Ho Chi Minh - Vietnam
The "Highlights Cultural Private 15 Days in Vietnam" tour offers an immersive experience through Vietnam's rich heritage. Starting in Hanoi, the itinerary covers Halong Bay's natural beauty, the ancient charm of Hoi An, the historical significance of Hue, the bustling energy of Ho Chi Minh City, and the serene landscapes of the Mekong Delta, blending cultural insights with scenic explorations.
Arrive at Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), our private car will pick you up and transfer to hotel in HCMC.
Overnight in HCMC
8:30: Take the morning trip to visit Independence Palace, also known as the Reunification palace, which was built on the sight of the former Norodom palace. The Independence palace is a widely known landmark of Ho Chi Minh City and was designed by the architect Ngo Viet Thu.
Continue seeing the beautiful structures from the French Colonial times such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, and the historic Central Post Office. Followed by the remarkable site of the War Remnants Museum the museum has a vast display of both the Indochina wars.
12:00: Have lunch at a local restaurant.
13:30: In the afternoon, continue the city tour by discovering the city's Western side. Ride to Big Market and Thien Hau Pagoda which is located in China Town. Continue to Bach Dang harbor. After checking in the waterbus tickets, and stabilizing your seat, the boat will start to depart. During the trip, you will have a unique view of the most typical commercial buildings of the city including the Vinhomes Central Park urban area, the magnificent Landmark 81 tower, the Bitexco Financial Tower, the green peaceful District 2. A lot of stunning moments are waiting for you. Try to discover the soul of this land Saigon River by water bus, maybe you will realize many miracles, a more accurate view of the land once called Paris of Indochina or the Pearl of the Far East.
18:00: Transfer back your hotel or meeting point. Finish the trip.
Overnight in HCMC
8:00: Start from your Ho Chi Minh City hotel, heading to the Mekong Delta by car! During the 2 hours drive, pass by green rice fields before arriving at the beautiful rural My Tho. Your morning trip continues from here by motorized boat on the Tien River to the Lan ( Unicorn Islet).
10:00: Walk into the village, where you can visit a local fruit garden and enjoy the tropical fruit while listening to Southern Vietnamese folk music performed by islanders. Here you also can join daily activities of the local people and take in the atmosphere of this beautiful natural countryside. Visit the bee house, and take the picture of the pythons. Lunch will be served right in the heart of the orchard garden.
14:00: The boat cruise will lead you through Bao Dinh canal, entering Ben Tre province — "the land of coconuts." Here you'll see a typical agricultural model called "Garden - Pond – Cage,” before visiting the coconut candy-making shop. (Or you can skip this shop!)
Next, enjoy a rowing boat trip on the small canal, fully covered by the shadow of the water coconut’s trees. After your boat ride, take another boat ride back to the port before returning to the van.
16:30 – 17:00: You will arrive back in Ho Chi Minh City!
Overnight in HCMC
8:30: Pick up at your hotel and depart to Cu Chi will take approximately one and a half hours bus driving.
10:00: Upon arrival, before exploring the tunnels, you will have some short introduction followed by introductory video about how the tunnels were constructed and how the people survived in the harsh conditions of the war time. Then, spend your time to explore the remaining area and tunnel systems which included the special constructed living areas with kitchens, bedrooms side by side with other martial facilities like storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, and command centers helping whoever lives inside the tunnels meet their basic needs. Besides, there are also many hidden trap doors and dangerous traps within the maze-like tunnels for security purpose during the war. Afterward, special tea and cassava (guerilla’s food during the war) will be served.
Break time for relax or time for those who want to try the real shooting gun.
12:30: Have lunch then return to Saigon!
14:00: Transfer to the airport!
Suggestion: Flight HCMC to Danang 16:15 – 17:35!
Our car will pick you when you land Danang and transfer to the hotel in Hoi An!
Overnight in Hoi An
Overnight in Hoi An
8:00: Pick you up at your hotel and start Da nang city tour 1 day
Visit Marble Mountains - a cluster of 5 mountains, located about eight kilometers south of Da Nang city. You also have a chance to visit Non Nuoc Stone Carving village, just on the foot of Marble Mountains.
10:00: Visit the well-known and modern bridges of Danang: Han Bridge and Dragon Bridge.
10:30: Visit Cham Museum – converges all the ancient artifacts of an interesting Cham culture.
11:30: Have Lunch at a local restaurant
13:30: Continue to visit Han Market.
14:30: Visit Linh Ung Pagoda ( also called Lady Buddha) on Son Tra Peninsula
16:00 : Relax at My Khe Beach, take photos, swim or do water activities on this famous and fresh beach.
17:00 : Back to hotel in Hoi An
Overnight in Hoi An
Hotel check out then transfer from your hotel in Hoi An to Hue around 2 hours, you can ask driver to stop on the check-in point in Hai Van Pass!
You can choose the starting time in a day!
