9-Day The Real Vietnam

Take the morning trip to visit Independence Palace, also known at the Reunification palace, was built on the sight of the former Norodom palace. The Independence palace is a widely known landmark of Ho Chi Minh City and was designed by the architect Ngo Viet Thu.
Continue seeing the beautiful structures from the French Colonial times such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, the historic Central Post Office. Followed by the remarkable site of the War Remnants Museum, the museum has a vast display of both the Indochina wars.

Have lunch at local restaurant.

Departing for Cu Chi tunnel, the trip will take approximately one and a half hours bus driving. Upon arrival, before exploring the tunnels, you will have some short introduction followed by introductory video about how the tunnels were constructed and how the people survived in the harsh conditions of the war time. Then, spend your time to explore the remaining area and tunnel systems which include the special constructed living areas with kitchens, bedrooms side by side with other martial facilities like storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, and command centers helping whoever lives inside the tunnels meet their basic needs. Besides, there are also many hidden trap doors and dangerous traps within the maze-like tunnels for security purposes during the war. Afterward, special tea and cassava (guerilla food during the war) will be served.

Break time for relax or time for those who want to try the real shooting gun. Return to Saigon. End trip.

Please take notes:

• The Notre Dame Cathedral has been restored, so the guests just visit outside.
• Drop off time is subject to traffic, weather…so the finished time could be later than expected.
• Pick up and transfer just for the centrally located hotel/accommodation in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
• We are not responsible for your lateness.
• Infant rates apply provided they do not occupy a seat and the tour inclusions. Please advise the supplier if you have 1 infant at time of booking.

• Overnight: in Ho Chi Minh City.
• Meal Included: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch at the local restaurant.
• Accommodation: 3⭐️, 4⭐️, 5⭐️ hotels as mentioned or similar.

Today you are free for your own exploration in Ho Chi Minh City.

• Overnight: in Ho Chi Minh City.
• Meal Included: Breakfast at hotel.
• Accommodation: 3⭐️, 4⭐️, 5⭐️ hotels as mentioned or similar.

Optional Tour

Full Day to Mekong Delta
Tour price: AUD $140 per person twin share.
Morning, travel by car to the Mekong Delta, the world’s largest delta and Vietnam’s largest rice bowl. On arrival in My Tho City, capital of Tien Giang Province, board a motorboat and navigate through intricate canals while observing the local daily life up close as well as the landscape of waterways and lush islands. Land on Thoi Son Island to listen to the Southern traditional music performed by native artists. Continue the tour with a paddleboat to cruise more canals before visiting household with traditional occupations of home-based coconut candy and rice-wine making. Switch back to a motorboat to go to a bee farm to enjoy fresh honey tea and fresh fruits. On the way back to My Tho, stop to visit Vinh Trang Pagoda, a prominent local Buddhist structure built in 1850 with a unique architectural mixture of Vietnamese, Roman, Chinese and Cambodian styles featured by a highly ornate façade. Meal: Lunch.

Our tour guide will meet and pick you up at your hotel to transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport to take flights to Da Nang.

Arrival Da Nang airport, pick up by our guide & driver then transfer to Hoi An – a charming ancient town in central Vietnam, famous for its lantern-lit streets, historic architecture, and peaceful riverside atmosphere..

• Overnight: in Hoi An.
• Meal Included: Breakfast at hotel.
• Accommodation: 3⭐️, 4⭐️, 5⭐️ hotels as mentioned or similar.

We start the day (08:15am) with a welcome drink at Hai Scout Café – our meeting point.

• Visit Hoi An’s colorful main market, and experience its amazing sights, sounds and aromas. We will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers, to see and taste the wonderful variety of foods on display.
• We board the Red Bridge boat for a leisurely cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoi An River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. This is a chance to view local river life, so make sure your camera is handy.
• On arrival, we explore the cooking school’s herb and vegetable garden, before learning about some of Hoi An’s and Vietnam’s best-known dishes. The cooking lesson runs for about 2 hours – each dish is first demonstrated by the Red Bridge chefs, before we prepare the same dish ourselves.

