Welcome to Vietnam! Upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport (HAN), you’ll be transferred to your Hanoi hotel. The hotel will provide your welcome packet containing all the information you’ll need on tour.
Vietnam’s capital offers layers of Chinese and French influence, gaggles of scooters and a wealth of incredible restaurants. Among this thriving metropolis, you can spend the rest of your day at leisure.
Meet your tour director this morning and set off to explore Hanoi. Visit the grounds of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and view the preserved body of Ho Chi Minh in its glass case. Wander through the park to the Presidential Palace, then stop by Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House, the leader’s historic private residence which still stands just as it did over 50 years ago.
Next, enjoy a guided experience through the Temple of Literature – Vietnam’s first university – built in the 11th century. Visit the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, then venture across the Huc Bridge for a visit to the 18th-century Ngoc Son Temple on Hoan Kiem Lake. From here, you can view the recognisable Turtle Tower, one of Vietnam’s most enduring architectural symbols.
Then, cut to the core of Hanoi’s best street eats with a three-and-a-half-hour BONUS foodie tour that sees you walking, driving and pausing in appreciation. Visit a bustling wet market, follow your expert guide to the busy streets of the Old Quarter, sample rice noodle soup, banh mi, bun cha or myriad other traditional dishes.
BONUS Hanoi street food tour
Today, drive to the Tuan Chau Marina, where you’ll embark on an overnight cruise through Ha Long Bay.
After a brief meet-and-greet with the captain and his crew, enjoy a tea or coffee before lunch is served as you set sail through striking emerald waters. Witness the majesty of the bay’s jungle-topped limestone islands and anchor late this evening for a night floating between Ha Long’s towering cliffs.
Ha Long Bay overnight cruise
This morning, enjoy dawn on the expansive sundeck with fresh tea and coffee. Energise your body and soul during a tranquil tai chi class, watching the sun rise over the bay.
Continue your morning cruising among the tree-trimmed cliffs of Ha Long Bay’s Natural Preservation Zone. You’ll have the opportunity to admire your surroundings as you sail through this pristine environment, before packing up your things and preparing to disembark. Once the vessel arrives back at Tuan Chau Marina, rejoin your coach for the ride from Ha Long back to Hanoi Airport (HAN) and a flight onward to Da Nang (DAD).
Upon arrival, you’ll be transferred to your hotel in the coastal city of Hoi An for an evening at leisure.
Rise and shine for a morning of leisure before your BONUS two-hour spa package. Unwind during a relaxing full-body massage that incorporates both Thai- and Vietnamese-style therapies, letting your therapist’s use of hot stones rebalance your energy and relieve tension, restoring your vitality for more Vietnam exploration.
In the evening, follow your guide as you visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, first constructed in the 16th century. Nearby, pay a visit to the Museum of Sa Huynh Culture and unearth the region’s Iron Age-history with a collection of local artefacts, including an impressive exhibit of burial jars.
Discover the Chinese- and Japanese-influenced architecture of the Tran Family Chapel, a 200-year-old ancestral hall. Conclude your tour with a stop at the traditional Fujian Assembly Hall, constructed in the 17th century and later repurposed as a temple for worshipping Thien Hau, a powerful Chinese sea goddess.
As you wander the streets of Hoi An, follow your guide’s expert advice and sample fragrant local dishes, from hearty cao lau noodle soup to fresh banh mi and invigorating Vietnamese coffee. Taste Hoi An’s best culinary offerings and enjoy an included cold beer before returning to your hotel.
Hoi An street food tour
After breakfast at your hotel, the rest of the day is yours to spend freely. Take the chance to explore Hoi An Ancient Town, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed district. Perhaps choose to visit the merchant residence Tan Ky House – filled with antiques and eye-catching architecture – or check out Hoi An Night Market.
After breakfast, enjoy a final hour or two exploring Hoi An before being transferred back to Da Nang Airport (DAD) for your return flight to Ho Chi Minh City, historically known as Saigon. On arrival, you will check-in to your luxurious five-star stay at Sofitel Saigon Plaza to enjoy an evening of leisure exploring the hotel.
