Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi arrival – city tour 

Welcome to Hanoi! – the capital of Vietnam, is a bustling metropolis with a rich history and culture.

We will pick you up at Noi Bai Airport and transfer you to the city center. You will have free time to relax after a long flight. 

In the afternoon, we will visit Ba Dinh Square, the largest square in Hanoi. This is where all of the city’s biggest cultural and political events take place. We will take photos of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum from the outside. Then we continue to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university. The temple was built in 1070, and the gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a relaxing glimpse into Vietnam’s past.

After visiting the temple, we will walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, a picturesque lake in the heart of Hanoi. The lake is home to several temples and pagodas, and it is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike. We will then take a leisurely walk around the Old Quarter of Hanoi, a fascinating network of narrow alleys and shophouses. The Old Quarter is also known as “The 36 Streets,” as each street is named after the merchandise traditionally sold there. Overnight in Hanoi.

Please note: 

• Normal check-in time at the hotel is 14:00/15:00. Early check-in is not included. 
• Normal check-out time at the hotel is 11:00/12:00. Late check-out is not included.

Day 2: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Overnight on cruise (B, L, D) – Shuttle Bus

Breakfast at the hotel, then check out. At 08:30 – 09:00 am, you will be picked up at your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarters and transferred to Ha Long Bay, the pride of the Gulf of Tonkin, a Natural World Heritage as recognized by UNESCO in 1994 and 2006. 

Upon arrival at the Cruise Port, you will enjoy a warm welcome from cruise staff and complete the check-in procedure for the overnight cruise to discover the magnificent beauty of this “Descending Dragon” bay, created by thousands of odd-shaped limestone rocks and karst grottoes. After lunch on board, we can visit the Grottos, stop for swimming or kayaking, pass floating houses, and approach islets to enjoy their beauty nearby. Later in the afternoon, go back to the cruise and enjoy the cooking demonstration before having dinner. In the evening, attend activities on the boat or relax at your leisure. Overnight on the cruise.

Please note: The guest will self-transfer to the pick-up point in the Old Quarter, the address is provided upon booking confirmation. The program may be a little varied depending on the cruise you choose. You will have a stationed English-speaking guide on board. 

Day 3: Halong – Hanoi – Flight after 18:00 to Ho Chi Minh (Br) – Shuttle Bus

You should wake up early to enjoy the dawn on the sea in the early morning. The Vietnamese call the “East Sea” by a point-oriented name “Eastern Sea”, so you may guess how miraculous seeing the sunrise over the islets of the Bay is. After breakfast our boat will continue to cruise in marvelous areas, where almost every islet has its name, adopting its shape or reminiscent like Sail Island, Fisherman’s Head Rock, Butterfly Rock Turtle Islet, etc. Check out your room and have brunch on board while the cruise comes back to the pier. 

Disembark from the cruise, and return to Hanoi by shuttle bus. Your driver pick you up from Hanoi and transfer you to Noi Bai airport (without a tour guide) for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City (air tickets excluded), also called Saigon, the most dynamic city in Vietnam. Upon arrival, welcomed by the local tour guide and transferred to the downtown. Check-in your hotel. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 4: Ho Chi Minh City tour – Cu Chi Tunnels  (B, L) – SIC Tour

Breakfast at the hotel. You will be picked up from the pick-up point in District 1  at 07:30-08:00 am. Take the morning city tour to visit Independence Palace, also known as the Reunification Palace, a witness to the fierce Vietnam War that ended in 1975. The grand building today is a Museum and Hall for official receptions. The Independence Palace is a widely known landmark of Ho Chi Minh City and was designed by the architect Ngo Viet Thu. Continue seeing the beautiful structures from the French Colonial times such as the Notre Dame Cathedral (view from outside only) built between 1877 and 1883, and the historic Central Post Office – one of the city’s major landmarks. Followed by the remarkable site of the War Remnants Museum, one of the most famous historical attractions in Saigon. Coming to the War Remnants Museum, you can learn a part of how the Vietnamese struggled and fought for their independence, freedom, and peace of the nation, as well as the locals’ perspective of the Vietnam War. Have lunch with Vietnamese food at a local restaurant. 

Afternoon drive to Cu Chi Tunnels: the network of over 200 km of tunnels became legendary when they played a vital role in the war. In their heyday, the tunnels were functioning underground cities, including numerous trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers, and kitchens. After a short introduction video showing how the tunnels were constructed, you will have a chance to crawl into a short section of the tunnels to feel the oppressive narrowness and heat inside. Experience the thrill of firing an M15, AK-47, and carbine rifle (at the guest’s own extra cost). This is your chance to get a taste of what it’s like to be a soldier in a war zone. With the help of experienced instructors, you’ll learn how to handle these powerful weapons and how to shoot them safely. 

