Exploring Vietnam 9 Days

Arrival in Noi Bai airport , you will be picked up then transferred to the hotel in city center. The check-in is available at 2 pm. The day is free for your own exploration and shopping. Overnight at hotel.

You will be picked up at the hotel at 8:00am. Starting the day trip will be a visit of the Ho Chi Minh Complex, which compromises Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum (closed on Mondays & Fridays), his former stilt-house residence, the Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh Museum. We will then visit the Temple of Literature constructed in 1070 to worship Confucius, which served as the first Royal National University in Vietnam. The site also honors 82 Vietnamese doctorates who passed a number of rigid exams in the feudal ages. Their names, birthdays and birthplaces are engraved in 82 headstones perched on stone tortoises. It is widely believed that touching the heads of these tortoises will bring luck. Its peaceful green compound with its neatly maintained lawns, gardens and lotus ponds make it a tranquil hideaway from the city’s bustle and heat.

Then we begin the street food tour. Hanoi is full of secret places & wonderful stories. With a history going back over 2.000 years, it makes the capital a promising destination for any gastronomic tourist. We decided to make you discover the Old Quarter with a local culinary point of view in an original way among the 36 Corporations. In the course of this tour (more or less 2h45), the traveler will discover North specialties such as Bun cha (noodle & BBQ meat), Bia (local ale),… & above all, a wide vision of handicrafts shops & traditional works.

After breakfast, We will take you to Quang Phu Cau incense village to take beautiful photos. Afterward, we will drive to Tam Coc also known as « Dry Halong Bay». On the way, we will stop to visit Hoa Lu, which used to be Vietnam’s capital during the 10th century. Arrive at Tam Coc, where we will embark a small rowing boat to discover the outstanding karst waterscape on Ngo Dong River. Tam Coc literally translates to « three caves» and is adorned with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites of all sizes shaped like gemstones. When rowing, enjoy the peaceful scenery of rice paddies lining the river bank. After lunch (at your own account) we will visit Mua Cave, with 500 step up to the Top of Mua Mountain. On the Top, you can overview all the nice scene of Hoa Lu. Back to Hanoi for overnight

08:15 – 08:45: Hotel or private address pick up with our shuttle bus. Short break half way.
11:45 – 12:00: Arriving Tuan Chau marina, transferred by tender of  cruises.

12:45 – 13:00: Welcome aboard the cruise. Refresh with our welcome drink. Meet the captain, crew in the cruise briefing, safety instruction.

13:00 – 13:15: A special lunch in Vietnamese cuisine of fresh seafood and an assortment of appetizing favorites are served while sailing through Islets of Con Vit.
16:00: The Cruise sails through Lan Ha Bay. The area is surrounding of extraordinary limestone karsts landscapes. We progress to Ong Cam Area of Lan Ha Bay- a separate part of Ha Long Bay. This is a quiet tourist paradise in Vietnam, enjoy kayaking and/or enjoy swimming in the crystal-clear waters of the Bay.
17:30: Back to Cruise, drop anchor for staying overnight. Enjoy cooking demonstration (teaching you how to make our speciality, Spring rolls) and the complimentary Sunset Party on the sundeck with local wine and fresh fruit.

19:00: Dinner is served in the restaurant. Enjoy delicious local food prepared and served for you by our wonderful onboard catering staff. After dinner, retiring to your cabin or join the fishing excursion, watch a movie, have a drink at the bar, wifi access or play exciting games. Overnight on board.

06:00: Enjoy sunrise and admire the never-ending miraculous scenery of the Bay. Practice an invigorating Tai Chi session on the sundeck.
06:30: Light breakfast, coffee and tea served.
07:00: Visit Dark & Bright Cave and islets by local rowing boats which is a wild and mysterious beauty in the middle of the World Heritage.
09:15: Back to our Cruise, relax before checking out.
10:00: Lunch is served on board.

12:00: Disembark at the Tuan Chau marina by tender. Then transfer to the airport for flight to SaiGon. On arrival, pick up to hotel in SaiGon for check in & overnight

Take the morning trip to visit Independence Palace, also known at the Reunification palace, was built on the sight of the former Norodom palace. The Independence palace is a widely known landmark of Ho Chi Minh City and was designed by the architect Ngo Viet Thu. Continue seeing the beautiful structures from the French Colonial times such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, the historic Central Post Office. Followed by the remarkable site of the War Remnants Museum the museum has a vast display of the both the Indochina wars.

At 17h, picking you up and taste the best Noodle soup in town. After that, we will take a taxi then leave the tourist area behind and start your food adventure to non-tourist districts, a street food paradise, while tasting ‘Banh Xeo” – The Central, and South’s rice pancake with a lot of fresh Vietnamese vegetables.

Stroll along a street known for its barbecue street vendors and head to a local-favorite restaurant to taste the best “bo la lot” (beef in wild betel leaves) . Next up on your food adventure is Banh Mi – Saigon Baguette. You will experience the perfect fusion of 4 delicious flavors just after the first bite.

Walk into the heart of district 3 and discover the old apartments ( Nguyen Thien Thuat ). Go to the best culinary hidden gem: Chuoi Nuong- Grilled Banana with coconut milk: a bit sweet and salty of of tropical fruits and coconut milk sauce. Climb up to the buildings and see the contrasting architecture between the modern and the traditional.

We will continue to walk to Ho Thi Ky flower market and try Saigon Pizza , and taste the best snack of Saigonese ( Crispy Banana Cracker ). Cap off your Saigon street food walking tour at the night flower market by enjoying an amazing dessert which is coconut ice cream, longan ice cream or flan cake with caramel and coffee.

Back to hotel

After breakfast,

drive to the Cu Chi Tunnels, situated 70km from Saigon. The Cu Chi Tunnel system was created around 1948 to assist the Viet Minh in their combat against French occupiers.  Construction and enlargement continued during American bombings and they were turned into an underground city with living areas, kitchens, storage, weapon factories and field hospitals. The Cu Chi Tunnels could house up to 10,000 people who lived underground for years, getting married and raising children. During the Vietnam – American War the entire area of Cu Chi was designated as a fire free zone yet was heavily bombarded. Since 1988, two sections of the tunnels are open for visitors

Leaving the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City and start your trip to depart for My Tho, the town lies on the left side of the Mekong River. Upon arrival, visit Vinh Trang pagoda which sated back to the late 19^th century. Then boarding the sampan and cruising down the river around the four beautiful islands known as Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix and Tortoise islands.

Stop over at Unicorn Island, go walking around country lane and seeing orchards, enjoy tropical fruits, folk song music which performed by the local people. Visit the fruit plantation.

Riding a hand-rowed sampan through Thoi Son canal and treat yourself in the beauty of the countryside, visit the family business, visit honey-bee farm, enjoy honey tea and coconut candy workshop.

Have lunch at local restaurant. Break time.

Cruise back to the pier and disembark. Drive back to HCM

After breakfast, free time for relaxation until being transferred to take your departure flight from Saigon. The hotel is available until noon only.