North & South Vietnam Travel 14 days

Destination: Hanoi - Ha Long - Hue - Danang - Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta

Highlights: Visit the commercial centers in Hanoi and the city’s large markets are a noisy bustle. Enjoy Halong's remarkable geology, geomorphology, biodiversity and culture. Hue contrasts the simple lives of today’s average Vietnamese citizens. See Japanese and Chinese architecture as well as its restaurants and wide range of silk that tailors. Admire easily the largest city in Vietnam. Find a way of life far removed from mainstream in Mekong Delta.

Details Itinerary:

Code: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, G = Guide   

Day 1: Arrival at Hanoi (D, G)

Arriving at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, you'll be met and driven to your hotel.

17.15: You'll be picked up to watch the Water Puppet show an art form unique to northern Vietnam, and a good, light-hearted introduction to its rural culture.

18.30: Your Welcome Dinner will be served at one of the good local restaurant.

You'll spend the night in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi City tour (B, L, G)

9.00: You'll be picked up at your hotel to start a Hanoi city tour.

9.30 - 10.30: You’ll visit Ba Dinh Square, where silent sentries guard the marble and Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum where Ho Chi Minh lies in state (closed on every Monday & Friday and October & November). You’ll see the simple cottage where Uncle Ho lived and worked. You’ll continue to visit the One Pillar Pagoda and hear the legend of its construction, born from the love of an emperor in the 11th Century.

10.30 - 11.00: You’ll drive to visit the serene Tran Quoc pagoda, the oldest in Hanoi, on the banks of Hanoi’s West Lake.

11.00 - 12.00: You’ll also call the Temple of Literature, built in 1070 and the dedicated to Confucius, it is a serene retreat from the busy streets outside and later become Vietnam’s first university.

12.00 - 13.30: Lunch at local restaurant

13.30 - 15.30: Visit the Ethnology Museum for an overview of Vietnam’s 54 distinct ethnic

15.30 - 16.15: Pass by Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake , also known as Lake of Restored Sword from the legend that surrounds it en-route to one of the city’s fascinating museums.   

16.15 - 17.15: You’ll then take to the streets by cycle ride tour of the Ancient Quarter of 36 streets District. This densely populated corner of the city was once a centre of commerce where goods were sold under the street name of a particular guild. Still a thriving community of sellers today, you’ll see streets name such as Sugar Street, Tin Street and Paper Street. Ancient homes and temples are interspersed with stores in this souvenir hunter’s paradise.

You’ll spend the night in Hanoi.

Day 3: Hanoi/Ha Long (B, L, D, G)

8.30: You’ll leave for Ha Long Bay, one of the most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Areas and the world’s largest marine limestone ‘karst’ landscape.

10.00: You'll take a short break at Hong Ngoc Embroidery workshop.

10.30 - 12.00: You'll continue driving to Ha Long Bay.

12.00: You’ll board your boat, a wooden junk built from the model of the old Vietnamese court vessels with sails, a wide transom and rectangular superstructure, that will take you first to the busy World Heritage area and then to some of the less well-known grottoes and caves. Weather permitting, you’ll be able to swim, fish, climb a hill for an overview of the Bay’s remarkable seascape. All your meals will be provided on board, usually based on fresh seafood.

You'll spend the night on the boat.

Day 4: Ha Long/Hanoi (B, L, G)

7.30: You'll have western breakfast on boat.

8.00 - 8.30: You'll venture into some of the sea level caves in a small sampan.

8.30 - 11.45: You’ll spend the morning cruising Ha Long Bay, followed by lunch just before docking to the harbour.

11.45 - 16.15: You’ll drive to one of a traditional village in the North of Vietnam to enjoy its traditional Quan Ho music performed by villagers in the commune house. The singers have recently been officially designated as part of Vietnam’s ‘living heritage’. 

You'll then drive back to Hanoi for overnight accommodation.

Day 5: Hanoi/Hue (G)

Your time will be your own until you'll be driven to the airport for your noon flight to Hue. On arrival, you'll check in your hotel in the city centre and have a Hue city tour in the afternoon.

14.30 - 16.30: You'll be picked up to visit Imperial Citadel, once the seat of the Emperors of the powerful Nguyen Dynasty that ruled Vietnam from 1802 to 1945. You’ll begin with a stroll around the area between the Citadel’s massive walls and the defensive moat, now filled with lotus flowers. You’ll then enter via the Noon Gate to wander around the Thai Hoa Palace, the Pavilion housing the Nine Urns of the Nguyen rulers, and the remains of the Royal Palaces.

16.30 - 17.30: You'll visit the bustling Dong Ba market, which is one of the most famous markets in the Centre areas. You'll spend the night in Hue.

