VIETNAM AT A GLANCE TOUR

Welcome to beautiful Vietnam. Wander through an ancient land filled with an unforgettable history, kicking off in Southern Vietnam and ending in Hanoi.Experience the hospitality of local people then strike a bargain in Ho Chi Minh City’s bustling markets.  Be charmed by Hoi An’s many beautiful historic buildings as well as the chaotic Old Quarter of Hanoi on this 10 day adventure.

 

DAY 1: WELCOME TO HO CHI MINH 

On arrival, you are greeted and welcomed by our Vietnam Exploration Booking's guide and driver and transferred to your hotel. Freshen up after your journey before enjoying an unforgettable dinner on a Saigon River cruise. Overnight in Saigon.
 

DAY 2: HO CHI MINH CITY - CU CHI TUNNEL 

This morning you visit the Reunification Palace, the former Presidential Palace for the President of the South of Vietnam. Later, you visit the War Remnant Museum where you can see countless artifacts, photographs and items documenting the second Indochina War. Before lunch, stop at Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office.

In the afternoon, you will leave Saigon for the Cu Chi tunnels. On the way, you will drive through pleasant countryside, seeing rubber plantations and rice paddies. At Cu Chi, you will watch a short introductory video showing how they were constructed, before entering and exploring the maze of tunnels, some of which have been widened to allow tourist access. Also on display are various mantraps and the remains of an American tank, as well as numerous bomb craters made by 500lb bombs, dropped by B52 bombers. Then, you transfer back to Saigon. Relax and overnight in Saigon.
 

DAY 3: MEKONG DELTA 

You start your tour a little bit earlier today to experience the Cai Be Floating Market in Mekong Delta, 2.5 hours drive from Saigon. Our boat will take us among the local barges full of fruits and farmers’ produce. There will be many photo opportunities in one of the most beautiful floating markets in Mekong Delta. We then stop at local workshops to see where rice paste, coconut candy, pop rice and pop-corn are made.

Later you travel deeper into the countryside where you take a row boat ride entering the smaller canals where you see traditional houses made of wood and palm leaves and glimpse local daily life.

After lunch at a local house, you take a bike ride along the village paths to see the farms, houses and the ancestral ways to collect fruit in Mekong Delta. Mid-afternoon, you cruise back to the city and our waiting vehicle will return us to Saigon. Overnight in Saigon.
 

DAY 4: HO CHI MINH - DA NANG - HOI AN CITY TOUR 

After breakfast at your hotel, you take a morning flight from Saigon to Danang. The local tour guide and driver welcome you at Danang Airport and drive you along the coast highway to Hoi An Ancient Town.
Later in the afternoon, you have a walking tour in Hoi An town – one of the World’s Cultural Heritage sites of Vietnam. This quaint riverside town still boasts a wealth of century’s old traditional architecture. The influences of several Asian cultures can be seen in the old houses and waterside buildings. Hoi An is also famous for it’s tailors who very quickly create inexpensive made to measure suits and garments. Overnight in Hoi An.

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DAY 5: HOI AN COOKING CLASS 

This morning you join a special cooking class, first shopping for the ingredients for your lesson at the local market. We then boat to Vy’s Market restaurant where you can see, smell, hear, taste, touch and interact with many different food making processes. You can try samples from over 10 different food counters including banh mi, dumplings, pickles and more. Then we start our 2.5 hours cooking lesson with the chef and after, enjoy all the food that we cook.

After the lesson, you receive a gift - a copy of the recipes used and a Vietnamese cooking utensil to take home. The afternoon is free for more shopping, sightseeing or relaxing. Overnight in Hoi An.

Note: The cooking class can be morning or afternoon (depending upon availability).
 

DAY 6 : HOI ANN FREETIME - DA NANG - FLIGHT TO HANOI 

​​Enjoy your free time this morning. You can have a lazy morning or go shopping - before saying goodbye to this very beautiful old town. You take an afternoon flight from Danang to Hanoi. On arrival at Hanoi Airport you are welcomed and transferred to your hotel.  After checking in, you have dinner at a fine restaurant in town. Overnight in Hanoi.
 

DAY 7: HANOI TASTING AND CITY TOUR 

This morning we will explore Hanoi City. The first destination is Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, followed by Ba Dinh Square, Ho Chi Minh Museum, One Pillar Pagoda, the Presidential Palace, Temple of Literature and Hoa Lo prison Museum.

At noon you venture out to explore and enjoy local Hanoi food. After the street market, we continue our trip along different streets, tasting many kinds of local food such as oil-fried pastry, tofu, egg coffee, rice pancake, pillow cake, sweet soup, stuffed pancake with pork, draught beer… and one of our best surprises is a stop at Dong Xuan Wholesale Market where a great variety of ingredients are sold. Last but not least you end your food tour at the Rue Lamblot Restaurant where we enjoy a light lunch of spring rolls, grilled pork with noodles, fried rice cake and banana flower salad.

To wind down your day, we take a one-hour cyclo ride around the Old Quarter, known as the 36 Streets. And the last activity is to enjoy the unique Water Puppet Show. Overnight in Hanoi.
 

DAY 8 : HANOI - HALONG BAY OVERNIGHT 

After breakfast, travel north east to Quang Ninh Province where you will enjoy the tranquil Halong Bay. Arriving at Tuan Chau Pier at midday, you are welcomed by the crew and a tender transfers us to the cruise. You will check in to your room before enjoying a delicious seafood lunch. The cruise takes you deeper into the Bay passing thousands of islands and islets with various shapes such as in the form of fighting cocks or dogs. The cruise also stops at a floating village which is free from busy traffic, electric lights, houses, shops and buildings.

Activities this afternoon are kayaking, a cooking demonstration, relaxing or a swim at the beach, or climb up to the top of an island to catch the panorama of the bay. This evening relax, enjoy dinner and the magic of the evening on the cruise.
 

DAY 9 : HALONG BAY - HANOI 

​​​​​​Sunrise is the best time ever in Halong Bay and shouldn’t be missed. Getting up a little earlier this morning we enjoy the morning view with a cup of tea or coffee, then have breakfast. After, we continue cruising around this amazing UNESCO World Heritage Site and explore some more of the intricate cave systems including Sung Sot Cave, that make Halong Bay truly unique. After a delicious lunch, we head back to Hanoi.
 

DAY 10 : HANOI DEPARTURE 

This morning is at leisure for last minute shopping before transferring  to the airport for our flight home. Your Vietnam At A Glance Tour package from south to north ends.

Tour Exclusions

• International flights and departure taxes, if any
• Personal expenses, tips and gratuities
• Travel insurance
• Beverages
• Peak season or public holidays surcharges (if any)
• Compulsory Gala Dinner on Christmas or New Year (if any)
• Vietnam Visa Stamp Fee (US$ 25 & 1 passport photo for each person)
• Other services not mentioned above

Children Policy

• The rate for children applicable for one child sharing a twin or double cabin with two adults
• For infant (<04 years old): FOC except domestic ticket cost
• 04 - 11 years old without bed: 50% adult rate
• 04 - 11 years old with extra bed: 75% adult rate
• 04 - 11 years old in twin share: 90% adult rate