Vietnam Exclusive - Luxury

Upon arrival in Hanoi, you will be met in the arrivals area by your local guide holding a name-board. After a warm welcome and brief introduction, take a private airport transfer to your hotel for assistance with check-in. The remainder of the day is at your leisure.

Enjoy a full day tour of Hanoi’s illustrious history including a tour of the Old Quarter by cyclo. Although it is the modern-day capital of Vietnam, Hanoi still retains the mystery and charm of past centuries. Highlights of today’s tour include a visit to the imposing marble edifice housing the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (closed on Mondays & Fridays and annually in October & November for restoration) before moving onto his wooden stilt house. Visit the One Pillar Pagoda dating from the 11th century; this monument was rebuilt after being destroyed by the French in 1954. Tour the Temple of Literature, a peaceful series of walled courtyards and graceful gateways. Founded in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius, this was also the site of Vietnam's first university. In the afternoon, visit the Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton) and then the Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple. A fascinating & exciting one-hour cyclo tour of Hanoi’s old quarter allows you to catch a glimpse of ancient Hanoi and to learn about Vietnamese traditional architecture. This evening, enjoy a cultural water puppet performance at a local theatre.

This morning you will meet your guide and then drive to Halong Bay where you will board a traditional wooden junk for your overnight cruise. Set sail through the bay while a seafood lunch is served. Rest your eyes on the azure waters of this magical bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waters. Enjoy the various activities and excursions offered on board.

Start the day early and enjoy a Tai Chi class on the top deck with an opportunity to see the magnificent scenery as the sunrises over the sea. Cruise further in to the bay and enjoy the various activities offered on board before enjoying a buffet set brunch. Arrive back at the dock in Halong where you will meet your guide and be driven to the airport in Hanoi for your departure flight to Hue in Central Vietnam. On arrival, meet your local guide and then transfer to your hotel for check-in and have the evening at your leisure.

This morning you will be accompanied by the Chef of the Tha Om Garden House, as you set off on a cyclo ride to a local market where you will purchase ingredients and speak with the local vendors. Afterwards, you will be assisted in preparing lunch with a cooking demonstration. After lunch you will have an authentic experience as you discover the friendliness and hospitality of the host family over traditional Hue confectionary. Later, proceed to visit the Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc, the longest reigning Vietnamese Emperor, and then the iconic Thien Mu Pagoda to see the daily Buddhist prayer before enjoying a relaxing sunset cruise on the river back to town.

Today’s tour showcases Hue’s ancient to modern history. Visit the Imperial Citadel in the heart of Hue, a vast complex built in the early 19th century. The original walls stretched for 10 km and were surrounded by a wide moat. Today, most of the buildings have been destroyed due to bombing during the Vietnam-American War, but the monuments that remain provide a fascinating glimpse into the court life of the Nguyen Dynasty. Later, venture into the countryside around Hue to visit the Imperial Tomb of Khai Dinh, dramatically located on a hillside. After sightseeing, drive along the coast with a stop en route at the photogenic village of Lang Co Beach and then over the scenic Hai Van Pass and through Danang to the charming town of Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On arrival in Hoi An, enjoy a walking tour of the old town. Hoi An is a picturesque riverside town known as Faifo to early western traders. Your walking tour includes a visit to the Japanese Covered Bridge, an ancient merchant home, the Phuc Kien assembly hall, and the vibrant riverside market.

After breakfast, head to a local Village for a visit to a kindergarten where you can join the pupils in planting trees before walking to a local farm to discover their traditional lifestyle and gardening methods. Taste the local specialty “Tam Huu” spring rolls and indulge in a traditional herbal footbath. After sightseeing, return to Hoi An and have the afternoon to explore at your leisure.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, and then head to the airport stopping in Danang for a visit to the Cham Museum, an elegant colonial building which now houses the finest collection of Cham sculpture in the world. After your museum visit, transfer to the airport in Danang for your flight south to the coastal city of Nha Trang. On your arrival, meet your local guide in the arrivals area holding a name-board and then transfer to your hotel for check-in. The remainder of the day is at your leisure.

Enjoy Nha Trang’s turquoise waters and white sandy beaches with a morning boat cruise to offshore islands in Nha Trang Bay. Enjoy lunch at the Con Se Tre islet, and in the afternoon, tour Nha Trang with visits to the Po Nagar Cham Towers, the Dam Market, the Nha Trang Stone Cathedral, or the Long Son Pagoda where the giant Sakyamuni Buddha statue sits majestically on the top of the hill.

Enjoy full day at your leisure.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and then meet your local guide at the appointed time in the lobby for your transportation to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). On your arrival, meet your local guide in the arrivals area and then transfer to your hotel for check-in. The remainder of the day is at your leisure.

Enjoy a morning tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels led by a veteran. Never discovered by American forces, these tunnels were an important Vietcong base during the American War. Stretching over 200km, this incredible underground network, dug by hand out of hard laterite, connected command posts, hospitals, shelter and weapon factories. Return to Saigon in the afternoon for a city tour. Begin your tour into modern history with a photo-stop at the Reunification Palace, formerly the Independence Palace of the South Vietnamese president. Afterwards pay a quick visit to the neo-Romanesque Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office. Visit the moving War Remnants Museum for further insight into the recent war, and then head to Chinatown and its bustling Binh Tay market. Today’s tour also includes a visit to either the Quan Am Pagoda or the Thien Hau Temple.

After breakfast, relax on an early morning drive to the rich agricultural region of the Mekong Delta and then stop in the town of Cai Be where you will head out to enjoy a day in the lush surroundings. You will board the Cai Be Princess boat and start your adventure through the region. Cruise to visit the colourful Cai Be Floating Market and a typical house in the Mekong Delta. You will also stop en route and visit some intriguing local businesses to see how rice paper and popcorn are made. Lunch will be served at Le Longanier restaurant, a lovely property set amid a verdant tropical garden. Continue your cruise along the river and immerse yourself in the countryside scenery. Bikes are also available on board for those who wish to explore further. After your full day excursion, disembark and drive back to Ho Chi Minh City and have the evening at your leisure.

After breakfast at the hotel, meet your local guide in the hotel lobby at the appointed time and then transfer to the airport for your departure flight.