Vietnam , the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, is a country in Southeast Asia. Located at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, Vietnam borders China to the north, Laos and Cambodia to the west, and shares maritime borders with Thailand through the Gulf of Thailand, and the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia through the South China Sea. Its capital is Hanoi and its largest city is Ho Chi Minh City.

The most visited destination in Vietnam is the largest city, Ho Chi Minh City, with over 5.8 million international arrivals, followed by Hanoi with 4.6 million and Ha Long, including Hạ Long Bay with 4.4 million arrivals. All three are ranked in the top 100 most visited cities in the world. Vietnam is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The jungles and monsoon forests of Vietnam are diverse ecosystems that are alive with unique wildlife. Trekking is a popular activity here, particularly the mountains of Sapa and the primeval landscape of Cuc Phuong National Park. For a more urban escape, take a guided food tour of Ho Chi Minh City, making sure to squeeze in visits to the historic Hoi Truong Thong Nhat palace and the intricately adorned Emperor Jade Pagoda.

Coming to the S-shaped country, you can admire the poetic and charming scenery wherever you go. The natural beauty and unique culture have made Vietnam become a tourist destination worldwide.

 

Discover Vietnam's Hidden Charm

Duration: 07 Nights / 08 Days

Places: Hanoi - Halong Bay - Danang - Hue - Hoi An - Mekong - Ho Chi Minh City

 

Flight with Qatar Airways:

QR 417        15FEB          BEIRUT – DOHA             12.45 17.10

QR 982        15FEB          DOHA – HANOI             20.30 07.10

QR 975        27FEB          SAIGON – DOHA           08.55 13.05

QR 426        27FEB          DOHA – BEIRUT             14.55 18.05

 

 

BRIEF ITINERARY

Day 01:  Hanoi Arrival – Full-day city Tour (L, D)

Day 02:  Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Hanoi (B, L)

Day 03:  Hanoi – Cao Bang – Lan Ha Bay (B, L, D)

Day 04:  Cao Bang – Nguom Ngao Cave – Ban Gioc Waterfall – Lang Son (B)

Day 05:  Lang Son – Halong Bay – Lan Ha Bay

Day 06:  Lan Ha Bay – Hanoi – Hue by flight

Day 07:  Hue – City tour

Day 08:  Hue – Danang – Ba Na Hills & The Golden Bridge – Overnight on Ba Na Hills

Day 09:  Ba Na Hills – Hoi An – Cam Thanh & ancient town

Day 10:  Hoi An – Free & easy

Day 11:  Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh City – City tour

Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City - Departure

 

DETAILED PROGRAM

DAY 1: - SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2025: HANOI ARRIVAL - F/D CITY TOUR (L/ D)

Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, after you finish all customs and immigration procedures, please head to the exit gate and look for your guide who will be waiting for you, holding a welcome signboard with your name on it. Then, you will be transferred to your hotel in town by a private vehicle.

The capital of Vietnam, Ha Noi is a perfect blend of old and new, Asian and European, a dynamic unification of tradition and progressive 21st-century thinking. Despite recent rapid development, the city has retained much of its traditional identity.

 

Visit the complex dedicated to Ho Chi Minh, the nation's founder and affectionately known to the Vietnamese as “Uncle Ho”. Make the first stop at the historic Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, an imposing monument built to serve as the final resting place of Uncle Ho. Continue walking through the beautiful botanical garden of the Presidential Palace to visit Uncle Ho's humble house, built based on a rural Vietnamese stilt house with simple design in a tranquil setting, reflecting his simple, pure and noble lifestyle. Tour the One Pillar Pagoda, built in 1049 of wood on a single stone pillar, designed to resemble a lotus blossom, a symbol of purity.

 

Continue to the Tran Quoc pagoda, Hanoi's oldest pagoda, located on a small island of West Lake. Then lunch at local restaurant.

 

In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Literature, the first university of Vietnam. Constructed in the 11th Century, this stunning temple constitutes a rare example of well-preserved traditional Vietnamese architecture and is featured on the back of the 100,000 Vietnamese dong banknote.

