Essence of Vietnam II, South to North

📍 From Tan Son Nhat International Airport to hotel in HCMC (8km):30mins

Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City and transfer to hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. 

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Inclusions:

📍 Route can change subject to client’s interest.

Depart the hotel at 0830 to the FITO Museum. This fascinating private museum has an impressive collection of items related to the history of traditional Vietnamese medicine. Objects found in traditional pharmacies and valuable books and documents are on display. 

Return to the center of the city, hop out the vehicle and take a walking tour through the historic city center and CBD. See the architecturally splendid City Hall, historic Dong Khoi Street,  the Continental Hotel and the Saigon Opera House before heading to the Central Post Office. From here, you can glimpse the former CIA building, where one of the last helicopter evacuations took place in 1975.   

Following, rest your feet over a well deserved lunch before continuing to perhaps the city’s most famous landmarks - the Reunification Palace. Now preserved in a time warp, the ‘war rooms’ in the basement plus the opulent display’s are fascinating.  

Continue either on foot or by vehicle to one of the city’s museums. Choose the War Remnants Museum, which exhibits artifacts and photographs relating to the country’s wars or The Fine Arts Museum where a symphony of art and charming design can be seen.  

Finish up the day at another historic site,  the Ben Thanh Market. Still functioning as a local neighborhood market, the central location also welcomes travelers with a variety of stalls. 

Having gained greater understanding of Saigon's culture and history, return to the hotel late afternoon.  (L)

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 HCMC to Ben Tre (110km): 2.5 hours.

Today’s tour will begin at 08:00. Leave the busy streets of Ho Chi Minh City and drive into the Mekong Delta on this Cai Be day tour. 

Upon arrival, board a private boat and start exploring the Delta. Savor the taste of locally grown fresh fruits, relish the refreshing breeze while the boat glides through the river. 

Go ashore and start to cycle, riding through a local village and alongside verdant fruit gardens. En-route, explore the local culture by visiting families who specialize in handicraft products.  

Then, board a sampan through the narrow canals around the island, appreciating the tranquility and lush landscapes of this part of the Delta. Leaving the serene island, the boat takes on a brief journey along a busy area. The river banks bustle with various businesses, while local boats dot the middle of the river, creating a vibrant and bustling atmosphere.

Arriving at a house, inhabited for more than four generations, offers a great example of traditional ‘Mandarin’ architecture. A traditional home-cooked ‘Mekong’ meal will be served for lunch here. Then, take a walk through the fruit orchard to see the fresh seasonal goodness on the trees. 

As the sun begins to dip lower in the sky it is time to return to Cai Be and onwards to Ho Chi Minh City. (L)

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Hotels in D1, D3 - Tan Son Nhat airport (8 km): approx. 30 minute Danang Airport - Central Hoi An (30 km): approx. 1hr

After breakfast, transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for the short flight to the central port city of Danang. On arrival at Danang airport, the gateway to Hoi An, your private guide and driver will assist with the transfer to the hotel for check-in. 

Hoi An, one of Vietnam’s most picturesque towns and UNESCO-heritage listed, once a major Asian trading port in the 17th and 18th centuries now draws international visitors to its streets, for both the history and the surrounding scenes.    

Rest of the afternoon at leisure.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

Be enchanted by the historic wonders of UNESCO-listed Hoi An. Departure at 08:30, for a half day discovery with a local guide, exploring the ancient town. Explore former merchant homes, colourful communal halls, narrow lanes lined, traditional houses and the iconic Japanese Bridge*. Also visit charming backstreets and tiny alleys to discover lesser known gems. 

Meander down a small alley to a traditional style house where the art of healing through martial arts has been practiced by a local family for generations. This healing method is the master’s invention, combined between Qigong, Tai Chi, and traditional Vietnamese martial arts called Vo. Have a chance to learn some basic steps under the guidance of the master. 

To conclude the cultural exploration,  visit a cozy local home to taste a typical dessert before heading back to the hotel or next destination.

*The Japanese Bridge is currently under renovation until Q4 2024 (est) . Visitors are able to walk alongside the bridge (as of March 2024) on a purposely built metal platform however the actual structure is mostly covered in metal sheeting, therefore limiting photo op’s of the town’s most famous monument.

Rest of the afternoon at leisure.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

Transfer to Danang airport for the short flight to Hanoi. 

On arrival, transfer to the hotel.

Set off on a half day guided tour of Hanoi’s highlights. A city of contrasts, defies easy categorization, it's both modern and traditional, chaotic and serene, and always full of surprises. 

Dive right in with a visit to the Temple of Literature. In 1076 Quoc Tu Giam - Vietnam's first university, also referred to as Van Mieu, was established within a temple to educate Vietnam's royalty, mandarins and members of the elite, for an incredible 800-years.   

Following, chose a museum option (to be discussed on the actual day of the tour):  

Option 1: Vietnam Women’s Museum.  Highly acclaimed, the museum displays highlights of Vietnam’s vast cultural diversity and the significant role women play in Vietnamese society.  

Option 2: Hoa Lo Museum: Step back in time to the days of the Vietnam War at the "Hanoi Hilton." Once home to POWs, the exhibits include photographs, artifacts, and displays. 

Conclude the exploration with a stroll through Hanoi’s Old Quarter. A maze of alleyways and hidden treasures, learn about local life in the ‘36-guilds’ as you weave through the frenetic streets on foot. 

Finish the day with a Water Puppet show. This is a uniquely North Vietnamese art form depicting scenes from rural life and episodes of national history.   

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As an alternative option to the museum and Old Quarter, Hanoi’s iconic Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex can be visited. The site is fascinating yet expect queues and long walking distances (Note the Mausoleum is closed Monday and Fridays, each afternoon as well as annually from June 12th to Aug 14th).  

Join the long queues before continuing on foot past the Mausoleum to learn about the life and legacy of the nation’s founder. Continue to the ‘house on stilts’ where ‘Bac Ho’ resided from 1958 to 1969. Stroll around the tranquil grounds before completing the circuit at the One Pillar pagoda; built in 1049, the symbol of Hanoi is a unique representation of the city. 

Following the introduction to Hanoi’s highlights transfer back to your hotel or your next destination.  

Overnight in Hanoi. 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 From your chosen hotel in Hanoi to Halong (160km): approx.2,5 hrs

The perfect way to see the UNESCO World Heritage areas of Halong and Lan Ha Bay is to spend a night aboard a charming boat. The mystical scenery, where thousands of limestone islands jut out of the emerald sea, sculpted into wonderous shapes covered in lush flora is truly breathtaking.   

Following breakfast leave Hanoi at 09:00 for the 2.5hours drive to Halong City. Arrive at the pier around noon and proceed with check-in formalities. 

After the welcome onboard and checking into the cabin, lunch will be served whilst cruising. In the afternoon, enjoy some visits or activities (depending on the boat’s set itinerary). Towards the end of the afternoon the boat will anchor for the night surrounded by karst formations. 

Enjoy a sunset cocktail on the deck followed by dinner, then retiring for the evening.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 From Halong to Hanoi (160km): approx. 2,5 hrs

Wake up to the fresh morning amidst the bay and have breakfast (brunch on some boats) while leisurely immersing in the serene setting of the spectacular rock formations. Proceed to checkout as the cruise arrives towards port.  Disembark and transfer back to Hanoi.

Please note: This tour may be subject to change depending on weather conditions.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast