Tour Detail

ONCE UPON A TIME IN VIETNAM 10DAYS9NIGHTS - PRIVATE DEPARTURE

ONCE UPON A TIME IN VIETNAM 10D/9N

PRIVATE BASIS DAILY DEPARTURES / FROM AUG 01-31 & DEC 25-JAN 07 ITALIAN/FRENCH/SPANISH SPEAKING GUIDE ON REQUEST AND TO BE BOOKED WELL IN ADVANCE.

SELECTED HOTEL or similar

Categoria Superior:
Hanoi: HANOI PEARL HOTEL (Deluxe city view) https://www.hanoipearlhotel.com/

Ninh Binh: NINH BINH LEGEND(DELUXE) https://ninhbinhlegendhotel.com/en/trang-chu-english/

Halong: SENA CRUISE (Deluxe) http://senacruises.com/

Hoi An: LASENTA BOUTIQUE HOTEL HOI AN (Superior) https://lasentahotel.com/en/

Hue: MOONLIGHT HUE (Deluxe) http://www.moonlighthue.com/ - WHITE LOTUS HOTEL (Superior) https://whitelotus.com.vn/

Ho Chi Minh City: NHAT HA LOPERA HOTEL (Deluxe) https://nhathalopera.com/ - PARAGON SAIGON (Deluxe) https://paragonsaigon.com/

Categoria Superior/Deluxe:

Hanoi: APRICOT HOTEL HANOI (Sketch room) https://apricothotels.com/

Ninh Binh: EMERALDA RESORT(SUPERIOR) http://www.emeraldaresort.com/

Halong: SENA CRUISE (Deluxe) http://senacruises.com/

Hoi An: ALMANITY HOI AN RESORT & SPA (Loft room) https://almanityhoian.com/en/

Hue: SENNA HUE HOTEL (Deluxe room) https://sennahue.com/

Ho Chi Minh City: HOTEL DES ARTS SAIGON MGallery (Deluxe room) https://www.hoteldesartssaigon.com/

1st day: HANOI Arrival

2nd day: HANOI "Full day city" [B/L]

3rd day: HANOI NINH BINH [B/L]

4th day: NINH BINH HALONG [B/L/D]

5th day: HALONG NOI BAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (HAN) HUE [B/Br]

6th day: HUE [B/L]

7th day: HUE HOI AN [B/L]

8th day: HOI AN DANANG HO CHI MINH [B/L]

9th day: HO CHI MINH MEKONG DELTA HO CHI MINH [B/L]

10th day: HO CHI MINH [B]

Day 1

Day 1: HANOI – Arrival

Arrival at Hanoi International Airport, customs clearance, meeting with our guide, and transfer to the hotel for check-in. (Check-in time: 14.00 – Early check-in available at an additional cost). Free time and dinner on your own. Overnight at a hotel in Hanoi

Optional: Hanoi Street Food (Optional, rate on request)

This evening, your guide will take you to explore Hanoi's nightlife in the Old Quarter, the heart of Hanoi. The city comes alive at night. First, you'll find yourself amidst hundreds of locals and expats sitting on plastic stools with a pint of bia hoi (beer) in hand at Bia Hoi Junction, at the corner of Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen streets in Hanoi's Old Quarter. Follow the locals' lead and enjoy the city with all your senses. In the evening, the sidewalks transform into a stage where these small pop-up restaurants come to life... but if you pass by during the day, you won't find a single one!

Stroll through the narrow streets of the Old Quarter as the guide points out a series of tasty eateries where you can enjoy noodles or traditional Vietnamese snacks like nem phở cuốn (fried and fresh spring rolls), bánh cuốn (steamed rice cake rolls), and bánh mì (sandwiches). Sit down and enjoy a Vietnamese barbecue with beef, chicken, tofu, and vegetables on skewers. Conclude the exploration with dessert from Hanoi's most famous ice cream parlor, near Hoan Kiem Lake, before returning to the hotel.