Day 6: Hue (B, L, D, G)

7.30 - 8.30: Breakfast at your hotel

8.30 - 10.00: You'll be enjoy a motorized boat cruise along Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda, a tranquil pagoda in the banks of the Perfume River.

10.00 - 12.00: Take a drive to the Royal Tombs of Minh Mang, the most majestic emperor and a staunch follower of Confucianism with many wives, concubines and a small army of children.

12.00 - 13.30: Drive back to Hue for lunch at a typical Vietnamese restaurant.

13.30 - 16.45: In the afternoon, you'll drive to visit Royal Tu Duc tomb, the "poet Emperor", is set in an elegant garden with a magnificent lake and pavilion complex and the Royal Khai Dinh tomb is an unprepossessing concrete construction on the side of a wide valley.

In the evening, you'll sit down for dinner in the pleasant surroundings and a comfortable atmosphere of another of the garden houses. The garden houses are a unique feature of Hue. The houses are traditional, privately owned, and set in attractive formal gardens. 

You'll spend the night in Hue.

Day 7: Hue/Hoi An (B, L, G)

7.30 - 8.30: Breakfast at your hotel, you'll then be picked up to travel to Hoi An.

8.30 - 12.00: You’ll drive to Lang Co Beach and the lagoon far below. You'll then cross the high mountain pass of Hai Van with excellent view to see Danang spread out.

12.00 - 14.00: You’ll have lunch at local restaurant and have a brief to visit Cham museum, a remarkable Hindu statuary.

14.00 - 15.45: Driver and guide will take you to visit Marble Mountain, Stone Carving village where you can admire the stone products of local people and Non Nuoc Beach.

15.45 - 17.30: You'll continue driving to Hoi An and have a visit  Hoi An Town, and enjoy its considerable significance in the history of Vietnam.

You’ll spend the night in Hoi An.

Day 8: Hoi An/My Son (B, G)

8.00 - 8.30: Breakfast at your hotel

8.30 - 11.15: Drive to visit the World Heritage My Son Sanctuary, the guide will show you the remains of the remarkable brick towers, and explain their origins and purpose.

11.15 - 12.00: You'll return to Hoi An. Rest of day will be free perhaps to stroll around the Old Quarter of relax on the beach. You’ll spend the night in Hoi An.

Day 9: Hoi An/Ho Chi Minh City (B, G)

You'll be free and then be picked up to Danang airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. On your arrival at the Tan Son Nhat airport, you'll be driven to your hotel. You'll spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City tour (B, L, G)

8.30: Your car and driver will come to take you for your Ho Chi Minh City tour

8.30 - 10.30: You’ll be driven to visit History Museum, an exhibition of the 5th century ‘Oc Eo’ civilization.

10.30 - 12.00: You’ll visit the Museum of War Remnants provides a very partial, but riveting, perspective of the ‘American War’

12.00 - 13.15: Lunch will be served at the local restaurant.

13.15 - 14.00: You’ll visit Centre Post Office with colonial building and the Cathedral Church.

14.00 - 14.45: You'll be driven to visit the Jade Emperor Temple. It’s one of the best Taoist temples in Vietnam, with superb effigies, remarkable carved panels of the descent to Hell and somewhat incongruous terrapin and tortoise sanctuaries.

14.45 - 17.00: You’ll have approximately two hour to visit the Ben Thanh market, one of the liveliest areas of Ho Chi Minh City, is packed with every conceivable commodity and a visit to lacquer workshop to see the complex processes and meticulous workmanship involved in this traditional Vietnamese craft product. End of your services at the hotel. You'll spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City/Tay Ninh/Cu Chi (B, L, G)

8.30 - 12.00: You’ll be picked up to Tay Ninh to visit the Cao Dai Holy See in time to watch the mid-day ceremony. The Cao Dai is a ‘new’ religion unique to Vietnam with around a million followers. Both its creed and its architecture are remarkable and exotic. The service lasts about half an hour – the rituals are based upon an eclectic mixture of Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism. Discreet photography is OK, but shoes must be left outside

12.00 - 13.30: You'll be driven to local restaurant to have lunch.

13.30 - 14.30: You'll visit the Cu Chi tunnels, a byzantine maze of underground passages, chambers, rooms and booby traps used by both the Vietminh and the Viet Cong to suddenly materialize as if from nowhere, launch a lightning ambush, and vanish equally rapidly.

14.30 - 15.45: You’ll drive back to Ho Chi Minh City to spend the night.

Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City/Vinh Long/Can Tho (B, L, G)

8.30 - 10.30: Drive to Vinh Long, a city famous by the Mekong River and floating market

10.30 - 15.30: You’ll cruise to visit Cai Be floating market, fruit orchards, a traditional family-run brick kiln, and drop in to look at some traditional cottage industries - a workshop making the huge coffins unique to the Mekong is particularly interesting. You'll have a lunch at one of the local family and have a short show of traditional music in Mekong Delta which is operated by the local people.

