Vietnam Alive

DAY 01, ARRIVE SAIGON: Upon arrival in Saigon, the bustling heart of Vietnam, you will be transferred to your hotel for a three-night stay. Ho Chi Minh City (Formerly Saigon) is Vietnam's commercial capital and a city of extraordinary energy. The rest of the day is free at leisure or discover the City on your own. Welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

 

DAY 02, SAIGON CITY TOUR AND CUCHI TUNNELS: The Tour will take you around the busiest City of Viet Nam. First, you will have a photo stops at Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, then you will get to know the Vietnam’s History with the stop at the Unification Palace used to be the Presidential Palace, the White House of South Vietnam before 1975. Then, you will continue viewing the Vietnam’s History from 1945-1975, Vietnam-American War at the War Museum. A stopover at the well-known Lacquer Workshop will help you to understand the art of making lacquer ware in Vietnam and you can pick up some unique gifts for your beloved relatives. After Lunch at a local restaurant, we head to Cuchi Tunnels, just about 60 kilometers northwest of Saigon where it lays on one of the most fascinating historical sights of Vietnam-American War. The beginnings of the Cu Chi tunnels date back to Vietnam's struggle for independence from the French, but it was not until the Vietnam-American War that the tunnel network was widely expanded to cover a total distance of some 250 kilometers (155 miles). A small part of this network has been restored and opened to visitors to cast a fascinating light on the lives of the Cu Chi guerrillas and their hideouts. Going to Cu Chi where you are taken underground to experience a glimmer of the conditions in which these people lived and fought. The short visit gives you a better understanding of guerilla fighting tactics of Vietnamese. The tour also tells you more about the War: Why Vietnam were divided into Two, What the CuChi Tunnels were for, Who Viet Cong really was...Overnight in Saigon.

 

DAY 03, SAIGON-CAIBE/VINHLONG-MEKONG DELTA CANTHO: We set off for a drive in the morning to Caibe Town-deep in the Mekong Delta, the second largest Delta in the world, and embark on a private boat. The tour begins with a visit of the colorful Cai Be floating market, followed by a visit to some locale home factories that produce rice paste, rice popcorn and coconut candy. Proceed to evergreen islands among the Mekong River through a large network of meandering tributaries, crisscrossed with countless arroyos, you can have an easy biking on the local roads if you wish. Lunch is served at a local home before the cruise to Vinh Long to discover beautiful landscapes along the river and observe the typical Mekong Delta rural life. Drive to Can Tho and transfer to hotel on arrival. Overnight at blended colonial-style architecture with the natural beauty of the river - Victoria Can Tho Resort.

 

DAY 04, CANTHO-SAIGON/DANANG - HOIAN: After breakfast, check out of the Hotel and board the small local boat for a visit to colorful Cairang Floating Market, the largest floating market in South East Asia, there will be hundreds of boats laden with fruits, vegetable, and fish, jostling for trade. Leave Cantho and drive back to Saigon with a lunch stop on the road. Drive straight to the airport for your flight to Danang. Upon arrival you will be transferred to Hoian, check into the Hotel in Hoian, the balance of the day is at leisure.

 

DAY 05, HOIAN TOUR: This morning tour Hoi An with your guide. Hoi An was Vietnam's most active trading center over many centuries and has been largely preserved. The architecture of the city reflects the influence of Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, French and British traders. Enjoy a walking tour of this enchanting town visiting an old merchant house, the Hoi An Museum, a Chinese Assembly Hall and the Japanese Covered Bridge. Also explore its many craft and silk shops and the colorful fish and produce markets. Return to the Hotel in the afternoon for some time at leisure. 

 

DAY 06, DANANG – HUE: Depart this morning for the 2.5 hour drive to Hue, a beautiful and welcoming city with a stop at the Marble Mountains. Hue as Vietnam's capital throughout the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945, as a center of Vietnamese Buddhism and scholarship, Hue provides a unique window into Vietnam and its complex past. Afternoon tour to Hue Citadel and local market near by.

 

DAY 07: HUE/HANOI: Morning dragon boat rides to visit Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue's oldest pagoda.Drive to visit the tomb of Khai Dinh before transfer to the airport for your flight to Hanoi. Check into the Hotel, start your explorations of this city with some afternoon touring, which willinclude a visit to the Hanoi OldQuarters, 36 ancient streets where peddlers continue to trade as they have done for centuries. End the day with an eveningperformance of Water Puppet Theater. Water puppets are a folk art tradition unique to northern Vietnam. The often-comic story is told by puppeteers who manipulate the brightly painted wooden puppets through the water while remaining unseen. The plays are based on historical and religious themes; often, famous battles of Vietnamese history are re-told, with fireworks and opera singing creating a truly wondrous spectacle.

 

DAY 08, HANOI/HALONG BAY: Your journey to Halong begins in Hanoi, where your driver and guide will collect you at your hotel and transfer you by private car to Hon Gai, the gateway to amazing Halong Bay, considered as Vietnam’s greatest natural wonder, Halong Bay boasts over 3,000 islands that rise out of the sea to provide a spectacular natural environment. En route enjoy the captivating rural scenery and see fields of busy workers farming their rice using traditional methods of cultivation. On arrival at the port, board your boat and enjoy a delicious seafood lunch as your cruise begins. Spend the afternoon amongst the islets, stopping to explore grottoes and enjoying a swim in the clean, warm waters of the bay (during the summer months). You will also stop at one of the Caves where you can ascend for spectacular views. In the evening relax and enjoy dinner on board as the sun sets.

 

DAY 09, HALONG/HANOI: After breakfast continue cruising amongst the many spectacular islets and visit several more fascinating grottoes. When it comes time to depart you’ll disembark your private boat at Baichay Wharf and enjoy an early lunch before transferring back to Hanoi in the late afternoon.

 

DAY 10, MORNING TOUR OF HANOI: Morning tour begins with a visit of the mausoleum that holds the interred body of the late President Ho Chi Minh. Also visit his traditional teakwood house, the simple dwelling he preferred to the material grandeur of a palace. Visit the One-Pillar Pagoda, originally built in the 11th century. It is shaped like a lotus to commemorate the birth of the Emperor's heir as predicted by a goddess sitting on a lotus. Continue to the Temple of Literature, the most significant temple complex in the city and a testament to the Confucian history of the city. Drive to the airport for your onward flight.

 

*This is sample itinerary with no selected accommodation suggested unless otherwise stated. International airfares are not included unless otherwise specified within the detailed proposal – please contact our team to tailor this itinerary to your personal specifications.