The Real Vietnam

Overview

Embark on "The Real Vietnam" tour and immerse yourself in the true essence of Vietnam. Begin your journey in Hanoi, exploring its rich history and culture with visits to key landmarks like the Temple of Literature and the ancient Old Quarter. Experience the breathtaking beauty of Halong Bay on an overnight cruise, followed by a visit to the tranquil Perfume Pagoda. Discover Hue’s historical significance with a tour of the Citadel and Thien Mu Pagoda. Traverse the scenic landscapes from Da Nang to Hoi An, enjoying the vibrant market and traditional coconut village experiences. In Saigon, uncover the historic Cu Chi Tunnels and the bustling city life, capped off with an in-depth Mekong Delta exploration, including floating markets and lush forests. This tour offers a comprehensive look at Vietnam’s diverse culture, history, and natural beauty.

Trip code: HER0005VN15D

Destination: Vietnam

Itinerary

Arrive in Hanoi - Noi Bai International Airport. You will be met at the airport by your English-speaking guide and transferred to your hotel in downtown Hanoi.

Arrive in Hanoi - Noi Bai International Airport.

You will be met at the airport by your English-speaking guide and transferred to your hotel in downtown Hanoi. Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is a beautiful city of lakes, shaded boulevards, and verdant public parks.

14h: Go to the hotel for check-in.

In the afternoon, we will visit:

- The historical Temple of Literature, the first university of Vietnam, was built in 1070 in honor of Confucius.

- Visit Quan Thanh temple and Tran Quoc pagoda.

- Then visit Hoan Kiem Lake (The Restored Sword Lake) and the Ngoc Son Temple, which is on an island in the northern part of the lake.

We will enjoy a Cyclo tour along the narrow streets of the Old Quarter of Hanoi. End of the day to attend a traditional Water Puppet show.

Overnigt

After breakfast, you will transfer back to Ha Noi. Explore the beauty of the ancient village of Duong Lam - Son Tay, Ha Noi. The village attracts visitors because of its ancient houses and the architectural features of a typical old Vietnamese village with banyan trees and a wharf on the river.

Transfer to a hotel in downtown Ha Noi.

Overnight in Hanoi

08:00 am Guide and driver will pick you up at the hotel for transfer to Perfume (Huong) Pagoda. An interesting drive through the rich farming land of the Red River Delta to Perfume Pagoda, which is in fact not just one pagoda but many shrines and sanctuaries built into a limestone hillside. On arrival, you will enjoy a boat excursion through a peaceful rural landscape of flooded rice fields and a one-way cable car up to Huong Son Mountain for an exploration of the pagoda complex. Walking down after the visit. 17h00: The trip ends after arrival back in Ha Noi.

Distance Hanoi Central – Huong Pagoda: 60 km <=> 1-hour 30-minute transfer

Overnight in Hanoi

After breakfast, drive to Halong Bay (3 hours), a UNESCO World Heritage site. Whoever comes to Vietnam should not miss the chance to visit Halong Bay, a picturesque blend of harmonious transition between the mountains and the sea.

The program will be changed depending on which cruise choosing.

Halong Bay is in the Bac Bo (Tonkin) Gulf and stretches over an area of 1,500 km2 with three thousand green islands that look like jewels. Upon arrival at the harbor, we will embark on a junk. We will enjoy a fresh seafood lunch on the boat while experiencing the majestic beauty of Halong Bay. The Junk is a wooden sailboat designed in a traditional Vietnamese style while offering a full range of modern amenities.

Visit the fascinating Dau Go Cave called “The Cave of Marvels” and Thien Cung Cave, the “Heavenly Palace Cave” surrounded by spectacular stalactites and stalagmites.

After dinner, enjoy fishing with local fishermen. The reflection of the limestone outcrops, the sight of fishing boats lit up in the darkness; enjoy these precious moments in one of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world.

Overnight on board the junk.

Morning alarm to practice Tai Chi and admire the sunrise. Coffee and biscuits on the junk. Continuation of the cruise to visit the caves and brunch on board before landing. Return by car to Ha Noi with a stop on the way to visit the pagoda of But Thap, one of the most beautiful pagodas in Vietnam. Upon arrival in Hanoi, check in the hotel.

