Day 1 – Travel to Hanoi – Vietnam

Depart for Vietnam, flying to Hanoi.

Day 2 – Welcome to Hanoi! Cyclo taxi to Water Puppet Show

Transfer to Hanoi

 Morning

Following your arrival in Vietnam, you will be transferred with guide assistance to your hotel in Hanoi, your tour base for the next two nights. 

Traditional Puppet Show & Dinner

 Evening

Later this evening, enjoy a cyclo (three wheeled bicycle taxi) ride to a theatre to watch a traditional Water Puppet show, followed by dinner at a local restaurant. Your Vietnam adventure has begun!

Please note:

Meals – While in Vietnam some lunches and dinners are included. These are set menu meals in local restaurants or hotels providing an opportunity to experience local dishes, traditional flavours and appreciate the culinary preparations found across Vietnam.

Day 3 – Good Morning Vietnam! Guided tour of Hanoi

Guided Hanoi City Tour

 Morning

Good morning Vietnam! Explore Hanoi on a full day guided excursion. You will see some of its most fascinating sites such as the monumental tomb of Ho Chi Minh’s (Uncle Ho) Mausoleum, view (from the outside) the simple wooden house where he lived and worked, and the One Pillar Pagoda, a historic Buddhist Temple sitting within a lake.  Also included in your tour is a visit to the world-famous 11th century Temple of Literature and the former Hoa Lò Prison. You will finish your day with a walking tour of the Old Quarter and the area around the beautiful Hoàn Kiem Lake.

Lunch is included today, at a local restaurant.

At Leisure in Hanoi

 Evening

Take a break to enjoy your surroundings at leisure, perhaps take a stroll along the lake, or watch the locals going about their daily life. There are many bars and restaurants that offer great views over this bustling city. If your Hanoi stay coincides with a weekend, you can even wander through the night markets and perhaps find a bargain. Our expert local guide will be happy to advise on activities and places to discover.

Day 4 – Transfer to Ha Long Bay & Set Sail – UNESCO Beauty

Experience a Sail Around Ha Long Bay

 Full Day

After breakfast, you will depart Hanoi and travel to the magnificent Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The drive will take approximately two and a half hours. On arrivalyou will set sail on a leisurely cruise, taking in the scenic beauty of Ha Long Bay.

Lunch is included during your cruise.

During the cruise, you will visit some of the caves and grottos of the spectacular limestone islands and take the opportunity to sit back and enjoy the serene blue waters and towering rock formations of the bay. It’s no wonder that this location has been used as a setting for many movies.

At Leisure

 Evening

After disembarkation from your cruise, you set off on the drive to your hotel in Ha Long Bay and check in for the night. Relax and unwind after your magical voyage and enjoy dinner (included) at your hotel tonight.

Day 5 – Fly from Hanoi to Danang Transfer to Hoi An

Arrive Danang Airport and Transfer to Hoi An

 Morning

After breakfast you will take a drive of approximately two and a half hours to Hanoi Airport for your flight to Da Nang in central Vietnam. There will be a stop along the way for lunch (included).

On arrival at Da Nang airport you will transfer by coach to your hotel in Hoi An, your base for the next three nights, with a journey time of approximately forty-five minutes. After check in, you can enjoy dinner at your hotel (included), relax after your journey and look forward to discovering Hoi An and its surroundings.

Please note your internal flight times for Hanoi to Danang and Hue to Saigon (Ho Chi Min) will be advised locally and tickets will be given locally for your flights.

Day 6 – Fall in Love with Hoi An Ancient Old Town

Take in the Beauty of Hoi An on a Guided Walking Tour

 Morning

Let’s explore more! Today you will set off on a morning boat tour on the Thu Bon River, where you will be able to witness the fascinating daily activities of the local people who live along its banks.

In the afternoon, continue your sightseeing with a guided walking tour of Hoi An, where there will be an opportunity to see the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge.

At Leisure in Hoi An

 Afternoon

Time to see more, at our own pace!  The rest of your afternoon will be at leisure to explore this fascinating and beautiful town or relax at the beach.

