VIETNAM HIGHTLIGHTS

Arrive at Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi, meet your guide and transfer to your hotel for check-in. Take a rest after a long flight then at your leisure to explore Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

Vietnam's capital with its unique charming. This city of 1000 years is filled with wide tree lined boulevards, tranquil lakes, colonial villas and alluring boutiques. Hanoi has been able to offer visitors a feast of culture and history while a modern outlook also displayed. It is an amazing place to visit and to discover.
Your tour starts with the first visit is to the Temple of Literature built in 1076 and considered as Vietnam's first university. It was establish to host Imperial Academy where mandarins and members of the elite educated. The various pavilions, halls, statues and steles of doctors are places where offering ceremonies, study sessions and the strict exams of the Dai Viet took place.
Next Visit is The One Pillar Pagoda, founded in 1049 by Emperor Ly Thai Tong who had this temple constructed by erecting a pillar in the middle of a lotus pond, and a temple of lotus-shape, This structure is one of Vietnam’s most iconic temples. Close by is the mausoleum of the great father of modern Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh, and the former presidents house on stilts where he lived from 1958 to 1969. His former home illustrates the modesty of this Vietnamese revolutionary. (viewed from outside; closed Mon and Fri and from Oct-Nov)
Continue to picturesque West Lake and the 6th century Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda. Then here transfer to the nearby Taoist temple of Quan Thanh dedicated to Tran Vu, one of the principal deities in Taoism.
In the afternoon visit the fascinating Ethnology Museum (closed Mondays), a valuable centre for the exhibition and the preservation of cultural heritages of the 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam with 15,000 artefacts including clothing, jewellery, of agricultural tools, fishing instruments, weapons, household utensils and musical instruments which is both a research centre and a public museum exhibiting the ethnic groups of Vietnam. As an alternative to the Ethnology Museum, visit the highly acclaimed Vietnam Women’s Museum (closed on Mondays). The museum is located near Hoan Kiem Lake and offers wonderful insight into the lives of Vietnamese women. Displays highlight Vietnam’s vast cultural diversity and educate on the significant role Vietnamese women play in Vietnamese society. Learn historic and modern-day traditions centered around births, weddings, motherhood, spirituality and more. At the end of the afternoon, explore the fascinating Old Quarter and its hundreds of specialty shops selling silk clothing, lacquer ware, embroidered linens, furniture, bamboo, cooking utensils, ceremonial objects and more. It's a great place to experience with plenty of photo opportunities surrounding you.
Complete your day the Water Puppet show , a uniquely northern Vietnamese art form depicting scenes from rural life and episodes of national history. Overnight in Hanoi.

Early morning departure from your hotel for Hoa Lu with some 110km or two hours from Hanoi. Hoa Lu is a 10th-century first capital of Vietnamese . Laying in a flat valley surrounded by the karst mountain ranges rising on the water surface ,Hoa Lu had a natural wall protecting itself and a picturesque scenery.
First visit is to the 2 temples of the first 2 emperor of Viet Nam : Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang of Dinh Dynasty (968-980) - and Emperor Le Dai Hanh of Le Dynasty (980-1009).
After this visit, Have lunch and optional tours :
- Tam Coc ( Three Caves ) : Get on your private rowing boat , cruise through the picturesque river where the huge limestone karst mountain rising out of the green paddy fields.
It's an option for you to climb up to Bich Dong Pagoda dating in 1428 and comprising of three structures: Ha, Trung, and Thuong Pagodas, in ascending order. Once you are at the top of Thuong Pagodas, enjoy the spectacular panoramic view of this terrain. Cruise back to Tam Coc town then Return to Hanoi.
Note: Please be awared that there're some vendors on their boats who try to sell their products to you . Please tell to your guide in case you feel uncomfortable .
- Thung Nang valley : While presenting a similar landscape of Tam Coc with the river passing through the green rice fields where the vast limestone karsts rising out, Thung Nang still keeps a pristine feature with a rich fauna and flora system. Then you drive back to Hanoi for the rest of the day at leisure . Overnight in Hanoi.

In the morning , leave Hanoi for 3hr30mins drive to Halong Bay including a 20-minutes stop on the way. Arrive Halong Bay, check-in formalities then enjoy the Welcome drink and Lunch on board. Cruise through the emerald water between the limestone outcrops and long corridors, En route, you have chances to sightsee many beauty spots of the world natural heritage including Fighting Cock islet, Incense Urn islet, Finger island, Toad islet, dog islet, Dragon, Horse Neck, Buffalo Head islet and many other strange shape islands. Later in the afternoon, visit a fishing village with the opportunity to interact with fishermen who have been living in the bay for almost three generations. Back on board, enjoy cocktails or a cooking class in the romantic sunset on the Bay. Have dinner on board. Evening, experience some evening activities such as squid fishing, board games, or spa .Overnight on the junk

Early morning, take a Tai Chi class and watch the sunrise over the bay (if you choose to get up early and weather permitted ). Visit a beautiful limestone grotto, and then back to the junk , Brunch while cruising back to the dock. Disembarking at the Cruise Coffee Lounge then get on your car and drive back to the Hanoi. On the way stop at Thanh Chuong Viet's Palace, a unique cultural resort, covers over 10,000 square meters and displays a collection of thousands of cultural and historical artifacts of dynasties Dinh, Ly, Tran, Le
Continue for a short drive to the domestic airport to take the flight to Danang. Upon arrival in Danang, drive 40-minutes to Hoi An ancient town, an exceptionally well-preserved example of a traditional Asian trading port, is an outstanding material manifestation of the fusion of cultures over time in an international maritime commercial centre. Hoi An also homes the world class beach resorts with white sand and blue crystal water. Check-in hotel and the rest of the day is at leisure . Overnight in HOi An

