Our excellent guide to Vietnam will take you on a culture packed tour of Vietnam, which takes you through the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, Halong Bay, Hoi An, Hue, Ho Chi Minh City and into the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. This is a small group tour – there will never be more than 15 persons per group – and we don’t just show you the sights in famous cities in Vietnam but you will get to know the Vietnamese people and take away a feeling for the warmth of welcome from Vietnamese local people, for whom a smile is never far away.

Tour Highlights

• Visit villages, markets and places that are off the tourist trail.
• Meet the local people and taste delicious Vietnamese food every day at atmospheric restaurants.
• Enjoy the Emeraude cruise in Vietnam's infamous Halong Bay
• Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and his house on stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, the Quanh Thanh Temple and the Tran Quoc Pagoda on the edge of West Lake.
• 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, a Chinese communal hall and colourful markets.
• A boat trip on the romantically named Perfume River.
• Visit the War Museum and the former Presidential Palace.
• Visit the major sights of colonial Ho Chi Minh City: the Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Saigon Post Office, Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat), Continental Hotel, Opera House and City Hall.
• Cruise then to evergreen islands among the Mekong River through large networks of meandering rivers

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1:  Arrival in Hanoi (D)

Arrive in Hanoi, welcome by your guide and transfer to hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi – Hoa Lu – Hanoi (B,L,D)

A 70km drive through rural northern Vietnam to the site of Vietnam's first capital, Hoa Lu. After visiting the two remaining sanctuaries of the ancient citadel, take a sampan on a river through the rice paddies to the grottoes of the sacred Tam Coc Caves. Enormous limestone karsts jut out from the green rice fields giving rise to this place's other name, 'Halong on Land'. Climb up to the Bich Dong Pagoda, which offers a scenic view of the surrounding countryside.

Day 3:  Hanoi (B,L,D)

A full day city tour of Vietnam's capital. Hanoi is a unique city with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and oriental temples. The city tour includes such sights as Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and his house on stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, the Quanh Thanh Temple and the Tran Quoc Pagoda on the edge of West Lake. After lunch in town continue to the Museum of Ethnology and end the afternoon with a visit to the Lake of the Restored Sword and a cyclo tour of the Old Quarter.

 Day 4: Hanoi – Halong Bay  Cruise (B,L,D)

Pick up at your hotel or residence in Hanoi by Vietnam TripAdvisor's car and driving to Halong City. We go through the scenic countryside. Stopover on the way to refresh. Arriving in Halong boat pier at around 12: 30.

- 12h30: Welcome on Luxury Cruise and set sails through the Bay while lunch is serverd. Passage into the magical Bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waves like dragons’teeth. After lunch, take a short trek to a nearby summit for a spectacular view of the Bay dotted with the Luxury Cruise golden sails, go swimming on a quiet beach or sunbathing on the sundeck.

Later afternoon, other choices for kayaking or simply taking a bamboo row boat to discover a water tunnel with many coral reefs in a scenic lagoon. Back on the Luxury Cruise, enjoy cocktails while watching sunset and later, unwind at fantastic restaurant.

If the weather permits a short night cruise could bring you a nice discovery of the sea life by night.

 Day 5: Halong Bay – Hanoi / Danang – Hoi An (B,L,D)

- 6h30: Greet the day with a morning Tai Chi exercise with an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay or enjoy a morning view of the Bay’s landscapes with a cup of Tea, Coffee, fresh Fruits. Sitting on the upper deck, we can enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the rocky Islands rising from the crystal-clear waters of the Bay. The quiet is almost eerie, we can hear birds singing, cicadas chirping ashore and the gentle lapping of the waves against our boat, the perfect soundtrack to accompany the fresh air and gentle breeze.

A tasty breakfast served at 7:30. After that, take an opportunity to visit beautiful limestone grotto

- 9h30: Return on board for a final glimpse of the Halong Bay while cruising back to the dock.Vietnam TripAdvisor's car pick up and Transfer back to Hanoi for flight to Danang - Hoian.

Day 6: Hoi An – Hue (B,L,D)

Hoi An was a major Asian trading port in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and its architecture and relaxed lifestyle have changed little over the years. Take a walking tour of the ancient town centre to visit the former merchants' homes, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, a Chinese communal hall and the colourful market. Leave Hoi An after lunch for Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. The scenic route passes through Danang before climbing over the Pass of Ocean Clouds and dropping down to the wonderfully photogenic fishing village of Lang Co. Arrive in Hue late in the afternoon and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Hue.

