Uniquely Vietnam Cultural Tour 10 days/9nights

Travel the length of Vietnam on this 10 day tour, stopping in HCMC (in the south), Hanoi (in the north), and the beaches and small towns of the central coast in between. Begin in dynamic HCMC, the country's commercial capital and center of a growing number of upscale restaurants and shops. Visit Chinatown, the Thien Hau Pagoda, the Reunification Palace, the Opera House and Hotel de Ville. If desired, also visit the moving War Remnants Museum . Explore colorful outdoor markets and Dong Khoi Street, the city's most upscale shopping boulevard with fashion boutiques and accessories designed by new Vietnamese designers, hill tribe crafts, high quality linens and housewares. Take a day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels and watch an unusual and eclectic religious ceremony at the main temple of Cao Daism , a unique fusion of world religions, in Tay Ninh. Alternatively, spend the day cruising the narrow canals of the Mekong Delta .
Fly to Danang and land transfer to the cozy town of Hoi An, a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site and riverfront port town crammed with historic homes, tiny museums, cafes, and bustling silk and fish markets. Nearby, see ancient sculptures in the Cham Museum, and tour Buddhist cave temples in the Marble Mountains. Opt to stay at a luxury beach resort in nearby Danang, or a boutique riverside hotel in the heart of Hoi An.

Next, view the dramatic central coasline by a private car or minivan to Hue, the former Imperial capital of Hue. It is a quiet city renowned for the unique architecture of its citadel, palaces, royal tombs, pagodas and temples, built under the Nguyen dynasty on the banks of the Perfume River .

Wrap up in Hanoi, Vietnam's artistic and intellectual capital. Explore the fascinating Old Quarter and its hundreds of specialty shops selling silk clothing, lacquerware, embroidered linens, furniture, bamboo, cooking utensils, ceremonial objects and more. Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, ride a cyclo to dinner, and watch a performance at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater. Dine in French colonial villas converted into gourmet restaurants. Enjoy people watching at stylish cafes. Shop for impressive modern art in the city's many galleries. Also visit Hanoi 's main cultural attractions, including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his House on Stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Fine Arts Museum and the Temple of Literature.

Also spend a day cruising Halong Bay, where thousands of limestone rock sculptures jut dramatically from the sea and numerous grottoes have created an ephemeral, fantastic landscape .

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive HCMC(-/-/D).

Arrival transfer to hotel for two-night stay. Afternoon private city touring of HCMC. Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is the largest and busiest city in Vietnam with a population of 7 million people. Much of the daily life takes place on the streets, which are lined with shops, stalls and vendors with their wares spread out on the footpath. Don't miss the bustling Ben Thanh Market, the moving, the War Remnants Museum, The Reunification Palace and Notre Dame Cathedral.

Day 2: Saigon - Mekong Delta (B/L/-).

The Mekong Delta is the southernmost region of Vietnam. It is often referred to as the rice bowl of Vietnam as it produces three crops of rice per year. The fertile Mekong Delta is also famous for its tropical fruits and flowers. The Delta area marks the end of a 4,500 km journey made by the Mekong River after having traveled through six countries. Traditional transportation in the Delta is by boat along a vast network of canals and channels. Boating along these canals and visiting the floating markets always proves to be a fascinating and rewarding experience for all visitors. Leave HCMC to lush My Tho where we cruise on a private boat through the green vegetation of the canals to an orchard, where we are treated to a delicious lunch in a bonsai garden in the heart of the Mekong, complete with tropical fruits. We also visit the snake farm Dong Tam that breeds snakes for, among other things, snake wine and enjoy a bonsai garden in Trung Luong before heading back to Saigon. Tentatively you can visit Cu Chi Tunnels and Cao Dai Temples.

Day 3: HCMC/ Hoi An or Da Nang (B/L/-).

Transfer to airport and fly on Vietnam Airlines to Danang. Upon arrival at Danang you will be greeted by our guide who will begin by escorting you on a tour of Danang City, including the Cham Museum where you can find out more about this ancient but advanced civilization. After leaving Danang we will make our way the short distance to the Marble Mountains, where there will be the opportunity to climb to the top and admire the temples that have a commanding view over the surrounding district. We will continue to the delightful town of Hoi An, approximately 30km away. Once in Hoi An we will check into our hotel and have some free time .

