7-Nights Vietnam Essentials: Hanoi, Halong, Hoi An, and Saigon — CALL

Avanti Destinations

OFFER ID 1243750

Vietnam Essentials
Experience the highlights of Vietnam journeying from North to South. From the colonial charm of the capital Hanoi, and the sweeping vistas of Halong Bay of the north, to the quaint, UNESCO-listed Hoi An of the center, and onwards south to Ho Chi Minh City and the lush Mekong Delta, this comprehensive program offers an insightful look into this fascinating country.

Includes:

Private English-Speaking Guide
All Private Ground Transfers & Domestic Air
2 Nights Hanoi
Hanoi City Tour
Water Puppet Show
1 Night Halong Bay Cruise + Touring & All Meals
2 Nights Hoi An
My Son Tour
Hoi An City Tour
2 Nights Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City Tour
Cai Be Floating Market Tour + Vinh Long Boat Trip
Daily Breakfast

7 nights | Call for pricing

Itinerary

Click here for Full Itinerary Details

Itinerary Details

Avanti Destinations: Vietnam Essentials

Day 1 Arrive Hanoi
Arrival in Hanoi.

Transfer.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Centrally Located Hotel In Hanoi, ()

Day 2 Hanoi
Sightseeing in Hanoi
Although it is the modern-day capital of Vietnam, Hanoi still retains the mystery and charm of past centuries, with its narrow lanes and traditional shop houses. Begin with an exploration of the vast Ho Chi Minh Memorial Complex. Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum which contains the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh (closed Mondays, Fridays and during September and October); and Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House where Ho Chi Minh lived from 1958 until his final days in 1969. Preserved in the same condition as during his life, it may be viewed through the windows.

Continue to the miniature 11th century One Pillar Pagoda which was rebuilt after being destroyed by the French in 1954, and then to the Temple of Literature with its walled courtyards and graceful gateways. Founded in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius, this was also the site of Vietnam's first university. Afterwards head to the Museum of Ethnology (closed Mondays and during Vietnam New Year). This museum showcases art, traditional clothing and reconstructions of traditional longhouses from 54 different ethnic groups.

In the afternoon, visit Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple which contains an islet with the tiny Tortoise Pagoda. Along the way pass by other colonial landmarks such as the magnificent Opera House (may be seen from the outside only) and St Joseph's Cathedral.

See a Water Puppet Show, a fantastic art form originating in northern Vietnam, best seen in Hanoi.

Overnight in Hanoi

Centrally Located Hotel In Hanoi, (B)

Day 3 Hanoi to Halong Bay
By vehicle from Hanoi to Halong Bay

Transfer to Tuan Chau Marina Port

Cruise aboard the Paradise Luxury Cruise through Halong Bay

Arrive at Tuan Chau Island. Transfer to cruise ship. Welcome Drink - cruise briefing, safety instructions, check-in cabins. Depart to Halong Bay - cruise and program commence. Serve Vietnamese lunch while cruising through Hoa Cuong Fishing Village, Ti Top area and Bai Tu Long Area. Visit Thien Canh Son Island where you can go swimming, kayaking (with supplement) or explore the mysterious dark cave. Enjoy cooking demonstration with Chef to discover the Vietnamese cuisine of traditional spring rolls. Pre dinner cocktail with complimentary nuts & canapes. Dinner is served on board.

Overnight in Cruise.

Centrally Located Hotel In Halong Bay, (B,L,D)

Day 4 Halong Bay to Hoi An
Cruise aboard the Paradise Luxury Cruise through Halong Bay

Tai Chi session on the Sundeck. Serve tea, coffee and pastry for light breakfast. Explore Sung Sot Cave. Back to the cruise and have breakfast buffet. Check-out of cabins and settle bills. Arrive at Tuan Chau Island.

By vehicle, transfer from Halong to Hanoi (Noi Bai Airport)

Flight from Hanoi to Danang

Transfer by vehicle from Danang to Hoi An

Journey south past the Marble Mountains and small villages.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Centrally Located Hotel In Hoi An, (B)

Day 5 Hoi An
Excursion to My Son
Journey to My Son, the former religious centre of the Champa Kingdom, a sophisticated civilization which held sway over the region from the 4th to the 13th centuries. Today, all that is left are five archaeological sites from different periods, in a beautifully green setting of hills and winding streams. After a brief visit to the Visitor's Centre for an overview of Cham history and culture, visit each ruin in turn, walking along forested paths.

