Vietnam Holiday 11 Days: Explore Saigon, Mui Ne, Dalat & Halong Bay

Day 1: Saigon Arrival.
Welcome to Vietnam’s modern metropolis: Saigon. Your guide and driver will meet you outside the baggage claim of Tan Son Nhat International Airport and take you to hotel in city center. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure and recover from jet lag.
Meals: N/A.
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon.

Day 2: Saigon City Tour.
Enjoy a full day to tour Saigon’s diverse attractions. Start with a visit to Saigon’s China Town, then learn about traditional Vietnamese medicine at the FITO Museum and browse through the amazing array of goods at Ben Thanh Market. Stop for lunch then continue on the city tour with a visit to the War Remnants Museum and former Presidential Palace. You conclude the day exploring the city’s French colonial architecture, stopping at the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Post Office.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon.

Day 3: Saigon – Mekong Delta Day Trip (Cai Be).
Today you travel to the Mekong River Delta on a day trip to explore the rich culture and lush fluvial landscape. Your driver and guide will meet you at your hotel and take you to Cai Be. Start your tour with a visit to Cai Be floating market, cruising among the local barges stuffed-full of fruits and vegetables. Visit some local workshops then enjoy a delicious lunch served at local house. In the afternoon, take a traditional rowboat and venture deeper into the countryside, floating through narrow canals to enjoy the peaceful surroundings. Stop at a nursery garden to discover how farmers along the delta produce their world famous fruits and vegetables. The cruise ends in Cai Be. Your driver will meet you at the dock and take you back to Saigon.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon.

Day 4: Saigon – Drive to Muine.
After breakfast at hotel, your driver will meet you at the lobby and transfer you to Phan Thiet. Drive 200km on very good roads linking Ho Chi Minh to Phan Thiet, which boasts one of Vietnam’s biggest productions of fish sauce. The scenic road passes Phan Thiet Town before arriving at Mui Ne. The endless white sand beaches, the charming fishing villages, the desert-like dunes and numerous types of rare flora and fauna make Mui Ne an ideal place for anyone seeking an enjoyable escape. After checking into hotel, you have free time to relax on beach.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Muine.

Day 5: Muine – Free day at leisure.
You have this day free at leisure. The relaxing and swimming are not the only activities in Mui Ne. There are numerous options to choose from, some of which are visiting Fairy Spring Fall, walking on the Sand Dunes or try “sand sledding” (protective foot-wear is a necessity) or simply riding a bike through the charming rural landscape to visit many of enormous sand dunes. These optional activities are not included. You are advised to contact hotel receptionist for information.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Muine.

Day 6: Muine – Drive to Dalat.
This morning, drive up hills to Dalat with many spectacular views on the way: Dai Ninh Pass & Spring Pass. You will reach the mountain town of Dalat, known as the “City of Eternal Spring”, after 3.5 hours. An afternoon of sightseeing takes in the art deco former summer residence of Bao Dai – the last Emperor of Vietnam, the old Dalat Railway Station, the Central Market and famous XQ embroidery workshop. There will be the chance for a short walk around Xuan Huong Lake to get a feel for this delightful city in the evening.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Dalat.

Day 7: Dalat Countryside Tour.
Your guide will meet you at hotel. Begin your journey to Tanung Village. Along the way there is so much to see and learn about countryside living and what is produced in the region: local vegetables & flowers farms, pine trees, coffee plantations, rice wine, cricket farm and especially the local silk produce. This morning you will travel through plantations and forests, see the spectacular Elephant waterfall- one of the biggest falls close to city and the giant Buddha statue in Linh An Pagoda. Lunch spot will be recommended by your guide as you arrive back in Dalat city. This afternoon on your return journey you will take the Cable Car down Tuyen Lam Lake and Truc Lam Meditation Pagoda – a famous religious place with the most beautiful garden in the area, then a visit to Crazy House - a unique architecture of Dalat before arriving back at your hotel for an evening at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Dalat.

Day 8: Dalat – Fly to Hanoi.
You are free in the morning.
After lunch, check out and transfer to airport to catch the flight to Hanoi: Vietnam’s bustling colonial capital. Your guide and driver will meet you outside the baggage claim of Noi Bai Airport and take you to your hotel in the city center. Rest of the day, relax at your hotel or explore the city on your own.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi.

Day 9: Hanoi City Tour.
Today is a full day to explore Vietnam’s charming capital. Start with a visit to the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam. Follow it with one of the city's museums (a choice between the History Museum and the Ethnology Museum) before your lunch (own account).
In the afternoon, transfer to the Ba Dinh Square where stands the Mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh who led Vietnam to independence from French colonial rule. This site has become an important city landmark and a perfect place to learn more about Vietnam’s rich history. From there, wander through the beautiful surrounding gardens toward the One Pillar Pagoda and Presidential Palace, where a replica of Ho Chi Minh’s simple working space is on display.
Later, hop on a cyclo, one of the most typical vehicles in Hanoi, is a human-powered transport with a seat at the front for passengers and the driver at the back. With this an hour leisurely ride, which is perfect chance for photos and slow-moving sightseeings, you will have a great chance to have the local closer touch. Disembark at the ancient city gate of O Quan Chuong, then continue walking to Thanh Ha local market and through bustling streets& alleys before ending at Ta Hien Street where you will enjoy a glass of local beer at its corner with all the locals around. Conclude the day with a traditional Water Puppet Performance – a unique Vietnamese Art form hailing from Southeast Asia’s wet-rice culture.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi.

Day 10: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Overnight on cruise.
*The following Halong Bay itinerary is a sample for our standard service on a 3 star junk/ cruise. Different programs are available through our luxury cruise itineraries on the Violet, Jasmine, Ginger, Orchid, Hera, Paradise or Au Co. Please contact us for more details.*
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before setting out on a 2.5 hour drive to the UNESCO World Heritage Site: Halong Bay. Spend nearly 24 hours on a traditional junk cruise in the amazing bay: a natural wonderland composed of jutting limestone islands and sparkling turquoise waters. Arrive at the dock around noon and board your junk. Savor a gourmet lunch of fresh seafood onboard as you sail out into the mystical bay. In the afternoon, cruise around some of Halong’s many islands, including Dinh Huong and Ga Choi. Along the way visit one of the bay’s 3 largest caves (Thien Cung, Dau Go or Sung Sot). Stop at an island cove with a sheltered white-sand beach and take a dip in the warm waters of the Gulf of Tonkin (weather permits). Pass the night on your junk, lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking of calm waters.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Accommodation: On cruise.

Day 11: Halong Bay – Hanoi – Departure.
Awake early and participate in Tai Chi on the top deck or simply relax and enjoy the sunrise over the bay’s towering islands. Enjoy a morning cup of coffee or tea, before setting out to explore nearby islands by rowboat. Return to the junk for breakfast then take advantage of the sundeck and admire the amazing rock formations of Bai Tu Long Bay as you navigate back to Halong City. Your driver will meet you at the Halong jetty and take you back to Hanoi to catch your departure flight home.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: N/A.