MAGDALENA'S PLAN: VIETNAM ITINERARY 13D12N IN NORTH, CENTRAL & SOUTH

Welcome to Ha Noi, the capital city of Viet Nam.

Get picked up by our driver from the airport.

Hotel check in. Have a rest time.

Overnight in Ha Noi.

Have breakfast at you hotel.
09:00: Tour guide picks up to visit Tran Quoc Pagoda located on Golden Fish Island in West Lake. It is the oldest pagoda in Ha Noi built in the 6th century.

The next stop is Temple of Literature – the first university of Vietnam, established in the 11^th century.

Then, Hoa Lo Prison Museum which originally used by the French colonists in Indochina for political prisoners, and later by North Vietnam for U.S. prisoners during the Vietnam War. During this later period, it was known to American POWs as the “Hanoi Hilton”.

Back to the old quarter to explore Hanoi old quarter with your local friend. Visiting Hanoi 36 streets, hidden gems, the places which is only locals know…

Check in train street famous place you can’t miss when visiting Hanoi.

Along the trip Jenny will take you to local places to enjoy our Hanoi authentic street foods:

She is taking you to Hoan Kiem Lake where you will find the greatest “bánh mì” place in town. After that, you will visit to one of the original egg-coffee based in Hanoi from 1946.

Later on, you will pass by few interesting streets in the old quarters which are still devoted to their original trades to get to try Vietnamese beef noodles or Pho 

Overnight in Ha Noi.

07:30 – 08:00: Our tour guide will pick you up from your hotel. We take you to Ninh Binh province which is far from Hanoi city about 120 km.

09:30: Have a short break for 20 minutes to relax

10:30: The first destination in this trip is visit Hoa Lu ancient capital. This is the first capital of Vietnam. Come to visit Hoa Lu, you will learn about why the capital was moved to Hanoi nowadays. You are impressed on an outstanding architecture when entering temples of King Dinh and King Le, the first and second emperors of ancient Vietnam, built in the 17th century. Try to feel ancient atmospheres in Hoa Lu ancient capital.

11:45: Have buffet lunch in the restaurant with a lot of local foods goat meat, fried rice… Vegetarian food is always available in the buffet lunch.

13:00: Visit Trang An which was recognized by UNESCO as The world Heritage Site in 2014. Trang An has the wonderful tunnel cave system so that Kong’s Movie Group chose this place for New Version of Kong in 2016: “Skull Island”. Boat trip to visit Trang An to see the amazing beauty of this landscape with many caves such as: Sang Cave (Light Cave), Toi Cave (Dark cave), Nau Ruou Cave (Cooking Wine), green river and natural view.

15:30: Get on the bus to go to Mua Cave (Dancing Cave). Walk up almost 500 steps, you can reach to the top of Lying Dragon Moutain, have an amazing panoramic view of Tam Coc from there.

16:30 – 17:00: Get on the bus to return to Hanoi

19:30: Arrive to Hanoi and get drop off at the hotel.

Overnight in Ha Noi.

08:00: Pick up from hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter or Opera Theatre House

11:30 – 12:00: Arrive at Tuan Chau harbor, check in at the waiting room.

12:00 – 12:30: Get on Tender Boat to Cruise and enjoy Welcome drink, meet the captain, crew to get a brief introduction about cruise and safety guidelines. Complete check-in procedure.

13:00 – 13:15: Enjoy Vietnamese seafood and vegetarian lunch, while cruising in the magnificent Halong Bay – Lan Ha Bay, admiring the fascinating rock formations in the bay.

15:00: You can choose to relax on the sundeck or explore Ba Trai Dao – Tra Bau area and the natural lagoon of Lan Ha Bay and experience kayaking here.

17:30 – 18:00: Come back to our Cruise and participate in our Sunset party. Take photos and relax.

19:00:  Dinner is served at the restaurant.

After dinner, you can join the squid fishing program, relax on the sundeck, enjoy a glass of wine at the bar…

Overnight on Verdure Lotus Classic Cruise.

06:15 – 07:00: Have breakfast. Morning view of bay’s landscape with a cup of tea or coffee.

07:00: Visitors Dark and Light Cave. Here you can freely kayak or bamboo boat to explore the

landscape or immerse yourself in the cool, clear blue water of this place.

09:30: Back to your cabin, take relax and check carefully all the luggage before leaving your cabin.

10:00: Check-out from the private cabin and enjoy a fantastic cruise on the bay for room service. Complete check-out procedure. Enjoy lunch at the restaurant while the cruise is returning to the harbour.

11:00: You take the high-speed canoe back to Tuan Chau port. Return to Hanoi

15:30 – 16:00: Back to Hanoi, end of the trip!

Special notes: Itinerary maybe changed due to bad Weather, tidy or other issues. Timing on it same to be not absolutely fixed.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Having breakfast. Hotel check out!

Transfer to the airport to fly to Da Nang.

Get picked up by local driver from Da Nang airport.

