Impressive Vietnam, 12 days

On arrival at  Ho Chi Minh Airport, you are met by our guide and taken to your hotel by private transfer. You may have some time free to relax or discover at your own leisure. The bustling city of Ho Chi Minh, still called Saigon by many locals, was originally a fishing village built up on a vast swampland, but it has developed into Saigon under the French domination. The effervescent development has bought Ho Chi Minh some cosmic changes from a war-torn city to a thriving metropolis. However, the architecture, local culture and lifestyle in Ho Chi Minh are still a reconciliation among French, American and Chinese influences. This fast growing city is now punctuated with elegant international hotels and exclusive restaurants, crowded with motorbikes, cars and vociferous cyclo drivers, and excited by numerous shopping areas, sidewalk cafés and noodle stalls. They have formed a dynamic urban area in very special sense and make for an endless exploration in this  south Vietnamese gem.

Today, we begin our  exploration of  Ho Chi Minh, taking a walk along  the vibrant and beautiful Nguyen Hue Boulevard. This broad walking promenade is fringed with many  shopping malls, eating spots and French colonial structures. We pay a quick look at the ornate City Hall and the old Opera House before going to see the Notre Dame Cathedral and  the Old Sai Gon Post Office, some of  striking landmarks in European style. The following top is the Reunification Palace, a former residence of the southern Vietnam President until a dramatic end on April 1975. The president palace was built on base of the French governor-general mansion and had all for the president life, plus shelter, helipad, and command bunker. Upon leaving this landmark, we head to the War Remnant Exhibit, which contains a wealth of images and real objects reflecting the notorious Vietnam- American War and the first Indochina War involving the French colonialists. They make your visit like taking a step back into the war time. We continue seeing the Jade Emperor Temple  and the crowded Saigon Chinatown, locally named Cho Lon. This bustling area is crammed with various sacred temples and mysterious and narrow market lanes. The major attractions in place are the Binh Tay Market and  the Thien Hau Pagoda. They will give us some interesting views of the local culture and traditions.  We round off our day with a walk around the retail  Ben Thanh Market, where vendors display a vast array of goods and handicrafts appealing to every taste!.

The incredible underground network of Cu Chi  was constructed by Vietnamese fighters during their long struggle for the independence. These extensive tunnels stretched nearly 200km from the South Vietnamese capital to the Cambodian border and were several stories deep in some places. They included countless trapdoors, living areas, storage facilities, weapon factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens. We head out of Ho Chi Minh City  this morning, to  Cu Chi Area where we will see an exposition hall and a widened section of Cu Chi Tunnels to get a feel of the underground life. The adventurers may explore in depth the second and even third tunnel levels. There are also possibilities to fire off rounds from an AK47 or MK16 at the nearby rifle range. We set for Tay Ninh, driving along a crammed road linking Ho Chi Minh City and Cambodia. The rubber plantations go along our journey until Tay Ninh Town, the headquarters of Cao Dai Sect. This religion was founded in 1926 and now numbers  over 2 million members throughout Vietnam. We arrive in time to attend the fantastic mid-day service when the followers fill the hall wearing colored robes. These costumes are a symbol of the curious combination of the Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism.  We also have a look at  the ornate Cao Dai Holy See of which the vaulted mosque and multicolored temple represent the many great spiritual figures of the Cao Dai religion, including Buddha, Mohammed, Joan of Arc, and Victor Hugo.

Heading out of the town, we travel by road to My Tho, a gateway to the Mekong Delta. This incredibly fertile region was formed by the mighty Mekong River, which winds its way from Tibet - China through  Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, and finally into Vietnam. On arrival in My Tho, we board a private boat to explore the Mekong Delta. This river trip gives some fantastic views from the red water surface to floating fish farms and lush plantation backdrop. Along the way, we anchor on the Unicorn Island and stroll around with our guide to visit this large island, where village lanes are fringed with fishponds, fruit gardens and rice fields. We make some stops at local houses to taste seasonal fruits, listen to traditional music performed by a villager ensemble, and sample honey tea. The interlaced canals are truly a lifeblood of the Mekong Delta; however, many channels can be accessed only by small boats. We enjoy a short sampan trip rowing under the palm grove to venture into this maze of canals before we continue our motor boat to the coconut kingdom of Ben Tre. This luxuriant region offers various activities from bicycle ride to horse cart carriage and motorbike pulling cart. We take one of them to discover the traditional lifestyles, culture, and history of local people and  visit some industry cottages. They may be brick-kiln ceramics, coconut candy and coconut handicrafts. Upon disembarking, we make our way back to Ho Chi Minh Airport for our flight to Hue in central Vietnam. On arrival at Hue Airport, you are met by our guide and driven to your hotel.

