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12 Day itinerary in Vietnam, Asia

Vietnam from South to North

You will discover some of the highlights that Vietnam has to offer from south to north. Learn about the history of the country and its people, their culture and food through this wonderful journey

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Xuyen

By Xuyen

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Easy
help_outline

Recommended Age

Everyone

Operated in

English

GUIDANCE

Tour Guide

starting point

Ho Chi Minh City

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Visit markets

Meet local people

Rural home stays

Indigenous culture

Outdoors & Nature

Culture & Arts

Food & Drink

Start

Night

End

Highlights

1

Explore the Cu Chi Tunnels and their History

2

Amaze your self by the colors and bustle of the floating market in the Mekong Delta

3

Discover the charms of the streets of Hoi An

4

Enjoy the views and magic while you slowly cruise through Hạ Long Bay

Itinerary

Mid-Range Accommodation expand_more

Day 1

place Welcome to Ho Chi Minh!

Arrival Ho Chi Minh International airport. Our guide and driver will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel to check in. Relax and enjoy the rest of the day. Overnight at your accommodation

Guide: Included for the day

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Beautiful Saigon Boutique Hotel
Day 2

place Ho Chi Minh city – Cu Chi Tunnel

Breakfast at the hotel, then we start to visit Cu Chi Tunnel. We drive to visit Cuchi tunnels, this network of tunnels, which stretched for over 200 km, 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 centers and kitchens. Today the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience and feel of what underground life during the war must have been like. The tunnels have been widened for our benefit (otherwise we would not be able to enter them!). For those interested there's even the opportunity to try an AK47 or MK16 at the nearby rifle range After Lunch, we will have half day to visit Ho Chi Minh City tour a bustling metropolis, contradiction of its northern counterpart, excited by numerous shopping area and sidewalk cafés. A half day tour of dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many locals takes in the Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Saigon Post Office, war remnants Museum . Overnight at your accommodation

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Beautiful Saigon Boutique Hotel
Day 3

place Ho Chi Minh – Mekong Delta – Can Tho

Leave Ho Chi Minh City, enjoy the scenic journey along the National Highway bordered by green rice fields. On arrival at My Tho, visit Vinh Trang pagoda, take a leisurely boat ride along the river, view stilt houses, fruit plantations and fishing villages along the river bank. Proceed to Tortoise islet, have lunch in the orchard garden. Then a boat ride to An Khanh – a less touristy attraction in Ben Tre, enjoy cruising on a hand-rowed sampan under the shade of the water coconut trees along natural canals, then enjoy seasonal fruit & honey tea to the sound of "Southern Vietnamese folk music", performed by the locals. Visit a family business which epitomizes the idyllic rural lifestyle, taste delicious coconut candy & observe the pastoral life as you roam through fruit plantations and villages. Proceed to Can Tho. Overnight at your accommodation

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Mekong Rustic Can Tho
Day 4

place Floating Market – Ho Chi Minh City

Wake up in early morning at 05:00 AM to take a boat trip to explore the Mekong Delta then proceed to visit Cai Răng floating market, which are the liveliest in the whole religion. Then transfer back homestay for breakfast. After that, you can check out to transfer back HCMC. Overnight at your accommodation

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Beautiful Saigon Boutique Hotel
Day 5

place Ho Chi Minh – Flight to Hue half day tour

Breakfast at hotel – you are free until transfer to airport for flight to Hue. Arrival Hue, our guide and driver come to pick up for half day tour in Hue to visit + Imperial Citadel: The home of Vietnam’s last royal dynasty- the Nguyen Dynasty. + Minh Mang tomb: The tomb of emperor Minh Mang (1791-1841) the 2nd King of Nguyen dynasty. + Visit Thien Mu Pagoda then take boat on the gentle Perfume. Ending tour, back to hotel to relax Overnight at your accommodation

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: 3* hotel
Day 6

place Hue – Danang – Hoi An

After a relaxing breakfast we head for Hoi An while enjoying the view of the coast and Da Nang from the top of Hai Van Pass on the way. On arrival in Da Nang, Cham Museum which has a fascinating collection of rare works of art, and last, the famous Marble Mountain. After Lunch, you will visit Hoi An ancient town in the afternoon Hoi An ancient town, set out on a walking tour of this World Heritage Site. Along the way visit the Japanese Covered Bridge which features a Buddhist pagoda attached to one side and the town's most famous landmark, a beautiful Chinese Assembly Hall built in 1740 as a meeting place for all Chinese residents of the town. The hall is lavishly decorated with murals and a replica of a Chinese ship, and Phuoc Kien Pagoda, also called Kim Son Pagoda, built in 1697 by Chinese Phuoc Kien merchants at Hoi An. Conclude your tour at the Central Market, where you will find everything from fruit and flowers to tailor-made clothes and silk lanterns, whose flexible bamboo frames are designed to collapse, so they're easily transported home as a souvenir.ç Overnight at your accommodation

