• Day 1: Arrive Hanoi (D)

Welcome to FASCINATING VIETNAM! From the moment we greet you at the airport you will be charmed by Vietnam’s diverse nature - from the lush paddies of outer Hanoi and over the vast expanse of the Red River. The morning will be an opportunity to refresh for a guided afternoon walk through Hanoi’s famed Old Quarter. We will meander some of the boutique streets and markets before heading for dinner at one of Hanoi’s finest establishments. The evening will be capped with a magical performance by the acclaimed Hanoi Water Puppet troupe or a classical folk performance set in the intimate courtyard of one of Hanoi’s charming pagodas.
Stay in Hanoi.

• Day 2: Hanoi (B,L)

Picturesque boulevards, colonial architecture, serene lakes and the fragrant courtyards of the pagodas colour the atmosphere of this unique Asian city. Today will be a full day of touring including the Mausoleum complex, the presidential palace, the one pillar pagoda and Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house. We will meander, at a leisurely pace, some of the 36 boutique streets of the Old Quarter. From silks to silver, medicinal herbs to ceremonial banners there will be ample opportunity for tempting purchases. The afternoon will be dedicated to Hanoi’s more tranquil offerings - the Lake of the Restored Sword, Ngoc Son Temple, the 1000 year old Temple of Literature, the misty expanse of West Lake, Thanh Nien boulevard, the serene Tran Quoc Pagoda and Quan Thanh Temple. The tour will conclude with a visit to either the History Museum or the acclaimed Ethnology Museum.
Stay in Hanoi.

• Day 3: Hanoi - Halong Bay (B,L,D)

This morning we will depart Hanoi early for a four-hour drive through the Red River Delta to Ha Long Bay. Upon arrival, we transfer to our private boat for an overnight cruise on the crystalline emerald waters of Halong Bay. Lunch will be a sumptuous spread of fresh, locally caught seafood. The afternoon will be spent cruising the bay to meet the locals. Fishing families have settled in Halong for many generations and will provide us with some locally caught seafood for tonight’s dinner. We will have plenty of opportunities to relax on deck, swim in secluded coves or take kayaks to one of Halong’s secreted coral lagoons.
Stay in Halong

• Day 4: Halong Bay - Hanoi (B,L)

Rise the sound of the bay awakening. The stunning scenery of this UNESCO designated World Heritage site will be the backdrop to onboard breakfast and lunch. We will visit one of the world’s largest preserved stalactite caves on the return trip to Halong port. This afternoon we farewell Halong and return to Hanoi by private vehicle.
Stay in Hanoi

• Day 5: Hanoi - Hue (B,L)

From the charm of Hanoi we will fly to the Imperial city of Hue. This afternoon we embark on a tour of the grand citadel of the Forbidden City. A private boat cruise on the picturesque Huong River will take us to the banks of the Thien Mu Pagoda and the ornate tombs of Minh Mang.
Stay in Hue

• Day 6: Hue - Danang- Hoi An (B,L)

Today we take the coastal road. Our well appointed private vehicle will take us from Hue to Hoi An, stopping for beach breaks and in local fishing villages for lunch. We will cross the peak of Hai Van pass with its stunning panoramic views of China beach (Lang Co beach), visit Danang’s Cham museum and stop at the stonemasons workshops at the foot of Marble Mountain. Arriving in Hoi An late this afternoon you may spend the rest of the day exploring town at your leisure.
Stay in Hoi An

• Day 7: Hoi An (B,L)

From the 16th to 18th centuries, Hoi An was a thriving commercial port for Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese and Arab traders. These people came primarily to trade in high grade silks and ceramics, which are still produced in the area. Hoi An has become a popular riverside town, known for its historic architecture, multitude of tailors shops and appetizing offerings. We will guide you through the cobble stoned streets of Hoi An including Chua Ong Pagoda, the Chinese Assembly Halls, the 200 year old ancestral home of Tam Ky and the 17th century Japanese Bridge. Evening strolls in Hoi An are a real delight, with dimly lit lanterns bathing the streets and riverfront. Take the opportunity to savour the unique atmosphere at one of Hoi An’s street facing cafes.
Stay in Hoi An.

• Day 8: Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) (B,L)

Today we transfer to Danang airport for the one hour flight to HCMC (Saigon). Upon arrival we will transfer directly to our centrally located hotel. With a short break to refresh, we take to Saigon’s tree lined boulevards for our city tour. We will visit the modernist era Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, the colonial era Post Office, War Remnants Museum and Giac Lam Pagoda. Overflowing with all manner of goods is the famous Ben Thanh market – we will break here for lunch. The second part of this tour will include a guided tour of the sprawling commercial hub of Chinatown. Our walk through Cholon will include a visit to the chaotic Binh Tay market area and the string of pagodas along Nguyen Trai boulevard.
Stay in Ho Chi Minh City.

• Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) - Tay Ninh (B,L)

From the commercial centre of Southern Vietnam we make our way by private vehicle to Tay Ninh province. Located near the Cambodian border, Tay Ninh is home to the unique Cao Dai Sect Temple, whose patron saints include Joan of Arc, Victor Hugo, Shakespeare and Winston Churchill. Fascinating for their unique marriage of Buddhist, Taoist, Confucian and Christian beliefs, the temples are decorated in a fantastic amalgam of colourful swirling dragons and monastic representations of Jesus Christ, Buddha and the Hindu god, Brahma. The trip to Tay Ninh is combined with a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels. At its height, the tunnel system stretched over 250km from Saigon to the Cambodian border and was three chambers deep. Integral to the Viet Cong’s ability to undermine the southern Vietnamese forces, the network included trap doors, specially constructed living areas, kitchens, storage facilities, weapons factories, command centres and field hospitals. A section of this tunnel complex has been preserved for visitors who would like to experience what underground life during the Ameria-Vietnam War might have been.
Stay in Ho Chi Minh City.

• Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) - Mekong Delta (B,L)

This morning we set off for the magnificent Mekong Delta. Known as the ‘food bowl of Vietnam’, the Mekong is a maze of fertile waterways and host to many floating markets, the largest being Vinh Long. From the vast expanses of the Mekong to the lush narrow canals, we will visit some of the local artisan and farming families for a unique insight into life on the delta. Our visit to the local bonsai nursery will host us for a friendly and spicy Delta lunch.
Stay in Can Tho.

• Day 11: Mekong Delta - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) (B,L)

Today we start early with a tour of the sunrise markets at Cai Rang. We will join the “Lady Hau” for a tropical breakfast on board. We will cruise side by side with sampans laden with mammoth mangoes and other locally grown produce. Juicy longans, milk fruit, creamy egg fruit, mangosteens and sinewy jack fruit are just some of the delights you will have the opportunity to try. Our cruise through Cai Rang will also take us to the orchards that produced the fruit sampled. Basic to all Vietnamese kitchens are Pho rice noodles. Like pasta, there are an infinite number of variations to suit every possible need. We will visit one of the local manufacturers to see how they are prepared. A detour through My Tho, the biggest port town of the Mekong, will return us to HCMC for our final dinner together.
Stay in Ho Chi Minh City

• Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) (B)

The final day of FASCINATING VIETNAM may be spent at leisure. We welcome you to join us on a complimenting NICHE TRAVEL experience or transfer and farewell you at Tan Son Nhat airport.

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