The Real Vietnam, Vietnam
Sample Itinerary
DAY 1
Arrival Ha Noi
Arrive in Hanoi – Noi Bai International Airport. You will be met at the airport by your English speaking guide and transfer to your hotel in downtown Hanoi.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Distance Noi Bai Airport – Hanoi Central: 30 km – 50 minute transfer
DAY 2
Ha Noi City Tour
08:00 A.m: We will visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & Museum, the One Pillar Pagoda, The French colonial Styled Presidential Palace and the historical Temple of Literature, the first university of Vietnam, built in 1070 in honor of Confucius
In the afternoon we will see the Museum of Ethnology then we will attend a traditional Water Puppet show. This art originates from rural festivals in Vietnam. The artists – men and women – stand waist deep in the water to manipulate the puppets, making them move about, talk and laugh and even dance on the surface of the water. The audience is meant to experience the atmosphere of a village festival. Then visit Hoan Kiem Lake (The Restored Sword Lake) and the Ngoc Son Temple, which is on an island in the northern part of the lake. We will enjoy a Cyclo tour along the narrow streets of the Old Quarter of Hanoi. The Old Quarter includes 36 old streets with each name representative of the type of merchandise sold in it.
Overnight in Ha Noi.
Note: Please kindly take note that Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (the inside) will be opened only in the morning. It will be closed every Monday and Friday. Besides the outside of Ho chi Minh Mausoleum, you can still visit Ba Dinh square, Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh’s House on stilt, One pillar pagoda as normal. Museum of Ethnography also closed every Monday.
DAY 3
Hanoi - Duong Lam - Vac Village
08:00AM: Our driver & tour guide will pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter, then travel west of Hanoi to visit Duong Lam village, a purely agricultural village of the Northern Red River delta where still preserve many hundred-year-old houses. It will be your unique experience as you walk along tiny ancient alleys; visit Mong Phu temple in Mong Phu hamlet – the only hamlet whose original village entrance gate remains intact, dedicated to national heroes. Enjoy your special lunch with Vietnamese foods in an ancient house. We continue driving to visit Mia Pagoda (other hamlet in Duong Lam village), is built in 15 th century and admire 287 statues of all sizes, among with are famous sculpture such as the statue of Buddha in the Himalayas and the statues of the Eight Vajra Deities. Then visit Ngo Quyen temple and Phung Hung temple, places dedicated to two national heroes Ngo Quyen and Phung Hung.
Overnight at Homestay in DuongLam Village
DAY 4
DuongLam Village – Perfume Pagoda-Huong Tich Cave - Hanoi
AM: 08:00 – 08:30 our guide & driver will pick you to transfer to Perfume Pagoda, on the way to visit UocLe Old village and the BoiKhe pagoda. On arrival Perfume pagoda, you will take row-boat trip to go visit that land on the Yen stream “romantic time” about 1 hour to Thien Tru harbor. Then you will enjoy time to trekking go up and down visit the main cave so nice~ step by step you will arrive Huong Tich cave on the top of the mountain. To see Golden-Silver tree rice stuck…One hour down. Lunch at the local restaurant at the bottom of the mountain
PM: After lunchtime, you will see the Heaven Kitchen pagoda and to know about Buddhism ancient architectural at Le Dynasty. Then you will come back by rowboat-trip and 2 hours road trip to Hanoi
Overnight in Hanoi
DAY 5
Hanoi - Ha Long
After breakfast, 7:45 A.m drive to Halong Bay (3,5 hours), a UNESCO World Heritage site. Whoever comes to Vietnam should not miss the chance to visit Halong Bay, a picturesque blend of harmonious transition between the mountains and the sea.
Halong Bay is in the Bac Bo (Tonkin) gulf and stretches over an area of 1,500 km2 with three thousand green islands that look like jewels. Upon arrival at the harbor we will embark on a junk. We will enjoy tour visit Ha Long as mentioned program on cruise for 2 days 1 night.
Overnight on the junk.
Distance Halong –Hanoi: 165km – 4 hours transfer included break time on the way
DAY 6
Ha Long - Hanoi
After gazing at the sunrise, you will navigate through the numerous oddly shaped limestone outcrops. Stop by a cove for a panoramic view of Halong Bay. Have a brunch on boat
In the afternoon return to Hanoi. Overnight in Ha Noi.
Distance Halong –Hanoi: 165km – 4 hours transfer included break time on the way
DAY 7
Hanoi - Hue By Flight
Transfer to the airport of Hanoi where you take a short flight to Hue
Arrive in Hue. You will be met at the airport by your English speaking guide and transfer to your hotel for check in. Overnight in Hue
DAY 8
Hue - Hoi An
08:00 am. In the morning, you will visit the Forbidden Purple city or Imperial Citadel, where the Nguyen dynasty ruled from 1802 to 1945. After that, you proceed to take a morning boat on the romantic Perfume river with stop overs at the Thien Mu pagoda, Minh Mang and Tu Duc tombs.
