Compact Vietnam - 9 Nts

Compact Vietnam - 9 Nts Overview

A trip for those with a small ammount of time looking to see a large ammount of a country. Be warned though, it will leave you wanting more!

Day 1 - Ho Chi Minh City

Upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh City you'll be met by your guide who will transfer you to your hotel.
Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam and is located near the Mekong Delta. It was originally Cambodian territory before being conquered by the Vietnamese in the 16th century and named Saigon. The city was then renamed once again, after the North Vietnamese invasion of South Vietnam in 1975, becoming Ho Chi Minh City (named after the North Vietnamese leader). Today the city centre is still adorned with wide elegant boulevards and historic French buildings. However, as the undoubted economic centre of Vietnam, high rise office towers are starting to take their place amongst this wonderful colonial architecture.

The remainder of your day is at leisure.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 2 - Ho Chi Minh City, Cu Chi Tunnels, City Tour

Make a morning visit to the famous Cu Chi tunnels - an incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the long struggle for independence. The tunnels, over 250km in length and up to three levels deep in places, played a huge part in the Viet Cong’s victory over the Americans, allowing them to control a large rural area surrounding Ho Chi Minh City. Today, some of the remaining tunnels have been opened to tourists, offering a unique insight into what underground life must have been like during the ‘American’ war.

Upon return to Ho Chi Minh take a tour of the city centre. Your guide will be happy to personalise your programme, however we would recommend sites such as the Reunification Palace where the South finally fell to North Vietnamese troops in 1975; Notre Dame Cathedral; the Old Saigon Post Office; Thien Hau Pagoda in the city’s bustling Chinatown and the War Crimes Museum, highlighting the suffering of the Vietnamese people during recent conflicts – you won’t be too surprised to find it’s not exactly a politically balanced exhibition.

The remainder your day is at leisure. It’s a great city to explore at night, lots of bars and great restaurants...you’ll be spoilt for choice!
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Meals: Breakfast

Day 3 - Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, Marble Mountain, Hoi An

Morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Danang. Upon arrival, and having been met by your guide, drive south to Hoi An, taking the time to stop at the beautiful Non Nuoc Beach and the Cham Museum, home to the finest collection of Cham sculptures in the world. Further along, you can also stop at the sacred hills, known as the Marble Mountains, containing dozens of Buddhist shrines. Having checked in, take a walking tour of the ancient town.

Once known as Faifo, the UNESCO designated World Heritage town of Hoi An was one of the Orient’s major trading ports in the 16th and 17th centuries. Despite the passing of years and the ravages of weather and war, the centre of Hoi An remains much the same as it did in its heyday. The town is undoubtedly one of the highlights of any visit to Vietnam with the laid-back atmosphere and the fine colonial architecture lining cobbled streets offering a glimpse of times gone-by. Explore the former merchants’ homes, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the colourful market.

Hoi An is one of the best places in Asia to shop for silks, handicrafts, antiques and art. Also, the local tailors are famous for their high standards of work and can create anything to order in just 24 hours.
A short distance from the town centre is Cua Dai Beach, popular with both locals and visitors for its sandy beach, warm sea and seafood stalls. Hoi An is famed throughout Vietnam for its fine cuisine and there are any number of sensational restaurants and cafes to choose from.
Overnight in Hoi An.
Meals: Breakfast

Day 4 - Hoi An

Your day is at leisure.
Overnight in Hoi An.
Meals: Breakfast

Day 5 - Hoi An, Hai Van Pass, Hue

Your morning is at leisure.

In the afternoon depart for Hue, the former Imperial capital of Vietnam. Your scenic route passes through Danang before climbing over Hai Van Pass (Ocean Cloud Pass) and dropping down to the wonderfully photogenic fishing village of Lang Co.
Hue remained Vietnam’s capital until 1945, when Bao Dai, the last of the Nguyen emperors, abdicated. Many of Hue’s attractions are found along the banks of the Perfume River that flows through the centre of town.

After checking in to your hotel, the remainder of your day is at leisure.
Overnight in Hue.
Meals: Breakfast

Day 6 - Hue, Perfume River Cruise, Imperial City Tour

Take a morning boat trip on the romantically named Perfume River, passing the 10-metre thick protective walls of the Citadel on board a Vietnamese ‘dragon boat’. A short distance up river is perhaps Hue’s best-known religious site, the Thien Mu Pagoda with its distinctive seven-storey octagonal tower. Having explored the pagoda and its beautiful grounds, return to Hue via Dong Ba market.

After lunch visit the elaborate mausoleums of Emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh, both extravagant complexes of pavilions, temples, courtyards and lakes. You can also walk through the heavily bombed remains of the Imperial Citadel, built along the lines of Beijing’s Forbidden City and from where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945.
Overnight in Hue.
Meals: Breakfast

Day 7 - Hue, Hanoi

Late morning transfer to Hue Airport for the short flight to Hanoi, Vietnam's capital, which ranks amongst the world's most attractive and interesting cities. It was first the capital of Vietnam in A.D. 1010, and though the nation's capital moved to Hue under the Nguyen dynasty in 1802, the city continued to flourish after the French took control in 1888. In 1954, after the French departed, Hanoi was declared Vietnam's capital once again. The remnants of over 1,000 years of history are still visible here, with that of the past few hundred years wonderfully preserved.

Once you have checked into your hotel, the remainder of your day is at leisure. We recommend staying in and around the Old Quarter where there is a large selection of excellent restaurants to choose from.... there is also amazing 'street-food' such as Pho to be found on every corner!
Overnight in Hanoi.
Meals: Breakfast

Day 8 - Hanoi, City Tour

After breakfast, visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum (closed Monday and Friday year-round and everyday throughout September to November), One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature and Hoan Kiem Lake before enjoying a walking tour of the Old Quarter and Dong Xuan Market.
Your afternoon is at leisure.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Meals: Breakfast

Day 9 - Halong Bay Cruise

After an early breakfast it’s a three hour drive to Halong Bay, passing through some typical North Vietnamese countryside and a number of small towns.
A natural wonder of the world and one of Vietnam’s five UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the magnificent Halong Bay is home to three thousand jagged limestone islands that emerge from emerald green waters. While some islands are no more than large rocks others are far more substantial in size. From May to August the warm waters of the bay are ideal for swimming.

You will be welcomed aboard a traditional junk, the same style that has been travelling the bay for 100’s of years. During your cruise you will disembark at several locations allowing you to explore huge caves, relax on sandy coves and enjoy panoramic views from cliff tops. In the evening enjoy dinner and drinks in the dining cabin whilst watching the sunset over the bay. Throughout your cruise the food will be in plentiful supply and lovers of freshly caught seafood will be particularly happy.
Overnight on board.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10 - Halong Bay Cruise, Hanoi

In the early morning many of the islands are alive with the sound of various seabirds that nest in the thick green vegetation that engulf the limestone karsts. Enjoy coffee and breakfast onboard whilst cruising slowly back towards the mainland.
You will dock in the late morning and, having disembarked, you will transfer back to Hanoi in time for your onward flight.
Meals: Breakfast

Compact Vietnam - 9 Nts Reviews