Vietnam package tour 13 days 12 nights- Vietnam Open Tour

DAY 1: HANOI ARRIVAL & CITY TOUR.

Reach Hanoi, welcome you at the airport and transfer you to hotel. After check in the hotel, our guide takes you to visit some famous places in Hanoi.
You will start the tour by visiting Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ho Chi Minh Museum. Enjoy the architectural and historical aspects of Uncle Ho’s final resting-palace. Just next door is Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts where he used to live in the past. Lying to one side of the Mausoleum is the One Pillar Pagoda, built by King Ly Thai To in 1049 the structure has become an important symbol for the people of Hanoi.
Continue to visit the Temple of Literature (QuocTuGiam) – Vietnam’s first University constructed in 1070. Its gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a relaxing glimpse into Vietnam’s past.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Proceed our visit at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology which focuses on the 54 officially recognised ethnic groups in Vietnam. This fabulous collection relating to Vietnam’s ethnic minorities features well-presented tribal art, artefacts and everyday objects gathered from across the nation, and examples of traditional village houses.
After that we will take you to HoanKiem Lake, see the peaceful water, and visit Ngoc Son Temple. Meaning ‘Temple of the Jade Mountain’, Hanoi’s most visited temple sits on a small island in the northern part of HoanKiem Lake, connected to the lakeshore by an elegant scarlet bridge, constructed in classical Vietnamese style.
Take an hour cyclo tour for sightseeing around the bustling old quarter to see the ordinary life in Hanoi.
Read more about these attractions / Watch video
At 18.00, Back to your hotel. It’s your free time now to have dinner and a short while to explore the streets of Hanoi on your own.
Stay overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

DAY 2: HANOI – MAI CHAU ( B,L,D)

Mai Chau is a mountainous area of outstanding natural beauty, inhabited by a Thai and H’mong ethnic minority groups. This trip offers an easy trekking combined with homestay in villages of Thai , where you have experienced with the local lifestyle of these minority people. Watch Video of this tour.
Morning, at 08.00, pick up from your hotel and head west towards HoaBinh to have refreshment. Leave HoaBinh for Mai Chau Valley, about 2hrs away, stop for snapping pictures. Arrive in Mai Chau and have lunch in a family house in the local village around 12.00.
After lunch, riding bicycle around the surrounding villages of White Thai Ethnic people. Learn more about their lives and cultures as your guide can help answer any questions.
At 18.00, have dinner with the family, get a closer look into their real life. Drink “ruou can” (traditional alcohol) with your new family.
Sleep in the village, in a stilt house, the most interesting part of the trip. Stilt houses are unique to Mai Chau and you cannot find this experience in other tour.
OR staying overnight in a bungalow by your choice. (B,L,D)

DAY 3: MAI CHAU – HANOI (B,L,D)

The early morning is the most peaceful time to walk around the villages. Feeling the fresh air and seeing women prepare foods on the wooden fire while the sun is rising over the beautiful mountains which you can not feel in the crowed cities.
Breakfast in the village then walk to Mai Chau market. After breakfast, you will climb to 1000 Step Cave which is breathtaking and is the view of the area from the entrance of the cave. Have lunch in the village. The rest of time before getting back to Hanoi is your leisure. Going back to Hanoi at 17.00.
Arrival in Hanoi at 21.00.
Overnight in Hanoi. (B,L)

DAY 4: HANOI – HALONG BAY (B,L)

Around 8.00am, Our guide Pick you up at your hotel and go to Halong bay on a shuttle bus. Take a rest at Humanity center and enjoy local specialties after 2h. Arrival in Halong at 11.45. The captain and crew welcome you aboard. Savor the delicious lunch as boat pass through thousands of Islands and Islets with different shapes.
After the lunch, explore the biggest and the most amazing cave in Halong Bay – Surprise Cave. Then Kayaking for an hour around the fishing village and discover the life of community there. Then back to boat for Sunset Party, get to calm, clean water place for swimming. Enjoy delicious and romantic dinner with some barbecue courses.
In the evening, free time for entertainment with the funny plays such as squid fishing, karaoke program, stars watching on sundeck… Spend romantic night aboard.
Stay overnight on boat in Halong bay.

