Vietnam's Elegance Tour (11 days/10 nights)

Upon arriving at Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport, you will be welcomed by one of our MinMax Travel team members and brought to your hotel in a private car. As arrival times vary and international travel can be quite exhausting, we leave the remainder of the day open. Your first night is spent in Hanoi city.

We begin our tour of Hanoi by visiting the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Here you can experience the architectural splendor and historical importance of Uncle Ho's final resting place- a national treasure for all Vietnamese. Adjacent to the mausoleum is Ho Chi Minh's former “House on Stilts,” where the leader spent a great deal of his free time. From here we visit the nearby One Pillar Pagoda, an 11th century temple built by King Ly Thai To. This pagoda is not only historically and religiously significant, but is also an important symbol for the people of Hanoi. Continuing on, we visit one of the city’s most iconic destinations: the Temple of Literature (Quoc Tu Giam). Vietnam’s first University, this 11th century establishment boasts perfectly manicured gardens and extremely well-preserved architecture, offering visitors some excellent insight into Vietnam’s rich past.

After a busy morning, we will enjoy lunch at a delicious local restaurant and travel by cyclo through the bustling “Old Quarter” of Hanoi (approximately 1 hour). Our scenic cyclo tour ends with a visit to Lake Hoan Kiem’s Ngoc Son Temple and a live viewing of Hanoi's world-famous Water Puppet Show (Mua Roi Nuoc). A traditional form of entertainment in Northern Vietnam, the roots of these memorable shows date as far back as the 10th century. Day 2 ends with a transfer back to the hotel and another night in the capital city.

Day 3 will begin with a hotel pickup and departure for Hoa Lu and Tam Coc. These famous sites are located within the Ninh Binh Province, about 95 km south of Hanoi. Tam Coc is a picturesque destination, known locally as “Halong Bay on the rice fields.” Upon arriving, we will ride a traditional “sampan” through a karst landscape to reach the Tam Coc grottos. The sampan rower will navigate the boat through shallow rice paddies, bringing us to three splendid, long grottos, followed by a visit to Thai Vy: a unique, 13th-century temple.

Our next stop on the journey will be Hoa Lu, the capital of the Dinh and early Le dynasties in Vietnam (from the 10th-11th century). The sanctuaries found here were built in the 17th century and are filled with stone pedestals of royal thrones, bronze bells and statues of the late emperors. We will return back to the hotel that evening and overnight in Hanoi City.

Starts around 8:00-8:30 AM with a hotel pickup and shuttle bus out to Halong Bay. Upon arriving at the port, the Halong Cruise boat crew will bring you aboard, where you can enjoy a welcome drink and check in to your assigned cabin. A seafood lunch will be served soon after, and as your boat launches out into the mystical bay, you’ll immediately see many of the numerous attractions. A quiet cruise carries you along the amazing karsts, all boasting different, unique formations. From the Mat Qui (Monster’s face), But Moc & Cap De islets, through the Trong (Drum), Luon and Trinh Nu caves, out into the remarkable Floating Fishing Village- you will be mesmerized and captivated by Halong’s timeless beauty. As for personal time, there will be plenty of opportunities for swimming, sun bathing and photography all throughout the day. Top off the day with an unforgettable sunset dinner and relax under the starlit sky before retiring to the comfort of your cabin.

Early risers can enjoy a morning view of the Bay’s iconic landscapes while waiting for breakfast. After eating, pass the morning hours atop the boat’s upper deck, where you can capture breathtaking, panoramic shots of the rocky islets rising up from the bay’s crystal-clear waters. With no towns, roads or traffic nearby, the silence is absolutely serene. Before heading back to town, explore one more “Amazing” (Sung Sot) cave, swim and relax at the Titop Beach and soak up some top-deck rays. Lunch is served while you make your way to port, and you’ll arrive at the harbor by 12: 00 Noon. Your shuttle bus to Hanoi will be waiting, and you’ll arrive back at the hotel around 4.30PM. From Hanoi you will take a late-night flight south to Hue, where a MinMax Travel staff member will pick you up, transfer you to Hue and check you into your hotel. (Overnight in Hue).

On Day 6 you will visit Hue’s Imperial Citadel where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. After visiting the citadel, you will head to the Thien Mu Pagoda (Celestial Lady), which peacefully overlooks Hue’s Perfume River. From here you will see Khai Dinh's Tomb, a unique Hue attraction, which combines traditional Vietnamese design with a European touch- quite different from the other tombs founding Hue. After your city tour, our transportation will bring you south to the Ancient Town of Hoi An. (Overnight in Hoi An).

After having breakfast at the hotel, your tour will bring you around to all the main attractions of Hoi An- from the famous Japanese Covered Bridge, Ceramic/Trade Museum and 200-year-old Tam Ky House to the the Chua Ong Pagoda, Thu Bon riverside and the vibrant, outdoor Hoi An Market. One of the “old town’s” most memorable experiences is simply strolling through the picturesque, mango-colored streets. Here you will pass rows of low-tiled shop fronts, traditional communal houses and assembly halls, which reflect the town’s multi-cultural heritage. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant and you can opt for a transfer back to the hotel, or to stay in the beautiful old town for a memorable day/night in Hoi An. (Overnight in Hoi An).

You will have most of Day 8 to explore, photograph, shop and eat in Hoi An. Our transport will leave late in the afternoon for Da Nang’s Airport, where you will fly south to Ho Chi Minh City. Another MinMax Travel staff member will meet you in Ho Chi Minh’s Tan Son Nhat Airport, transfer you to the city and check you into your hotel. (Overnight in Ho Chi Minh).

After having breakfast, we will begin the tour by visiting the infamous Cu Chi Tunnels. Here you will have the chance to experience what life was like for guerilla soldiers living and fighting underground during the war. Crawling through a 50-100 meter portion of over 200 kilometers of tunnel systems is truly an unforgettable experience. On the ride back to Ho Chi Minh City, we will visit local rice paper workshops with beautiful rice paddy fields illustrating the way.

You will eat lunch in Ho Chi Minh City and in the afternoon, start your city tour. The tour will include most of Ho Chi Minh City’s main attractions, including the War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and China Town. You will return to your hotel around 5PM and spend the evening in Ho Chi Minh City

After having breakfast, we will leave Saigon and take the scenic, rice-paddy-lined drive south to the Mekong Delta town of My Tho (1.5 hours). Upon arrival in My Tho, we will embark on a Mekong boat cruise, where you can observe local life along the river as we navigate through the intricate canals and small waterways. Our final cruising destination is Unicorn Island, where you will have the opportunity to stroll around an orchard, taste seasonal fruits and enjoy wonderful, traditional music. After having lunch at a typical country garden house, we will head for the Ben Tre Province to visit some fascinating local industries. Before heading back to the hotel in Saigon, we will wrap up our tour at the beautiful Vinh Trang Pagoda. (Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City)

After breakfast, you will have the chance to explore Ho Chi Minh City one last time (leaving at least 2 hours before your flight’s departure). Our driver will bring you to Tan Son Nhat International Airport, and your tour is complete!!

We would like to express our sincere thanks for considering and (hopefully) choosing to travel with MinMax Travel. We are confident that you will thoroughly enjoy every moment of your trip and every corner of our beautiful country.

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