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12-Day The Essential Stops in Vietnam

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Overview

On this 12-day journey, you'll experience the places you simply must go to when visiting Vietnam. Starting in the north, you'll see some of the most breathtaking limestone karsts in the world in two states - water and land.

After some time exploring the winding streets of the Old Quarter, it's time to journey to Central Vietnam, arriving in the land of the old Champa Kingdom. Da Nang and Hoi An are steeped in ancient history, as you explore the town and the surrounding areas, you'll have a glimpse into the world of the Champa Kingdom and into the bustling trading port of Hoi An.

After some well-deserved time on the beach, you'll make your way to the south. The hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City is enough to get anyone's heart beating, as soon as you touch down, you'll get right to the heart of it, visiting some of the most famous architectural structures and museums that offer a glimpse into its history.

Before you leave, you'll make two quick day trips to the nearby locations outside of the city, offering two different experiences. In the Mekong, you'll see the charm of village life, as well as the many different things that are made in the countryside. Then, you'll finish off at the Cu Chi Tunnels, to see for yourself the fascinating network of tunnels that were dug during the war.

In 12 days, you'll experience Vietnam from top to tail, falling in love with its beauty, and understanding the history of times past.
Culture & Arts
Outdoors & Nature
Sightseeing
Food & Drink
Motorcycling
Adventure

Itinerary

Day 1

Begin Your 12 Day Vietnam Tour in Hanoi

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Begin Your 12 Day Vietnam Tour in Hanoi

Welcome to Vietnam! Upon arrival in Hanoi, you will be greeted at the airport and transferred to the city to check into your hotel. You'll have the option to join in a cyclo tour of the city taking in the main sights of Hanoi's Old Quarter, followed by a truly memorable puppet show, which was a traditional form of entertainment during the rainy season in Vietnam. In the evening, you can enjoy a traditional Vietnamese dinner in the Old Quarter.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    May De Ville Old Quarter Hotel4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Old Quarter Exploring By CycloOptional Activity

    Water Puppet ShowOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Noi Bai International Airport to Hanoi

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Hanoi

Day 2

Sightseeing in Hanoi

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Sightseeing in Hanoi

Today, it is your day to visit the capital of Vietnam, so let's start with the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the One Pillar Pagoda near Ba Dinh Square, Tran Quoc pagoda and the Temple of Literature. Just some of the many interesting sights in the city. In the evening, you'll have a rest before heading out into the Old Quarter to experience the nightlife on a Vespa - the perfect way to experience Vietnam is on the back of a motorbike!

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    May De Ville Old Quarter Hotel4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Ba Dinh Square

    Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

    Tran Quoc Pagoda

    Temple of Literature

    Hoan Kiem Lake

    Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

    Bat Trang Ceramic Village

    Hanoi City Tour by VespaOptional Activity

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Hanoi

Day 3

Day Trip to Ninh Binh

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Day Trip to Ninh Binh

Discover Ninh Binh, in all its picturesque beauty as you wind through the "Halong Bay on land" as its come to be known, with its limestone karsts, hidden caves and mountaintop temples. In the afternoon, you'll discover the ancient capital of Vietnam and the temples of the Kings before journeying back to Hanoi for an evening at leisure. Whether you want to relax at the hotel or head out exploring is entirely up to you.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    May De Ville Old Quarter Hotel4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Tam Coc Boat Ride

    Temple of King Le Dai Hanh

    Temple of King Dinh Tien Hoang

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Bus from Hanoi to Ninh Bình

    Bus from Ninh Bình to HanoiOptional Activity

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Hanoi

    Ninh Bình Province

Day 4

Halong Bay Cruise

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Halong Bay Cruise

Today, you will be picked up in the morning and will be transferred to Halong Bay, the most famous natural wonder of Vietnam. The road to Halong takes around 3 hours and 30 minutes passing by the Red River Delta. Upon arrival, you'll board the cruise just in time for lunch and have an afternoon to relax, sunbathe, go kayaking or discover a cave in Halong, before returning for a moonlit dinner on board.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Grayline Cruise Halong4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Kayaking around Ha Long Bay

    Ti Tov Island

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Bus from Hanoi to Halong Bay Vietnam

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Hanoi

    Quảng Ninh Province

Day 5

Back to Hanoi

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Back to Hanoi

In the morning, you'll have the option to wake up to do Tai Chi or yoga guided by the crew before breakfast whilst your boat goes on between Halong islets. After breakfast on the boat, you'll explore the Surprise Cave before returning to the boat for lunch. You'll then return to the Wharf to head back to Hanoi by shuttle bus. You'll arrive in the city around 3-4 pm and will have the rest of the day to relax.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    May De Ville Old Quarter Hotel4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Surprise Cave

    My Village ShowOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Bus from Halong Bay Vietnam to Hanoi

