10 DAY VIETNAM ESSENTIALS-ULTRA LUXE

Welcome to Hanoi Noi Bai airport. Upon arrival, our guide will meet and greet you with a warm welcome. He will escort you to the vehicle and transfer you to the hotel for your first night. Take a stroll through the streets and immerse yourself in this vibrant city or simply spend time at leisure. An exciting day is ahead tomorrow, as you embark on a guided tour to explore this bustling city.

Accommodation: Sofitel Metropole Hanoi (5 star)

Total Transfer Time: 45 min

Total Time Spent on Attractions/Activities: N/A

After breakfast, visit Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and his House on Stilts with a lush garden. A short walk from the Mausoleum is one of the great symbols of Hanoi, the One Pillar Pagoda (An 11th-century wooden temple built on a single stone pillar in the water. It was designed to resemble a blooming lotus). Pass by the Presidential Palace to the West Lake where you will visit Tran Quoc Pagoda (meaning “protecting the country”), one of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam. In the afternoon, visit the venerable Temple of Literature built in 1077 – Vietnam’s first university. Late afternoon, take a rickshaw ride (cyclo) around the Old Streets which were named after the specific goods once offered for sale at these places. Stop at Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple to learn about legend of the lake. Leisurely browse through art galleries, handicraft shops and cafes. In the evening enjoy a cultural experience by watching a Water Puppet Show, a traditional performance created by the Vietnamese wet-rice farmers in Red River Delta in 10th century.

Accommodation: Sofitel Metropole Hanoi (5 star)

Total Transfer Time: 1 hour

Total Time Spent on Attractions/Activities: 5 hours

Today we depart by road to Lan Ha Bay to experience one of the most scenic icons Vietnam has to offer. Upon arrival, board the cruise and enjoy a delicious lunch. As you sail along, soak in the scenic beauty and the magical surroundings. The cruise may stop to visit one of the best caves on the bay for kayaking or bamboo boat rowing. Later on, the boat will anchor in a peaceful location for relaxing and overnight stay. Enjoy a cooking demonstration to learn about the delectable Vietnamese cuisine. Evening allows free time for relaxation, squid fishing or to experience a soothing massage (At extra cost). A scrumptious dinner will be served on board.

Accommodation: Orchid Premium Cruise (5 star)

Total Transfer Time: 2.5 hours

Total Time Spent on Attractions/Activities: Overnight

Wake up to another amazing day and enjoy a relaxing breakfast while you continue to sail along the bay. Cruise may visit the Cat Ba Island or stop at a lagoon for kayaking. As the morning passes by, you will head back to the wharf and disembark. Our guide will meet you and take you back to the Noi Bai Airport where you will board a flight to Hue. Upon arrival in Hue, you will be welcomed by another guide who will transfer you to the hotel for check-in. Spend the evening at leisure.

Accommodation: Azerai La Residence (5 star)

Total Transfer Time: 4.5 hours

Total Time Spent on Attractions/Activities: Morning

After an early breakfast, visit the Imperial Citadel where Kings of Vietnam’s last feudal dynasty ruled from 1802 to 1945, including Flag Tower, Nine Holy Cannons, Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace, Nine Dynastic Urns, Forbidden Purple City. Our car will pick you up there after the visit and proceed to Hoi An. You will drive along the most scenic coast of Vietnam from Hue to Hoi An. Stop at Hai Van pass for a panoramic view of white sandy beach, blue seas and ever-green lush mountains. Reach Hoi An mid-afternoon, check into your hotel and follow your guide to explore the fascinating town of Hoi An including a 400 year old Japanese Bridge, a 300 year old Chinese temple, a 200 year old former Vietnamese merchant's house, a local market, Quan Cong Temple, Reaching Out Tea House and Reaching out arts and crafts. There are numerous art galleries, souvenir and tailor shops where you can get some express made-to-order clothes if you like!

