Day 1: Arrive Hanoi.  On arrival you will be met by our local representative and transferred to your hotel.  Dinner is included at a local restaurant.

Day 2: Hanoi sightseeing. This morning visit Ba Dinh Square where silent sentries guard the marble mausoleum in which Ho Chi Minh lies in state (inside visit at your discretion), before continuing to the nearby visit Ho Chi Minh Museum, dedicated to the late Vietnamese leader. The final stop this morning is the Thang Long Royal Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the 11th century by the Ly Viet Dynasty.  In the afternoon, a walking tour of Hanoi’s Old Quarter is followed by an orientation of Hanoi, its tree-lined streets resplendent with French colonial architecture, including the exquisite, recently restored Opera House as well as visiting the Temple of Literature, a serene retreat from the busy streets outside.  This evening’s water puppet performance is a fitting way to end a fascinating day.  Breakfast and lunch included.

Day 3: Halong Bay overnight cruise.  Depart early this morning by road to Halong Bay. Your overnight cruise provides views of stunning mountain scenery and floating villages as well as opportunities to explore the natural wonders of the bay such as Surprise Cave and Titop Island. Breakfast, lunch, & dinner included.

Day 4: Fly Hanoi to Hue.  After breakfast continue sailing through Halong Bay and enjoy the unique seascape with breakfast is is served on-board returning by road to Hanoi for your late afternoon flight to Hue.  Breakfast and lunch included.

Day 5: Hue. Fascinating boat ride along the Perfume River to the Thien Mu Pagoda. Consisting of seven stories, the pagoda is the tallest religious building in Vietnam.  Then visit the Emperor’s tombs.  Located in attractive settings along the banks of the Perfume River, the tombs of the emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty were not just designed as their final place of rest. Here, the emperors would come during their twilight years to enjoy recreational activities such as fishing and hunting as well as the company of their many concubines.  Breakfast and lunch included.

Day 6: Overland Hue to Da Nang.  This morning, visit the Imperial Citadel and Long An Palace, home to the Royal Fine Arts Museum (closed Mondays).  Leave Hue later this morning for an overland through the most beautiful scenery in Vietnam as you traverse the Hai Van – or ‘Cloudy’ Pass – to reach Da Nang.  Here you’ll visit the superb Museum of Cham Sculpture,  boasting the largest and most impressive collection of Cham artefacts anywhere in the world. Stop at the five craggy limestone peaks of Marble Mountains en route to your hotel.  Breakfast and lunch included.

Day 7: Hoi An sightseeing.   Hoi An, an ancient town listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and without doubt is one of the most attractive destinations in Vietnam.  Discover beautifully preserved old merchant houses, atmospheric temples and lively markets as you stroll through the back streets of this enchanting destination.  Breakfast and lunch included.

Day 8: Fly Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City. Cu Chi tunnels sightseeing.  On arrival in Ho Chi Minh City you will be met by your tour guide who will escort you direct to Cu Chi tunnels.  The tunnels allowed the Viet Cong to control a vital area of South Vietnam and at their height, extended for more than 200 kilometres in length and stretched from what was then Saigon to the Cambodian border.  Breakfast and lunch included.

Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City sightseeing.   Half day tour of this exciting city, including Reunification Palace, formerly named the Presidential Palace, now a museum complete with period meeting areas, war rooms and a basement communication centre.  Also visit Notre Dame Cathedral, a romantic church dating back to the late 19th century and a popular backdrop for wedding photographs, Hotel de Ville de Saigon, officially Ho Chi Minh City Hall, the Museum of Vietnamese History, and the Jade Emperor Pagoda.  Breakfast and lunch included.

Day 10: Mekong Delta area.  Today you will explore one of the country’s most enchanting landscapes travelling by car and then motorised sampan into the ‘rice bowl’ of Vietnam, navigating narrow canals, learning more about the lifestyle, culture and traditions of the people who call the Delta their home.  Breakfast and lunch included.

Day 11: Depart Ho Chi Minh City. Morning at leisure prior to your transfer to the airport. Breakfast included.