Welcome to Vietnam! Upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport (HAN), a private transfer will take you to your accomodation, where you’ll be provided with 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. Perhaps choose to explore the ancient Old Quarter, where winding, lantern-lit alleys capture rich Southeast Asian, Chinese and French influences. Or, choose to spend your afternoon at one of the city’s many museums, the stunning opera house and markets.
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.
Later, cut to the core of Hanoi’s best street eats on an exclusive foodie tour. This bonus experience offers three-and-a-half-hours of culinary discovery, with a visit to a bustling wet market, expert guidance in the busy streets of the Old Quarter, samples of rice noodle soup, banh mi, bun cha and myriad other traditional dishes – the flavours of Vietnam await in all their aromatic glory.
BONUS Hanoi street food tour
Today, drive to the Tuan Chau Marina, where you’ll embark on an overnight cruise through Ha Long Bay. The five-star Paradise Grand is your opulent vessel, boasting four floors of elegant facilities including a piano lounge, La Espacia fusion restaurant, a premium spa and an expansive sun deck complete with a plunging jacuzzi.
After a brief meet-and-greet with the captain and their 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.
Travel time: Drive – approx. 2.5 hours
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.
Travel time: Drive – approx. three hours / Flying – approx. 80 minutes
Rise and shine for a half day of leisure before your guided tour of town in the evening. You may wish to fill your morning or afternoon with an optional activity (surcharges apply).
Included today is the chance to unwind during a bonus full-body massage, incorporating both Thai- and Vietnamese-style therapies. Let 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.
BONUS Full-body massage and hot stone therapy
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 into your luxurious five-star stay at Sofitel Saigon Plaza to enjoy an evening of leisure exploring the hotel.
This French-inspired hotel occupies a dazzling perch above Ho Chi Minh’s city lights. Make the most of the glittering Saigon skyline with dips in the rooftop pool, treat yourself to sumptuous treatments at the spa or choose tonight to dine at your choice of three onsite restaurants. Alternatively, the lively streets of HCMC are at your doorstep.
Travel time: Drive – approx. 45 minutes / Flying – approx. 90 minutes
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.
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.
Today marks the end of your shared tour and the start of a relaxing five nights in Ho Tram.
After breakfast, you will board your transfer to Ho Tram, a vibrant beach town known as Vietnam’s ‘entertainment capital’. Once arrived, settle into your five-star, all-inclusive stay at Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort.
Awarded the Best Resort in Vietnam by the Luxury Lifestyle Awards, this beachfront oasis boasts some of the region’s most decadent dining. Your next five nights will be spent in an impeccable Deluxe Ocean View Room with the luxury of a furnished balcony overlooking the resort’s pristine beachfront.
Your Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort inclusions:
- Guaranteed upgrade from Deluxe Room to Deluxe Room Ocean View
- All-inclusive daily dining and free-flow drinks
- In-room minibar refreshed daily
- One 60-minute massage per adult at YHI Spa
- Daily return transfers from hotel to Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN) and Ho Chi Minh City
- One daily fitness class per adult
- Daily two-hour use of resort bicycles, subject to availability
- Daily complimentary use of non-motorised water sports
Travel time: Drive – approx. two hours
Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort stay
The days ahead are yours to spend as you please, soaking up the coastal scenery and making the most of your all-inclusive Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort stay.
Choose to greet the day on the yoga deck, then relax at Breeza Beach Club, home to live music performances and swim-up bars where you can enjoy free-flow drinks. Indulge in Asian street food and seasonal fare at two onsite restaurants, thanks to your all-inclusive daily dining package.
Take a dip in one of the spectacular pools, or pamper your body and soul with an included 60-minute massage at YHI Spa. At the end of each day, retire to your contemporary room, suite or villa for a great night’s sleep.
Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort stay
Your Vietnam tour ends after breakfast, as you wave goodbye to your fellow travellers and make the private, two-hour journey back to Ho Chi Minh City for your flight.
Travel time: Drive – approx. two hours