FT3: Wonderful Vietnam Tour 11 days 10 nighs

Day 1: Ho chi minh arrival
Arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport, you are warmly welcomed and transferred to hotel by private Asia View Travel’s guide and driver with signboard, check in, relax. Overnight at hotel in Ho chi minh
 
Day 2: Ho chi minh city – Cu chi (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel, we then  take city tour of dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many locals, visit to Reunification Palace, then visit War Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral. General Post Office. Afternoon, 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.
 
Day 3: Ho chi minh – Mekong river cruise on Le Cochinchine boat (B, L, D)
Breakfast at hotel, 8:00 Am pick up and transfer to Caibe.
12 00 AM, Boarding and check-in with welcome drink, then continue to Can Tho via Cho Lach and Tra On. Lunch on board.
Disembark for a walk or bike ride on the footpaths of the countryside to discover tropical fruit orchards and local people's activities. Mekong Delta’s countryside is a network of small tracks linking small villages and remote farms and houses together, which go through lush vegetation and cross small bridges. Nearly everywhere is an opportunity to stop for an enthusiastic welcome by local people and kids, a picture of the nature at its wildest or a delightful tasting of fruits or local products.
Cruise further to Tra On. Enjoy the beautiful scenery, picturesque boats ballet and ferry crossings over Mekong River branches, wild life on the banks, and the magnificent sunset on the river.
Dinner and overnight on board

Day 4: Mekong – Ho chi  minh – Hoi an (B)
Early wake up to enjoy sunrise on the river while being waked up by the noise of a local floating market. Mekong Delta’s floating markets are a feast for colors, smells and tastes, and they gather together countryside people for sharing goods and news from families living often in remote places: an authentic Vietnamese culture experience. After breakfast, the Cruise continues to Can Tho up the Bassac River and allows enjoying more beautiful scenery.
Arrived in Can Tho, a small boat will take you to explore Cai Rang market, one of the most bustling floating markets in the Mekong Delta with hundreds of small boats barging and jostling for space as owners sell their goods.
Disembark and drive back to Saigon airport for the flight to Danang. Arrive in Danang, pick up and transfer to Hoi an. Overnight at hotel in Hoi an.
 
Day 5:  Hoi an – My son sanctuary – Hoian ancient town  (B, L)
Breakfast in the hotel departure for My Son, one of the most important Cham site in the country and it’s set amongst lovely hills. My Son is another of Vietnam’s UNESCO World Heritage Site. Return to Hoi An. This afternoon, enjoy a walking tour of Hoi An. Hoi An is a lovely riverside township with narrow streets and old buildings. It’s also a great place for ethnic crafts. UNESCO has listed Hoi An as a World Heritage Site in Dec 1999. Driver back to Hoi an. This afternoon, you have plenty of time to discover what  Hoi An has to offer. The ancient architecture of Hoian is a fascinating combination of Vietnamese traditional characters with Chinese and Japanese influence. There are plenty to see in this delightful and tranquil town, some of which are the famous Japanese Covered Bridges, the Pottery Museum, the 200 years old Tam Ky House, the Chua Ong Pagoda, the vibrant market. We visit these on our morning walking tour past many low tiled houses scattered along the small streets and assembly halls which reflect the town's multi-cultural past. 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. Overnight at hotel in Hoi an.
 
Day 6: Hoi an free (B)
Today there is plenty of time to discover 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! Overnight at hotel in Hoi an.
 
Day 7: Hoian – Hue (B, L)
We embark on Northern bound journey to Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. The scenic route passes through Da Nang as we are climbing over the Pass of Ocean Clouds and dropping down to the picturesque fishing villages of Lang Co. A visit to beautiful Cham museum in Danang where display Cham’s finest sculpture  in the world. The scenery en route is beautiful as we hug the coastline of the Da Nang Sea before winding our way up the spectacular Hai van pass. Here we stop to admire the stunning views. The journey takes about 4 hours. Afternoon we visit the Citadel, containing the Imperial City and the Forbidden Purple city, the Emperor's private residence. Both were almost totally destroyed during the Tet offensive of 1968. We visit vibrant Dong Ba riverside market. Overnight at hotel  in Hue.

Day 8: Hue – Hanoi (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel. We embark on a boat for cruise upstream on the Perfume River which also gives us a taste of the scenic countryside as well as an enjoyable visit to The beautiful pagoda of Thien Mu. 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. Lunch at local restaurant. Transfer to Phu Bai airport for flight to Hanoi. The guide in Hanoi will pick you up, transfer to city center, check in, relax. . Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

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 – Hanoi (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel and depart for Halong bay from your hotel. Halong is located in Quang Ninh province, 170km north-east of Hanoi. (Listed by UNESCO as natural heritage site in 1994, Halong bay has been a famous tourist destination in Vietnam). We will take some stop-overs on the way for photo or refreshment. Boarding upon arrival. Lunch will be served on board with welcome drink. Cruising around the Bay with famous sites such as : Fighting cock's islet, Stone dog or Joss stick bowl islet. Visit Thien Cung cave- the Cave of the heavenly palace. Round walking to visit beautiful stalactites which have been formed millions of years ago. Back to the Junk boat and keep cruising to view fabulous scenery of Ha long bay. After a 4 hour boat trip. We will take a coach trip back to Hanoi. We will be back in Hanoi around 19:30. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi
 
Day 11: 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.