Charming Vietnam 12 days
TOUR OVERVIEW
- 12 days
- Max people: 25
- Wifi available
- Jan 01 - Dec 31
- Min age:
- Pickup: Airpot
Charming Vietnam: 12-Day Hanoi to Saigon Tour | Jem Travel
Prepare for a truly unique Vietnamese experience on this 12-day tour that will take you through the country’s major wonders.
You will start your journey in Hanoi, the vibrant cultural capital, then explore Ninh Binh, known as the “Halong Bay on land,” and the majestic Halong Bay, a UNESCO natural heritage site. Here, you will be enchanted by the breathtaking landscapes.
Continue to the ancient capital of Hue and the picturesque Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage gem, before reaching the dynamic Saigon. Here, you will have the opportunity to delve into history by visiting the legendary Cu Chi Tunnels.
The tour will conclude with an excursion to the Mekong Delta, exploring Can Tho and its floating markets, for an immersion into the tranquil Vietnamese rural life.
This itinerary will offer you a truly fascinating experience, combining the main cultural and natural attractions of Vietnam with an immersion in local reality, in a balanced mix of activities and unforgettable experiences.
ITINERARY
Day 1Hanoi Arrival
Meet and greet by the driver (without a guide) at the airport exit (recognizable by the sign with your name) after you have collected your luggage and completed immigration procedures. You will be transferred and checked in at the hotel.
The rooms will be available starting from 2:00 PM. Early check-in is not included, but can be requested for an additional fee.
The rest of the day will be at your leisure (guide, transportation, and visits are not included).
Day 2Hanoi City Tour
Breakfast is included at the hotel.
Meet our guide at the hotel reception at 8:30 AM. The guide will accompany you to visit the Ethnography Museum, which offers a unique opportunity to explore the cultural richness of the numerous ethnic groups present in the Vietnamese territory. After the museum visit, you will head to the Temple of Literature (Quoc Tu Giam), considered the first national university of Vietnam. It was built under the Ly dynasty in the 11th century and served as a place of worship for Confucius and a school for the education of royal children.
You will have a free lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, you will visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (exterior only, as it is closed on Mondays and Fridays) and take a pleasant stroll through the botanical gardens. You will also visit the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house, where he lived and worked. Then, we will reach Ba Dinh Square, the place where Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence of Vietnam from the French in 1945. Afterward, you will visit the One Pillar Pagoda, considered one of the most important symbols of the city.
Finally, you will visit the Tran Quoc Pagoda, which dates back to the 6th century during the reign of Emperor Ly Nam De. Lastly, you will take a cyclo (xich lo) ride for about 40 minutes around Hoan Kiem Lake, known as the Lake of the Returned Sword, which brings to life the legend of a giant turtle and a magical sword used to drive the Chinese out of Vietnam. You will also explore the Old Quarter of Hanoi with its famous lively and vibrant streets.
The day will conclude with a water puppet show, which tells the daily life, culture, and beliefs of the Vietnamese people through the captivating water puppets. The tour will end around 6:00-6:30 PM.
Dinner will be on your own, and you will spend the night in a hotel in Hanoi.
Day 3Hanoi - Ninh Binh
Breakfast at the Hotel.
Meeting with our guide at the hotel reception at 08:30. Transfer to Ninh Binh, a place rich in historical, cultural, religious, and natural wonders. During the journey, you will cross the Red River Delta, where you will have the opportunity to make a brief stop to admire the beauty of the area.
Upon arrival in Hoa Lu, the former capital of Vietnam from the 9th to the 10th century, you will visit the temples dedicated to Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang of the Dinh dynasty (968-980) and Emperor Le Dai Hanh of the Le dynasty (980-1009), who played a fundamental role in obtaining the country’s independence after a thousand years of Chinese rule.
Lunch will be at your leisure at a local restaurant.
The next stop will be Tam Coc, also known as “”Halong on land,”” which appeared in the famous French film “”Indochina.”” Upon arrival at the pier, you will board a private rowing boat for a ninety-minute cruise along the Ngo Dong River. You will pass through three caves and admire a beautiful landscape dotted with small villages, rice fields, cemeteries, and temples.
The tour will then continue to Bich Dong (closed around 4:30-5:00 PM), a typical pagoda located in the Red River Delta countryside, built in the 15th century. Upon arrival, you will cross a stone bridge to reach Chua Ha and from there, more than 100 steps will lead you to Chua Trung – the cave pagoda housing unique clay statues. Subsequently, you will walk up to Chua Thuong. In this place, you will not only have the opportunity to learn about Buddhism but also enjoy an incredible panoramic view of the surrounding countryside. The tour will end around 6:00-6:30 PM.