DAY 5: HALONG BAY – HUE (B,L)

Around 8.00am, Our guide Pick you up at your hotel and go to Halong bay on a shuttle bus. Take a rest at Humanity center and enjoy local specialties after 2h. Arrival in Halong at 11.45. The captain and crew welcome you aboard. Savor the delicious lunch as boat pass through thousands of Islands and Islets with different shapes.
After the lunch, explore the biggest and the most amazing cave in Halong Bay – Surprise Cave. Then Kayaking for an hour around the fishing village and discover the life of community there. Then back to boat for Sunset Party, get to calm, clean water place for swimming. Enjoy delicious and romantic dinner with some barbecue courses.
In the evening, free time for entertainment with the funny plays such as squid fishing, karaoke program, stars watching on sundeck… Spend romantic night aboard.
Stay overnight on boat in Halong bay.

DAY 6: HUE CITY TOUR – HOI AN (B,L)

Around 8.15, you will start the tour by visiting Thien Mu Pagoda. To visit this pagoda, you will get a boat trip on Perfume River (called “Huong” River in Vietnamese). After the boat trip which takes around 45 minute, you arrive the Pagoda. Thien Mu Pagoda was built on a hillock overlooking the Perfume river. This pagoda is an icon of Vietnam and the symbol of Hue city.
9.30, finish your visit at Thien Mu Pagoda, get on the car waiting outside to visit the Citadel (also called “The Imperial City”). It is a walled palace within the citadel of the city of Huế, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. The building was built in 1362, and took 203 years to complete.
10.45, your next visit will be at Hue Royal Antiques museum. The Royal Antiquities Museum displays a huge collection of ornaments, furniture, jewelry, clothing, and other items relating to royal life during the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945). It is housed in the former Long An Palace, which is widely considered to be one of Vietnam’s most beautiful palaces.
You have 20 minute for exploring the Museum before visit Dong Ba Market. This is Hue’s largest market, selling anything and everything.
12.45, arrival at a nice local restaurant. Enjoy your lunch and take a rest.
13.45, we leave the restaurant for the tomb of King “Minh Mang”. King “Minh Mang” was the second emperor of the Nguyen dynasty of Vietnam, reigning from 14 February 1820 until his death, on 20 January 1841.
15.00, Continue your visit at the Tomb of King “KhaiDinh”. King “KhaiDinh” was the 12th Emperor of the Nguyễn Dynasty in Vietnam, reigning from 1916 to 1925.
16.00, we leave the the Tomb of King “KhaiDinh” to visit a nearby village where people making incense stick and conical hat.
16.30, we go back to Hue city and drop you off at your hotel. Check-out at hotel, our driver transfers you to Hoi An.
Stay overnight at hotel in Hoi An.

DAY 7: HOI AN – MY SON SANCTUARY (B,L)

At 8.00, Our guide picks you up at hotel and leave Hoi An for visiting My Son Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This tour is a must-see for those who are interested in architecture and ancientcivilizations. My Son sanctuary was an imperial city during the Champacivilization,between the 4th and the 12th.
You can have more chance to explore and understand of technique of Old Cham people in making red bricks to build Tower which still now a secret to everyone, you can see a large complex of religious relics that comprises more than 65 architectural works. It also surprises for those who are curious with architectural art.
In 1999, UNESCO labeled the Cham architecture in My Son as a World Cultural Heritage Site. Moreover, you have chance to enjoy traditional music performed by Cham girls in their colorful uniforms.
Afternoon, your leisure time to discover the city of Hoi An by foot by yourself. The historic town which used to be a prosperous seaport city from the 16th to 18th centuries is now a beautiful city that can’t be missed while touring the South East Asian region.
While walking through the city, you can will visit some famous places yourself:
• Hoi An’sColorful Local Market
• Tan Ky Old House
• Fu Jian Assembly Hall
• The 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge
Also, you will have chance to see local residents raise silkworms and produce silk for Hoi An’s burgeoning textile industry.
Stay overnight at hotel in Hoi An.

