15 - day The best of Vietnam tour

Set off your city tour with drive through French area to the Ba Dinh Square where Ho Chi Minh delivered the independence declaration in the morning of September 2nd 1945. Lining up for entering inside the Soviet-style mausoleum where late president Ho Chi Minh’s corpse has been reserved for years.  Then walk through the gardens of the Presidential Palace to House 54 where Ho Chi Minh lived during 1954-1958. Strolling along the little pond, you will see Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts, the humble dwelling was modeled of hill tribes traditional dwelling far north of the country where Ho Chi Minh and his government ever lived during French war. Take photos of the One Pillar Pagoda - one of Vietnam’s most iconic temples which was built since 11th century. 

Short drive to the 900-year-old Temple of Literature, which served as the first national university of Vietnam till end of 18th century.

Lunch with Ha Noi specialty at a local restaurant. 

Drive out of the central city to visit the Museum of Ethnology showcases the diverse culture of Vietnam's 54 ethnic minority groups through a collection of clothes, textiles, musical instruments and many other items from daily life.
Explore the fascinating Old quarter  by cyclo before wrapping the tour with water puppet show, an unique folk art of Viet Nam from about 11 century.

Please note: The Ho Chi Minh mausoleum is closed every Monday and Friday (outside grounds and garden area will be open on these days) and normally closed from June 15 through August 15 for preservation and maintenance of the building. 

• Meals: Breakfast / lunch
• Accommodation: Hanoi

Drive south to Ninh Binh province on a 2-hour journey to Trang An, a UNESCO World Heritage site.Trang An is well known for its outstanding natural beauty and the scenic karst formations which contribute to its reputation as being the “Halong Bay in land.” 

Upon arrival, board a small rowing boat and wind lazily down the peaceful river while passing through a series of caves. While enjoying the sounds of soaring birds overhead and paddling along the crystal-clear waters of the river, jagged limestone hills jutting skyward out of electric green rice paddies will be sure to bring out the photographer in you.

Return to the pier to get to a local restaurant for lunch.

Heading to Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s ancient capital during the Dinh and Le dynasties dating back to the 10th- 11th  century. We visit 02 temples dedicated to kings of the dynasties.
Or you can choose to climb some 500 steps in Mua cave to take in stunning view of Karst landscape.

• Meals: Breakfast/lunch
• Accommodation: Ninh Binh

8:00 embark your 3.50hrs drive through Red river delta’s peaceful villages. On route, make a visit to Pho Minh Buddhist pagoda in Nam Dinh province. Upon arrival in Halong, board luxurious boat. Your overnight cruise journey in Ha Long Bay includes visits to a sandy beach and a limestone cave full of stalactites and stalagmites. Doing kayaking to a lagoon and partaking in cooking demonstration are part of your activities as well. 

Ha Long Bay has been twice recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, in 1994 and 2000 as well as named one of the seven natural wonders of the world,  Ha Long Bay, located in the Gulf of Tonkin and 165 kilometres from Hanoi, covers an area of 43,400 hectares and includes over 1,600 islands and islets. The exceptional scenic beauty of the limestone pillars complemented by biological interest is an ideal model of a mature Karst landscape developed during a warm and wet tropical climate. The outstanding value of Ha Long Bay is centered around the drowned limestone karst landforms, displaying spectacular pillars with a variety of coastal erosional features such as arches and caves which form a majestic natural scenery. 

• Meal: Breakfast/ dinner
• Accommodation: On cruise boat in Halong bay

Start your day with early get up and practicing Tai Chi exercise with help of a crewmember. Then continue your unforgettable Halong Bay cruise until a big brunch is finished and then disembark the cruiser at around 11:00 am. Travel back to Hanoi for one hour flight to Hue .

• Meals: Brunch
• Accommodation: Hue

Make tour of the former Imperial capital built early 19th century.  Enter the Ngo Mon Gate, main entrance to the Imperial Enclosure and the central passage reserved for use by the Emperor. Continue to the Supreme  harmonious Palace or Thai Hoa in Vietnamese with its spacious hallways and ornamental roof, the Halls of the Mandarins, the Nine Dynastic Urns, and the ruins of the Forbidden Purple City, once home to the royal family. 

Short drive to legendary Thien Mu pagoda on the north bank of Perfume river. Take boat excursion on the iconic Perfume River as to explore the life along the banks of the ancient royal capital city. 

Lunch with local dishes.

