Essential Vietnam Discovery Tour

Start your day with visit to Ba Dinh Square and the Uncle Ho’s Mausoleum, an impressive marble building where the father of modern Vietnam is at rest.
Nearby, within the memorial complex is the yellow painted Presidential Palace and Uncle Ho's house on stilts that surrounded by hibiscus fence and mirrors into still surface of a large fish pond.
Next is the little One Pillar Pagoda, one of Vietnam’s most iconic temples built in 1049 by King Ly Thai Tong. This pagoda has been standing as the witness for the vicissitudes of Hanoi thousand years.
Continue to the Temple of Literature, the first University of the country that built from 1076, where you can see nearly hundred of huge stone steles standing on turtle backs and bear names of the country’s men who received Doctor Laureate through royal examinations.

Afternoon you will spend time to visit the Hoa Lo Prison, known widely by the nickname ‘Hanoi Hilton’; given to it by the Americans pilots during the Second Indochina War, the National Museum where houses a huge display of culture artifacts and evidences of thousands year national buiding and defence.

Get transfer through Red River delta land to Halong City. Check in hotel and the remainder of the day is to explore the town as well as to enjoy the sand sea breeze from on the beach.

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

Hanoi Sightseeing

Breakfast

Hotel in Halong City

Get transfer to the pier for our day cruise to explore the incredible scenery of Halong Bay.
Twice recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage for its exceptional natural and cultural values and recently voted as one of 7 new wonders of the World, Halong Bay is considered one of the most beautiful places on earth. It is a huge body of emerald water that covers a space of more than 1500 square kilometers dotted with stunning limestone islands of different shapes that carved by waves and winds through millions of year. The name of the bay means “descending dragon” and according to legend, the thousands of its isle were created by dragons with their pearls.
During the cruise, you will visit floating villages, enjoy swimming in the crystal water, discover huge lime stone cave and sharpen your shooting skill with thousands of chance for photos.
A sumptuous seafood lunch will be served as you wind your way through the dramatic limestone islands.
12.00: Disembark the boat and get transfer to the airport for a flight to Da Nang, gateway to Hoi An ancient town.
Pick up from the airport and transfer to hotel for check in. Remainder of the day is free at your leisure to explore this lovely town at your own pace.

Summary of inclusions

Halong Bay cruise & sightseeing

Private vehicle

Internal flight

Breakfast & lunch

Hotel in Hoi An

After breakfast, meet up with guide and star your exciting tour of Hoi An countryside by bicycle.
Cycle our way through stunning villages and green farm lands, visiting Tra Que herb garden veggie village, meeting local farmers, listening to tour guide explained why it is called “Organic farm” and how it is consumed around Hoi An and local people.
Join with locals on farming activities like: hoeing soil, using seaweed, transplanting and watering vegetable…
Continue our ride passing through undulating rice paddy fields, shrimp farm, duck farms, taking picture of buffaloes, cows, birds, bamboo...
Later, enjoy a round bamboo boat rowing thru the water coconut forest which was the lair of Viet Cong during the war and listen the story about the history of the land.

This afternoon you are free to enjoy your walk around Hoi An and exploring featured sights of the town such as central market, former merchants’ houses, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese communal hall and Hoi An museum and so on…
Along the walk you will also have chance try some local specialties such as: Cao lau, Quang noodle, white rose, VAC cake, fried wonton, chicken rice and so on.

Overnight in hotel in Hoi An.

Summary of inclusions

Hoi an country cycling

Farming experience

Breakfast

Hotel in Hoi An

After breakfast, check out hotel, get transfer by private car thru rural land, mountain landscapes with stop on Hai Van Pass and optional visit to Cham Museum and Marble Mountain in Da Nang.
Check in hotel upon arrival.

This afternoon you will have a guided tour to visit to Hue’s Imperial Citadel and Forbidden City, built from 1804 to 1830, where Kings of Nguyen Dynasty ruled the country from 1802 to 1945.
The citadel was built in square shape with each side is 2.5km long of high and thick brick wall and protected by deep moat. Inside, there are different sections for government offices, resident palaces for Kings and his family. Though most of the buildings here ruined by consecutive wars in the country, the remains reflect well pomp and ceremonies of the royal past.
End our day with a visit to the Dong Ba Market, the central market of Hue. Do not forget to try some Hue's specialty such as 'Banh Nam' and 'Banh Khoai' that is Hue famous for.

