North and South Vietnam - 7 Days

Arriving at Noi Bai International airport in Ha Noi, our team will greet you
and then transfer you to the Old Quarter of Hanoi – a unique city with
tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, ancient temples, old
pagodas and peaceful lakes. Check in hotel if available.Have free time
for relaxing or discovering the city. Overnight at hotel in Ha Noi.

Pick up at 08.30 AM and transfer for visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (if
open for visiting), an important place of pilgrimage for Vietnamese, Ho
Chi Minh’s House on Stilts, built in the style of Vietnam’s ethnic
minorities, surrounded by verdant and peaceful gardens. This is
followed by a visit to One Pillar Pagoda, built in the 11th century, of
wood on a single stone pillar resembling a lotus blossom, symbol of
purity, rising out of a sea of sorrow. Then, enjoy a short drive to visit the
Ethnology Museum, a valuable centre for the exhibition and the
preservation of cultural heritages of the 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam.
Have lunch at a local restaurant (at your own arrangement) .
Afternoon, visit Temple of Literature, founded in 1070 by Emperor Ly
Thanh Tong, and is dedicated to the Chinese philosopher Confucius.
Six years later, Vietnam’s first university was founded here to teach the
children of royalty and aristocracy.
Late afternoon, visit Hoan Kiem Lake – the most beautiful lake in Hanoi,
Ngoc Son Temple – built on an island in the 19th century. Initially, the
temple was called Ngoc Son Pagoda and was later renamed Ngoc Son
Temple, since temples are dedicated to saints. Before retiring in the
hotel, walk around the historic Old Quarter of Hanoi with 36 streets
named after the goods once sold there, Hang Be market – a typical
Vietnamese day market, ancient house of local. Tour finishes at hotel.
Free for rest. Overnight at hotel in Ha Noi.

Driver and guide pick up from hotel at 08:30 AM and depart for Ha Long
Bay afterwards.
During a 4-hour drive, you will enjoy the journey through the rich
farmlands of the Red River Delta and the scenery of rice fields, water
buffalo and everyday Vietnamese village life. Upon arrival at Ha Long,
embark your boat to visit Ha Long Bay – a world heritage site. Great
photo opportunities of shaped islands like Dog Island, Incense Burner
Island, Fighting Cock Island and so on. Visit Sung Sot cave. Having a
swim at Titov beach or taking steps for viewing tower. Enjoy sunset.
After dinner, relax, drinking or fishing at your pleasure before spending
a night on board. Overnight on Junk in Ha Long.

Enjoy morning with cake, tea or coffee. More cruising toward islets of
Man’s head, Tortoise and visit Hidden cave by a small bamboo rowboat. Cruising through Bai Tu Long bay and heading back to Ha Long
pier. Check out. Have buffet brunch on board. Return to the wharf at
noon. Disembark and go back to Ha Noi. Go straight to Noi Bai airport &
catch a short flight to Sai Gon. Arrive in Sai Gon, pick up & transfer to
hotel for check in. Free for rest. Overnight at hotel in Sai Gon.

After breakfast at hotel, guide & driver picks up & transfers to visit the
famous Cu Chi tunnels, the vestiges of the American war, an
underground tunnel constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters
during the long Struggle for independence. Back to Ho Chi Minh City for
lunch and rest.
Afternoon, take a half day to visit the city: Central Post Office, Notre
Dame Cathedral, Reunification Palace, that was built in 1962 and is
well-known as an outstanding example of 1960’s architecture, learning
more about china town in HCMC, visiting Thien Hau pagoda – the
worship place of the Chinese community of Kwang Shieng which was
built in 1760. Return to hotel in the late afternoon. Overnight at hotel in
Sai Gon.

You will be met at 08:00 AM by your guide for a full day tour, travelling south
from Saigon to
My Tho, the gateway to the Mekong Delta. Known as the “rice bowl” of
Vietnam, the Delta is the most fertile region in the country, and the main
producer of rice and tropical fruits. Upon arrival in My Tho, take a boat trip to
get over the Tien River to An Khanh, enjoying sightseeing that includes
floating fish farms and markets on four fabled islets: Dragon, Unicorn,
Tortoise and Phoenix Islands. Later, a rowboat winds along narrow water
palm creeks, before you switch to bicycle 12km through coconut gardens and
along village paths, observing daily life along the way. Stop to visit local
houses to see how people pack banana and coconut leaf cakes. Enjoy
seasonal fruits and drop in at a local coconut candy workshop to taste the
local specialty! Walk on a monkey-bridge to see the local people making rice
paper cake and rice wine. Afternoon, take the boat trip back to My Tho City
and return to Saigon at around 5pm. Overnight at hotel in Sai Gon.

Today is your free & departure day. After breakfast at hotel, you will be
free at your own convenience till pick up & depart to Tan Son Nhat
airport for international departure flight back home. Tour ends.