Vietnam Classic Tours

CODE: VCL-RT1B-8days

All classic tours are available for SIC or private tours, and base on Breakfast basic, with some extra light lunch with typical local dishes

1. CODE: VCL-RT1B

CLASSIC Vietnam Round trip (8days 7 nights)  << VIETNAM AT A GLANCE>>

MEAL PLAN: Breakfast + 1 lunch (B: Breakfast / L: Lunch)

Day 1    Hanoi.  
Arrive in Hanoi. Transfer to hotel - Overnight in Hanoi.     

Day 2    Hanoi  (B)         

Sightseeing in Hanoi: morning visit  Ho Chi Minh president’s Mausoleum (closed on Monday), his house, One Pillar pagoda, West Lake,Tran Quoc Temple, War Museum. In the afternoon, walking tour around the Old Quarter, Ngoc Son temple. Water puppet show in the evening. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 3    Halong (BL)

Departure to Halong. Have 4 hour boat trip on the bay, viewing limestones mountains, caves, islands, islets with sea food lunch on boat. Overnight in Halong.

Day 4    Halong-Hanoi airport-Hue (by air) (B)

Morning departure from Halong to Hanoi airport for flight to Hue. Arrive in Hue, pick up and transfer to hotel. Visit Imperial Citadel and local market in the afternoon. Overnight in Hue.         

Day 5    Hue-Hoi An (B)  

Morning boat trip to Thienmu pagoda and Tuduc Tomb. Continue drive to Hoian, stop at Langco fishing village, top of Haivan pass for sight seeing and taking pictures. Visit Cham Museum, marble mountains and the stone curving village enroute before heading to Hoian.  Overnight in Hoi An      

Day 6    Hoi An (B)        

Free at leisure. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 7    Hoi An-Danang-Hochiminh city (by air) (B)          

Flight from Danang to Saigon by morning flight. Continue with tour to Mekong Delta (Mitho), boat trip on the Mekong river, visit fruit garden, snake farm, coco candy manufacturer.  Back to Hochiminh with short city tour: China town, Thienhau pagoda, outside of Reufinication hall, Dongkhoi street, Ben Thanh market.           

Day 8    Hochiminh city departure (B)

Transfer to the airport for home flight. End of the tour.

Full itinerary:

Day 1    Hanoi arrival  
Arrive in Hanoi. Our driver and guide will pick you up at Noi Bai Airport and transfer to hotel. Check in. Free at leisure after a   long haul flight. Overnight in Hanoi.     

Day 2    Hanoi (B)         

After breakfast at hotel, you will start a new interesting day by visiting Temple of Literature-The first University of Vietnam and also an ancient Confucian sanctuary, which was built in the 11 century. Proceed to visit Ho Chi Minh president’s complex including mausoleum, his house on stilts, then One Pillar Pagoda, which rises on a one pillar from the middle of a square lotus pond.  After visiting Presidential palace with its colonial architecture, we move to West Lake nearby to view the biggest fresh water lake with a shore length of about 10 miles, visit Tran Quoc Pagoda located on an islet of the Lake, it is one of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam and a cultural symbol of Vietnamese Buddhism.

In the afternoon, visit Hoa Lo prision, later known to American prisoners of war as the "Hanoi Hilton", was a prison used by the French colonists in Vietnam for political prisones and later by North Vietnam for prisoners of war during the Vietnam War, only part of the prison exists today as a museum. Continue with Wwalking tour around the old quarter-the oldest continuously developed area of Vietnam. Hanoi’s old quarter has a history that spans 1000 years and represent the eternal soul of the city. Each street then had merchants and households specialized in a particular trade, such as silk traders, jewellery, etc. The street names nowadays still reflect these specializations, although few of them remain exclusively in their original commerce. Have a short rest at local coffee shop. Leaving the old quarter with 36 streets, we proceed to Ngoc Son Temple, built in the 19th century on an island on Hoan Kiem (Restored sword) Lake; it was already considered the most beautiful lake in Hanoi. Initially, the temple was called Ngoc Son Pagoda and was later renamed Ngoc Son Temple, since temples are dedicated to saints. In the evening, you will enjoy water puppet show-the unique art which has it origin in the delta of the Red river in the 10th century. Water puppetry is performed in a pool of water with the water surface being the stage. The puppeteers stand behind a curtain and control the puppets using long bamboo rods and string mechanism hidden beneath the water surface. Singers of Cheo (a form of opera) with origin in Northern Vietnam sing songs which tell the story being acted out by the puppets. Overnight in Hanoi

