FT5: Vietnam Absolute tour 17 days 16 nights

Itinerary in Brief:

Day 1: Hanoi arrival
Day 2: Hanoi city tour ( B, L )
Day 3: Hanoi – Halong bay on board (B, L, D)
Day 4: Halong – Ninh Binh ( B, D)
Day 5: Tam coc - Bich Dong - Hoa lu  – Hanoi - Hue flight (B, L)
Day 6: Hue city tour (B, L)
Day 7: Hue – Danang – Hoian (B, L)
Day 8: My son santuary (B)
Day 9: Hoian free (B)
Day 10: Hoian – Danang - Nha trang flight (B)
Day 11: Nha trang island tour (B, L)
Day 12: Nha trang relaxation (B)
Day 13: Nha trang – Dalat (B, D)
Day 14: Dalat – Ho chi minh (B, D)
Day 15: Ho chi minh city – Cu chi (B, L)
Day 16: Ho chi minh – Mekong delta – Caibe floating market (B, L)
Day 17: Ho chi minh departure (B)

Itinerary in Brief:

Day 1: Hanoi arrival
Arrival at Noi Bai Airport, you will be welcomed and transferred to hotel by  Asia View Travel guides  with signboard, check in, relax. Today is free at your leisure to rest or explore, discovering your own first impressions of Vietnam. Overnight at hotel.

Day 2: Hanoi city tour ( B, L )
This morning we start city tour  with the Ho Chi Minh Complex. This famous site contains the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh ( Close on Monday, Friday & November), the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. Close to this complex is the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the foundation of city. We follow this with the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam. Lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon, visit the impressive Ethnology Museum, dedicated to Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups, Quan Thanh Temple, West lake, the Restored Sword Lake (Hoan Kiem Lake) and Ngoc Son Temple. Take a cyclo tour  around the 36 streets of the Hanoi old quarter to learn more about simple life of Hanoian. Enjoy water puppet show- a remarkable Vietnamese art form that combines traditional music, fireworks, underwater puppeteers, and elaborate puppets floating gracefully over water. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Day 3: Ha noi – Ha Longbay on board (B, L, D)
Breakfast at hotel and then start a 3-hour drive through the Red River Delta to Ha Long City. Comfort stop en route for photos and coffee before arriving to Ha Long City. We then transfer to a refurbished wooden sailing junk for a cruise through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters of Ha Long Bay, giving us the chance to take in the stunning scenery of this World Heritage Site. Boat crew will greet you special seafood lunch while boat cruising around the bay to visit Dinh Huong island, Ga Choi island, Dog island, Sail island, Sung Sot cave and a swim at Titop beach, and enjoy sunset. When the sun comes down we drop anchor for the night nearby a remote island. Overnight on Junk.

Day 4: Ha Long - Ninh Binh ( Brunch, D )
Rising to the tranquil beauty of the bay we have time for an early morning dip with joys and emotions for watching sunrise on sea followed by breakfast. This morning we continue to move around the bay to find more secluded areas. The junk will be near us at all times serving as a back up vessel for those that require it. At around midday we will return to the main harbor before transferring to our awaiting vehicle for a trip to Ninh Binh. Arrive in Ninh binh, check in, relax at hotel in Ninh Binh.

Day 5: Tam coc - Bich dong - Hoa lu  – Hanoi - Hue flight (B, L)

Breakfast at hotel, take a board sampans at Tam Coc to ferry down the Boi river, spend some time relaxing on a 3 hour boat trip. The boat goes through 3 cavernous limestone tunnels, offering a cool break from the sunshine and astounding views of the cave structures. We then ready our bicycles and start cycling to Bich Dong. Lunch at local restaurant in Tam Coc. In the afternoon transfer to Hoa  lu, the ancient citadel of Vietnam in 10th century, to visit temples of two Kings: Dinh and Le. Transfer directly to the Noi bai airport for late afternoon flight to Hue. The guide in Hue will pick you up, transfer to hotel, check in, relax. Overnight at hotel in Hue.

Day 6: Hue City Tour (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel, we then set out for the exploration of Hue's famous highlights, including the Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City. Built in the 19th century by the Nguyen dynasty, the City was home to the former Emperors of Vietnam from 1802 until 1945. In the surrounding countryside there is the picturesque Thien Mu, or Heavenly Lady Pagoda. One of the most poignant displays here is a car belonging to a former monk, who in 1963, drove to Saigon and set himself alight to protest against the South Vietnamese regime and its treatment of Buddhists. Disembark the board for a visit the elaborate mausoleum of former emperor Tu Duc, Emperor Khai Dinh. Transfer back to Hue center, do the walking and shopping in Dong Ba Market to enjoy the speciality of Hue city.

Day 7: Hue – Da nang – Hoi an (B, L)
As we bid Hue farewell this morning we continue our south bound journey, this time in the comfort of an air-conditioned bus. Today's destination is the old trading town of Hoi An. Along the way though we will stop at Lang Co beach for coffee and refreshments. From here we head up to the Hai Van pass, stopping at the top to take in the stunning views north over Lang Co beach and south over Da Nang city. Continuing on our way down the other side and into Da Nang, where we will stop at the Cham Museum, the famed Da Nang Beach, and the Marble Mountains. Arriving in Hoi An we spend the rest of the afternoon exploring and relaxing. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 8: Hoi an – My son sanctuary (B)
We drive to visit holly land My Son. This is a former capital of the ancient Cham civilization that ruled central Vietnam between the second and thirteenth centuries. Hinduism from India heavily influenced their religion. Located 60km. from Da nang, My Son is considered to be one of the best-preserved Cham structures in Vietnam. The complex is comprised of seventy Hindu-like towers and temples dating from the second century. This site is a must-see for those who are interested in architecture and ancient civilizations. It is one of four World Heritage listed sites in Vietnam. Balance of the day will be at your leisure to do your endless shopping in Hoi an. Overnight at hotel  in Hoi an