Day 4: Hoi An (B/-/-).

From the 16th to 18th centuries, Hoi An was a thriving international commercial port for Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese and Arab traders. These people came primarily to trade in the high grade silk, which is still produced in the area, as well as ceramics. Today, Hoi An is a quaint riverside town, popular with tourists for its eclectic architecture, tailors shops, and numerous cafes. Some of the buildings in the narrow streets have remained unchanged for more than a century. We enjoy a half-day walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the ancient quarter visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, Chinese Assembly Halls, the 200-year-old Tam Ky ancestral house, and the Japanese Bridge. Hoi An is now one of five UNESCO-designated World Heritage sites in Vietnam. In the afternoon, you are free to meander in Hoi An, unwind at Cua Dai Beach or take an optional half day trip to My Son Cham Ruins.

Day 5: Hoi An - Da Nang - Hue (B/L/-).

Private land transfer to Hue for two-night stay. Afternoon we board on a Dragon Boat for cruising on the romantic Perfume River. This time we head out for the countryside. Being the ancient capital, Hue is surrounded with ancient tombs of emperors past, temples and pagodas, and a visit to the most beautiful tombs will be on the itinerary for today. The charming Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda) will be the first stop of the day. You can get a great view of the Perfume River and surrounding area. Visit Thien Mu Pagoda which is considered the symbol of Hue, and of Buddhism in Vietnam. from here, we will cruise further to the ornate Minh Mang's tomb.

Day 6: Hue (B/-/D).

Today we explore this fabulous city. We start with a visit to the Citadel, containing the Imperial City and the Forbidden Purple City, the Emperor's private residence. The Imperial City, created in the 19th century and modeled on the Forbidden City in Beijing. There are many palaces and temples inside. We also visit the Imperial Museum, The Tu Hieu Pagoda and the vibrant Dong Ba Riverside market. To round off the day's activities, we visit one of Hue 's fine restaurants to sample some of the local delicacies; Hue is regarded by many as the culinary capital of Vietnam.

Day 7: Hue - Hanoi (B/L/-).

Breakfast at the hotel. Then you have free time before transfer to Phu Bai Airport, Hue and enjoy a short flight to Hanoi for a three-night stay. Meet and greet at Noi Bai International airport, Hanoi and transfer to hotel in town. Free time and optional cyclo ride around the Old Quarter. Then go to dinner at a popular restaurant in the Old Quarter of Hanoi. In the evening enjoy a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show at Thang Long theater.

Day 8: Hanoi (B/L/-)

The colonial capital city Hanoi is a unique Asian city with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes, pagodas and temples. This full day tour takes you around Hanoi's most interesting sights, including the Ho Chi Minh Complex: Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and his Stilt House, Presidential Palace and the One Pillar Pagoda nearby, and the Old Quarter also known for its 36 streets and former craft guilds. Also on the tour - the Lake of the Restored Sword and Ngoc Son Temple, the Temple of Literature, peaceful West Lake with lovers' street Thanh Nien, the peaceful Tran Quoc Pagoda and Quan Thanh Temple and one of the city's museums, either the History Museum or the Ethnology Museum.

Day 9: Hanoi - Halong Bay (B/L/-).

Early morning we pickup at your hotel around 8:00  to 8:30am. Drive to Halong City, approximately 3 hours away. Once at Halong City, you will board our private boat for a four-hour cruise of this stunning area, stopping along the way to visit one of the limestone caves in the area. As we cruise, our boat staff will serve you a sumptuous local seafood lunch. After 4 hour navigation we cruise back to the harbor and drive back to your hotel in Hanoi.

Day 10: Depart Vietnam (B/-/-).

There are no activities planned for today. You enjoy your free time until being transferred to the airport for your onward flight.

• A private transfer and transportation
• Accommodation in twin share basis with daily breakfast
• French or English Speaking Guide
• Domestic flights: HCMC-Danang/Hue-Hanoi
• Domestic departures taxes
• Boat trip in Halong Bay and Mekong Delta
• Meals as stated in the itinerary
• Sightseeing tickets
• Services charges and government taxes

• International flights
• Entry Visa and visa fees
• International departures taxes
• Personal expenses, tips and gratuities
• Travel insurance
• Meals and beverage
• Optional surcharge for business class flight from $100 per person