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Itinerary Overview
Sail through limestone karsts aboard a traditional junk boat and walk the streets of imperial capitals. From vibrant Hanoi, the natural beauty of Halong Bay, the atmospheric imperial capital of Huế, and the charms of Hoi An to the modern day life of Saigon, experience the energy of Vietnam in 14 days. With your accommodation and transport carefully selected, this adventure offers a great combination of must-see highlights and free time to explore on your own.
Highlights
- Observe the unique way of water life along Mekong River
- Experience a slow pace of life when you walk around the impossibly atmospheric Ancient Town of Hoi An
- Visit Hue Imperial - one-time capital city and UNESCO World Heritage site
- Spend the night on boat that cruise between the limestone peaks of Halong Bay while feasting on sumptuous meals on board
- Explore the underground system of Cu Chi Tunnels and learn about hard life in war time
Detailed Itinerary
- 1. Hanoi to Saigon
- 2. Saigon to Hanoi
Route*: Hanoi - Ninh Binh - Halong Bay Cruise - Hoian - Hue - Saigon - Mekong River Cruise
Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
Arrive in Hanoi. Greeted by your driver at the airport. Transfer to your hotel in the city centre for check-in and at leisure in the rest of the day.
Note*:
- The hotel room will be available at 2:00pm, and in case that you would like to secure an early-check in, an additional charge will be applied.
- Please be advised that both international and domestic might be crowded at sometimes during the day, so in case that you arrive and cannot find our representatives, please be presented at Pole No.10 outside lobby A2 (International) or Lobby of domestic arrival (Domestic flight) and contact us, so we could easily search for you
- Meals: N/A
- Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
Day 2: HANOI HALF DAY CITY TOUR
Free to relax in the morning.
Pickup at 13:30. We will spend a half day to visit the city. We start with visit to President Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum (Outside). We also visit the famous One Pillar Pagoda nearby. Leaving the President's complex, we continue to visit the Temple of Literature (Van Mieu). Although several Van Mieu can be found throughout Vietnam, the most prominent and famous is that situated in the city of Hanoi, and was functioned as Vietnam's first university.
- Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
Day 3: HANOI - ninh Binh
07.15– 07.45: Pick up from your hotel or private address and departure to Ninh Binh.
09.00: Have a short break for relaxing at a stop-over in Dong Van, Ha Nam province.
10.00 Visiting a local family in Tam Coc area. They are a traditional Vietnamese family with three generations living together. Here you will get the chance to see the house architecture and their daily life and their handicraft job of making traditional embroidery.
10:30 Leaving the family, you will take a bike and start riding to explore the rice fields and limestone mountains with an unique route.
12:00 Come back the local family, enjoy a special lunch with the local cuisine featuring the yin-yang balance of the Asian culture. After lunch, a break with a cup of tea will be served before you continue the journey of discovery Ninh Binh.
13.30: Visit Tam Coc by a small boat rowed by a local for about 1.5 hours. Known as “Halong Bay on land”, the boat trip is a nice journey along the river with the peaceful scenery of Limestone Mountains, rice paddy if traveling during harvest season.
15:30 Arrive at Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam in the 10th century, visit the temple of King Dinh. Under the introduction of our local guide, you will get to know more about the Vietnamese history.
Drive to your hotel in Ninh for checkin.
- Meals: Breakfast/Lunch
- Accommodation: Hotel in Ninh Binh
DAY 4: Ninh Binh - HALONG BAY - NIGHT ON BOARD
07h30: Pick up from your hotel in Ninh Binh. Drive to Halong City through the paddy fields in the Red River Delta.
10h00: Stopover on the way for a refreshment break
12h00: Arrive at Tuan Chau wharf – Break and photography time
12h30: Board the Cruise for departure. Welcome drink will be served
13h00: Lunch is served while cruising through the bay
15h30: Visit exciting Cua Van fishing village. The village is free of busy roads and streets, electric lights, houses and high rise buildings. Instead, there are only herds of little boats and rafts. You will have the chance to discover the traditional culture and customs of the fishermen.
16h30: Enjoy kayaking or swimming (if the weather permits).
17h00: Back on board and continue cruising.
19h00: Dinner is served.
21h00: Take some leisure time to enjoy chatting at the bar or enjoy some night fishing.
Note*: the itinerary and activities on board would vary depending on the boat you choose. Please see the choice of boat in Hotel Inclusions.
- Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
- Accommodation: Night on board
DAY 5: HALONG BAY - HANOI - FIGHT TO DANANG
07.00: Coffee and tea will be served
08.00: Continue cruising
08h15: Visit splendid Sung Sot Cave
09h00: Check out and enjoy a fantastic cruise on the bay, passing Dinh Huong Island, fishing villages, Ga Choi Island, Dog Island and Sail Island.
09.30: Buffet brunch (breakfast/lunch) while cruising back through Halong Bay to the pier
11h30: Arrive at the pier. Time to say goodbye to the crew.
12.00: Return from Halong to Hanoi. Arrive Hanoi at about 16:30pm.
Airport transfer for late flight to Danang. Transfer to the hotel in Hoian upon arrival.
Note*: the itinerary and activities on board would vary depending on the boat you choose. Please see the choice of boat in Hotel Inclusions.
- Meals: Breakfast/Lunch
- Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian
DAY 6: HOIAN - FREE DAY
Free and easy day to explore Hoian town or swim at nearby beach.
Optional tours/activities you can do in Hoian
Option 1: Hoian - Countryside and cycling tour
Option 2: Hoian Cooking at Red Bridge School
Option 3: Hoian Food Tour by Vintage Vespa
- Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian
DAY 7: HOIAN - My Son Towers Tour
Pickup at the hotel at 7:40 am, we drive to visit My Son. The My Son temple complex is regarded one of the foremost Hindu temple complexes in Southeast Asia and is the foremost heritage site of this nature in Vietnam. It is often compared with other historical temple complexes in Southeast Asia, such as Borobodur of Java in Indonesia, Angkor Wat of Cambodia, Bagan of Myanmar and Ayutthaya of Thailand. Although badly damaged by bombing raids in the 1960s, the site still has more than 20 structures and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.
Leaving My Son for boat station and taking a boat trip on Thu Bon river. You could see the living of the local people and feeling the fresh air. Enjoy the beautiful views along the river. Arrive Hoian in early afternoon. Free time to shop or explore Hoian ancient town.
- Meals: Breakfast/Lunch
- Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian
DAY 9: HOIAN - HUE SCENIC TRAIN JOURNEY
Free in the morning.
In the afternoon, transfer to the station for day train to Hue. Enjoy scenic view of Hai Van Pass on the way. Arrive Hue in late afternoon. Transfer to the hotel and enjoy free time.
Note*: The train journey is part of a great local experience. Restrooms at either end of the carriages.
Optional activities: instead of the Train Journey, you can do full day tour to visit the Bana Hill and Golden Hand Bridge, then transfer to Hue. Please view the tour to Bana Hill and Golden Hand Brige.
- Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: Hotel in Hue
DAY 10: HUE CITY TOUR
08:00: Pickup at the hotel. Today, we will spend a full day touring Hue city. In the morning: visit Old Imperial City, Flag Tower, Thien Mu Pagoda and Dong Ba bustling market. Lunch at the local restaurant. In the afternoon: visit Royal Tombs of Minh Mang and Khai Dinh. We will also visit a Conical hat village and incense stick village
- Meals: Breakfast/Lunch
- Accommodation: Hotel in Hue
DAY 11: Hue - saigon
Free and easy day to explore Hue till airport transfer for morning flight to Saigon. Transfer to the hotel in Saigon upon arrival.
In the afternoon, enjoy your free time to explore Saigon.
Optional tours/activities you can do in Saigon
Option 1: Saigon - Street food by Night
Option 2: Saigon Night Life by Vintage Vespa
- Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon
DAY 12: SAIGON - CU CHI TUNNELS & Mekong TOUR
07:30: Pick up at your hotel and drive to Cu Chi ( 60km – 1,5 hours).
Upon arrival, watch a documentary film and learn more about the handmade weapon and traps. We will then explore an underground city and taste streamed tapioca and hot tea. Visit rice paper workshop. After Cu Chi Tunnel, we go ahead to My Tho and have lunch on the way at local restaurant.
Arrival My Tho, the boat trip takes you to visit some small Island with many landscapes. Here we can enjoy some of tropical fruits while listening to traditional South Vietnamese folk songs performed by local artists. Then we will visit small Bee Farm, where we can play with the pythons and trying some honey tea, and taste local confectionery.
Finally, we will have a short rowing boat ride to small canal, enjoy the fresh air under the cool green water palm.
Drive back HCMC late afternoon. End of service.
- Meals: Breakfast/Lunch
- Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon
DAY 13: SAIGON - FREE AND EASY
Enjoy your free day to relax or shopping and personal activities in Saigon to recover before getting home. You can also join suggested tours to explore Saigon in very authentic way
- Option 1: Join a Vespa tour by night
- Option 2: Do a street food walking tour
- Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon
Route*: Saigon - Mekong River Delta - Hoian - Hue - Hanoi - Ninh Binh - Halong Bay Cruise
DAY 2: SAIGON - CU CHI TUNNELS & Mekong TOUR
07:30: Pick up at your hotel and drive to Cu Chi ( 60km – 1,5 hours).
