Vietnam Essential 10 Days 9 Nights

A full-day city tour of Vietnam’s capital. Hanoi is a unique city with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and oriental temples. The city tour includes such sights as Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and his house on stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, the Quanh Thanh Temple and the Tran Quoc Pagoda on the edge of West Lake. After lunch in town, continue to visit the Museum of Ethnology for a better understanding of Vietnamese nation and end the afternoon with a visit to the Lake of the Restored Sword, a cyclo ride around the Old Quarter, then enjoy the famous water puppet show. Dinner and overnight in Hanoi.

Leave Hanoi by road for Halong Bay. Enjoy the journey through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta and the scenery of rice fields, water buffalo, and everyday Vietnamese village life. Arrive in Halong and board the traditional sailing junks. Whilst cruising the exquisite waters, sample the regions fresh seafood. Visit the largest fishing village in Halong bay by tender in about 30 minutes, then back to the mother boat to reach Titop Island, where you can either enjoy kayaking or swimming on Titop beach. Watch the sun set over the bay whilst enjoying a delicious dinner. Overnight on board junk

Wake up to fresh coffee and a wholesome breakfast before cruising back to Halong City. En route, the junk weaves through strange-shaped rock formations that invite comparisons from fighting cocks to dragons and even General de Gaulle’s nose! After another wonderful brunch on board, disembark at the dock at Halong City, where our vehicle and guide welcome you, then drive back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi

After breakfast, transfer to Hanoi airport for a short flight to Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. Met on arrival and transferred to your hotel for check-in. In the afternoon, visit the elaborate mausoleums of emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh and the Imperial Citadel, from where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. Dinner with Hue cuisine and Hue royal court music. Overnight in Hue

Enjoy a boat trip on the romantically named Perfume River that visits Hue’s best-known religious site, Thien Mu Pagoda, and the mausoleum of former emperor Minh Mang in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes, then leave Hue for Hoi An, a major Asian trading port in the 17th and 18th centuries whose architecture and relaxed lifestyle have changed little over the years. The scenic route passes through the wonderfully photogenic fishing village of Lang Co before climbing over the Pass of Ocean Clouds. On arrival at Danang, visit Cham museum—a collection of Cham sculptures—then visit Marble Mountain—a cluster of 5 marbles & limestone hills, famous for stone sculpture making & stone cutting crafts—then charming Eastern sea of Vietnam before being transferred to Hoian. Overnight in Hoi An.

Hoi An was a major Asian trading port in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and its architecture and relaxed lifestyle have changed little over the years. Enjoy a walking tour of the ancient town centre to visit the former merchants’ homes, the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, a Chinese communal hall and the colourful market. Lunch at a local restaurant and free for the rest of the day. Overnight in Hoian.

After breakfast, free at leisure till being transferred to Danang Airport for the short flight to dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many locals. An almost full-day city tour takes in the city’s visiting places and begins with the War Museum and the former Presidential Palace From there on, you will go on foot (the car will be available at all times) to visit the major sights of colonial Ho Chi Minh City: the Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Saigon Post Office, Continental Hotel, Opera House and City Hall. After these historical visits, if time is still available, visit Chinatown, beginning with a visit to Thien Hau temple, then visit the lively Binh Tay market—one of the biggest wholesale markets in the city—or the Ben Thanh historic marker in the city center. Dinner cruise on Saigon river and overnight in HCMC

Depart for Cai Be, deep in the Mekong Delta, and embark on a cruise to explore the delta. followed by a visit to some local home factories that produce rice paste, rice popcorn, and coconut candy. Proceed to evergreen islands among the Mekong River through a large network of meandering tributaries, crisscrossed with countless arroyos. Enjoy lunch at a fruit orchard before the cruise back to Cai Be Pier, where our vehicle is ready to transfer you back to Saigon. Arrival at late afternoon. Overnight in HCMC.

Free at leisure for shopping or visiting until transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport for onward flight.