Dinner will be at your leisure, and you will spend the night at a hotel in Ninh Binh.
Day 4Ninh Binh - Halong
Breakfast at the Hotel.
The scheduled meeting is at 07:30 at the hotel reception with the driver for the private transfer to Halong Bay or the shared transfer via the cruise company’s bus to Halong (about 4 hours with a short intermediate break).
Halong Bay, known as “where the dragon descends into the sea” in Vietnamese, is a charming bay with thousands of limestone islands, karst caves, cliffs, and islets that make it a picturesque and fascinating place. Wonderful, mysterious, and majestic, Halong Bay was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994 and is considered one of the new seven wonders of the world. Arrival at the port will be around 12:00-12:30. The cruise company’s program will follow.
Please note:
- Lunch and dinner with a selection of seafood served on board the junk (beverages not included).
- Overnight stay in a private deluxe cabin on board the junk (equipped with air conditioning and shower).
- The cruise program may be subject to change without notice due to weather conditions or decisions of local authorities.
- There is only one English-speaking guide provided by the cruise company on board.
Day 5Halong - Hanoi - Flight to Hue
06:30: You can participate in the Tai-chi session at dawn on the solarium terrace or simply enjoy the stunning view of the bay while sipping a cup of tea or coffee.
07:00: Breakfast will be served in a Western style, to provide you with the necessary energy to tackle a new day of exploration in the bay. During breakfast, you can admire the enchanting panorama that will give you the right energy to face new adventures.
08:00-10:00: Scheduled activities from the junk
10:00: Brunch will be served on board as the Sena Cruise – Luxury Boutique Cruise slowly sails through the emerald-colored waters and through the numerous karst formations towards the port. You will check out from the cruise. Remember to take all your luggage with you.
11:30-12:00: Return to the port and disembark at the Ha Long cruise port.
12:00: Return to Hanoi by junk bus (about 3 hours). A stop will be made at the Aeon Long Bien Shopping Center, where you will be greeted by a private car that will take you directly to Noi Bai Airport to take a flight to Hue. Once you arrive at Phu Bai Airport, you will be met by a driver in the arrivals hall. You will be provided with a transfer and hotel accommodation in Hue.
Day 6Hue City Tour
Breakfast is served at the hotel.
You will meet with our guide at the hotel reception at 8:30 AM. The day begins with a visit to the Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the oldest pagodas in Hue, dating back to 1601. This pagoda is considered an important spiritual site of the city and is famous for its majestic octagonal tower and the beautiful view of the Perfume River. Afterward, you will visit the Hue Citadel, which is one of the most famous relics of the ancient imperial city of Vietnam. The Citadel consists of three distinct parts: the capital city, the imperial city, and the forbidden city, known respectively as Kinh Thanh, Hoang Thanh, and Cam Thanh.
Lunch is at your own expense at a local restaurant. The rest of the afternoon will be dedicated to visiting the traditional village of Thuy Xuan, famous for its incense production. In this place, highly talented artists keep alive the precious tradition of the Vietnamese people’s soul. Subsequently, you will visit the imperial tomb of Tu Duc, a monument that best represents the architecture of the Nguyen dynasty and one of the most extraordinary constructions of the 19th century. The day will end with a visit to the Dong Ba Market. You will have the opportunity to explore and discover the wonders of this fascinating market.
Dinner is at your own expense, and overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 7Hue - Danang - Hoi An Visit
Breakfast is included at the hotel, and you will depart towards the picturesque city of Hoi An, crossing through Da Nang. During the journey, you will have the opportunity to visit the Hai Van Pass, which represents the geographical, climatic, and cultural boundary between Northern and Southern Vietnam. You will make a brief stop to admire Da Nang from above, including the famous “China Beach” that stretches for over 30 km. In Da Nang, you will visit the Cham Museum, which houses the richest collection of archaeological artifacts from the ancient Cham Empire, including magnificent works of great importance belonging to this ancient people.
Arrival in Hoi An around noon. Lunch is at your own expense at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to visit the old town, which includes the famous 17th-century Japanese Bridge, the Fukien Temple, founded by a Chinese community devoted to the Goddess of the Sea, and the Phung Hung ancient house. You will check in to the hotel for the night.
