VIETNAM SIGNATURE is a sellected itinerary of Vietnam’s most famous sights. starting in Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, you will discover a city rooted in ancient traditions yet increasingly embracing modern lifestyles. A full day city tour introduces the most famous destinations in Hanoi, continues with an excursion to Ha Long Bay. You will have memorial minutes to explore hidden caves and treasures of Ha Long Bay. You explore one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites with our Hue and Hoian.  Start with a boat cruise along the Perfume River and witness the 21 meter Thien Mu Pagoda. Next on this Vietnam tour is a visit to the ruins of the Imperial Citadel, the tomb of Khai Dinh and the Mausoleum of Tu Duc. Enjoy renowned Central Vietnamese, the next day  continue to explore  Hoi An Essential tour, experience an 18th century town that survived into the present day. You can easily explore the town by foot and visit a Chinese meeting hall, colorful markets and a traditional shipbuilding yard. Tour continues with one of Asia’s most dynamic cities with many famous destinations in HoChiMinh city as Cuchi tunnel and Mekong Delta.. This is a great opportunity to see the best of Vietnam.

ITINERARY IN BRIEF

  DAY 1:     HANOI ARRIVAL
DAY 2:     HANOI     
DAY 3:     HANOI – HA LONG
DAY 4:     HA LONG – HANOI – HUE
DAY 5:     HUE
DAY 6:     HUE – DA NANG – HOIAN
DAY 7:     HOI AN – MY SON                       
DAY 8:     HOI AN – SAIGON                
DAY 9:    SAIGON – CU CHI TUNNEL    
DAY 10:     SAIGON – MY THO
DAY 11:     SAIGON – DEPARTURE

DAY 1: HANOI ARRIVAL

On arrival at Noi Bai Airport, welcome to Vietnam by our guide and transferred to hotel for check in. Hanoi, Vietnam's capital, 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. Depending on arrival time optional activities can be arranged on this day.

Overnight Stay at hotel in Hanoi

DAY 2: HANOI     

Morning, we enjoy a full day city tour starting with the 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. This complex  also comprises the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the foundation of city. We follow this with a trip to the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam. After lunch, continue city tour to visit Hanoi Opera, Hoan Kiem lake and Ngoc Son temple, enjoy the famous Vietnamese traditional art of water puppetry at Thang Long Theatre then take an hour Cyclo ride around the trading area take an hour Cyclo ride around the trading area..

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight Stay at hotel in Hanoi

DAY 3: HANOI - HA LONG

08:00     Our guide and driver pick you up from hotel, transfer to Ha Long via vehicle  (160km driving one way - 3.5hrs drive). This will be your first opportunity to see some of the rural areas of Vietnam. The drive goes through the Red River delta, so we'll have plenty of chance for taking photo of Vietnamese farmers tilling the vast green paddy field. At half way, we will have a visit to a handicraft workshop with fine clothes and embroidered paintings. With a quick rest stop en route, you will reach Ha Long City. Arrival in Ha Long at 11:30 (Depending on your choice of junk)
12h15:     Check-in registration, Boarding on Junk. Welcome drink is served
13h00:     Have lunch board
13h30:     A fantastic cruise in Ha Long bay, visit Dinh Huong island, Ga Choi island, Dog island, Sail island, visit Sung Sot cave and a swim at Titov beach.
17h30:     Relax and enjoy sunset
19h30:     Enjoy dinner on board.
21h00:     Fishing or relax and spending a night on board.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight Stay on Huong Hai Junk or similar in Halong

DAY 4: HA LONG - HANOI - HUE(FLIGHT)

Early risers can enjoy a morning view of Bay's landscapes. Sitting on the upper desk we can enjoy the breath - taking beauty of the rocky islands rising from the crystal-clear water of the Bay. We can hear the birds singing, cicadas chirping ashore and the gentle lapping of the waves against our boat, the perfect soundtrack to accompany the fresh air and  gentle breeze.

7:00     Have breakfast
7:30     A morning cruise to visit Man's head island. Tortoise island. Visit to Bai Tu Long bay.
10:00     Arrange luggage and check out then have lunch on boat.
11:45     Arrive at the pier.
Our guide and driver pick you up and transfer to Noi Bai airport for flight to Hue.
After 1 hour flight, we arrive at Phu Bai airport-Hue. You will be welcomes by our tour guide and driver. Transfer to Hue city center for check-in.

