DAY 1: HANOI ARRIVAL (-/-/D)

Arrive at Hanoi airport, pick up by our guide and transfer to hotel (official check in time: 14h00).

Hanoi, the capital of unified Vietnam, was founded in 1010 on the right bank of the Red River and was then known as “Thang Long”, roughly translated as “Soaring Dragon”. Hanoi is one of the most charming cities in South East Asia with its authentic street scenes, large shady avenues, numerous lakes, manicured gardens and well-preserved architecture.

Time at leisure to recover.

Meals on your own. Night at hotel.

DAY 2: HANOI (B/-/-)

Breakfast at hotel.  08:30: The day is dedicated to a more in depth discovery of Hanoi beginning with a visit to Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum (from outside) and Ho Chi Minh’s house (closed on Monday) and the One Pilar pagada.

Next, visit the temple of Literature, a structure dedicated to Confucius. It was constructed in 1070, the compound soon became the first Vietnamese university.

Lunch at a local restaurant.  Afternoon, visit the renowned museum of Ethnology (closed on Monday), which houses an interesting collection of artifacts relating to the mosaic of ethnic groups that inhabit Vietnam.

This afternoon’s touring will also provide the opportunity to see Hanoi’s famed Old Quarter. You will conclude your day city tour by visiting to the temple of Jade at the centre of atmospheric Hoan Kiem lake, otherwise known as the lake of ‘the restored sword’.   At the end of the day, we invite you to get in touch with local people and discover their daily life by siting down in a typical corner of the Old quarter and try a black or with sweet milk coffee. Very relaxing and there is no better way.

Dinner on your own. Night at hotel.

DAY 3: HANOI – TRANG AN – NINH BINH (B/L/-)

Breakfast at hotel.  08:00: Leaving Hanoi for a 2.5 hour drive through rural northern Vietnam to the site of Vietnam’s first capital, Hoa Lu.

Visit the temples dedicated to Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang of the Dinh Dynasty (968-80), and Emperor Le Dai Hanh of the Le Dynasty (980-1009). The ancient Hoa Lu Citadel (most of which has since been destroyed) once covered an area of three square kilometers.

Continue to Trang An where you embark on a row-boat to discover the site. Limestone hills surround a peaceful river which passes through a series of caves (one which takes 15-minutes to pass through in darkness). An ‘eco tourism’ area, the only interruptions here are the sound of birds and the gentle paddle of the oar upon the crystal clear river.  Check in the lodge and lunch.

15:00: Take a half-hour walk up one of the surrounding limestone karst hills, the climb is rewarding with spectacular views.

Dinner on your own. Night at the lodge.

DAY 4: NINH BINH – HALONG (B/L/D)

Breakfast at hotel.  

08:00: Depart for Halong bay.

07:30–08:00: Pick up at your hotel in Hanoi’s Old Quarter area.
12:00–12:30: Embark at Hon Gai International harbor.
12:30–13:00: Check-in, enjoy welcome drink & cruise briefing.
13:30–15:00: Have lunch while cruising to magnificent Bai Tu Long bay; admire the fascinating formations on the way.
15:15–15:40: Explore the well-hidden Thien Canh Son cave.
15:45–18:00: Enjoy relaxing on a white sandy beach at Hon Co Island, swimming (if weather permits) or kayaking.
18:00–19:00: Back to junk for refreshing before having dinner on board.
20:00–21:00: Relax, enjoy fresh air & overnight on board

DAY 5: HALONG – HANOI – DONG HOI (B/L/-)

06:30–07:00: Start a new day with a Tai Chi demonstration on the sun-deck.
07:00–07:30: Take in the morning view of the Bay’s landscape with a cup of tea or coffee and enjoy breakfast in the fresh air.
7:30–09:45: Cruise to Cong Do area to explore the well-hidden Thien Canh Son Cave.
10:00: Check out your cabin.
10:45–11:30: Enjoy a Buffet while cruising towards the harbor.
11:30–12:00: Disembark and drive back to Hanoi.
Dinner on your own.

Evening, transfer to Hanoi station for the night train to Dong Hoi. Night on the train in an AC cabin of 4 soft berth (4 pax/cabin).

DAY 6: DONG HOI – PHONG NHA (B/L/-)

Arrive at Dong Hoi station from early morning, pick up and transfer to the city center.

Breakfast at a local restaurant. Then, depart to Phong Nha National Park.

Check in upon arrival and time at leisure. Lunch at local restaurant.   

Afternoon, visit Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park. Get on a boat trip on  Son River to Phong Nha Cave. Enter the cave to admire the magnificent stalactites and stalagmites. Explore the remains of Cham altars and inscriptions inside the cave.

Next to the Phong Nha, Tien Son cave was found in 1935 and first time discovered by a French archaeologist – Mrs. Colani. Tien Son Cave is nearly 1km long. It is only about 20m high but more and more larger when getting inside with the stalactite system which is considered the most spectacular in Phong Nha – Ke Bang Heritage.

Dinner on your own. Night at hotel.  

DAY 7: PHONG NHA (B/L/-)

Breakfast at hotel.  08:00: Pick up at hotel and drive on to the Ho Chi Minh -West Trail to reach the drop-off zone. From this point, you will have to hike and our tour guides will take you deep in to the primary forest and discover the Paradise Cave. This cave is one of the most beautiful caves inside the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, deep inside the cave visitors can embrace the beauty of it.

