Cultural Varieties of Vietnam 13nights/14 days

You will be welcomed at the Airport by a Vietnam Travel Centre representative and transferred to your hotel where you can check in and unwind on arrival. Vietnam’s second largest city, Hanoi is a fascinating blend of the West and the East combining traditional Vietnamese motifs with French flair. It remained largely unscathed by the decades of war and is now a rapidly developing city and a wonderful place to start your Vietnam tour. Spend your first day in Vietnam at leisure. Overnight in Hanoi.

Embark on a city tour of Hanoi this morning. Begin your day by visiting the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum where President Ho Chi Minh read the manifesto in 1945. The next stop is the Temple of Literature, possibly Vietnam’s oldest and finest University. Founded in 1070, in honour of the Chinese philosopher Confucious, the temple of literature served as a centre for higher learning which educated future mandarins for seven centuries to come. Enjoy a traditional music performance at the Temple of literature. After your morning excursions, enjoy an authentic Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant where you can taste the authentic Hanoi Pho (noodle soup). In the afternoon, you will cross the Red river to the Dong Ho village and visit some families who have been practicing traditional wood-engraving painting for generations. Our next stop will be the Bat Trang pottery village. You will be able to stroll down the small alleys of this old village to watch local people at work on their products. Visit some of the houses used as workshops and showrooms. Join in the local crafts and make your own products – a lovely souvenir to take home. Overnight in Hanoi.

This morning, after breakfast you will leave Hanoi for Ninh Binh which is an ideal base from which to explore the southern part of the Red River Delta. After a 2.5 hour drive through picturesque countryside, you will arrive at the historic site of Hoa Lu which was the Royal capital of Vietnam in 968 AD. In Hoa Lu you can explore the famous ancient temples of the Le and Dinh dynasties. Here you will explore temples dedicated to King Dinh and King Le, the founders of the capital in the 10th century. You will then head for the village of Tam Coc to book into your hotel for the night. Overnight in Tam Coc

After breakfast we all head out on bicycles to explore the village of Van Lam . Don't worry, if you are not a cyclist, we can make alternative arrangements for you. As well as being an interesting old village in terms of culture and historical traditions, Van Lam Village is the centre for traditional embroidery. The craft dates back to the 13th Century to the Tran Dynasty. At the gate of the village there is an ancient temple dedicated to the founder of the craft. After lunch, we go to the river to board a small rowing boat propelled by a local lady. You travel down the river that demonstrates why this area is known as 'Ha Long Bay on land' with the limestone Karsts evident in the river itself as well as in the surrounding rice paddies. Ovenight in Tam Coc

Depart for Halong Bay this morning. The four hour drive to the bay passes through Vietnamese countryside and lush rice paddy fields. Arriving at the port around noon, you will be met by the boat’s crew who will welcome you with a drink and offer you a cruise briefing. Embark on your cruise along the fascinating bay that features thousands of limestone karts and isles in various sizes and shapes. Savour a fresh, local seafood lunch while cruising on to Bai Tu Long Bay. Stop in between for a swim, visit the mysterious Thien Canh cave and relax on a secluded beach. You will also get the opportunity to kayak and explore the bay up close. Return to the boat to enjoy a relaxing sunset and more culinary delights that your chef prepares for you. Overnight on board.

Early risers can enjoy the sunrise and the quiet breath-taking beauty of the karst landscape. Enjoy breakfast in the fresh morning air of the bay and then visit the Vong Vieng fishing village on a rustic row-boat. This hundred year old village is set in the most tranquil settings and you will be awe inspired by the simple ways of the villagers. Meet the locals, visit a floating school and discover how oysters are farmed here. Later you can go for a swim in the middle of the bay. Enjoy lunch on the boat as we slowly cruise back to port. On arrival back at the Port, transfer back to Ha Noi Airport to connect with your flight to Hue. Overnight In Hue.