Upon arrival, watch a documentary film and learn more about the handmade weapon and traps. We will then explore an underground city and taste streamed tapioca and hot tea. Visit rice paper workshop. After Cu Chi Tunnel, we go ahead to My Tho and have lunch on the way at local restaurant.
Arrival My Tho, the boat trip takes you to visit some small Island with many landscapes. Here we can enjoy some of tropical fruits while listening to traditional South Vietnamese folk songs performed by local artists. Then we will visit small Bee Farm, where we can play with the pythons and trying some honey tea, and taste local confectionery.
Finally, we will have a short rowing boat ride to small canal, enjoy the fresh air under the cool green water palm.
Drive back HCMC late afternoon. End of service.
- Meals: Breakfast/Lunch
- Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon
DAY 3: SAIGON - hue
In the morning, enjoy your free day for shopping and personal activities in Saigon. You can also join suggested tours to explore Saigon in very authentic way
- Option 1: Join a Vespa tour
- Option 2: Do a street food walking tour
In the afternoon, airport transfer for the flight to Hue. Transfer to the hotel in Hue upon arrival.
- Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: Hotel in Hue
DAY 4: Hue City Tour
08:00: Pickup at the hotel. Today, we will spend a full day touring Hue city. In the morning: visit Old Imperial City, Flag Tower, Thien Mu Pagoda and Dong Ba bustling market. Lunch at the local restaurant. In the afternoon: visit Royal Tombs of Minh Mang and Khai Dinh. We will also visit a Conical hat village and incense stick village
- Meals: Breakfast/Lunch
- Accommodation: Hotel in Hue
DAY 5: Hue - HOIAN SCENIC TRAIN JOURNEY
Free in the morning.
In the afternoon, transfer to the station for day train to Hoian. Enjoy scenic view of Hai Van Pass on the way. Arrive Hoi in late afternoon. Transfer to the hotel and enjoy free time.
Note*: The train journey is part of a great local experience. Restrooms at either end of the carriages.
Optional activities: instead of the Train Journey, you can do full day tour to visit the Bana Hill and Golden Hand Bridge, then transfer to Hoian. Please view the tour to Bana Hill and Golden Hand Brige.
- Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian
DAY 6: HOIAN - FREE DAY - flight to Hanoi
Free and easy day to explore Hoian ancient town or swim at nearby beach. The ancient town is just walking distance to the hotel, the beach is about 4kms away.
Optional tours/activities you can do in Hoian
Option 1: Hoian - Countryside and cycling tour
Option 2: Hoian Cooking at Red Bridge School
Option 3: Hoian Food Tour by Vintage Vespa
- Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian
DAY 7: Hoian - My Son Towers
Pickup at the hotel at 7:40 am, we drive to visit My Son. The My Son temple complex is regarded one of the foremost Hindu temple complexes in Southeast Asia and is the foremost heritage site of this nature in Vietnam. It is often compared with other historical temple complexes in Southeast Asia, such as Borobodur of Java in Indonesia, Angkor Wat of Cambodia, Bagan of Myanmar and Ayutthaya of Thailand. Although badly damaged by bombing raids in the 1960s, the site still has more than 20 structures and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.
Leaving My Son for boat station and taking a boat trip on Thu Bon river. You could see the living of the local people and feeling the fresh air. Enjoy the beautiful views along the river. Arrive Hoian in early afternoon. Free time to shop or explore Hoian ancient town.
- Meals: Breakfast/Lunch
- Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian
DAY 10: HANOI HALF DAY CITY TOUR
Free to relax in the morning.
Pickup at 13:30. We will spend a half day to visit the city. We start with visit to President Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum (Outside). We also visit the famous One Pillar Pagoda nearby. Leaving the President's complex, we continue to visit the Temple of Literature (Van Mieu). Although several Van Mieu can be found throughout Vietnam, the most prominent and famous is that situated in the city of Hanoi, and was functioned as Vietnam's first university.
- Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
Day 11: HANOI - ninh Binh
07.15– 07.45: Pick up from your hotel or private address and departure to Ninh Binh.
09.00: Have a short break for relaxing at a stop-over in Dong Van, Ha Nam province.
10.00 Visiting a local family in Tam Coc area. They are a traditional Vietnamese family with three generations living together. Here you will get the chance to see the house architecture and their daily life and their handicraft job of making traditional embroidery.
10:30 Leaving the family, you will take a bike and start riding to explore the rice fields and limestone mountains with an unique route.
12:00 Come back the local family, enjoy a special lunch with the local cuisine featuring the yin-yang balance of the Asian culture. After lunch, a break with a cup of tea will be served before you continue the journey of discovery Ninh Binh.
13.30: Visit Tam Coc by a small boat rowed by a local for about 1.5 hours. Known as “Halong Bay on land”, the boat trip is a nice journey along the river with the peaceful scenery of Limestone Mountains, rice paddy if traveling during harvest season.
