Vietnam Highlights (8 days/ 7 nights)
Day 1: Hanoi
Arrive at Noi Bai airport. Transfer to hotel. After checking in hotel, take a rickshaw ride through the French colonial quarter, the administrative quarter and the Old Quarter. Welcome dinner at Season of Hanoi restaurant in a deluxe French colonial villa. Overnight in Hanoi (D).
Day 2: Hanoi
Breakfast, full day to visit handicraft villages: Bat Trang- famous for pottery, Dong Ho village – with traditional woodblock prints near But Thap Pagoda- one of the most important Buddhist pagodas, where a picnic lunch will be served. Afternoon, drive to Ha Khe and Dong Ky villages where hand-carved wooden furniture is made. Return to Hanoi. Dinner at restaurant. Overnight in Hanoi. (B, L, D)
Day 3: Hanoi – Hue (Air)
Morning is free for leisure. Afternoon transfer to airport for afternoon flight Hanoi – Hue.
Checking in hotel, the balance of the day is free for leisure. Dinner at Hue restaurant. Overnight in Hue. (B, D)
Day 4: Hue – Ancient Capital
Breakfast, morning sightseeing of old capital city which acknowledged as World Cultural Heritage, visiting the Royal Tombs of Emperor Khai Dinh and Tu Duc. Lunch at restaurant where Hue special pan-cake is served. Afternoon, take a dragon boat across the triangle of the Perfume River, enjoy the tranquility of Perfume River, stop to visit Con Hen island, Thien Mu Pagoda. Continue to Phu Cat Quarter to enjoy the final special glutinous cakes of Hue: Banh Me, Banh Nam, Banh Uot at restaurant. Return to hotel and dinner on your own. Overnight in Hue. (B, L).
Day5: Hue – Hoi An
Breakfast, visit to Holly Bowl Temple by car, visit the Imperial Citadel. Return to hotel for lunch. PM, drive to Da Nang, visit Cham Museum, Marble Mountain and continue to Hoi An. Check in hotel. The rest of the afternoon at leisure. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at hotel in Hoi An. (B, L, D)
Day 6: Hoi An
After breakfast, you will take a cycle or go for walk to visit former merchants’ house, pagodas, the Japanese Covered Bridge, Assembly Hall of Cantonese Chinese Congregation – built in 1855 by members of the local Cantonese community, It was later restored in 1915 and again in 1990, Quan Cong Temple, Phuoc Kien Assembly Hall. Lunch and dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at hotel in Hoi An.
Day 7: Hoi An – Lantern making
Our local guide will pick you up to explore the back- roads and around the rice paddies of Hoi An by bicycle. Ride through the picturesque surrounds to visit home of a craftsman on the old street. Here you will have a brief introduction to the history, shape, and color of the lanterns as well as the many stages of making them. Try your hand at the handicraft and keep it as a souvenir. Afternoon, free for shopping. Overnight at hotel in Hoi An.
Day 8: Departure
Morning flight leaves Hue for Saigon, free time until transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport for departure.
