Vietnam Essential Tour – 10 days

Arrive in Ho Chi Minh. Greeted by your driver at the airport. Transfer to your hotel in the city centre for check-in and at leisure in the rest of the day.

Ho Chi Minh City

Meal: n/a

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh

07:30 AM: Depart for Cai Be by van/bus via Trung Luong Expressway.

Upon arrival in Cai Be, have a boat ride to the remaining site of a renowned wholesale floating market on the Tien River many years ago. This site entitles you to know something about the local trading habit that has changed due to the age of the modern society when more terrestrial transportation and high technique of agriculture have dominated everywhere. There, you can realize how diverse the area is and how rich orchard gardens are, which makes it the basket of fruit in the lower part of the Mekong River.

Ramble in small villages where you will uncover the beauty of an ancient house and learn about the indigenous culture. Make a short visit to a small family business where the locals make coconut fudges and crispy rice popcorn. Savor delicious fresh fruit and feel the slow rhythms of Southern Vietnamese folk music – a kind of music entwined with the life and culture of the Mekong Delta people. Paddle through small canals – an exciting experience since you can look around, unwind, and soak up the wonderful atmosphere of the Upper Mekong Delta. Additionally, after arrival on Tan Phong Island, immerse yourself in nature’s tranquility.

Mekong Delta

At lunch time, you not only enjoy luscious food but also get closer to the locals as it is a chance to learn how to prepare Vietnamese specialties. The meal is cooked on your own and served in the heart of the local garden.

Cycle on the village path through orchards. Meet the local islanders to learn more about the local daily life in the Mekong Delta. Visit Ba Kiệt’s ancient house.

Take a boat ride back to Cai Be and meet your bus for the trip back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh

Today, we will visit Cu Chi tunnel, the trip will take approximately one and a half hours bus driving. Upon arrival, before exploring the tunnels, you will have some short introduction followed by introductory video about how the tunnels were constructed and how the people survived in the harsh conditions of the war time. Then, spend your time to explore the remaining area and tunnel systems which included the special constructed living areas with kitchens, bedrooms side by side with other martial facilities like storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, and command centers helping whoever lives inside the tunnels meet their basic needs. Besides, there are also many hidden trap doors and dangerous traps within the maze-like tunnels for security purpose during the war. Afterward, special tea and cassava (guerilla’s food during the war) will be served.

Cu Chi Tunnel

Break time for relax or time for those who want to try the real shooting gun. Transfer to aiport for flight to Danang. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel in Hoian.

Meal: Breakfast/Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian

Spend a day leisurely cycling through the scenic countryside of Vietnam, far from the traffic the motor scooters, and the noises of the city. You will cross the islands on the Thu Bon river delta using local transportation, including ferries and floating bridges.

During the tour, the guests will discover

• Enjoy a river crossing on a local ferry
• Traditional boat-building yards.
• Inlaid with mother of pearl.
• How to weave the traditional sleeping mats.
• Traditional Vietnamese countryside house.
• Basket boat builder.
• Testing the basket boat.
• Rice wine family maker.
• The story of the countryside family temple.
• Crossing a floating bridge (when is available).
• 40 minutes boat trip on the delta of the Thu Bon river.

And much more depending on the activities of the people we meet along the way

Cycling in Hoi An

Meal: Breakfast/Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Today, enjoy your free day in the world heritage listed Hoi An. You can spend your time the Central Market and the street stalls selling paintings, woodwork, ceramics, lanterns, and more. Hoi An is also famous for its talented tailors who can make beautiful items to order within a few hours. You can hire a bicycle and tour the surrounding. Other optional activities include a day trip to My Son Towers – World Heritage-listed temples that reflect the rich cultural traditions of the Cham civilization.

My Son Sanctuary

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian

In the morning, transfer to airport for flight to Hanoi.
Upon arrival, you meet our guide & driver. We will spend a half day to visit the city. We start with visit to President Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum (Outside). We also visit the famous One Pillar Pagoda nearby. Leaving the President’s complex, we continue to visit the Temple of Literature (Van Mieu). Although several Van Mieu can be found throughout Vietnam, the most prominent and famous is that situated in the city of Hanoi, and was functioned as Vietnam’s first university.

After the tour, your local guide will go with you to enjoy the lunch with Bun Cha Hanoi. Bún chả is a Vietnamese dish of grilled pork and noodle, which is thought to have originated from Hanoi, Vietnam. Bún chả is served with grilled fatty pork (chả) over a plate of white rice noodle (bún) and herbs with a side dish of dipping sauce.
Walking through the maze of bustling streets that make up Hanoi’s Old Quarter, we enjoy the famous Egg Coffee. This hard-to-find café is one of the few left in the narrow street inside the old quarter of Hanoi. At the end of the trip you are free to continue exploring the area or your guide will assist you back to your hotel.

