FT4: Vietnam Impression 12 days 11 nights

Itinerary in Brief:

Day 1: Ho chi minh arrival ( D )
Day 2: Ho chi minh – mekong detla – Ho chi minh ( B, L )
Day 3: Ho chi minh – Muine  (B)
Day 4: Muine relaxation (B)
Day 5:  Muine – Ho chi minh– Hue (B)
Day 6: Hue city tour (B, L)
Day 7: Hue – Danang – Hoian (B, L)
Day 8: Hoian – Danang – Hanoi  (B, D)
Day 9: Hanoi city tour (B, L)
Day 10: Hanoi – Halong bay on board (B, L, D)
Day 11: Halong – Hanoi (B)
Day 12: Ha noi departure (B)
 
Itinerary in Details:
 
Day 1: Ho chi minh arrival ( D )
Upon your arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport, you will be welcomed by Asia View Travel 's  guide and transferred to hotel in city center, still called Saigon by many locals, is crowded with motorbikes and cars, excited by numerous shopping area and sidewalk cafés. An afternoon city tour takes us to the Reunification Palace which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until the end of April 1975. Close to the palace are some beautiful French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Saigon Post Office. We also visit the bustling Ben Thanh Market where anything and everything is for sale. Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 2: Ho chi minh – Mekong delta – Caibe floating market – Ho chi minh (B, L)
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for Cai Be, stop for photos at Tan An town over the flat rice fields. Arrive to Cai Be, start the motorized boat ro visit the Cai Be floating market, see how river life goes on, experience how people exchanging goods, fruit and many other commodities on their vessels. Visitors then roam into the small villages to visit the orchard, fruit plantation. Keep cruising to Vinh Long through small canals to enjoy the charm of the Upper Mekong Delta. Visit some hand made family business products such as the coconut candy mill, the crispy rice popcorn. Arrive in Binh Hoa Phuoc village the green pearl of Vinh Long town where you can indulge yourself into the nature. Have lunch with fresh river food served in the heart of the garden. Meet the car/van in Vinh Long. Back to HCMC.

Day 3: Ho chi minh – Muine (B)
Transfer to Muine, The scenic 200km drive north on Highway One passes through the bustling city of Bien Hoa before cutting through dense rubber plantations. Closer to Phan Thiet the terrain changes to arid semi-desert with cactus plants and strange looking dragon fruit trees. Arrive in Muine and check into resort. The rest of day is free to relax on the sandy beach. Overnight in Muine.

Day 4: Muine relaxation  (B)
Today we have whole day at leisure to explore sand dunes or just relax on the beach. You can enjoy all the beach activities, watersports ( by your own ).   Overnight in Muine.
 
Day 5:  Muine – Ho chi minh  – Hue flight (B)
Breakfast at hotel, free and relax until transfer back Ho chi minh city for afternoon fligh to Hue. Our guide and car will pick you up at Hue airport, transfer to hotel, check in, relax.
 
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. We embark on a boat for cruise upstream on the Perfume River, viewing the city and the tranquil villages on the riverbank. We will walk up to visit the Thien Mu pagoda, a nicely located pagoda, overlooks the Perfume River and the beautiful scenery beyond, where you get to learn more about the Buddhism in Vietnam.  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, built decades before its occupant's death the tomb was used as a palace retreat before the emperors final resting place. On return to the city, we then take a walk to the bustling Dong Ba Market and pass many fantastic eating spots where visitors have a chance to sample some local delicacies.
 
Day 7: Hue – Da nang – Hoi an (B, L)
This morning say good bye Hue and embark on southern bound journey to  Hoian – the old trading town. Along the way though we will stop at Lang Co beach for coffee ( by your own ) 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 Danang city. Continuing on our way down the other side and into Da nang, where we will stop at the beautiful Non Nuoc Beach and Cham Museum, which contains the finest collection of Cham sculpture in the world. We also visit the Marble Mountains, five sacred hills containing dozens of Buddhist shrines. Arrive in Hoian ancient town , check in, relax. We spend the rest of afternoon to discover Hoian.
Take a walk tour to explore Hoian ancient town, once a major Asian trading port in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Hoi An’s architecture and relaxed lifestyle have changed little over the years. Take a leisurely walking tour of the ancient town center and visit the sites of former merchants’ homes, a 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, and a Chinese Communal Hall. Believed to have been settled no less than 2,200 years ago, Hoi An was known as Faifo to early Western traders.  Hoi An was one of the major ports of Southeast Asia from the 17th to 19th centuries. Chinese, Japanese, French, English, Spanish, Portuguese and other traders had small communities here, and the old wooden houses, bridges and temples that remain are reminiscent of a Vietnam of centuries past. This unique old trading town slowly became isolated due to its river silting up and by destroyed rail lines, leaving it untouched by war and frozen in time. Nowadays, this absolutely charming and relaxed town has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 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.
 
Day 8: Hoi an – Da nang – Ha noi (B )
This morning there is plenty of time to discover Hoi An  by yourself. 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 . Afternoon transfer to Da nang airport for flight to Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi, meet our guide at Noibai airport and transfer to hotel, check in relax.

Day 9: Hanoi city tour ( B, L )
Breakfast at hotel, 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 & October for annual maintenance ), 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 impressive Ethnology Museum, dedicated to Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups.  Lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon, visit the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam, Vietnam’s first university.  Constructed in 1070, the gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a relaxing glimpse into Vietnam’s past. We continue to visit the Restored Sword Lake (Hoan Kiem Lake) and Ngoc Son Temple,  do a cyclo tour around   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 10 : Hanoi – Halong bay on board ( B, L,D )
Breakfast at hotel, then 8:30 AM  start a 3. 5 hour drive through the Red
 River Delta to Ha Long City. Comfort stop en route for photos and coffee ( by your own ) before arriving to Ha Long City.
11.30 – 12.15   Welcome you at Hòn Gai Tourist International Port
12.30   Check in Overnight Cruise, welcome drink and programme introduction
13.00 – 14.30   The cruise start the journey
Lunch served with local cuisines menu and passing the paramount view at Ha Long
such as Kicking Dog Island , Fighting Chicken Islet, Huong Peak, Thien Cung Cave,Dau Go Island…
15.00 – 16.00   Explore Surprise Cave – one of the most famous caves on the Ha Long bay.
16.30 – 17.30   Small boat take you to Titop seaside: visiting islands, climb to Titop Mountain 200m in height to see the whole bay and swimming at Titop Seaside.
18.00   Return to your cruise or relaxation or enjoy sunset on the bay
19.30 – 21.00   Dinner at the restaurant with organised menu
21.00   Free at your leisure like lying on deck or going to catch squid…
Overnight on junk.

Day 11:  Halong – Hanoi ( Brunch )
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 3.5 hour journey back Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi, free rest of the time. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.
 
Day 12: Hanoi 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.
 
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