Vietnam – North to South (7 days/ 6 nights)
Day 1: Arrive Hanoi Capital
Arrive Hanoi airport. Transfer to hotel. Check in. One- hour tricycle tour of this charming capital city through the scenic Colonial Quarter, the Restored Sword Lake and end at the Old Quarter of “36 streets of 36 wares”. Dinner at restaurant. Overnight in Hanoi. (D)
Day 2: Hanoi City
Breakfast, morning sightseeing tour to visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and his House on stilt, One Pillar Pagoda, Quan Thanh Temple, Tran Quoc Pagoda. Lunch at restaurant. Afternoon, Visit Fine Art Museum and Temple of Literature. Dinner at restaurant. Overnight in Hanoi. (B,L,D)
Day 3: Hanoi- Da Nang – Hoi An
Transfer to Hanoi airport for morning flight to Da Nang. Visit Cham Museum-which has the finest collection of Cham sculpture in the world, visit Mable Mountain. Lunch at restaurant overlooking the river. Afternoon, excursion to Hoi An- a riverside town 30 km south of Da Nang that was one of South East Asia’s major international ports during the 17th, 18th, 19th centuries. Dinner at China Beach. Overnight in Hoi An. (B, L, D)
Day 4: Hoi An- Da Nang – Hue (on road)
Early morning transfer by road to Hue- the former imperial capital of Vietnam via Hai Van Pass with breath-taking views up and down the coast. Check in hotel. Lunch at hotel. Afternoon, Tour of Imperial Citadel, Tu Duc, Khai Dinh Tombs, boat trip on the Perfume River to Con Hen island to visit the traditional Hue casket hat and peanut candy- making village. Dinner at restaurant. Overnight in Hue. (B, L, D)
Day 5: Hue- Ho Chi Minh
Early morning tour to Thien Mu Pagoda for overlooking and do shopping. Transfer to airport for flight to Saigon. On arrival transfer to hotel. Check in hotel. Lunch at restaurant.Afternoon, city tour visit Jade Emperor Pagoda, the War Museum, and the old district of Cholon, the original Chinatown. Evening, dinner and cultural show at Garden Restaurant. Overnight in Saigon. (B, L, D)
Day 6: Ho Chi Minh and Surroundings
Ho Chi Minh extended tour. Choice of Tayninh and Cuchi, Mekong Delta or Vung Tau
*Ho Chi Minh – Tay Ninh and Cu Chi:
Full day excursion. Breakfast. On the way to Cu Chi tunnels, visit a rice paper making village. Descend into the Cu Chi tunnels where the guerrilla fighters constructed an amazing underground base. Lunch at Restaurant in Cu Chi. Afternoon; continue to drive another half an hour forwards Tay Ninh to visit Cao Dai Great Temple, a unique religion worshiping Jesus, Confucius and Buddha. Return to Saigon with an en route visit to a country market. Overnight in Saigon (B, L).
*Ho Chi Minh- Mekong Delta:
Breakfast in hotel. Leave Saigon for Cai Be with a stop at a bonsai garden for tea. From Cai Be, take motorized sampan for a cruise to the floating market, and visit to nearby popcorn cake and rice paper making workshops. Lunch in a garden with dessert of an astonishing variety of fruit. Visit a brick and pottery villages. Return to Saigon by car. Dinner free. Overnight in Saigon. (B,L).
*Ho Chi Minh – Vung Tau:
Drive 125km from HCM city to Vung Tau peninsula. It is one of the most attractive seaside resorts of Vietnam. Overlook the big Rocky Mountains which create the beautiful landscapes. Seafood lunch at restaurant. Walking or sunbathe on Vung Tau Beach. Late afternoon return to HCM. Dinner at restaurant. Overnight in Saigon. (B, L, D).
Day 7: Departure
Free time at leisure until transfer to the airport for departure.
Return to former battles field in Vietnam (15 days/ 14 nights)
Adventure tour from South to North (15days/14nights)
Day 1: Arrive Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon)
Arrive at Tan Son Nhat airport. Lunch at restaurant. Take a tour of the former Presidential Palace where he took the photo of the first tank through the palace gates in 1975. Visit to the War Remnants Museum. Dinner at hotel. Overnight in Saigon. (D)
Day 2: Saigon- Cu Chi tunnels and Tay Ninh
Leave Saigon with a stop at the old Tan Son Nhat West Gate, site of a violent battle between the Guerrillas and the 3-4th Cavalry during Tet Offensive. Visit the Military Museum before driving through the former Cu chi base, headquarters of the 25th Division, followed by a visit to Vietnamese Liberation guerrilla fighters tunnel complex and the military cemetery in the Ho Bo woods. Lunch at Cu chi. Drive thought Boi Loi woods to HW26, with stops at Checkpoint Tango and Cau Khoi rubber plantation, to Ba Den Mountain to ride the gondola lift up to the Temples overlooking Tay Ninh province. Check in and Dinner at hotel. Overnight in Tay Ninh (B, L, D)
