Experience the beauty of Vietnam on this 10-day journey. This trip showcases almost all of the most charming areas of Vietnam and is perfect for travelers wanting to touch the real Vietnam but with limited time. Visit Hanoi capital; explore Hanoi’s fascinating Old Quarter on a cyclo. Visit Bac Ninh to discover the famous But Thap pagoda and the charming Bat Trang ceramic village. Explore the World Heritage listed Halong Bay for an overnight cruise through thousands of limestone islands on a traditional junk. Fly to Hue, cruise along the Perfume River to discover the royal tombs and enjoy a royal meal. Visit Hoi An ancient town to discover its hidden charms and learn how to be a farmer, and how to cook Vietnamese dishes. Fly to Ho Chi Minh City and visit the famous Cu Chi tunnels. Observe life in the floating village on the Mekong delta, haggle with the locals at the Cai Be floating market.

• Brief Itinerary

Day 01: Arrive Hanoi

Day 02: Hanoi City

Day 03: Hanoi – Halong Bay (night cruise)

Day 04: Halong Bay – Da Nang (by air) – Hoi An

Day 05: Hoi An – Cooking Class

Day 06: Hoi An – Hue

Day 07: Hue – Perfume River Cruise – Ho Chi Minh City (by air)

Day 08: Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta – Caibe

Day 09: Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnels

Day 10: Ho Chi Minh Departure

• Trip Grade: Easy - Suitable for travellers with an average level of fitness and mobility.

• Weather:

Undoubtedly, weather is one of the determining factors for your traveling decisions. If you are heading to Vietnam, then, take it easy to make up your mind. Vietnam’s climate is not just steamy hot as what you are frequently exposed to on movies. All year round here, there is always a perfect place where it is pleasant to stay. Basically, the whole country falls into the tropic and subtropics but its stretching length and diverse topography allow it to span several different climate zones. The weather thus, tends to vary considerably from season to season and also from region to region.

Northern Part

The North of Vietnam is generally cooler than other South East Asian regions in the same longitude. It experiences two main distinct seasons. In winter months, the weather gets colder and colder from November to March and considerably warmer in April (a leap into summer). This is also time to observe much cloud and frequent drizzle. The average winter temperature is 17.2°C (62.9°F). Particularly, the mountainous areas (Northwest) are often much colder, temperature may keep below 10°C (50°F) for long period. Ice and snow even cover Hoang Lien Son Mountains and nearby Sapa town for some times with the lowest record of -3°C (26.6°F) in Feb 2008.

In the summer (from May to October), the whole region is quite hot. Temperature may rise to 37°C (98.6 °F) in the peaks of June and July. Hanoi and coastal provinces around the Red River Delta generally enjoy equitable weather with high average humidity (80%) all year round though they may occasionally be subjected to typhoons and heavy rain in late summers (September to November). Vietnamese people even identify four seasons in the Northern provinces (from Hai Van Pass toward the north) with their distinct features: pleasant spring (typically March-April) and autumn (October-December), a chilly winter (December- February) and a hot summer (June – July).

Central Part

The Central Vietnam with two sub-regions, coastal lowlands and central highlands, can be seen as an in-between climatic area of the North and the South. The coastal strip is usually dry and hotter than the rest in the summer, as the Truong Son Mountains do not allow it to enjoy most rainfall of south-western monsoon (from April to October). Unprotected coasts in their turn, however, make it wet and colder than the rest in winter-monsoon season (from November to March). Also, storms and typhoons strike this area more frequently than the northern coasts in summer months (from July to November). The Central Highlands in particular enjoys nearly double the average rainfall of the country. Two biggest towns in this plateau, Dalat and Pleiku, are ideally cool throughout the year. Near-the-south coastal cities, Quy Nhon, Nha Trang and Phan Thiet, on the contrary, experiences steamy hot weather (21°C-32°C / 70°F-90°F) all year round.

