Vietnam must-sees

This morning, we leave the bustling city behind and drive northwest to Tay Ninh Province to visit Cao Dai church and attend the religion’s daily midday service. The religion practiced here is known as Caodaism, an monotheistic religion officially established in Tây Ninh city since 1926 and is the 3rd largest religion in Vietnam with around 3 million followers. 

Lunch at local restaurant before short drive to visit Cu Chi tunnels, an extraordinary network of tunnels more than 120 miles in length that was used by the Viet Cong as a hideout and secret village during Vietnam war. Here, after a 20 minutes long documentary movie you will learn about how the tunnels were created and have a chance to walk through a section to experience what life would have been like underground. 

This evening, enjoy your exciting dinner  on a cruise boat in Saigon river. 

   Meals: Breakfast / lunch / dinner
   Accommodation: Ho Chi Minh city

We make 2hours journey outside of bustling Ho Chi Minh City to discover the famous Mekong Delta that considered  “Rice bowl of Vietnam”. The delta is blessed with the best weather, excellent geographic location and a vast area of 3.8 million hectares of rice cultivable area. Our destination is Ben Tre where is famous for its coconut plantations.

Upon arrival in Ben Tre city, taking private sampan ride to visit local brick kilns to learn how the local burn bricks in traditional method. Continue sampan ride along one of the town's scenic and peaceful canals where you can disembark to visit a riverside coconut candy workshop to learn about making the sweet keo dua the region is known for.  Taking brief walk into local village to visit a mat weaving family, where sedge mats are woven by using a hand loom.

Riding on motor cart (Tuk Tuk) on shady village road, passing by lush rice fields and vegetable plains next. Stop at local restaurant for delicious lunch featuring such local specialty as elephant-ear fish and river shrimp. Go back to the main boat by sampan rowing boat. Travel overland to the biggest city in Me Kong delta. 
 
   Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
   Accommodation: Can Tho

Take early private 30 minutes engine boat ride  to explore the largest wholesale floating market in the Mekong Delta – Cai Rang market. The market begins around 05:00 and runs until midday. Here you will see hundreds of large cargo boats packed with mangos, bananas, coconuts, papayas, mangosteen, watermelons, longans, rambutants, pineapples, vegetables,…  The boat owners advertise what they sell by hanging their product from the top of a long bamboo pole at the bow. More interestingly, smaller boats sell local breakfast dishes like Bun Rieu,  Banh Mi, coconut water and even lottery tickets.

We head to rice noodle factory for visit next.  You will see steps of making the noodles from soaking the grains of rice in water to sun drying on bamboo racks and machine cut into noodles. Transferred back to Ho Chi Minh city for 1hour flight to Da Nang costal city. Upon your arrival at Da Nang airport, your tour guide and driver will greet you and escort you to ancient ton of Hoi An (about half an hour drive), help with your check-in hotel.  

   Meals: Breakfast / lunch 
   Accommodation: Hoian 

Enjoy a morning walking tour of Hoi An, a UNESCO world heritage site retaining a diverse mix of architecture influenced by the many nations that traded in this historic port of call.

Start with a visit to the Fujian Assembly Hall, established as a meeting place by Chinese merchants fleeing the Manchu conquest of China in 17th century. The hall is dedicated to the goddess of the sea, Tian Hau, and the Chinese merchants' ancestors, and is adorned with ornate carvings and statues. Continue to the Old House of Tan Ky, the iconic 400-year old Japanese covered bridge, and then to Trade ceramic museum. The city exploration on foot concludes at the vibrant riverside market nearby. 

This afternoon, take 30 minute boat journey on Thu Bon river to head into the cooking classroom and learn how to prepare different local dishes and the techniques necessary to recreate them once you return home. Last but not least, sample your delicious creations!     

    Meals: Breakfast / lunch / dinner
    Accommodation: Hoian

Enjoy your free morning to explore  the heritage town your self. 

Early afternoon, travel overland to Hue. On route, make a visit to the Cham Museum in Da Nang city, which has a big collection of Champa sculpture dating back to the seventh century. Photo stop at  Hai Van Pass  known as Cloudy pass (weather permitting). Arrival in Hue late afternoon, check in hotel. 

    Meals: Breakfast 
    Accommodation: Hue

Make tour of the former Imperial capital, modeled after the Forbidden City in Beijing. Enter the Ngo Mon Gate, main entrance to the Imperial Enclosure and the central passage reserved for use by the Emperor. Continue to the Supreme harmonious Palace or Thai Hoa in Vietnamese with its spacious hallways and ornamental roof, the Halls of the Mandarins, the Nine Dynastic Urns, and the ruins of the Forbidden Purple City, once home to the royal family. 

