VIETNAM, WORLD HERITAGE SITES
ITINERARY IN BRIEF
Day 01: ARRIVAL IN HANOI
Day 02: HANOI
Day 03: HANOI – HALONG
Day 04: HALONG – NINH BINH
Day 05: NINH BINH – DONG HOI
Day 06: DONG HOI – PHONG NHA – DONG HOI
Day 07: DONG HOI – HUE
Day 08: HUE
Day 09: HUE – HOI AN
Day 10: HOI AN
Day 11: HOI AN — DANANG — SAIGON flight
Day 12: SAIGON — BEN TRE — CAN THO
Day 13: CAN THO – SAIGON
Day 14: SAIGON — DEPARTURE
DAY 1 - HANOI
Arrival in Ha Noi, welcomed by our guide then transfer to the city. Hotel accommodation (usually rooms are available from 14h00). Free time to discover by yourself the old quarter of 36 streets and corporations. Overnight in Ha Noi.
DAY 2 - HANOI
Day dedicated to visiting Ha Noi, a millennial city: Temple of Literature, the first university in Vietnam; Mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh (outside) near a bucolique garden where the ancient wooden house on stilt of Ho Chi Minh are located (closed Monday afternoon), One Pillar Pagoda, dated XIX century and linked to the legend of the Ly Dynasty, founder of the capital Ha Noi. Continuation of the visit with the Citadel of Thang Long and the Museum of Ethnology (closed on Mondays) in which it represents the life and traditional customs of the 54 ethnicities present on the territory. Walk through the streets of the old city, the ancient district of 36 streets and corporations with the opportunity to watch the show of Ca Tru, an ancient genre of chamber music performed by the female singers from northen Vietnam. Night in Ha Noi.
DAY 3 - HA LONG
Departure for Ha Long. Arrival at the pier at noon and accommodation on board of a cruise boat. Key delivery, comfortable cabin equipped with hot water, air conditioning and bay views. Meal served on board, prepared by sailors. Cruise through the extraordinary Halong Bay — one of the world's natural wonders. Special dinner and overnight on board. Calm night in the idyllic bay..
DAY 4 - HA LONG - NINH BINH
Early wake up to practice Tai Chi and admire the sunrise. After breakfast, continuation of the cruise to visit the caves. Brunch on board and leave the room free. Disembarkation and car transfer to Ninh Binh. Arrival in the afternoon, accommodation in the hotel. Free time to discover the daily lives of the inhabitants by yourself. Overnight stay in Ninh Binh.
DAY 5 - NINH BINH - DONG HOI
Departure for Trang An, considered the Halong Bay on land, boat trip, surrounded by picturesque landscapes through the natural caves carved by the river into karst rocks in an environment still untouched from mass tourism. Then transfer directly by car to Dong Hoi. Arrival after about 7 hours, accommodation in hotel in the evening. Overnight stay in Dong Hoi.
DAY 6 - PHONG NHA CAVES
Early arrival in Dong Hoi, transfer by private car to the hotel for breakfast (usually rooms are available from 14h00). Then transfer by car to Phong Nha, visit the UNESCO-recognized Cave Complex as World Partrimony of Humanity — Phong Nha Cave and Paradise Cave that was discovered recently by scientists from the British Cave Research Association. Return to Dong Hoi. Overnight stay in hotel.
DAY 7 - DONG HOI
Departure by car to Quang Tri, stop to visit Vinh Moc Gallery — The Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and see Hien Luong Bridge over Ben Hai River - the old border between North and South of the country placed along the 17th parallel. Arrival in Hue in the late afternoon, accommodation in hotel. Overnight stay in Hue.
DAY 8 - HUE
Visit Thien Mu Pagoda, located on a hill at the edges of the Perfumes river and the tomb of Emperor Minh Mang, the best known emperor among the 13 of the Nguyen Dynasty. Continuation of the visits with the Citadel consisting of the Royal Fortress and the Forbidden City. Following is the show of imperial court music of Hue, recognized by UNESCO as cultural and intangible heritage of mankind. Visit Dong Ba Local Market. Overnight stay in the hotel.
DAY 9 - HOI AN
Transfer to Hoi An by crossing the Hai Van Pass (depending on the weather). Stop in Da Nang, visit the Museum of Cham Sculptures and Marble Mountains, a group of 5 small limestone mountains that represent the five elements of Fengshui. These mountains are home to numerous Buddhist shrines and galleries and have become a tourist attraction because of their religious and landscape value. Arrival in Hoi An in the afternoon and accommodation in hotel. Overnight stay in Hoi An.
DAY 10 - HOI AN
Departure to the My Son complex, the most important archeological site in the Champa kingdom of Vietnam. Located in central Vietnam, not far from the beautiful Hoi An, it consists of a series of remains and ruins of Hindu temples built between the 4th and 14th century AD by the Champa kings. The temples are located within a picturesque valley surrounded by two mountain ranges. Of all the temples, dedicated to the worship of the god Shiva, the most important and significant is that of Bhadresvara. Back to Hoi An. Afternoon is reserved for visiting the ancient town of Hoi An: the market, the ancient house of Tan Ky, the Chinese Temple of Phuc Kien, the Japanese covered bridge, the silk factory. An hour of boat on Thu Bon River and free time for shopping. Overnight stay in the hotel.
DAY 11 - SAIGON
Transfer to Da Nang Airport and morning flight to Sai Gon. Arrival after an hour and thirty minutes of flight, transfer to the city. Visit the War Remnants Museum, the Central Post Office and Ben Thanh Market. Overnight stay in Sai Gon.
DAY 12 - BEN TRE
After breakfast, departure to the Mekong Delta with Ben Tre as destination. Arrival after about 2 hours, boarding a boat and cruising on the currents of the large branch of the Mekong surrounded by lush greenery. Visit of the coconut confectionery factory. Walk, meet the inhabitants and see the process of working the sleeping mat. Car transfer to Can Tho — the most metropolitan city in the southern provinces. Overnight stay in hotel in Can Tho.
DAY 13 - CAN THO - SAIGON
Departure for a trip to Hau Giang River, the lower arm of the Mekong, visit the floating market of Cai Rang - one of the most authentic in the Mekong Delta. In the afternoon, return by car to Sai Gon. Overnight stay in hotel.
DAY 14 - SAIGON - DEPARTURE
After breakfast, transfer directly to the airport for your flight back home.
