Vietnam: South To The North - 15 Days

Day 1: Saigon Arrival.
Upon arrival in Saigon, you will be met by the guide and transferred by private car to the hotel for check-in. This afternoon and evening are free at leisure.
Meals: N/A.
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon.

Day 2: Saigon City Tour.
In the morning, meet our tour guide and driver at your centrally located hotel then depart in our comfortable private car and begin your tour by heading to Chinatown and wandering through the fascinating back streets near Cho Lon and Binh Tay. This area is one of the busiest commercial districts of Ho Chi Minh City and its atmospheric streets are home to some of the city’s most interesting sites.
Next, absorb the sacred atmosphere of the Thien Hau temple, a revered structure built in the 19th century and dedicated to Thien Hau, goddess of the seafarers.
Enjoy lunch at local restaurant and then venture to the War Remnants Museum to see a selection of antique military equipment.
Marvel at enormous exhibits like a UH1-Huey helicopter and a F5A fighter in the courtyard and then stroll to the Reunification Palace to see an impressive tableau of Vietnamese architecture. Admire the French colonial facades of Notre Dame Cathedral, the Opera House and the General Post Office before driving back to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon.

Day 3: Saigon – Mekong Delta – Can Tho.
Depart Saigon after breakfast, driving two-hours to reach Cai Be in the heart of the Mekong Delta for one of the highlights of the tour – a cruise on the mighty Mekong River and the chance to witness life on and around the water of the "Nine Dragon River". Board a traditional wooden sampan boat around the Cai Be riverside town, a commercial spectacle established in the 19th century. Marvel at boats replete with exotic produce and interact with locals in order to discover more about their stock. Next, disembark and stroll to the coconut candy factory to discover the manufacturing process of the sweet treats, as well as puffed rice – the local equivalent of popcorn.
After lunch, take a walk through their fruit orchard to see the fresh seasonal fruits on the trees and listen to melodious Vietnamese folk music known as "Don Ca Tai Tu".
Reboard the boat through the narrow canals around the island, appreciating the tranquility and lush landscapes of this part of the Delta, to Vinh Long. Drive to the largest city in the Mekong Delta: Can Tho, a buzzing town with a lively waterfront and a colorful mix of narrow back streets that make for some rewarding exploration. Rest of the day, you may like to walking along Ninh Kieu Park and on a pedestrian bridge of Can Tho City.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Can Tho.

Day 4: Can Tho – Saigon – Fly to Nha Trang.
Wake early and leave the hotel to visit the famous Cai Rang floating market by motorized boat. This is a great opportunity to get fantastic photos of colourful boats laden with fruit and vegetables. Boats are filled with teetering piles of fruit and vegetables, from carefully balanced watermelons, to bright flowers. Then venture deeper into the countryside, passing traditional houses made of wood and palm leaves as you observe the activities of the local people, and sample the fresh, exotic fruit. Return to Ninh Kieu quay in Can Tho around 10 A.M. Check out the hotel then drive back to Saigon’s airport for the in-country flight to Nha Trang. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and the remainder of the day is at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Nha Trang.

Day 5: Nha Trang – Free at leisure.
Today is free at leisure to relax at the sandy beach or by the pool.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Nha Trang.

Day 6: Nha Trang – Free at leisure.
Enjoy relaxing by the beach, playing in the resort pool and sipping something delicious at the pool bar. If all that relaxing leaves you restless, enjoy an optional day trip out to the countryside, exploring the city or snorkeling off shore.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Nha Trang.

Day 7: Nha Trang – Fly to Danang – Hoian.
After breakfast, your driver will pick up and transfer you to the airport to take a short flight to Danang. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel in Hoian. Take a half-day walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the ancient town centre, visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, the Chinese Assembly Hall, the 200-year old Tan Ky ancestral house and the famous Japanese Bridge.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian.

Day 8: Hoian – Free at leisure.
Today you will have a full free day on your own. Perhaps you choose and take part in one of the following optional activities:

• Enjoy eco-tour.
• Or cooking class
• Or learn how to make lanterns.
• Or enjoy a bicycle tour to Tra Que Village.
• Or take a wet rice planting tour.
• Or My Son Holy Land.
• Ba Na Hills with the Golden Bridge.

(Please feel free to contact our travel consultants to get each tour variation description and their advice on quotation for your best choice).
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian.

Day 9: Hoian – Danang – Hue.
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel then check-out and drive over the 500m-high Hai Van pass to Hue. Enjoy a stop at the scenic Lang Co Beach for a drink before continuing on to Hue - a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Vietnam’s former capital. Spend the rest afternoon at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hue.

