VIETNAM TOUR OF HIGHLIGHTS – 12 DAYS

* BRIEF ITINERARY:

Day 1: Arrival – Hanoi City Tour with Cyclo
Day 2: Hanoi Full-Day Sightseeing Tour 
Day 3: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Overnight on the cruise
Day 4: Halong Bay Cruise Tour – Hanoi – Water Puppet Show
Day 5: Hanoi – Full Day Tour to Hoa Lu & Tam Coc in Ninh Binh
Day 6: Hanoi – Morning Flight to Hue – Sightseeing Tour
Day 7: Hue City Tour – Da Nang – Hoi An Ancient Town
Day 8: Hoi An Sightseeing Tour
Day 9: Hoi An – Da Nang – Flight to Ho Chi Minh City – Sightseeing Tour
Day 10: Saigon Tour to Cu Chi Tunnels and Tay Ninh
Day 11: Saigon Tour to Mekong Delta with My Tho + Ben Tre
Day 12: Saigon – Departure

Day 1:  ARRIVAL – HANOI PACKAGE TOURS  (-/-/-)

On arrival at Noi Bai Airport, you are met by our guide and transferred to hotel. The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi is a stylish and gracious city that retains a unique old world charm and some Asia’s most striking colonial architecture. The green lakes and parks are made for relaxing atmosphere. If time permits, we enjoy a short cyclo ride through the bustling old quarter streets named after the specific goods once offered for sale at these places.
O/N in Ha Noi. 

DAY 2:  HANOI FULL DAY OF SIGHTSEEING TOURS (B/-/-)

Today you’ll be on a full day tour to discover the most outstanding attractions of Hanoi. First, pay a visitto Cho Hom, the local market, to get caught up in the lively atmosphere. This is where the city dwellers come daily to purchase the local food, fruits, vegetables, flowers, fish, seafood, meat, and household appliances.

Then, continue to the complex of memorials to Ho Chi Minh to know his amazing life. Next is the One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature to gain understanding of the two driving forces in Vietnam culture. Afternoon we visit the Museum of Ethnology which exhibits a large collection of artifacts about the cultures of the 54 ethnic groups in the country. Alternatively, you can swap to visit the historical museum instead, an excellent collection of artifacts illustrating the Vietnamese history.  

Hustle back to the peaceful Hoan Kiem area since there is a water puppet show at the popular Thang Long Water Puppet Theater awaits. Water puppet is a unique traditional art form and expression of cultural identity. The shows capture Vietnamese traditions; farming, tending buffaloes, and catching fish; entertainment, like swimming contests and lion dancing; and historical legends with traditional music. The one-hour show is a fun and insightful look into Vietnamese culture enjoyed by both adults and children.

O/N in Ha Noi

Day 3: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Overnight On Cruise (GROUP TOUR)(B/-/-)

07:45 :    Our shuttle bus with tour guide will pick you up at your hotels
(Note: This pick-up is just applied for those who use our shuttle bus service)
10:30 :   Stopover in Hai Duong City where you can experience our hand-made Vietnamese handicraft products.
12:30 :    Arrive in Tuan Chau Marina Pier (Tuan Chau Island). Followed by activities such as:  boarding our Cruise for departure, Welcome drink will be served and cruise briefing, safety instructions, check-in cabins by Cruise Manager
13:30 :   Great lunch is served while cruising passing by islets.
15:00 :   Kayaking around Pearl Farm Village, visit Titop Island. Free choice of activities such as sunbathing, swimming and conquering the peak of the biggest island in Halong and taking panoramic photos of Halong bay in the afternoon.
17:30 :   Happy Hour. Buy 2 beverage get 1 for free
18.00 :   Cooking Class. Our Chef will demonstrate the preparation of a particular Vietnamese cuisine in the dining room. Our guide will let you know what item will be prepared and will explain the process during the demonstration. Duration about 20 – 30 minutes
18:30 :  Enjoy Sunset Party with fruits and tea
19:30  :  Under the magnificent night sky, our luxury set menu dinner is served with variety of Vietnamese and Asian foods
21:00 :   Joining the squid fishing on boat with our crews and can enjoy the squid cooked with assistance from our chef or laze yourself with our happy-hour drinks at the bar

* Meal code: (B,L,D)

* Services: Bus transfer, English Speaking Guide, Entrance fees, Boat trip

Day 4: Vietnam Tour of Highlights to Halong, Tamcoc, Hue, Hoi An, Mekong Delta:  HA LONG BAY CRUISE TOUR – HANOI (B/L/-)

06:15 : Tai Chi class on the Sun-Deck
07:15 : Have light breakfast with Coffee, tea, and bakeries on board
07:45 : Arrive at the Surprising cave , the biggest cave in Ha Long Bay with 10,000 square meters, when you visit the cave like our Vietnamese house with three chambers as lobby, dining room and bedroom with most beautiful stalagmites and stalactites. We will tour the cave for about 60 minutes.
09:00 : Upon return to the boat you will have time to freshen up and finish packing. When checking out please remove all of your belongings from the cabins, you may leave heavy luggage outside of the cabins.
10:00 : Relaxing on the sundeck or in the dining room enjoying the bay scenery as we approach the pier
10.45 : Lunch is served.
After lunch, relax on the sundeck or in the dining room enjoying the bay scenery as we approach the pier.
11:45 – 12:00: Shuttle Bus back to Hanoi
Free time to visit and relax in Hanoi, then serve yourself dinner before being transferred to Hanoi station for night train to Sapa.

