Compare Vietnam Exploration 14 days by Insight Asia Travel vs Vietnam Beach Holiday In 13 Days by Realistic Asia

Day 1: Welcome to Ho Chi Minh city | Meal: D | Overnight: HCMC

Meals: Dinner

Warm welcome upon your arrival in HCMC. Your guide will meet you at the airport for a transfer to your hotel located in the downtown.  After check in you will have free time to relax, then your guide see you again for a welcome dinner at the river cruises on the Saigon river.

Day 2: HCMC Free Choice: Sightseeing - Street Food – Dinning

Overnight: HCMC

HCMC is a city full of surprises. The city’s core is still adorned with wide elegant boulevards and historic French colonial buildings and offers plenty of reasons to visit, from its blend of historic, attractions to vibrant shopping, dining and nightlife.

You have a whole day to explore the HCMC and its Surroundings. Please select two of the below options ( one choice if you select “Full-day Cao Dai Holysee temple & Cu Chi tunnels” ) to spend your day in the most dynamic city in Vietnam.

Free Choice Sightseeings

Half-day HCMC | Maximum 4 places

Reunification Palace

Municipal Theatre – City Post Office – Notre-Dame Cathedral

War Remnants Museum

Vinh Nghiem pagoda

Hoang De pagoda

Ben Thanh market

Half-day Cu Chi tunnels

Around 70 kilometers northwest of HCMC, Cu Chi Tunnel is right near the so-called “Iron Triangle” of Southern Vietnam. This underground complex is a must-see when you are in HCMC. You are invited to crawl around in the safer parts of the tunnel system or try a shooting range where you can fire a number of assault rifles, such as the M16 rifle or AK-47, as well as a light machine gun like the M60.

Half-day China town & Thien Hau pagoda

The western part of the city is dominated by Cholon (Chinatown), a thickly settled district rife with teahouses and pagodas and the famous Binh Tay Market. Visit the Thien Hau pagoda which features interesting Chinese-Buddhist style architecture and interiors with pagodas, courtyards, altars and paintings. Chinatown is also home to the Cholon Mosque and Cha Tam, a small Catholic cathedral.

Full-day Cao Dai Holysee temple & Cu Chi tunnels

In the morning you drive to visit Cao Dai Temples in Tay Ninh and observe the midday service. This temple is the cathedral of the Cao Daism religion and home of the Divine Eye, the official symbol of this unique religion. Cao Dai followers worship Jesus Christ, Confucius, Taoism, and Buddha. On the way back you stop to visit Cu Chi Tunnels. Very famous in the wartime with its smart and complicated system including underground meeting room, kitchen, food, weapon caches, hospital. This underground complex is a must-see when you are in HCMC. You are invited to crawl around in the safer parts of the tunnel system or try a shooting range where you can fire a number of assault rifles, such as the M16 rifle or AK-47, as well as a light machine gun like the M60. Back to HCMC. Rest of the

Free Choice Street Food – Authentic experiences

 “ Banh mi” “ followed by a cup of Vietnamese coffee/tea/softdrink

 “ Hu tieu Saigon “ followed by a cup of Vietnamese coffee/tea/

 “ Banh canh ” followed by a cup of Vietnamese coffee/tea/softdrink

 “ Banh xeo ” followed by a cup of Vietnamese coffee/tea/softdrink

 “ Com tam” followed by a cup of Vietnamese coffee/tea/softdrink

HCMC Free Choice Dining :

Vegetarian set-menu at local restaurant

Vietnamese set-menu at French building restaurant

South Vietnamese buffet at local restaurant

Day 3: Mekong Delta Excursion

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Overnight: HCMC

Today you have am excursion to the Mekong Delta. Surrounded by thousands of crisscrossed canals, life in the Mekong Delta revolves much around the river, most of the villages are often accessible by rivers and canals rather than by road. Upon arrival you take a motor-boat to explore the Thoi Son islet, one of the four famous islets ( Dragon, Unicorn, Tortoise, Phoenix). Following a village path passing local houses to visit some family-run coconut candy mills then you take a horse-cart from village to village. Enjoy lunch with local special dishes followed by the “Southern Vietnamese folk music”, a very common art activity in the Mekong Delta performed by local people. Back to HCMC. At leisure.

