Picturesque Vietnam - 9 days | 8 nights

Itinerary in brief:

Day 1: Hanoi - Arrival (D)
Day 2: Hanoi - Halong Bay (B/L/D) (160km – 4h00)
Day 3: Halong Bay - Hanoi (B/L) (160km – 3h30)
Day 4: Hanoi - Hue (B/L) (650km – 1h00: by plane)
Day 5: Hue - discovery with a cruise on Huong river (B/L)
Day 6: Hue - Danang - Hoian (B/L) (100km – 2h30)
Day 7: Hoian - Danang - Ho Chi Minh City (B/L) (1050km – 1h15: by plane)
Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta – Ho Chi Minh City (B/L) (75km – 2h00)
Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City (B)

Day 1: Hanoi - Arrival (D)

Arrive at Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi (see Air Access). Pick up then transfer to the hotel.
Start to visit Hanoi city: Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first national university where offering ceremonies, study sessions and the strict exams of the Dai Viet took place. Built in 1070 at the time of King Lý Nhân Tông, it is one of several temples in Vietnam which are dedicated to Confucius, sages and scholars.
Then, you will enjoy a very interesting walking tour around the old quarter within 1,5 hours. Firstly the trip start from head of Cao Thang street where local people sell all traditional cooking spices of Vietnam such as onions, garlic, mushrooms, black mushrooms, peppers, lemongrass, ginger, galangal ... Then moving to Dong Xuan market, the biggest market in Hanoi, originally built by the French administration and surrounded by different streets, you will go through the market and turn right to Hang Ma street, the road is shimmered by decorating stuff , Chinese toys, the colorful lanterns, paper goods and in particular paper votive offerings.
Passing by Luong Van Can, Lan Ong, you arrive Hang Buom street where located the oldest temple of Hanoi - Bach Ma Temple, you will take some rest to admire the temple before continue walking through Ta Hien, Dinh Liet street to the most peaceful small alley of Hanoi - Trung Yen. On the way you have chance to explore daily life of local people who live and sharing their life in the confined spaces. We continue to Hang Be street - used to be one of the best well-known outdoor markets in town dating from medieval, with famous food”Mam Tep Chung Thit”, some years ago, it was disintegrated. At the end of this road, there is a coffee shop named Cafe market, where we will invite you a cup of coffee or iced fruit smoothies
We end of trip at Hoan Kiem Lake, in front of Water Puppet show theatre, from here you can continue your walking or back to your hotel.
Discover Hoan Kiem Lake, meaning "Lake of the Returned Sword" , where emperor Lê Lợi was boating on the lake when his magic sword, Heaven's Will, was grabbed by a turtle who quickly disappeared into the depths.
Take a beautiful picture on the The Huc red bridge to Ngoc Son Temple.
Come back to your hotel. Dinner on your own.
Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi - Halong Bay (B/L/D) (160km – 4h00)

After breakfast, transfer by road to the famous Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a popular travel destination, located in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam. The bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes. Ha Long Bay is a center of a larger zone which includes Bái Tá» Long bay to the northeast, and Cát Bà islands to the southwest. These larger zones share similar geological, geographical, geomorphological, climate, and cultural characters.
On the way, stop to taste green bean cakes.
Arrive around 12h30 and take a junk for a memorable cruise through the mystical Halong Bay.
Be delighted with food on board and spend your day admiring one of the natural marvels of Vietnam.
Visit islets & Sung Sot cave, means Surprised Cave or Amazing Cave is on Bo Hon Island and is one of the most spectacular and largest grottoes of Ha Long Bay. The mouth of the grotto is reached by ascending about a hundred stone steps.
If the weather is nice, enjoy a swim in the cool blue water of the Gulf of Tonkin.
Dinner and overnight on the junk.

Day 3: Halong Bay - Hanoi (B/L) (160km – 3h30)

7h30: Breakfast.
Discover Man’s Head Island, which resembles a man standing and looking towards the mainland
Tortoise Island & Luon cave, located in the northeast of Bo Hon Island. It's about 14 kilometers to the south from Bai Chay Beach. The perfect combination of lime-stone mountains and jade-green sea makes Luon Cave a unique site to visit on Halong Bay. Furthermore, Luon Cave is a preferred place of tourists for kayaking.
Bai Tu Long bay, which is the name of an area located in the east of Halong Bay Vietnam. Although it shares many similar geological characters with Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay is considered as off the beaten tourist track with many deserted and pristine beaches, no less impressive karst mountains. The Bay has a rich biodiversity with two ecosystems: a tropical, moist, evergreen rainforest ecosystem; and a marine and coastal ecosystem.
Bai Tho Mountain, being 106 m high, it runs along the coast, half on land and half in the sea. Sailing in the bay, one or two hundred meters from the mountain, one can see a poem carved on a flat stone cliff.
11h00: Enjoy an early lunch on board.
12h00: End of the cruise, return to Hanoi.
Arrive in the afternoon and check in hotel.
Dinner on your own.
Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 4: Hanoi - Hue (B/L) (650km – 1h00: by plane)

