# 9-Day Best of Vietnam with Mekong Delta: A Taste of Authentic Life

Being Outwardly novel and inwardly unconventional, Vietnam keeps luring worldwide travelers with its timeless charm. Cruise Halong Bay for a starry dream, enrich your experience with a hands-on cooking class in Hoi An and visit the Mekong Delta. Get a taste of authentic life in the Land of Timeless Charm.

## Highlights

- Halong Bay Cruise in a less-touristy water
- Walk in the Old Quarter as a local does
- Meet Asia Highlights' friend Mr. Thanh at his cooking class in Hoi An
- Crawl into the Cu Chi Tunnels
- Early morning to visit the floating market of the Mekong Delta

## What's Included

- Private transfers and English-speaking Vietnam tour guides in every destination
- All guided sightseeing as detailed in the itinerary
- Hotel accommodation mentioned in the itinerary
- Internal flights including taxes and fuel as specified in the itinerary
- Breakfasts at hotels, lunches for every guided day and one soft drink per person for the Halong Bay Cruise
- Governmental taxes

## Price per Person in US Dollars

Nov.1 - Mar.31 | Handpicked Comfort | Luxury
--- | --- | ---
2-5 People | $#AH-1,st,25,2016-11-10# | $#AH-1,lx,25,2016-11-10#
6-9 People | $#AH-1,st,69,2016-11-10# | $#AH-1,lx,69,2016-11-10#
Apr.1 - Oct.31 |  |
2-5 People | $#AH-1,st,25,2016-09-10# | $#AH-1,lx,25,2016-09-10#
6-9 People | $#AH-1,st,69,2016-09-10# | $#AH-1,lx,69,2016-09-10#

Note: The price is only for reference and subject to change on final confirmation.

## Suggested Itinerary

Day 1Hanoi Arrival

Your private Vietnam tour guide and transfer driver will be waiting for you in the airport lobby when your flight lands. They will Ttransfer you to your hotel and you can ease your body and mind with a good night’s sleep.

Accommodation:

2 nights at Hanoi Pearl Hotel (Handpicked Comfort) / Apricot Hotel Hanoi (Luxury)

Day 2Hanoi

Vietnam has 55-some minority groups and each of them boasts for special cultures and lifestyles. Get a touch of the minority groups' life in Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. Later, learn the mind-provoking history at Hoa Lo Prison before lunch at a local restaurant.
Take an easy walk around Hoan Kiem Lake and then take a walking trip in the Old Quarter.

- What to do at night?

In the mood of some music? Attend the music show at Thang Long Ca Tru Guild at the Old Quarter. Twice or three times every week, schollars and tranditional artists of Vietnamese traditional music, Ca Tru, will put on performance here for those to enjoy some music and learn to play traditional instruments.

Day 3Hanoi - Halong Bay (3 hours by car)

After a fresh coffee and breakfast, you will be on the way to Halong Bay. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the bay has all it takes for a relaxing journey: a stunning natural landscape, catering services onboard, an outlook over a waterfront lifestyle, and interesting activities, such as kayaking, swimming, and diving.
Itineraries differ for each cruise, but you will probably visit: Cua Van Fishing Village, Vung Vieng Fishing Village, Me Cung Caves, Virgin Cave, and Surprise Cave, as well as passing some small islets, such as Flight Cock Islet, Human Head Islet, and Toad Islet and etc. Some cruises also include a cooking class at night and a taichi lesson in the morning.

- About the cruise:

1. There’s not much to see during the drive to the bay.so Ttake a nap to recharge,ready for the upcoming journey.
2. Traveling with a baby? Notify us in advance and we will put a crib in your cabin.
3. All meals onboard are included except for drinks. Your privatet our guide will take you shopping for some drinks and snacks before getting onboard.

Accommodation:

1 night on Paloma Cruise (Handpicked Comfort) / Indochina Sails (Luxury)

Day 4Halong Bay - Hanoi (3 hours by car) - Danang - Hoi An (1 1/2 hours by air)

At about 11am, the cruise junk will take you to the pier after brunch, where your private Vietnam tour guide and driver are already in wait. Transfer to the airport and fly to Danang.
Your private tour guide and driver will take you to Hoi An after arrival in Danang. Free at leisure.

Accommodation:

1 night at Essence Hoi An Hotel & Spa (Handpicked Comfort) / Palm Garden Beach Resort & Spa (Luxury)

Day 5 Hoi An

Get a touch of Hoi An by a walking tour in Hoi An Ancient Town,with your tour guide who will introduce you to the Japanese Covered Bridge, Fujian Assembly Hall (Phuc Kien) and Old House of Tan Ky, and then you will learn how to make a lantern at a traditional workshop.
After dinner at a riverfront restaurant, you may visit Hoi An Night Market on your own or go for a swim at your hotel; either way will be a perfect way to call it a night.

- A new dress!

Want to renew your wardrobe with a tailor-made dress in Hoi An? Your tour guide will tell you where to go.Usually,an experienced tailor only needs one day to get it.

