Essence of Vietnam 9 Days

Itinerary Overview
 
Day 1: Arrive Hanoi, transfer to hotel for 2 nights
Day 2: Full-day Hanoi city tour
Day 3: Excursion to Halong Bay, stay overnight on board
Day 4: Travel back to Hanoi, flight to Hue for 1 night
Day 5: Half-day Hue city tour, afternoon drive to Hoian for 2 nights
Day 6: Morning touring, afternoon at leisure
Day 7: Transfer and flight to Saigon for 2 nights, afternoon touring
Day 8: Excursion to Mekong Delta
Day 9: Depart Ho Chi Minh, private airport transfer

Essence of Vietnam 9 days

(9 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoian, Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong delta

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
On arrival at Hanoi's Noi Bai International airport, you will be greeted by our guide and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Hanoi.
 
Day 2: Full Day Hanoi City Tour (B/L)
The post-colonial capital city of Hanoi is a unique Asian city with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, numerous lakes, pagodas and temples. This full day tour takes you around Hanoi's most interesting sights, including the Ho Chi Minh Complex, Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and his Stilt House, the Presidential Palace, the One Pillar Pagoda nearby and the Old Quarter, known for its 36 streets and former craft guilds. Also on the tour will be the Lake of the Restored Sword, Ngoc Son Temple, the Temple of Literature, and one of the city's museums, either the History Museum or the Ethnology Museum. Accommodation at hotel in Hanoi.
 
Day 3: Hanoi - Halong Bay Cruise & stay overnight on Board (B/L/D)
Following breakfast, cruise shuttle bus picks you up from your hotel and travel to the spectacular World Heritage site of Halong Bay in the Gulf of Tonkin (approximately four hours). Arrive at your jetty in Halong City towards noon and proceed with check-in formalities. After your welcome onboard, a lunch will be served while cruising towards the bay itself. In the afternoon, enjoy some visits and/or activities (depending on each boat’s itinerary) or just spend some time relaxing on board. Towards the end of the day the boat sets anchor for the night among the karst formations. Dinner is served on board. Overnight aboard on Halong Bay
 
Note: 2 days cruise itinerary is subject to change bases on each cruise company, transfer by cruise’s shuttle bus (driver pick-up, there is no tour guide on the bus), english speaking guide is available on board.
 
Day 4: Halong Bay Cruise – Hanoi – Fly to Hue (B/-/-)
Enjoy your fresh morning in the middle of the bay, the sun rises on Halong in the morning and breakfast is served (brunch on some boats) while the vessels cruises slowly through the magnificent rock formations and back towards port. Disembark and transfer by the cruise shuttle bus back to Hanoi.
 
Upon arrival in Hanoi, private transfer to the Noi Bai airport for the flight VN1545 (19.55 – 21:05) to Hue, where you will be met and transferred to hotel for a one-night stay. Accommodation at hotel in Hue.
 
Day 5: Hue World Heritage - Hoi An ancient town (B/L)
After breakfast at your hotel, you will board a private traditional boat for a cruise on the romantic Perfume River as you head out to the countryside. Being the ancient capital, Hue is surrounded by 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. Continue along the river to the Royal Tombs of Minh Mang, the second emperor of the Nguyen Dynesty who reigned until 1841. The tomb blends traditional architecture with a magical natural setting, and consists of 40 constructions (palaces, temples, and pavilions). Also visit to the Imperial City, which is located in the Citadel. The Imperial City was built in the early 19th century. Explore the Thai Hoa Palace, with its spacious hall and ornate roof of huge timbers supported by 80 carved and lacquered columns. See the Halls of the Mandarins, the Nine Dynastic Urns and the site where the Forbidden Purple City once stood.
 
This afternoon, depart by road for Hoi An ancient town, which is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. Its buildings and its street plan reflect the influences, both indigenous and foreign, that have combined to produce this unique heritage site. The drive takes approximately 3 hours and passes through some of Vietnam’s most breathtaking landscape. En route, visit the Museum of Cham Sculpture, which contains one of the finest collections of Indo-Hindu carvings and documents the history and culture of the Cham people. Also visit the handicraft villages on the foot of Marble Mountain. Upon arrival in Hoi An, settle into your hotel. Accommodation at hotel in Hoian.
 
Day 6: Hoian (B/L)
This morning, 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 market. In the afternoon, you are free to meander in Hoi An or unwind at Cua Dai Beach. Overnight in Hoi An.
 
Day 7: Hoian – Fly to Ho Chi Minh city (B/D)
In the morning, you will be transferred to the airport for a flight to Ho Chi Minh city. In the afternoon, you will have a private tour of Ho Chi Minh City, the country's commercial center and home to a growing number of upscale restaurants and shops. You'll visit the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Post Office and China town. If you desire, you can visit the powerful War Remnants Museum. Conclude the day with a visit to colorful outdoor markets and Dong Khoi Street, the city’s main shopping boulevard with fashionable boutiques and accessories designed by up-and-coming Vietnamese designers, hill tribe crafts, high quality linens and house-wares. Accommodation at hotel in Ho Chi Minh city.
 
Day 8: Mekong Delta Excursion (B/L)
The Mekong's Vietnamese name, Cuu Long, means Nine Dragons for the nine mouths that terminate the flow of this great river as it, is absorbed by the sea. After breakfast, a two hour drive to My Tho will expose you to the colorful outskirt life as well as picturesque rice fields along the journey. On arrival, take a boat trip on Mekong river that covers areas of My Tho fish-farm and four islands of Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle and Phoenix. Visit Phoenix island, explore Dua Religion relics and manufacture of handicraft made from coconut trees. Continue to Thoi Son island. On arrival, visit traditional rice paper and coconut candy factory, walking along the rural village for visiting local house, where you can enjoy taste of seasonal fresh fruits, honey tea with many kind of jams while enjoy Southern traditional music show “Don Ca Tai Tu” - the lovely and romantic melody of one of local artists in Mekong Dalta. Rowing on sampans along the canals of Mekong river covered with shady water coconut trees. Have lunch at local restaurant. Return to Ho Chi Minh later this afternoon. Accommodation at hotel in Ho Chi Minh city.
 
Day 9: Ho Chi Minh Departure (B) 
There is no activity planned for today. Enjoy your free time for souvenir shopping or relax until transfer to the airport for your onward flight. Finish your trip or you can extend some day to Siem Reap (Cambodia), Mui Ne (Phan Thiet) or Phu Quoc Island.

Prices are quoted in US dollars per person base on minimum two travelers

- Check-in time at hotel: 14:00 -  Check-out time: Before 12:00

- The Hung Kings Anniversary from 6 April 2017 to 7 April 2017
- Victory Day & Labour Day from 29 April 2017 to 02 May 2017
- Independent Day from 02 September to 03 September 2017
- Christmas Eve gala dinner (December 24, 2017)
- New Year’s Eve gala dinner (December 31, 2017)
- New Year & Holiday: 24 December 2017 to 10 January 2018
- Lunar New Year from 15 Feb 2018 to 20 February 2018