 Day 7:  Hue (B,L,D)

Visit the former imperial capital of Vietnam. A boat trip on the romantically named Perfume River visits Hue's best-known religious site, Thien Mu Pagoda, and the mausoleum of former emperor Minh Mang, in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes. In the afternoon visit the elaborate mausoleums of emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh and the Imperial Citadel from where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945.

 Day 8:  Hue / Ho Chi Minh City (B,L,D)

Transfer to Hue Airport after breakfast for the short flight to dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many locals. A full day city tour takes in the city's bustling Chinatown and begins with a visit to the Thien Hau Temple, from where you will take a cyclo ride; the most appropriate and unusual way to explore Cholon, literally meaning 'big market'. The ride will take you to the lively Binh Tay Market. Then visit a lacquerware factory to witness workers continuing a Vietnamese ancestral tradition. After lunch visit the War Museum and the former Presidential Palace, from there on you will go on foot (the car will be available at all times) to visit the major sights of colonial Ho Chi Minh City: the Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Saigon Post Office, Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat), Continental Hotel, Opera House and City Hall. After this historical visit, enjoy some wonderful ice cream at Fanny's, a quaint little parlour with a French atmosphere, before exploring the trendy boutiques on Ton That Thiep Street.

 Day 9:  Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta – Ho Chi Minh City (B,L,D)

Depart to Cai Be, deep in the Mekong Delta. Board the Cai Be Princess junk boat and start the tour with the visit of the colourful Cai Be floating market. Follow with a visit of some local home factories that produce rice paste, rice pop corn and coconut candies. Cruise then to evergreen islands among the Mekong River through large networks of meandering rivers, crisscrossed with countless arroyos. Lunch at a fruit orchard then cruise to Vinh Long and discover beautiful landscapes along the river and observe the typical Mekong Delta rural life.

 Day 10: Depart Ho Chi Minh City (B)

Departure day. At leisure for shopping until transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for onward flight.

Rates are net per person : Rates are valid from 01 Oct 2007 until 30 September 2008

Hotel Category	Group of 2 persons	Single Supplement
Superior	1188 USD	410 USD
First Class	1398 USD	545 USD
Deluxe	1598 USD	735 USD
Luxury	1998 USD	1075 USD

Place	First class (3*)	Superior (4*)	Deluxe(5*)	Luxury
Ha Noi Hotels	Thien Thai, Namhai 1 hotel Majestic Salute, Hoa Binh Palace, or similar	Sunway Hotel,Guoman Hanoi Thang Loi Hotels or similar	Melia Hanoi, Horison, Sheraton or similar	Sofitel Metropole,   Hanoi Hilton or similar
Ha Long Bay	Phoenix Cruise	Emeraude, Victory Cruise,	Indochina Sail, Ginger, Valentine cruise	Jasmine, Red Dragon Cruise
Hue Hotels	Asia Hotel, Pilgrimage Village Resort	Green Hue Hotel, Huong Giang Hotel	Saigon Morin Hotel	La Residence Hue, Imperial Hue
Hoi An Hotels	Pho Hoi Riverside Resort,  Glory Hotel, Ancient House Resort	Pacific Hotel, Hoi An Beach Resort	Life Resort, Riverside Resort, Victoria Resort, Golden Sand Resort	Palm Garden Resort, Golden Sand
Ho Chi Minh city Hotels	Liberty 4 Hotel Metropole Saigon, Oscar Saigon	Grand Saigon, Rex, Kim Do Hotel	New World Hotel	Park Hyatt, Caravelle Hotel

Inclusive:

• Vietnam visa processing
• Hotel accommodation with daily breakfast
• All meals as mentioned in the itinerary (B: Breakfast, L: lunch, D: Dinner)
• Land transportation by private air-conditioned vehicles
• English speaking local guide
• Entrance fees for all visits as mentioned in the program
• Boat trips as mentioned in the itinerary
• Welcome gift (map of Vietnam and main cities)
• International flight tickets reconfirmation
• Internal Vietnam flights: Hanoi - Danang; Hue - Ho Chi Minh

Exclusive:

• Vietnam visa stamping fee
• Any kind of drinks
• International airport departure taxes
• International flights to Hanoi/from Saigon
• Camera/video entrance fees
• Personal expenses (laundry, telephone, drinks, tip...)