Accommodation: Anantara Resort (5 star)

Total Transfer Time: 4 hours

Total Time Spent on Attractions/Activities: 5 hours

Today we have planned a fun filled activity as you learn the art of Vietnamese cooking. Head to Hoi An’s old streets to meet the chef and rest of the group in the class. Next visit a local market to learn about the authentic ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later. You will board a boat and cruise along the Thu Bon River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. On arrival, explore the school’s herb and vegetable garden, before learning about some of Hoi An and Vietnam’s well-known dishes, which are a mix of Vietnamese and Chinese cuisines. The cooking lesson lasts approx. 2 hours– each dish is first demonstrated by the chef before you prepare the same dish yourself. The class also contains a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carvings (plate decoration). After the lesson and cooking, sit back and enjoy the delicious food prepared by you. Head back to the hotel and spend the afternoon at leisure.

Accommodation: Anantara Resort (5 star)

Total Transfer Time: 30 min

Total Time Spent on Attractions/Activities: 5.5 hours

Today you will leave this beautiful city Hoi An and travel to Da Nang airport for a flight to Ho Chi Minh City commonly referred to as Saigon. Upon landing, you will be met by our guide and visit the moving War Remnants Museum which presents a partial, but riveting view of the American War, as it is known in Vietnam.  Continue to the Reunification Palace, former residence of the Indochina Governor General and later President of the Republic of Southern Vietnam until the fall of Saigon in April 30, 1975. The day ends with visits to the charming Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Post Office ( one of the oldest buildings Ho Chi Minh City built around 1886-1891) and the elegant Saigon Opera House.

Accommodation: Park Hyatt (5 star)

Total Transfer Time: 2.5 hours

Total Time Spent on Attractions/Activities: 4 hours

After breakfast, visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, 70km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City. It was created in 1948 to assist the Viet Minh to combat the French. This was a sophisticated underground city with living areas, kitchens, storage, weapon shops, field hospitals and command centres. During the Vietnam War the entire area of Cu Chi was designated a fire free zone and was heavily bombarded. Since 1988, two sections of the tunnels have been opened for visitors. At the completion of the tour, head back to the city in the afternoon and visit the famous Ben Thanh Market where you can find handicrafts, local tropical fruits, nuts and many other items.

Accommodation: Park Hyatt (5 star)

Total Transfer Time: 3 hours

Total Time Spent on Attractions/Activities: 1.5 hours

After breakfast, it is a 2-hour pleasant drive to Ben Tre province crossing the cable-stayed Rach Mieu bridge. As you cross the bridge and have a spectacular panoramic view towards the South Sea, you may see the four islets of Ben Tre: Long (Dragon), Lan (Unicorn), Quy (Turtle), Phung (Phoenix) gathering together, known as “Tu linh” or The Four Holy Beasts of Vietnam.  Upon arrival at Hung Vuong Pier, hop on a motorized boat on the Ben Tre River – one of the tributaries of the mighty Mekong river - while sight-seeing lively activities along the river such as fishing and boats transferring fruits, flowers and rice to local markets. Our first stop is at a brick kiln to see how to make bricks traditionally by printing and baking. Those brick kilns are open in summer time only when there is enough sunshine to dry the bricks. Continuing on, we’ll visit a coconut processing workshop located along the canals. When we return to the boat, we’ll motor through natural scissors creeks to a village and see some local houses, sleeping mat making, and enjoy some local fruits. Take a Tuk-Tuk (motorized cart) or bicycle along shady paths, pass by green rice fields and vegetable plains to be able to touch on real life in the delta, and find out about tropical culture from peasants.  A delicious lunch will be served at a local riverside restaurant. After lunch, we’ll take a rowing-boat along a beautiful water palm creek before meeting the motorized boat and transferring you back to the pier, where you will be taken back to Ho Chi Minh City for overnight stay.

Accommodation: Park Hyatt (5 star)

Total Transfer Time: 4 hours

Total Time Spent on Attractions/Activities: 5 hours

We hope you have enjoyed the time in this vibrant and beautiful country, taking home some wonderful memories. Our guide will escort you back to the airport where you will leave us with a warm good bye.

Total Transfer Time: 30 min

Total Time Spent on Attractions/Activities: N/A