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and lunch

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Quảng Ninh Province

    Haiphong

    Hanoi

Day 6

Hanoi to Da Nang by Train

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Hanoi to Da Nang by Train

Your 12 day Vietnam tour continues today. You'll have the morning to rest before boarding the train to Da Nang in Central Vietnam. You'll spend the night on the train, with comfortable beds to rest in and the slow lolling of the train, you'll have a good nights sleep. The journey will help you to prepare for the adventure ahead.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Sleeper Train to Da Nang

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Duong Lam Ancient VillageOptional Activity

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Hanoi

    Sơn Tây

Day 7

Arrive in Da Nang and Explore Hoi An

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Arrive in Da Nang and Explore Hoi An

You'll wake up at the railway station and be greeted by your guide. You'll start your tour by visiting the Cham Museum to learn about the original culture of this land before moving to Hoi An which is a short 30-minute drive away. You'll go to the famous locations of the Ancient Town including old China trading houses, temples and the Hoi An traditional houses that have a mix of Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese styles.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hoi An Silk Village4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Cham Museum Da Nang

    Hoi An Ancient TownOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Da Nang to Hội An

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Hanoi

    Da Nang

    Hội An

Day 8

Tra Que Village and My Son Sanctuary

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Tra Que Village and My Son Sanctuary

In the morning, you'll explore Hoi An further with your tour guide. After sampling street food such as "cao lau" and "mi quang", as well as visiting the organic village, you'll take a short drive to the My Son Sanctuary, the cradle of Cham Culture that once dominated the area as the capital of Champa. In the late afternoon, you'll be driven back to Hoi An to relax after your busy day of sightseeing and enjoy your resort.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hoi An Silk Village4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Tra Que VillageOptional Activity

    My Son Sanctuary

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Hội An to My Son Sanctuary

    Private Driver from My Son Sanctuary - Ticket Office to Hội An

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and lunch

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Hội An

    Quang Nam Province

Day 9

Free Day in Hoi An

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Free Day in Hoi An

There is nothing better than a day at leisure in the ancient town of Hoi An to refresh yourself. You'll have the day to explore the ancient town at your own pace, relax at the beach, chill by the hotel pool or maybe even get some clothes made! If you're looking to do something a little more involved, you can opt to do a cooking class at a local cookery school during which you'll visit the market to buy your ingredients then prepare a range of delicious Vietnamese dishes to enjoy for lunch.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hoi An Silk Village4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Free Time in Hoi An

    Red Bridge Restaurant & Cooking SchoolOptional Activity

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Hội An

Day 10

Fly to Ho Chi Minh City

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Fly to Ho Chi Minh City

This morning, you'll take a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City. When you arrive, you'll embark on a quick city tour to visit the Reunification Palace and then onto some French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral and Saigon Post Office. You'll then take a tour around the War Remnants Museum, before finishing at the bustling Ben Thanh Market for some snacks. In the evening, you'll have the option to attend the AO Show and have dinner on the 52nd floor!

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Royal Hotel Saigon4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Independence Palace

    Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon

    Saigon Central Post Office

    War Remnants Museum

    Ben Thanh Market

    A O ShowOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Hội An to Da Nang International Airport

    Plane from Da Nang International Airport to Tan Son Nhat International AirportOptional Activity

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

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Hội An

    Ho Chi Minh

Day 11

My Tho Group Tour

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My Tho Group Tour

In the morning, you'll head to My Tho in the Mekong Delta, enjoying the scenic journey along the way. On arrival in My Tho, you'll visit Vinh Trang pagoda and the stilt houses along the way before heading to the Tortoise islet for lunch. Then, you'll cruise in a hand-rowed sampan under the shadow of the water coconut trees, enjoying seasonal fruit and honey tea to the sound of Southern Vietnamese folk music.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Royal Hotel Saigon4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Vinh Trang Pagoda

    Mekong Delta Boat Trip

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Mỹ Tho

    Bus from Mỹ Tho to Ho Chi Minh City

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and lunch

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Ho Chi Minh

    Mỹ Tho

Day 12

Cu Chi Tunnels Tour and Departure

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Cu Chi Tunnels Tour and Departure

In the morning, you'll drive to the Cu Chi Tunnels. In their heyday, the tunnels were functioning underground cities including numerous trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, command centres and kitchens. You will spend the next hour exploring the tunnels. You'll enjoy tea and cassava, the Guerrilla’s food during the war. Then, it's time to return to the city and head to the airport. This is the end of your 12 day Vietnam tour.

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Cu Chi Tunnels

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Cu Chi Tunnel Ben Duoc

    Bus from Cu Chi Tunnel Ben Duoc to Ho Chi Minh City

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

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Ho Chi Minh

Included in Price

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

Not Included in Price

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

Notes

Also included:
- Vietnam Visa Letter Approval
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