Ho Chi Minh - Hanoi - Halong 7 Days

Welcome to Ho Chi Minh city! Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, is the largest city in Vietnam and a major center for commerce, finance, and culture.

Upon arrival, welcomed by the local tour guide and transfer to hotel to leave your heavy luggage. Your free time to relax after long flight. 

This afternoon, we start our day with a visit to the War Remnants Museum, which documents the Vietnam War in graphic detail. The museum's exhibits are both harrowing and thought-provoking, and they provide a valuable glimpse into one of the most destructive wars in history.

Next, we visit the Reunification Palace, which was formerly the Independence Palace of the South Vietnamese president. The palace was stormed by tanks on April 30, 1975, marking the end of the Vietnam War. Today, the palace has been preserved in its original state, and it's a fascinating glimpse into a bygone era. We end our day with a walk through the city center, where we'll see some of Ho Chi Minh City's most iconic landmarks, such as City Hall, the Opera House, Notre Dame Cathedral (view from outside only), built between 1877 and 1883, and the colonial-styled Central Post Office. We'll also visit Ben Thanh Market, a bustling marketplace where you can find souvenirs, handicrafts, and local delicacies. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

Please note: 
-    Normal check-in time at hotel is 14:00/15:00. Early check-in is not included. 
-    Normal check-out time at hotel is 11:00/12:00. Late check-out is not included.
 

Breakfast at hotel. You will be picked up from pick-up point in District 1  at 07:30-08:00 am. Leaving the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City and start your trip to depart for My Tho, the town lies on the left side of the Mekong River. Upon arrival, visit Vinh Trang pagoda which sated back to the late 19th century.

Then  boarding the sampan and cruising down the river around the four beautiful islands known as Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix and Tortoise islands.  Stop over at Unicorn Island, go walking around country lane and seeing orchards, enjoy tropical fruits, folk song music which performed by the local people. Visit the fruit plantation. Riding a hand-rowed sampan through Thoi Son canal and treat yourself in the beauty of the countryside, visit the family business, visit honey-bee farm, enjoy honey tea and coconut candy workshop.

Have lunch at local restaurant. Time for relaxing.

In the afternoon, time for cycling around the Tan Thach village, meet the local villagers to experience the local daily life in the Mekong delta. Hammock relaxing and enjoy cool breeze for those can’t join the cycling trip. Return to Ho Chi Minh City late in the afternoon. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

Please note: The guest will self-transfer to the pick-up point in District 1, address is provided upon booking confirmation. 
 

Breakfast and check-out from the hotel. You will be picked up around 07:30-08:00 am. Morning drive to Cu Chi Tunnels: the network of over 200 km of tunnels became legendary when they played a vital role in the war. In their heyday, the tunnels were functioning underground cities, including numerous trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers, and kitchens.

After a short introduction video showing how the tunnels were constructed, you will have a chance to crawl into a short section of the tunnels to feel the oppressive narrowness and heat inside. Experience the thrill of firing an M15, AK-47, and carbine rifle at the National Defense Sports Shooting Range (at guests own extra cost). This is your chance to get a taste of what it's like to be a soldier in a war zone. With the help of experienced instructors, you'll learn how to handle these powerful weapons and how to shoot them safely. Return to Saigon arround 15:00 pm. 

Your driver picked you up and transfer to the airport (without tour guide) for your domestic flight to Hanoi (air tickets excluded).
We will pick you up at Noi Bai Airport and transfer you to your hotel for checking-in. Overnight in Hanoi.

Please note: The guest will self-transfer to the pick-up point in District 1, address is provided upon booking confirmation. 
 

Have breakfast and get ready for our city tour of Hanoi today. Your bus and tour guide will pick you up from your hotel in the Old Quarter at 8 AM. We will then drive to Tran Quoc Pagoda, which is located on an island east of West Lake (Tay Ho District). The pagoda has a history of over 1,500 years and is considered to be the oldest in Hanoi. It was the Buddhist center of the Thang Long citadel during the Ly and Tran dynasties. Tran Quoc Pagoda is famous for its beautiful architecture and its sacred Buddha land, which attracts many Buddhists and visitors from all over Vietnam.

Our next stop is the Ho Chi Minh Complex, includes the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, and the Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is the final resting place of Ho Chi Minh, the leader of Vietnam who helped to liberate the country from French colonialism and American occupation. Then we drive to The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, which is the largest and most interesting museum in Hanoi and Vietnam. It has both indoor and outdoor exhibits. The indoor exhibits are informative, but the outdoor displays and activities are what make the museum stand out. Have lunch at local restaurant. 

In this afternoon, we will visit The Temple Of Literature - a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Hanoi, Vietnam, that was founded in 1070 as the first national university of Vietnam. The last visit is to Hoa Lo Prison, also known as the Hanoi Hilton, was a prison in Hanoi, Vietnam, that was used by the French colonists and later by the North Vietnamese government to detain political prisoners and prisoners of war. Overnight in Hanoi.

Please note: The guest will self-transfer to the pick-up point in the Old Quarter, address is provided upon booking confirmation. On Monday and Friday mornings, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum are closed. The Vietnamese Women's Museum is replaced instead. Please dress politely, do not wear shorts when visiting the mausoleum.

Breakfast at the hotel, then check out. At around 8:00 am, you will be picked up at your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarters and transferred to Ha Long Bay, the pride of the Gulf of Tonkin, a Natural World Heritage as recognized by UNESCO in 1994 and 2006. 

Upon arrival at the Cruise Port, you will enjoy a warm welcome from cruise staff and complete the check-in procedure for the overnight cruise to discover the magnificent beauty of this "Descending Dragon" bay, created by thousands of odd-shaped limestone rocks and karst grottoes.

After a lunch on board, we can visit the Grottos, stop for swimming or kayaking, pass floating houses, and approach islets to enjoy their beauty in close proximity. Later in the afternoon, go back to the cruise and enjoy the cooking demonstration before having dinner. In the evening, attend activities on the boat or relax at your own leisure. Overnight on the cruise.

Please note: The guest will self-transfer to the pick-up point in the Old Quarter, address is provided upon booking confirmation. The program may be a little varied depending on the cruise you choose. You will have stationed English speaking guide on board. 
 

You should wake up early to enjoy the dawn on the sea in the early morning. The Vietnamese call the "East Sea" by a point-oriented name "Eastern Sea", so you may guess how miraculous seeing the sunrise over the islets of the Bay.

After breakfast our boat will continue to cruise in marvelous areas, where almost each islet has its own name, adopting its shape or reminiscent like Sail Island, Fisherman’s head rock, Butterfly rock or Turtle islet etc. Check out your room and have brunch on board while the cruise coming back the pier. 

Disembark from the cruise, transfer back to Hanoi. Check in hotel. Your time at leisure. Overnight in Hanoi.
 

Breakfast at the hotel. Time at leisure or shopping until check out time and transfer to the airport with driver only (no guide) for the departure flight back to your sweet home.