Vietnam Highlights Tour 10 Days Halong Bay Cruise, Mekong Delta, Hoi An & Hanoi Cultural Journey

DAY 1: HO CHI MINH ARRIVAL [Guide/D]

Upon arrival at Hochiminh's Tan Son Nhat International Airport, you will be greeted by your guide and transferred to your hotel.

Depending on the time of your arrival, you have the afternoon free to take a first look around

Tonight, you have a welcome dinner to look forward to. Enjoy your first night in Ho Chi Minh!

DAY 2: HO CHI MINH - CU CHI TUNNELS - HALF DAY CITY TOUR [Guide/B/L]

In the morning, you will take half day Cu Chi Tunnel. At its height, the tunnel system stretched over 250 kilometers, from Saigon to the Cambodian border, and was three levels deep. The network included innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens. Today the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience and a feel of what underground life during the U.S.-Vietnam War must have been like

Following lunch, you will embark on a city tour of Saigon, including the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Post Office, the War Remnants Museum and bustling Ben Thanh Market. You will stay overnighting HCMC. 

DAY 3: MEKONG DELTA - CAI BE - HO CHI MINH [Guide/B/L]

Your one-day cruise excursion starts at 8:00 am from the lobby of your hotel in Saigon with a drive to start with a quick visit of Cai Be floating market. Then, visit of the local workshop to see how to make rice paper, coconut, pop-rice... Enjoy some sweets with a cup of hot tea. Then, the rowing boat will take you deeper into the countryside on smaller canals to enjoy a peaceful time.

An optional lunch can be served at a local house or on a boat

After lunch, we’ll come to Tân Phong island for biking/walking on village paths to see the local daily life: orchard, school, church, pagoda, traditional houses... On the way, we can make some stops to see how they wave the dried water hyacinth to make many products: baskets, bags, hats, wallets, and shoes...

Come to visit the local garden, we will enjoy some cups of tea while listening to traditional music. The cruise will back to Cai Be pier for a drive back to Saigon. Overnight in Saigon.

DAY 4: HO CHI MINH - FLY TO DA NANG - HOI AN [GUIDE/B]

In the morning transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for a flight to Da Nang. Pick up and transfer for hotel check-in.

Afternoon takes a walking tour to visit Hoi An Ancient town. Between the 15th and 19th centuries, Hoi An known then as ‘Faifo’, was a prosperous trading port, attracting Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, Portuguese, and Spanish ships amongst others. Today, this World Heritage ancient town is recognized for its well-preserved architecture, pedestrian-only streets, and distinctive local cuisine, allowing visitors a glimpse of its illustrious past. Hoi An’s narrow lanes are ideal for a guided walking tour of its many atmospheric sights including the old merchant houses with influences from Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese architecture; the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, first built in the 1590s by the Japanese community to link them with the Chinese quarters across the stream; the Assembly Hall of the Chaozhou Chinese Congregation with its intricate woodcarvings; and the colourful market with stalls brimming with local specialties including silk, which can be turned into fashionable garments within a day or two. You are back in the heart of Hoi An old town

DAY 5: BIKE RIDING IN PICTURESQUE HOI AN [Guide/B/L]

8.30am: After a short a short drive through the local countryside we arrive at Tra Que Village, and the home of your host, Mr Tuan. A welcome drink of freshly picked fruits is waiting, before we take a walk around the village and learn about the history and customs of this charming village. We walk through the organic herb gardens where hundreds of local farmers work their fields using the traditional methods of hundreds of years ago - no electrical machinery here.

We return to the home of Mr Tuan, and this is where the real fun begins. Everyone is given farming instruments, and we set about joining the farmers in preparing the land for sewing or planting. Our farmer describes the traditional farming methods while we help fertilize the garden using seaweed from the local river, and then water it using huge tin cans strapped to our back. Time is then spent picking vegetables and herbs, and learning how to wrap them to prevent damage. Sharing with you about the traditional methods of gardening in organic way.

Many of the local herbs are used by the farmers for traditional village medicines. You will have a chance to enjoy the herbal foot massage with a real farmer concept.

Experience half day to be in the farmer house you will have the opportunity to interact with local farmers and learn about all the ingredients to be used in daily cooking life.

It's now time to try are hands at making the village speciality named “Tam Huu” spring rolls - using the local herbs and vegetables we have just picked or Xeo Cake ( Banh Xeo). We then sit down and enjoy a lovely local meal.

Menu – Family’s recipes and countryside recipes with 7 dishes

1.30pm - Back to hotel by bicycle.

DAY 6: HOI AN - FLY TO HANOI [Guide/B]

In the morning transfer to International Airport in Da Nang for a short flight to Hanoi. Pick up and transfer for hotel check-in.

