Discovery the North and South Vietnam 9 Days

Welcome to Hanoi! Let’s go for a relaxing walk around the Old Quarter.

Upon your arrival at Noi Bai Airport, our driver and tour guide will collect you and drive you to your hotel in the Old Quarter. During the way to the city center, the guide will provide information about the popular attractions in Hanoi and share insights on traffic, cuisine, culture, weather, and more. Upon reaching your hotel, complete the check-in process and take a moment to rest.

Please note: Check-in time at the hotel is 14:00.

During the remainder of the day, our guide will lead you on a stroll from Hoan Kiem Lake to the Opera House. Along the way, pause at notable landmarks including the King Ly Thai To statue, Vietnamese Government Guest House, and Sofitel Metropole Hanoi. Afterward, return to the old town, and explore some of its main streets before heading back to your hotel.

Option: In case of a late flight arrival or you feel jet lag after a long journey, the walking tour may be rescheduled to the day of the city tour.

Discover Hanoi’s renowned attractions, tour the French Quarter & Ho Chi Minh Complex, stroll along the West Lake & visit ancient pagodas on the way.

9:00 AM: Pick you up at the hotel for the visit to the Temple of Literature. This historical relic complex, constructed during the 11th century under the Ly dynasty, served as a place of worship for Confucius and teaching royal children & nobles. Stroll through the Giam Garden to head to Khue Van Cac – the symbol of Hanoi, discover Quoc Tu Giam (Vietnam’s first university), and visit various monuments here including the 82 doctoral stelae (a UNESCO World Documentary Heritage), Khai Thanh Temple, the House of Ceremonies, and Thien Quang Well…

Select one of the famous museums in the city to discover (options include the Hoa Lo Prison Relic, the National Museum of History, the Museum of Ethnology, and the Museum of Fine Arts). Following your museum visit, take a break for lunch and drinks (costs at your own expense).

In the afternoon, discover the French Quarter, often likened to a “little Paris” in Hanoi featuring tree-lined streets, government offices, and a spacious square. See the exterior of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Then, stroll through the botanical gardens to visit the Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house, where Uncle Ho lived and worked. Continue to the One Pillar Pagoda, a unique masterpiece of Buddhist architecture. The duration of this tour is 1-2 hours, based on the number of visitors.

Proceed with the visit to the Quan Thanh Temple, considered one of the four guardian temples in Thang Long. Constructed during the 11th century under the reign of King Ly Thai To (1010 – 1028), this ancient temple is dedicated to Huyen Thien Tran Vu (Tran Vu god – the deity protecting the north of the capital). Afterward, go for a walk along a picturesque road across the West Lake. Make a stop at the Tran Quoc Pagoda, built in the 6th century during the rule of Emperor Ly Nam De dynasty. This is a sacred and important Buddhist pagoda for the Hanoi people.

End the day tour by enjoying the interesting water puppet show. First appeared in the Red River Delta during the 11th century, this unique Vietnamese performing art form typically revolves around historical events, depicting the culture, beliefs, and rural life of Vietnam through the manipulation of puppets on water. The show also integrates traditional music.

Return to your hotel.

Dedicate a whole day to the exploration of Ninh Binh, encompassing Hoa Lu, Tam Coc, and Bich Dong.

8:00 AM: Assemble at the hotel, and subsequently, depart to Ninh Binh – an attractive destination rich in historical, cultural, religious, and geographic marvels. During the journey via the Red River delta, feel free to make the stops to take photos as per your desire.

First, visit Hoa Lu, the capital of the first centralized feudal state in Vietnam from 968 to 1010. The Hoa Lu citadel is surrounded by limestone mountain ranges and rivers, forming a natural protective barrier and contributing to a magnificent landscape.

Upon reaching Hoa Lu, visit the temples of King Dinh and King Le. Both sacred temples were erected in the 17th century to worship Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang (the founding emperor of the Dinh Dynasty, ruling from 968 to 980) and Emperor Le Dai Hanh (the founding emperor of the pre-Le Dynasty, reigning from 980 to 1005). These emperors played a pivotal role in achieving the country’s independence after a thousand years of Northern Feudal rule.

Proceed to explore Bich Dong, the famous ancient pagoda in the Red River Delta, dating back to the 15th century. Bich Dong comprises three separate pagodas situated on a limestone mountain in low to high order: Chua Ha – Chua Trung – Chua Thuong. Nestled within natural caves, these pagodas are surrounded by beautiful natural scenery. Travelers will cross a stone bridge to reach Chua Ha, from which ascend over 100 steps to access Chua Trung and continue the hike up to Chua Thuong. A visit to Bich Dong provides you with an opportunity to delve into Buddhism and enjoy the scenic landscapes.

Have lunch at a local restaurant, then head to Tam Coc, likened to “Halong Bay on land” with its beautiful landscapes, which served as the backdrop in the famous French movie “Indochina”. Upon arriving at the pier, get on a private sampan for a 90-minute cruise along the Ngo Dong River. We will sail the boat via three unique natural caves. Enjoy the poetic scenery of rice paddies, as well as majestic limestone mountains interwoven with small villages and temples along both sides of the river.

Take the way back to Ha Noi in the late afternoon and arrive around 6:00 PM.

Head to Ha Long Bay for a great cruising journey, visit a pearl farm, enjoy swimming & kayaking activities at Titov Island, and admire the panoramic view of the bay.

8:00 AM: Start the journey from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay. The travel time is approximately 3 hours, taking you through various villages and rice fields in the Red River Delta. En route, there will be a short stop for drinks and restrooms. Arrive at the harbor around noon and you will receive a warm welcome at the reception.

12:30: finalize the check-in procedure on the boat, then carefully review the safety instructions and cruise summary. Begin cruising and discovering Ha Long Bay – one of the new seven natural wonders of the world.

Savor a buffet lunch featuring Vietnamese dishes as you cruise through the bay. Traverse some of the most beautiful and tranquil areas, including Dog Stone Islet, Incense Burner, Fighting Cock, Soi Sim Beach, and Coconut Tree Islands. In the afternoon, tour the Tung Sau area, surrounded by towering rocks and known for its cultured pearl fishery. Visit a pearl farm, you can follow the process of growing, harvesting, and crafting pearls.

Explore Titov Island, one of the most peaceful and beautiful islands in Ha Long Bay, well-known for its smooth white sand beach, pure air, clear blue waters & stunning natural landscape. Titov Beach is considered an ideal destination to relax and join many interesting activities such as sunbathing, swimming, and kayaking. Travelers can ascent to the top of Titov Island and stand at the “observation tower” to contemplate the panoramic view of Ha Long Bay.

Return to the cruise and sail to the Luon Bo area where the cruise will be anchored overnight.

Option: Massage services are offered on the cruise. Kindly make direct bookings with the cruise manager if you want to use this service (refer to the massage menu for more information).

18:30: Participate in the cooking class onboard to learn how to make spring rolls, a famous dish of Vietnam. Later, join the “Happy Hour” promotion – buy one drink, get one free. It’s also a great time to chat, unwind, and see the sunset over Ha Long Bay.

Dinner: Relish the luxury Vietnamese BBQ set menu.

Evening activities include: Sipping a cocktail and chatting at the bar, listening to music, watching movies, playing chess/cards, or resting in your room… Additionally, you can experience fishing and squid fishing.

Visit Sung Sot cave, take a relaxing cruising trip on the bay, then get back to Hanoi for the flight to Ho Chi Minh city.

6:30: Get up early to do exercise morning (Tai Chi session) or watch the sunrise over Ha Long bay.

Afterward, enjoy breakfast with coffee, tea, and pastries in the dining room which has a beautiful view of the bay landscape.

Transfer by tender to Sung Sot Cave, one of the largest caves in Ha Long Bay located on Bo Hon Island. Hike up about 100 steps to reach the cave’s entrance, then spend 45 minutes exploring Sung Sot cave. Go inside the cave, you will be surprised magical beauty of the stalactites and stalagmites with many unique shapes linked to the sacred legend of Thanh Giong.

Return to the cruise by tender boat. Complete check-out and settle your extra cost (if any) at reception.

Relish a buffet brunch and contemplate the scenic view of Ha LongBay as the cruise makes its way back to Tuan Chau Wharf.

11h30-12h00: Disembark.

Our driver will collect you at the harbor and take you back to the hotel in Hanoi. 

Then the driver will continue to wait for you right at your hotel to transport you to Noi Bai Airport for approximately 45 minutes to catch your flight to Ho Chi Minh city. Thank you for visiting our city and wish you have a pleasant journey.

