This south bound journey encompasses all major attraction of Vietnam. We explore the old quarter of Hanoi, cruise Halong Bay, visit imperial Hue, stroll around the charming town of Hoian and see the holy land of Cham People in My Son. Continuing towards Nha Trang you swim in the South China Sea and soak up the fresh climate in Da Lat before you spend a few days seeing Ho Chi Minh and Mekong Delta.   

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrival - Ha Noi 
On arrival at Noi Bai Airport, you are met by our guide and transferred to hotel. The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi is a stylish and gracious city that retains an unique old world charm and some Asia's most striking colonial architecture. The many lakes and parks make for relaxing atmosphere. If time permits we enjoy a short cyclo ride through the bustling old quarter streets named after the specific goods once offered for sale at these places. O/N in Ha Noi.

Day 2: Ha Noi - Halong 
Today we commence our sightseeing of Hanoi with the Ho Chi Minh Complex, containing the mausoleum of the nation's founder Ho Chi Minh, the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh's house on stilts. Close to this complex is the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the foundation of Hanoi. We follow this with a visit to the Temple of Literature, well known as Vietnam's first university, and the History Museum which displays an excellent collection of artifacts illustrating the Vietnamese history. The peaceful lake of Hoan Kiem with its sacred temple and the bustling Dong Xuan Market are also visited before we depart for Halong Bay past the scenic countryside. En route we make stop over at Dong Trieu pottery village to stretch our legs and admire the craftsmen at work. O/N in Ha Long. (B)

Day 3: Ha Long - Ha Noi 
The legendary Halong Bay is truly one of Vietnam's most impressive scenic sights. We board a traditional boat for a five hour trip around Halong Bay. This exciting cruise provides us a fantastic view of the picturesque scenery blending with the sky and some 3,000 limestone islands rising amazingly from the clear and emerald water. These limestone karst formations are littered with beaches, grottoes and beautiful caves. Along the way we will anchor for a leisurely swim in a secluded cove and an enjoyable visit to one of the many hidden grottoes beneath towering cliffs. We round off our excursion with a seafood lunch served on board and make our way back to Ha Noi, arriving in time to see an evening performance of Hanoi's famous water puppets. O/N in Ha Noi. (B,L)

Day 4: Hanoi - Hue 
The following destination of our trip is Hue via a short flight from Hanoi. On arrival, you are greeted by our guide and transferred to hotel. The small and quiet Hue City was once the feudal capital of Vietnam from 1802 to 1945. This tranquil town is widely known for magnificent architecture, pagodas and royal tombs laid in many small villages and surrounding hills. We spend this afternoon to visit Hue with the massive citadel, containing theImperial City and the Purple Forbidden City. This royal residence was all but destroyed during the 1968 Tet Offensive, however it is still fascinating to walk among the ruins. The sightseeing continues with a walk to the bustling Dong Ba Market that sells a wide variety of local goods and handicrafts. Along the way we pass many fantastic eating spots, all ideal for visitors to sample some local delicacies. O/N in Hue. (B)

Day 5 : Hue - Hoi An 
The beautiful riverside Thien Mu Pagoda is one of the oldest ancient architectural structures for religious work ship in Hue. We include this in a half day cruise on the Perfume River which also gives us a taste of the scenic countryside and an enjoyable visit to the mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes. This impressive landmark reflects the beautiful architecture, intricate decor and mysterious statues. Afterwards we take a short drive though the rolling hill to see the elaborate royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc. Upon leaving Hue we depart for Hoi An with stopover in Lang Co Beach for a leisurely swim. The winding road begins as we make our way up the spectacular Hai Van pass. A view from the top of the pass is one of Vietnam’s most impressive panoramic scenes. We also have a chance to see on our way to Hoi An, the ChinaBeach and the Marble Mountain, whose peaks represent the five elements. O/N in Hoi An. (B)

