Vietnam classic highlights tour 10 days

Xin Chao!

Vietland Holidays tour guide will welcome you at  Noi Bai international airport  and  pick you up to Central of Ha Noi Capital for the Hotel check-in. We will have a shortly meeting.  We'll be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so please ensure you bring these details to provide to your leader.

Located in the centre of the Northern Delta with a population of 6.2 million people and an area of 3,398 square km Hanoi is an ancient city which had been established and developed for over 1,000 years since 1010. Even though some relics have not survived through wars and time, the city still has many interesting cultural and historic monuments for visitors and residents alike. Historians liken the life-giving Red River with its banks crowded with green rice paddies and farms to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers; a cradle of civilization.

Hotel rooms may not be ready until 14:00 hrs but an early check-in would be guaranteed with a surcharge. The rest of the day is at leisure. Subject to your arrival time, you may want to venture out to explore the city on your own or join one of our wonderful optional excursions in and around Hanoi, such as a walking tour through Hanoi's Old Quarter for you first impression of Vietnam's capital city.

Accommodation at hotel in Hanoi.

You wake up and have breakfast .

Around 08:00 AM, Vietland Holidays Tour guide  will pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi and have a 4-hour road transfer to Halong City. Upon arrival at the tourist pier in Tuan Chau, embark on an overnight cruise. Welcome on-board by the Captain and his crew followed by boat safety briefing presented by cruise manager. The boat will set sail on a leisurely cruise through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters of Halong Bay, taking in the spectacular scenery of this UNESCO World Heritage site. Lunch will be served as you cruise by impressive rock formations with unusual names and shapes.

In the afternoon you will start to discover Halong Bay, listed as a World Heritage of outstanding natural beauty, known in Vietnamese as "Dragon descending to the sea". Depending on each cruise's itinerary of the day, you may visit a beautiful cave and have some swimming at a tiny beach. Kayaking is available at a surcharge.

When the sun sets, your boat will drop anchor for the night. You may attend a cooking demonstration before having dinner.

After dinner, you may choose to enjoy fresh air on the sundeck or playing board games or retiring to your cabin for a comfortable night in the bay.

Accommodation on-board an overnight cruise in Halong Bay.

Dinner on-board.

In the  Early risers we can enjoy the sunrise and the quiet breath - taking beauty of Bay’s landscape. From 7.30 to 10.30, Ala carte serving (Guests can order any dishes in the menu whenever they want).

Around 8.00, Start discovering Ba Cua beach where the guests enjoy swimming, sunbathing or relaxing. Back to junk, arrange luggage and check out cabin while cruising back. Around 11.30: disembark.

In the afternoon, we will transfer to Ninh Binh  Province (200KM from Ha Long Bay)

Upon arrival in Ninh Binh, we check in and relax. Free dinner.

After  breakfast at your hotel, we start a full day tour of Ninh Binh.

First, we visit Hoa Lu, the historic capital of Vietnam and the famous ancient temples of Le and the Dinh Dynasties. Then our vehicle will transfer you from Hoa Lu to Tam Coc (5 kilomettes). We take a trip to visit Tam Coc to see the beauty of the karst formations as you pass along their base and row into one of the many caves carved through the limestone.

Have lunch at nearby restaurant.

In the afternoon, we take a boat trip to discover Trang An grottoes, which have forested limestone mounts contrasting in emerald water, caves, lowland and rivers. We will visit 11-cave-network with beautiful stalactites of all shapes and colors.

Later in the afternoon, we get on our vehicle for coming back Hanoi (110 kilomettes) for dinner.

Re-check in hotel and overnight in Hanoi.

After breakfast, we have half day Hanoi city tour with visit to Ho Chi Minh Complex:  Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh House on Stilts, Presidential Palace and One pillar pagoda.

We continue to visit Literature Temple, the first University in Vietnam in 16th century.

Have lunch at nearby restaurant then coming back to hotel for checking out.

In  the afternoon, we are transferred to airport for flight  to Da Nang  City.

Vietland Holidays tour guide and vehicle will welcome and transfer to hotel in Hoi An for checking in before dinner.

Relax and overnight in Hoi An.

Hoi An is a city in Vietnam’s central coast known for its well-preserved Ancient Town, cut through with canals. The former port city’s melting-pot history is reflected in its architecture, a mix of eras and styles from wooden Chinese shophouses and temples to colorful French colonial buildings, ornate Vietnamese tube houses and the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge with its pagoda.

Hoi An has been known for the exceptionally well preserved ancient town with the complex of old wooden frame buildings including the historical monuments and the fusion of indigenous and foreign cultures. Besides that, projects for preservation and promotion of local handicrafts have also been implemented.

Wake up and enjoy breakfast at your hotel. Vietland Travel Tour Guide and you will visit Thang Loi Handicraft workshop in Phan Chu Trinh Street where we have the chance to experience all the typical traditional handicraft of Hoi An: wood carving, mat weaving, lantern making, silk worm raising, spinning and weaving, table cloth making and embroidery picture. These handicrafts made great contribution to upgrade living standard of local people since Hoi An turn to be popular destination for the tourists.

