HANOI - ARRIVAL (-/-/-)

DAY 1 Meet on arrival at Hanoi / Noi Bai International Airport and transfer to hotel for check in.

In the evening, attend a performance of the famous Vietnamese traditional art of water puppetry at Thang Long Theatre. Overnight in Hanoi.

HANOI - CITY TOUR (B/L/-)

DAY 2 Full day city tour: Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum (closed on Monday and Friday and the whole months of October-November), Ho Chi Minh’s Residence, One-Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature, built in the 11th century as Vietnam’s first university. Lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon visit of Museum of Ethnology (closed on Mondays), Hoan Kiem Lake with Ngoc Son Temple, explore Old Quarter during a 1-hour cyclo ride. Overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 3 At leisure until transfer to Hanoi domestic airport for flight to Hue, the former Royal City of the 13 ruling Nguyen dynasties. Drive to visit the Imperial Citadel and Tu Duc Tomb. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Hue.

HUE - DANANG - HOI AN (B/L/-)

DAY 4 Boat trip on the Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the oldest ancient architectural structures for religious worship in Hue, then depart to Danang. The scenic 4-hour drive via Hai Van pass offers spectacular views of mountains, the sea, idyllic beaches and villages. Visit Cham Museum on the way. Lunch at local restaurant. We continue further south to the charming historic city of Hoi An. Known to early Western merchants, Hoi An was one of the major trading centers of Southeast Asia in the 16th century. Hoi An has a distinctive Chinese atmosphere with low, tiled-roof houses and narrow streets; the original structure of some of these 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. Overnight in Hoi An.

HOI AN - DANANG - NHA TRANG (B/L/-)

DAY 5 Transfer to station in Danang for day train Danang-Nha Trang (normal local train, sharing with other passengers in 2 lower & 2 upper berths per compartment). Lunch box on board. On arrival, transfer to hotel for check-in. Overnight in Nha Trang.

NHA TRANG (B/L/-)

DAY 6 Drive to Po Nagar Cham Tower, a sacred Hindu site dating back to the 2nd century AD. The town was built between the 7th and 12th centuries and is still used today as a place of pilgrimage for the Cham and Vietnamese Buddhists, drive to Cau Da pier and take a boat cruise to the offshore islands and a fishing village. Seafood lunch at a local restaurant. Overnight in Nha Trang.

NHA TRANG - HO CHI MINH CITY (B/L/-)

DAY 7 Transfer to airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival transfer to hotel. Lunch at local restaurant. City tour:  Chinatown, Thien Hau Pagoda, War Museum and former Presidential Palace. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

DAY 8 Coach trip to My Tho. Visit the Vinh Trang Pagoda en route and stop by the bank of Tien Giang river. Take a boat trip on Mekong River to Phoenix Island where local handicrafts and sweets from coconut are being produced. Enjoy fresh seasonal fruits and traditional live music and songs performance. Take a short ride on a horse 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 the daily life along the river banks with a stop and short leisurely walk at the Turtle Island. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant before driving back Ho Chi Minh City.

Alternative program: Drive to Cu Chi and visit the amazing complex of underground tunnels. There are more than 200 km of underground tunnels, comprising a main axis system with many branches connecting to underground hideouts, shelters and other tunnels. Proceed to Tay Ninh, center of the Cao-Dai religion founded in 1926, a combination of Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism and Confucianism. You will have the opportunity to watch the worshippers in their white long tunics during noon mass. Lunch at local restaurant. Drive back Ho Chi Minh City. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

HO CHI MINH CITY - DEPARTURE (B/-/-)

DAY 9 Day at leisure until transfer to Ho Chi Minh City / Tan Son Nhat International Airport for departure.

Our tour prices are inclusive of transfers and tours with English or French speaking guide, accommodation in shared twin rooms with air-condition and private bath room, meals as specified in the program (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner), entrance fees, boat fees, domestic ticket Hanoi-Hue; Nha Trang - Ho Chi Minh City, day train ticket Danang - Nha Trang.

Not included are surcharges for other language guides, compulsory gala dinners during festive seasons and peak season surcharges, which will be advised at time of booking.

NOTES: The train trip is a local experience. Cabins are shared with other local passengers (unless private cabin is requested and all berths paid for). Communal rest rooms at either end of the carriages complete the local experience. Train schedule is subject to change without prior notice.

Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road conditions, flight schedules and room availability.