Journey highlights:
• Squeeze in the scrambling alleyways of Hanoi’s timeworn Old Quarter
• Explore Halong Bay’s spectacular scatter of islands on a traditional junk boat
• Visit once the Nguyen emperor’s home and picturesque resident surrounding in Hue
• Stroll around the iconic ancient town of Hoi An and visit the most highlights
• Discover the story of Saigon, from city of conflict to a modern metropolis
• Experience the slow rhythm of life on the Mekong Delta by riverboat
• Rise early to discover the colorful floating market of Cai Rang on a sampan

Day 1 - Hanoi arrival 
Welcome to our beautiful Vietnam! Upon arrival, our guide and driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in the Old Quarter. Check-in and spend the rest of the day free to relax in your room or stroll down the Walking Street to enjoy the ambience of Hanoi.

Meal: None
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Day 2 - Charming Hanoi sightseeing (B,L)
Full day tour of Vietnam’s capital city, including Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, his traditional stilt house and the revered One-Pillar Pagoda. After that, visit Vietnam’s first university, the thousand-year-old Temple of Literature. Have lunch with Pho bo Hanoi or Hanoi Noodle soup with beef and served with Hanoi flavorful spring roll. 
In the afternoon, visit the Ethnology Museum where you can learn about the customs and culture of Vietnam’s 54 diverse ethnic groups.
Finish your day with a walking through the maze of bustling streets that make up Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Your local guide will then take you to one of Hanoi’s best-reserved secrets, a hidden café with stunning views over the picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake. This hard-to-find café is one of the few left in the city that still serves egg coffee, a scrumptious local delicacy that we will sample whilst admiring the hustle and bustle of the city center below. Or, if coffee is not your style, a cold beer awaits! Return to your hotel later this afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Day 3 - Hanoi - Fascinating Halong Bay (B,L,D)
This morning, depart Hanoi through the Red River Delta for Halong Bay (3.5 hours driving). Upon arrival, embark on the cruise then start cruising among the limestone islands. Keep cruising to the quiet area while enjoy breath-taking seascape along the way, until enjoy sunset party on sundeck and admire the best moments of the day when the sun starts to set. Dinner is served around 19.00 then it’s time for you to socialize with other guests, to take part in board games, fishing for squid or just to laze around.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight cruise

Day 4 - Halong Bay - Hanoi - The royal ancient Hue (B)
Early this morning, start your day with Tai Chi exercises or a photo hunt. Then, breakfast will be served on board while you immerse into the peaceful morning of Halong Bay. After check out of your cabin, continue your cruise exploring the Bay. While heading back to the harbor, watch the fruit carving demonstration and participate in the cooking class before enjoying a traditional Vietnamese lunch. Disembark around 12.00 then your driver will wait for you to take you back to Hanoi. Enjoy some free time shopping around before meeting up with our driver for the transfer to Hanoi airport where you will catch a brief flight to Hue, a historically significant city; it was the imperial capital for the Nguyen Dynasty, which left behind regal monuments and sprawling temples. Upon arrival in Hue, you will be met by our tour expert and transferred to hotel for a two-night stay.

Meal: Breakfast, Brunch
Accommodation: Overnight cruise

Day 5 - Explore the former capital of Vietnam (B,L)
Today you will travel by private vehicle to an icon of Vietnam and as potent a symbol of Hue as Thien Mu pagoda. It is famous for its seven storeys, and dedicated to a Manushi-Buddha. After your visit, board a local boat to the peaceful outskirts of Hue, where you will then start cycling on a leisurely tour to Thuy Bieu village. There are plenty of opportunities to admire the quiet and superb landscapes of Hue: rice fields, fruit tree orchards and vegetable gardens, communal houses, primary schools and a valley of cemeteries. Along the cycling route, visit a homemade incense-producing household and observe the daily life of the farmers as they perform their strenuous work with seemingly incredible joy and enthusiasm. Don’t be afraid to greet those you meet along the way. Then, you’ll head to Tu Duc Mausoleum, one of the most beautiful tombs of Hue. It was inspired by the concept of tranquility and is a model of Vietnamese traditional art. It is also an opportunity to learn about the history of the Nguyen Dynasty and the French colonial period before returning to the city center.
In the afternoon, have a closer look at the home of the royal family with a visit to the impressive Citadel. Round off your day with a walk around Dong Ba Market for a glimpse of local life. Back to the hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day free at your leisure.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

