Vietnam Essential 10 days

Upon arrival at the airport, meet with your guide and transfer to the hotel for check-in or dropping off your luggage (Early check-in is NOT included and subject to hotel’s availability). Your guide will brief orientation of the city on the way

Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

After breakfast, depart Saigon for Cu Chi Tunnels. Upon arrival visit the underground. This network of tunnels, which stretched for over 200km, became legendary during the 1960s. The Cu Chi tunnels played a vital part in the U.S.-Vietnam War in that they allowed the Viet Cong to control a large rural area only 30 to 40 km from Saigon. At its height, the tunnel system stretched from Saigon to the Cambodian border. The network, parts of which were several levels deep, included innumerable trap doors, specifically constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command center and kitchens. Today the remaining bloody tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience and feel of what underground life during the war.

Afternoon, enjoy city tour to visit Notre Dame Cathedral was built between 1877 and 1883 and the stone used to create it was exported in its entirety from France. Next to the cathedral stands the Central Post Office, finished in 1891. It is another fine example of French architecture and is Vietnam's largest post office. Continue to visit the Reunification Palace was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until April 30, 1975. Endour city tour today with a stroll around the bustling Ben Thanh Market - a fantastic place for shopping

Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

08:00 You have breakfast at hotel before departing for Vinh Long in Mekong River with a stop for coffee break at Mekong Rest Stop. On arrival in Cai Be Town, board motorized boat to visit local corn/ rice pop making family. Continue by boat to go pass & visit Cai Be floating market. The cruise will later take us through tiny winding canals for a close up view of Mekong lively river life. We will have many photo opportunities of the fish traps and fruit gardens along the canals. Lunch is at bonsai garden with with elephant ear fish, Mekong specialty and opportunity to sample local wine. After lunch, re-board our boat to cruise towards Vinh Long downtown and transfer back to Saigon to take flight to Da Nang. Upon arrival, welcome by  our guide and transfer to Hoi An.

In a country ravaged by war, Hoi An managed to remain untouched, and as you wander the completely traffic-free streets of this ancient seaport it is not hard to imagine yourself amidst the sailors and merchants of the 18th Century, when Hoi An was one of the busiest trading ports in Asia. And don’t forget that this is the town famed for its great tailors; so if you brought anything with you to be replicated—or want to have some traditional Vietnamese dresses made—this is the spot.

Other option to visit Ben Tre and My Tho day Trip.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Next day, your guide will offer to lead you around Hoi An’s historic Old Town The picturesque riverside town of Hoi An, a major international trading port from the 15th to 19th centuries, has an enchanting Old Quarter full of mansions built by prosperous Japanese, Chinese, and European merchants. Enjoy a vivid sense of history as you walk the narrow streets, visiting houses, artisan workshops and the bustling fish market along the quay.

Late morning, you will enjoy a cooking class with a chef and cooking instructor. The chef offers us an introductory cooking class that leads into lunch together. After your market visit this morning, you will have gained a good understanding of local ingredients and the basic techniques of Vietnamese cuisine. Remainder of the day is free on your own exploration or picking up your clothes from tailors.

Meals : Breakfats
Accommodation : Hotel in Hoi An 

En-route to Hue, make a stop at the Marble Mountains for a photo stop, continue to China Beach, immortalized for many by the US television show and still one of the most spectacular beaches in Asia in Da Nang and visit Cham Museum. The museum houses the largest and most impressive collection of Cham sculpture and artifacts anywhere in the world, dating from the 4th to the 14th centuries.

Continue driving uphill on Hai Van (Cloudy Pass) to take engle view of Danang and Lang Co Fishing Village and Madarin Road to Hue. Between 1802 and 1945, Hue was Vietnam’s Imperial City, serving as the seat of 13 Nguyen emperors. Today, the city is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

You’ll take a tour to visit the Imperial city of Hue, continue your tour to see the Thien Mu (Heavenly Lady) pagoda, and then cruising along the beautiful Perfume River.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in The Imperial of Hue

After that we will tour around Hue through shady, scenic landscape to arrive at the majestic, serene tomb of Nguyen Emperor Tu Duc, set amid frangipani trees and a grove of gaudy mausoleum of Emperor Khai Dinh. Catch your flight to the capital city of Hanoi. Upon arrival, you are welcome by Amo Vietnam Travel guide and private transfefred to your hotel in downtown.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

In the morning, depart for Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex; including Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, house on stilt, presidential palace, the historic figure and father of modern Vietnam, (exterior only; closed Mon and Fri and from Oct-Nov). Then it's on to a wooden ethnic minority style house which was his temporary residence from 1954 - 1969. In the same complex you will see the One Pillar Pagoda, founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049. This structure has become one of three important symbols for the people of Hanoi. Then followed by Van Mieu literally translated “Temple of Literature” which is wel-known in Vietnam for a combination of Confucian sanctuary and academy, the centre also housed the country’s first university, founded in 1076. We have time to wander through the stone tablets and soak up a thousand years of learning with our local guide.

After lunch at another of our favourite local spots, we leave you to enjoy the afternoon as you see fit.

Depending on your interests, our guides will be happy to lead you to some of the city’s more interesting art galleries, or take you on a shopping tour for silks and linens (this is perhaps the best place in Vietnam to pick up gifts for people back home) or continue visiting historic sites or visit to a very beautiful Museum of Ethnology to enhance your understanding of Vietnam's diverse culture through its unique presentation of objects & dress from daily life or making city orientation to West Lake then to visit Ngoc Son Temple in Hoan Kiem Lake.

Followed by, we travel by rickshaw cyclo (traditional bike-propelled cart) and foot along tree-lined boulevards and through the 1000-year-old Old Quarter, exploring the markets and taking in some of the city’s great colonial architecture.

In the late afternoon, we’ll enjoy a performance of water puppetry, an art form that developed in the rice paddies of northern Vietnam.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Depart for Ha Long Bay,  for a 3.5 hours driving to Halong City with a break en route at a local coffee shop. Arriving by noon at the quayside, we board our junk to begin a cruise through the spectacular Halong Bay – Halong Bay is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Halong Bay is one of Vietnam’s most discover the Bay. Stopping along the way to explore the limestone caves or just lazing about atop the deck of our boat.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: On board

Breakfast will be served on board. Enjoy sun rise in the morning from the top of your boat. Continue your cruising for more exploration of the Bay with the tiny limestone islands are dotted with many beaches and grottoes created by the wind and the waves that provide an excellent backdrop for swimming. Drop off at the pier at around mid-day and transfer back to Hanoi.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

You will be collected from your hotel for a private transfer with your guide to the airport for departure flight home.

Meals: Breakfast

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