Begin in Ho Chi Minh City (former Saigon) the country's commercial center and home to a growing number of upscale restaurants and shops. Visit Chinatown, the Thien Hau Pagoda, the Reunification Palace, the Opera House and Hotel de Ville. If desired, also visit the powerful War Remnants Museum. Explore colorful outdoor markets and Dong Khoi Street, the city's main shopping boulevard with fashion boutiques and accessories designed by up-and-coming Vietnamese designers, hill tribe crafts, high quality linens and housewares. Try Saigon's strong Vietnamese iced coffee and a banh mi (baguette sandwich). Take a day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels and watch an unusual religious ceremony at the main temple of Cao Daism, a unique fusion of world religions. On another day trip, tour the narrow canals of the Mekong Delta to experience the traditional side of Vietnamese river life. Next, fly to charming Hanoi, Vietnam's artistic and intellectual capital.
Explore the fascinating Old Quarter and its hundreds of specialty shops selling silk clothing, lacquerware, embroidered linens, furniture, bamboo, cooking utensils, ceremonial objects and more. Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, ride a cyclo to dinner, and watch a delightful performance of Vietnam's water puppet theater. Dine in French colonial villas converted into gourmet restaurants. Enjoy people watching at stylish cafes. Shop for impressive modern art in the city's numerous galleries. Also visit Hanoi 's main cultural attractions, including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his House on Stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Fine Arts Museum and the Temple of Literature. This tour will discover the two greatest cities in Vietnam: Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) with daytime trips to the most interesting attractions where we can visit historical and cultural relics; Explore colorful outdoor market and the cities' main shopping boulevards.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City
Arrive at Tan Son Nhat Airport. Pick up and transfer to a hotel. Afternoon, private tour of Ho Chi Minh City, the country's commercial center and home to a growing number of upscale restaurants and shops. Visit Chinatown, the Thien Hau Pagoda, the Reunification Palace, the Opera House and Hotel de Ville. If desired, also visit the powerful War Remnants Museum. Explore colorful outdoor markets and Dong Khoi Street, the city's main shopping boulevard with fashionable boutiques and accessories designed by up- and-coming Vietnamese designers, hill tribe crafts, high quality linens and house-wares. Overnight in HCMC.
Day 2: Mekong Delta Excursion
The Mekong Delta is the southernmost region of Vietnam. It is often referred to as the rice bowl of Vietnam as it produces three crops of rice per year. The fertile Mekong Delta is also famous for its tropical fruits and flowers. The Delta area marks the end of a 4,500 km journey made by the Mekong River after having traveled through six countries. Traditional transportation in the Delta is by boat along a vast network of canals and channels. Boating along these canals and visiting the floating markets always proves to be a fascinating and rewarding experience for all visitors. Leave HCMC to lush My Tho where you will board a private boat to go through the green vegetation of the canals to an orchard, where guests are treated to a delicious lunch in a bonsai garden in the heart of the Mekong, complete with succulent tropical fruits. We also visit the snake farm Dong Tam that breeds snakes for, among other things, snake wine and enjoy a bonsai garden in Trung Luong before heading back to HCMC. for overnight. Includes: (B), (L).
Day 3: Cu Chi Tunnels
Half-day private excursion to the Cu Chi Tunnels. At its height, the tunnel system stretched over 250km. from Saigon to the Cambodian border and was three levels in depth. The network included innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens. Today the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience and a feel of what the underground life during the U.S.-Vietnam War must have been like. Afternoon free at leisure. Overnight in HCMC. Includes: (B), (L).
Day 4: Ho Chi Minh City - Hanoi
Transfer and flight to Hanoi – Vietnam’s capital city of tree-lined streets and centuries-old temples. An afternoon visit Hanoi 's main cultural attractions, including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his House on Stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Fine Arts Museum and the Temple of Literature. The sightseeing day ends with a water puppet show, a theatrical genre reflecting the agricultural civilization of thousands of years ago. Overnight in Hanoi. Includes: (B), (L).
Day 5: Hanoi City Tour
Vietnam's artistic and intellectual capital. Explore the fascinating Old Quarter and its hundreds of specialty shops selling silk clothing, lacquerware, embroidered linens, furniture, bamboo, cooking utensils, ceremonial objects and more. Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, ride a cyclo to dinner. Dine in French colonial villas converted into gourmet restaurants. Enjoy people-watching at stylish cafes. Shop for impressive modern art in the city's myriad galleries also. Overnight in Hanoi. Includes: (B), (L).
Day 6: Halong Bay Excursion
Upon meeting you at your hotel at 8:00 am, we drive to Halong City, approximately 3 hours away. Once at Halong City you will board our boat for a four-hour cruise of this stunning area, stopping along the way to visit one of the limestone caves in the area. As we cruise, our boat staff will serve a sumptuous local seafood lunch. After 4 hours, we cruise back to the harbor and take you back to your hotel in Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi. Includes: (B), (L).
Day 7: Departure. There are no activities planned for today. You enjoy your free time until transfer to airport for your onward flight. Includes: (B).
Member discount:
10% discount for InfoHub customer. Request a free gift certificate.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- All private transfer and transportation
- Accommodation in twin share basis with daily breakfast
- French or English Speaking Guide
- Domestic flights: Hanoi-Saigon and airport tax
- Boat trip in Halong Bay
- Meals as stated in the itinerary
- Sightseeing tickets
- Vietnam visa on arrival approved letter (complimentary)
- Services charges and government tax.
Price Excludes:
- International flights
- International departure taxes
- Personal expenses, tips and gratuities
- Travel insurance
- Meals and beverage
- Visa stamp fee.
Also see tour packages in:
Asia
Vietnam
Local Culture
Cultural Journey
Sightseeing
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