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12-Day Discover Vietnam

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Overview

Over 12 days in Vietnam you'll get an overview of this beautiful country and journey from north to south.

Experience the bustling excitement of the 1000-year-old capital city, Hanoi, and stay overnight on a luxury cruise on Halong Bay in the north before gradually making your way down Vietnam. You'll make a short stop in the incredible Hue Royal Citadel, and then down to experience the history of Hoi An.

Ho Chi Minh City –formerly known as Saigon– is another highlight of this tour. You'll then finish your trip by visiting the floating markets of Mekong Delta where you will see the daily activities of the locals who live along the river.
Sightseeing
Culture & Arts
Outdoors & Nature
Cruising
Adventure
Food & Drink
Cycling
Wellness

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Hanoi

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Arrival in Hanoi

Your 12 days in Vietnam start here! Upon your arrival at Hanoi airport, your private driver will greet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of day is for you to relax and discover Hanoi, a city with vibrant street life where you'll see a unique blend of old and new architecture and friendly people, or do an optional tour.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hanoi L'Heritage Hotel3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Hanoi Old Quarter

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Noi Bai International Airport to Hotel L 'Heritage: AU$ 21 per person

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Hanoi

Day 2

Hanoi Cyclo Trip and Water Puppet Show

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Hanoi Cyclo Trip and Water Puppet Show

After breakfast, you have a full day today to explore Vietnam’s charming capital. Visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and his personal residence, the One Pillar Pagoda and the Tran Quoc Pagoda, and end the morning with a visit to the Museum of Ethnology. In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Literature and Ngoc Son Temple, and enjoy a one-hour cyclo sightseeing tour around Hanoi Old Quarter. Then, watch a traditional water puppet show.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hanoi L'Heritage Hotel3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

    One Pillar Pagoda

    Tran Quoc Pagoda

    Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

    Temple of Literature

    Ngoc Son Temple

    Old Quarter Exploring By Cyclo

    Water Puppet Show

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Hanoi

Day 3

Halong Bay Cruise

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Halong Bay Cruise

Start at 8 am for the 3.5-hour drive through the Red River Delta. You'll arrive at Halong pier, check-in and board your junk, ready to enjoy a 24-hour journey around the amazing bay. Savour a gourmet lunch of fresh seafood on board as you sail out into the mystical bay. In the afternoon, enjoy some activities in the bay, or just spend some time relaxing. Dinner is served on board.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Oriental Sails3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Halong Bay Cruise

    Vung Vieng Fishing Village

    Happy Hour

    Relax on Board

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Minivan from Hanoi to Hạ Long Bay

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Hanoi

    Quảng Ninh Province

    Hạ Long

Day 4

Halong Bay to Hoi An

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Halong Bay to Hoi An

Wake up early to participate in Tai Chi on the top deck or simply relax and enjoy the sunrise. You'll have a light breakfast before setting out to explore nearby islands by rowing boat. Return to the junk then take advantage of the sundeck and admire the amazing rock formations of Bai Tu Long Bay. Have brunch on board and return to the pier. Drive straight to Hanoi Airport for your flight to Danang. Upon arrival, you'll be greeted and escorted you to Hoi An.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Phu Thinh Boutique Resort & Spa4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Tai Chi on the Sundeck

    Thien Canh Son Cave

    Halong Bay Cruise

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Minivan from Halong Bay to Hanoi

    Private Driver from Hanoi to Noi Bai International Airport

    Plane from Noi Bai International Airport to Da Nang International AirportOptional Activity: AU$ 182 per person

    Private Driver from Da Nang to Hội An

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and lunch

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Quảng Ninh Province

    Hạ Long

    Hội An

Day 5

My Son Sanctuary and Hoi An

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My Son Sanctuary and Hoi An

After breakfast, a visit to My Son Holyland, once the spiritual capital of Champa Kingdom that dominated South East Asia for nearly a thousand years and occupied most of the central parts of Vietnam from 2nd century to 16th century with a very rich history and culture. In the afternoon, drive back to Hoi An, visit a former merchants' homes, the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, Phuc Kien Pagoda and the colourful riverside market. Then enjoy some leisure time in the ancient town.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Phu Thinh Boutique Resort & Spa4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    My Son Sanctuary

    Hoi An Ancient Town

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Phu Thinh Boutique Resort & Spa to My Son Sanctuary

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Hội An

    Quang Nam Province

Day 6

Hoi An to Hue

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Hoi An to Hue

Enjoy your free time in the morning to discover Hoi An Ancient Town. After check out, leave Hoi An for Hue, the last imperial capital of Vietnam, well-known for magnificent architecture, pagodas and royal tombs laid in small villages and surrounding hills. En route, stop at the famous Da Nang Beach and visit Cham Museum.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Asia Hotel3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Free Time in Hoi An

