Highlight Vietnam 10 days
TOUR OVERVIEW
- 10 days
- Max people: 25
- Wifi available
- Jan 01 - Dec 31
- Min age:
- Pickup: Airpot
Discover the main treasures of Vietnam in this 10-day tour, a perfect synthesis for those who want to explore the best of this fascinating country.
You will start your journey in Hanoi, the lively cultural capital, then immerse yourself in the majestic beauty of Halong Bay, a UNESCO natural heritage. You will continue to the ancient capital of Hue and the picturesque Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage gem.
The tour will proceed to Saigon, where you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in history by visiting the legendary Cu Chi Tunnels and exploring the Mekong Delta on an excursion to Ben Tre.
This itinerary will give you a taste of the extraordinary diversity of Vietnam, from the lively urban atmosphere to tranquil natural oases, passing through the remnants of a glorious past. It’s an intense and emotionally rich journey, perfect for those seeking a comprehensive and fulfilling experience.
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 - Halong
Breakfast at the hotel.
Meet the driver at 8:30 AM at the hotel reception for the shared bus transfer to Halong Bay (approximately 4 hours with an intermediate stop).
Halong Bay, called the “bay where the dragon descends into the sea” in Vietnamese, is a beautiful bay with thousands of limestone islands, karst caves, sea stacks, and islets, making it a picturesque and fascinating place. Magnificent, mysterious, and majestic, Halong Bay has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1994 and is considered one of the new seven wonders of the world.
Arrival at the port is expected between 12:00-12:30 PM. Afterward, you will follow the cruise company’s program.
NOTE:
- Lunch and dinner with a seafood tasting on board the junk boat (included – no drinks).
- Overnight stay on board in a private deluxe cabin (with air conditioning and shower).
- The cruise program may be subject to changes without prior notice due to weather conditions or decisions by local authorities.
- The junk boat will only have an English-speaking guide provided by the cruise company.
Day 4Halong - 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 5Hue 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 6Hue - 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 7Hoi 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 8Saigon - 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 9Saigon - Ben Tre - Saigon
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. Return to Saigon.
You will have the opportunity to dine freely and take time to explore the city or simply relax.
Day 10Saigon Departure
Breakfast at the hotel.
You will have free time in Saigon until the time of the transfer to the airport without the presence of a guide. Please note that the room will be available until 12:00 PM. Please let us know in advance if you would like to extend your stay in the room beyond the departure time. We wish you a safe journey back!