Tantalising Vietnam Tour 2020

Upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport, you will be greeted by our driver and transferred to your hotel.

This full day tour takes you around Hanoi's most interesting sights, including the Ho Chi Minh Complex: Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and his Stilts House, the Presidential Palace and the One Pillar Pagoda and, nearby, the Old Quarter also known as the 36 streets and guilds. Also on the tour, the Lake of the Restored Sword and Ngoc Son Temple, the Temple of Literature, peaceful West Lake (with lovers street Thanh Nien), the sedate Tran Quoc Pagoda and Quan Thanh Temple and one of the city's museums, either the History Museum or the Ethnology Museum.

In the evening, you will enjoy the for The Quintessence of Tonkin show - an outdoor spectacle that reaffirms Hanoi's position as the cultural capital of Vietnam. Showcasing traditional elements of Vietnamese culture in a contemporary and innovative way, the Quintessence of Tonkin delivers audiences a unique and memorable exploration of the Red River Delta — the beating heart of northern Vietnam overnight in Hanoi.

Please note that the HCM Mausoleum is closed on Fridays and Mondays and most museums are closed on Mondays.

After pick-up from your hotel, you will leave Hanoi by private car/van at 7:30 am, arriving at the jetty around 12:30 pm. You will be welcomed aboard and set sail through the bay while lunch is served. You will pass through the magical bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waves like dragons' teeth. After lunch, you will take a short trek to a nearby summit for a panoramic view of the bay dotted with golden sails, and then go swimming on a quiet beach or sunbathing on the sundeck. Later in the afternoon, you will visit an interesting fishing village with the opportunity to interact with fishermen who have been living in the bay for almost three generations. Back on board, you can enjoy cocktails while watching the sunset. Later, you will unwind ata lavish dinner before an overnight stay on the deluxe junk.

Greet the day with a morning tai chi session, with an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay. After breakfast, you will visit a beautiful limestone grotto and then go back to the boat for a final glimpse of Halong Bay while cruising back to the dock. Checkout is at 11:45 am and the boat arrives at the harbor by noon for the drive back to Hanoi airport for flight to Danang.

Upon arrival, pick up and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Hoi An
Flight Hanoi – Danang @ 18.30 – 19.50

Over view:

On this tour you will have fun and adventures as you paddle to explore Cam Thanh eco-system area as well as local life along Thu Bon River. The paddle will finish in the old town where you will get a unique view of the town from the water. A beautiful way to see the ancient town of Hoi An away from the busy streets

Highlights:

Paddle through the mangrove forest of Nipa palms
See life on the river and how the Thu Bon River is an important part of life in Hoi An
Unique view of the Ancient Town from water level away from the crowded streets

Tour program:
08.30/14.30 - Pick up from your hotel and have a quick transfer to our kayak station in Cam Thanh. After a briefing on paddle safety and the area you will be kayaking, we’ll set off to the mangrove forest where the most well grown Nipa palms (locally known as cocopalm) are found. It is a unique mangrove ecosystem to Hoi An and the scenery is spectacular.

We then paddle along the Thu Bon River to the heart of Ancient Town. It’s a unique experience to catch the reflection of old houses from water level perspective. After 2.5 hours, we’ll embark at a local pier opposite the Ancient Town, there’s time for refreshment at a riverside café before get a transfer back to your hotel. Trip ends.

Itinerary:

08.30/14.30 – Pick up from hotel, transfer to Cam Thanh. Kayak paddle to
cocopalm forest and then head to Ancient town.
11.30/17.30 – Disembark at a local pier (near Ancient town), back to hotel by taxi or private car

What to bring:Sun protection (brimmed-hat recommended)
Insect repellent

Free at leisure to explore the ancient town on your own. Overnight in Hoi An

After leaving Hoi An, you will drive to Danang Airport. From Danang, you will take the one-hour flight to Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon), where you will transfer directly to your centrally located hotel. Free at leisure and overnight in Saigon.

This morning you will drive to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels. At its height, the tunnel system stretched over 250 kilometers, from Saigon to the Cambodian border, and was three levels deep. The network included innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens. Today the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience and a feel of what underground life during the U.S.-Vietnam War must have been like. You will stay overnight in HCMC.

Afternoon, you will embark on a city tour of Saigon, including the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Post Office, Jade Emperor Pagoda, the War Remnants Museum and bustling Ben Thanh Market. You will stay overnight in HCMC.

one day cruise excursion starts at 8:00 am from the lobby of your hotel in Saigon with a drive to Ben Tre. While there, you can take a walk along the waterfront, lined with French era shops and houses, and you'll see plenty of coconuts being unloaded from boats for dispatch around the country. Then, jump on a boat for a couple of hours of cruising on the Mekong River. You will enjoy your delicious lunch at a local restaurant or on board. The excursion will end at around 4:00pm where the vehicle will await you for your transfer back to Saigon. Overnight in Saigon

There are no activities planned for today, so you are free to enjoy your free time as you wish until being transferred to the airport for your onward flight.