Family Discover Vietnam – 11 days

BRIEF ITINERARY

 

 

Day 1: Hanoi arrival

Day 2: Hanoi – Ha Long bay

Day 3: Halong Bay – Hanoi

Day 4: Hanoi

Day 5: Hanoi – Hue

Day 6: Hue arrival

Day 7: Hue city

Day 8: Hue – Hoi An

Day 9: Hoi An Cooking Class

Day 10: Hoi An

Day 11: Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh city

Day 12: HCM – Mekong Delta

Day 13: Ho Chi Minh – Cu Chi

Day 14: Ho Chi Minh departure

 

 

DETAILED ITINERARY:

 

 

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival

 

 

Upon arrival in Hanoi, our driver will pick you up from the airport or train station and transfer you to your hotel. After checking in, you will have the rest of the day to explore the city on your own. Some suggested attractions to visit include Hoan Kiem Lake, the Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, the serene Temple of Literature, or the city’s Fine Arts Museum.

 

 

Day 2: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B,L,D)

 

 

After breakfast, we will depart for the spectacular World Heritage site of Halong Bay in the Gulf of Tonkin, with a short break on the way. Upon arrival, we will board the Lavender Cruise and enjoy lunch while cruising on exquisite water, passing by sandy coves, grottoes, and 1,969 limestone islands. During the cruise, we will visit Incense Burner Island, Fighting Cock Islet, Stone Dog, and explore Halong Bay on one of the most wonderful routes, which only a few cruises go through.

 

 

Day 3: Halong Bay – Hanoi (B,L)

 

 

Wake up early to catch the stunning sunrise over the bay, and participate in fun activities before returning to Hanoi by 15:00.

 

 

Day 4: Hanoi – Free and Easy (B)

 

 

Today is free for you to relax, go shopping, and explore the city on your own. Some suggested activities include visiting Hoan Kiem Lake, wandering around shaded areas, visiting the Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, the serene Temple of Literature, or the city’s Fine Arts Museum.

 

 

Day 5: Hanoi – Night Train to Hue (B)

 

 

After breakfast, you will have free time to explore Hanoi until our driver picks you up and takes you to the Hanoi railway station. You will then catch a night train to Hue city. Please note that there are four soft berths per tourist cabin with A/C, which you may share with other passengers. The journey takes around 13 hours from Hanoi to Hue. Please contact us if you wish to upgrade to a private train cabin or internal flight from Hanoi to Hue.

 

 

Day 6: Hue Arrival – Free and Easy (No Meals)

 

 

Upon arrival in Hue, transfer to your hotel. You will have free time to rest or explore Hue city on your own. Once the imperial capital of Vietnam, Hue holds the treasures of the country’s royal past.

 

 

Day 7: Hue City Full-Day Tour (B/L)

 

 

Our tour guide will pick you up from your hotel, and in the morning, you will visit the Thien Mu Pagoda, the Imperial Citadel, the Nguyen Hue Royal Antiques Museum, and the Dong Ba Market. After lunch at a local restaurant, we will continue to visit the Khai Dinh King’s Tomb, the Minh Mang King’s Tomb, and the conical hat village and incense stick making village.

 

 

Day 8: Hue – Hoi An (B)

 

 

After breakfast, we will transfer you by private car to Hoi An, with optional photo stops at Lap An Lagoon, Lang Co Beach, Hai Van Pass, and Marble Mountain. After arriving in Hoi An, we will drop you off at your hotel, and you will have free time to explore the ancient town on your own.

 

 

Day 9: Hoi An – My Son Sanctuary (B, L)

 

 

After breakfast, you will leave Hoi An and cross the Cua Dai bridge, which offers stunning views of the Hoi An river system, mountains, and Cham islands. Your first stop will be at a bustling fishing village where you can observe local market traders selling their fresh catch of the day.

Next, you will arrive at My Son Sanctuary, also known as the “Valley of Kings.” This ancient site was once the capital of the Chăm Pa Kingdom from the 4th to 15th century. You’ll enjoy a traditional dance performance before embarking on a walking tour of the Cham ruins. Your guide will explain the history of the religious site, which served as a burial place for Cham monarchs centuries ago.

After the tour, you’ll return to Hoi An to start a two-hour boat trip on the Thu Bon river. Your boat journey will take you past Duy Hai fishing village, Tra Nhieu weaving village, and Kim Bong carpentry village. You’ll enjoy a soft lunch of Quang-style noodles with pork and shrimp, served on the boat.

 

 

Day 10: Hoi An – Free and Easy Day (B)

 

 

Today, you have a free day to relax, shop, or take a bicycle to explore the ancient town of Hoi An and the surrounding countryside. You can visit traditional Chinese mansions, shop for souvenirs or tailored clothing, or head out to the nearby beach, which features gorgeous white sand. Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before embarking on your chosen activities for the day.

 

 

Day 11: Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh city (B)

 

 

In and around Ho Chi Minh City
You will have breakfast at the hotel, then our driver will take you to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Upon arrival, our driver will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to relax, explore the city, or do some shopping.

 

 

Day 12: Ho Chi Minh city – Cu Chi Tunnels (B,L)

 

 

In the morning, our guide will pick you up at your hotel and we’ll head to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, which were used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. You’ll have a chance to crawl through a section of the tunnels and learn about their history and construction.

After lunch at a local restaurant, we’ll return to Ho Chi Minh City to visit some of the city’s most famous landmarks, including the War Remnants Museum, the Reunification Palace, and Notre Dame Cathedral.

 

 

Day 13: Ho Chi Minh city – Mekong Delta (B,L)

 

 

In and around Mekong Delta
After breakfast, we’ll leave Ho Chi Minh City for a day trip to the Mekong Delta. We’ll explore the bustling city of My Tho and take a boat trip to the Ben Tre islands. We’ll visit a coconut candy factory, a honey bee farm, and take a horse cart ride through a local village. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we’ll take a rowing boat ride along the narrow canals of the Mekong Delta before returning to Ho Chi Minh City.

 

 

Day 14: Ho Chi Minh city departure (B)

 

 

Our driver will transfer you to the airport for your departure flight. We hope you’ve had a memorable trip in Vietnam and wish you a safe and pleasant journey home.