Classic Vietnam Journey

Arrival in Hanoi.

You will be picked up at Noibai airport then transfer to the Hanoi center or at your hotel.

Although it is a quick developing capital of Vietnam, Hanoi still retains the mystery and charm of its own history. Narrow streets and alleys and traditional shophouses invite an exciting exploration by walking or riding cyclo while it’s many beautiful public spaces; lakes, parks, tree-lined boulevards and monuments, old French villas; give the city an air of elegance and harmony with nature unique among other Asian capitals.

Firstly, take a visit to Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum and its complex with its beautiful garden where Stilt House and One Pillar Pagoda are built-in.

View the outside of the Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum then stroll through the garden to the Ho Chi Minh Stilt House where Ho Chi Minh lived from 1958 until he passed away in 1969. This simple two-room dwelling has been preserved in the same condition as during his life and can be viewed through the windows. Continue to the special architecture 11th century One Pillar Pagoda which was rebuilt after being destroyed by the French in 1954.

Secondly, visit the Temple of Literature – The first royal academy in the country.

The Temple of Literature has a peaceful series of walled courtyards and graceful gateways, and this monument is one of the best-preserved examples of traditional Vietnamese architecture. Founded in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius, this was also the site of Vietnam’s first university. In one courtyard, giant stone tortoises bear stele on their backs, listing the accomplishments of graduating scholars.

Thirdly, visit the Museum of Ethnology – one of the 25 most attractive museums in Asia.

The museum was opened in 1997 to preserve and introduce most of the richest culture, traditions of 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam. It is a place which is combined with a very green and tranquil garden behind where you can really see and learn more about some of the very popular architectures as King people’s traditional house, Ede tribe’s longhouse, Bana tribe’s communal house, Stilt house of Tay tribe…

Hanoi is a blend of long-established traditions and modern imprints of Western colonization. Tree-lined boulevards and colonial buildings give the city a touch of Western elegance, while crowded blocks of tiny old houses and narrow lanes full of daily life bear the charms of the past centuries. Take 60 minutes to ride on an electric car or a tricycle through Quan Su Pagoda, Silk Road, Hanoi Railway and Hoa Lo Prison then Hanoi Opera House.

Then, a lunch or dinner or both are waiting for you to enjoy at local restaurants.

You can enjoy an hour of Unesco intangible heritage in Vietnam: Water Puppet.

Overnight in Hanoi.

You will take a short drive from Hanoi capital to Ha Long Bay (2,5 – 3 hours).

Stop en route for stretching your legs and use the restroom, have tea or coffee.

Transfer to/from Tuan Chau Marina Port or Sun World port.

Excursion by a cruise through Ha Long Bay including lunch, dinner, breakfast, brunch.

Board a cruise for cruising through the Bay and en-route lunch will be served. Following lunch witness rock formations with many different shapes as  Stone Dog, Incense Burner (Dinh Huong), and Fighting Cock (Ga Choi). At the core of the islets, there is an enchanting cave to visit thusly named Surprise Cave (Sung Sot), after that stop at Titop Island. Sail past floating villages, fishermen casting their nets and pearl fisheries and observe the rhythms of daily life on the bay.

Overnight in Halong.

Once arriving back at the pier, our tour guide and driver await and welcome you back then drive you directly from Ha Long Bay to Noibai International airport to catch a flight to Danang city.

You will be welcomed by a local guide and driver at Danang airport then they will transfer you to Hoi An city for 2-night stay.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Sightseeing in Hoi An on foot.
The exquisitely preserved merchant town of Hoi An was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Its colourful shophouses and temples reflect a diverse heritage, dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries when it was a major port for Western, Chinese and Japanese traders. Today it is a thriving centre of traditional crafts and a shopper’s paradise, best explored on foot.

Wander through the cobbled streets, past low tile-roofed buildings, the bustling central market, many tailor shops, leather shops, silver and gold shops and the small harbour where colourfully painted boats are moored. The walking tour will include visits to an ancient house, where members of the same family have lived continuously for centuries in a traditional setting; to one of the family chapels built by prominent merchants and official families as centres for ancestor worship; and to a typical Chinese-style Pagoda or assembly hall. Continue to Sa Huynh Museum, located near the Japanese Covered Bridge (Chùa Cầu), it contains exhibitions from the earliest period of Hoi An’s history. Visit a handicraft workshop in Hoi An where local products are being made by the industry itself. Finally, continue to the famous Japanese Covered Bridge (Chùa Cầu), first constructed in 1593 by the Japanese traders who came by boat to link the town with the Chinese quarters across a stream.
In the afternoon, board a local boat and cruise down the Thu Bon River, enjoying the different angles of Hoi An countryside and stopping to visit a pottery village and a carpentry village before getting back to Hoi An city.

Overnight in Hoi An.

After breakfast at the hotel, ViTravel’s tour guide and driver will take you on a 3,5-hour drive to Hue – the former capital of Vietnam. Stop to visit Cham Museum in Danang city.
When you are there, you will visit the Imperial Citadel was built in 1802 by the first king of the last dynasty (Nguyen) of Vietnam.