Day 3    Hanoi-Halong (BL)

After breakfast at hotel, you will depart to Halong-the World Heritage and one of the natural wonders. It covers an area of 1500 square km with more than 3000 limestone peaks soaring from its crystalline emerald water. You will have 4 hour boat trip on the bay with sea food lunch on boat, cruising through the emerald waters, between the limestone islands and islets, stopping to visit either the Thien Cung or Sungsot Cave. Overnight in Halong.

Day 4    Halong-Hanoi airport-Hue (by air) (B)

After breakfast at hotel, you will depart from Ha Long to Hanoi airport for 01 hour flight to Hue-the ancient citadel of Vietnam. Arrive in Hue, met and transferred to hotel. Check in. In the afternoon, visit Imperial Citadel, built over thirty years in the early part of the 19th century, the Citadel encompasses three ‘courts’ covering a total of 6 km. The outer court within the massive brick walls, ten meters thick in places, is mainly open space and gardens. The Imperial City, built along the same lines as the Forbidden Palace in Beijing, was the country's administrative centre. Senior mandarins, court officers and civil servants would have entered by the ‘Ngo Mon’ (noon gate). Directly behind were the Dai Trieu Nghi (great rites courtyard) and the Thai Hoa Palace (throne hall) where the Emperor would meet foreign rulers and emissaries, high-ranking ministers and other dignitaries. At the heart of the Imperial City was the ‘Tu Cam Thanh’ (Forbidden Purple City). Only members of the royal family, the Emperor’s concubines, and trusted senior mandarins and officers such as the royal doctor were allowed through the sole entry gate. Inside were various palaces and the Emperor’s private apartments. The next stop of the day is Dong Ba market- the biggest and most significant market in both Hue and Central Vietnam. Today, people visit Dong Ba Market not only because they can buy myriad goods and local specialties, but because in their hearts it is a symbol of Hue's culture, the most delicate material cultural traits of the city can be found here in the local traditional products, like Phu Cam conical hat, Hien Luong scissors, etc., and the mentioned delicious specialties. Overnight in Hue.

Day 5    Hue-Danang-Hoi An (BL)  

After breakfast at hotel, you will have a morning boat trip on Perfume River to Thien mu pagoda (Heavenly Lady Pagoda)-one of the oldest, built in 1601, and prettiest religious buildings in the country and Tuduc Tomb-One of the most beautiful works of Royal architecture of the Nguyen Dynasty. The tomb lies on a boundless pine forest with mounts and lakes. Come by a local house and join a lunch with local dishes, then visit villages of producing bronze and coco hats nearby. In the afternoon you drive to Hoi An via Hai Van Pass with visit of Langco fishing village. Hai Van pass is the highest pass of the country, stop on the top for sightseeing and taking pictures. Continue driving to Hoi An, visit Cham Museum-built in 1915, it displays an intensive and diverse collection of Champa sculpture dating from the 7th to 15th centuries. You will have the opportunity to appreciate the eight centuries of evolution of Champa sculpture from its golden age to its decline. Leaving the museum, you will visit another place in Danang city, it is marble mountains-the subtle, lyric and poetical ambience of pagodas, grottoes, trees, bushes, sounds the mixed of pagoda bells and murmuring waves and the mysterious legends of sea are all that are not far from the city center, making the mountains a fairy land for tourists for ages, and the stone curving village before heading to Hoian.  Overnight in Hoi An      

