Private Tour – 13 Day First Time in Vietnam: Hanoi – HaLong – Hoi An – Saigon

We will pick you up at airport then transfer to hotel. The rest of day is at your 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 street night market. Should you wish to taste famous Vietnamese coffee, you will find many coffee shops in French style with a view to the lake. Overnight in Hanoi.

After breakfast, you will be picked up for city tour of incredible Hanoi. First head to visit Tran Quoc Pagoda, a 1400 year-old temple, the oldest in the city and is located near West Lake offering a watery landscape, the pagoda is a very scenic attraction. The next destination is the Ho Chi Minh Complex, where you have chance to visit President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Uncle Ho’s House and the One-pillar pagoda – a very iconic temple in Vietnam. Temple of Literature will be your next stop, here education and study is centre point. After lunch, we will explore Ngoc Son Temple (Temple of Jade Mountain) dedicated to Confucian and Taoist philosophers and the national hero Tran Hung Dao. The temple with its famous Huc bridge is in the centre of Hoan Kiem (Sword) Lake. Overnight in Hanoi.

Pick up at your hotel at around 8.15 am then we will depart for Halong Bay. On the way we stop at a handicraft workshop for a short break. Enjoy the journey through Red River Delta with lush rice fields, water buffalos and everyday Vietnamese rural life. After we arrive in Halong, check-in on cruise and relax for a while. Then we lift anchor and cruise between the many lime stones and set anchor at beautiful spot. Great lunch is served while cruising passing by islets, through Hoa Cuong floating village. In the afternoon, we sail to the area of Sung Sot cave, the most beautiful cave in Halong Bay. As the sun sets over the bay, dinner is served on board with fresh seafood, salads, and fruits. Overnight in Ha Long Bay at the cruise ship.

06:15: Tai Chi class on the Sun-deck. 07:15: Have light breakfast with Coffee, tea and Bakeries on board.
07:30: Swimming or climbing up to the mountain and getting a complete view of Halong Bay at Titov Beach.
09:30: Check out time. Then joining our Cooking Class on the sun-deck. Let’s see how to make the fresh/fried spring rolls and mix fish-sauce.
10h15: Enjoying a traditional Vietnamese lunch while cruising back to the pier.
11:30: Disembarkation at Tuan Chau Pier. Our car will be at your disposal to pick you up then drive back to Hanoi.
16:30: Arrive in Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

After breakfast, we will have some leisure time until airport transfer for flight to Da Nang. Upon arrival, you will be picked up and transfer to your hotel in UNESCO ancient town of Hoi An. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight in Hoi An.

Our guide will pick you up at around 8.00 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 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 boat for the trip back along the Thu Bon River back to Hoi An. Tour ends at around 2.30 pm, you will then have the rest of your day at leisure. Overnight in Hoi An.

A free and easy day for you to enjoy Hoi An on your own. Overnight in Hoi An.

Another free day in Hoi An. Overnight in Hoi An.

You will have some free time until airport transfer to Da Nang airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, we will pick you up and transfer to hotel in Ho Chi Minh for check-in. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Pick up at around 8.00am from hotel and head to visit the Re-Unification Palace, the former palace of President Thieu and his predecessors. This building now is a museum and venue for Government official receptions. The next stops are the 2 landmarks of the city, the Central Post Office and the Notre Dame Cathedral. The Cathedral was built in between 1863 and 1880 with materials imported from France, is also referred to as Basilica of Our Lady of The Immaculate Conception. Continue to visit the War Remains Museum, where the Vietnam War crimes are in displayed. This is the most popular museum in Vietnam with approximately half a million visits annually. Have lunch. This afternoon we head to Cu Chi tunnels which is about a 1.5 hour drive. Cu Chi 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 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 different type of underground halls, secret working, meeting rooms. You will spend an hour experiencing the tunnels with a guide. Afterwards, 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 (optional). Return to Ho Chi Minh City for overnight.

At the scheduled time, proceeding to My Tho. On arrival to My Tho, visit Vinh Trang pagoda, take a leisurely boat ride along the river, view the stilt houses, fruit plantations and fishing villages along the river bank. Proceed to Tortoise islet, have lunch in the orchard garden. Then a boat ride to An Khanh – a less touristy attraction in Ben Tre, enjoy cruising on a hand-rowed sampan under the shadow of the water coconut trees along natural canals, then enjoy seasonal fruit & honey tea to the sound of “Southern
Vietnamese folk music”, performed by locals. Visit a family business which epitomizes the idyllic rural lifestyle, taste the delicious coconut candy & observe the pastoral life as you roam through the fruit plantation and village. Meet the bus and return to HCMC. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

A free day for you to explore the city on your own. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

After breakfast, you will have some leisure time until airport transfer for your onward flight. End of services.