The riverside town of Hue was flourished from 1802 to 1945 when it was the national capital under the Nguyen Dynasty. This ancient capital represents the outstanding demonstration of the vanished Vietnamese feudal empire, including royal citadel, monuments, pagodas, and mausoleums littered in surrounding hills. Today we spend  our time exploring the massive Hue Citadel  with the Imperial City and the Purple Forbidden City. This royal residence was all but partly destroyed during the 1968 Tet Offensive. However, it is still fascinating to walk around to see many pavilions, bridges, libraries, and great halls. We follow it with a visit to the bustling Dong Ba Market. This riverside trade center is crammed with local treasures and also has many eating spots. They make an ideal place for visitors to try their hand at bargaining and sample some local delicacies. Upon leaving this trade center, we make our way to  the mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang. This majestic complex of courtyards, pavilions and temples, was built in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes. We drive through the rolling hills to the Khai Dinh Mausoleum, a synthesis of Vietnamese and European elements. The mandarin courtyard where are standing various statues of mandarins, horses and soldiers, makes for a real scene of the royal court.  The most notable place is Thien Dinh Palace housing the bronze statues and the King steles. We embark on a traditional boat for our cruise along  the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda. This iconic religious structure has a nice legend and a prominent architecture stretching from the river banks in seven successive tiers to monastic buildings and octagonal tower, regarded as a symbol of Hue.

Upon leaving Hue, we make our way south and drive through Lang Co beach resort to the challenging Hai Van Pass. The panoramic view from this pass top is nothing short of spectacular, with a mixture of zigzag roads, turquoise sea, winding rail way behind the verdant forest and the waterfront. We keep driving up to the famous hill station of Ba Na. On arrival, we hop  on an unforgettable cable car ride to Ba Na Hills, catching  the spectacular views from the undulating mountains to the blue sea in the far distance. We walk along the Golden Bridge, a highlight of  Ba Na Hill station. This iconic masterpiece spreads out nearly 150m long at 1,414m above  the sea level and builds up a sash-like route across the heaven to the  Amour Garden. There are nine different gardens which will tell you nine different stories behind the architecture and the flowers.  We follow the walkway past the Debay wine cellar to the French Village. This gleaming quarter illustrates a unique architecture with square, lofty churches, charming hotels  and traditional cottages. The prominent structure on Ba Na Hills is  Linh Ung Pagoda where  is sitting the giant Sakyamuni Buddha Statue of  27 meter high. We visit this pagoda and admire the panoramic landscape from Nghinh Phong Peak. This hill station also has Fantasy Park, Indoor entertainment zone with thrilling games. They are ideal for family and children to enjoy their time away from the city hustle. We leave this hill station behind and head towards Da Nang City. There are  much to see in place; however, the Cham Museum is always a key attraction. This beautiful mansion, formerly the Ecole Francaise d’Extreme Orient,  contains many exquisite limestone carvings from the vanquished Kingdom of Champa that has been in central coastal littoral prior to the march of the Vietnamese nation south. We drive along the coastline to Hoi An, this day final destination.

The delightful town of Hoi An was originally a Cham seaport but has been influenced down the centuries by a myriad of traders from various cultures between the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries. We enjoy a walking tour to explore this town where Japanese legacy, Vietnamese tube houses, ornate temples and Chinese shop houses are still standing to present the unique traditional townscape. The narrow walking streets dotted with many shop houses lead us to the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge . This structure was first constructed in 1590s by the Japanese traders to link them with the Chinese quarters. The ornamentation has remained relatively faithful to the original Japanese design over centuries. We continue onto the Museum of Trade Ceramics, a beautifully restored timber house where displays many relics of the bygone civilization and the origins of this port town. Upon leaving this museum, we head towards the typical Phung Hung House, a gem with a mixture of Japanese and Chinese architectural elements. This ancient house was built by a Vietnamese family two centuries ago and has been lovingly preserved through seven generations. We follow it with the Chua Ong Pagoda and the Phuc Kien Assembly Hall. This colorful building is one of the five well-known halls in Hoi An and dedicated to Thien Hau, the goddess of sea who protects sailors from the danger. Today, we also have time to explore Cam Thanh Village which was once a shelter for local people and soldiers during the American War. The coconut forest ecosystem is a highlight of this village, attracting the attention of both local foreign tourists. We explore the authentic local life and try to ride bamboos basket boats to catch crabs and fish in the water coconut forest like local people.

