Luxury Vietnam Vacation 12 Days

Welcome to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.

As soon as you step off the aircraft, a hostess will be waiting for you with a beaming smile and holding a welcome signboard with your name on it. She will assist you in getting through the fast-tracked (VIP) process to get your visa stamped. After you have collected your bags and gotten a stamp for your visa, the hostess will gladly lead you to your waiting guide and driver so that you may be transferred directly to the central location of your hotel. Have fun on your journey through the crowded streets. After you've settled in at your hotel, use the remainder of the day to get some rest and get ready for an exciting trip to Vietnam.

Please note: Your travel documents should include a letter that allows you to obtain a visa upon arrival. Carry this on. Customs requires your Visa-on-Arrival letter upon entering.

Overnight in Hanoi

After breakfast, your personal guide will come to the hotel to pick you up and take you on your adventure.

You should start your tour by going to Ho Chi Minh's House, which is a plain wooden house in a serene environment where the legendary leader of the country lived and worked.

Continue on to the Tran Quoc Pagoda, which was built in the sixth century and is Hanoi's oldest pagoda. It is located on a small island in West Lake. Take note of the numerous statues depicting lotus flowers and other Buddhist relics. Visit the Quan Thanh Temple, which dates back to the 11th century and features a wide courtyard with a giant banyan tree as well as a shrine dedicated to the most important deities in Taoism.

Visit the Temple of Literature in the afternoon. It was the site of Vietnam's first national university and was constructed in the late 11th century.

Back to the heart of Hanoi for a one-hour cyclo tour of the historic Old Quarter, which is renowned for its '36 streets of 36 products,' so-called because they are named after the first 36 artisan guilds that were established as early as the 13th century. Discover the interesting labyrinth of back lanes, fronted by narrow houses, which offers a wonderfully eclectic look into the life on the streets of Hanoi.

The day will come to a close with a rousing performance of water puppetry, an art form that is exclusive to the northern region of Vietnam and is supposed to have originated in the flooded rice fields of the Red River Delta. The presentation is set to music and features colorful wooden puppets that illustrate scenes of living in rural areas as well as events from national history.

In the late afternoon, we made our way back to the hotel.

Overnight in Hanoi

Meal: Breakfast, lunch

After breakfast, you will have a journey to the city of Halong, which will take around two hours by car, and then you will take a speedboat from the port to your beautiful boat.

The lunch will be served to you as the boat travels on to our destination, passing by an almost unlimited number of islands and islets. Unquestionably a genuinely wonderful encounter.

Unwind and take in the entrancing atmosphere that envelops you thanks to the otherworldly setting of the ocean while relaxing on the terrace deck or on your own private balcony.

Are you prepared to take part in the activity now? Let's get out on the boat and spend an hour paddling on kayaks. If you don't like kayaking, don't worry, you can also swim.

When the time has passed, you will make your way back to the boat in order to participate in a lively sundown party on the sundeck. In this area, you will have the opportunity to socialize with other vacationers while you take in the beautiful beauty of Halong Bay while listening to soothing music.

As the sun begins to drop, we make our way to the peaceful anchorage where we will spend the night.  A great day is off by indulging in a sumptuous dinner prepared by our chef. After that, you are free to do whatever you wish with your time, such as fishing or just unwinding.

Overnight on Halong Bay

Meal: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Get up early and join us for a practice of Tai Chi on the terrace deck. This will help you relax your mind and muscles as you watch the first rays of sunlight strike the sea. The dining room is stocked with beverages such as coffee, tea, and pastries perfect for starting the day off well.

After breakfast, you'll be prepared to embark on the day's main adventure: exploring the Cave. That is one of the most stunning and alluring caves in Halong Bay, it is a remarkable destination. Your knowledgeable tour guide will talk you everything there is to know about it.

Proceed with your cruise across the Bay, which is characterized by its limestone rocks and several little islands. An ever-evolving background for photography can be found in the form of grottoes and little beaches that are abandoned and were sculpted out by wind and sea. Not to mention the mental pictures of ancient junks or basket boats floating off in the distance on glistening waters. You will be transferred back to your accommodation in Ha Noi after being dropped off at the dock around midday. You might find it interesting to watch a performance of water puppetry in the late afternoon. This is a style of performance art that originated in the rice paddies of northern Vietnam.

