Vietnam Orientation Tour - 8 Days

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival - City Tour
Xin Chao! Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam’s charming colonial capital. After clearing your immigration and picking-up your luggage, meet your driver and guide who await for you outside the arrival hall. A short drive will then take you to the city center for your half day city tour.
Your city tour starts at Ho Chi Minh Complex, Ba Dinh Square. From outside, admire Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum – the final resting place of Vietnamese National Hero. You can also visit his stilt house and the nearby One Pillar Pagoda. Continue your trip to Temple of Literature – the very first university of the country. Later that day, take an orientation walk around Hanoi Old Quarter and learn about its history. Enjoy a few laid-back moments drinking egg coffee – a specialty of Hanoi while watching the bustling Hanoi life pass by. Check-in at your hotel afterwards and get refreshment.
In the evening, savor a welcome dinner of authentic Vietnamese food at one of Hanoi’s finest restaurants.
Meals: Dinner.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi - Halong Bay - Overnight on cruise
(Note: The below itinerary is subject to change without prior notice, depends on specific cruise and weather condition)
After breakfast at the hotel, get picked-up for a 2.5-hour drive to mystical Halong Bay. With its jutting limestone islands and sparkling turquoise waters, Halong Bay is among the most popular tourism destinations in Vietnam. It is also voted as one of seven World Natural Wonders and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Upon arrival, embark and being greeted by our boat crew and captain. Check-in at your private cabin and get refreshment before returning to the main restaurant. 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 Tonkin Gulf (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 3: Halong Bay - Hanoi - Fly to Danang
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 and light brakfast, before setting out to explore nearby islands by rowboat. Return to the junk and check-out of your cabin as you navigate back to Halong City. It’s time for you to take advantage of the sundeck and admire the amazing rock formations of the bay. Have brunch on board the boat before returning to Halong pier. Your driver will meet you at the dock and take you to Noi Bai Airport of Hanoi for your in-country flight to Danang.
Upon arrival, your guide and driver will meet you and take you to your hotel.
Check-in and enjoy your time at leisure.
Meals: Brunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Danang.

Day 4: Danang – My Son Sanctuary – Hoian Ancient City
Today you travel 40km outside of Hoian to the UNESCO World Heritage Site: My Son. Surrounded by the Cat’s Tooth Mountains, My Son is home to the ancient Cham ruins and is often referred to as Vietnam’s Angkor Wat.
Drive to Hoian in time for lunch then take a short walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the ancient town centre, visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, the Chinese Assembly Hall, the 200-year old Tan Ky ancestral house and the famous Japanese Bridge. Now, immerse yourself in the tranquility and charm of this sleepy riverside town.
From the 16th to 18th centuries Hoian was a thriving international port frequented by Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese and Arab traders, who came to trade in the high quality silk still produced in the region. Today, Hoian is a relaxing resort popular with tourists for its eclectic architecture, skilled tailors and numerous cafes.
Drive back to your hotel in Danang in the late afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Danang.

Day 5: Danang beach relaxation.
Take a break from sightseeing excursions, today you are free at leisure for beach relaxation and recharge your “battery” for the second leg of the journey.
Enjoy the crystal clear water of the East Sea or splash into the water of hotel’s pool. You can also choose to add optional tours at surcharge with us to visit Danang highlights such as Ba Na Hills (with Golden Bridge recently added) Mable Mountains, Son Tra Peninsula, or Cham Museum, etc. Kindly contact our travel consultants to check the availability and surcharge for excursions.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Danang.

Day 6: Danang - Fly to Ho Chi Minh City - Sightseeing Tour
Have breakfast at the hotel then drive to the airport to catch your flight to Vietnam’s modern metropolis: Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Arrive in the late morning and enjoy an orientation tour through Ho Chi Minh City’s bustling streets en route to the hotel. Have lunch at a downtown restaurant of your choosing then set out on a guided city tour.  In the afternoon you will visit such sites as the Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the City Post Office, the Opera House, the City Hall and Ben Thanh Market. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon.

Day 7: Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta (Ben Tre)
Today you spend a day away from the busy city of Saigon and drive to Ben Tre Province. Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda, an ancient southern architectural gem in Tien Giang en route. On arrival at Hung Vuong Pier, board on your private boat for a glimpse at the delta scenery while enjoying coconut juice. Experience the unique lifestyle of the Mekong Delta as you visit fruit orchards, coconut groves, brick workshops, and home-made products such as coconut candies, rice cakes, handicrafts etc. After a short walk to visit a local family to learn how they make sedge mat and enjoy tea, tropical fruits, take “Xe Loi”, a kind of motorized rickshaw or you can hop onto your bicycle and peddle through picturesque villages (about 20 minutes). Stop at a riverside restaurant for a delicious and filling lunch. Then board a sampan for a relaxing trip along narrow canals. The boat will be waiting for you at the pier nearby to bring you back to Ben Tre where your car will take you back to Saigon.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon.

Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City - Departure
Have breakfast at the hotel then enjoy a free morning before driving to the airport to catch your departure flight home.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: N/A.