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Hoi An TNT Villa
Day 7

place Hoi An – Cycling to Tra Nhieu fishing Villa

The guide takes you from your hotel and riding to where you board the shuttle to cross the river Thu Bon for about 15 minutes, to the Kim Bong carpenters village. You will visit the shipbuilding workshop, wood carving, mosaic and other workshops. The locals will teach you how to make the traditional wooden boats that move the rivers, try the famous basket boats at Mr. Kha’s workshop has 85 years, which manufactures cart boats, woven by bamboo and palm trees. Continue your ride to the Tra Nhieu mat village; you will be listened to the presentation of the war history and their activities. The fishermen leave their nets, boats and prepare their tools for a long ride 2-3 weeks at sea. Spend island hopping via unusual bridges made of wood or bamboo. Taking the path along the river, you will see coconut water, fishing nets, and wild birds, then a small pleasant walk on a quiet bamboo bridge in water coconut forest. Then visit the craft mats making. Go back at the dock, you board the boat with residents and cycling to the Tra Que vegetable village - About 150 farmers and 400 owners live on site, cultivate about 20 types of vegetables and herbs including mint, salad, basil, cilantro, broccoli among the other more than 40 hectares of land, 8 tons of Tra Que vegetables are sold each year. The farmers do not use pesticides or OGM but natural fertilizers in particular, a kind of seaweed that is in the river, harvested by gardeners by boat every morning. To Tra Que village, you will be warmly greeted by Mr. Minh family, 3 generations one, a welcome drink & basil juice, stroll through the village and meet local people who work in the garden. The local farmer will teach you all about cultivation methods and how to protect developing vegetable from the insects as well as join the farmers in preparing gardening activities such as raking the ground, sowing, watering greens, transplanting and tending greens. Overnight at your accommodation

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Hoi An TNT Villa
Day 8

place Hoi An – Danang to Hanoi

Breakfast at hotel – you are free until driver comes to pick up to airport for flight to Hanoi. Arrival Hanoi, guide and driver come to pick up to hotel to check in. Overnight at your accommodation

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Hotel LakeSide
Day 9

place Hanoi City Tour

After Breakfast, our guide and driver will come to the hotel to pick up you for tour, we have a full-day tour of Vietnam’s capital city. You will visit the house on - stilts of Ho Chi Minh (this is where our uncle Ho spent the rest of his life), the One Pillar Pagoda (it was constructed in 1049), Meseum of Ethnology and the Literature Temple (a habitual symbol of Hanoi) Hoa Lo Prison. In the Afternoon, pay a visit to the Hoan Kiem Lake with its Ngoc Son temple. Enjoin water puppet show. Overnight at your accommodation

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Hotel LakeSide
Day 10

place Hanoi – Halong Bay

The Swan shutter bus will pick you up from your hotel in Hanoi and heading to the northeast of Vietnam. At the middle of the way, we have a quick stop to stretch your leg and refresh then continue our way to Halong Bay. Arrive at Swan office in Ha Long at midday, have a bit of time to relax, and then you will transfer to Swan Cruises by tender. Enjoy welcome drink, be briefing about safety on boat and activities included then check in your cabin. Have lunch while leisurely cruising to the core of Bai Tu Long Bay. Then you will arrive to Cap La Island - the beautiful area in Bai Tu Long bay. Enjoy kayaking through the karsts and breathtaking nature, and relaxing (According to Halong Bay Board Management, all cruises in Halong Bay are not allowed to organize swimming activities) Get back to the boat and enjoy the sunset party while our cruise is sailing to the overnight anchorage. Have dinner in the dining room on board and have some free time for joining games, you may also try your luck with squid fishing. Overnight at your accommodation

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Swan Cruise
Day 11

place Ha Long Bay – Hanoi

Start your day with Tai Chi on the Sundeck. Enjoy the early morning landscape of the bay. Have breakfast on board (tea and coffee are free) Explore Thien Canh Son cave. Our tour guide will explain the history of Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay and this Cave, made by Mother Nature. Finish packing and check out your cabin. Prepare to join in our traditional cooking demonstration. Please remove all of your belongings from your cabin, you may leave heavy luggage outside the cabin (our staff will support you transfer directly to the pier). Attend in a Vietnamese cooking demonstration, and enjoy lunch while our cruise is returning Hon Gai harbour. Back to the harbor and disembark in Hon Gai pier. Farewell Halong Bay then our bus will take you back to Hanoi. Overnight at your accommodation

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Lakeside Hotel
Day 12

place Hanoi Departure

Breakfast at hotel – you are free until driver comes to pick up to airport for flight departure. End of services

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

What’s Included

Accommodation expand_less

  • Mekong Rustic Can Tho
  • 3* hotel
  • Hoi An TNT Villa
  • Hotel LakeSide
  • Swan Cruise
  • Beautiful Saigon Boutique Hotel
  • Lakeside Hotel

Meals expand_less

  • Breakfast (11)
  • Lunch (8)
  • Dinner (1)

Transport expand_less

  • All transportation mentioned on the itinerary

Activities expand_less

  • As mention in the itinerary

Extras expand_less

  • Entrance fee to any applicable tourist sites
  • Bottle of mineral water during tour

Not Included expand_less

  • Late checkout
  • Other meals or drinks not mentioned
  • Tips & personal expenses
  • Laundry
  • Travel insurance
  • Other not stated above
  • International & Domestic flights ticket
  • Visa stamps to Vietnam

About Xuyen

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FROM PRICE PER TRAVELER

$1,088.00 USD