PANORAMA OF Vietnam - 14 Day 13 Night

PANORAMA OF Vietnam 
14 Day 13 Night  

(HANOI-HALONG BAY-HUE-DANANG/HOIAN-NHA TRANG BEACH-SAIGON-CU CHI TUNNELS- MEKONG DELTA)
 

 
Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
Upon your arrival, you will be greeted at the airport by a tour guide of Indochina Travelland and transferred to your hotel for check in.
Overnight at your hotel
 
Day 2: Hanoi City Tour (B)
This morning we embark on a an exhilarating and unforgettable ‘Xich Lo’ ride through the charming, yet bustling, 36 Street Old Quarter to Ba Dinh Square where we disembark to explore Ho Chi Minh’s Quarter.
Hanoi is well known for its history, architecture, charm, tranquility and cuisine. Our first visit is to the most well respected site of Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum which includes the Presidential Palace, One Pillar Pagoda and Ho Chi Minh Museum.
 
We meet our bus for a short journey to visit the infamous Hanoi Hilton Prison and the 11th century Temple of Literature, Hanoi’s first University.
 
After our exciting adventures we’ve all worked up a hunger! We cross the street for lunch (pay yourself) at famous KOTO restaurant - www.koto.com.au
 
Afternoon, we drive approximately 25minutes to the Ethnology Museum.
 
Here you will learn of the traditional cultures of 54 different ethnic minority groups in Vietnam through articles, stories, displays of traditional houses, costumes, hunting equipment and much more wares used in day to day life.
 
Enjoy the famous traditional Water Puppets Show in the evening.
 
Overnight at your hotel
 
Day 3: Hanoi – Ha Long (B/L/D)
Halong Bay is one of the most enchanting and memorable experiences in Vietnam. The postcard pictures you so often see of Halong Bay will become a memory to last a lifetime. 
 
We leave the city behind and drive through the Red River Delta to Halong Bay, taking around 3.5 hours. The beautiful countryside that awaits your imagination, takes us through local farming life and villages, providing us plenty of opportunities to stop and capture some spectacular photographs. 
 
Be sure to keep an eye out for the amazing things the locals load onto their motorbikes!
 
On-route, we make a stop at one of our favorite organizations in Vietnam. Hong Ngoc Humanities centre in Sao Do town This wonderful establishment has been set up to provide skill and employment to people from small villages throughout the north of Vietnam, creating jobs and providing accommodation to disadvantaged people.  You have the opportunity to purchase some exquisite local handicrafts and wares or just watch and admire the amazing and intricate workmanship involved in the production.
 
Arriving in Ha Long Bay, we board our boat and enjoy a spectacular seafood lunch as we sail off into Dragon Bay, gazing at the breathtaking karst formations within the bay.
 
After lunch have some free time to relax and admire the beauty of the Bay as we cruise through hundreds of formations.
 
Throughout our cruise today, you will have the opportunity to disembark the boat and explore Sung Sot cave, where you will learn how karsts were formed in this area millions of years ago. For beach lovers and swimmers, we make a stop at one of the sandy beaches for swimming or just relaxing.
 
We continue cruising the bay until the late afternoon, before setting anchor for the night.
Once anchored, there’s plenty of time for swimming or just relaxing to admire the scenery before settling into another scrumptious meal.
 
After dinner, why not head to the top deck and enjoy a relaxing drink whilst admiring the peaceful ambience and gazing at the millions of stars.
 
Overnight on boat
 
Day 4: Ha Long – Hanoi – Hue by FLIGHT (B/ BRUNCH)
This morning we take a small bamboo boat to visit Luon, a beautiful tunnel cave set within a lagoon.
 
We re-board our boat and continue cruising the bay, through the old part of Ha Long City, known as the fishing town and the new built harbor bridge, whilst we enjoy our seafood brunch before heading back to the pier for our return to Hanoi.
 