Sofitel Saigon Plaza five-star stay
Join your director in the hotel lobby and set off for your Saigon street tour of the city’s many landmark buildings, such as the War Remnants Museum, the soaring Notre Dame Cathedral, Ho Chi Minh City Opera House and City Hall. Gaze upon the intricate detail of Saigon Central Post Office, then learn about the history of the Reunification Palace, where a convoy of tanks broke through in 1975.
The rest of your day is yours to explore at leisure. Consider a trip to the colonial-era Fine Arts Museum, the delicately carved Jade Emperor Pagoda, or simply settle in at one of the city’s many cafes and enjoy a traditional Vietnamese coffee.
Sofitel Saigon Plaza five-star stay
Wake up bright and early and head towards Cu Chi, just 60 kilometres south of Ho Chi Minh City. Considered a powerful remnant of the conflict that once threatened Vietnam, this city is legendary for its seemingly endless tunnels. Uncover the city beneath a city, an extraordinary testament to the Viet Cong’s ingenuity.
After your tour around this historic site, return to Ho Chi Minh City.
This evening, travellers who book a Superior Upgrade will enjoy a special dinner at ST25 by KOTO, where locally sourced ingredients are transformed into a flavourful feast.
Sofitel Saigon Plaza five-star stay
Check out of your hotel after breakfast this morning and transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) for your included flight with Vietnam Airlines to Cam Ranh International Airport (CXR).
On arrival, a transfer will bring you to the beautiful Villa Le Corail Gran Meliá for check-in. Settle into your spacious Coastal Suite, and make sure to enjoy an included lunch or dinner at Natura – the rest of the evening is yours to spend at your leisure.
Please Note: You must book your hotel transfers from Cam Ranh International Airport (CXR) directly with Villa Le Corail Gran Meliá at least 48-hours prior to check-in in order to redeem complimentary transfers.
Villa Le Corail Gran Meliá stay
With four nights ahead at the Villa Le Corail Gran Meliá, settle in and make the most of the resort’s incredible facilities. Set along the pristine Khanh Hoa coastline in Nha Trang, take in breathtaking views of Turtle Island and endless blue horizons – best explored by the resort’s glass kayaks, paddleboards and exceptional catamaran voyages.
Guests are treated to a curated schedule of complimentary activities, including pilates, yoga, art workshops and sound healing sessions. Dining is a standout, featuring Vietnam’s only outpost of acclaimed chef Marcos Moran’s Spanish fine-dining restaurant, Hispania, as well as the all-day panoramic view eatery Natura and Japanese fine dining Shibui, serving Omakase with an expertly chosen wine list.
In true Gran Meliá style, the resort’s onsite wellness retreat, Song Spa, is dressed to impress: a carefully curated menu of wellness treatments, Turkish baths and seaside yoga classes make it the perfect place to savour days spent in paradise.
Your stay includes daily buffet breakfast and daily lunch or dinner so you can fuel up for your days in paradise, with the opportunity to upgrade two dinners to Shibui or Hispania. Sip on two nightly cocktails at Theia Bar, make a splash in the crystal lagoon with complimentary non-motorised equipment hire, and unwind with a 30-minute holistic aromatherapy massage each day.
Your Villa Le Corail Gran Meliá inclusions:
- Daily buffet breakfast at Natura
- Daily three-course lunch or dinner at Natura
- One upgraded set-menu dinner at Shibui per person (see Fine Print)
- One upgraded set-menu dinner at Hispania per person (see Fine Print)
- Two nightly cocktails per adult at Theia Bar
- Daily 30-minute Holistic Aromatherapy massage per person at Song Spa
- Non-motorised water sports equipment hire
- Complimentary Kids’ Club access
- Return private airport transfers
Villa Le Corail Gran Meliá stay
After breakfast, wave goodbye to beautiful Nha Trang and greet your driver for your transfer to Cam Ranh International Airport (CXR) for your flight home.
Please Note: You must book your transfer from the hotel to Cam Ranh International Airport (CXR) directly with Villa Le Corail Gran Meliá at least 48-hours prior to checkout in order to redeem complimentary transfers.