History and Culture Tours

Day 1: Arrive Hanoi

At Hanoi Airport, our guide will greet and accompany you to your hotel. Dinner and night at a hotel in Ha Noi
(D)

Day 2: Hanoi – Discover the historical city

In the morning you will visit Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum and the Temple of Literature, the first national university in Vietnam built in 1076
In the afternoon, visit the Museum of Ethnology to discover a little about the 54 ethnic groups living in Vietnam. In the evening you may enjoy the water puppet show. Overnight at a hotel in Hanoi.
(B-L)

Day 3: Hanoi – Ha Long Bay

Drive to Ha Long city for about 3 hours. Transfer to Deluxe Junk, lunch with fresh seafood. Start a 4 hours cruise into Ha Long Bay to see the amazing cliff islands with different forms, floating fishing village.
Afterwards, take a smaller boat to the kayaking area where you will be given a lesson on safety and paddling by our expert guide. Then visit Luon cave, enjoy swimming, sun bathing at Ti Top beach. Overnight on the boat.
(B-L-D)

Day 3: Ha Long Bay – Hanoi

Enjoy the sunrise, have breakfast before discover Surprise Grotto with its great views, and on the next island see the yawning mouth of Bo Nau Cave. En route the junk weaves through strange-shaped rock formations that invite comparisons from fighting cocks to dragons and even General de Gaulle’s nose. You will return to Hanoi at 16h00.Overnight at a hotel in Hanoi.
(B-L)

Day 5: Hanoi - Mai Chau

Leave Hanoi early morning by road for Mai Chau. Arriving at Mai Chau, have lunch in a local house wooden pillar. You will have a trek to visit the daily life of Thai people with a local guide around Mai Chau valley.
In the evening, enjoy a traditional dance performance by local artists. Overnight in the wooden pillars house with the Thai people.
(B-L-D)

Day 6: Mai Chau - Hanoi - Hue

After breakfast, trek through the green rice paddies and local villages to see the daily life of local people. Back to the Lac Village for lunch. In the afternoon transfer back to Hanoi by road.
In the evening we transfer to Hanoi airport for the flight to Hue.
Overnight at a hotel in Hue
(B-L)

Day 7: Hue – Imperial Citadel

Visit the Hue Citadel. Within the Imperial Enclosure of the Imperial Citadel is the Forbidden Purple City, and the museum of Royal Relics. Visit Tu Duc grave complex and Thien Mu Pagoda. Overnight at a hotel in Hue
(B)

Day 8: Hue – Hoi An

On the road from Hue to Hoi An, you will stop in Lang Co beach, Hai Van pass, the Marble Mountains and visit the Cham Museum in Da Nang.
Hoi An is a major Asian trading port in the 17th and 18th centuries whose architecture lifestyle has changed little over the centuries. Visit the former merchants’ houses, the 400 year-olds Japanese covered bridge and the colourful market. Overnight at a hotel in Hoi An
(B)

Day 9 : Hoi An – Archaeological Sanctuary My Son

We will go 60km away to My Son (UNESCO World Heritage recognized site). My Son was the most important Cham intellectual and religious centre, and also served as a burial place for Cham Kings. My Son is considered to be equal to other Southeast Asian Indian influenced sites: Angkor (Cambodia), Pagan (Burma), Ayuthaya (Thailand) and Borobudur (Java, Indonesia). Overnight at a hotel in Hue
(B-L)

Day 10: Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh City

We transfer to Danang airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Check-in to hotel. We will visit the following sites in Saigon: Reunification Palace, Cholon (China town), Notre Dame Cathedral, Ben Thanh market, Giac Lam Pagoda, Jade Emperor’s Pagoda and the Museum of American War Crimes. Overnight at a hotel in Sai Gon
(B)

Day 11: Cuchi tunnels - Cao Dai Temple

Drive to Cu Chi (75 km) and visit the amazing complex of underground tunnels stretching over more than 250 km and made by the Viet Cong guerillas during the war against the Americans.
Proceed to Tay Ninh, center of the Cao Dai religion founded in 1926, a combination of Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism and Confucianism. Drive back to Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon. Overnight at a hotel in Sai Gon
(B-L)

Day 12: Saigon - Mekong Delta

We will take you by car to Caibe market and drive through the Mekong Delta to Caibe floating market and visit fruit bonsai garden. You will take the boat to Vinh Long town where you can discover beautiful islands and then to Cantho. Overnight at a hotel in Can Tho
(B-L-D)

Day 13: Mekong Delta - Saigon

Morning excursion on the endless waterways of the Mekong river. Visit Phong Dien floating market. In the afternoon, we will drive back to Saigon.
Overnight at a hotel in Sai Gon
(B-L)

Day 14: Depart Ho Chi Minh City

The tour finishes after breakfast. There will be a transfer waiting to take you to the airport for your departure flight.
(B)

Included:
 Domestic flight
 All accommodation based on twin share
 Meals as indicated (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
 All transfers/ transport
 Entrance fees and permits during guided time
 English/French speaking guide during guide
 Boat cruises in Halong bay, Perfume River and in Mekong river

Excluded:
 International flights
 Visas and visa fees
 Meals and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary
 Personal expenses such as telephone, laundry