FT1: Vietnam Family Holiday 14 days

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 – Hanoi – Danang - Hoian (B)
Day 5: Hoian ( B )
Day 6: Hoian – Hue ( B )
Day 7: Hue city ( B, L )
Day 8: Hue – Ho chi minh ( B , L )
Day 9: Ho chi minh – Mekong delta (B, L)
Day 10: Ho chi minh – Phu Quoc (B)
Day 11: Phu Quoc relaxation (B)
Day 12: Phu Quoc relaxation (B)
Day 13: Phu Quoc – Ho chi minh (B)
Day 14: Ho chi minh departure (B)
 
Itinerary in Details:

Day 1: Hanoi arrival
Arrival at Noi Bai Airport, you will be warmly welcomed and transferred to hotel by  Asia View Travel’s guide 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 )
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 3 : 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 4:  Halong – Hanoi – Danang flight – Hoian ( 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 directly to the airport for flight to Danang. The guide in Danang will pick you up, transfer to hotel in Hoian, check in, relax.

Day 5: Hoian ancient town ( B )
Today there are a lot of time 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. Free at leisure. Overnight at hotel in Hoian.

Day 6: Hoian – Hue ( B )
This morning there is plenty of time to discover Hoian by yourself. 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, say good bye Hoian and embark on northern bound journey to Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam.  Stop en route at the beautiful Non Nuoc Beach and the Cham Museum, which contains the finest collection of Cham sculpture in the world.  In Danang you will visit the Marble Mountains, five sacred hills containing dozens of Buddhist shrines. The guide and driver will take you over the beautiful Hai Van Pass - Vietnam's geographical and psychological boundary between north and south. The peak of the pass lies perpetually shrouded in clouds.
Arrival Hue in Hue late afternoon, check in, relax.

Day 7: Hue city ( 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. End of city tour with a walk to the bustling Dong Ba Market and pass many fantastic eating spots where visitors have a chance to sample some local delicacies.  Overnight at hotel in Hue.

Day 8: Hue - Ho chi minh ( B, L)
Morning after breakfast transfer to airport for the flight to Ho chi minh. Pick up at Tan Son Nhat airport, transfer to city center. We spend the rest of the day to visit the Reunification Palace which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975, and some French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Sai Gon Post Office before we shall see the exhibition on Vietnam War to the famous War Museum. Lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon, we pass a place with its famous lacquers and the tour ends at the city's finest shopping street, Dong Khoi Street and the bustling Ben Thanh Market where anything and everything is for sale. Overnight at hotel in Ho chi minh.

Day 9: Ho chi minh – Mekong delta – Ho chi minh (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel, then drive to My Tho. After arrival in My Tho, you will ride on a local motor boat along Dragon Island, Unicorn Island, Phoenix Island, Turtle Island and stop at the famous Unicorn Island. While at the Unicorn Island, While at the Unicorn Island, you will visit natural pure honey at the bee keeping farm. Taste some honey tea, rice wine, banana wine… Walking on the village and taking rowing boat along the natural water coconut canal to see the local lifestyle in the Mekong Delta. From there, you will continue your motor boat trip to Ben Tre province to visit a handmade coconut candy workshop. Then transfer to a small motor boat and travel along the lush, green canals that are so beautiful for photography. Stop at local restaurant for lunch. After that we walk to another area on the Unicorn Island to visit the tropical fruit garden, enjoy the fruits & listening to the Southern traditional music. Then the local motorboat will take you back to My Tho, where the car/van will drive you back to Ho chi minh city.Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
 
Day 10: Ho chi minh – Phu quoc (B)
Take the short flight from Saigon to Phu Quoc island, a sleepy tropical island in the Gulf of Thailand, 45km south-west of the Vietnam. Transfer to resort on arrival. Phu Quoc's interior is still mostly covered in dense tropical forest and its coastline is ringed with deserted sandy beaches. There are three days free to enjoy this tropical hideaway.
 
Day 11: Phu quoc beach (B)
Relax and enjoy your Phu quoc sandy beach: swim, sunbathe and take in the delights of this beautiful holiday resort. Optional sightseeing or visit to offshore islands, scuba diving and other water sports (by your own) or just relax and enjoy the resort facility. Overnight in Phu quoc.
 
Day 12: Phu quoc beach (B)
All day free at leisure, relax at beautiful Phu quoc beaches.
 
Day 13: Phu quoc- Ho chi minh (B)
At leisure before transfer to airport for flight back Ho chi minh city. Pick up, transfer to the hotel in city. Check in, relax.
 
Day 14: Ho chi minh 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 in double/twin roomwith daily breakfast at selected hotels
• 2 days 1 night cruise on Halong Bay ( private cabin – sharing boat )
• All tours & transfers in private air-conditioned vehicles
• 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  – Ho chi minh, Ho chi minh – Phu Quoc, Phu Quoc – 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 (Compulsory)
• Personal expenses such as  Telephone and Laundry bills
• Tips and gratuities