11 Days – Vietnam Insight

Tour code: IV/11D-VN
Route: Hanoi – Trang An – Ha Long Bay – Hue – Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh – Mekong Detla
Tour style: Classic
Start/End: starts in Hanoi – ends in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh city)

DAY 1: HANOI ARRIVAL

Upon arrival at Hanoi Airport, after collecting your baggage, exit the airport to meet your local guide. He/she will be holding a sign with your names on it. From the airport, you will be privately transferred to your selected hotel. You are free at your leisure in the rest of day. Relaxing at hotel or walking around Hanoi Old Quarter – a network of narrow alleys and shop houses. Hanoi Old Quarter is consider a great place to watch local life and shopping

Meal: not included
Overnight Stay at the Hotel in Hanoi

DAY 2: HANOI FULL DAY CITY TOUR

Morning, start a full day city tour beginning with Ho Chi Minh Complex which features the life of Ho Chi Minh, the nation’s founder. At the complex, visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum where the nation’s founder’s body is preserved (closed on Monday, Friday and through October – November) and the rural style house on stilts where Ho Chi Minh lived and worked. Stop by one of Hanoi’s icons, the One Pillar Pagoda, built in the 11th Century in dedication to Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara or Buddha of Compassion and reminiscent of a lotus blossom rising from a pond. Continue to the Temple of Literature, known as the first university of Vietnam built in 1070 by the Ly Dynasty to honor Confucius, sages and outstanding Vietnamese scholars.

Afternoon, continue Museum of Ethnology. Go to Hoan Kiem Lake, the center point of Hanoi whose name meaning “The Return Sword Lake” originated from a legend of a sacred sword and home to a rare endangered giant turtle species and visit Ngoc Son Temple on the lake. Next, take a one-hour xichlo (3-wheeled rickshaw) tour of the Old Quarter of Hanoi with its ancient streets representing traditional trades from the past. Finish the tour at the Thang Long Opera Theatre with a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show. Drop you at hotel. Free at your leisure in the evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight Stay at the Hotel in Hanoi

Trang An

DAY 3: HANOI – TRANG AN SCENIC COMPLEX – HOA LU ANCIENT CAPITAL – HANOI

Morning meet and transfer to Ninh Binh province – 100 Km south of Hanoi – is known to travelers as Vietnam’s “Inland Halong Bay”. You will be offered a leisurely sampan cruise on a creek across three vast stretches of rice field.
Upon arrival, visit Temples of the Dinh King and Le King built on the site of the Hoa Lu Ancient Citadel. Sampan trip along the stream to Tam Coc caves (Three limestone caves) all adorned with beautiful stalagmites and stalactites. Trang An is the first mixed UNESCO World Heritage of Vietnam. .
Afternoon, we take a boat trip to explore the cave complex in Trang An . Enjoy peaceful moments with clear water, fresh air and spectacular views of mountainous areas. Trang An Landscape Complex is a spectacular landscape of limestone karst peaks permeated with valleys, many of them partly submerged and surrounded by steep, almost vertical cliffs. This area was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Drive back to Hanoi, drop you at hotel. Free at your leisure in the evening.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Overnight at hotel in Hanoi

DAY 4: HANOI – HALONG BAY / OVERNIGHT ON CRUISE

After breakfast, travel by air-conditioned private through the Red River Delta to beautiful Ha Long Bay. The scenic drive will pass through some of the rural landscape before arriving to the World Heritage site of Ha Long Bay. A Bay with more than 3000 islands, which time, wind and waves have sculptured into fantastic shapes.

