The best of the best Vietnam Holiday 18 days
Day 1: Arrival Hanoi (D)
Upon arrival at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International airport, you will be greeted by our guide and transferred to your hotel for a 3 night stay at the Legendry Suite at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Hotel. You will have a welcome dinner at local restaurant followed by an evening water puppet performance.
WHITE RICE RESTAURANT
6 Ngo Thi Nham, Hanoi
White Rice Restaurant provides authentic Vietnamese cuisine, and everything from the decor to the dining is an amalgam of traditions and customs. The grilled chicken in chili with lemon grass is spicy and savory, and don’t miss the barbecued squid or beef with coconut. Presentation is Zen simple, and the staff will make sure that you have a simply splendid experience.
Day 2: Hanoi (B/L)
You will have a full day to visit Hanoi’s main cultural attractions, including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his House on Stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Fine Arts Museum, the Temple of Literature and the Ethnology Museum. You will explore the fascinating Old Quarter and its hundreds of specialty shops selling silk clothing, lacquer ware, embroidered linens, furniture, bamboo, cooking utensils, ceremonial objects and more. You can also walk around Hoan Kiem Lake before having lunch in one of the French colonial villas converted into gourmet restaurants. Or, you can enjoy people watching at stylish cafes before you shop for impressive modern art in the city's myriad galleries! You will then stay overnight in Hanoi.
BA MIEN RESTAURANT
1 Le Thanh Tong St, Hanoi
On the mezzanine level of the Hilton Hanoi Opera hotel, this “open-sky” restaurant offers the perfect mix of Vietnamese culture and cuisine. Be sure to try chef Pham Xuan Cuong’s best dish, poached lobster in lotus essence with lemongrass sabayon.
Day 3: Hanoi half day tour - Visit artists & dine in style. (B/D)
In the morning you are free to explore Hanoi and in the afternoon you will visit one of Hanoi's most famous artists at his gallery. He will have the pleasure of inviting you to his home for a cup of tea and then you will ride a cyclo to dinner and a wine tasting at the award-winning Press Club restaurant where international fare is laced with Asian influences and wines are selected to complement these tastes. You'll get to know Vietnamese culture and food, and if you're lucky, have a sample of his art. You will stay overnight in Hanoi.
HANOI PRESS CLUB
59 A Ly Thai To St., Hanoi
The modern decor with Indochine touches combines to create a hip interior reminiscent of Hanoi in the prosperous 1920’s. Chef Marcel Isaak’s fillet of Australian beef tenderloin with cabernet sauvignon sauce is a can’t-miss treat.
Day 4: Hanoi - Halong Bay Natural World Heritage (B/L/D)
This morning, you will depart Hanoi at 8.30 am for a four-hour drive through the Red River Delta to Ha Long City. On the way, you will stop for refreshments. Upon arriving in Halong City, you will take a boat cruise on the crystalline emerald waters of Halong Bay, giving you the chance to take in the stunning scenery of this UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. You will enjoy a refreshing cocktail upon boarding the Emeraude around noon at the Emeraude Pier. After checking in, you will have lunch at the restaurant. You’ll cruise among hundreds of islets to discover unspoiled pockets of Halong Bay and its remote, floating fishing villages. After sunset, you will enjoy dinner at the restaurant, before retiring to your cabin for a good night sleep or join the crew and learn squid fishing at night!
Day 5: Halong Bay – Hanoi – Hue (B)
Greet the day with a morning tai chi exercise and the opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay. After breakfast, you will visit a beautiful limestone grotto and then head back to the boat for a final glimpse of Halong Bay while cruising back to the dock. You will transfer to airport for a flight to Hue. Upon arrival at Phu Bai Airport, you will be transferred directly to your hotel.
PRESIDENT SUITE
La Residence Hotel & Spa by Accor, Hue
This is where the last emperor of Vietnam slept, and where, in 1968, the Viet Cong captured the highest-ranking South Vietnamese official. Its view across the Perfume River to the imposing flagstaff of the Citadel is fit for a king, and you too.
