11 DAYS - VIETNAM OUTSTANDING OPEN TOUR
This is Vietnam tour in 11 days that has been perfectly designed for those keen to experience Vietnam's diversity in just 11 days. You will dive into Vietnam's energetic cities, and several UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the world-famous Hoi An old town and the ancient capital Hue, whilst savoring the breathtaking scenery of Halong Bay as well as the Mekong Delta. Explore the country's turbulent past, meet the friendly, resilient locals, and get lost in spectacular panoramas on this tour of discovery. This tour is an absolute blast that can not forget during the years of your life.
BRIEF SCHEDULE
Day 1: Welcome to Vietnam - Hanoi arrival
Day 2: Hanoi – Ba Vi eco tour - Vietnamese lifestyle in the countryside (B/L)
Day 3: The magnificent Ha Long bay exploration - sharing cruise, bus (B/L/D)
Day 4: Ha Long bay morning relaxation - flight to Hue (B/L) - group tour
Day 5: Hue sightseeing Tour (B/L) - group tour
Day 6: Hue city - ancient town Hoi An - The lantern city (B/L)
Day 7: Hoi an fishing and basket boat tour (B/L) - group tour
Day 8: Hoi An – Saigon city - travel to The Pearl Of The Orient city (B)
Day 9: Discover the mysterious Cu Chi tunnels (B) - group tour
Day 10: Excursion on the mighty mekong delta (B/L) - group tour
Day 11: Biggest farewell and warmest thank you - Saigon Departure (B)
Wish you all the best and see you soon!
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DETAIL ITINERARY
Day 1: Welcome to Vietnam - Hanoi arrival
Welcome to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. Your driver and tour guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Check into the hotel and have free time to explore the city at your own pace, or rest after the flight.
- Private transfer: 45 minutes
- Self - Guided Day in Hanoi: taking a walk around Hanoi old quarter, specially Hoan Kiem lake - the core of Hanoi capital, having an egg coffee, sipping cocktails on the Pan Pacific Hotel's rooftop bar and soak in sunset views over Tay Ho (West Lake) to wrap up your evening in style.
Day 2: Experience Vietnamese Lifestyle in The Countryside With Ba Vi Eco Tour (B/L) - group tour
Harvesting tea leaves on a traditional, 30-year-old Tea Plantation
Cooking with a friendly local host
Visiting local workshops in the village
Cycling across the rice field and villages
Traditional Foot Soak with herbs following the traditional recipes of Muong ethnic minority
08:00 – Private guide and car pick you up at your hotel/residence.
09:30 – Arrive to Ri village where you will start the trip at your host’s house with a welcome drink. Meet Duoc (Mr.) – a Vietnam War veteran and tea-farm owner who tells historical stories with his own experience.
10:00 – Follow Duoc to his vast tea-farm and learn how to harvest tea leaves. This is a green and peaceful place where you can enjoy beautiful scenery of the village. You may then help him pick tea leaves, and be shown how to collect the best part of the tea tree to make the most wonderful beverage of Vietnam – the traditional tea. Carry on with the process of producing tea at his small workshop, most of the works there are manual.
11:15 – Have a ten-minute drive to visit another host family in Moc village where you will enjoy a fun cooking class with Chin (Mrs.). She will show you how to cook some Vietnamese dishes and you will then enjoy lunch with food you helped cook.
13:30 – Stroll around the village and visit some local families to understand rural lifestyle and learn how tofu, conical hat and other local products are made.
14:45 – Enjoy a cycling trip through beautiful paddy fields and interact with local farmers by chance.
15:30 – Wrap up your countryside tour by a traditional foot bathing in warm water with herbs, following the traditional recipes of Muong ethnic minority. This will relay you (and your feet!) after cycling around the village.
16:00 – Drive back to your hotel/residence in Hanoi.
Overnight in Hanoi
Day 3: Explore The Magnificent Halong Bay (B/L/D) - sharing cruise, bus
Halong Bay is a natural wonder of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site, and once you arrive there, you will understand why. Get ready to be amazed by the world's most breathtaking views, and have a relaxing time on the cruise, enjoying the exciting activities we have prepared for you.
After breakfast, check out of the hotel and leave Hanoi for Halong Bay.
The cruise team will meet you at the hotel lobby between 8:00-9:00 am (we will confirm the exact time the day before the tour.