DAY 8: HOI AN – HO CHI MINH (B)

Breakfast at hotel. You’re free at leisure in Hoi An for walking around to explore the ancient town on your own and shopping.
Stay overnight in Hoi An

DAY 9: HOI AN – HO CHI MINH (B)

Breakfast at hotel. Spend a little leisure time then our driver transfers you to airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh.
Arrival at Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh, you will be taken to hotel for check-in. Rest of the day is your own time to explore the city yourselves.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh. (B)

DAY 10: HO CHI MINH CITY TOUR & EXPLORE CU CHI TUNEL (B,L)

Morning, Ho Chi Minh City tour. We start the trip by these famous places: Notre Dame Cathedral, the historic Central Post Office, followed by exploring the Reunification Palace, and the remarkable site of the War Remnants Museum. (Drop you off at Ben Thanh Market for shopping if we have enough time).
Afternoon, we drive 60km to Cu Chi. Take in the peaceful rural scenery as we drive between rice paddies, look out for ducks and water buffalos swimming in the rivers alongside the road.
Arrival at Cu Chi tunnel, before entering the tunnels visitors can watch a short introductory video showing how the tunnels were constructed. You will spend the next hour exploring the tunnels. Afterwards, enjoy tea, cassava (guerrilla’s food during the war).
Located 60km from Ho Chi Minh city, Cu Chi is now a popular spot for both Vietnamese & foreign tourists – the network of over 200km 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& kitchens.
Today, ducks and water buffalos happily co-exist in the rivers along the side of the road. However, the peaceful rural rice paddy scenery belies the area’s violent history. Visitors will find it hard to imagine the destruction, damage & defoliation over this whole area, caused by bombing and mines. There is plenty of evidence of the fierce battle that took place here during the 1960s when Cu Chi was a “Free Target Zone”.
Go back to the city.
Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

DAY 11: HO CHI MINH – MEKONG DELTA (B,L)

Around 8.00am, leave Ho Chi Minh city and head to Can Tho, enjoy the scenic journey along the National Highway bordered by green rice fields. On arrival at My Tho, visit VinhTrang pagoda, take a leisurely boat ride along the river, view stilt houses, fruit plantations and fishing villages along the river bank.
Proceed to Tortoise islet, have lunch in the orchard garden. Then a boat ride to An Khanh, a less touristy attraction in Ben Tre, enjoy cruising on a hand-rowed sampan under the shade of the water coconut trees along natural canals. Then enjoy seasonal fruit & honey tea to the sound of “Southern Vietnamese folk music”, performed by the locals.
Visit a family business which epitomizes the idyllic rural lifestyle, taste delicious coconut candy & observe the pastoral life as you roam through fruit plantations and villages. Transfer to Can Tho city.
Stay overnight at hotel in Can Tho.
(Family home-stay with dinner can be arranged on request).

DAY 12: MEKONG DELTA – HO CHI MINH (B,L)

Take a leisurely boat trip to explore the picturesque tributaries of the Lower Mekong river (Bassac River), then proceed to visit Cai Rang floating market which are the liveliest in the whole religion.
Have you ever tasted Vietnamese vermicelli soup? Well, now go and see how it is made. Then wander around the village and meet the friendly local people and experience how to cross a “Monkey bridge” which is built by only o¬ne stem of bamboo. We continue the tour and stop at a orchard garden.
Stop for lunch. Then go back to Ho Chi Minh city.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh. (B,L)

DAY 13: HO CHI MINH – DEPARTURE (B)

Morning, breakfast at hotel in Ho Chi Minh. Your leisure until we transfer you to airport for your departure flight.