Vietnam Vacation Tour 16 Days 15 Nights ( VN16 )

Hello! Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

• Upon arrival, your tour guide and driver will be waiting to meet you and your family at the arrival lounge, holding up a welcome sign with your name on it and taking you straight to your hotel in the city center.
• After checking in, you will be free to relax and enjoy the view of Saigon, your tour guide will introduce your and your family’s tour schedule, you will visit the Vietnamese culinary training facility, enjoy local food.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

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Morning: After breakfast, your guide will pick you up and take you to Cu Chi, located in the northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, famous for its deep tunnel network and memorable historical site.

• Upon arrival, you will watch the original documentary footage, then walk through the reserve with its network of Viet Cong tunnels housing accommodation, storage rooms, temporary hospitals and kitchens…etc. Although initially very narrow, some sections have been opened to tourists and you will have the opportunity to explore some parts of the system.
• Try some of the staple food of the Viet Cong soldiers, including cassava served with sour tea. Then, the vehicle will take you back to the city.

Afternoon: You will visit some of the main highlights of Ho Chi Minh City. We recommend visiting the Notre Dame Cathedral, the ornate City Hall (Hotel De Ville), the old Opera House, the historic Rex Hotel, the Central Post Office, famous for its architecture, and Ben Thanh Market, where vendors display a wide range of goods and handicrafts, appealing to all tastes.

• Then, stop at the Reunification Palace and the War Remnants Museum to learn about Vietnam’s military history and turbulent past.
• Visit the atmospheric Jade Emperor Pagoda before ending the day in style with a sunset cocktail atop the Bitexco Financial Tower, Vietnam’s tallest building.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

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Morning: After breakfast, your guide and driver will take you to Ben Tre Town in the Mekong Delta, famous for its vast rice fields, many waterways and beautiful landscapes.

• After a two-hour drive you will arrive in Ben Tre, you will board a motorboat to go through the canals, coconut forests, you will stop and experience the life of the people here, and learn about their crafts that have been passed down through generations.
• Take a relaxing stroll along the village roads, visit local houses to taste fresh fruits, enjoy delicious honey tea while enjoying a traditional musical performance, visit another workshop, where local coconut candy and many products from coconut shells and coconut fibers are handmade.
• Take a boat trip through small canals shaded by palm trees, gently glide along the hidden waterways surrounded by tropical plants. The quiet countryside scenery is a place for relaxation.
• Enjoy riding on the back of a rickshaw, passing through villages, rice paddies, coconut forests and lush fruit orchard farms while meeting the locals.

Afternoon: After the tour, your guide will take you to a riverside restaurant for lunch featuring local specialties, then return to the pier and drive back to Ho Chi Minh City.

• In the evening, you will be free to explore the night market to discover authentic local cuisine or simply enjoy a cocktail at the rooftop bar of the historic Rex Hotel.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

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Morning: After breakfast and check out, the driver will pick you up at the hotel and take you to the airport for a short flight to Tuy Hoa, a coastal city on the South Central Coast of Vietnam.

• Arrive at Tuy Hoa airport, the driver will pick you up and take you to the tropical island resort Whale Island, located along the beautiful white sand beach of Van Phong Bay.
• After a 1.5 hour drive, you will arrive at the Pier to board a 20-minute boat to Whale Island Resort on the Island for check-in. Whale Island Resort is an idyllic tropical paradise. The resort can accommodate all guests in private bungalows, double rooms, family rooms or connecting rooms, with sea views, each bungalow has a private bathroom, fan and bed equipped with mosquito nets.

Afternoon: You are free to relax, or swim in the sea.

Overnight at Whale Island

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Relax with your family, or go snorkeling, then explore the coral reef near Whale Island. The trip includes lunch and a visit to a local fishing village and Whale Temple.

Overnight at Whale Island

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Relax and unwind on the beach. If you want to get active, you can rent snorkeling gear, kayaks, canoes or catamarans from the beach hut. On request, one of the water sports staff can advise you on how to use the equipment or even take you around the island.

Overnight at Whale Island

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Morning: After breakfast, you will be picked up and transferred back to Tuy Hoa Airport to catch a flight to Da Nang in central Vietnam.

Afternoon: Upon arrival at Da Nang Airport, you will be picked up by a tour guide and transferred to the hotel in Hoi An to check in and relax.

Overnight in Hoi An

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Morning: Enjoy a late breakfast and free time to explore the sights

Afternoon: Your tour guide will pick you up and take you to Hoi An Ancient Town, where you will walk to visit destinations such as Ong Pagoda, Tan Ky Ancient House, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall and Japanese Covered Bridge.