Sightseeing in Hoi An
Hoi An, a picturesque riverside town, was one of South East Asia's major international ports during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. This walking tour includes many of the town's highlights. Visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, constructed in 1593 by the Japanese community to link the town with the Chinese quarters across the stream. Near the bridge is Sa Huynh Museum which houses exhibitions from the earliest period of Hoi An's history. Wander into the Tran Family Chapel, a 200 year old house built for worshipping ancestors. Visit Phuoc Kien Assembly Hall, a Chinese pagoda built around 1690 and enlarged in 1900. It is typical of the Chinese clans in the Hoi An area and is dedicated to Thien Hau Thanh Mau, the Goddess of the Sea and Protector of Sailors and Fishermen. Also enter into a Lantern Making Workshop to see how the frame is made and the silk cloth put onto the lantern.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Centrally Located Hotel In Hoi An, (B)

Day 6 Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City
Transfer to Danang airport

Flight from Danang to Saigon

Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City Transfer

Sightseeing in Saigon
A vibrant metropolis, Saigon teems with energy, activity and motion. Everywhere you look, you see the meeting of traditional and modern life. Begin with a tour of the historic centre, strolling along Dong Khoi Street, formerly known as the Rue Catinat, the main shopping thoroughfare and heart of old colonial Saigon. Pass by classic European-style landmarks such as the ornate City Hall (Hotel De Ville), the old Opera House (both may only be viewed from the outside), and pay a quick visit to the neo-Romanesque Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office.

Afterwards dive into modern history with a tour of the Reunification Palace. Formerly the Independence Palace of the South Vietnamese president, this 60s style was famously stormed by tanks on April 30, 1975 signifying the fall of South Vietnam. It has been preserved in its original state, and the original tanks remain on display near the entrance gates. Continue to the harrowing War Remnants Museum, which comprehensively documents the travails of the long Vietnam- American War. Inside are detailed photographic exhibitions; outside is a collection of tanks, planes and weapons. A powerful experience, this museum is guaranteed to provoke strong emotions. Finally, visit the Emperor Of Jade Pagoda, one of Saigon's most interesting pagodas.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Centrally Located Hotel In Ho Chi Minh City, (B)

Day 7 Ho Chi Minh City
Excursion to Cai Be Floating Market with a boat trip to Vinh Long
From Saigon, drive into the heart of the Mekong Delta to Cai Be, and embark on one of the local boats to explore Cai Be floating market, a lively market of fruit and vegetable barges with a picturesque Catholic cathedral on the riverside. Continue along smaller waterways and canals, stopping at the Mekong River Islands to visit orchards and local cottage industries. Enjoy watching how the delta residents make traditional treats such as dried longyans, rice pancakes and puffed rice candies, with the chance to sample the local delicacies. Disembark at Vinh Long and return to Saigon.

Overnight in Saigon.

Centrally Located Hotel In Ho Chi Minh City, (B)

Day 8 Depart Ho Chi Minh City
Transfer to the airport and continue on to your next Avanti destination!

Centrally Located Hotel In Ho Chi Minh City, (B)

Featured Destinations

Hanoi

Hanoi is a city with a history that dates back to the 7th century. In 1954 Hanoi was declared the capital of the Democratic Republic of North Vietnam, and in 1976, following the Vietnam War, it became the capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. This political history has made Hanoi one of the country's most fascinating cities to explore. The most renowned of all the monuments is the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. It is dedicated to Vietnam's most well-respected President, who in 1945, led his country to independence. Other highlights include the Museum of History, containing ancient artifacts from Cambodia, Thailand, Japan and China, the 11th century One Pillar Pagoda and legendary Sword Lake.

Excursions

Hon Gai / Hai Phong Port

Hanoi Full Day Tour (10 hours)

On arrival to the port (Cai Lan /Hongai/ Halong port) disembark the ship and meet your guide. Then take 4 hours’ drive to Hanoi for an informative city tour.

