Itinerary

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1. DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN HANOI

   Welcome to Hanoi – Vietnam. Upon arrival to Noi Bai International Airport, you are warmly greeted by Goway Asia Travel’s team and then take you to hotel in downtown for check-in. The rest of the day is yours to recover or exploring Old Quarter area on your own or consider taking part in one of our optional activities below:
   *Option 1: Water Puppet Show: Discover the ancient art of water puppetry with an entertaining performance by the famed Hanoi Water Puppet Theatre. The tradition of water puppetry dates back as far as the 11th century, originally in the villages of the Red River Delta area in northern Vietnam. Today’s Vietnamese water puppetry is a unique variation on the ancient Asian puppet tradition.
   *Option 2: Street Food Tour: Explore Vietnamese cuisine with a local. We'll explore narrow alleys in search of food created by local vendors. We eat as we go, trying seasonal fruits and sampling a tasty French-inspired snack from a street cart. We try Hanoi Bia Hoi - Hanoi Draught Beer, the famed Hanoi dish Banh Cuon and the ubiquitous noodle soup called Pho. Your walk ends with a visit to one of Hanoi’s best-kept secrets, a hidden café. 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 centre below. Or, if coffee is not your style, a cold beer awaits! At the end of your Hanoi street food tour, you can be free to continue discovering the Old Quarter on your own or the tour guide will walk you back to your hotel.
   Overnight at hotel in  Hanoi.
   Meals included: No meals.

2. DAY 2: HANOI - CITY TOUR

   Start off with one hour cyclo ride around the French Quarter in the heart of Hanoi, to immerse yourself in an old atmosphere of an area that perfectly captures the timelessness and nostalgia of Vietnam.
   Afterward, pay your respect to the nation’s founder at the Ho Chi Minh Complex and Ba Dinh Square, an important point of pilgrimage for the Vietnamese. Explore the nearby simple cottage on stilts where Ho Chi Minh lived and worked during his humble beginnings as a revolutionary. (Outside visiting of Ho Chi Minh mausoleum). Next to visit the iconic One Pillar Pagoda - a unique Vietnamese architecture reminiscent of a lotus blossom rising from a pond and hear the legend of its construction.
   Continue with a visit to the Temple of Literature, built in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius. Move on to visit the picturesque West Lake and its sixth century Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda. Tran Quoc Pagoda is regarded as the most ancient pagoda in Hanoi with its history line of more than 1,500 years.
   Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.
   Meals included: Breakfast.

3. DAY 3: HANOI - HALONG BAY

   After breakfast, the driver will pick you up and take you through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta to the legendary Halong Bay where you will board a cruise that is your home for the evening. The limestone karsts and tropical islets rising up from the emerald waters of the bay provide an ethereal backdrop for your leisurely cruise.
   Upon arrival at noon, you will embark on a cruise in the must-see Halong Bay. This world-famous bay is one of the most beautiful landscapes in Vietnam, with its giant rock islets covered in luxuriant vegetation overlooking the waters. Halong Bay includes some 1,900 islands and islets of rocky peaks, often uninhabited and unvisited.
   This scene creates a spectacular marine landscape, which earned it UNESCO World Heritage status in 1994. You will be served lunch and dinner aboard with excellent and freshly caught seafood from the bay. At the end of the day, you will have the chance to enjoy a night fishing session on the boat.
   Overnight on cruise.
   Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

4. DAY 4: HALONG BAY - HANOI - FLY TO DANANG - HOIAN

   Start the day with calming Tai Chi session on the sun deck. We will pass beautiful spots while having a light breakfast. In this morning, you are free to choose to explore a cave on an island or just spend your time soaking up some sun. After checking out from your cabin, we have a brunch on board. Around noon, we arrive back at Halong harbor. It's time to say goodbye to Halong Bay and head to Hanoi airport. You will catch the short flight to Da Nang, in the central of Vietnam.
   Upon arrival at Da Nang airport, you will be picked up by your local guide & driver and taken to your hotel in Hoi An, the UNESCO heritage town.
   Overnight at hotel in Hoian.
   Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Brunch.

5. DAY 5: HOIAN - VISIT ANCIENT TOWN

   This morning, we will discover the charm of Hoi An, as a renowned World Heritage Site. Once a bustling maritime commercial port of Asia between 15th and 19th centuries, Hoi An is now a peaceful town of exceptionally well-preserved architecture, lifestyles and traditions. The town exemplifies a fascinating fusion of cultures between Vietnam and the outside world including China, Japan, Thailand and the Philippines. Besides visiting must-see highlights of the Old Town such as the town’s iconic 400-year-old Covered Bridge, the 200-year-old Tan Ky House, chua Ong pagoda…The highlight of the day is the visit to the Reaching Out Tea House, a welcome little oasis of calm in the busy, vibrant Old quarter, owned and operated by the mute and deaf people. Here you will be treated with delicious cakes and incredible tea in the Eastern style. Rest of day, enjoy free time to go shopping, exploring the town or relaxing on swimming pool at hotel.
   Afternoon, you my consider taking part in one of our optional activities below:
   * Option 1 - My Son Sanctuary Tour : Start the day, with a half day trip to visit the capital and religious centre of the former Champa Kingdom, My Son. Here, 40km southwest of Hoi An, in a lush green valley, are dozens of red brick towers and sanctuaries dating from between the 7th and 13th centuries. My Son has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage. In My Son, you will not only discover system of the Cham Tower, but also enjoy the Cham Folk Dance Show here. It’s really a very special show that you should not miss. After enjoy the Cham Folk Dance show, you will discover system of the Cham Tower. When you finish visiting My Son Sanctuary, the guide and driver will take you back to your hotel.
   * Option 2 - The Outdoor Entertainment Show - Hoi An Memories (Start 19:00 – Finish: 20:15)
   Hoi An Memories is a musical performance, the show features cultural performances to promote Hoi An’s rich history and culture. “The most beautiful in the world” and “A feast for the eyes” is how some of the audience described the performance where the skilled dancers give the audience a glimpse of how Hoi An developed from a small farming village into a vibrant tourists’ destination, using breath-taking effects, detailed props and intricate and expressive choreography.
   * Option 3 - Romantic Sunset Dinner Cruise: (16:45 Welcome Aboard - 17:00 Start cruising)
   This River Cruise is all about relaxation and showcasing the stunning Hoi An river culture and the beauty of the setting sun on the waterways. Cinnamon Cruises is traditional local barge that has been refurbished to the highest standards and it is perfect for a two-hour Romantic Sunset Dinner Cruise on the Rivers and amazing way to experience the beautiful landscape of Thu Bon and Hoai Rivers, the culture of the local fisher people living along the river banks.
   Overnight at hotel in Hoian.
   Meals included: Breakfast.

