Day 1 Hanoi arival We will pick you up at airport then transfer to your hotel. The rest of day is at your leisure. We recommend you to take a slow walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, which is very scenic, so remember to bring your camera. In walking distance from your hotel, you can go to Thang Long theatre where you can enjoy traditional Vietnamese water puppet show. Another option is to do some shopping, you will find plenty of shops in the old town as well as street night market. Should you wish to taste famous Vietnamese coffee, you will find many coffee shops in French style with a view to the lake. Overnight in Hanoi. Day 2 Hanoi city tour (B, L) Our guide pick you up at 8.30 am at hotel to start a full day city tour. We first head to visit Tran Quoc Pagoda, a 1400 year- old temple, the oldest of the city and located near West Lake offering a watery landscape, the pagoda is a very scenic attraction. The next destination is the Ho Chi Minh Complex, where you have chance to visit President Ho Chi Minh s Mausoleum, Uncle Ho's House and the One- pillar pagoda a very iconic temple in Vietnam. Temple of Literature will be your next stop, here education and study is center point. After lunch at a local restaurant we start the afternoon tour at Museum of Ethnology. This museum is considered as one the finest museum in the country and has an extensive display dedicated to Vietnam s 54 ethnic groups. Apart from the comprehensive array of exhibits inside, there are also traditional tribal houses reconstructed on the ground outside. After the museum, we will explore Ngoc Son Temple (Temple of Jade Mountain) dedicated to Confucian and Taoist philosophers and the national hero Tran Hung Dao. The temple with its famous Huc bridge isin the center of Hoan Kiem (Sword) Lake. Drop off at hotel around 5.00pm. Overnight in Hanoi Day 3 Hanoi Halong Bay (B, L, D) We pick you up at train station and transfer you to the hotel for a short rest. After having breakfast at hotel we depart to Halong City. On the way we stop at a handicraft workshop for a short break. Enjoy the journey through Red River Delta with lush rice fields, water buffalos and everyday Vietnamese rural life. After we arrive in Halong, check- in on cruise and relax for a while. Then we lift anchor and sail to visit Sung Sot caves where we have one hour for kayaking. We will be cruising between the many lime stones and set anchor at beautiful spot. As the sun sets over the bay, dinner is served on board with fresh seafood, salads, and fruits. In the evening there will also be a Vietnamese dish cooking class. Overnight in Ha Long Bay at the cruise ship. Day 4 Halong Bay Hanoi (B, L) The beautiful sunrise on Halong bay should never be missed, especially if you are into photography. The new day could be start by a Tai chi session (if you are
keen on). Breakfast will be served on the boat around 7.30 am then you will have more time to enjoy a wholesome brunch as your boat weaves through the magnificent limestone karst formations on your return towards Halong City. Upon disembarkation, you will be transfered back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi. Day 5 Hanoi Hue (B) Check out of hotel then we will transfer you to airport for a short flight to Hue. Upon arrival in Hue, we will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of day is at your leisure. Overnight in Hue. Day 6 Hue city tour (B, L) You will be picked up at 8.00 am then transfered to visit the Imperial Citadel, this was the center of power for the Nguyen Dynasty who ruled between 1802 and 1945. Here, we will visit Flag Tower, Noon Gate, Nine Dynastic Urns, Nine Holy Cannons, Thai Hoa Palace, and the Forbidden Purple City. We will board a boat for a wonderful trip on Perfume River and a visit to Thien Mu pagoda where you will enjoy a vegetarian meal prepared by the local nuns. The afternoon continues with a visit to the fantastic tombs of the emperors Minh Mang and Khai Dinh. Our guides will give you a deep understanding of the King s philosophy of geomancy and how this affected royal life. The rest of day is at your leisure. You are free to discover the ancient city by your own. Overnight in Hue city. Day 7 Hue Hoi An by private car with tour guide (B) Leave Hue for Hoi An, enroutes we will have some stops for taking photos like Lang Co Beach, Hai Van Pass and Cham Museum. Upon Arrival in Hoi An, check- in hotel, you will have the rest of the day is at leisure to discover the town on your own. Overnight in Hoi An. Day 8 Hoi An My Son (B, L) Our guide will pick you up at around 8.00 am and take you to My Son, a World Heritage site, 50 km southwest of Hoi An. You will learn about the Cham history and how this massive sanctuary was built. My Son is a complex consisting of more than 65 architectural towers and temples dating back to 4th century. The site was used for religious ceremonies for Kings of the ruling dynasty as well as burial site for national heroes and royal family up to the 19th century. My Son is considered to be of same historical significance as Southeast Asia's greatest archaeological sites, including Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Bagan in Myanmar, Ayutthaya in Thailand and Borobudur in Indonesia. After the visit, you will be taken about 30km by bus and embark on boat for the trip back along the Thu Bon River back to Hoi An. You will have short break and visit Kim Bong, a carpenter village, which is famous for wooden products. You can buy some souvenirs for your family and friends here. Back to Hoi An around 2.00pm. Drop at hotel. The rest of day is at your leisure. Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 9 Hoi An Da Nang airport Ho Chi Minh city (B, L) After breakfast transfer to Danang Airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City and transfer to hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure to freely discover the city on your own. Suggested activities are shopping at Ben Thanh Market with a lot of choices for Vietnamese handicrafts and local delicacies, also. Another two other popular shopping places, even for locals are Saigon Square 1 (Nam Ky Khoi Nghia street) and Saigon Square 2 (Ton Duc Thang street). There are many bars and coffee shops nearby for your taste. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City. Day 10 Mekong Delta full day (B, L) Pick up service at your hotel around 7.30 am then depart for My Tho. On arrived at My Tho, visit Vinh Trang pagoda, take a leisurely boat ride along the river, view the stilt houses, fruit plantations and fishing villages along the river bank. Proceed to Tortoise islet, have lunch in the orchard garden. Then a boat ride to An Khanh a less touristy attraction in Ben Tre, enjoy cruising on a hand- rowed sampan under the shadow of the water coconut trees along natural canals, then enjoy seasonal fruit & honey tea to the sound of "Southern Vietnamese folk music", performed by locals. Visit a family business which epitomizes the idyllic rural lifestyle, taste the delicious coconut candy & observe the pastoral life as you roam through the fruit plantation and village. Meet the bus and return to HCMC. This trip provides a fascinating insight into daily life in the Mekong Delta and you are guaranteed to take home your own private collection of beautiful memories. Back to Ho Chi Minh city. Day 11 Cu Chi tunnel (B, L) We start our tour at 8 am from hotel and head to Cu Chi tunnels which is about a 1.5 hour drive. Cu Chi is a network of more than 120 km under the ground and were built by sweat and blood of Vietnamese guerrillas to hide and fight against the rival forces. You will be introduced to many kinds of booby traps used during Vietnam War. We will take time to explain the methods of creating, maintaining and living in these tunnels as well as the special technique of hiding smoke invented by the guerrillas. The visit also includes visiting different type of underground halls, secret working, meeting rooms. You will spend an hour experiencing the tunnels with a guide. Afterwards, enjoy tea and cassava (guerrilla s food during the war). Then the tour with the ornate temple of Cao Dai, a fascinating combination of Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism and Confucianism, will be another highlight of your Vietnam tours. Then, we will attend the fantastic mid- day service together with the followers. Day 12 Ho Chi Minh City fly to Phnom Penh (D) Morning flight to Phnom Penh. On arrival at Airport, you will be met and transferred to hotel (room may ready at noon). This afternoon, discover the
Phnom City including: Toul Sleng Genocide Museum (S- 21), the National Museum built in 1917-18 is exclusively dedicated to Khmer arts. Royal Palace built in 1866, Silver Pagoda located within the Royal Palace compound and then Wat Phnom, an ancient pagoda stand up on the hill. Dinner at Bopha Phnom Penh Restaurant and overnight in Phnom Penh. Day 13 Phnom Penh Siem Reap Public Bus (B, D) Breakfast at hotel transfer to Mekong Bus for departure to Siem Reap (07.30am 13.30pm), on arrival your will be met and then transferred direct to hotel for refreshment. This afternoon, visit the most famous of all the temples on the Angkor plain: Angkor Wat. The temple complex, cover 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. Angkor Wat's five towers symbolize Meru's five peaks, the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat symbolizes the ocean. Tonight enjoy buffet dinner with Apsara Dance Show at local restaurant. Overnight in Siem Reap. Day 14 Siem Reap Temples (B, L) Breakfast at hotel - Continue your visit to the jungle covered temple of Ta Prohm is an incredible sight. There are enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers which embrace themselves in the stone foundations of the structure giving the impression of man's creation being reclaimed by the powerful forces of nature. We explore this masterpiece as well as some of the surrounding temples including Banteay Kdei, Sra Srong, Ta Keo, Thommanon and Chau Say Tevado. Visit the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century); See the South Gate (with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk), Bayon Temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara), the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Overnight in Siem Reap. Day 15 Siem Reap Bantey Srei Tonle Sap Departure (B, L) An early morning we drive 35 km out of town to visit the famous Banteay Srei (Citadel of Women), we drive back to the sought by visit to Bakong Temple one of among Rolous Group before continue your last trip to Kompong Phluk, one of natural tourisms and a mangroves for hundreds species of fresh water fishes and birds and decorated with ethnic stilted houses line over the water surface up to the air. The villages are primarily Khmer and have about 3000 inhabitants between them, most of who live in stilted houses. The people depend largely on fishing and tourism for their incomes. We embark on the traditional wooden boat through the flooded forests of the Great Tonle Sap Lake, habitat of many bird species it will bring you to Kampong Phluk. This amazing floating village is
built on 8 to 10 m high stilts. We visit an island pagoda, a school and traditional stilt houses to interact with the local families. Return to Siem Reap for relax and then transfer to Siem Reap airport for departure.