Vietnam | Ho Chi Minh to Ha Long Bay | Adult Only

Welcome to Vietnam! Upon arrival to Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat Airport, your driver and guide will meet you and they will transfer you to your hotel. Check-in and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

About Liberty Central City Point Hotel

Embracing a fresh, urban design with 171 modern rooms and suites, Liberty Central Saigon City Point is an exceptional city hotel that unites convenience and comfort for an unforgettable experience.  From the moment of arrival, guests can start spoiling themselves by some pampering time at The Spa, innovative cocktails on Above Sky Bar or refreshing with a dip in the infinity rooftop swimming pool while indulging in the breathtaking panoramic Saigon skyline views.

This morning after breakfast, meet your driver and guide at the hotel and transfer to Cat Tien National Park, located 150 km (90 mi) north from Ho Chi Minh City. Cat Tien National Park has an area of about 720 km² (450 mi²) and protects one of the largest areas of lowland tropical rainforests in Vietnam. After four hours driving north, arrive at the park, check-in at the lodge and enjoy lunch surrounded by nature. Around 3:00 PM, start cycling towards the ethnic people village, located 13 km (8 mi) away. Visit one of the local families living there and after having refreshments and exploring the surroundings, return to the lodge in the late afternoon. On your way back, keep an eye out for wildlife and birds high up in the forest canopy. Arrive to the lodge, enjoy dinner and the rest of the evening will be free at your leisure.

About the Forest Floor Lodge

Forest Floor Eco-Lodge is a unique luxury hotel situated at park headquarters for Cat Tien National Park. The property provides quality deluxe accommodations meticulously designed to complement the local habitat and built with the least possible environmental impact. Accommodations include African style tents built upon reclaimed wooden structures accessed by elevated walkways lightly touching the forest floor. Each tent comes with a bathroom and a large balcony overlooking the beautiful Ben Cu Rapids. There are also splendid traditional wooden lodges set under the forest canopy and studio lodges.

After an early breakfast, meet your local guide and follow the Lagerstroemia Trail. From Forest Floor Lodge the trail starts opposite the entrance and takes you through a well-used track with large trees (Lagerstroemia or Banglang and the well-known Thung or Tetrameles tree) with palms and cycads in the under-story. If you look up into the canopy you will see ferns and orchids; lianas and strangler vines are abundant. There are good possibilities of seeing pittas, partridge and other bird species. At noon, enjoy lunch and later we will visit the Dao Tien Endangered Primate Species Centre, located on a small island at the entrance of the park. The center specializes in the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of endangered primates naturally found in the surrounding region and resident primates who have been victims of the illegal wildlife trade. Head back to the lodge around 4:30 PM and take the rest of the afternoon free at leisure.

Early morning, walk through the Botanic Garden to Heaven Rapids. This walk gives you the good chance to see primates and plenty of opportunities to see a wide variety of birds and other jungle life. At 8:00 AM, you will return to the Lodge where breakfast will be ready for you. After breakfast you will have a couple of hours to relax at their viewing platform, looking at the river, bird watching, and listening to the gibbons singing. Your guide and transfer will be waiting for you to head towards Ho Chi Minh City airport for your flight to Danang. Upon arrival, you will transfer to your hotel in Hoi An. Enjoy the rest of the day with leisure.

About Boutique Hoi An Resort

Explore the rich heritage of Hoi An at Boutique Hoi An Resort. Discover authentic Vietnamese cuisine and hospitality, unwind in the swimming pool surrounded by lush gardens, or indulge in a massage at the hotel spa. Deluxe rooms are located in the main hotel building overlooking the garden area and include an outdoor balcony.

At 8:30 am, we will start a walking tour through this charming small town made of hundreds of historic houses, congregation halls, pagodas and other structures. Its buildings and its streets reflect the indigenous and foreign influences this town had, which helped define it as a unique heritage and multi-cultural site. There’s plenty to see in this delightful town, such as the Japanese Covered Bridge, the Pottery Museum, the 200 year old Tan Ky House, Chua Ong Pagoda and the vibrant local market. In the evening you will have free time at leisure to relax and discover this beautiful town on your own.

