Highlight of Vietnam

Wishlist

If this is your first time in Vietnam, this trip will take you to every important cities and attractions of Vietnam in just 10 days. A reasonable balances all the essential destinations along with the cultural shows, monuments, museums, boat rides, orchards and farms. This is one exciting Vietnam-in-a-nutshell trip.

Destination	Saigon/Phan Thiet/Hoi An/Hue/Halong/Hanoi
Start City	Ho Chi Minh
End City	Hanoi
Tour Type	Private Tour
Duration	11 Days & 10 Nights
Depart	mtwthfsasu
Condition	Easy
Tour Code	VN-T-05

Notice:

** Hon Chen Temple festival will take place on Perfume river in Hue between March - April and August - September. Please check your traveling date with us in advance.

** Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum will be closed for annual maintenance from 15 June - 15 August 2018. The annual maintenance in 2019 is to be advised.

Highlight of Vietnam

DAY 1: SAIGON

Arrival in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)

Upon clearing Customs and Immigration, you are met by our guide who will be carrying an Oriental Escape sign which will note your name. Your guide will present you with a welcome packet including all necessary documentation and vouchers and all contact information of your guide and local offices.

Transfer

Itinerary

Overnight: Saigon

DAY 2: SAIGON

Sightseeing in Saigon

A vibrant metropolis, Saigon teems with energy, activity and motion. Everywhere you look, you see the convergence of traditional and modern life. Begin the trip into modern history with a tour of the Reunification Palace. Formerly the Independence Palace of the South Vietnamese president, this 60s style building was famously stormed by tanks on April 30, 1975 signifying the fall of South Vietnam. It has been preserved in its original state, and the original tanks remain on display near the entrance gates.

Afterwards, drive to the historic centre to visit the Emperor of Jade Pagoda, one of Saigons most interesting pagodas. Proceed to pay a quick visit to the neo-Romanesque Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office. Pass by the classic European-style landmarks such as the ornate City Hall (Hotel De Ville), the old Opera House (both may only be viewed from the outside). Finally, end up at the central Ben Thanh Market, where vendors display a vast array of goods and handicrafts, appealing to every taste.

Old Saigon Walking Tour

Take a walk through the city streets to unearth the secrets of Saigon.

Set off from your hotel to a thriving local market to see how these bustling and vibrant markets play a major role in the daily lives of Vietnamese people. From here stroll through the colourful back alleyways lined with flower shops and breathe in the aromas of the freshly cut blooms.

Pass through another street where mechanics specialise in restoring vintage Vespa scooters. Take in the scenes of local life as you wander these narrow lanes. Stop for a refreshing traditional iced coffee in a hidden cafe frequented by locals. The oldest coffee shop in Saigon, this old fashioned establishment has a colourful history stretching back over seven decades. Continue the walk through some other back lanes the go along to another famous street filled with shops selling locally-made guitars.

Continue on foot through adjacent blocks with some old yet lively apartment compound and where one will encounter authentic life scenes of the urban working class. Walk toward an interesting museum which displays an amazing collection of more than 3,000 artifacts relating to the history of Vietnamese traditional medicine. After the visit, hop on the vehicle and drive back to your hotel.

Dinner cruise aboard the Bonsai Cruise

In the evening board the traditional wooden barge and start cruising along the Saigon River. Enjoy a delicious international buffet while watching the live entertainment and the passing scenery.

Itinerary

Overnight: Saigon

DAY 3: SAIGON - PHAN THIET

Transfer to/from train station

By deluxe train from Saigon to Phan Thiet

Transfer from Phan Thiet train station

Afternoon at leisure

Itinerary

Overnight: Phan Thiet

DAY 4: PHAN THIET

Hidden Secrets of the Cham Culture

Take a scenic drive from Mui Ne along the coastal road to Vinh Hy Bay, an area that still remains unspoiled due to its proximity to the Nui Chua National Park. Stop en route to visit one of the many salt fields stretching along the coast, an opportunity to feel the grains of rock salt with your fingers and have good photo shot of the scenic surrounding.

The landscape around Vinh Hy is dotted with large boulders and rocky hills covered with twisting trees and all species of cacti and shrubs. Visit the quaint fishing village and take a boat ride out on the emerald water. Enjoy the scenery of dramatic rock formations, have a glimpse of the coral reefs through the glass panes in the bottom of the boat. Have lunch at a local restaurant and enjoy a lunch of freshly caught seafood.