As soon as landing at Tan Son Nhat Airport, our guide and driver will welcome you and take you to the hotel. Along the drive from the airport to the city center, the guide will offer you information about the city’s main attractions and share experiences of cuisine, traffic, culture, weather…

Upon arrival at your hotel, complete the check-in process and rest.

Spend an entire day visiting renowned sites in Ho Chi Minh City, including the Independence Palace, Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, War Remnants Museum, and Ben Thanh Market.

9:00 AM: Pick you up at the hotel and start transferring to the Independence Palace, once served as the home – office of the president of South Vietnam. View the tank that played a key role in the attack on the palace on 30/4/1975, which marked the end of the Vietnam War. Then visit the five-story palace, where all rooms (including a bunker basement) have been carefully conserved in the architectural style of the late 1960s-1970s.

Walk to the Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, constructed from 1863 to 1880 in Romanesque architectural styles. This is a famous spot and has beautiful landscapes in the heart of the city.

Continue to stroll along Nguyen Hue Walking Street, then explore Saigon Central Post Office, one of the unmissable places in Ho Chi Minh City. This outstanding yellow building is designed by the famous architect Gustave Eiffel. Today, it not only provides essential postal and telecommunications services but also becomes an attractive cultural and tourist destination.

Break for lunch or drinks (at own expense). In the afternoon, explore the War Remnants Museum, which saves all the heroic evidence of the Vietnamese people’s resistance against foreign invaders. Visitors will gain a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of the history of the Vietnam War through the images, historical documentaries, and artifacts on display here.

The last stop of the day is Ben Thanh Market, the city’s most famous market, having operated since 1870. As well as supplying the daily necessities of the locals, it is also an excellent place to buy souvenirs at affordable prices and enjoy Vietnamese street food.

Head back to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure and you are free to explore the city or rest at your own discretion.

Participate in a special excursion to Cu Chi tunnels and afterward, continue to explore the Cao Dai temple in Tay Ninh.

8:00 AM: Leave your hotel and transfer to Cu Chi to visit the most impressive military architectural masterpiece in the history of the Vietnam War – Cu Chi tunnels.

Cu Chi tunnels are likened to a unique underground city with a vast network of tunnels stretching over 250km. All tunnels were painstakingly dug for more than twenty years using simple tools such as pickaxes and shovels. Inside these tunnels, Vietnamese communist soldiers and residents of Cu Chi’s “steel land” waged a war of resistance against American troops. During the tour, visitors will be introduced to this complex tunnel system and have the opportunity to go inside to explore some tunnel parts. Visit the nearby Ben Duoc Memorial Temple to respect the Vietnamese who sacrificed at Cu Chi during the war.

Continue the drive to Tay Ninh to visit the Cao Dai Temple, one of the most sacred and important places for followers of Caodaism in Vietnam. After the discovery of this magnificent temple, you can partake in the midday mass right here.

Have lunch at a local restaurant, then get back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Cai Be (Tien Giang) and proceed with the exploration of Cai Be by taking a boat trip & cycling.

After having breakfast at the hotel, meet with our tour guide and driver for your transfer to Cai Be. There will be a short stop at Tay Ninh to visit the Cao Dai temple, then continue the journey. Upon arriving at Cai Be town, board a small private boat to cruise along a small tributary of the Mekong. Take in the peaceful scenery on both sides of the river, then explore the orchard-lined canals and immerse yourself in the rhythm of life on the legendary Mekong. 

Visit handmade workshops specializing in crafting coconut caramel, rice popcorn, rice cakes… Take a walk or ride a bicycle along the village path to discover the ancient Phu Chau pagoda, built in 1784 where you can meet and converse with the locals. Later, enjoy lunch at an open-air restaurant and taste the well-known local specialty, the elephant ear fish. Proceed to row a small boat along canals shaded by fruit trees, relish fresh fruits along the way.

In the late afternoon, take the way back to Ho Chi Minh city.

Take you to the airport to fly to your next destination.

Our private driver will collect you at the hotel and take you to Tan Son Nhat Airport for 30 minutes to catch your flight (Drop you off at the domestic or international terminal based on your choice). Thanks for visiting our city and wish you a safe journey.

Note: You should arrive at the airport 2 hours before the departure for domestic flights and 3 hours for international flights.

During rush hours (07h00 -08h30 and 16h30 -18h30), the driving time from the center of the city to the Tan Son Nhat airport can take up to 1 hour.