Day 1
Hanoi

HANOI ARRIVAL

Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnams capital. After arriving at the airport, your guide picks you up and brings you to your hotel. Relax the rest of the day or discover the surroundings on your own.

Overnight: Hanoi

Day 2
Hanoi

HANOI CITY TOUR (B, L)

Start your day with a tour of this charming ancient city with its tree lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, lakes, pagodas and temples. Your first stop is at the Ho Chi Minh Memorial complex. Here you can see the Ho Chi Minh Museum, and his modest stilt house which provide valuable insights into the life and times of one of the most successful leaders of the 20th century. See also the One Pillar Pagoda and the Presidential Palace. After your served lunch, visit the Army Museum Hoa Lo Prison Museum that is nicknamed with “Hanoi Hilton”. The Hoan Kiem Lake – “Lake of the Restored Swords” – is located in the heart of the city. Also visit the Ngoc Son Temple. Complete your day tour with a fun ride with a cycle around the 13th century, bustling Old Quarter.

Overnight: Hanoi

Day 3
Cruise Ship

HANOI - HALONG BAY (B, L, D)

Depart from Hanoi by private transfer to Halong City through the Red River Delta. Upon arrival, get on board and start cruising from Hon Gai pier to the boundaries of Halong bay while lunch with fresh seafood is served. After lunch, just make yourself at ease and relax. You will slowly getting off the classic cruising routes, far from the usual clichés of this busy tourism spot. Limestone rock formations will parade all around the ship before reaching the Hon Co Island, where you take a few steps up to explore the Thien Canh Son cave. Inside the cave, stalactites and stalagmite in various shapes and sizes will tell you more about geographic history of Halong bay and the surrounding area. Late in the afternoon, the boat cruises to its anchorage area. Dinner is served either inside or outside depending on weather conditions. Overnight on board in a cosy air-conditioned cabin with en-suite bathroom facilities.

Overnight:  Cruise Ship

Day 4
Train

HALONG BAY - HANOI - DONG HOI NIGHT TRAIN (B, L)

For early risers, complimentary tea and coffee are served on the sundeck followed by a Tai Chi class.Then, you hop on bamboo boats to go visiting a secluded floating village surrounded by the mountains. Find your way between numerous floating houses and small rowing boats that serve the everyday life as vehicle, itinerant shops, fishing utility and also sometimes as overnight shelter. Brunch will be served while cruising back to pier. Take a last glance at the rocks, standing still as the eternal guardians of a kingdom. Disembark from the cruise and get back to Hanoi, from where you take the overnight train to Dong Hoi.

vernight: Train

Day 5
Hue

DONG HOI - HUE (B, L, D)

Arrive early in Dong Hoi and enjoy a local breakfast, bevor you continue your trip to Hue. On your way, stop at a couple of historic sites and monuments to understand the history and the story of the Vietnam War. Follow up Highway 1 across the Hien Luong Bridge, and over the Ben Hai River which demarcated North and South Vietnam. Doc Mieu Firebase, which lies just north of here, played a pivotal role in the South's defence and for a while, this was the command post for calling in airstrikes along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. This central part of Vietnam experienced violent battles during the Vietnam War and many bombs craters are still visible today. It is also a very poor region with severe weather conditions caused by typhoons and dryness. Enjoy a warm and cosy dinner at Hue local garden restaurant upon arrival.

Overnight: Hue

Day 6
Hue

HUE TOUR (B, L)

Hue was Vietnam’s former imperial capital. Therefore, start your day with a visit to the ancient Citadel, which is situated on the northern bank of the Perfume River. The Royal complex is a world heritage site and is a remarkable piece of architecture. After your lunch, board a Dragon boat for a scenic cruise on the Perfume river to visit the Thien Mu Pagoda and Tomb of Minh Mang. You return to your hotel late afternoon.