Arrive at the jetty around noon and take a boat to the cruise. After a welcome onboard and check-in, lunch will be served while the cruise is making its way through the hundreds of islets.
In the afternoon, enjoy some activities such as swimming and kayaking or visiting caves (depending on each boat’s itinerary), or just spend relaxing time on board.
Towards the end of the day, the boat sets anchor for the night in a beautiful place, so don't miss the sunset before having dinner.
Overnight on board
Day 4: Wake Up With The Dragon In The Bay - Flight To Hue (B/L) - group tour
Rise early today to view the sunrise at the wonder of nature with breakfast served in the dining room. A Tai Chi class on the sun deck will awaken your mind and muscles.
Then head off to visit the limestone cave full of stalagmites and stalactites. After your exploration return to the boat to check out and enjoy the brunch while the cruise is sailing back to the harbor. Later you will be transferred back to Hanoi, from where you will take your flight to Hue. Upon arrival in Hue, your private driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your accommodation.
Overnight in Hue
Day 5: Hue Sightseeing Tour (B/L) - group tour
Hue City is the cultural, political, and economic center of the Thua Thien Hue province, and used to be an old imperial city of Vietnam under the Nguyen Dynasty. During this time, the most remarkable architectural monuments were constructed, which now are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Your guide will meet you at your hotel around 8:00-8:30 am.
Start your exploration with the boat trip on the Perfume River to Thien Mu pagoda, which is the oldest pagodas in Hue. Then visit the Imperial Citadel, where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. Here you will also visit the Royal Antiques Museum to see the collection of ornaments from the Nguyen dynasty. Then head to the bustling Dong Ba market.
Have delicious Vietnamese lunch. In the afternoon, we will head to Khai Dinh’s Tomb, which combines traditional Vietnamese style with a European touch, making it unique from the other tombs in Hue. Then explore Minh Mang's Tomb, which represents the Confucian style. On the way, you will also visit conical hats and incense sticks villages.
You will be back at your hotel around 16:00-17:00.
Overnight in Hue.
Day 6: Travel from Hue To The Ancient Town Of Hoi An (B)
Have breakfast at the hotel and get ready for the transfer from Hue to Hoi An by private car. You will drive through one of the most beautiful roads in the world - Hai Van Pass. You will be blown away by the stunning views of the mountains and the sea. Upon arrival in Hoi An check in the hotel and have free time to explore the surrounding area.
Overnight in Hoi An
Day 7: Hoi An Fishing and Basket Boat Tour (B/L) - group tour
Today your English-speaking guide will meet you at the hotel around 8:00 am and take you for a cycle trip to the countryside and rivers around Hoi An. As you meander through the countryside, you will experience the friendliness of the local people greeting you along the way and enjoy the beautiful views of the neighborhood. After that, you will board a boat for a river cruise to meet and engage with local fishermen. Enjoy a hands-on experience of traditional net fishing. Later, you will take a paddle boat trip in a unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boat down the waterways of a coconut palm paradise. After the boat trip, have delicious lunch and cycle back to your hotel.
Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 8: Travel To The Pearl Of The Orient - Ho Chi Minh (B)
Relish the remaining moment in Hoi An before your private driver escorts you to the Da Nang airport to take the flight to Ho Chi Minh. When you arrive in Ho Chi Minh, your driver will pick you up and transfer you to your accommodation in the city centre. The rest of the time is free at leisure.
Overnight in Saigon
Day 9: Discover The Mysterious Cu Chi Tunnels (B) - group tour
Start 8:00 AM - END 2:30 PM
Cu Chi Tunnels is a legendary underground system of over 220 km of tunnels, a must-see for both Vietnamese and foreign travelers who are interested in the history of the Vietnam War. The tunnels are now a historical structure of Vietnam and considered a heroic district for the role they played in the resistance to US forces during the Vietnam War.
The tunnels are located approximately 60km from Ho Chi Minh city. Enjoy the scenery along the way, as we pass the lush, endless rice fields and the ducks are water buffaloes swimming in the rivers. You might find it hard to imagine that once the area was almost completely destroyed by bombs and mines from the war, when Cu Chi was a “free target zone “.
Once we arrive, you will get a chance to walk through some of the tunnels, discover the hidden corners and imagine what life was like here for the resistance soldiers. If you like, try to cook with the smokeless stoves used by Vietnamese soldiers to cook during the war. You can even try foods which the soldiers lived on. If you’re feeling brave, or curious, you can even try your hand at shooting at AK-47, one of the guns used during the war.
