Highlights of Vietnam – Small group tour – Sample Itinerary

Arrival to Noi Bai Int'l Airport; meet & greet by tour manager / guide on arrival and transfer to your hotel for check-in. Rest of day at leisure.
Included meals: None Accommodation: 4* Boss Legend Hotel (or similar). Activities: None.

Today, after the breakfast, you will visit the cities main historical sites including a photo stop outside Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and a visit to Ho Chi Minh’s house, where he preferred to live simply, which are splendid reminders of the great man who once led this country. Our next stop is the Temple of Literature, the first university of Vietnam. In the afternoon, after the lunch at local restaurant, you will visit the Ethnology Museum, which focuses on the 54 officially recognized groups in Vietnam. This will be followed by an informative group lecture on ethnic textile and dyeing techniques. Then, take a cycling tour in one hour into narrow streets of the Old Quarter through Silk Street, Rice Street, Paper Street, Lacquer Ware Street, and Jewelry Street…. You will have an opportunity to shop for bargains and discover your bargaining power and come away with unusual items that will always remind you of this exciting afternoon. Finish the day with the delightful performance of Water Puppet Show.
Included meals: Breakfast and Lunch / Dinner. Accommodation: Boss Legend Hotel (or similar). Activities: Sightseeing.

After breakfast at hotel, the tour guide will pick you up at the hotel, to leave for Halong Bay here you will board the boat. The magical bay is home to thousands of limestone islands rising from the waves like dragons’ teeth. Later in the afternoon, you will visit an interesting fishing village with opportunity to interact with fishermen who have been living in the bay for almost three generations. Back on board, you’ll enjoy cocktails (own expense) or chef’s cooking demonstration while watching the sunset, before indulging in dinner on board. Afterward, you can choose to do anything from joining movie night, playing board games, or relaxing at the beauty spa (own expense) before retiring for the evening.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Accommodation: Sealife Cruise (or similar). Activities: Cruise, Sightseeing.

You’ll start the day with a morning Tai Chi exercise and an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay. After breakfast, you will be taken to a beautiful limestone grotto before returning to the cruise for a final glimpse of Halong Bay while cruising back to the dock. Check out at noon time and board on the waiting vehicle for the transfer back to your hotel in Hanoi. Then you will take a private transfer to Noi Bai Airport for a flight to Hue (flight not included). Meet and greet on arrival and transfer to your hotel.
Included meals: Brunch. Accommodation: 4* Eldora Hue Hotel (or similar). Activities: Cruise, Sightseeing.

After breakfast, your historical Hue tour begins with a boat trip along the beautiful river – Perfume River, to the Thien Mu Pagoda. Built more than 500 years ago the pagoda is widely recognized as one of the most beautiful religious buildings in the country. Returning to Hue, you will visit the World Heritage listed Citadel. Following your exploration of the Citadel, you will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before a visit to the tomb of the Emperor Khai Dinh with its unique artwork and mosaics made from glass and ceramic fragments. During Khai Dinh’s reign many western influences began to seep into the country and this is evidenced by the mixture of Western and Asian architecture of his tomb. On the way back to your hotel, a stop at a roadside village to observe how locals make cinnamon incense as well as traditional conical hats which is most famous from Hue, with its distinctive high-quality bamboo leaves often interlaid with pink paper pictures and Vietnamese poems.
Included meals: Breakfast & Lunch. Accommodation: 4* Eldora Hue Hotel (or similar). Activities: River Cruise, Sightseeing, Village Visit.

This morning, after the breakfast, we travel over the spectacular Hai Van Pass, once rated by National Geographic as one of the 50 ‘must-do’ journeys in the world. Stunning views await you of Lang Co Beach and out to the My Khe Beach as we take the winding mountain road. Continuing on we traverse the spectacular Hai Van Pass with a photo stop at the top, and a stop at the location of China Beach, the famous TV series and home to the American Forces R&R post during the war. Continue on to charming Hoi An, here you will have the evening at leisure to enjoy this beautiful town.
Included meals: Breakfast. Accommodation: 4* Hoi An Silk Hotel (or similar). Activities: Sightseeing.