With ochre-colored colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards and scenic lakes, Hanoi is full of charm. Start the tour at the Temple of Literature, the first University for the sons of mandarins, for an overview about Hanoian culture and appreciation for ancient Vietnamese architecture. Then head to the Vietnamese Women’s Museum that offers a broad insight into Vietnam’s people including its 54 ethnic groups through a lens of women’s topics. Walk through diverse exhibitions from street vendors to marriage to family life to traditional fashion.

Lunch is on your own.

End the trip with a cyclo tour from the museum to the Old Quarter. Ride through its narrow streets to indulge yourself in the bustle and hustle of the local daily life. Later, drive back to Halong to embark the ship.

NOTES
· There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
· Tour duration: 10 hours

Meals: None

TOUR INCLUSIONS

Inclusive of:	Non-inclusive of:
· Private transfers and transportation on tour · Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides · Entrance fees and boat rides if any · Cold towels and water on sightseeing days · Welcome pack · Dock permit · Tips & gratuities	· Vietnam visa · Accommodation on board · Other meals where not mentioned in the program · Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners · All flights & airport taxes · Hotel early check in/ Late check out · Overweight luggage · Personal expenses · Travel insurance · Other services not listed in inclusive column

Halong Bay (Hanoi)

Meaning “Bay of the Descending Dragon,” Halong Bay’s water is calm and undisturbed despite the jutting limestone mountains that soar out of the water and toward the sky. As if a tail of a Dragon plunged into the earth, the mountains are craggy, sharp, and barren, and are dotted with thousands of small caves of various depths and heights. At dusk, they all take on mysterious shades of gray, mauve and olive, lending credence to the local legends.

Excursions

Ha Noi City Tour & Street Food Tour – 12 hours - Hanoi

Ha Long Bay Cruise (5 hours)

Ha Long Bay Cruise (7 hours)

Hoi An

Hoi An is an ancient port town that was designated an UNESCO World Heritage site. It is one of the rare places in Vietnam to discover genuine Vietnamese architecture. Walk through the Old Quarter and get a glimpse of a medieval Vietnam that no longer exists in the other areas of the country. Visit the Phuc Kien Pagoda, the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the colorful bazaar

Excursions

Tien Sa Port

Hoi An Culinary at Market Restaurant (5-6 hours)

On arrival in Danang (Tien Sa port), disembark the ship and meet your guide. Drive for 1 approximately hour to the ancient town of Hoi An. Learn the secrets of preparing traditional Vietnamese cuisine with a market tour and cooking class. Set off to a local market with a chef from the Market Restaurant and Cooking School. Your chef will share shopping tips including how to select fresh eggs and ripe fruit and which herbs are used in Vietnamese cuisine. Continue to the school, an elegant old building with a French colonial-style exterior and traditional Hoi An interior. Then participate in an entertaining, hands-on cookery course held in one of three teaching areas with modern equipment for a truly immersive cooking experience. Chat with your chef to learn more about typical ingredients of Central Vietnamese cuisine then enjoy tasting what you have prepared.

NOTES

There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
Tour duration: 05-06 hours

Meal: Lunch
TOUR INCLUSIONS

Inclusive of:	Non-inclusive of:
· Private transfers and transportation on tour · Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides · Meals as per specified · Entrance fees and boat rides if any · Cold towels and water on sightseeing days · Welcome pack · Dock permit · Tips & gratuities	· Vietnam visa · Accommodation on board · All meals where not mentioned in the program · Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners · All flights & airport taxes · Hotel early check in/ Late check out · Overweight luggage · Personal expenses · Travel insurance · Other services not listed in inclusive column

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is often referred to as Vietnam’s jewel and the Pearl of the Orient. Located in south Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is the country’s largest city, with more than six million people and over one million motorbikes. Under the current regime the city is once more being rebuilt. Whole blocks are disappearing, being replaced by concrete, steel and glass structures. Central Saigon, which is still the official name for the city center, shows evidence of the French colonial city, with wide, tree-lined boulevards, sidewalk cafés and elegant French architecture. The city is divided into two sections: Saigon, the municipal and historical district, and Cholon (Chinatown), where the entrepreneurial talent and private funds are concentrated. Cholon appears to be the most populated and in general the most vigorous part of Ho Chi Minh City. It is well worth a visit for its bustle and activity and its pagodas, which are reputed to be the finest in the whole city.

