In a little more than a week you can witness Vietnam with your own eyes by joining our Vietnam at a Glance Tour. It seems impossible to take in the most important places in Vietnam in a week. But our experienced and friendly local guides will help you do so. Your places to visit include the Old Quarter of a capital, the ancient town of a country, the modern life of a large city while admiring the beauty of nature in Ha Long Bay (the World Wonder of Nature) and Mekong Delta (a peaceful and healthy way of living). But the golden thread which goes through all of these must be the people you will meet on the way and their daily lives representing the different cultures in the areas which they live.
➢ Meet and greet your tour guide upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, then transfer to your Hotel in City Center. Leisure at your own time after Hotel Check-in.
➢ Overnight in Hanoi.
➢ Start your day by visiting Ho Chi Minh complex where you could visit the Mausoleum (view from outside on Mondays, Fridays and every afternoon only) and his Residential Area including House on Stilts. Continue with your first pagoda visit in Hanoi – One Pillar Pagoda which its origins dates back to the city establishment. After lunch, take a walk in Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature and the First National University in Vietnam) where its 11th century architecture and gardens offer an ambient glimpse into its past.
➢ Enjoy trishaw (xich lo) ride to visit Ha Noi busy old streets which named after once sold specific products, and Hoan Kiem Lake – where Hanoi story begins. Your day ends with a Water Puppet Performance – a unique art form with puppets from Northern Vietnam depicting rural life scenes, national history episodes or country legends.
➢ Overnight in Hanoi.
➢ Depart from your Hotel for a three hour and a half transfer to Ha Long Bay – UNESCO World Natural Heritage – where thousands of spectacular limestone islets and grottoes rising from the clear emerald Gulf of Tonkin. Upon arrival, welcome drink on board prior to your check-in. Lunch with fresh sea food will be served while boat is cruising through many stone islets, floating villages, small beaches. Visit a floating fishing village, talk and meet with local villagers prior to your swimming or free time at your own on the sundeck. Dinner would be ready at the time the boat anchors off at a quiet designated overnight area.
➢ Overnight on board in Ha Long Bay.
Note: Itinerary is subject to change without prior notice according to weather conditions or local administration regulations.
➢ Tai Chi class is available on the sundeck for early risers, then your breakfast served while boat continues cruising around Ha Long Bay. She would lead you through many islets named by its shapes such as Dog, Incense Urn, Fighting Cock, Finger … and so on. Follow your boat staff to explore one of the most magnificent caves – Surprise Cave, then return to your boat to cruise towards wharf. Your vehicle is ready awaiting your disembarkation at approximately 1030 for direct transfer from Ha Long to Airport in Hanoi for a domestic flight to Da Nang. On Danang Arrival, you will be met and greeted by your tour guide, and transferred to Hoi An.
➢ Overnight in Hoi An.
➢ It is a light excursion to go around tiny town of Hoi An: 400 years old Japanese Bridge, 300 years old Chinese temple, 200 years old Vietnamese former merchants’ house.
➢ 14.00A arriving to Hai Scout Café, having an introduction and greet by your chef, going along with him to the local authentic market to grab some ingredients in preparation for your later cooking lesson. After the market visit, take your twenty five minute cruise on Thu Bon River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. On arrival, remember to know and understand your herbs and vegetables by visiting the spice garden. If you have done it, it is about time learning some of well known dishes from Hoi An in particular and Vietnam in general. In your next two hours, the chef will demonstrate how to prepare and cook for each dishes, then it is your turn to practice it under his instruction and guidance. Last but not least, you would also need to learn quick tips to decorate these dishes in Vietnamese authentic way. Finally, sit down and enjoy your works.
➢ Overnight in Hoi An.
➢ After breakfast, you will be free until boarding a domestic flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Welcomed by our guide at Tan Son Nhat Airport and depart for city tour including visit the Reunification Palace,Cho Lon Market, Jade Temple, Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Centre Post Office. If you would like to,your tour guide could drop you off at Ben Thanh Market for shopping.
➢ Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
➢ Depart from your hotel, it takes only 2 hours pleasant drive to Ben Tre province. On arrival in Hung Vuong Pier, hop on a motorized boat on Ben Tre River – one of tributaries of Mekong River while sight-seeing lively activities along river as fishing, water transferring. Our first stop is at brick kiln tosee how to make bricks traditionally by printing and baking. Continue to visit one of plenty of coconut processing workshops located along canal. Return to the boat and go through naturalscissors creeks to a village and see some local houses making sleeping mats and enjoying some fruits. Take a motorized cart (tuk tuk) or bicycle
on shady paths, pass by green rice fields and vegetable plains to be able to touch on real life and find out about tropical culture from peasants. Have lunch at local a riverside restaurant. After lunch, we take a rowing-boat along beautiful water palm creek before meeting up the motorized boat and transfer you back to the pier for your transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City.
➢ You will be free today in Ho Chi Minh City until your tour guide come to pick you up to the airport for your departure flight.
The “VIETNAM AT A GLANCE” tour was fantastic! The guide was great, and we saw all the best destinations in Vietnam. Ha Long Bay was breathtaking, Hoi An was charming, and the Mekong Delta was a perfect end to the trip.
