Highlights Of Vietnam

Welcome to Vietnam! Arrive and check into the hotel. If time allows, why not take the opportunity to start exploring? The capital city’s streets are lined with markets, coffee shops and unique attractions. Top sights to see include the Temple of Literature, the National Museum of Vietnamese History and Hoan Kiem Lake. Alternatively, simply wander the bustling streets and discover some hidden gems. Later, meet your fellow travellers and tour leader at the hotel - the tour is officially underway!

Good morning, Vietnam! After breakfast, embark on a full-day sightseeing tour of Hanoi. Start with a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Complex, the resting place of Ho Chi Minh, known as the father of modern-day Vietnam. Discover the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, Presidential Palace and the unusual Stilt House. The next stop is the Temple of Literature. Constructed in 1070 in honour of Confucius, it served as the country's first university. Then it's onto the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. Here, gain perspective on the lifestyles and customs of the 54 official ethnic groups that call Vietnam home. The scenic Hoan Kiem Lake and the island-bound Ngoc Son Temple will be the last stop for the day.

Visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex: The Ho Chi Minh complex is an important place of pilgrimage. Roam through the house and presidential palace of Ho Chi-Minh, the president of North Vietnam from 1954 to 1969. The complex includes beautiful botanical gardens and his original Stilt House. Catch a glimpse of the erstwhile president himself in his resting place, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

See the One Pillar Pagoda: A pagoda is a tiered tower that acts as a Hindu or Buddhist temple. The Buddhist One Pillar Pagoda is considered one of the most unique landmarks in Vietnam. Built to resemble a lotus flower, the temple stands on a single 4m-high pillar.

Visit the Temple of Literature: Built in 1070 as the temple of Chinese teacher and philosopher, Confucius, the Temple of Literature is listed as one of the 23 national monuments of Vietnam and also depicted on the 100,000 Vietnamese dong note.

Explore the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology: The museum exhibits objects, movies and cultural objects signifying the 54 official ethnic groups in Vietnam.

Visit Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple: Hoan Kiem Lake means ‘Lake of the Restored Sword’, so named after the legend of a tortoise using a sword to drive the Chinese from Vietnam and then returning the sword back to the lake. Found on an island in the lake is the Ngoc Son Temple, meaning ‘Temple of the Jade Mountain’.

Embark on a cruise to Ha Long Bay this morning! This UNESCO World Heritage area is a true highlight of Vietnam tours. Enjoy a traditional lunch on board while cruising through the beautiful canals. The first stop is Sung Sot Cave, famous for being illuminated by bright lights. Enjoy happy hour at sunset on board and learn more about Vietnamese cuisine during a live cooking demonstration! Dinner is served aboard the ship, after which there will be free time to relax on the top deck, try your hand at squid fishing or watch an Indochina movie before turning in for the night. 

Please note: Cruise itineraries and schedules are subject to change without pre-notice depending on the weather and operating conditions.

Cruise Ha Long Bay overnight: This unique bay and all its towering islands have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Ha Long Bay is one of the most visited places in Vietnam. It’s also known as the ‘Descending Dragon Bay’. Spend the night onboard a ship and marvel at the majestic scenery all around.

Explore Sung Sot Cave: This cave was first discovered in 1901 by the French who named it ‘Grotte des Surprises’ because of the cave’s surprising beauty. The cave is divided into two caverns and bright lights illuminate the different formations.

Enjoy a Vietnamese cooking demonstration: On board the cruise, seafood is prepared in a traditional Vietnamese style right before your eyes. Learn more about Vietnamese cuisine and look forward to tasting some delicious local food.

Go night-time squid-fishing (onboard): Get to know the local cultures and customs as you partake in night-time squid fishing.

Watch an Indochina movie (onboard): Sit back and relax as you enjoy a movie about Ha Long Bay and its history.

Wake up to gorgeous views all around on the Ha Long Bay cruise. Start the day with a Tai Chi lesson on the sundeck. Known for its many health benefits, Tai Chi is an ancient martial art that is sure to have you feeling relaxed and refreshed. After breakfast, hop onto a bamboo boat with a local guide and explore Luon Cave. Prepare to get up close with some of Ha Long Bay’s most beautiful scenery! Enjoy lunch on board before travelling back to Hanoi. Arrive and catch a flight to Hue.

