OVERVIEW           
Vietnam is currently one of the world’s most talked-about travel destinations. After opening its doors to tourism in 1989, the “Land of the Ascending Dragon” has established its reputation as a unique and genuine South-East Asian experience. A visit to this fascinating country will indulge your senses and open your mind. In the north, wander the charming colonial boulevards of Hanoi. Cruise amid the breathtaking scenery of Halong Bay. Trek though the rugged mountains and vibrant hill tribe villages surrounding the Sapa valley. Explore the majesty of the Imperial Capital of Hue in central Vietnam. Be charmed by Hoi An’s rambling market streets. Chill out at Vietnam’s premier beach resort, Nha Trang. Breathe the cool mountain air in the former French colonial retreat of Dalat. Further south, bombard your senses in vibrant Ho Chi Minh City. Take a boat to the floating markets of the Mekong Delta. Discover pristine Phu Quoc, one of the best kept island secrets of Asia. Throughout Vietnam, savour the fresh, exotic cuisine currently in vogue on eat streets throughout the world. Experience the warmth and openness of the Vietnamese people. Enjoy abundant shopping opportunities. Marvel at stunning landscapes. Vietnam is poised to embrace modernity yet remains steeped in the romance of a bygone era. Truly a diverse, inspiring and challenging destination. Our highly trained local guide will open up the secrets of this enchanting country for you.

DAY 1: HANOI – ARRIVAL (D) Meet on arrival at Noi Bai International Airport and transfer to hotel for check in. Dinner at local restaurant. In the evening, attend a performance of the famous Vietnamese traditional art of water puppetry at Thang Long Theatre. Overnight in Hanoi. DAY 2: HANOI – BATTRANG – HAIPHONG – HALONG (B/L/D) Pick up at your hotel in Hanoi. Driver to Bat Trang pottery village, the famous village situated approx. 15km outside of Hanoi, surrounded by fertile farmland, Watch the artisans forming, paiting and glazing their products, which are then baked for several days in huge kilns. Proceed to HaiPhong, the largest seaport in North Vietnam.

Lunch at local restaurant. Continue with orientation tour, visit Du Hang Pagoda and Hang Kenh Communal House, both with fine examples of traditional woodcarving then driver to Halong. Arrival and check in hotel. Overnight in Halong.

DAY 3: HALONG – HANOI (B/L)
Discover Halong Bay, listed as a World Heritage Area or outstanding natural beauty. “Dragon descending to the sea” as it is known in Vietnamese, picturesque Halong Bay has more than 1000 limestone islets rising from the water, many of them containing beautiful grottoes. A 5-hour boat trip will visit wonders of creation. Fresh seafood lunch is prepares and served during the boat Cruise. Driver back Hanoi in the late afternoon. Overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 4: HANOI CITY TOUR (B/L)
Breakfast at the hotel. Full day tour with Hochiminh ‘s Mausoleum (closed on Monday and Friday and the whole months of October-November), Hochiminh ‘s Presidence, One-pillar pagoda, temple of Literature, built in the 11thcentury as Vietnam’s first university. Lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon, visit of Museum of Ethnology , Hoan Kiem Lake with Ngoc Son temple, explore Old quarter during a 1-hour cyclo ride. In the evening, attend the famous performance of a water puppet show, the unique Vietnamese traditional art. Overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 5: HANOI – CUCPHUONG NATIONAL PARK – NINH BINH (B/L) Drive to CucPhuong National park, trekking to discover the rich flora of the park. Lunch en route. Drive to Ninh Binh and transfer to simple hotel. Overnight in Ninh Binh DAY 6: NINH BINH – TAM COC – HOA LU – PHAT DIEM – NINH BINH (B/L/D) Drive to Hoa Lu, often called :Dry Halong Bay” Limestone rocks rise from rice fields and winding streams. Enjoy the spectacular scenery during a leisurely boat ride in traditional local sampans to TamCoc caves. Lunch at local restaurant. Visit BichDong Pagoda and temples of the Dinh and Le Dynasties. Proceed to PhatDiem and visit the stone church, a striking architectural complex in the style of a Vietnamese pagoda. Overnight in NinhBinh.

DAY 7: NINH BINH – DONG HOI (B/L/D)
Full day driving to Dong Hoi through charming rural scenery which offers a glimpse into the live in the Southern Red River Delta. Lunch en route. Arrive in Dong Hoi. Overnight at Dong Hoi in the basic hotel.

DAY 8: DONG HOI – PHONG NHA – VINH MOC TUNNELS – HUE (B/L/D) Drive to beautiful Phong Nha Caves, accessible by boat on the clear waters of the Son River. Lunch en route. Proceed south to visit Vinh Moc tunnels, dug to accommodate an underground village safe from American air raids in the north of the DMZ. Continue driving through the sites of the fierce battle fields of Vinh Linh, Doc Mieu and Dong Ha before arriving in Hue, the former Royal City of the 13 ruling Nguyen dynasties. Overnight in Hue. DAY 9: HUE CITY TOUR (B/L) Boating on the Perfume River to visit ThienMu Pagosa and Minh Mang tomd. Lunch at local restaurant. Visit Imperial Citadel with its Forbidden city and Tu Duc tomb. If time permits, drive to visit a traditional garden house in Hue Hotel. Overnight in Hue.