Head back to the city in the afternoon; the tour finishes at 2:30 PM.
Overnight in Saigon
Day 10: Excursion On The Mighty Mekong Delta (B/L) - group tour
Leaving the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City and start your trip to depart for My Tho, the town lies on the left side of the Mekong River. Upon arrival, visit Vinh Trang pagoda which sated back to the late 19th century. Then boarding the sampan and cruising down the river around the four beautiful islands known as Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix and Tortoise islands.
Stop over at Unicorn Island, go walking around country lane and seeing orchards, enjoy tropical fruits, folk song music which performed by the local people. Visit the fruit plantation.
Riding a hand-rowed sampan through Thoi Son canal and treat yourself in the beauty of the countryside, visit the family business, visit honey-bee farm, enjoy honey tea and coconut candy workshop.
Have lunch at local restaurant. Break time.
In the afternoon, time for cycling around the Tan Thach village, meet the local villagers to experience the local daily life in the Mekong delta. Hammock relaxing and enjoy cool breeze for those can’t join the cycling trip. Return to Ho Chi Minh City. End trip.
Overnight in Saigon
Day 11: Biggest farewell and warmest thank you - Saigon departure (B)
Relish a healthy breakfast on the final day of your trip to Vietnam. Complete the hotel check-out formalities, after which you can visit the local markets to buy souvenirs for your loved ones. Later your private driver will transfer you to the airport to take your flight back home.
The tour ends here!
Thank you and see you in other tours!
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THINGS INCLUDED
Accommodation
3-stars hotels
Hanoi: Mina Hotel or similar
Halong bay: Le Journey Cruise or similar
Hue: Cherish Hue or similar
Hoi An: Kim An Hotel Hoi An or similar
Ho Chi Minh: Prague Hotel or similar
4-stars hotels
Hanoi: Tirant Hotel or similar
Halong Bay: La Pandora Cruise or similar
Hue: Eldora Hotel or similar
Hoi An: Silkotel Hoi An or similar
Ho Chi Minh City: Hoi An: La Siesta Hoi An Resort and Spa or similar
5-stars hotels
Hanoi: Apricot Hotel or similar
Halong Bay: Doris Cruise or similar
Hue: Silk Path Grand Hue Hotel and Spa or similar
Hoi An: Palm Garden or similar
Ho Chi Minh City: The Myst Dong Khoi or similar
Check-in room at 14:00 // Check-out room at 12:00 noon (Except Early check-in or Late check-out mentioned in the program)
Flights
Flights from Hanoi to Hue with 20 kg luggage allowance
Flight from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh with 20 kg luggage allowance
No international or other internal flights are included in the tour price.
** The cost of internal airfares is paid separately upon arrival to Realistic Asia as a local payment. The airfare fees are separated from the main tour cost because the prices of internal airfare can vary based on a number of factors, such as travel period, availability of flights, and fuel taxes. We keep it as a local payment to benefit our travelers by keeping tour costs lower and providing more flexibility during the booking process, and ensuring that travelers have a smooth and stress-free experience while on their trip.
Guide
Experienced English speaking guide
French/German/Spanish/Russian/Chinese speaking guides are available upon request. The surcharge will be applied
Meals
As per the tour program:
B=breakfast
L=Lunch
D=Dinner
This tour offers Vegetarian and Vegan food options on request. Simply let Realistic Asia know the food option that you prefer.
Transport
- Door-to-door pick-up & drop-off services by private car
- Air-conditioned bus between Hanoi and Halong Bay (2-way)
- Air-conditioned bus or private cars for the excursions
- Minivan
- Bus
- Overnight on cruise
Other included
– All sightseeing tickets according to the itinerary
– Tissues and water on coach
– Service charges and government tax
– 24/7 hotline support guaranteed
Insurance
Other not included
X International flights and departure taxes
X Beverage, Personal expenses, tips, and gratuities
X Early check-in and late check-out (If not mentioned)
X Compulsory Gala Dinner on 24 Dec, 31 Dec and 21 Jan (Tet)
X Public holiday surcharge (Christmas and New Year, Tet holiday in Vietnam) if applicable
X Surcharge for airport cabs from 12:00 am – 05:00 am
X Visa stamping fee on arrival at the airport (Vietnam: $25/person)
X Services not mentioned above