Day 6    Hoi An (B)        

Free at leisure or yourself exploration of the ancient port town with merchant houses, Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese meeting hall, lantern shops, tailoring….Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 7    Hoi An-Danang-Hochiminh city (Saigon) (by air) (B)          

After breakfast at hotel, transfer to Danang airport for flight to Saigon. Pick up and continue with tour to Mekong Delta (My tho). On arrival, cruising along small creek to Mekong River to Con Phung (Phoenix Island), visit fishing harbor. Visit orchards, snake farm, bee - keeping farm, taste natural honey and honey wine, enjoy tropical fruit, traditional music in Quy island, see round a distillery, explore the local coconut candy production process, taste candy & coconut pulp-specialty of Ben Tre. On the way back to Ho Chi Minh with stop at bonsai garden in My Tho.  Return to Saigon in the late afternoon, with short city tour of Dong Khoi Street, Notre Dame Church, Central Post office. Overnight in Saigon.

Day 8    Hochiminh city departure (B)

Breakfast at hotel. Free at leisure until transfer to the airport for your home flight. The end of the trip.

**********

-          Prices are in USD per PAX per TOUR, including taxes, booking fees and breakfast for single or double room, applied for US and European market
-          Extra for hotel accommodation or compulsary dinners  during Xmas and New Year, Tet are not included

Price included
-          Shared accommodation in twin/double room with daily breakfast (see hotel category list below)
-          All transfers and transportation with air-con vehicles
-          Local English speaking guides in each province
-          All entrance fees as program
-          Domestic airfares as mentioned

Excluded:
-          Airfares (international)
-          No Meals (lunches, dinners)
-          Visa to Cambodia/ Vietnam/ Laos
-          International airport tax
-          Drinks and personal expenses
-          Tips
-          Hotel surcharge for peak season (Xmas or New Year)

 Hotel List  (we may use similar hotel as alternative)

Talk to Tour Operator

CODE: VCL-2B-13 Days

All classic tours are available for SIC or private tours, and base on Breakfast basic, with some extra light lunch with typical local dishes

2. CODE: VCL-2B

CLASSIC Round trip (13 days 12 nights)  << CHARMING VIETNAM>> 

MEAL PLAN: Breakfast + 4 lunch (B: Breakfast / L: Lunch)

Day 1    Hanoi.  

Arrive in Hanoi. Meet and transfer to the downtown. Having 1 hour cyclo  in the old quarter

Day 2    Hanoi (BL)        

Start for city tour of Hanoi : West lake, Ho Chi Minh  president’s Mausoleum and his house, One pillar pagoda, Temple of Literature. Light lunch with "Pho", special food of Hanoi. Continue city tour with walking on the old street of Hanoi and markets. Water puppet show  in the evening. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 3    Hanoi-Halong bay (B)    

Depart  for Long Bien station. Take the train at 9:20 (some time 9:35) for Hai Duong, bus pick up and by road to Hai Phong. Arrive in Hai Phong at about 12:00. Lunch and visit Haiphong: fish market, flower market, City theatre. Proceed to Halong. Overnight in Ha Long.

Day 4    Halong bay (BL)

08:30-16:00 : Full day boat trip on the Bay with viewing limestones mountains, caves, islands, islets with sea food lunch on boat. Back to hotel in the late afternoon. Overnight in Ha Long

Day 5    Halong-Hanoi airport-Hue (by air). (B)     

Morning departure from Halong to Hanoi airport for flight to Hue. Arrive in Hue, pick up and transfer to hotel. Visit Imperial Citadel and local market in the afternoon.Overnight in Hue.

Day 6    Hue (BL)           

Start boat trip on Parfume river to Dinh market, where people make paper machee, then Thienmu Pagoda, continue to Tuduc Tomb. Bus pick up from the habour to a local house near the Tuduc tomb for light lunch there and then visit the Tuduc Tomb. Visit traditional villages of producing bronze and coco hats. Overnight in Hue.