 

The cyclo (rickshaw) ride is an excellent way to experience Ha Noi at close hand as the atmosphere is lively, hectic, and sociable. Your local driver will pedal you off, behind your guide, into narrow streets of the Old Quarter, known for its '36 streets of 36 wares'.

Within the Old Quarter, as they had since the 15th Century, the narrow 36 streets of the Old Quarter bear names that reflect the business once conducted there; silk street, rice street, paper street, lacquer ware street, and jewelry street. Explore the fascinating maze of back streets, discover your bargaining power, and come away with unusual items that will always remind you of this memorable afternoon.

Cap off your trip by wandering around the scenic Hoan Kiem Lake “Lake of the Returned Sword”, named after a magical sword once used by the most revered heroes to defeat the Chinese Ming Dynasty and then returned to the Golden Turtle God of the lake.

 

After a short refresh at hotel, transfer with driver and guide to local restaurant for welcome dinner.

Overnight in Hanoi

Meals: lunch & dinner at local restaurant

DAY 2: MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2025: HANOI - NINH BINH - HANOI (B, L)

Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014, Ninh Binh is home to amazing karst mountains, misty caves, and historical relics.

 

This morning, enjoy a 2-hour drive from downtown Ha Noi to Ninh Binh province. It is a spectacular landscape of limestone karts peaks permeated with valleys, some of which are submerged, and surrounded by spectacular cliffs.

Visit the ancient capital of Hoa Lu to get an overview of the first three centralized feudal states of Vietnam: the Dinh Dynasty, the Le Dynasty, and the Ly Dynasty. While the ancient citadel has probably disappeared, the temples of the Dinh and Le Dynasties still remain surrounded by rice paddies and mountains.

Visit Bich Dong which was conferred by a King as the “Vietnam's second most beautiful grotto”. The grotto is adorned with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites of different shapes and colors. Climb up the Ngu Nhac Son (Buddha's Palm Mountain) to enjoy the panoramic view that is created by mountains, rivers, pagodas, and temples.

 

Known as “Ha Long Bay on Land”, Tam Coc (“three caves” in Vietnamese meaning) was formed by the river of Ngo Dong flowing through a mountain. This afternoon, a local skilled rower will take you on a magnificent waterway lined with rice paddies. Enjoy the spectacular view of the karst formation as you explore these caves amid by towering mountains. Disembark the boat and enjoy a follow a village trail to reach Thai Vi temple. Enjoy the beautiful rural landscape as you pass by the endless rice fields and mysterious grotto with a sacred shrine inside.

 

Return to Ha Noi late afternoon.

Notes:

• March-April is the beginning of the rice farming season in Ninh Binh. The fields are greenest here around April and early May, turning golden in late May and early June when the harvest starts.
• Walking distance from disembarkation point to Thai Vi temple: 200meters, on the flat road

Overnight in Hanoi

Meals: breakfast at hotel, lunch local restaurant in Ninh Binh

DAY 3: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2025: HANOI – CAO BANG (280km) (B, L, D)

Breakfast at your hotel then check-out.

 

This overnight tour will take you to the wild and rugged landscapes of Cao Bang to visit the most spectacular Ban Gioc waterfall in Vietnam. You will be travelling through the remote areas in the north of Vietnam, brushing along the Chinese border and staying with local families to find out about the unique cultures and customs of Vietnam.

 

08:30 Leave Hanoi for driving on national highway No.03, stop on the way to visit the Museum of Cultures of Vietnam’s Ethnic Group in Thai Nguyen City where you can brose the objects, photographs and exhibits that give a better understanding of the various ethnic groups and their agricultural tools, handicrafts and traditional costumes worn for worship. There will be a stop for lunch before your transfer extremely north to Cao Bang through scatterings of villages and rice paddies.

 

There will be a stop for lunch at local restaurant before your transfer extremely north to Cao Bang through scatterings of villages and rice paddies. You will get the chance to stop at a village known for its tobacco production (depend on growing season). This is the road less-travelled offering you the enjoy the views in peace.

 

Arrive in Cao Bang, check-in your hotel and refresh. Dinner at local restaurant/ hotel.

Overnight in Cao Bang

Meals: breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at local restaurant.

DAY 4: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2025: CAO BANG – NGUOM NGAO CAVE – BAN GIOC WATERFALL (B, L, D)

Breakfast at your hotel.