Day 6 - Hue - Danang - Xin Chao Hoi An (B,L)
In the morning, we will drive over the mighty Hai Van Pass, take in the spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean and famous Lang Co fishing village.  On the way, we also visit the Cham Museum where remains evidence of the fascinating Champa civilization and then visit the Marble Mountain, which is a maze of caves and temples, hidden with five sacred marble rocks. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Day 7 - Hoi An’s hidden corners (B,L)
We will have a half-day to visit and discover Hoi An town where used to be a prosperous international commercial port for merchants, such as: Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, etc. from the 16th to 18th centuries. Nowadays, Hoi An is a quaint riverside town, famous for its eclectic architecture, tailors shops, and numerous cafes. Many buildings in the narrow streets have remained unchanged for more than a century. Enjoy a half-day tour on foot through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter and then visit Chua Ong Pagoda, Chinese Assembly Halls, the 200- year old Tan Ky ancestral house and the Japanese covered Bridge.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Day 8 - Hoi An - Danang - The bustling Ho Chi Minh City (B,L)
Breakfast is served at the hotel.
Then, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Saigon. When arriving, you will be met our tour expert and transferred to your hotel. The rest of day is then free at your leisure.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Day 9 - Back to history: Ho Chi Minh City story - Cu Chi tunnels (B,L)
This morning, set out for a half-day city tour includes the Notre Dame Cathedral, Post Office, and the Museum of History to see some interesting displays and photographs following the path of the revolution. Then visit the Reunification Palace for a glimpse into the lifestyle of the democratic regime of former South Vietnam. Then stroll around the city's colonial streets in the evening to the Old Saigon Post Office, Dong Khoi Street, Continental Hotel, Opera House and City Hall.
After that, the trip will be continued to Cu Chi Tunnel system that was created to assist the Vietnamese Revolutionists against the French in 1948. It was an underground city with living areas, kitchens, storage, weapons factories, etc. Especially, you will have the opportunity to take part in the unique experience of guerillas living underground during the war, with a crawl through 20/30/50 meters of the tunnel system.
Note: Notre Dame Cathedral is under renovation; therefore, only outside visit is allowed. You may ask your guide to switch to a visit of Tan Dinh church and Tan Dinh market next door.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Day 10 - Ho Chi Minh City - Into the Mekong Delta: Ben Tre - Can Tho (B,L)
Morning: Travel from Ho Chi Minh City to the picturesque Ben Tre Province, known as the land of coconut trees. Then, begin biking along village-paths and take in the many sights of the villagers performing their everyday activities and the peaceful landscapes of the Ben Tre countryside. Continue biking through the village to the boat pier and take a rowing boat along the palm canal. On the way you can see the homes and activities of the people that live by the waterside. Stop to visit a local house‘s coconut gardens where you can enjoy tropical fruits. Keep up the cycling along a village road with the vast gardens of coconuts on either side. After such an engaging morning of biking and paddling, you should be ready to enjoy a specially prepared lunch featuring traditional dishes of the Mekong River region in a small beautiful local restaurant.
Afternoon: Your afternoon starts with a walk to the departure point for your motorboat journey. The trip will take you along Ba Lai Legend River, which is beautifully fringed with palm trees. As you head along the river you will stop to visit the coconut coir manufacturing facility to see the interesting processes first hand. Take in the feeling of the peaceful, simple life that the inhabitants of the riverside enjoy. You will also discover some of the coconut processing workshops, which are located along the banks. At the end of the boat tour you will be picked up by your bus. Then, your driver will be waiting for your transfer to Can Tho, and upon arrival you can have some time to visit the bustling market here.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Can Tho

Day 11 - Can Tho: Cai Rang floating market - Back to Ho Chi Minh City (B,L)
This morning, we will visit one of the most legendary floating markets, which named 'Cai Rang'. We board our boat and commence our journey along the Mekong River, observing ‘true life on the river’, the hustle and bustle of families carrying out their morning chores and the locals heading our way to the markets to pick up their daily supplies. At good time, be ready for your transfer back to Saigon.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Day 12 - Goodbye Ho Chi Minh City (B)
At good time, our tour guide will pick you up at your hotel and transfer back to Tan Son Nhat International airport for boarding your flight back home or other destinations.