In the morning, Visit the My Son Sanctuary which is one of the most famous Champa architectural and sculptural monuments in Viet Nam.
While the religious significance of My Son was important, its location in a small valley surrounded by high mountains gave it strategic significance as an easily defensible stronghold. Successive kings in the 6th to 8th centuries favoured My Son and endowed it with fine temples. In the later 10th century, most of the finest surviving architectural monuments were built there. After My son, drive to visit Tra Kieu, formerly known as Simhapura or the Lion Citadel, the capital of Champa between the 4th and 8th centuries then return to Hoi An.
Walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter, visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, the Chinese Assembly Halls, the 200 year old Tam Ky ancestral house, and the 400 years old Japanese Bridge and explore the shopping in this ancient town. vernight in Hoi An

After btreakfast, at leisure for exploring Hoi An on your own. After Lunch , leave HoiAn for Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. Drive through Danang, stop at Cham Sculpture Museum where you canfind the best collection in the world of Cham Sculpture .From Danang, drive up to the Pass of Ocean Clouds and descend to the photogenic fishing village of Lang Co. Arrive Hue in the late afternoon , check-in hotel and at leisure. Overnight in Hue.

After breakfast, visit the Imperial Museum where exhibit the antique collections of bronze, pottery, chinaware, Phap Lam enamel, court robes, head-gear and the personal belongings of former Vietnamese emperors. Continue by a tour to visit Hue Citadel where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. Hue's citadel is the only extant citadel in Indochina. It is certainly an impressive sight, if only for its 10km long, 7m high surrounding stone walls , which are punctuated by ten gates. Within these walls, stands the Imperial citadel with its administrative buildings and high-ranking civil servants' houses. The style of various buildings are distinctive, each being constructed according to its function. Have a nice lunch in the local restaurant with the Hue food . From here take a cyclo through dai noi ‘Old City’ to Tinh Tam Lake where the Emperors used to come to relax. It is full of lotus flowers in summer and there are many local style coffee shops around the lake where university students come to study.
In the afternoon, continue for Thien Mu Pagoda locates on the Perfume River bank . Built in 1601, the 21-meter tower is the centerpiece of the pagoda and represents seven reincarnations of Buddha. At the ground of Pagoda, you find the famous Austin carof a resident monk drove to Saigon in 1963 to protest against the southern regime. The photo of his self immortalization is one of the most well known images of the war.
Then visit Minh Mang Emperor 's Tomb which comprises 40 monuments all on an oval 44-acre lot surrounded by a high wall. The whole arrangement is surrounded with reflective ponds fringed with pine trees. the Minh Mang tomb nonetheless offers a balance of landscaping and architecture that is unmatched among the tombs in Hue.
Next visit is to Khai Dinh’s tom constructed in traditional Vietnamese with European influence making it unique from the other tombs in Hue.
Before return to your hotel take time to explore the local daily life with your tour guide around Dong Ba Market, a must see of Hue.
Overnight in Hue.

Arrive in Tan Son Nhat airport, meet you guide and transfer to hotel
Then have a half day city tour in this vibrant city. Ho Chi Minh city - formely Saigon - is the largest city of Vietnam. Beside the unique historical sites such as Cu Chi tunnels, The Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh city is paradise of food lover. Additionally its allure comes from their friendly people and effective services.
Start your tour with the first visit to The Central Post office which constructed when Vietnam was part of French Indochina in the early 20th century ( between 1886-1891 ) It was designed and constructed by the famous architect Gustave Eiffel in harmony with the surrounding area.
Inside the Saigon Central Post office of special note are two painted maps that were created just after the post office was first built, the first one located on the left side of the building is a map of Southern Vietnam and Cambodia titled ‘Lignes telegraphiques du Sud Vietnam et Cambodge 1892' which translates to ‘Telegraphic lines of Southern Vietnam and Cambodia 1892” The second map of greater Saigon is titled ‘Saigon et ses environs 1892' translating to ‘Sai Gon and its environment 1892'
Then visit the Reunification Palace ( former Presidential Palace), the site of a dramatic finish to the Vietnam War as tanks crashed through the main gate on the morning of April 30, 1975
Have photo stop at the Saigon Opera House , Notre Dame Cathedral, City Hall then explore the iconic Benthanh Market where you can find many local products and experience the local flavour in its foodcourt. The rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Today is a day for the river exploring in Mekong Delta. Early start to leave bustling Ho Chi Minh for the 2 hour drive to Cai Be. The colorful floating market with local traditional wooden boats , vast emerald rice fields and lush back waterways are the things that make Cai Be such a desired destination. Arrive Cai Be, get on thelocal boats then cruise on the floating market , where you can witness the unique way of advertising : product for sale is hung on a pole in front of boats to attract customers and make it easier for people to see from afar what is on offer.
After visiting the floating market continue to a cottage factory where ‘pop-rice’, rice paper and coconut candies are made. Then cruise to Dong Hoa Hiep Island, admiring the scenery and the daily life of the local villagers along the way. Lunch is typical Mekong style serving specialties of the area. After lunch, drive back to Ho Chi Minh city.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Departure day. At leisure until transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for onward flight.