Day 3: Tay Ninh
Drive 60 km to Kontum and other FSB near the Cambodian border with a stop at a French fort. Drive back to TayNinh visit CaoDai Temple. Lunch at local restaurant. Visit Tayninh market where the 25th Division fought a battle in 1968. Dinner is hosted by local veterans. Overnight in Tay Ninh (B,L,D)
Day 4: Tay Ninh- SaiGon via Dau Tieng- Ben Cat- Lai Khe- An Loc
Early morning drive through the Iron Triangle, former operational area of the 1st Division with a stop at Dau Tieng base camp, and then continue through the Michelin rubber plantation passing Lai Khe base, headquarters of the 173rd Airborne Division. Then head west along HW13, the “thunder rood” to An Loc, to see the former Special Forces compound, site of a fierce battle between Vietnamese Liberation Army and the Army of the former puppet government of South Vietnam (ARVN) on April 1972. Lunch at local restaurant. On the way back to Saigon, drive though War Zone D to Dong Xoai and the former Phuoc Vinh base. Overnight in Saigon (B, L, D)
Day 5: Saigon- Pleiku (Air) – KonTum
Flight to Pleiku. On arrival, drive 40km to KonTum and check in hotel. Continue to Dakto airstrip, former base camp of the 4th Division, visiting battle sites along the road to Ben Het, the Special Forces camp near the Cambodian border. Return to KonTum for lunch at local restaurant. Overnight in KonTum. (B, L, D)
Day 6: KonTum- Pleiku
Morning drive along high way14 to Pleiku and head south to Dragon Mountain and Camp Enari, the former 4th Infantry Division headquaters. Drive on to Catecka tea plantation and if possible visit the Oasis camp and Jackson Hole. Lunch at restaurant. Return to Pleiku and visit the market. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Pleiku. (B, L, D)
Day 7: Pleiku- Qui Nhon via An Khe & Bong Son
Drive along high way 19 through the Mang yang Pass with stop at An khe and Hon Kon Mountain, the former 1st Cavalry base. Drive 150 km to Bong Son area, former AO oa the first
Day 8: Qui Nhon- Nha Trang
Head south on high way 1 to Tuy Hoa with a stop at Tuy Hoa airport where the 4th Division first deployed, and visit the Cham tower. After lunch in Tuy Hoa, continue along the coast road to Nha Trang. Stop for overlooking scenic Vung Ro Bay, once the collecting point for Vietnamese guerrilla fighters supplies going down the Ho Chi Minh trail. Check in hotel. Overnight in Nha Trang. (B, L, D)
Day 9: Nha Trang
Free day for relaxation on the beach or to explore the city. Overnight in Nha Trang. (B)
Day 10: Nha Trang – Danang (Air) – Hoian
Flight to Danang. Visit Cham Museum, Marble Mountain, a Vietnamese guerrilla fighters sanctuary during the war; China beach, the former Marine Corps’ R&R spot. Lunch here. Drive on to Hoian, an important trading port in the 17th and 18th centuries. Check in. Dinner at restaurant. Overnight in Hoian. (B, L, D)
Day 11: Hoian – Hue
Walking tour of the narrow streets of the town visit Hoian Museum, Phuc Kien Pagoda, the 400-year old, Japanese covered bridge and 200-year old house. Drive to Hue over scenic HaiVan Cloudy Pass with its spectacular panorama of the coastline, passing PhuBai and Camp Eagle. Lunch at LangCo Beach. Check in hotel. Afternoon, take a dragon boat up the Perfume River to visit Thien Mu pagoda, then driving to the Imperial Citadel. Royal dinner at An Dinh palace. Overnight in Hue (B, L, D)
Day 12: DMZ
Early morning departs to Quang Tri province for DMZ tours, including the Rock Pile and former Marine American Officials, Khe Sanh airbase, Ho Chi Minh trail, Dakrong Bridge and the 17th parallel. Lunch at local restaurant. On the way back to Hue, visit the Old Citadel of Quang Tri, site of a bloody battle in 1972. Overnight in Hue. (B, L)
Day 13: Hue – Hanoi (Air)
Flight to Hanoi. City tour including Hoa Lo Prison and the Army Museum. Lunch at restaurant. Afternoon free. Evening enjoy a traditional water puppet show. Dinner. Overnight in Hanoi. (B, L, D)
Day 14: HaLong Bay
Drive 3 hours to Ha Long Bay with a stop en route at Dong Trieu pottery village. Board the junk for 4 hour cruise among the Bay’s 3000 limestone islands with fresh seafood lunch served aboard. Drive back to Hanoi. Dinner and Overnight in Hanoi. (B, L, D)
Day 15: Departure
Morning free until departure flight. (B)