Vietnam on a shoestring

You will be greeted by your driver upon arrival at the airport of Hanoi. You will be driven to your hotel where you will meet one of our member. It would be the perfect occasion to exchange and eventually ask questions. After settling in at your accommodation, time depending, you can walk around in the streets of Hanoi, in order to discover the mix of traditions and modernity, well-preserved and emphasized in this city. Dinner at your leisure.

First day in Hanoi at your leisure.
Here are few ideas to visit the capital city.
Your first stop will be the Ba Dinh Square, where the mausoleum of the national Hero, Ho Chi Minh also known as 'Uncle Ho,' is located. You could then visit the Temple of Literature, which was once the first university in the country, dedicated to the great thinker Confucius. The ancient citadel of Hanoi is also a must-see and the Hoan Kiem lake as well. Visit the temple of Ngoc Son which is located on the lake before leaving for a pedicab ride in the streets of the old district, at the heart of Hanoi. You will discover the excitement of the city, difficult to find elsewhere in the country.

Your chauffeur will pick you up at your hotel. The trip is about 3:30 till the port of Tuan Chau, with a halfway stop to discover a pearl farm. Upon arrival, you will embark on your 2 day/1 night cruise. The boat heads for Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will have lunch on board while admiring the impressive landscape of hundreds of limestone islets.
In the Luom Bo area, the boat will stop so that you can explore the islets by kayak. You will have the opportunity to climb to the top of an island to admire the view and the setting sun. Back on board, enjoy some free time to admire the sunset from the upper deck. You can attend a typical Vietnamese cuisine. Your ship will continue its journey to Ho Dong Tien, where it will drop anchor for the night. Dinner and overnight on board.

We recommend getting up early to watch the sunrise from the upper deck. After breakfast, you will visit Sung Sot Cave, the largest in the bay, most known as the 'Cave of Surprises.' Before returning to the port, you will enjoy the scenery for a bit more. You will cross famous islets such as that of the fighting cocks, the symbol of the bay, or that of the stone dogs. Back at the dock, your vehicle, not privatized, will drive you back to Hanoi.
A driver will take you to Hanoi station where you will take your night train to Hue in the evening. You will travel in a cabin of 4 sleepers (to share), 1st class.

Enjoy Hue at your leisure!
Used to be the Nguyen dynasty's imperial city (1802-1945), the city of Hue will take you back in time to its origins.
You could start the day by visiting the Ming Mang mausoleum, the tombs of Tu Duc and Khai Dinh. Stop on the way to explore the villages on the outskirts of Hue, known for making the best conical hats in the country and producing incense. You will continue your visit to the Imperial City and the Forbidden Purple City. You will end the day by visiting the Thien Mu pagoda, also called the Heavenly Old Lady Pagoda, by the river of perfumes, where you will take a boat to enjoy the sunset.

You will be driven towards Hoi An after breakfast.
Enjoy Hoi An at your leisure!
Immerse yourself in the charm of this historic city by the river. The heritage of the old city is impressive, you will discover the Japanese Bridge, the Common House of the Chinese congregation of Fujian, the Temples, the local market .... and across the river is the night market. Outside the city, do not hesitate to take a bike to cover the few kilometers that separate you from the sea, you will pass through rice fields and villages with green gardens.

You will leave Hoi An to catch your flight Ho Chi Minh City at Da Nang Airport.
Spend your afternoon in the economic capital of the country at your leisure!
You could admire the temple of Ba Thien Hau, a Taoist temple, built by the Chinese traders of the city more than 150 years ago. You can also visit the War Remnants Museum which will make you understand the history of the country better, especially the Indochina War and the Vietnam War. Or visit the Reunification Palace, then 'Notre-Dame de Saigon Cathedral' and the historic central post office. You will feel all the dynamism of this city!

After breakfast, you will be driven to the Mekong Delta. Upon arrival, you will board a boat to explore the waters of the largest river in Southeast Asia and learn about the daily lives of the fishermen. You will return to the quay and set off for a short bike ride, before stopping for lunch in an old house in Ba Kiet.
After lunch, this excursion will take you till Tan Phong Island, where you will attend a traditional Vietnamese music show and visit the island's gardens and cultures. You will take a small boat to cross the Tien River to Vinh Long. Meet your driver to go back to Ho Chi Minh.

Free time to explore on your own or go shopping. At the stated time, transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport to take your flight back home.