Day 10: Hue City Tour.
The river banks outside of Hue are dotted with UNESCO-listed imperial tombs – visit the ones belong to Khai Dinh and Minh Mang. Learn the traditional art of “Truc Chi” and a workshop before visiting the imposing Imperial Citadel, and Forbidden Purple City. Concludes the day with a stop at Dong Ba market where you will witness locals trading foods, fresh fruits and vegetables etc.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hue.

Day 11: Hue – Fly to Hanoi.
After breakfast, check out the hotel then drive to the airport to catch the short flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival, get transferred to your hotel in the city centre.
In the afternoon, explore Vietnam’s capital on an escorted half-day city tour. Visit the Temple of Literature. In 1076, Vietnam's first university Quoc Tu Giam, was established within a temple to educate Vietnam's royalty, mandarins and members of the elite. The university functioned for an incredible 700 years and its gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a fascinating glimpse into Vietnam’s past. Continue to the One Pillar Pagoda, founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049. This structure is one of Vietnam’s most iconic temples. Close by is the mausoleum of the historic father figure of modern Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh, and the former presidents house on stilts where he lived from 1958 to 1969. His former home illustrates the modesty of this Vietnamese revolutionary. Later, visit Hanoi’s Old Quarter also known as the “36 streets”. Take a walking tour through charming Hang Be Market and around Hoan Kiem Lake. This bustling area of narrow streets and alleys is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. It's a great place to explore with plenty of photo opportunities.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi.

Day 12: Hanoi – Ninh Binh.
Today your tour guide and driver will pick you up at the hotel then journey southward to Ninh Binh Province where presents you an ancient land enriched with cultural and geographic wonders that were recently World Heritage Site listed.
Upon arrival, start your tour by visiting Bai Dinh Pagoda complex, one of the largest pagodas not only in Vietnam but also in Southeast Asia. This place is scenically set on the foothill of Dinh Mountain, surrounded by amazing views of the exquisite river valley below, and dotted with limestone karsts, which will take your breath away. Enjoy the panoramic view of the picturesque landscape dotted with limestone mountains.
After lunch, you will leave for the Trang An Grottoes, a UNESCO-listed series of grottoes carved from the region's striking natural monoliths of limestone, which rises dramatically out from the rice paddy fields. Deep among the towering mountains, are pristine places of mystical valleys, numerous fresh water ponds, and jungle. Embark on a traditional sampan gently rowed down the exquisite river through numerous caves. Every passage brings a new hidden inside isolated valleys of tranquility, which perhaps transformed to another world and time. Enjoy the sunset over the lime karsts while cruising on the clear water back to the main tourist boat terminal.
Check in to your hotel and relax.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Ninh Binh.

Day 13: Ninh Binh – Halong Bay – Overnight on cruise.
(The itinerary is a sample, depends on weather and it will be different between cruises. Our travel consultants will provide the exact schedule and program if you book other cruise such as Hera Cruise, Halong President Cruise, Emperor Cruise, Halong Violet, Halong Jasmine, Paradise Luxury Cruises, Ginger Cruise, Orchid Cruise, Indochina Sails, Au Co Cruise, Starlight Cruise, Sealife Cruise, Oriental Sails etc.)
Halong Bay is one of the most loved spots in Vietnam for a reason - it's gorgeous. On this Halong Bay tour, we take you away from the hectic pace of life in Hanoi and introduce you to the tranquil, beautiful Halong Bay... Following breakfast, journey northeast through the rich farmland of the Red River Delta to Halong Bay, truly one of Vietnam's most scenic impressive sights. On arrival you are welcomed onboard a traditional junk. Settle into a private comfortable cabin and unpack for a two-day cruise around Halong Bay. Along the way, enjoy a huge lunch served on board and admire the picturesque scenery of islands. These limestone karst formations are littered with beaches, grottoes and beautiful caves. You will anchor for a leisurely swim in a secluded cove and an enjoyable visit to Sung Sot Cave, one of the many hidden grottoes beneath towering cliffs. The remainder of day is for your own pleasure; observing the bay, lazing around the deck or simply soaking up the sunshine.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Accommodation: on cruise on Halong Bay.

Day 14: Halong Bay – Hanoi.
Awake early and participate in Tai Chi on the top deck or simply relax and enjoy the sunrise over the bay’s towering islands. Enjoy a morning cup of coffee or tea, before setting out to explore nearby islands by rowboat. Return to the junk for breakfast then take advantage of the sundeck and admire the amazing rock formations of the bay as you navigate back to Halong City. Savor a fresh seafood lunch, served on board before sailing back to Halong Harbour, where your car will be waiting to take you to Hanoi.
Rest of the day, you are free at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi.

Day 15: Hanoi Departure.
Today is free at your leisure for last minute shopping or sightseeing before driving to the airport to catch your departure flight.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: N/A.