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

hue Sightseeing

Breakfast

Hotel in Hue

Today you will have an exciting day tour on motorbike ride to discover Hue countryside and royal monuments. (You can also choose to car drive or bicycle ride instead) 
Visit a local market which located in beautiful and very poetic scenery of Hue’s country, the centuries-old covered bridge of Thanh Toan and a farming exhibition house then ride passing hidden alley and villages, visiting traditional handicrafts such as conical hat making, incense making and so on.
Later, spend time for discovery of one of Emperor Mausoleums, an eternal resting house for Emperor, special architecture in Hue, part of the Hue's World Heritage and built in line with the Royal Citadel according to strict Fengshui principles.
Continue to the ancient relic of Tiger and Elephant Arena then board a dragon boat cruise on the Perfume River to the Thien Mu Pagoda, the oldest pagoda and symbol of Hue with its 7 storey Phuoc Duyen tower.

Get transfer to the airport for our late afternoon flight to Ho Chi Minh City.
Pick up and transfer to the hotel for check in. Evening is at your leisure.

Summary of inclusions

Hue country motorbike ride

Country land & Royal relic explore

Private airport transfers

Internal flight

Breakfast

Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Early breakfast then depart Saigon centre for a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels, one of the most famous war relics in Vietnam and the World. The system was dug and used as a stronghold of Viet Minh and Viet Cong from 1948 to 1975 during the first and second Indochina War.

This underground city consists of more than 200km of narrow underground tunnels that connecting half or total covered hideouts, shelters, fighting bunkers, hospital, school, living rooms and so on with air filters, airtight covers, booby traps and sentries were all part of the system.

Watch a documentary film introducing the war time then walk along sinuous paths run under tropical foliage to explore the tunnel system. Discover secret entrance, booby traps, visiting workshops, clinics and so on...
It is the chance for you to creep into a tunnel to experience how the Vietcong lived and fought during that time and learn more about Vietnam War as well as how strong people’s determination can be.

This afternoon you will spend our time to explore city’s highlights including War Remnants Museum (or History Museum), Reunification Palace - formerly known as the Independence Palace which was the Presidential Palace of the South Vietnam before North Vietnamese tanks seized on the morning of April 30 1975, the Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon Central Post Office and Dong Khoi Street - formerly Rue Catinat – that made famous by Graham Greene in his best-selling book The quiet American. Perhaps take a sit by the veranda of colonial building Continental hotel sipping cafe au late watching the current of people an time pass by.
End our day with a visit to the Ben Thanh Market - the central market with plenty of local products.

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

Cu Chi tunnels explore

Sightseeing Ho Chi Minh City

Breakfast

Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

After breakfast, leave Saigon for a 2 hour scenic drive through scenic country land to Ben Tre passing My Tho. Dubbed as the rice bowl of Vietnam, Mekong Delta in general, My Tho and Ben Tre in particular is home to evergreen scenery of rice paddies, tropical orchards and mangrove along stunning water ways.
On arrival in Ham Luong pier in Ben Tre, board a wooden boat for our leisure cruise on Ben Tre River, exploring lively activities along river such as fishing, water transferring etc.
Stop at a pottery and brick making factory and observe locals work in traditional style by printing and baking.
Following, visit one of plenty of coconut processing workshops located along canal. As Ben Tre is the land famous for coconut, you will have a chance to learn lots about this kind of tree, huge variety of products made from coconut and do not miss the opportunity to taste some local specialties.
Back on the boat and turn on natural meandering creeks where they look smaller and smaller to go to village. Take a walk to visit family workshop making sleeping mats and enjoying some fruits and tea.
Continue with an exciting ride on motor cart (or bicycle) along shady paths, pass by coconut forest, green rice fields and vegetable plains to be able to touch on real life and find out about this fascinating tropical land.
Lunch is served in a local home with local specialties.
Later, take little sampan rowing along meandering canal to Ham Luong pier then drive back to Ho Chi Minh City.
Evening is at your leisure.

Summary of inclusions

Private vehicle

Boat cruise Mekong River

Sightseeing Mekong Delta

Breakfast & lunch

Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Today is departure day. Enjoy some free time for last purchases or simply relax before your transfer to airport for onward flight or continuing with more “Travel Authentic Asia” destinations.

Safe travel and see you again!

Summary of inclusions

Breakfast

Private airport transfer