Excursions

Cu Chi Tunnels & Sai Gon Highlights Tour – 10 hours - Saigon

Highlights of Ho Chi Minh City Tour – 10 hours - Saigon

Mekong Delta Tour – 10 hours - Saigon

Saigon Port

Full Day Saigon City Tour (8 hours)

On arrival to Saigon (Nha Rong Port), drive 20mins to the city centre for a tour of some of Saigon’s historic landmarks reflecting its French and Chinese influences. Visit the Notre Dame Cathedral, a red brick edifice with twin spires constructed from materials imported from France (entrance is only permitted when no services are being performed). Then head across the square to the Central Post Office, completed in 1891. Appreciate the restored exteriors of the Saigon Opera House and the elegant City Hall (the former Hotel de Ville), two of Saigon’s most stunning colonial monuments. If time permits, we will visit the iconic Ben Thanh Market, one of the earliest surviving structures in Saigon and popular wholesale market for local handicrafts, textiles, souvenirs and street food.

Drive to the former residence of the US Ambassador of South Vietnam in the early 1960s, Mr. Henry C. Lodge Jr., who supported the overthrowing of the South Vietnamese Government. Enjoy a cold drink while watching a 10min documentary film about Saigon during that time.

After lunch on your own, we then drive to Saigon’s Chinatown to visit the beautiful Thien Hau Pagoda, built by the Cantonese community in the early 19th century to honour the Goddess of the Sea. Take time to make a wish, write it on a small card and attach it to one of the incense coils according to local custom. Continue your visit to FITO, the first museum of traditional medicine in Vietnam, offering insight into the history and application of traditional medicine in everyday life before taking the scenic route through the city back to the ship.

NOTES:
·       There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
·       Outside visit only due the renovation at Notre Dame Cathedral until further notice
·       Tour duration: 08 hours

Meals: None
TOUR INCLUSIONS

Inclusive of:	Non-inclusive of:
· Private transfers and transportation on tour · Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides · Entrance fees and boat rides if any · Cold towels and water on sightseeing days · Welcome pack · Dock permit · Tips & gratuities	· Vietnam visa · Accommodation on board · All meals where not mentioned in the program · Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners · All flights & airport taxes · Hotel early check in/ Late check out · Overweight luggage · Personal expenses · Travel insurance · Other services not listed in inclusive column

Half-Day Saigon: History of Architecture with History Researcher (4 hours)

On arrival to Saigon (Nha Rong Port), drive 20mins to the city center for a tour of some of Saigon’s historic landmarks reflecting its French and Chinese influences. Meet with a local cultural and history researcher at your hotel lobby and take a short trip to local coffee shop for an overview of the impressive history of the city once known as “The Pearl of the Orient”. Then take a step back in time to visit several of the very best examples of “storytelling” architecture. Start at Jade pagoda established in the early 1900s to get a glimpse of ancient history when a group of Chinese fled the new regime to Saigon around the end of 17th century under the reign of Lord Nguyen.

Then wind your way to Archbishop's Palace – with a prayer house more than two hundred-years old (outside visit) as the home for the first French Catholic missionary. Gain an overview about the first approach of the French during the Cochinchina period in the early 18th century. Stroll around the University of Social Sciences & Humanities which used to be the 11th infantry regiment colonial military barracks for an insight into French campaigns against Viet Minh at the time. Your stop will be at the former residence of the US Ambassador, Henry C. Lodge in the 1960s for a drink and watch 10-min movie about Saigon back in the day.

