Vietnam Odyssey: From Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City 14 Days

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Day 1: Hanoi Arrival (GP)

Arriving at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel. You’ll have time to relax after your journey before a welcome dinner at a good restaurant in a colonial building. In the evening, you’ll have tickets for a performance of traditional Water Puppetry (an art form unique to northern Vietnam, and an interesting, light-hearted introduction to its rural culture). Your overnight stay will be in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi Orientation (B, L, G)

You’ll have the whole day to explore Vietnam’s capital city. Your guide will take you to the Temple of Literature, the first university in Vietnam dating back to the 11th century, and a popular attraction, as is Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, his simple stilt house where he lived and worked, and the museum dedicated to his memory.

After lunch, you’ll call in at the serene Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest in Hanoi, on the banks of Hanoi’s Ho Tay (West) Lake. The bustling Old Quarter is a magnet for visitors. It’s a maze of shopping streets and restaurants with a hotchpotch of architecture – traditional tube houses, religious buildings, artisans’ workshops and cottages, colonial houses and modern concrete edifices. It’s noisy and hectic, but definitely a ‘must-see’ attraction. You’ll spend the night in Hanoi.

We’ll arrange your programme to avoid the busy times at popular destinations, but if there’s anything you particularly want to see, let us know.

Alternative for Day 2: Cycling and exploring villages around Hanoi (B, L, G)

In the morning, you’ll be picked up to drive to Bat Trang. On arrival, you’ll be able to stroll in the small alleys of this old village to watch local people producing their fine products and visit some of the houses used as workshops and showrooms. You’ll then pick up your bicycles and ride along the riverside dike, through some more of the many villages surrounding Hanoi. The total distance on bicycles is about 7km along a small road that runs beside a tributary of the Red River.

You’ll then drive to Dong Ho village – famous for its traditional paintings. After a picnic lunch, your vehicle will take to Tam Tao village to enjoy its traditional Quan Ho music performed by villagers in the commune house. The singers have recently been officially designated as part of Vietnam’s ‘living heritage’. In the late afternoon, you’ll return to Hanoi for your overnight accommodation.

Day 3: Hanoi/ Hai Phong/Lan Ha Bay/Overnight on Orchid Trendy Cruise (L, D, G)

Day 4: Lan Ha Bay/Hanoi (Brunch, G)

You should arrive in the late afternoon and spend the night in Hanoi.

Day 5: Hanoi/Hue Citadel (B, G)

In the morning, you’ll have free time for shopping in the bustling Old Quarter of Hanoi or at your leisure before pick up to the airport for a noon flight to Hue. After pick up and check-in, visit to the Imperial Citadel of Hue and Dong Ba market. You will spend the night in Hue.

Day 6: Hue Royal Tombs (B, L, D, G)

Your morning will be taken up by a cruise along the Perfume River to the Thien Mu Pagoda, and then by road to the Royal Tombs of Emperor Minh Mang and, in the afternoon, Emperor Khai Dinh. The two mausoleums span the long reign of the Nguyen King’s imperial dynasty – the contrast is stark.

From there, you’ll return to Hue to visit one of city’s ‘garden houses’ and then return to your hotel to freshen-up. In the evening, you’ll sit down for dinner in the pleasant surroundings and a comfortable atmosphere of another of the garden houses. You’ll spend the night in Hue.

Each Royal mausoleum reflects the personality of the Emperor it commemorates. The most majestic is that of Emperor Minh Mang, a staunch follower of Confucianism with many wives, concubines and a small army of children. Planned by the Emperor and built shortly after his death in formal Chinese style, it’s opulent and exotic, and a good example of classic Sino-Vietnamese architecture.

In complete contrast to Emperor Ming Mang’s flamboyant creation, the tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh is an unprepossessing concrete construction on the side of a wide valley. Its interest lies in the uneasy combination of Vietnamese and European features, the use of fragments of ceramics and glass for decoration, and the striking views from the courtyard in front of the mausoleum.

