Day 1: Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City

Today, your Vietnam holiday package will begin when you arrive in Ho Chi Minh City. Your airport pick up will be waiting, and they'll take you to the comfortable hotel in center of the city.

You'll stay in a fully air-conditioned room. The hotel is perfectly situated, just around the corner from the Old Quarter, where there are dozens of cosy little restaurants and quirky souvenir shops to explore. If you have time to spare, you can recover from your journey by watching the world go by from a pavement cafe.

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Day 2 : Ho Chi Minh City Tour

Your tour begins at the General Post Office and from there to Notre Dame Cathedral, both fine examples of French colonial architecture. Continue towards the Reunification Palace, previously known as the Presidential Palace, the site of the official South Vietnamese surrender on April 30th, 1975. Entry is not included but you will have the opportunity to take photographs. From there head over to the War Remnants museum. Originally opened in September 1975, the museum displays old military equipment and other related items from the Vietnam War including some larger exhibits including an F5A fighter and a UH1-Huey helicopter.

Hop into a traditional cyclo, a three-wheeled bicycle with a carriage at the front for you to sit in, while the driver pedals you through Ho Chi Minh City. Take in the sights, sounds and smells of Ho Chi Minh City without the barrier of a car window or the sound of an engine. Travel through Tao Dan Park to the Tan Dinh wet market. Tanh Dinh serves as both produce market and community center as you will see the locals spend just about as much time with daily gossip as they do with the daily shopping. The last stop on the tour is the famous Ben Thanh market where you can practice your language skills bargaining for souvenirs, clothing and knick knacks. The market itself has an interesting history. Its original location was close to the Ben Nghe River and the old fort of Gia Dinh before it was destroyed in 1859 during the French invasion of Saigon. It was rebuilt and later moved to its present location in 1899.

At the end of your tour, you are free to continue exploring the area or your guide will assist you in getting our van back to your hotel.

Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta

The next two days of your suggested Vietnam itinerary are dedicated to the Mekong River, with its vast fertile delta. At around 7:30am, the minibus will take you in the direction of Cai Be. From here, you'll hop onto a boat and sail in a small group through the Mekong Delta. In Cai Be you'll sail past colourful, floating markets, where vendors will offer their wares from their boats jammed with produce, dangling their goods in the air from a long pole.

Daily life will pass you by as you sail through the intricate waterways meeting small villages, rice paddies and local businesses. While sailing through the maze of canals, you'll visit one of the many islands on the Mekong; Vinh Long Island. During the afternoon you'll sail for approximately 3 hours until you reach Can Tho, where you'll arrive on time for sunset. The boat will then take you to a simple but charming hotel for the night. During the dry season, this portion of the trip will be conducted by mini bus due to low water levels.

Day 4: Mekong Delta - Ho Chi Minh City

On the fourth day of your Vietnam holiday package you'll leave your hotel at 7.30am. The local boat will take you to the floating market of Cai Rang, which is the largest, most important, and probably the noisiest floating market in the Mekong Delta. In order to get close to all of the excitement of the floating market, you'll transfer over to a bamboo rowboat. You'll sail amidst all of the boats peddling their wares. Naturally you yourself won't have to row during this journey and therefore you'll have plenty of time to negotiate and purchase goods. At the end of this Mekong Delta tour you'll have a pretty good impression of life on this important river. Eventually you'll take the comfortable air-conditioned coach back to Ho Chi Minh where you'll arrive at around 3-4pm.

Tonight is your last night in Ho Chi Minh City before your Vietnam holiday package going to the Beaches & Island.

Day 5 Ho Chi Minh - Nha Trang Beach

There's nothing on the agenda for your Vietnam holiday today, leaving you to explore Ho Chi Minh City or simply chill out. If you're feeling energetic, you could visit some of the city’s highlights.

At 11:00 Am, you'll leave Ho Chi Minh City and We take a flight to Nha Trang today

Upon arrival in Nha Trang, you'll be collected by minibus and taken to the jetty. From here, the speedboat will take you to Palm Island, the next stop on your Vietnam holiday package.

WHALE ISLAND RESORT - ILE DE BALEINE VIENTAM
is Vietnam at its most exotic. Spectacular white beaches, azure seas, unspoilt coral reefs, quaint wooden bungalows... it's pretty much as close to paradise as you can get. You can also swim, snorkel, and dive, giving you the option to do as little or as much as you like. In the evenings, wander along the beach with the powdery sand between your toes, and eat fresh fish at the lovely restaurant.