Note: Driver pick-up for the airport before 2,5 hours

Overnight in Da Nang.

08:00 – 08:30 Get picked up by your tour guide and leave to Hue city

10:45 You will visit the Khai Dinh Tomb, the tomb had elements of Eastern art mixed with Western designs.

12:00 Having a nice lunch with Hue cuisine and rest at beautiful restaurant

13:00 You will continue visiting Hue imperial city – the palace of 13 Nguyen Kings with Ngo Mon Gate, Library, Thai Hoa Palace, Nine Dynastic Urns, etc.

15:00 Visiting Thien Mu pagoda associated with culture and history of Hue.

15:45 Return to Da Nang

Overnight in Da Nang

07:00: Check out hotel. Driver picks up to Hoi An. Leave your luggage here and waiting at the hotel.

08:00: Local guide picks up at the hotel. Go to market with our chef (about 30 minutes). We will have a chance to see and experience the noise as well as directly contact sellers. In addition to this, we will show the ingredients for use in our lesson.

Transfer to Cam Thanh village by car or boat on the way, you can explore the beautiful views of the Vietnamese countryside and see the water and coconut trees growing together. Enjoy your time with basket boat rowing through the coconut jungle forest

12:00: Enjoy a welcome drink and take a rest at our restaurant, then join the cooking class. Our chef will teach you how to cook some local food. After the lesson, enjoy what you have cooked.

13:30: Return to hotel in Hoi An. Check in hotel.

Overnight in Hoi An

On this day you have free day to explore Hoi An on your own.

Recommendation: Watching Hoi An memorial show

Overnight in Hoi An.

Check out hotel. Driver picks up to Da Nang airport.

Fly to Sai Gon or Ho Chi Minh City.

Welcome to Sai Gon – the biggest city in Viet Nam.

Driver picks up at Tan Son Nhat airport then transfer to the hotel.

Overnight in Sai Gon.

IN THE MORNING

08:00: Get picked-up at your accommodation in the city center and drive to Cu Chi, about 65km.

On the way to the tunnels, visit the handicapped handicraft workshop.

Watch a documentary film about the Vietnam War. Discover special constructed living areas with kitchens, bedrooms, storage, weapons factories, field hospitals and command centers helping whoever lives inside Cu Chi tunnels meet their basic needs.

Discover many hidden lefts behind trap doors and dangerous traps within the maze-like tunnels and learning more about the handmade weapon and traps used during the Vietnam War.

Seeing huge bomb craters and the mere 10–13 feet thick level of upper soil can support the bearing weight of a 55-ton tank and the explosive damage of bombs left from the war.

Break at the shooting range to shoot some real guns with Ak47, M16, M30, M60 (shooting fee is paid separately from the trip).

Highlight of the trip is to crawl and experience the underground town of Cu Chi Tunnels. This is the best part of the trip when you crawl into it to feel how it was like in the war. Guests who have claustrophobia be not afraid of crawling inside, you still can see it from above the ground.

Taste the pandan tea and tapioca (guerilla’s food during the war) before heading back to Saigon.

IN THE AFTERNOON

1. THE HIDDEN WEAPON BUNKER:

Vietcong soldier’s hidden bunker located in the heart of Saigon.

2. WAR REMNANTS MUSEUM:

Vietnam War storytelling from the other side.

3. NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL SAIGON:

The pride of Saigon culture.

4. CENTRAL POST OFFICE:

The everlasting architecture of the French influence.

5. THE LAST HELICOPTER:

Remarking the fall of Saigon. Just to see, can’t enter it legally.

Overnight in Sai Gon.

07:45: Get picked up from your hotel in center of Ho Chi Minh City and head to Mekong Delta.
During the 1.5 car ride, we will pass through by green rice fields before arriving at the beautiful rural My Tho.

The first stop is Vinh Trang pagoda. It is the biggest pagoda in Mekong Delta region. You will be guided to explore the most beautiful, ancient and significant temple in the Mekong Delta. This religious landmark dates back to the 19th century and features a harmonious fusion of Vietnamese, Khmer, and Chinese architectural styles.

Your trip continues from here by motorized boat on the Tien River to the Qui, the Dragon, Phoenix and Unicorn Islet. Walk into the village, where you can visit a local fruit garden and enjoy the tropical fruits while listening to Southern Vietnamese folk music performed by islanders.

Here you can join daily activities of the local people and take in the atmosphere of this beautiful natural countryside. Visit the bee house. Lunch will be served at orchard garden.

The boat cruises to Ben Tre province known as “The Land of Coconut”. Here you’ll visit the coconut candy-making shop. Next, enjoy a rowing boat trip on the small canal, fully covered by water coconut palms on both sides. After that, you will have time to relax on a hammock or bike around the village.

15:30: Head back to Ho Chi Minh City.

17:30 – 18:00: Arrive at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Overnight in Sai Gon.

Have your breakfast.

Check out hotel. Fly to Phu Quoc

Trip ends. See you next time

Thank you for travelling with Jenny From The Blog!!!