The garden houses are a unique feature of Hue. The houses are traditional, privately owned, and set in attractive formal gardens. Some have connections with the old Royal Imperial Court. Hue traditional architecture has long had close associations with the natural environment. The garden houses reflect this association. Each is highly individual – house and garden, people and scenery, plants, clouds and water co-exist and blend with each other in a harmonious context. The narrow streets and abundant flora give the garden house area a country village feeling.

Day 7: Hue/Danang/Hoi An (B, L, G)

In the morning, your car will arrive to drive you to Danang. On the way, you’ll cross the high mountain pass of Hai Van. The views from the top are excellent – you should be able to see Lang Co beach and village, and the lagoon far below, with Danang spread out before you to the south.

Upon arriving in Danang, you’ll have a brief look at the remarkable Hindu statuary in the Cham Museum before leaving for Hoi An. After lunch, you’ll have a guided visit to the Ancient Town of Hoi An. You’ll spend the night in Hoi An.

Hoi An town is a UNESCO World Heritage area. An ancient trading port, once the largest in Indochina, Hoi An was a meeting point for many cultures that left their mark in the different architectural features of its wooden buildings. The original traditional street pattern still exists, as does the quay that once welcomed ships from all over East Asia and beyond. Many remained there for months at a time, waiting for favourable trade winds to carry them home. There are plenty of good restaurants offering a variety of cuisines and price levels. The town is also a good place for shopping for silk. You can have your clothes tailor-made within a day or two at reasonable cost.

Day 8: Hoi An/My Son/Hoi An (B, G)

After breakfast, your guide will meet you at your hotel to take you to the World Heritage My Son Sanctuary, show you the remains of the remarkable brick towers, and explain their origins and purpose. When you return, the rest of the day will be free. You’ll spend the night in Hoi An.

Once, the My Son Sanctuary was the spiritual capital of the Cham Kingdom that dominated SE Asia for nearly a thousand years. Although My Son was heavily bombed during the American war, its remarkable brick towers are still impressive, as is its remote valley setting in a quiet, richly forested area bisected by a clear stream. However, the tree cover is not complete and the valley acts as sun trap, so good sun protection is important.

Day 9: Hoi An/Ho Chi Minh City / Evening Foodie on a back of a scooter (join-in) (B, G)

You’ll have a free morning until you’re picked up for an afternoon flight to Ho Chi Minh City. After transferring to your Ho Chi Minh City central hotel and checking-in, you’ll be free for a preliminary wander around District 1.

In the evening at 18.00, you’ll start exploring the Saigon on a back of a Scooter and enjoying the local food of Ho Chi Minh City. Accompanied with a local Vietnamese rider, your venture will take you to the narrows streets and alleys of Saigon which are in different districts and hidden corners of Saigon. You’ll ride to Chinatown, visit an evening local market before heading to Ho Thi Ky wholesale flower market. You will take a walk in the market and sit down to learn how to make Crispy banana cracker. Then, hop on the scooter and have a wonderful ride around 30 minutes through alleyways and see cloth shops on fashion streets, food vendors and walking park when locals do exercise at night.

After a great view from the scooter, you will stop at a local food place for Pho (Beef Noodle Soup) and Banh My (the most famous street food in Vietnam). After the meal, we will take you to Nguyen Thien Thuat area, one of the most famous street food areas in Saigon with the considerable diversity in the style of the cuisine and local culture. This place is the integrated one which has lots of the residents from many parts of Vietnam to come here and live for a long time, that’s the reason why its cuisine is really fascinating and diverse.

Last but not least, you will be taken to a local’s favourite drinking spot for some beer and soft drink. Sit on a small table and chair, have a great chat with our tour guide, get to know more ingredient of our cuisine and local life.

You’ll be back to your hotel around 22.00pm. You will spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.

The tour will be through busy streets and alleys to see the night life of locals and enjoy street sea- food and cold drinks, places that foreigner won’t be found. After having enjoying as much street food as you can, you’ll enjoy the music and the Bars lik13.5e the way the Saigon’s people do. Vegetarian food can be arranged.

Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City (B, L, G)

After breakfast, your guide will arrive to show you around Ho Chi Minh City. You’ll visit the History Museum where there is a special exhibition of the 5th century ‘Oc Eo’ civilisation. (Alternatively, you’ll visit the Fito Museum (First Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine) is host to a large collection of relics, including traditional Vietnamese medicinal implements, and chronicles the history of medical practice in Vietnam from 2000 BC). The Museum of War Remnants provides a very partial, but riveting, perspective of the ‘American War’: not for the squeamish! The Binh Tay market is located in China Town which is the biggest one in Ho Chi Minh City.

You’ll also call in at the Jade Emperor Temple. It’s one of the best Taoist temples in Vietnam, with superb effigies, remarkable carved panels of the descent to Hell and somewhat incongruous terrapin and tortoise sanctuaries. You’ll then return your hotel for freshen up or wander around the huge Ben Thanh market, one of the liveliest areas of Ho Chi Minh City, is packed with every conceivable commodity. You’ll spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City/Cai Be/ Tan Phong island  (B, L, D, G)

After escaping from Ho Chi Minh City’s urban sprawl, you’ll travel to Cai Be where a Mekong River cruise will take you to visit the fruit orchards, a traditional family-run brick kiln, and some long-established cottage industries

The next destinations are the ancient village of Dong Hoa Hiep commune and Cai Be floating market. Leaving the floating market, tourist boats take visitors to Tan Phong islet and go to Hai Yen bee Farm Here, guests will visit abig flower garden where bees produce honey, enjoy fresh honey tea and understand more about bees life, visit  Linhzhi mushroom area, try to pull fish hooves, experience the monkey bridges. Then, guests continue visiting the orchard of Ms. Hang and enjoy the fruits in the garden picked by themselves, listen to Vietnamese folk music then get in a rowing boat to a small canal. The Mekong Ecolodge Resort is the next destination where guests have lunch. After the meal, you will check in your room and take a rest.

At the end of the afternoon, you participate in a scooping ditch fishing activity and the picking vegetables in restaurant’s garden to prepare for dinner. After that, diners and Ecolodge’s members will cook together and enjoy our meal.

You will spend the night in Mekong Ecolodge.

Day 12: Can Tho/Ho Chi Minh City (B, L, G)

After breakfast and a boat cruise you’ll arrive at Cai Rang floating market on the Mekong Delta. Both the journey and the market provide insights into the rural Mekong Delta lifestyle.  On your return to Ho Chi Minh City, you’ll call in at the beautiful and ancient Vinh Trang pagoda, 3 km from My Tho centre.  You’ll arrive in Ho Chi Minh City in the late afternoon with time to freshen up in the hotel.

Vinh Trang Pagoda is renowned for its architectural mixture of Chinese, Vietnamese and Angkor styles. It’s Located on a 2 hectare block with 5 buildings, 2 ornamental yards, 178 pillars and many valuable statues (especially the statues of 18 arahants which were carved from wood and made in 1907) the pagoda will give you a deeper look into the relationship between Vietnamese art and Buddhist beliefs.

Day 13: Ho Chi Minh City/Tay Ninh/Cu Chi (B, L, G)

A morning drive will take you to Tay Ninh to visit the Cao Dai Holy See in time to watch the mid-day ceremony. After lunch, you’ll visit the famous Cu Chi tunnels, a Byzantine maze of underground passages, chambers, rooms and booby traps used by both the Vietminh and the Viet Cong to suddenly materialise as if from nowhere, launch a lightning ambush, and vanish equally rapidly. You’ll spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.

Cao Dai is a ‘new’ religion unique to Vietnam with around a million followers. Both its creed and its architecture are remarkable and exotic. The service lasts about half an hour – the rituals are based upon an eclectic mixture of Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism. Discreet photography is OK, but shoes must be left outside

Day 14: Ho Chi Minh City Departure (B, GP)

Your time will be your own until your private car and driver arrives to take you to Tan Son Nhat airport for your departure flight.