Hanoi departure. Free time at leisure for last-minute shopping before transferring to the airport for departure by plane to Huè, the ancient capital of the Nguyen dynasty. Free lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Thien Mu Pagoda situated on a hill near the river and the Citadel consisting of the Royal Fortress and the Forbidden City. The Citadel was partially destroyed by the Americans in 1968 during the Vietnam War. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Hue.
Overnight in Hue.

After breakfast

Transfer by car to Hoi An, crossing Cloud Hill, with the possibility of making a stop to take photographs. Upon arrival in Da Nang, visit the Museum of Cham Sculpture. The afternoon is reserved for visiting the ancient city of Hoi An: the Hoi An market, the ancient house of Tan Ky, the Chinese Phuc Kien Temple, the Japanese covered bridge, the silk workshop, and free time for purchases. Overnight in Hoi An.

08:00 Depart from your hotel

Spend a leisurely day cycling through the scenic and peaceful countryside of Vietnam, far away from the noise of the city. After passing through the town, you will cycle amongst villages of rice fields on quiet roads, ending up in Van Lang fisherman village and Bay Mau water coconut forest - 7 hectares of mangrove forest, canals, and houses covered in water coconut leaf. This place played refuge to people and local soldiers during the Vietnam War, but nowadays it is famous for its abundance of seafood.

9:30 On our journey to the village we will stop at Ba Le market, rice fields, cemeteries, and schools...

10:00 In the village you will be warmly welcomed with a green tea by Mr.Han and his family, the third generation of his family to live there. There you will have free time to stroll through the village, before rowing a basket boat with the locals, learning their traditional fishing techniques in the water coconut forest.

11:00 After returning to Mr.Han and his family, you will enjoy a traditional therapeutic foot bath with medicinal herbs, before preparing lunch with a local family. Lunch will feature many local dishes, such as Tam Huu spring rolls, Banh Xeo local pancakes, and grilled fish in banana leaf, among many other Vietnamese delicacies.

13:30 After lunch you will have free time to take a short rest and enjoy the calm of this relaxing region. Then we return to your hotel at 14h00.

Overnight in Hoi An

Breakfast at the hotel.

Check out, and transfer to Danang to visit Ba Na Hill.

25 km to the southwest of Da Nang at an altitude of 1,487m, Ba Na Hills are considered “One temperate place in the tropical forest” because the climate is cool all year round and you can enjoy four seasons within a single day.

Ba Na cable cars hold two Guinness World Records: the world’s longest single cable car system (5,042.62 m long) and the world's highest gap between its departure and arrival station (1,291.81 m high). Bana is still being invested in and expanded to offer tourists more attractive options. Sports leisure centers, food, and cultural exhibition are being designed. Eco-tourism destinations, nature exploitation, and other new-fangled ideas about the hidden mountain and forest areas are continuously taking shape. All of these features promise a changeable, unheard-of, and unique space, beckoning near and far tourists to come and fly up with Ba Na.

You can visit:

Golden Bridge

The image of a yellow bridge supported by giant hands only appeared on social networks not long ago but immediately attracted the community.

Located in the middle of the mountain, the bridge is designed to look soft and charming, with the entire bridge covered with a magnificent yellow. From a distance, the bridge is like a silk strip floating in white clouds. What makes the bridge more special is the large supporting hand.

Standing on the bridge, a majestic natural landscape will appear in front of you with white clouds and mountains.

After finishing Bana Hill, transfer directly to the airport for a short flight to Saigon.

Arrive in Saigon Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

You will be met at the airport by your English-speaking guide and transferred to your hotel in downtown Saigon.

Check-in at the hotel. Free at leisure

Overnight in Saigon.

08:00 am. Morning departure to the small town of Cu Chi, located 35 km from Saigon (1h30), an incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the long struggle for independence.

Visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels Network which became legendary during the 1960s for its role in facilitating Viet Cong control of a large rural area. At its height, the tunnel system stretched from the South Vietnamese capital to the Cambodian border; in the district of Cu Chi alone, there were over 250 km of tunnels. The network, parts of which were several stories deep, included innumerable trapdoors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers, and kitchens. The tunnels of Cu Chi were built over a period of 25 years beginning in the late 1940s.

Return to Saigon for Saigon city tour.

Visit: Reunification Palace and Ben Thanh Market.