Then, we take a walk to Hoi An ancient town. We will start the walk from small alley from Phan Chu Trinh Street to Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street. This is the typical ancient street of Hoi An, that can show you great atmosphere of the ancient town. Visit the Japanese Cover Bridge – the symbol of Hoi An. After that, we visit Tan Ky, the most well known and authentic ancient house in town. Then take a walk along the Nguyen Thai Hoc – the ancient street of Hoi An to the market of the town. Visit the local market of Hoi An and Phuc Kien Congressional Assembly Hall, the communal place for Chinese community from Fukien province in China as well the worshiping temple to Thien Hau, the Goddess protecting people on the sea – that was so important for the Chinese Merchant and Fishman in the past. Then you have free time for discovering the town on your own or shopping.

Have lunch at restaurant.

In the afternoon, we depart for a cyclo trip to Cam Nam Village. The cyclo will take you from the town to Cam Nam Bridge. You will have the first stop for the photo opportunity of the activities and scenery on the Thu Bon River. Then the cyclo will take you along the Thu Bon River bank, where you can have another photo stop for panorama view of Hoi An from other side of river. You will ride along the riverside and cycle through local villages of Cam Nam. This is untouched area by tourism with very friendly and hospitable local people. You can see their daily life activities or even viewing the interior of their house and their life through always opened doors. The cyclo trip will be ended at green small canal covered by water coconut trees. Embark on the boat and take a cruise to Thu Bon River. You can experience the local daily life along river, such as fishing, farming, catching clam ….

Come back to Hoi An around sunset time for dinner.

Overnight in Hoian.

In the morning, after your breakfast at hotel, we and start biking tour to Tra Que Village. (Car is available upon inquiry).

We will cycle to a local farm in Tra Que village. A short stroll will take you around the vegetable garden and then you can join the farmers in preparing the land and fertilizing it with seaweed from the local lake following steps are raking the ground, sowing, watering, vegetable picking and many other gardening activities. After all these activities, we will take a short rest before getting to preparing lunch with a local family.

Our lunch will consist of many local delicacies including 'Tam Huu' spring roll, Banh Xeo or local pancake of people in Vietnam middle region. you can join the cooking with the chef on these meals. After your morning excursions and lunch, we will take a Vietnamese traditional postprandial nap before learning how to harvest and wrap the vegetables.

Return to hotel, check out and transferred to Da Nang airport  to Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City.

Vietland Holidays Tour Guide will pick you up at Tan Son Nhat  airport and transfer to hotel for checking in.

We will have dinner at nearby restaurant.

Overnight at hotel in HCM City.

Ho Chi Minh City (commonly known as Saigon) is a city in southern Vietnam famous for the pivotal role it played in the Vietnam War. It's also known for its French colonial landmarks, including Notre-Dame Cathedral, made entirely of materials imported from France, and the 19th-century Central Post Office. Food stalls line the city’s streets, especially around bustling Bến Thành Market.

After your breakfast, we start full day to explore the Mekong Delta. On the way (3 hours drive) we can see the green paddy fields stretching towards the horizon. The mighty Mekong empties to the Eastern Sea through nine estuaries with two biggest ones called as Tien River and Hau River that form the fertile land known as the Mekong River Delta. Visiting the region you will be amazed by the view of endless paddy fields, the waterway system and the lush green fruit orchards.

Upon arrival in Cai Be, we board on boat for an exploration of lush vegetation of Mekong Delta and the lively floating market buyers bargaining.  Next a rowing boat rides on the maze of shady canals to arrive at a local orchard to visit the daily activities the handicraft villages of local people. Break time for lunch at the fruit garden.

After lunch, we take a boat along the Mekong River to Vinh Long - a center of tropical fruit; stop in for a short visit to Vinh Long market. Travel across My Thuan suspension bridge and drop by Mekong Rest Stop before going back to Ho Chi Minh.

Have dinner at restaurant.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

After wake up and have breakfast  at your hotel, the Vietland Holidays Tour guide will pick you and drive 55 km out of Ho Chi Minh City to Cu Chi District famous for the amazing complex of underground tunnels. There are more than 200 km of tunnels, comprising a main axis system with many branches connecting to underground hideouts, shelters and other tunnels.

This network of tunnels, became legendary during the 1960s. The Cu Chi tunnels played a vital part in Vietnam War in that they allowed the Viet Cong to control a large rural area only 30 to 40 km from Saigon. At its height, the tunnel system stretched from Saigon to the Cambodian border. The network, parts of which were several levels deep, included innumerable trap doors, specifically constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens.

The tunnels have been widened for our benefit (otherwise we would not be able to enter). For those interested, there's even the opportunity to try an AK47 or MK16 at the nearby rifle range.

In the afternoon, gain an insight into the city's development through a walking tour to the most significant landmarks including the Opera House, the Town Hall, the Notre Dame Cathedral and the old Post Office (all magnificent sights from the French colonial period). Afterwards experience a fantastic 360 degree view of Saigon city and its surroundings from the observation deck atop the 262 m high Bitexco Financial Tower which has a shape of a lotus, Vietnam's national flower. Your next stop will be the famous Ben Thanh Market, where you can purchase souvenirs for your beloved ones.

Wrap up your tour day with a foot massage that will surely give you a great feel of relief and indulgence. The evening is free at leisure. You are welcome to join our optional dinner cruise on the Saigon River.

Accommodation at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

We have breakfast at hotel.

Our vehicle and tour guide will take you and your group for shopping at nearby famous BEN THANH markets. Shopping and free leisure time until check-out.

Transfer to airport for your home flight.

Say goodbye and see you next time.

Home sweet home.