A Taste of Vietnam 12 days
• Tour duration: 12 DAYS
• Depart from: Hanoi - Stop off: Ho Chi Minh
• Tour price: US$ 3996
+ Private tour with English/French speaking guide
+ Date of Departure is at your wish
+ Starting from Hanoi & end in Ho Chi Minh City or vice versa
Day 1: Arrival Hanoi (Welcome dinner included)
Day 2: Hanoi (Breakfast, lunch included)
Day 3: Hanoi - Ha Long Bay - Overnight on a traditional junk (Breakfast,
Lunch & Dinner included)
Day 4: Ha Long Bay - Hanoi - Flight to Hue (Breakfast
and lunch included)
Day 5: Hue Royal City (Breakfast and lunch included)
Day 6: Hue (Breakfast, cooking course & Lunch included)
Day 7: Hue - Hoi An (Breakfast, lunch and dinner
included)
Day 8: Hoi An (Breakfast & cooking demo/Dinner included)
Day 9: Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh City (Breakfast and cooking class and
lunch included)
Day 10: Mekong Delta (Breakfast & dinner included)
Day 11: Mekong to Ho Chi Minh City (Cruise/breakfast and farewell
dinner included)
Day 12: Depart Ho Chi Minh City (Breakfast included)
A TASTE OF VIETNAM
Hanoi - Ha Long Bay - Hue - Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh City
Day 1: Arrival Hanoi (D)
Upon arrival at Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport, our guide will
accompany you to your hotel and assist you with check-in. Get intimately
acquainted with the narrow and bustling guild streets of Hanoi’s Old Quarter,
bursting with wares from medicinal herbs to luxurious silks. Or you may choose
to relax around one of the many lakes and parks that make Hanoi one of the
greenest cities in Asia. This evening, our guide will escort you to dinner at
Indochine, set in an authentic French Colonial villa. The inviting menu
includes a not-to-be-missed banana flower salad, delicious nem,
Hanoi-style spring rolls, and fried chicken with lemongrass and chili.
Day 2: Hanoi (B/L/D)
Today you will enjoy a hands-on cooking class in the Old Quarter of
Hanoi. Cyclo ride from your hotel, hands-on cooking class you learn about the
art of traditional Vietnamese cuisine in the Old Quarter with the locals in
Hanoi. Visit a lively local market before donning a chef's uniform for a
hands-on cooking class demonstration. Learn how to make a number of regional
delicacies, which may include Banana Flower Salad and Spring Rolls. After a
half-day morning session, you enjoy a delicious feast of the dishes you
created, and get to take a copy of the recipes home with you. Enjoy a cyclo
tour of the city and head back to your hotel in this charming vehicle.
This afternoon, we take a 20 minute-drive from your hotel to the very
impressive Museum of Ethnology, among the finest of Vietnam's museums. You will
see many exhibits, photographs and actual houses inhabited by some of the 54
ethnic people in Vietnam. It will offer a truly colorful introduction to these
ethnic tribes. Next we'll visit the 11th century Temple of Literature. Lastly in
the late afternoon, you will be enchanted by the legends and stories told at
the Thang Long Water Puppet show that no one should miss while visiting Hanoi .
You will enjoy dinner and a wine tasting at the award-winning Press Club
restaurant where international fare is laced with Asian influences and wines
are selected to complement these tastes.
Optional: Night owls are invited to hit
Highway 4 with our guide for a taste of an exotic rice or fruit wine, or a cup
of Vietnamese tea. Highway 4's brewed-on-site spirits, particularly enjoyable
on the roof terrace, include traditional northern medicinal liquors and herbal
potions.
Day 3: Hanoi - Ha Long Bay - Overnight on a
traditional junk (B/L/D)
With thousands of limestone mountains and cliffs jutting from its calm
waters, Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the world's most
spectacular natural wonders. The Indochina Sails, a traditional junk built of
aromatic wood and other special materials, is the perfect vessel for exploring
this magnificent seascape.
Come explorer Ha Long aboard the Indochina Sails, and let us meet all
your travel needs.
Pick up from your hotel in Hanoi at 8:30 am for a four-hour drive
through the Red River Delta to Ha Long City.