Located in the heart of Hue is the Imperial Citadel, a vast complex built in the early 19th century and modelled after the Forbidden City of Peking. The original walls stretched for 10 km and were surrounded by a wide moat. Today, most of the buildings have been destroyed due to bombing during the Vietnam-American War (The Tet Offensive 1968), but the monuments that remain provide a fascinating glimpse into the court life of the Nguyen Dynasty. Approach the city past the striking Flag Tower, where a giant Vietnamese flag waves proudly overhead, to the imposing Ngo Mon Gate, the main entrance to the Imperial Enclosure. Enter into an area of spacious courtyards and serene lotus ponds, and visit Dien Tho Residence (Dien Tho palace) where the Queen's mother lived, visit Thai Hoa Palace, the magnificently decorated reception hall, the Halls of the Mandarins, and the original Nine Dynastic Urns, among other sites, including a visit to the Hue Royal Antiquities Museum.

Visit the Imperial Tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh.

Khai Dinh Tomb was the last monument of the Nguyen dynasty and was constructed between 1920 and 1931. It sits magnificently on the slopes of Chau E Mountain in Chau Chau Village. It has a long staircase flanked by dragons. There are ceiling murals and ceramic frescoes.

Overnight in Hue city.

After breakfast at hotel, we will pick you up then drive to Toa Kham Wharf to get a boat trip in the Perfume river and head up to Thien Mu pagoda – one of the iconic symbols of Hue city. Back to the boat for a scenic cruise to Dong Ba local market, our guide and a local chef take you for a stroll around and buy necessary foods for a cooking class. You will have a chance to prepare lunch by yourself under the instruction of our chef. After your practical class, it’s time to taste the Hue traditional dishes that you have prepared and our chef will be able to give his feedback on your own chef skills. Afterwards, spend 2 hours biking around peaceful villages on the side of the Perfume River. Relax by steeping your foot in medicinal herb water a traditional therapeutic practice and enjoy a therapeutic massage by blind people.

Continue to visit the Imperial Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc - the most poetic one in Hue.

The Imperial Tomb of Tu Duc was designed and built by the longest reigning Vietnamese emperor, Tu Duc, during his lifetime, and was used as a retreat for meditation, reading and theatre performances. Take some time to soak in the tranquil atmosphere, and wander among the gracefully proportioned pavilions, courtyards and lotus ponds.

Overnight in Hue.

This morning, you will be dropped off at Phu Bai airport to take an early flight departing for Ho Chi Minh city – the most populated and commercial city in Vietnam.

When you are there, an expert guide and driver are waiting for you and welcome you. Later on, they will bring you to a never discovered by American forces -  the Cu Chi Tunnels were an important Vietcong base during the American War. Stretching over 250 km, this incredible underground network, dug by hand out of hard laterite, connected command posts, hospitals, shelters and weapons factories. Today, walk through the area and learn about the day-to-day life of the Vietcong, bear witness to the cleverly disguised entrances and elaborate booby traps, and even venture inside the tunnels, some of which have been modified to accommodate tourists.

Back to the city center to check in at your hotel.

In the evening, you will board a traditional wooden boat and start cruising along the Saigon River. Enjoy a delicious international buffet while watching the live entertainment and the lightful city.

Overnight in HCMC.

A full-day tour in the Mekong Delta – the biggest delta in Vietnam, the home of more than 20 million Vietnamese.
In the morning, our guide and driver will bring you into the heart of the Mekong Delta, after reaching the small town of Cai Be with an elegant Neo-Romanesque Cathedral at the town centre recalling the presence of the French colonialists back in the 19th century. Embark on one of the local boats to explore the riverside villages where local families are running age-old cottage industries.

Take a visit and see how the delta farmers make traditional treats including dried longans, rice pancakes and puffed coconut candies, a chance to try these local delicacies. Then, you will continue the trip across the main flow of the Cuu Long (Mekong) River to get into narrow waterways through peaceful lush green orchards and also lively scenes of well-inhabited canals. In the end, you will return to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh city.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

A quick developing city, Ho Chi Minh teems with a dynamic lifestyle, activity and motion. Everywhere you look, you see the convergence of traditional combines with modern life. Beginning with a visit to the Reunification Palace, formerly the Independence Palace of the South Vietnamese president, this 60s style building was famously stormed by tanks on April 30, 1975, signifying the fall of South Vietnam. It has been preserved in its original state, and the original tanks remain on display near the entrance gates.
Afterwards, drive to the historic center to visit the Emperor of Jade Pagoda, one of Ho Chi Minh’s most holy pagodas. Pay a quick visit to the neo-Romanesque Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office. Pass by the classic European-style landmarks such as the city icon - City Hall (Hotel De Ville), the old Opera House (both only be viewed from the outside). Finally, end up at the central Ben Thanh Market, where vendors display a vast array of goods and handicrafts, appealing to every taste and trying your bargaining skills with local traders.
The trip will end at Tan San Nhat International Airport after our guide and driver say goodbye to you.
ViTravel goodbye and see you again.