 

Cao Bang – Nguom Ngao Cave:   84km, 2h

Nguom Ngao Cave – Ban Gioc Waterfall: 3km, 10m

Ban Gioc Waterfall – Lang Son: 178km, 4.5 – 5h

 

Depart for a natural wonder: Nguom Ngao cave, one of the most spectacular cave systems in Vietnam. Created by an underground river, Nguom Ngao has amazing stalactites of various uniqueness and size.

 

Arrive at Ban Gioc Waterfall around 11am, when the flow rate is at its strongest. Admire the breathtaking scenery of the cascading water flowing into the beautiful jade-blue body of water. Get a boat to get as close as possible to the main fall. Capture a wonderful picture of Ban Gioc waterfalls surrounded by limestone mountains and valleys. Opt to visit Truc Lam Ban Gioc pagoda where you will have a chance to capture a stunning panoramic view over Ban Gioc waterfalls and its surroundings.

 

After lunch at local restaurant, transfer to Lang Son Province where you will stay overnight.

 

Dinner at local restaurant/ hotel.

Overnight in Lang Son

Meals: breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at local restaurant.

DAY 5: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2025: LANG SON - HALONG - LAN HA BAY (B, L, D

Check-out after breakfast and head for Halong.

Lang Son – Halong: 188km, 3.5h-4h

Located south of Ha Long Bay and east of Cat Ba Island, Lan Ha Bay spreads over more than 7,000ha, with some 400 islets scattered over the area. Considered as a seascape with majestic limestone mountains in many different shapes, hiding behind each shape is a lively folk legend, Lan Ha Bay has gradually gained popularity for any travelers who look for a pristine and less-crowded destination. This morning, depart for a 2.5- hour journey to Tuan Chau Marina where you will get ready to take in a relaxing cruise to the magnificent Lan Ha Bay.
11:15-11:45: Check-in and finish stay registration procedure
12:15: Transfer to the cruise by speedboat
12:45: Check-in on the cruise.
13:00: Enjoy lunch
14:00: Receive key and check-in the cabin.
15:00 – 17:30: Gather at reception area to participate in Kayaking activities
16:00 – 18:00: Take pictures with the cruise by drone at the Sundeck area (depending on the weather condition)
17:30: Sunset party
18:00: Cooking demonstration
18:00 – 19:00: Join the Happy Hour
19:00: Enjoy dinner
Attention: For all valuable and important items (wallet, passport, jewelry, etc), please keep them carefully in the safe or entrust them to the reception on the 2nd floor.
Overnight in Ha Long
Meals: breakfast at hotel, lunch and dinner on board

DAY 6:FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2025: LAN HA BAY - HANOI – HUE (B/ BRUNCH, D

5:45 – 6:15: Enjoy the sunrise & join a golf class

6:15 – 6:35: Taichi exercise

6:45 – 7:30: Enjoy breakfast

7:45 – 8:45: Gather at the reception area to visit Dark and Bright Cave by local rowing boat.

9:30 – 9:45: Pack up the luggage and put them in front of the door, then return the key to the reception counter.

9:45: Enjoy the buffet in our restaurant.

10:45: Settle down the payment for personal expenses (beverages, spa, etc.).

11:10: Return to the mainland by speedboat.

11:45: Return to harbor

 

Transferring directly from Halong to the airport of Hanoi to take flight to Hue on Vietnam Airlines VN1545 /16:35-17:50.

 

On arrival in Hue – welcome by local tour guide and driver. Transfer to Moc Vien Restaurant for dinner.

 

Overnight in Hue

Meals: breakfast, brunch on board, dinner at local restaurant

DAY 7:- SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2025: HUE – FULL DAY CITY TOUR WITH ALL HIGHLIGHTS (B, L)  

Breakfast at your hotel.

 

Hue, the former Imperial capital, is a tranquil and peaceful city with the magnificent architecture of its citadel, palaces, royal tombs, garden houses, pagodas and temples, built under the Nguyen dynasty on the banks of the Perfume River.

