Essential Vietnam 9 Days/8 Nights

On arrival at Noi Bai International Airport you will be welcomed to Vietnam by your English speaking guide and transferred to your hotel. Hanoi – Vietnam’s capital is an attractive, laid back city with charming French-Colonial style buildings, spacious boulevards and cheerful, bustling markets.

This afternoon’s sightseeing tour takes in many of the city’s highlights, including Temple of Literature, Ethnology museum, Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple. Enjoy 1 hour of traditional cyclo, a three wheeled bicycle with a carriage at the front for the passenger to sit in, while the driver uses pedal power to power you along. This allows you to take in the sights, sounds and smells of Hanoi old quarter without being enclosed in a vehicle and also in an environmentally friendly manner.

In the evening you will be taken taken by your guide for dinner at the charming Restaurant which serve fusion cuisine.

After diner you will enjoy a water puppet show at the world-famous Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre in Hanoi. This theatre has its roots as an art form that dates back to the 11th century. The tradition of water puppet theatre stems from a time when rice paddy fields were flooded and villagers would make entertainment by standing in the waist-deep water with the puppets performing around them. Performances are accompanied by a Vietnamese orchestra playing traditional music using drums, wooden bells, horns, bamboo flutes and cymbals. This tradition is unique to North Vietnam but has recently found fame on stages all over the world; so it’s a rare treat to see the puppets perform in their original location at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. Overnight in Hanoi

Experience Halong Bay, on a V’Spirit Classic Cruise, one of the best mid-range cruises available. You will not only see many fantastically shaped islands, beautiful beaches, and great natural caves, but you will also learn more about its history and local people… 

08h00 – 08h30 Pick-up at hotel and start the scenic, 3 and ½ hour drive to Halong Bay.
12h30 – 13h00 Embark on V’Spirit Classic Cruise followed by a short cruise briefing.
13h30 – 14h30 Savor a delectable lunch as V’Spirit Classic cruises among the limestone islands.
14h30 – 15h30 Explore the amazing Sung Sot Cave – the most beautiful cave in Halong Bay.
15h30 – 16h30 Kayak among the hidden areas of the bay, around the Drum Cave area.
16h30 – 17h30 Return to the main boat and continue cruising to the quiet area while enjoy beautiful seascape on the way.
17h30 – 19h00 Enjoy Sunset Party on sundeck and admire the best moments of the day when the sun starts to set.
19h00 Dinner is served. Socialize with other guests, take part in board games, fish for squid, or just laze around. Overnight on board.

06h30 – 07h30Start your day with Tai Chi exercises or a photo hunt.
07h30 – 08h30 Have breakfast on board and enjoy the peaceful morning of Halong Bay.
08h30 – 09h30 Cruising to Titov island. Go swimming and relaxing at the beach of Titov or climb up to the top of the island for a panorama view of Halong Bay.
09h30 Return to the boat. Freshen up and check out of your cabin.
09h30 – 10h30 Continue your cruise exploring the Bay, passing Ba Hang fishing village, Dog Islet, and more.
10h30 – 11h30 While heading back to the harbor, watch the fruit carving demonstration and participate in the Cooking Class before enjoying a traditional Vietnamese lunch.
10h30 – 11h30 Disembark V’Spirit Classic.
12h30 – 13h00 Transfer back to Hanoi.
Trip finishes at around 17h00. Overnight in Hanoi

In the morning you will be transferred to Noi Bai International Airport to take your morning onward flight to Hue – the most romantic and poetic city in Vietnam, attributed to the atmospheric combination of the Perfume River and the ancient architectural grandeur of the Imperial Citadel which provides a reminder of a town once ruled by kings and queens. Famous for being one of Vietnam’s seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Imperial City of Hue has long been a must-see attraction for tourists visiting the hidden charm of Vietnam.

On arrival in Hue, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel.

After check-in at the hotel in Hue, the guide will take you to the Imperial Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City. Modelled on the Forbidden City in Beijing by the Nguyen emperors in the early 19th century, the city was badly damaged during the war but the imposing city walls surrounded by a large moat still afford good views of Hué. The palace retains a feeling of its past scale and importance, with detailed stonework and pavilions and it is at the moment in the process of being restored to its former magnificence. The last stop today is the Dong Ba market which is in Hue City centre. The Dong Ba market architecture is not really the main highlight but rather the atmosphere and the daily pace of the market itself.