Hoi An is a perfect place for the keen photographer, with colourful buildings, rice paddy fields, markets and interesting people among the subjects to capture as holiday memories. Opening hours permitting, a visit to the Precious Heritage Art Gallery Museum is recommended, to view stunning images of some of Vietnam’s ethnic tribes people dressed in splendid traditional costume.

For coffee connoisseurs this will be the perfect opportunity to try an egg coffee, or a Cafe Sua Da (iced coffee) Vietnamese-style. Vietnam is famous for its coffee and it is simply delicious!

Day 7 – Savour a Cooking Class and Guided Tour of Hoi An

Discover Hoi An on a Guided Tour

 Morning

After breakfast, embark on a guided excursion into the Hoi An countryside, where you will visit a typical village and see the farmers working their fields and gardens and gain an insight into their daily life.

Savour a Vietnamese Cooking Class

 Afternoon

After your farm tour, join a hands-on cookery class for your lunch, to learn about traditional Vietnamese cooking methods and recipes. Your cookery class experience will include a talk on the art of Vietnamese gastronomy, vegetables, herbs, spices and how to use them. After the lesson, you can enjoy the meal we have skilfully prepared!

Day 8 – Travel to Hue & Perfume River Cruise

Transfer to Hue

 Morning

After breakfast, you will set off from Hoi An to Hue. The drive will take approximately four hours, with a stop for lunch (included) along the way. On arrival in Hue, join our expert guide and discover Hue on a city tour, visiting the walled fortress of the Imperial Citadel and the 19th century Tomb of Tu Duc.

Perfume River Cruise

 Evening

You will finish your day with a cruise along the Perfume River (named because falling orchids gave the water a pleasant scent) to Thiên Mu Pagoda, followed by dinner at a local restaurant.

After dinner, you will transfer to your hotel in Hue for an overnight stay.

Day 9 – Fly from Hue to Ho Chi Minh (Saigon)

Ho Chi Min at Leisure

 Full Day

Today, you will transfer to Hue Airport for a flight to Ho Chi Min City (Saigon) where you will spend the next four nights. After checking in at your hotel there will be some time at leisure to settle in and get to know your surroundings. Dinner is included tonight at a local restaurant.

Day 10 – Experience Ho Chi Minh Highlights

Saigon Guided Excursion

 Morning

Today you will begin to uncover the wonders of Ho Chi Min City (Saigon). First stop on this morning’s guided tour is at Reunification Palace (formerly Presidential Palace) an important historical landmark. After that, you will take a short walk to the Notre Dame Cathedral, past the French Colonial Post Office and other prominent buildings. Your final stop this morning will be at the Jade Emperor Pagoda, before enjoying a light lunch at a local restaurant (included).

Explore Temples and Markets

 Afternoon

After lunch, you will continue your excursion, moving on to Cholon, Ho Chi Minh City’s largest Chinatown. Here you will uncover historic and cultural treasures including Cha Tam Church, Thien Hau Temple and the authentic Binh Tay market. The tour ends with a visit to a small Cao Dai Temple. The rest of the evening will be at leisure, to relax after a memorable day of sightseeing in Ho Chi Min City.

Day 11 – Uncover the Cu Chi Tunnels

Explore The Cu Chi Tunnels

 Full Day

Today you will embark on an excursion to discover the Chu Chi network of underground tunnels. These tunnels were the location of many of the Viet Cong’s military campaigns during the Vietnam War (or American War, as it is called in Vietnam). The tunnels were used as hiding places during combat; also serving as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food storage and living quarters for the Vietnamese fighters. 

For those preferring to remain above ground, there is ample opportunity to view excavated areas from above. The more daring among us can enter some of the tunnels with our guide. As this requires crawling along on hands and knees in the darkness of the tunnel, it is certainly not for the faint hearted!

Lunch is included today.

At Leisure

 Evening

Returning from your excursion to the Cu Chi tunnels, enjoy an evening at leisure and perhaps dine out in one of the city’s many restaurants. Our expert guide will be happy to offer suggestions and recommendations.

