Vietnam Highlight Tour - 12 Days

Welcome to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam! You will be greeted by our tour guide and transfer directly to hotel in Hanoi.

Check in time will be available at 2:00pm, and in case that you would like to secure an early-check in, an additional charge will be applied.

Optional: The rest of this day is free at leisure. You might have a sleep to recover, or wander around for some own exploration, or consider taking part in one of our suggested activities below:

• Water Puppet Show: A traditional Vietnamese water performing art, at which Vietnamese folk tales, history and local lives are introduced via colorful puppets.
• Vietnamese Cooking Class or Foodie Tours: Food in Vietnam, especially Hanoi, is totally tasty and able to mesmerize any visitor. A short walk around Old Quarter for some of Hanoi’s best food, or participation in a fun Vietnam’s cooking class could be a good start to your journey in this lovely country.

Please contact our travel consultant if you are interested in these services, and we are available 24/7 for assisting you.

Note: Please be advised that both international and domestic might be crowded at sometimes during the day, so in case that you arrive and cannot find our representatives, please be presented at Pole No.10 (Outside the Terminal Gate) and contact us, so we could easily search for you.

Morning or afternoon departure depend on availability

Half day Hanoi city tour (by car or by motorbike – upon client’s interest) - Routes can change subject to client’s interest.

Begin the first day of the trip with a tour of Hanoi. Depart from the hotel for a visit to Vietnam’s first university: the Temple of Literature. Founded in 1076, Quoc Tu Giam was established within a temple to educate Vietnam's royalty, mandarins and members of the elite.

Continue with a visit to the iconic One Pillar Pagoda, one of Vietnam’s most iconic temples. Nearby is the Mausoleum of the historic father figure of modern Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh, and his modest house on stilts. (Sites are viewed from outside; closed Mon and Fri and from Jun - Aug)

Visit the picturesque West Lake and its sixth century Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda. Tran Quoc Pagoda is regarded as the most ancient pagoda in Hanoi with its history line of more than 1,500 years.

After visiting, you will have a meal at an authentic Vietnamese Restaurant. Free time at leisure for rest of the day.

After breakfast at hotel, driver picks up and transfer to Halong Bay, listed as a World Heritage of outstanding natural beauty, known in Vietnamese as “Dragon descending to the sea”.

Upon arrival, the boat crew welcome you and check in then enjoy a cruise around Halong Bay with a delicious local seafood lunch served on board. You can also behold thousands of limestone islands and grottoes rising from the clear, emerald water.

Following break, depending on each cruise’s itinerary of the day, you’ll join some activities on boat to discover the beauty of the bay such as visit a cave, doing kayaking or enjoy swimming in the sea before getting back to the junk for relaxing and dinner. Overnight on board.

You might start your 2nd day in Halong with an early tai-chi class, or simply wake up and witness the amazing sunrise on the bay. After breakfast, cruise take you to explore the most stunning caves in Halong.

The early lunch will be served on the way getting back to the main dock for transferring to Hanoi.

You will have free time for visiting Hanoi Old Quarter and try Vietnamese street food by yourselves.

Free at leisure until our transfer is presented at your hotel and take you to Noi Bai International Airport for flight to Da Nang.

Upon arrival, our driver is currently waiting and will transfer you to the hotel in Hoi An. Check-in to the hotel and free at leisure to relax.

Hoi An is an old port town, which was founded with mixture of different cultures from Vietnam to Japan, China and Europe.

Fortunately, most of ancient constructions in this town have been conserved at unspoiled condition (although some of buildings are now using for commercial purposes), so travelers will have a complete understanding of history and diversity in culture of this historic place.

Our half-day excursion is simply walking. We will wander along old streets, cross several old houses; see how daily lives of local people are, and witness how historical elements of the town merging with modernity. We will also visit some of the ancient monuments from other nations, like the Japanese Covered Bridge or Fujian Assembly Hall of Chinese. And after some walking, a cold glass of traditional herbal drink from a street-side shop is the best way to refresh, and enjoy the true taste of Hoi An on your tongue.

If we have enough time, we will also pass by a handicraft store, at which you could directly see the creation of most notable souvenirs in town, and take some of them back to your hometown.

