Vietnam

10-day Vietnam Classic Tour

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Tour type

Tour Level: Relaxed / Easy

Tour Comfort: Luxury / Superior / Standard

Tour Period: 10 Days

English, French

Tour Highlights

  • Visit cultural highlights along with ancient back alleys in Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi
  • Overnight cruising on a traditional junk boat in the scenic Halong Bay
  • Flexible choice of the transportation means for connection to Hue
  • Visit the imperial city of Hue
  • Explore Hoi An’s ancient town
  • Feel the metropolitan pulse of Ho Chi Minh City and experiencing its highlights
  • Crawl through the Cu Chi Tunnels and learn about the infamous underground city constructed during the Vietnam War
  • Discover the rustic charm of the Mekong Delta  through the small waterways and learn about the production of several different local products

tour details

We have designed this journey for travellers keen to experience the diversity of Vietnam, but with limited time to spare.

Starting in the North, you’ll soak up the hustles and bustles of Hanoi’s Old Quarter before cruising on a traditional junk boat through scenic Halong Bay. Travel to Hue, either by plane or by train, the former imperial capital of Vietnam and visit the historical landmarks including Emperor Tu Duc’s elaborate tomb, Imperial Citadel, and Thien Mu Pagoda with a boat trip on the Perfume River. You will then continue with a drive over Hai Van Pass to Hoi An, a major Asian trading port of the 17th and 18th centuries, whose architecture and relaxed lifestyle has changed little over the years. Strolling through the lantern-filled streets and riverside promenade of Hoi An Ancient Town. Leaving Hoi An, you will fly to Ho Chi Minh City for 2 nights stay with a visit to the amazing Cu Chi Tunnels and vibrant metropolitan city formerly known as Saigon, where you will see the landmarks depicting its glorious colonial past and the atrocities of the Vietnam War until the country’s reunification in 1975. Complete your panorama tour of Vietnam with a trip to the Mekong Delta. You will be amazed at the labyrinth of waterways while taking boat trips to visit the lush fruit orchards and family handicraft workshops. After a night in Can Tho, which is often dubbed as the capital city of the Mekong Delta, you will visit the bustling floating market in Cai Rang to observe the unique trading life on the river before returning to the metropolitan Ho Chi Minh City for one more night before departure for your next destination.

Why choose this tour?

The perfect snapshot of a captivating country for travellers keen to experience the diversity of Vietnam, but with limited time to spare. Explore the best parts of Vietnam with main attractions and flexible choices of comfortable accommodation and transportation modes for memorable experiences. Travellers may want to choose a flight for fast connection or may opt for a night train ride for more experience.

Meet your tour guide on arrival at Hanoi International Airport and 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 hours 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.

Accommodation at hotel in Hanoi

Estimated driving time/distance:
About 45 minutes/ Hanoi Airport – Hanoi hotels: 30 km

Meal included:
None
08:00 hours
Enjoy breakfast at a leisure pace and then check out.

09:00 hours
Pick up at hotel lobby and transfer to Ha Long City. Upon arrival, embark on an overnight cruise 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.

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

Accommodation on-board the overnight cruise in Ha Long Bay
Estimated driving time/distance:
About 2.5 hours/ Hanoi – Ha Long City: 152 km

Meal included:
Breakfast
Lunch on-board
Dinner on-board
06:30 hours
Early riser may join a Tai Chi session on the sundeck (depending on each cruise’s programme) and enjoy watching the sunrise in the Bay. Afterwards your boat will weave its way back to the pier.
• Paradise Luxury Cruise disembarkation time: 10:30 hours
• Bhaya Cruises disembarkation time: 10:45 hours
• Oriental Sails Cruise disembarkation time: 12:00 hours

Pick up at Tuan Chau pier and transfer back to Hanoi. Enjoy an orientation tour including a one-hour cyclo ride navigating Hanoi’s charming, colourful and lively Old Quarter, which is known as the city’s historical centre.

Option 1: Clients have time at leisure for more discovery of Hanoi on their own and overnight at hotel in Hanoi

Option 2: Clients who opt for more experience of Vietnam rail tracks will take the SE1 Reunification Express to Hue. Have dinner at a restaurant before transferring to Hanoi railway station. Overnight in shared 4-berth compartment (02 uppers and 02 lower berths) with air-conditioning.

Estimated driving time/distance:
About 2.5 hours/ Ha Long City – Hanoi:152 km

Note
• Our tour guide will not accompany on the train.
• Train schedule is subject to change (ETD: 22:20 hours).
• Private compartments on request at a surcharge.
• Train journeys are part of a great local experience. Cabins are shared with other passengers (unless private cabin is requested and all berths paid for - with supplement). Restrooms at either end of the carriages complete the local experience.

Meal included:
Breakfast on-board
Light lunch at a local restaurant
Dinner at a restaurant in Hanoi for clients taking Option 2
Option 1: Breakfast at the hotel, then check out and transfer to Hanoi Airport for the morning flight to Hue. Upon arrival at Hue Airport, pick up and transfer to the hotel (Flight VN 1543 08:40 hours – 09:50 hours)

Option 2: Arrive at Hue railway station at around 10:52 hours. Pick up and transfer to the hotel. Rest of the morning is at leisure.
Have lunch at a restaurant and then enjoy a half-day Hue city tour:
Option 1: Breakfast at the hotel, then check out and transfer to Hanoi Airport for the morning flight to Hue. Upon arrival at Hue Airport, pick up and transfer to the hotel (Flight VN 1543 08:40 hours – 09:50 hours)

Option 2: Arrive at Hue railway station at around 10:52 hours. Pick up and transfer to the hotel. Rest of the morning is at leisure.
Have lunch at a restaurant and then enjoy a half-day Hue city tour:

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.

You will 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.

Continue by car to visit 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. Afterwards take a scenic boat trip on the Perfume River to the city pier.

Accommodation at hotel in Hue

Estimated driving time/distance:
About 45 minutes/ Hanoi hotels – Hanoi Airport: 30 km
About 30 minutes/ Hue Airport – Hue hotels: 15 km
About 40 minutes/ Boat trip on Perfume River

Meal included:
Breakfast
Lunch at a restaurant
08:00 hours
In the morning, visit 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.

Your journey continues with a 3-hour drive southbound to Danang over the famous Hai Van Pass. Enjoy 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.

Have lunch at a local restaurant

Visit Cham Museum and have a photo stop at the Marble Mountains before driving 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 centre 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.

Upon arrival in Hoi An, check in the hotel and rest of the day will be at leisure

Accommodation at hotel in Hoi An

Estimated driving time/distance:
About 3 hours/ Hue – Hoi An: 122 km

Meal included:
Breakfast
Lunch at a restaurant


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 08:00 hours
Explore the Ancient Town of Hoi An and its surroundings. Known to early Western merchants, Hoi An was one of the major trading centres of Southeast Asia in the 16th century. Hoi An has a mixed Chinese-Vietnamese atmosphere with low, tiled-roof houses and narrow streets; the original structure of some of these streets is still virtually intact. Many of the houses are constructed of rare timbers and decorated with lacquer panels engraved with Chinese characters and pillars carved with ornamental designs.

Take a short boat ride across the river to a boat builder’s yard and woodcarvers. You will also visit pottery and brick-making village. Return to the town for a discovery tour on foot through Hoi An Ancient Town which has been enlisted as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage since 1999. You will visit some of the historic merchant and community houses, places of worship and the famous Japanese covered bridge.

In the afternoon, have free time for relaxation or for further discovery of the ancient town on your own.

Accommodation at hotel in Hoi An

Meal included:
Breakfast
08:00 hours
Check out of the hotel and transfer to Danang Airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Flight VN 117 10:00 hours – 11:25 hours.)

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.

Upon arrival at Ho Chi Minh City Airport, pick up and transfer the city centre for lunch at a restaurant.
After lunch, take an orientation tour of the city centre. You will visit the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office, both being the landmarks of the City’s colonial past. Continue with a visit to the photo gallery Couleurs d’Asie by Rehahn – the famous French photographer. On the show are two different sides of the artist’s works: images of Vietnam and his works from other countries as well as fine art photography.
Accommodation at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City
Estimated driving time/distance:
About 45 minutes/ Hoi An – Danang Airport: 30 km
About 45 minutes – 1 hour depending on the traffic / Ho Chi Minh City Airport – City hotel: 8 km



Meal included:
Breakfast
Lunch at a restaurant
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.

After lunch, drive to Can Tho, a charming city often dubbed as the capital city of the Mekong Delta. Sit back and enjoy the lush green view of rice paddies and waterways as your journey takes you through the heart of the Mekong Delta.