NOTES:
· There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
· Total duration: 04 hours

Meals: None
TOUR INCLUSIONS

Inclusive of:	Non-inclusive of:
· Private transfers and transportation on tour · Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides · Entrance fees and boat rides if any · Cold towels and water on sightseeing days · Welcome pack · Dock permit · Tips & gratuities	· Vietnam visa · Accommodation on board · All meals where not mentioned in the program · Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners · All flights & airport taxes · Hotel early check in/ Late check out · Overweight luggage · Personal expenses · Travel insurance · Other services not listed in inclusive column

Half-Day Saigon: Retracing the Past (5 hours)

On arrival to Saigon (Nha Rong port), disembark the ship and meet your guide. Commence with a visit of the shrine outside of the US Consulate then continue to the former CIA building (outside visit only), where helicopters evacuated the remaining US citizens in 1975. Head to the rooftop café of the Rex hotel, a familiar landmark for Americans during the Vietnam War. Sit down for a drink, enjoy the view and this piece of history which your guide will help to explain. Then visit the Reunification Palace for a guided tour of the former headquarters of the South Vietnamese Government and residence of the presidents. Drive to the former residence of the US Ambassador of South Vietnam in the early 1960s, Mr. Henry C. Lodge, who conducted a mission to overthrow the South Vietnamese Government. Watch a 10 minutes documentary film about Saigon during that time while enjoying a cold drink. Then drive to a secret weapon chamber which VC used as a place to hide and store weapons during Vietnam War. Then weave through tiny back alleys and meet and chat with the locals who are living in tiny houses. Head to a historic venue for a late lunch of “pho” (noodle soup). The house number 07 on Ly Chinh Thang Street (former Yen Do street) is now known as Pho Binh restaurant which used to be the headquarters of Viet Cong Commanders where they gathered to plan for the 1968 Tet Offensive. Take a walk upstairs to learn more about the history through the family’s photo collection. Then drive back to the port to embark the ship.

NOTES:
· There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
· Total duration: 05 hours

Meals: None
TOUR INCLUSIONS

Inclusive of:	Non-inclusive of:
· Private transfers and transportation on tour · Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides · Entrance fees and boat rides if any · Cold towels and water on sightseeing days · Welcome pack · Dock permit · Tips & gratuities	· Vietnam visa · Accommodation on board · All meals where not mentioned in the program · Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners · All flights & airport taxes · Hotel early check in/ Late check out · Overweight luggage · Personal expenses · Travel insurance · Other services not listed in inclusive column

Half-Day Saigon: Culinary Experience at Former Ambassador's Residence (4 hours)

On arrival to Saigon (Nha Rong port), disembark the ship and meet your guide. Drive 20 minutes to Ben Thanh market to buy all the fresh ingredients before continuing an historic Ambassador's home for a private hands-on cooking demonstration. The American Ambassador to South Vietnam in the 1960s, Mr. Henry Cabot Lodge, carried a mission of overthrowing the southern government at that time. When Lodge arrived in Saigon, an old villa in District 3 was converted into the Ambassador’s residence. Mr. Lodge lived in this home between1960-1965 and the architecture is a mix of Vietnamese, French and American. Today it remains a private residence owned by Trails of Indochina and it has been fully restored to its former glory. The guide will provide an orientation tour of the house while the chef prepares the ingredients. Learn typical Southern style dishes throughout the morning. The chef will show you how to serve each dish before the meal, and you will need to master the chopsticks before you can savor your own culinary creations in the old world ambiance of the villa.

After lunch, transfer back to your ship.

Note: There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.

Meal: Lunch

TOUR INCLUSIONS

Inclusive of:	Non-inclusive of:
· Private transfers and transportation on tour · Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides · Lunch · Entrance fees and boat rides if any · Cold towels and water on sightseeing days · Welcome pack · Dock permit · Tips & gratuities	· Vietnam visa · Accommodation on board · All meals where not mentioned in the program · Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners · All flights & airport taxes · Hotel early check in/ Late check out · Overweight luggage · Personal expenses · Travel insurance · Other services not listed in inclusive column

Vacation Details

Valid Date Ranges

10/01/2023 - 12/31/2024

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* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.

Prices Start At

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Length

7 Nights

Air City

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Vacation Rating

Deluxe

Remarks

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.

OFFER ID

1243750

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Inclusive of:	Non-inclusive of:
· Private transfers and transportation with Local English speaking guide · Cold towels and water on car · Dock permit · Tips & gratuities	· Vietnam visa · Accommodation with daily breakfast · Entrance fees · All meals · All flights · Personal expenses · Travel insurance · Other services not listed in inclusive column