Vietnam Highlights Tour
Our Vietnam Highlights Tour starts in the North in Vietnam’s sophisticated capital Hanoi. Once there you can walk down tree-lined boulevards and admire the splendour of French colonial architecture. Explore the city’s old and French quarter with its extensive markets, art galleries, eateries and coffee shops. Enjoy a water puppet performance in one of Hanoi’s theatres and watch Hanoi on parade whilst sipping ice-cold coffee in one of the cafes by Hoan Kiem Lake.
Cruise through thousands of sharp limestone islands at the UNESCO heritage Bay of Halong. Once there you will discover small hidden coves and impressive caves with glittering stalactites and enjoy a truly wonderful experience on board of a traditional Vietnamese junk boat. From here you journey south to the centre of the country and to the picturesque 16th-century harbour of Hoi An. Once here you have plenty of time to get acquainted before travelling on one of Vietnam’s most scenic highways to the old imperial capital of Hue. Sail down the Perfume River, visit the Forbidden Purple Citadel, Thien Mu Pagoda and sample the refined and unique Hue cuisine.
Continue to the deep south and its upbeat former capital Saigon, officially known as Ho Chi Minh. Enjoy this bustling ever-changing youthful city with its amazing markets and neon nightlife before you head for the traditional experience of the Mekong Delta. Spending more time on the water you will discover fascinating stilted houses, floating morning markets and stunning rural countryside. Your last stop on this Vietnam Highlights tour is all about pure relaxation as you fly out to the beautiful island of Con Dao, where you can unwind on the white sandy beaches and snorkel in the pure turquoise and clear waters of the islands, the perfect end to any holiday in Vietnam.
Highlights
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Hanoi City Tour
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Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum
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Tran Quoc Pagoda
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Temple of Literature
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Hoan Kiem Lake
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Dinner with a local Vietnamese family
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Ha Long Bay
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Sung Sot Cave
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Hoi An Ancient Town
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Hoi An countryside scooter tour
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100 year old house of Mr Huynh Ri
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Cua Dai Bridge
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Hue Imperial City
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Ho Chi Minh City half day tour
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Cu Chi Tunnels
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Mekong Delta trip to Ben Tre
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Con Dao Island paradise
Vietnam Tour Itinerary
Day
1
Hanoi
Arrival
Upon arrival in Noi Bai Airport, you’re welcomed by a ‘See Asia Differently’ representative and transferred to your hotel for check-in. You will then be free to relax and settle in for the remainder of the day.
Overnight in Hanoi (Meals: _/_/_)
Day
2
Hanoi
Full Day City Tour & Home Dinner
Explore this fascinating city, starting with the Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, the nation’s founder. As well as his house on stilts and the ancient One Pillar Pagoda. From here you will see Tran Quoc Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, which is Vietnam’s first university with its beautiful gardens and well-preserved architecture. Later, you will discover the Old Quarter streets and stop at Hoan Kiem Lake to take before enjoying a traditional dinner with a Vietnamese family.
Overnight in Hanoi (Meals: B/_/D)
Day
3
Ha Long Bay
Hanoi to Ha Long Bay | Drive: 3 hours
In the morning you leave Hanoi behind and travel through the rich farmlands to the emerald waters of Ha Long Bay; a World Heritage site of outstanding beauty, where thousands of spectacular limestone islets and grottoes rise from the clear Gulf of Tonkin. You then board your junk boat and enjoy lunch as you set sail. After lunch visits a floating fishing village, prior to your swimming or free time on the sundeck. Have dinner and settle in for the night.
Overnight on board (Meals: B/L/D)
Day
4
Hoi An
Ha Long Bay to Hoi An | Transport: 4.5 hours
In the morning a Tai Chi class is available on the sundeck for early risers. Your brunch is served as the boat slowly cruises past the many beautiful islets of Ha Long Bay on its way back to port. You will stop to explore ‘Sung Sot Cave’, considered to be the most beautiful cave in the Bay. As you disembark your driver will greet you and transfer you back to Hanoi to catch your afternoon flight to Da Nang. Upon arrival, your driver will transfer you to your hotel in Hoi An, where you have the rest of the day to get accustomed to your new surroundings.
Overnight in Hoi An (Meals: B/_/_)
Day
5
Hoi An
Scooter Countryside Tour
Your scooter adventure tour starts by riding over the bridge to Cam Kim Island, to visit the ancestral 100-year old House of Mr Huynh Ri and a traditional boat builders yard. You then continue through sleepy villages and breathtaking scenery, learning about various handicrafts, farming, the production of Banh Dap rice crackers and the art of roasting coffee. You then cross a 300-meter bamboo bridge on the way to Vinh Giang and Binh Duong and the coast before visiting some local markets, returning to Hoi An for a walking tour of the old town.
Overnight in Hoi An (Meals: B/L/_)
Day
6
Hoi An
Free Day
You have the whole day to explore the beautiful ancient city of Hoi An and what it has to offer. Wonder the fascinating streets and take some stunning photos. Or sample the food at the many top-quality restaurants and do a spot of shopping in the various boutiques.
