Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport (Hanoi), you are met and greeted by Vietnam ANZ Travel's local tour guide and transferred to your hotel in the centre of Hanoi. Free on the rest of the day for re-fresh. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 2: Hanoi - Halong - Hanoi (B/L)
After breakfast, cross the Red River towards Halong. The three-hours-drive stops en route at Hong Ngoc Centre, where we will have time for a drink and see local people manufacturing different kinds of handicrafts. Reach Ha Long, board a junk for a fantastic cruise through Ha Long Bay (approx. 5 hours). We will enjoy lunch with fresh catched seafood while having a cool drink before leaving the boat to see the Heavenly Palace Cave and Driftwood cave, one of the highlights around the bay. Return to Hanoi in late afternoon for overnight.
Day 3: Hanoi City Tour (B/L)
Spend your full day for Hanoi city tour. You will visit the historical Temple of Literature, called “Le Pagoda des Corbeaux” by the French, because of the huge flocks of crows gathering in the mango trees near the entrance. Ho Chi Minh complex with Ho Chi Minh House-on-stilt, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh Museum and One Pillar Pagoda. After lunch, visit the Ethnology Museum and enjoy a cyclo ride to the Hanoi Old Quarter. Here many tiny streets join to sell a huge diversity of products. In the old days, each street bore the name of the product sold – “Shoe Street, ” “Noodle Street, ” and the like. Today, the streets sometimes sell a variety of items, but often the names are accurate. The Old Quarter also houses some of the most interesting art galleries and fashion houses. Leaving the cyclo tour, you will walk around Hoan Kiem Lake in the middle of the city and visit Ngoc Son pagoda. Continuing attend a performance of the Hanoi Water Puppets. It may be a bit touristy, but it is fun and gives you a good sense of Vietnamese mythology. Free for dinner. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 4: Hanoi - Hue (B/L)
After breakfast, our guide will pick up and transferred to the airport for a short flight to Hue. Upon arrival, the guide will meet you and bring you to your hotel. After check-in you will have a short break before we head on to the see the Imperial City, an impressive complex, first built in 17th century based on the ancient practice of geomancy. You also visit Khai Dinh tomb and the Dong Ba market. Overnight in Hue.
Day 5: Hue - Hoi An (B/L)
This morning - Thien Mu pagoda, which is located on the southwest bank of the river, is a memorial to these demonstrations. Here we find the car that took the senior Buddhist monk, Quang Duc, to Saigon, where he immolated himself. The car, a British Austin, is memorialized as a holy sight. Continue to Hoi An. En route we will have a stop in Lang Co, where we have a short break. Lunch optional. Afternoon, you will visit Hoian ancient town with it’s the Japanese Bridge pagoda, the different Chinese Assembly Halls and old pagodas and especially old houses. Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 6: Hoi An - Saigon (B/L)
Hoi An is also a wonderful town to shop for silk and cotton cloth, especially fast tailor-made clothing. The morning is free to browse for souvenirs in Hoi An or perhaps hire a bicycle to ride to the nearby Cua Dai Beach. In the afternoon, you will have a short drive to Da Nang airport and take a flight to Saigon, the Metropole of the South where we will visit the Re Unification Palace, Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral and Ben Thanh market. Overnight in Saigon.
Day 7: Excursion to Mekong Delta (B/L)
Depart from the hotel and drive southwards to the Vinh Long Province, which is situated between two branches of the downstream Mekong river. On arrival, you enjoy a boat trip along the river’s narrow waterways, overhung with dense vegetation. We will have the opportunity to try exotic fruits in one of the many orchards. For lunch (optional) we will serve you the local delicacy - an Elephant’s-Ear fish. We continue with a visit to the Cai Be floating market before driving back to Saigon. Overnight in Saigon.
Day 8: Half Day to Cu Chi Tunnels (B/L)
After breakfast you leave for Cu Chi which is located about 75 km northwest of Saigon. The tunnels were part of an underground network that was built by the Vietcong during the American War. It reached from the southern tip of the Ho Chi Minh trail near the Cambodian border to the Saigon River. You will have the opportunity to creep into a tunnel to experience how the Vietcong lived and fought during this time. Return back to Saigon about lunch time. The afternoon is at leisure to stroll around the city or shop on the Ben Thanh market. Overnight in Saigon.
Day 9: Saigon - Departure (B)
Free at leisure in Saigon until time being transferred to the airport for onward flight or extension.
We can arrange additional customized trips for you if the above itinerary does not match your expectations.
