Throughout this entire journey, you will be looked after by our knowledgeable and friendly tour guides, who double as your hosts and friends. They will regale you with tales of our history, culture, and evolution over time. Along with appreciating the beauty of both the natural world and humankind, this is your unique opportunity to get to know our people wherever you go.
DAY 1: HANOI ARRIVAL
“Xin chào” - Welcome to Hanoi. You will be welcomed by Viet Exquisite Travel's guide and driver upon arrival then transfer to hotel in city for check in. (Check in time: 14.00. Early check in at surcharge). Free at leisure on your own.
Located at the center of Red River Delta and with more than one thousand years’ history, Hanoi became the capital of Vietnam. Visiting Hanoi, you will not only witness a busy developing city through modern architects and busy streets but also learn more about history, culture, nature and friendly local people
Overnight at hotel in Hanoi
- Meals: No
- Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
- Transportation:Car/Van/Coach
DAY 2: HANOI FULL DAY CITY TOUR
After breakfast, 8:30 AM we begin the full day city tour with Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and “House on stilt” at the same area with the Presidential Palace. We will then continue to the One Pillar Pagoda and the 900-year old Temple of Literature, the principal Vietnamese Confucian sanctuary, and its historical centre of learning. Made up of five courtyards, this is one of the few remnants of the original city. Lunch at local restaurant ( by your own account).
In the afternoon visit the fascinating Ethnology Museum (closed Mondays), which is both a research centre and a public museum exhibiting the ethnic groups of Vietnam. After that, you will enjoy one hour cyclo tour through the maze of bustling streets that make up Hanoi’s Old Quarter, then visit the colorful local markets where we meet stall holders and talk about their food and learn about local culinary. Then continue along both high streets and back streets exploring many corners in Hanoi’s Old Quarter.
Finish the day with a Water Puppet show. This is a uniquely northern Vietnamese art form depicting scenes from rural life and episodes of national history. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.
- Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
- Transportation:Car/Van/Coach
DAY 3: HANOI – HALONG – OVERNIGHT ON CRUISE
Breakfast at hotel then driving across the Red River Delta to Halong City. Have a short time to relax at the cruise lounge before embark the cruise. Take your key from the crew and enjoy relaxing time in your own cabin or at sundeck before having lunch at the restaurant.
After lunch, continue your journey to discover Halong Bay – the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Northern Vietnam. Depend on the each cruise's itinerary, you will take part in different schedule during the trip as visiting a beautiful cave, have some swimming (if permits) or other activities like sunset party, cooking demonstration etc before dinner.
After dinner is your free time. You may choose to enjoy fresh air on the sundeck or playing board games or try your luck with squid fishing.
Dinner and overnight on board
- The cruise program may be changed depend on the cruise’s schedule and weather.
- Guide will not accompany you on board
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation: Halong Bay Cruise
- Transportation:Car/Van/Coach/ Cruise
DAY 4: HALONG – HANOI – FLY TO DANANG – HOI AN
If you don’t mind, please try to wake up early and join the Taichi class with the crew and enjoy watching sunrise on the bay. Take part in other activities of the 2nd day while the boat cruise back to the Habour.
Meet your guide and driver again for transfer to Hanoi airport for flight to Danang.
Upon arrival Danang airport, meet your guide and transfer to hotel in Hoi An for check in.
Overnight at hotel in Hoian
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian
- Transportation: Flight/Car
DAY 5: TRA QUE VEGETABLE VILLAGE - HOI AN ANCIENT TOWN WALKING TOUR
Local guide will meet you at your Hotel. Ride your bike to a farmer’s house in Tra Que vegetable village. Enjoy welcome drink then stroll around the vegetable garden with your guide before joining the farmer to learn and to practice the traditional farming ways in preparing the land, and fertilizing the land with seaweed which is exploited from the nearby river. The following steps are raking the ground, sowing or transplanting, watering, some other gardening activities. After farming activities, you will take a break in the restaurant then enjoy foot massage before taking part in preparing and cooking some of the famous local dishes such as “Banh Xeo” Pancake, “Tam Huu” rolls, seafood Springrolls with the guidance of the farmer’s family or the chef. Enjoy your lunch with local specialties and with dishes that made by yourself.
