Vietnam Highlights

Welcome on arrival at HCMC’s Tan Son Nhat International airport by our guide and transferred to your hotel. Free at leisure.

Overnight in HCMC.

Begin our urban experience in bustling HCMC (formerly Saigon), the country’s commercial center and home to a growing number of upscale restaurants and shops. Visit Chinatown, the Thien Hau Pagoda, the Reunification Palace, the Opera House and Hotel de Ville. If desired, also visit the moving War Remnants Museum.

Explore colorful outdoor markets and Dong Khoi Street, the city’s main shopping boulevard with shops selling clothes and accessories by new Vietnamese designers, hill tribe crafts, high quality linens and house wares. The urban modern Ho Chi Minh City with its numerous shopping malls, cinemas, discotheques and a bewildering number of bars. Overnight in HCMC.

This morning we drive to Cao Dai Temples in Tay Ninh to observe the midday service. Tay Ninh , near the Cambodian border, is home to the unique Cao Dai sect, whose patron saints include Joan of Arc, Victor Hugo and Winston Churchill to name a few.

The religion is a hybrid of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and Christianity. The Cao Dai Temple at Tay Ninh has been described as a Walt Disney fantasia of the East.

The trip to Tay Ninh is combined with a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels. At its height, the tunnel system stretched over 250km. from Saigon to the Cambodian border and was three levels deep. The network included innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens.

Today the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience and a feel of what underground life during the U.S.-Vietnam War must have been like. Overnight in HCMC.

Leave HCMC to lush My Tho where we cruise on a private boat through the green vegetation of the canals to an orchard, where we are treated to a delicious lunch in a bonsai garden in the heart of the Mekong, complete with tropical fruits. We also visit the snake farm Dong Tam that breeds snakes for, among other things, snake wine and enjoy a bonsai garden in Trung Luong, visit VinhTrang pagoda, a combination of Asian and European pagoda before heading Can Tho city, heart of the Mekong Delta. Overnight in Can Tho.

You wake up to the sounds of the Mekong River welcoming a new day. Take boat trip to join in the Cai Rang floating market – one of the most bustling floating markets in Mekong Delta with hundreds of small boats barging and jostling for space to sell their goods and to experience the Mekong rural lifestyle. After sampling local fruits, our guide will escort the guests back to the hotel through myriad canals. Lunch at local restaurant before return to Ho Chi Minh City . Overnight in HCMC.

Morning drive to Phan Thiet, home to the largest sand dunes in the country, one of the most idyllic seaside resorts in Vietnam well-known for its spectacular sand dunes, endless beaches and beautiful streams and cliffs, check in. Rest of the day is free for relaxing on the beach.

Overnight in Phan Thiet.

Enjoy a whole day free for relaxing on the beach or sun bathing.

Overnight in Phan Thiet.

Morning transfer to Hochiminh city for flight to Danang, then to Hoi An. Free at leisure. Overnight in Hoi An

We enjoy a half-day walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, Chinese Assembly Halls, the 200- year old Tam Ky ancestral house, and the Japanese Bridge.

In the afternoon, free at leisure or shopping for souvenir. Overnight in Hoi An

Leave Hoi An for Hue. This afternoon we embark on a tour of Hue City including the Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City, the Imperial Museum and Dong Ba market.

Overnight in Hue.

Rising up in the ancient land, breakfast in hotel, we board on a private boat for cruising on the romantic Perfume River. This time we head out for the countryside. Being the ancient capital, Hue is surrounded with ancient tombs of emperors past, and a visit to some of these tombs will be on the itinerary for today. The charming Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda) will be the first stop of the day, setting in the river`s converge will give you a great view on the Perfume River and surrounding area. From here we will cruise further to the ornate Minh Mang’s tomb. Overnight in Hue.

Transfer to the airport for the short flight to Hanoi. The colonial capital city Hanoi is a unique Asian city with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and oriental pagodas and temples.