    Cham Museum Da Nang

    Hai Van Pass

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Hội An to Da Nang

    Private Driver from Da Nang to Hue

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Hội An

    Da Nang

    Thua Thien Hue

Day 7

Hue Imperial City

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Hue Imperial City

Start the day with a visit to the Imperial Citadel, home to the Imperial City and Forbidden Purple City – once the Emperor's private residence. The Imperial Citadel gives you a better understanding of the beauty of Vietnamese Royal architecture and culture. Then, take a beautiful dragon boat trip along Perfume River and visit Thien Mu Pagoda. In the afternoon, visit Emperor Ming Mang and Emperor Khai Dinh tombs which are the most beautiful works of royal architecture of the Nguyen dynasty.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Asia Hotel3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Hue Imperial City

    Boat Trip on Perfume River

    Thien Mu Pagoda

    Tomb of Minh Mang

    Tomb of Khai Dinh

    Dong Ba Market

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Thua Thien Hue

    Hương Trà

    Hương Thủy

Day 8

Ho Chi Minh City and the Cu Chi Tunnels

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Ho Chi Minh City and the Cu Chi Tunnels

Continue your 12 days in Vietnam today by catching a morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon your arrival, check-in and visit the incredible Cu Chi Tunnels. The Cu Chi Tunnels are an underground labyrinth of passageways, used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War as protection against American air raids. Those inclined are invited to crawl through sections of the tunnels to better understand what life was like for the Vietnamese soldiers during wartime.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Lê Duy Hotel3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Cu Chi Tunnels

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Hue to Phu Bai Airport

    Plane from Hue to Ho Chi Minh CityOptional Activity: AU$ 182 per person

    Private Driver from Tan Son Nhat International Airport to Ho Chi Minh City

    Private Driver from Lê Duy Hotel to Củ Chi

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Thua Thien Hue

    Ho Chi Minh

Day 9

Ho Chi Minh City Tour

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Ho Chi Minh City Tour

Today, enjoy a tour of the former Presidential Palace (Reunification Palace), now preserved as a museum. Continue to the 19th century Notre-Dame Cathedral and the beautiful Central Post Office, both fine examples of classical French colonial architecture. In the afternoon, visit the War Remnants Museum and the bustling Ben Thanh Market to do some shopping and to eat some local food.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Lê Duy Hotel3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Independence Palace

    Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon

    Saigon Central Post Office

    War Remnants Museum

    Ben Thanh Market

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Ho Chi Minh

Day 10

Mekong Delta Cruise and Bike Ride

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Mekong Delta Cruise and Bike Ride

Today you will explore the Mekong Delta. Enjoy a boat ride on the Mekong River, and stop on the way to visit various craft villages to see how to make rice paper. Then, continue to cruise through coconut jungle to visit a local workshop and learn how to make coconut candy and souvenirs. Get on a tuk-tuk or take a bike and travel along the narrow shady village roads to visit fruit orchards. You will enjoy a delicious local lunch in an ancient house after the visit.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Dong Ha Fortuneland Hotel3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Ben Tre Boat Ride

    Ben Tre Cycling

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Ho Chi Minh City to Cần Thơ

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and lunch

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Ho Chi Minh

    Ben Tre

    Cần Thơ

Day 11

Cai Rang Floating Market

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Cai Rang Floating Market

In the morning, you will embark on a boat cruise to see the Cai Rang floating market, a true highlight of any Vietnam tour. Here you can enjoy the beautiful scenery and see the daily activities of the locals who live along the Mekong canals. Then continue to visit a tropical fruit orchard. Have lunch on the way going back to Ho Chi Minh City.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Lê Duy Hotel3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Cai Rang Floating Market

    Ba Cong Fruit Orchard

    Ho Chi Minh City

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Can Tho to Ho Chi Minh City

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and lunch

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Cần Thơ

    Ho Chi Minh

Day 12

Ho Chi Minh City

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Ho Chi Minh City

You'll have some free time at leisure for you to wrap up your memorable 12 days in Vietnam until your tour guide escorts you to the airport for your departing flight. Goodbye and see you again.

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Lê Duy Hotel to Tan Son Nhat International Airport

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Ho Chi Minh

Included in Price

  • 11 nights accommodation
  • 35 activities
  • 11 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 1 dinner
  • Entrance fees
  • Ground transportation
  • Licensed English speaking guides

Not Included in Price

  • Airport transfer
  • Alcohol beverages
  • Domestic flights
  • Entry visas / airport departure tax
  • Gratuities
  • International flights
  • Laundry
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Trekking permits
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