20-DAY VIETNAM SIGNATURE TRIP

Warm welcome upon your arrival in Tan Son Nhat International Airport – HCMC – a city full of surprises. The city’s core is still adorned with wide elegant boulevards and historic French colonial buildings and offers plenty of reasons to visit, from its blend of historic, attractions to vibrant shopping, dining and nightlife. Meet your local guide at the airport for a transfer to hotel. Check in. At leisure. Your guide see you again for a welcome dinner at the Bonsai cruise on the Saigon river. Back to hotel. At leisure.

In the morning you have a tour visiting some of its famous attractions such as the Reunification Palace, the Municipal Theatre, the City Post Office, the Notre-Dame Cathedral and the War Remnants Museum. You can also have a walk through the city’s main shopping boulevard with fashionable boutiques and hill tribe crafts, high quality linens and house-wares and end up at the Ben Thanh market, one of the city biggest markets.
Afternoon is time to explore the China town: the western part of the city is dominated by Cholon (Chinatown), a thickly settled district rife with teahouses and pagodas and the famous Binh Tay Market. Visit the Thien Hau pagoda which features interesting Chinese-Buddhist style architecture and interiors with pagodas, courtyards, altars and paintings. Back to hotel. At leisure.

In the morning you drive to visit Cao Dai Temples in Tay Ninh province. Observe the midday service at the temple. This temple is the cathedral of the Cao Daism religion and home of the Divine Eye, the official symbol of this unique religion. Cao Dai followers worship Jesus Christ, Confucius, Taoism, and Buddha.

Continue drive  to visit Cu Chi Tunnels. Very famous in the wartime with its smart and complicated system including underground meeting room, kitchen, food, weapon caches, hospital. This underground complex is a must-see when you are in HCMC. You are invited to crawl around in the safer parts of the tunnel system or try a shooting range where you can fire a number of assault rifles, such as the M16 rifle or AK-47, as well as a light machine gun like the M60. Back to HCMC. At leisure.

Today you leave HCMC for the Mekong Delta. Surrounded by thousands of crisscrossed canals, life in the Mekong Delta revolves much around the river, most of the villages are often accessible by rivers and canals rather than by road. Upon arrival you take a motor-boat to explore the Thoi Son islet. Following a village path passing local houses to visit some family-run coconut candy mills then you take a horse-cart from village to village. Enjoy lunch with local special dishes followed by the “Southern Vietnamese folk music”, a very common art activity in the Mekong Delta performed by local people. Rejoin your car for a drive to Can Tho.

Early wake up today to join in the Cai Rang floating market, one of the most exciting activities you should do when you are in this area. Take a motorized boat to join the market and experience how people exchange goods, fruit and many other commodities on their vessels. You also find floating restaurants, floating bars, floating gas stations, and many other floating shops. Back to the shore. Visit Binh Thuy communal house before back to HCMC.

Enjoy your free time at hotel until transfer to airport for flight from HCMC to Nha Trang. Voted as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Nha Trang boasts a six-mile stretch of fine white sand, quiet and warm waters, and stunning archipelagos. Pick-up and transfer to hotel. At leisure.

In the morning you have a transfer to the Cau Da port for a boat trip cruising on the Nha Trang Bay to Hon Mun Island – the best island for snorkeling where you can see lots of lives colorful corals and fish. Continue to the Mot island for relaxing, swimming & water sports. Lunch at the local restaurant on the islands.

Back to the shore in the afternoon to visit the Ponagar Cham Tower -built in 8th century and the Chong Promontory (Two big rocks called husband & wife rock ). The day ends after the visit to local Dam Market. Back to hotel. At leisure.

Enjoy your free time until transfer to airport for flight to Danang. Meet your local guide at airport for a transfer to your hotel in Hoi An. Hoi An used to be an international trade center by sea on the east area in the 16th and 17th centuries. It was the busiest trading port during the reign of Nguyen as merchants from Japan, China, Portugal, Spain, Holland stopped over to exchange and purchase commodities. At leisure. Enjoy dinner at local restaurant.

In the morning you take a trip to discover the World Heritage My Son Ruins, comprised of seventy Hindu-like towers and temples dating from the 2nd century.  My Son was the former capital of the ancient Cham civilization that ruled Central Vietnam from the second to the thirteenth century and a must-see for those people who are interested in architecture and ancient civilizations. Afternoon you have a  walking tour to explore the Hoi An Ancient town with old houses, narrow streets, moss-grown walls, lantern makers and visit Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese Assembly Halls, Handicraft workshop and enjoy traditional arts performance. Do not forget to add your favourit street food to the list and the dining option to taste and experience the Quang Nam cuisine.

Hoi An Free Choice Offers. All included. No extra cost

Free Choice Hoi An Street Food Lunch Break – Authentic experiences
1. “ Rice & Chicken”
2. “ Banh Xeo Hoi An “
3. “ Cao Lau Hoi An”
4. “ Mi Quang ”
All street food is followed by a cup of Vietnamese coffee/tea at street-side pub

Free Choice Dining:
1. Hoi An cuisine set-menu at local restaurant.
2. Dinner on the beach at local restaurant.
3. BBQ fresh seafood on the beach at local restaurant.
4. Relaxing Dinner Cruise on the Hoai river and the Thu Bon river

In the morning you have a walk to explore the Hoi An Ancient town with old houses, narrow streets, moss-grown walls, lantern makers. Visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese Assembly Halls, Handicraft workshop and enjoy traditional arts performance. Time to taste some Hoi An famous street food as: 1. Rice & Chicken ; Banh mi Hoi An ; Cao Lau Hoi An.
Afternoon you ride by bicycle about 3km from Hoi An town to Tra Que Vegetable village, “the loveliest village on earth”. At the village you can experience of being a farmer, take photos of rice field and vegetable village, enjoy a leisurely walk taking and a stunning sunset or take a foot massage with the ingredients from Tra Que herbs and surround yourself with stunning landscape. Ride back to the town. At leisure.

