Itinerary

Day 1 Hanoi

Hanoi is nestled on the banks of the Red River, it is a beautiful city that retains an air of French colonial elegance with pretty yellow stucco buildings lining leafy streets. Hanoi is also a city of lakes, which adds to its air of sleepy grace. In the middle of the city lies the peaceful Hoan Kiem Lake with the 18th-century Ngoc Son Temple sitting on an island in its center. To the north of Hoan Kiem Lake is the Old Quarter, a fascinating maze of small antiquated streets lined with markets and pavement restaurants and cafes. Also worth a visit, the former Ville Française was the old French administrative center and is characterized by enormous colonial-era châteaux and wide spacious boulevards. It also houses Hanoi’s most popular attraction, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

You will be met and transferred between the airport to your hotel in a private vehicle with an English speaking driver.

The Movenpick is conveniently located in the heart of Hanoi’s business district, a 40-minute drive from Noi Bai International Airport and only 5 minutes from the city centre. Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi is specially tailored to meet the needs of discerning corporate travellers. There are well-appointed rooms and suites equipped with LCD flat screen TVs and a wide selection of international cable TV channels. Mini-bar, personal safe, tea and coffee making amenities are also available. Broadband cable and WiFi Internet is accessible in all guest rooms and throughout the public areas of the hotel. Mangosteen, our all-day dining restaurant offers an interactive buffet as well as à la carte menu.

Overnight at Movenpick.

Day 2 Hanoi

Visit the Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh and his former residence, One pillar Pagoda, and the Temple of Literature. After lunch, continue your city tour to one of Hanoi's many museums: Fine Art, History, Revolutionary, War, Ethnology (of your choosing), then head to Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple. Experience a one hour cyclo ride. Finish your day off at the Thang Long Opera Theatre for a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show.

Overnight at Movenpick.

Day 3 Halong Bay

Ha Long Bay is located 160km (100 miles) north of Hanoi, this is an amazing complex of 3000 chalk islands rising out of the South China Sea. The area is strange, eerie and very beautiful. Many of the islands contain bizarre cave formations and grottoes. An entire culture of floating villages has evolved with interlinked boats that can move from island to island.

You will be picked up at 8am for your private transfer to Halong City. This takes roughly 3 hours. You may stop enroute to admire the local scenery. Arrive at the port around 11:30am and board the ship. Begin sailing and pass through a magical bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waves like dragons’ teeth. After lunch, take a short trek to a nearby summit for a panoramic view of the bay dotted with golden sails, go swimming on a quiet beach or sunbath on the sundeck. Later in the afternoon, you will visit an interesting fishing village with an opportunity to interact with local people who have been living in the bay for almost three generations. Back on board enjoy a lavish dinner. Overnight on board.

.

Launched in mid 2006, the wooden junk that combines classic beauty with modern comfort. Our custom-designed junk features three decks that house an elegant restaurant, lounge, two bars, a small boutique, library and ten luxurious sleeping cabins. With so much space, passengers can truly unwind.

Overnight at Jasmine Halong Cruise .

Day 4 Hoi An

Hoi An is a small town in Central Vietnam famous for its wooden houses, for its family chapels, for its Assembly Halls and for its silk shops. The town of Hoi An, known as Faifo in Europe, played a central role in the commerce between Vietnam and the rest of the world from the 16th to the 19th century. Nowadays the town attracts tourists from all the continents.

Wake up to Tai Chi exercises on the sun deck and continue cruising the bays. Breakfast buffet will be served in the restaurant, then you will visit the limestone grotto. Disembark in Halong City around 11am and transfer back to Hanoi with your private vehicle, guide and driver.

You will be met and transferred between the airport to your hotel in a private vehicle with an English speaking driver.

Relax during this short domestic flight travelling between Hanoi and Danang, Vietnam.

Airport transfer between Danang airport and Hoi An with private vehicle, Driver, and English-speaking guide.

Life Resort Hoi An is a tranquil getaway tucked into the French colonial town, Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 94 rooms are offered as junior suites, superior rooms, and grand suites. Each is set with with high standard fabrics and furnishings, using contemporary decor. Subtle delights mark this deluxe resort experience, known for genuinely hospitable staff. Dine at Senses Restaurant, which is host to the mouthwatering flavors of Vietnam, or Cafe Vienna, the European-style hotel hangout. Later, take a bicycle trip through the town and countryside or a ferry ride to the beach.

Overnight at Life Resort.