In the afternoon, you will enjoy the scenic ride from Hue to Hoi An. Upon arrival, you will have free time to stroll around the ancient town of Hoi An. Overnight in Hoi An.
Distance: Hue centre- Hoi An: 150 km <=> 3 hour transfer
DAY 9
Hoi An Cooking Class
In the morning you will join cooking class.
We start the day (8.15am) with a drink at Hai Scout Café.
Visit Hoi An’s colorful market, and experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy market. We will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers and purchase some of the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later.
We board the Red Bridge boat for a leisurely cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoi An River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. This is a chance to view local river life, so make sure your camera is handy.
On arrival, we explore the cooking school’s herb and vegetable garden, before learning about some of Hoi An’s and Vietnam’s well-known dishes. The cooking lesson runs for about 2 hours – each dish is first demonstrated by the Red Bridge chef’s, before we prepare the same dish ourselves. Included in the class is a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving (plate decoration).
After the lesson, we sit down and eat exactly what we have cooked.
In the afternoon you will enjoy a walking tour of Hoi An Old Town. Visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky old house, a handicraft market where you can see the artists at work making beautiful silk lanterns, the Cantonese Assembly Hall, temples and pagodas in the Chinese architectural style, and the large colorful market.
Overnight in Hoi An
DAY 10
Hoi An - Da Nang - Sai Gon By Flight
After breakfast, you will go to Da Nang airport for a flight to Ho Chi Minh City.
Arrive in Ho Chi Minh – Tan Son Nhat International Airport. You will be met at the airport by your English speaking guide and transfer to your hotel in downtown Ho Chi Minh
In the afternoon, we will visit Notre Dame Cathedral (1877-1883) right on the square and the beautiful French-style Post Office (1886-1891), with its glass canopy and iron structure designed by Gustave Eiffel. Then, continue to Cholon, the Chinese quarter, and discover the Thien Hau Pagoda, build by the Cantonese congregation in the 19th century. Free time to explore on your own, or for shopping.
Overnight in Saigon.
Distance: Hoi An- Da Nang Airport: 30 km <=> 1 hour transfer
Tan Son Nhat airport – Ho Chi Minh City centre: 10 km <=> 30 minute transfer
DAY 11
Saigon – Tay Ninh – Cu Chi – Saigon
07:45am – 08:15am, Driver and tour guide pick you up then start from Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon to Cao Dai Temple in Tay Ninh – a province 95 kms South East of HCMC, close to Cambodia border. The Cao Dai Temple is like a Walt Disney fantasia of the East. Its exterior is decorated with multi-colored dragons of all shapes and sizes competing for space with a number of swastikas. Above the main entrance is the all-seeing holy eye, the symbol of the Cao Dai sect. The interior is just as engaging as statues of Jesus Christ, Buddha and the Hindu god, Brahma, stand side by side.
Cao Dai Temple is the eclectic mix of colors and the amazing use of architecture create a space of beauty, spirituality with a somewhat surreal flavor to western palates!
For the midday service which was unbelievable in Cao Dai Temple – do not miss this!
13.00 pm, after you have a lunch, we will leave Tay Ninh and travel to Cu Chi Tunnel. Once in Vietnam, you must visit this spot. This is where guerilla warfare optimized and exemplified. You’ll learn the clever design of the tunnels and the strategic use of trap doors. Even with B-52 bombers dropping 30-ton loads of explosive, turning the jungle into a pockmarked moonscape, 30 thousand American troops failed to conquered the area! You’ll have a chance to crawl around a portion of the 121 km long, multiple-layered tunnel. You’ll learn how thousands of guerillas managed to stay underground many days at a time, also their great technique to conceal smoke from their cooking. There’re a lot more to enjoy, even a chance to fire real AK bullets…
DAY 12
Saigon – Can Tho - Sadec
07:30: Pick-up at the hotel in Saigon
11:30: Boarding of the cruise vessel in Can Tho
12:00: Panorama cruise towards Sa Dec and lunch on board
16:30: Visit of ancient traders’ villa and pagoda in Sa Dec
19:00: Dinner on board, night on board
DAY 13
Sadec - Xeo Quyt - Can Tho
08:00: Visit Xeo Quyt, the former base of the northern army during Vietnam War
10:30: Return to the boat and cruise toward Can Tho with lunch on board.
16:00: Afternoon walk to a rural village or cooking class on board
19:00 Dinner on board, night on board
DAY 14
Can Tho - Sai Gon
06:30: Morning cruise and morning tea break served on board
08:00: Excursion on a long sampan to Cai Rang floating market and noodle producing family
10:30: Return to the boat for brunch
11:30: Departure to Saigon
DAY 15
Sai Gon Departure
Free time your visit and relax.
After check out hotel, our car pick up and transfer to the airport for departure
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The voyage does not finish once you have left. We’ll transport you to a world of wonders and create amazing memories that will last long after you’ve returned home.
Away from the regular tourist traps, you’ll have a one-of-a-kind, authentic experience. A sensation created in an energizing setting that will be yours and yours alone. We will make this happen because old travels are great ones. The world’s wonders are within your grasp.