Day 6Hoi An - Danang - Ho Chi Minh City (1 1/2 hours by air)

Unraveling secrets from a Vietnam kitchen, you will have a hands-on cooking class at Kumquat Hoi An Restaurant with a local chef. Starting with an ingredient hunt at a local market or a garden, basic culinary skills and knowledge will be obtained by following the chef’s narration instructions and experiment. This experience will be followed by a delicious lunch.
Transfer to Danang for an onward flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Check-in upon arrival.

- Meet our friend

Kumquat Hoi An Restaurant enjoys good reputation on TripAdvisor for very personal services: cooking at the chef's house, get to know his family, take home a hand-written recipe book and have lunch together. The chef, Mr.Thanh, has served at some high-end resorts in Vietnam for years and now he's become a good friend of Asia Highlights.
Please inform your chef if you have any food allergies or any special requirements for the food (such as Kosher or Muslim)

Accommodation:

2 nights at Villa Song Saigon (Handpicked Comfort) / Hotel Des Arts Saigon Mgallery Collection(Luxury)

Day 7Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnels (1 hour by car) - Can Tho (3 hours by car)

Enjoy a fresh coffee and breakfast at your hotel before we your driver takes you south to the Cu Chi Tunnels. The site was used by the Viet Cong as a defense and shelter during wartime, and now it now plays an interesting historical place to get a touch of the history. Duck into the tunnels to see the clinic, kitchen, living rooms, and meeting rooms in the same way as they were back in the wartime.

After lunch, stretch out and take a nap in your car during the private transfer on the way to Can Tho, a lovely riverside town in the Mekong Delta. Stay overnight in Can Tho.

Why an overnight stay in Can Tho?

One night in Can Tho is necessary for two reasons: 1.The opening hour is 4am and the best time to visit is before 7am before the boats dispatch for retailing. 2. To avoid tourist boats that pour in from 7am.

Accommodation:

1 night at Iris Can Tho Hotel (Handpicked Comfort) / Victoria Can Tho Resort & Spa (Luxury)

Cu Chi Tunnels: hard to get in, harder to get out
Day 8Can Tho - Mekong Delta - Vinh Long - Ho Chi Minh City (3 hours by car)

Waking up early in the morning at around 6am, you will visit the bustling Cai Rang Floating Market.
Owning a boat is important for a Mekong family and it can be used as transportation, a house for living and, as you can will be able to see, a place to trade fresh fruits and vegetables. Aside from the fascinating views of so many boats laden with goods, you will also enjoy a boat trip near Vinh Long to some small islands. Have lunch at a local restaurant on the way back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Visit the floating market before 7am to get the best view
Day 9Ho Chi Minh City Departure

After breakfast, enjoy some free time at your leisure before your private tour guide picks you up and takes you to the airport. Have a safe flight home, and we hope to see you again soon!

Got some extra time?

An additional half-day Ho Chi Minh City trip by motorbike is available if your flight doesn’t leave until 4pm.

Extend your trip: Angkor Wat in 3 Days 2 nights handpicked comfort | from USD298/person

Easily extend your trip to Siem Reap where the Angkor Wat awes you with profound history and cultures. What to expect for an extension trip to Siem Reap:
- Angkor Wat Complex including Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Bayon Temple and Ta Prohm
- Apsara Dance Dinner Show at a nice local restaurant
- Sunset view at the top of Bakheng Mountain
- Private transfer and insightful guiding

Tour Map

## Asia Highlights Handpicked Hotels

Asia Highlights chooses hotels with a balanced mixture of traditional Vietnamese style and modern comfort, easy access to everything yet quiet enough for a good night's sleep.

Hanoi - Hanoi Pearl Hotel

- 4.5/5 points by over 600 travelers on TripAdvisor.
- By the Hoan Kiem Lake, 10 minutes to walk to the Old Quarter.
- All rooms allow extra bed and adjoining rooms are available for families on holiday.

Halong Bay - Paloma Cruise

- Winner of Certificate of Excellence on TripAdvisor and ranked 17/166.
- Cruising through a less-crowded bay Bai Tu Long Bay with more islands to see.
- We choose your cabin on the 2nd deck with private balcony for better views and quieter night.

Hoi An - Essence Hoi An Hotel & Spa

- Winner of Certificate of Excellence on TripAdvisor, ranked 6/119.
- Secluded and rural setting, 15 minutes to walk to the Ancient Town of Hoi An.
- Featuring with great spa center, outdoor swimming pool and nice food. Connecting rooms are great for families.

Ho Chi Minh City - Villa Song Saigon

- Travelers' Choice 2016 on TripAdvisor, ranked 1/412.
- By the Saigon River, 10 minutes by car to downtown.
- Colonial-style deco, spacious rooms, fresh seafood buffet breakfast and free in-room wifi.

Can Tho - Iris Hotel Can Tho

- 4/5 points by reviewers on TripAdvisor, ranked 8/45.
- Nice faclity and friendly staff for a small town stay.
- Great night view of the town on the sky bar and rooms are larger than most hotels in Can Tho.

Note: Your comfort counts! It's totally possible to change hotels based on your interests and budget. From guesthouses to high-end luxury resorts, just let us know your preferences and we will help you choose.

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