Day 2

Day 2: HANOI "Full Day City" [B/L]

Breakfast. Introduction to the capital of Vietnam: inhabited since the 3rd century and refounded in the 11th century by the dynasty that liberated the country from Chinese domination, its current appearance dates back to the French period as evidenced by the numerous colonial buildings and the large tree-lined avenues. Visit the most classic places of the Vietnam "Cultural" capital. Passing by the imposing Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (exterior), you enter the park of what was the Residence of the General Governor of Indochina where the house in which the President lived is located; not far away stands the delightful "One Pillar Pagoda" erected in 1049 and in front of it the Dien Huu Pagoda. Subsequent visit to the Museum of Ethnology (closed on Mondays). Lunch at a traditional restaurant

In the afternoon, visit the Van Mieu, the Temple of Literature, which was the oldest Asian University and dates back to 1070. Finally, visit Hoan Kiem Lake, the lake of the returned sword, and Ngoc Son Temple, preciously guarded by the lake waters. The day ends with a cyclopusse ride through the Old Quarter: also known as the 36 streets, this lively area of narrow streets is literally home to thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. Originally, each of the 36 names was linked to the products sold there. It's an ideal place to explore on foot with numerous photographic opportunities.

Before returning to the hotel, we'll enjoy the water puppet show at the Thang Long Theater, a unique show in the world where the actors are wooden puppets that bring ancient stories, scenes of daily life, and tales from popular legends to life on the water stage. Return to the hotel. Overnight at a hotel in Hanoi

Day 3

Day 3: HANOI – NINH BINH [B/L]

Breakfast. Departure to Ninh Binh, the "Inland Halong Bay" so-called because it resembles the most famous bay, instead of islands, there are small rocky hills, instead of the sea, there is a dense network of rivers and flooded fields cultivated with rice.

The first visit will be to Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of three imperial dynasties from the 9th to the 10th century A.D. Hoa Lu represents one of the main historical-cultural sites of Vietnam. You will visit the two most important temples, the Temple of King Dinh and the Temple of King Le. Lunch will be served in a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we will take a fantastic boat trip to visit the Trang An caves, a set of 31 valleys and 50 caves that host 600 species of flora and over 200 species of fauna. As you paddle through the Trang An cave, visitors, in the quiet and fresh air of the highlands with only the sound of birds and oars stirring the clear water surrounded by magnificent wooded mountains where animals graze, will enjoy a true paradise on earth. Overnight in Ninh Binh.

Day 4

Day 4: NINH BINH – HALONG [B/L/D]

Breakfast. Subsequent transfer from Ninh Binh to Halong (about 3 hours) for the overnight cruise in the bay.

Called by many the "Eighth Wonder of the World". Today will be dedicated to the discovery of Halong Bay "the bay where the dragon descends into the sea" as renamed by the Vietnamese; the bay has been recognized as a World Heritage Site thanks to its extraordinary beauty. The picturesque Halong Bay has over 3,000 limestone islets emerging from the crystal-clear waters, many of them hiding caves inside. Boarding between 12:30 and 13:00 and lunch served on board. In the afternoon, we'll join in some activities: kayaking, swimming, cave visits... (depending on the itinerary of each cruise). Dinner and overnight on board.

(Timings and program may vary due to unfavorable weather conditions)

Day 5

Day 5: HALONG – NOI BAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (HAN) – HUE [B/Br]

Enjoy the morning view of the beautiful landscape with a cup of coffee or tea and then have breakfast. After breakfast, the cruise will take you to explore the bay in depth. Brunch will be served while sailing back to the port, and our driver will pick you up to transfer you to Noi Bai International Airport. Upon arrival, our driver will pick you up and transfer you to a hotel in Hue city. Overnight in Hue.

