Day 1: Arrival - Ha Noi
On arrival at Noi Bai Airport, you are met by our guide and transferred to hotel. The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi is a stylish and gracious city that retains an unique old world charm and some Asia ‘s most striking colonial architecture. The many lakes and parks make for relaxing atmosphere. If time permits we enjoy a short cyclo ride through the bustling old quarter streets named after the specific goods once offered for sale at these places. O/N in Ha Noi.

Day 2: Ha Noi
Today we spend a full day exploring the charming Hanoi City. The first stop is Ho Chi Minh Complex containing the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh, the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. Close to this complex is the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the foundation of city. We follow it with a visit to the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam and the History Museum with an excellent collection of artifacts illustrating the Vietnamese history. The sightseeing also includes the outlaying Ethnologic Museum, dedicated to Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups. Afterwards we drive back to the town center, stopping at the Tran Quoc Pagoda and Quan Thanh Temple. They are some major highlights set by the beautiful West Lake. We see these sights before continuing to the peaceful lake of Hoan Kiem with its sacred temple. In front of this lake is the famous water puppet theatre where we will see a fantastic performance. O/N in Ha Noi. (B)

Day 3: Ha Noi - Mai Chau
The modern comfort will be left behind as leave for the remote area of Mai Chau and drive past the scenic landscape of rice fields, tea plantation and traditional stilt houses. This mountainous region is home of many ethnic minority groups including the Muong, Hmong, Dao and Thai people, some of which we will see in our journey. We arrive in Mai Chau by late morning and spend our time exploring this scenic valley. There are various options to choose from, some of which are biking and walking, however our guide is on hand to advise you with invaluable information. Today we spend the night as honored guests of a Thai family and sample some of their homemade foods! The accommodation is very simple and dormitory style, no western facilities but the experience is definitely unique. O/N in Mai Chau. (B,L,D)

Day 4: Mai Chau - Xa Linh - Ninh Binh
Upon leaving Mai Chau we travel by roads through the undulating terrains of tea plantations and sleepy villages linked to the road which is now the main artery of trade between the northwestern region and the capital city. We arrives in Xa Linh village after one hour drive and embark on an easy walk past the breathtaking scenery and the many rustic hamlets. They are inhabited by the Hmong hill tribe people who are very poor, but have an interesting local culture as well as handmade clothing tradition. At the end of the walk we meet up with our vehicle and continue our journey to Ninh Binh. The drive is long and difficult at time but we can make stop as you please, to stretch our legs or catch some pictures. O/N in Ninh Binh.(B)

Day 5: Ninh Binh - Halong Bay
The country capital during the Dinh and early Le Dynasties is Hoa Lu, which however has left its legacy in the form of two small temples, each one nearly a thousand years old. Today we visit these two remaining structures. The first one is dedicated to the Dinh Dynasty. The second one commemorates the Le Rulers. In front of these temples is the rugged Ma Yen mount; it involves a walk over 200 steps for a fantastic view over the surrounding areas. The following sight is Tam Coc which is surnamed “ Inland Halong Bay”. We board a sampan for a leisurely trip through the quiet and peaceful landscape of rice fields surrounded by towering limestone cliffs to the grottoes of Tam Coc. Upon leaving Ninh Binh we set off on our drive across the Red River Delta region towards Halong Bay. Along the way we make stop to visit the Keo Pagoda, one of the most beautiful Buddhist shrines in Vietnam. O/N in Halong Bay. (B)

Day 6: Halong - Hanoi - Hue
The legendary Halong Bay is truly one of Vietnam’s most impressive scenic sights. We embark a traditional boat for a five hour trip around Halong Bay. The exciting cruise provides us a fantastic view of the picturesque scenery blending with the sky and some 3,000 limestone islands, which rise amazingly from the clear and emerald water. These limestone karst formations are littered with beaches, grottoes and beautiful caves. Along the way we will anchor for a leisurely swim in a secluded cove and an enjoyable visit to one of the many hidden grottoes beneath towering cliffs. We round off our excursion with a seafood lunch served on board and make our way back to Ha Noi, with stopover at the pottery village of Dong Trieu. The remainder of day will be free for your own exploration of Hanoi before you are transferred to the train station for an overnight train to Hue. O/N on board ( Soft sleeper cabin for 4 persons). (B,L)