In the afternoon visit Hanoi: Vietnam’s artistic and intellectual capital. You will take the cyclo tour to explore the fascinating Old Quarter and its hundreds of specialty shops selling silk clothing, lacquer ware, embroidered linens, furniture, bamboo, cooking utensils, ceremonial objects and more. Also visit Hanoi’s main cultural attractions, including the Fine Arts Museum and the Temple of Literature. Enjoy the evening water puppet show. Overnight in Hanoi.

Full day of leisure until transfer to the Ha Noi Railway for the overnight train to Lao Cai .

Overnight on train.

Early morning pick up from the station and transfer to Sapa. Once at Sapa, you will early check-in (room subject to availability). Freshen up, and have breakfast at the restaurant in the hotel and then enjoy a free morning to explore around town. From the hotel there will be a walking tour to the hill tribe villages of Cat Cat, home to the H’mong hill tribe’s minority peoples. As you walk to the villages nestled in the valley below Sapa, you will meet some of the local minority people on their way to and from Sapa. Here you have the opportunity to share cultural experiences with the families that live in the area. Overnight in Sapa.

Breakfast, we explore the Sapa Sunday market and then set out on our 3-4 hour trek that will take us along buffalo paths and trails and through several hill tribe villages of Lao Chai and Ta Van, home to H’mong, and Dzay people. This is an absolutely spectacular walk through stunning scenery inhabited by some of the friendliest people you can meet. We will stop for a picnic lunch on the way to Ta Van village. We transfer back to Lao Cai for the night train journey back to Hanoi. Overnight on train.

Early arrival in Hanoi around 5 a.m. Pick up from here, transfer to local restaurant for breakfast and morning coffee. Leave Hanoi by private vehicle at 8:30 a.m. arriving at the jetty around 12:30 p.m. Our crew welcomes you on board the Deluxe Cruise. Enjoy a welcome drinks, check-in to your cabin. A fresh seafood lunch will be served at 1 p.m. At that time, we will begin our 3.5 hours cruise through mystic Halong Bay to see the amazing karsts with different formations: Mat Qui (Monster’s face) islet, But Moc islet, Cap De islet, Trong (Drum) cave, Trinh Nu cave, floating fishing village, with its unique way of life. Then head to Luon cave, enjoy swimming, sun bathing at Ti Top beach or climb the peak of the mountain for a breath-taking panorama view of Halong Bay. Enjoy another seafood feast for dinner and for the night owls, there is an option of night fishing. Overnight on board.

Rising to the sound of lapping bay waters, we have time for an early morning dip followed by breakfast. Sitting on the upper deck, you can relax while taking in the breath-taking beauty of the rocky islands rising from the emerald water of the bay. After breakfast, explore Sung Sot cave, swim and relax. Our boat cruises back to the jetty while brunch is served. We continue cruising through the bay, along the way seeing more of the fascinating formations. Cruise check-out. Our boat arrives at the harbor by noon for our drive to Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh the ancient capital of Vietnam late 10th century – early 11th century, which is called “the terrestrial Ha Long Bay” as its towering limestone cliffs and mountains spring up form the green, lush paddy field instead of blue water.

Overnight in Ninh Binh.

Breakfast, visit two temples dedicated to Dinh and Le Rulers, climb 200 steps to the top of Ma Yen mount for a fantastic view over the surrounding areas. Take a boat trip on a river through the quiet and peaceful landscape to Bich Dong and Tam Coc caves (means three caves), enjoy the picturesque sightseeings surrounded limestone mountains and rice field. Continue transfer to Mai Chau. Enjoy the traditional music show and drink special wine with one small pipe.

Overnight in Lac village.

Morning, you will take a walking tour around to visit Thai minority village, meet the local people and know more their daily activities, see the women weaving, stroll around the quite village. Afternoon, back to Hanoi.

Free at leisure until transfer to the airport for departure flight.

End of services.