Southern Part

The South of Vietnam, merely 8 degrees north of the Equator, is typical of humid tropical climate which is excellent for growing rice. The region’s temperatures experience little variations in a year (around 27-32°C/80-90°F). There are two main seasons: the rainy and the dry. During the rainy/monsoon season (from May to November), downpours are expected to happen nearly every afternoon, resulting in occasional street flooding in and around Saigon. In the dry season, it is hot from late February to April then slightly cooler when first downpours come. Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) enjoys rather equitable tropical climate with high humidity all year round. December to March is said to be the most pleasant time to hit this region’s center.

Note: In all, Vietnam climate is so diverse that there is almost no definition of an average temperature for the whole country. Thanks to these regional variations in weather, generally, you can drop in Vietnam at any time of year. Commonly, based on the duration of your stay, you should plan to catch the good weather and places by either dropping in Saigon in February or March then following the coast to north or hitting Hanoi in October-November then tracing southward.

Day 01: Hanoi Arrival

You will be welcomed by our guide a Noi Bai ubternational airpoer and transferred to your hotel for check in after which you have free time to explore or relax.

Overnight in Hanoi

Day 02: Hanoi City

After Breakfast at the hotel we head out on a full day city tour starting with the Ho Chi Minh complex (NB. Closed on Monday and Friday mornings and the whole of September and October for annual repairs).

You visit the One Pillar Pagoda, founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049. This structure has become an important symbol for the people of Hanoi. Our next stop will be the Temple of Literature - Vietnam’s first university. Constructed in 1070. The temple is dedicated to one of the world’s most famous scholars, Confucius. Inside the temple grounds huge stone stele rest on the backs of even larger stone turtles (in Vietnamese culture the turtle represents longevity).

Travelloops would like to recomend lunch (cost not included) at Cha Ca street with “Cha Ca La Vong”, a favorite dish of the Hanoians - Listed in 1000 places to visit. 

Then you continue to visit the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology - The museum has successfully recreated the daily life together with the religious rituals and the symbolic festivals of each ethnic group in Vietnam. Visitors have the opportunity to admire costumes and embroidery as well as outside stilt houses and habitats from the 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam.

Then you have a short walk to visit the oldest bridge of Hanoi, the “Long Bien Bridge” to take photos and see the local life of Hanoi people before enjoying a cyclo ride through Hanoi’s Old Quarter, also known as “36 streets.” This bustling area of narrow streets and alleys is home to thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. It’s a great place to explore with plenty of photo opportunities all around you. You will travel around the famous Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Restored Sword.) - The heart of Hanoi.

Start your evening with a traditional water puppet performance (Roi Nuoc). The stage is actually a large container of water where the characters (carved wooden puppets} “act” out the story. Most of the stories are whimsical and fun, and the puppeteers stand in waist deep water behind a screen controlling the puppets with rods that are mostly under the water. You then have free time explore the vibrant Hanoi nightlife.
Travelloops would like to recommend dinner (cost not included) at Dinh Lang restaurant with Vietnamese traditional music.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Meals: Breakfast included

Day 03: Hanoi – Halong Bay (night cruise)
After breakfast at your hotel will depart for Ha Long city (170 km), approximately three hours away to visit Ha Long Bay (a World Natural Heritage site and a New World’s Wonder). Ha Long Bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes with 1969 islets. Several of the islands are hollow, with enormous caves; others support floating villages of fishermen. You have a chance to observe the scenic countryside of Vietnam dominated by enormous lush rice fields.
Upon arrival in Ha Long will following by check in between 11:30 - 12:00 at the boat port where you will enjoy a refreshing welcome cocktail upon check in, on the sun deck. Enjoy your lunch as the vessel sails to Ha Long Bay passing the fighting cocks islet, the Elephant leg islet, the Castle islet and the Soi Sim Island. On arrival at Surprise Grotto - one of the most famous grottos in the entire Ha Long complex, we visit the cave by a small tender. After taking a lot of photos and admiring the beauty of the cave we visit the fishing village by local rowing boat (1 hour) where we have the opportunity to interact with the local fishermen who have been living in the bay for almost three generations. Later, we return to the boat for some leisure time. You can swim in the clear emerald waters, soak up the sun over a cold beer on the top deck sun lounge or try your hand at some kayaking (additional cost) amongst the huge limestone outcrops that surround us. We retire to the junk and relax on the top deck and enjoy a refreshing drink from the bar. Here we enjoy a Vietnamese cooking demonstration. Your delicious seafood dinner will be served in the restaurant. Stay overnight on board for a more memorable experience.

