Exploring Vietnam’s Cultural Heritage 9 Days

Today, you will visit Ho Chi Minh's complex, including the mausoleum of the nation's founder and leader. Here, large crowds gather to pay their respects to the man they simply call “Uncle Ho” as he spent his whole life fighting for our freedom. The Presidential Palace and Uncle Ho's wooden stilt house can also be seen here. One of the must-see places in the complex is the One Pillar pagoda dating back to the 11th century.

The next stop is the Temple of Literature, the site of Vietnam's oldest university and dedicated to one of the world's most famous scholars, Confucius. Inside the temple grounds, huge steles rest on the backs of even larger stone turtles (in Vietnam's culture, the turtle represents longevity). The stele recorded the names of the successful candidates who later became mandarins in the emperor’s court.

You also will visit the Museum of Ethnology where you will learn more about our people, culture and custom and our history.

Then you will be taken in a 45 minutes cyclo tour to see Hanoi ‘s Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake.

You will then enjoy a water puppet show that one should not miss while visiting Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

Note:  Ho Chi Minh mausoleum is closed on Monday and Friday. Most of museums are closed on Monday so there will be alternative options if you depart on Monday or Friday.

Travel from Hanoi to Halong Bay to cruise amongst the Bay’s spectacular scenery aboard. Get on board and cruise around the stunning mystical landscape of Halong Bay, one of the world's most famous UNESCO World Heritage sites where thousands of limestone karsts and islets in various sizes and shapes rise from the clear, emerald water of the Gulf of Tonkin, most of which are uninhibited and unaffected by humans. The wind, rain and sea have carved out dramatic caves and grottoes in some of the islands, several of which you will visit. Participate in different activities like hiking, swimming...

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 for brunch. Checkout is at about 11:45 am and the boat arrives at the harbor by noon for the drive back to Hanoi. You will then have free time before an overnight stay in Hanoi.

You will have some free time to explore before embark the half- day walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter, visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, the Chinese Assembly Halls, the 200-year-old Tam Ky ancestral house, and the Japanese Bridge. Following the tour, there will be free time for shopping, including visits to local tailors who can-do custom-made clothing very quickly. Then, you’ll take a break and have a peaceful evening stay.

Optional Tour Farmer and Fishing Tour (B/L)  (Click to view)

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 be transferred directly to your centrally located hotel. You will embark on a city tour of Saigon, including the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Post Office, the War Remnants Museum and bustling Ben Thanh Market. You will stay overnight in HCMC.

After being transferred by vehicle to Cai Be province, visit of the local workshop to see how to make rice paper, coconut, pop-rice... Enjoy some sweets with a cup of hot tea. Then, the rowing boat will take you deeper into the countryside on smaller canals to enjoy the peaceful time.

An optional lunch can be served at local house or on boat

After lunch, we’ll come to Tân Phong - island for biking or walking on village paths to see the local daily life: orchard, school, church, pagoda, traditional houses... On the way, we can make some stops to see how they wave the dried water-hyacinth to make many products: baskets, bags, hats, wallets, shoes...

Come to visit the local garden, we will enjoy some cups of tea when listening to the traditional music. The cruise will back & end at Cai Be pier.

Enjoy the breakfast at hotel then you will be picked up for the tour to 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 visitors 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.

Free at leisure until transfer to Hochiminh International Airport for your departure.

We hope you have had a memorable trip and wish you pleasant onward travels!

End of tours!

OPTIONS: You can join Pre Tour or Post Tour

PRE-TOUR – NINH BINH - Spectacular scenery of grottoes and caves (click to view)

POST-TOUR – CAMBODIA - World Heritage Centre ( click to view)