Vietnam panorama

Itinerary in details

• Day 01 - Arrival Hanoi: Noi Bai airport - Hanoi (38km): 1 hour

  On arrival at Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport. Asia Hero Travel guide will greet you and transfer by private car through the city to your hotel. free time for discovery the city

  Overnight in Hanoi

• Day 02: Hanoi - City (B,L)

  This tour starts at 08:30. Drive past the historical Ba Dinh Square where Ho Chi Minh proclaimed the independence of Vietnam in 1945. Next up is the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, built in the 11th century and added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites in 2010. Venture inside and explore the underground war bunker that played an important role in the armed conflict with America.

  Continue the Hanoi landmarks tour with a stroll through areas where sewing shops have been in family hands for generations, and people still practice the old ways, or admire the daily life of local people in the alley of Hanoi. Proceed to the millenia-old Temple of Literature and explore its role in the country’s past, as both a university and a temple.

  Finally, if you feel interested, make a stop at the last courtyard where Vietnamese traditional instruments contribute to the oriental feel. For travelers who are musicians, opportunities to play some notes will present themselves, all under the guidance of the artists.

  In the afternoon, head to the highly-acclaimed Vietnam Women’s Museum, offering wonderful insight into the lives of Vietnamese women. Learn historic and modern-day traditions centred on birth, weddings, motherhood, spirituality and more. Towards the end of the tour, embark on a walk through Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Witness the ancient commercial street names, mirroring the crafts and businesses dating back over a thousand years.

  Visit a family living in a typical ‘tube house’ in Hanoi's Old Quarter, built during the 19th century. Learn just what makes these houses unique, and how old tax laws resulted in this typical architecture. Make it back to the hotel, rich with new experiences from Hanoi.

  The rest of the evening is at your leisure.

  Overnight in Hanoi

• Day 03 - Hanoi – Ninh Binh ( B,L) 100km: 2 hours

  8.00 depart from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, located in the marshy Red River delta, featuring a network of waterways coupled with spectacular limestone formations rising up from rice paddy fields.

  You first visit the ancient capital of Hoa Lu – the capital of Vietnam in the 10th century, admire the architecture of the two temples dedicated to the kings fo Dinh and Le dynasty.

  Continue to Thung Nham and have lunch at a local host family with local specialties before continue the day.

  After lunch, we will ride bike from the host family in Tam Coc to visit Bich Dong Pagoda, then continue to Thung Nham where you will board the boat.

  Get on a small sampan to visit Thung Nham bird park, discover the most features of this area with more than 4000 birds of 40 species flying to inhabit every day. Your best chance to take nice photos.

  You also explore Hang But (Buddhist Cave), about 500m in length, magical view of the stalactites and stalagmites, including a big Buddha-shaped stalactite sitting beside an underground river, as well as visit orchard of tropical fruits in this area.

  Overnight in Ninh Binh

• Day 04 - Ninh Binh – Hai Phong – Lan Ha Bay ( B,L,D) - 160km/ 03 hours

  After breakfast leave Ninh Binh for an overnight boat trip on Lan Ha Bay. Journey there through the rich farmlands, observe everyday life of Vietnamese villagers as they work the rice fields, take pigs to the market on bicycles and plough the fields with their water buffaloes. Arrive in Hai Phong City late morning and board your traditional wooden junk for the overnight journey into the Bay. Lunch is served on board.

  Towards the end of the day set anchor for the night. As the sun sets over the bay dinner is served on board with fresh seafood, salads, and fruits.

  Overnight on board in Lan Ha Bay

• Day 05 - Hai Phong – Hanoi - Danang - Hoi An( B,L)140km/ 02 hours 30 minutes Danang airport – Hoi An 40Km/  50 minutes

  On your return to Hanoi enjoy a wholesome brunch as your boat weaves through strange-shaped limestone rock formations. Upon disembarkation your driver will meet you for the transfer to Hanoi Airport for the flight to Danang. On arrival your guide will welcome you for the 40-minute drive to Hoi An.

  Overnight in Hoian

• Day 06 - Hoi An city tour ( B,L)

  After breakfast, start the tour to learn about efforts to preserve Hoi An’s unique historical heritage from a UNESCO expert. From the perspective of a local conservation expert, share in the knowledge of various UNESCO conservation projects taking place in this ancient trading port which dates back to the 15th century. First, meet with the conservation expert at an ancient merchant house for a brief introduction to the current conservation projects that are taking place. Escorted by the specialist, walk through a protected neighbourhood and visit three antique buildings to see ongoing conservation efforts that are underway to preserve the historical heritage of Hoi An. Their unique architecture has influences from the various cultures that flourished here during Hoi An’s heyday as a bustling international trading port in the times of antiquity.

