Day 1: Hanoi arrival (D)

Our local guide and driver pick you up and transfer to your hotels in Hanoi and have a walk around Hoan Kiem lake area to catch a first glimpse of this peaceful city

In the evening, we'll have a special dinner out at a stylic restaurant, where our guide will summarize the itinerary for coming days.

Day 2: Hanoi – Drive to Halong Bay – Halong Bay Cruise (B,L,D)

Take a scenic drive for 3.5 hours to Halong city with stop to have to see authentic locals farming rice and taking photos.

Our cruise will start at noon and take you to explore the magnificiences of Halong Bay World Heritage sites passing hundreds of tiny limestone karsts, local floating villages, running in to local fishermen living on their sampan and visit Sung sot Grotto- the biggest dry grotto in Halong Bay with its amazing insights.

Have a chance for swimming in the bay. Overnight on Traditional Junks in the bay

Day 3: More Halong Bay Cruise – Drive back to Hanoi. Enjoy water traditional puppet performance ( Brunch)

You’ll spend the morning cruising the spectacular Halong Bay with it’s thousands of limestone islets that rise out of the sea before enjoy a nice seafood lunch onboard and  take a drive journey  back  to Hanoi Enjoy waterpuppet performance in a theatre nearby historical Hoankiem lake.

Day 4: Hanoi city Tour- Evening flight to Hue. (B)

A day to visit some of the most prominent historical sites of Hanoi and take activities which helps you explore the landmarks and also daily life of the locals. That includes:

Visit Hochiminh complex, Sacred One-Pillar Pagoda,  Strolling around Temple of Literature- a former well-known " schooll for the sons of the Nation" and an interesting local market vegies nearby .

Have lunch in a local restaurant with tasty authentic Vietnamese cuisines.

Visit interesting Museum of Ethnology to get to know about the diversity, richness of colourful ethnic minority groups in Vietnam. Take a cyclo ride for 45 minutes around the old quarter of Hanoi. And transfer to the airport for a flight to Hue. Overnight in Hue

Day 5:  Hue city tour and Perfume river cruise . (B,D)

Morning guided visits to the Imperial city, then take a boat ride on the Perfume river to Thien Mu Pagoda and TuDuc Mausoleum. This evening enjoy an imperial dinner as the royals once did complete with costumes!

Day 6: Hue drive to Hoian. (B)

Drive to Danang via the breathtaking HaiVan pass. Stop at the Marble Mountains to climb Water Mountain and explore the cave pagodas before visiting Cham Museum with its collection of relics from the Cham Kingdom. Car transfer to the ancient town of HoiAn where the mix of Japanese and Chinese architecture reflects its past history as an important trading port. Lunch at a local restaurant. Overnight in HoiAn at hotel. Faternoon walking tour of enchanting Hoi An visiting an old merchant house, a Chinese Assembly Hall and the Japanese Covered Bridge.  Overnight in Hoian

Day 7: Hoian – Nam Thanh  Fishing Tours (B,L)

We’ll ride bike to Nam Thanh fishing village and walk around to talk to local fishermen and learn the unique fishing techniques as well as their fishing tools.  Take boat ride with some local fisherman and try casting the net while talking to them and share experiences. Come to Dai Chiem estuary to visit the peaceful waterways with great views of local fishing boats and floating community. Lunch at a local restaurant before return to Hoi An

Day 8: Hoian Flight to Saigon and Saigon Half day city tours. (B)

Transfer to the airport for flight to Saigon. On arrival, enjoy an orientation tour of Saigon: the main boulevards, Notre Dame Cathedral, the splendid Post Office, Ben Thanh market. Overnight at hotel.

Day 9: Saigon- Mekong Delta visit- Overnight Ecolodge in Caibe (B,L,D)

Morning drive to  Cai Be harbor and boat trip of half hour to Mekong Lodge. Afternoon walking visit to the homes factories of Candy and handicraft near by the village. Late afternoon participating in cooking class and diner at the Lodge

Day 10: Mekong Lodge- More Mekong visit and Drive back to Saigon (B)

Morning walking or cycling tour around the island and to one of the orchard, free fruits picking of mango, rambutan, longan…Boat transfer to Cai be harbor and drive back to Ho Chi Minh

Day 11: Saigon and Cu Chi tunnels(B)

Morning visit to the famous Cu Chi tunnels to experience how the Viet Cong lived underground during the American war. Lunch during visits. Afternoon, Saigon city tour will include an orientation tour of Saigon’s main boulevards, Notre Dame Cathedral, the splendid Post Office, the bustling Ben Thanh market and ChoLon China town. Evening at leisure. Overnight at hotel.

Day 12: Saigon depart(B)

Today you will be transferred to the airport for your onward journey.

( Legend:  B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Diner)

Notes:

• To customize this  sample itinerary to suite your travel plan and personal interestes, please send your request to : info@travelauthentic.com
• Our tour operation depends on many factors some of which are beyond our control. We reserve the right to amend programmes in case of unexpected problems caused by weather, airlines, transport companies and local organisations.