• Visit the Precious Heritage Museum, where the Precious Heritage Collection of Réhahn is permanently displayed, and admire the rich collection of cultural paintings of ethnic groups
• Visit the Reaching Out Teahouse, a small oasis of welcome peace in the bustling Old Town, owned and operated by deaf and mute people. Here, you will enjoy delicious cakes and oriental tea.
• Visit the house of a lantern artisan, where you can observe the artisan’s lantern-making techniques before practicing each stage of making lanterns under the guidance of enthusiastic craftsmen: from bending the lantern into the frame, cutting and gluing the fabric, to completing the lantern. Before the end of the tour, you will have your own handmade lantern.
• Explore Hoi An street food with your guide, you will enjoy dishes with local people at the stalls. At 4pm every day, Hoi An streets are filled with countless street food carts, stalls and street vendors. The street food tour is a great opportunity for you to enjoy some Hoi An specialties prepared by local people.

Overnight in Hoi An

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Morning: After breakfast, your private guide will pick you up for a cycling tour around the peaceful Cam Kim Island. This car-free island is ideal for cycling.

(Note: if you do not know how to ride a bike, please use our “XE OM” scooter service for a small additional fee)

• From the hotel, you will be given a short cycling test. The first part starts with a 13 km (8 miles) ride on small paved roads. Cycle through palm forests, bridges and buffalo fields. Ride along the country roads at a peaceful pace to enjoy the scenery and experience life with the local people.
• When you arrive in Tra Nhieu, you will start to explore the village, rowing a boat around the village and stopping to see the locals making sleeping mats by hand. Then, a local family will welcome you, you will learn how to cook and enjoy lunch with the locals.

Afternoon: After lunch, you will visit a fishing village and join the fishermen in casting their nets to catch fish, shrimp and crabs. Then, continue cycling for another 3km (1.8 miles) to the other side of the island, visiting Kim Bong carpentry village, famous for its shipbuilding and traditional woodworking products. Along the riverbank, there are craftsmen living.

• Wander around the many workshops, chat with the friendly craftsmen and simply admire the art of visiting some local houses to observe how people make rice wine, rice noodles and rice paper.

At the end of the tour, return to the hotel where you are free to relax for the rest of the day.

Overnight in Hoi An

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Today, you will have the opportunity to experience the most scenic railway route in Vietnam from Hue to Da Nang.

Morning: After breakfast, your guide will pick you up at your hotel and take you to Da Nang Railway Station to catch the daytime train (soft seat with air conditioning) to Hue. The 3-hour train will travel through the picturesque countryside, winding through the spectacular Hai Van Pass (Sea of ​​Clouds Pass) and then around the mountainside as you travel along the stunning coastline.

• Arrive at Hue Railway Station and transfer to your hotel for check-in. Enjoy your stay.

Afternoon: Your guide will take you on a tour of the ancient Citadel to enjoy the fresh air built in the early 19th century, including the former Royal Palace and the Forbidden City. The original walls stretched for 10 km and were surrounded by a wide moat. The bombing during the Vietnam War destroyed most of the buildings, but the remaining relics still show the court life of the Nguyen Dynasty, the last feudal dynasty of Vietnam.

• Leaving the Imperial City, you will visit the morning of Hue people, kite flying, a popular activity in Hue. Except for rainy days, you can see hundreds of kites flying in the sky of the Imperial City every afternoon.
• The tour guide will take you to visit the traditional Hue kite village, you will meet Mr. Cu, a third-generation kite maker and director of the ‘Kite Flying Club’ in Hue, making and decorating kites. With his support, you will draw and assemble yourself to create a traditional kite – Dong Noi Kite. When finished, you can keep the kite as a souvenir.
• Visit Dong Ba Market located along the north bank of the Perfume River. You will discover a Noddle shop that Anthony Bourdain – World famous chef and TV producer loved. Taste the best Bun Bo Hue “Sú Bun Hue”.

Return to the hotel in the evening, where you will spend the rest of the day relaxing.

Overnight in Hue

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In the morning, you will continue to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hue.

• Your guide and driver will take you to the pier to take a dragon boat on the Perfume River. During the boat trip, you will stop to visit Thien Mu Pagoda. Explore the pagoda’s landscaped gardens, seven-storey octagonal tower and watch monks chanting sutras.
• You will travel to the outskirts to visit Minh Mang Tomb, a majestic complex of courtyards, communal houses and temples set in a stunning natural setting.
• Visit Uu Dam Orphanage, which is home to 50 orphans of all ages. Learn more about their daily activities and efforts to care for the children. Chat with the children to understand their school life and their dreams, before teaching them basic English or joining them in some games. Prepare a vegetarian lunch for the children and eat lunch with them.

Afternoon: Visit the only ancient arena in Vietnam “Tigers Arena” which is dedicated to the battles between elephants and tigers. Most of the time, it is held to serve the fun of the royal family and local people.

• Arrive at Hue Airport, take a short flight to Hanoi, upon arrival, the tour guide and driver will pick you up and take you to the hotel in the Old Quarter to check in. Spend the rest of the evening relaxing.

Overnight in Hanoi

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You will take a Jeep tour, enjoy the sights, sounds and flavors of Hanoi on an open-air wartime Jeep. This promises to be a unique experience.