Day 6: Hue World Heritage (B/D)
In Hue, one of Vietnam’s five UNESCO World Heritage sites, the court musicians in the Royal Theatre evoke the sounds-cape of imperial Vietnam with high fidelity. At the nearby Museum of Royal Fine Arts, 128 ironwood pillars complement an exquisite collection of Nguyen Dynasty artifacts. You will embark on a tour of Hue City, including the Citadel, the Forbidden Purple City, the Imperial Museum and Dong Ba market. In the evening, you will enjoy the fine cuisine of Hue at Tinh Gia Vien Restaurant before an overnight stay in Hue
Day 7: Hue World Heritage (B/L/D)
You will have breakfast at the hotel before boarding a private boat and cruising on the romantic Perfume River. Being the ancient capital, Hue is surrounded with ancient tombs of emperors past, and a visit to some of these tombs will be on the itinerary for today. The charming Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda) will be the first stop of the day. From here you will cruise to the ornate Minh Mang's Tomb. In the afternoon, you will continue your day with a drive to visit King Khai Dinh's Tomb and King Tu Duc's Tomb. Your day will end with a royal banquet dinner in this former Imperial Capital to enrich your experience in Hue before an overnight stay.
Day 8: Hue – Hoi An (B)
Today you will drive to Danang and stay several days at the beachfront Nam Hai Resort and Spa. Nearby, you will see ancient sculptures in the Cham Museum or My Son, and tour Buddhist cave temples in the Marble Mountains. You will visit atmospheric Hoi An, a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site and riverfront port town crammed with historic homes, tiny museums, cafes, and bustling silk and fish markets.
Once in Hoi An, you will check into your hotel and have some free time to explore and enjoy this award winning resort. On a prime stretch of Ha My Beach near historic Hoi An. The Nam Hai is a benchmark setting for travelers in search of real class. Sprawled across 35 hectares, this splendid spa resort opened in December 2006 and offers 60 elegant villas and a further 40 pool villas, each within landscaped gardens with unobstructed views across the Ben Cat Sea on to the misty Cham Islands.
POOL VILLA with CLUB BENEFITS
The Nam Hai
Hamlet 1, Dien Duong Village
Dien Ban District,
Quang Nam Province,
Vietnam
Tel: (84-510) 3 940 000
Fax: (84 510) 3 940 999
Day 9: Hoi An (B)
You will have the morning free at leisure, then at 02:00 pm you will take a half day private city tour with your guide. From the 16th to 18th centuries, Hoi An was a thriving international commercial port for Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese and Arab traders. These people came primarily to trade in the high grade silk which is still produced in the area, as well as ceramics. Today, Hoi An is a quaint riverside town, popular with tourists for its eclectic architecture, tailors shops, and numerous cafes. Some of the buildings in the narrow streets have remained unchanged for more than a century. You will enjoy walking through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter, visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, Chinese Assembly Halls, the 200 year old Tam Ky ancestral house, and the Japanese Bridge.
Following the tour, there will be free time to shop or relax or shop. At Thu Thuy in Hoi An, clients can get a tailor-made suit of the highest quality. Yaly Couture Address 47 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Phone 0510/3910-474
The Brother Restaurant Hoi An Address: 27-29 Phan Boi Chau St | Hoi An town, Quang Nam province, Hoi An, Vietnam
Phone: (84.510) 914150
Fax: (84.510) 923012
Day 10: Free at leisure in Hoi An or optional day trip to My Son Holly land (B)
Today there will be free time to shop, relax, unwind or take a trip to discover My Son. My Son is the former capital of the ancient Cham civilization that ruled Central Vietnam from the second to the thirteenth century. Their religion was primarily derived from Indian Hinduism. My Son is considered to be one of the best-preserved Cham structures in Vietnam. The complex is comprised of seventy Hindu-like towers and temples dating from the second century. This site is a must-see for those people who are interested in architecture and ancient civilizations, and is now one of five UNESCO World Heritage sites in Vietnam.
