Highlights of Vietnam Escorted Tour Itinerary
Day 1 – Travel to Hanoi – Vietnam
Depart for Vietnam, flying to Hanoi.
Day 2 – Welcome to Hanoi! Cyclo taxi to Water Puppet Show
Following our arrival in Vietnam, we will be transferred with guide assistance to our hotel in Hanoi, our tour base for the next two nights.
Day 3 – Good Morning Vietnam! Guided tour of Hanoi
Good morning Vietnam! Let’s explore Hanoi on a full day guided excursion. We will see some of its most fascinating sites such as the monumental tomb of Ho Chi Minh’s (Uncle Ho) Mausoleum, view (from the outside) the simple wooden house where he lived and worked, and the One Pillar Pagoda, a historic Buddhist Temple sitting within a lake. Also included in our tour is a visit to the world-famous 11th century Temple of Literature and the former Hỏa Lò Prison. We will finish our day with a walking tour of the Old Quarter and the area around the beautiful Hoàn Kiếm Lake.
Day 4 – Transfer to Ha Long Bay & Set Sail – UNESCO Beauty
After breakfast, we’ll depart Hanoi and travel to the magnificent Hạ Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The drive will take approximately two and a half hours. On arrival we’ll set sail on a leisurely cruise, taking in the scenic beauty of Ha Long Bay. During the cruise, we’ll visit some of the caves and grottos of the spectacular limestone islands and take the opportunity to sit back and enjoy the serene blue waters and towering rock formations of the bay. It’s no wonder that this location has been used as a setting for many movies.
Day 5 – Fly from Hanoi to Danang Transfer to Hoi An
After breakfast we will take a drive of approximately two and a half hours to Hanoi Airport for our flight to Da Nang in central Vietnam. There will be a stop along the way for lunch (included). On arrival at Da Nang airport we will transfer by coach to our hotel in Hoi An, our base for the next three nights, with a journey time of approximately forty-five minutes. After check in, we can enjoy dinner at our hotel (included), relax after our journey and look forward to discovering Hoi An and its surroundings.
Day 6 – Hoi An Ancient Old Town
Today we’ll set off on a morning boat tour on the Thu Bồn River, where we will be able to witness the fascinating daily activities of the local people who live along its banks. In the afternoon, let’s continue our sightseeing with a guided walking tour of Hội An, where there will be an opportunity to see the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge.
Day 7 – Savour a Cooking Class and Guided Tour of Hoi An
After breakfast, let’s embark on a guided excursion into the Hội An countryside, where we will visit a typical village and see the farmers working their fields and gardens and gain an insight into their daily life. After our farm tour, let’s join a hands-on cookery class for our lunch, to learn about traditional Vietnamese cooking methods and recipes. Our cookery class experience will include a talk on the art of Vietnamese gastronomy, vegetables, herbs, spices and how to use them. After the lesson, we can enjoy the meal we have skilfully prepared!
Day 8 – Travel to Hue & Perfume River Cruise
After breakfast, we’ll set off from Hoi An to Hue. The drive will take approximately four hours, with a stop for lunch (included) along the way. On arrival in Hue, let’s join our expert guide and discover Hue on a city tour, visiting the walled fortress of the Imperial Citadel and the 19th century Tomb of Tu Duc. We’ll finish our day with a cruise along the Perfume River (named because falling orchids gave the water a pleasant scent) to Thiên Mụ Pagoda, followed by dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 9 – Fly from Hue to Ho Chi Minh (Saigon)
Today, we’ll transfer to Hue Airport for a flight to Ho Chi Min City (Saigon) where we will spend the next four nights. After checking in at our hotel there will be some time at leisure to settle in and get to know our surroundings. Dinner is included tonight at a local restaurant.
Day 10 – Experience Ho Chi Minh Highlights
Today we begin to uncover the wonders of Ho Chi Min City (Saigon). First stop on this morning’s guided tour is at Reunification Palace (formerly Presidential Palace) an important historical landmark. After that, we take a short walk to the Notre Dame Cathedral, past the French Colonial Post Office and other prominent buildings. Our final stop this morning will be at the Jade Emperor Pagoda, before enjoying a light lunch at a local restaurant (included).
Day 11 – Uncover the Cu Chi Tunnels
Today we will embark on an excursion to discover the Chu Chi network of underground tunnels. These tunnels were the location of many of the Viet Cong’s military campaigns during the Vietnam War (or American War, as it is called in Vietnam). The tunnels were used as hiding places during combat; also serving as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food storage and living quarters for the Vietnamese fighters.
Day 12 – At Leisure in Ho Chi Minh City
Those who are interested in the history of the Vietnam war might visit the War Remnants Museum, to view exhibits that include fighter aircraft, helicopters, tanks, plus many graphic photos – a stark reminder of Vietnam’s history not so long ago.
Day 13 – Transfer to Mekong Delta – Can Thou
Today we bid farewell to Ho Chi Min City and set off on a full day guided excursion to Cai Be, known for its large floating markets. Our journey will take around two hours. On arrival, we’ll take a cruise on the mighty Mekong Delta, in a motorised sampan boat. We’ll have the opportunity to sample some local seasonal fruit during lunch (included) at a local farmer’s home, before continuing our leisurely cruise to Vinh Long. After the cruise, we transfer to Can Tho and check into our hotel for an overnight stay.
Day 14 – Cai Rang Market & Return Home
This morning, let’s uncover more of Vietnam during one last cruise. We’ll visit the bustling market town of Cai Rang and enjoy a Sampan ride through its colourful floating market, with hawkers jostling for space to sell their wares, including everything from exotic fruit and vegetables to plastic sunglasses. Then let’s travel deeper into the Delta area, to see one of its most spectacular temples, the Khmer monastery of Kh’leng. We’ll have some free time this afternoon, before our transfer to Ho Chi Min City Airport and check in for our homeward flights. A light meal on the way to the airport is included.
Day 15 – Arrive Home
