Ageless Explorer – Best of Vietnam

Upon arrival at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport you will be welcomed by our guide holding a sign with your name on it. After approximately 50 minutes to 1 hour transfer, you will be at your hotel for check-in.

Hanoi or “River-bound City” as its name literally means is Vietnam’s capital with a thousand-year-old history dating back to 1010. The city’s fascinating beauty which is characterized by unique cultural relics, ancient streets of antique houses, elegant French colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards and romantic lakes has made it one of the most charming cities of Asia.

Upon arrival, meet our guide at the airport then transfer to have breakfast then take half day city tour

08:00-12:00 Half day city tour

Morning, start a full day city tour beginning with the Ho Chi Minh Complex which features the life of Ho Chi Minh, the nation’s founder. Explore Ba Dinh Square, an important point of pilgrimage for many Vietnamese, the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh Museum and the rural style Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts where he lived and worked. Stop by one of Hanoi’s icons, the One Pillar Pagoda, built in the 11th Century in dedication to Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara or Buddha of Compassion and reminiscent of a lotus blossom rising from a pond. Continue to the Temple of Literature, known as the first university of Vietnam built in 1070 by the Ly Dynasty to honor Confucius, sages and outstanding Vietnamese scholars.

12:30 Lunch at local restaurant.

14:00 Check in hotel for free at own leisure

17:00 Our guide pick up at hotel to see a Vietnamese traditional water puppet show. Then transfer for dinner

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch (Indian Set menu), Dinner (Indian Set menu)

Overnight hotel in Hanoi

Tour will begin at 8h00. Discover one of Vietnam’s most spectacular northern jewels with the Halong Bay day cruise. Departure from the buzzing streets of Hanoi in the morning, leaving the city buildings behind in exchange for the beautiful of the Red River Delta. Pass by smaller towns and farmlands, enjoying views of typical Vietnamese countryside. Half way into the three and a half hour-journey, stop for a stretch and a drink at a local rest stop.

Resume the drive, arriving in Ha Long City late morning and board a private boat. Cast off and cruise across the emerald green water of UNESO-listed Halong bay. Sit in the dining area or on the open-air top deck to admire the scenery and the refreshing sea breeze. The boat captain will navigate the boat around the Bay’s 1.500 limestone island, providing an opportunity to see these remarkable, geologic wonders both up-close and from afar. The boat will stop for you to visit Thien Cung Cave (Heaven Palace), one of the most beautiful caves on Ha Long bay.

Around midday, lunch will be served on board. Enjoy attentive, personalized service by the ship’s crew while feasting on delicious, fresh seafood and a selection of Vietnamese dishes.

After dining the ship will begin circling back to port, following a different route along the way for more breath-taking views. Say farewell to the ship’s crew and climb back into the vehicle for the return journey to Hanoi.

Arrive at the hotel in time for a chance to freshen up before dinner.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch (Local Set menu), Dinner (Indian Set menu)

Overnight at hotel in Hanoi

7:00-7:45 Have breakfast at hotel

Our tour guide will pick you up from your hotel in Old quarter at about 8 AM, driving you to Tran Quoc Pagoda. This place is located on an island east of West Lake (Tay Ho District), which is considered to be the oldest in Thang Long-Hanoi. With its historical and architectural values, Tran Quoc pagoda is famous for its sacred Buddha land, which attracts many Buddhists and visitors to Vietnam.

Morning, start a full day city tour beginning with Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, which contains a rich collection of audio-visual documentation and more than 15,000 artifacts including life-size traditional houses depicting all aspects of life, culture, customs and belief of the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam.

Afternoon, visit Hoan Kiem Lake or “Returned Sword Lake” which originated from a legend of a sacred sword. On an islet in the lake, there locates Ngoc Son Temple which is accessible by a classically red painted wooden bridge. Touring through the Old Quarter, famous for its ancient streets representing traditional trades from the past by cyclo or enjoy a coffee at a local café.

Evening, transfer out for dinner at local Indian restaurant

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Indian set menu)

Accomodation: Overnight at hotel in Hanoi

7:00-7:45 Have breakfast at hotel

8:00 – 12:00 Transfer to Noi Bai International Airport for flight to Danang this morning

12:30-13:30 Arrival Da Nang airport, pick up by our guide & driver then transfer to have lunch at hotel then check in hotel (Check-in time is 14:00 hrs)

14:30 Start with a visit to the Han Market and browse the stalls of this sprawling compound, seeing fresh produce and dried goods unique to the area. This is also a great place to get a glimpse of local life, watching the shoppers and vendors as they negotiate deals.

Then continue to Danang Cathedral. Admire the unique Gothic architecture and detailed paintings while learning about the history of Christianity in Central Vietnam.

Take a drive south to Marble Mountain, a group of limestone and marble hills filled with caves. Travel to the top and gaze upon the city, seeing new high rise buildings standing alongside traditional wooden houses. Then explore the mountain’s main cave to see a beautiful Buddha statue built in the Cham style.

The tour comes to a close with a visit to the Cham Museum. Browse the remarkable collection of Cham sculptures and artefacts dating from the 7th to 15th century.

17:30 Following the visit to the museum, transfer back to the hotel for relax

19:00 Transfer for dinner at local restaurant

Meal : Breakfast, Lunch (Indian Set menu), Dinner (Indian Set menu)

Overnight at hotel in Da Nang

7:00-7:45 Have breakfast at hotel

08:00 Transfer to Ba Na Hills, pass the sea-shore on Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, one of the most beautiful roads of Da Nang City and Red Beach, where the French first landed in Da Nang.

