Fall In Love With Vietnam Breath-taking Destinations In 18 Days

 Morning - Afternoon:

 - Welcome to Hanoi! Once arrived, our tour guide will transport you to the hotel

 - Check-in at the hotel is available from 2 pm (Earlier check-in will require additional charges)

  - Optional: You can have the rest of the day to sleep and recover from the flight. If not, you can wander around for some own exploration, or consider taking part in one of our suggested activities below: 

    + Thang Long Water Puppet Show - Hanoi: A traditional Vietnamese water-performing art 

   + Hanoi Cooking Class: Enjoy a Vietnamese cooking class with skillful, friendly, and enthusiastic English-speaking staff members.

 Please contact our travel consultant if you are interested in these services, and we are available 24/7 for assisting you. 

 Note: Please be advised that both international and domestic terminals might be crowded sometimes during the day, so in case you cannot find our representatives, please be present at Pole No.10 (Outside the Terminal Gate) and contact us, so we could easily search for you.

 Evening:

 - Free time to explore Hanoi

 Meals: NA

DAY 2: HANOI CITY TOUR HALF-DAY

 Morning - Afternoon:

 - Start the day with a half-day tour around Hanoi (by car or by motorbike). Morning or afternoon departure depends on availability.

 - Visit Vietnam’s first university: the Temple of Literature - founded in 1076 and established to educate Vietnam's royalty, mandarins, and members of the elite.

 - Explore One Pillar Pagoda - one of Vietnam’s most iconic Buddhist temples, and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum of the historic father figure of modern Vietnam, and his modest house on stilts.

 (Sites are viewed from outside; closed Mon and Fri and from Jun - Aug)

 - Visit the picturesque West Lake and its sixth-century Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda - regarded as the most ancient pagoda in Hanoi with its history line of more than 1,500 years.

 - Enjoy a meal at an authentic Vietnamese Restaurant

 Evening:

 - Enjoy spare time to relax and explore the city on your own

 - Stay overnight in Hanoi

 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

 Morning:

 - After breakfast at the hotel, head to Mai Chau by van

 - Upon arrival, you are welcomed with a drink and a traditional lunch in the village (vegetarian available).

 Afternoon:

 - Go on a cycling trip led by our tour guide to observe farmers working in fields, locals weaving scarves, and surrounding peaceful villages.

 - Free time for shopping.

 Evening:

 - Free time at leisure

 - Stay overnight in Mai Chau

 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Morning:

- After breakfast, visit remote villages Na Meo and Na Mo villages with your local tour guides and learn about their culture and traditions

- Return to the bungalow for lunch, shopping and resting afterwards

Afternoon:

- Transport back to Hanoi by bus (Duration: 3.5 - 4 hours)

Evening:

- Free time for exploring the city

- Stay overnight in Hanoi

 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

- Head to Halong Bay - one of the world's most famous natural wonders, after breakfast at the hotel.

- Check-in with the boat crew and get on board once arrived

- Enjoy the cruise trip around Halong Bay and behold thousands of limestone islands along with grottoes rising from the clear, emerald water

- Have a seafood-themed meal at lunch

 Afternoon:

 - Join in a variety of activities on board and discover the glamour of Halong Bay (vary between each cruise’s itinerary of the day): visiting a cave, kayaking, or swimming in the sea before getting back to the cruise for relaxing and dining

 Evening:

 - Dinner served on board

 - Spend a night on the cruise

 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Morning:

- Kick off the day early with a Tai-chi class or enjoy breakfast with an amazing sunrise view on the bay

- Go on an adventure as the cruise take you around exploring the most stunning caves in Halong and their breath-taking complex

 Afternoon:

 - Transport back to Hanoi, visit Hanoi’s Old Quarter and dig in the menu of Vietnamese street food by yourself

 - Meet our tour guide at the hotel by 19:00 for transportation to Hanoi Train Station

 Evening:

 - Take an overnight train to Dong Hoi (Shared sleeping cabins: 2 bunk beds/cabin). The train departs at around 21:35.

  Notes: 

 - Our tour guide will not accompany you during the train trip 

 - Train schedule is subject to change. 

 - Private cabins on request at a surcharge. 

 - Train journeys are part of a great local experience. Cabins are shared with other local passengers (unless a private cabin is requested and all berths paid for - with additional fees). Restrooms are located at either end of the carriages.

 Meals: Breakfast, Brunch

Morning:

- Arrive at Dong Hoi Train Station in the early morning

- Head to Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park and explore impressive caves here

- Enjoy breakfast at a local restaurant on the way

- Dive deep into the real wilderness of Vietnam, where the lost world of ancient stalactites - formed by drips of water and minerals at the ceiling of the caves throughout history

- Once passed the jungle, you will reach Phong Nha Cave - a water cave which is famous for its rock formation which has been given names such as the “Lion”, the “Fairy Caves”, the “Royal Court”, and the “Buddha”

- Enjoy lunch after visiting Phong Nha Cave.

 Afternoon:

 - Continue your quest of the caves with Paradise Cave - labeled as one of the most beautiful caves in the world and is the longest dry cave in Asia. 

 - Admire the magnificent landscape of Paradise Cave, attracting the eyes of visitors at a glance.

 - Transport to a hotel in town for accommodation.

 Evening:

 - Stay overnight in Dong Hoi

 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Morning - Afternoon:

- Visit Vinh Moc Tunnel by car (2.5 hours away).

- Stop by destinations on the way:

   + Former US military bases and a small church suffered from mortar attacks in the war.

   + DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) - where once witnessed many fiercely battles in the Vietnam war.