Return to Hanoi, with time to relax or grab a last minute bargain before our late afternoon flight to Hue. Arrival Hue, you will transfer to hotel for check-in.
Overnight at your hotel
 
Day 5: Hue City Tour (B)
We commence our exploration and head to one of the most serene and tranquil tombs in Hue, Minh Mang’s Tomb. Set back from the river bank and hidden within the luscious forest area, surrounded by a beautiful lake, this tomb has a peaceful ambience like no other.
 
A 20 minute drive takes us to the beautiful construction of Khai Dinh’s Tomb, where we see the intricate workmanship of the mosaic architecture within and gaze at the panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.
 
On route we make a stop at a small workshop to see the interesting process of making traditional Hue Conical hats and incense sticks. 
We return to town and visit Hues oldest 19th Century Pagoda, ‘Thien Mu (Heavenly Lady) Pagoda, which is famous for it’s Buddhist Centre teachings.
Boarding our dragon boat from the base of the Pagoda, we cruise down the Perfume River, watching local fisherman, whilst passing through the banks of Hue’s town.
After disembarking our boat we enjoy a delicious lunch (pay yourself) at a nearby Garden Restaurant
 
After lunch we visit the Citadel (Forbidden Purple City), located in Hues town. The Citadel is the former living place of the Royal family during the Nguyen dynasty, from 19th century to mid 20th century.
 
Here you will discover the history of Vietnam during this period of time, as well as the daily life of the Royal family and the typical architecture of this Imperial construction.
 
Overnight at your hotel
 
Day 6: Hue to Hoi An (B)
After a relaxing morning we set out on our spectacular drive to Hoi An.
 
We pass through Lang Co fishing village, set within beautiful blue lagoons, before heading up and over the spectacular Hai Van Pass, where we stop at the highest point to immerse ourselves and gaze at the spectacular scenery at 980 meters above sea level.
 
20 minutes from the base of the pass we arrive in Da Nang where we visit Cham Museum, built in 1915, which contains intricate ancient Champa sculptures.
We continue driving to the stunning Marble Mountains, where we climb the marble stairs to reach the peak of the largest mountains of the 5 elements, Thuy Son or more commonly known as ‘Water Mountain’.
 
We admire the panoramic view of the surrounding mountains, countryside and China Beach and continue on to ‘Huyen Khong’, an underground cave, which was a former hospital through the War.
 
After stopping for lunch at China Beach, where you have the opportunity to take a refreshing dip in the ocean we head to Hoi An.
 
Upon arrival in Hoi An we stroll through the quaint streets of Hoi An, visiting an Ancient Chinese Temple, The Chinese Assembly Hall and the Japanese covered bridge.
 
The rest of the afternoon is free at leisure for you to enjoy the peaceful ambience of this quaint ancient town or spend some time with the skillful tailors, treating yourself to tailor made clothes, which Hoi An is renowned for.
 
Overnight at your hotel
 
Day 7: Exploring Hoi An – Tra Que/ Cooking Class (B/L)
Today’s incredible cultural experience will have you cropping a veggie patch in no time! 
 
We have the great privilege to be spending the day at a local family home within a small farming village, just outside of Hoi An town.  
 
Upon arrival we are welcomed by the family and enjoy a traditional herbal drink, before setting out on our guided walk through the local farmland. We learn about the history of the village, observe the processes of harvesting, and discover the many traditional uses, in both cooking and Vietnamese medicines, with the herbs and vegetables grown.
 
For those who have a ‘green thumb’, you have the opportunity to join the farmers in preparing the land, seeding, watering, and picking the crops.
 
After trying your hand in harvesting a crop, what better way then to take a rest, freshen up and soak your feet in a traditional lemongrass and rose petal foot bath, before sitting down for a delicious lunch of local delicacies, using the fresh herbs and vegetables from the garden.
 
The family also love showing off their skills in whipping up your lunch, giving you a very creative cooking demonstration.
 