Overnight onboard boat (Junk)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
(The itinerary above may be changed depending on the cruise we choose and is weather permitting).

Day 04: Halong Bay – Da Nang (by air) – Hoi An
Greet the day with morning Tai Chi exercises and an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay. Sitting on the upper deck we can enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the rocky islands rising from the crystal-clear water of the bay. We can hear the birds singing, cicadas chirping ashore and the gentle lapping of the waves against the boat, the perfect soundtrack to accompany the fresh air and gentle breeze.
Enjoy an international brunch buffet served in the restaurant. Check out on board and disembark at Ha Long city. Your tour guide and driver will pick you up and transfer you to Hai Phong for a short flight to Danang.
On the way to the airport, you will visit the Bat Trang ceramic village – this is popular for being an ancient pottery handicrafts village. Most of the pottery kilns in the village still produce goods in the traditional way, which is similar to the ancient ways dating back 700 years.
Upon arrival, you are welcomed and transferred to Hoi An ancient town (35km) - an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. Hoi An has 1,068 ancient houses, 19 pagodas, 43 temples, 23 communal houses, 38 family temples, 5 assembly halls, 11 old wells, one bridge, and 44 ancient tombs. In the old quarter, there are more than 1000 relic sites. Free time at your leisure.

Overnight in Hoi An
Meals: Breakfast and lunch included 

Day 05: Hoi An Ancient Town - Cooking Class.

After breakfast at the hotel you visit Hoi An’s busy, colorful market, and experience its amazing sights, sounds and aromas. You will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers and learn about all the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later.

Cruise on Thu Bon river to Tra Que village - a charming little village on the edge of Hoi An, the village is famous for its sweet scented, green vegetables that spice up the daily meals of the Hoi An people, namely Cao Lau and Quang noodles. While here you will have a chance to discover the art of cultivating and watering plants, tasting and doing a cooking class with local dishes, and walking through the market gardens where local farmers work their fields using the traditional methods from hundreds of years ago. Arriving at Tra Que’s Family House we have a chance to freshen up before beginning our class. Working together with our Family Chef we learn the traditional ways of preparing and cooking Vietnamese food from scratch. After the lesson, sit down and enjoy the dishes that you have created.

After your lunch, you can walk around the historic town soaking up the atmosphere, exploring the many Chinese assembly halls and fascinating ancestral homes, some of which have been occupied by the same family for fifteen generations. One of the most spectacular Assembly Halls is the Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, built in 1690. The pagoda inside contains intricate statues and artwork, in part dedicated to Thien Hau Than Mau, the Goddess of the Sea and protector of fishermen.

A walking tour of the ancient town center takes us to the site of former merchants’ homes, the 400-year old Japanese Covered Bridge - the symbol of Hoi An. The Japanese Covered Bridge was the first bridge in Hoi An, and was constructed in 1593. It was built by the Japanese community of Hoi An to link them with the Chinese quarters across the stream.

The town is also famous for its shops in particular it’s large number of tailors. If you wanted, you could have a whole new wardrobe made for you here. You can enjoy browsing and shopping in one of the most colorful local marketplaces in all of Southeast Asia. You will have free time to relax or explore the hidden charms of Hoi An town.

Optional: You can enjoy one of our other optional tours:

Tra Nhieu fishing village or lantern making tour.

Thanh Ha pottery & Kim Bong carpentry villages.

Bicycle tour around Hoi An village.

My Son Sanctuary.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Meals: Breakfast and lunch inlcuded

Day 06: Hoi An - Hue Imperial

After breakfast at hotel we leave Hoi An for Hue (145km). On the way, you’ll have a brief look at the remarkable Hindu statues in the Cham museum - One of the largest collections of Cham sculpture and artwork in the world. The museum is officially known as the Museum of Champa Sculpture. We will explore a nearby stone-cutting craft village.

