Travel to Vietnam 13 Days

Travel to Vietnam 13 Days

Here we offer you a 13 day adventure, travelling through Vietnam on the classic North-South route. With this tour you will get to see some of the most incredible sites that the country has to offer: from mysterious Halong Bay, to the quaint, UNESCO Heritage protected town of Hoi An. We have prepared everything so that you will not miss a thing and get the opportunity to hang out with the Vietnamese and learn about their culture and traditions.
As with all our packages, the trip is of course flexible. You can make changes the routes or destinations to suit your taste. Just tell us what you want to change and we will take care of it for you. Here at Routes Vietnam we simply design an itinerary that will help you to understand what is possible and give you an idea of the price. Once you have studied and thought about it, we would love to hear your honest opinion about what we offer.

Detailed Itinerary:

DAY 1: ARRIVE IN HANOI
Upon your arrival at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, our guide will be waiting to welcome you. You will spend some time at the airport for the visa formalities. Once you leave the airport our guide will escort you to your hotel.
Stay overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 2: GETTING TO KNOW HANOI (Meal Inc.: Breakfast, Lunch)
After that you have had your breakfast and have your batteries recharged, 08.00 am: our tour guide and driver pick you up from your hotel, we take you to visit Ho Chi Minh complex, including Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum – the final resting place of Vietnamese great father or Uncle Ho (Close from 7 Sept till 6 Nov 2012. And close on all Monday and Friday afternoons. We visit outside only during closed time), President Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house – where Ho lived on and off from 1958 to 1969, then visit Ho Chi Minh’s museum where tourists will learn what he had done for Viet Nam and some other countries and a lot of information about President Ho Chi Minh. The next place is One Pillar Pagoda which is a group of structures consisting of a pagoda and a tower built in the middle of a square pond. Leave One Pillar Pagoda for the Temple of Literature the first college of Viet Nam dedicated to Confucian. Have lunch at local restaurant.
After lunch, we drive to visit the museum of ethnology, the Hoan Kiem Lake (Restored Sword Lake), Ngoc Son Temple and a trip on Xiclo (the Vietnamese the 3-wheels bicycle) around the heart of Hanoi, the Old Quarter. It’s filled with businesses, narrow streets and motorbikes, a quarter that will show us the more picturesque Vietnam.
Note: For Hanoi City tour, we will visit The Museum of Ethnology on Tues, Thurs, Sat and Sun. We will visit Bat Trang Ceramics Village instead of The Museum of Ethnology on Mons, Weds and Fri.
Stay overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 3: HANOI - NINH BINH - HANOI (Meal Inc.: Breakfast, Lunch)
From Hanoi heading south, around 110 km you will adventure down to Ninh Binh province. A beautiful landscape that is located in Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam (968-1050). In the midst of this wonderful scenery stood a citadel that now is only two temples, rebuilt in the seventeenth century these temples are all that have survived. You will visit Dinh and Le temples. We continue the tour and stop off at Van Lam village to see the embroidery work of the locals. Lunch is then served followed by a magical journey through the caves of Tam Coc; the journey lasts for about 2 – 3 hours. Then we’ll drive back to Hanoi and a visit to the Bich Dong Pagoda.
Overnight stay in Hanoi

DAY 4: HA NOI - HA LONG BAY (Meal Inc.: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
This adventure will reveal to you the recently declared as the eighth wonder of the world, Halong Bay. After your breakfast at your hotel, and the Junk boat guide will pick you up in your hotel. You will take a 4 hours bus ride that will take you to Ha Long Bay, with your guide. Once there you will arrive to our Junk boat. It will be near lunchtime, after a brief wait haft hour you will be enjoying your lunch surrounded by pure beauty of Ha Long Bay.
This day you will be taken to visit the Thien Cung cave and Dau Go. The tour also will go through different islands as Tuan Chau, Dog Island and Sail Island. You will also be given the chance to observe some of the fishing villages that inhabit the bay.
For those who fancy going kayaking, just ask us! It's a good option when visiting Ha Long Bay.
Around 20:00 pm a delicious dinner awaits you in a stunning setting.
Overnight on the traditional Junk boat

DAY 5: HALONG - HANOI - NIGHT TRAIN TO HUE (Meal Inc.: Breakfast, Lunch)
Early risers can practice Tai Chi, or just watch the sunrise. Breakfast will be served on a comforting small boat in the middle of Ha Long Bay, where you can continue watching this wonder of the world, while going through different areas of the Bay. There will time for kayaking, swimming ... or just relaxing. Afterward, we will then, head back to Junk for lunch, and say goodbye to the Bay. After reaching the port and you will the bus back to Hanoi. You'll most likely be back in town at 16:30 h.
In Hanoi we can drop you off at either the hotel or our office. Then at the scheduled time we will pick you up to take you to the train station to take the night train to Hue.
The train we have prepared leaves at 19.00pm arriving in Hue at 7am.
Stay overnight in a 4-beds compartment on the night train to Hue.
*Note: for 4, 5-stars itineraries, you will be taking a Hanoi – Hue flight, and stay the night in a designated hotel in Hue and in the next day, you will take part in a city group tour.

DAY 6: VISITING HUE (Meal Inc.: Breakfast)
Upon your arrival to Hue we will take you to the hotel for your breakfast and rest. After a few hours and then the tour begins.
The picturesque and hilly Hue has a special place in the history of Vietnam. Selected capital of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945), Hue takes us back to the old, the origin Vietnam. A place that has been keeping hundred years of architectural works including palaces and royal tombs of the Nguyen dynasty.
We pick you up at your hotel around 7:30 am. We will begin with a visit to the tombs of Minh Mang and Khai Dinh. On this tour we've also included a visit to see and appreciate the Van An, a Vietnamese martial art. We pass through a small village where they specialized in the development of classic items like conical hats and incense made.
Before lunch we will head to the tomb of Tu Duc.
After you have rested, the bus will take you to the Citadel. You will visit the Citadel of Hue, a World Cultural Heritage. It was built on the banks of the Perfume River, Western style combining so great with the citadel oriental architecture. It consists of three campuses: the defensive citadel, the Imperial Citadel and the Purple Forbidden City. You will visit Thien Mu pagoda, and to complete the tour of Hue awaits a boat ride on the Perfume River.
You will be back at the hotel for 17.00h
Stay overnight in Hue.

DAY 7: HUE - DA NANG - HOI AN (Meal Inc.: Breakfast, Lunch)
We will continue touring the country and be on our way to the South Vietnam, heading down to Hoi an. On the way we stop at the Hai Van Pass, Lang Co Beach and the Marble Mountains.
In the afternoon, we will have time to stroll through the charming Hoi An. The architecture of Hoi An has no equal, with its low houses and wooden painted facades. Visit the Japanese Bridge, which according to local legend is indestructible. We enter the Pottery Museum, the amazing Tan Ky house (which was the first monument of historic interest) and the cantons temple.
Hoi An is a place where you can travel by yourself with ease so we didn’t include a guided visit. But if you’re interested in having a tour today, just contact us. We will also recommend places where you may go to for dinner.
Overnight stay in Hoi An

DAY 8: HOI AN - MY SON - HOI AN (Meal Inc.: Breakfast, Lunch)
This day is free, but we have a lot of options for you what to do. You can do: roping, snorkeling, and boating on the river. Just ask us about it!
We will spend the night in Hoi An
 
