Vietnam, From Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh

Legends of Vietnam with optional beach holiday in Phu Quoc 4^*

Arrival at Hanoi Airport (HAN).

Transfer to your hotel. Relax at your hotel or stroll through the bustling streets of Hanoi.

Dinner is not included. Overnight stay at the hotel in Hanoi.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Sightseeing suggestions:

Get up at dawn to stroll through the flower market, then visit Hanoi's lively old quarter to soak up its unique atmosphere.

Book a seat at the theatre to discover puppetry, a very ancient Vietnamese art form.

Take a rickshaw ride to see the city from a different perspective.

Lunch and dinner are not included. Overnight stay at the hotel in Hanoi.

Breakfast and pick-up at your hotel.

Board for a cruise on Ha Long Bay. Sail into the heart of Bai Tu Long Bay, the eastern and more preserved part of Halong Bay. Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this more secluded area offers the same spectacular landscapes: karst islets, wild coves, and mysterious caves, in a more tranquil atmosphere.

Enjoy lunch against this dreamlike backdrop, then set out to explore the surroundings by kayak or take a swim in the emerald waters.

Admire the postcard-worthy landscape at sunset before indulging in a refined dinner on board.

To end this day on a high note, have fun with the board games provided or try squid fishing under the spotlight, a playful and friendly activity that entertains both young and old.

Overnight on board the junk.

Begin your day gently by attending a sunrise Tai Chi session to awaken your body and fill yourself with positive energy.

After breakfast, head out to explore Thien Canh Son Cave, nestled amidst the karst formations.

Back on board, you can join a Vietnamese cooking demonstration. Immerse yourself in the secrets of a cuisine that is both refined and authentic, with its fresh herbs, subtle spices, fragrant rice and iconic nuoc mam. Enjoy lunch on board.

Transfer back to Hanoi. Free time and then transfer to Hanoi train station. Board the train heading to Hue.

Dinner is not included. Overnight stay in a 4-berth cabin on board the train.

Breakfast on board (not included, to be prepared before boarding). Disembark at Hue train station. Transfer to your hotel.

Sightseeing suggestions:

Discover the Imperial Citadel, a 520-hectare UNESCO World Heritage Site surrounded by walls and moats. Within this lies the Imperial City, which is also surrounded by walls and houses the Forbidden Purple City. These three enclosures are unique in the world.

Visit the Thien Mu Pagoda, also known as the Pagoda of the Celestial Lady, overlooking the Perfume River.

Stroll through local markets or taste typical dishes of the region.

Located about ten kilometres from the city, the tomb of King Khai Dinh, the penultimate emperor of Vietnam, is not to be missed.

Lunch and dinner are not included. Overnight stay at the hotel in Hue.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to your hotel in Hoi An via the Hải Vân Pass. Enjoy a leisurely drive up the winding road. Take in the magnificent view of Danang Bay, a long white sand lagoon lined with coconut trees.

Lunch and dinner are not included.

Overnight stay at the hotel in Hoi An.

Breakfasts at the hotel. Days at leisure.

Sightseeing suggestions:

Stroll through Hoi An, a charming town with shops, temples, pagodas, private houses, and communal houses.

Treat your taste buds to some Vietnamese culinary specialities in this city known for its cuisine: bo bun, pho and bun cha.

Head to the beaches of Cua Dai, An Bang, or Ha My to relax on the white sand.

Take a walk in the evening, when the city is lit up with a multitude of lanterns.

Lunches and dinners are not included. Nights at the hotel in Hoi An.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to Danang Airport for the domestic flight from Danang to Ho Chi Minh City. Transfer to your hotel.

Lunch and dinner are not included. Overnight stay at the hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Sightseeing suggestions:

Take in the beautiful mix of traditional colonial architecture and modern skyscrapers in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon.

Explore the Reunification Palace, home to grand, furnished reception rooms, secret chambers and the famous bunker where military operations were planned.

Discover Cho Lon, the Chinatown district of Ho Chi Minh City, a bustling hive within the city, once the site of opium dens.

Visit the Giac Lam Pagoda, the oldest in the city, which is located in a beautiful garden. Alternatively, visit the Phuoc An Hoi Quan Pagoda, which is bursting with vibrant colours.

Awaken your senses with the scents and flavours of local markets like Ben Thanh Market or Binh Tay Market.