Visit Notre Dame Cathedral (1877-1883) right on the square and the beautiful French-style Post Office (1886-1891), with its glass canopy and iron structure designed by Gustave Eiffel.

Then, visit the famous War Remnant Museum, with armored vehicles, artillery pieces, bombs, and infantry weapons displayed both outside and inside.

Overnight in Saigon.

Ho Chi Minh Central – Cu Chi: 50 km => 1-hour 20-minute transfer

After breakfast, we depart to Cai Be. Upon arrival at Cai Be, embark on a private boat to cruise around Cai Be Floating Market to see local people selling, buying, and exchanging goods from their boats. Visit a local garden and house to see orchards, rice crisped-producing process, etc... After lunch cruise along the river to see the peaceful tranquil life of villagers, and admire the marvelous natural setting of the Mekong Delta region. At about 3 pm, the boat will arrive at Vinh Long Market; walk around to explore Vinh Long Market then transfer to Can Tho

Overnight in Can Tho

Early in the morning, we will take the ship to participate in Cai Rang's extraordinary floating market. An incredible concentration of merchant boats that exchange various products from the delta.
Then, we will go to lush orchards, where we will have the opportunity to taste fresh tropical fruit harvested on the spot. After lunch, we will take the road to Chau Doc. Visit the floating Cham country, a Hindu population that has preserved its ancestral lifestyle. Night at the hotel. Overnight at Chau Doc.

After breakfast we will visit the Tram Chim National Park and the Tra Su Indigo Forest where you can enjoy the landscape.

This is the most beautiful and famous forest in Vietnam that was set a record on 09/01/2020, Tra Su forest has a large natural habitat of the Mekong Delta because of its rich flora and fauna and diverse aquatic resources with more than 150 species of plants, medicinal herbs and more than 140 other species of wild animals and rare animals.

Before transfer back to Saigon. We visit the Sam Mountain.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh

Hochiminh departure. Free time at leisure for last-minute shopping before transferring to the airport for departure home

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Reviews

"The Real Vietnam tour exceeded our expectations! From the bustling streets of Hanoi to the serene beauty of Halong Bay, every moment was a new adventure. The highlight for us was the Mekong Delta experience—seeing the floating markets and lush landscapes up close was unforgettable. The guides were fantastic, and the mix of historical sites, cultural experiences, and natural wonders made this tour truly special. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to truly experience Vietnam!"

Inclusions

Accommodation in the category chosen or similar (subject to availability) based on double/twin sharing with daily breakfast.
Meals as mentioned in the program. B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner.
All local boat rentals and cycling as mentioned in the program. Cruise on private OR Seat in coach (SIC) junk in Ha Long bay. 02 days/ 1 night cruise on private or Seat in coach (SIC) Bassac board in Mekong delta. Seat in coach (SIC) speedboat from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh.
Transfer from and to the airports by private vehicle with A/C. Transportation by private vehicle with A/C.
Superior train Hanoi – Lao Cai and Lao Cai – Hanoi. Air-conditioned cabin with soft sleeper berths (04pax/ cabin).
All entrance fees and sightseeing as mentioned in the program. Mineral Water (01 bottle/pax/day)
Local OR National English speaking guide(s) in Vietnam.
01 FOC in ½ Twin room for group of 16pax onward (excluding internal airfares and visas). Maximum 02 FOC per group.

Exclusions

Late check out or Early check in
International flight/ Domestic flight tickets and airport taxes.
All internal/ regional flight tickets in economy class with/without departure tax (? USD/Pax).
Visa fee upon arrival in Vietnam (25 USD for one 1 month or 3 month single entry visa). (Vietnam visa authorization letter (5 USD/ pax). Visa fee upon arrival in Cambodia (30 USD/ pax). Lao visa fee (40 USD/ pax).
Tips & personal expenses. Personal insurance. Any service not clearly mentioned in the program.

Accommodation

3* First Class : 3-Star Hotel

4* Superior : 4-Star Hotel

5* Deluxe : 5-Star Hotel

The Real Vietnam

Photos

Overview

Itinerary

Reviews

Inclusions

Exclusions

Accommodation

Important Info

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Sign in

The Real Vietnam

Photos

Overview

Itinerary

Reviews

Inclusions

Exclusions

Accommodation

Important Info

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