Meals: Brunch
Overnight Stay at hotel in Hanoi

 

DAY 5: HUE

 Morning, transfer to visit Hue Citadel - Vietnam’s former imperial capital and recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. With an area of 500ha and a system of three circles of ramparts, namely from outside to inside: Kinh Thanh Hue (Hue Capital Citadel), Hoang Thanh (Royal Citadel) and Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden Citadel) and Khai Dinh Tomb _ In comparison with those of the preceding emperors, it is very elaborate. It is the result of the interminglement of many architectural trends: European and Asian, as well as ancient and modern. Stop at Dong Ba market for shopping.
Afternoon, we cruise along the Perfume River. Being the former royal capital, Hue's surrounding countryside contains several of the tombs of the former Nguyen Emperors to visit Minh Mang Tomb. Back to the Perfume River to visit the Thien Mu Pagoda, It is an active Buddhist monastery with its origins dating back to 1601.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight Stay at hotel in Hue

 

DAY 6: HUE - DA NANG - HOI AN

Morning, leave Hue we drive south to Hoian which was originally a Cham seaport but has been influenced down the centuries by a myriad of traders from various cultures. The scenic road is hugging the coastline before crossing over the winding Hai Van pass. A view from the top of the pass is one of Vietnam’s most impressive panoramic scenes. We stop en route to visit the Cham Museum in Danang City, the China Beach and the Marble Mountain, whose peaks represent the five elements of the universe.
Arrival Hoian, check in hotel then take city tour to visit  the ancient architecture of Hoian is a fascinating combination of Vietnamese traditional characters with Chinese and Japanese influence. There are  plenty to see in this delightful town, some of which are  the famous Japanese Covered Bridges, the Pottery Museum, the 200 years old Tamky House, the Chua Ong Pagoda, the vibrant market. Today we include these on a walking tour past many low tiled houses scattered along the small streets and assembly halls which reflect the town's multi-cultural past.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight Stay at hotel in Hoian

DAY 7: HOI AN - MY SON

 Morning, transfer to visit My Son Holy Land - Vietnam's most important Cham’s site. In 1999 it was named a UNESCO World Heritage site. My son becomes a religious center in the late 4th century and lasts till 13th century – a longest period of development of any monument in Southeast Asia. My son is considered to be Champa’s counterpart to the grand cities of Southeast Asia’s other Indian – influenced civilizations: Angkor (Cambodia), Ayuthaya (Thailand) or Borobudur (Java).
Afternoon, free at leisure for sightseeing and relaxing at Cua Dai Beach or shopping in the central of town.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight Stay at hotel in Hoian

DAY 8: HOI AN - DA NANG - SAIGON (FLIGHT 1HR)

Morning, free at leisure until transfer to airport for flight to Hochiminh by ...
Arrival Hochiminh, meet our guide at airport and transfer to hotel for check in.
Afternoon, we will take a halfday Sai Gon city tour: Visit Reunification Palace which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975 and War Remnant Museum – contains countless artifacts, photographs, and pictures documenting American war crimes Such documents illustrate the killing of civilians, speading of chemicals, torturing of prisisoners, and the effects of the war on the north.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight Stay at hotel in Saigon

 

DAY 9: SAIGON - CU CHI TUNNELS

Morning, drive to visit Cu Chi Tunnels, Cu Chi was an important base during the American War, because of its strategic location. The Vietcong built a 200km long network of tunnels connecting command posts, hospitals, shelter and weapon factories. Dug out of hard laterite by hand tools without the use of cement, this amazing network was never discovered.
Drive back Hochiminh, we continue to visit Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Sai Gon Post Office , former US Embassy, City Hall, China Town and the Emperor Jade Pagoda (Phuoc Hai), one of the most interesting pagodas in Vietnam. End of the day we concludes with a stroll through the famous Ben Thanh Market, whose clock tower over the main entrance to what was formerly known as Les Halles Centrale is the symbol of Saigon. Opened first in 1914, it features one-way aisles loaded with people clamoring to sell you cheap goods (T-shirts, aluminum wares, silk, bamboo, and lacquer) and postcards.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight Stay at hotel in Saigon

 

DAY 10: HOCHIMINH - MY THO

 Today we take an excursion to My Tho.  We will be traveling past miles of flat rice fields, along a bustling High Way. On arrival at My Tho, we embark on a boat to Thoi Son Island where we will be entertained with traditional music.  We will then change to a paddle boat to cruise through the narrow canals and visit home grown industries like coconut candy and rice-wine making. We next travel by motorized boat to another Mekong island to visit a bee farm and try tea with fresh honey from the beehives and enjoy fresh seasonal fruits, which is a great way to observe the local lifestyle close-up and catch a view dotted by many islands. As we return to My Tho there will be a visit to the Vinh Trang Pagoda. Drive back Hochiminh city, free at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight Stay at hotel in Saigon

 

DAY 11: SAIGON - DEPARTURE

Today, free at leisure until transfer to airport for departure flight…
Meals: Breakfast

Price Include:

• 9nights accommodations at 3 stars standard hotel with daily breakfast based on twin sharing
• One night accommodation on board in Halong based on twin sharing
• Domestic airfare for flight from Hanoi – Hue / Danang – Saigon
• Private transportation with English speaking guide.
• Private boat for sightseeing as stated in the program.
• Entrances fees + sightseeing as indicated.
• Vietnamese food as mentioned in the program
• Gov’t tax and service charge.
• Mineral water is available (free)
• Vietnam Visa Approval letter (free)
• Vietnam Traditional Gift (free)

Price Exclude:

• Visa on arrival, Insurance, drinks, personal expenses, others not mentioned in details, tips are welcome!
• Surcharge for booking during Chinese New Years from 20 – 30 Jan 2012: US$ 15/ pax/ day
• Surcharge for Compulsory dinner for Xmas and New Year Eve