• After breakfast, the tour guide and driver will pick you up at the hotel lobby, you will hear an introduction to the Hanoi Jeep tour schedule, you will explore the REAL HANOI with a day of experiencing life, going through small streets, small alleys, local houses, schools, markets, experiencing the lives of local people.
• You will pass by & stop at places such as Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum – The Holy Land of Vietnamese people, Tran Quoc Pagoda & 1000-year-old Toast Pagoda, Temple of Literature, historic Chinatown, charming French Quarter, bustling Old Quarter, West Lake, Hanoi Opera House & famous Long Bien Bridge…
• You will come to peaceful & charming suburban villages around West Lake & Truc Bach Lake in the harmony of life between the city center and the suburbs.
• You will stop at restaurants, eateries and food stalls to enjoy delicious Hanoi dishes including traditional dishes, local delicacies and specialties.
• The tour will end at the hotel after noon. The rest of the day is free for you to explore this beautiful city as you wish. You can even visit the traditional water puppet show, folk tales performed by skillful puppeteers.

Overnight in Hanoi

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Morning: After breakfast, your guide will pick you up and take you by private car for a two-hour drive to the picturesque village of Ngoc Hoa in Hai Duong province.

• Upon arrival, you will be warmly welcomed by your host family with a cup of tea, you will change into traditional Vietnamese farmer’s clothes, bring your working tools, including a shovel and rake, and walk with water buffalo to the rice fields. Here, you will learn how to perform some agricultural activities.
• Return to the local family’s house to prepare lunch. You will pick fresh vegetables from the garden, prepare all the ingredients and cook lunch under the guidance of your host. You will be surprised at how well you did when you enjoy the food you prepared for lunch.

Afternoon: Take a leisurely bike ride along the village roads to see the village from up close and interact with the friendly villagers. You will see beautiful villages and warm-hearted locals. You will also visit the Ca Temple, an ancient temple that represents the history and spirit of Ngoc Hoa Village.

Note: if you do not like bicycles, we can replace them with motorbikes, you can sit in the back. The tour takes place in the village so there will be no traffic at all.

• Return to the local people’s house. You will row a bamboo boat with the local people, Learn how to fish with nets with the fishermen, the spectacular river, with its banks lined with lychee trees, will give you great photo opportunities.
• Saying goodbye to your host family, you will drive a short distance to Stork Island, in Thanh Mien Commune. The island is located in the middle of a large natural lake and is home to flocks of storks and herons and many different species of birds such as pelicans and teal ducks. Take a boat closer to the island to see the birds closer but do not walk.
• At the end of the tour, you will return to Hanoi. End your tour at the hotel around 17:00. Spend the evening at your leisure. Pack for an overnight trip to Lan Ha Bay tomorrow.

Overnight in Hanoi

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Morning: After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the port city of Hai Phong, where you board a Junk Boat for an evening of relaxation.

• At around noon, you will board a boat, each of which will begin its journey around Lan Ha Bay. Located south and east of Cat Ba Island, Lan Ha Bay’s approximately 300 karst islands and limestone outcrops are beautiful.
• After checking in, you will enjoy a delicious Vietnamese lunch and take in the stunning panoramic views. Relax on the deck or private balcony and soak up the peaceful atmosphere.

Afternoon: The Junk Boat will take you past Con Vit and Gia Luan islands, limestone formations (limestone formations) that rise from the bay.

• In the late afternoon, you will arrive at the shore of a small lagoon on Cat Ba Island, cycling (electric cars are also available) along the small paved roads to Viet Hai village. Located in Cat Ba National Park and surrounded by forests and mountains. Here you will have the opportunity to meet the local residents, learn about the fruits and vegetables grown in the valley, try some homemade wine with the locals.
• Return to the Junk boat to watch the chef’s cooking demonstration. Learn about local ingredients as well as how to prepare classic Vietnamese dishes.

Evening: you will arrive at a quiet anchorage for the night, you can soak up the memories of the day’s adventures with a cocktail under the stars.

• After a sumptuous dinner, you can relax at the bar with a digestif, watch a movie in the cinema or have fun squid fishing before retiring to your room.

Overnight on board in Lan Ha Bay

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Morning: Wake up early and join a Tai Chi session on the deck to relax and watch the sunrise, enjoy coffee, tea and breakfast pastries waiting for you in the dining room to start your day.

• The Junk weighs anchor and heads towards Frog Lake, a secluded spot, where you can enjoy a refreshing “bay swim” or explore this charming seascape by kayak. The cliffs rise vertically out of the water and the small islands are covered with trees.
• Return to the Junk to check out. Then, enjoy a full breakfast buffet as you sail back to the pier.

Afternoon: Return to Got Pier in Hai Phong City, your private driver is waiting for you and will take you back to Hanoi.

• After checking into your hotel, spend the rest of the day at leisure. Stroll around the Old Quarter or visit Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple, a short walk from the hotel. They are beautifully lit up at night.

Overnight in Hanoi

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Your private transfer greets you at the hotel after breakfast and escorts you to Hanoi International Airport where you board your flight home or travel on to more adventures, we will help you with the planning.

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