This 10-day itinerary is ideal for first timers to Vietnam or those on a budget. Start in the capital city of Hanoi with its French Colonial architecture and picturesque Old Quarter, before spending a night in Halong Bay on board a traditional junk as you cruise through the iconic limestone karsts and explore caves. Down the coast, Hoi An offers the best of both worlds with beach and local culture, as well as being home to the renowned Red Bridge Cooking School. Finish in the buzzing metropolis of Saigon, a great base from which to experience the Cu Chi Tunnels, wander around the shops and markets and explore the back streets on the back of a vespa after dark.
ESSENTIAL VIETNAM
HIGHLIGHTS
- Sampling local beer and traditional Vietnamese delicacies on a street food tour in Hanoi.
- Sailing through iconic Halong Bay on board a traditional junk.
- Absorbing the riverside culture of picturesque Hoi An with its ancient long houses and silk shops.
- Taking a speedboat up the Saigon River to the Cu Chi Tunnels.
- Exploring the back streets of Saigon on the back of a vespa after dark.
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Arrive
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Day 1 Arrive Hanoi
Hanoi is Vietnam's capital and a beautiful city with a strong French influence - stunning colonial architecture and streets lined with patisseries. Family is the key focus and every generation has an important role to play. Grandparents look on whilst youngsters are taught to ride their bicycles amidst the busy traffic, teenagers zip to school and university on vespas and parents frantically run the family business. On arrival you will be privately transferred to your boutique, central hotel.
Option: Avoid the long immigration queues and pay for fast-track arrival.
Overnight: Silk Path Hotel (Hang Bong)
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Day 2 Exploring Hanoi
Explore the city in the company of your private guide. Images of Ho Chi Minh ('Uncle Ho') are everywhere and a visit to his imposing mausoleum is worthwhile, but especially evocative at sunrise for the flag raising ceremony. The picturesque Temple of Literature was the country's first university and now only teaches the philosophies of Confucianism and the narrow, cobbled streets of the Old Quarter are best explored in a traditional cyclo. This is where you will join a street food tour to stroll around the shops, bars and market stalls to sample local beers and traditional Vietnamese delicacies such as Pho, Banh Cuon and Banh Mi. Finish at Hoan Kiem Lake for the tastiest ice creams in Hanoi before heading back to your hotel.
Overnight: Silk Path Hotel (Hang Bong)
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Day 3 Hanoi-Halong Bay
After breakfast you will be driven just under three hours to Halong Bay where you will board your charming, boutique junk for the one-night cruise around the area's iconic limestone karsts. Lunch is served as you sail out of the harbour and this afternoon you can enjoy kayaking, swimming, and a visit to a floating pearl farm. After enjoying dinner and dinner on board, try your hand at traditional squid fishing.
Option: Take a seaplane to Halong Bay instead of the long drive. The flight is 30 minutes plus a 15 minute scenic flight over Halong Bay for the most breath-taking views!
Overnight: Violet Junk
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Day 4 Halong Bay-Hoi An
Witness sunrise with Tai Chi up on deck before enjoying a swim and a hearty breakfast as your boat sails back into harbour. Your driver will be waiting to take you back to Hanoi in time for your flight to Hoi An. Met on arrival and transferred to your hotel in time to freshen up in your river view room before dinner.
Overnight: Little Riverside
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Day 5 - 6 At Leisure in Hoi An
Two days at leisure so that you can explore this charming, riverside town on foot or by bicyle or venture further by tuk-tuk to a nearby beach. The Old Town is accessed via a 14th century Japanese covered bridge and is well worth a visit to see the ancient long houses and silk shops. Hoi An is THE place to get clothes made with an abundance of tailor shops.
Option: Enjoy a hands-on cooking class and learn the art of Vietnamese cuisine. Start by cycling to the market to source your ingredients and on to Tra Que village, renowned for its herb, spice and vegetable gardens - whose fragrance will hit you before you arrive. You will learn to cook a few recipes which you can then enjoy for lunch in the sanctity of the school's private garden.
Overnight: Little Riverside
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Day 7 Hoi An-Saigon
After breakfast fly south to Saigon where you will be met and transferred to your central 5-star, boutique hotel with classic French Indochine touches.
Overnight: Hotel Des Arts
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Day 8 Saigon-Cu Chi Tunnels-Saigon
With your private guide, board the public speedboat early this morning to sail up the Saigon River to the Cu Chi Tunnels. The labyrinth of tunnels was used by the Viet Cong during the war and where they lived in the most cramped conditions. Some of the tunnels have now been opened so you can easily see inside. After lunch, take the scheduled speedboat back to the city where your guide will give you a whistle-stop tour of the highlights such as the old Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral and Chinatown.
Option: Upgrade to a private speedboat to allow a later start and more flexibility.
Overnight: Hotel Des Arts
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Day 9 Saigon-Vespa After Dark Tour
Today is at leisure to relax by the hotel pool or explore the shops and museums independently. In the early evening, you will be collected by Vespa for an off-the-beaten track adventure with a small group of others. Along the way you will stop at pre-designated bars and restaurants to sample local beers, cocktails and street food as well as listen to live music; both traditional and modern.
Overnight: Hotel Des Arts
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Day 10 Depart
You will be privately transferred to the airport in time for your flight home.
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Depart
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Addition to Day 10
Consider extending your holiday with either a beach holiday at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay (as seen in the video)or by taking a cruise up the Mekong to Cambodia.
GUIDELINE PRICES - Per Person
| High | $ 4,005 |
| Low | $ 3,515 |
BOOKING NOTES
- Prices are per person based on two people sharing a room.
- If you are interested in adding any of the optional enhancements listed, please speak to your specialist about prices and how best to fit them into the itinerary.
INCLUSIONS
- All accommodation as detailed in the itinerary.
- Daily breakfast.
- Private transfers throughout (except speedboat to Cu Chi which is public).
- All sightseeing, entrance fees and guide services as detailed in the itinerary.
- Internal flights where detailed in the itinerary.
EXTRAS
- International flights.
- Meals not indicated in the itinerary.
- Optional tours which are purely suggestions.
- Items of a personal nature such as laundry, drinks, gratuities (discretionary).
- Entrance fees and excursions not specifically mentioned as included.
- Travel insurance or visa fees.
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REASONS TO BOOK
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