Small Group Adventure for you and your friends!
Discover the highlights of Vietnam in ten days. This carefully crafted tour will cover 4 beautiful cities in Vietnam: Saigon, Hanoi, Hue and Hoi An. We will visit three UNESCO World Heritage sites: Hoi An, Hue and Halong Bay as well as visiting Cai Lay – the authentic area of Mekong and Tho Ha – the typical ancient village in the Red River Delta. Designed to be as individual as you are, you will have the option to join our Exclusive Discovery Features such as a cycle trip to a rural area in Hoi An or a hidden area of the Imperial Citadel in Hue, visit the old Noble Village of Kim Long and enjoy the special vegetarian lunch in Dong Thien Pagoda in Hue.
This unique trip gives you the joy of experience a country with a leader who makes sure you get the most out of each day, while also giving you the freedom to discover the destination on your own.
Itinerary
Day 1: HANOI – ARRIVAL
Fly to Hanoi. Upon arrival to the airport, you well be met by our guide and transfer to you hotel.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Meals: None
Day 2: HANOI – FULL DAY CITY TOUR
Morning start our tour to discover Hanoi, a peaceful city with beautiful trees and lakes, the city has thousand years of history and culture. We will have the first impression of the city by authentic Cyclo ride from your hotel to Hanoi Old Quarter – where you can experience the real daily life activities of local people in the oldest area of Hanoi. Then you will ride by the French Quarter along wide and green typical French boulevard that can explain to you why this city so called “Paris of the East” before taking a walk to Ngoc Ha village. You can see the village as a Oasis in the middle of the city, that still keep all the typical daily life activities along your walk. Then visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum – the symbol of the country and Presidential Palace, Presidential Garden, his House on Stilts and One Pillar Pagoda. After that, visit Temple of Literature – the central of culture of Hanoi. Lunch at Season of Hanoi Restaurant.
Afternoon visit Ethnology Museum in which you can study the great outline of 54 ethics people living in Vietnam. Back to the center of the city for the short walk to discover the Old Quarter. Your tour will be concluded with great experience of Water Puppet show – the unique art of Vietnamese people from Red River Delta.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3: HANOI – HALONG
In the morning drive from Hanoi to Halong Bay by Red River Delta with beautiful rice field and activities of local people along the way. Upon arrival to Halong, embark to the Junk on Hon Gai International Harbour.
12:30 – 13:00: Check-in. Cruise begins with welcome drink and safety briefing.
13:30 – 14:30: Set menu lunch served in the outdoor dining room (depending on the weather) while cruising into magnificent Bai Tu Long Bay; admire the fascinating limestone karsts on the way.
15:00 – 17:00: Cruise to Vung Dang – Cong Dam area: Swim or relax on a white sandy beach; Go kayaking through the mystery Karst Mountains in Vung Dang area.
18:00 – 20:30: Return to Dragon Legend Cruise to refresh yourself in Mineral Seawater Pool, Fitness Room or the Spa and Massage Services before dinner.
20:30: Spend the rest of your evening relaxing, talking with the on board team, watching movies, listening to music… Overnight in Tra San area
Overnight on the Cruise.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & Dinner
Day 4: HALONG
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 meet the bus to transfer back to Hanoi.
On the way back to Hanoi, visit Tho Ha the famous village of terracotta products before 20th century. Discover village through narrow and zigzag alleys with the old houses had been constructed from broken part of terracotta from the past. We will take you to visit the house of Mr. Viet – the typical family in the village. Experience how his wife making rice paper in the traditional way (you also can have the hands on experience of making rice paper) and enjoy the folk music performed by himself while having some tea in his house. Mr. Viet also will take us to visit the 500 years old original pagoda in the village and you will be the only visitors in one of the most beautiful pagoda in the Red River Delta. Then we will walk through the village’s narrow alleys, interact to villager then walk from the cemetery to the dike, where you can see the village over the beautiful lake. Drive to Noi Bai Airport for flight to Hue.
Overnight in Hue.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 5: HUE
Morning take a cyclo trip from your hotel over famous Trang Tien bridge and Dong Ba market. The cyclo will take you around the ancient citadel of Hue, getting over the streets, local shops for the over view of daily life and architecture of this famous citadel. Stop at Noon gate of Imperial Citadel for the walking tour to the inner area of the citadel where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945 including Flag Tower, Noon Gate, Nine Dynastic Urns, Nine Holy Cannons, Thai Hoa Palace, and Forbidden Purple City. At noon, visit Dong Thien Pagoda then experience the vegetarian lunch prepared by the nun. The Pagoda also run some kinder gartens for poor children and our visit will contribute directly to children in these classes. You also can interact with the nuns before visiting Tu Duc Tomb, discover beautiful and impressive architecture of this unique construction in Hue as well as the story of the King there. Back to the hotel and the rest of the day is free at leisure.
