1-800-867-2890

Vietnam adventure

Code: CO-Mgk10
10 Days
  • Vietnam

Overview

Explore the best of Vietnam: Start in Hanoi, Vietnam’s modern capital, an exotic city that offers travelers a fusion of cultures from old French to its traditional Chinese flavours. Cruise to Halong Bay and spend a night in the heart of world’s most spectacular natural wonder. Visit Hoi An, Vietnam’s most charming city, then off to the ancient capital of Hue that still resonates with the glories of Imperial Vietnam. Extend your trip to visit the Mekong Delta and its floating markets.

Highlights:

Hanoi’s French Quarter, Halong Bay, local markets and canals of Hoi An, Saigon and Cu-Chi Tunnels, Floating Markets of the Mekong Delta

Major Cities/Towns/Islands:

Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An, Saigon, towns of the Mekong Delta

Variety of Transport:

Regional flights, buses, vans, local taxis and a variety the Mekong Delta.

Activity:

Easy: Short walks through protected areas and reserves

Unique Local Experiences:

Cruise and sleep on a small a boat to explore Halong Bay. From big cities to small towns, the tour is packed with a number of unique local experiences that will give you a better understanding of the diverse cultures and customs, including foods, music, dance, dress, architectural styles and general lifestyle.

Day Tour Meals Proposed Hotels
Day-01 Arrival at Hanoi D Grand Mercure Hotel
Day-02 Hanoi Full Day Tour B+L+D Grand Mercure Hotel
Day-03 Hanoi – Halong Bay B+L+D Cruise
Day-04 Halong Bay – Hanoi, Fly: Hanoi-Hoi An B Hoi Beach Resort
Day-05 Hoi An full day tour B+L+D Hoi Beach Resort
Day-06 Fly : Hoi An – Danang – Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) B Liberty Saigon
Day-07 Saigon – Full Day Tour B+L+D Liberty Saigon
Day-08 Saigon – Mekong Delta B+L+D Muong Thanh Luxury
Day-09 Mekong Delta – Saigon – Departure B+L

 

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

Details

DAY-01  DEPARTURE FROM TORONTO

DAY-02  ARRIVE HANOI

Arrive at the Hanoi Airport, where our guide will welcome you and escort us to our hotel. Time permitting you can walk along the streets of the old French Quarter to see this busy and exotic part of town. Today it’s best to rest and catch up on your sleep. Overnight in Hanoi.

DAY-03 HANOI

After breakfast, today we embark on an exciting tour of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam and a ‘Truly Exotic City’. Today’s Hanoi is an infusion of old and new, Asian and Western as it has been called the “Paris of Asia”. ‘Unique’ is the best word to describe this city. The narrow streets of its old quarter are swarmed with people and almost as many motorbikes. The streets are lined with a variety of vendors from fruit sellers to chic, brand name outlets. We start our tour with its most revered landmark, the Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, the founder of modern Vietnam and the Chairman of the Communist Party from 1951 until 1969. The mausoleum is inspired by Lenin’s Mausoleum in Moscow. Ho Chi Minh’s body is display in a glass coffin. Nearby is the Presidential Palace, with its typical colonial style architecture, constructed in the early nineteenth century for the French Governor General of Indo-China. Next, we visit the One Pillar Pagoda, built by the Emperor Ly Thai Tong in 1028. The temple resembles a Lotus flower bloom and is a symbol of purity and peace. Unfortunately, the original temple was destroyed by French forces before they left Vietnam, however, it was rebuilt by the Vietnamese people after their independence. Our next stop is The Temple of Literature. Built in the eleventh century AD and dedicated to Confucius, the Temple of Literature is probably the oldest university of this part of the world. We will also visit the Tran Quoc Pagoda, originally built in the sixth century AD and considered to be the oldest in Hanoi. Nearby is the Quan Thanh, a Taoist Temple, dedicated to the Xuan Wu; the mysterious warrior and a high-ranking Taoist Deity. Of course, no visit is complete without a visit to the “Hanoi Hilton”, the infamous prison from the Vietnam War. Later in the afternoon (time permitting), we will enjoy taking a Cyclo (cycle rickshaw) tour of Old Hanoi (they will pedal for you!). Afterwards, we will not only see the lake at night, but you will be entertained by a traditional Water Puppet Show and dinner. The Water Puppet concept has been around since the 11th century and tells stories of rural life and the people’s history through the intricate manipulation of Water puppets. The dinner will be a traditional Vietnamese meal with several courses to be savoured.