On the way to the Mooc Spring Eco-Trail, there will be a short stop at the 8 Ladies Cave. This is a memorial temple for 8 brave woman that sought shelter inside one of the caves during the war. Our tour guides will explain the entire story to the participants!

After a short drive, the next stop is the Mooc Spring, a beautiful spring with a bamboo bridge that will take visitors over the springs to beautiful spots where they can swim, kayak, cross the adventurous bridge or simply relax and embrace the tranquility of the Mooc Spring. Kayaking a long the water will give you an unique experience with taking a look at the fishes on spring or the butterflies’ show flying around the stones.

Lunch during the visit. Dinner on your own. Night at hotel.

DAY 8: PHONG NHA – DMZ – HUE (B/L/-)

Breakfast at hotel. 08:00: Pick up at hotel and drive north to the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone). From Dong Ha town, you will visit the ancient battle fields Khe Sanh on the historic Road 9 linking with Laos and historic sites such as The Rockpile, the Ho Chi Minh Trail, Ta Con Airfield. You will then proceed to the amazing tunnels of Vinh Moc, which remain untouched after many years. This network offers you an authentic view of underground life of the Viet Cong and the villagers of Vinh Linh during the U.S.-Vietnam War. On the way to Vinh Moc, you will pass the Ben Hai River, the dividing line between North and South Vietnam in war time. You will return to Hue in the late afternoon with a stop at Quang Tri Citadel.

Lunch during the visit. Dinner on your own. Night at hotel.

DAY 9: HUE (B/-/-)

Breakfast at hotel. 08:30: Depart for a day which is spent discovering Hue, capital of Vietnam from 1802 to 1945 during the reign of the Nguyen dynasty emperors. Declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1993, the Citadel is only one of many well-preserved historical sites in the city and its environs. Visit to the Citadel, seat of the Nguyen Dynasty emperors. Construction began in 1804 under the orders of the first Emperor Gia Long after the site had been selected using principles of geomancy (Feng Shui). The Citadel was inspired by Vauban fortifications and is composed of three sections; the capital city (Thanh Kinh), the Imperial city (Hoang Thanh) and the Forbidden City (Cam Thanh). It was largely destroyed in 1968 during the fighting that engulfed Hue following the Tet Offensive. Today, efforts are being made to restore and preserve this invaluable piece of heritage.

Next, visit to a typical garden house of Hue to enjoy the traditional architecture and quiet garden paths.  Lunch on your own.

In the afternoon visit Tu Duc’s mausoleum, one of the most beautiful works of royal architecture of the Nguyen dynasty.  Continue with the visit to Tu Hieu pagoda, near the tomb of Emperor Tu Duc. It also houses a community of monks who remains very active. In the garden, you’ll encounter the graves of royal mandarins. A visit to this pagoda reveals the ongoing importance of monastic life in Hue, which remains the most important Buddhist centre in Vietnam.

Dinner on your own. Night at hotel.

DAY 10: HUE – DA NANG – HOI AN (B/-/-)

Breakfast at hotel. 08:30: Transfer to Hoi An along Highway 1 which links Hanoi to Sai Gon. This drive is reputedly the most beautiful in all Vietnam, taking you past coastal fishing settlements, most notably Lang Co with its stunning lagoon backdrop. The drive also takes you over Hai Van Pass (or ‘pass of the ocean clouds’).

Check in hotel upon arrival.  The afternoon is spent strolling through the narrow streets of this atmospheric old town. This former port, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is full of architectural gems that show a range of influences. Around the seventeenth century Hoi An was one of the busiest ports in South East Asia. Enriched by the proceeds of this trade many merchants constructed beautiful homes. You should start by visiting Japanese bridge, Quan Cong temple, Fujian temple, one of the old houses and the local market.

Meals on your own. Overnight at hotel in Hoi An.

DAY 11: HOI AN (B/-/-)

Breakfast at hotel. 08.30: Meet our guide and start your cycling to Cam Thanh village, we have chance to enjoy the rice paddy-field view and learn the traditional method of rice production of the local people. At this village, we will be amazed how nice is the coconut characteristic house of the countryside, and enjoy the handicraft man manipulating the furniture made of water coconut and bamboo.  

Continue to the fishing village to explore the water coconut palm  with the unique basket boat and visit the lake of shrimp, there  you will have chance to touch the fishing life by catching fish with the local fishermen’s net , that will be an unforgettable experience on your trip to Vietnam. Relax with lunch at local family.

Back to town center after lunch and time at leisure to enjoy the serenity of the old town. Dinner on your own. Overnight at hotel in Hoi An.

DAY 12: HOI AN – DA NANG – SAI GON (B/-/-)

Breakfast at hotel.  Morning, meet our driver and transfer to the Da Nang airport for your flight to Sai Gon. On arrival, transfer to your hotel.

Afternoon, starting your discovery of Sai Gon. Visit the Central Post Office, a pearl of colonial architecture designed by Gustave Eiffel, Notre Dame – Sai Gon’s beautiful cathedral, the War Remnants Museum which presents a partial, but riveting, view of the American War, as it is known in Vietnam.  Meals on your own. Night at hotel.

DAY 13: SAI GON DEPARTURE (B/-/-)

Breakfast at hotel. Time at leisure until meet our driver ad transfer to Sai Gon airport for your departure. The room is at your disposal until 12:00 only.