Day 7    Hue-Danang-Hoi An (B) 

By road to Danang, stop at Langco fishing village and top of the Haivan Pass for sight seeing and taking pictures. Visit Cham Museum in Danang and the Marble mountains. Arrive in Hoi An, visit the town. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 8    Hoian (B)          

Countryside tour: visit Traque vegetable village, rice field with waterbuffallo, fisihing village, continue trip to the riverfront side, coffee stop at a typical Vietnamese cafeteria. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 9    Hoi An-Danang-Ho Chi Minh City (by air) - Cantho (B)      

Depart for Danang airport  for flight to Saigon. Arrive at Saigon airport, pick up and transfer to Mekong Delta. Check in hotel in Cantho. Overnight.

Day 10  Cantho (BL)      

Boat trip to Phong Dien and Cairang  floating market. Lunch & visit farms with country side panaroma. In addition, you can visit Ancient House, Binh Thuy Community House. Bus pick up back to the city, visit local market. Overnight.      

Day 11  Cantho-Ho Chi Minh City (B)      

Back from Cantho to Saigon, stop at Xeoquit (in Caolanh) – former base of Vietnamese communists army during the American war. Back to Saigon, visit China town on the way then continue to view outside of the Thong Nhat Hall, Post office, Dongkhoi walking street, BenThanh market           

Day 12  Saigon(B)         

In the morning, transfer to Tay Ninh-home of Caodaism, which is a combination of Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, onfucianism,…Attend the ceremony at noon. In the afternoon, visit Cu Chi underground tunnels, where local people, guerilla  lived and fought during the American war

Day 13  Departure (B)

Free at leisure until transfer to the airport for home flight. End of the tour.

Full itinerary:

Day 1    Hanoi arrival 

Arrive in Hanoi. Our driver and guide will pick you up at Noi Bai Airport and transfer to hotel. Check in. In the afternoon, 01 hour cyclo tour around the old quarter. Overnight in Hanoi.     

Day 2    Hanoi city tour (BL)        

After breakfast at hotel, you start a new interesting day by visiting Temple of Literature-The first University of Vietnam and also an ancient Confucian sanctuary, which was built in the 11 century. Proceed to visit Ho Chi Minh president’s complex including mausoleum, his house on stilts, then One Pillar Pagoda, which rises on a one pillar from the middle of a square lotus pond.  After visiting Presidential palace with its colonial architecture, we move to West Lake nearby to view the biggest fresh water lake with a shore length of about 10 miles, visit Tran Quoc Pagoda located on an islet of the Lake, it is one of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam and a cultural symbol of Vietnamese Buddhism. It is time for light lunch with Pho (noodle soup)-a specialty of Hanoi.

In the afternoon, visit Hoa Lo prison, later known to American prisoners of war as the "Hanoi Hilton", was a prison used by the French colonists in Vietnam for political prisoners and later by North Vietnam for prisoners of war during the Vietnam War, only part of the prison exists today as a museum. Continue with Wwalking tour around the old quarter-the oldest continuously developed area of Vietnam. Hanoi’s old quarter has a history that spans 1000 years and represent the eternal soul of the city. Each street then had merchants and households specialized in a particular trade, such as silk traders, jewellery, etc. The street names nowadays still reflect these specializations, although few of them remain exclusively in their original commerce. Have a short rest at local coffee shop. Leaving the old quarter with 36 streets, we proceed to Ngoc Son Temple, built in the 19th century on an island on Hoan Kiem (Restored sword) Lake; it was already considered the most beautiful lake in Hanoi. Initially, the temple was called Ngoc Son Pagoda and was later renamed Ngoc Son Temple, since temples are dedicated to saints. In the evening, you will enjoy water puppet show-the unique art which has it origin in the delta of the Red river in the 10th century. Water puppetry is performed in a pool of water with the water surface being the stage. The puppeteers stand behind a curtain and control the puppets using long bamboo rods and string mechanism hidden beneath the water surface. Singers of Cheo (a form of opera) with origin in Northern Vietnam sing songs which tell the story being acted out by the puppets. Overnight in Hanoi