Upon arrival, you will set out on a junk cruise on the bay while lunch is served. You will pass through the magical bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waves like dragons’ teeth. After lunch, you will take a short trek to a nearby summit for a panoramic view of the bay, swimming on a quiet beach or sunbathing on the sundeck. In the late afternoon, you will visit an interesting fishing village with an opportunity to interact with fishermen who have been living in the bay for almost three generations. At sunset, you can kayak or simply take a bamboo row boat to discover a water tunnel with many coral reefs in a scenic lagoon. Back on board, you can enjoy watching the peaceful sunset and later unwind at a restaurant. You will stay overnight onboard.
Beautiful kayaking route from Titov beach to Luon Cave for those who book kayaking option (kayaking time after visit the Sung Sot cave).

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight Stay on board in Halong Bay

Angeln In Halong Bay Vietnam

DAY 5: HALONG BAY – HANOI – HUE / EVENING FLIGHT

Rising to the sound of lapping bay waters, you will have time for an early morning dip followed by breakfast. Sitting on the upper deck, you can relax while taking in the breath-taking beauty of the rocky islands rising from the emerald water of the bay. After breakfast, explore Sung Sot cave (8 a.m. to 9 a.m.), swim and relax at Soi Sim beach. At 9:30 a.m., your boat cruises back to the jetty while brunch is served from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. You will continue cruising through the bay, along the way seeing more of the fascinating formations. Cabin check-out is at 11:45 am. The boat arrives at the harbor around noon.

Those who book kayaking trip start kayaking from Luon Cave toward islets in shape of Man’s head island, Tortoise island (kayaking time after breakfast). Lunch included. Back Hanoi by private car, transfer to Noi Bai airport for flight to Hue. After 1 hour flight we arrive at Phu Bai airport – Hue. You are met and transferred between the airport to your hotel in a private vehicle with an English speaking guide.
Please note: Program may differ slightly base on cruise ships.

Meals: Breakfast and Brunch
Overnight Stay at the Hotel in Hue

Imperial Citadel, Hue

DAY 6: HUE CITY TOUR

Morning visit the Hue Citadel – Vietnam’s former imperial capital and a recognized UNESCO World Heritage site. With an area of 500ha and a system of three circles of ramparts, this citadel is far more elaborate than those constructed by previous empires. Stop at Khai Dinh tomb and Tu Duc Tomb.

After lunch (included), continue your tour with a boat cruise along the Perfume River. Enjoy this romantic cruise and visit the Minh Mang Tomb. Finish up at Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the oldest ancient architectural structures for religious worship in Hue. Stop at Dong Ba market for shopping.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight Stay at the Hotel in Hue

DAY 7: HUE – DA NANG – HOI AN (Drive)

Morning free at leisure until depart Hue for Hoi An via Hai Van Pass for whole view of Pacific Ocean and famous Long Co fishing village, on the way to Hoi An you will visit Cham Museum in Danang city where the remaining evidence of the Champa civilization can be viewed. Lunch is included. Process to Hoi an. Check-in at your hotel and free at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight Stay at the Hotel in Hoi An

DAY 8: HOI AN CITY TOUR

Enjoy breakfast at hotel and walking tour of Hoi An, discover the historic town which used to be a prosperous seaport city during the 16th to 18th centuries. Visit Hoi An’s colourful local market, Tan Ky old house, Fukien Assembly Hall, and the 400-year-old Japanese covered bridge.Travelers can also see local residents raise silkworms and produce silk for Hoi An’s burgeoning textile industry.
In the afternoon, discover Hoi An by yourself, shopping and relax at hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight Stay at the Hotel in Hoi An

