ESSENSIAL VIETNAM (PRIVATE TOUR 2024)

BAT TRANG VILLAGE & CITY TOUR

On the left bank of Hong river and about 10 km from Hanoi in East (in Gia Lam District, Hanoi), there situated a pottery village, which is the most famous and long-standing pottery village in Vietnam for its name of Bat Trang. Up to present, Bat Trang Pottery Village has still been operating and developing ceaselessly.

After that, visit Unique Bat Trang Pottery Museum. On an area of 3,700 square metres in Bat Trang village, the museum is part of the “Quintessence of the Vietnamese craft village” project, which aims to develop craft villages around the country.  The museum consists of seven funnel-shaped buildings intertwined together, with outer walls carved into multi-layered patterns that form a unique work. There are three exhibition floors at the museum, which help visitors gain an understanding of the craft village’s storied history. While the rooftop is a place for visitors to relax, the basement of the museum allows them to experience moulding and painting ceramics from the most rudimentary objects. You will learn about art of making ceramic by hand then visit a workshop of making lacquer paintings.

Transfer back to Hanoi for lunch & after lunch, enjoy the city tour.

In the afternoon, continue visit Temple of Literature – the first university of Vietnam, established in the 11 century. Originally built as a temple to Confucius, this is the site of Vietnam’s first University dating back to 1070. Inside are the stone steles mounted on the backs of turtles, inscribed with names of Vietnam best scholars. The temple highlights the importance that Vietnamese society place then and now on education.

Leave for Hoa Lo Prison Museum which originally used by the French colonists in Indochina for political prisoners, and later by North Vietnam for U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. During this later period, it was known to American POWs as the "Hanoi Hilton”.

Transfer back to your hotel

Overnight in Hanoi.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

HA LONG BAY – A WORLD HERITAGE

Leave your hotel in Hanoi for driving to Halong. Arrive in Halong around noon, we join our group and board a deluxe boat for a wonderful cruise on the emerald green waters of Halong Bay among the 3,000 spectacular limestone islands with a fabulous seafood lunch served on board. Then it is your pleasure time for swimming and sunbathing. In the evening, you will have dinner on board whistle watching sunset. Tonight, you will experience memorable overnight on board.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

Accommodation: Overnight on boat / Share Cabin (join in boat) – using in-house English speaking tour guide

FLIGHT TO DA NANG

Continuing to visit the Bay and brunch is served on board. Arrive at the boat docking station around 11:00AM. Pick up and transfer to airport for flight to Da Nang.

Upon arrival, pick up and transfer to your hotel in Da Nang.

Overnight in Da Nang.

Meals: Brunch. 

Accommodation: Hotel in Da Nang

HOIAN ANCIENT TOWN 

Breakfast at hotel then drive along Hoang Sa – Truong Sa street to Son Tra peninsula, you’ll pass and enjoy sea bath on My Khe Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches Forbes magazine’s voted. Then, you’ll visit Linh Ung pagoda with the highest Lady Buddha statue in Vietnam (67 meters height, approximately 30 stories).

After that, visit Ngu Hanh Son (Mountains of the Five Elements). Climb up Thuy Son (Water) by the stone stairs and enjoy the panoramic view of the nearby countryside, and visit Huyen Khong cave before entering Tam Thai and Linh Ung pagodas

In the afternoon, transfer to visit Hoian ancient town

Between the 17th and 19th centuries, Hoi An was a prosperous trading port. Today, this World Heritage-listed ancient town boasts well-preserved buildings, pedestrianized streets and unique cuisine, allowing visitors a glimpse of its illustrious past. The narrow lanes are ideal for a guided walking tour. There is plenty to visit including the old merchant’s houses with influences from Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese architecture; the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge; the Assembly Hall of the Chaozhou Chinese Congregation with outstanding wood carvings; and the colorful market with stalls brimming with local specialties including silk, which can be turned into fashionable garments within a day or two.

After that, transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Da Nang

Meals: Breakfast 

Accommodation: Hotel in Da Nang

TRANSFER TO HUE & CYCLO TOUR

After you have breakfast, we will continue to depart for Hue via the Cloudy Pass Hai Van cloudy pass where a spectacular panorama of the central coastline can be viewed from the summit. We stop en route at the wonderfully photogenic fishing village of Lang Co located on a sand dune line for photo opportunity.

Upon arrival, check in your hotel and in the afternoon.