Overnight in Hoi An (Meals: B/_/_)
Day
7
Hue
Hoi An to Hue | Drive: 3 hours
Today you travel to the Imperial City of Hue. Along the way, there is time to take a break from the top of Hai Van Pass that gives you a wonderful panoramic view of the surrounding area, including Lang Co Beach. Continuing on you will pause at a traditional fishing village before arriving at your hotel. Later in the day you will board a local boat and take a cruise upstream on the Perfume River, where you will visit the Thien Mu Pagoda and fascinating Minh Mang King’s Tomb.
Overnight in Hue (Meals: B/_/_)
Day
8
Hue
Home Visit & Half Day City Tour
This morning you will learn about the traditional Vietnamese way of life by spending time with a local family. Take a walk to the family Ancestral Temple and learn about customs associated with ancestral worship. Observe as your family prepares lunch for you. After eating say your goodbyes and return back to Hue for a guided city tour. Visiting the magnificent Hue Imperial Citadel with the exploration of Flag Tower, Ngo Mon Gate, Nine Dynastic Urns, 9 Holy Cannons, Thai Hoa Palace and the Forbidden city.
Overnight in Hue (Meals: B/L/_)
Day
9
Saigon
Hue to Saigon | Flight: 1.5 hours
You are free this morning before transferring to the airport for your onward flight to Saigon. On arrival, you will be met by your local guide and then transferred to your hotel for a free evening. Alternatively, an evening Vespa food tour could be arranged, the perfect way to get introduced to a new city and its food.
Overnight in Saigon (Meals: B/_/_)
Day
10
Saigon
Cu Chi Tunnels & Half Day City Tour
Today you will experience the history of the Cu Chi Tunnels, which were used as a rudimentary tool in the late 1940s. Visitors can drop and squeeze underground to get an insight into how life was in the tunnels, which were used for strategic attacks by resistance fighters. Later, discover Saigon on a half-day city tour visiting, the interesting Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Old Post Office.
Overnight in Saigon (Meals: B/_/_)
Day
11
Saigon
Mekong Delta
Spend the day cruising through the canals of the Mekong River in the island province of Ben Tre. You will cruise past orchards, rice fields and swamplands and visit a coconut processing workshop and a brick kiln. Next, you will take a scenic Tuk-tuk ride through paddy fields and stop at a local restaurant for lunch. After a fabulous day on the water, you then return back to the city.
Overnight in Saigon (Meals: B/L/_)
Day
12
Con Dao
Saigon to Con Dao | Flight: 1 hour
After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to the idyllic island of Con Dao. On arrival, you will be picked up by a hotel representative, who will transfer you to your beachside room. You are then free to enjoy the rest of the day in this remote sandy beach paradise.
Overnight in Con Dao (Meals: B/_/_)
Day
13
Con Dao
Free Day
Today you are free to explore the beautiful islands on your own or sit back relax and do absolutely nothing. Take a stroll down the delightful white sandy beaches or take a look around the town, which is also reachable on foot. The swimming, snorkelling and diving opportunities around the island are some of the very best in Vietnam.
Overnight in Con Dao (Meals: B/_/_)
Day
14
Con Dao
Free Day
You are free again to do as you wish today. If you don’t fancy sitting on the beach all day the discover some of the islands interesting history. As the island was once used as a prison island for political prisoners during the French colonial era. One of the old prisons is now a museum, where you learn more about the history of the island and Vietnam.
Overnight in Con Dao (Meals: B/_/_)
Day
15
Saigon
Con Dao to Saigon & Departure | Flight: 1 hour
Enjoy your last day at Con Dao before your transfer to airport for your flight back to Ho Chi Minh City and your connecting flight home.
(Meals: B/_/_)
Tour includes
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Airport pick up and drop off
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Overnights as mentioned
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Excursions as mentioned
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Transportation in private A/C vehicle
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English speaking guide
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Meals as mentioned (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner – excludes drinks)
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All taxes
Tour excludes
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All flights unless included in itinerary & Visa fees
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International airport tax (Included in Airline Ticket)
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Meals, unless mentioned differently
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Beverages and personal expenses
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Other excursions and entrance fees
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Travel insurance (cover against all cancellation costs, medical expenses, including repatriation and evacuation in the event of accident of illness)
Please note: You must have a valid passport with at least 6 months remaining on it as well as bringing with you 4 passport size photos with you for your visa, as well as having a couple spare.
Contact Us
Start planning your holiday today
Call us on 0208 150 5150, for International callers 004420 8150 5150, send us an e-mail [email protected] or just use the form opposite.
Your next steps:
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1Get in touch and talk to our specialist Asia travel team
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2We then craft a unique and tailor-made itinerary just for you.
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3We will stay in touch with you all the way through your holiday experience
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4Pack you bags and get ready for your Asia holiday of a life time
On arrival in Asia we will meet you at the airport, transfer you to your hotel and then sit down to run over your holiday program again. We then introduce you to your local guides and give you some helpful local travel tips; such as local restaurant and bar suggestions and some cultural insights.
Towns & Cities in Vietnam
Vietnam has no shortage of captivating destination to visit on your holiday. Refer to our Towns & cities guide to plan the perfect trip.
Our Favourite Hotels in Vietnam
There are so many beautiful hotels to choose from in Vietnam. So we have selected a few of our most favourite and characterful hotels; giving you a taste of what you can expect.