Tour ends.

This tour is built upon our firsthand knowledge & experience, offering you the best choices available. The price of this trip varies depending on the number of people in your party, dates of departure, and availability of ground services.

The prices are quoted in US Dollars per person based on 2 pax/room
 

Note: Amendments CAN be made to this tour to suite your requirements, but may incur price changes

WHAT'S INCLUDED?
• Accommodation with daily breakfast at selected hotels 
• Private vehicles and drivers
• Transport from Hanoi to Halong and return by mini van
• Private English speaking guides (Other languages if available, upon request)
• Meals as mentioned in the itinerary (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner)
• Entrance fees for all mentioned sights visited
• Vietnam visa authorization letter
• Drinking water available on the vehicles
• Service Charge & Government Taxes

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED?
• International flights and domestic flights
• Personal expenses (such as laundry, telephone, drinks, etc.)
• Any bank fees or charges at your end
• Meals other than those mentioned in the itinerary
• Personal travel insurance
• Tips for tour guide and driver in each region
• Peak season or public holidays surcharge if any
• Compulsory gala dinner on Christmas or New Year’s Eve if any
• Vietnam visa stamp fee 
• Other services not mentioned above

The hotels listed below are our suggestions for the best value on this tour.  However, Asia Essence Tours offers many more options of hand-picked hotels, with different "star ratings", allowing you to customize the vacation to meet your taste and budget.

ABOUT HOTELS:

We, at Asia Essence Tours, are aware that a good tour must have good hotels. As the hotel cost will be the major expense of your vacation in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, it is essential that all of the hotels chosen by us are the highest quality for the price paid. All of our prices are based on twin, double or queen shared rooms.

BELOW IS AN EXPLANATION OF THE HOTEL "STAR" RATINGS:

Superior/ 3 Star (from US$ 50 - US$ 80 per room/night)

The Superior/ 3 Star Hotels are good value and normally centrally located. They all have comfortable en-suite rooms, good amenities and public areas to relax in. They are usually family run hotels, so offer great personalized service for your enjoyment and comfort. Most first class properties offer an in-house restaurant, and some may even have a swimming pool!

First-Class/ 4 star (from US$ 100 - US$ 150/ per room/night)

The 4* First Class Hotels offer a wide range of services. Many superior hotels feature a choice of several in-house restaurants. In addition virtually all of them have a swimming pool. Some may even feature a spa or health club. This grade of hotel offers more for your enjoyment and comfort, while still remaining affordable.

Deluxe/ 5 Star (from US$160 - US$ 240++/ per room/night)

These 5* Deluxe hotels are usually owned by Worldwide, well known Hotel chains. The deluxe hotels feature excellent locations, offer the highest standards of service and facilities, and are known as the best hotels in each region. Facilities such as swimming pools and spas are the norm, and guest rooms are luxurious. These hotels offer first class service and amenities throughout.

ASIA ESSENCE TOURS™ BESPOKE STYLE SUITS EVERYONE

Flexibility: The sample itinerary can be modified to suit your interests, budget as well as your personal wishes including departure date, duration, accommodation used & how long you spend in each destination.

Tailor-Made Journey: This trip can be tailor made to create a unique holiday for your individual requirements by travel experts with intimate knowledge of the destination. It is a more individual trip that will suit those who enjoy immersing themselves in new cultures and environments, with the flexibility to plan a trip at your own pace. Quality and value are the hallmark of the trips, with most services being provided on a private basis.

Commitment to Excellence: We enjoys excellent relationships with all of the highly regarded hotels and finest properties in our destinations as well as with service suppliers so that we are able to negotiate the most attractive prices for our clients, which enables us to provide exclusive holidays and affordable special offers. We create one-of-a-kind vacations for groups and individuals. We love our destinations and do our best to make sure that our customers feel the same way. Our job is to make sure that everyone gets the right balance of comfort and excitement to enjoy the experience of a lifetime.