One Week in Vietnam

Welcome to beautiful Vietnam! After you arrive, you’ll find your private guide and driver waiting for you at the exit, holding a sign with your name on it. After a warm greeting, you will be driven to the carefully selected hotel. For the rest of the day, you are free to explore the city on your own, or rest at the hotel.

►  Dinner Suggestion in Hanoi: Kachi Kitchen
Take a stroll to Kachi Kitchen to enjoy your first Vietnamese dinner on your own. It’s a multi-cuisine halal restaurant, which serves local, Indian and Malaysian food. Vietnamese food tastes mild but the friendly owner will adjust the seasoning of the dishes to your taste if you ask to. Besides Vietnam's specialties like pho (noodle soup) and fried spring rolls and Vietnamese baguette, the Kachi special beef submarine is also highly praised. It costs ₫100,000-200,000 ($4-8) per person. On the way, watch out for the streets flooded with numerous motorbikes whirring from all directions - also your “aha” moment to know why Vietnam is called the "Motorcycle Kingdom".

►  Money Matters in Vietnam
Vietnam is a budget-friendly country to live and travel. Its official currency is the Vietnamese dong, with 1 US dollar equaling around 24 thousand dong. The US dollar is widely accepted in Vietnam, but exchange loss occurs when you pay in dollars. Moreover, cash dominates in Vietnam, so it’s recommended that you exchange some dong after arrival. Hanoi Airport, banks, gold shops and ATMs are all available spots for exchanging. ATM is the most cost-effective as it exchanges at the real-time rate. It should be noted that some ATMs here would spit out the card first and next the money, so please wait patiently. If it’s still not working, ask the staff for help. Also note that, regarding prices, Vietnamese usually take thousands as a unit. When people say that something charges 300, it generally refers to 300 thousand dong rather than 300 dong. So, confirm clearly before you pay. If you have any questions, consult your private guide anytime.

Accommodation: Pan Pacific Hanoi (5 stars) or La Siesta Classic Ma May, Hanoi (4 stars)

Good morning! Today will be devoted to visiting the must-see sites in Hanoi. We’ll start in the city center with the Ba Dinh Square, the most important place for Vietnamese people to hold rallies and celebrate festivals. First walk west to pay respect to Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, where the remains of President Ho Chi Minh are preserved. “Uncle Ho”, who brought freedom and liberation to Vietnam, is the father of this nation. Continue to the backside of the mausoleum to approach the Presidential Palace, within which you will see the main building - a grand three-story yellow villa in French style - and visit the Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House, a simple two-story wooden structure where Uncle Ho met visitors, worked and lived. Rather than the extravagant main building, he preferred to live and work in the stilt house. Then, visit the nearby One Pillar Pagoda, amazing for being supported on one large pillar elegantly jutting out from water. After that, wander in the Temple of Literature, a cultural symbol of Hanoi dedicated to Confucius and many Confucian sages and almost a fixture of all foreign leaders' visits to Vietnam.

After lunch, continue to visit the Museum of Ethnology, where you will learn the histories and traditional cultures of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups; ethnic costumes, musical instruments, and daily tools are all among the exhibits. Later, explore the Old Quarter of Hanoi, the life-buzzing destination on every itinerary to Hanoi. Vietnam's handmade manufacturing industry is well developed with low labor costs and so gradually replacing China to become the "world’s factory", and the Old Quarter is a microcosm of the country’s prosperous industry. It will take you back to the 11th century, when the old streets and alleys were as boisterous as they are now, packed with handicrafts and guilds. Intriguingly, their names are after the industries they focus on, such as Hang Tre Street (Street of Bamboos) and Hang Dong (Street of Bronze). And we will dive into many to experience the crowds and the swarms of motorcycles. There are also some remaining temples, and if time permits, ask your guide to accompany you to seek for a quiet moment there.