Take a Tai Chi lesson: Enjoy panoramic views and a glorious sunrise as you take part in a Tai Chi lesson on the boat’s sundeck. 

Tour Luon Cave: A local guide will transport the group to Luon Cave via bamboo boat - the last bit of exploring in Ha Long Bay! The 60m arch of the cave only rises 4-6m above the water level (depending on the tide). So, the only way to enter the cave is by kayak or small boat.

Get ready for a full day city tour of Hue! This imperial city served as the centre of politics, culture and religion of unified Vietnam up until 1945. The famous 80 km-long Perfume River winds its way through the city centre. Cruise this iconic river on a traditional dragon boat and see the city's main sights from the water! Stop and visit the well-preserved religious sight of Thien Mu Pagoda as well as the Imperial Citadel and the Royal Mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc. The rest of the day is free to explore Dong Ba Market at your leisure. This is the perfect time to try some regional cuisine and shop for souvenirs!

Cruise the Perfume River on a Dragon boat: Hop onto a colourful, traditional dragon boat to float down the Perfume River. The river was given its name many years ago because of the scent carried along from flowers that dropped into the water upriver.  

Visit Thien Mu Pagoda: Thien Mu, meaning ‘Heavenly Lady’, was originally built in the 1600s, but the current 7-tiered tower was completed in the mid-1800s. 

Visit the ancient Imperial Citadel: Hue is often referred to as “Vietnam’s Imperial City” because it was home to the last of its dynasties. The Nguyen Dynasty ruled from this citadel, as did many others before. 

Visit Royal Mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc: One of the must-see sights in Hue is Emperor Tu Duc’s Mausoleum. The tomb was built while the emperor was alive and he lived out his last days in this lavish setting. 

Free time in Dong Ba Market: Chong Dong Ba is the oldest market in Hue. Here, you’ll find hundreds of stalls selling anything from fresh food to household items and clothing.

Hop aboard the coach for a scenic drive along the coast from Hue to Hoi An. Stop along the way to drink in the beauty of the Marble Mountains topped with striking pagodas on each summit. Arrive in Hoi An in the afternoon and enjoy free time to explore this lovely coastal city at your leisure. Wander around the charming ancient town or relax in one of the many coffee shops or restaurants and watch as local life goes by. Hoi An is also well-known for its tailors and boutique stores.

Scenic drive from Hue to Hoi An: Glimpse the beauty of Vietnam’s coast. See how the locals live and take in all the beautiful scenery.

Discover the Marble Mountains: These five stunning limestone hills are known as Ngu Hanh Son in Vietnamese. Each mountain represents one of the five elements - Tho Son (Earth), Thuy Son (Water), Moc Son (Wood), Kim Son (Metal or Gold) and Hoa Son (Fire).

Today, look forward to a tour of Hoi An’s ancient town which boasts many historic sites. Encounter the Japanese Covered Bridge Pagoda. Constructed in the late-1500s, this is a true icon of the city. Visit the Sa Huynh Culture Museum to learn more about the innovative civilization that established the port. See the Tran Family ancestral worship chapel and admire its unique 19th-century architecture which blends the Chinese and Japanese styles popular at the time. Learn about lantern-making at a workshop and visit Phuoc Kien Assembly Hall, which honours the Goddess of the Sea. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore even more!

See the Japanese Covered Bridge Pagoda: Built in 1593, this bridge connected the Japanese community to the Chinese community across the stream. While the French flattened the arches for vehicle access, they have since been restored.

Visit the Sa Huynh Culture Museum: Explore the beautiful exhibits of artefacts from the Sa Huynh civilization, which flourished 2,000 years ago. They founded the Hoi An trading port, which allowed for trade with merchants from Southeast Asia, South India and China.

See the Tran Family Chapel: Dating back to 1802, the chapel was built for worshipping the Tran family’s ancestors. The unique architecture contains features from both Chinese (the ‘turtle’ style roof) and Japanese (the triple beam) cultures.

Enjoy a traditional lantern workshop: Visit a lantern workshop and see skilled craftspeople creating these delicate keepsakes from bamboo and silk.   

See the Phuoc Kien Assembly Hall Pagoda: The pagoda was built in 1690 and used by the largest Chinese ethnic group in Hoi An (the Fujian). Today, the temple is still used as a place of worship by the people of Phuoc Kien.

After breakfast, enjoy a free morning to visit the beach or do the last bit of wandering around Hoi An before heading to Da Nang Airport. Board a flight to Can Tho, in the Mekong Delta region. The city is home to vast canal networks and floating markets. This afternoon is free to explore Can Tho at your own pace. A visit to the iconic Binh Thuy Ancient House is highly recommended. The century-old home features in many films set in Vietnam and boasts some marvellous architectural idiosyncrasies.

Visit Binh Thuy Ancient House: This structure is about as iconic as it gets. If you've seen a film about Vietnam, chances are you've glimpsed it somewhere in the background. It was originally constructed in the 1870s but also received some extensive refurbishment in the 1900s.

This morning, head to the Ninh Kieu boat station. Cruise along the busy Can Tho waterway to the Cai Rang floating market. This is the ideal place to shop for keepsakes and get some excellent photos. Watch as locals shop for local produce including fish, fresh vegetables and even coffee! Back on land, explore the lively An Binh indoor market. Then, enjoy a walking tour of the Rau Ram canal and visit a rice noodle workshop to see how this staple is made. Afterwards, visit a Ba Cong tropical fruit garden where a local family will teach the group about cultivation methods. Finally, hop back on the coach and travel towards Ho Chi Minh for the night.

Cruise through Cai Rang Floating Market: Enjoy the unique experience of shopping for fresh produce and local foods from a traditional floating store! Head up to the sun deck of one of the traders and capture a picture of the bustling market below.

Visit An Binh Market: Watch as local farmers bring their fresh produce, meat and merchandise to trade at the indoor market. Experience the difference between the floating market and the bustling indoor market.

Explore Rau Ram canal on a walking tour: Experience the activities of local life while wandering through the local village. Capture the moment as people use traditional methods in their daily lives.  

Enjoy a rice noodle workshop: Watch a demonstration at a rice processing factory. Learn how to make rice noodles and taste this Vietnamese staple food.

Visit Ba Cong tropical fruit garden: Sample some of the delicious fruits as you learn how to garden with a local family.

The Vietnam/American War was largely significant for shaping Vietnam as it is known today. Learn more about the tumultuous war of Ho Chi Minh (formerly Saigon) and pay homage to Vietnamese history by visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels. These narrow tunnels acted as the refuge of guerilla fighters during the war. Then, it's time to explore Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City on a city tour. Discover top sights including the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Post Office and the Presidential Palace. Later, wander the Ben Thanh Market and seek out souvenirs as dusk descends. This is a popular place to pick áo dài, a traditional Vietnamese silk tunic worn at the start of the New Year.

Explore the Cu Chi Tunnels: Visit the 200 km-long network of tunnels used by the Viet Cong during the war. Crawl through the small and dark tunnels and experience what life must’ve been like during the war for the guerilla fighters.

See the Notre Dame Cathedral: This 60m-high cathedral is a symbol of the French and Christian influence on Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City. The cathedral was built in the late 19th century by French colonists.

See the Presidential Palace: Also known as the Reunification Palace, it’s one of the most important historical buildings in Vietnam. It was here where the South Vietnamese government lost power after the National Liberation Front tanks crashed through the gates.  

Visit the Ben Thanh Market: This is the best place to see where the locals buy their clothes and trinkets, and also happens to be a great spot to shop for some of your own.

This adventure-packed Vietnamese tour comes to an end after breakfast this morning. Exchange contact details with your fellow travellers and enjoy this last day in Ho Chi Minh City before heading to the airport to catch your flight. Expat Explore wishes you a safe journey onwards!