Return to Saigon later in the day. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.  

Please note: The guest will self-transfer to the pick-up point in District 1, address is provided upon booking confirmation. 

Day 5: Ho Chi Minh – Mekong Delta – My Tho – Ho Chi Minh (B, L) – SIC Tour 

Breakfast at the hotel. You will be picked up from the pick-up point in District 1  at 07:30-08:00 am. Leaving the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City and starting your trip to depart for My Tho, the town lies on the left side of the Mekong River. Upon arrival, visit Vinh Trang Pagoda which dates back to the late 19th century. Then boarding the sampan and cruising down the river around the four beautiful islands known as Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix, and Tortoise Islands.  Stop over at Unicorn Island, go walking around the country lane and see orchards, enjoy tropical fruits, and folk song music which is performed by the local people. Visit the fruit plantation. Ride a hand-rowed sampan through the Thoi Son canal and treat yourself to the beauty of the countryside, visit the family business, visit the honey-bee farm, and enjoy the honey tea and coconut candy workshop. Have lunch at a local restaurant. Time for relaxing.

In the afternoon, time to cycle around the Tan Thach village, and meet the local villagers to experience the local daily life in the Mekong Delta. Hammock relaxing and enjoying cool breeze for those who can’t join the cycling trip. Return to Ho Chi Minh City late in the afternoon. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Please note: The guest will self-transfer to the pick-up point in District 1, address is provided upon booking confirmation. 

Day 6: Ho Chi Minh – Morning flight to Siem Reap – City tour (B)

Have breakfast at the hotel. Time at leisure until check-out, and your driver pick you up to transfer to the Airport (without a tour guide) for your flight to Siem Reap (air tickets excluded). 

Upon arrival, you will be picked up and driven to the hotel for checking in. 

This afternoon, we visited Senteurs D’Angkor New Workshop (open from Monday to Friday, closed on Saturday and Sunday). Discover how the local artisans make by hand: soap with coconut oil, natural cosmetics, subtly scented balms, and aromatic candles. You will also observe the different steps to treat and prepare the local spices (Kampot pepper, lemongrass, chili…), and how people blend them to make the traditional curry or amok. During your visit, you will also be able to taste several of local creations: flavored coffee, flavored tea, exotic jams… and identify various exotic plants and flowers such as lemongrass, chili, pepper plant, coffee tree, frangipani, jasmine… We then visit Wat Bo, a highly respected pagoda founded in the 18th century, that contains very unique wall paintings of the Reamker (Ramayana) that are said to be from the late 19th century. End our visits at one of the city’s lively open markets, Psar Chars also called the “Old Market”, where anything and everything is for sale. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 7: Siem Reap – Angkor Complex visit (B)

After breakfast, we explore South Gate of Angkor Thom known as Big Angkor, a 3km2 walled and moated royal city and was the last capital of the Angkorian Empire, The famous Bayon Temple was an architectural muddle, in part because it was constructed in a somewhat piecemeal fashion for over a century. Terrace of the Elephants is an impressive, two-and-a-half-meter tall, 300-meter-long terrace wall adorned with carved elephants and gradual that spans the heart of Angkor Thom in front of Baphuon – a huge temple mountain in the heart of Angkor Thom, Royal Palace Area, and Phimeanakas – impressive rite and sandstone pyramid. The Terrace of the Leper King is at the north end of the Terrace of the Elephants, a double terrace wall with deeply carved nag as, demons and other mythological beings. Last visit Ta Prohm temple which is a wonderful combination of human genius and natural beauty. Giant trees have grown here for centuries! 

This afternoon we visit Angkor Wat temple, Cambodia’s ancient temple is one of the wonders of the oriental world. Masterpieces of decorative details as well as of architectural style, its awe-inspiring ruins survive as a testament to the spectacular achievements of Southeast Asia’s greatest civilization. It is a replica of the universe according to the Hindu mythology. It is composed by Mount Meru, surrounded by the continents and the oceans. Its extraordinary bas-reliefs, describe some Khmer epics and myths. Angkor Wat’s five famous towers rise into the sky, a geometrical arrangement of numerous galleries, adorned with beliefs and the stone images of celestial Apsara dancers, as well as portals, chambers, and courtyards, overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 8: Siem Reap departure (B)

Breakfast at the hotel. Time at leisure or shopping until transfer to the airport with driver only (no guide) for the departure flight back to your sweet home.