The Heritage of Vietnam (Private Tour )

Welcome to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. Our local guide will receive you at Noi Bai Airport and drive you to your hotel in the centre of the city. It takes 35 minutes to drive from the airport to the centre of Hanoi.

Go our on a cyclo tour of the city late in the afternoon. Travel through the fascinating network of narrow alleys known as the 36 Streets, where each street is named after the merchandise traditionally sold there.

Drop by at the Ngoc Son Temple located on the Hoan Kiem Lake. Why not end the day with an entertaining water puppetry show. There is a welcome dinner at a fine-dining restaurant after that. Stay overnight in Hanoi.

Please note that the check-in time is 02:00 pm.

Start the sightseeing tour of Hanoi from the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. See Ho Chi Minh's simple house on stilts and the One-Pillar pagoda near Ba Dinh Square. Move on to the Temple of Literature, the very first university in Vietnam.

We will take you to Koto Van Mieu restaurant for lunch. This restaurant provides hospitality and other skills to young, disadvantaged people.

Continue to the Museum of Ethnology in the afternoon. This museum has collections devoted to 54 ethnic groups living in Vietnam. Your last destination of the day is the picturesque West Lake where you will see the Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest pagoda in Hanoi built in the sixth century.

Leave Hanoi at around 9:00 am and head for Ha Long Bay. The journey will take you through the Red River delta, past green paddy fields and rural villages.

Check into your cruise on reaching the Ha Long Bay and discover the magnificent beauty of this area created by thousands of odd-shaped limestone rocks jutting out of water. After lunch on board, you can visit the grottos or go for swimming and kayaking. Back in the cruise, enjoy a cooking demonstration before the dinner time.

Please note that the above details might be slightly different depending on the cruise boat.

The boat continues sailing after breakfast, cruising past islets, each with their own name. Check out of your room and sit down for a brunch while the boat returns to the pier.

Transfer to Noi Bai Airport on disembarking the cruise and board the flight to Hue, which was the capital of Vietnam before Hanoi. We will transfer you to your hotel in Hue on arrival.

The highlights of Hue are its traditional buildings that hark back to its royal past. Discover its royal citadel forbidden city and the Hue Royal Museum. Go on a boat trip in the Perfume River and see the Thien Mu Pagoda, the icon of the city. Enjoy your lunch at a local restaurant.

Visit the Tomb of King Minh Mang and the Mausoleum of Emperor Khai Dinh in the afternoon. Your last stop today is the Dong Ba Market.

Check out of your hotel after breakfast and transfer to Hoi An, known for its stunning architectural combination, a mixture of Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese styles. The trip takes more than three hours and involves crossing the Hai Van Pass.

Explore the city by foot in the afternoon. See the famous tile-roofed Japanese Bridge as well as Chinese assembly halls and soak up the beauty of the area. You can even stroll to the market located by the Thu Bon River if you want to.

You are free to explore the city on your own after that.

Today you will get the chance to learn more about the Vietnamese cuisine during a cooking class. Together with your tour guide, you will take a boat to a local market to purchase the ingredients. Attend a cooking class with our chef on a floating restaurant after you have bought the ingredients. Enjoy your lunch and take a short rest.

Drive to My Son Sanctuary in the afternoon and learn more about the Cham culture that once flourished in this area. Transfer back to Hoi An later in the day.

You have some free time after breakfast before transferring to the airport for your flight to Saigon, also known as Ho Chi Minh City. Transfer to your hotel on arrival and check in. Your dinner tonight will be on a cruise boat. See the nightscape of Ho Chi Minh City while floating down the Saigon River and listening to folk music.

After breakfast, your day will begin with a visit to the Reunification Palace, the witness of the fierce Vietnam War ended in 1975. The grand building today is a Museum and Hall of official receptions. Nearby the Palace are the Notre Dame Cathedral (view from outside only), built between 1877 and 1883 and colonial-styled Central Post Office, one of the city’s major landmarks. Then visit Ben Thanh market, a symbol of Saigon. Lunch at local restaurant.

In the afternoon, transfer to visit Cu Chi tunnels – the network of over 200km of tunnels became legendary when they played a vital role in the War. In their heyday, the tunnels were functioning underground cities including numerous trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers & kitchens. After a short introduction video showing how the tunnels were constructed, you will have a chance to crawl into a short section of the tunnels to feel the oppressive narrowness and heat inside. Return and overnight in Saigon.

Your day begins after breakfast with a visit to the Reunification Palace, which witnessed the end of the fierce Vietnam War. The grand building today is a museum as well as a hall used for official receptions. Near the palace are the Notre Dame Cathedral and the colonial-styled Central Post Office (entrance fees not included), one of the city’s major landmarks. Then visit Ben Thanh market, a symbol of Saigon.

Next on your itinerary today are the Cu Chi Tunnels, one of the few remaining monuments of the Vietnam War with the total length of 200 km. At its peak, prior to the Tet Offensive in 1968, the tunnel complex acted as a base for almost 10,000 troops. You can even try crawling into some of the tunnels if you want to.

We will pick you up from your hotel after breakfast and drive you to My Tho, the homeland of coconut trees and family-run factories. Embark on a boat trip in the mighty Mekong, observing the life of the locals along the banks.

Stop at one of the islands for some sightseeing. Enjoy fresh tropical fruits served in an orchard accompanied by traditional southern Vietnamese folk music. After that you will embark on small boats rowed the locals and sail through small canals to visit local factories.

Taste honey tea and see the locals at work in coconut candy factories. Drive back to Saigon in the afternoon with a stop at Vinh Trang Pagoda, a mix of Chinese, Cambodian and French culture. Stay overnight in Saigon.

Enjoy your last Breakfast in Vietnam before preparing for your departure. Please note that the hotel checkout time is before 12:00 noon. Transfer to the airport for your flight home.