Special cultural gifts and souvenirs of Thua Thien Hue can be found in Dong Ba Market. They include “non la bai tho” (conical hats having poems woven into their design) from Phu Cam Village, which is made of latanier leaves; me xung (candies), Truoi berries, Tuan tea, tom chua (Hue Sour Shrimp), lotus seed of Tinh Tam Lake, etc. Traditional food such as mussel rice, beef vermicelli, leaves cakes, etc. can be purchased in the market, too.
Overnight in Hue

Take a morning cruise on the Perfume River, named after the tree resins and blossoms it carries on its way to the Pacific. Visit the Thien Mu Pagoda, sitting on the riverbank outside the city, this octagonal seven tier stupa has long been regarded as the symbol of Hue and was founded in 1601. It is still a site of Buddhist worship and its huge bell is said to be audible across the city

The boat continues up the river taking you to Hon Chen Temple. This underrated temple is one of Hue’s most interesting. Followed by a devoted number of Cham descendents that worship the Goddess Ya NA, this temple houses some unique artefacts and colourful designs. Its location on the Perfume River by Jade Cup mountain make a visit here all the more pleasant. Move to the Minh Mang Tomb. The Tomb is 12km south of Hue City centre. This location is where 2 tributaries join to form the picturesque Perfume River. Touted as the most majestic of all Nguyen Dynasty royal tombs, Minh Mang Tomb is a complex of 40 constructions: palaces, temples, pavilions, etc. Many believe that it’s a perfect combination of the manmade and natural beauty of Hue, where architecture fits harmoniously into the surrounding landscape.

Lunch will be taken on boat and in a local restaurant.

You continue on the trip to Tu Duc Tomb. Its is one of several Royal Tombs in the outskirts of the former Imperial Capital built between 1864 and 1867, it was designed as a tribute to the fourth Nguyen Emperor’s long and somewhat sad life.

No other Royal Tomb in Hue can compare to Tu Duc’s in terms of size and luxuriousness. The tomb’s architecture was designed to work in harmony with the carefully-manicured landscape.

After visiting Tu Duc Tomb, you will be transferred to Khai Dinh tomb. Overnight in Hue

You will be driven south, along highway 1, to Hoi An, a journey of approximately 5 hours. Soon the highway meets the Hai Van Pass (meaning Pass of the Ocean Clouds). There are some spectacular vista points and photo opportunities en-route as the Truong Son mountain range cuts across the narrow centre of the country and the pretty island-like stretch of palm-shaded sand at Lang Co. The mountain range has created a barrier to the cold airstreams from the north which often results in thick cloud banks over the peaks.

The pass has been a strategic military focal point during Vietnam’s turbulent history and from the top there are panoramic views of the curve of Danang Bay. En route you will pass through the port city of Danang with the option of stopping to see the Marble mountain, famous ‘Danang Beach’ and Cham Museum before continuing south to Hoi An where you will check-in to your hotel.

Ancient and peaceful, Hoi An is one of the most popular destinations in Vietnam that caters to travellers of all tastes and from across the continents. In 1999, UNESCO formally recognized Hoi An as a World Heritage Site. The little town is a perfect example of the splendid quality that the Vietnam tourism industry can show to the world.

You can find a wide range of services for recreation and adventure, aside from sightseeing and shopping. With rustic paddy fields, bucolic villages, beautiful river, gorgeous beach and undamaged coral reef, Hoi An is the place for you to encounter new things.
Alternatively there are opportunities to visit the beach, cycle in some beautiful countryside, visit the ruins at My Son, discover the artists of Hoi An or see a tailor to get some clothes made. Overnight in Hoian.

Today journey takes you back towards Danang where you will take your morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam’s largest and most vibrant city and is packed with timeless traditions, an ancient culture, fantastic architecture, bustling markets and a modern business district.

Today’s included sightseeing tour takes in Dong Khoi Street, the main shopping thoroughfare, the Notre Dame Cathedral and the splendid Central Post Office. Afterwards visit the Reunification Palace, the Jade Emperor Pagoda, as well as the Chinese district of Cholon.

Lunch will be taken in local restaurants during tour. Overnight in Saigon

Enjoy the scenic journey along the National Highway bordered by green rice fields.

On arrived at My Tho, visit Vinh Trang pagoda, 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.

Lunch is served at local restaurant on the island

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. Meet the bus and return to Saigon. This trip provides a fascinating insight into daily life in the Mekong Delta and you are guaranteed to take home your own private collection of beautiful memories.

Back to Saigon Then free to enjoy dinner on your own account. You may like to try some of variety delicious dishes in the “heaven of street food” such as banh my (Saigon bread), hu tieu (a southern rice noodle), banh xeo (beansprout pancakes)…

Overnight in Saigon

Private car and driver pick up at hotel. Transfer to the airport for your flight back home. End of services