TRAVEL SERVICE & RESERVATION – Kristie Kelly

Day 1 – 20 Sep: Hanoi (Arrival)

Please be ready around 3 to 3.5 hours at the airport in Brisbane to check – in your flight on Sep 19. 

Arrival at the airport in Ho Chi Minh and after immigration and baggage clearance, please quickly move from international terminal to domestic terminal to take flight to Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi at 09:40AM (VJ120), our driver welcomes and transfers you to hotel for your stay.

 Your leisure time for walking around the Old Town for shopping and relax in Hanoi.

• Overnight at La Dolce Vita Hotel in Hanoi.
• N/A

Day 2 – 21 Sep: Hanoi (Street food tour)

Breakfast at your hotel

Your leisure time for walking around the Old Town for shopping and relax in Hanoi.

Afternoon, go walking around 10 minutes to Lotus water puppet theater (16 Le Thai To street) to enjoy the show at 17:15. 

The show lasts 50 minutes and after that, around 18:00 -18:15PM, our guide will see you at the theater and start your walkie foodie night with Hanoi Street Food Tour.

We will take you inside Hanoi Old Quarter and discover some of the lesser-known dishes of locals. From Pho Bo (Vietnamese Beef Noodle), Banh Cuon (Steamed rice rolls), “Banh Mi” (Vietnamese Baguette), etc.

Finish the tour with unique Ca Phe Trung (Egg Coffee) or Draft beer at beer corner, which will perfectly round off our Hanoi street food discovery.

• Overnight at La Dolce Vita Hotel in Hanoi.
• B,D

Day 3 – 22 Sep: Hanoi → Halong bay

Breakfast at your hotel then check out your hotel, you can leave big luggage at hotel (please note to hotel staff to keep for you) and bring small bag for Halong bay trip as you will be back to this hotel to stay more.

At 7:50 – 8:00 AM, Our guide Pick you up at your hotel and go to Halong bay on a shuttle bus. Arrival in Halong around 11:45PM.

12.00 – Meeting at TuanChau harbour. Check in Royal Palace Cruise and you are warmly welcomed by a professional and friendly crew.

13:00 – Check-in cabin and enjoy specially prepared lunch while cruising through most beautiful parts of the magical bay with thousands of amazing limestone islands emerging from emerald water. Sailing with Royal Palace Cruise in very tranquil route, exploring the exotic beauty of the legendary Bay, a feeling in paradise will come to you.

14:30 – Keep cruising to the most beautiful parts of Halong Bay. This is the best time to relax after lunch and enjoy your privacy, capturing stunning photos of the legendary bay.

15:30 – Small tender brings you to visit Titop island, hiking to the top of the island from where tourists can capture a panoramic view of Halong Bay.

16:30 – Kayaking & swimming 18:00 – Join the sunset party on the sundeck in a warm and romantic atmosphere, making friends with other members in the group, enjoy fresh local fruit, listening soft, light music, wearing traditional costumes for kings, queens, and mandarins.

19:00 – Enjoy the special dinner cooked by our professional chef.

20:30 – The moment you choose your own way to relax after dinner, listening to music, singing karaoke, relaxing on the sundeck, squid fishing available for entertainment during the night time.

• Stay overnight on Royal Palace Cruise.
• B,L,D

Day 4 – 23 Sep: Halong bay → Hanoi

06:00 – Take photos of sunrise, morning exercise with our Tai Chi master, a perfectly healthy way to start a new day.

07:00 – Enjoy your breakfast, coffee, tea, fruits.

07:45 – Visit Surprising Cave – the most beautiful one in Halong Bay.

09:00 – Back to Royal Palace Cruise for check-out. Keep cruising towards Ha Long Bay, passing by hundreds of islands and islets with different shapes depending on your imagination.

10:00 – Cooking class opened right on the cruise.

11:00 – Farewell lunch served on the cruise before you arrive at harbor.

12:30 – Tour ends at Tuan Chau habour.

Get on bus to go back to Hanoi. Arrival in Hanoi around 4:30pm.