Day 4: Fly to Danang – Hoi An Walking Tour

Meal: Breakfast and Dinner

Overnight: Hoi An

Enjoy your free time until transfer to airport for flight to Danang. Your guide and driver will meet you at the Danang airport for a transfer to your hotel in Hoi An. Hoi An used to be an international trade center by sea on the east area in the 16th and 17th centuries.  It was the busiest trading port during the reign of Nguyen as merchants from Japan, China, Portugal, Spain, Holland stopped over to exchange and purchase commodities. In the morning you have a  walking tour to explore the Hoi An Ancient town with old houses, narrow streets, moss-grown walls, lantern makers and visit Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese Assembly Halls, Handicraft workshop and enjoy traditional arts performance.  Enjoy dinner with some famous dishes of the town.

Day 5: Hoi An Cooking Class

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Overnight: Hoi An

This morning the cooking class begins with a with a drink at Hai Scout Café followed by a visit the Hoi An colorful market. It is time to get in touch with local sellers and purchase some of the ingredients for your own cooking lesson.  Take the Red Bridge boat cruising along the Hoi An river to the cooking school.  On arrival, you explore the cooking school’s herb and vegetable garden and learn about some of Hoi An and Vietnam’s well-known dishes.  The 2-hour cooking lesson includes  a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving . You also have a chance to try some dishes yourselves. Lunch is served included what you have cooked. Relax and back to your hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure.

Day 6: Hoi An – Museum of Cham Sculpture – Hue

Meal: Breakfast and Dinner

Overnight: Hue

In the morning you leave Hoi An for Hue. Located in central Vietnam, the World Cultural Heritage Site Hue used to be the Citadel of the Nguyen Dynasty from 1805 to 1945. Stop to visit the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture, the world’s largest collection of Cham sculpture by Ancient Cham civilization that ruled Central Vietnam from the second to the thirteenth century. Journey to Hue is travelling over the Hai Van pass where you have a stop for a panoramic view over the Lang Co beach. Free. At leisure. Evening meeting with your guide again for a Hue Royal style dinner, taste some Royal cuisines at local restaurant.

Day 7: Hue full-day tour

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Overnight: Hue

In the morning you  have a Dragon boat cruising on the Perfume river to visit the Thien Mu pagoda, one of the oldest and prettiest religious buildings in the country. From there you rejoin your car to visit the king Minh Mang’s tomb and king Tu Duc’s tomb.  Lunch at local restaurant then you continue to  explore Hue Imperial City including Citadel, Imperial City and Purple Forbidden City . End of the day you visit the local Dong Ba market located on a bank of the Perfume river – a paradise for snapshots of daily activities. At leisure.

Day 8: Fly to Hanoi

Meal: Dinner

Overnight: Hanoi

Today you take an one-hour flight to Hanoi, the one-thousand-year old city and the capital of Vietnam. Your guide will meet you at the airport for a transfer to your hotel located in the  downtown.  Free time to relax, then your guide  see you again for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Your first day in Hanoi is completed by a water puppet show – a unique art performance in Vietnam.

Day 9: Hanoi Free Choice: Sightseeing - Street Food – Dinning

Overnight: Hanoi

Widely acknowledged as one of the loveliest cities in Asia, this one-thousand-year old city offer you its unique images that totally different from other Asian cities. Hanoi still retains a small-town provincial charm and unique intermingle with a French legacy wide, tree-lined boulevards, parks, grand villas and an artistic, café society.

Different people, different interests and tastes. Hanoi Free Choice Sightseeing – Street Food – Dinning offers you the best things that Hanoi has to offer and satisfy you with a personalize discovery and authentic experience. Please select one of the Hanoi city options and one of the Hanoi Surroundings to enjoy the day in Hanoi.

