Your tour itinerary without beach stay:

• Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi
• Day 2: Hanoi - Optional visits
• Day 3: Hanoi - Optional visits
• Day 5: Mai Chau Valley - Pu Luong Nature Reserve
• Day 6: Pu Luong Nature Reserve - Hanoi
• Day 8: Ha Long Bay - Hanoi - Flight to Ho Chi Minh City
• Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City - Optional visits

Your itinerary with a 4 or 6-night beach stay in Mui Ne:

• Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi
• Day 2: Hanoi - Optional visits
• Day 3: Hanoi - Optional visits
• Day 5: Mai Chau Valley - Pu Luong Nature Reserve
• Day 6: Pu Luong Nature Reserve - Hanoi
• Day 8: Ha Long Bay - Hanoi - Flight to Ho Chi Minh City
• Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City - Optional visits

Plus, either: 

• 4-night beach stay in Mui Ne
• 6-night beach stay in Mui Ne

 
Please note that the order of the activities may be changed without affecting the interest of the programme.

Optional: Hanoi city tours

• After your breakfast, your guide and driver will collect you from your hotel reception. The day begins by discovering the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (outside). You take a leisurely stroll through the botanical garden to visit the presidential palace, Ho Chi Minh's house on stilts where he lived and worked and then the single Pier pagoda.
• Next, you'll continue to the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long. You'll explore the sumptuous array of architectural works built through many dynasties of Vietnamese emperors.
• Enjoy lunch in a restaurant.
• In the afternoon, you will visit the temple of Literature (Van Mieu Quoc Tu Giam in Vietnamese) which was built during the Ly dynasty in the 11th century to venerate Confucius and educate royal children. You'll take a stroll through the garden towards the city's symbol, Khue Van Cac and then visit the World Heritage Site "Stone Patterns" named after excellent students.
• Then you will take the road towards the old quarter of Hanoi dating from the 15th century, made up of " 36 streets and corporations ". You discover the city on foot is the best way to awaken your senses included Hoan Kiem Lake, Hang Be Market and Dong Xuan Market. 
• Finally, you will stop at Long Bien Bridge loaded with history where you will enjoy different views of the city and admire the sunset over the Red River. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon.

What's included: English-speaking guide, private transfer, entrance fees, lunch, and 2 bottles of water. 

DAY 3: HANOI (Breakfast)

• Enjoy free time to explore the city on your own or choose the optional visits with a private English-speaking guide below.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Hanoi.

Breakfast included. 

Optional: Tours of Ha Long Bay on land

• This morning, you'll depart from Hanoi to Ninh Binh (onshore Ha Long Bay).
• You will arrive in Ninh Binh after about 2 hours' drive. On arrival, you will take a bike ride on the country road passing rice fields and rocks.
• You will then visit the Bich Dong cave, which was designated by a king as "the second most beautiful cave in Vietnam". Climb the Ngu Nhac Son (Buddha's Palm Mountain), to be enchanted by the wonderful scenery offered by mountains, rivers and pagodas.
• Enjoy lunch in a restaurant.
• In the afternoon, you will continue to Tam Coc, which means three caves, was created by the Ngo Dong river flowing through a mountain.
• You'll take a ride in a rowing boat to cross these caves amidst an awe-inspiring mountain panorama, via magnificent waterways lined with rice paddies. This is known as the baie d'Ha Long Terrestre. You will then take a short walk to the Thai Vi Temple, and enjoy the nature and fresh air.
• Return to Hanoi in the late afternoon.

What's included: English-speaking guide, private transfer, entrance fees, lunch, and 2 bottles of water. 

DAY 5: MAI CHAU VALLEY - PU LUONG NATURAL RESERVE (25 miles/1 hour) 

• Today you'll visit a local market in Mai Chau and then depart for Eo Ken, inhabited by the Muong ethnic group.
• On arrival, you descend the slope and enjoy a spectacular view of the Pu Luong nature reserve, a blend of mountains and terraced rice fields.
• You will have the opportunity to visit a Muong family in this village and discover their life, their authentic customs. You continue the hike through picturesque landscapes and a pretty stream to reach the village of Hang. 
• You will then take the road to Pu Luong and enjoy lunch in a restaurant
• In the afternoon, you'll take an easy hike through mountain tribe villages to the superb water wheels (1-2 mile walk).
• Get up close to each water wheel and discover how water is moved from the river to the handmade bamboo aqueducts, via simple constructions of all sizes.
• Take a bamboo raft ride along the calm river and enjoy the view, while learning to paddle and steer your handcrafted rafts.
• Pick-up by your driver and return to your hotel for the night.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Pu Luong.

Breakfast included. 

DAY 6: PU LUONG - HANOI (99 miles/4 hours)

• After breakfast, After breakfast, you start your day by descending into the superb valley through spectacular rice fields. Follow small paths to gently the villages of Chom Uoi and Chom Lan. This is a good time to fill your memory card. All along the hike, you'll enjoy the scenery between rice terraces, villages, wild fields, ponds, streams and mountains.
• Along the way, you'll have the chance to chat with local villagers and learn about their traditional customs and culture.
• Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant and arrive in Hanoi in the late afternoon.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Hanoi.

Breakfast included. 

Note: the itinerary is subject to change depending on weather conditions or local government regulations and boat availability.