Day 7: Hue
Today we arrive in Hue by mid morning and are greeted by our guide for short drive to hotel. The small and quiet Hue City was once the feudal capital of Vietnam from 1802 to 1945. This tranquil town is widely known for magnificent architecture, pagodas and royal tombs laid in many small villages and surrounding hills. We spend this afternoon to visit Hue with the massive citadel, containing the Imperial City and the Purple Forbidden City. This royal residence was all but destroyed during the 1968 Tet Offensive, however it is still fascinating to walk among the ruins. Close to this masterpiece is Hue Imperial Museum which displays an interesting collections of bronzes, Chinaware, court robes and various emperors’ personal belongings. The sightseeing continues with a walk to the bustling Dong Ba Market that sells a wide variety of local goods and handicrafts. Along the way we pass many fantastic eating spots, all ideal for visitors to sample some local delicacies. O/N in Hue. (B)

Day 8 : Hue - Hoi An
The beautiful riverside Thien Mu Pagoda is one of the oldest ancient architectural structures for religious work ship in Hue. We include this in a half day cruise on the Perfume River which also gives us a taste of the scenic countryside and an enjoyable visit to the mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes. This impressive landmark reflects the beautiful architecture, intricate decor and mysterious statues. Afterwards we take a short drive though the rolling hill to see the elaborate royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc. Upon leaving Hue we depart for Hoi An with stopover in Lang Co Beach for a leisurely swim. The winding road begins as we make our way up the spectacular Hai Van pass. A view from the top of the pass is one of Vietnam’s most impressive panoramic scenes. We also have a chance to see on our way to Hoi An, the China Beach and the Marble Mountain, whose peaks represent the five elements. O/N in Hoi An. (B)

Day 9: Hoi An - My Son - Hoi An
Today we set off on a short drive to My Son which was once the sacred holy land of the Cham people. This sanctuary has left its legacy in the form of some towers, each one nearly a thousand years old. On arrival we stroll around these amazing structures representing an interesting culture and history of the Cham people. The remainder of day will be spent in Hoi An. This charming town was originally a Cham seaport but has been influenced down the centuries by a myriad of traders from various cultures. There are plenty to see in Hoi An, some of which are the famous Japanese Covered Bridges, the Pottery Museum, the 200 years old Tamky House, the Chua Ong Pagoda and the vibrant market. We include these in a walking tour passing many low tiled houses scattered along the small streets and assembly halls which reflect the town's multi-cultural past. The remainder of day will be free for your own exploration or simply relaxation on a beach. O/N in Hoi An. (B)

Day 10: Hoian - Danang - Ho Chi Minh
The following destination of our trip is Ho Chi Minh via a short morning flight from Danang. On arrival you are met by our guide and transferred to hotel. This metropolis ,contradiction of its northern counterpart, is crowded with bikes and motorbikes, excited by numerous shopping areas and sidewalk cafés. An afternoon will acquaints us with some major sights of Ho Chi Minh. We drive past many lively streets on our way to the Reunification Palace. This mansion was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975. Close to the palace are some striking French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Sai Gon Post Office. We follow these with a visit to the Jade Emperor Pagoda and the War remnant exhibit. The final stop is Ben Thanh Market where anything and everything is for sale!. O/N in Ho Chi Minh. (B)

Day 11 : Ho Chi Minh - Mekong Delta - Ho Chi Minh
Heading out of town, we travel by roads to the Mekong Delta. This plain region boasts the largest rice bowl of Vietnam. On arrival in My Tho we board a boat navigating around the intricate small canals, which is a great way to observe the local lifestyle close-up and catch a view dotted by many islands. The exciting river trip will pass by the lush green vegetation towards the famous Unicorn Island where we have a chance to stroll around an orchard, taste many seasonal fruits and see farmers at work. We navigate some narrower canals using small rowing boats to Ben Tre Province for an interesting visit to some local industries. The extra enjoyment is a lunch at one of the famous local eating spots. We drive back to Ho Chi Minh, stopping off en route to see the beautiful Ving Trang Pagoda and the Saigon’s Chinatown, locally named Cho Lon. This bustling area is crammed with sacred temples and mysterious, narrow lanes. O/N in Ho Chi Minh. (B,L)

Day 12: Ho Chi Minh - Departure
There is a free time to relax or further explore Ho Chi Minh City. The tour ends after your transfer to Tan San Nhat Airport for departure. (B)