Day 6: Hoi An - My Son - Hoi An 
Today we set off on a short drive to My Son which was once the sacred holy land of the Cham people. This sanctuary has left its legacy in the form of some towers, each one nearly a thousand years old. On arrival we stroll around these amazing structures representing an interesting culture and history of the Cham people. The remainder of day will be spent in Hoi An. This charming town was originally a Cham seaport but has been influenced down the centuries by a myriad of traders from various cultures. There are plenty to see in Hoi An, some of which are the famous Japanese Covered Bridges, the Pottery Museum, the 200 years old Tamky House, the Chua Ong Pagoda and the vibrant market. We include these in a walking tour passing many low tiled houses scattered along the small streets and assembly halls which reflect the town's multi-cultural past. The remainder of day will be free for your own exploration or simply relaxation on a beach. O/N in Hoi An. (B)

Day 7: Hoi An - Nha Trang 
The funny shopping areas are also a highlight of our visit to Hoi An. Today we have time to walk around many local shops, which are well known for their hand weaving and interesting artefacts. By late morning we are driven to Danang Airport for a short flight south to Nha Trang. The turquoise water surrounding a string of offshore islands, and the white sandy beach stretching the whole length of Nha Trang City make it an ideal place for anyone seeking an enjoyable escape. On arrival at Cam Ranh Airport you are met by our guide and transferred to hotel. If time permits we visit some major sights of Nha Trang City. They are the Long Son Pagoda with its famous giant Buddha image, the Hon Chong Rock formation and the impressive Ponagar Cham Towers, which are overlooking the colourful fishing port. O/N in Nha Trang. (B)

Day 8: Nha Trang - Da Lat 
Upon leaving Nha Trang we head south past the famous Cam Ranh Bay for an interesting visit to the Po Klong Jarai Towers. These amazing structures represent a significant power of the Champa Kingdom which ruled over the central cost of Vietnam in gone by centuries. We wind our way to Da Lat, sometimes known as the " City of Eternal Spring". This hill station was founded in the early years of the last century for the colonials to escape the heat and chaos of Saigon. Once arriving in Da Lat we start our tour with the sacred Lam Ty Ni Pagoda. The drive will take us through the charming pine hill to the summer residence of Vietnam’s last Emperor Bao Dai, who was forced to abdicate in 1945, shortly after the end of the World War II. We have a look at the lovely collection of Vietnam treasures in place before continuing to Hang Nga Guesthouse. This construction is well known as the Crazy House because of its bizarre architecture. O/N in Da Lat. (B)

Day 9: Da Lat - Ho Chi Minh 
The outlaying valleys and waterfalls are not a major part of sightseeing in Da Lat. We spend this morning to visit the poetic Xuan Huong Lake and the lively Hoa Binh Market which sells a wide array of local goods and handicrafts. The next destination is Ho Chi Minh. We make our way down hill to this town and pass through the many tea and coffee plantations around Bao Loc. The drive is long, but we can break our journey at the beautiful Dambri Waterfall and the floating villages in Na Nga. We arrive in Ho Chi Minh by mid or late afternoon depending on road and traffic conditions. The bustling Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many locals, is a center of commerce, finance, culture and tourism in Vietnam. This metropolis ,contradiction of its northern counterpart, is crowded with bikes and motorbikes, excited by numerous shopping areas and sidewalk cafés. O/N in Ho Chi Minh . (B)

Day 10 : Ho Chi Minh - Cu Chi - Ho Chi Minh 
The incredible underground network in Cu Chi stretched over 200 kilometres and became legendary during the American war. These extensive tunnels were specially constructed with living areas, weapon factories, filed hospitals, command centres, plus accommodation. Today we have an excursion to Cu Chi Tunnels to visit an exposition hall and a widened section of the tunnels to get a feel of the underground life. There are also possibilities to fire off rounds from an AK47 or MK16 at the nearby rifle range. The following programme is a half day tour seeing some major sights of Ho Chi Minh City. We pay a visit to the Reunification Palace which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975. Close to the palace are some striking French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Sai Gon Post Office. The next stops are the Jade Emperor Pagoda and the War remnant exhibit. We round off our day with a walk around the retail Ben Thanh Market where anything and everything is for sale!. O/N in Ho Chi Minh. (B)