The northbound journey continues with a short flight to Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam. On arrival at Noi Bai Airport,  you are met by our guide and transferred to  Duong Lam Village, the born place of two famous Vietnamese kings: Phung Hung and Ngo Quyen. The typical village gate comes in view, giving an access to many village lanes in bones fish shape bordered with many old houses built from blocks of laterite and mud. Along the walkway we pass through some handmade food stands to Mong Phu Communal House, the most beautiful one in Duong Lam Area. This large house was carefully built with sophisticated architecture and unique sculptural decoration. We change the trip activity as we begin our biking experience to the Mia Pagoda. This religious structure is famous for an ancient bell hang over the door gates and a wide array of statues made from wood, bronze and clay. They are unique in appearance and have different meanings and legends. Upon leaving Duong Lam Village, we set off on a short drive to Hanoi, the capital  of Vietnam. This treasured city is a fascinating blend of East and West, combining traditional Sino-Vietnamese motifs with French flair.  You might like to stroll through the fascinating old quarter containing many vibrant streets which are named after the specific goods once offered for sale at these places. The lively atmosphere in Hanoi old quarter runs from the early hours until late at night: many street vendors calling, horns honking, and chaotic traffic with waves of motorbikes you’ve never experienced.

Today, we spend our time to explore Hanoi, taking a short drive  through diverse streets encompassing a millennium of the city culture and evolution to the Ba Dinh Square. This park setting contains the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (close on Mon. and Fri. and Oct. to Nov) and the Ho Chi Minh Residence. We queue up for a walk past silent sentries, paying a homage to Ho Chi Minh before  continuing  to his residence, a simple stilt house set in a well-tended garden. He has lived and worked in this place until his final days. Nearby this complex is the One Pillar Pagoda, of which the origins date back to the foundation of Hanoi City. We visit all of them and head to the Temple of Literature. This well-preserved temple is now dedicated to the scholars of Confucius but was once the first university of Vietnam. The successful candidate records are still found in various stone steles set over giant stone turtles in the temple ground. We keep going to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (close on Mon.) where display in both outdoor and indoor sections, various documents, images and objects focusing on 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam. The sightseeing tour takes us past various attractions, including Tran Quoc Pagoda, Quan Thanh Temple, West Lake, Long Bien Bridge, and Opera House. There are no stops planned as it is simply a glimpse of the cityscape. We finish a round of city tour  with a fantastic water puppet show followed by a pleasant walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, one of the major scenic spots in Hanoi.

The incredible limestone outcroppings form a spectacular seascape of Halong Bay, making it an incomparable natural wonder in Vietnam.  Heading out of the town, we make our way through the rice fields and idyllic villages to the rocky formations of Halong Bay. The cruise team will welcome us on board with refreshing drinks and provides some information about the watercraft and the activity program. We check in our private cabin and unpack for a two-day cruise. The amazing time begins as our traditional style junk zigzags itself in Halong Bay. Along the way, we feast on a huge lunch (veg. meals also available on request), catching some beautiful views of the bay with a blend of the sky and limestone islets jutting out from the clear and emerald water. These rocky outcrops are usually named by their distinctive shapes and littered with tiny beaches and beautiful caves. We have time this afternoon, to do many sea activities, some of which are rowing boat excursion, swimming, or kayaking ( optional) within rock formations. Today we can improve our culinary skill while participating to the cooking class in the flavor of the sea. The master chef will show the guests how to make some traditional Vietnamese delicacies. We follow it with a sumptuous dinner and some evening entertainments at the dining room. There are also possibilities to try your hand at squid fishing from our boat.

The early light begins washing the night away, unveiling the marvelous beauty of Halong Bay. You can participate in a Taichi exercise on the sundeck and may get a chance to catch some wonderful photos of the sunrise over Halong Bay. The boat trip continues past many imposing  islands, giving us a new exploration of this beautiful bay.  We can spend our time at leisure or step onto a tender to visit Sung Sot, one of the many beautiful caves hidden beneath towering cliffs. The uphill walkway with nearly 100 steps is somewhat arduous; however, the panoramic view from nearby boat pier to rocky islands in the far distance, makes the hardship all worthwhile. We enjoy this splendid landscape before we start the exploration of Sung Sot Cave. This remarkable cave is naturally adorned with countless stalactite and stalagmite formations. They stretch amazingly from floor to ceiling, forming various pillars to support the cave dome. The illuminating spotlights of various colors within the stone formations add more enchantment to this beautiful cave. We come back to our cruise and weave our way through a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars towards Tuan Chau Marina. The wonderful time in Haling Bay is followed by a drive back to Hanoi. Along the way, we make stop at our pleasure, to stretch our legs and see many local villagers making excellent craft objects in traditional ways. 

There are no activities planned on this final day. You may have free time to continue your exploration of Hanoi City, do your last shopping or simply look back upon your trip images. The holiday comes to an end with a transfer to Hanoi Airport for  your departure.