Day 5 Hoi An

Take a half day walking tour of Hoi An, discover the historic town which used to be a prosperous seaport city during the 16th to 18th centuries. Visit Hoi An's colourful local market, Tan Ky old house, Fukien Assembly Hall, and the 400-year-old Japanese covered bridge.Travelers can also see local residents raise silkworms and produce silk for Hoi An's burgeoning textile industry.

Overnight at Life Resort.

Day 6 Hoi An

You will be picked up by mini-bus today along with other travellers for a full day tour. Pick out your ingredients at the local market and take a boat 25-minutes up the river to the cooking school. Watch the fishermen cast their nets on the water and experience the life along the river. We arrive at a small town and walk to the cooking school. The lesson is in an open-air pavilion next to the river. Chef Thanh will teach you how to cook a traditional Vietnamese meal. Work off that lunch with an afternoon cycling tour to Cua Dai beach (5km) and relax. You will return back to your hotel by about 4:00PM.

Overnight at Life Resort.

Day 7 Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is more modern than other Vietnamese cities, and has retained its French colonial influences. The streets are jam-packed with mopeds and scooters, often carrying whole families. Highlights in the city include the colorful Emperor of Jade Pagoda, an excellent example of a Chinese temple. The Hôtel de Ville is a wonderful example of French colonial architecture. The twin towers of Notre Dame Cathedral have been a familiar landmark in Ho Chi Minh City since the 1880s. The War Remnants Museum bears witness to the suffering inflicted on the Vietnamese people during the Vietnam War in the 1960s and 1970s. Other sites relevant to that era are Reunification Hall and the former US Embassy. An interesting excursion from Saigon is a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels in which the South Vietnamese Communists concealed themselves and from which they launched attacks on US soldiers.

Airport transfer between Danang airport and Hoi An with private vehicle, Driver, and English-speaking guide.

This short domestic flights travels from Danang to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Enjoy a private transfer with English Speaking Driver between Ho Chi Minh City airport and your hotel.

You will be picked up by private car and English speaking Driver for a half day city tour. Visit Notre Dame Cathedral, a neo-Romanesque cathedral constructed between 1877 and 1883 using bricks from Marseilles and stained-glass windows from Chartres. Also visit the Old Saigon Post Office and Cholon, the Chinatown of Ho Chi Minh City. During our tour we will also visit the Emperor Jade Pagoda (Phuoc Hai), one of the most interesting pagodas in Vietnam. It is filled with smoky incense and fantastic carved figurines. It was built by the Cantonese community around the turn of the 20th century and is still buzzing with worshippers, many lounging in the front gardens.

The Renaissance Riverside is located in the heart of Saigon's business district, the Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon offers first-class hospitality, comfortable rooms and modern amenities. After a long day, relax at the poolside terrace or enjoy a leisurely dinner at Kabin, known as one of the finest Chinese restaurants in the city. Take a dip in the rooftop pool and visit the Health Club for an invigorating workout with the latest gym equipment. Otherwise, simply enjoy the incredible views of the Saigon River and stroll to museums, galleries and other area attractions. You’ll find that the hotel’s central location, panoramic views and impeccable service makes this the ideal place to stay while visiting Ho Chi Minh City.

Overnight at Renaissance Riverside.

Day 8 Ho Chi Minh City

Tay Ninh is home to the unique Cao Dai sect. The religion is a hybrid of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and Christianity. The Cao Dai Temple at Tay Ninh has been described as a Walt Disney fantasia of the East. The interior is truly engaging as statues of Jesus, Buddha and the Hindu god, Brahma, stand side by side. Depart your hotel early morning by private vehicle and English speaking Driver and take the opportunity to watch the worshippers in their white long tunics during noon mass. After lunch, visit Cu Chi tunnels, an amazing complex of underground tunnels used during the Vietnam war. Lunch is included.

Overnight at Renaissance Riverside.

Day 9 Ho Chi Minh City

Enjoy a private transfer with English Speaking Driver between Ho Chi Minh City airport and your hotel.

Kensington Tours donates a portion of proceeds to our charitable initiative www.kensingtoncares.com which supports education-based initiatives in disadvantaged communities.

Depart from Ho Chi Minh City International airport - end of itinerary.

Overnight at Depart.

More information from Kensington Tours:

• View trip on provider's website
  www.kensingtontours.com/tours/asia/vietnam/vietnam-highlights…
• Company profile, experience, and history
• View all of their trips