Exploring Vietnam’s beauty in 9 days

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN HANOI (LUNCH)

Welcome to Hanoi!

After breakfast at the hotel, around 9am our guide will greet us at the hotel and go with us via car to the Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, the 1st president of independent Vietnam in 1945. The Mausoleum is a complex of the tomb in which Ho Chi Minh is resting, the house on stilts, where he used to spend his 11 last years, and his fish pond within a poetic large garden. Adjacent to the complex is an ancient Buddhist pagoda, built 1st time since 1049 AD, reflecting the shape of a lotus flower. Leaving the Mausoleum, we will head to Van Mieu, or Temple of Literature, dedicated to Confucius scholars under feudal dynasties, and also a study place of high-ranking families’ children.

We will have lunch a restaurant near Van Mieu.

In the afternoon, we will visit Hoan Kiem Lake, which is associated with an interesting legend in the history of the Vietnamese nation against foreign invaders. In Hoan Kiem Lake, we can walk around to visit The Huc Bridge, Ngoc Son Temple. After that, the car and guide take us around the old town area to immerse in the nostalgic beauty of the collective houses, the hustle and bustle of life through the sound of motorbikes and cyclos. At the same time, we can also enjoy Vietnamese street food at Dong Xuan Market such as “bún chả”, coffee… End the visit with a viewing of a Water Puppet Show, a traditional Vietnamese art show at Bong Sen Theater or Thang Long Theater. Evening, our vehicle and guide will take you back to the hotel.

Dinner at your own arrangement. Overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 2: HANOI – HALONG BAY (BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER)

After breakfast at the hotel, our vehicle and guide will pick us up to go to Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Northern Vietnam. The trip to the pier takes about 2h30’.

Welcome onboard and take a trip on Cozy Bay Cruise with excellent and exciting activities (swimsuits recommended). Being a bay with nearly 2,000 islands and islets, some with craters, Halong has been recognized twice by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage site to emphasize its value and the need to be protected. This journey will awaken all our senses with the beauty of nature, the savory taste, the comfy facility, and the perfect service right at one of the natural wonders of the world.

Overnight on-board.

DAY 3: HALONG BAY – HANOI – FLY TO HUE (BREAKFAST, LUNCH)

Wake up early to watch the sunrise on the sea and participated in morning exercises on the deck. After that, we are free to rest and breathe in the fresh air or freely take pictures of the Bay in the early morning, then have lunch at the restaurant of the cruise, while the cruise will take us back to the harbor. Goodbye Ha Long Bay, our vehicle and guide take us back to Hanoi for our flight to Hue.

Our vehicle and guide will pick us up at Phu Bai International Airport (Hue), and take us to the hotel for check-in and rest.

Dinner at your own arrangement. Overnight in Hue.

DAY 4: HUE (BREAKFAST, LUNCH)

After breakfast, we will visit Hue Citadel (the Royal Palace of the 13 kings of the Nguyen Dynasty, the last feudal dynasty of Vietnam, with Ngo Mon, Thai Hoa Palace, Forbidden City, The Mieu, Hien Lam Cac, and Cuu Dinh places.Later, we will visit the Tomb of Khai Dinh King, one of the massive mausoleums built over 11 years with unique architecture and structure, with local and foreign materials.Have a lunch at local restaurant.

In the afternoon, you will be free to explore Hue.

Dinner at your own arrangement. Overnight in Hue.

DAY 5: HUE – TRANSFER TO HOI AN – BAY MAU COCONUT FOREST – HOI AN (BREAKFAST, LUNCH)

After breakfast, our vehicle brings us to Hoi An via Mandarin Road and Sea Cloud Pass (Hai Van Pass). Along the way, we can admire the breathtaking view of the beach and city. Upon arrival, we move to the hotel to check-in and rest. Our guide will pick us up at the hotel and depart to Bay Mau Coconut Forest. You will discover the peaceful coconut forest and be welcomed warmly by the local people here. You can enjoy some fun activities at the village such as basket boat spinning, fishing crabs, casting the fishing net and the fisherman will show you how to paddle a basket boat.

Have lunch at a local restaurant at Bay Mau Coconut Forest.

We will return to Hoi An and walk around to visit the ancient streets. Being an old port in Vietnam until the 17th century, Hoian has a unique architecture mixed up between China, Vietnam, and Japanese styles. Here we can walk into Chua Cau bridge, Hoian market, or hang around ancient streets along the Hoai River to enjoy the city’s tranquility.

Dinner at your own arrangement. Overnight in Hoi An.

DAY 6: HOI AN – CAU VANG – DA NANG (BREAKFAST, LUNCH)

Have breakfast at the hotel. Then start moving to Da Nang City by our vehicle. Come to Da Nang, a beautiful coastal city in central Vietnam. Get to Ba Na Hills and spend a full day there. Sun World Ba Na Hills is the most significant resort and recreational complex of Vietnam. At the height of 1,487 meters from the sea level, we will find ourselves relaxing in the typical rotation of four seasons in a single day and numerous festivities, recreations, and diverse cuisine.

Having a buffet lunch at Ba Na Hills.

We will visit the Golden Bridge – a prominent golden silk stripe that shines among the majestic mountains, along with a pair of giant stone hands that seemingly hold the Golden Bridge, a modern masterpiece that is memorable to many tourists.

Dinner at your own arrangement.Overnight in Da Nang.

DAY 7: DANANG – SAI GON CITY TOUR (BREAKFAST, LUNCH)

Having breakfast at our hotel, we can buy souvenirs on the local streets of Da Nang  before our guide and van pick us up to the airport for Flight DA NANG – HO CHI MINH (or Saigon). Lunch will be arranged according to your flight schedule.

Welcomed by our Guide and van in Saigon! Being less than 400 years old, Saigon is dynamic yet peaceful, a warm city with lower humidity and no cold season like Hanoi or cities up north. We will have a nice trip today visiting cultural aspects of Saigon, from its nice Catholic churches (Tan Dinh or Notre Dame Church) to Cho Lon’s exciting market and tasting local foods. Visit Thien Hau pagoda near Cho Lon before going back to our hotel.

Dinner at your arrangement. Overnight in Saigon.

DAY 8: SAIGON – MY THO – CU CHI TUNNELS – SAIGON (BREAKFAST, LUNCH)

After breakfast at the hotel, our Guide will meet us at around 8:45 am (to avoid the rush hours).

We will travel to My Tho, a nice suburban area near Saigon, and have a leisure boat trip between water-coconut trees. Visit Keo Dua workshops and the countryside before having a nice lunch.

Afternoon we will run to Cu Chi Tunnel, a historic area near Saigon which is famous for a complicated underground system, used by the Vietnamese troops to hide their army and food. Cu Chi now is an open-air museum, which tells a lot about the historical war of Vietnam.

Back to Saigon. Dinner at your own arrangement. Overnight in Saigon.

DAY 9: SAIGON DEPARTURE (BREAKFAST) 

Having breakfast at the hotel, the rest of the day is at your arrangement.

We will say goodbye. Hope to see you for a longer trip in Vietnam!