7 Day Hanoi - Halong Bay Overnight Cruise - HCMC

Itinerary

• Day 5: HCMC – Mekong delta (B/L/-)
  Discover remarkable Cai Be. Cruise the many tributaries of the Mekong Delta, wandering through vibrant tropical fruit gardens as well as visiting the town’s cottage industries. Step into a family’s house for an unforgettable dining experience, the perfect conclusion to a fabulous day in the Delta. Today’s tour will begin at 08:30. Leave the busy streets of Ho Chi Minh City and drive deep into the Mekong Delta on this Cai Be day tour. Upon arriving in Cai Be, board a private boat and start exploring the Delta. Pass by trading boats laden with fresh produce while cruising past river islands, coconut groves, and fish farms. Go ashore at small family-run workshops making local specialties such as rice popcorn and coconut candy. After this introduction to the Mekong Delta, get a closer look at the lives of its residents. Take a short walk through a local village and flourishing fruit gardens. Arrive at the home of a local farmer and his family. The house has been lived in by more than four generations and is a great example of traditional ‘Mandarin’ architecture. A delicious home-cooked meal will be served for lunch in the family’s house. Then take a walk through their fruit orchard to see the fresh seasonal fruits on the trees. Say farewell to the host family and continue to Tan Phong Island. Take a local row boat through the narrow canals around the island, appreciating the tranquility and lush landscapes of this part of the Delta. As the sun begins to dip lower in the sky it is time to return to Cai Be and onwards to Ho Chi Minh City. Overnight stay at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
• Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi – Orientation City tour (-/-/-)
  Explore Vietnam’s northern jewels. Take a glance at Hanoi, stepping back in time at Ngoc Son Temple and get a dose of local culture with a little walk wandering the vibrant maze of streets in the Old Quarter and catch a brilliant performance of traditional water puppetry. After landing, get transfer to the city center. Standard hotel check-in time: 14:00 PM. In the late afternoon, follow your guide to embark on a walking tour through Hanoi’s bustling Old Quarter. This area of 36 narrow streets is a lively place to walk around while seeing and learning about Vietnam’s traditional ways of life. Continue through the busy Hang Be Market and around Hoan Kiem Lake. Snap photos and chat with the locals on the way. Finish the day at the water puppet theatre. Watch an entertaining live performance of this unique northern Vietnamese art form, a great way to end the tour of Hanoi. Overnight stay at hotel in Hanoi.
• Day 2: Hanoi - Halong Bay Overnight Cruise (B/L/D)
  Escape from the buzz of Hanoi with an overnight cruise on Halong Bay. Be surrounded by stunning views of limestone karsts rising dramatically from the Bay’s deep blue waters. Watch the sun set from the ship’s deck and fall asleep to the gentle sound of waves lapping against the boat. Following breakfast leave Hanoi to Halong Bay. Arrive at the jetty in Halong City towards noon and proceed with check-in formalities. After the welcome onboard, be served with lunch while cruising towards the bay. In the afternoon, enjoy some visits and/or activities (depending on each boat’s itinerary) or just spend some time relaxing on board. Towards the end of the day the boat sets anchor for the night among the karst formations. Dinner is served on board. Overnight on Halong Bay. * Please note: This tour may be subject to change depending on weather conditions.
• Day 3: Halong Bay – Hanoi (B/Br/-)
  Enjoy a fresh morning in the middle of the bay, the sun rises on Halong in the morning and breakfast is served (brunch on some boats) while the vessels cruises slowly through the magnificent rock formations and back towards port. Disembark and transfer back to Hanoi. Overnight stay at hotel in Hanoi.
• Day 4: Hanoi - flight to HCMC – City tour (B/-/-)
  Ho Chi Minh City, referred to as ‘Saigon’ informally, is a city of many layers. From the modern "New Vietnam" to the storied history, there is something for everyone to discover in this glimpse of the vibrant metropolis. You are at leisure until transfer to Noi Bai airport for a domestic flight to HCMC. After landing, transfer to hotel for check in. Meet with a local guide and start with a walking tour (depending on the season, this order might be changed) through the historic city center and CBD. See the architecturally splendid City Hall, historic Dong Khoi Street, the Continental Hotel and the Saigon Opera House. Then step off the main road into a historic building revolutionized by the city’s youth. Here, locally owned retail stores, coffee shops and art spaces offer a glimpse into the city’s creative generation. If time allows, relax and enjoy a local coffee at one of the building’s cafes. Continue on foot to the Central Post Office. Here, you can also glimpse the former CIA building, where one of the last helicopter evacuations took place in 1975. Stroll through lovely 30 April Park to perhaps the city’s most famous landmark - the Reunification Palace. Now preserved in a time warp, the ‘war rooms’ in the basement plus the opulent displays are fascinating. Finish up the day at another historic site, the Ben Thanh Market. Still functioning as a local neighborhood market, the central location also welcomes travelers with a variety of stalls. Having gained greater understanding of Saigon's culture and history, return to the hotel. Overnight stay at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
• Day 6: HCMC – Cu Chi Tunnels (B/L/-)
  Discover the best of Ho Chi Minh City and its surroundings. Drive through rural landscapes to the Cu Chi Tunnels to learn about Vietnam’s wartime past and the ingenuity of its people. Today’s your tour will begin at 08:30. Drive away from the city center toward the Cu Chi district. Leaving the city behind, the scenery changes to views of rice paddies, villagers drying noodles by the side of the road and other scenes typical to southern Vietnam. Arrive at the entrance of the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters (Viet Cong) during both the French and American wars. Hear the tales of how these tunnels were built while walking through the forest. Visit two sections of the tunnel where it is possible to crawl inside to experience first-hand what life was like living underground. There are also several other informative displays and war relics around the area to explore. A shooting experience can be found here in Cu Chi. Overnight stay at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
• Day 7: HCMC - Departure flight (B/-/-)
  At leisure until transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport for your onward flight. Tour ends. Thank you for your choosing us and wish to see you again soon in our next tours.

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