Take a cyclo to visit Dong Ba market, learn briefly about Hue cuisine. Continuing on cyclos along busy streets, exploring the daily life of Hue and during the tour, we will stop at many famous street restaurants to sample a lot of Hue local street food dishes such as Nam, Beo, Loc... and other local dishes. Then drive to a beautiful cafe in Hue to have a cup of coffee (or another drink of your choice)

Transfer back to your hotel. Overnight in Hue

Meals: Breakfast 

Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

FULL DAY CITY TOUR 

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to pier for the boat trip on the gentle Perfume River，a river that crosses the capital city of Hue. Stop at Thien Mu temple, is the oldest monument in Hue with the wonderful Royal architecture and poetic views. It has gained a reputation for not only its ancient beauty but also its mysterious stories. Then you will visit Mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang. With its stunning landscape, intricate architecture and fascinating stories which reflect the grandeur of the Nguyen Dynasty, the Mausoleum has enraptured visitors and become one of the most popular places to visit in Hue.

Hue served as an imperial capital to the Nguyen Lords, a feudal dynasty which reigned from the 17th to the 19th century. With splendid emperors’ tombs, ancient pagodas and the remains of the Citadel, the city retains its royal charm. Start with guide from your hotel to the Imperial Citadel, a UNESCO listed site. Enter through the towering main gate and you will appreciate the magnificent architecture and gardens while your guide explains about the events and the intrigue of the former royal court. Despite being bombed heavily, there are some incredibly well-preserved sections still intact and others which are being lovingly restored.

Overnight in your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

FLIGHT TO SAIGON 

Breakfast at your hotel, free at leisure until transfer to airport for flight to Saigon.

On arrival, pick up and transfer to your hotel.

Rest of the day is free at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast 

Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

CU CHI TUNNEL & CITY TOUR 

In the morning, pick up at your hotel and drive to the Cu Chi tunnels. The tunnel complex was initially started in 1948 to protect the Viet Cong guerrillas from the French air and ground sweeps. The tunnels also served as communication routes, storage facilities for food and weapon caches as well as hospitals and living quarters for guerrilla fighters throughout the American war. A visit to the underground villages will provide a better understanding of the tunnels’ history, the hardship of life underground and the Vietnamese resilience during combat.

Lunch at local restaurant and transfer back to Saigon.

In the afternoon, visit Saigon.

Saigon is the country’s commercial centre and, with over nine million inhabitants and four million motorbikes, a city that never sleeps. Despite the well-documented hustle and bustle, Saigon retains its connections with the past. A walking tour to admire Saigon’s historic landmarks is a must.  Transfer to Dong Khoi street., or Rue Catinat as it was known in the time of the French occupation, to discover some of the beautiful French colonial buildings built in the late 19th and early 20th century. Appreciate the splendidly restored exteriors of the Opera House and the former Hotel de Ville which are still two of the finest buildings in Saigon. 

Wander up to the Notre Dame Cathedral, a red brick edifice with twin spires based on the original construction from Paris. (visit outside, under renovation now)

Then head across the square to the Central Post Office, designed by the French architect, Gustav Eiffel, before he had risen to fame for the Eiffel Tower. 

Then visit the former Presidential Palace, the headquarters of the Saigon Government during the American war, is a short drive away and reveals the history of Saigon during its turbulent recent past.

After that transfer to visit Ngoc Hoang (Jade Emperor) Pagoda he only place where the Jade Emperor is worshipped in Vietnam. There are many artworks in the pagoda such as worshipping paintings, statues, parallel sentences and altars made from wood, ceramic and cardboard. The pagoda boasts a set of about 300 ancient statues, including 100 made from cardboard, presenting a meeting of genies with the Jade Emperor. Using only paper and bamboo laths, artisans created lively statues with an august nuance.

Transfer back to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch 

 Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

BENTRE – MEKONG DELTA (NT05)

Breakfast at hotel then pick up and transfer you to Ben Tre province.

Boating on Ben Tre river – one of tributaries of Mekong river- go along mangrove trees growing up ashore of waterway. Witness lively activities of town market on land and transfering on waterway as fishing boats, coconut cargo boats. Discover handmade local workshops and country in Nhon Thanh village.

Boating on river to traditional brickwork to see how to make bricks by hand. Turn on Cai Son canal winding through coconut jungle, visit coconut workshop, have a look stages of coconut processing from husk off, prize out to peel out by hand. Go on small waterway and stop at coconut candy workshop, have a look them making candy by hand, try some sweet, enjoy some fruits and listen to local music as well. Go on by boat and step ashore and take a shortwalk to farmer house who making sleepmats.

Hop on tuktuk through coconut grove, Nhon Thanh – Thuan Dien village, deeping on coconut jungle in country. Keep going by rowing boat on shady palm tree canal in Cai Tac pier. Stop for lunch at local restaurant by river.

Go back by boat and drop tour off at Buffalo pier. Transfer back to Ho Chi Minh city. Drop off at the hotel. Free at leisure in the evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

DEPARTURE

Breakfast at hotel. Day is at leisure till transfer to the airport for your onward flight.

Meals: Breakfast 

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