Day 11 : Ho Chi Minh - Mekong Delta - Ho Chi Minh 
Heading out of town, we travel by roads to the Mekong Delta. This plain region boasts the largest rice bowl of Vietnam. On arrival in My Tho we board a boat navigating around the intricate small canals, which is a great way to observe the local lifestyle close-up and catch a view dotted by many islands. The exciting river trip will pass by the lush green vegetation towards the famous Unicorn Island where we have a chance to stroll around an orchard, taste many seasonal fruits and see farmers at work. We navigate some narrower canals using small rowing boats to Ben TreProvince for an interesting visit to some local industries. The extra enjoyment is a lunch at one of the famous local eating spots. We drive back to Ho Chi Minh, stopping off en route to see the beautiful Ving Trang Pagoda and the Saigon's Chinatown, locally named Cho Lon. This bustling area is crammed with sacred temples and mysterious, narrow lanes. O/N in Ho Chi Minh. (B,L)

Day 12: Ho Chi Minh - Departure 
There is a free time to relax or further explore Ho Chi Minh City. The tour ends after your transfer to Tan San Nhat Airport for departure. (B)

INCLUSIONS: +Transportation in private air-conditioned vehicle with driver + Accommodation: twin sharing room at mentioned hotels or similar one + English or French speaking guide + Entrance fee to indicated sights + Meals as indicated : B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner + Water puppet show + Cyclo trip + Domestic flight Hanoi - Hue, Danang - Nha Trang + Boat trip in Halong Bay, Hue and Mekong Delta

EXCLUSIONS: Other meals, tip, drinks, airport tax, single room supplement, personal expenses, travel insurance, visa, flight in / out of Vietnam, any optional additional tours or activities during free time, surcharge for peak season, local holiday days and gala din

TRIP NOTES

- VIETNAM IS A DEVELOPPING COUNTRY WHOSE INFRASTRUCTURE MAY DIFFER FROM WHAT YOU EXPECT FROM YOUR HOME LAND. THE ROAD CONDITIONS ARE POOR IN CERTAIN AREAS.

 -THE ITINERARY IS CORRECTED AT THE TIME OF VIEWING. OCCASIONALLY, THE PROGRAMME CHANGES AS WE MAKE IMPROVEMENT STEMING FROM OUR PAST TRAVELLERS' COMMENTS AND OUR OWN RESEARCH OR DUE TO LOCAL CONDITIONS OR CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND OUR CONTROL. THIS INCLUDES FESTIVAL, PUBLIC HOLIDAYS, WEATHER AND FLIGHT DELAY,.. THAT MAY EFFECT THE ITINERARY.

- THE TRIP INCLUDES SOME MEALS AS MENTIONED AT THE ITINERARY HOWEVER OUR GUIDE WILL BE ON HAND TO ADVISE YOU AS FAR THE AVAILABLE RESTAURANTS WHERE YOU CAN ENJOY LOCAL FOOD AT YOUR OWN BUDGET. THE MEAL COST IS ALL DEPENDING ON YOUR CHOICE OF EATING PLACE. THE PACKAGE TOUR WITH FULL BOARD MEAL IS ARRANGED UPON REQUEST .

- THE DRESS STANDARDS ARE CONSERVATIVE THROUGHOUT ASIA. LOOSE , LIGHTWEIGHT, LONG CLOTHING ARE ALL RESPECTFUL AND COOL IN ASIAN HOT CLIMATE. IN ADDITION TO YOUR ITEMS OF PERSONAL CLOTHING, WE SUGGEST YOU TO BRING TRAINER OR SNEAKER SHOES, JACKET FOR COLD WEATHER, TORCH/FLASH LIGHT, HAT, RAIN COAT FOR WET SEASON, SUN CREAM, SUNGLASS

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