• Overnight at La Dolce Vita Hotel in Hanoi.
• B,L,D

Day 5 – 24 Sep: Hanoi (city tour) → Hoi An

Breakfast at your hotel then check out your hotel, you can leave big luggage at hotel (please note to hotel staff to keep for you) and bring small bag for Hanoi city tour as you will be back to this hotel to go to the airport from your hotel.

Around 8:00 – 8:15AM, Get picked up by our friendly guide and start to explore Hanoi City.

08.45: Arrive at Tran Quoc Pagoda located on Golden Fish IsLand in West Lake

It is the oldest pagoda in Ha Noi built in the 6th century.

09.30: Visit Ho Chi Minh complex, you have a chance to see the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh then walk around the garden to see 2 houses where he lived & worked from 1954 to 1969. Then visit One Pillar Pagoda where worships the Godess of Mercy – It is the most unique padoga in the world

• Should dress modestly by covering from shoulders to knees when visiting Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, temples, pagodas…

• Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum is closed on Mondays and Fridays.

• Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum is closed at least 2 months (15thJune -15thAugust) for the annual maintaining but still can take picture Mausoleum and visit around that area

11.15: Visit Vietnam Ethnology Museum to learn about the culture of 54 ethnic groups living in the whole country of Vietnam.

Special Note: we will visit Women Museum instead of Ethnology Museum closed on Mondays

12.45: Have lunch at our restaurant. You have an opportunity to enjoy Vietnamese cuisine with 8 delicious dishes.

14.00 – 14.15 : Continue to visit Temple of Literature – the first university of Vietnam, established in the 11 century.

15.15: Leave for Hoa Lo Prison Museum which originally used by the French colonists in Indochina for political prisoners, and later by North Vietnam for U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. During this later period, it was known to American POWs as the “Hanoi Hilton”

After tour, drop you off at hotel.

At 17:30PM, our driver transfer you to airport for flight to Danang. (depart at 20:00PM – VN199)

Arrival airport in Danang at 21:25PM, our driver welcomes and transfer you to Hoi An for your night stay.

• Overnight at Kim An Hoi An Hotel in Hoi An
• B,L

Day 6 – 25 Sep: Hoian (Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary)

Breakfast at hotel.

07:30 – 08:00AM, Our guide picks you up at hotel and leave Hoi An for visiting My Son Holly Land – the ruins of Cham people and was an imperial city during Cham dynasty. Here you can have more chance to explore and understand of technique of Old Cham people in making red bricks to build Tower which still now a secret to everyone, you can see a large complex of religious relics that comprises more than 65 architectural works. It also surprises for those who are curious with architectural art. In 1999, UNESCO labeled the Cham architecture in My Son as a World Cultural Heritage Site.

Have lunch at our restaurant. Afternoon, you free time in Hoi An.

• Overnight at Kim An Hoi An Hotel in Hoi An
• B,L

Day 7 – 26 Sep: Hoian → Danang

Breakfast at hotel. You’re free at leisure in Hoi An for walking around to explore the ancient town on your own and shopping.

At 12:00h, we transfer you Danang. Rest of the day is your leisure time at beach in Danang

• Overnight at White Sand Da Nang Hotel in Danang.
• B

Day 8 – 27 Sep: Danang (Leisure time)

Breakfast at hotel. Spend your leisure time at beach in Da Nang one more day.

• Overnight at White Sand Da Nang Hotel in Danang.
• B

Day 9 – 28 Sep: Danang → Ho Chi Minh city

Breakfast at hotel. Your leisure time until 09:45AM, our driver transfer you to Danang airport flight to Ho Chi Minh. (depart at 12:15PM – VJ647)

Arrival Tan Son Nhat airport at 13:40PM, our driver welcome and transfer you to hotel.

Check in the room and take a rest before go out for street exploring and shopping in Ho Chi Minh city.

• Overnight at Queen Ann Hotel in Ho Chi Minh.
• B

Day 10 – 29 Sep: Ho Chi Minh city (explore city tour & Cu Chi tunnels)

Breakfast will be served at your hotel.

