Halong Beach & Beyond
Highlights
... picturesque riverside towns and rural villages, before relaxing on the beautiful beach of Mui Ne.
Some of the highlights included are:
- Halong Bay - UNESCO Listed region with thousands of beautiful limestone peaks and islets
- Hanoi - Hoan Kiem Lake and the Ancient Quarter
- Mekong Delta - a maze of waterways, fertile farm land and floating villages
- Saigon - ‘Pearl of the Orient!. Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Post Office and War Remnants Museum
- Mui Ne - beautiful beaches and warm waters
Holiday Type
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What's included
- International and internal flights
- 11 nights 4 star and special class hotels, 1 night deluxe junk boat (private cabin)
- Halong Bay Junk boat cruise - swim, kayak, explore caves and floating villages
- Sampan and row boat journeys in the Mekong Delta. Rickshaw ride through rural villages of Ben Tre.
- Sampan and row boat journeys in the Mekong Delta. Rickshaw ride through rural villages of Ben Tre.
- All relevant transfers and transportation in private air-conditioned vehicles
- Escorted by an English speaking Vietnamese tour guide.
- Bicycle ride to Tra Que village and cooking demonstration
Need to know
- Maximum group size: 24 travellers
- Entrance Fees: $40-$50 not included
Your route
Itinerary
Hanoi
Hanoi
Sunday. Welcome to Hanoi, perhaps the most graceful, atmospheric and exotic capital city in Asia. Airport to hotel arrival transfer. The remains of the day offer free time for you to explore the wide tree lined avenues, beautiful lakes, ancient pagoda’s and thriving, historic old city, all easily navigated on foot. On day 2 we embark on a city tour of Vietnam's capital. Highlights include the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum (if open, closed Oct - Nov), the beautiful Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh's iconic House on Stilts and the nearby One Pillar Pagoda. Then we explore the enchanting web of streets, known as the '36 streets of the old quarter' on a cyclo (rickshaw) ride
Junk boat cruising, Halong Bay
Junk boat cruising, Halong Bay
Hanoi – Halong Bay - Hoi An. On day 3 we take a scenic drive leading us to the stunningly beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site of Halong Bay. Boarding our traditional wooden junk boat we cruise the emerald waters soaking up the panoramic vista of the thousand or so karst limestone islands that stud the bay. Later opt for a refreshing swim in one of the many sheltered coves before taking row boats to the pristine waterway known as 'Dark & Bright Lagoon'. Tonight, there's a Vietnamese cooking demonstration held on the sundeck before an impressive seafood dinner is served. Start day 4 with a Tai Chi class on the sundeck or a traditional massage. After exploring a lofty grotto hidden beneath towering cliffs, we sail back to port. we travel back to Hanoi to board a flight to Danang where we continue our journey to Hoi An.
Hoi An & bike ride to Tra Que
Hoi An & bike ride to Tra Que
We spend the next two days in the picturesque riverside town of Hoi An with its cobbled streets, beautiful architecture and tailors galore! After a short walking tour of this enchanting historical town the rest of the day is free to explore, shop or relax by the pool. On day 6 a bike ride into the countryside takes us to Tra Que village. Here, we discover age old farming practises and learn about traditional medicine. It's a hands on experience where we'll assist with tending the fields and cooking a tasty Vietnamese lunch.
Saigon
Saigon
Hoi An - Saigon. This morning we travel to Danang to catch a flight to the vibrant and bustling city of Saigon. We explore the city on a guided tour, taking in key sites such as the Reunification Palace and the War Remnants Museum.
Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta
This morning we head south to Ben Tre where we enjoy a rickshaw ride through rural villages and lush countryside before boarding a boat to explore the canals of the Mekong Delta, stopping to visit local cottage industries en route. Then we take a bike ride through Mekong villages to visit a boat building household. We also meet a sticky rice maker as well as a former Viet Cong soldier who survived two years fighting the Khmer Rouge. We continue on our bikes to a riverside restaurant for a tasty lunch, before returning to Saigon.
Beach time in Mui Ne
Beach time in Mui Ne
On day 9 we travel by road to Mui Ne, one of southern Vietnam's most beautiful beaches, where we spend the next three days at leisure. Sunbathe on the beautiful beach, swim in the warm water or perhaps enjoy some of the activities on offer in the area such as golfing, fishing or even sand-sledding on Phan Thiet's famous red and white sand dunes.
Saigon
Saigon
Today we bid farewell to Mui Ne and make our way back to Saigon. The remainder of day 12 is at leisure
Saigon
Saigon
Friday. Today is free for you to enjoy Saigon before your departure transfer to the airport. Opt for a relaxing foot massage, shop for souvenirs at Ben Thanh Market or visit the grand Independence Palace, with its secret bunker and military command centre beneath! You could also extend your stay and join us on a day trip to Cu Chi. Here you can go underground to explore the vast network of tunnels and hideouts used by Viet Cong guerrilla fighters, see booby traps, trap doors or test your skill with an AK 47 at the firing range.