Majestic Vietnam 9 days

This 9 day tour let you visit greatest sites of Vietnam: Hanoi, Mai Chau, Halong bay – One of nature wonder of the world, Hue, Hoi An, Cu Chi Tunnel – A historic tunnel and Ho Chi Minh city.

DAY 1: HANOI CITY TOUR (L)

Start the tour by visiting Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum. Enjoy the architectural and historical aspects of Uncle Ho’s final resting-palace. Just next door is Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts where he used to live in the past. Lying to one side of the Mausoleum is the One Pillar Pagoda, built by King Ly Thai To in 1049 the structure has become an important symbol for the people of Hanoi. Continue to visit the Literature Temple and Quoc Tu Giam – Vietnam’s first University constructed in 1070. Its gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a relaxing glimpse into Vietnam’s past. Have lunch at local restaurants. Proceed to visit the Ethnology Museum. After that we will take you to Hoan Kiem Lake, see the peaceful water, and visit Ngoc Son Temple. 5.00PM back to your hotel. Stayovernight at hotel in Hanoi.

DAY 2: MAI CHAU (L,D)

Mai Chau is a mountainous area of outstanding natural beauty, inhabited by Thai and H’mong ethnic minority groups. This trip offers an easy trekking combined with homestay in villages of Thai , where you have experience with the local lifestyle of these minority people. 08.00: Pick up from your hotel and head west towards Hoa Binh to have refreshment. 10h00: Leave Hoa Binh for Mai Chau Valley, about 2hrs away, stop for snapping pictures. 12.00: Arrive in Mai Chau and have lunch in a family house in the local village. 14.00: Bicycle around the surrounding villages of White Thai Ethnic people. Learn more about their lives and cultures as your guide can help answer any questions. 18.00: Dinner with the family, get a closer look into their real life. Drink “ruou can” (traditional alcohol) with your new family. Sleep in the village, in the stilt house, the most interesting part of the trip. Stilt houses are unique to Mai Chau and you cannot find this experience in other tour. You can sleep in the large communal room.

DAY 3: MAI CHAU – HANOI (B, L)

The early morning is the most peaceful time to walk around the villages. Feeling the fresh air and seeing women prepare foods on the wooden fire while the sun is rising over the beautiful mountains which you can not feel in the crowed cities. 7.30: Breakfast in the village then walk to Mai Chau market. After that, you will climb to 1000 Step Cave which is breathtaking and is the view of the area from the entrance of the cave. 12.00: Have lunch in the village before getting on the bus back to Hanoi. 17.00: Back to Hanoi. Stay overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

DAY 4: HANOI – HALONG BAY (B,L,D)

7.45 – 8.15 Our bus or private car will pick you up at your hotel.
12.30 Arrive at Halong City. Transferred by tender to the Cruise – enjoy welcome drink. Receive cruise briefing, check into cabins and begin your cruise.
13.15 – 14.30 Have lunch – delicious Vietnamese set menu (Massage service is available after lunch and throughout the cruise).
15.00 Head to Bai Tu Long Bay, pass the towns of Hon Gai and Cam Pha, Oan Lagoon, Mat Quy (Monster Head) and Am Tich (Teapot) Islets and Vung Vieng fishing village. Visit the Vung Vieng fishing village by local rowing boat (01 hour) or Kayak into the village then return to the vessel for your leisure or join one of the following optional activities: Sunbathing, traditional massage, swimming etc.
17.00 Drop anchor in the calm water surrounded by islets near Hang Trong. Happy Hour (sunset party)
18:30 Vietnamese cooking demonstration on boat.
19.15 Sumptuous Set-dinner onboard.
21:00 Relaxing on your cabin or join the on board activities: film entertainment, light music for dancing in the dining room (please book in advance with your tour guide), board games and playing cards are available, and massage services are available. Passengers may also try their luck at squid fishing from the boat.

Overnight aboard in Halong bay.