DAY-04 HANOI – HALONG BAY

After breakfast we will join our exciting overnight adventure to the famous Halong Bay. At Halong pier we will board our cruise to head east towards the Gulf of Tonkin. Here in the heart of the emerald waters of Halong Bay (where dragons descend into the sea) are hundreds of limestone islands
called “pitons” which jut out of the water to create one of nature’s most breathtaking vistas. The bay and its mystical islets are designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site based on its natural beauty. Our boat will slowly cruise around its many islands until it arrives at a pristine and calm spot, where we anchor for the night. Later this afternoon we will visit the mysterious and beautiful Tien Ong Cave. These caves took millions of years to form, but were only discovered recently. The thirty-metre cave walls show many dramatic formations that tease the imagination. On- board, before dinner, you can take part in a short cooking course on making Vietnamese spring rolls. Enjoy watching the sunset and later the star-filled night. Lunch and dinner are both served on-board the cruise. Evening activities like night squid fishing, karaoke and dancing are all possible. Overnight on the boat.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. 

DAY-05 HALONG BAY – HANOI FLY: HANOI – HOI AN

You can start your day with an early morning session of Tai Chi. After a sumptuous breakfast, we will stop at Cua Van Floating Village where you will have the option of taking a boat rowed by our staff, or you can paddle your own kayak to explore the beauty of the bay. After your morning activities, the cruise will head back to the port. Enjoy your final views from the deck as we say so long to Halong! Upon arrival at port, our guide will assist us in transferring back to the Hanoi Airport. Our flight will take us to Hoi An in central Vietnam.

Meals: Breakfast 

DAY 06 HOI AN

After breakfast, explore Hoi An’s rural surroundings. We will stop at a local village where the community has come together to create a large vegetable farm. Take a walk around the farm to see the different vegetables that are all grown organically! Learn the traditional methods the farmers use to plant, fertilize and harvest the crop, then try your hand at raking the ground and sowing the seeds. After toiling away in the garden, be rewarded with an herbal foot bath and massage. Join in with short cooking demonstration followed by a cooked lunch featuring the delicious vegetables straight from the farm. In the afternoon we will take a guided tour of the old town of Hoi An, where the ancient streets and buildings of this Cham city are preserved for you today as a World Heritage Site. The narrow streets and beautiful canals will transport you into the past of this historical trading town. Here merchants once thrived from the spice trade and they left their legacy through buildings such as the Chinese Temple and the Tan Ky Chinese- style trading house. Make sure you try an egg coffee and then enjoy the spectacular show of lights in the evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

DAY 07 HOI AN – SAIGON (HO CHI MINH CITY)

After a relaxing morning, we will be transferred to Danang from where we fly out to Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City. Once we arrive, we will be transferred to our hotel where we might have time to visit the 5 000 stall Ben Thanh Market which one can walk to from the hotel. Overnight in Saigon (Ho Chi Min City).

Meals: Breakfast.

Optional Sightseeing – A O Show and Dinner Private Evening Tour (CAD$ 110.00 per person)
Starting at the magnificent Saigon Opera House, the A O Show is a spectacular showcase of Vietnamese culture and performance art, and combines in beautiful precision elements of both old and new. Featuring Vietnam’s most talented performance artists, traditional musicians and circus-like choreography, A O Show explores the lives of the Vietnamese people through its ensemble creations. Using props made of little more than bamboo and wood, performers recreate the peaceful serenity of the Vietnamese countryside, the ebb and flow of the coastal waves or the frenetic traffic in Hanoi and Saigon. With a cast made up of the most talented local circus performers, dancers, athletes and artists, A O Show is one of the most memorable experiences to be had in the city. After the hour long show, take a short walk through the wide Boulevards of central Saigon to Hoa Tuc Restaurant – a real culinary and architectural gem, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of District 1. Renowned for its combination of contemporary Vietnamese cuisine and authentic French colonial architecture, Hoa Tuc is the perfect end to a memorable night in Saigon. Eat Al Fresco or in the elegantly white washed walls of this one time Opium Refinery. Afterwards transfer back to your hotel.