DAY 7: HANOI FULL DAY SIGHTSEEING [Guide/B/L]

Drive from hotel through the historical Ba Dinh Square where president Ho Chi Minh proclaimed the independence of Vietnam in 1945 and find out outstanding architecture, beautiful atmosphere around this square. You’ll also wander around the Old Quarter, the Lake of the Resorted Sword, Ngoc Son Temple, the Temple of Literature and tranquil West Lake. The tour ends with Tran Quoc Pagoda, Quan Thanh Temple.

Next, you visit the very impressive Museum of Ethnology, among the finest of Vietnam's museums. You will see many exhibits, photographs, and actual houses inhabited by some of the 54 ethnic people in Vietnam. It will offer a truly colorful introduction to these ethnic tribes.

Finally, you will enjoy a Water Puppet show. A uniquely northern Vietnamese art form said to have originated in the flooded rice fields of the Red River Delta. Drive back to hotel.

DAY 8: HANOI – HALONG BAY – OVERNIGHT ON CRUISE [Guide/B/L/D]

Travel from Hanoi to Halong Bay to cruise amongst the Bay’s spectacular scenery aboard. Get on board and cruise around the stunning mystical landscape of Halong Bay, one of the world's most famous UNESCO World Heritage sites where thousands of limestone karsts and islets in various sizes and shapes rise from the clear, emerald water of the Gulf of Tonkin, most of which are uninhabited and unaffected by humans. The wind, rain and sea have carved out dramatic caves and grottoes in some of the islands, several of which you will visit. Participate in different activities like hiking, swimming...

DAY 9: HALONG BAY - HANOI [Guide/B/BR]

Greet the day with a morning tai chi session, with an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay. After breakfast, you will visit a beautiful limestone grotto and then go back to the boat for a final glimpse of Halong Bay while cruising back to the dock for brunch. Checkout is at about 11:45 am and the boat arrives at the harbor by noon for the drive back to Hanoi. You will then have free time before an overnight stay in Hanoi.

DAY 10: HANOI DEPARTURE [Guide/B]

Breakfast at the hotel – Free and transfer to the airport for your home flight.

Services Included

• Nine nights of hotel and cruise accommodation.
• Premium 4-star or luxury 5-star hotels according to the selected package.
• Double or Twin sharing, with one Single room allowed for the fifth traveller.
• One overnight Ha Long Bay cruise in a Twin or Double balcony cabin.
• Two scheduled domestic economy-class flights.
• Standard checked baggage on the included domestic flights.
• Daily breakfast at hotels and aboard the cruise.
• Lunches, brunches and dinners stated in the confirmed itinerary.
• Private airport, hotel and cruise-marina transfers.
• Private air-conditioned transportation during scheduled touring.
• Professional drivers, fuel, tolls, parking fees and driver expenses.
• Experienced English-speaking guides during scheduled sightseeing.
• Welcome dinner in Ho Chi Minh City.
• Private Cu Chi Tunnels excursion and entrance ticket.
• Scheduled Ho Chi Minh City sightseeing entrance tickets.
• Private Mekong Delta excursion.
• Private Mekong motorboat and hand-rowed sampan services.
• Vietnamese lunch during the Mekong Delta excursion.
• Hoi An Ancient Town entrance ticket.
• Tra Que Village farming and cooking experience.
• Alternative vehicle transfer for travellers who do not cycle.
• Scheduled Hanoi sightseeing entrance tickets.
• Traditional water puppet performance in Hanoi.
• Private Hanoi–Ha Long–Hanoi road transportation.
• Scheduled Ha Long Bay cruise activities.
• Cave, kayaking or rowing-boat activities according to the cruise program.
• All other scheduled sightseeing entrance fees.
• Bottled drinking water and tissues during private touring.
• Local taxes and service charges for included arrangements.
• Twenty-four-hour local assistance during the journey.

Services Not Included

• International flights to Ho Chi Minh City and from Hanoi.
• Vietnam visa or electronic visa fees.
• Travel, medical, cancellation and emergency-evacuation insurance.
• Domestic business-class flight upgrades.
• Excess baggage and special baggage charges.
• Meals not clearly stated in the confirmed itinerary.
• Alcoholic beverages, soft drinks and minibar consumption.
• Optional attractions, performances and activities.
• Private Ha Long Bay cruise charter.
• Single-room supplements beyond the confirmed room arrangement.
• Early hotel check-in and late hotel check-out.
• Room, suite, villa and premium-view upgrades.
• Laundry, spa treatments, telephone calls and personal expenses.
• Tips for guides, drivers, cruise crews, boat rowers and hotel staff.
• Peak-season, weekend-cruise and public-holiday supplements.
• Christmas, New Year and Vietnamese Lunar New Year supplements.
• Compulsory hotel, resort or cruise gala dinners.
• Additional costs caused by weather, airline or transport disruption.
• Any service not clearly listed under “Services Included”.