15:30 Arrive at Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam in the 10th century, visit the temple of King Dinh. Under the introduction of our local guide, you will get to know more about the Vietnamese history.
Drive to your hotel in Ninh for checkin.
- Meals: Breakfast/Lunch
- Accommodation: Hotel in Ninh Binh
DAY 12: Ninh Binh - HALONG BAY - NIGHT ON BOARD
08h00: Pick up from your hotel in Hanoi. Drive to Halong City through the paddy fields in the Red River Delta.
10h00: Stopover on the way for a refreshment break
12h00: Arrive at Tuan Chau wharf – Break and photography time
12h30: Board the Cruise for departure. Welcome drink will be served
13h00: Lunch is served while cruising through the bay
15h30: Visit exciting Cua Van fishing village. The village is free of busy roads and streets, electric lights, houses and high rise buildings. Instead, there are only herds of little boats and rafts. You will have the chance to discover the traditional culture and customs of the fishermen.
16h30: Enjoy kayaking or swimming (if the weather permits).
17h00: Back on board and continue cruising.
19h00: Dinner is served.
21h00: Take some leisure time to enjoy chatting at the bar or enjoy some night fishing.
Note*: the itinerary and activities on board would vary depending on the boat you choose. Please see the choice of boat in Hotel Inclusions.
- Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
- Accommodation: Night on board
DAY 13: HALONG BAY - HANOI
07.00: Coffee and tea will be served
08.00: Continue cruising
08h15: Visit splendid Sung Sot Cave
09h00: Check out and enjoy a fantastic cruise on the bay, passing Dinh Huong Island, fishing villages, Ga Choi Island, Dog Island and Sail Island.
09.30: Buffet brunch (breakfast/lunch) while cruising back through Halong Bay to the pier
11h30: Arrive at the pier. Time to say goodbye to the crew.
12.00: Return from Halong to Hanoi. Arrive Hanoi at about 17pm. Free to relax and explore Hanoi
Note*: the itinerary and activities on board would vary depending on the boat you choose. Please see the choice of boat in Hotel Inclusions.
- Meals: Breakfast/Lunch
- Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
Important Notes:
- THIS IS OUR DEFAULT ITINERARY AND IS CHANGEABLE DEPENDING ON YOUR ITEREST
- In case of unpredictable bad conditions of weather in Halong Bay, please kindly understand that the cancellation will be made ONLY by the Management Board of Halong Bay and normally the announcement will be informed in short notice.
Hotels & Prices
Hotel Categories | Small Group | |
01 May - 30 Sept | 01 Oct - 30 Apr | |
Notes*:
- All prices are in USD per adult, in Double/Twin sharing
- Small group tour - daily departure with max 12 pax (for Halong bay Cruises, you will join bus by boat companies)
- In some major cities in Vietnam, hotel rooms may not have windows.
- Similar hotels are selected if any of above are booked
- Surcharge will be applied for single traveler or single room request
Tour Price/person
Important information
What's included ?
Transportation
Accommodation
Meals
Note*: breakfast is included at the hotel.
Price Includes
- Overnights in selected hotels or similar
- Vietnam visa approval letter
- Halong bay 2 day Cruise package
- All in-tour stationed local English speaking guide.
- Entrance fees for sightseeing mentioned in the itinerary
- Excursions as mentioned in the itinerary
- Transfers as mentioned by air-conditioned vehicles (including airport pick up & see off)
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary
- Internal flights (Hanoi - Danang, Hue - Saigon / or Saigon - Hue, Danang - Hanoi / US$180/person)
- 1 day train for Danang - Hue / or Hue - Danangg
Price Excludes
- Meals and services other than those noted in the itinerary
- Visa stamping fee
- International flights pre/post tour
- Laundry, telephone calls, and personal expenditures
- Gratuities for guides, drivers, porters, boat crew, and personal, non-itinerary services
Children Rates
- FOC for infant under 2 years old (full charge for flight tickets - US$180)
- 02 - 6 years old without bed: 35% adult rate
- 06 - 11 years old with extra bed: 75% adult rate
- 06 - 11 years old in twin share: 90% adult rate
Cancellation Policy
- Cancellation received 60 days or more before arrival date: 10% of total rate
- Cancellation received from 30 days to 59 days prior arrival date: 20% of total rate
- Cancellation received from 15 days to 29 days prior arrival date: 30% of total rate
- Cancellation received from 7 days to 14 days prior arrival date: 50% of total rate
- Cancellation received less than 7 days prior arrival date or No show: 100% of total rate
Customer Reviews
Note*: all following reviews are collected from Tripadvisor - the World's Largest travel forum. To view all reviews from our travellers on Tripadvisor, click here