After then, the boat will continue crashing into numerous islands and islets, giving you a good perspective of Halong Bay's breathtaking splendor. Vietnam is the only country in the world where such a site exists!

Later, as you have a delicious lunch, we'll cruise back to the pier. After that, it will be time to disembark and bid the boat crew farewell.

A private car will take you to the airport to get the flight to Hue. Another driver will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to the hotel in Hue.

Overnight in Hue

Meal: Breakfast, lunch

Morning

The guide will come to your hotel to pick you up. You will go on a one-day tour of Hue to learn more about this beautiful city. Take a dragon boat to the first place, Thien Mu Pagoda (Heaven Fairy Lady Pagoda), which is the oldest pagoda in Hue City. The morning boat ride to the pagoda will be a great way to start the trip. The Perfume River's fresh air will make you feel very good. Visit The Citadel. The Nguyen Dynasty, Vietnam's last royal family, lived in Imperial City. After the Citadel, our car will take you to the Dong Ba market, which is Hue's busiest and has a lot of different foods and goods. You can see how people in the area buy and sell things here. This is also a chance to buy gifts for your family and friends. We ate lunch at a nearby restaurant that served food from Asia and Vietnam.

Afternoon

Visit Khai Dinh Tomb, which is a mix of Western and Eastern architecture. A quick trip to the Minh Mang Tomb, which is thought to be the most beautiful of all the Royal Tombs. It is known for its architecture, which fits in well with the natural environment.

At the end of the day, you will arrive at Truc Chi Garden, an art workshop specializing in bamboo and papercraft. You will have the opportunity to speak with one of the other students there, and you will also be given the opportunity to participate in a hands-on activity in which you will learn how to produce artwork using the etching technique with bamboo pulp.

After a great day, the driver will take you back to your hotel.

Overnight in Hue

Meal: Breakfast, lunch

Morning

After breakfast at the hotel. Let’s check out of the room and get a private car to move to Hoi An Old Town. Check-in at your hotel.

Afternoon

Your tour guide will transport you to the Ancient Quarter of Hoi An, where you will go on a walking tour of the principal monuments, including Chua Ong Pagoda, Tan Ky Ancient House, Fujian Assembly Hall, and Japanese Covered Bridge.

Continue to see the Precious Heritage Museum, where Réhahn's Precious Heritage Collection is on permanent display. The collection will transport you to the most remote regions of Vietnam while revealing the rich cultural tapestry of the ethnic communities.

The highlight of the day is a visit to the Reaching Out Tea House, a delightful oasis of peace in the bustling, dynamic Old Town that is owned and maintained by deaf and mute individuals. Here, you will be served delectable Eastern-style pastries and tea of the highest quality.

Proceed to the home of the lantern maker. There, you may see the lantern craftsman's technique before engaging in hands-on labor through each stage of lantern-making under the direction of enthusiastic craftsmen: from bending the frame, cutting the fabric, and gluing the lanterns to completing them. Before the conclusion of this journey, you will have crafted your own lantern.

Now is the time for your discovery trip of Hoi An's street food. With your guide, you will navigate the narrow alleyways and dine with locals at stalls you would never find on your own. Every day at 4 p.m., the streets of Hoi An are flooded with food carts, kiosks, and sellers. The street food tour is an excellent opportunity to sample some of the Hoi An specialties prepared by locals, meet the people behind the stock pots, and see how Hoi An natives handle those condiment trays!

Overnight in Hoi An

Meal: Breakfast, street food tour

You are free to relax and take use of the many amenities offered by the resort, including access to the private beach.

Overnight in Hoi An

Meal: Breakfast

Morning

Enjoy your time in Hoian Old Town. Let’s walk the ancient streets of Hoi An, lined with Chinese traders’ homes and wooden houses reincarnated as restaurants, cafés, and outlets for local artists, craftsmen, and tailors.