When you arrive, a meal will be served and you can follow this with a drink in the tropical bar, the gentle sound of lapping waves in the background. Bliss.

Day 6: WHALE ISLAND RESORT - ILE DE BALEINE VIENTAM - Free time

There are only 30 bungalows on the island, all hidden amongst swaying palm trees. These bungalows are comfortable and secluded, letting you relax completely while you listen to the nearby waves. The bungalow walls are made of bamboo, brick and palm wood, and their roofs are thatched with local palm leaves. The water's edge is only a few short steps from your veranda. The bungalows are tastefully furnished by the French management with a double bed (or two singles) and a mosquito net. All of the bungalows have their own private bathroom and a fan to keep you cool.

You can rent good snorkels for less than £2 per day. WHALE ISLAND RESORT - ILE DE BALEINE VIENTAM
is an unbelievably good diving location. Apart from relaxing, there are all sorts of activities you can do during this portion of your Vietnam holiday package. There are surfboards and catamarans for hire or you can book a boat or snorkelling trip to the neighbouring bays and islands.

Day 7: WHALE ISLAND RESORT - Nha Trang

This afternoon you'll wave goodbye to WHALE ISLAND RESORT
and head back to Nha Trang by boat and then minibus. Nha Trang is the most sophisticated beach resort of Vietnam. The evenings here are very lively, with a vast selection of restaurants, bars and discos. This will certainly wake you up after all the tranquillity and solitude of the island.

You'll stay overnight in a comfortable hotel right on the beachfront boulevard before continuing on your Vietnam holiday package adventure tomorrow.

Day 8: Nha Trang - Hoi An walking tour & cooking class

Today, you'll head to the airport and take a quick domestic flight from Nha Trang to Danang, the nearest airport to Hoi An. On arrival, we'll organise your transfer to Hoi An.
After lunch (own expense), embark on a guided walking tour of the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which largely escaped the destruction of successive wars. Follow your guide through the charming, pedestrian-only streets and explore the delightful architecture of the buildings as you learn about their historical and cultural significance.

Stroll past the many Chinese assembly halls, admiring the impressive main altar of the Cantonese Chinese Congregation and the memorial of the Hainan Chinese Congregation – in remembrance of 107 merchants from Hainan Island who were killed during the reign of Emperor Tu Duc when mistaken for pirates. Stop by the Japanese Covered Bridge, constructed in the 1590s by the town’s Japanese community to link them with the Chinese quarters across the stream.

After your walking tour is complete, your guide will accompany you to a family-run restaurant for a small-group cooking class. Uncover the culinary secrets of Vietnamese cooking as a professional chef discusses the delicious dishes you will create. First, head to the local market to stock up on fresh produce necessary for your feast. You’ll learn how to choose the best ingredients and discover new flavors before returning to the restaurant ready to cook.

As you cook up a storm, discover some tricks to making legendary Vietnamese dishes and pick up recipes that are sure to wow your family and friends back home. End the day by sitting down with newfound friends and feasting on the tasty dishes you’ve made together.

Day 9 Hoi An Countryside Bike Tour Including Thu Bon River Cruise
From Google Café in Hoi An, hop on your bike and follow your guide down back streets toward country lanes just outside of town. Then, take in the gorgeous landscapes of the countryside as your small group rides past emerald-green rice paddies and winding waterways. Stop at several of the villages dotting the area, chatting with locals and waving to children as you learn more about the lifestyle and culture in this region of Vietnam.

Next, follow your guide to the banks of the Thu Bon River for a boat cruise along the waterway. Admire picturesque views of the area as your small group rides toward one of the river’s small islands. After you disembark, enjoy a scrumptious barbecue feast that awaits you! While getting your fill of the local specialties, enjoy a gorgeous sunset over the river with bobbing fishing boats in the foreground.

Afterward, hop back in the boat and cruise along the river as you watch the last of the sun’s rays disappear behind the rice paddies. See the twinkling lights of Hoi An appear as you approach the dock, and then hop back onto your bike to make your way through the crowds at the bustling waterfront to head back to the heart of town.

Day 10 Hoi An - Hue

Traveling by minibus after breakfast, head south on a four-hour drive to Hue. Pass coastal rice paddies before crossing the scenic and mountainous Hai Van Pass, a 14-mile (21-km) stretch of road that winds through spectacular mountains and borders the sparkling South China Sea.