In the morning, visit the Imperial Citadel at the centre of the Complex of Hue Monuments inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. Enter through the towering main gate to observe the magnificent architecture and gardens while your guide explains the events and the intrigue surrounding the former royal court. Some sections suffered the most extensive damage during the Vietnam War, but most of them are incredibly well-preserved.

 

Lunch at Les Jardins de la Carambole.

In the afternoon, set off for a leisure boat trip floating on the Perfume River that flows through the charming Hue city. Disembark your boat and visit Thien Mu pagoda, one of the oldest ancient architectural structures for religious worship in Hue. Built in 1601, the seven-storied tower pagoda perched on top of on a hill overlooking the Perfume River is one of Vietnam's most recognizable icons.

Head out to the last resting place of the 12th king of Nguyen dynasty, Khai Dinh who left behind a magnificent and huge burial compound idyllically located on the peaceful Chau Chu Mountain and different from structures of previous predecessor Royal' tombs. Passing by the spectacular entryway with its spectacular dragon pillars, get inside the colorful mosaic interior in the spacious main building decorated with murals of the “Four Seasons”, the “Eight Precious Objects”, the “Five Blessings”, and many others. Notice a perfect architectural combination of European and Asian culture, between classic and modern features.

 

Just 10 minutes driving from Khai Dinh Tomb, you can visit Thuy Tien Water Park at sunset time, where you see the Giant Dragon Scuplure in an abandoned aquarium. This might fill your adventure with the horrifying scene of an abandoned water park in the middle of the forest.

 

Drive back to downtown Hue with a stop en route at a family-run workshop to learn how incense stick is made.

 

Overnight in Hue

Meals: breakfast at hotel, lunch at local restaurant

DAY 8: SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2025: HUE – DANANG – BA NA HILLS & THE GOLDEN BRIDGE (B, L)

Breakfast at your hotel.

 

08:00 Your journey continues with a 3-hour drive southbound to Danang over the famous Hai Van Pass. Enjoy a green view of the stretch of Truong Son Mountain range on one side and a spectacular view of the East Sea on the other. Distance Hue – Danang: 112km, 2.5h

 

Ba Na Hill, a scenic mountainous area with panoramic vistas reminiscent. Standing more than 1,400 meters (4,878 feet) above sea level, the temperature of this place is mostly cool year-round.

 

Arrive at Ba Na Hills cable car station, ride on a modern system of cable cars and get a bird's-eye view of nature which is strikingly beautiful, while enjoying a feeling of flying in the blue sky among the clouds and wind. Experience the feeling of walking in the clouds when you walk on the Golden Bridge which seems to be supported by a pair of giant hands jutting out of the mountain.

 

Then, enjoy your leisure time on Ba Na Hills for further activities such as European Architecture Villas, in-door game, flower beds and pagodas, French Wine Cellar (with extra cost on own).

 

Lunch included on Ba Na Hills. Dinner on your own.

Stay overnight on Ba Na Hills.

Overnight on Ba Na Hills

Meals: breakfast at hotel, lunch at restaurant on Ba Na Hills.

 

DAY 9:MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2025: BA NA HILLS – HOI AN – CAM THANH & ANCIENT TOWN (B, L)

Breakfast at hotel’s restaurant then enjoy the atmosphere here.

 

At proper time, take cable car downhills where driver is waiting for your group to transfer to Hoi An.

 

Lunch at Moon River Restaurant.

 

In the afternoon, explore Hoi An and its' surroundings. Experient the art of paddling the unique Vietnamese round basket boat in the water coconut palm-fringed waterways of Cam Thanh village, just where the Thu Bon River meets the sea.

Continue with a guided walking tour in the World Heritage Site by UNESCO - Hoi An Ancient town, which is recognized for its well-preserved architecture, pedestrian-only streets, old age tile-roofed shop houses, and typical local cuisine. Visit the Merchant Houses, the Japanese Covered Bridge, Museum, Pagoda, the Assembly Halls, lantern shops.  Take lantern boat on Hoai River in the evening.

Overnight in Hoi An

Meals: breakfast at hotel, lunch at local restaurant

DAY 10:TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2025: HOI AN - FREE & EASY (B)  

This day is free at leisure in Hoi An to explore on your own.

