The Ultimate Vietnam Escape: From Vibrant Saigon to Hanoi & Ha Long Bay

Upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh city, you will be welcomed by our driver and transferred to your hotel. Check-in time: 14:00Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh city

Get ready for a whole day of discovering the city. Ho Chi Minh City—formerly named Saigon—is Vietnam’s largest city. Saigon is a fast-paced city with a unique mix of French colonial architecture, Chinese influences, a modern entrepreneurial spirit, and numerous temples.

During its 300-year history, under the name Saigon, it was the capital of French Indochina and later of the Republic of South Vietnam. After the war, the city was officially renamed Ho Chi Minh City after President Ho Chi Minh. Today, it is a modern, developing urban area still strongly connected to its past.

08:00 Start your tour with the Reunification Palace, formerly the residence of the President of the Republic of Vietnam. On 30 April 1975, when a North Vietnamese soldier entered the building with a red flag, the world knew the Vietnam War was over.

Next stop is the War Remnants Museum. On the way, visit Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Post Office, two of the most famous classical French colonial architecture sites, built over 100 years ago. The War Remnants Museum features many photographs from both Vietnamese and US sources, and displays US military vehicles like tanks and jets outside.

Then depart for Cu Chi. Along the way, watch as the hectic city scenery transitions to a more peaceful rural setting with rice paddies, roadside vendors, and lush greenery.

Upon arrival, begin your tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels, one of the most extensive underground networks with pathways, hideouts, sleeping quarters, meeting rooms, hospitals, and Hoang Cam stoves. These narrow tunnels were originally only large enough for one person to crawl through, though some have been widened for visitors. Learn how the 10–13 feet (3–4 m) thick upper soil layer could support the weight of a 55-ton tank and withstand bomb explosions.

Then watch an insightful wartime documentary before exploring more trap doors, underground quarters, large bomb craters, the Garment-factory Ammunition and Souvenir Shops, and the Museum of Self-made Weapons.

You will also have the thrilling chance to fire an M-15, AK-47, or carbine rifle at the National Defense Sports Shooting Range (at your own expense).

Return to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Overnight at a hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

In Southern Vietnam, the Mekong River unravels into nine sprawling rivers, forming the fertile Mekong Delta. It’s here the river rules. Daily life flows with the ever-changing waters: fisheries thrive during the annual flood and rice fields are quickly dug as the waters recede.

Start your day with an 8:30 AM pick-up from your centrally located hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. Then head to the city of My Tho by bus. During the 1.5-hour bus drive to My Tho, learn about the cultures of the local people and enjoy the scenery of green rice fields.

Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda, the biggest pagoda in the Mekong Delta.

Continue to My Tho and take a boat trip along the Mekong River. During the cruise, see fish cages and floating houses on the river.

The boat will take you to a small canal, where you can escape the busy town. The cruise through the coconut tree-lined canal will lead you to a coconut island in Ben Tre.

Disembark, walk around the village and visit a local family to enjoy tropical fruit, taste honey tea and honey wine, and listen to Vietnamese traditional music performed by the villagers.

Continue walking on the village road to a coconut candy shop to learn how coconut candy is made and see handicrafts created from coconut trees.

Take a walk through the village and discover many kinds of fruits, flowers, trees, and local houses. Take your time to enjoy the natural scenery and take photos.

Back to Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Flight to Ha Noi in the morning.

Upon arrival in Hanoi, you will be welcomed by our guide and transferred to your hotel. Hanoi is one of Asia's most charming cities, with its romantic tree-lined boulevards and colonial houses.

You will then visit the Temple of Literature, constructed in 1070 to worship Confucius, which served as the first Royal National University in Vietnam. The site also honors 82 Vietnamese doctorates who passed a number of rigid exams in the feudal ages. Their names, birthdays and birthplaces are engraved in 82 headstones perched on stone tortoises. It is widely believed that touching the heads of these tortoises will bring luck. Its peaceful green compound with maintained lawns, gardens and lotus ponds makes it a tranquil hideaway from the city’s bustle.

Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda, located on Golden Fish Island in West Lake. It is the oldest pagoda in Hanoi, built in the 6th century.

Enjoy an afternoon walking tour of Hanoi’s Old Quarter and see historic attractions as well as local markets, homes, and shops.

Continue to Hang Be Market to soak up the vibrant atmosphere of one of the city’s busiest markets where residents shop for all kinds of goods.

Wander down busy streets, passing street stalls, and stop at Hang Quat Street to visit an old stamp maker. Continue to St. Joseph’s Cathedral, built by the French in 1887.

Overnight at hotel in Ha Noi.

Ha Long Bay 1-Day Tour from HanoiOverview:

Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of Vietnam’s most spectacular landscapes. Famous for its emerald waters, thousands of towering limestone islands, and colorful caves, Ha Long Bay is a must-visit destination in northern Vietnam. This full-day tour is perfect for travelers with limited time who want to experience the beauty of Ha Long Bay in a day.

Highlights:

Expressway transfer from Hanoi for faster travel

Day cruise in Ha Long Bay with seafood lunch on board

Explore Sung Sot Cave (Amazing Cave)

Kayak or bamboo boat in Luon Cave Lagoon

Visit Titov Island and climb to Titov Peak for panoramic views

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Hanoi

Itinerary:

08:00 – 08:30 AM:

Pick up from your hotel in Hanoi. Travel to Tuan Chau Island, Halong City via the new expressway, with a short rest stop along the way.

Cruise in Ha Long Bay:

Arrive at Tuan Chau Harbor, welcome aboard, and safety briefing.

Cruise through the stunning limestone islands, passages, and uninhabited islets with imaginative names such as Fighting Chicken.

Enjoy a delicious Vietnamese seafood lunch on board.

Visit & Activities:

Bo Hon Archipelago: Explore Sung Sot (Surprising) Cave, filled with impressive stalagmites and stalactites in various shapes.

Go kayaking or bamboo boat in Luon Cave Lagoon to discover peaceful waterways surrounded by limestone cliffs.

Titov Island: Walk along the sandy beach and climb Titov Peak for panoramic views of Ha Long Bay, a picture-perfect paradise.

Afternoon:

Enjoy afternoon tea on board while cruising back toward Tuan Chau Harbor.

Sunbathe on the upper deck and take photos of the iconic natural scenery.

18:00 PM:

Disembark at Tuan Chau Harbor and return to Hanoi via the expressway.

21:00 PM:

Drop-off at your hotel in Hanoi.

Meals: Lunch with local Vietnamese cuisine included.

Free time for a last bit of shopping or exploring the city on your own, before we take you to Noi Bai airport for your flight home. Your room is available until noon only. END OF SERVICES