After the breakfast begins with a tour to the ancient ruins of My Son – the home to the Cham people centuries ago. The Kingdom at My Son dates back to the 4th century and remained fully occupied through until the 13th century which makes it the longest occupied of all the major monuments of South East Asia. Today the ruins show testament to the Cham with its sculptures and buildings. On the way back to Hoi An, lunch will be served at a local restaurant. Returning to Hoi An, you are free for exploring the town, a short walk will take you along the delightful streets of the ancient trading town of Hoi An. The World Heritage listed town has more than 1000 houses that are over 150 years old, 7 ancient wells not to mention the art & antique galleries, lantern shops and tailors everywhere! The evening is at leisure to enjoy the delight of Hoi An ancient town at night.
Included meals: Breakfast & Lunch. Accommodation: 4* Hoi An Silk Hotel (or similar). Activities: My Son & Sightseeing.

Today is a day at leisure – either relax and perhaps head to the nearby beach or your hotel pool, get clothes tailor made, or simply enjoy the ancient buildings filled with art and homewares or ask your World Journeys Plus Tour Director for help in organizing some exciting optional tours.
Included meals: Breakfast. Accommodation: 4* Hoi An Silk Hotel (or similar). Activities: None.

We transfer this morning to Danang Airport for the morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) (flight not included), on arrival transfer to your hotel for check-in. Discover this vibrant city’s landmarks with a visit to the stunning Notre Dame Cathedral and the Ho Chi Minh Central Post Office, two major French colonial landmarks. Then visit the War Museum – a stark reminder of the US-Vietnam War. You will then visit a traditional medicine museum where you’ll discover the use of natural herbs and traditional medicines.
Included meals: Breakfast. Accommodation: 4* Golden Central Hotel (or similar). Activities: Saigon City Tour.

In the morning, after the breakfast, we head out of Saigon to visit the Cu Chi tunnels one of the few intact monuments to the Vietnam War. Beneath the ground lie 200km of underground tunnels, dug by hand and inhabited by the Viet Minh during the US war. A video of the tunnels in use is shown, before walking around the area to view some of the tunnels, field kitchens and hospital. Crawl inside and experience life in the tunnels if you wish! After the lunch at local restaurant, we will return to Saigon. Late afternoon and evening is at leisure for you to enjoy the many cafes and markets.
Included meals: Breakfast & Lunch. Accommodation: 4* Golden Central Hotel (or similar). Activities: Cu Chi Tunnels

This morning departs Ho Chi Minh City for the drive through the beautiful agricultural areas known as the fruit bowl of Vietnam – the Mekong Delta. On arrival in the Mekong, a boat trip takes you across the River to explore the myriad of estuaries and islands. Visit orchards and bonsai gardens and sample the wonderful array of fruit. Continue by road to Can Tho. After lunch at local restaurant, you will get out of the bustling city and have the chance to listen to wild birds singing to welcome the sunset. The driver will bring you to the family garden in Cai Son village, where you will get a bicycle. After a short ride to test that everyone is comfortable with the bikes, we will start our 15km journey (9 miles) on the village road and explore the area. You will see rice fields, a noodle factory, and a boat making wood workshop. Ride along a village path to Cai Son village and walk with your bike to cross the “monkey bridge” on foot. Here you may catch pictures of children bathing in the river and old ladies rowing boats to bring home fruits after the harvest. We will have a break at a lovely local garden where you can enjoy some fresh fruits and herbal tea. The tour will end with a transfer back back to your hotel.
Included meals: Breakfast & Lunch. Accommodation: Can Tho Hotel (or similar). Activities: Mekong Delta

After an early breakfast, you will depart from your hotel to Ninh Kieu Wharf. Board on the wooden boat for a visit to Cai Rang Floating Market, the busiest floating market in Mekong Delta. Transfer back to Saigon, drop off at your hotel or straight to the airport. Clients that have return flight on this day, will be earliest at 14:00 at the airport.
Included meals: Breakfast. Accommodation: None. Activities: Floating Market