HO CHI MINH CITY (B)

Depart your hotel at for a half day tour of Ho Chi Minh City. This morning visit the War Remnants or History Museum (choose
which one you would most like to see) and the former Presidential Palace. From there stroll (your vehicle will be available at
all times) to the major sights of colonial Ho Chi Minh City: the Old Saigon Post Office, Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat),
Continental Hotel, Opera House and City Hall. Visit Ben Thanh Market where an incredible display of fresh produce is offered.
Simply strolling through the market, seeing and enjoying the variety of goods for sale is a great way to get a feel for the city.
The afternoon and evening are at leisure.

Optional Extras : Please let us know if you would like us to arrange additional activities, like a vespa tour by night, a meal in a local family’s home, or an afternoon tour of the FITO Museum known as one of the best collections of objects commonly found in traditional Vietnamese medicine.

Note : History Museum is closed on Mondays.

Overnight at your choice of hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

At the end of the afternoon visit Hanoi’s Old Quarter also known as the ‘36 streets’. Take a walking tour through charming Hang Be Market and around Hoan Kiem Lake. This bustling area of narrow streets and alleys is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. It's a great place to explore with plenty of photo opportunities all around you.

Finish the day with a Water Puppet show. This is a uniquely northern Vietnamese art form depicting scenes from rural life and episodes of national history.

Overnight at your choice of hotel in Hanoi.

HO CHI MINH CITY – DANANG – HOI AN (B

After breakfast transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for the short flight to the central port city of Danang. On arrival in Danang
transfer to Hoi An, a major Asian trading port in the 17th and 18th centuries whose architecture and relaxed lifestyle has
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 and the colourful market. Rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight at your choice of hotel in Hoi An.

HOI AN – HUE (B)

Leave Hoi An for Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. Its mesmerizing tombs and mausoleums of the last emperors of Vietnam reveal fascinating insights into the lives of the imperial families and their subjects. The ancient citadel reflects the pomp and ceremony of the dynastic rulers as well as the scars of many years of turmoil, both ancient and modern (the Royal Citadel was badly damaged in the latter stages of the war) but retains a sense of grace and majesty even today.

Drive through Danang before climbing over the Pass of Ocean Clouds and dropping down to the wonderfully photogenic fishing village of Lang Co. In Hue visit the Imperial Citadel where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. Latter visit Khai Dinh’s Tomb which is traditional Vietnamese in design with a European touch making it unique from other tombs in Hue.

Overnight at your choice of hotel in Hue.

HUE – HANOI (B)

Spend the morning at your leisure.

Optional Extras :

Please let us know if you would like us to arrange any additional options like a visit to Ming Mang’s or Tu Duc tombs, a visit to the local market, or walking tour of Hue’s garden houses. In the afternoon, transfer 30-minutes to Hue Airport for the 1-hour flight to Hanoi. On arrival transfer to your hotel.

Overnight at your choice of hotel in Hanoi.

HANOI (B)

This morning depart your hotel for the Temple of Literature. In 1076 Quoc Tu Giam - Vietnam's first university, also referred to
as Van Mieu, was established within a temple to educate Vietnam's royalty, mandarins and members of the elite. The university
functioned for an incredible 700 years and its gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a fascinating glimpse into Vietnam’s
past.

he One Pillar Pagoda, founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049 will be visited next. This structure is one of Vietnam’s most iconic
temples. Close by is the mausoleum of the historic figure and father of modern Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh (viewed from outside; closed Mon and Fri and from Oct-Nov) and the former presidents house on stilts where he lived from 1958 to 1969, his former home illustrates the modesty of this Vietnamese revolutionary. The afternoon is free for you to explore.

Optional touring can be arranged : Picturesque West Lake and the sixth century Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda, and the nearby Taoist temple of Quan Thanh which is dedicated to Tran Vu, one of the principal deities in Taoism. Or visit the fascinating Ethnology Museum (closed Mondays), a research centre and public museum, exhibiting the ethnic groups of Vietnam.

HANOI – HALONG BAY (B, L, D)

After breakfast leave Hanoi for an overnight boat trip on Halong Bay. Journey there through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta, observe everyday life of Vietnamese villagers as they work the rice fields, take pigs to the market on bicycles and plough the fields with their water buffaloes. Arrive in Halong City late morning and board your traditional wooden junk or The Emeraude, a classic replica steamship of the colonial era for the overnight journey into the Bay. En-route lunch will be served. Following cruise by rock formations with such names as Sail, Dog and Dinh Huong (incense pot). Towards the end of the day set anchor for the night. As the sun sets over the bay dinner is served on board with fresh seafood, salads, and fruits.

Overnight on board the cruise in Halong Bay

HALONG – HANOI DEPARTURE (B)

On your return to Halong City enjoy a wholesome brunch as your boat wends through strange-shaped limestone rock
formations. Upon disembarkation your driver will meet you for the transfer back to Hanoi. At leisure for shopping until your
transfer to Noi Bai Airport for onward flight.