Pick up at hotel in Hoi An, then transfer to hotel in Hue via Cloudy Pass. Land transportation by shuttle bus or private car will be used, with stop at some spots on the way for sightseeing and photoshoot (admission fee is not included).

After having breakfast, our transportation will transfer you to Hue airport to take a flight to Ho Chi Minh City.

After about 1.5 hours flight time, you will reach Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, at which our driver is waiting to bring you to hotels in the city centre. Check-in hotel and free to explore the city on your own (or simply having a nap).

The tranquil Hue City was founded in 17th century as a royal city and a capital (before Hanoi replaced it), and now has become one of top destinations in the middle of Vietnam.

Our itineraries today start with a visit to Thien Mu Pagoda, a famous Buddhism attraction which is located at the bank of the enchanting Perfume River. The pagoda is fascinating because of not only ancient design of the buildings, but also good location at which you could enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the Perfume River.

Leaving the pagoda, we continue our journey today with a visit to the Imperial Citadel. Being the “house” of Nguyen Royal Family, the last dynasty in Vietnam, the citadel reflects luxurious and prosper lives of the royal family, and allows visitor to explore a part of Vietnam pre-modern history. Even though some buildings were damaged or destructed during some wars, but crucial constructions are still remained and currently being conserved at good condition. We will spend most of the time around the citadel, with visit to front gate, the Flag Tower, The King’s Palace, and the Museums of Royal Antiquities. Time for the buildings is finished, and now is time for interaction with the local people.

Our next and last stop will be Dong Ba Market, the largest traditional trading place in not only Hue City, but also the adjacent provinces. Walking through kiosks, you will have chance to understand daily business of local sellers, their way of doing business, as well as purchase some interesting souvenirs before we drive you back to your hotel.

Meet our tour guide at the hotel’s lobby, and let’s start our journey to Cu Chi Tunnels, which is about 70km far from Ho Chi Minh City. The attraction is a collection of underground tunnel and construction, from hospital, bedrooms to ammunition storage using by North Vietnam’s army during Civil War (1955 – 1975) as a military camp. You are provided opportunities to crawl along some of the tunnels for exploration more about the Vietnam War, or touch a real-gun with the firing-gun services here (with an additional charge).

Lunch is served at a local restaurant on the way we return to Ho Chi Minh City.

In the afternoon: Enjoy the attraction of Ho Chi Minh City. Sightseeing examples of French colonial architecture and exploring the Vietnam’s turbulent in past at the War Remnants Museum. Our guide will show you the most interesting sights that Ho Chi Minh City has to offer. Depart from your hotel to the Reunification Palace; this beautifully preserved palace was the residence of the President of the Republic of Vietnam. On April 30th 1975 the American War officially came to an end here. Afterward, we visit Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, which was built in 1880, and the Old Post Office, which was built sometime between 1886 and 1891. It is one of the best examples of classical French colonial architecture. Our last stop would be at a local Market where you can practice your bargaining skills while shopping for souvenirs. Discover local life and culture. You’ll find some of the friendliest, liveliest, most convivial people in the city in here. Return your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Free time in the rest of day

Today is free to enjoy the city in your own way. We might suggest some attractive activities that you could explore the South of Vietnam in a very authentic way:

• Option 1: Tour Insight Mekong Delta: Immerse yourself in the tranquil atmosphere and enjoy lush fruit in the heart of the Mekong. Experience the locals' life by visiting their traditional handicraft workshops and orchards.
• Option 2: Experience another version of Saigon city, which is more quite and more poetic in the early morning. You will have chances to fill your lung with fresh air in the morning, enjoy truly local breakfast, with additional milk-iced coffee before the city turns to their daily face of noisy and crowded.
• Option 3:Dinner Cruise on Saigon River: Spending romantic evening with a special dinner on boat while the cruise setting sail on the Saigon River. Fell free to contact our consultant for these services, or any other activities that you would like to try.

Enjoy your lazy last morning in Ho Chi Minh City, and have breakfast at hotel's restaurant. You are free until our transfer comes, and you are transported to airport for your flight back home. We say goodbye after arriving at the airport, and we hope to see you on your other vacation in Vietnam.

Note: Hotel check-out time is 12:00 noon. However subjected to room's availability, late check-out can be settled with a surcharge.