You will be picked up at your hotel around 07.00 am. The tour begins by exploring the hidden passageways and winding alleyways of Hoi An, stopping to photograph the iconic Japanese bridge in the historic district. From here we continue on to the southern villages of Quang Nam Province. We visit a local family making Banh Beo, a common breakfast staple in the traditional method. We stop at a family home to learn about the tradition of family chapels. Our host is nearly 90 and vividly remembers his experiences in the American war. We pedal past rice fields and vegetable farms along small canals and waterways towards a wooden boat-building site. Our final stops include a traditional mat weaving shop and a family distillery where rice wine has been produced in the same manner for generations. It’s a short ride from here to the local ferry for a trip back to town. Once dockside, it’s a short 5-minute ride through alleyways back to the Grasshopper shop, where you’ll be rewarded with a complimentary cold beverage after a fun day exploring Hoi An and the surrounding countryside. After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel around noon.

After breakfast, check out from your hotel and meet your guide and driver to depart to Hue. Upon arrival to Da Nang, we will visit the Museum of Cham Sculpture, opened in 1915 and the Marble Mountains before continuing on our drive. The trip passes through many spectacular sceneries along the National Highway 1 such as the breathtaking Hai Van Pass. The pass, which once formed the boundary between the kingdoms of Đại Việt and Champa, also forms a boundary between the climates of northern and southern Vietnam. The Hai Van Pass is the highest and longest pass in Vietnam, with the North-South National Highway zigzagging for almost 20 km. Stop somewhere in the Pass, and get your perfect pictures of Lang Co beach, a spectacular landscape or a peaceful fishing vicinity.

About Pilgrimage Village

Pilgrimage Village boutique resort & spa is ideally located in the quiet countryside in a rustic village setting surrounded by lush tranquil gardens, yet near to famous historical landmarks and the city of Hue. Designed with premium natural material, the deluxe room combines modern comfort with traditional architecture features, with soothing views over the garden or the lily lake.

After breakfast around 8:00 AM, you will visit Bach Ma National Park. This area is well known for its wonderful natural landscape as well as the fresh atmosphere. On arrival at the entrance, visit Bach Ma’s information center to learn about the ecological system of Bach Ma National Park. Trek along the trails through the forest to Do Quyen – Rhododendron waterfalls (at a height of 984 feet). Then continue trekking to Ngu Ho (Five Lakes), to relax and swim in the jungle. Indulge in a picnic lunch on the trail or after the excursion, your choice. In the afternoon, drive back to the hotel and enjoy the rest of the evening free at leisure.

Today, you will meet your guide and you will visit the Forbidden Purple City, constructed under the Emperor Gia Long’s, in the early 19th century. It is located in the Citadel of Hue, which was badly damaged during the Tet offensive of 1968. Established as the capital of unified Viet Nam in 1802, Hue was not only the political but also the cultural and religious center under the Nguyen dynasty until 1945. Hue was declared a UNESCO World Heritage in 1993. At noon, we will stop for lunch at a local restaurant. Later, you will board a dragon boat for a pleasant boat trip on the Perfume River to visit the characteristic Thien Mu Pagoda. Then, you will visit the tombs of the emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh, emperors of Vietnam’s past.

After enjoying your morning free at leisure, meet your driver and guide and head to Hue’s airport for your flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival, check-in at the hotel and get ready for a half day tour in the city. Vietnam is very well known for its food, so a stop to try some specialties is a must. In the old quarter you will try Pho Bo (Hanoi’s excellent beef noodle soup), Nom (green papaya salad with seasoned beef), Banh Goi (pillow- shaped pastry with minced pork and mushroom), Banh Cuon (hot rice paper with pork and fried onion) or Bun Cha (fresh noodle with grilled pork). After our delicious local lunch, visit the Temple of Literature, which was built in 1076. Vietnam’s first university was established within this temple to educate Vietnam’s royalty, mandarins, and members of the elite. The university functioned for 700 years and its gardens and well- preserved architecture offer a fascinating glimpse into Vietnam’s past. Next, we will head towards Quan Thanh Temple, a Taoist Temple dated from the 11th Century. We end with the impressive Tran Quoc Pagoda, a Buddhist pagoda located in a small island in the center of the West Lake.

