Vietnam Vacation Highlights in 10 Days

Hanoi is well known for its history, architecture, charm, tranquility and cuisine. Our first visit is to the most well respected site of the Ho Chi Minh Complex and Ba Dinh Square, an important point of pilgrimage for many Vietnamese. The area surrounding the complex is a traffic-free zone filled with botanical gardens, monuments, memorials, and pagodas and includes the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House, the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh Museum and the One Pillar Pagoda.

Then visit the 11th century Temple of Literature, Hanoi’s first University. From here, continue to Bun Cha Huong Lien, the famous local spot where President Barack Obama dined with Anthony Bourdain.

Afternoon, we drive approximately 25minutes to the Ethnology Museum. The museum provides an insightful glimpse into the country’s lengthy history, with more than 15,000 photos and 10,000 objects and artifacts depicting a historical perspective of the lives, activities, customs, and habits of the 54 recognized ethnic groups of Vietnam.

End your day at a by walking through the Hanoi Old Quarter. The streets of this district are bustling with scooters, bicycles, cyclos, and cars zipping around pedestrians. The best way to enjoy the charming colonial architecture is to wander with your guide at a leisurely pace and be sure to stop for a cup of Vietnamese coffee or a local snack from one of the many tantalizing street vendors.

Your Vietnam Beach vacation begins with a trip to Halong Bay, a collection of almost 2000 islands and jungle-clad limestone pillars in the Tonkin Gulf. Called “Bay of Descending Dragons” in Vietnamese, the archipelago is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a world-famous travel destination.

Leave hotel and go ahead Halong with pass through wonderful scenery en route for tranquil villages and buffalo on fields.

Upon arrival, enjoy a welcome drink and a delicious freshly caught seafood lunch whilst sailing out of the Bay passing amazing shaped mountains. Enjoy the seascape from the sundeck or even in your private cabin through glass window. Take swimming, kayaking and visit caves on the island to get more experience. In the late afternoon, we take part in a Vietnamese cooking demonstration from the on board chefs and enjoy the seafood feast for dinner as stars emerge from behind those jungle-clad limestone pillars.

Spending night on board in elegant cabin and handicraft wooden interiors with air-conditioning. Or there is an option of night fishing before an overnight stay aboard.

Rise early to catch sunrise over Sung Sot Cave while taking part in a Tai Chi class with the boat’s Tai Chi guru.

Enjoy a light breakfast and sitting on the upper deck, you can relax while taking in the breathtaking beauty of the rocky islands rising from the emerald water of the bay. Then, you can explore Sung Sot Cave, swim and relax. Cruise back to the jetty while brunch is served as you are cruising through the bay and observing more fascinating rock formations.

Back to Hanoi in late afternoon, check in hotel and free at your leisure

On our drive to Hoi An, we stopped in Da Nang to visit the Cham Museum, built in 1915. The museum contains intricate ancient Champa sculptures. 

After stopping for lunch at Da Nang Beach, where you can take a refreshing dip in the ocean, we take a short drive to the stunning Marble Mountains.

We climb the marble stairs to reach the peak of Thuy Son, the largest mountain of the five elements, more commonly known as ‘Water Mountain’. 

We admire the panoramic view of the surrounding mountains, countryside, and Da Nang Beach before continuing on to ‘Huyen Khong’, an underground cave that was a former hospital during the War.

After our scenic climb, we continue for a further 20 minutes, reaching Hoi An.

Upon arrival in Hoi An, we stroll through the quaint streets, visiting an Ancient Chinese Temple, the Chinese Assembly Hall, and the Japanese-covered bridge.

The rest of the late afternoon is free at leisure for you to enjoy the peaceful ambiance of this quaint ancient town or spend some time with the skillful tailors, treating yourself to tailor-made clothes, which Hoi An is renowned for. 

Today, we have the great privilege of spending time at a local family home in a small farming village just outside of Hoi An town.

Biking from the hotel to Tra Que village. Upon arrival, we are welcomed by the family and enjoy a traditional herbal drink before setting out on our guided walk through the local farmland. We learn about the village's history, observe the harvesting processes, and discover the many traditional uses of the herbs and vegetables grown in the town in cooking and Vietnamese medicines.

Those with a ‘green finger’ can help farmers prepare the land, seed, water, and pick the crops.

After trying your hand at harvesting a crop, what better way than to take a rest, freshen up, and soak your feet in a traditional lemongrass and rose petal foot bath before sitting down for a delicious lunch of local delicacies, using the fresh herbs and vegetables from the garden.

The family also loves showing off their skills in whipping up your lunch and giving you a creative cooking demonstration.

We bid farewell to the family in the early afternoon and head back to town.

After a relaxing morning we take a flight to Saigon. 

Tonight is free at leisure to explore this bustling city of Saigon

With over eight million inhabitants and four million motorbikes, Saigon is a city that never sleeps.

 This morning, we set a half-city tour with your guide on hand to offer their own insight into everyday life in Vietnam. Famous landmarks include the colonial-era government quarter, with its vibrant yellow French-style post office. Continue to get off the tourist track to experience the local life of bustling Saigon. Learn about Vietnamese and Chinese communities as you travel to Cho Lon, one of the world’s largest and oldest Chinatowns.

In the afternoon, you will travel out of town to see the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, where thousands of Viet Cong soldiers lived during the Vietnam War. If you are comfortable with narrow spaces, you can enter a few of the tunnels and see exhibitions and videos of them when they were in use.

If you have time in the evening, head to a trendy restaurant or cocktail bar or try street food near central Ben Thanh Market.

Today, we will visit the Cai Be floating market to experience typical Vietnamese life in the Mekong Delta.

Upon arrival at the Cai Be land market, visit the rice factories in An Cu Village and go to Dong Hoa Hiep to visit the ancient house. Afterward, you will go to the Cai Be floating market and handicraft workshop by boat. After leaving these places, you will go to Tan Phong Island to take the rowing boats along the tiny canals. You pass through Mekong Ecolodge to take a short break, and then you will take the bicycles to start exploring and doing some activities with the island's locals.

You will go straight to the local house to learn how to make jack-leaf cakes, which are known as the specialty on this island. You will join hands to make cakes and enjoy them. You will be free to lie down on the hammocks under the shades of a 200-year-old milk fruit tree to enjoy the atmosphere there. You will also experience going over the Monkey Bridge, which is popular in the Southwest of Vietnam. Surely, you will have unforgettable memories here.
 
Say goodbye to the local house. You will keep going to another house to learn how to knit water hyacinths. With guidance, you can use water hyacinth to knit a beautiful hat by yourself. Finally, you will be back at Mekong Ecolodge to join the cooking class and enjoy your lunch as well.
 
In the middle of the afternoon, take the ferry station and get in the car to return to Sai Gon.

All good things must come to an ends, you have free time until transfer to airport for a departure flight with a bid farewell (Late checkout is exclusive and subject to availability).