* Meal code: (B,L)
* Services: Boat trip, English Speaking Guide, Entrance fees, Bus transfer, Daily room in Hanoi hotel, Train ticket.
O/N in Ha Noi. 

Day 5:  FULL DAY GROUP TOUR TO HOA LU + TAM COC (B/-/-)

Today, we’ll travel by roads to Ninh Binh province which is known as the ancient capital and “Halong Bay on land”. On arrival at Hoa Lu, we’ll visit two temples dedicating to King Dinh and King Le who ruled the first dynasties of the country. In front of these temples is the rugged Ma Yen mount which involves a walk over 200 steps for a fantastic view over the surrounding areas. The following sight is Tam Coc, surnamed “Halong Bay on land”. We board a sampan for a leisurely trip through the quiet and peaceful landscape of rice fields surrounded by towering limestone cliffs to the grottoes of Tam Coc.

Transfer back to Hanoi later this day.

O/N in Ha Noi. 

Day 6: HANOI- HUE  FULL DAY SIGHTSEEING TOURS (B/-/-)

 After breakfast at hotel, you will be transferred to Noi Bai airport for a morning flight to Hue. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by our guide & driver then driven to your hotel for a drop of your luggage.

Later on, we’ll have a boat trip on the romantically named Perfume River visits Hue’s best-known religious site, Thien Mu Pagoda. The beautiful riverside Thien Mu Pagoda is religiously one of the oldest architectural structures in Hue. Afterward, we proceed to the Imperial Citadel where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. The visit includes Flag Tower, Noon Gate, Nine Dynastic Urns, Nine Holy Cannons, Thai Hoa Palace, and Forbidden Purple City. This royal residence was all but destroyed during the 1968 Tet Offensive, however it is still fascinating to listen what stories the ruins tell. Close to this masterpiece is Hue Imperial Museum which displays an interesting collection of bronzes, Chinaware, court robes and various emperors’ personal belongings.

By the end of the day, we will have one more chance to take a glancing tour of Hue with a walk to the bustling Dong Ba Market that sells a wide variety of local goods and handicrafts. Along the way, we pass many fantastic eating spots, all ideal for visitors to sample some local delicacies.

O/N in Hue. 

Day 7: HUE PACKAGE TOURS – DANANG SIGHTSEEING TOURS TO HOI AN (B/-/-)

In this morning, before leaving to Danang we will take a short drive though the rolling hill to see the elaborate royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc and the famous Tu Hieu Pagoda. The scenic 4-hour drive via Hai Van Pass offers spectacular views of mountains, the sea, idyllic beaches and villages (we can choose the shorter way by driving through the tunnel).

 Upon arrival Da Nang, we will take a visit to Cham Museum formerly known as the Ecole Francaise d’Extreme Orient. This museum contains many exquisite sandstone carvings from the vanquished Kingdom of Champa which has been the central coastal littoral prior to the march of the Vietnamese nation southward. Then a visit to Marble Mountains with its beautiful grottoes and temples whose peaks represent the five elements of the universe. Later on, we keep on rolling further southward to Hoi An, which was originally one of the major trading centers of Southeast Asia in the 16th century.

O/N in Hoi An.

Day 8: Vietnam Tour of Highlights to Halong, Tamcoc, Hue, Hoi An, Mekong Delta: HOIAN SIGHTSEEING TOURS (B/-/-)

 Hoi An which was originally a Cham seaport but has been influenced down centuries by a myriad of traders from various cultures. There are plenty to see in this tranquil and delightful town, some of which are the famous Japanese Covered Bridges, the Pottery Museum, the 200 years old Tamky House, the Chua Ong Pagoda and the vibrant market. We include these sites in an enchanting walking tour past many low tiled houses scattered along the small streets and assembly halls which reflect the town’s multi-cultural past

The rest of time, you will be free on your own O/N in Hoi An.