Temple of Literature (Van Mieu)

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

07:30 – 08:00 –  Meet your guide and driver at the hotel and start 110km to Ninh Binh.

10:00 – Arrive Glimmering Bai Dinh pagoda complexes, the largest pagoda, not only in Vietnam but also in Southeast of Asia. Scenically set on the foot hill of  Dinh Mountain surrounded by amazing views of the exquisite river valley  below and dotted and the limestone karsts dotted around which will take your breath away.

This pagoda complex is stunningly boasting an array of the most massive and magnificent architecture of Vietnamese tradition refined ever built that it take a full day to explore all. So you will visit some of the highlights that owned the national:500 stone statues of “La Han” (Arhats),2 huge bronze bells, one weighs 27 tons, other weighs 36 tones.Visit The Quan Yin statue with thousands arms and eyes, Visit Gautama Buddha satatue.

With sacred atmospheres and intriguing Buddhism story which presented by your guide, you cannot fail to enchant.

13:00 – Enjoy the lunch at our restaurant with the great local cuisines.

Trang An, Ninh Binh

13:30 – Leave for the Trang An Grottoes, an out-standing natural beauty of majestic limestone massif at 20 square kilometer rise dramatically out from rice paddy fields. Deep into the linked chains of towering mountain are pristine places of mystical valleys, numerous fresh water ponds, and jungle.

Embark on a traditional sampan gently roweddown the exquisite river through numerous  caves: Lam Cave, Vạng Cave, Đại Cave, Thánh Trượt Cave,…and Cao Sơn Temple, Suối Tiên Temple, Vũ Lâm Temple…

16:30 – Arrive Mua Cave and start an amazing trek up to the top of Ngoa Long mountain for watching the spectacular rice valley with specious view of the nature.

17:45 – Transfer to hotel in Ninh Binh

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Ninh Binh

07:00 You will be picked up at your hotel in Ninh Binh and transferred to Ha Long

11:30-12:00    Upon arrival at Tuan Chau International Cruise Port, you will enjoy a warm welcome by our cruise staff in the waiting lounge and complete check-in procedure.

12:30 Upon boarding Le Journey Premium Cruise, our crew welcome you with a refreshing drink and cold towel before checking into your cabin. The vessel leaves Tuan Chau Marina, taking you on an exciting journey to discover the beauty of Ha Long Bay. Along the way, you can enjoy the view of some of the most beautiful spots in Ha Long and admire the grandeur of the Bay with thousands of limestone islands while the vessel heads to Surprising Cave.

Enjoy your lunch at our luxurious restaurant on board while the vessel cruises toward Surprising Cave.

Overview Halong Bay

14:45 Explore the Surprising Cave – the most beautiful cave in HaLong Bay.

After that, we will take you to visit Titop Island – swimming, climbing up to the Top of the Island – take the best view of Ha Long Bay in the Summer time.

17:30-18:00   Back on board, you will participate in Sunset party & cooking class while the vessel cruises toward the shore. You can enjoy relaxing moments while sipping a cup of traditional Vietnamese tea or coffee on the sundeck amid wonderful scenery and beautiful sunset. Ha Long Bay is calm during the day, but when the sun goes down, the Bay becomes even more tranquil and peaceful.

You will be instructed to make delicious Fresh Spring rolls by our chef and then enjoy the rolls made on your own.

17:30-18:30   Happy hour – BUY 2 DRINK GET 1 FOR FREE (cocktails, mocktails…)

19:00-20:00  Enjoy your dinner on the Sundeck (if the weather is favorable)

After dinner, you will enjoy a peaceful view of the Bay at night on the deck. Enjoying music and some drinks at Sky Bar while admiring the breathtaking view of the Bay at night or squid fishing.

The cruise ship anchors for your peaceful night stay in quiet area 

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/ Dinner

Accommodation: Night on board

06:45-07:30   Have breakfast on board while the boat starts cruising to the Natural Preservation Area.

07:45-09:00   Kayaking to explore Luon Cave. If you are lucky, you can catch great photos with mischievous monkeys jigging up and down around the cliffs

09.30  Check-out time. Please put your luggage outside your cabin and leave the room key at the reception desk. Our staff will transfer your luggage to the waiting area. While waiting, you can shop for some products of Le Journey Premium Cruise.

10.00   Enjoy an early lunch at the restaurant on the 2nd floor and settle the bills if any.

11.00    Arrival at Tuan Chau Marina and transfer to hotel in Hanoi

Kayaking on Halong Bay

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Free time to explore Ho Chi Minh City till airport transfer for departure flight. Trip ends! Thank you for choosing Indochina Treks Travel

The Huc Bridge in Hanoi

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: n/a