Our exploration continues with visit to the tomb of King Tu Duc, the dynasty’s longest reigning ruler. Unlike other tombs, the 12ha tomb complex with theater, bedroom, moon viewing house, pagoda, fishing pond was used by the King and his entourage as summer palace during his lifetime. Make our next visit to Tomb of Khai Dinh, built in Chau Chu mountain. Built for the Emperor Khai Dinh between 1920-31, the last tomb of its kind is an impressive structure combining western and eastern architecture, guarded by statues of soldiers and animals. This is only royal tomb that position of the king’s corpse can be found. 

• Meals: Breakfast / Lunch 
• Accommodation: Hue

This morning, depart to Hoian, On route, we make couple of stops. Photo stop at  Hai Van Pass  known as Cloudy pass (weather permitting), make a visit to the Cham Museum in Da Nang city, which has a big collection of Champa sculpture dating back to the seventh century. 

Arrival  Hoian at noon, having lunch at local restaurant with delicious local dishes and then undertake walking tour of Hoi An, a UNESCO world heritage site retaining a diverse mix of architecture influenced by the many nations that traded in this historic port of call.

Begin with a visit to the Fujian Assembly Hall, established as a meeting place by Chinese merchants fleeing the Manchu conquest of China in 17th century. The hall is dedicated to the goddess of the sea, Tian Hau, and the Chinese merchants' ancestors, and is adorned with ornate carvings and statues. Continue to the Old House of Tan Ky, the iconic 400-year old Japanese covered bridge, and then to Trade ceramic museum. The city exploration on foot concludes at the vibrant riverside market nearby. 

• Meals: Breakfast / Lunch 
• Accommodation: Hoian

This morning, after check out hotel in Hoian, you will take a short flight to Ho Chi Minh city known as Sai Gon by many people. 

Upon arrival in Sai Gon, we stroll to European-style landmarks neo-Romanesque Notre Dame Cathedral (*), which dates from the late 19th century and is built of red brick with two distinctive spires, the Central Post Office - one of Vietnam’s most beautiful examples of French colonial architecture.
Have lunch at a local restaurant.

Our city tour continues with visit to the historic Reunification Palace, formerly the presidential palace of the South Vietnamese government, which was attacked by Viet Cong troops on April 30, 1975, marking the end of the Republic of Vietnam.Continue our city tour with visit to War Remnants museum, which displays a number of exhibits relating to the war with the U.S. and battles with occupying French forces. Back to your hotel via the magnificent Saigon Opera House (Municipal Theatre), city Hall, continental hotel. If time permits, we will have brief look at famous Ben Thanh market.

Enjoy your exciting dinner on boat in Sai Gon river. 

Note: Notre Dame Cathedral is under renovation until 2020 

• Meals: Breakfast / lunch / dinner
• Accommodation: Ho Chi Minh

This morning, we leave the bustling city behind and drive northwest to visit the Cu Chi tunnels, an extraordinary network of tunnels more than 120 miles in length that was used by the Viet Cong as a hideout and secret village during Vietnam war. Here, after a 20 minutes long documentary movie you will learn about how the tunnels were created and have a chance to walk through a section to experience what life would have been like underground. Travel back to the city center for lunch.

You have a free afternoon to explore the city by yourself.

• Meals: Breakfast/ lunch
• Accommodation: Ho Chi Minh

We make 2hours journey outside of bustling Ho Chi Minh City to discover the famous Mekong Delta that considered “Rice bowl of Vietnam”. The delta is blessed with the best weather, excellent geographic location and a vast area of 3.8 million hectares of rice cultivable area. Our destination is Ben Tren where is famous for its coconut plantations.

Upon arrival in Ben Tre city, taking private sampan ride to visit local brick kilns to learn how the local burn bricks in traditional method. Continue sampan ride along one of the town's scenic and peaceful canals where you can disembark to visit a riverside coconut candy workshop to learn about making the sweet keo dua the region is known for. Taking brief walk into local village to visit a mat weaving family, where sedge mats are woven by using a hand loom.

Riding on motor cart (Tuk Tuk) on shady village road, passing by lush rice fields and vegetable plains next. Stop at local restaurant for delicious lunch featuring such local specialty as elephant-ear fish and river shrimp. Go back to the main boat by sampan rowing boat. We depart to Can Tho – the biggest city in Me Kong delta.

• Meals: Breakfast/ lunch
• Accommodation: Can Tho city

Take early private 30 minutes engine boat ride  to explore the largest wholesale floating market in the Mekong Delta – Cai Rang market. The market begins around 05:00 and runs until midday. Here you will see hundreds of large cargo boats packed with mangos, bananas, coconuts, papayas, mangosteen, watermelons, longans, rambutants, pineapples, vegetables,…The boat owners advertise what they sell by hanging their product from the top of a long bamboo pole at the bow. More interestingly, smaller boats sell local breakfast dishes like Bun Rieu,  Banh Mi, coconut water and even lottery tickets.
We head to rice noodle factory for visit next.  You will see steps of making the noodles from soaking the grains of rice in water to sun drying on bamboo racks and machine cut into noodles.