  Continue the tour with a wander around Hoi An’s charming flower lined streets and take in sights of some of the various historical attractions there, including highlights like the historical Japanese Covered Bridge, the Communal Hall and privately-run heritage photo galleries showcasing Hoi An Ancient Town and its people.  Conclude this tour with a walk through smaller streets for a look at the local life of the area, which still retains its unique cultural vibes. Following the day, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

  In the afternoon, experience a hands-on Vietnamese mask-making lesson. Begin with a walk through Hoi An Ancient Town to meet a paper mask artist at his workshop. His craft is steadily disappearing as newer forms of entertainment have gradually taken over. Learn how this artist contributes to the effort of preserving his craft for future generations.

  Next, create a traditional folk mask under his guidance. Using specific patterns and colours, these masks communicate a vast array of character emotions in ‘tuong’- a form of classic Vietnamese theatre which has been performed for more than eight centuries.

  After creating a mask, get ready to enjoy a private 30-minute tuong performance at a simple traditional theatre. Enjoy this ‘behind-the-scene’ experience, watching characters from the play wear different masks to convey various emotions that are portrayed in the telling of a Vietnamese legend. All the while, enjoy the privilege of superior access to both the performance itself and the performers for an unforgettably intimate cultural experience.

  Overnight in Hoian

• Day 07 - Hoian – Hue(B,L) 150km/ 03 hours

  After breakfast, leave Hoi An for Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. In Danang visit the Cham Museum, before climbing over the ‘Pass of Ocean Clouds’. Arrive in Hue and transfer to hotel. Enjoy free time at leisure

  In the late afternoon discover the Imperial Citadel then make your way to the Hue Royal Antiques Museum to see a collection of ornaments. The main exhibition house of the present museum used to be a palace under Nguyen Dynasty, called Long An Palace. It was built in 1845 by Thieu Tri King, located on the north of Ngu Ha River. It was a type of “isolated palace” for the king.

  Continu the trip to visit the seven-storey Thien Mu Pagoda. Thien Mu pagoda is one of the most beautiful and ancient architectural structures of worshiping in Vietnam now, it has become one of the most famous tourist attractions in Hue City.

  Overnight in Hue

• Day 08 - Hue – Saigon(B,L) Hue – Hue’s Airport 20km/ 40 minutes ; Saigon’s airport – City 12Km/ 30 minutes

  Transfer to Hue domestic airport for the 40-minute flight to Saigon. Upon arrival in the afternoon, start with a visit to the iconic Saigon Central Post Office built between 1886 and 1891. Based on the design of famous French architect Gustave Eiffel, it is now considered a symbol of Saigon and one of its most famous landmarks.

  If he is available, stop for a chat with Mr. Duong, who enjoys local notoriety for his professional love-letter skills.

  Walk along Dong Khoi street, formerly la rue Catinat and pay a visit to Gialong Palace – Ho Chi Minh City Museum for its beautiful architecture and listen to its history through times. Continue to ‘Le Loi Street’ to meet a local artisan who specialises in traditional engravings.

  Next, stroll through the old central market (your vehicle will be available)  before arriving at the city’s oldest colonial-era apartment, built in 1886, and see what the young creative Vietnamese are up to from their funky boutiques and coffee shops. Sit down at one of the stylish coffee shops and interact with a local resident who moved here in 1975.

  Leave the compound and have a look at the building on the other side, which used to be ‘Banque de l’Indochine’ (Indochina Bank) during the 1920s. It’s a stunning example of the ‘Indochinois’ east/west fusion style of architecture that this area is known for. After this last stop, head back to the hotel.

  Overnight in Saigon

• Day 9 - Saigon – Mekong Delta 120km/  2,5hours

  The Cuu Long region, which translates as 'Nine Dragons', otherwise known as the Mekong Delta is a great place to discover Vietnam. Amazing waterways hidden amongst vibrant tropical fruit gardens, bustling floating markets that offer a cornucopia of items and acres of emerald rice fields are what make this region so unforgettable.

  8:00 From Saigon to Can Tho

  After breakfast in the hotel, transfert to My Tho about 1 hour driving , arrival at My Tho around 9:30am, board a private wooden motor boat to Unicorn Island. On this boat along the river’s bank, see an interesting fishermen's port,stilt houses.

  Have lunch in the local restaurant

  Visit a bee walking around quiet villages and watch rural people going to work.Then, visit coconut candy and handcrafted items from coconut trees of Mekong Delta. Return to My Tho by motorized boat and then travel to Can Tho. Have dinner.

  Overnight in Can Tho

• Day 10 - Mekong Delta - Ho Chi Minh City – Departure ( B,L) - 4hours HCMC - Airport 12Km) : 30 minutes

  After breakfast take boat and travel for about 40 minutes to get to our first spectacular landscape Cai Rang floating market which is very lively in the area.

  Have lunch  in local restaurant

  Then leave the boat to explore the market Le Binh which is on land, then transfer to Ho Chi Minh City by 4pm.

  Your private car and guide will be at your disposal until your transfer by private car to Tan Son Nhat Airport for international flights or a domestic extension.