such as grasshopper, birds, ring, sunglasses, bracelets, etc.
Back to your our boat, lunch will be served with ice-cold beers or soft drinks.
Return to hotel by our mini-van. And enjoy the rest of the day at your own leisure.
Day 7: Hoi An – Hue (B)
After breakfast this morning, your private car and guide will pick you up for a 160km journey from Hue over scenic mountainous roads with spectacular views over the coastline. The trip will go pass by LANG CO Beach, the stunning germ of the area. Halfway between Danang and Hue lays the dramatic HAI VAN PASS, the high dividing line between the climate zones of north and South Vietnam.
Arrival Hue, check in your hotel and enjoy your relaxing time in this ancient city.
Day 8: Hue city tour (B/L)
08.00: Today we start the tour to Hue Monument Complex, which is recognized as UNESCO World Heritage. Our driver will pick you up at your hotel and transfer to the boat station in Hue. We board a boat for a trip on the Perfume River to visit the towering Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the most famous Vietnamese landmarks. Differing legends explain how the pagoda came to be – one tells of an old woman who instructed Lord Hoang Nguyen in 1601 to walk contemplatively along the river with a lit incense stick and to build a city at the spot where the incense stopped burning.
From Thien Mu Pagoda, we then take a short drive into a lush valley of the river where seven tombs were built for seven Nguyen emperors. Each is an expression of the unique personality of the man whose remains it holds and each is comprised of three elements: a temple dedicated to the worship of the deceased emperor and his queen, a stone stele that records the biographical and historical high points of his life, and the royal tomb itself. We will visit two most famous tombs: Minh Mang and Khai Dinh Tomb. Lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, we return to the center of Hué city. The massive Hue Royal Citadel is the most well known and iconic site in Hué. Begun in 1805 by Emperor Gia Long, it is actually a sprawling complex comprised of the Imperial City, several museums, lakes, and lovely gardens, all laid out in a series of concentric circles. We also visit the Forbidden Purple City, originally built in the early 1800s for the personal use of the emperor and staffed by eunuchs who posed no threat to the royal concubines. Nearly destroyed in the Tet Offensive, the ruins today house the Royal Library and the grounds flourish with mimosa plants and vegetable gardens.
After that our car will take you to Dong Ba Market: Dong Ba market is the biggest and most significant central market of Thua Thien – Hue province and the adjacent regions. In Dong Ba market, you can go shopping and see the daily life of local people.
The tour finishes at about 16.30 and our car will drive you back to your hotel in Hue.
Day 9: Hue – Hanoi by flight & Hanoi Street food tour on foot (B/D)
Our car will pick you up and transfer you to the airport to catch your flight to Hanoi Airport. Upon arrival in Hanoi, our driver and car will meet up with you and bring you to your accommodation in Hanoi. Check into your hotel and relax at your own leisure.
In the afternoon, Our guide will meet you at your hotel lobby at the appointed time. Your expert English-speaking local guide will give you an insight into the intricacies and traditions of Vietnamese cuisines including details on ingredients and historical backgrounds of popular northern dishes. We eat as we go, trying seasonal fruits and sampling some tasty snacks from the street carts.
Bánh xèo – also known as crispy Vietnamese pancake, crepe or sizzling cake – is a famous street food which is widely believed to originate from France during its occupation of Vietnam. The word xèo depicts the sizzling sound when pouring the batter into the hot skillet. This “Vietnamese pancake” has a yellow outer layer and is filled with boiled pork strips, shrimps, bean sprouts and spring onion. The impressive taste of crunchy crust, savory fillings, sweet and sour dipping sauce will definitely make you fall in love with this delicacy. Besides, the sauce is a perfect blend of spices (including fish sauce, sugar, lime juice, garlic and chilies), while the herbs help eliminate the greasy taste.
Pho – or rice noodle soup – is omnipresent in Hanoi, appearing anywhere from street vendors to high end restaurants. This universally famous food is best enjoyed in Hanoi, where it was “invented” in the early 20th century. Some are served with chicken and some with beef. Each type of meat entails a variety of sub-dish, from beef tenderloin to beef brisket, chicken wing to chicken thigh.
Bún chả – is a Vietnamese dish of grilled pork, noodles coming with a heap of pickles and fresh herbs. “Bún” means fresh white rice vermicelli, and “Chả” is charcoal grilled pork belly and meatballs. Two amazing major ingredients are served with the unmissable dipping sauce including fish sauce, vinegar, sugar, garlic, hot chilly, black pepper, which surely determines the dish’s quality.
Fresh herbs are an essential part of Vietnamese food, and you’ll get a large bowl served alongside your main dish of Bun Cha. Bean sprouts, mint and coriander are the most common, as well as pickled green papaya, carrot and cucumber.
We finish our food tour at “bia hoi corner” on Ta Hien street, one of the hot spots for beer to enjoy a cold beer while sitting at a street corner of the Hanoi Old quarter. Our tour guide will take you back to your hotel at the end of the day tour.
Day 10: Hanoi – Ha Long Bay (B/L/D)
08:30 – 09:00: Limousine picks you up at your hotel in the old quarter
12:00: The crew members of Cruise will welcome you at Tuan Chau International Marina Station.