Overnight in Hue.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 6: HUE – DANANG – HOIAN
Morning visit Thien Mu Pagoda – the symbol of Hue city before take a walk around Kim Long Village where you can visit the original ancient house of the former mandarin, mingle with local people and experience their daily activities in the village. After that, depart to Danang through famous Hai Van Pass. Upon arrival, visit Cham Museum with great collection of sand stone artifact from 4th to 13th century then enjoy lunch at Apsara Restaurant. Drive to Hoi An, the little attractive town very famous as living museum which was originally one of major trading centers of Southeast Asia in the 16th century. Check in your hotel in Hoi An. In the evening, take the orientation in ancient town of Hoi An.
Overnight in Hoi An.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 7: FULL-DAY HOI AN CITY TOUR
Morning take a walking tour to Hoi An ancient town. Visit Thang Loi Handicraft workshop in Phan Chu Trinh Street. You will have the chance to experience all the typical traditional handicraft of Hoi An, such as wood carving, mat weaving, lantern making, silk worm raising, spinning and weaving, table cloth making and embroidery picture. These handicrafts made great contribution to upgrade living standard of local people since Hoi An turn to be popular destination for the tourists. Then take a walk to Hoi An ancient town. We will start the walk from small alley from Phan Chu Trinh Street to Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street. This is the typical ancient street of Hoi An, that can show you great atmosphere of the ancient town. Visit the Japanese Cover Bridge – the symbol of Hoi An. After that visit Tan Ky, the most well known and authentic ancient house in town. Then take a walk along the Nguyen Thai Hoc – the ancient street of Hoi An to the market of the town. Visit the local market and Phuc Kien Congressional Assembly Hall, the communal place for Chinese community from Fukien province in China as well the worshiping temple to Thien Hau, the Goddess protecting people on the sea – that was so important for the Chinese Merchant and Fishman in the past..
Afternoon depart for the cyclo trip to Cam Nam Village (this is exclusive discovery feature of ICT). The cyclo will take you from the town to Cam Nam Bridge. You will have the first stop for the photo opportunity of the activities and scenery on the Thu Bon River. Then the cyclo will take you along the Thu Bon River bank, where you can have another photo stop for panorama view of Hoi An from other side of river. You will ride along the riverside and cycle through local villages of Cam Nam. This is untouched area by tourism with very friendly and hospitable local people. You can see their daily life activities or even viewing the interior of their house and their life through always opened doors. The cyclo trip will be ended at green small canal covered by water coconut trees. Embark on the boat and take a cruise to Thu Bon River. You can experience the local daily life along river, such as fishing, farming, catching clam …. Come back to Hoi An around sunset time.
Overnight in Hoi An.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8: HOI AN – DA NANG ✈ SAIGON
Morning transfer to Danang airport for the flight to Saigon. Upon arrival take tour to Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post office. Lunch at Pho 2000 Restaurant.Afternoon take a tour to China town, the special identity of Saigon. Visit Thien Hau Pagoda, where hundreds of local people come and burn the incense for their luck, prosperity and happiness. After that, take a walk around Cho Lon, the biggest whole sale market in town. It is great combination of busy and bustle atmosphere of the market and traditional Chinese Architecture there.
Overnight in Saigon.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
DAY 9: SAIGON – CAI LAY
Morning we drive 2 hours from Saigon to Cai Lay, a small but fertile town in the Mekong Delta through the new national freeway. Upon arrival, drop off at the town’s local pier and start boarding our small motorized boat for a 30 min boat trip on one of the small branches of the Mekong River. Witness the lively life on the water of the locals. Disembark at Cam Son bridge where you start a leisure cycling trip (alternative transportation is our “xe loi”, a fun local transportation) into a deep Mekong Delta exploration. The ride is about 7km on shady narrow village roads curving over tiny canals and past fruit gardens and sleepy villages. Many kids will greet you with a big smile and “xin chao” or Hello. During the village road, you will have a chance to stop and visit local factories, fish farm, rice paddies to learn briefly about the local economy, business. Arrive at a lush orchard with diverse tropical fruits. Have a friendly chat with the owner – a former veteran with interesting topics about his motherland as well as his daily life both past and present. He will be very happy to walk you around his garden. Enjoy the opportunity to taste fresh fruits picked right from the trees. Then relax with a sampan ride to visit a local ancient house, have a brief interaction with these friendly residents in their 100 year‐old house before tasting their hosted lunch with traditional dishes of the Mekong land. Bid farewell to the family then drive back to Saigon.
Overnight in Saigon
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 10: SAIGON – Departure
At leisure until transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for departure flight. Tour Concluded.
Services included:
- Transportation in private air-conditioned vehicle with driver
- Air ticket Hanoi- Hue; Danang-Saigon (separate quote)
- Accommodation in hotels (Twin shared room)
- Meals as indicated in program
- English speaking guide
- Entrance fee to indicated sights
- Water puppet show
- Cyclo tour, boat trips
- Join cruise on Halong Bay
- Waters & cool towels on the van
Services excluded: Other meals, drinks, international flights & airport tax, personal expenses, insurance,…
Prices start at: $2000 per person (Single supplement – $295)