Vietnam Highlights, 10 days tour to visit highlights of Vietnam

Sept. 11, 2012 - PRLog -- Duration: 10 Days
Destinations: Hanoi - Maichau - Halong Bay - Hoian - Hue - Hochiminh City
Arrival City: Hanoi
Departure City: Hochiminh City
Accommodations: 3 nights in Hanoi, 1 night in Mai Chau - 1 night on cruise in Halong Bay, 1 night in Hoian, 2 nights in Hue, 1 night in Hochiminh City
Transportation: Car, Plane, Dragon Boat, Speed Boat, Cruise, Sampan
Tour Guide: Local English speaking
Meals: 9 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 4 dinners

Tour summary
Day 1: Arrive Hanoi (D)
Day 2: Hanoi City Tour (B)
Day 3: Hanoi - Mai Chau (B)
Day 4: Mai Chau - Hanoi (B)
Day 5: Hanoi - Halong, overnight on Vietnamese Cruise (B, L, D)
Day 6: Halong - Hanoi - Danang - Hoian (B, L)
Day 7: Hoian - Hue (B)
Day 8: Hue City Tour (B)
Day 9: Hue - Ho Chi Minh (B, D)
Day 10: Ho Chi Minh Departure (B)

Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi Arrival (D)
Welcome to Vietnam. Today, upon arrival at Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport, our tour guide will greet and transfer you to your hotel in Hanoi. In the afternoon, enjoy walking tour in the Old Quarter. In the evening, be our guest at local restaurant for welcome dinner with authentic Vietnamese cuisines. Stay overnight in Hanoi hotel.

Day 2: Hanoi (B)
After breakfast at your hotel, visit Ho Chi Minh Complex including Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh's House on Stilt and One Pillar Pagoda, then visit Temple of Literature, built 1070 which is the first university in Vietnam. The next attraction is Vietnam National Museum of Ethnology, the special collection of 54 ethnic minorities in Vietnam. In the afternoon, make your way to Hoan Kiem Lake for Ngoc son Temple and Dong Xuan Market and in the evening, you will be entertained by Water Puppet Show and Vietnamese traditional music at Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. Stay overnight hotel in Hanoi.

Day 03: Hanoi - Maichau (B)
After breakfast at hotel, the morning drive to Hoa Binh allows you to visit Muong and Dao village in evergreen valley then continue to Mai Chau, the home of Thai minority. In the afternoon, visit the Chief of Thai Community to learn the history, traditions, and festivals of Thai Ethnic Minority. Tonight, the special treat is traditional dance by ethnic artists. Stay overnight in Mai Chau.

Day 04: Maichau - Hanoi (B)
Enjoy breakfast at Thai house and visit other villages in the town and Mai Chau Market. In the afternoon, drive back to Hanoi and the balance of the day is at leisure and stay overnight in Hanoi.

Day 5: Hanoi - Halong bay (B, L, D)
Today, get up early for morning Tai Chi with local people at Hoan Kiem Lake, then have "Pho" the typical breakfast for Vietnamese people. Travel to Halong Bay, enjoy drive though the rural area with scenic view of rice paddy field in the Red River Delta. You may be lucky enough to see cows or pigs on motor bike or Vietnamese kids ridding on water buffalo flying kites. On the way, enjoy famous Vietnamese Coffee at Vietnam Handicraft Center. Upon arrival, check in Vietnamese wooden cruise in Halong Bay. Journey along the spectacular limestone islands, floating villages while having sea food lunch, then disembark to visit 'Sung Sot' or Surprising Cave, one of the most beautiful grottos in Halong Bay. The next stop is Titop Island where you could swim on sandy beach or climb up to the top for panoramic view. In the evening, you will be delighted by candle lighting dinner on board with seafood dishes. Stay overnight on cruise in Ha Long Bay.

Day 6: Halong Bay - Hanoi - Danang - Hoian (B, L)
A breakfast will be served in the restaurant with the combination of western style and local cuisines. Then experience the bay up close and personal with a leisure sampan to "Hang Luon" or "Lagoon Cave" which allows you to see flora and fauna system of Catba National Park. Continue to Halong City, disembark and enjoy seafood lunch at local restaurant and drive back to Hanoi airport for a short flight to Da Nang then transfer to Hoian. In the evening, free at your leisure. Stay overnight Hotel in Hoian

Day 7: Hoian - Hue (B, D)
After your breakfast, bike shortly to the Ancient Town of Hoian and take a walking tour to Japanese Covered Bridge, Phung Hung Ancient House, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall and Chua Ong Pagoda. In the afternoon, enjoy peaceful boat ride along the Thu Bon River to Thanh Ha Ceramic Village then check out resort in Hoian and travel to the former Imperial Capital of Hue. On the way, visit the Cham Museum, the last collection of powerful Kingdom of Champa and drive over the 'Pass of Ocean and Clouds'. The special treat tonight is dinner at Vuon Y Thao Restaurant for royal cuisines. A superb 3-course meal will be served to you with royal style. Stay overnight at hotel in Hue.

Day 8: Hue (B)
Rise for an early breakfast, followed by a visit to the city's vibrant Dong Ba Market then The Imperial Citadel where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled the country between 1802 and 1945. After exploring the ruins of this wonderful monument, depart to the Hue Royal Fine Arts Museum and one of Hue's beautiful garden houses. The afternoon dragon boat trip on The Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda allows you to discover the history Buddhism in Vietnam then visit King Minh Mang's Tomb and King Khai Dinh' Tomb where you can compare the contrast of traditional and modern architectures. Stay overnight in Hue hotel.

Day 9: Hue - Hochiminh City (B, D)
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, this Vietnam vacation continues with a short flight to dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, followed by an oriental visit to the former Presidential Palace, the War Remnants Museum, the colonial Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Saigon Post Office. The afternoon tour leads you to China Town where you will visit Thien Hau Temple and Binh Tay Market. Tonight, experience true southern hospitality with a candle lighting dinner at local restaurant with southern cuisines. Stay overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 10: Hochiminh City Departure (B)
Free at leisure then transfer to the airport for home departure. Thank you for traveling with us and wish you had a wonderful tour in Vietnam and sweet departure.

This tour is handcrafted by Lan Nguyen from Vietnam Heritage Travel. For more information, please visit: http://www.vietnamtravelmagazine.com/latest/vietnam-highl...