DAY 8: HA LONG BAY - HANOI 

• This morning, you enjoy 30 minutes of Tai Chi instructions on the terrace while sailing to the Luồn Grotto.
• Enjoy a light breakfast in the restaurant (coffee, tea, fresh milk, water, pastries, bread, eggs, fresh fruit and cereals will be served in the dining room).
• After breakfast, you will take a guided tour to visit Luồn Cave - one of the beautifully shaped caves open to the endemic vegetation of Halong Bay.
• Visit Luồn Cave aboard a traditional boat, woven from bamboo, and rowed by a local boatman.
• Then return to the cruise vessel and enjoy some relaxation before departing your cabin. (Please leave your luggage outside the door. Our porters will transfer it to the jetty for you).
• The cruise disembarks in the international port of Tuan Chau.
• A shuttle driver will pick you up and take you to Hanoi.
• Our private driver will pick you up and take you to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh.
• When you arrive in Ho Chi Minh, your driver will pick you up and take you to your hotel.

Overnight stay in Ho Chi Minh.

Breakfast included.

DAY 9: HO CHI MINH 

• Today enjoy free time to explore the city on your own or choose the optional visits with a private English-speaking guide below.

Overnight stay in Ho Chi Minh.

Breakfast included.

Option 1: Visits to the Mekong Delta (Cai Be - Vinh Long)

• 07:30 AM: Your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel. You will take the road to Cai Be.
• On arrival at the pier, you will take a cruise for a quick visit of Cai Be floating market. Next, the rowing boat will take you deeper into the countryside on smaller canals to enjoy the peaceful weather.
• Return to our boat to cross one of the longest rivers in the world, the Mekong, to arrive on the island of An Bình.
• Enjoy lunch with a local.
• After lunch, we can stroll through the orchard and enjoy a few cups of tea with your host, while listening to the traditional music.
• Stroll through the village to visit the local workshop and see how to make rice paper, coconut sweets, puffed rice...
• Cycle along the village paths to see everyday local life: orchard, school, church, pagoda, traditinal houses...
• Next, you will visit the brick kilns where you can see how the locals create beautiful pottery from clay.
• The cruise will end at the town of Vinh Long and your private driver will pick you up and drive you to Ho chi Minh.
• You'll arrive in Ho Chi Minh in the late afternoon. End of excursion.

What's included: Private English-speaking transfer and guide, Boat to Mekong, lunch, entrance fees, 2 bottles of mineral water.

Option 2: CU CHI TUNNEL VISITS - CAO DAI TEMPLE

• Your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel to visit the most extraordinary places of the Vietnam War, the Cu Chi tunnels.
• Cu Chi is a veritable underground city made up of a labyrinth of tunnels measuring more than 155 miles in length where the Viet Cong waged the war of resistance against American troops. 
• Excavated over a period of some twenty years, the site is a manual work based solely on picks and shovels. The tour will take you through some of the tunnels.
• You can also visit the nearby, but much less touristy, Ben Duoc Memorial Temple. It was built in 1993 to pay tribute to the Vietnamese fighters who died at Cu Chi.  
• You'll continue the drive to Tay Ninh to see the ornate temple of Cao Dai - a religion that is a mixture of Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism and Confucianism. In this religion, it is believed that Buddha and the Christian God both exist as deities and that Cao Dai is the third highest deity.
• Attend the midday service where worshippers fill the hall wearing colourful robes.
• Return to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh).

Overnight stay in Ho Chi Minh.

Breakfast included.

What's included: English or French-speaking guide and private transfer, lunch, entrance fees, mineral water.

DAY 10: HO CHI MINH - DEPARTURE 

• Breakfast at your hotel, free time until transfer to the airport for your return flight.

DAY 11, 12,13: HOI AN - MUI NE (Breakfast)

Breakfast at your resort, free time to relax and enjoy your beach holiday.

Overnight in Mui Ne;

Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 14: MUI NE - HO CHI MINH - DEPARTURE (Breakfast)

Breakfast at your hotel, free time until transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport, Ho Chi Minh approximately 3h30 drive via highway for your flight home.

Further information about your Hanoi city tour:

Itinerary:

• After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at the hotel reception.

• The day begins with a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (exterior).

• You'll enjoy a leisurely stroll through the botanical gardens to visit the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh's house on stilts, where he lived and worked, and the Pier Unique pagoda.

• You'll then continue to the imperial citadel of Thang Long, where you'll discover the sumptuous ensemble of architectural works built through the various dynasties of Vietnamese emperors.

• Enjoy lunch in a restaurant.

• In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Literature (Van Mieu Quoc Tu Giam in Vietnamese), built under the Ly dynasty in the 11th century to venerate Confucius and educate royal children.

• Stroll through the garden towards the city's landmark, Khue Van Cac, and then visit the World Heritage site of 'stone stelae' named after outstanding students.

• Later, take the road to Hanoi's 15th-century Old Quarter, consisting of '36 streets and guilds'. Discovering the city on foot is the best way to awaken your senses, including Hoan Kiem Lake, Hang Be Market and Dong Xuan Market.

• Finally, you will stop at the Long Bien Bridge, rich in history, where you can enjoy different views of the city and watch the sunset over the Red River. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon.

What's included:

• English-speaking guide
• Private transfer
• Entrance fees
• Lunch
• 2 bottles of water

Further information:

• Walk through orchards, have a cup of tea, listen to traditional music, visit the village with local workshops, to see local activities in including the manufacture of rice paper, coconut sweets and puffed rice.

• Take a bike ride to see local daily life.

• Your outing comes to a close in the city of Vinh Long.

Further information: 

• The Tunnels of Cu Chi form an immense network of 220 km of underground connecting tunnels, divided into 3 levels up to 6 metres, 8 metres and 10 metres deep underground, where more than 10,000 people lived.

• This zigzag tunnel served as a connection between different villages.

• Visit the underground villages to better understand the history of the tunnels, life in the tunnels and the resilience of the Vietnamese during the fighting.

• Continue your journey to the ornate temple of Cao Dai in Tay Ninh.

• Visit the temple, and observe the strictly orchestrated, colourful afternoon service to get an idea of a unique religion that is a blend of Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism and Confucianism.