Drive to a vineyard nearby to learn how the grapes thrive in this hot dry weather. Vineyards do not produce grapes at the same time so the guide will check around to locate the yard which is bearing grapes to ensure the experience. There is an opportunity to sit down with the vineyards owner and taste the wine. Onward to visit a famous monument of the local ethnic Cham, Po Klong Jarai temple, a brick structure with elaborate carvings in pre-Angkorian style. Meet a descendant of a famous Cham author here and join him for the visit of the temple and later to his own village nearby. Follow him to visit one of the families who preserve the art of weaving brocade with ancestral techniques. Have tea at his home before driving back to Mui Ne.

Itinerary

Overnight: Phan Thiet

DAY 5: PHAN THIET - SAIGON - DANANG - HOI AN

By vehicle from Phan Thiet to Saigon (Tan Son Nhat Airport)

Flight from Saigon to Danang

Transfer from Danang airport to Hoi An

Itinerary

Overnight: Hoi An

DAY 6: HOI AN

Sightseeing in Hoi An with a boat trip on the Thu Bon River

The exquisitely preserved merchant town of Hoi An was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Its colourful shop houses and temples reflect a diverse heritage, dating back to the 16th and 17th century, when it was a major port for Western, Chinese and Japanese traders. Today it is a thriving centre of traditional crafts and a shoppers paradise, best explored on foot.

Wander through the cobbled streets, past low tile-roofed buildings, the bustling central market and the small harbour where colourfully painted boats are moored. The walking tour will include visits to a private house, where members of the same family have lived continuously for centuries in a traditional setting; to one of the family chapels built by prominent merchants and official families as centres for ancestor worship; and to a typical Chinese-style Pagoda or assembly hall. Continue to Sa Huynh MUSEUM, located near the Japanese Covered Bridge, it contains exhibitions from the earliest period of Hoi An s history. Visit a handicraft workshop in Hoi An where local products are being made by the industry itself. Finally, continue to the famous Japanese Covered Bridge, first constructed in 1593 by the Japanese community of Hoi An to link the town with the Chinese quarters across the stream.

In the afternoon, board a local boat and cruise down the Thu Bon River, enjoying the unspoiled countryside and stopping to visit a pottery village and a woodcarving village before returning to Hoi An harbour

Itinerary

Overnight: Hoi An

DAY 7: HOI AN - HUE

By vehicle from Hoi An to Hue with sightseeing in Danang

From Hoi An begin driving north, stopping just outside Danang to visit the Marble Mountains, five stone hillocks, once islands, that now rise sharply from the surrounding rice fields. Riddled with caves and shrines, they are said to each represent one of the five elements of the universe. Continue to the city of Danang, briefly passing Non Nuoc Beach, a famous surf spot for American soldiers during Vietnam War in 1960s, and tour the Cham Museum an elegant colonial building which now houses the finest collection of Cham sculpture in the world.

From Danang, journey north past Lang Co, a lovely stretch of beach curving outwards between a clear blue lagoon and the East Vietnam Sea, before arriving in Danang. Continue along steep mountainous roads with spectacular views of the coastline, crossing the dramatic Hai Van Pass, the high dividing line between the climate zones of north and South Vietnam.

Visit the Imperial Citadel

Located in the heart of Hue is the Imperial Citadel, a vast complex built in the early 19th century and modelled after the Forbidden City of Peking. The original walls stretched for 10 km and were surrounded by a wide moat. Today, most of the buildings have been destroyed due to bombing during the Vietnam-American War, but the monuments that remain provide a fascinating glimpse into the court life of the Nguyen Dynasty. Approach the city past the striking Flag Tower, where a giant Vietnamese flag waves proudly overhead, to the imposing Ngo Mon Gate, the main entrance to the Imperial Enclosure. Enter into an area of spacious courtyards and serene lotus ponds, and visit Dien Tho Residence (Dien Tho palace) where the Queen mother lived, visit Thai Hoa Palace, the magnificently decorated reception hall, the Halls of the Mandarins, and the original Nine Dynastic Urns, among other sites, including a visit to the Hue Royal Antiquities Museum.