In the evening, enjoy a short traditional Water Puppet Show, an ancient treasure of Vietnam. You will watch cute figures performing to live traditional music, depicting the daily life of rice farmers, students returning hometown with success, dances of ethnic Cham people, etc., which are actually manipulated by puppeteers behind the scene. After the curtain falls, the puppeteers will walk from behind to the front stage to give thanks, with their lower bodies submerging in water. After the show, you will be transferred back to the hotel.
► Tip: The puppets are small and hard to see from the back rows. Please book your tour as early as possible so that we can reserve the best seats in the front rows for you.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Pan Pacific Hanoi (5 stars) or La Siesta Classic Ma May, Hanoi (4 stars)

Today, you will witness Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. In the morning, pack your luggage and check out of the hotel with the help of your guide. After around a 3-hour drive, you’ll arrive at Ha Long Bay Wharf and board the cruise. Later, receive a brief introduction about the boat facilities, safety instructions and itinerary arrangements. After that, have lunch in the dining room.

★ Our Special Service in Ha Long Bay Cruise
Unlike other travel agencies that take you to tour the crowded and heavily commercialized waters of Ha Long Bay, we arrange an in-depth tour for you to explore a secluded bay with pristine karst caves and islands. You will choose one from two luxury cruises we carefully selected: the five-star Indochine Cruise which will take you to the tranquil Lan Ha Bay and its Dark and Bright Cave (Bat Cave); and the four-star Signature Royal Cruise which will escort you to unlock the Bai Tu Long Bay and the Vung Vieng floating fishing village. What’s more, you can choose to kayak, swim and join other activities onboard, including traditional Vietnamese cooking class and night squid fishing. Have a delightful buffet dinner, and drift off to sleep lulled by the gentle lapping of the waves.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Indochine Cruise - room with balcony (5 stars) or Signature Royal Cruise (4 stars)

Wake up and take part in the Tai Chi class on the sundeck. Morning tea and coffee are served as well. Then, with the Indochine Cruise, you will visit the Trung Trang Cave, used as a hospital during the Vietnam War, on Cat Ba Island; and if you take the Signature Royal Cruise, explore the Thien Canh Son Cave. You'll need to climb 200 steps to explore the latter for stunning stalactites and stalagmites. After that, return to the ship and have a big brunch while the ship sails back to Ha Long pier. Arrive at about 11:00 and your guide will pick you up and then transfer you to the airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City, the former Saigon. Upon arrival, your local guide will meet you at the airport and escort you to the hotel for a good rest.

► Free-Time Activities Recommended in Ho Chi Minh City
If you are staying at Hotel Nikko Saigon:
Head to the restaurant Bo To Quan Moc for some authentic Vietnamese food. Have a taste of their beef rice paper roll and fried chicken with fish sauce. A delicious panna cotta dessert will be served for free. It is only a five-minute walk north of the hotel and costs around ₫300,000 (about $12) per person. After dinner, walk 25 minutes northeast for a stroll through Vietnam's oldest market - Ben Thanh Market. Here, you will find a wide range of goods, including dry goods, handicrafts and clothes. Why not bring some authentic Vietnamese coffee beans and cashew nuts home? Don’t be shy to bargain here, to at least half of the price.

If you are staying at Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel:
After check-in, take a short walk northwest to Hoa Tuc Saigon, a Michelin-starred Vietnamese restaurant, for some shrimp spring rolls and fried rice with pineapple and seafood. It costs about ₫500,000 (about $20) per person. Then walk south for about 15 minutes to the Bitexco Financial Tower and get to the Saigon Skydeck on the 49th floor to overlook Ho Chi Minh City and enjoy a stunning sunset. Binoculars are available here. The ticket is ₫240,000 (about $10) per person.

Meals: Brunch

Accommodation: Hotel Nikko Saigon (5 stars) or Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel (4 stars)

Spend today exploring the prosperous Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city in Vietnam. Begin with a visit to Thien Hau Temple, which was built in the 19th century by Vietnamese Chinese to enshrine and worship Mazu, the goddess of the sea for Southeast Asia. You will learn the stories behind precious relics in the temple, such as a censer aged more than 500 years old, with its color never changed due to a magical anti-oxidation technique used in its production process. If you travel during the Vietnamese New Year (late January to early February), you may encounter dragon and lion dance performances. Next, go to the big, lively Binh Tay Market to experience real local life and move past stalls that offer various goods like flowers, fresh fruit, food, clothes and daily supplies.