Day 12 – At Leisure in Ho Chi Minh City

Free Time in Ho Chi Minh City

 Full Day

Enjoy a day at leisure in Ho Chi Minh City, for independent exploration.

Those who are interested in the history of the Vietnam war might visit the War Remnants Museum, to view exhibits that include fighter aircraft, helicopters, tanks, plus many graphic photos – a stark reminder of Vietnam’s history not so long ago.

Parks in the city provide an enjoyable space for a stroll and a glimpse of local life, for example, city dwellers playing dá ca, a form of foot badminton. Now is also the perfect time for shopping!

Our knowledgeable guide will be happy to suggest free time activities to suit your interests.

Day 13 – Transfer to Mekong Delta – Can Thou

Guided Excursion of The Mekong Delta

 Morning

Today you will bid farewell to Ho Chi Min City and set off on a full day guided excursion to Cai Be, known for its large floating markets. Your journey will take around two hours. On arrival,  you will take a cruise on the mighty Mekong Delta, in a motorised sampan boat. You will have the opportunity to sample some local seasonal fruit during lunch (included) at a local farmer’s home, before continuing your leisurely cruise to Vinh Long. After the cruise, you will transfer to Can Tho and check into your hotel for an overnight stay.

Free Time in Can Tho

 Evening

Enjoy some time at leisure in Can Tho and join your fellow travellers for dinner at your hotel (included).

Day 14 – See More at Cai Rang Market & Return Home

Visit Cai Rang Market & Khmer Temple

 Morning

This morning, let’s uncover more of Vietnam during one last cruise. You will visit the bustling market town of Cai Rang and enjoy a Sampan ride through its colourful floating market, with hawkers jostling for space to sell their wares, including everything from exotic fruit and vegetables to sunglasses. Then you will travel deeper into the Delta area, to see one of its most spectacular temples, the Khmer monastery of Kh'leng. This temple is inhabited by a group of young Buddhist monks and it is also a learning centre for members of the Khmer race that have remained there for centuries. The monks study English and Vietnamese and are keen to talk to foreign visitors.

At Leisure

 Afternoon

You will have some free time this afternoon, before your transfer to Ho Chi Min City Airport and check in for your homeward flights. A light meal on the way to the airport is included.

Departing Vietnam, you will reflect on a treasure trove of memorable moments from your Highlights of Vietnam tour.

Day 15 – Arrive Home

The price for this travel package is from €3,229 per person sharing.

The single supplement is €799.

A non-refundable deposit of €750 per person is due at time of booking, plus any optional supplements. The balance is due 12 weeks prior to travel. 

What's Included:

• International return flights from Dublin to Vietnam with a luggae allowance

• All internal flights within Vietnam (Hanoi to Da Nang and Hue to Ho Chi Minh City)

• Airport transfers in Vietnam with guide assistance

• 14 nights' accommodation in carefully selected hotels

• Meals:

  • Daily breakfast

  • Selected lunches and dinners as outlined in the itinerary (including set menus and local cuisine experiences)

• All transportation for scheduled sightseeing and transfers

• Professional English-speaking local guides

• Sightseeing & experiences including:

  • Water Puppet Show with cyclo transfer in Hanoi

  • Full-day guided city tours in Hanoi, Hue, and Ho Chi Minh City

  • Ha Long Bay cruise including lunch and visits to limestone caves

  • Boat cruise on the Thu B?n River and Perfume River

  • Walking tour of Hoi An and visit to Japanese Covered Bridge

  • Cooking class and countryside tour in Hoi An

  • Cu Chi Tunnels excursion

  • Guided Mekong Delta and floating market cruise

  • Visit to Cai Rang Market and Khmer Temple

• Entry fees for all sites mentioned in the itinerary

• Expert tips and recommendations from local guides

• 24-hour assistance from local representatives during the tour

What's not Included:

• Travel insurance – this is a mandatory condition of the booking.

• Visas are required for travel on this tour. 

• Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and hotel staff (at your discretion).