09:30 Arrive at the Cable car station at the foot of Ba Na Mountain. Enjoy the first leg Cable car, which achieves two Guinness World records in 2009, longest non-stop cable car (5,042m) and highest non-stop cable car (1,292m). Sitting in the cabin, in mid air, looking upon the endless tree line of the forests, bring you with spectacular views of the lush jungle and fairly waterfalls along the way. Experience pristine ecological systems of the Ba Na Mountains will leave you the sense of unforeseeable discovery.

First, step on Golden Bridge which stands 1,400m above sea level in the Ba Na hills, extends over the treetops from the edget of a leafy cliff face offering tourists uninterrupted views of the majestic landscape beneath. The gold-colored walkway is lined with purple Lobelia Chrysanthemums and extends for almost 150 metres, curving around in an elegant design. But it is the sculpted hands that give it the true wow factor. It looks like giant hands of Gods pulling a strip of gold out of the land. The Golden Bridge is the latest tourist attraction in Da Nang and has attracted hordes of guests since it opened.

Visit the Le Jardin, old wineries, remains of French Villas and Ling Ung Pagoda with 27m high Buddha status. We then leave the Le Jardin for the second cable car station to visit the top of mountain and see the remain of old villas. Conquer the Peak of Chua Mountain at the height of 1,487m. View the whole Da Nang city under the cluster of white clouds. Leave Peak of Chua Mountain, visit the trail of Dreaming Stream, Rainbow Waterfall, Suspension Bridge, Golden Valley, and ruined Opera House. Lunch at local restaurant. Play with wild monkeys and take photos, freely then we return to Cable car station at foot of Ba Na Mountain then transfer back to Da Nang City.

16:00 Reach hotel for relax

18:30 Transfer for dinner at local restaurant

Meal : Breakfast, Lunch (Local buffet), Dinner (Indian Set menu)

Overnight at hotel in Da Nang

7:45-8:45 Have breakfast at hotel

10:00 Our guide and driver transfer to Da Nang airport for flight departure to Ho Chi Minh city

13:55 Arrive at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, welcome by our guide and transfer to your hotel.

Ho Chi Minh City formerly named Saigon is the largest city and economic center of Vietnam always bustled with activities of modern life. It is where businesses converge and shoppers indulge themselves into unlimited choices. Streets are filled with endless stream of motorbikes, cars, while the sky is dotted with towering skyscrapers, rooftop bars that overlook Saigon and beyond. However, the city also carries with it a rich historical legacy in contrast with its dazzling glamor. There is also another Saigon that hasn’t been touched. Let’s step out from those hustle and bustle and allow us to show you this serene Saigon. Come and see before the city fully awakes & the locals hurry up for life. It’s surprisingly enchanting and stimulating!

12:30 – 13:30 Transfer to have lunch at local restaurant

14:00 – 17:00 Meet our tour guide again and take a half day city tour. First, discover the very popular War Remnants Museum, the one that gathers a comprehensive collection of the machinery, weapons, photographs and documentation of the Vietnam wars. See displays of old military equipment and other related objects as well as larger exhibits including an F5A fighter and a UH1-Huey helicopter. Next, the century-old Reunification Palace, witness of the historic events of old Saigon and famous for its architectural characteristics. It witnessed the growth of Ho Chi Minh City during peacetime and throughout the Vietnam War until its end in 1975.

After that, we will visit Ben Thanh Market, a lively market in District 1, a bustling destination that’s popular with tourists due to its central location. You can browse its wide selection of goods before your tour ends with transportation back to your hotel or drop-off at another central location, if you wish.

18:30 Our guide will pick up at the hotel then transfer to local restaurant for dinner

Meal : Breakfast, Lunch (Local buffet), Dinner (Indian Set menu)

Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh city

7:00-7:45 Have breakfast at hotel

08:00 Travel by car to the Mekong Delta, the world’s largest delta and Vietnam’s largest rice bowl. On arrival in My Tho City, capital of Tien Giang Province, board a motorboat and navigate through intricate canals while observing the local daily life up close as well as the landscape of waterways and lush islands. Land on Thoi Son Island to listen to the Southern traditional music performed by native artists. Continue the tour with a paddleboat to cruise more canals before visiting households with traditional occupations of home-based coconut candy and rice-wine making. Switch back to a motorboat to go to a bee farm to enjoy fresh honey tea and fresh fruits. On the way back to My Tho, stop to visit Vinh Trang Pagoda, a prominent local Buddhist structure built in 1850 with a unique architectural mixture of Vietnamese, Roman, Chinese and Cambodian styles characterized by a highly ornate façade.

17:30-18:00 Transfer back Ho Chi Minh, check in hotel for freshen up

19:30 Our guide & drvier pick up at the hotel for Gala Dinner at Indian Restaurant

Meal : Breakfast , Lunch (Local set menu), Dinner (Indian Set menu – special menu for Gala Dinner)

Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh city

7:30-8:00 Have breakfast at hotel

8:00-12:30 Morning, meet our guide at your hotel and transfer about 75 km Northwest of downtown Ho Chi Minh City to visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, which were once a major underground hideout and resistance base of Viet Cong forces during the two wars against the French and the Americans. The tunnels, entirely hand-dug, formed a highly intricate network of interlinked multilevel passageways at times stretched as far as the Cambodian border and totaling over 120 km in length. Its complexity was beyond imagination containing meeting rooms, kitchens, wells, clinics, schools, depots, trenches and emergency exits all aimed for guerrilla warfare. The tunnels were deep and strong enough to withstand destructive bombings and self-contained enough to outlast prolonged sieges.

13:30-15:00 Have lunch at local restaurant then afternoon we transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport on air-conditioned vehicle.

Meal : Breakfast, Lunch (Indian set menu)