Day 6

Day 6: HUE [B/L]

After breakfast, a full-day excursion to visit the ancient capital of Vietnam under the Nguyen dynasty, ruled from 1802 to 1945, with the first stop at the Imperial Citadel that will allow you to better understand the beauty of Vietnamese royal architecture and culture. We will take a beautiful dragon boat trip along the Perfume River and visit Thien Mu Pagoda, one of Hue's most popular attractions. It is located on the banks of the poetic Perfume River, with the typical traditional architecture of Hue's pagodas, and is famous for the event where the Buddhist monk of this temple, Thich Quang Duc, died burned for an anti-government protest in 1963. The next stops will be the tombs of King Ming Mang and King Khai Dinh, the most beautiful royal architectural works of the Nguyen dynasty. Overnight in Hue.

Day 7

Day 7: HUE – HOI AN [B/L]

Breakfast and transfer to Hoi An. Today we will visit the ancient town of Hoi An with the merchant houses, the 400-year-old Japanese covered bridge, Phuc Kien pagoda, and the colorful market on the river. Lunch is served in a local restaurant.

Today you have the option to further explore the ancient town of Hoi An on your own or relax on the beach.

Lunch in a restaurant with a cooking class.

Optional: My Son (Optional, rate on request)

We travel about 50 km to visit the My Son sanctuary, the ruins of the Cham people's towers, and learn about Cham civilization architecture. We spend about 1.5 hours to see a large complex of religious relics that includes more than 65 architectural works. In 1999, UNESCO declared Cham architecture in My Son a cultural heritage of humanity. You will also have the opportunity to watch the traditional Apsara dance of Cham girls. Return to the hotel.

Day 8

Day 8: HOI AN – DANANG – HO CHI MINH [B/L]

After breakfast, early morning flight (example VJ4160 07:05 - 08:30). The first place to visit on the tour will be the Reunification Palace, which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until the end of the war in April 1975. After the Reunification Palace, you can admire some French colonial structures, including Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Central Post Office. We continue to Chinatown, the Thien Hau pagodas, dedicated to the Sea Goddess. Explore the highlights of this fascinating area, starting with intricate friezes, carved tables, and impressive incense coils that allow you to take beautiful photos. Then observe street life through narrow streets to Binh Tay market, which sells everything from clothes to dried squid. In the afternoon, lunch at a local restaurant, then proceed to visit the War Remnants Museum, where there is a vast exhibition of both Indochina wars. In the courtyard are displayed huge military vehicles and tiger cages that allow visitors to get an idea of what it was like to be a prisoner in wartime. In the museum building itself, each floor represents a different theme of the war and war crimes against the Vietnamese people. We conclude the city tour with Ben Thanh market, where everything and more is sold. Return to the hotel. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

Day 9

Day 9: HO CHI MINH – MEKONG DELTA – HO CHI MINH [B/L]

After breakfast. Departure for the Mekong Delta, where you can enjoy a full-day tour in the provinces of My Tho and Ben Tre and experience the immensity of Vietnam's largest rice bowl.

The first points of interest on the Mekong Delta full-day tour are fish farms and markets on the 4 legendary islets: Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle, and Phoenix. A rowing boat will take you along the narrow waterways of the palm trees before moving on to the bicycle to pedal about 12 km through the coconut gardens and along the village trails for a more in-depth view of these beautiful scenes. We then move on to the local village, where you can experience the daily life of the locals and stop to visit residents' houses or workshops to learn how to prepare banana and coconut cakes and taste these local specialties. You can try crossing the famous Monkey Bridge (a thin bamboo bridge used in the rural areas of southern Vietnam to cross rivers and canals) to see the locals making rice paper sweets and rice wine.

Lunch will be served with unique dishes from the Mekong cuisine before returning to My Tho City and transferring to Ho Chi Minh City. Return to the hotel. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

Day 10

Day 10: HO CHI MINH [B]

Breakfast at the hotel. Free time until transfer to the airport.

LAST DAY NOTE: if the flight is scheduled in the evening, the possibility of adding a visit to the Cu Chi tunnels is available. (Optional, rate on request)

.