In the afternoon we will visit the Hue Citadel Complex including the Royal Citadel and the Forbidden Citadel, both UNESCO World Heritage sites, set up in the Nguyen Dynasty from 1805 to 1945, it is now one of the most famous relics of the Hue ancient capital.

The sightseeing continues with a walk to the bustling Dong Ba Market - fantastic to wander boulevards, verdant parks and ochre buildings that retain an old-world look. It sells all manner of items and is a lively place to spend a couple of hours; Dong Ba is also famous for the best conical hats in Vietnam.

Tonight you will have a chance to enjoy a “Royal Dinner” at the Royal Park Restaurant. Enjoy their delicious food while listening to melodic music and feel like the King and Queen. Everyone wears traditional royal clothes; all the food served is Royal fayre with vegetables cleverly carved in the shape of dragons, phoenix, or peacocks etc.

Overnight in Hue.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included

Day 07: Hue Royal Tombs - Cruise on Perfume River - Fly to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) .

After breakfast at hotel you'll take a boat trip along the romantically named Perfume River, which carries us through a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes, where Hue’s best-known religious sites are located. We will visit Thien Mu Pagoda - one of the oldest ancient architectural structures for religious worship in Hue. We continue to visit the Mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes. This impressive landmark reflects the beautiful architecture, intricate decor and mysterious statues. Afterwards we take a short drive though the rolling hill to see the elaborate Royal Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc - One of the most beautifully designed complexes among the tombs of the Nguyen dynasty. Embedded in a lush pine forest, this tomb is the final resting place of Emperor Tu Duc (1848-83) who had the longest reign of all emperors of the Nguyen dynasty. We have lunch at Tinh Gia Vien Restaurant.

Free time at your leisure until your guide and driver pick you up and transfer you to the airport for a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City (1 hour). You are welcomed at Tan Son Nhat airport and then transferred to the hotel for check in.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

Meals: Breakfast and lunch included

Day 08: Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta - Caibe floating market - Caibe Princess.

After breakfast at the hotel you’ll take a scenic early morning drive to Vinh Long (140 km), stop for photos at Tan An town looking over the flat rice fields. Upon embarkation on Cai Be Princess Boat (Victoria Cruise), you are welcomed with fresh cotton towels & seasonal fresh fruits.

The tour will start with the visit of Cai Be colorful floating market, cruising among local sampans coming from all provinces of the delta full of fruits and vegetables. Your sampan will proceed to Dong Hoa Hiep Island located between Vinh Long and Cai Be. During 40 minutes cruising, you will be able to soak up the beautiful landscapes along the river and observe the typical Mekong Delta rural life. These evergreen islands among the Mekong River still remain unknown to many people.

You will visit an ancient mandarin house dating from the 19th century where the family will welcome you with a cup of honey tea. Back on board, we will lead to you to observe the activity of the biggest rice stock market. Further on other stops will allow you to see a traditional brick and tile factory and how locals still use palm leaves for their houses. Cruising 20 minutes further to Phu An hamlet passing by the beautiful Cai Be Church, we will visit some interesting home factories to see how rice paste is made, but also rice cookies, coco candies, as well as longan fruit drying process.

Travelloops recommend lunch (cost not included) at Le Longanier Restaurant, a superb Indochine villa located in a lush tropical garden by the river, surrounded by fruit orchards. You will have a chance to enjoy the famous dish “Fried Mekong Elephant Ear Fish”.

After a short walk alongside a beautiful , the excursion will end at approx. 3.30pm at Ba Bon Bridge where our driver will meet you for your transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City. Free time at your leisure.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meals: Breakfast included

Day 09: Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnels.

After you have breakfast at hotel and then drive to the Cu Chi district, 50 km to the northwest of Ho Chi Minh City. The incredible underground tunnel network in Cu Chi stretched over 200 kilometers and became legendary during the American war. The extensive tunnels were specially constructed with living areas, storage facilities, weapon factories, field hospitals, command centres, plus accommodation.