07:30 – 07:45AM, Our guide pick up you visit Ho Chi Minh. Take the morning trip to visit Independence Palace, also known at the Reunification palace, was built on the sight of the former Norodom palace. The Independence palace is a widely known landmark of Ho Chi Minh City and was designed by the architect Ngo Viet Thu. Continue seeing the beautiful structures from the French Colonial times such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, the historic Central Post Office. Followed by the remarkable site of the War Remnants Museum the museum has a vast display of the both the Indochina wars.

Have lunch at local restaurant.

Depart for Cu Chi tunnel, the trip will take approximately one and a half hours bus driving. Upon arrival, before exploring the tunnels, you will have some short introduction followed by introductory video about how the tunnels were constructed and how the people survived in the harsh conditions of the war time. Then, spend your time to explore the remaining area and tunnel systems which included the special constructed living areas with kitchens, bedrooms side by side with other martial facilities like storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, and command centers helping whoever lives inside the tunnels meet their basic needs. Besides, there are also many hidden trap doors and dangerous traps within the maze-like tunnels for security purpose during the war. Afterward, special tea and cassava (guerilla’s food during the war) will be served.

Break time for relax or time for those who want to try the real shooting gun.

Return to Ho Chi Minh.

• Overnight at Queen Ann Hotel in Ho Chi Minh.
• B,L

Day 11 – 30 Sep: Ho Chi Minh → Mekong Delta

Breakfast at your hotel then check out your hotel, you can leave big luggage at hotel (please note to hotel staff to keep for you) and bring small bag for Mekong trip as you will be back to this hotel to stay more.

7.30 – 7:45AM, pick up at your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City and start the trip to Cai Be. Upon arrival in Cai Be, have a boat ride to the remaining site of a renowned wholesale floating market on the Tien River many years ago. This site entitles you to learn something about the local trading habit that has changed due to the age of modern society when more terrestrial transportation and high techniques of agriculture have dominated everywhere. There, you can realize how diverse the area is and how rich orchard gardens are, which makes it the basket of fruit in the lower part of the Mekong River.

Ramble in small villages where you will uncover the beauty of an ancient house and learn about the indigenous culture. Make a short visit to a small family business where the locals make coconut fudges and crispy rice popcorn. Savor delicious fresh fruit and feel the slow rhythms of Southern Vietnamese folk music – a kind of music entwined with the life and culture of the Mekong Delta people. Paddle through small canals – an exciting experience since you can look around, unwind, and soak up the wonderful atmosphere of the Upper Mekong Delta. Additionally, after arrival on Tan Phong Island, immerse yourself in nature’s tranquility.

At lunch time, you not only enjoy luscious food but also get closer to the locals as it is a chance to learn how to prepare Vietnamese specialties. The meal is cooked on your own and served in the heart of the local garden.

Cycle on the village path through orchards. Meet the local islanders to learn more about the local daily life in the Mekong Delta. Visit Ba Kiệt’s ancient house.

Take a boat ride back to Cai Be and meet your bus for the trip to Can Tho City. Proceed to Can Tho City and overnight in Can Tho.

• Overnight at KP Hotel  in Can Tho.
• B,L

Day 12 – 01 Oct: Mekong Delta → Ho Chi Minh

Have breakfast at hotel.

You can take a leisurely boat ride to explore the picturesque tributaries of the Lower Mekong River (Bassac River), then visit Cai Rang Floating Market, the most vibrant floating market in the area.

Walking tour of the local noodle factory. Visit Munir Ansay Pagoda – Khmer temple, famous for its unique structure. Then, move by boat to the Con Son tourist area, visit the fruit plantation, and enjoy seasonal fruits.

Have lunch and return to Ho Chi Minh City.

• Overnight at Queen Ann Hotel in Ho Chi Minh.
• B,L

Day 13 – 02 Oct: Ho Chi Minh (Departure)

Morning, enjoy breakfast at hotel.

At 07:00AM, our driver transfers you to airport for departure flight (depart at 10:40AM – VJ083)

• N/A
• B

End of service!