Extended Vietnam - 13nts

Extended Vietnam - 13nts Overview

Do more than scratch the surface with this extended trip in Vietnam including plenty of time at the end to relax those busy feet on the beach.

Day 1 - Hanoi
Upon arrival in Hanoi you'll be met by your guide who will transfer you to your hotel.
Hanoi, Vietnam's capital, 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.

The remainder of your day is at leisure.
Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2 - 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. There’s plenty to do and see or you may choose to find a spot on the lakeside and just watch the world go by - Hanoi is a truly unique city. In the evening you can choose from one of the many restaurants near Hoan Kiem Lake or in the Old Quarter. Hanoi is also a fascinating city to enjoy an alfresco drink.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Meals: Breakfast

Day 3 - 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 4 - Halong Bay Cruise, Hanoi, Hue
In the early morning many of the islands are alive with the sound of various sea birds 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 connecting flight to Hue.

En route to Hanoi Airport make a stop at a village famous for making some of the incredible water puppets you may have seen in Hanoi. Meet with some of the locals and take a tour of the village and their puppet ancestor ‘stalea’. The highlight of the visit is the puppet performance in the local theatre.

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 your evening arrival at your hotel, you’ll probably be ready for a new style of Vietnamese cuisine. Food in Hue is spicy hot, with lots of chilli. Reflecting its Imperial roots, it is often served in beautifully presented, taster portions, a kind of oriental nouvelle cuisine!
Overnight in Hue.
Meals: Breakfast

Day 5 - 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 6 - Hue, Hai Van Pass, Danang, Hoi An
Morning departure for Hoi An, driving the stunning route via Hai Van Pass (Ocean Cloud Pass) and the wonderfully photogenic fishing village of Lang Co before reaching Danang. Visit the beautiful Non Nuoc Beach and the Cham Museum containing the finest collection of Cham sculptures in the world. You will also stop at the sacred hills known as the Marble Mountains, which contain dozens of Buddhist shrines.

After checking in to your hotel, the remainder of your day is at leisure.

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 the 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. The local tailors are also 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 7 - Hoi An, Cooking School
We hope you enjoyed last nights meal as this morning you have the opportunity to recreate some of the famous Vietnamese dishes you will have been enjoying over the past few days. After a tour of the morning market shopping for the day’s ingredients, you will take a boat to the beautifully set Red Bridge cooking school and restaurant. Suitable for all levels and abilities, it’s a fun morning and you get to ‘enjoy’ your efforts in the restaurant for lunch. (Please note: there will be other guests joining you at the cooking school.)
Your afternoon is at leisure.
Overnight in Hoi An.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8 - Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City, City Tour
Morning transfer to Danang airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival 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.

In the afternoon 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.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Meals: Breakfast

Day 9 - Ho Chi Minh City, Cu Chi Tunnels, Great Cao Dai Holy See Temple
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.

Continue on to one of the countries more unusual sites. Having arrived in Tay Ninh you’d be forgiven for thinking you were at a Vietnamese Disney Land - The Great Cao Dai Holy See Temple is the home of the popular Cao Daism Religion where all the major faiths of the world blend together to form this unique religion. Watch the midday incredible midday service before returning to Ho Chi Minh City in the late afternoon.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Meals: Breakfast

Day 10 - Ho Chi Minh City, Phan Thiet & Mui Ne
Morning transfer to Phan Thiet & Mui Ne - just 200km from Ho Chi Minh City and sitting at the southernmost point of Central Vietnam (please note: the journey takes an average of 4 - 4.5 hours, however it can take longer depending on the traffic).
Once a part of the Cham kingdom, in 1692 Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu captured the entire region and named it Binh Thuan Dinh. Today, the town sits on the banks of Ca Ty River, a short distance from the South China Sea. Fishing is Phan Thiet's largest industry with its most famous export being Nuoc Mam (fish sauce!).

Phan Thiet is also home to some of the most beautiful stretches of sand in the whole of Vietnam; and high on the list of contenders for the top spot is Mui Ne with its sand dunes and breathtaking beach. The year round sunshine, easy pace of life, clear waters and fresh seafood make for an exceptional beach holiday experience.
Overnight in Phan Thiet & Mui Ne.
Meals: Breakfast

Day 11 - Phan Thiet & Mui Ne
Your day is at leisure.
Overnight in Phan Thiet & Mui Ne.
Meals: Breakfast

Day 12 - Phan Thiet & Mui Ne
Your day is at leisure.
Overnight in Phan Thiet & Mui Ne.
Meals: Breakfast

Day 13 - Phan Thiet & Mui Ne
Your day is at leisure.
Overnight in Phan Thiet & Mui Ne.
Meals: Breakfast

Day 14 - Phan Thiet & Mui Ne, Ho Chi Minh City
Your day is at leisure until your transfer to Ho Chi Minh City for your onward flight.
Meals: Breakfast

Extended Vietnam - 13nts Reviews