Itinerary

Itinerary in briefs:

Day1: Hanoi arrive

Day2: Hanoi city tour

Day3: Hanoi – Halong bay by seaplane

Day4: Halong bay – Ninh Binh

Day5: Ninh Binh – Hanoi – Street food tour

Day6: Hanoi – Dong Hoi – Paradise cave

Day7: Phong Nha Cave – Dong Hoi

Day8: Dong Hoi – Fly to Hochiminh

Day9: Hochiminh city tour – Cu chi Tunnel

Day10: Hochiminh – Mekong Exotic

Day 11: Mekong Exotic – Hochiminh

Day12: Hochiminh departure

Itinerary in details:

Day1: Hanoi arrive

Arrive Hanoi, pick up and transfer you to the hotel.

At leisure and overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

 

Day2: Hanoi city tour (B)

Breakfast at hotel.

8:00 AM: We will visit Ho Chi Minh complex and the Temple of Literature. This afternoon, we visit the Ethnology Museum, Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake. We have one hour to tale cyclo to travel around the Ancient city to see the daily Life of Hanoian and one more hour to watch The Water Puppet show in the Theater on the bank of Hoan Kiem Lake. At leisure and overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

 

Day3: Hanoi – Ha long bay by seaplane (B,L,D)

8.00: Pick up guests from hotels at Hanoi Old Quarter and transfer to  Halong .

Optional : Take a seaplane trip from Noi Bai airpport  to Halong bay and enjoy 15 min scenic ride to see the amazing beauty of Halong.

12.15: Embark at Tuan Chau Marina. Enjoy free tea at Gray Line reception room

12.30: Get on Gray Line boat easily by private quay. Then you will be warmly welcomed by crew team, who will serve you during the trip. Welcome drink will be served instantly during cruise briefing. Check in your reserved cabin and take a rest.

13.30: Enjoy a nice set-menu lunch. By local flavors in each dish, it vitally helps to recuperate after a 4-hour-car drive. In the meantime, Gray Line goes ahead to the Bay’s center. After lunch, you are free to relax on sundeck. While the light of afternoon decreases slightly, hundreds of islands with different shares definitely amaze you by its natural beauty. What Gray Line makes your trip different is not the sights of Halong, but the line that you are on. It is the best to watch unparalleled sceneries of Halong in slow motion.

15:00: By tender, visit Titop Island. Have free choice of activities such as sunbathing; swimming; conquering the peak of the biggest island in Halong named of a Russian space hero and taking panoramic photos of Halong bay in the afternoon.

15.40: Arrive at OngCam floating house by tender – one of few existing houses (belong Lan Ha Bay) left after the regulation of Management to relocate the traditional floating village to mainland. You will discover the area’s tranquility by kayaking – an indispensable water activity in Halong, for those who love challenging themselves or sitting on bamboo boat, for those who love being gentle and sophisticated, to admire breathtaking scenes. No matter what you choose, you will have a very quick look at the ruin of floating village to understand how they survive in simple forms of floating houses. Centrally, the activity offers the serenity of escape, particularly in the late afternoon. From a distance, few small junks drift off into the sunset slowly. What cool and poetic moment!

17:30: Go back Gray Line boat for relaxation. Regain your energy by enjoying fantastic views of Halong on sundeck at dusk. Enjoy the mini sunset party with complimentary seasonal fruits and finger foods. To get memorable sunset moment, you should order some Halong styled glasses of cocktail by joining buy-one-get-one-free program, made by our skillful bartenders.

18.30: Join cooking class on the sundeck. Gray Line’s chef shows you how to make Spring Roll - an authentic specialty, which is voted for World's 50 best foods by CNN

19.30: A sophisticated dinner that gives you an appetite will be dedicatedly served in romantic ambience, especially with BBQ fresh seafood and a variety of Vietnamese and Western foods.

21:00: Evening activities: watching film at the outdoor bar; playing board, guitar and card games; going fishing squid on tender. Enjoy squid cooked after fishing.

22:00: Overnight at the quietest sleeping area. End of the first day in Halong.

 

 

Day4: Ha long bay – Ninh Binh (B,L)

 06.30: Awaken you (on desire) at dawn for morning exercise with body warm up, Tai Chi Quan… on sundeck or enjoy beautiful spectacles that a blazing sunrise breaks the clouds of the island on the bay!

07.30: Have a light breakfast with coffee, tea and bakeries at Gray Line restaurant.

08.30: This least known cave locates on a remote island, which is rare in cave-lake seascape. Climb up several rugged stone stairs to admire the miracle of stalactites in a very complex structure, then overloooking gradually to the west, a great lake will appear infont of you, considered as a royal garden surrounding by natural mountain walls. you will be seemingly isolated on the bay. Its water looks blue all year round and breathtaking from high above. Moreover, values of nature and archeology about Maze cave as well as the life of local ancient people in thousand years ago will be revealed by your professional tour guide.

9.30: Come back the cruise. Time to check out your cabin, but not the end. Gray Line runs on another route back to the marina that offers amazing pictures of Mother Nature showing full of typical islets in Halong Bay. It must be a big part of your journey. Let us enjoy!

11:00: Farewell lunch is deliciously served at restaurant and say ‘’goodbye’’ to Gray Line’s crew, who serve you during the trip.

 11:45: Disembark at Tuan Chau Marina. Relax at Gray Line reception room. Transfer to Ninh Binh. At leisure and overnight in Ninh Binh

 

Day5: Ninh Binh – Van Long  - Hanoi – Street food tour (B,D)

This morning , we’ll go to explore Van Long Nature Reserve with the beautifully pristine varies of creatures, flora and fauna. Afternoon transfer you back to Hanoi.

5:30-8:30 PM: Enjoy Hanoi street food tour offered by Discovery Indochina.

 

Day6: Hanoi – Dong Hoi – Paradise cave (B)

Breakfast at hotel.

Transfer you to the airport for the morning flight to Dong Hoi. Upon arrival Dong Hoi, pick up and transfer you to hotel.

Afternoon visit PhongNha cave - the huge and longest dry cave in Asia, Paradise cave. A giant cave stays inside the jungle. Buggies with take you through the tree’s shadows in very cool temperature before going up the entrance on foot to get closer the big trees and listen to the sound of the insects. Visitors are able to visit 1200m in the the Paradise.

After that we have a boat along Chay River To Dark Cave

– Have Lunch At Dark Cave

– Explore Dark Cave, zip-line, take mud bath inside the cave, see fossils, kayak, play water games

Overnight in Phong Nha.

 

 

Day7:Phong Nha cave – Dong Hoi (B)

08:00 – 09h00: Pick up visitors from hotels within Phong Nha area.

visit Phong Nha Cave-First Wonder.

At leisure and overnight in Dong Hoi

 

 Day 8: Dong Hoi  – Fly to Hochiminh (B)

Free leisure time. Transfer you to the airport for the flight to Hochiminh.

Pick up and transfer you to hotel in Hochiminh.

At leisure and overnight in Hochiminh.

 

Day 9: Hochiminh city tour – Cu chi Tunnel (B)

Breakfast at hotel.

AM: Cu Chi Tunnels, an amazing complex of underground tunnels used during Vietnam war.

PM: This afternoon we have a haft day city tour  visit Saigon: Visit Notre Dame Cathedral, Post Office and the former Presidential Palace. Continue to visit the War Museum.

Overnight  in Hochiminh.

 

 

 Day10: Hanoi – Mekong river cruise (B,L,D)

8:00-8:30 A.M: Pick up at your hotel in HCM City and transfer you to Mekong.

10:30-11:00 A.M: Welcome you at our Cai Be pier. Take a local boat for an extensive visit of Cai Be: the floating market, the mazes of waterway, local pop-rice and sweets production. Visit of colonial buildings, old houses, delightful flower gardens and local coconut candy and rice paper manufacturers.

11:30-12:00: Join on board Le Cochinchine and enjoy a welcome drink. Lunch is served on board as the barge sails down Co Chien River then process onto Mang Thit River.

Embark on a pleasant walk or cycle on the footpaths of the countryside to discover tropical fruit orchards and local people's daily activities.

Leisurely cruise on the Mekong River while enjoying the beautiful scenery. Savour foot massage on board with a pre-dinner drink over the sunset.

Dinner and overnight on board.

 

Day11: Mekong river cruise – Hochiminh (B,L)

A lovely new day begins on Mekong River. Waking up early allows you to admire the sunrise on the Mekong with bubbling activities of local people. Breakfast on board while the boat sails to Can Tho through tributaries, canals and arroyos.

Check-out Le Cochinchine boat, say “goodbye” to our friendly staff, we transfer you by small boat for visit of Cai Rang, one of the most bustling floating markets in the whole Mekong Delta. The Cai Rang floating market is known as a high-light cannot be missed when you explore the Western rivers of Vietnam.

The local boat slides on tiny waterways between palm-shaded banks, you have the chance to see green orchards, local houses, ship building yards, and rural activities in full swing. The sampan takes you to an ancient house to visit the orchard and enjoy tropical fruit.

Return to the small boat and get off at 11:00 A.M in Can Tho pier.

Transfer back to HCM City, you will be dropped off at your hotel around 2:30-3:00 P.M. End of nice cruise.

 

Day12: Hochiminh departure (B)

At leisure before transfer you to the airport for your departure flight.

Ends of service.

 

 

Accommodation:

 

City	Hotel 4*	Hotel 5*
Hanoi	Silk Path Hotel (Deluxe room)	Apricot Hotel
Halong bay	Grayline cruise (Deluxe cabin)	Paradise cruise (Deluxe cabin)
Ninh Binh	Emeralda resort (Superior room)	Emeralda resort(Superior room)
Dong Hoi	Sun spa resort (Superior room)	Sun spa resort(Superior room)
Hochiminh	Grand Silver land Hotel (Deluxe room)	Majestic Saigon Hotel (Colonial room)
Mekong	Lecochinchine cruise	Lecochinchine cruise

 

 

 

Trip includes:

• Private transportation with air-conditioned
• Accommodation in twin/double shared  rooms
• English speaking guide during the tour days
• Halong bay cruise with guide on boat
• Admission fee to indicated sights
• Seaplane trip Hanoi - Halong (Optional +$399)
• Boat trips as mentioned
• Meals: as indicated(B= Breakfast,L=Lunch,D= Dinner)
• Gov’t tax and service charge

 

Trip excludes:

 

• Visa stamping fee
• Int’l air tickets to / from Vietnam
• Travel Insurance in all kinds
• Meals: lunch or dinner where not stated
• Single room (quoted separately)
• Tip, drinks, personal expenses and others
• Early check in/late check out hotels
• Peak season surcharge and compulsory gala dinner (Christmas, new year period)
• Bank charge/fee