Vietnam Cultural Heritage Tour 11 Days

Day 1: Hanoi arrival (D)

Upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport, you will be met by our guide and transferred to your hotel. Evening: Water puppet show. Welcome dinner at local restaurant.

Day 2: Hanoi (B)

Hanoi - the intellectual and artistic capital of Vietnam. Explore the fascinating Old Quarter with its hundreds of specialty shops selling silk garments, lacquerware, embroidered linen, furniture, bamboo, ceremonial items and much more. Enjoy a stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake, a cyclo ride to dine in French colonial villas. You will also enjoy the modern art shops and the many galleries in the city. Also visit Hanoi's cultural sites such as the Mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh, his house on stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Temple of Literature.

Day 3: Hanoi - Halong Bay (B,L,D)

After breakfast, we depart to Halong Bay, passing beautiful scenery along the way full of lush rice paddies and winding rivers, typical of the Red River Delta. We will arrive at Halong’s tourist wharf around noon and embark a classic wooden junk. Lunch will be served as the boat gently cruises past numerous islands and limestone structures rising from the emerald waters of the bay. It is also an ideal opportunity to enjoy the sea breeze and refresh your soul. An experienced chef will prepare a fresh seafood dinner. Overnight on board in your private cabin.

Day 4: Halong Bay - Hanoi - Hue (B,L)

Enjoy breakfast and savor the incredible sunrise from the sundeck while the boat sails to Luon Cave and one of Halong’s floating villages then back to the harbor.

We will return to Hanoi by car where you will be brought to the airport for the flight to Hue. Overnight in Hue.

Day 5: Hue (B)

Breakfast at the hotel and then we will board a private boat for a cruise on the romantic Perfumed River. The ancient capital, Hue is famous for its tombs of past emperors, and a visit to some of them is on the agenda for today. Thien Mu Pagoda will be the first stop of the day, it will offer you a superb view of the Perfumed River and the surrounding areas. From here we will take the boat to the tomb of Minh Mang and then head to the tomb of Khai dinh . Overnight in Hue.

Day 6: Hue - My Son - Hoi An (B)

On the way, we will stop in Danang to visit the Cham Museum, then visit the ruins of My Son. My Son is the ancient capital of the Cham civilization that ruled central Vietnam in the second half of the 13th century. Their religion was derived from Hinduism. My Son is considered to be one of the best-preserved Cham structures in Vietnam. It includes 70 Hindu-inspired towers and temples dating back to the second century. This site is a must-see for those interested in architecture and ancient civilizations and is one of the five UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Vietnam. Once in Hoian, check-in at the hotel and free time to visit the city.

Day 7: Hoi An (B)

Between the 16th and 18th centuries, Hoi An was an important international trading port for Dutch, French, Portuguese and Arab traders. These people came mainly to buy silk, still produced in the area, and ceramics. Today, Hoi An is a quiet little town, popular for its eclectic architecture, souvenir shops, many tailors and dressmakers, and cafes. Your tour through the streets of the Old Quarter will take you to Chua Ong Pagoda, the Assembly Hall, the 200-year-old Tan Ky House, Chinese merchants' houses, and the Japanese Covered Bridge. The Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, built in 1690, is a must-see. The pagoda inside is dedicated to Thien Hau Thanh Mau, goddess of the sea and protector of sailors. The town's unofficial emblem is the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, which you will encounter along the way. The rest of the time, free at your leisure to enjoy Hoian.

Day 8: Hoi An - Danang - Ho Chi Minh city (B)

Transfer and flight to HCMC for two nights. A guided tour of the city is planned for the afternoon. After lunch, we will show you: Cholon, the city's Chinatown which also houses Binh Tay, the largest market in Ho Chi Minh City; the Reunification Palace, the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until April 30, 1975, when the soldiers of the North made a brutal intrusion with their tanks, symbolizing the end of the war against the United States; and finally the War Museum which houses an impressive collection of photos taken by foreign journalists during the war against the Americans. Ho Chi Minh City is currently the most modern city in Vietnam and has all the infrastructure of a large city with its shopping centers, cinemas, restaurants and nightclubs.

Day 9: Ho Chi Minh city - Mekong Delta (B,L)

The Mekong Delta is the southernmost part of Vietnam. This extremely fertile region is considered the rice granary of Vietnam and is also famous for its tropical fruits, flowers and fish farming. The Mekong River, originating in Tibet, crosses 6 countries over 4500 km before turning into a delta and emptying into the China Sea. As you take a boat trip through this immense delta, you will realize the crucial role that this river plays in the daily lives of thousands of people. You will be driven to My Tho and then take a boat to start a cruise through a maze of canals, then enjoy a delicious meal in a bonsai garden in the heart of the Mekong complete with succulent tropical fruits. We will also visit the Dong Tam snake farm and, among other things, taste snake wine, visit a bonsai garden in Trung Luong before returning to Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 10: Ho Chi Minh city - Cu Chi Tunnels (B)

Private morning tour with Cu Chi Tunnels. The tunnels stretch over 250km. from Saigon to the Cambodian border and are three levels deep. The network includes gates, storage facilities, weapons factories, hospitals, command centers and kitchens. Today, what remains of the tunnels has become a major tourist attraction giving visitors a unique feel of what life was like underground during the Vietnam-US War. Free time in the afternoon in the city.

Day 11: Ho CHi Minh city - Departure (B)

No activities planned for the day. Enjoy your free time before the transfer to the airport.