After breakfast, transfer to the airport to take your morning flight to Hue, was the imperial capital of the Nguyen dynasty between 1802 and 1945. Palaces and pagodas, tombs and temples, culture and cuisine, history and heartbreak – there’s no shortage of poetic pairings to describe Hue (pronounced ‘hway’). A Unesco World Heritage site, this deeply evocative capital of the Nguyen emperors still resonates with the glories of imperial Vietnam, even though many of its finest buildings were destroyed during the American War.
When arriving, check in hotel.
Have lunch in a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, visit the Imperial Citadel, City of the Nguyen Dynasty (1804-1945), Visit some of the most highly revered site in this World Heritage area; The Flag Tower, South Door, Edict Pavilion, Supreme Harmony Palace, and the Forbidden Purple City.
Dinner on your own .
Overnight in Hue.

Day 5: Hue - discovery with a cruise on Huong river (B/L)

8h00AM: Pick up at your hotel, take a boat for a cruise on the gentle Huong River.
Visit Thien Mu pagoda, built in 1601 on the order of the first Nguyen lords, Nguyen Hoang, who at that time was the governor of Hue.
Continue to a quiet Thuy Bieu village – 6.5 km from the city centre – a laidback village famous for growing the Thanh Tra fruit (a kind of small pomelo), visit many garden houses, a unique feature of Hue countryside, and enjoy a nice walking and biking around the village.
Visit an old communal house, pass by several ancient ancestral temples and communicate with local people.
Visit an incense making family and discover the daily life of local people while they are working strenuously with joy and enthusiasm. You may also join their activities: gardening, talking and drinking tea with them.
Back to Thuy Bieu restaurant, relax by steeping your foot in medicinal herb water – a traditional therapeutic practice and enjoy excellent massage by blind people.
Lunch at Thuy Bieu restaurant.
In the afternoon, discovery of Emperor Minh Mang’s tomb, ponds and gardens is known for its perfect harmony between architecture and its natural environment. It began to be built during his reign (1820-1841) and was completed only in 1843, two years after his death by his successor Thieu Tri.
Dinner on your own.
Overnight in Hue.

Day 6: Hue - Danang - Hoian (B/L) (100km – 2h30)

After breakfast, drive to Da Nang with stopovers at Hai Van Pass and at Lang Co Beach for sightseeing.
When arriving in Dang Nang, visit the Cham Museum and Marble Mountain, (Ngu Hanh Son) is about 8km southeast of Da Nang City. This is a cluster of five marble mountains lying close to the sea. That is why, it is dubbed Hon Non Nuoc, which means Mountain and Water in Vietnamese.
Continue to the riverside town of Hoi An, an important trading port during the 17th and 18th centuries and officially listed as a World Heritage Site.
Lunch in a local restaurant.
Check in hotel before walk around Hoi An ancient town and exploring its treasures :
Quan Cong temple – the brave and loyal Chinese General.
Phuc Kien pagoda, This is the most well-known assembly hall in the ancient town.Fukjianese were Chinese traders who first came to Hoi An in great number, at least in the XVII century. That was the reason why all above mentioned gods were worshipped in this pagoda after the collapse of the old pagoda.
The Japanese Bridge, Hoi An’s signature landmark used widely as an emblem of the town. It was built by Japanese merchants in the 16the century
Tan Ky ancient house, the most popular of Hoi An’s old houses.
Hoi An port, the World Heritage listed by Unesco.
Dinner on your own .
Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 7: Hoian - Danang - Ho Chi Minh City (B/L) (1050km – 1h15: by plane)

After breakfast, transfer to Danang Airport to take the flight to Saigon.
When arriving in Saigon, transfer to the hotel for check-in and have lunch in a restaurant before taking the City Tour of such sites as the
Notre-Dame Cathedral, The famous central Saigon Cathedral, built in 1877, is one of HCMC's architectural marvels, built with materials imported from France.
Post Office signed by Gustave Eiffel.
The Reunification Palace, set on well-maintained and spacious grounds, pf this historic building is a prominent symbol of the country's political history. During the 19th century, the Reunification Hall was the site of the Norodom Palace, former residence of the French governor general.
Thien Hau Pagoda
and China Town.
Dinner on your own.
Overnight in Saigon.

Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta – Ho Chi Minh City (B/L) (75km – 2h00)

Morning departure from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and drive to My Tho, is the capital city, center of economics, education and technology of Tien Giang province, located in the Mekong Delta region of South Vietnam where the Mekong River approaches and empties into the sea through a network of distributaries.life revolves much around the river, and many of the villages are often accessible by rivers and canals rather than by road.
When arriving in My Tho, take a boat for a cruise on the Mekong River and its multiple canals to Ben Tre.
Visit a coco candy factory where you can taste local specialties.
Take a 15-minute coach ride to visit a garden house to enjoy tea with honey and fresh tropical fruits.
Take a sampan through a water coconut forest before returning to the boat to come back to the restaurant for lunch with a chance to taste “tai tuong” fish, a special kind of Peacock fish.
In the afternoon, return to Saigon.
Dinner on your own .
Overnight in Saigon.