Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival

Upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, you will be welcomed by our experienced English speaking guide and transferred to downtown. Check into your hotel and refresh after a long-haul flight.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Remark: Hotel check-in time is 14:00. Early check-in is not included.

Day 2: Hanoi – Highlights (Breakfast)

After breakfast, visit Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum before exploring his house on stilts and lush garden. A short walk from the mausoleum is one of the great symbols of Hanoi, the One Pillar Pagoda, an 11th-century wooden temple built on a single stone pillar in the water. It was designed to resemble a blooming lotus. Pass by the Presidential Palace to the West Lake where you will visit Tran Quoc, one of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam, meaning “protecting the country”.

In the afternoon, visit the venerable Temple of Literature built in 1077 – Vietnam’s first university. Continue with the Museum of Ethnology where display artifacts of 54 minority groups in Vietnam.

Late afternoon, take a rickshaw ride (cyclo) around the Old Streets which were named after the specific goods once offered for sale at these places. Stop at Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple to learn about legend of the lake. Browse through art galleries, handicraft shops and cafes. Enjoy a Water Puppet Show, typical traditional performance created by Vietnamese wet-rice farmers in Red River Delta in 10^th century.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 3: Hanoi – Ha Long Bay (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

After breakfast, depart by road to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Area of outstanding natural beauty. Travel through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta and the landscape of rice fields, water buffalo, the daily life of the Vietnamese village. Board a traditional Junk. Lunch on board. The cruise passes by many rocks and islets in many funny shapes. The cruise may stop for a while for visiting one of the best caves on the bay. Later on, the Junk will anchor in a peaceful bay for relaxing and overnight. Dinner and overnight on board.

Day 4: Ha Long Bay – Hanoi – Hoi An (Brunch)

Breakfast is served while the Junk cruises around Ha Long Bay, passing by many islets named by their shapes such as Dog, Incense Urn, Fighting Cock, Finger, etc. Stop for a while to explore a cave - one of the most beautiful caves of the bay. The Junk then continues cruising towards the wharf. Ready to disembark about 10:30AM. Drive back to Hanoi (for a group of 2-3pax) where you will meet our private car and continue to Noi Bai Airport for a flight to Danang. For a group of 4pax up, you will go with a private minivan from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay and Ha Long Bay to Noi Bai Airport for a flight to Danang. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by our guide and drive to Hoi An, around 35 kilometers away. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 5: Hoi An Ancient town – Walking tour (Breakfast)

After breakfast, you will walk around the tiny town of Hoi An with your guide to visit a 400 year old Japanese Bridge, a 300 year old Chinese temple, and a 200 year old Vietnamese former merchants’ house, local market.

There are numerous art galleries, souvenir and tailor shops where you can get some express made-to-order clothes if you like! Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 6: Hoi An – Hue (Breakfast)

After breakfast, you will drive along the most beautiful coast of Vietnam to Hue. Stop at Hai Van pass for a panoramic view of white sand beach, blue sea and green mountains.

Arrival in Hue, visit the Imperial Citadel where Kings of Vietnam’s last feudal dynasty ruled from 1802 to 1945, including Flag Tower, Nine Holy Cannons, Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace, Nine Dynastic Urns, Forbidden Purple City, etc.

 
In the afternoon, take a Dragon boat Cruise upstream of the peaceful Perfume River (Huong River) to Thien Mu Pagoda. Our car will pick you up there to King Tu Duc Tomb. The tomb is set in an elegant garden with a magnificent lake and pavilion complex. Overnight in Hue.

Day 7: Hue – Ho Chi Minh City (Breakfast)

Breakfast at your hotel and then drive to the airport for a flight to Ho Chi Minh City.

Upon landing, you’re met by our guide and visit the moving War Remnants Museum which presents a partial, but riveting, view of the American War, as it is known in Vietnam.  Continue to the Reunification Palace, former residence of the Indochina Governor General and later President of the Republic of Southern Vietnam until the fall of Saigon in April 30, 1975. The day ends with visits to the charming Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Post Office, one of the oldest buildings Ho Chi Minh City built around 1886-1891, the elegant Saigon Opera House, and the bustling Ben Thanh Market. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta – Ho Chi Minh City (Breakfast/Lunch)

After breakfast, it is a 2 hour pleasant drive to Ben Tre province crossing the cable-stayed Rach Mieu bridge. As you cross the bridge and have a panoramic view towards the South Sea, you may see the four islets of Ben Tre: Long (Dragon), Lan (Unicorn), Quy (Turtle), Phung (Phoenix) gathering together, known as “Tu linh” or The Four Holy Beasts of Vietnam.  Upon arrival at Hung Vuong Pier, hop on a motorized boat on the Ben Tre River – one of the tributaries of the mighty Mekong river - while sight-seeing lively activities along the river such as fishing and boats transferring fruits, flowers and rice to local markets. Our first stop is at a brick kiln to see how to make bricks traditionally by printing and baking. Those brick kilns are open in summer time only when there is enough sunshine to dry the bricks. Continuing on, we’ll visit a coconut processing workshop located along the canals. When we return to the boat, we’ll motor through natural scissors creeks to a village and see some local houses, sleeping mat making, and enjoy some local fruits.

Take a Tuk-Tuk (motorized cart) or bicycle along shady paths, pass by green rice fields and vegetable plains to be able to touch on real life in the delta, and find out about tropical culture from peasants.  Lunch will be at a local riverside restaurant.

After lunch, we’ll take a rowing-boat along a beautiful water palm creek before meeting the motorized boat and transferring you back to the pier, where you car will take you back to Ho Chi Minh City for overnight.

Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City – Departure (Breakfast)

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your departure flight.

Upon arrival at Siem Reap International Airport, you’re met by our guide and transferred to hotel for check in.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 10: Siem Reap – Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom & Other Temples (Breakfast)

Breakfast at hotel and then visit the antique capital of Angkor Thom (12 century): the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, the Bayon Temple, unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara, the Phimeanakas, the Royal Enclosure, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King.

Next, visit to Banteay Kdei (surrounded by 4 concentric walls), Ta Prohm, one of the area’s most beautiful temples. Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery.

Afternoon, visit to the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Enjoy wonderful sunset from the top of Pre Rup Temple.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 11: Siem Reap – Departure (Breakfast)

Breakfast at hotel and be free at leisure until transfer to Siem Reap airport for your departure flight.

OUR SELECTED HOTELS

Accommodation based on the lowest room category of each selected hotel. Higher room grade can be arranged subject to availability and additional charge

More information from Little Vietnam Tours:

• View trip on provider's website
  www.littlevietnamtours.com…
• Company profile, experience, and history
• View all of their trips