Day 8Hoi An - Flight to Saigon
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, departure for the visit to My Son, one of the best examples of Hindu civilization in Vietnam. This site is known as the ancient “Holy City” of the Champa Kingdom, which was contemporary and rival of the Angkor Empire. It has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. My Son is located in a magnificent rocky amphitheater, covered by dense and wild vegetation, where the Cham rulers built their brick and sandstone sanctuaries between the 6th and 14th centuries. Here, for centuries, rites in honor of Shiva and Vishnu have been celebrated. Return to Hoi An.
Lunch of your choice at a local restaurant.
Transfer to Da Nang Airport by private car (about 1 hour) to catch a flight to Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 9Saigon -Cu Chi Tunnel - City Tour
08:00/08.30 After breakfast, departure for Cu Chi. You will arrive at the Cu Chi Tunnels site before the arrival of most of the large bus groups. You will watch a short ‘propagandistic’ introductory video on the Cu Chi area.
09:00: You will explore the tunnel site, which includes displays of weapons and traps, navigate through authentic Viet Cong tunnels, visit various underground bunkers (kitchens, meeting rooms, ammunition, etc.), a shooting position, and much more. You will be able to try the local cassava root that sustained the Viet Cong fighters for years.
11:00: Enjoy a delicious traditional Vietnamese lunch by the river, consisting of fried spring rolls, chicken and beef dishes, and soup.
11:30: Return to Ho Chi Minh City. Free lunch.
The afternoon is dedicated to visiting the Independence Palace, formerly the residence of the Presidents of South Vietnam. During our visit, you will have the opportunity to admire the North Vietnamese tank that in 1975 crossed the threshold of the presidential palace, putting an end to the controversial Vietnam War. The palace, which is spread over five floors, houses original furnishings that reflect the style of the 1960s and 1970s, with a basement converted into a bunker. Afterwards, you will continue the pleasant tour by heading to Nguyen Hue pedestrian street, where you can admire an essential landmark of the city. The Saigon Central Post Office is a magnificent building designed by the famous architect Gustave Eiffel. The rest of the day will be at your disposal to visit the most famous market in the city, the Ben Thanh Market, which has been open since 1870. Dinner will be on your own, and we will spend the night in a hotel.
Day 10Saigon - Ben Tre - Can Tho
Breakfast is served at the hotel.
You will meet our guide at the hotel reception at 08:30. During the morning, you will head towards Ben Tre, a beautiful region located in the Mekong Delta, famous for its coconut candy production. Once you arrive at the Phong Nam Bridge, you will take a boat trip along the Ben Tre River to discover the local daily life. Along the channel, you will visit a brickyard to observe how bricks are produced according to tradition, as well as one of the many workshops dedicated to the processing of coconut, where you will have the opportunity to taste fresh coconut and observe how every part of this fruit is transformed into derived products. You will continue the boat tour to the village of Nhon Thanh. Here you will have the chance to taste fresh fruit. Afterwards, you will take a bicycle ride (or a tuk-tuk) along a path that crosses the villages, enjoying the view of the coconut plantations, rice fields, and surrounding gardens.
Free lunch at a small local restaurant. A short walk will allow you to immerse yourself more deeply into the local life. Afterwards, you can take a boat ride on the narrow channel, shaded by wild palm trees.
You will transfer to Can Tho. Dinner will be at your leisure, and overnight accommodation will be at the hotel.
Day 11Can Tho - Saigon
The day starts with a delicious breakfast at the hotel, followed by a thrilling boat trip to the famous Cai Rang floating market, the largest and most vibrant in the Mekong Delta. The atmosphere there is filled with a multitude of colors and scents, creating an exhilarating ambiance. Hundreds of sampan boats, laden with products such as rice, fruits, and artisanal items, crowd the market from the early hours of the morning, ready to be sold by the merchants.
After leaving the market, you will continue your adventure by boat through picturesque canals and make a stop to visit a fascinating fruit garden. On the way back to Saigon, there will be a stop at the ancient Binh Thuy house, renowned for its beautiful orchid garden which served as the backdrop for the film “The Lover”.
You will return to Saigon in the late afternoon, concluding our unforgettable day in the heart of Vietnam. You will have the freedom to choose where to dine and spend the night at the hotel.
Note: The best time to admire the beauty of the Cai Rang market is from 5 to 7 in the morning.
Day 12Saigon Departure
Breakfast at the hotel.
You will have free time in Saigon until the transfer to the airport without the presence of a guide. Please note that the room will be available until 12:00. Kindly inform us in advance if you wish to extend your stay in the room beyond the departure time. We wish you a safe journey back!