Lunch and dinner are not included. Overnight stay at the hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to Ho Chi Minh City Airport (SGN) according to your flight schedule.

You can choose a beach extension to Phu Quoc from Day 9 as follows:

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Danang airport. Domestic flight from Danang to Phu Quoc. Transfer to your hotel.

Suggested visits:

Relax on the idyllic white sandy beaches lined with coconut trees. Our selection of beaches: Sao, Khem, Ong Lang, Mong Tay, May Rut.

Go snorkelling or scuba diving in the beautiful seabed with its multicoloured fish.

Stroll through the Dinh Cau night market and sample fresh seafood.

Lunch and dinner are not included. Overnight stay at the hotel in Phu Quoc.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Suggested visits:

Stop at pearl farms to discover a unique production process and treat yourself to a little souvenir.

Visit a traditional nuoc mam factory, one of Vietnam's most popular condiments. Discover an artisanal method that dates back more than 200 years and is responsible for the sauce's inimitable flavour.

Gain a better understanding of the history of the Vietnam War by visiting Phu Quoc Prison. Now converted into a museum, it houses photographs of former prisoners, instruments of torture and detention cages... (not recommended for children).

Admire the sunset from Bai Truong beach or Dinh Cau rock, home to a lighthouse and a Buddhist sanctuary with a rooftop terrace.

Lunch and dinner are not included. Overnight stays at the hotel in Phu Quoc.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Phu Quoc Airport. Domestic flight from Phu Quoc to Ho Chi Minh City. Transfer to your hotel.

Suggested visits:

Let yourself be charmed by the "Pearl of the Orient," where the elegance of colonial architecture blends with modern skyscrapers.

Step through the doors of the Reunification Palace and explore its grand reception rooms, secret passages, and strategic bunker.

Stroll along Nguyen Hue pedestrian street, bustling with street performances and lined with trendy cafes.

Lunch and dinner are not included. Night at the hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Suggested visits:

Immerse yourself in the hustle and bustle of Cho Lon, the city's Chinatown, once famous for its opium dens.

Take a cultural break by visiting one of the city's many museums, such as the one dedicated to the Ao Dai or the museum of traditional medicine.

Discover the serenity of the temples by visiting Giac Lam, the oldest pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City, or marvel at the vibrant colours of Phuoc An Hoi Quan.

Lunch and dinner are not included. Overnight stay at the hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Breakfast at the hotel. Free time until transfer to Ho Chi Minh Airport (SGN) for your return flight.

FORMALITIES

For those booking the ‘hotel only’ package (without international flights), please provide us with your flight details as soon as possible via the contact form located in ‘Help and Contact’ at the bottom of the page, so that we can arrange your transfers.

ACCOMMODATION

Depending on local conditions, your itinerary may be subject to change (the order of stops may be modified). For technical reasons, hotels or cruise ships may also be replaced with accommodation of a similar standard.

Check-in is usually in the early afternoon (2 p.m.).

Check-out is usually in the morning (11 a.m.).

This trip does not include accommodation that is suitable for people with reduced mobility.

Hotel accommodation type: A double bed or two single beds are included, depending on availability. Specific requests regarding the type of room are subject to availability and may incur an additional charge.

Cabin types available on the Halong Bay cruise: All cabins are equipped with either a double bed or two single beds, a private shower room and air conditioning.

Cabin type for night-time travel on board the train: Each cabin has four berths, complete with mattresses, pillows and blankets. Luggage can be placed under the lower berths. A bottle of water and a snack are provided. Depending on the number of passengers, you may have to share the cabin. You can pay extra to privatise the cabin. Drinks and snacks are sold on the train. There is a washbasin and a toilet in each carriage.

MEALS

Meal plan as indicated in the programme, excluding drinks.

If, due to schedules imposed by airlines, the first and last days are shortened by a late arrival or early departure, no meal refunds will be given.

Depending on the schedules of optional excursions, meals that cannot be taken at the hotel are at the guests' expense.

TRANSFERS

Upon arrival at the airport, a driver will be waiting for passengers with a sign bearing their names.

For the 10-night tour, no domestic flights are included: travel is by train or private vehicle.

For the 13-night tour: Two domestic flights: Da Nang/Phu Quoc and Phu Quoc/Ho Chi Minh City. Airport tax and 7 kg of hand luggage and one piece of 20 kg checked luggage per person are included.

Domestic flights are operated by Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, JetStar or similar.