About La Siesta Premium Hotel

The imposing white façade of La Siesta Premium 27 Hang Be Street overlooks one of Hanoi Old Quarter’s vibrant streets. In ancient times, this was where ‘be’ – a very basic type of wooden boat – was traded. Now the Street is buzzing with a myriad of cafes, restaurants, tailoring shops and traditional souvenir stalls. La Siesta Premium Hang Be embodies classic charm with Asian touches, traditional features and elegant period furnishings creating harmony and balance.

After breakfast, you will be picked up by private van to take the highway to Got Ferry Terminal in Cat Hai Town. You’ll be greeted by the crew of Orchid Cruise as you take tea in the lounge. On the way to the main boat, you will have a chance to see Cai Trap canal. Embark on the Orchid Cruise and then check-in, enjoy a welcome drink. Orchid Cruise is anchored in the south of Halong Bay, one of the new “Seven Wonders of Nature” in a worldwide survey. The cruise proceeds to Da Chong islet, where you can see a lighthouse built by the French over 100 years ago. Enjoy lunch before continuing our journey via the islets of Con Vit and Gia Luan. In the afternoon, we progress to Trung Trang cave by our bus in Cat Ba National Park. Trung Trang Valley is the largest valley on Cat Ba Island and measures 300m lengthwise through the mountains. Later, you will get in the less populated area at Tra Bau to swim in the emerald, cool water. Onboard you may join a traditional cooking class. Your chef will instruct you in the making of some Vietnam dishes. Enjoy a delicious dinner prepared and served for you by the wonderful onboard catering staff. Tonight, try your hand at night squid fishing or watch a movie in the restaurant.

About Orchid Cruise Halong Bay

Visitors looking for both comfort and adventure in Halong Bay will appreciate the Orchid’s friendly crew and understated elegance. The Orchid is built in the style of a traditional Vietnamese junk, with three tawny sails and dark wood-cladding. The interior, like the exterior, is covered in polished wood, lending the stately air of an Indochina-era cruising boat. Guests can convene in the formal dining room, enjoy casual barbecues on the terrace and marvel at the bay’s moonlit beauty on the Orchid Cruise’s wide Sundeck.

Today, start the day early onboard your Halong Bay Cruise boat with a Tai chi session. Next, embark on the day boat for a visit to Viet Hai village. Here, we’ll bike along the village path passing through rainforests and giving us the chance to view local life in the valley. Enjoy lunch back on the day boat. In the afternoon, explore the pristine landscape of Lan Ha Bay by day boat and return back to the Orchid by 3:00 PM.

Why not rise early to witness the bay at its very best whilst enjoying an invigorating Tai Chi session on the sundeck; after which breakfast is served. Upon completing breakfast continue your journey and head out to explore the bay in the area where Ao Ech is situated. Kayak in the Ao Ech area to discover the hidden charm of Lan Ha Bay. Head back to the Orchid and begin the check-out process. Whilst cruising back you can enjoy a delightful brunch. We return to the quayside in the south of the bay, where you disembark at Got ferry around 11.35AM. Transfer back to Hanoi, check in to your hotel and enjoy the rest of your day with leisure.

Enjoy the morning free at leisure until your driver and guide meet and transfer you to the airport for your flight back home. We hope you had a great time in Vietnam!

* This trip is offered in partnership with Khiri Travel.

**Trip itineraries are subject to change without notice due to road, weather and other factors outside of our control, for the safety and enjoyment of our guests, as deemed necessary and appropriate by Austin Adventures and Khiri Travel.