Voyage to a haunting land of sweet smelling incense, spiritual pagodas, otherworldly natural beauty, a dramatic past & heart-warming people with this adventurous expedition showcasing the highlights of Vietnam. Led by expert private guide tour Hanoi (where antiquity & modern day unite) & Ho Chi Minh City (formally known as Saigon). Cruise amidst the limestone karsts of Ha Long Bay, cycle along the capital's many lakes, attend the opera for a traditional water puppet show, go underground to the Chi Chi tunnels, dine on Vietnamese staples like pho, bia hoi & seafood, meander through lively markets & more. Featuring stylish modern hotels, private guide & driver, this exotic country promises to be a unique & unforgettable adventure.

Hanoi is nestled on the banks of the Red River, it is a beautiful city that retains an air of French colonial elegance with pretty yellow stucco buildings lining leafy streets. Hanoi is also a city of lakes, which adds to its air of sleepy grace. In the middle of the city lies the peaceful Hoan Kiem Lake with the 18th-century Ngoc Son Temple sitting on an island in its center. To the north of Hoan Kiem Lake is the Old Quarter, a fascinating maze of small antiquated streets lined with markets and pavement restaurants and cafes. Also worth a visit, the former Ville Française was the old French administrative center and is characterized by enormous colonial-era châteaux and wide spacious boulevards. It also houses Hanoi’s most popular attraction, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

You will be met and transferred between the airport to your hotel in a private vehicle with an English speaking driver.

Maison D'Hanoi Hanova Hotel is conveniently located within 3 minutes walk to the famous Hoan Kiem Lake, the old quarters with its walking streets and colonial architectures. Its 55 tasteful rooms are specially designed for both the leisure and discerning corporate guests alike. The Minh Hai Lobby Gallery, the Piano Bar and all-day-dining Hanova Cafe produces an ambience (every inch) an impeccable and unique boutique hotel. All of the 55 guest rooms and suites are equipped with tea and coffee making facilities, mini fridge, multi-channel satellite television, mini bar, IDD telephone, shower/bath tub combination, hair dryer, individually controlled air-conditioning, safe-box and free internet access. Suites are with DVD components.

Overnight at Maison D`Hanoi (3*).

Visit the Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh and his former residence, One pillar Pagoda, and the Temple of Literature. After lunch, continue your city tour to one of Hanoi's many museums: Fine Art, History, Revolutionary, War, Ethnology (of your choosing), then head to Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple. Experience a one hour cyclo ride. Finish your day off at the Thang Long Opera Theatre for a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show.

Overnight at Maison D`Hanoi (3*).

Your day will begin with an early morning departure from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay ( 165 km east of Hanoi). Enjoy a boat cruise through this UNESCO World Heritage site with its islands, rocks and caves rising from the sea. Halong Bay is a truly spectacular location, and is considered to be the highlight of Vietnams tourism industry. A fresh sea food lunch (included) will be prepared and served during the cruise. After the tour you will return to Hanoi.

Overnight at Maison D`Hanoi (3*).

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is more modern than other Vietnamese cities, and has retained its French colonial influences. The streets are jam-packed with mopeds and scooters, often carrying whole families. Highlights in the city include the colorful Emperor of Jade Pagoda, an excellent example of a Chinese temple. The Hôtel de Ville is a wonderful example of French colonial architecture. The twin towers of Notre Dame Cathedral have been a familiar landmark in Ho Chi Minh City since the 1880s. The War Remnants Museum bears witness to the suffering inflicted on the Vietnamese people during the Vietnam War in the 1960s and 1970s. Other sites relevant to that era are Reunification Hall and the former US Embassy. An interesting excursion from Saigon is a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels in which the South Vietnamese Communists concealed themselves and from which they launched attacks on US soldiers.

You will be met and transferred between the airport to your hotel in a private vehicle with an English speaking driver.

Sit back and relax during this domestic flight travelling between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Enjoy a private transfer with English Speaking Driver between Ho Chi Minh City airport and your hotel.

Meet your guide the hotel and transfer to visit War Remnants Museum, which features a comprehensive collection of the machinery, weapons, photos, and documentation of Vietnam's wars with the both the French and Americans. The museum is a call for peace, and the hope that the horrors of war will never be repeated. The exhibit begins with a room listing war facts: troop numbers, bomb tonnage, and statistics on international involvement in the conflict, including numbers of casualties on both sides. Our visit will also include exhibits dedicated to the journalists who were lost during the war as well as biological warfare, weaponry, and worldwide movements for peace. The tour continues to the Reunification Palace, which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975. Afterwards, stop at Ben Thanh market for shopping.

Lavender Hotel sits in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, near the Ben Thanh Handicraft Market, Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica and Saigon Opera House. A great choice for business travelers, it is close to many commercial areas and international consulates. All guestrooms are well-furnished, elegantly-designed and modern-equipped to establish a homey feel. To facilitate any meetings and seminars, the hotel provides fully-equipped meeting rooms of varying sizes, including a business center and library. The Saigon View Restaurant and Bar, which offers panoramic view of the Ben Thanh market and the central city area, attracts gourmets not only with its service-minded staff but also delightful Vietnamese and Western specialties.

Overnight at Lavender Hotel (3*).

Visit to Cu Chi tunnels ( 70 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh city ) an amazing complex of underground tunnels used during the Vietnam war. The residents of Cu Chi took their war underground, literally, developing a network of tunnels that, at its height, stretched as far as Cambodia and included meeting rooms, kitchens, and triage area. In the afternoon, return to the city for a tour visiting the Notre Dame Cathedral, Post Office and the former Presidential Palace. Continue to visit the War Museum. After a Vietnamese lunch at local restaurant (is in the price included), explore the China Town area and visit Thien Mu pagoda. Finish your tour off with a visit to Ben Thanh market.

Overnight at Lavender Hotel (3*).

Enjoy a private transfer with English Speaking Driver between Ho Chi Minh City airport and your hotel.

Depart from Ho Chi Minh City International airport - end of itinerary.

Overnight at Depart.