Hue Street Food Tour (Choose starting time 9:00 – 13:00 – 17:00) (Tour lasts 3.5 – 4 hours)
Our guide will pick you up at your hotel in Hue city center and start the food walking tour. Our first stop will be Dong Ba market, the busiest market in Hue city. On the way to the market, we will have a chance to cross the Truong Tien bridge, a beautiful and historic bridge. The bridge that crosses Huong river has created a special symbol of Hue city.
At Dong Ba market, you can see how people sell and buy the daily food, see and try most of the ingredients used in making almost all the Hue specialty dishes and fresh local fruits. After trying local snacks and buying some souvenirs, we will continue the trip with the next stops. We will go to some local shops to sit and enjoy the best local dishes of Hue.
After the series of meals, we will get back to the other river bank and tour around the city for a while. Then, you will have a chance to enjoy Vietnamese coffee and listen to some stories about it. After enjoying coffee, the guide takes you back to your hotel.
*If you take the tour in the evening, we will stop at the walking night market and enjoy some other local street food while walking around.
Overnight in Hue
Hotel check out!
08:00: Pick up at your hotel in Hue city center and get on the dragon boat to visit Thien Mu Pagoda.
09:15: Visit Imperial Citadel and Dong Ba Market
12:15: Have Lunch at a local restaurant
13:30: After lunch, continue to visit Minh Mang Tomb and Khai Dinh Tomb
15:30: Visit and take photo at Conical hat and incense making village
Flight Hue to Hanoi
When you arrive Hanoi, our car will pick you up and transfer to hotel!
Overnight in Hanoi
7:30 – 7:45: Early transfer Hanoi to Halong Bay (around 2,5 hours)
10:00 – 10:15: Arrive at the Tuan Chau Harbor
10:55 – 11:15: Experience Halong Bay scenic flight in 25 mins!
Kindly note that the flights will depart from 4 people, in case it is not enough 4 people in that flight time, you will need to pay extra for 2 people to do the flight!
Dau Be Island: Located in the southeast of Ha Long Bay, Dau Be Island is 500m east of Hang Trai Island, and about 28 km from Bai Chay Cruise Port. The island is part of an archipelago on the outer route of Ha Long Bay (gateway to Lan Ha Bay), situated between Tra Ngu and Da Le islands.
Cong Do Island: Situated in Bai Tu Long Bay, southeast of Ha Long Bay, and 25km from Bai Chay Cruise Port, Cong Do Island is part of the natural World Heritage area. The island measures 23,363 sq km with mountains peaking at 172 m high. This beautiful island boasts sea valleys and natural lakes, and is home to many specials of marine flora and fauna.
Bo Hon Island: Bo Hon rightfully appears on every list of most beautiful islands in Ha Long Bay, not only for its fantastic scenery but because it comprises one of the largest island chains in Ha Long Bay. Bo Hon is home to a host of famous caves including Sung Sot, Luon, Trinh Nu, and Trong as well as picturesque Dong Tien Lake. Its mountain peaks and steep cliffs stand in contrast to the deep blue-green sea like a larger-than-life watercolor painting.
End the flight!
11:30 – 11:45: Arrive back and the car will transfer you to the cruise Harbor.
Arriving at Lot 32 - Tuan Chau Marina – have check-in procedures at the waiting lounge.
You can take special tea at lounge by warm welcome.
12:00 - 12:15: Transfer to Orchid Cruises by a feeder boat. Welcome aboard, we'll have some welcome drinks and gather at the restaurant for a cruise briefing and some safety instructions.
13:00: Passengers will be taking lunch while we cruise and visit Ha Long Bay – Lan Ha Bay - one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature
14:15: We progress to Trung Trang cave by our bus on Cat Ba Island which is in the middle of Cat Ba National Park with Kim Giao Forest around the cave.
Trung Trang cave located in Trung Trang Valley, which is 15km away from the northwest of Cat Ba town. The cave is 300m long through the mountain, possessing a mysterious beauty due to the geological tectonics in million years along with many historical vestiges. The cave has many stalactites with different shapes that stimulate human imagination and amaze visitors.
17:30: Orchid Cruises enters a less populated area at Tra Bau – Lan Ha Bay. Enjoy a nice swim in the green, emerald water.
18:00: Onboard you may join a cooking demonstration and enjoy the Happy Hour (buy 1 get 1) at the bar while watching the view of the bay at sunset.
19:15: Savor a fusion dinner made with the freshest ingredients in a sophisticated space with elegant French neoclassical style and traditional oriental touches.
21:00: It's time to admire the beauty of the night on the bay, our bar on the sundeck and in the restaurant welcomes you. You may want to try your luck with squid fishing, we also have chess and cards for you.
Overnight on cruise
06:30: It is a perfect time to refresh and indulge yourself in the peaceful beauty of the bay with a tai chi session on the sundeck. If you want to hunt for dawn, get up from 5:30 to 6:00 depending on the season, and consult our sailors.
07:00: We will have breakfast at the restaurant while continuing the cruise.