In the afternoon, travel to the War Remnants Museum, which mainly introduces the history of Vietnam War. We will explore both its indoor and outdoor parts. The indoor part mainly shows the pictures, maps and texts related to the war and the outdoor part mainly displays the aircraft, artillery shells and poison gas bombs used during the war. Seeing all these, you’ll have a deeper understanding of how precious peace is. Then, move on to the center of the city to admire the French style architecture complex built during the colonial period, including the Reunification Palace (formerly Presidential Palace), Notre Dame Cathedral, the Opera House and the Ho Chi Minh City Hall, as well as the Central Post Office. In the post office, you can send some postcards to your friends and family - you can let the staff help you with it, or drop them into the mail box next to the ATM on the right of the door by yourself. After visiting, you will be transferred back to the hotel to have a good rest.

► Recommended Night Activity: AO Show
The Opera House's top-rated cultural dance drama AO Show is marvelous and you can consult your guide about how to book a ticket if you’re interested. The minimum price of the ticket is ₫800,000 (around $32). It’s called "AO Show" because it’s so splendid that you can’t help saying “Ah! Wow!” while watching the show. With bamboo poles, bamboo baskets and whistles, the performers choreograph Vietnam's unique gymnastics skills into their folk dances and tribal stories. The performance usually starts at 6pm and lasts for an hour. It may be a bit of a rush, but if you’re eager to see it, please contact us to tailor today’s schedule.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel Nikko Saigon (5 stars) or Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel (4 stars)

Today, we’ll set off to Ben Tre, the "coconut town", dotted with dense coconut forests where the sugar production base lies. A Mekong River cruise awaits. Different from many other travel agencies’ arranging trips taking large boats to highly commercialized areas along the river, we carefully arrange a wooden long tail boat (a boat with sharp upturned sterns) for you to explore the less-travelled Ham Luong River and the coconut grove, away from the hustle and bustle of the city and crowds of fleets. Imagine lush water coconut trees on both sides close at hand! Also pass by idyllic scenery and unique tropical flora and fauna, as well as various boats selling seasonal fruits, fresh vegetables and even handicrafts. Halfway through, you will pay a visit to the local orchards and workshops and afterwards, stop at a village to visit a farmer's house and see how the local people live. Here, you could also take the traditional tricycle “Xe Loi” or ride a bicycle to further explore the countryside.

Today's lunch will be arranged at a nice local restaurant. You’ll taste the fried elephant ear fish, the signature delicacy in the delta region. Every part of the fish, even the bones, is crispy and you will see how the fish is held upright on the plate. Afterwards, we will return to the dock by sampan and sail back to Ben Tre. Upon arrival, meet your driver waiting for you at the wharf, who will escort you to the hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel Nikko Saigon (5 stars) or Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel (4 stars)

Time flies and today sees your 7 days Hanoi and Ha Long Bay tour reaching its end. Before we set off to the airport, you are free to explore the city for a last minute visiting or shopping. We will meet you at the hotel according to your departure flight schedule and then transfer you to the airport. Wish you a safe journey home.

► Free-Time Activities Suggestion:
While most cities in Vietnam are dotted with cafes here and there, Ho Chi Minh City is the only one to have a building all packed with coffee houses - the Coffee Apartment - and each has its own highlight. Grab the last chance to have a taste of Vietnamese-style coffee, like the egg coffee and the salt coffee. It should be noted that there is a charge for the elevator, at ₫3,000 (about $0.1). But if you make a purchase in any of the cafés, you will be refunded the elevator fee. It’s 8 minutes' walk west from the Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel and 15 minutes’ drive northeast from Hotel Nikko Saigon.

An interesting fact is that lots of backpackers are lingering for a Vietnam tour for its marvelous natural sceneries and low cost of travelling. With merely a pair of slippers and a glass of cold beer, they can often stay for one or two months! If you would like to continue exploring other cities such as Hue, Da Nang, Nha Trang, as well as other Southeast Asian countries like Thailand and Cambodia, please contact us to tailor a private itinerary for you.

Meals: Breakfast