  + Walk along Ben Hai River and Hien Luong Bridge - the demarcation point divided the Northern and Southern regions of Vietnam between 1954-1975.

   + Museums of photographs and memorials of the war

- Explore Vinh Moc Tunnel on a fascinating tour with fragments from the war in the past:

   + Walk through huge bomb craters and fighting trenches

   + Venture into tunnels furnished with tiny living rooms

   + Visit food and weapon storage, and a school that villagers survived on

- Transport back to Hue

 Evening:

 - Stay overnight in Hue

 Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Morning - Afternoon:

- Start exploring the tranquil city of Hue - founded in the 17th century as Vietnam’s imperial capital (before Hanoi replaced it)

- Visit Thien Mu Pagoda, an ancient architectural Buddhism attraction located in a favourable location by the peaceful Huong River

 - Continue to visit the Imperial Citadel accommodated by the Nguyen Royal Family - the last dynasty in Vietnam - the citadel reflects the luxurious and prosperous life of the royal family

 - Explore a part of Vietnam's pre-modern history

 - Spend time around the citadel, visiting the front gate, the Flag Tower, The King’s Palace, and the Museums of Royal Antiquities

 - Stop by Dong Ba Market, the largest traditional trading centre in the city of Hue

 - Walk through kiosks and have a chance to understand the daily business of local sellers, as well as purchase some interesting souvenirs

 - Transport back to the hotel

  Evening:

 - Free time for exploring Hue City

 - Stay overnight in Hue

 Meals: Breakfast

Morning - Afternoon:

- Transport from Hue to Hoi An by shuttle bus or private car

- Take a few stops on the way at Hai Van Pass for sightseeing and photoshoot (Admission fee is not included)

 Evening:

 - Enjoy spare time to relax and explore Hoi An on your own

 - Stay overnight in Hoi An

 Meals: Breakfast

Morning - Afternoon:

- Transport to My Son Sanctuary - a collection of Champa ruins which lies amongst mountains of the Quang Nam province (45km to the West of Hoi An town). 

- Follow the tour guide to explore a plaza of temples where resides the history of the Champa Kingdom

- Visit Sa Huynh Champa Culture Museum in Tra Kieu before returning to Hoi An

Evening:

- Stay overnight in Hoi An

Morning - Afternoon:

- Have a free day to explore the town on your own

Optional: On the day, here are some recommendations to explore the beauty of Hoi An:

- Option 1: Life as a Farmer in Cam Thanh village: Join the farmers in preparing and fertilizing the land. Get to know the villagers’ daily working routines, like raking the ground, sowing, watering, and picking greens, and many more gardening activities. 

Price from 1,890,000/ person 

- Option 2: Hoi An Vespa Tour: Join in the stylish, authentic Vespa Tour and take on a scenic adventure by visiting the culture, historical monuments, and beautiful and peaceful countryside scenery as well as exploring the rural life of Vietnamese people in your own way.

Price from 2,640,000/ person

Evening:

- Stay overnight in Hoi An

Morning - Afternoon:

- Transfer to the Da Nang airport to take a flight to Ho Chi Minh City 

- Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City! Our driver will transport you to the hotel in the center of the city at once.

- Free time for relaxation after checking in at the hotel.

Evening:

- Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Morning:

- Start the half-day city tour with a visit to the Independence Palace, the famously iconic site of Saigonese liberation

- Have a short stop at Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Post Office, two symbols of classical French colonial architecture since the late 19th century

- Visit the last stop of the tour at a Ben Thanh Market and shop for souvenirs, as well as discover the life of the friendly locals

Afternoon - Evening:

- Return to the hotel and enjoy free time for the rest of the day

- Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Morning - Afternoon:

- Break away from the city and tour the incredibly fertilized Mekong Delta, where half of Vietnam's total agricultural output is produced. 

- Enjoy the fresh air and immerse yourself in the tranquillity of the countryside

- Tour the orchards, paddy fields, and swamplands of the Mekong Delta still untouched by tourism. 

- Experience Mekong waterways as you visit fish farms and exotic fruit farms.

- After finishing the Mekong Delta tour, transport to Can Tho for accommodation

Evening:

- Stay overnight in Can Tho

Morning:

- After breakfast at the hotel, take a motorboat to visit Cai Rang – the most fascinating floating market where we can see all trading activities on the Mekong River. 

- Try “Hu tieu”- traditional rice noodles of Mekong delta people or a small piece of durian which is the most addictive fruit to local people.

- Stop by and visit the rice husking mill and walk around the village. See the beautiful scenery and daily activities of the locals

- Enjoy lunch at a restaurant

Afternoon - Evening:

- Transport back to Ho Chi Minh City after lunch. Free time upon arrival.

- Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

- Enjoy a free day in Saigon (former name of Ho Chi Minh City) - the bustling and vibrating economic centre of the South.

Optional: We introduce some ways to explore the beauty of Ho Chi Minh City. You can choose one of below options: You can choose one of the below options: 

- Option 1: Dinner Cruise on Saigon River: Spend a romantic evening time to enjoy a special dinner on the boat while the cruise setting sail on the Saigon River. 

Price from 750,000 VND/ person

- Option 2: Cu Chi Tunnels & Cooking Class Full day: Visit Cu Chi Tunnels - have a unique experience of underground life during wartime. Visit Ho Chi Minh Agricultural Villages, work in the garden like a real farmer, and pick organic ingredients from the garden for your cooking class. 

Price from 1,890,000 VND/ person

Evening:

- Free time for leisure activities

- Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Morning:

- After breakfast, free until transport to the airport for boarding home sweet home or next destination

- End of your 18-day Vietnam tour.