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Discover Vietnam and immerse yourself in its rich culture by attending water puppet shows, exploring traditional medicine and visiting local handicraft workshops. On this trip to Vietnam, marvel at UNESCO heritage sites such as Halong Bay, Hoi An Ancient Town, historic Hoa Lu, and Hue Imperial Citadel. As well as its cultural heritage, discover the modern face of Vietnam.
Have a nice trip to Vietnam !
On arrival in Hanoi, our guide and driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel. Noi Bai international airport to your hotel in Hanoi (35 km): 60 minutes
After check-in, enjoy the rest of the day free of charge.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Vietnam’s capital, a city that celebrated its 1,000th anniversary in 2010, boasts countless fascinating cultures and historical sites, and our day tour will visit the highlights. See the grand and solemn Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (exterior view; closed Mondays and Fridays and from October to November), the “icon of Hanoi”, the Single Pillar Pagoda, the magnificent Temple of Literature, the Tran Quoc Temple on West Lake and the Quan Thanh Pagoda, as well as the fascinating Museum of Ethnology, the lively Old Quarter and, at the end of the day, a water puppet show.
08:30 departure from your hotel for the Temple of Literature. In 1076, the first Vietnamese university, Quoc Tu Giam, was established in a temple to educate Vietnamese royalty, mandarins and members of the elite.
The university has been in operation for an incredible 700 years, and its gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a fascinating glimpse into Vietnam’s past.
Visit the One Pillar Pagoda, founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049. This structure is one of Vietnam’s most emblematic temples. Nearby is the mausoleum of modern Vietnam’s historic father figure, Ho Chi Minh, and the former president’s house on stilts, where he lived from 1958 to 1969.
His former home illustrates the modesty of this Vietnamese revolutionary. (Viewed from outside; closed Mondays and Fridays and from October to November).
Continue on to picturesque Lac de l’Ouest and the 6th-century Tran Quoc Buddhist pagoda. From here, transfer (or a lakeside stroll) 700 meters to the nearby Quan Thanh Taoist temple dedicated to Tran Vu, one of the main Taoist deities.
In the afternoon, visit the fascinating Museum of Ethnology (closed on Mondays), which is both a research center and a public museum showcasing Vietnam’s ethnic groups.
In the late afternoon, visit Hanoi’s old quarter, also known as the “36 streets”. Stroll through the charming Hang Be market and around Hoan Kiem Lake. The streets and alleys are home to literally thousands of small businesses and traders. It’s a great place to explore, with plenty of photo opportunities all around you.
End the day with a puppet show on the water. This is a unique art form from northern Vietnam, depicting scenes of rural life and episodes of national history.
Hanoi to Ninh Binh (100 km): 2h
Leave the hotel early this morning for a two-hour drive through the northern part of Vietnam to the site of Vietnam’s first capital, Hoa Lu. Visit the temples dedicated to the Dinh emperor Dinh Tien Hoang.
Dynasty (968-80) and Emperor Le Dai Hanh of the Le Dynasty (980-1009). If time permits after your visit to Hoa Lu, take a half-hour walk up one of the surrounding karst limestone hills for spectacular views.
Late morning, departure for a traditional Vietnamese lunch at Tam Coc. Along the way, stop to take photos of the local villages and beautiful scenery.
After lunch, board a private sampan (see Tam Coc sampan trip options below). As the boat gently splits through the water, note the huge limestone karsts emerging from the green rice known as “Halong on Land”.
The more adventurous can climb the Bich Dong pagoda on the nearby Ngu Nhac mountain. Dating from 1428, it comprises three structures: the Ha, Trung and Thuong pagodas. Return by sampan to Tam Coc before returning to Hanoi.
* Option 1: Trang An Boat option (instead of Tam Coc): Trang An is a less-visited nature reserve illustrated by limestone hills and a peaceful river running through a series of caves (one of which takes 15 minutes). darkness). A zone of “ecological tourism”, the only interruptions are the sound of birds and the gentle rowing of the oar on the crystal-clear river.
* Option 2: Thung Nang boat option (replacing Tam Coc): Thung Nang is another less-visited area with a similar style to Tam Coc. Cross a cave, lotus fields (in summer) and reach a picturesque pagoda before returning on the same route.
Hanoi to Halong Bay (160km): 3h30
After breakfast in Hanoi, continue your trip to Vietnam towards Halong Bay in a 3.5 hour drive.
Arrive at Halong jetty (around noon) and complete check-in formalities. After a welcome on board, lunch will be served on the cruise to the bay. In the afternoon, enjoy sightseeing, onboard activities (depending on each boat’s itinerary) or relax on board.
Towards the end of the day, the boat drops anchor for the night among the karst formations. Dinner is served on board.
Overnight in Halong Bay.
Early risers can enjoy an unforgettable sunrise over Halong, with breakfast served shortly afterwards.
Enjoy breakfast (or brunch on some boats) as the ships slowly make their way back to port.
Disembark and our guide and driver will be waiting to take you to Hanoi or Haiphong.
On the way to the airport, visit Thanh Chuong Palace, the home and studio of Thanh Chuong, one of Vietnam’s most famous painters. More than a living space than a museum, the palace is an architectural gem showcasing traditional Vietnamese cultural artifacts, exquisite antiques and remarkable structures.
