JOUR 1

Hanoi Arrival

Welcome to Hanoi, one of Asia’s most enchanting cities

Overnight in Hanoi

JOUR 2

Hanoi city’s highlights

Start the day with a tour of The Presidential Palace (formerly Palace of the Governor-General of French Indochina), Ho Chi Minh’s house-on-stilt and nearby One Pillar Pagoda

Visit the Temple of Literature – the first university of Vietnam built in 11th century

Next is a visit to the Museum of Ethnology, which gives an excellent overview of the country's ethnic groups, their customs and ways of life

Head to the center of Hanoi and explore the lively Old Quarter of Hanoi

In the Old Quarter, learn about the "36 Streets"— a place you must see to experience—and how each street carried the name of the item produced and sold there

Close your day by attending a Water Puppet Show

Overnight in Hanoi

JOUR 3

Ha Long Bay

Breakfast at hotel before heading out to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Overnight in the bay among thousands of limestone islands

JOUR 4

Ha Long Bay – Da Nang – Hoi An

Start the day with calming Tai Chi, often accompanied by an amazing sunrise and the quiet breath-taking beauty of the bay’s landscape

The cruise passes beautiful spots such as Trong, Trinh Nu and the Me Cung Caves, and you will have a chance to explore Surprise Cave

Return to Hanoi and transfer to Hoi An via the Danang airport

Overnight in Hoi An.

JOUR 5

My Son & Hoi An

Morning visit to My Son, one of the most important examples of Hindu influence in Southeast Asia. Although largely in a state of ruin today, My Son is often compared with other historical temple complexes in Southeast Asia, such as Angkor Wat of Cambodia or Ayutthaya of Thailand

Return to Hoi An in the afternoon and spend the remainder of the day walking the ancient streets lined with Chinese traders’ homes and wooden houses reincarnated as restaurants, cafés, and outlets for local artists, craftsmen and tailors. Explore the beautiful 16th century Japanese Bridge. Hoi An's unique fusion of Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese architecture is well displayed here, in what is arguably Vietnam's most tourist-friendly town

JOUR 6

Hoi An – Hue

Depart Hoi An for Hue in the morning

En-route, stop at Cham Museum – houses a collection of stone scultures from the Hindu-practing Cham Civilization

Capture beautiful shots of Lang Co Lagoon and view of Da Nang from the top of Hai Van Pass

Continue to Tu Duc Tomb. Tu Duc began planning his tomb long before his death in 1883. The major portions of the tomb complex were completed from 1864-67, along with future temple buildings that served as a palatial retreat for Tu Duc and his many wives during his lifetime

Overnight in Hue

JOUR 7

Hue – Ho Chi Minh City

Take a tour of the Hue Imperial Citadel, recognized as a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993. Explore the Imperial Citadel, closely modeled along the lines of the Forbidden City in Beijing

In the afternoon, head out to Thien Mu Pagoda, a nicely located pagoda overlooking the Perfume River and the beautiful landscape beyond. If you are lucky, you could observe the Pagoda’s praying ceremony and experience local religious life

Take an afternoon flight to Ho Chi Minh City and overnight there

JOUR 8

Cu Chi Tunnels & Ho Chi Minh City

Depart Ho Chi Minh City and head out to Cu Chi Tunnels. After an introductory video, viewing various mantraps, the remains of an American tank and numerous bomb craters, you will spend the next hour exploring the maze of tunnels to see how the Viet Cong survived in this underground network

In the afternoon, head back to Ho Chi Minh City and check out the Reunification Palace, the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Other sites include, the Notre Dame Cathedral, built between 1877 and 1883, with materials imported from France. Neo-Romanesque in form, it is a major centre of Catholicism in modern Vietnam, and one of the city’s major landmarks. Next to the cathedral stands the Saigon Post Office, a classic French colonial structure, is still a functioning post office today and features huge ceilings, a giant portrait of Uncle Ho, and many beautiful details. Continue along the former Rue Catinat to the Hotel Continental – famous from the ‘Quiet American’ novel and film – and on to the Caravelle Hotel, home to many foreign reporters and secret agents during the Vietnam War

After dark, head out for a street food adventure from the back of a vintage Vespa scooter

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

JOUR 9

Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta – Ho Chi Minh City

Transfer to Ben Tre in the Mekong Delta. Set out on a boat trip on channels winding through coconut forest

Walka on village path and visit a farmer’s house and ride bicycles through village roads past rice fields, coconut groves and local houses

Visit a tapioca cake workshop and a local Cao Dai temple before heading back to Ho Chi Minh City

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

JOUR 10

Ho Chi Minh City Departure

The morning is free at leisure in Ho Chi Minh City for some last minute shopping

Then off to your next adventure