Day 1: HA NOI ARRIVAL (No Meal)

Meet your tour guide on arrival at Hanoi international airport and join your fellow travellers in a coach transfer to the city centre for hotel check-in.

Located in the centre of the Northern Delta with a population of 6.2 million people and an area of 3,398 square km Hanoi is an ancient city which had been established and developed for over 1,000 years since 1010. Even though some relics have not survived through wars and time, the city still has many interesting cultural and historic monuments for visitors and residents alike. Historians liken the life-giving Red River with its banks crowded with green rice paddies and farms to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers; a cradle of civilization.

Hotel rooms may not be ready until 14:00 hrs but an early check-in would be guaranteed with a surcharge. The rest of the day is at leisure. Subject to your arrival time, you may want to venture out to explore the city on your own or join one of our wonderful optional excursions in and around Hanoi, such as a walking tour through Hanoi's Old Quarter for you first impression of Vietnam's capital city.

**Overnight at Hanoi

Day 2: HANOI - HA LONG BAY WITH OVERNIGHT ON THE BOAT    (B/L/D)

Halong Bay is listed by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage and voted as a Wonder of Nature by the New7Wonders Foundation. You will have a night staying in this world-famous bay. Be ready for pick-up at your hotel lobby at 08:00 hours. Halfway to Ha Long City we will have a stop at Hong Ngoc Humanitarian Centre. Apart from having clean western style toilet facilities we will be able to see local craftsmen at work and have time for relaxation. The centre started as a small training and jobcentre for physically impaired people initially with 60 trainees, it now has developed into two successful companies with 800 employees 50% of which are physically impaired. A large part of the proceeds has been invested back to expand the workshops, facilities for employees' welfare and education. The great effort by the company management and its employees has proved that those previously dependent on others could earn a living through training and working in an undiscriminating environment and hence further inspire other people of the same ground.

Upon arrival at the pier, embark on the boat and set sail on a cruise through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters of Ha Long Bay, taking in the spectacular scenery of this UNESCO World Heritage site.

Lunch is served as you cruise by impressive rock formations with unusual names and shapes.

In the afternoon you will start to discover Ha Long Bay, listed as a World Heritage of outstanding natural beauty, known in Vietnamese as "Dragon descending to the sea". Depending on each cruise's itinerary of the day, you may visit a beautiful cave, have some swimming at Titov or Soi Sim beach. Kayaking is available at a surcharge

When the sun sets, your boat will drop anchor for the night. You may attend a cooking demonstration before having dinner.

After dinner, you may choose to enjoy fresh air on the sundeck or playing board games or retiring to your cabin for a comfortable night in the bay

**Overnight at Halong Bay

*Our tour guide will not accompany aboard the cruises in Halong Bay

Day 3: HA LONG BAY - HANOI (B/L)

Wake up the next morning at sunrise, you are invited to practice Tai Chi on the sun deck. Enjoy the feel of the early morning salt water scent and bask in the early sun rising from behind the mountains.

Arriving at the pier, you will be picked up for transfer back to Hanoi with lunch served at a restaurant en route.

Back in Hanoi, enjoy an orientation tour with a visit to the Temple of Literature, known as the first university of Vietnam built more than 1,000 years ago and the historic Ba Dinh Square where you will see Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum from outside and the One-pillar Pagoda nearby. Afterward check in your hotel and enjoy time at leisure.

**Overnight at Hanoi

Day 4: HANOI - DANANG - HOI AN  (B/D)

Your journey continues southbound today with a flight to Danang, a young and dynamic hub of the central region. Before leaving for Hanoi airport there will be a stop at the Museum of Ethnology which preserves and presents the cultural heritages of 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam.

From the Danang airport you will drive the short distance south past the famous Non Nuoc Beach onto the enchanting town of Hoi An listed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage and was once a well-known trading center in Southeast Asia from the 16th to 18th centuries. Its sizeable community of foreign merchants resulted in a unique architectural style with Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese influences.

Check in the hotel for some leisure time and your guide will take you on a stroll through the ancient town. Its friendly inhabitants, narrow streets, old houses, temples, and the wooden bridge still remain its ancient character.

Sample local food for dinner at a charming restaurant nestled in a narrow alley typical to Hoi An. Time after dinner is yours. You may choose to take a transfer back to the hotel or to enjoy exploring Hoi An nightlife for more experience on your own.

**Overnight at Hoi An

Note: Category Superior will have dinner at hotel instead of having dinner at restaurant for groups of 15 guests and more

Day 5: HOI AN - DANANG - HUE (B/L)

Hoi An has been known for the exceptionally well preserved ancient town with the complex of old wooden frame buildings including the historical monuments and the fusion of indigenous and foreign cultures. Besides that, projects for preservation and promotion of local handicrafts have also been implemented. Hoi An Silk Village is one of those.

Enjoy a morning at leisure or to visit Hoi An before departing at 12:00 hrs.

Your first visit will be to the Hoi An Silk Village, just one kilometre away from the centre of Hoi An ancient town. The combination of eco-tourism and traditional handicraft product development has helped to preserve the cultural life of people in Quang Nam. In feature are the traditional house of Quang Nam, a mulberry garden, silkworm breeding and feeding techniques, including the processing of silkworm cocoons in the traditional way, the handicraft textile by Cham ethnic people and the showroom.

