Vietnam Classic Tour - 12 days
. Hanoi - Halong Bay Cruise - Hoian - Hue - Saigon - Mekong River Cruise
Vietnam Classic Tour - Best 12 day Vietnam Tour by Tripadvisor Reviews with 234 reviews
Vietnam Classic Tour best 12 day tour which covers all interesting sites in Vietname. Most recommended with 456 Tripadvisor Reviews.
Overview
. Daily departure from Hanoi or Saigon
Vietnam Classic Tour - 12 days
Itinerary Overview
DAY 1: HANOI ARRIVAL |
DAY 2: HANOI CITY TOUR |
DAY 3: HANOI - HALONG BAY - NIGHT ON BOARD |
DAY 4: HALONG BAY - HANOI - FIGHT TO DANANG |
DAY 5: HOIAN - FREE AND EASY DAY |
DAY 6: HOIAN - MY SON TOWERS TOUR |
DAY 7: HOIAN - HUE SCENIC TRAIN JOURNEY |
DAY 8: HUE CITY TOUR - FLIGHT TO SAIGON |
DAY 9: SAIGON CITY + CU CHI TUNNELS TOUR |
OPTION 1: MEKONG 2 DAYS WITH 1 NIGHT ON BOARD |
DAY 10: SAIGON - PANORAMA MEKONG RIVER CRUISE |
DAY 11: CAIBE/CAI RANG FLOATING MARKET - SAIGON |
OPTION 2: MEKONG FULL DAY + FREE DAY |
DAY 10: SAIGON - MEKONG ADVENTURE |
DAY 11: SAIGON - FREE AND EASY |
***** |
DAY 12: SAIGON DEPARTURE |
Itinerary
. Daily departure from Hanoi or Saigon
Full Itinerary
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.16 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
Pickup at 08:00. 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. The day ends with visit to Hoa Lo Prison.
- Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
DAY 3: HANOI - 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 4: 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 17pm.
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 5: HOIAN - FREE DAY
Free and easy day to explore Hoian town or swim at nearby beach.
- Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian
DAY 6: HOIAN - MY SON TOWERS TOUR
Pickup at the hotel at 7:50 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 visit 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 explore Hoian ancient town.
- Meals: Breakfast/Lunch
- Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian
DAY 7: 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.
- Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: Hotel in Hue
DAY 8: HUE CITY TOUR - FLIGHT TO SAIGON
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
Then airport transfer for late afternoon flight to Saigon. Transfer to your hotel for checkin upon arrival.
- Meals: Breakfast/Lunch
- Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon
DAY 9: SAIGON CITY + CU CHI TUNNELS TOUR
Pickup at the hotel at 7:40, we head out of town to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, which is an extensive underground network of approximately 200 kilometers of tunnels dug initially by the Viet Minh and then expanded by the Viet Cong. Here contains hospitals, plus accommodation and schools, and were used extensively for refuge and storage and also utilized as a military base for the Viet Cong close to Saigon.
In the afternoon afternoon, transfer to Saigon for half day city tour. Our city tour will help you to see the best of Saigon. We visit the historic Reunification palace and War Remnants Museum, followed by the architectural treats of French colonial Notre Dame Cathedral and the post Office. Free time at leisure or shopping at Ben Thanh Market nearby.
- Meals: Breakfast/Lunch
- Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon
OPTION 1: MEKONG 2 DAYS WITH 1 NIGHT ON BOARD
DAY 10: SAIGON - PANORAMA MEKONG RIVER CRUISE
Note*: depending on the cruise availability, you would do the Caibe – Can Tho or Can Tho – Caibe itinerary. We will keep you updated.
07:10 – 07:30: Pickup at the hotel for Cantho – Caibe itinerary
08:00 – 08:20: Pickup at the hotel for Caibe – Can Tho Itinerary.
You board your comfortable wooden Mekong Eyes cruise vessel around noon. After a refreshing welcome drink we show you our on-board facilities and your cosy cabin. As lunch is served, the Mekong Eyes Cruise starts cruising. Sit back and watch the fantastic scenery and the daily life of the Mekong people.
In the afternoon you can disembark for a guided leisurely stroll through a village and the surrounding fruit orchards or rice fields. Meet the friendly locals and taste the local produce and fruits.
Get back on board and enjoy a drink at the bar or relax on deck as the sun sets over the magnificent water landscape of the Mekong river. The Mekong Eyes Cruise will anchor for the night. The day ends with a delicious on-board dinner. You stay overnight on board your floating hotel in the Mekong Delta.
- Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
- Accommodation: Night on board
DAY 11: CAIBE/CAI RANG FLOATING MARKET - SAIGON
Wake up well rested to the sound of the river and get ready for another exciting day of sightseeing in the Mekong Delta. At 6.30h the Mekong Eyes cruise vessel sets off for a sunrise cruise. Watch the locals go about their daily work drying exotic fruits and building ships on the wooden yards while enjoying an early breakfast.
After breakfast, we will board a sampan boat to Cai Be or Cai Rang floating market, the region’s busiest and most lively markets. Marvel at the sheer abundance of exotic fruits, vegetables and skilfully handcrafted regional products. We will pull up to the boats for talking and bargaining with the merchants. We will also visit some of the local candy and cake making factories or boat through the green water landscape to see local houses, verdant orchards and ship-building yards.