Short drive to legendary Thien Mu pagoda on the north bank of Perfume river. Take boat excursion on the iconic Perfume River as to explore the life along the banks of the ancient royal capital city.
 
Lunch with local dishes. 

Our ancient capital exploration continue with visit to the tomb of King Tu Duc, the dynasty’s longest reigning ruler. Unlike other tombs, the 12ha tomb complex with theater, bedroom, moon viewing house, pagoda, fishing pond was used by the King and his entourage as summer palace during his lifetime.

We also visit Tomb of Khai Dinh, built in Chau Chu mountain. Built for the Emperor Khai Dinh between 1920-31, the last tomb of its kind is an impressive structure combining western and eastern architecture, guarded by statues of soldiers and animals. This is only royal tomb that position of the king’s corpse can be found. 

Transfer to Hue airport for 1hour flight to Hanoi capital city. Upon arrival, you are welcome by our local tour guide and driver for transfer to your preferred hotel for check in.

   Meals: Breakfast/ lunch
   Accommodation: Hanoi

City tour begins with drive through French area to the Ba Dinh Square where Ho Chi Minh delivered the independence declaration in the morning of September 2nd 1945. Lining up for entering inside the Soviet-style mausoleum where late president Ho Chi Minh’s corpse has been reserved for years.  Then walk through the gardens of the Presidential Palace to House 54 where Ho Chi Minh lived during 1954-1958. Strolling along the little pond, you will see Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts, the humble dwelling was modeled of hill tribes traditional dwelling far north of the country where Ho Chi Minh and his government ever lived during French war. Take photos of the One Pillar Pagoda - one of Vietnam’s most iconic temples which was built since 11th century. 

Short drive to the 900-year-old Temple of Literature, which served as the first national university of Vietnam till end of 18th century.
Lunch with Ha Noi specialty at a local restaurant. 

Drive out of the central city to visit the Museum of Ethnology showcases the diverse culture of Vietnam's 54 ethnic minority groups through a collection of clothes, textiles, musical instruments and many other items from daily life.

Explore the fascinating Old quarter  by cyclo before wrapping the tour with water puppet show, an unique folk art of Viet Nam from about 11 century.

Please note: The Ho Chi Minh mausoleum is closed every Monday and Friday (outside grounds and garden area will be open on these days) and normally closed from June 15 through August 15 for preservation and maintenance of the building. 
    Meals: Breakfast / lunch 
    Accommodation: Hanoi

Drive south to Ninh Binh province on a 2-hour journey to Trang An, a UNESCO World Heritage site . Trang An is well known for its outstanding natural beauty and the scenic karst formations which contribute to its reputation as being the “Halong Bay in land.”  

Upon arrival, board a small rowing boat and wind lazily down the peaceful river while passing through a series of caves. While enjoying the sounds of soaring birds overhead and paddling along the crystal-clear waters of the river, jagged limestone hills jutting skyward out of electric green rice paddies will be sure to bring out the photographer in you. 

Return to the pier to get to a local restaurant for lunch. 

Heading to Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s ancient capital during the Dinh and Le dynasties dating back to the 10th - 11th  century. We visit 02 temples dedicated to kings of the dynasties. Check in your hotel.

  Meal: Breakfast/ Lunch
  Accommondation: Ninh Binh

8:00 embark your 3.50hrs drive through Red river delta’s peaceful villages. On route, make a visit to Pho Minh Buddhist pagoda in Nam Dinh province. Upon arrival in Halong, board luxurious boat. Your overnight cruise journey in Ha Long Bay includes visits to a sandy beach and a limestone cave full of stalactites and stalagmites. Doing kayaking to a lagoon and partaking in cooking demonstration are part of your activities as well. 

Ha Long Bay has been twice recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, in 1994 and 2000 as well as named one of the seven natural wonders of the world,  Ha Long Bay, located in the Gulf of Tonkin and 165 kilometres from Hanoi, covers an area of 43,400 hectares and includes over 1,600 islands and islets. The exceptional scenic beauty of the limestone pillars complemented by biological interest is an ideal model of a mature Karst landscape developed during a warm and wet tropical climate. The outstanding value of Ha Long Bay is centered around the drowned limestone karst landforms, displaying spectacular pillars with a variety of coastal erosional features such as arches and caves which form a majestic natural scenery. 

Stay overnight on your cruise boat. 
Meal: Breakfast/ dinner