Day 3    Hanoi-Hai Phong-Halong bay (B)    

After breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Long Bien railway station. From here, you will take a local train at around 9:20AM for Hai Duong station. In this train you will see how the local daily life and works is. Bus pick up and by road to Hai Phong, it take about 2h30 to reach the harbor city. Lunch at a restaurant then you will have a short visit of the city before heading to Halong with fish market, flower market and city theatre. Arrive in Halong in the late afternoon. Overnight in Ha Long.

Day 4    Halong bay (BL)

After breakfast at hotel, you will have a full day boat trip on Halong bay -the World Heritage and one of the natural wonders. It covers an area of 1500 square km with more than 3000 limestone peaks soaring from its crystalline emerald water. The boat will take you to visit some caves such as Thien Cung, Sung Sot between the limestone islands and islets. Have a fresh seafood lunch on boat. Enjoy a swim or relaxation on Titop Beach. Back to hotel in the late afternoon. Overnight in Ha Long.

Day 5    Halong-Hanoi airport-Hue (by air). (B)     

After breakfast at hotel, you will depart from Ha Long to Hanoi airport for 01 hour flight to Hue-the ancient citadel of Vietnam. Arrive in Hue, met and transferred to hotel. Check in. In the afternoon, visit Imperial Citadel, built over thirty years in the early part of the 19th century, the Citadel encompasses three ‘courts’ covering a total of 6 km. The outer court within the massive brick walls, ten meters thick in places, is mainly open space and gardens. The Imperial City, built along the same lines as the Forbidden Palace in Beijing, was the country's administrative centre. Senior mandarins, court officers and civil servants would have entered by the ‘Ngo Mon’ (noon gate). Directly behind were the Dai Trieu Nghi (great rites courtyard) and the Thai Hoa Palace (throne hall) where the Emperor would meet foreign rulers and emissaries, high-ranking ministers and other dignitaries. At the heart of the Imperial City was the ‘Tu Cam Thanh’ (Forbidden Purple City). Only members of the royal family, the Emperor’s concubines, and trusted senior mandarins and officers such as the royal doctor were allowed through the sole entry gate. Inside were various palaces and the Emperor’s private apartments. The next stop of the day is Dong Ba market- the biggest and most significant market in both Hue and Central Vietnam. Today, people visit Dong Ba Market not only because they can buy myriad goods and local specialties, but because in their hearts it is a symbol of Hue's culture, the most delicate material cultural traits of the city can be found here in the local traditional products, like Phu Cam conical hat, Hien Luong scissors, etc., and the mentioned delicious specialties. Overnight in Hue.

Day 6    Hue (BL)           

After breakfast at hotel, you will start a boat trip on Perfume River to Dinh market, where people make paper machee, then Thienmu Pagoda ((Heavenly Lady Pagoda)-one of the oldest, built in 1601, and prettiest religious buildings in the country. Bus pick up from the harbor to a local house near the Tuduc tomb for light lunch with local dishes, visit villages of producing bronze and coco hats nearby. Continue to Tuduc Tomb-one of the most beautiful works of Royal architecture of the Nguyen Dynasty. The tomb lies on a boundless pine forest with mounts and lakes. Overnight in Hue.