On arrival at the Cu Chi Tunnels, we watch a short introductory video showing how they were constructed, then spend the next hour exploring the maze of tunnels; you will even have a chance to crawl through the tunnels. Also on display are various mantraps, the remains of an American tank and numerous bomb craters made by 500-pound bombs dropped by B52 bombers.

What follows is a tour of all the major sights in Ho Chi Minh City. The first stop is Notre Dame Catholic Cathedral and a short visit to the nearby French-built post office; then we will visit the War Remnants Museum, which primarily contains exhibits relating to the American phase of the Vietnam War. Then continue with a visit the Reunification Palace.

Discover the history and fascinating street life of Ho Chi Minh City on a walking tour along Dong Khoi Street, known as Rue Catinat in French-colonial times.

Enjoy a special dinner on the Indochine Cruise, drifting along the Saigon River; enjoy your food while listening to traditional folk music with singing and dancing. You will have time to relax to watch the views of the city, and the people working at the Port of Saigon. Along both sides of the river you can see many mansions and watch the lifestyle of thos who live along the river.

Free time to explore Ho Chi Minh City nightlife.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included

Day 10: Ho Chi Minh Departure.

Breakfast at hotel. Free time to discover Ho Chi Minh City streets or shopping at Ben Thanh market - the symbol of Ho Chi Minh City, until you are transferred to the Tan Son Nhat airport for your departure flight.

Meals: Breakfast included

This tour is private and can be tailor-made to suit your travel needs. As a result the price is quoted in US dollars and shown on a per-person basis. The 'Price From' quoted above is for parties of 2, 4 and 6 people and for accommodation in 3 star hotels. The final price will be privately quoted, based on the number in your party, your preferred time of travel, grade of hotel and any additional services requested. Please click on the BOOK NOW button and fill in the booking form, after which one of our travel consultants will customize the best value holiday for you.

• REMARKS:

You are aware that a good tour must have good hotels. In Indochina particularly, hotel price makes up most of the cost of your Cambodia cycling, Vietnam cycling, Laos cycling, Myanmar cyclingor Thailand cycling. All of our prices are calculated on a twin-shared basis. As a guide, Travel Loops defines hotel grades as follows:

>>Superior Level (3 star hotels in good locations): > 40 USD/room/night
>>Deluxe Level (4 star hotels):> 80 USD/room/night
>>Luxury Level (5 star hotels): > 180 USD/room/night

Price based on twin shared accommodation.
Tour price is indicative only, please enquire for a detailed quotation.
More people means more discount. Please enquire for more details

If, after reviewing the details of this tour, you would like to receive a "Special Offer" tour price, just click on the "INQUIRY" button below. If you wish to “Tailor Make" your trip, simply click on the "CUSTOMIZE TRIP" and enter your contact details.

COST INCLUDED:

• Experienced English speaking guide
• Private transportation by air-conditioned vehicle
• Accommodation in double/twin sharing rooms with daily breakfast
• Meals as mentioned in the itinerary
• Bottled drinking water for sightseeing
• All sightseeing entrance fee where required in the itinerary.

COST EXCLUDED:

• International/domestic airfares & tax
• Visa fees.
• Travel Insurance. (We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance from home)
• Personal expenditure (telephone, laundry, shopping and so on…)
• Tips for guide, driver, porters and project cost
• Beverage and alcoholic drinks
• Any other services not clearly mentioned on itinerary and trip inclusive portion.

The hotels listed below are just our suggestions offering the best value for this trip according to the hotel category chosen, but Travel Loops also offers more options to cater for different grades, personal taste, and budget. Please let us know if you have any specific choice of hotels, or personal preferences/requirements.

Note: Our choices for each level of accommodation have been highlighted in orange. As mentioned above our selection criteria are based on: prior client reviews, hotel management and staff training, facilities maintenance, location, business relationship and advantages given exclusively to our clients on price and service.