Free Choice Sightseeing of Hanoi city & Surroundings

Full-day city tour ( Maximum 7 places)

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

One Pillar Pagoda

Quan Thanh Temple

Temple of Literature

Bach Ma Temple

Hanoi Ancient House

Tran Quoc pagoda

Sword Lake and Ngoc Son Temple

Vietnam Military History Museum

Vietnam National Museum of History

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

12Vietnamese Women’s Museum

Half-day city tour ( Maximum 4 places & One of Free Choice Hanoi Surroundings

Free Choice Hanoi Surroundings

1. Bat Trang pottery villages

About 13 kilometers south east of Hanoi center, Bat Trang village, established in 14th or 15th century, is famous for ceramic and pottery products of high quality such as vases, bowls, dishes, and many other kinds of ceramic products which have been exported worldwide.

2. Van Phuc silk village:

About 8 km southwest of Ha Noi, Van Phuc silk village is well known for its traditional sericulture, weaving, and silk products for a long-lasting history of more than two thousand years. The village makes more than 2 million meters of silk per year and is an ideal place for silk products & souvenirs

3. Duong Lam Ancient village.

Duong Lam ancient village, some 60km to the west of Hanoi, has a history of about 1,200 years with many houses dating back up to 400 years. One special thing about the village is that most of the buildings here are made of laterite and mud, two materials that are abundant in the area. The village also has its prestige as two of Vietnam’s kings, Phung Hung (761-802) and Ngo Quyen (896-944) were born in here.

4. Dong Ho painting village

Dong Ho painting village, 30 km to the East of Hanoi, or Vietnamese woodblock prints is a distinct Vietnamese folk art. Dong Ho paintings reflect people’s innermost feelings. Dong Ho paintings is made of of bark of a tree called “Dzo. Colors of the painting are refined from various kinds of tree leaves that people can easily find in Vietnam. Dong Ho paintings have about 300 years of history in the north of Vietnam. It is always considered a symbol of traditional culture and aesthetic value of Vietnam.

Free Choice Street Food – Authentic experiences

“ Pho Hanoi “ followed by a cup of Vietnamese coffee/tea/soft drink

 “ Banh Cuon “ followed by a cup of Vietnamese coffee/tea/soft drink

 “ Bun Cha Hanoi “ followed by a cup of Vietnamese coffee/tea/soft drink

 “ Bo kho – Beef Stew ” followed by a cup of Vietnamese coffee/tea/soft drink

Free Choice Dining :

Cha Ca Hanoi in Hanoi Old Quarter area at local restaurant.

Vegetarian set-menu at local restaurant

Vietnamese set-menu at French building restaurant

Vietnamese cuisine a-la-carte at Ngon restaurant

KOTO restaurant. Know One Teach One unique restaurant.

Day 10: Hanoi – Mai Chau

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Overnight: Mai Chau

Depart for Mai Chau valley, an idyllic valley and a world away from the hustle and bustle of Hanoi. Enjoy the mountainous scenery along the way and the superb panorama of Mai Chau surrounded by a green valley and stilt houses.  Afternoon you will have a walk wandering from village to village, learning and get in touch with about local people and try some of the local handicraft.

Day 11: Mai Chau cycling – Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Overnight: Hanoi

In the morning you discover  Mai Chau valley by bicycle riding deeper to the remote area on the path and passing paddy fields. Once again there are many perfect chance for photos shot and a warmest welcome by local people. Stop and join in the local market with people from different minorities is worth. After lunch it is time to say good bye and drive back to Hanoi.

Day 12: Hanoi – Halong Bay

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Overnight : Traditional Junk

In the morning you leave Hanoi for Halong Bay via the Red River Delta. Enjoy welcome drink onboard then start cruising through Bai Tu Long Bay while lunch is served. Stop to visit and explore Vung Vieng fishing village by bamboo boat or you can have a kayak around Vung Vieng area. Time to relax, sunbath or swimming at Ban Chan Beach. Back to the junk to enjoy the sunset cocktail while the boat is cruising to Cong Do area docking for overnight.  BBQ dinner followed by some activities of board games or squid fishing.