Upon arrival in Can Tho, check in the hotel and the evening is at leisure. You may want to wander around the night market in the city centre or opt for a guided evening street food tour to experience the city nightlife and sample local delicacies at a surcharge.

Accommodation at hotel in Can Tho

Estimated driving time/distance:
About 1.5 hours/ Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi: 55 km
About 4 hours / Ho Chi Minh City – Can Tho: 170 km

Meal included:
Breakfast
Lunch at a restaurant
Floating markets are the highlights of the Mekong Delta and the one in Cai Rang is the biggest of its kind. 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 drive to Cai Be.

Upon arrival, embark on private Mekong Queen boat. You will first cruise passing by Cai Be floating market and on to “Lady Five” canal for a sampan ride, then board the cruise again for a ride to Tan Phong Island. Disembark and walk to visit a family who makes handicraft products from water hyacinth. Next, you will visit a palm roof making family and then head continue cruising to a local home for lunch.
After lunch, cruise back to Cai Be pier. Disembark and drive back to Ho Chi Minh City.
Upon arrival, check in the hotel and have time at leisure.

Accommodation at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City


Estimated driving time/distance:
About1.5 hours/ Can Tho – Cai Be: 70 km
About 2.5 hours / Cai Be - Ho Chi Minh City: 110 km

Meal included:
Breakfast
Lunch at local home
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 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.

Estimated driving time/distance:
About 45 minutes – 1 hour depending on the traffic/ city hotel -Ho Chi Minh City Airport: 8 km

Meal included:
Breakfast

customise the tour

  • This tour can be booked as seat-in-coach with a weekly departure on Wednesday or as a private tour with daily departure and can be customized to suit individual interests and schedules. You can easily add pre or post extension on a private basis to other nearby destinations at any point during your stay in Vietnam.
  • You also have the flexibility to book one country (Vietnam) only or combine two or three (Lao & Cambodia) to make it a grand Indochina tour as you wish

includes

  • Accommodation in a shared twin room with air conditioning (AC) and private bathroom
  • Meals as stated in the programme B= breakfast, L= lunch, D= dinner
  • Transfers and tours with locally stationed English speaking tour guides in air-conditioned vehicles
  • One-way train ticket Hanoi – Hue on Reunification Express in shared 4-berth compartment (for clients taking the option with train Hanoi – Hue)
  • All entrance fees and boat fees as mentioned in the programme
  • Drinking water and cold towels available on the vehicles

excludes

  • Domestic airfares (quoted separately and are subject to change)
  • Train ticket Hanoi – Hue (option with 02 flights Hanoi – Hue, and Danang – Ho Chi Minh City)
  • Single supplement for the train cabin (option with train Hanoi – Hue)
  • Surcharge for a private 4-berth cabin for twin-use on the train (option with train Hanoi – Hue)
  • International airfare to/from Vietnam (quoted separately, if requested)
  • Domestic airfares (quoted separately and are subject to change)
  • Train ticket Hanoi – Hue (option with 02 flights Hanoi – Hue and Danang – Ho Chi Minh City)
  • Single supplement for the train cabin (option with train Hanoi to Hue)
  • Surcharge for private 4-berth cabin for twin-use on the train (option with train Hanoi – Hue)
  • International airfare to / from Vietnam (quoted separately, if requested)
  • Optional tours
  • Our tour guide accompanying aboard the cruises in Ha Long Bay
  • Our tour guide accompanying on the train (clients taking the option with train Hanoi – Hue)
  • Surcharges for other language guides
  • Surcharges for night-time services, especially applied for transfers with arrivals after 23:00 hours and arrivals or departures before 06:00 hours.
  • Surcharges for Lunar New Year (TET) holiday
  • Personal travel insurance
  • Personal expenditure, such as drinks, souvenirs, laundry, camera fees, communications, postage, gratuities etc.
  • Meals and services other than mentioned in the programme
  • Drinks with meals
  • Compulsory gala dinners during festive seasons and peak season surcharges which will be advised at the time of booking
  • Visa application and visa stamp fees at Vietnamese embassies overseas and/ or upon arrival (Please note that a visa is compulsory for most nationalities.)
  • Early check-in and late check-out at hotels, if not mentioned in the programme
Tour code: *Option with Flight Hanoi – Hue: Category Deluxe: PKV10FDB/Category First: PKV10FFB/Category Superior: PKV10FSB *Option with Train Hanoi – Hue: Category Deluxe: PKV10TDB/Category First: PKV10TFB/Category Superior: PKV10TSB

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