In the morning you leave Hoi An for Hue. Located in central Vietnam, the World Cultural Heritage Site Hue used to be the Citadel of the Nguyen Dynasty from 1805 to 1945. Journey to Hue is travelling over the Hai Van pass where you have a stop for a panoramic view over the Lang Co beach. Free. At leisure. Evening meet your guide again for a Hue Royal style dinner, taste some Royal cuisines at local restaurant.

In the morning you have a Dragon boat cruising on the Perfume river to visit the Thien Mu pagoda, one of the oldest and prettiest religious buildings in the country. From there you rejoin your car to visit the king Minh Mang’s tomb and king Tu Duc’s tomb. Time to taste some Hue famous street foods: Bun bo Hue ; Banh khoai ; Nem lụi Hue.

Afternoon you have a private tour to explore the Hue Citadel comprising three circles of Royal Citadel and Forbidden Citadel. Visit Dong Ba market, located on a bank of the Perfume river and is a paradise for snapshots of daily activities.

Today you take an one-hour flight to Hanoi, the one-thousand-year old city and the capital of Vietnam. Meet your guide at the Noi Bai airport for a transfer to hotel. At leisure. Your guide see you again for a water puppet show – a unique art performance in Vietnam. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

This full day sightseeing offers you Hanoi’s most interesting places, including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, House-on-Stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, and the Tran Quoc pagoda, the oldest pagoda originally constructed in the sixth century. Lunch at local restaurant. Continue to visit the Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo Former Prison, Ngoc Son Temple. End your day with a cup of Vietnamese coffee at a street-pub. Back to hotel. At leisure.

In the morning you leave Hanoi for Ninh Binh to visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital and Tam Coc caves located in the Red River Delta. Your first stop is the Dinh-Le temples. These two temples are constructed by near the center of the old capital in order to honor Dinh Bo Linh, the first emperor of Vietnam and Le Dai Hanh who founded the Le Dynasty in the 10th and 11th centuries. In the afternoon you take a sampan to explore the Tam Coc caves. Back to Hanoi. Dinner at local restaurant then you catch a night train to Lao Cai.

Early arrive in Lao Cai, a Vietnam-China border city. Transfer to your hotel in Sapa town. Enjoy the North Vietnam mountainous area with its winding road, terrace rice fields and minority ethnic villages. Time for relaxation or explore the mountainous town on your own (early check-in is subject to availability).

Afternoon you have a short walking tour to visit the Cat Cat village – home of the H’Mong ethnic people located in the beautiful valley and learn about their unique customs and practices. Stop at the Cat Cat waterfall for some photo shots before returning to hotel. Enjoy dinner at local restaurant.

You start the day with a soft trek along buffalo paths to the Ta van and Lao Chai, villages of the H’Mong and the Day ethnic peoples. Enjoy the stunning scenery inhabited by some of the friendliest people. More time to learn about other ethnic community in Sapa. Lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon your driver picks up you from the village and transfer you back to Sapa for a short break then to Lao Cai. Dinner at local restaurant then you catch a night train to Hanoi.

Early arrive Hanoi in the morning, your driver meets  you at the station and offer you a drive to watch local people do morning exercise at the lakes. Enjoy breakfast and a cup of coffee.  Leave Hanoi for Halong Bay via the Red River Delta.

Welcome on board upon arrival Tuan Chau Harbor. Enjoy a welcome drink. Brief introduction by the cruise manager. Cabin check-in. Lunch is served while the cruise is sailing and passing by thousand of unknown islets. Stop at the Pearl Farm village. Take a kayak around Pearl Farm village. Continue to the Titop Island. Free choice of activities such as sunbathing, swimming or climb up to the peak of the Titop for the panorama view of the Halong bay. Return to the cruise. Join in the Cooking Demonstration by the cruise chef to prepare some Vietnamese dishes followed by the Sunset Cocktail on the Sundeck followed by a Vietnamese set menu dinner. Evening you are free to join some cruise activities including chat around the bar, watching movies of Vietnamese films, playing cards, playing chess, reading or try your luck with squid fishing.

Early bird to join Tai Chi on the sundeck. Enjoy sunrise at the bay followed by a light breakfast. Transfer by tender to Sung Sot Cave. Walk up about 100 steps to the cave entrance. It takes approximately 45 minutes to explore the cave one of the most beautiful cave in Halong bay with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. Back to the cruise. Cabin check-out . Light lunch is served while the cruise is sailing and passing by thousand of unknown islets. Disembarkation. Rejoin your car back to hotel in Hanoi. At leisure.

Enjoy your free time at your hotel or you can do last minute souvenir shopping at Hanoi Old Quarter before meeting your guide for transfer to Noi Bai International airport for departure. Have a nice journey. Thanks for joining us.