SOUTH TO NORTH VIETNAM

Today, we leave the bustle of the city behind for a day of exploring scenic rice fields, waterways of the Mekong Delta area. My Tho, the quiet capital city of Tien Giang province, is the traditional gateway to the delta, just some hours by coach from Ho Chi Minh City, the famous destination with its extensive orchards and immense rice fields in the Mekong Delta. Upon arrival at My Tho boat station. You board your local boat and cruise along the Mekong River for sightseeing of fish floating market, four famous islands of Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle, and Phoenix. The first island you will be land on Unicorn Island, walk along village paths to visit to orchard of tropical fruits, enjoy a folk music show performed by peasants and seasonal fruits. Visit then to a coconut candy workshop, taste fresh candies. It’s time for you to experience of the daily life of villagers in Mekong Delta by getting on a horse-cart and it brings you along the countryside road. The next spot is to visit a bee- farm and enjoy honey- tea, discovery of Ben Tre province’s Vam Chua natural canal by rowing boat. We end the excursion with a visit to Vinh Trang Pagoda before heading back to Saigon for dinner.

Overnight in Saigon

After breakfast, we commence a day tour with a visit to Cuchi Tunnels, located 70km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, built and used by the Viet Cong during Vietnam War. It took 25 years to construct this tunnel and it stands today as a symbol of struggle of the Vietnamese people. This Tunnel consists of more than 200km of underground tunnels, many branches connecting to underground hideouts, shelters, and entrances to other tunnels and home to more than 16,000 communist guerillas and sympathizers during the war. The underground network provided sleeping quarters, meeting rooms, hospitals, and other social rooms. Visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels provides a better understanding of the prolonged resistance war and also of the persistent and clever character of the Vietnamese.

Back to Ho Chi Minh for lunch, then take a city tour with a visit to the Independence Palace, formerly the Presidential Palace, the home to the last 3 President of South Vietnam; War Museum which exhibits photographs and weapons of the Vietnam War; Gothic-style Notre Dame Cathedral, the city’s main Catholic cathedral built by the French in the 1880s. The Cathedral’s twin spires were for decades the city best-known landmark. Followed by shopping at Ben Thanh Market, the city’s central market that is packed with all kinds of local wares and souvenirs famous for wholesaler trading. Dinner will be served on traditional junk boat while cruising along the Saigon River.

Overnight at hotel.

Transfer you to Tan Son Nhat Airport for taking a morning flight to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city, renowned as the ‘Paris of the East’; and one of Asia’s most fascinating cities. The city is rich in culture and history, this diverse city draws on its influences from both French and Chinese culture. You will be met at the airport then transfer to Hanoi to commence a half day of city tour with the first visit to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Residence, One-Pillar Pagoda nearby. The excursion continues with the visit of the Temple of Literature, built in the 11th century as Vietnam’s first university. After lunch, we spend 3 hours driving to Halong, located 160 km from Hanoi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a famous travel destination in which a thousands of islands with various sizes and shapes rising from clear, emerald waters and world famous caves. Overnight in Halong.

After breakfast, we enjoy a great 4 hours cruise on a traditional junk to explore the spectacular Halong bay – the Natural Wonders of the World. The picturesque of Halong Bay has more than 2000 limestone islets rising from the clear emerald water, many of them containing beautiful grottoes. Our cruise will pass by beautiful sights of the Sail Island, Fighting Cocks Island, and Dog Stone Island in turn; we will also pay a visit to the beautiful Thien Cung and Dau Go grotto. After your lunch will be served on board and the cruise head back to the harbor around noon. We take our van back to Hanoi. Upon arrival, you have a short visit to Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple before attending one hour water puppet show.

Overnight in Hanoi.

After breakfast, you will be free at leisure until time to transfer to airport for your onward flight. End of service.