11.30. Arrive at Bai Chay/ Ha Long pier.
12.15. Transfer by tender to the boat. Welcome drink.
Cruise briefing and safety instructions.
12.30. Start cruising on Ha Long Bay. Cabin check-in
13.00. Enjoy deluxe Vietnamese and International set-menu
lunch.
14.30. Arrive at Titop Island. Enjoy swimming, relaxing on
the beach and climbing the steps to the top of the mountain on the island for
fantastic views and photo opportunities. Water and towels will be supplied. We
will spend about 45 minutes on the island.
15.15. Return to the boat and sail for about 45 minutes to
our second stop - the Bat Cave area.
16.00. Arrive at the Bat Cave area. There are two programs
to choose from at this time.
Option 1: 40 minute kayaking program to the nearby Bat Cave and lagoon
and surrounding waters
Option 2: Visit the Cua Van floating fishing village, the largest
floating fishing village in Ha Long Bay. There are about 130 floating houses
and about 600 people live and work in the village. We will travel to the
village on the tender and tour the village for approximately 20 minutes.
17.45. Depart and sail for about 30 minutes to Luon Bo
area, where we will anchor for overnight.
19.00. Deluxe Vietnamese & Western Buffet or Set Menu
Dinner.
20.30. Evening activities include: film entertainment in
the dining room at approximately 21.00, board games and playing cards are
available, and massage services are available.
Also at this time we offer, when possible, an excursion to a nearby
squid fishing boat. We travel by tender and you will be able to board the boat
and see how the local fishermen catch squid and other fish, the excursion lasts
about 45 minutes. Availability depends on several prevailing conditions; if
available we will inform you after dinner and will depart at 20.30. Cost for
the excursion is $10.00 per person. Please note that those joining will miss
the beginning of the movie.
21.00. Happy Hour! Buy one drink - get one free (wine
excluded)
23.00. Have a good night.
Day 4: Ha Long Bay - Hanoi - Fly to Hue (B/L)
Rise to the sound of the ocean
welcoming another lovely day. We enjoy sunrise.
06.30. Enjoy Tai
Chi on the sundeck.
07.30. Coffee,
tea and breakfast pastries served in the dining room.
07.45. Arrive by boat at the Surprise Cave. Optional tour
program: prepare for visiting the Surprise Cave or relax onboard the boat.
08.00. Transfer by tender to the Surprise Cave. Tour the
cave for approximately 45 minutes.
09.00. Upon return to the boat please check-out of cabins.
Please leave heavy luggage outside of the cabins (staff will transfer to the
pier).
09.15. Upon return to the boat you will have 30 minutes to
freshen up and finish packing. Please remove your belongings from the cabins,
you may leave heavy luggage outside of the cabins (staff will transfer directly
to the pier). Depart for Bai Chay/ Ha Long pier.
09.30. Enjoy Breakfast Set Menu or Buffet 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.
11.00. Arrive at Bai Chay. Transfer by tender to the pier;
relax inside the pier building while waiting for return transfer directly to
Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi for a short flight to Hue in the afternoon. Pick up
and transfer to La Residence Hotel & Spa by Accor for hotel check-in and overnight
in Hue
Day 5: Hue Royal City
(B/L/D)
Our exploration begins with a visit to the Linh Mu Pagoda where the
monks will host us with a sumptuous vegetarian meal to sample some of the local
delicacies: Regarded by many as the culinary capital of Vietnam, Hue takes its
culinary cues from its royal heritage. Hue tables are typically covered with
several small dishes of local delicacies such as diminutive Hue pancakes or
tiny bowls of freshly cut vegetables. After lunch, we bid farewell to our hosts
and continue our exploration with the Citadel, home to the Imperial City and
the Forbidden Purple City. We'll also visit the Imperial Museum and the vibrant
Dong Ba Riverside Market. There will be another culinary adventure this evening
as we sup at the fine-dining establishment, Tropical Garden
Day 6: Hue (B/L/D)
The morning begins with a hands-on cooking class at Y Thao Garden
restaurant, highlighting the regal flavors of Hue cuisine as we prepare our
own midday meal. After lunch, we'll take a cruise along the romantic Perfume River,
passing opulent palaces and gardens of the 19th century Nguyen kings. We'll
visit the ornate tomb of Emperor Minh Mang, set within beautifully landscaped
gardens, and the tomb of the eccentric Tu Duc, known for his opulent lifestyle.
On our way back to the city, we'll stop at the Thien Mu Pagoda, the unofficial
symbol of Hue. This is an active Buddhist monastery dating back to 1601. One of
its most poignant displays is a car belonging to a former monk, who in 1963,
drove to Saigon and set himself alight to protest the South Vietnamese regime
and its treatment of Buddhists. In the evening you may wish to stay at your
hotel and attend an imperial dinner, wearing the traditional clothes of the
emperors.
Day 7: Hue - Hoi An (B/L/D)
We'll continue south, going by road toward the riverside town of Hoi An.
Our five-hour route, hugging the coastline along the South China Sea, serves up
breathtaking views that grow even more spectacular as we wind our way up Hai
Van Pass (Pass of the Clouds). We'll pause to admire the stunning vistas of
Lang Co beach to the north, and the city of Da Nang to the south. We'll
continue on, passing China Beach, where many American GI's took their R&R
(Rest and Relaxation!), and the Marble Mountains, home to the Cham legacy. In
Hoi An, we'll grab some lunch at the Vinh Hung Café, where the coffee
milkshakes are divine and the menu surprisingly extensive. In the afternoon,
we'll take a walking tour around this once-thriving port and visit the famed
old quarter, the Japanese Bridge, the old Assembly Halls, art galleries and
many old houses once belonging to Chinese merchants. Come evening, we'll dine
at the Café des Amis along the river.
Day 8: Hoi An (B/D)
Hoi An is a charming, small town which can be easily explored on foot.
Between the 17th and 19th centuries, it was a thriving international trading
port with a large Chinese and Japanese population. More than any other place in
Vietnam, Hoi An exudes a feeling of centuries past and is a favorite with all travelers.
You may choose to stroll, soaking up the atmosphere and exploring the many
fascinating ancestral homes (some of which have been occupied by the same
family for fifteen generations), or rent a bicycle for a scenic ride to Cua Dai
beach, 4 km away. The town is also famous for its tailors who are revered for
their fine (and fast) work.
In the afternoon, you will have cooking class at Red Bridge Restaurant,
visit Hoi An’s colourful market, and experience the amazing sights, sounds and
aromas of this busy market. We board the Red Bridge boat for a leisurely cruise
(25 minutes) along the Hoi An River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. On
arrival, we explore the cooking school’s herb and vegetable garden, before
learning about some of Hoi An’s and Vietnam’s well-known dishes. The cooking
lesson runs for about 2 hours – each dish is first demonstrated by the Red
Bridge chef’s, before we prepare the same dish ourselves. Included in the class
is a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving (plate decoration). After
the lesson, we sit down and eat exactly what we have cooked. Hoi An is well
suited for an after-dinner stroll, and we'll stop by the Tam Tam Café for a
drink or coffee before turning in for the night.
Day 9: Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh City (B/D)
This morning we'll head for Da Nang airport about a 40-minute drive, to
take our one-hour flight to Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon)), where we
transfer directly to our centrally located hotel.
In the afternoon you have city tour in Sai Gon. We'll embark on a tour
of this cosmopolitan city, visiting Cho Lon, the War Remnants Museum, and the
Reunification Palace. Cho Lon, home to HCMC's substantial Chinese population,
is also the site of the largest market in Vietnam, the Ben Thanh market. The
War Remnants museum contains a wealth of images from Vietnam's wars, the most
moving being a gallery entitled Requiem, dedicated to Vietnamese and foreign
journalists and photographers who perished during the French and American conflicts.
The Reunification Palace was the residence of the President of South Vietnam
until April 30, 1975 , when North Vietnamese tanks came crashing through the
front gates, bringing the Vietnam-U.S. War to a dramatic end. Close to the
Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office represent prime
examples of French Colonial architecture. The ornate Notre Dame dominates the
city's business center. Built by the French between 1877 and 1883, it was
constructed of stone imported from France. The Post Office, completed in 1891,
is in perfect juxtaposition to the bustling urban city that is modern Ho Chi
Minh.