Have lunch at Hoi An Silk Village. Afterwards drive to Hue, the former Imperial City of the last dynasty of Vietnam with a photo stop at the Marble Mountains, a scenic spot with caves, temples, shrines, pagodas and a great view of the surrounding area.

The journey to Hue will take you over the famous Hai Van Pass with a green view of the stretch of Truong Son mountain range on one side and a spectacular view of the East Sea on the other.

Arrival in Hue will be in late afternoon. After hotel check-in, have leisure time.

**Overnight at Hue

Day 6: HUE - HO CHI MINH CITY  (B/L)

Located in Central Vietnam, Hue is the only place in the country where many historic, cultural, architectural as well as artistic values have been recognized internationally and listed by UNESCO as World Cultural Heritages. Hue is also the site where the northern and southern ecosystems meet, the area of river-hills, greenery and beautiful landscapes.

In the morning, a scenic boat trip on the Perfume River will take you to Thien Mu Pagoda or Heavenly Lady pagoda, one of the oldest ancient architectural structures for religious worship in Hue. Situated 4 km upstream on the banks of the Perfume River, it is an active Buddhist monastery with its origins dating back to 1601. Continue by car to visit the Imperial Citadel. Situated on the Northern bank of the Perfume River, the citadel covers an area of 500 ha and has a system of three circles of ramparts: Kinh Thanh Hue (Hue Capital Citadel), Hoang Thanh (Royal Citadel) and Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden Citadel). The Hue royal complex has been officially recognized by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Your next stop will be at Dong Ba market which has been functioning as the main resource of food for the palaces, hospitals, army camps, dormitories of the national universities and local inhabitants. Even though the market has undergone several renovations since the beginning of the 20th century, it still embraces many old features.

Have lunch at a local restaurant and continue to Tu Duc Royal Tomb. Each ruler of the Imperial City built his own tomb during his reign and today you will visit one of the most beautiful mausoleums. Construction of the tomb was meticulously carried out starting whilst the king was still alive in order to ensure his comfort in the next life.

In the late afternoon, you will take another domestic flight from Hue to Ho Chi Minh City.

Formerly known as Saigon, today's Ho Chi Minh City is the bustling and vibrating economic centre of the South. Over the past few centuries, Saigon was called the "Pearl of the Far East" and was an important trading centre for Chinese, Japanese and Western merchants who travelled along the Saigon River.                                                                     

Check in your hotel and have free time in the evening to explore the city.

**Overnight at Ho Chi Minh City

Day 7: HO CHI MINH CITY - CU CHI TUNNELS - HO CHI MINH CITY  (B/L)

Today morning you will drive 55 km out of Ho Chi Minh City to Cu Chi District famous for the amazing complex of underground tunnels. There is more than 200 km of tunnels, comprising a main axis system with many branches connecting to underground hideouts, shelters and other tunnels. You have the chance to crawl through this amazing system of tunnels before returning to Ho Chi Minh City for lunch.

In the afternoon, gain an insight into the city's development through a walking tour to the most significant landmarks including the Opera House, the Town Hall, the Notre Dame Cathedral and the old Post Office (all magnificent sights from the French colonial period). Afterwards experience a fantastic 360-degree view of Saigon city and its surroundings from the observation deck atop the 262 m high Bitexco Financial Tower which has a shape of a lotus, Vietnam's national flower. Your next stop will be the famous Ben Thanh Market, where you can purchase souvenirs for your beloved ones.

Wrap up your tour day with a foot massage that will surely give you a great feeling of relief and indulgence. The evening is free at leisure. You are welcome to join our optional dinner cruise on the Saigon River.

Check in your hotel and have free time in the evening to explore the city.

**Overnight at Ho Chi Minh City 

Day 8: HO CHI MINH CITY - MY THO - CAN THO  (B/L)

The mighty Mekong empties to the Eastern Sea through nine estuaries with two biggest ones called Tien River and Hau River that form the fertile land known as the Mekong River Delta. Visiting the region you will be amazed by the view of endless paddy fields, the waterway system and the lush green fruit orchards.

Your journey will take you to My Tho for a day exploring the Mekong Delta. Activities of the day include a scenic boat trip on Mekong River to an island where local handicraft and coconut candy are being produced, a short ride on a horse carriage, visit to a typical local house, tasting some local produce such as homemade honey-tea, fresh seasonal fruits and enjoying traditional music performed by local artists. One of the highlights of the tour is a ride by small sampan boat through the small canals and side-arms of the "Mighty Mekong" to observe the daily life along the river banks.

Enjoy lunch with local delicacies before driving further south to Can Tho, the commercial hub often dubbed as the "Capital of the Delta"

**Overnight at Can Tho

Day 9: CAN THO - HO CHI MINH CITY (B/L)

Floating markets are the highlights of the Mekong Delta and the one in Cai Rang is the biggest. From very early morning hundreds of boats gather to trade agricultural produce brought in from all over the region.

So as not to miss the chance to see the market in full swing, an early start is recommended. From your boat, you will see the local farmers trading their products directly on the water as they have done for many centuries

Back to the hotel for breakfast and then return to Ho Chi Minh City with lunch at local restaurant en route.

**Overnight at Ho Chi Minh City

Day 10: HO CHI MINH CITY - DEPARTURE  (B)

Have leisure time before your departure. You are welcome to join our interesting optional excursions in and around Ho Chi Minh City, such as our Good Morning Saigon Tour (surcharge applies).

Please note that the hotel check-out time is at 12:00 hours. A late check-out can be arranged subject to room availability and a surcharge will apply.