DAY 5: HALONG BAY – HANOI (B,L,D)

06.15 Start your day with Tai Chi on the Sundeck while complimentary tea & coffee are served 07.00 Have breakfast in the dinning room.
08.00 Explore the Surprise Cave (Sung Sot).
08.15 Transfer by tender to the Surprise Cave. Walk up about 100 steps to the cave entrance and tour the cave for approximately 45 minutes. Walk down about 100 steps and return to the boat.
10.00 Upon return to the boat you will have 30 minutes to freshen up and finish packing. Please remove all of your belongings from the cabins, you may leave heavy luggage outside of the cabins (staff will transfer directly to the pier).
10.30 Enjoy Set Menu for lunch in the dining room. We will settle bills after breakfast. Relax on the sundeck or in the dining room enjoying the bay scenery as we approach the pier. 11.30-12.00 Arrive at Hon Gai Habour.

Transfer by tender to the pier, relax inside the Paloma Office while waiting for return transportation 16.00 : Going to Hanoi airport and fly to Da Nang city and transfer to Hue. Overnight at Lang Co resort in Hue.

DAY 6: HUE CITY TOUR (B,L)

Have breakfast at the hotel. AM: Our guide and driver pick up you at your hotel and then take a full day to discover Hue: visit Emperor Minh Mang’s Mausoleum, Emperor Khai Dinh’s Mausoleum, Performing Programs Of VO KINH VAN AN – Vietnam Traditional Kungfu and Emperor Tu Duc ’s Mausoleums. Stop on the way to see how conical hats and incense sticks are made. Enjoy buffet lunch at a local restaurant. PM: Visit Imperial capital during Nguyen Dynasty and the seven – storey Thien Mu Pagoda on the riverbank. Return by boat on the gentle Perfume River and do not miss the sunset on the river. You will come back your hotel at 17.30pm to pick up your luguage.

18.30: Back to hotel. Stay overnight at Hotel in Hoi An.

DAY 7: HOI AN-MY SON (B,L)

Our guide picks you up at hotel and leave Hoi An for visiting My Son Holly Land – the ruins of Cham people and was an imperial city during Cham dynasty. Here you can have more chance to explore and understand of technique of Old Cham people in making red bricks to build Tower which still now a secret to everyone, you can see a large complex of religious relics that comprises more than 65 architectural works. It also surprises for those who are curious with architectural art. In 1999, UNESCO labeled the Cham architecture in My Son as a World Cultural Heritage Site. Moreover, you have chance to enjoy traditional music performed by Cham girls in their colorful uniforms. Then transferring you back about 30km, you will take a boat trip along the Thu Bon River to Hoi An Ancient Town. Going back to Airport and take flight to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh) city.

Stay overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh city.

DAY 8: LEISURE TIME

Your leisure time for shopping and walking around the city. Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh city.

DAY 9: SAIGON CITY TOUR (B, L)

We will pick you up at your hotel and drive to visit to the Re-Unification Palace, the former palace of President Thieu and his predecessors. Today this building is a museum and venue for Government official receptions. Inside you can visit the President’s room. Nearby is the Central Post Office and the Notre Dame Cathedral, built between 1877- 1883 and is one of the city’s major landmarks. Neo-Romanesque in form, the Cathedral is the major seat of the Catholic religion in modern Vietnam. Continue to visit the War Remains Museum, where you can learn a lot about the Vietnam War. After lunch in local restaurant, heading to Cu Chi for exploring.

Go back to Ho Chi Minh city.

END OF THE TOUR.

PRICE:

3 star accommodation: $850
4 star accommodation: $1050

TOUR PRICE INCLUDES:

Cookery demonstrations
Tai Chi Session in Halong Bay
All accommodations mentioned in the itinerary
Kayakking: Safe, clean and nice.
Room on boat with A/c in Halong bay
All meals are mentioned in tour program (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner).
Transfer and transport as tour program.
English speaking tour guide.
Entrance fees, security permits.
Domestic flights

EXCLUDES:

Drinks
Your private expenses.

NOTE: Please bring along a good pair of walking/sport shoes, raincoat/small umbrella, jackets, inspect repellent and suncream