Note*: The floating markets in the Mekong Delta are no tourist markets but wholesale markets where produce of the Mekong Delta like fruits and vegetables are traded. For this reason the number of boats on the market fluctuates depending on harvesting seasons and market demand. Furthermore, modern wholesale markets are becoming more popular in Vietnam. This can result in decreasing numbers of boats being present on the markets.
- Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon
OPTION 2: MEKONG FULL DAY + FREE DAY
DAY 10: SAIGON - MEKONG ADVENTURE
7:40am - 8:10am Pick you up at your hotel and depart for Ben Tre.
After arriving at Ham Luong dock, board the boat & cruise along Ham Luong River, a tributary to the Mekong River. The cool breeze from the river and lush tropical islands along its banks will immediately get you excited to explore all the great things ahead.
Arrive and visit various local workplaces to find many wonderful examples of how local people use ageless techniques to create their crafts, including activated charcoal, dried coconut, handy coconut husk brooms, and many family businesses using coir, or coconut fiber, to create amazing art. Drive around the village roads by “Xe Lôi”, the local vehicle, which is a kind of motorized rickshaw.
Perfect your day with a delicious and filling lunch at a local host house.
Break time, treating yourself to a relaxing time to relish the beautiful countryside or cycling around the village. Visit the local fruit plantation, enjoy seasonal fresh fruits, and spend time relaxing while being rowed in a small boat slowly through the natural canals to get a sense of how truly beautiful this area is.
Embark on the sampan and return to the dock. Travel back to Saigon. Complete your trip. Finish tour Mekong Delta Adventure Day Tour.
- Meals: Breakfast/Lunch
- Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon
DAY 11: SAIGON - FREE AND EASY
Enjoy your free day for shopping and personal activities in Saigon
- Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon
******
DAY 12: SAIGON DEPARTURE
Today, you are free till airport transfer for departure flight. Trip ends!
- Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: N/A
List of Suggested Hotels
Tour Accommodation: Early checking/late checkout are not included and you can change the to any other hotels and room type if required. Additional charge/discount will be made accordingly
Standard Option (2* & 3*)
Hanoi: Hanoi Emerauld Hotel
Sapa: Panorama Hotel
Halong: A Class Cruise
Hue: Orchid hotel
Hoi An: Vinh Hung Libery hotel
Nha Trang: The Light hotel
Ho Chi Minh: Saigon Beautifull 3 hotel
Can Tho: Hau Giang
Mekong Cruise Mekong Eyes Cruise
Siem Reap: Desire Park Hotel
Phnom Penh: Hang Neak Hotel
Superior Option (3* & 4*)
Hanoi: Hanoi Noble Hotel
Sapa: Sapa Vista hotel
Halong: Stellar Cruise
Hue: Serene Palace hotel
Hoi An: Hoian Trail Resort
Nha Trang: Michelia Nha Trang
Ho Chi Minh: Tan Hoang Long Saigon Hotel
Can Tho: Kim Tho Hotel
Siem Reap: Angkor Holiday Hotel
Mekong Cruise: Mekong Eyes Cruise
Phnom Penh: River Home Hotel
Deluxe Option (4*)
Hanoi: Golden Silk boutique hotel
Sapa: Sapa Amazing Hotel
Halong: Huong Hai Sealife Cruise
Hue: Edora Hotel
Hoi An: Hoian Beach Resort
Nha Trang: Michelia Nha Trang
Ho Chi Minh: Grand Silverland Hotel & Spa
Can Tho: Victoria Can Tho Resort
Mekong Cruise: Mekong Eyes Cruise
Siem Reap: Somadevi Angkor
Phnom Penh: Frangipani Hotel
Luxury Option (5*)
Hanoi: Hanoi Apricot
Sapa: Victoria Resort & Spa
Halong: Signature Cruise
Hue: La Resedence Hue Hotel and Spa
Hoi An: Sunrice Hoian Beach Resort and Spa
Nha Trang: Sunrise Beach Resort
Ho Chi Minh: Majestic Hotel Saigon
Can Tho: Victoria Can Tho Resort
Mekong Cruise: Mekong Eyes Cruise
Siem Reap: Sokha Angkor
Phnom Penh: Sokha Phnom Penh
Tour Inclusions/Exclusions
Tour Inclusions
- Overnights in selected hotels or similar
- Vietnam visa approval letter
- Halong bay 2 day Cruise package
- Mekong 2 day Cruise package for option 1
- Local English speaking guides
- Entrance fees for sightseeing mentioned in the itinerary
- Excursions as mentioned in the itinerary
- Tours and transfers as mentioned, by air-conditioned vehicles
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary
- 2 Domestic flights (Hanoi - Danang, Hue - Saigon)
- 1 day train for Danang - Hue
Tour Exclusions
- Meals and services other than those noted in the itinerary
- Visa stamping fee
- Laundry, telephone calls, and personal expenditures
- Gratuities for guides, drivers, porters, boat crew, and personal, non-itinerary services