Star Tour of Vietnam

Highlight

• Little taste of the Vietnamese culture in Hanoi & HCMC (Saigon)
• Cruising through Natural World Heritage – Halong Bay
• Visit atmospheric Hoi An
• a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site
• Full day cruise in Nha Trang
• Explore the Saigon surrounding Mekong Delta
• Dinner on luxury cruise in Nha Trang

Outline Itinerary

• Hanoi: 2 nights
• Halong Bay: 1 night
• Hoi An: 3 nights
• Nha Trang: 5 nights
• Saigon: 2 nights

Day 1 : Arrival Hanoi
Day 2 : Hanoi (B/L)
Day 3 : Hanoi – Halong Bay(B/L/D)
Day 4 : Halong Bay – Hanoi – Flight to Danang – Hoi An (Brunch)
Day 5 : Hoi An (B)
Day 6 : Hoi An (B/L) Day 7 : Hoi An – Fly to Nha Trang (B/D)
Day 8 : Nha Trang (B/L) Day 9 : Nha Trang (B)
Day 10 : Nha Trang (B)
Day 11: Nha Trang (B)
Day 12 : Nha Trang – Saigon (B)
Day 13 : Sai Gon – Day trip to Ben Tre (B/L)
Day 14 : Sai Gon – Departure (B)

Tour Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival Hanoi

On arrival at Noi Bai International airport, you will be greeted by our driver and transferred to your hotel in town. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi Hanoi City Tour (B/L)

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, the Ethnology Museum. In the evening, you will enjoy a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show.

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

Day 3 - Hanoi – Halong Bay (B/L/D)

In the morning you will depart Hanoi at 07:30 for a three and a half hour drive through the Red River Delta to Ha Long Bay City. On the way, you will stop for refreshments, and upon arriving in Halong City, you will take a tender transfer to your junk and set sail through the bay while lunch is served. As you cruise the magical bay, you will notice thousands of sculpted limestone islands rising from the waves like dragons' teeth. Later in the afternoon, you'll visit a fishing village with the opportunity to interact with fishermen who have been living in the bay for almost three generations. Back on board, you'll enjoy cocktails or a cooking class while watching the sunset, and later you can unwind at a restaurant with a lavish dinner. To end the day, you can enjoy some evening activities such as movie night, board games, or a beauty treatment, before an overnight stay on the junk.

Day 4 - Halong Bay – Hanoi – Flight to Danang – Hoi An (Brunch)

After rising to the sound of the ocean coming to life, you'll enjoy breakfast, take a Tai Chi class and watch the sunrise over the bay (if you choose to get up that early!) You will visit a beautiful limestone grotto, and then head back to the junk for a final glimpse of Halong Bay while cruising back to the dock. Disembarking at the Cruise Café Lounge, you'll rejoin your private car for transfer back to the airport for a one-hour flight to Danang.

Upon arrival at Danang airport, you will be transferred directly to your hotel and have free time before an overnight stay.

Day 5 - Hoi An (B)

Free at leisure. Overnight in Hoi An

Day 6 - Hoi An TRA QUE VEGETABLE VILLAGE (B/L)

Depart from your hotel and ride bicycle in 30 minutes to Tra Que herb village. Take a short stroll around the vegetable garden and listen to the history of the village. Then join gardening activities in preparing the land, fertilizing with seaweed, raking the ground, sowing, watering, picking vegetables... Enjoy foot soak before getting to preparing lunch with a local family. Join cooking with ‘Tam Huu’ spring roll, ‘Banh xeo’ - a local pancake of people in Viet Nam middle region ... After your morning excursions and lunch, you learn how to harvest and wrap the vegetables. Bid farewell to your host family before riding back to your hotel.

Day 7 - Hoi An – Danang - Nha Trang (B/D)

Transfer and flight to NhaTrang for five-night stay. Afternoon, enjoy Sunset Cocktail and Dinner on Emperor Cruise.

1700H-1730H

Pick-up from your hotel and transfer to Nha Trang Port to board the Emperor Cruises Junk.

1730H-1800H:

On arrival at the port you are greeted by the Experiences Manager with a welcome drink. Introduction to Nha Trang Bay, the locals, the food, the culture, the emperor, safety precautions, and the Emperor Cruises Junk. Start cruising through the spectacular landscape of Nha Trang Bay as the sun sets.

1800H-2030H

Cruise through Nha Trang Bay at night while sipping cocktails and wines on the sundeck as you are entertained by musicians playing against the stunning backdrop of stars, the moon, and the city lights.

Experience the gastronomical pleasure of a 5-course seafood dinner on board while being serenaded and served by the Emperor Cruises team.

2030H-2100H

End your romantic dinner by having drinks or cocktails at the lounge or on the sundeck before heading back to Nha Trang Port and returning to the mainland where your transfers will be waiting to drive you back to your hotel.Overnight in Nha Trang.

Day 8 - Nha Trang - Day trip to the Island (B/L)

0800H-0830H

Pick up from your hotel and transfer to Nha Trang Port to board the Emperor Cruises Junk.

0830H-0900H

Arrival at the port where you will be greeted by the Experiences Manager with a welcome drink. Introduction to Nha Trang Bay, the locals, the food, the culture, the emperor, safety precautions, and the Emperor Cruises Junk. Start cruising through the spectacular landscape of Nha Trang Bay.

0900H-1030H

Cruising past the Tam, Mot, and Mun Islands in Nha Trang Bay. Your destination is Bai Cau in Dam Bay Lagoon, near the famous diving Mun Island site where you can opt for some scuba diving (additional charge).

1030H-1230H

You arrive at our Emperor Cruises’ Secret Beach in Bai Cau where you can either go snorkeling, swimming, fishing, walking, kayaking in either a normal or glass-bottomed kayak, or try a basket boat. Alternatively, just relax at our Mango Bar under the big tree, enjoying the stunning views of the Emperor Cruises’ sails against the clear blue waters of the bay.

1230H-1400H

After so much activity, you will surely be hungry. You will be served a sumptuous set lunch on board with local beers, fine wine, or premium spirits as the boat anchors at Tam Island with its tranquil lagoon and fish farms.

1430H-1530H

The next destination of this afternoon is Mieu Island for a walking tour to visit the local fishing villages. Learn about the way of life away from the mainland and interact with the friendly locals while learning a little about the daily lives of the villagers. Spend a few minutes exploring the beautiful landscape by basket boat as you head over to fish farms.

1530H-1600H

You then transfer back to the mother by speedboat. Welcome back to the boat and enjoy a refreshing coconut milk, which is the specialty of the region. Cruise back to Nha Trang Harbor, catching a glimpse of the Bao Dai Villas as we return to the mainland.

1600H

At the port your Emperor Cruises Van will be waiting to take you back to your hotel. Overnight in Nha Trang.

Day 9 - Nha Trang (B)

Free sat at leisure. Overnight in Nha Trang.

Day 10 - Nha Trang (B)

Free sat at leisure. Overnight in Nha Trang

Day 11 - Nha Trang (B)

Free sat at leisure. Overnight in Nha Trang

Day 12 - Nha Trang – Fly to Saigon (B)

Transfer and flight to Nha Trang for two-night stay. Overnight in Nha Trang.

Day 13 - Sai Gon – Day trip to Ben Tre (B/L)

Ben Tre is the best option for a day trip to the Mekong Delta from Saigon, since it is only around 2 hours away, and 15 minutes from My Tho. However, this wonderful destination retains an authenticity which has been somewhat lessened in nearby My Tho.

This picturesque and friendly Mekong Delta town has historically seen very few travelers, but the recent opening of a bridge connecting Ben Tre and My Tho has made it far easier for day trippers to visit from Saigon.

Our 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.

Day 14 - Sai Gon – Departure (B)

Breakfast at hotel and free at your own leisure time until transfer to airport for your departure flight.

Selection of Hotels

• Hanoi – Sheraton Hotel
• Halong – Indochina Sails
• Nha Trang – Sunrise Nha Trang Beach Hotel & Spa
• Hoi An – Sunrise Hoi An Beach Resort & Spa
• Hochiminh – Equatorial Hotel

Price Include

• Overnight at mentioned hotels at mentioned room standards with breakfast
• Meal according program: B = breakfast, L = lunches and D = dinners
• Transport in private air-conditioned car with driver
• All sights, fees, activities and entrances mentioned in the program
• English speaking guides on days with sightseeing.
• No guide on transfers hotel/airport/boat pier.

Price Exclude

• International flights & departures taxes
• Beverage
• Travel insurance
• Personal expenses, tips and gratuities
• Meals not mentioned
• Vietnam approved letter
• Vietnam visa stamp fee: $25 per person
• Others not mentioned above