Vietnam Highlights - 17 Days

Day 1: Hanoi - Arrival
Pick up from the airport and transfer to hohel. Check-in. Afternoon: 1 hour cyclo tour around the Hanoi Old Quarter. Welcome dinner. (D)

Day 2: Hanoi city tour
Visits of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (except Monday & Friday), One Pillar pagoda, Tran Quoc pagoda, Temple of Literature (the Vietnam's 1st university), Fine Arts Museum (where you can find the most famous collection for Vietnam's painting, handicraft,...), Museum of Ethnology, Ngoc Son Temple on the Hoan Kiem Lake.
An Water Puppets Show will be offered for this evening. O/N in Hanoi. (B)

Day 3: Hanoi - Halong - Sleep on boat
Driving for Halong. Upon arrival, boarding and lunch on boat. Visit of Thien Cung and Dau Go caves then enjoy cruisinng through picturesque scenery with thousands of rocks that create such spectacular images as Kissing Cocks, Man Head, Incense Urns, ... Sunset on the sea worth admiring and taking photos. Overnight on boat. (B-L-D)

Day 4: Halong - Hanoi
Waken up by sea-birds and sea breeze. Enjoy your breakfast whilst cruising back to Bai Chay. Our experienced guide allows ample time for questions and photographs with 3 hours sailing on peaceful water. Lunch in restaurant in Halong city before travel back to Hanoi. (B-L)

Day 5: Hanoi - Dong Hoi
Free time for shopping until we leave for Dong Hoi by night train. (B)

Day 6: Phong Nha - Tien Son caves
Arrive early in the morning. Transfer to hotel for check-in. 2-hours rest.
8.00: Driving to Phong Nha. 3-hour boat trip on Son river to visit Phong Nha complex including Tien, Cung Dinh and Bi Ky grottoes. After boat trip, we set off on foot for Tien Son grotto.
Back to Dong Hoi for dinner and overnight. (B-L-D)

Day 7: Dong Hoi - Hue
Get up early and travel south to Hue. 10.00: Arrive and check in at the hotel.
Afternoon we visit Hue Royal Citadel, Royal Fine Arts Museum. O/N in Hue. (B)

Day 8: Hue
After breakfast, we take a boat trip to visit Thien Mu pagoda, Hon Chen temple, Minh Mang tomb. Lunch on boat. Afternoon we visit Tu Duc and Khai Dinh tombs. O/N in Hue. (B-L)

Day 9: Hue - Danang - Hoi An
Transfer to Hoi An via Hai Van pass. Visit of Cham Museum, China beach, Marble mountain on the way to Hoi An. Afternoon: Free walking for visit of the ancient town and shopping Recommended sites: Japanese Covered Bridge (Lai Vien Kieu or Cau Nhat Ban), Tan Ky House (was built two centuries ago as the home of a well-to-do ethnic Vietnamese merchant), Family chapels, pagodas, other ancient houses such as 77D Tran Phu that was built 3 centuries ago, Tran Duong house on Phan Boi Chau street and Diep Hong Nguyen house on Nguyen Thai Hoc street, .... O/N in Hoi An. (B-L)

Day 10: Hoi An - Nha Trang
Free morning. 11.00: Transfer to Danang airport for domestic flight to Nha Trang. Pick (B-D)

Day 11: Nha Trang
7.00: Upon arrival, check in at the hotel then having breakfast. Free time for relaxing or sea-bathing. 14.00: Option 1: Transfer to Thap Ba Hot Spring Centre where you can soak your body into the mineral-rich mud and have other hot spring bath services; Option 2: Transfer to visit Hon Chong, Ponagar, Long Son Pagoda and Dam market. O/N in Nha Trang. (B-L)

Day 12: Nha Trang -Da Lat
8.00: Departure for Da Lat. Arrival at 14.00. Check-in and free time for your leisure. 14.00: Transfer to visit Bao Dai Summer Palace, Linh Son pagoda, Lake of Sights. (B-L)

Day 13: Da Lat sightseeing
8.00: Visits of Valley of Love, Datanla water fall. Lunch in hotel. In the afternonn we visit Flower garden and Prenn fall. Dinner and O/N in Da Lat. (B-L)

Day 14: Da Lat - Sai Gon
8.00: Departure for Sai Gon. 14.00: Arrival and check in at the hotel. Free time for relaxing, shopping or for your leisure. O/N in Sai Gon. (B)

Day 15: Sai Gon - Cao Dai Temple - Cu Chi tunnel
7.30: You will be picked up at the hotel to visit the Great Temple of Caodaism in Tay Ninh, about 100 km from Ho Chi Minh City. The Temple is built on nine levels that represent nine steps to heaven at which you will see a prayer session at noon. Caodaism is a Vietnamese religion with its philosophy based on Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism and Christianity. Its tenets include believing in one God, the existence of the soul and the ability to communicate with the spiritual world.
You will stop for about 2 hours to visit Ben Dinh tunnel, a section of the 200 km-long Cu Chi tunnel network that was built over 2 decades and used as an army base during the Vietnamese-American War . You will be amazed at the tunnels with their underground storeys including trap-door, living areas, storage, weapon factories, field hospitals, kitchen, command centres, etc. You can also fire M-16, AK-47, carbine rifle. (B)

Day 16: Sai Gon - Mekong Delta
7.45: You will be picked up at the hotel to start your Mekong Delta trip. My Tho is the closest Mekong Delta City to Saigon where you will see part of the picturesque natural setting of Vietnamese country. This trip includes seeing a floating fish market, crossing Mekong River by motorized boat, a row boat ride along small creeks to the Mekong river estuary, cruising along the Phoenix island, quiet villages of Ben Tre Province, seeing the manufacturing of handicrafts made from coconut trees, honey bee keeping farm, tropical orchards, tasting honey, tropical fruit, coconut candy, enjoying Vietnamese tradition music, visiting a bonsai garden on the way back. (B-L).

Day 17: Sai Gon
Tour ends after breakfast.

Price: Contact us for details and cost!

INCLUDED:

• Private vehicle for Hanoi-Ha Long -Phong Nha-Hue-Hoi An-Nha Trang-Da Lat sightseeings
• Tourism Open Bus for Hanoi-Dong Hoi-Hue-Hoi An-Nha Trang-Da Lat-Sai Gon - Cu Chi - Mekong Delta
• Standard twin-shared room
• Boat trip in Ha Long and Phong Nha and Mekong Delta
• Escorted English or French speaking guide
• Meals as indicated (B-breakfast, L-lunch, D-dinner)

EXCLUDE:

• Other meals
• entrance fees, tip, drinks
• Single room
• Personal expenses
• Insurance
• Visa