Overnight: Hue

Day 7
Hui An

HUE - HOI AN (B, L)

Leave Hue in the morning and on your way to Hoi An, the former 17th century trading port, cross the stunning Hai Van Pass. Enjoy your lunch at Land Co Beach and visit the Red Beach in Danang. It was the landing beach of the American Marines in 1965. Also visit the Marble Mountains and stone carving village. Upon arrival in Hoi An, refresh yourself at your hotel, and take part in a walking tour of the city. The tour includes the Japanese Covered Bridge, The Old Quarter, the majestic Assembly Hall, ancient trading houses, the local market and numerous of quality tailors shops.
Overnight: Hoi An

Day 8
Hoi An

HOI AN: MY SON (B)

Today, you will make a short excursion to the world heritage site of My Son. It is located in the Quang Nam Province and includes ruins of Hindu temples that have been constructed between the 4th and 13th centuries by the different Kings of Champa. Back in Hoi An, the rest of the day is free at leisure.

Overnight: Hoi An

Day 9
Hoi An

HOI AN (B)
Today, you have a whole free day to discover Hoi An by your own.

Overnight: Hoi An

Day 10
Ho Chi Minh City

HOI AN - DANANG – HO CHI MINH CITY (B, L)

Take a morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City. The city is the commercial and industrial hub of Vietnam and has grown significantly since the war. After checking into your hotel, you are taken on a city tour that includes the Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, the former Presidential Palace and the War Remnants Museum. Later afternoon, you explore the city on the back of a scooter. Sit behind your driver, relax and watch the city passing by. This tour will take you on wide avenues and narrow lanes for an alternative sightseeing of Ho Chi Minh City. Get ready for the must-see landmarks while also getting off the crowded tourist trail for a peek at the history, the streets and the sights that most visitors never even hear about or see.

Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City

Day 11
Ho Chi Minh City

HO CHI MINH CITY:  CU CHI TUNNEL (B, L)

Start the day with the Cu Chi Tunnels tour on one of the luxurious modern speedboats, while learning about the life on the river and gliding through the floating hyacinths. Explore the historic war site of Cu Chi with its weapons and underground bunkers. Before going underground, a short introduction video shows how the tunnels were constructed. If you are feeling extra adventurous, you can even crawl through the authentic Viet Cong tunnels and try the local cassava root, which the fighters sustained themselves on for years. After a blast from the past of the Cu Chin Tunnels, enjoy a traditional Vietnamese lunch, before you head back to the city and enjoy the rest of the day on your own.

Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City

Day 12
Ho Chi Minh City

HO CHI MINH CITY: MEKONG DELTA (B, L, D)

Today, you will enjoy the great Mekong Delta. Drive south and start your bicycle Tour from Tan Thach. You journey goes through Quoi Son coconut garden, Phu An Hoa rice field and Tu Dien village to Ben Tre Town. Also a visit at brickworks is included in the tour. After reaching Ben Tre, leave the bike behind and board a boat. Slip through the zigzag canal in order to visit the local coconut processing workshop. Disembark and experience the real Delta village life, and a mat weaving house, where straw mats are woven using a hand loom – you can even have a go at weaving yourself! Before you hop back on the bike, enjoy your local lunch and then take your tour through the forest to Mr Khanh’s house. He is a passionate antiques collector and his house is jam packed full of fascinating artefacts from Vietnam and elsewhere in Asia. He also has some fascinating family albums dating back to French colonial times.

Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City

Day 13
Ho Chi Minh City

HO CHI MINH CITY:NUI DAT - LONG TAN  (B, L, D)

After breakfast, drive to the town ship of Baria. On your way, you pass former villages and stop at the Horseshoe, which was mined many years ago. You then make your way to the former 1st Australian Task Force Base at Nui Dat. Again, little remains of the base and you can visit what once were Luscombe airstrip and the remnants of SAS hill. After a picnic lunch, attend the moving service at Long Tan. End your journey with a farewell dinner back in Ho Chi Minh City.

Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City

Day 14
Ho Chi Minh City

HO CHI MINH CITY DEPARTURE (B)

This morning your tour program ends and you can enjoy the free time until it is time for your transfer to the airport for your onward flights.