Itinerary

Overnight: Hue

DAY 8: HUE - HANOI - HALONG

Visit the Imperial Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc

The Imperial Tomb of Tu Duc was designed and built by the longest reigning Vietnamese emperor,Tu Duc, during his lifetime, and was used as a retreat for meditation, reading and theatre performances. Take some time to soak in the tranquil atmosphere, and wander among the gracefully proportioned pavilions, courtyards and lotus ponds

Transfer

Flight from Hue to Hanoi

By vehicle from Hanoi (Noi Bai Airport) to Halong

Itinerary

Overnight: Halong

DAY 9: HALONG - HANOI

Transfer to/from Tuan Chau Marina Port

Excursion by boat through Halong Bay including lunch

Board the charming traditional wooden junk for a cruise through the Bay and en-route lunch will be served. Following lunch witness rock formations with names like Stone Dog, Incense Burner (Dinh Huong), and Fighting Cock (Ga Choi). At the core of the islets, there is an enchanting cave to visit thusly named Surprise Cave (Sung Sot), after that stop at Titov Island. Sail past floating villages, fishermen casting their nets and pearl fisheries and observe the rhythms of daily life on the bay.

By vehicle from Halong to Hanoi (city)

Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda (on Ho Tay Lake)

Tran Quoc Pagoda is one of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam, and located on West Lake. The pagoda is quite beautiful and done in a traditional Vietnamese style. An 11 floor Buddhist tower makes this pagoda a sacred spot for pilgrimages from all over the country

Itinerary

Overnight: Hanoi

DAY 10: HANOI

Sightseeing in Hanoi

Although it is the modern-day capital of Vietnam, Hanoi still retains the mystery and charm of past centuries. Narrow lanes and traditional shop houses invite an exciting exploration by walking, while it s many beautiful public spaces

lakes, parks, tree-lined boulevards and monuments

give the city an air of elegance and harmony with nature unique among Asian capitals.

Visit the Temple of Literature

The Temple of Literature has a peaceful series of walled courtyards and graceful gateways, and this monument is one of the best-preserved examples of traditional Vietnamese architecture. Founded in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius, this was also the site of Vietnams first university. In one courtyard, giant stone tortoises bear stele on their backs, listing the accomplishments of graduating scholars.

Visit Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh Stilt House and One Pillar Pagoda

View the outside of the Presidential Palace then stroll through the park to the Ho Chi Minh Stilt House where Ho Chi Minh lived from 1958 until his final days in 1969. This simple two-room dwelling has been preserved in the same condition as during his life, and can be viewed through the windows. Continue to the miniature 11th century One Pillar Pagoda which was rebuilt after being destroyed by the French in 1954.

Visit the Museum of Ethnology

The Museum of Ethnology brings to life the astonishing ethnic diversity in Vietnam, with art and artefacts from the 54 different ethnic groups that inhabit the country. Inside the museum are detailed descriptions of minority groups, with examples of their traditional clothing and way of life. Outside are faithful reconstructions of traditional longhouses, cemeteries and other distinctive ethnic buildings.

Sightseeing around Hanoi city centre with electric car and a walk in the Old Quarter

Hanoi is a blend of long established traditions and modern imprints of Western colonization. Tree-lined boulevards and colonial buildings give the city a touch of Western elegance, while crowded blocks of tiny old houses and narrow lanes which brim with the colourful activities of daily life bear the charm of the past centuries. Take a 35 minute ride on an electric car through the city centre including Quan Su Pagoda, Silk Road, Hanoi Railway Station and Hoa Lo Prison then the Hanoi Opera House. Get off the electric car and take a 25 minute walk to get a personal feel of daily life in the Old Quarter.

Visit a Water Puppet Show

See a Water Puppet Show, a fantastic art form originating in northern Vietnam, best seen in Hanoi

Itinerary

Overnight: Hanoi

DAY 11: HANOI

Transfer

Itinerary

Meals

Day	Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11

FIT Group All

Rates: Highlight of Vietnam

Service Class	FIT				Group
Service Class	1 / Person	2 / Person	3-4 / Person	5-8 / Person	9-16 / Person	17-32 / Person	33+ / Person
Premium Class	$ 122	$ 69	$ 59	$ 47
Deluxe Class	$ 119	$ 69	$ 56	$ 47

Note: Price/Person in $ USD - US Dollar (1 USD = 32 THB - Thai Baht)

Inclusions:
✓ Accommodation with daily breakfast
✓ All transfers air-conditioned vehicles within the journey, including pick-up at airport
✓ A local English-speaking guide (other languages available upon request)
✓ All admission fees as mentioned in the program
✓ All meal as mentioned in the program

Exclusions:
✗ Any Air ticket
✗ Visa fees & Airport Taxes
✗ Meals not specified in the itinerarys
✗ Personal insurance & other personal expenses

Child Policy: