Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho - Cai Be - Da Nang -  Hoi An - My Son - Hue - Hanoi - Hoa Lu - Ha Long - Bac Ninh

Day 1: ARRIVE IN HO CHI MINH CITY

Arrive at Tan Son Nhat airport, pick-up and transfer to the hotel. Stroll around the downtown for the first discovery of this bustling metropolis.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

Day 2: HO CHI MINH CITY (B)

A full day city tour of the dynamic Ho Chi Minh (formerly called Saigon) including Chinatown, Thien Hau pagoda, Binh Tay market, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Old Saigon Post Office, Reunification Palace, Historical Museum, War Crime Museum and Vinh Nghiem Pagoda.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

Day 3: HO CHI MINH CITY - CAN THO (B, L, D)

Depart to Can Tho. Boarding on Bassac cruise at Ninh Kieu pier. Welcome drink, introduction to the ship and crew, check into the cabins. Departure downstream of the Hau river. Lunch on board while en route. Tour near Tra On floating market. Turning into Nicolai canal, towards the Mang Thit and Co Chien rivers. Rest on the upper deck in a scenery of rice fields, sugar cane, woods on the near banks. Visit of a village on the banks of river Mang Thit, an opportunity to appreciate the way of life and hospitality of the local inhabitants. Visit of the orchard or rice fields nearby.
Boarding back, complimentary drink as a welcome back on board. Rest on the deck or around the bar enjoying the sunset. The crew will serve dinner while the Bassac is cruising Mang Thit river towards her anchorage point for the night. The Bassac sets anchor for the night on river Mang Thit.
Overnight on board.

Day 4: CAN THO - CAI BE - HO CHI MINH CITY - DA NANG - HOI AN (B)

06:30 Departure towards Cai Be. The passengers take their breakfast while enjoying the scenery on the banks.
The Bassac crosses Co Chien river then branches into Cho Lach canal for 30 minutes through the traffic of sand and rice barges, in a scenery of fruit drying facilities and wooden ship building yards.
Arrival in Cai Be, check-out and boarding of a local boat for a tour of Cai Be floating market and handicraft.
Leaving the board at Cai Be. Drive back to Ho Chi Minh city. Upon arrival, transfer to the airport for the late afternoon flight to Da Nang then transfer to Hoi An, one of the major trading centers of South East Asia in the 16th century, now a World Cultural Heritage Site, well-known for its ancient and remarkable architecture of mixed Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese styles from the 16th century. Check in the hotel.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 5: HOI AN - MY SON - HOI AN (B)

Transfer to My Son Holy land, once the spiritual capital of Champa Kingdom that dominated South East Asia for nearly a thousand years and occupied most of the central parts of Vietnam from 2nd century to 16th century with very rich in history and culture. Contemplate its remarkable red brick towers and sanctuaries dating from between the 7th and 13th centuries.

Afternoon drive back to Hoi An, visit the 200 year-old Tan Ky house, Phuc Kien Pagoda, the former merchants’ houses, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the colourful riverside market.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 6: HOI AN - HUE (B)

Leave Hoi An for Hue, the last imperial capital of Vietnam, well-known for magnific architecture, pagodas and royal tombs laid in small villages and surrounding hills. En route have a look at the famous China Beach and visit Cham Museum which contains the finest collection of Cham sculpture in the world. Upon arrival in Hue, visit the Imperial Citadel, the Purple Forbidden City, the elaborate mausoleums of Emperors Tu Duc and the Dong Ba market.

Overnight in Hue.

Day 7: HUE - HANOI (B)

A morning boat trip on the romantic Perfume River visiting Hue’s oldest and most revered site, Thien Mu Pagoda.

Late morning transfer to the airport to take the flight to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. On arrival in Hanoi, take one hour cyclo ride through the bustling old quarter streets of Hanoi.

In the evening, enjoy a fantastic traditional water puppet show (unique to Vietnam).

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 8: HANOI (B)

Today we enjoy a full day city tour of this charming capital city including the mausoleum of the nation's founder Ho Chi Minh (close on Monday & Friday), the Presidential Palace, the Ho Chi Minh's house on stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, the impressive Ethnologic Museum, the beautiful West Lake, the Tran Vu Pagoda, the peaceful lake of the Restored Sword and the Ngoc Son temple. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 9: HANOI - HOA LU - PHAT DIEM CATHEDRAL (B)

Depart for Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam late 10th century - early 11th century, which is called “the terrestrial Ha Long Bay” as its towering limestone cliffs and mountains spring up form the green, lush paddy field instead of blue water. Visit two temples edicated to Dinh and Le Rulers, climb 200 steps to the top of Ma Yen mount for a fantastic view over the surrounding areas. Take a boat trip on a river through the quiet and peaceful landscape to Bich Dong and Tam Coc caves. Then continue our route to visit the amazing Phat Diem stone cathedral built in 1875.

Overnight in Hoa Lu.

Day 10: HOA LU - HA LONG (B, L, D)

Drive to Ha Long Bay, the most wonderful scenic sight of Vietnam, the World Natural Heritage Site with over 3000 limestone islands and islets rising fantastically from the clear and emerald water. Board a traditional-style wooden junk to travel around this magnificent landscape visiting its amazing grottoes and caves. Opportunity to dive off the boat and have a pleasant swimming in the deep blue water of East Sea. Enjoy excellent fresh seafood.

Overnight on board.

Day 11: HA LONG - BAC NINH - HANOI (B)

Morning continue our cruise exploring the natural beauty of the World Heritage. Afternoon return to Hanoi. On the way, we stop over at Bac Ninh province to have more knowledge of Vietnamese’s history and culture. You are welcome at Dinh Bang Village; take some minutes transfer by horse drawn carriage or ox cart to Do temple for visiting. This temple was building during the Le Dynasty and has been altered several times since. The major reconstruction took place under the reign of Le Trung Hung in the 17th century. And then we enjoy traditional music show “Quan Ho” or called Quan Ho Folk song.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 12: DEPART HANOI (B)

Free at leisure until transfer to Noi Bai airport for departure flight.

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