Day 9: Hoi an free (B)
Today there is plenty of time to discover what  Hoi An  has to offer. You can spend your time  walking around exploring the many Chinese assembly halls and fascinating ancestral  homes, some of which have been occupied  by the same family for fifteen genera ions. The town is also famous for it's shops in particular it's large number of tailors. If you wanted, you could have a whole new wardrobe made for you here! You might like to take a boat ride with one of the local women across the Thu Bon River. Perhaps you would like to hire a bicycle and head off on a scenic ride to Cua Dai beach, about 4 km away. There's even the chance to improve your culinary skills with a Vietnamese cooking lesson! One thing is for sure - there is no shortage of things to do in this town! Overnight at hotel in Hoi an.

Day 10: Hoian - Danang - Nha trang flight (B)
Free until transfer to Da nang airport for flight to Nha trang. Pick up at Nha trang airport,  transfer to hotel for check in. Free and relax at beautiful beaches in Nha trang

Day 11: Nha Trang island tour (B, L)
Start from your hotel to Cau Da port. Tri Nguyen Aquarium on Mieu Island is the first place to visit, many sea species of Nha Trang/Khanh Hoa province make a small ocean world there. Mun Island is the best island for snorkeling where you can see lots of lives colorful corals and fish. Visit a fishing village and taking a fresh lunch at the island. On the way back you will be able to see caves in which the sea swallows make their nest.

Day 12: Nha trang – Beach Break (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Free today for the beach relaxation. Overnight at  hotel  in Nha trang.

Day 13: Nha trang – Da lat (B, D)
After breakfast at hotel we drive up to Dalat and see its waterfalls, cathedral, key pagodas, Lang Buang ethnic village and the lovely old French colonial houses. Check in hotel up on arrival in Da lat city and then visit the Linh Phuoc Pagoda, a large Buddhist pagoda with ornate architecture and a spacious interior dominated by a large seated Buddha. You'll be taken to have a look at an embroidery workshop in an attractive garden setting. Overnight in Da lat.

Day 14: Dalat – Ho chi minh (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel. we will ride a cable car to Truc Lam Pagoda and Tuyen Lam Lake to visit attractive Flower Garden, we will visit Emperor Bao Dai's Summer Palace that is indicative of Bao Dai's status as the puppet ruler of an occupied country, Crazy House, waterfalls and then transfer to airport for flight to Hochi minh city flight. Pick up at airport, transfer to hotel in Ho chi minh city

Day 15: Ho Chi Minh city tour – Cu chi Tunnel (B, L)
This morning we will take city tour of dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many locals, takes in the former Presidential Palace, the Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Saigon Post Office, History Museum. After lunch in town drive to visit the Cuchi Tunnels. At the height of the Vietnam war, the tunnel system stretched from the outskirts of Saigon  all the way to the Cambodian border of over 250 kilometers of tunnels. The tunnel system, built over 25 years starting in the 1940s,  let the Viet Minh  and, later, the Viet Cong, control a huge rural area.  It was an underground city with living areas, kitchens, storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers. In places, it was several  stories deep and housed up to 10,000 people who virtually lived underground for years.... getting married, giving birth, going to school. The ground here is hard clay, which made this whole thing possible. But even so, the planning and construction was incredible. People dug all this with hand tools, filling reed baskets and dumping the dirt into bomb craters. They installed large vents so they could hear approaching helicopters, smaller vents for air and baffled vents to dissipate cooking smoke. There were also hidden  trap doors and gruesomely effective bamboo-stake booby traps. Today, the trees and bushes have grown back. And since 1988, two sections of tunnels have been open for visitors. Overnight at  hotel in HCM city.

Day 16: Ho chi minh – Mekong delta – Caibe floating market – Ho chi minh (B, L)
After breakfast at hotel, leave at 07:30 am, head south to Cai Be. On arrival at 10:00, boarding a boat for a journey through the town’s floating market. See how river life goes on, trading between merchant ships and local farmers. We walk through the village streets and watch locals making manioc chips. Cruise through the secluded canals where we stop at an ancient house of the area to enjoy seasonal fruits / lunch before our boat takes us to the Mighty Mekong, cruise to other island for walking, visiting fruit orchards. Cruise through natural waterways to CaiBe where our car pick up for return. Check in hotel, relax.

Day 17: Ho Chi Minh City Departure (B)
Breakfast at hotel, free time until  transfer to the airport for your departure flight. Say goodbye Vietnam.

Thank you for traveling with Asia View Travel.

Accommodation Options

Tour includes:
• All accommodation with daily breakfast at selected hotels
• 2 days 1 night cruise in Halong Bay
• All tours & transfers in private air-conditioned vehicle
• Private English or French  speaking guide
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary  at local restaurant with local foods (B= breakfast; L=Lunch; D = Dinner)
• Boat cruise as stated
• Domestic airfare & airport taxes: Hanoi – Hue, Danang - Nha trang, Dalat – Ho chi minh
• Entrance fees and permits for all sights visited
• Mineral water & towel
• Government taxes & Service charges

Tour excludes:
• International flights to and from Vietnam
• Vietnam visa arrangement (upon request visa on arrival at 10 USD, not including stamping fee at 25 USD)
• Meals not indicated in the itinerary
• Kayak in Halong Bay
• Surcharge on Christmas, New Year and our Lunar new year
• Personal travel insurance
• Personal expenses such as  Telephone and Laundry bills
• Tips and gratuities