Hue was the home of the Emperors of Vietnam until the end of the French domination of the country in 1954. Although the last Emperor was very much a figure head and puppet of the French, pre French domination, the dynasty ruled the country with the Royal family and entourage living in the Citadel behind high walls and closed doors.Today you will take a boat trip down the lovely Perfume River on one of the Dragon Boats. The tour will take you to a number of Royal Temples and Tombs (Tu Doc Royal and Khai Dinh) and the Thien Mu Buddhist Monastery. The sites were all designed to show the splendour and glory of days when Hue was a very important town in Vietnam.The boat ride itself offers a time to relax and enjoy the countryside as it passes by at a slow pace.In the afternoon a tour of the Citadel is planned. This is a walled city within the city of Hue where the last Emperor of Vietnam lived with his family and entourage in splendid isolation from the 'real' world. It was sadly badly damaged during the war with America but some very sensitive re construction brings more of the buildings back to life. Where this has not happened, it is interested to walk around the extensive land where you will come across parts of buildings or gates that avoided the damage and show their previous glory in a more natural light. Overnight in Hue

After a leisurely breakfast, you will start the drive to Hoi An. This is a 4 hour drive with various stops to include Lang Co Beach, Hai Van Pass, Cham Museum, and the Marble Mountains.Hoi An was voted by Wanderlust readers as the favourite most city on earth, and not without reason. This historic city situated on the banks of the Thu Bon River is a fascinating mix of ancient town houses, bridges, food markets and lush paddy fields. Just on the edge of town are some lovely sandy beaches. It is also famous for its tailors who are adept at creating what you want from patterns or just photographs. Overnight in Hoi AnNote: This is the place that is famous for getting great tailor-made clothes at reasonable prices.

Travel to My Son this morning. Pronounced (Mee Son) My Son is the crowning glory of the once powerful Cham dynasty that ruled southern Vietnam. Similar to Angkor Wat, this amazing destination has exquisitely decorated Hindu temples set among verdant jungles, built between the fourth and thirteenth centuries. In the late 1960’s American bomber pilots destroyed large parts of the Cham ruins. Today only 25 of the 70 brick towered temples survive among the American bomb craters at the foot of an auspicious mountain. In 1999, UNESCO labelled the Cham architecture in My Son a World Cultural Heritage Site. Here you will have the opportunity to study the architecture of the Cham people. You can see a large complex of religious relics that comprises of more than 65 architectural works.. Return to your hotel in Hoi An in the afternoon. Evening at leisure. Overnight in Hoi An.

Spend your morning at leisure. In the afternoon you will be transferred to the Danang airport for your afternoon flight to Saigon. Overnight in Saigon

This morning, we have organised for you to visit the Cu Chi war tunnels which is a network of underground tunnels used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. The tunnels were the location of several military campaigns during the Vietnam War and besides being used as hiding spots, were also used as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon caches and living quarters for numerous North Vietnamese fighters. Experience what life was like for the guerillas by crawling through 50 meters of the 200 km long tunnel. Later this morning you will also have the opportunity to visit a rice paper workshop. In the afternoon, visit the Reunification Palace. Discover real Saigon through the eyes of a local. Visit the bustling ChoLon market, a hidden Chinese pagoda, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the historic Central Post Office, and the City Hall. Return to your hotel and spend your evening at leisure

You will leave Saigon at 8:00 am and head south to Cai Be. Upon arrival, board a boat for a journey through the Mekong's floating markets. Experience life on the river and watch trading between merchant ships and local farmers. Cruise through the secluded canals and cross the mighty Mekong to an island where you will stop to enjoy fresh seasonal fruits before taking a boat to Vinh Long. After this you will be transferred to Can Tho, the largest town in the Mekong Delta.

This morning take a boat trip to visit the Cai Rang floating markets and explore the region first by way of a cruise and then by a walk along quiet country roads taking in the magnificent scenery. Get up and close to the life of the locals here Later in the afternoon we will head back to Saigon and check into your hotel for an evening of relaxation. Overnight in Saigon.

Departure transfer to Saigon Airport for your return flight.