Day 1: Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City (D)
Arrive at Tan Son Nhat Airport. Pick up and transfer to a hotel. An afternoon tour round Ho Chi Minh City, formerly called Saigon, features the History Museum, the Binh Tay Market in Chinatown, Thien Hau Temple and a lacquer workshop. The tour ends with a dinner at the Royal Court restaurant.

Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi – Hochiminh City (BLD)
After breakfast at hotel, drive to Cu Chi Villages and its underground  tunnels to experience the famous Vietnam War (1965-1975). On the way to Cu Chi,stop at farmer’s house to see demonstration of rice paper making as well as along the way farming activities, bucolic scenery of bamboo-framed houses and rice-straw carts pulled by water buffalo. In Cu Chi, explore a part of the intricate network of underground tunnels by leading through a lighted tunnel which has been enlarged for the comfort of visitors. Visit some of the underground meeting room, office, dining room and clinics. Back to HCMC. After a short relax, drive to a local theatre to enjoy a traditional musical show before dinning at a local restaurant.

Day 3: Hochiminh City – Vinh Long (BLD)
Drive to Cai Be whaf then board the local boat for a Mekong river excursion. Visit Cai Be floating market and a popcorn family-run factory and proceed to boatbuilding yard. Lunch at a local restaurant. After a short relax, take a bike-ride along rice fields to Co Chien village. Cross a small ferry to continue the bike-ride to brick factories, Long Thanh communal house, Literature temple and Vinh Long market. Take a boat trip to a local house and stay overnight. Prepare food with the family for dinner  the enjoy dinner with a local traditional music show. Overnight at the local home.
 
Day 4: Vinh Long – Can Tho (BLD)
Spend time walking around he village in Vinh Long after breakfast to explore more about the daily life of the local people. Then, leave Vinh Long town for Can Tho city. Cross a ferry. On arrival in Can Tho city, lunch at Nam Bo Restaurant. Take a “xe loi” ride along the city’s roads to visit Binh Thuy Ancient house, then get in the car to Khmer Pagoda & Chinese Pagoda. Boat trip along small canals before reaching a local house for overnight stay. In the evening, spend times walking around the village before dinning with local people.

 

Day 5: Can Tho – Hochiminh City (BL)
After breakfast, take a boat trip to visit Cai Rang floating market. Short free time before leaving Cantho for lunch at Trung Luong Garden restaurant. Stop to visit Caodai Temple on the way back to HCMC. Arrive in HCMC and check in the hotel. Free on your own.

 

Day 6: Ho Chi Minh City – Danang – Hoi An (BLD)
Early in the morning, transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for a short flight to Danang. Pick up and transfer to Hoi An with a stop-over at the Non Nuoc stone-carving village where a wide variety of articles is sculptured from marble and sandstone. In the afternoon, take a leisurely walk around the centuries-old city to explore its ancient houses, temples and handicraft workshops. Overnight at a local home in Hoi An.

Day 7: Hoi An (BLD)
Spend the whole day exploring the surrounding countryside including a leisurely bike ride around Cam Nam Islet, a stroll around vegetable gardens, a boat ride to the handicraft villages of Thanh Ha & Kim Bong and relaxation on Cua Dai Beach. Purchase fresh seafood and spices for dinner (to be prepared by guests) at the home. O/N at the home in Hoi An.

Day 8: Hoi An – Hue (BLD)
Leave for Hue (140km), a former capital of Vietnam. On arrival, transfer to a Hue traditional house for home stay. In the afternoon, visit the Imperial Citadel, built in 1804 on a site chosen in accordance with the principles of geomancy. Overland to Thien Mu Pagoda, attend the afternoon service and then take a boat ride on the Perfume River back to Hue, viewing rural landscape and local activities at sunset. Enjoy dinner prepared by the host. O/N at the home in Hue.

Day 9: Hue (BLD)
In the morning, have a bike trip (10km) in the neighbouring countryside. Admire the rustic beauty of hamlet markets, temples, a covered bridge and rice fields. In the afternoon, visit the tombs of King Tu Duc (ruled 1848 – 1883) and King Khai Dinh (ruled 1916 – 1925). The monuments, designed by the kings themselves, were also used as holiday retreats during their lifetime. The evening entertainment is a Hue folk show on the Perfume River. O/N at the home in Hue.

Day 10 : Hue – Hanoi – Bat Trang (BLD)
Transfer to the airport for a short flight to Hanoi. On arrival at Noi Bai Airport, transfer to downtown Hanoi. A short city tour consists of the Temple of Literature, Ngoc Son Temple and the old quarters. In the afternoon, travel to Bat Trang, a well-known 500-year-old pottery village, on the outskirts of Hanoi. Take a leisurely walk around the village to observe the craftsmen at work and make a pot or vase oneself. O/N at a village home at Bat Trang.

Day 11 : Bat Trang – Cat Ba (BLD)
Depart for Cat Ba Island (150km) via Bac Ninh with a stop-over at But Thap Pagoda and the Dong Giao wood-carving village. Enjoy a fascinating drive along a newly-built road on the southern edge of the island, passing straits, salt marshes, lush valleys and breath-taking cliffs. O/N in Cat Ba.

Day 12: Cat Ba - Halong – Hanoi (BLD)
The morning features an exciting exploration of Halong Bay, said to be the 8th wonder of the world. Enjoy a kayak ride on the bay and visit some magic caves. Lunch of fresh seafood is served on board. In the afternoon, return to Hanoi (170km). The sightseeing day ends with a water puppet show, a theatrical genre reflecting the agricultural civilization of thousands of years ago. O/N at the hotel in Hanoi.