After the tour, head to the airport for a quick flight south to the central city of Danang. Upon arrival in Danang, our guide and driver will be waiting for you to provide transportation to the next stop of your trip to Vietnam, the town of Hoi An, approximately 40 minutes to the south. A major Asian trading port in the 17th and 18th centuries, Hoi An’s architecture and relaxed lifestyle have changed little over the centuries.
Overnight in Hoi An.
Start day 6 with a half-day visit to the capital and religious center of the ancient Champa kingdom, My Son. Located 40 km southwest of Hoi An, in a verdant valley, My Son is home to dozens of red-brick towers and shrines dating from the 7th to 13th centuries. After a morning of exploration, return to Hoi An and stop off at Tra Kieu, capital of Champa between the 4th and 8th centuries. Some of the finest sculptures in Danang’s Cham Museum originated here.
Back in Hoi An, take a walking tour of the old town center to visit ancient merchant houses, the 400-year-old Japanese covered bridge, a Chinese common room and the colorful market.
After the tour, enjoy free time to explore the old town.
Overnight in Hoi An.
Enjoy the morning at your leisure before leaving Hoi An for Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. The fascinating tombs and mausoleums of Vietnam’s last emperors reveal a fascinating insight into the lives of the imperial families and their subjects. The ancient citadel reflects the pomp and ceremony of dynastic rulers, as well as the traces of many years of turmoil, both ancient and modern. The Royal Citadel was severely damaged during the final stages of the war, but retains a sense of grace and majesty even today.
Cross Danang and visit the Cham Museum, which contains the world’s finest collection of Cham sculptures, before climbing the Ocean Cloud Pass and descending to Hue City.
Start the day’s explorations with an 08:30 departure from the hotel in Hue. Start your visit at the Imperial Citadel, where the Nguyen dynasty reigned between 1802 and 1945. From here, take a cyclo through the old dai noi town to Lake Tinh Tam, where emperors used to come to relax. The lake is bursting with lotus flowers in summer and there are numerous local-style cafés around the lake, perfect for immersing yourself in the local scene.
Then on to the Thien Mu pagoda overlooking the Perfume River. Built in 1601, the 21-meter tower is the pagoda’s centerpiece and represents seven reincarnations of Buddha. On the pagoda grounds is the famous Austin car that a resident monk drove to Saigon in 1963 to protest against the Southern regime. The photo of his self-immolation is one of the best-known images of the war.
Continue on to the tomb of former emperor Minh Mang, set in a peaceful setting of gardens and ponds.
Next, head for the tomb of Khai Dinh, designed in traditional Vietnamese style with a European touch, making it unique from other tombs in Hue.
Before returning to your hotel, take time to stroll around Dong Ba market with your guide. The market is another of Hue’s must-sees, with stalls bursting with color and life.
Overnight in Hue.
After breakfast, transfer to Hue Airport for the flight south to Ho Chi Minh City, the final leg of your trip to Vietnam. On arrival, check in and take a short break before embarking on a city tour. Start the tour with a visit to Cholon, Ho Chi Minh City’s Chinatown. Discover the markets, stores and Cantonese pagoda of Thien Hau. Then visit Vietnam’s first museum of traditional medicine, the FITO Museum, with an amazing collection of 3,000 items linked to the development of traditional Vietnamese medicine.
Instruments used to prepare herbs and indigenous objects commonly found in traditional pharmacies can be seen in the galleries, along with old books and documents on traditional Vietnamese medicine.
Return to the city center to visit the Ben Thanh market, where an incredible selection of fresh produce is on offer. Take a stroll through the market, exploring the variety of products for sale.
This afternoon, visit the museum of war relics or history (personal preference) and the former presidential palace. From the palace, stroll around the main sights of colonial Ho Chi Minh: the old Saigon Post Office, Dong Khoi Street (formerly Catinat Street), Continental Hotel, Opera House and City Hall (guide and driver available at all times).
In the late afternoon, return to the hotel.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Note: the History Museum is closed on Mondays.
HCMV to Cai Be (100 km): 2h
Leave the bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh City and enter the Mekong Delta on this day trip to Cai Be. Arriving in Cai Be, step off the boat onto Tan Phong Island and begin an interesting nature-immersion bike tour through small villages and narrow roads. Roam the trails and take the opportunity to visit local families who make traditional products such as water hyacinth handicrafts, palm leaf roofs, coconut rope hammocks and rice paper.
Have lunch with Mekong delta specialties in the atmosphere of an old house. After lunch, stroll through the alleys of a local market to enjoy the hustle and bustle before boarding the boat.
On your Mekong River cruise, witness daily life transition into the aquatic world while tasting fresh local fruits. Leave the boat for a while to visit local businesses such as the family rice, wine and rice mills and interact with the host to learn more about their daily lives.
At the end of the tour, return to Saigon.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Enjoy the last morning of your Vietnam trip at your leisure until transport to the airport for your departing flight.
From €1,950 per person based on double room. This price includes international flights, accommodation, meals, visits and transfers.
Price from 1300 €
Price from 3500 €
Price from 2050 €
Price from 13500 €
Price from 1300 €
