Wonderful Vietnam – 10 days

Arrival Hanoi (D)
Upon arrival at Hanoi Noi Bai Airport, our guide and driver will welcome you and drive you to your hotel. The charming Hanoi is sometimes called the Paris of the Orient with its shaded boulevards, green parks and old, well-maintained colonial buildings. After arriving at the hotel you can stroll around and catch the first glimpse of the idyllic city. In the evening you will meet your guide, have a nice dinner and enjoy authentic local Vietnamese cuisine. Then it is time for water puppetry – unique to Vietnam and an experience you must see in Hanoi.
Overnight at hotel in Hanoi

Hanoi – a half day city tour (D)
The day starts with a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the one-legged Pagoda and a visit to the house of Ho Chi Minh; the country’s father. Continue to Vietnam’s first university and the Temple of Literature and then visit “Hanoi Hilton”; the nickname of the prison where American pilots were placed during the Vietnam War.

Visit Hanoi’s Old Quarter and the Hoan Kiem Lake and enjoy a nice bike ride around Hanoi’s old and narrow streets. We stop at the Ngoc Son Temple. The rest of the day you can explore Hanoi on your own, strolling around the French Quarter, where many embassies are located, go shopping in the Old Town or just relax by one of the many parks and lakes that make Hanoi one of the greenest cities in Asia.

Please note: the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed every year between October and November. You can still visit his house and palace complex.

Overnight at hotel in Hanoi

Hanoi – Halong (B, L, D)
Pick-up at your hotel and transfer to Halong Bay, about 170 km east of Hanoi (about 4 hours). Upon arrival you will be welcomed on a traditional wooden junk boat. While enjoying a delicious seafood lunch, you can gradually see the limestone cliffs slowly rising from the water as you get closer. Over 3000 limestone islands are scattered in the emerald green waters. While some islands are no more than rocks, others are much bigger and contain huge cathedral-like caves with stalactites and stalagmites. Most of the islands are covered with thick green vegetation and there are deserted sand-covered bays everywhere.
Just enjoy the view and if you have the courage, jump into the refreshing water. In the evening, a three to five course dinner will be waiting after the mandatory “Sundowner” on the deck.
We recommend, that you pack a small overnight bag and bring to Halong and leave the rest of the luggage in Hanoi.

Halong Bay – Hanoi – flight to Hue (B, L)
Wake up to another fantastic day cruising on the Halong Bay. Visit the vast and impressive stalactite cave located on an island in the middle of the bay. It takes about half an hour to walk through it. You can then spend a few hours at a Halong Bay beach, before returning to the junk boat again. Early afternoon we return to the coast again, where the minivan will take you back to Hanoi. From here it is not far to the airport and the plane connecting you to the next big experience – the Imperial City of Hue. Upon arrival in Hue, you will meet your guide and be transferred to your hotel.
Overnight at hotel in Hue

The Imperial City of Hue – a half-day city tour (B)
After breakfast at the hotel, the day starts with a guided tour around the big Citadel, Noon Gate and the Forbidden City. We then visit the Khai Dinh Royal Tomb and the Tu Duc Mausoleums. If we have time, you can stroll around the Dong Ba market also.

The afternoon is at your disposal. You might want to try some delicious local dishes in one of the many small restaurants located throughout the city. A specialty is banh khoai, a kind of egg-dough filled with shrimp and vegetables. Very tasty.
Overnight at hotel in Hue

Hue – Hoi An (B)
We will leave after breakfast for a spectacular drive south. The trip lasts four hours and takes you through the beautiful Hai Van Pass. After driving to the city of Danang, we continue to the historic Hoi An. The city is incredibly pleasant to stay in and for many, this place is one of the best experiences in Vietnam.

Enjoy a walking tour through the Old Town, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Experience a mix of Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese architecture, when visiting one of the oldest houses on the way to the Japanese Covered Bridge. The rest of the day is for shopping or culinary specialties.
Overnight at hotel in Hoi An

Hoi An (B)
The day is at your disposal. You can get new tailored clothing, relax at a café by the river or rent a bike to venture out in the countryside or to to the magnificent Cua Dai Beach.

Overnight at hotel in Hoi An.

Hoi An – fly to Saigon (B)
Breakfast is at the hotel, then transfer to Danang Airport for an-hour’s flight to Saigon. Upon arrival at the Tan Son Nhat Airport, there will be a short drive to the center of Ho Chi Minh, as the city officially has been renamed since 1975. Ho Chi Minh City is a huge metropolis, which unlike its northern counterpart Saigon, is crowded with bikes and motorbikes, lots of shopping areas and sidewalk cafes.
Check-in and overnight at hotel in Saigon

Mekong Delta (B, L, D)
Departure for another cruise in the morning, where you will be driven down to the Mekong Delta. Around noon you will get on board a nice junk boat. The scene is set for a fantastic sailing trip on the fourth longest river in the world. Among other things, you can experience a coconut production and the local life along the river. This experience will be from a row boat. You are back at the hotel in the evening.
Overnight at hotel in Saigon

Cu Chi – Saigon departure (B)
We start the day with a trip to the infamous Cu Chi Tunnels, located about 70 kilometers northwest of the city. The Cu Chi Tunnels extend 250 impressive kilometers and are proof of the incredible ingenuity and resourcefulness characteristic of the Vietnamese people. It was from here, the North Vietnamese people carried out their guerrilla war in the south and we will see the secret trapdoors, underground kitchens, living areas, hospitals and meeting rooms. After some wonderful days from north to south, you will drive to the airport and fly back home or the journey continues with an extended beach holiday, maybe Phan Tiet, Phu Quoc, Vietnam or Thailand.