6. DAY 6: HOIAN - DRIVE TO HUE

   Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before hitting the road headed to Hue via the panoramic “Hai Van Pass” route. Stopover at Lap An Lagoon, a beautiful landscape picture with white clouds floating, with high mountains overlapping on a unique blue background. The drive is around three hours long so you should arrive by lunchtime.
   Once settled into your hotel, which will be your base for the next two nights, spend the afternoon at leisure, exploring your surroundings and taking it easy after a busy few days. 
   Overnight at hotel in Hue.
   Meals included: Breakfast.

7. DAY 7: HUE - CITY TOUR

   After breakfast, spend an entire day touring the Vietnam’s former ancient capital. Start your day with a visit of Hue Citadel, the former Imperial Capital of Vietnam for the 1802-1945 period and the last refuge of Vietnamese feudalism. The city’s beauty is characterized by a natural scenic landscape and an extensive variety of historical relics. Begin with Hue Citadel, a well-known UNESCO-recognized World Heritage Site which is a 520 ha fortress-like grand complex built in the early 1800s and featuring three enclosures separated by heavy ramparts namely Kinh Thanh Hue (Civic City) as the outer, Hoang Thanh (Royal City) as the middle and Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden City) as the inner. Continue by taking a beautiful dragon boat trip along Perfume River and visit to Thien Mu Pagoda – one of the most popular attractions in Hue.
   Our next and last stop will be Dong Ba Market, the largest traditional trading place in not only Hue City, but also the adjacent provinces. Walking through kiosks, you will have chance to understand daily business of local sellers, their way of doing business, as well as purchase some interesting souvenirs before we drive you back to your hotel.
   Overnight at hotel in Hue.
   Meals included: Breakfast.

8. DAY 8: HUE - FLY TO HO CHI MINH CITY

   Have breakfast at hotel and check out of hotel. Then your driver will pick up you at hotel in Hue and transfer to Phu Bai Airport for taking flight to Ho Chi Minh City.
   On arrival Tan Son Nhat Domestic Airport, your private guide and driver pick up and transfer you to hotel. Check in & free at leisure.
   Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh city.
   Meals included: Breakfast.

9. DAY 9: HO CHI MINH CITY - CITY TOUR & CU CHI TUNNEL

   This morning, you will visit the famous Cu Chi tunnels, an incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the long struggle for independence. The network included innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens. Then return Ho Chi Minh at noon.
   Afternoon, enjoy the attraction of Ho Chi Minh City: visit the Reunification Palace, a former residence of Indochina Governor General and later of the President of the Republic of Southern Vietnam.
   Then, head out to visit the Notre Dame Cathedral, where the French colonial presence can be felt. It was constructed between 1863 to 1880 entirely of imported French building material, including bricks from Marseilles and stained-glass windows from Chartres. The French-influenced design of Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral still acts as a stop for people who seek for old beauties and calmness.
   Across the street to the Saigon Central Post Office, a stunning architectural marvel with rich Gothic, Renaissance and French influences.
   Our last stop would be at Ben Thanh market where is to stock up on sourvenirs, T-shirts, bags, coffee and other local products. Discover local life and culture if shopping is not your mission.
   Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh city.
   Meals included: Breakfast.

10. DAY 10: DISCOVER MEKONG DELTA

    You will be picked up from hotel, then travel by road from Ho Chi Minh city to the peaceful countryside in Ben Tre. Embark a local boat and take a boat on Ben Tre river – one of tributaries of Mekong river. Stop at brickwork to see how to make brick by hand. Visit the perfume coconut garden and coconut processing workshops located along canal and enjoy some fruits, coconut juice. Continue the trip by boat through criss-crossed with countless canals where they look more narrow to countryside. Walking on peaceful paths to farmer house to see people weave mats. Take a motor cart (xe loi) on shady road, pass by rice fields and vegetable plains to be able to touch on really life and find out about tropical culture. Enjoy lunch at farmer house on the riverside. Afternoon, take rowing boat along water palm canal and then back to Ben Tre before return to hotel.
    Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh city.
    Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.

11. DAY 11: HO CHI MINH CITY - DEPARTURE

    Today is free at your leisure for last minute shopping or sight-seeing before driving to the Ho Chi Minh International Airport to catch your departure flight home or travel on to next destinations!
    Meals included: Breakfast.