Day 13: Halong - Ceramic village – Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Overnight: Hanoi

Early bird with exercises with Tai chi on the sundeck then enjoy a light breakfast while cruising to Hon Co area. Stop to exploring  Thien Canh Son Cave, located at the centre of the World Heritage Area- Halong Bay. Return to the boat for check out and relaxing on sundeck or watching fruits carving demonstration or enjoy the last of the Ha Long Bay scenery over lunch as the boat is cruising back to shore. On the journey back to Hanoi you will have a stop at the Phu Lang ceramic village – one of the most famous ceramic brand dated from 17th – 19th century in the North of Vietnam. At leisure.

Day 14: Departure Hanoi

Meal: Breakfast

Today is the last day of your trip. Enjoy your free time at your hotel or you can do last minute souvenir shopping before meeting your guide for transfer to airport for your flight home. Have a nice journey. Thanks for joining us.

DAY 01: WELCOME TO VIETNAM - HANOI ARRIVAL

Your Vietnam adventure begins with your arrival in Hanoi. Your private driver will meet you at the airport, holding a signboard with your name. He will escort you to your accommodation right in the heart of the city, with the fascinating Old Quarter at your fingertips. You can easily explore the city at your own pace or relax at the hotel after the flight.

Overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 02: HANOI - HALONG BAY - SHARED CRUISE (B/L/D)

In the morning, check out of the hotel, and get picked up by the Cruise team. Take the most scenic route to reach Halong Bay, taking you across the Red River Delta with emerald green rice paddies stretching for as far as the eyes can see. On arrival at the pier, you will board the cruise and enjoy the fantastic views of limestone rocks and the karst grottoes. Have an utterly delicious seafood lunch and enjoy the time at the sundeck exploring the Bay. The cruise will stop in a secret place where you will spend time kayaking or swimming, so you can explore the karst grottoes closer.

Towards the evening, you will return to the boat for an early dinner, followed by some time at leisure. You can optionally attend the activities taking part on the boat or just relax. Overnight on cruise.

Note: In case of bad weather (the boat is not allowed to push off or not allowed to overnight in the sea), the Ha Long bay tour could be cancelled without notice. We will consider other replacement tours or a refund based on the specific circumstances.

DAY 03: HALONG BAY - BACK TO HANOI (B/L)

Rise early today to view the sunrise at the wonder of nature with breakfast served in the dining room. A Tai Chi class on the sun deck will awaken your mind and muscles. Then head off to visit the limestone cave full of stalagmites and stalactites. After your exploration return to the boat to check out and enjoy the brunch while the cruise is sailing back to the harbour. Later you will be transferred to your accommodation in Hanoi.

Overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 04: HANOI - TRAVEL TO HOI AN (B) - flight included

Relish the remaining moment in Hanoi before your private driver escorts you to the airport to take the flight to Da Nang. When you arrive at Da Nang Airport, your driver will pick you up and transfer you to your accommodation in Hoi An. The rest of the time is free at leisure.

Overnight in Hoi An.

DAY 05: FISHING AND BASKET BOAT TOUR (B/L) - group tour

Today your English-speaking guide will meet you at the hotel around 8:00 am and take you for a cycle trip to the countryside and rivers around Hoi An. As you meander through the countryside, you will experience the friendliness of the local people greeting you along the way and enjoy the beautiful views of the neighbourhood. After that, you will board a boat for a river cruise to meet and engage with local fishermen.

Enjoy a hands-on experience of traditional net fishing. Later, you will take a paddle boat trip in a unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boat down the waterways of a coconut palm paradise. After the boat trip, have delicious lunch and cycle back to your hotel.

Overnight in Hoi An.

