Vietnam Deluxe - Luxury Tour

Hanoi – Halong Bay – Cruise – Hanoi – Hue – Hoi An – Danang – Ho Chi Minh

Steeped in history & culture, Vietnam offers spectacular landscapes and local experiences complimented by the best in dining and high end hotels. Cruise through Halong Bay in your own private boat, enjoy a scenic flight over clear blue waters or simply stroll through village markets and city streets soaking up the atmosphere of local life and traditions for a truly luxurious escape.

 

Highlights:

• Hanoi City & Cyclo Tour
• Scenic fight over Halong Bay
• Traditional lunch in Hue
• Walking Tour & Cooking Demo in Hoi An
• Vespa Night Tour
• Cu Chi Tunnels

 

DAY BY DAY ITINERARY

Day 1: Hanoi
On arrival, you will be met by our representative, who will assist you with VIP express service to clear all formalities before being transferred to your Hotel by vehicle from our superior fleet. Rest of the day at your leisure.  Accommodation: Two nights at the Sofitel Metropole in a Grand Premium Room. Private Butler Service available.

 

Day 2: Hanoi (B/L)
Enjoy a full day tour exploring Hanoi’s illustrious history. In the morning, visit the imposing marble edifice housing the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum (closed on Mondays & Fridays) before moving onto his wooden stilt house and the One Pillar Pagoda. You will then visit the first university of Vietnam, the Temple of Literature, which is imbued with the profound  philosophies of Confucianism. Lunch today is arranged at KOTO Restaurant.  In the afternoon, visit the Hoan Kiem Lake and the Ngoc Son Temple. A one-hour cyclo tour of Hanoi’s Old Quarter allows you to catch a glimpse of ancient Hanoi and learn about traditional Vietnamese architecture. The tour includes a stop at an ancient Vietnamese “long house” before returning to your hotel.

 

Day 3: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B/L/D)
Transfer to airport for Seaplane to Halong Bay (including a 15-min scenic flight over Halong Bay). On arrival, check in to your private junk at Hon Gai Harbour. After embarking at midday enjoy a welcome drink followed by a lunch while cruising to magnificent Bai Tu Long Bay; admiring the fascinating limestone formations on the way. Explore the well- hidden Thien Canh Son Cave and relax on the white sandy beach at Hon Co Island with options to go swimming or kayaking. Return to your junk to freshen up before having dinner on board. Relax, enjoy the fresh air & overnight on board.  Accommodation: Cruise Halong Bay for one night in a private Junk – L’Amor.

Day 4: Ha Long Bay – Hanoi – Hue (B/L)
Wake to the morning view of Halong Bay’s landscape with a cup of tea or coffee and breakfast in the fresh air. Visit Vung Vieng fishing village by a rustic row-boat, meet the local people and pass through the floating school and fish farms. Check out of the cabin and start cruising towards the harbour while an A la carte lunch is served.  After disembarking, take a seaplane back to Hanoi and connect a regular flight to Hue.  On arrival in Hue, you will be transferred to your hotel.  Accommodation: Two nights at the La Residence, Hue in a Colonial Junior Suite.

Day 5: Hue (B/L)
Take a morning tour to visit Thien Mu Pagoda and the poetic mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc. Enjoy a traditional lunch at Tha Om restored house. In the afternoon, proceed to visit the Imperial Citadel and the Dong Ba Market. The spectacular Citadel (built in accordance to strict principles of geomancy) houses a series of palaces, ornate halls, libraries, residences
and colleges.

Day 6: Hue – Hoi An (B)
Drive along the coast and via mountain passes to Hoi An with a stop en route at the photogenic village of Lang Co Beach.  Visit the Cham Museum which houses the world’s finest collection of Cham artworks before proceeding to Hoi An to your hotel.  The rest of the day is at your leisure to explore the town.  Accommodation: Three nights at the Four
Season - The Nam Hai in a One-Bedroom Pool Villa. Private Butler Service available.

Day 7: Hoi An (B)
Set off on a walking tour to explore this World Heritage Site. Highlights include an ancient merchant house, the Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the vibrant riverside market. In the afternoon, visit one of Hoi An’s famous lantern workshops and learn how to make one yourself. End the day by taking a peaceful boat trip on the Thu Bon and afterwards enjoy free time to further explore the old town.

Day 8: Hoi An (B/L)
This morning, experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of Hoi An market on a personally-guided tour with the chef of Red Bridge Restaurant. Interact with the stall holders and purchase fresh ingredients for the day’s meals.  After completing the shopping, take a boat cruise along the Hoi An River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. Learn about Vietnamese herbs and spices, local ingredients, and the art of food decoration.  The chef will demonstrate how to prepare some of Vietnam’s most delicious dishes.  Guests then have a chance to create their own meals under the chef’s guidance.  Enjoy a delicious home-cooked meal of Vietnamese and Hoi An specialties.  Afternoon is at leisure to stroll through this interesting town or spend some on the beach.

Day 9: Danang – Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnels (B)
You will be transferred to airport for a morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival, visit the amazing Cu Chi Tunnels where Vietnamese guerrillas built a labyrinth of narrow tunnels as hideouts during the war. Return to Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon.  In the evening, you will be picked up from your hotel and start your Vespa night trip by mingling in the crowd of locals going home after work. Take in the scene of complex traffic while riding through different districts of old Saigon. Stop by some street food restaurants to try Vietnamese seafood and crepes, as well as discover the diversity between the local Cafés with Vietnamese music and popular bars with the oldies, jazz or rock. Enjoy the music before returning to your hotel.
Accommodation: Two nights at the Park Hyatt in a Park Deluxe Room. Butler Service available.

Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City (B)
This morning, you will be taken for a city tour of Ho Chi Minh (formerly Saigon) - a fast paced city with a unique mix of French colonial architecture, Chinese influences, a modern entrepreneurial spirit and numerous temples. On this tour, you will take in the highlights of Ho Chi Minh starting with an exploration of Saigon’s turbulent past with visits to the Reunification Palace (from outside) and the War Museum.   The tour continues to Ho Chi Minh’s finest examples of French colonial architecture with a visit to the Notre Dame cathedral
and Post Office. Continue to Giac Lam Pagoda, the Cholon Chinese district. Tour concludes with a visit to Ben Thanh market where you can try your bargaining skills for clothes, shoes, bags, sunglasses and souvenirs.

Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City – Departure (B)
Transfer to the airport for onward flight.

 

Best time to travel

Vietnam is year-round destination.  Climate varies considerably from North to South due to wide range of latitudes and altitudes. North Vietnam generally has four seasons. Winter is from December to February when it can be cold (daytime temperature can be around 10 degree Celsius) in Northern region and you need to be prepared accordingly. Between July
and November, short to heavy downpours are expected, often resulting in floods. Central region is also prone to cyclones during these months.

 

Travel Dates

Specific travel dates apply

*per person share twin