Day 9:  HOI AN PACKAGE TOURS – DA NANG – HO CHI MINH CITY TOURS (B/-/-)

 After having breakfast at hotel, you will be transferred to Da Nang airport for a short morning flight to Ho Chi Minh. On arrival you are met by our guide and transferred to hotel. This metropolis, contradiction of its northern counterpart, is crowded with bikes and motorbikes, excited by numerous shopping areas and sidewalk cafes. An afternoon will acquaints us with some major sights of Ho Chi Minh. We drive past many lively streets on our way to the Reunification Palace. This mansion was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975. Close to the palace are some striking French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Sai Gon post office. The final stop is Ben Thanh Market where anything and everything is for sale!.

 O/N in Ho Chi Minh.  

Day 10:  HO CHI MINH CITY – FULL DAY TOURS TO TAY NINH – CU CHI  TUNNELS – HO CHI MINH CITY (B/-/-)

Depart for Tay Ninh, the headquarter of Cao Dai region founded on 1926. On arrival we attend the fantastic mid-day mass when the followers fill the hall wearing colored robes, a symbol of the curious combination of the Confucianism, Taoism, Christianity and Buddhism.

Afternoon, transfer about 30km north-west of Ho Chi Minh City to Cu Chi town. Cu Chi tunnels were used as the base from which the Vietnamese mounted their operations of the Tet Offensive in 1968. The Cu Chi tunnels consist of more than 200km of underground tunnels. This main axis system has many branches connecting to underground hideouts, shelters, and entrances to other tunnels, the tunnels are between 0.5 to 1m wide, just enough for a person to crawl along.

 O/N in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 11: HO CHI MINH CITY – MEKONG DELTA PACKAGE TOURS (B/L/-)

Heading out of town, we travel by roads to the Mekong Delta. This plain region boasts the largest rice bowl of Vietnam. On arrival in My Tho we board a boat navigating around the intricate small canals, which is a great way to observe the local lifestyle close-up and catch a view dotted by many islands. The exciting river trip will pass by the lush green vegetation towards the famous Unicorn Island where we have a chance to stroll around an orchard, taste many seasonal fruits and see farmers at work. We navigate some narrower canals using small rowing boats to Ben Tre Province for an interesting visit to some local industries. The extra enjoyment is to have lunch at one of the famous local eating spots.

We drive back to Ho Chi Minh, stopping en route to see the beautiful Vinh Trang Pagoda and the Saigon’s Chinatown, locally named as Cho Lon. This bustling area is crammed with sacred temples and mysterious, narrow lanes. 
O/N in Ho Chi Minh. 

Day 12: Vietnam Tour of Highlights to Halong, Tamcoc, Hue, Hoi An, Mekong Delta: HO CHI MINH CITY – DEPARTURE (B/-/-)

There is a free time to relax or further explore Ho Chi Minh. The tour ends after your transfer to Tan San Nhat Airport for departure. 

—End of services—

Prices For those who are in PRIVATE TOUR (Valid until 2019-end)

=> And for those who are just keen on signing up our GROUP TOUR, the special cost is just US$ 1.015/person for the 3-star hotels and ONLY US$ 1.299/person for the 4-star hotels. However, please contact our team via sales@dnqtravel.com to know more about the departure dates

=> If you want to upgrade your stay upto 5-star hotels, kindly email us at sales@dnqtravel.com 

* NOTE: All airfares could be changed without prior notice at the time of booking or issuance

* List of 3-star hotels in use:

– Hanoi: Silk Queen Hotel (Deluxe room) http://silkqueenhotel.com/ or similar ones

– Halong Bay: Luxury Flamingo **** cruise (Deluxe Cabin) http://luxuryflamingocruises.vn or similar ones

– Hoi An: Hoi An River Beach Resort (Deluxe room) http://www.river-beachresort.com/ or similar ones

– Saigon: Saigon Ruby River hotel (Superior room) www.rubyriverhotel.com.vn  or similar ones

* List of 4-star hotels in use:

– Hanoi: Silk Path Hotel (Deluxe room) http://silkpathhotel.com/ or similar ones

– Halong Bay: Pelican Cruise **** cruise (Deluxe Cabin) http://www.pelicancruise.com/ or similar ones

– Hoi An: Little Hoi An Boutique Hotel & Spa (Deluxe room) http://www.littlehoian.com/ or similar ones

– Saigon: Saigon Harmony hotel (Deluxe room) www.harmonysaigonhotel.com/en/ or similar ones

INCLUDING:

•  Transportation in private air-conditioned vehicle with driver 
•  Roundtrip Shuttle bus (Hanoi – Halong – Hanoi)
•  Group Tours to Halong bay and Hoa Lu – Tam Coc
•  Air ticket Hanoi – Hue, Danang – Ho Chi Minh City
•  Accommodation in hotels (twin shared room)
•  Meals as indicated: B = breakfast, L = lunch & D = Dinner
•  English or French speaking guide
•  Entrance fee to indicated sights 
•  Water puppet show
•  Boat trips
•  Pure bottled water & wipes

EXCLUDING:

Other meals, tip, drinks, airport tax, single room, personal expenses, insurance…