In the afternoon, we bid farewell to the family and head back to town.
 
We then make a stop at a local fishing village, where we board a boat for a magical cruise down the Cua Dai estuary and enjoy the scenic view of life along the river.
 
Rest of the day is free at leisure.
Overnight at your hotel
 
Day 8: Hoi An/Danang – Nha Trang by FLIGHT (B)
This morning we take a short flight to Nha Trang.
 
We check into our hotel with a day of leisure for you to explore the town and enjoy the picturesque turquoise waters of the South China Sea, with its many restaurants and café’s dotted along the white sandy beach, sheltered by coconut trees.
 
Overnight at your hotel
 
Day 9: Nha Trang – Free & Easy (B)
Overnight at your hotel
 
Day 10: Nha Trang – Free & Easy (B)
Overnight at your hotel
 
Day 11: Nha Trang – Saigon by FLIGHT (B)
After a relaxing morning we take a flight to Saigon.
 
Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat airport, you will be met by Tour guide and Driver and transferred to hotel for check-in
 
Tonight is free at leisure to explore this bustling city of Saigon
 
Overnight at your hotel
 
Day 12: Saigon City Tour and Cu Chi Tunnels (B/L)
We set out this morning to explore Saigon City, from Central Saigon to Chinatown, providing a general overview of this fascinating city with its history and culture.
 
We explore the historical sights of the Reunification Palace, the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War, The War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral (built in 1877) and the City’s Post Office.
 
Before our drive to Cu Chi, we stop for bite and a ‘slurp’, to experience eating Vietnam’s most traditional noodle soup dish ‘pho’.
 
Our drive to Cu Chi Tunnels is around 70km. The famous Cu Chi Tunnel system was created to assist the Vietnamese Revolutionists against the French in 1948. It was an underground city with living areas, kitchens, storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers etc and in certain areas, housed up to 10,000 people, who virtually lived underground for years.
 
After a video introduction and a guided tour through the grounds, you will have the opportunity to take part in the unique experience of guerillas living underground during the war, with a crawl through 20/30/50 meters of the tunnel system.
 
Overnight at hotel
 
Day 13: Cai Be Floating Market Full day / Mekong Delta (B/L)
Today we head to Cai Be floating market, to explore the typical Vietnamese life of the Mekong Delta
 
Upon arrival we board a local boat and cruise along the Mekong River to discover the beautiful landscapers and immerse in the local people’s life market with the real trading going on, such as selling, buying, exchanging the fruits, vegetables and other wares from their boats.
 
We continue our exploration with a pleasant rowing trip down small canals and dense palm trees, experiencing the local villages between the islands to a small islet. Arrive in Tan Phong Island, where we experience how the local people make their living from fruit trees. A family on the island will serve us local seasonal fruits and honey tea whilst performing traditional southern music, called Tai Tu music.
 
Back to the restaurant, join to a cooking class. Enjoy your cooking experience and learn how to prepare special Vietnamese dishes, with a unique experience of tasting local delicacies including ‘Elephant Ear fish’ and traditional Vietnamese rice wine. Food cooked by yourself and fresh river food served in the heart of the garden
 
We disembark and take a short cycling walking through the traditional villages with many ancient traditional houses, set amongst a peaceful atmosphere and fruit trees, bonsai garden and witness the unusual yet fascinating process of coconut candy, the bang conical hat and rice paper in the making.
 It is the typical and cultural lifestyle of South – Western region.
 
You will embark the boat to leave Tan Phong Island for the pier to come back to Saigon and enjoy your free time
 
Overnight at your hotel in Saigon.
 
Day 14: Saigon Departure (B)
Breakfast at hotel and free until transfer to the Airport for departure 
Trip ends.
Price for the PRIVATE trip (USD/per person):

(Valid until Apr 2016)
 

 
Policy for children
 

 
Accommodation list:

 
SPECIAL NOTE: