Enjoy relaxed-paced touring, with free time to meander and explore on your own interspersed with tours to the places of major interest. Extra special inclusions are the Cu Chi Tunnels, the Red Bridge cooking class and Full Moon Festival in Hoi An, and a Hanoi Street Food walking tour. Relax and discover Vietnam at your own pace and at an extra special price!
Saigon • Nha Trang • Hoi An • Hue • Hanoi • Halong Bay
- Itinerary and Tour Map
Day 1 – Arrive Saigon
You will be met on arrival at Saigon airport and transferred to your hotel. Balance of the day at leisure. Stay three nights at the Liberty Central Saigon Centre Hotel (deluxe room) or the Paragon Saigon Hotel (deluxe room) in downtown Saigon.
Day 2 – Cu Chi excursion
In the morning, travel by road to Cu Chi to explore the amazing underground tunnel system built by Vietnamese guerilla fighters during the war. Return to Saigon by road and arrive at your hotel around mid-afternoon. Balance of the day free. (B)
Day 3 – Saigon
Free day in Saigon. (B)
Day 4 – Saigon – Nha Trang
Morning transfer to Saigon airport for the flight to Nha Trang where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Stay two nights at the Novotel Nha Trang Hotel (standard room) in downtown Nha Trang. (B)
Day 5 – Nha Trang
A day at leisure in Nha Trang to explore the town or relax on the beach. (B)
Day 6 – Nha Trang – Danang – Hoi An
Morning transfer to Nha Trang airport for the flight to Danang. On arrival in Danang, transfer with a guide to Hoi An. Your guide will take you on a walking tour of Hoi An’s old town centre. Stay two nights at the Lantana Hoi An Boutique Hotel & Spa (superior room) in Hoi An. (B)
Day 7 – Red Bridge Cooking Class
Make your own way to arrive at Hai Café, the Red Bridge Cooking School’s meeting point by 8.15 am. Select fresh produce from the market before boarding a boat to cruise along the Thu Bon River to the cooking school for a hands-on culinary experience, preparing a feast for your lunch. Return to downtown where the balance of the day is at leisure.
Your stay in Hoi An has been timed to coincide with the monthly Full Moon Festival tonight. The old town centre is closed to motor vehicles and beautiful lanterns replace electric lights. Locals converge to enjoy musical performances, games, vegetarian food and moon cakes. Offerings are made at temples and candle-lit lotuses are floated on the river with wishes for happiness, luck and love. (B,L)
Day 8 – Hoi An – Hue
Late morning road transfer from Hoi An to Hue via the scenic Cloud Pass. Leisure time on arrival in Hue. Stay two nights at the Romance Hotel (deluxe mountain or stadium view room) in downtown Hue. (B)
Day 9 – Hue
Morning guided tour of Hue including the Citadel and the Imperial Tomb of Tu Duc. Afternoon and evening at leisure. (B)
Day 10 – Hue – Hanoi
Morning transfer to Hue airport for the flight to Hanoi where you will be met and transferred to our hotel. Balance of the day at leisure. Stay two nights at the Alisa Hotel & Spa (deluxe window room – internal view) in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. (B)
Day 11 – Hanoi Street Food Tour
A free morning in Hanoi before an afternoon Street Food tour. Eating on the street is a very typical activity for Hanoians and makes up an important part of the city’s unique culture. Depart at 15:30 for a leisurely walk with your tour guide to the Old Quarter. Make your first stop to taste the national dish of Vietnam – Pho Ga (chicken noodle soup). Then wander around a local market to enjoy the sights, the sounds and the aroma from the hundreds of varieties of food on offer. Sit at a tiny Banh Duc shop to sample Banh Duc – cooked rice powder with Vietnamese spices. Banh Duc is served hot or cool, depending on the weather. Your next stop is a little shop selling many different types of traditional Northern cakes such as Com cake (young rice) which is considered to be a part of every Hanoians’ childhood. Follow your guide to a small alley to see typical “tube houses” of Hanoi. You will stop at Banh My Lan Ong and try their famous bread with paté. Enjoy some Vietnamese desserts – sweet soups called Che – and cap off your experience by tasting a cup of Vietnamese egg coffee. (B)
Day 12 – Hanoi – Halong Bay
A highlight of your visit to Vietnam is sure to be your overnight cruise on Halong Bay. Morning transfer by the cruise company’s group transfer, a journey of up to 4 hours, to Halong and on arrival board your boat for a cruise among the rocky limestone islands in the emerald waters of Halong Bay. Seafood lunch and dinner are served on board. Stay overnight on the Aclass Legend cruise boat (deluxe cabin with en-suite) in Halong. (B,L,D)
Day 13 – Halong Bay – Hanoi
Further cruising around Halong Bay this morning. After brunch or a light lunch, disembark at Halong and return to Hanoi and your hotel by the cruise company’s group transfer. Stay one night at the Alisa Hotel & Spa (deluxe window room – internal view) in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. (B,L)
Day 14 – Depart Hanoi
Leisure time until transfer to the airport for your exit flight. (B) - Make a Booking
- Tour prices
- Price Includes:
