Luxury Vietnam in Summer
TOUR OVERVIEW
- 13 days
- Max people: 25
- Wifi available
- May 01 - Jul 31
- Min age:
- Pickup: Airpot
Specially designed for those who desire to experience the best of everything, this itinerary will provide you with a truly luxurious, relaxing, and discovery-filled vacation.
Starting from the city of Hanoi – the heart of Vietnamese culture, you can immerse yourself in the historic and traditional atmosphere, savor the delicious local cuisine, and admire the extraordinary architecture. This will be followed by a cruise in the majestic UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay, for moments of pure relaxation surrounded by breathtaking natural landscapes.
Heading towards Central Vietnam, Hue – the ancient capital, and Hoi An – the picturesque World Heritage town, will offer you a deep insight into the beauty of Vietnamese cultural tradition. In Hoi An, you can enjoy the relaxation of the stunning beaches.
The journey will conclude in Saigon, the vibrant metropolis rich in captivating historical and cultural attractions. From Saigon, you will embark on a boat trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels to discover the history of the Vietnam War. The trip ends with a pleasant private cruise on the poetic Mekong River.
ITINERARY
Day 1Hanoi Arrival
Welcome by the guide at the airport exit (recognizable by the sign with your name) after collecting your luggage and completing customs procedures. Transfer and accommodation at the hotel will be provided. A stop is made at a Spa for an exclusive body massage after a long flight. Meals are on your own and overnight at the hotel.
Day 2Hanoi City Tour
Breakfast included at the hotel.
Appointment with 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 (only from the outside, 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. Subsequently, 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 dynasty of Emperor Ly Nam De. To conclude, you will take a cyclo (xich lo) ride for about 40 minutes around the Hoan Kiem Lake, known as the Lake of the Returned Sword, which brings to life the legend of a giant turtle and a magic sword used to drive the Chinese out of Vietnam. Additionally, you will explore the Old Quarter of Hanoi with its famous lively and vibrant alleys.
The day concludes with an exclusive Egg Coffee lesson, a famous specialty of Hanoi. 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.
Meeting at 8:30 AM with the driver at the hotel reception for the private transfer to Halong Bay (approximately 3 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, rock formations, and islets that make 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. Subsequently, you will follow the program of the cruise company.
NOTE:
- Lunch and dinner with seafood tasting on board the junk boat (included – no beverages).
- 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.
- On the junk boat, only an English-speaking guide provided by the cruise company is available.
Day 4Halong - Hanoi - Flight to Hue
6:30 AM: You can participate in the Tai-chi session at dawn on the sun deck or simply enjoy the stunning view of the bay while sipping a cup of tea or coffee.
7:00 AM: Breakfast will be served in a Western style. Time for relaxation.
10:00 AM: Brunch will be served on board while the junk boat slowly sails through the emerald-colored waters and among the numerous karst formations towards the port. You will check out from the cruise. Remember to take all your luggage with you.
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Return to the port and disembarkation at the Ha Long cruise port.
12:00 PM: You will be accompanied back to Hanoi by private car and will be taken directly to Noi Bai Airport to catch a flight to Hue. Upon arrival at Phu Bai Airport, you will be greeted by a driver in the arrivals hall. You will be provided with a transfer and accommodation at a hotel in Hue.
Note: For flights to a foreign country, you need to arrive at the airport 3 hours in advance, while for domestic flights, it is sufficient to be there 2 hours before departure. Dinner is on your own, and overnight stay will be at the hotel.
Day 5Hue City Tour
Breakfast will be served at the hotel.
You will meet our guide at the hotel reception at 8:30 AM. The day starts 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 in the city and is famous for its majestic octagonal tower and the beautiful view of the Perfume River. Afterward, you will visit the Imperial Citadel of Hue, one of the most famous vestiges of the ancient imperial city of Vietnam. The Citadel is composed 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 will be on your own at a local restaurant. The rest of the afternoon will be dedicated to a visit to the traditional village of Thuy Xuan, famous for its incense production. In this place, highly talented artists keep the precious tradition of the Vietnamese people’s soul alive. Subsequently, you will visit the royal 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 conclude with a visit to the Dong Ba Market. You will have the opportunity to explore and discover the wonders of this fascinating market. The pleasant evening will include dinner served on a private junk boat along the Perfume River (approximately from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM).