Day 11: Danang - Nha Trang – Six Senses Ninh Van Bay Resort & Spa (B)
You will be picked up at your hotel and transferred to Danang Airport for your short flight to Nha Trang to spend 3 nights in a secluded private beach pool villa, overlooking beautiful Ninh Van Bay at the Six Senses Ninh Van Bay.
THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA
Six Senses Ninh Van Bay Resort & Spa, Nha Trang
Seclusion and style don’t blend together any better than this. Set on dramatic Ninh Vanh Bay, the space features everything from a floating terrace to a personal butler, and can only be accessed by the key holders themselves and only via a series of wooden walkways set into the mountainside.
Day 12: Six Senses Ninh Van Bay Resort & Spa (B)
Free time to snorkel or dive among the coral reefs in crystal blue waters, hike nature trails, cool off in your private plunge pool, indulge in spa treatments or just relax on the white sand beach and admire the unspoiled mountain and sea views.
Day 13: Six Senses Ninh Van Bay Resort & Spa (B)
Enjoy your time and the facilities of the resort at your leisure.
Day 14: Six Senses Ninh Van Bay Resort & Spa (B)
Enjoy your time and the facilities of the resort at your leisure.
Day 15: Nha Trang - Ho Chi Minh City (B/D)
You will take a flight to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), where you will be welcomed and transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon, you’ll take a private tour of Ho Chi Minh City (also known as Saigon) the country's commercial center and home to a growing number of upscale restaurants and shops. You will visit the Reunification Palace, the Opera House and the Hotel de Ville. If desired, you can also visit the powerful War Remnants Museum. Next, you will explore colorful outdoor markets and Dong Khoi Street, the city's main shopping boulevard with fashionable boutiques, hill tribe crafts, high quality linens and house-wares. You will have dinner at Vietnam House and an overnight stay in HCMC
PARK SUITE
Park Hyatt Saigon Hotel
2 Lam Son Square, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
This is the ultimate five-star experience in Ho Chi Minh City, right down to the marble-tiled bathroom with oversized whirlpool bath and built-in LCD TV panel. Naturally, it’s on the top floor, giving you a great view.
Day 16: Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnels (B/-/D)
In the afternoon, you will have a half-day private excursion to the Cu Chi Tunnels! At its height, the tunnel system stretched over 250 km (from Saigon to the Cambodian border) and was three levels deep. The network included innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens. Today, the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction, giving the visitor a unique experience and a feel of what underground life was like during the U.S.-Vietnam War. You will then have dinner at Square One at Park Hyatt Saigon. You should not miss the nearby Saigon Bar at Caravelle Hotel Saigon, which is on the 10th floor of the historic Caravelle Hotel. This is a place where cover bands rock out, jet-lagged tourists converge with smartly-clad locals and views from the expansive patio stretch for miles. You should try to get a table at the outside corner, as it offers the broadest vistas.
Day 17: HCMC-Mekong Delta on Cai Be Princess (B/L/D)
Today you’ll drive to Cai Be, Phu An where you will board the Cai Be Princess at around 11:00 am. The tour will start with a visit to a colorful floating market, and then you will proceed to visit of some local home factories which make such things as rice paste, rice popcorn and coco candies. Your trip will continue along the Mekong canals to Dong Hoa Hiep Island, located between Vinh Long and Cai Be. During this 40 minutes cruise, you will discover beautiful landscapes along the river and observe typical Mekong Delta rural life. Stops on the way can be made upon request for particular visits or photos making, which should not be forgotten, as these evergreen islands among the Mekong River still remain unknown to many people. Lunch will await you at Le Longanier restaurant at La Residence de Phu An resort, a superb Indochine style resort. After a short walk along a narrow canal, you will drive back to HCMC and have a farewell dinner on the Bonsai Cruise on the Saigon River.
Day 18: Depart Ho Chi Minh City (B)
There are no activities planned for today, so you are free to enjoy your free time until transfer to the airport for your onward flight.