DAY 08 SAIGON (Ho Chi Minh) CITY TOUR

 After breakfast, we will depart for the Cu Chi tunnels. By 1965, 250 km of tunnels crisscrossed Cu Chi and surrounding areas. Just across the Saigon River was the notorious guerrilla power base known as the IRON TRIANGLE. The Cu Chi tunnels played a vital part in the American war as they allowed the Viet Cong to control a large rural area only 30 to 40 km from Saigon. At its height, the tunnel system stretched from Saigon to the Cambodian border. The network, parts of which were several levels deep, included innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens. Today the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience and feel for what underground life in the American War must have been like. The tunnels have been widened for our benefit, otherwise we would not be able to enter them! Once back in Saigon, a former fishing village that has grown to a city of over 9 million, the city tour will commence with a visit to Saigon’s NotreDame Cathedral (Tan Dinh Church), built with materials imported from France, including glass from Chartres. Although it is not a replica of the famous Notre Dame, it is equally impressive with its high steeple and distinctive pink, gothic design. A short walk from the Basilica is the Central Post Office, exquisitely designed by none other than Gustav Eiffel. After a short visit, take a stroll along Dong Khoi Street to visit the Opera House. The Opera House has an interesting history as it has been everything from a bomb shelter to a House of the Parliament. Restored in 1995, the Opera House has returned to its roots and is once again a theatre. Continue on to visit the Reunification Palace, once a symbol of the South Vietnamese Government. It was here on April 30, 1975, that the war ended when a North Vietnamese Army tank crashed through its gates. From there we will continue on to the War Remnants Museum. The displays share the story of the city’s darkest and most tragic hours during the Vietnam War. The museum showcases diverse aspects of the war and its impacts on the region. It is a sobering experience to see the effects of war on ordinary citizens. You will then have time to explore the famous Ben Thanh Market and shop for some amazing, hand-crafted souvenirs.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

DAY 09 SAIGON – MEKONG DELTA

After breakfast, we head to Vinh Long in the heart of the Mekong Delta. We start with a visit to the Cai Be Floating Market. Compared to Cai Rang, this is a much smaller market, but it has its own charm. Then it’s time to explore the mighty Mekong River by boat. We board our boat and cruise along the many canals and tributaries of the Mekong. For lunch, you can try the local specialty, “Elephant Ear Fish”; fresh from the Mekong. After lunch we will visit a unique local candy manufacturer. Here on a small island in the Mekong Delta, coconut candy is produced from organic ingredients with no artificial flavours added. You can also watch fresh ‘poprice’ (like popcorn), being made instantly. For those who wish, Cobra and Scorpion Wine are also available. From here we head to Can Tho to stay overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

DAY 10 CAN THO – SAIGON – PHNOM PENH

Early in the morning we visit one of the largest floating markets in the region, Cai Rang. Your boat trip will take you past a variety of boat shops that sell fresh fruits, vegetables and a variety of other goods. Each boat has a long pole and on the tip of this pole hangs what is for sale. After your trip, return to your hotel for a fresh, warm breakfast. Time then to check out and head back to Saigon and catch our flight to Phnom Penh. Along the way we will stop for lunch at a traditional local restaurant.

Upon arrival at the airport in Phnom Penh, our guide will assist us with the transfer to our hotel. For dinner, the restaurant the hotel offers great options at very reasonable price. Overnight at hotel.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch. 

Departures

Available Dates

No Tours Available...
Start Date End Date Price US$ Join