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 6Hue - Danang - Hoi An Visit
Breakfast is included at the hotel, and you will depart for the charming city of Hoi An, crossing through Da Nang. During the journey, you will cross 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,” which 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.
You will arrive in Hoi An around noon. You will have a free lunch 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 Assembly Hall, founded by a Chinese community devoted to the Goddess of the Sea, and the old Phung Hung House. You will be accommodated in a hotel for the night.
Day 7Hoi An - My Son - Relax on Beach
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, you will depart for a 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, rituals were celebrated in honor of Shiva and Vishnu. Return to Hoi An and free time by the sea.
Day 8Hoi An Relax on Beach
Free time in Hoi An (without a guide, without transfers).
Day 9Hoi An - Flight to Saigon
Free time in Hoi An.
Transfer to Da Nang Airport by private car (approximately 1 hour) to catch a flight to Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 10Saigon - Cu Chi Speedboat - City Tour
The luxury tour with the speedboat to Cu Chi is a group tour (8-12 pax)
07:00: After breakfast at the hotel, very early in the morning, the speedboat guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel and take you by car to our motorboat at the Bach Dang pier.
07:20: You will then depart from Saigon by motorboat. After 15 minutes, the riverbanks will transition from the city to the lush jungle. A light breakfast of sandwiches or pastries, fresh tropical fruit, and Vietnamese iced coffee (Ca phe sua da) will be served while your guide explains the rural traditions and aspects of life along the riverbanks.
08:50: You will arrive at the Cu Chi Tunnels site before the arrival of most large bus groups. You will watch a short ‘propaganda’ introductory video about the Cu Chi area.
09:00: You will explore the tunnel site, which includes exhibits 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 can try the local cassava root that sustained the Viet Cong fighters for years.
11:00: Enjoy a delicious traditional Vietnamese lunch along the river, consisting of fried spring rolls, chicken and beef dishes, and soup.
11:30: Say goodbye to the Cu Chi Tunnels and return to Ho Chi Minh City.
13:00: Arrival at the Bach Dang pier. The speedboat staff will take you back to your hotel by car.
Lunch of your choice at a local restaurant.
The afternoon is dedicated to a visit to the Independence Palace, formerly the headquarters 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 five-story palace houses original furnishings reflecting the 1960s and 1970s style, with a basement converted into a bunker. Afterward, you will continue your pleasant tour, heading to the pedestrian street of Nguyen Hue, where you can admire an essential landmark of the city. The Saigon Central Post Office is a beautiful 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 at the hotel.
Day 11Saigon - Mekong Song Xanh Cruise
Today, discover the Mekong Delta on a private traditional junk (maximum 4 pax/junk). Meet our guide at your hotel at 8:00 and transfer to Cai Be by car. Start the cruise from the Phu An pier at 10:00.
From the sampan, observe the life unfolding on the shore – people going about their daily activities against the backdrop of hypnotic sceneries. Along the way to Binh Minh, you will stop at various points along the river to take a look at some of the region’s cottage industries, including the production of coconut candies and puffed rice (the local equivalent of popcorn), including a visit to an ancient house in the village of Dong Hoa Hiep.
Continue in the sampan and observe the life on the shore, the people and the breathtaking landscapes from your boat. Then cross the Co Chien River, passing through picturesque villages to visit a clay pot factory. Lunch is served on board during the navigation towards Binh Minh along a narrow channel full of life. Observe the constant traffic of boats and the silent but steady activity along the banks. Enjoy the land excursions to understand how the locals make a living and make a stop to visit a Cao Dai temple.
Return to your sampan and enjoy the sunset navigation as the Song Xanh continues its course towards the Hau River. Dinner and overnight on board.
Day 12Mekong - Saigon
You wake up early at 6:00 am for a visit to the famous Cai Rang Floating Market. Witness the intense activity of the morning market as the traders offer their goods on the waterway, trying to catch the attention of potential buyers. Breakfast is served on board as the Song Xanh navigates towards the market among local barges loaded with fruits and vegetables from the Delta, creating beautiful photos.
Continue the cruise towards Victoria Can Tho and disembark at the hotel’s private pier.
You will return to Saigon in the late afternoon, thus concluding our unforgettable day in the heart of Vietnam. You will have the opportunity to freely choose where to have dinner and spend the night in a hotel.
NOTE: The best time to admire the beauty of the Cai Rang market is from 5 to 7 in the morning.
Day 13Saigon 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 wish to extend your stay in the room beyond the departure time. We wish you a safe return journey!