Included in the class is a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving (plate decoration). After the lesson, we sit down and eat exactly what we have cooked.

Recipes (our food contains no MSG):
*Vegetarians (and other dietary requirements) are provided with replacement ingredients.
1. Making fresh Rice paper
2. Fresh Rice Paper Rolls of Shrimp
3. Crispy Hoi An Pancakes with Shrimp, Herbs & a Peanut Sauce
4. Seafood Salad with Tra Que Herbs
5. Mi Quang Chicken Noodles
6. Food Decoration – Tomato Rose & Vietnamese Cucumber Hand Fan

* Lunch includes the above dishes as well as:
BBQ Lemongrass Beef (not included in the demonstration)

Finish at approximately 12:30pm – transfer back to central Hoi An arriving approximately 13:00pm.

• Overnight: in Hoi An.
• Meal Included: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch at cooking class.
• Accommodation: 3⭐️, 4⭐️, 5⭐️ hotels as mentioned or similar.

Our driver picks you up at hotel in Hoi An and transfers to Da Nang airport for flight to Hanoi.

Upon arrival at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport, you will be welcomed by our guide holding a sign with your name on it. After approximately 50 minutes to 1 hour transfer, you will be at your hotel for check-in. (Check in time: 14:00pm)

Hanoi or “River-bound City” as its name literally means is Vietnam’s capital with a thousand-year-old history dating back to 1010. The city’s fascinating beauty, which is characterized by unique cultural relics, ancient streets of antique houses, elegant French colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards and romantic lakes has made it one of the most charming cities of Asia.

• Overnight: in Hanoi.
• Meal Included: Breakfast at hotel.
• Accommodation: 3⭐️, 4⭐️, 5⭐️ hotels as mentioned or similar.

Today you are free for your own exploration in Hanoi.

• Overnight: in Hanoi.
• Meal Included: Breakfast at hotel.
• Accommodation: 3⭐️, 4⭐️, 5⭐️ hotels as mentioned or similar.

Optional Tour

Hanoi – Halong Day Trip
Tour price: AUD $220 per person twin share.
Tour will begin at 8h00. Discover one of Vietnam’s most spectacular northern jewels with the Halong Bay day cruise. Departure from the buzzing streets of Hanoi in the morning, leaving the city buildings behind in exchange for the beauty of the Red River Delta. Pass by smaller towns and farmlands, enjoying views of typical Vietnamese countryside. Halfway into the three and a half hour-journey, stop for a stretch and a drink at a local rest stop.
11h30 – 12h00: Arrive at Port, proceed to embark Cruise.
12h00 – 12h30: Starts cruising the Halong Bay – a World Natural Heritage, recognized 3 times by UNESCO, and one of the 7 natural wonders voted by the New Seven Wonders.
12h30 – 13h45: Enjoy a buffet lunch on the cruise. While cruising, you can admire the magnificent scenery of Halong with its thousands of islands and islets.
Visit the Fighting Cock Islets – a symbol of Halong tourism.
14h00 – 14h45: Visit Sửng Sốt Cave – one of the largest and most beautiful caves of Halong with its multi-shape stalactites and stalagmites.
15h00– 15h30: Try your kayaking skills or take it easy on a bamboo boat to visit Luon Cave.
16h00 – 16h45: Arrive at Titop Island, you can either enjoy yourselves swimming at the beach or take a hike up to the top of the Island for a quite impressive panorama of the Bay (~300 steps up).
17h00: Quite a few options available for this time: Sunbathing on sundeck, soaking in Jacuzzi, playing board games, reading in restaurants, contemplating the sunset. Enjoy our Sunset Party: Tea, coffee, fruits, cakes, and some light food from Vietnam.
18h15 – 18h30: Arrive at Port, disembark and board our bus back to Hanoi.
20h30 – 21h00: Arrive Hanoi.
Meal: Lunch.

You are free at leisure before being transferred by our guide & driver to Noi Bai International Airport for flight departure.

• Meal Included: Breakfast at hotel.

Home sweet home.