10 Days of Vietnam (GVC10)

Board an international flight bound for Saigon, eager to begin our Asia vacation.

Xin chao! Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon – the most dynamic city of Vietnam where modern high-rise buildings sit next to ancient temples. You are greeted at Tan Son Nhat International airport by flight. Airport transfer with guide to group hotel. Welcome Dinner at local restaurant.
The rest of day is free at your leisure for jet lag recovery.
Overnight in Saigon.

Our tour starts in the afternoon with the visit to Reunification Palace. Next to the cathedral stands the Saigon Post Office, a classic French colonial structure, is still a functioning post office today and features huge ceilings, a giant portrait of Uncle Ho and many beautiful details. Then, visit The People’s Committee Hall which was all built during the French colonial period. Continue to see The Municipal Theater of Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon Opera House, is an opera house in Ho Chi Minh City. It is an example of French Colonial architecture in Vietnam and the last visit of the day is to Ben Thanh Market – a symbol of the city, stands in the center of District 1 packed to the rafters with everything from fruits to nuts, from tourist kitsch to true bargains, it is a definite must-see.
Afternoon head out to Cu Chi Tunnels. After an introductory video, viewing various mantraps, the remains of an American tank and numerous bomb craters, you will spend the next hour exploring the maze of tunnels to see how the Viet Cong survived in this underground network.

Today after breakfast, depart Ho Chi Minh City airport for flight to Danang. You are greeted upon your arrival and driven to the hotel in Hoian.
Spend the afternoon to walk the ancient streets of Hoi An, lined with Chinese traders homes and wooden houses reincarnated as restaurants, cafés, and outlets for local artists, craftsmen and tailors. Explore the beautiful 16th century Japanese Bridge. Hoi An’s unique fusion of Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese architecture is well displayed here, in what is arguably Vietnam’s most tourist-friendly town, Phung Hung acient house. Then free for your optional activities or enjoy the shopping in Hoi An – a paradise for silk & fashionable clothing and accessories.

Spend the morning for cycling along back roads witnessing Vietnamese rural life first hand, working the ground with a farmer in an organic vegetable village and riding a water buffalo in a rice paddy field. Later, you will board a boat to join local fishermen doing traditional net fishing. You will also experience paddling the unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boat, rounding out your experience with the local farming and fishing communities.
Enjoy the afternoon at leisure.

Today you continue by road to Da Nang, where you will stop by the Cham Museum, housing the most complete collection of Cham artifacts anywhere in the world. Then continue driving to the airport for your flight to Hanoi.
Upon arrival your guide and private car will meet you at the airport and transfer to Hanoi city.
Check into your hotel and stay overnight in Hanoi, end the day at your leisure.

In the morning head out to Ba Dinh Square and start our day with The Presidential Palace (passing by only, formerly Palace of the Governor-General of French Indochina), Ho Chi Minh’s house-on-stilt and nearby One Pillar Pagoda.
Next is a visit to the Museum of Ethnology, which gives an excellent overview of the country’s ethnic groups, their customs and ways of life. The highlight here is the large, beautiful outdoor area featuring genuine houses and compounds as built and used by the many different ethnic groups.

Visit the Temple of Literature – the first university of Vietnam built in 11th century.

Then drive to Hanoi Center and explore the city’s lively Old Quarter. This is a place you must see to experience Hanoi, where exciting shopping opportunities and vibrant cultural and historical sites share the same small area.

Close your day by attending a wonderful performance of Water Puppet Show.

Overnight in hotel in Hanoi.

Breakfast at hotel before heading out to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Ha Long you will board an overnight cruise amongst the more than 3,000 limestone islands rising majestically out of the turquoise bay. You will pass grand rock formations and quaint fishing towns, and sample a delicious lunch of freshly caught fish and seafood. In the afternoon you can choose from several interesting activities: a cooking demonstration with chef on board, an optional traditional massage, or a refreshing swim. End the day with a spectacular set-menu astronomic dinner.
Overnight on board.

While cruising back to the pier, a brunch is served as we are getting closer to disembarkation. Early Tai Chi session is proposed, coffee and tea are served early as well if you would like to wake up early to see the beautiful lights of sunrise. We have the chance to visit a floating village before starting our way back to the coast. Upon disembarkation, we drive back to Hanoi for stay overnight.

Bid farewell to Vietnam and board the return flight back to your hometown.