After checking in to your hotel overlooking the Perfume River the remainder of the day is at leisure to explore

Day 11 Hue

Begin your private tour of Hue with pickup from your hotel by private vehicle, and head out for a full day of sightseeing in Vietnam’s former capital. First, your private guide will take you on a 1to1.5-hour tour of Hue Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site containing the former Imperial Palace. Modeled on the Forbidden City in Beijing, Hue Citadel consists of a royal palace, tombs, hallways and ornate temples that showcase the former capital city’s regal past.

Walk around the complex, located inside high stone walls, with your guide and learn about Hue’s Nguyen Emperors who ruled the former capital of Vietnam until the early 20th century. Bombed by both French and American forces, and heavily damaged during the 1968 Tet Offensive, much of the Imperial City lies in ruins and is slowly being restored to its former glory.

Once you’ve explored the grounds and discovered Hue’s royal treasures, enjoy a relaxing 45-minute cruise on the enchanting Perfume River. Disembark for a brief visit to the seven-story Thien Mu Pagoda, the tallest pagoda in Vietnam, which stands on the northern bank of the meandering river.
After a delicious lunch at a local restaurant, set out on a tour of the Emperor's residence, located about six miles (10 km) away from Hue in a surrounding countryside of lush pine forest. See two of the most impressive Royal Tombs – Tu Duc Tomb and Khai Dinh Tomb – the final resting place of the Nguyen Emperors. As you follow your guide around the beautiful complexes set amid temples, courtyards and pavilions, admire the ornate tombs built above ground to honor the emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty.

Day 12 Ha Noi

This morning we continue our journey north with a flight to Hanoi City, Vietnam's most energetic and electric city. After check-in hotel, starting in the morning with a visit the Temple of Literature, originally built as a temple to Confucius, this is the site of Vietnam's first university dating back to 1070. Inside are the stone steles mounted on the backs of turtles, inscribed with the names of the university's graduates. The complex is divided into five courtyards with different paths that would originally have been reserved for the Emperor and his mandarins. One of the courtyards contains the statue of Confucius guarded by two beautiful bronze storks standing on turtles.

After a sumptuous Vietnamese lunch, tour the Museum of Ethnology, widely acknowledged as the best in the Vietnam which houses a display dedicated to Vietnam's 54 ethnic minority peoples. Afterward, head to Ngoc Son Temple set on a tiny island in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake. The Ngoc Son temple dates back to the 13th century, and the lake itself is a picturesque focal point of Hanoi, frequented by tourists and locals alike.

End the day with a one-hour cyclo ride through the Old Quarter. Also known as the 36 streets, this bustling area of narrow streets is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. It's a great place to explore with plenty of photo opportunities. At approximately 6:00pm, you will return you to your hotel

Day 13: Hanoi – Halong Bay

After early morning pickup from your hotel, depart from the capital for Halong Bay – an approximate four-hour drive by comfortable air-conditioned vehicle. Upon arrival at Halong Bay around midday, you’ll be greeted by a tour representative and transferred to the traditional junk boat.

Settle in with a complimentary welcome drink as you begin your cruise around majestic Halong Bay. Meet the expert crew and get acquainted with your small group while you dine on a delicious seafood lunch, including tea and coffee. After lunch, unwind and soak up the sun on the top deck – a great spot for photographing the natural wonders of the bay – as your captain finds a secluded area, perfect for swimming in the clear waters.

You’ll have the chance to try your hand at kayaking and explore some of the ancient limestone caves dotting the bay. As you glide along the most secluded lagoons, admire the surrounding limestone karsts amid unforgettable scenery only accessible by kayak! The modern kayaks are lightweight and easy to maneuver, and all participants will be issued water buoyancy vests. The junk boat will be nearby at all times, serving as a back-up vessel for those who need it.

After exploring, retire to the boat for more relaxation on the deck and enjoy a refreshing drink from the bar if you'd like. In the evening, your cook will prepare a splendid meal comprised of fresh seafood dishes as well as traditional Vietnamese fare as your crew weighs anchor in the heart of the bay. Afterward, you’ll have the opportunity to try some night fishing from the boat.

Day 14 : Halong Bay – Hanoi

Rising to the tranquil beauty of the bay, there’s time for an early morning dip followed by breakfast. Then, head to the Cave of Surprises – the biggest cave in Halong Bay – where you’ll discover magnificent stalagmites and stalactites as you walk along the lit paths on a guided tour.

After another delectable lunch around midday, start your cruise back to the main harbor before transferring to your awaiting vehicle for the four-hour journey back to Hanoi. End your tour with hotel drop-off upon arrival in the capital.

Day 15 : Hanoi - Departure

The adventure concludes today - your guide will take you back to the airport in time for your onward flight home.