DAY 10: HUE – DANANG – HOIAN (B/L/D)
Breakfast at hotel. In the morning, boat trip to visit Thien Mu Pagoda then take a drive to visit the royal tomb Tu Duc & Khai Dinh Tombs, one of the oldest ancient architectural structures for religious worship in Hue, then have lunch at local restaurant. After lunch, depart Hue for Hoi An via HaiVan pass offers spectacular views of mountains, the sea, idyllic beaches and villages. Visit Cham Museum, continue to Marble mountains with its beautiful grottoes and temples, which can be reached by climbing steps. We continue further south to the charming historic city of Hoian. Hotel check in and overnight in Hoian.

DAY 11: HOIAN TOWN (B/L) Hoian - known to early Western merchants. Hoian was one of the major trading centers of Southeast Asia in the 16th century . Hoian has a distinctive Chinese atmosphere with low, tiled-roof houses and narrow streets is still virtually intact. Many of the houses were constructed of rare timbers and decorated with lacquer panels engraved with Chinese characters and pillars carved with ornamental designs. During a leisurely discovery tour on foot, you will visit some of the historic merchant and community houses, places of worship and famous bridges. A short boat trip across the river brings you to the boat builder’s yard and woodcarvers as well as a pottery and brick making village. Lunch at local restaurant . In the afternoon, free at leisure. Overnight in Hoian.

DAY 12: HOIAN – DANANG – NHATRANG (B/L/D)
Drive to Danang and transfer to airport for flight to Nhatrang. Visit the Institute of Oceanography and Po Nagar Cham Tower, a sacred Hindu site dating back to 2nd century AD.The town was built between the 7th and 12th centuries and is still used to day as a place of pilgrimage for the Cham and Vietnamese Buddhists. Overnight in Nhatrang.

DAY 13: NHATRANG (B)
Full day free at your own leisure. Overnight in Nhatrang.

DAY 14: NHATRANG – SAIGON (B/L/D) Leisure time until transfer to airport for flight to Hochiminh city. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel. Hotel check in before city tour -War museum, the post office and Notre Dame Cathedral. Former Presidential Palace, Chinatown . Back and overnight in Saigon. DAY 15: SAIGON – TAYNINH – CU CHI (B/L) Drive from your hotel to Hoc Mon District to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, which is 70 kilometers North West of down town Ho Chi Minh City. It was an underground city with living areas, kitchens, storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers.

. In places, it was housed up to 10,000 people who virtually lived underground for years.... getting married, giving birth. During the American War the entire area of Cu Chi was designated a free fire zone and was heavily bombarded. From 1988, two sections of tunnels have been open for visitors. Proceed to Tay Ninh, center of the CoDai religion founded in 1926, a combination of Buddhism, Christianity to watch the worshippers in their white long tunics during noon mass. Lunch at local restaurant. Drive back an overnight in Saigon.

DAY 16: SAIGON – BENTRE – CANTHO (B/L/D) Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to My Tho. Upon arrival, visit the Vinh Trang Pagoda route and stop by the bank of Tien Giang River. Take a boat trip in Mekong River to Phoenix Island where local handicrafts and sweets from coconut are being produced. Enjoy fresh seasonal fruits and music and performance. Take a short ride on the short carriage to a typical local house to taste some homemade honey tea. Proceed by small sampan boats through the small canals and side arms of the river to observe surely walk at the Turte island. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant driving to CanTho. Overnight in CanTho

DAY 17: CANTHO – SOCTRANG – CHAUDOC (B/L/D)
Boat trip on Mekong river to visit CaiRang floating market, you also have the opportunity to watch local villagers producing rive paper, pop-rice, and rice husking. Continue by car to Soc Trang to visit Bat Pagoda, Clay Pagoda and Khner Museum. Lunch en route. Drive back to CanTho. In the afternoon, drive to ChauDoc, with an en route visit by boat to the Bang Lang stork sanctuary in Thot Not. Overnight in Chau Doc.

DAY 18: CHAUDOC – SADEC – SAIGON (B/L)
Visit Sam mountain, Laday Xu Temple. Thaoi Ngoc Hau Temple, Tay An Pagoda and boat trip to the Islamic ChamPa village. Lunch en route. Depart Chau Doc to Sa DeC, visit the flower village. Get back Saigon in the late afternoon. Overnight in Saigon.

DAY 19: SAIGON - DEPARTURE (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Leisure time until transfer to Ho Chi Minh City / Tan Son Nhat International Airport for departure.

Inclusive:
-A/C vehicle transfer with driver
-Hotel accommodation in twin sharing room with breakfast
-Sightseeing and entrance fee at all mentioned sites
-English, French speaking local guide
-Meal as stated in itinerary
-Boat for cruising
-Domestic flight as program
-GOV tax tour.

Exclusive:
-Drinks
-Personal expenses
-Entrance fee for photo or video camera to the sites
-Others not mentioned in the price above
-Tips and gratitude for guide, porters and drivers