15.30 - 16.00: You'll have time to wonder around the fruit market to buy some kind of famous tropical fruit such as banana, pomelo, dragon fruit and so on.

16.00 - 17.30: You'll be driven further into the Mekong Delta to Can Tho where you'll spend the night.

Day 13: Can Tho/Ho Chi Minh City (B, L, G)

8.00 - 10.45: You'll have breakfast at your hotel and then be picked up to Ninh Kieu Harbour. You'll then take about two hour boat trip to cruise along the Mekong River to Cai Rang and Phong Dien floating markets. You can enjoy the Mekong rural lifestyle.

10.45 - 13.15: You’ll travel back to Vinh Long to have  lunch at local restaurant.

13.15 - 15.15: You’ll return to Ho Chi Minh City. You'll spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 14: Ho Chi Minh City departure (B, G)

You'll be free until you'll be picked up to the airport for your international departure flight.

Prices per person in US$:

Contact Us for more details

Valid until December 31, 2010

Surcharge for peak season and Gala Dinner of hotels are not inclusive in the prices above.

Prices include:

• Breakfast and accommodation in twin or double room.

• All pick up and transfer.

• One-way domestic flight tickets: Hanoi - Hue, Danang - Ho Chi Minh City including domestic flight airport taxes.

• Private boats cruise as programme.

• Travel by private, air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced, safe driver.

• Experienced English-speaking tour guide as indicated in the itinerary.

• Entry fees for all sightseeing as mentioned in the programme.

• Lunches and dinners, as specified, in the best local restaurants and on the boat in Ha Long Bay.

• Government Taxes.

Price do not include:

• Flight tickets and airport tax.

• Visas.

• Dinners except as specified above.

• Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses.

• Insurance

Hotel list for Five Stars standard

• Hanoi: Sofitel Plaza Hotel (***** overlooking the West Lake, indoor swimming pool, Classic Room) or similar

• Ha Long: Bai Tho Boat (one of high quality boat in Ha Long Bay)

• Hue: Imperial Hotel (***** in the heart of city centre, Deluxe Riverview Room) or similar

• Hoi An: Palm Garden Beach Resort (***** beautiful villa and bungalow style resort on a 5ha site on the northern section of Cua Dai Beach, Superior Ocean-view Room)

• Ho Chi Minh City: Legend Hotel (***** colonial building in the city centre, Deluxe Room) or similar

• Can Tho: Victoria Hotel (**** on the bank of Mekong River, Superior Room) or similar

Hotel list for Four Stars standard

• Hanoi: Silk Path Hotel (**** modern boutique hotel in the old quarter, Deluxe Room) or similar

• Ha Long: Bai Tho Boat (one of high quality boat in Ha Long Bay)

• Hue: Huong Giang Hotel (**** on the bank of the Perfume River, Deluxe Riverview Room) or similar

• Hoi An: Hoi An Trails Resort and Spa (**** beside Cua Dai beach, Deluxe Room) or similar

• Ho Chi Minh City: Grand Hotel (**** colonial building in the city centre, Superior New Wing Room) or similar

• Can Tho: Golf Hotel (**** city centre, Deluxe Riverview Room) or similar

Hotel list for Three Stars standard

• Hanoi: Flower hotel (*** a walking distance to Hanoi old quarter, Classic Room) or similar

• Ha Long: Bai Tho Boat (one of high quality boat in Ha Long Bay)

• Hue: Romance Hotel (**** city centre with swimming pool, Romance Deluxe Room) or similar

• Hoi An: Lotus Hotel (*** with swimming pool, 2km from town centre, Deluxe Room) or similar

• Ho Chi Minh City: Elios Hotel (*** ideally located in the city centre, Standard Room) or similar

• Can Tho: Kim Tho Hotel (*** overlooking the Mekong River, Superior Room) or similar

Hotel list for Two Stars standard 

• Hanoi: Van Mieu Hotel (** near the Temple of Literature in city centre, Deluxe Room) or similar

• Ha Long: Bai Tho Boat (one of high quality boat in Ha Long Bay)

• Hue: Victory Hotel (** city centre, Superior Room) or similar

• Hoi An: Pho Hoi Riverside Resort (*** near the Old Quarter, Deluxe Room) or similar

• Ho Chi Minh City: An An Hotel (** city centre, Superior Room) or similar

• Can Tho: Ninh Kieu Hotel (** city centre, Room in Hotel A1 & A2) or similar

Creating Unique Touring Experiences with Gia Linh Travel
  All the touring itineraries on this website have been carefully crafted by our in-country management teams and represent a series of experiences we can certainly recommend. However, we understand that every travel experience should be as unique and individual as each traveler. Our consultants are waiting to hear from you so that we can tailor or custom design a tour to your individual specifications.