Afternoon

Transfer to the airport for a short flight to Ho Chi Minh previously known as Saigon. The driver will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to the hotel. And this is free time to explore Ho Chi Minh in your way.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh

Meal: Breakfast

Morning

After breakfast, you will be greeted by your guide and driven to Cu Chi, a small village located northwest of Ho Chi Minh City known for its network of subterranean tunnels that served as a safe haven and successful infiltration route for the Viet Cong during the closing stages of the Vietnam War.

Upon arrival, you will view a brief instructional movie before visiting the tunnels, the most renowned battlegrounds of the period. It is thought that the concealed network of Viet Cong tunnels spanned "hundreds of miles" in total length and contained living quarters, storage areas, temporary hospitals, kitchens, etc. Although the system was initially somewhat narrow, some sections have been enlarged for tourists, and you have the option to explore them.

Please note that these tunnels will be hot and claustrophobic, so if you want to watch from above ground, that is an option.

Cassava, the staple diet of the Viet Cong soldiers, is served alongside a tart tea. After exploring the Cu Chi Tunnels, return to the city with lunch at the local restaurant on way.

Afternoon

Spend the remainder of the day touring Ho Chi Minh City's major attractions. The Notre Dame Cathedral, the ornate City Hall (Hotel De Ville), the old Opera House, the historic Rex Hotel, the Central Post Office, renowned for its architecture, and Ben Thanh Market, where vendors display a vast array of goods and handicrafts, appealing to every taste, are particularly recommended.

Later, visit the Reunification Palace and the War Remnants Museum for a somber and enlightening look at Vietnam's military history and violent past.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Morning

After breakfast, your guide and driver will bring you to Ben Tre Town in the Mekong Delta, which is renowned for its expansive rice fields, numerous rivers, and magnificent sceneries. This region, known as the "rice bowl" of Vietnam, provides the majority of the country's fruit, rice, sugar cane, and coconuts.

After a two-hour journey through verdant farmland, you will arrive in Ben Tre, where you will go on a motorized boat tour through the coconut forest's small channels. During the boat voyage, you will stop at local cottage enterprises to observe how the craft has been passed down through the centuries.

Take a stroll through the village lanes, stopping at local homes to sample fresh fruits and honey tea while hearing a Tai Tu music performance. Continue to another workshop where coconut candies and a variety of coconut husk and fiber products are manufactured by hand.

Take a small sampan through palm-fringed back canals, sailing calmly over secluded rivers surrounded by a vast array of tropical vegetation. The tranquil, rural location is a refreshing and therapeutic escape from the frantic bustle of HCM City, which appears to be in the distance.

Enjoy meeting locals while riding at the back of a Motor Cart (xe lôi) around rural hamlets, rice fields, coconut trees, and luscious orchard farms.

Afternoon

After lunch at a local restaurant, you will return to Ben Tre town and continue driving through the Mekong's fields and towns to Can Tho city, stopping if time allowed at the Vinh Trang Pagoda.

Evening

Spend the night how you please. Explore the Can Tho night market on your own and sample the local cuisine. The market streets are filled with dozens of lively food vendors serving grilled meats and tofu on skewers, as well as grilled rice paper...etc.

Overnight in Can Tho

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Let's get up early to explore a unique market. The Cai Rang floating market is the largest wholesale floating market in the Mekong region. Hundreds of small boats speed through the water as vendors peddle their items at the market. Float through the network of boats to observe how the locals trade fruits and vegetables and to learn more about the floating marketing culture and boat life. Following that, you will be served a delicious local breakfast (rice noodle soup) on the boat, just as the locals do. You will also get the opportunity to stop at a local boat to sample some of the season's luscious fruit.

Upon leaving the market, continue your boat ride along tiny canals to a traditional rice noodle factory where you can observe how the locals create rice noodles and have a "rice noodle pizza" made from scratch.

The lunch will be served at the local restaurant then return to Ho Chi Minh.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Start your day with a tasty breakfast at your hotel.

Free time to do some shopping and explore around before departing to the airport, where you catch your flight home or to your next destination; we will assist you with the planning.

The tour may be over, but the beautiful memories you have collected during these last 12 days will stay in your mind for the rest of your life. This is what we want to offer you: a tour that brings you great local experiences and makes you smile each time you think of them!