07:45: Kayaking activities in the Ao Ech area are held to discover the hidden charm of Ha Long - Lan Ha Bay
08:30: Orchid Cruises welcomes you back on board and it is time for checking out.
10:00: Enjoy a delightful brunch at our restaurant while cruising back.
11:30: Disembark Orchid Cruises at Tuan Chau Marina, say best wishes, and end your cruise with us.
14:30 – 15:00: Back to your drop-off point in Hanoi.
NOTE: If you choose the mini hotel to take a rest before the night train, it will be extra 30USD!
20:30: Transfer to Hanoi Train Station then get the tickets!
22:00 – 5:30: Night train Hanoi to Sapa
Overnight in Hanoi
5:30 – 6:00: Pick up at the train station and transfer back to your hotel, do the early check-in!
8:30 – 8:40: Start the tour with Motorbike! We begin the day with a 3km through the breathtaking landscape to the village of Suoi Ho, home to Hmong minority. That brings you to the most beautiful views of endless rice terraces, and give you an opportunity to see some of the animals used by the locals. Continuing on to Matra village you will come across the impressive ruins of a church dating back to the French occupation in the early 1900s. Take a minute to explore this intriguing sight and take some photos.
12:00 – 12:30: After lunch at Matra village, a small trekking lane leads you to the village called Ta Phin where you can meet both Black Hmong and Red Dao Minorities and their famous herbal medicine as well as learning how to use these plants from the land to treat many illnesses. Your guide will be able to introduce you to some Red Dao women who can tell you more about their many remedies.
Transport will be provided from Ta Phin back to Sapa.
Overnight in Sapa
Morning: Have breakfast in hotel.
08:30: A short walk to Sunplaza to get the Muong Hoa Funicular of 3 km along side of Muong Hoa valley to the cable car station in O Quy Ho around 20 minutes. The flight by cable car will take you around 20 minutes to the next station at 3,000m ASL. Enjoy the view of Sin Chai valley, Fansipan peak as well as Hoang Lien national park from the cabin.
Following 639 stone steps (I can arrange the short cable car for you and you don’t need to trek 639 steps) from the station to the top is around 40 minutes then we will arrive at the 3,143m summit, celebrate this victory, sitting high above the hills with views of this stunning mountainous landscape. On the way back we also travel by cable car and funicular again.
11:30 – 12:00: Have lunch
13:45 – 14:00: The sharing limousine/cabin bus picks you up at the hotel, ahead back to Hanoi.
NOTE: You can do with the private car to come back to Hanoi!
Overnight in Hanoi
08:00 Our guide will meet you at your hotel and start 110km to Ninh Binh.
10:45 – Visit Hoa Lu Ancient Citadel with Dinh King Temple and Le King Temple dating back to the 17th Century.
12:00 – Enjoy lunch at our restaurant with the great local cuisine.
13:30 – Boarding a small sampan to visit Tam Coc which means literally “three caves” (1.5 hour boat trip). With Halong bay type views of majestic limestone cliffs and mysterious caves, as well as countryside landscape like peaceful streams, rice paddies and deserted green fields, Tam Coc really has it all. You will feel the fresh air and peaceful moments, very good opportunities for photo lovers, freezing the special moments and scenery.
15:30 – Arrive at Mua Cave and start an amazing trek up to the top of Ngoa Long Mountain for watching the spectacular rice valley with specious view of the nature.
17:15 – Return to our car and then come back to Hanoi!
19:00 – Drop you off at your hotel!
Overnight in Hanoi
8:30: Our private car will pick you up at your hotel
9:00 – 10:00: Ahead to Vietnam Museum of Ethnology - This museum gives an excellent view of the history and culture of 54 ethnic groups living in Vietnam.
11:30: Back to Hanoi Old Quarter. Have lunch and take a rest.
12:30 – 13:00: Stop for a coffee/beer at the local Train Street and see the train passing by.
13:45: Our next destination is Hoa Lo Prison - a prison in Hanoi originally used by the French colonists in Indochina for political prisoners, and later by North Vietnam for U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War.
14:45: Ahead to the Temple of Literature – the first university of Vietnam, established in the 11 century and learn about the history of the first doctors.
16:00 - 16:10: Ahead to Hoan Kiem Lake, see the puppet show in 50 mins!
17:00: The car takes you back the hotel. Arrive your hotel. Trip ends.
Overnight in Hanoi
You can choose to fly back to HCMC earlier in the day to do the food tour!
Optional: Saigon Street Food Tour 3 hour
Our tour guide and driver will be waiting for you in the hotel lobby to greet you. We will provide you with a short briefing on how to ride safely and what you need to do while seated behind us on the scooters. Hold on tight, and let's start an exciting adventure with us!
During this Ho Chi Minh food tour, we will chat and share the local and food stories to help you understand more about life of people as well as local cuisine not only in Saigon but also the whole Vietnam.
Transfer back to the airport!
Flight back home!
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