A Taste of Vietnam

Arrival with flight xxx (before midday). Meet and greet your guide upon arrival and transfer directly to Halong Bay (ca 3.5h). Remaining day is at leisure. Overnight in Halong

Halong Bay is one of the most magnificent scenic spots in all of Vietnam and was recognized as a world natural heritage site by UNESCO in 1994. Halong is a picturesque bay with almost 2,000 islets rising from the clear emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Cruise for four hours in the tranquility of Halong Bay and visit two limestone caves with colorful stalagmites and stalactites, an unforgettable experience. Enjoy a lunch of fresh seafood, served on board. Afterwards return to Hanoi by vehicle. Overnight in Hanoi.

With a millennium-long history, Hanoi is a city of lakes, shaded boulevards and public parks dotted with French-style buildings and historical monuments. During the half-day city tour, you’ll see cultural and historical highlights, comprising Ba Dinh Square, Ho Chi Minh’s former residence, Presidential Palace (in order to take photos of the outside), One-pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature, Hoan Kiem Lake, and Ngoc Son Temple. The tour gives you time for shopping and socializing with local people. Airport Transfer with Guide. Flight from Hanoi to Hue. Airport Transfer with Guide. Overnight in Hue

Enjoy sightseeing in Hue including a visit of the Imperial Palace with cylo-ride, the tomb of the emperor Tu Duc as well as a visit to Dong Ba Market.

The Imperial Palace was completed in 1833 and from here the emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty ruled Vietnam until 1945. Entering the citadel via a stone bridge you can see the Thai Hoa Palace, an important venue for official receptions and other important court ceremonies. The ostentatious columns supporting the roof are lacquered and inlaid with gold. There is a pair of smaller halls behind the Thai Hoa Palace used by mandarins to prepare for court ceremonies. A one hour pedicab ride gives you a chance to assess the size of the citadel and to watch the daily life of people living in its boundaries. The tomb of Tu Duc is one of the most beautiful works of royal architecture of the Nguyen dynasty. In a sprawling lush pine forest 8km (5 miles) from Hue, this tomb is the final resting place of Emperor Tu Duc (1848-83) who enjoyed the longest reign of any monarch of the Nguyen dynasty. The construction of the tomb started in December 1864 and was completed in 1867. Stroll around Dong Ba Market at the end of your sightseeing. Overnight in Hue.

Board a traditional ‘Dragon Boat’ for a 40 minutes ride on the Perfume River to the Thien Mu Pagoda, which overlooks the river. The Thien Mu Pagoda has two sections. The front of the Pagoda houses the seven-storey octagonal Phuoc Duyen tower, which has become the symbol of Hue. The other section of the pagoda is its rear portion, where the monks of the temple live and practice Buddhism. The Pagoda was the centre of Buddhism in central Vietnam. In 1963, in an act of defiance against the Diem regime, Thich Quang Duc torched himself in downtown Saigon.

Transfer to Hoi An via the Hai van Pass with a visit of the Cham Museum in Danang en route. The Cham Museum, housed in a classical French colonial building in Danang, has the finest collection of Cham sculpture in the world. Overnight in Hoi An.

Start your walking tour at the Culture and History Museum where you will learn about the history of this charming and peaceful town before you walk around the small market regarded as more authentic than markets in Vietnam’s big cities. Walk along the main street to the Chinese Assembly Hall of Fujien Chinese community. The hall, built in 1697, has been used as the worshipping place to dedicate to Thien Hau (the Goddess of the Sea or Holy Mother) and also the meeting place for the Fujien Chinese community. Continue to the riverbank along narrow streets – on both sides are old houses transformed into beautifully decorated shops with colorful lanterns in different shapes. Next we’ll stop to see the Japanese covered bridge built in the early 17th century by Japanese traders who settled in the town. The special pagoda-shaped bridge is now the official symbol of Hoi An. We finish with a visit to a historic old house of this UNESCO – recognized town. Airport Transfer with Guide. Flight from Danang to Saigon. Airport Transfer with Guide. Overnight in Saigon

Enjoy a half day tour through colonial Saigon. The tour will take you through the busiest city of Vietnam for an overview of a rapidly developing city. You will learn its history and culture with stops at the History Museum and Notre Dame Cathedral (closed for renovation until 2019 TBA, but still possible to admire its beauty from outside), the Central Post Office and the Old Town Hall. Take the rest of the time for shopping activities around Dong Khoi Street and Ben Thanh Market.
Transfer to the airport for your departure.