DAY 9: HOI AN - DA NANG - HO CHI MINH CITY (Meal Inc.: Breakfast)
Breakfast at the hotel and at the arranged time we will take you to the Da Nang airport to take the plane to Ho chi minh. On your arrival at Ho chi minh airport our staff will be waiting for you to take you to your hotel.
To help you understand the history of Ho Chi Minh we have organized a half day tour for you. In the morning we will visit China Town, Binh Tay market. Stop at Thien Hau, and a Chinese temple with 150 years of history behind it. You will also get to see the Museum of war memories and Reunification Palace, a building that symbolizes the government of South Vietnam and takes us back to 1975 when communist tanks entered Saigon.
In Ho Chi Minh the different and unique building styles will be sure to surprise you. We leave you with the afternoon free so that you can explore by yourself for a bit. Some good suggestions are The Cathedral of Notre Dame, Central Post Office, Thien Hau Pagoda and Quan Am, the Jade Emperor Pagoda is also very interesting. Another market that you should not miss is The Benn Thanh Market, where they buy and sell EVERYTHING! Today dinner will be your responsibility, if you let us know what sort of restaurant you are looking for we will be more than happy to suggest some ideas for you.
Stay overnight stay in Ho chi minh.

DAY 10: HO CHI MINH CITY - CU CHI TUNNELS AND CAO DAI TEMPLE (Meal Inc.: Breakfast)
At around 8am the bus will be waiting outside the door of you hotel to take you to Tay Ninh, where there is the Cao Dai Great Temple, the headquarters of the Cao Dai religion (one of the most unique religions that has originated in Vietnam). It is one of the most emblematic buildings of Asia,  fusion of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism.
Back in the temple, we will stop to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, and see how the Vietcong managed to fight during the war. You will get to see the tunnels and how they link up, a network worthy of being studied by architects.
We return to Ho chi minh for an overnight stay in Ho Chi Minh

DAY 11: HO CHI MINH CITY - MY THO - BEN TRE - CAN THO (Meal Inc.: Breakfast, Lunch)
After you have your breakfast at the hotel, you will then take a 2 and half hours trip by bus to get to the Mekong Delta. Once there, you will take a boat that will take you through the Bao Dinh natural canal. We will visit the fruit market Tho May and stop of on turtle island. You will have lunch and rest in a beautiful location surrounded by gardens. In Ben Tre you will take a trip by boat through the Tan Thach natural canal. We will then visit families that will teach us about their rural lifestyle, we then get to see the fruit plantations on Thoi Son Island, and after another boat ride we will go back to My Tho to head to Can Tho;
We will then spend the night in Can Tho.
Stay overnight in Can Tho

DAY 12: CAN THO - HO CHI MINH CITY (Meal Inc.: Breakfast)
You will need to wake up early to see the Delta markets. There will be two floating markets waiting for you, the Pong Dien and Cai Rang. You will also get to visit coconut candy and rice noodle sellers. You will also get to see how they make these products.
Afterward we head back to Ho Chi Minh City.

DAY 13: HO CHI MINH CITY AND BACK HOME (Meal Inc.: Breakfast)
After your breakfast, it is time to say goodbye. According to the schedule of your flight we may have more chance to see more of Ho Chi Minh. We will head to Tan Son Nhat airport where your flight awaits you to take you back home.

Accomodation

city

 3-stars 4-stars
HANOI HONG NGOC DYNASTY GOLDEN SILK HOTEL
HALONG ;DRAGON CRUISE EMOTION CRUISE (DELUXE)
HANOI - HUE Train (4-beds compartment) Flight
HUE VILLA HUE INDOCHINE PALACE
HOI AN THUY DUONG HOTEL 3 VINH HUNG RESORT
HO CHI MINH SIGNATURE HOTEL PALACE HOTEL
CAN THO SAIGON CAN THO HOTEL GOLF CAN THO HOTEL 2

The tour includes:

  • English speaking guide
  • Meals mentioned in the itinerary
  • All transfers described in this itinerary: transfers to and from airports, excursions transfers. (Apart from the transfer from Hue train station to the hotel after traveling on the night train)
  • Domestic flights: Hoi An (Danang) - Ho Chi Minh
  • Entrance fees to places of interests

We have excluded:

  • International flights (if you need we'll help you find the best flights)
  • International Travel Insurance (we will happily give you information about travel insurance should you need it)

Contact us for a quote

This trip is available throughout the year. If you wish to book this trip please contact us. If you want us to send you more information on this tour or tailor this tour to your requirements (dates, tastes ...) you only have to ask.

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