A Taste of Vietnam

Upon your arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport, you will be picked up and transferred to hotel in Hochiminh city, formerly known as Saigon. Ho Chi Minh City is a center of commerce, finance, culture and tourism in Vietnam. This bustling metropolis, contradiction of its northern counterpart, is crowded with motorbikes and cars, excited by numerous shopping area and sidewalk cafés. (If time permits) we stroll around the down town to explore the different local ways of life. Welcome dinner at one of the finest restaurant of Hochiminh city. Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

The head quarter of Cao Dai sect is located in Tay Ninh. This religion was founded in 1923 and now numbers over 2 million members. After breakfast we travel by roads to Tay Ninh to see the ornate temple of Cao Dai and attend the fantastic mid-day service when the followers fill the hall wearing colored robes, a symbol of the curious combination of the Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. Afterwards we continue to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, which were an incredible underground network constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the long struggle for independence. The tunnels contained hospitals, plus accommodation and schools, and were used as a military base for the Vietcong in the American war. Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Today we will visit Cai Be floating market, on the way stop for photos at Tan An town over the flat rice fields. On arriving in Cai Be, start the motorized boat ro visit the Cai Be floating market, experience how people exchanging goods, fruit and many other commodities on their vessels. Visitors then roam into the small villages to visit the orchard, fruit plantation. Keep cruising to Vinh Long through small canals to enjoy the charm of the Upper Mekong Delta. Visit some hand – made family business products such as the coconut candy mill, the crispy rice popcorn. Arrive in Binh Hoa Phuoc village – the green pearl of Vinh Long town where you can indulge yourself into the nature. Have lunch with fresh river food served in the heart of the garden. Enjoy the southern Vietnamese traditional folk music. Take a nice walk through the bonsai garden. Turn back to Hochiminh city int he late afternoon.Accommodation at hotel in Hochiminh city.

Today we spend a half day seeing some major sights of the city. We pass the now-demolished wartime American Embassy before we visit the Reunification Palace which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975, and some French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Sai Gon Post Office. After seeing the Jade Emperor Pagoda and the War Remnant Museum, we continue our trip on to the bustling Ben Thanh Market where anything and everything is for sale!. The next stop of our trip is Danang via a short flight from Ho Chi Minh. On arrival you are greeted and driven to Hoian, which was originally a Cham seaport but has been influenced down centuries by a myriad of traders from various cultures. Stay overnight in Hoian.

The ancient architecture of Hoian is a fascinating combination of Vietnamese traditional characters with Chinese and Japanese influence. There are plenty to see in this delightful town, some of which are the famous Japanese Covered Bridges, the Pottery Museum, the 200 years old Tamky House, the Chua Ong Pagoda, the vibrant market. Today, we include these on a walking tour past many low tiled houses scattered along the small streets and assembly halls which reflect the town's multi-cultural past. Upon leaving Hoian we drive North to Hue Along the way, we make stopover at the sensational Marble Mountains and Danang City for a visit to the Cham Museum. We then follow the road crossing over the scenic Hai Van Pass before arriving in Hue, Vietnam's last imperial capital of Vietnam. Stay overnight in Hue.

The massive citadel of Hue, containing the Imperial City and the Purple Forbidden City, is not to be missed. This royal residence was all but destroyed during the 1968 Tet Offensive, however it is still fascinating to walk among the ruins. We visit this masterpiece and have free time to explore the town before embark on a boat for cruise upstream on the Perfume River which also gives us a taste of the scenic countryside as well as an enjoyable visit to The beautiful pagoda of Thien Mu. Upon leaving this symbol of Hue we continue navigating to the mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang, in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes. The next stop of our trip is the elaborate royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc and the famous pagoda of Tu Hieu. On return to the city, we then take a walk to the bustling Dong Ba Market and pass many fantastic eating spots where visitors have a chance to sample some local delicacies. Stay overnight at in Hue.

After breakfast at hotel before boarding a short flight to Hanoi, Vietnam's capital, is a stylish and gracious city that retains an unique old world charm and some Asia‘s most striking colonial architecture. The many lakes and parks make for relaxing atmosphere. Visit the impressive Ethnologic Museum, dedicated to Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups and Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam. The beautiful West Lake and the History Museum with an excellent collection of artifacts illustrating the Vietnamese history are also highlight of our trip. If time permits then we enjoy a short cyclo excursion through the bustling old quarter streets named after the specific goods once offered for sale at these places before enjoy Water Puppet Unique show at 4 PM, the unique performance show in Vietnam. Stay over night in Hanoi.

Transfer to Halong city for boat cruise on the Bay, truly one of Vietnam‘s most scenic impressive sights. Stop on route to admire the landscape picture, you might take picture of buffalo boy. On arrival in Halong we embark on a boat for an exploration of the legendary Halong Bay. Our boat screw will greetings you special seafood lunch with welcome drink during boat cruise around the bay to explore the fantastic view of the picturesque scenery blending with the sky and some 3, 000 limestone islands rising amazingly from the clear and emerald water. The limestone karsts formations are littered with beaches, grottoes and beautiful caves. Along the way we will anchor for a leisurely swim in a secluded cove and an enjoyable visit to one of the many hidden grottoes beneath towering cliffs. Have dinner on board with Vietnamese wine and overnight on boat

After breakfast, you can relax on deck to enjoy the beauty atmosphere of the bay, boat passing the most beauty of karsts islets like Man’s head island, Tortoise island, visit Luon cave by small bamboo boat, Bai Tu Long bay. Have lunch on the boat return to Ha Long wharf for private car transfer back to Hanoi. Stay overnight at hotel.

Free at leisure or doing other things you are interested in until time transfer to airport for flight back home.