8N Best of Vietnam (ATG-VN0004)

Day 1 : Arrival 

Welcome to Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam. Upon arrival, greeted by the local tour guide and transfer to downtown. Check in your hotel. Afternoon, visit Ba Dinh Square – the biggest square in Hanoi where all the biggest cultural, political events of the cities, especially demonstrations, take place. Start our visit at the Complex of Ho Chi Minh including Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (from outside only as it closes in the afternoon), Ho Chi Minh’s house-on-stilts, his fish pond and the One-Pillar Pagoda. Then, the Temple of Literature which is considered as the first university of Vietnam. Later, we have an overall view of the capital by cyclo in 1 hour, which wanders around the Old Quarter of Hanoi and the Hoan Kiem Lake (the “Sword” Lake). From here wandering on the narrow streets of the Old Quarter to experience the daily life of the local people. Transfer back to your hotel.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2 : Natural World Heritage, Hanoi

Breakfast at hotel then check out. At 9am, head East for 3 hours driving to Halong Bay, the pride of the Gulf of Tonkin, a Natural World Heritage as designated by UNESCO in 1994 and 2006. The road will pass by the Red River delta with green paddyfields and rural villages, where hard-work farmers are busy with their farming jobs, ploughing buffaloes or planting seedling. Upon arrival in Halong, check in the overnight cruise to discover the magnificent beauty of this “Descending-dragon” bay, created by thousands odd-shaped limestone rocks and karst grottoes. After a lunch on board, we can visit the Grottos, stop for swimming or kayaking, passing floating houses and approach islets to enjoy their beauty in close distance. Back to the cruise, enjoy cooking demonstration before having dinner. Evening attend activities on the boat or relax at your own leisure. Overnight on the cruise.

Day 3 : Sail Island, Fisherman’s head rock, Butterfly rock or Turtle, Hanoi

You should wake up early to enjoy the dawn on the sea in the early morning. The Vietnamese call the “East Sea” by a point-oriented name “Eastern Sea”, so you may guess how miraculous seeing the sunrise over the islets of the Bay. After breakfast our boat will continue to cruise in marvelous areas, where almost each islet has its own name, adopting its shape or reminiscent like Sail Island, Fisherman’s head rock, Butterfly rock or Turtle islet etc. Check out your room and have brunch on board while the cruise coming back the pier. Disembark from the cruise, transfer back to Hanoi. Check in hotel. Your time at leisure. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 4 : Taciturn Chinese, Attractiveness of Ancient houses, Da Nang

Breakfast at hotel then check out. Transfer to the airport with driver only (no guide) to board a flight (on own) to Danang. Upon arrival, welcomed by the local tour guide and transfer to check in hotel by the beach (The normal check in time is 14:00-15:00). Afternoon, transfer to Hoian Town. You take interesting walk over the tile-roofed Japanese Bridge, visit taciturn Chinese Assembly Halls, enjoy the attractiveness of ancient houses or listen to folk music of Central Vietnam at old club-houses. Later we can stop at shrines or stroll into the market located by Thu Bon river, where you may find the same feelings of the artists, who see the rooftops of Hoian a magical old world of Oriental feel and source of inspiration. This is also a wonderful town to shop for lanterns, soft silk, raw silk, or get your clothes tailored within a day. Transfer back to Danang. Overnight in Danang.

Day 5 : Ba Na Hill, Sightseening, Da Nang

Breakfast at hotel. Morning transfer to Ba Na Hill, one of the most spectacular landscape of Danang City. You will take a cable car to the summit of mountain (at 1487m of sea level). Start visiting Ba Na Hill with many different attractions: Funicular, Debay ancient wine cellar & Le Jardin D’Amour, Linh Ung pagoda, Thich Ca Buddist statue, etc. This afternoon you continue to join activities and games in Fantasy Park. Later walk to the summit of the mountain at the height 1487m – the highest one of Ba Na Mountain, visit Bell Tower, Nghinh Phong tower and Golden Bridge, to take beautiful photos of the mountain and Da Nang city. Late afternoon, taking the cable car back to foothill. Transfer back to your hotel. Time at leisure. Overnight in Danang.

Day 6 : Ho Chi Minh City, Attractions in Saigon

Breakfast at hotel then check out. Transfer to the airport with driver only (no guide) to take a flight to Ho Chi Minh City, also called as Saigon, the most dynamic city in Vietnam. Upon arrival, welcomed by the local tour guide and transfer to the down town. Check in your hotel (normal check in time is 2pm). Start city tour at the War Remnants Museum, one of the most famous historical attractions in Saigon. Coming to the War Remnants Museum, you can learn a part of how Vietnamese had struggled and fought for their independence, freedom, and peace of the nation and the locals’ perspective of the Vietnam War. The exhibits, such as weapons, documents, and photographs, display in the museum are firm evidence of war crimes in Vietnam and speak for the heroic actions of the former Vietnamese generation. We then visit the Reunification Palace, the witness of the fierce Vietnam War ended in 1975. The grand building today is a Museum and Hall of official receptions. Nearby the Palace are the Notre Dame Cathedral (view from outside only), built between 1877 and 1883 and colonial-styled Central Post Office, one of the city’s major landmarks.

Late afternoon, visit Ben Thanh market, a symbol of Saigon. Have shopping time there. Overnight in Saigon.

Day 7 : Boat Cruising, Island, Vinh Trang pagoda, Ho Chi Minh City

Breakfast at hotel and check out. Head to My Tho, the homeland of coconut and family factories with local products like coconut candy, rice paper. Upon arrival, embark on the boat cruising on the mighty Mekong River viewing the life to the local people live along the banks. We stop to visit an island in the area, enjoy the fresh tropical fruits served in the heart of the lush garden accompanied by traditional southern Vietnamese folk music. Later, embark on other small boats rowed by the local people thru the small canals shadowed by water coconut trees to visit the local factories. There you will taste the honey tea and see the local people produce the coconut candy milk and of course you also can try it or stroll in the garden where the locals feed honeybee. In the afternoon, continue to visit Vinh Trang pagoda, a famous pagoda in the area with architecture combination of Chinese, Cambodian, and French cultures. Return to Saigon late afternoon. Overnight in Saigon

Day 8 : Drive to Cu Chi Tunnels, leisure or own sightseeing

Breakfast at hotel. Morning drive to Cu Chi Tunnels – the network of over 200km of tunnels became legendary when they played a vital role in the War. In their heyday, the tunnels were functioning underground cities including numerous trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers & kitchens. After a short introduction video showing how the tunnels were constructed, you will have a chance to crawl into a short section of the tunnels to feel the oppressive narrowness and heat inside. Return to Saigon. Afternoon is your free time at leisure or own sightseeing/shopping arround the town. Overnight in Saigon.

Day 9 : Transfer Ho Chi Minh City 

Meet our guide & driver at the hotel lobby then transfer to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) airport for flight.