Ho Chi Minh City is a sunny day underneath Notre Dame

DAY 9: HOI AN – DA NANG – HO CHI MINH CITY TOUR / MORNING FLIGHT

Morning free at leisure until transfer to Danang airport for flight to Saigon. Arrive at Tan Son Nhat Airport, you are met and transferred between the airport to your hotel in a private vehicle with an English speaking guide.
Take half day city tour with famous sightseeing as War Remnants Museum, established in September 1975 in Ho Chi Minh City, it contains countless artifacts, photographs and pictures documenting some of the less heroic activities carried out by the US army in Vietnam. Planes, tanks, bombs and helicopters are also on display. Next visit the FITO Museum, it is the first museum of Vietnamese medicine. On display are nearly 3,000 items dating back to the Stone Age. Exhibits include tools used to prepare medicine, knives, mortars and pestles, documents and objects from a traditional pharmacy. The museum regularly screens a documentary about the history of medicine. Continue visiting to the 1880’s General Post Office and the late 19th century Notre Dame cathedral, located in a peaceful part of the city. Ending at Ben Thanh Market or House of Saigon for shopping and café.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight Stay at the Hotel in Ho Chi Minh

Mekong Delta, Vietnam

DAY 10: FULL DAY MEKONG DELTA ( MY THO)

After breakfast, full day tour traveling south from Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho, the gateway to the Mekong Delta. Known as the “rice bowl” of Vietnam, the Delta is the most fertile region in the country, and the main producer of rice and tropical fruits. From My Tho, you board your boat and travel to one of the islands located in the middle of the Mekong River. On the island visit a fruit orchard and sample some of the local produce, before boarding a smaller sampanthat winds along narrow canals. You’ll also have the opportunity to visit a local family’s house and enjoy their hospitality and share with them some tea or rice wine. After lunch in My Tho return to Ho Chi Minh

Meals: Breakfast,Lunch

Overnight Stay at the Hotel in Saigon

DAY 11: HO CHI MINH DEPARTURE

Today is departure day. A private car and guide will be at guests’ disposal for some last-minute shopping, or guests can simply relax before their transfer to Tan Son Nhat’s Noi Bai Airport for the onward flight.

Meal: Breakfast

Hotel: None

PRICE FROM IN USD PER PERSON

Date: Jan – Apr & Oct – Dec

Date: May – 30 Sep

• Supplement for ticket

Hanoi (HAN) to Hue (HUI) by Vietnam Airline :                        US $ 115 per person
Danang (DAD)to Ho Chi Minh (SGN) to  by Vietnam Airline:          US $ 115 per person
NOTE: Airfare and schedule are subject to modification without prior notice from the airline.

• Surcharge for Chinese new year: 

Surcharge for booking during Chinese New Year

• US$ 30/pax/day for FIT booking of 2 pax
• US$ 20/pax/day for FIT booking of 3 pax
• US$ 15/pax/day for booking from 4 – 9 pax
• US$ 10/pax/day for booking from 10 pax up

• Supplement charge  for Lunch or Dinner       (including food, guide, car and driver)
• US$ 12 for lunch  / US$ 15 for dinner  (Vietnamese food)
• US$ 16 for lunch & US$ 18 to US$ 30 for dinner  (Western food)

INCLUSIVE

• Accommodation with daily breakfast based on double sharing
• Services of a driver and private air-conditioned vehicle during all tours and transfers
• One night overnight at Ha Long cruise
• Private boat for sightseeing in Mekong Delta
• Experienced English Speaking guide guide during all tours and transfers.
• Entrance fees for all visits as mentioned in the itinerary
• Mineral water is available as complementary
• Vietnam visa approval letter on arrival as complementary
• Full 1 FOC base on single room for group from 16 pax up

EXCLUSIVE

• International & domestic flight tickets
• Meals, if not specified in the itinerary
• Personal expenses, such as laundry, telephone, drinks, etc. All other services not specified in the itinerary
• Visa stamping fee at the airport (25US$ in Vietnam & US$ 30 in Cambodia paid by cash at the airport)
• Surcharge for public holidays (if any) & Compulsory dinner for Xmas and New Year Eve: TBA

Sunshine World Operator Partner: IndochinaVibes Co., LTD
Address: No 11, 21 lane, Nguyen Huy Tuong Str, Thanh Xuan Dist, Hanoi , Vietnam
Tel: +84 2438583306

Enquiries: contact us at info@sunshineworld.co.uk