Gems of Vietnam - 11 Days

Your Vietnam adventure begins with your arrival in Ho Chi Minh. Your private driver will meet you at the airport, holding a signboard with your name. He will escort you to your accommodation right in the heart of the city. You can easily explore the city at your own pace or relax at the hotel after the flight. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

Leaving the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City and start your trip to depart for My Tho, the town lies on the left side of the Mekong River. Upon arrival, visit Vinh Trang pagoda which sated back to the late 19th century. Then boarding the sampan and cruising down the river around the four beautiful islands known as Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix and Tortoise islands. Stop over at Unicorn Island, go walking around country lane and seeing orchards, enjoy tropical fruits, folk song music which performed by the local people. Visit the fruit plantation. Riding a hand-rowed sampan through Thoi Son canal and treat yourself in the beauty of the countryside, visit the family business, visit honey-bee farm, enjoy honey tea and coconut candy workshop. Have lunch at local restaurant. Break time. In the afternoon, time for cycling around the Tan Thach village, meet the local villagers to experience the local daily life in the Mekong delta. Hammock relaxing and enjoy cool breeze for those can’t join the cycling trip. Return to Ho Chi Minh City. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

Relish the remaining moment in Ho Chi Minh before your private driver escorts you to the airport to take the flight to Da Nang. When you arrive at Da Nang Airport, your driver will pick you up and transfer you to your accommodation in Hoi An. The rest of the time is free at leisure. Overnight in Hoi An.

Our English - speaking guide will meet you at the hotel around 8:00 am and take you for a cycle trip to the countryside and rivers around Hoi An. As you meander through the countryside, you will experience the friendliness of the local people greeting you along the way and enjoy the beautiful views of the neighborhood. After that, you will explore the Eco-Village Cam Thanh which is associated with the heroic history of the anti-French and anti-American war by taking a paddle boat trip in a unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boat down the waterways of a coconut palm paradise. Then you meet and engage with local fishermen, enjoy a hands-on experience of traditional net fishing and “Purple Crabs” in the canal, get some loveable handmade gifts from nipa palm leaves like hats, watches, rings ...After the boat trip, have a delicious lunch in our restaurant and cycle back to your hotel. Overnight in Hoi An.

Have a free day to explore Hoi An at your own pace. The best way to explore this charming town is to rent a bicycle at the hotel and cycle around the town towards the riverside or the beach. At the beach, you will find many small cafes where you could relax with a fresh fruit drink after swimming. The water in the sea is warm and calm. You could visit a tailor-shop which could make you and your loved ones a new piece of clothes, bag or shoes overnight. In the evening we recommend you to walk around the Old Town area, which looks charming when the shops light their lanterns. You and would really feel like being in a fairy-tale. And don’t skip the colourful performances organized on the street in the evening. Overnight in Hoi An.

Have breakfast at the hotel and get ready for the transfer from Hoi An to Hue by private car. You will drive through one of the most beautiful roads in the world - Hai Van Pass. Be prepared to be blown away by the stunning views of the mountains and the sea. Upon arrival in Hue, check in at the hotel and have free time to explore the surrounding area. Overnight in Hue.

Relish the remaining moments in Hue before your private driver escorts you to the airport to take the flight to Hanoi. When you arrive at Noi Bai Airport, your driver will pick you up and transfer you to your accommodation in the Old Quarter. The rest of the time is free at leisure. Overnight in Hanoi.

Halong Bay is a natural wonder of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site, and once you arrive there, you will understand why. Get ready to be amazed by the world's most breathtaking views, and have a relaxing time on the cruise, enjoying the exciting activities we have prepared for you. After breakfast, check out of the hotel and leave Hanoi for Halong Bay. The cruise team will meet you at the hotel lobby between 8:00-9:00 am (we will confirm the exact time the day before the tour). Arrive at the jetty around noon and take a boat to the cruise. After a welcome onboard and check-in, lunch will be served while the cruise is making its way through the hundreds of islets. In the afternoon, enjoy some activities such as swimming and kayaking or visiting caves (depending on each boat's itinerary), or just spend relaxing time on board. Towards the end of the day, the boat sets anchor for the night in a beautiful place, so don't miss the sunset before having dinner. Overnight on the cruise. Note: In case of bad weather, the itinerary might be changed or canceled if the boats will not be allowed to leave the port. Your travel consultant will plan other arrangements for you in this case.

The sun rises on Halong in the morning, and breakfast is served while the vessel cruises slowly back toward the port. Enjoy an early lunch before arriving at the port and disembarking. You will be transferred back to Hanoi. The rest of the day is free to explore the city on your own. Overnight in Hanoi.

Optional City Tour by Group Tour - USD 50 per person 8:00 - 8:30 AM: Our tour guide and bus will pick you up from your hotel and start to discover Hanoi City. 8:45 AM: Arrive at Tran Quoc Pagoda located on West Lake. It is the oldest pagoda in Hanoi, built in the 6th century. 9:30 AM: Visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex, the final resting place of Vietnam's great leader, Uncle Ho. You'll have a chance to see his embalmed body, then walk around the garden to see the two houses where he lived and worked from 1954 to 1969. Then visit the One Pillar Pagoda, which worships the Goddess of Mercy - it's one of the most unique pagodas in the world. 11:15 AM: Visit the Vietnam Ethnology Museum to learn about the culture of Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups. 12:45 PM: Have lunch at our restaurant, with vegetarian options available. 2:00 - 2:15 PM: Continue to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university, founded in 1070. 3:15 PM: Visit Hoa Lo Prison, also known as the "Hanoi Hilton", a former French prison that is now a war museum. 4:30 PM: Return to the hotel. Overnight in Hanoi. Note: Please dress modestly by covering your shoulders and knees when visiting the Mausoleum, temples, and pagodas. The Mausoleum is closed on Mondays and Fridays, and for maintenance from June 15 to August 15. If the Ethnology Museum is closed on Mondays, we'll visit the Vietnamese Women's Museum instead.

Relish a healthy breakfast on the final day of your trip to Vietnam. Complete the hotel check-out formalities, then you can visit local markets to buy souvenirs. Later, your private driver will transfer you to the airport for your flight back home. Trip Ends.