Overnight in Hoi An

Meals: breakfast at hotel

 

DAY 11WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2025: HOI AN – DANANG – SAIGON (B, L)

Breakfast at hotel and check-out.

 

07:00 You will be transferred to Da Nang airport in a A/C private vehicle. Distance Hoi An - Danang Airport: 30km, 45 minutes

Take a late morning flight from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City. Expected flight: VN109/ 09:15 - 10:50

Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport, please head to the exit gate and look for your guide who will be waiting for you, holding a welcome signboard with your name on it. Then, you will be transferred to local restaurant for lunch.

Formerly known as Saigon, todays Ho Chi Minh City is the bustling and vibrating economic centre of the South. Over the past few centuries, Saigon was called the “Pearl of the Far East” and was an important trading centre for Chinese, Japanese and Western merchants.

 

Discover dynamic, multicultural Saigon while strolling through the busiest and most romantic streets located in the heart of the city. Standing on the Paris Square, get information about two iconic landmarks of Saigon, Notre Dame Cathedral (from the outside) and the Central Post Office. Then, stroll down the elegant Dong Khoi street.

 

Travel back to the French colonial period at the Continental Hotel (the first hotel in Saigon), at the Opera House (built in 1897), and at the City Hall (officially called the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Head Office and closed to the public).

Standing on Nguyen Hue Walking Square, the guide will tell you about the change in Saigon through various periods of history. Take Le Loi Street and be delighted by the colourful souvenir shops before heading to the Ben Thanh Market. Explore this vibrant and iconic market or sip a cup of coffee in a shop next to the market and enjoy watching the bustling life in the surrounding streets. Finish your day at 17h00

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city

Meals: breakfast at hotel, lunch at local restaurant

DAY 12:THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2025: HO CHI MINH CITY DEPARTURE (B)

Transfer from your hotel to the airport with guide to take departure flight back to your home country.

QR 975  27FEB            SGN-DOH       08.55 13.05

 

--- END OF OUR SERVICES ---

 

Hotels

City	Hotel Information	Nights
Hanoi	MELIA HANOI HOTEL Room Category: Deluxe Room	2
Cao Bang	MUONG THANH LUXURY CAO BANG HOTEL Room Category: Deluxe	1
Lang Son	MUONG THANH LUXURY LANG SON HOTEL Room Category: Deluxe	1
Ha Long	ELITE OF THE SEA (35 CABINS) Room Category: Elite Junior Suite	1
Hue	INDOCHINE PALACE HOTEL HUE Room Category: Palace Deluxe Room	2
Ba Na Hills	MERCURE DANANG FRENCH VILLAGE BA NA HILLS Room Category: Standard	1
Hoi An	LITTLE OASIS - A LITTLE LUXURY HOTEL & SPA Room Category: ROH Balcony	2
Ho Chi Minh city	MAI HOUSE SAIGON Room Category: Premium Room	1

 

Below Rates are in USD per Person

Valid till 16 December 2024

Private Tour	Price
02 Persons	USD 3510
Single Supplement	USD 925

 

Includes:

• Roundtrip ticket Beirut/Doha/Hanoi-Saigon/Doha Beirut with Qatar Airways
• Domestic one-way tickets from Hanoi to Hue and from Danang to Ho Chi Minh City with Vietnam Airlines
• 11 nights’ accommodation
• Transfer services in private A/C vehicles
• Entrance fees; administration fee where applicable
• Sharing boat trip in Halong Bay
• Private boat trip in Ninh Binh
• Meals as listed in the program are pre-arranged at local restaurants based on Vietnamese set menu
• English speaking local guide in each city
• Lebanese tour leader during the whole trip
• Bottled water on coach during transfers
• 2 Welcome girls in traditional Vietnamese dress with flowers at the Airport
• Travel Insurance

Excludes:

• Vietnam visa fees ($45 per person)
• Optional services/excursions
• Meals not clearly mentioned
• Dinks at meals and minibar in hotel rooms
• SIM card
• Personal expenses such as bar, telephone & laundry bills
• Tips for guides, drivers and boat driver/rower

This is a general price. Please enquire for a full personalized quote for you.  All our itineraries are tailor-made to your own requirements and can be modified to your liking.