12:30: You will be taken aboard our support vessel and travel from the wharf via the bay to board our luxurious craft. Welcome fresh drinks, cold towels and a special lunch of fresh food and an assortment of appetizing delicacies will be served. You will be enchanted when decadently dining on our luxury junk. We then set sail for Lan Ha Bay – A member of the World’s Most Beautiful Bays.
15:30: We will visit the Dark and Bright Cave – famous for the pristine natural beauty and poetic, attractive seascape of Lan Ha Bay. Here you will take some photos of the romantic, lyrical local see-sights. This is also the best time for tourists to enjoy bamboo boat and swimming – which is an interesting activity to discover the truest beauty of the limestone mountains and the blue sky of LanHa Bay. Afterwards, visitors immerse in the emerald green water of LanHa Bay with exciting swimming activities or enjoy mini pool with jacuzzi on Cruise.
17:30: Return to Cruise. Enjoy sunset party on Lan Ha Bay. It is an ideal time for photography enthusiasts to capture the stunning moment of sunset at Lan Ha Bay.
19:30: Enjoy a romantic dinner at the restaurant cruise
21:00-00:00: Enjoy the nightlife of the bay from the top deck. Immerse yourself in music, enjoying a glass of cocktail from the bar, watching famous films and relaxing on the cruise. Otherwise, you can fish squid with the sailors or simply relax in the room and watch the bay from the balcony.
Day 11: Halong Bay Cruise – Hanoi by shuttle bus (B/L)
6:30-7:30: Breakfast is served at restaurant.
8:00: Cruise will arrival Frog Pond area, in here you have kayaking and free to relax in the four-season mini pool on Lan Ha Bay – A silk ribbon made from green mountains, blue seas and diverse fauna and flora.
9:30: Checking out of the room. Then the lunch in the restaurant is ready for you, pay the extra fee (if any) at the reception while traveling to the port. Kindly needed to pay for the costs in charge of the front desk (if any) while traveling to the port.
11:15 – 11:30: Disembark and move back the port.
11h30 – 11h45: You are at Tuan Chau International Marina Station. Here, our shuttle bus will pick you up and transfer you back to Hanoi.
Check in hotel and relax.
Day 12: Departure (B)
You will be picked up from your hotel for the one hour journey to the airport. Be sure not to pack any valuables in your checked in luggage and remove all sharp objects and liquids from your carry on.
Tour Inclusions
- Selected accommodation with breakfast in twin share room.
- Meals as listed in the itinerary.
- Private air-condition transportation. (except Ha Long)
- Boat at the program.
- Experience and friendly English-speaking local guide.
- Sightseeing and permit fees during guided times.
- Domestic flight: Saigon – Danang, Hue – Hanoi.
- Service charge and VAT taxes.
- Welcome gift.
Tour Exclusions
- Travel insurance (compulsory)
- International flights with airport and departure taxes
- Alcoholic drinks & drinks at mealtime + Optional visits + Personal expenses (Telephone, laundry…)
- Vietnam Visa
- Personal expenses
- Tips for guide, driver, boat crew & hotels’ porters
- Meals other than those mentioned above
- Other services not clearly indicated in the Package Inclusion above.
- Early check-in/ Late check out
Trip Notes:
– Travelers are highly recommended to purchase Travel Insurance upon commitment of the booking in case of force majeure. Travel Insurance covers such costs as emergency and medical evacuation, hospital fees, property loss, etc. which could possibly happen during the trip.
– Rooms at hotels are available only from 1400 on arrival day till 1200 on departure date. A supplement will be added if early check-in or late check-out is desired.
– The itinerary may subject to change depending on weather conditions and the local situation.
– Reservations during peak times such as Christmas, New Year, Vietnamese Lunar New Year, National Holidays may be subject to supplementary charges.
– If any proposed service is not available at the time of booking, we will try to find alternative and similar option and minimize changes to the program.
– Domestic flights may subject to change or reschedule before departure date
– Vietnam Travel and Cruise is not responsible for any injury, loss, death, inconvenience, delay or damage to personal property in connection with the provision of any goods or services whether resulting from but not limited to acts of God or force majeure, illness, disease, acts of war, civil unrest, insurrection or revolt, animals, strikes or other labor activities, criminal or terrorist activities of any kind, overbooking or downgrading of services, food poisoning, mechanical or other failure of aircraft or other means of transportation or for failure of any transportation mechanism to arrive or depart on time. Additional expenses incurred due to delays, accidents, natural disaster, political actions and unrest, must be covered by the clients. Vietnam Travel and Cruise will make every effort to recoup any losses from the service providers.
Booking condition:
Payment:
– A Deposit of AUD$300 per person is required upon confirmation of your booking. This deposit is non-refundable.
– The balance is due 30 days prior to departure. If you fail to pay by the due date we reserve the right to cancel your booking and retain your deposit.
– If you make a booking less than 30 days prior to departure, full payment is due within 48 hours.
Cancellation: Any cancellations must be made in witting.
– Cancellation fees apply to all cancelled reservations. The fee is determined by the date written cancellation received by Vietnam Travel and Cruise.
– Cancellation more than 30 days – Loss of deposit
– Cancellation at 30 or less days – 100% of total booking cost
Special conditions: Depending on airlines, hotels, cruises’ cancellation policies, the above conditions may be modified.
Claims and refunds for unused services
No refunds or exchanges can be made in respect of accommodation, meals, sightseeing tours, transport or any other services, which are included in the tour prices but not utilized by the client.
