Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi (D)
Arrive in Noi Bai Airport. Meet VietBambooTravel's guide at the airport and transfer to our hotel in downtown Hanoi. Welcome drink and tour briefing in the afternoon (If you come in the afternoon, the tour briefing will be done at dinner time)
In the evening, enjoy a special Water Puppet show and have welcome dinner with local delights.
Overnight Hanoi.
Day 2: Hanoi city tour (B, L)
After breakfast in the hotel you will take an interesting guided city tour of Hanoi including Ho Chi Minh complex (the mausoleum, the house & garden and the museum) and One Pillar Pagoda, a unique ancient architecture. After here we move to Temple of Literature, the site of Vietnam’s first university, dates back to 1070. Its peaceful gardens and pavilions offer a relaxing respite from Hanoi’s busy streets. Lunch in local restaurant. In the afternoon, we enjoy a relaxing cyclo tour in the ancient part of Hanoi. Walking down some small and lively street to see busy local market then join locals for green tea or coffee in local café. Free time for shopping. Overnight in Hanoi “Cyclo" is three wheeled rickshaws, operated by pedal-power, with a seat attached to the front.
Day 3: Hanoi - Halong Bay (B, L, D)
Leave Hanoi for Halong Bay at 8.30am.
On the way we will have a short break for refreshment at a handicraft centre. Upon arrival in Halong City we board a wooden boat for a fine seafood lunch and a short cruise to Thien Cung Cave. After a short exploration of the cave we start our kayaking time paddling through an amazing area of limestone islets. We will pass a floating village to reach Luon Cave, which is a tunnel thrusting through a mountain. Paddling through the tunnel to explore a beautiful secluded lagoon. We will meet the mortherboat, a junk in Chinese style, in front of the cave. Aboard the junk for dinner and overnight in AC, private cabin.
Day 4: Kayaking in Halong Bay (B, L, D)
After breakfast we start paddling to Van Chai Floating village and then continue paddling to Dark Cave. Tide permitting, we explore this amazing cave by kayak. The cave is a 200m long, dark tunnel thrusting through a limestone mountain. The tunnel is the only entry to a secluded and beautiful lagoon. Lunch on support boat in front of the cave. After lunch we paddle to Ba Trai Dao Lagoon, along a stunning and fairly rough sea channel, to explore its beautiful beaches. Continue paddling to Lan Ha Bay, which is smaller than Halong bay but much more interesting with lots of secluded beaches. Cruise back to Halong Bay for dinner and overnight on motherboat
Day 5: Halong Bay - Hanoi (B, L)
Breakfast on the junk and enjoy the sundeck of the junk while she navigates amazing rock formations of Bai Tu Long Bay to get back to Halong City. Lunch on the junk before reach Halong Harbor for a drive back to Hanoi. On the way back to Hanoi we will have a stop in Dong Trieu Town for refreshment and visiting to a ceramic factory. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 6: Hanoi - Hue (B, L)
Take early flight to Hue City, the former capital of Vietnam in 17th, 18th century. Hue has been recognized a World Heritage Site by UNESCO thanks to its outstanding cultural and historical values. Upon arrival we transfer to our hotel in Hue. After check-in we take a short drive to the Imperial City to visit the impressive Royal Palace and other beautiful royal buildings. Lunch in local restaurant with local delights. After lunch we embark on a relaxing biking tour to the rural area of Hue, passing scenic villages and green rice fields to reach Emperor Minh Mang Tomb, one of the most beautiful Emperor’s tombs in Hue. The tomb is particularly impressive being extravagant complex of pavilions, temple, courtyards, and lakes. After visiting to the Emperor’s tomb we will take a boat trip on the peaceful Perfume River to get back to Hue City. Overnight in Hue.
Day 7: Hue - Hoi An (B, L)
Breakfast in the hotel and leave Hue for Hoi An. Hoian is a small, beautiful ancient town by the bank of Thu Bon River. The town thrived on trading with the Chinese, Japanese, Spanish,… some hundred years ago. On the way we will have a short stop in Lang Co beach for refreshing. Upon arrival in Hoi An Town we check in hotel and have lunch in local restaurant. In the afternoon, we will take an interesting guided walking tour to see the ancient town of Hoi An. We will visit to ancient houses, old Chinese communal houses and the lively market of Hoian. Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 8: Hoi An (B)
Breakfast in hotel. Today is your free day to do whatever you want. There are some options for you to choose; shopping in the town – Hoi An is the paradise for those who like shopping, going to the beautiful beach of Cua Dai which is only 5 km from the town, take a short guided biking tour to the beautiful surrounding villages – this is included in the tour. Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 9: Hoi An - Da Nang - Saigon (B, L)
Breakfast in hotel. Transfer to Da Nang for a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Upon arrival in Tan Son Nhat Airport we transfer to our hotel downtown Saigon. The busy city of Saigon, used to be the capital of South Vietnam, is the biggest commercial and cultural centre of Vietnam. We will have lunch in a local restaurant before taking an interesting city tour of Saigon including the Unification Palace, the Post Office, the Jade Emperor Pagoda and Ben Thanh Market. Overnight in Saigon.
Day 10: Saigon - Vinh Long - Can Tho (B, L)
Breakfast in hotel before leaving Saigon for an exciting day tour in Mekong Delta. After two hour driving we will reach Vinh Long. From here we take a boat trip on the mighty Mekong River to reach a peaceful island on the river. On the island, we will walk through fruit orchards and visit to local family. We will try many different kinds of tropical fruit cultivated on the island, and we will be entertained with songs and music performed by villagers. After here we take a rowed boat trip on small canals, which are shaded by water coconut trees. We visit to a coconut candy factory and have lunch in a local restaurant. After lunch we travel further south to Can Tho City. On the way we will cross a branch of Mekong River on public ferry. Overnight in Can Tho.
Day 11: Can Tho - Saigon (B, L)
Get up early in the morning and take a boat trip on Mekong River to see one of the most lively and colorful floating market in Southeast Asia. The best time to see the market is around 8 am. Taking boat trip back to Can Tho for breakfast. Leave Can Tho for Saigon with a stop on the way for lunch. We will reach Saigon early afternoon. Overnight in Saigon.
Day 12: Departure (B)
Breakfast in hotel and relax until pick-up time. Transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for flight home.