DAY 06: HOI AN LEISURE (B)

Have a free day to explore Hoi An at your own pace. The best way to explore this charming town is to rent a bicycle at the hotel and cycle around the town towards the riverside or the beach. At the beach, you will find many small cafes where you could relax with a fresh fruit drink after swimming. The water in the sea is warm and calm. You could visit a tailor-shop which could make you and your loved ones a new piece of clothes, bag or shoes overnight.

In the evening we recommend you to walk around the Old Town area, which looks charming when the shops light their lanterns. You and would feel like being in a fairy-tale. And don’t skip the colourful performances organized on the street in the evening.

Overnight in Hoi An.

DAY 07: HOI AN - FLIGHT TO NHA TRANG (B) - flight included

Relish the remaining moment in Hoi An before your private driver escorts you to the Da Nang airport to take the flight to Nha Trang. When you arrive at Cam Ranh Airport, your driver will pick you up and transfer you to your accommodation in Nha Trang city centre. The rest of the time is free at leisure.

Overnight in Nha Trang.

DAY 08: CHERISH YOUR TIME ON NHA TRANG BEACH (B)

Spend a relaxing time in Nha Trang. It is a premier beach destination in Vietnam, where many activities can be done. Take a boat trip to the islands, visit the city sites, challenge yourself with different water sports activities, have a mud Spa, or get drenched at the tropical beach.

Overnight in Nha Trang.

DAY 09: CHERISH YOUR TIME ON NHA TRANG BEACH (B)

Enjoy one more day at the beautiful Nha Trang beaches.

Overnight in Nha Trang.

DAY 10: NHA TRANG - FLIGHT TO HO CHI MINH - flight included

Relish the remaining moment in Nha Trang before your private driver escorts you to the airport to take the flight to Ho Chi Minh. When you arrive at Tan Son Nhat Airport, your driver will pick you up and transfer you to your accommodation in the city centre. The rest of the time is free at leisure.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

DAY 11: EXPLORE THE MAZE OF CU CHI TUNNELS (B) - group tour

Have breakfast at the hotel and depart for Cu Chi tunnels. The trip will take approximately one and a half hours drive. Upon arrival, you will have a short introduction followed by an introductory video about how the tunnels were constructed, and how the people survived in the harsh conditions of wartime.

Then, spend your time exploring the remaining area and tunnel systems, which included the living areas, kitchens, and bedrooms side by side with other martial facilities like storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, and command centres. All this was to help people living inside the tunnels meet their basic needs. Besides, there are many hidden trap doors and dangerous traps within the maze-like tunnels for security purposes during the war.

Afterwards, special tea and cassava (guerilla food during the war) will be served. Then you will return to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

DAY 12: VISIT THE MIGHTY MEKONG DELTA (B/L) - group tour

Kickstart your day with a hearty breakfast, and a trip to Mekong Delta follows. The guide will meet you at the hotel lobby around 7:15-7:30 am, and you will head to My Tho, which lies on the left side of the Mekong River. Upon arrival, board the sampan and cruise down the river around the four beautiful islands, known as Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix, and Tortoise islands. Stop at Unicorn Island, walk around the country lanes and see the orchards.

Visit fruit plantations and enjoy tropical fruits and folk song music performed by the local people. Then take a hand-rowed sampan through Thoi Son canal and immerse yourself in the beauty of the countryside. Visit family workshops and honey-bee farms, and taste some honey tea and coconut candies. Refuel yourself with a traditional Vietnamese lunch, and later cycle around the Tan Thach village, and meet the local villagers to experience the local daily life in the Mekong Delta.

If you are not keen on a cycling trip, enjoy a cool breeze and a relaxing time in a hammock. Afterwards, you will get back to your accommodation.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

DAY 13: TIME TO SAY GOODBYE - HO CHI MINH DEPARTURE (B)

Relish a healthy breakfast on the final day of your trip to Vietnam. Complete the hotel check-out formalities, after which you can visit the local markets to buy souvenirs for your loved ones. Later your private driver will transfer you to the airport to take your flight back home. Trip Ends.