In the afternoon, take a short walking tour around Hoi An Town across ancient streets of Hoi An, lined with Chinese traders’ homes and wooden houses reincarnated as restaurants, cafés, and outlets for local artists, craftsmen and tailors. Explore 400 years old Japanese Bridge, 300 years old Chinese temple, 200 years old Vietnamese former merchants' house etc. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at hotel in Hoian
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian
- Transportation: Car/Van/Coach
DAY 6: HOI AN – DANANG – SAIGON
Breakfast at hotel then meet your guide for transfer to Danang airport for flight to Saigon.
Afternoon, enjoy a city tour to The Reunification Palace, the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until April 30, 1975. Close to the palace some of the best examples of French colonial architecture are represented in the forms of Notre Dame Cathedral (outside) and the Central Post Office. Finish the day with a stop at Ben Thanh Market where you could try your ability in bargain to get unforgettable gifts to your family and friends at home.
Overnight in at hotel in Saigon
- Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon
- Transportation: Flight/Car
DAY 7: SAIGON – FULL DAY MEKONG DELTA
Today start our excursion early; get in your private car to Ben Tre - one of the most scenic provinces in Mekong Delta -Vietnam's largest rice bow. Take the boat on the Ben Tre river to visit the coconut cady workshop - specialty of native coconut where you can enjoy the delicious coconut candies. Walk to visit the bricks - kiln to see how to make bricks by local people’s handy methods and then visit the coconut processing workshops (coconut peeling, cutting …) of the local peoples, to see the coconut coir manufacturing facility. Continue cruising on the river for relaxtension. Have a sightseeing at local people’s daily activities on the river and feeling the daily life of the people at riverside.
Stop to visit the Thanh Thuy coconut’s gardens where you can be picked up and enjoy coconut water and tropical fruit. Take crowing-boat along palm creek. Get on the Lambro / motor-card on the village road with the vast garden of coconuts, grapefruit and coca. Stop to have the lunch with featured dishes of Mekong River region at the gardent of Mr.10 Ưa (Thuy Uyen restaurant). Afternoon: Walk in to the boat station. Take boat trip along Ba Lai legend river with the coconut’s stretches to see how local people fishing on the river. Stop to visit the TTC coconut fatory. Back to Ho Chi Minh city. Overnight at hotel in Saigon
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon
- Transportation: Flight/Car
DAY 8: SAIGON DEPARTURE
Coming to the end of your journey, enjoy some free time before your flight home. If time permits, shop around for some last minute purchases or simply relax before your onward departure flight.
- Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: No
- Transportation: Flight/Car
- Accommodation in shared twin room with air-condition (AC) and private bathroom (Check in time: 14.00/ Check out time: 12.00)
- Meals as stated in the programme B= breakfast, L= lunch, D= dinner
- Transfers and tours with local English speaking guides in private air-conditioned vehicles
- All entrance fees, boat fees and / or cyclo fees as mentioned in the programme
- Drinking water and cold towels available on the vehicles
- International and Domestic flights (quoted separately, if requested)
- Surcharges for other language guides
- Surcharges for night-time services, especially applied for transfers with arrivals after 23:00 hrs and arrivals or departures before 06:00 hrs.
- Surcharges for Lunar New Year (TET) holiday, Peak season and Compulsory Gala Dinner (TBA at booking time)
- Personal travel insurance
- Personal expenditure, such as drinks, souvenirs, laundry, camera fees, communications, postage, gratuities etc.
- Meals and services other than mentioned in the programme
- Drinks with meals
- Visa
- Early check-in and late check-out at hotels, if not mentioned in the programme
- Tips