At about 18.15pm, the tour guide & driver
take you to Bon Sai Cruise for dinner. And finish at about 20pm.
Day 10: Mekong Delta (B/L)
Breakfast comes early this morning as we depart for Can Tho in the heart
of the Mekong Delta. We'll stop in My Tho for coffee, and there, we'll have our
first taste of life in this amazing Delta. We'll arrive in Can Tho in time for
lunch.
After lunch, we'll drive to some of the orchards that give this region
its allure, and we'll be able to see the many varieties of tropical plants
native to this part of the world. We'll also visit a bird sanctuary, and stop
in at the Song Hau Fram/Rice institute where we will be treated to a taste of
some of the many products derived from rice. In the evening, we'll make our way
to the Victoria Hotel, our home for the night.
Day 11: Mekong to Ho Chi Minh City (B/D)
We'll depart the Victoria at 6:30 this morning from the jetty of the
hotel. We'll enjoy a delectable breakfast buffet onboard the Lady Hau as we
cruise the Mekong to visit the floating market of Cai Rang. Our cruise will
take us along several channels of the Delta before we say goodbye to the mighty
Mekong and begin our drive back to Ho Chi Minh City. The afternoon affords us
free time for some last minute shopping or relaxing. We'll enjoy a deluxe
farewell dinner at the Mandarin Restaurant.
Day 12: Depart Ho Chi Minh City (B)
Today is
departure day and time to bid your guide farewell. There will a transfer
waiting to take you from the hotel to the airport for your flight home. We wish
you a pleasant journey home and we know you will take away many wonderful
memories of the sights and tastes you have savored. “Cam on va chao tam
biet" - Thank you for traveling with us and see you again!
List of hotels recommended by New
Vision Tour |
||
Cities |
Hotels List |
Room Type |
Luxury Category / Luxury
5-star hotel |
||
Hanoi |
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi |
Historical Wing |
Ha Long Bay |
PARADISE LUXURY |
Deluxe Balcony cabin |
Hue |
La Residence Hotel & Spa |
Deluxe Riverview |
Hoi An |
The Nam Hai |
One bedroom villa |
Ho Chi Minh |
Park Hyatt Saigon Hotel |
Park Deluxe |
Can Tho |
Victoria Can Tho Resort |
Suite |
Special note:
List of hotels is recommended by New Vision Tour. Please feel free to advise hotels you prefer in each category or combine hotels category at your wish (tour price will be changed accordingly).
Category |
Valid from 01 Oct until 30 April |
||||||
1 |
2 |
3-4 |
5-6 |
7-9 |
11-14 |
Sgl Sup |
|
Luxury |
7,716 |
4,441 |
4,266 |
4,057 |
4,027 |
4,006 |
2,544 |
Category |
Valid from 01 May until 30 Sept |
||||||
1 |
2 |
3-4 |
5-6 |
7-9 |
11-14 |
Sgl Sup |
|
Luxury |
7,706 |
4,431 |
4,256 |
4,047 |
4,017 |
3,996 |
2,544 |
+ All private transfer and transportation
+ Accommodation in twin share basis with daily breakfast
+ French or English Speaking Guide
+ All In-tour flights by Vietnam Airlines as per itinerary
+ Private boat trip as per tour
+ Ha Long Bay Cruise program shared in Twin/Double cabin as per tour
+ Meals as stated in the itinerary (B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner)
+ All sightseeing tickets
+ Seasonal fruits, tissues and water on coach
+ Complimentary Vietnam visa on arrival pre-approved letter
+ Services charges and government tax
+ Exclusive and personalized single agent/single customer service
+ 24/7 hotline support guaranteed
+ No extra charge after confirmation
+ International flights & departures taxes
+ Beverage
+ International departures taxes
+ Personal expenses, tips and gratuities
+ Travel insurance
+ Beverage
+ Peak season or Public holidays surcharge if any
+ Compulsory Gala dinner on Xmas or New Year if any
+ Vietnam visa stamp fee (US$ 45 & 01 passport photo each person)
+ Other services not mentioned above