We then head to visit Tra Su cajuput forest. A wide variety of colorful birds and other animals can be found here such as turtles, snakes, bats,... Particularly you have a chance to watch birds that can walk on water. Local people here built their houses with bamboo canes fastend the roofs in trees.
The natural aspect of the landscape is given a wonderful dimension by the few small farm-houses that are irregularly placed here and there, perched high up on stilts above the flood plain with their rudimentary bamboo ceilings made out of cajuput trees, providing a charming and unique setting as the forest is slowly consumed by the dark skies of night amongst the ambient noise of jungle animals.

• Meals: Breakfast/ lunch
• Accommodation: An Giang

After breakfast, at 7:00AM start your transfer to Phnom Penh by speedboat. You pass the first Cambodian style pagodas and a slowly changing landscape from the plains of the delta to a river landscape. Upstream to Cambodia, you will enjoy the daily life of people who live by the river, wild life a long the river. 

We accompanies you all the way to Phnom Penh to facilitate the immigration procedures into Cambodia and ensure your safe transfer from the jetty in Phnom Penh to your local hotel. Arrival in Phnom Penh around 1:00PM.  

Having lunch at a local restaurant in Phnom Penh.

This afternoon, drive to visit the notorious Killing Fields ” ChoeungEk” 15km southwest of Phnom Penh. This one is the site of brutal executions of more than 17,000 individuals, most of whom first suffered through interrogations, torture and deprivation in ToulSleng Prison during Pol Pot regime (from 1975–1979).

• Meals: Breakfast/ lunch
• Accommodation: Phnom Penh

You will meet our tour guide for half day city tour. The tour begins with visit to Wat Phnom temple, the founding place of the city on a small hilltop.

Then drive along Mekong riverfront to the Royal Palace, home of the present King Norodom Sihamoni. The palace dates back to 1866 and houses the Silver Pagoda, named for the over 5000 heavy silver tiles that cover its floors.  Its original name is Wat Prakeo, meaning Temple of the Emerald Buddha. In this temple you will admire a collection of Buddhas in gold, silver, crystal, and bronze.

Your last visit this morning is National museum, featuring traditional Khmer style. The site is home to huge collection of ancient Khmer artistic, archaeological, and religious artifacts from the 4th to the 13th centuries. 

Having lunch at a local restaurant.
You will take a bus at 1:00PM to Siem Reap.

• Meals: Breakfast/ lunch
• Accommodation: Siem Reap

Early morning, drive out of town into country side to Banteay Srei, a unique temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. This is the fabled pink temple of women, so called because it is made of pink sandstone & considered a tribute to the beauty of women. Its small size, delicate carving and remarkable state of preservation make Banteay Srei one of travelers' favorite temp.

Leave Ban Teay srei temple, we head to Angkor park to visit the largest Hindu temple in the world: ANGKOR WAT, honoring the Hindu god Vishnu. 

This large pyramid temple was built between 1113 and 1150 by King Suryavarman II as state temple and capital city. The complex is surrounded by a great moat 570 feet wide. It features five trademark towers and stunning bas reliefs, it has become a symbol of Cambodia.

Lunch at local resturant. 

Our tour starts again woth visit to jungle covered temple of Ta Prohm which has been left relatively untouched. Enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers grow over and through the ruin walls, allowing you to experience the temple with the same wonder as the early explorers who discovered it. 

Continue  your Angkor exploration from South gate of Angkor Thom -the capital city of Khmer rulers, where you will explore Bayon Temple. One of the few Buddhist temples in Angkor, which is famous for some 200 striking colossal humane faces carved in 54 stone towers and impressive bas reliefs.
 
Then stroll to Elephant terrace, which is over 350 meter long and is carved with a long line of elephants.  The terrace was used by Angkor's king Jayavarman VII as a platform from which to view his victorious returning army. 

At the end of the day, enjoy sunset over Angkor temple. 

• Meals: Breakfast/ lunch
• Accommodation: Siem Reap

This morning, visit the famous Tonle Sap Lake on a boat trip out. This shallow lake boats the largest natural fresh water body in Southeast Asia and flows into the Tonle Sap River which joins the Mekong River in Phnom Penh. The traditional boat navigates along a small river towards the gigantesque lake, giving us a chance to explore floating village, local life style, friendly children in small boats and fishermen pulling in morning catch close up. 

This excursion is all depending on your departure time. The trip ends after your transfer to Siem Reap Airport for departure.

• Meals: Breakfast