12 Day Best of Vietnam: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh City

We will pick you up at the airport then transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. We recommend you to take a slow walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, which is very scenic, so remember to bring your camera. In walking distance from your hotel, you can go to Thang Long theatre where you can enjoy traditional Vietnamese water puppet show. Another option is to do some shopping, you will find plenty of shops in the old town as well as the street night market. Should you wish to taste famous Vietnamese coffee, you will find many coffee shops in the French style with a view toward the lake. Overnight in Hanoi.

At 8:00, following breakfast leave Hanoi for a 4-hour drive to Halong Bay including a 20-minute stop on the way. Enjoy the journey through the Red River Delta with lush rice fields, water buffalos and everyday Vietnamese rural life. Arrive at your jetty in Halong City towards noon and proceed with check-in formalities. After your welcome on board, 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.

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 cruise slowly through the magnificent rock formations and back towards port. Disembark and transfer back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

You will have free time until the airport transfer for your flight to Danang. On arrival, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel in Hoi An. Leisure time. Overnight in Hoi An.

Our guide will pick you up at around 8.15 am and take you to My Son, a World Heritage site, 50 km southwest of Hoi An. You will learn about the Cham history and how this massive sanctuary was built. My Son is a complex consisting of more than 65 architectural towers and temples dating back to 4th century. The site was used for religious ceremonies for Kings of the ruling dynasty as well as a burial site for national heroes and royal family up to the 19th century. My Son is considered to be of same historical significance as Southeast Asia’s greatest archaeological sites, including Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Bagan in Myanmar, Ayutthaya in Thailand and Borobudur in Indonesia. After the visit, you will be taken about 30km by bus and embark on the boat for the trip back along the Thu Bon River back to Hoi An. You will have a short break and visit Kim Bong, a carpenter village, which is famous for wooden products. You can buy some souvenirs for your family and friends here. Back to Hoi An around 2.00pm. The rest of day is at your leisure. Overnight in Hoi An.

Today is at leisure. Overnight in Hoi An.

Today is at leisure. Overnight in Hoi An.

After breakfast, we leave Hoi An for Da Nang airport to fly to Ho Chi Minh City. Pick up at the airport then transfer to hotel for check-in. The evening is at your leisure. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

You will be picked up and driven to Cu Chi Tunnels. Cu Chi Tunnel is a network of more than 120 km under the ground and were built by sweat and blood of Vietnamese guerrillas to hide and fight against the rival forces. You will be introduced to many kinds of booby traps used during the Vietnam War. We will take time to explain the methods of creating, maintaining and living in these tunnels as well as the special technique of hiding smoke invented by the guerrillas. The visit also includes visiting the different type of underground halls, secret working, meeting rooms. You will spend an hour experiencing the tunnels with a guide. Afterward, enjoy tea and cassava (guerrilla’s food during the war). Before finishing the tour, you can watch a short (15 minutes) documentary about the tunnel. Return to Ho Chi Minh City Centre. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Today is at leisure. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

You have free time until the airport transfer for your homeward flight. Say goodbye and we wish to see you again.