Day 7    Hue-Danang-Hoi An (B) 

After breakfast at hotel, you drive to Hoi An via Hai Van Pass with visit of Langco fishing village. Hai Van pass is the highest pass of the country, stop on the top for sightseeing and taking pictures. Continue driving to Hoi An, visit Cham Museum-built in 1915, it displays an intensive and diverse collection of Champa sculpture dating from the 7th to 15th centuries. You will have the opportunity to appreciate the eight centuries of evolution of Champa sculpture from its golden age to its decline. Leaving the museum, you will visit another place in Danang city, it is marble mountains-the subtle, lyric and poetical ambience of pagodas, grottoes, trees, bushes, sounds the mixed of pagoda bells and murmuring waves and the mysterious legends of sea are all that are not far from the city center, making the mountains a fairy land for tourists for ages, and the stone curving village before heading to Hoian.  Arrive Hoi An, visit the ancient town with merchant houses, Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese Meeting Hall, lanterns workshops,…Overnight in Hoi An      

Day 8    Hoian (B)          

After breakfast at hotel, start a countryside tour with visiting Tra Que vegetable village-here you will get a brief introduction to the history of the village, the cultivation of the vegetables as well as discover the use of vegetables in traditional Vietnamese medicine. You will take a trip around the vegetable garden and join the farmers in preparing the land and fertilizing it with seaweed from the local lake, rice field with water buffalo, fishing village, continue trip to the riverfront side, coffee stop at a typical Vietnamese cafeteria. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 9    Hoi An-Danang-Ho Chi Minh City (by air)-Cantho (B)      

After breakfast at hotel, you will depart for Danang airport for flight to Saigon. Pick up and transfer to Mekong Delta. On arrival, cruising along small creek to Mekong River to Con Phung (Phoenix Island), visit fishing harbor. Visit orchards, snake farm, bee - keeping farm, taste natural honey and honey wine, enjoy tropical fruit, traditional music in Quy island, see round a distillery, explore the local coconut candy production process, taste candy & coconut pulp-specialty of Ben Tre. Proceed to Can Tho, en route visit Hoi Linh Co Tu (Hoi Linh ancient pagoda)-extensively known by its meticulous sculpture arts through distinctive Buddha statues. Check in hotel in Cantho. Overnight.

Day 10  Cantho (BL)      

After breakfast at hotel, you will have a full day to discover the life of Mekong Delta with boat trip to Phong Dien-floating market with fruit sale and then Cairang-another floating market with main items sold of farm products and specialties of Cai Rang Town, seasonal goods. Lunch & visit farms with country side panorama. In addition, you can visit Binh Thuy Ancient House, Binh Thuy Community House. Bus picks up back to the city, visit local market. Overnight in Can Tho.   

Day 11 Cantho-Ho Chi Minh City (B)      

After breakfast at hotel, you will be back from Cantho to Saigon, stop at Xeoquit (in Caolanh)-former base of Vietnamese communists army during the American war. Before arriving Saigon, visit China town on the way then continue to view outside of the Reunification Hall, Post office, Dong khoi walking street, BenThanh market. Overnight in Saigon.           

Day 12  Saigon (B)         

After breakfast at hotel, you will depart to Tay Ninh-home of Caodaism, which is a combination of Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Confucianism…attend the ceremony at noon. In the afternoon, visit Cu Chi underground tunnels, where local people, guerilla lived and fought during the American war. Return to Saigon. Overnight in Saigon.

Day 13  Saigon departure (B)

Breakfast at hotel. Free at leisure until transfer to the airport for your home flight. The end of the tour.

**************************

-       Prices are in USD per PAX per TOUR, including taxes, booking fees and breakfast for single or
        double room, applied for US and European market

-       Extra for hotel accommodation or compulsary dinners  during Xmas and New Year, Tet are not included

Price included
-          Shared accommodation in twin/double room with daily breakfast (see hotel category list below)
-          All transfers and transportation with air-con vehicles
-          Local English speaking guides in each province
-          All entrance fees as program
-          Domestic airfares as mentioned

Excluded:
-          Airfares (international)
-          No Meals (lunches, dinners)
-          Visa to Cambodia/ Vietnam/ Laos
-          International airport tax
-          Drinks and personal expenses
-          Tips
-          Hotel surcharge for peak season (Xmas or New Year)

 Hotel List  (we may use similar hotel as alternative)

Talk to Tour Operator