You have the entire day today to visit Vietnam’s lovely capital. Hanoi is an eclectic blend that provides something for everyone, with its broad tree-lined boulevards, French colonial buildings, calm lakes, and ancient oriental pagodas. The Ho Chi Minh Complex (Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and stilt home), the Presidential Palace, the neighboring One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, West Lake, with the calm Tran Quoc Pagoda and Quan Thanh Temple, and one of the city’s museums are all included in your city trip (a choice between the History Museum and the Ethnology Museum).

Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi.

After breakfast, depart for a 3- to 4-hour journey to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Halong Bay. The Halong Bay itinerary below is an example of our typical service on a three-star junk/cruise. Our luxury cruise itineraries aboard the Violet, Jasmine, Ginger, Paradise, or Au Co provide a variety of programs. Please contact us for additional information.
Spend 24 hours on a traditional Junk Cruise in the beautiful bay, natural beauty of jutting limestone islets, and stunning blue waters. Arrive at the pier at 12:00 p.m. and board your junk. As we sail out into the magical bay, have a sumptuous meal with fresh seafood on board. Cruise around several of Halong’s numerous islands in the afternoon, including Dinh Huong and Ga Choi. Visit one of the bay’s three major caverns along the route (Thien Cung, Dau Go, or Sung Sot). Stop at an island cove with a secluded white-sand beach and cool down in the Gulf of Tonkin’s warm waters (weather permitting). Sleep the night away on your trash, lulled to sleep by the gently rolling of calm seas.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Accommodation: on cruise.

Wake up early and practice Tai Chi on the top deck, or simply relax and watch the dawn over the bay’s towering islands. Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea in the morning before rowing out to explore the local islands. Return to the junk for brunch before navigating back to Halong City, where your driver will meet you at the port and transport you to Hanoi for your trip to Danang. Transfer to your hotel in Hoian upon arrival.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian.

Immerse yourself in the peace and tranquillity of this peaceful riverbank village. Hoian was a prosperous international port from the 16th to the 18th century, frequented by Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese, and Arab traders who came to deal in the high-quality silk still manufactured in the vicinity. Today, Hoian is a pleasant tourist destination known for its diverse architecture, talented tailors, and several cafés. Take a half-day walking trip through the historical town center’s tiny winding lanes, stopping at Chua Ong Pagoda, the Chinese Assembly Hall, the 200-year-old Tan Ky family mansion, and the famed Japanese Bridge.

Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian.

Today you take a motorboat to Cham Island (Cu Lao Cham) and have lunch on an isolated beach. Visit the Marine Protected Area, the boat shelter, the Hai Tang pagoda, a fishing town, and its local market, and then stroll for 20 minutes on the pleasant sloping and meandering sand to Chong village. Take in the breathtaking vista of the East Sea. After that, go swimming, snorkeling, and have lunch.
Return to Hoian’s Cua Dai beach around 2 p.m. The rest of the day is yours to do as you like.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian.

After breakfast, head to the airport to catch your flight to Saigon, Vietnam’s contemporary city. Arrive in the late morning and take an orientation trip through the bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh City on your way to the hotel. Have lunch at a downtown restaurant of your choice before embarking on a guided city tour. Visit the War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace, and the neighboring neo-Romanesque Notre Dame Cathedral, as well as the City’s Centre Post Office, before passing past the grandiose Opera Theatre and City Hall. Finally, arrive at the Ben Thanh Market, where sellers sell a wide range of commodities and handicrafts to suit every taste.

Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon.

Today you take a day excursion to the Mekong River Delta to discover the rich culture and magnificent fluvial environment. Your guide and driver will meet you at your hotel after breakfast and transport you to Cai Be. Begin your excursion by drifting through the local barges laden with fruits and vegetables at Cai Be’s colorful floating market. Visit several local workshops before dining in an antique home in the calm shadow of An Binh Island’s orchards. In the afternoon, hop into a traditional rowboat and head deeper into the countryside, drifting along small canals and taking in the scenery.

Visit a nursery garden to learn about how farmers along the delta grow their world-famous fruits and vegetables. The boat arrives at Vinh Long at 3:30 p.m. Your driver will be waiting for you at the pier and will take you back to Saigon.

Meals: Breakfast. Lunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon.

Today is free for last-minute shopping or sightseeing before traveling to the airport to catch your flight home.

Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: N/A.