Ho Chi Minh - My Tho - Hoian - My Son - Hue - Hanoi 8 days

Today we will enjoy the beautiful scenery in Mekong Delta, hundreds of Canal and River system and the most productive farm in Vietnam. We just take 2 hour drive to My Tho City, which is located on the bank of Mekong River, one of the longest rivers in the world then take the boat cruise to Thai Son Island for visiting fruit farm, bee farm and local handicraft. We not only enjoy the fruits and honey tea at the farm but also entertain the traditional music show, "Don Ca Tai Tu" which has been selected as the World Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Just enjoy a peaceful moment on our rowing sampan under a shady water coconut palm on both sides of canal, a fantastic view of the river, a cheerful smile and the hospitality of the local people, we are awarded to have them all. On the way back to Ho Chi Minh, we will have lunch at Mekong Rest Stop restaurant and enjoy local speciality. Seat back and relax on our comfortable bus back to the hotel. Rest of the day is free at leisure. We finish our day with a visit to Thien Hau temple in China town and Binh Tay Market.

Return our hotel then free at leisure.

A new exciting day for us to discover the World Heritage site, Hoi An ancient city, we just take a short flight from HCM to Danang then proceed to our destination. Hoi An, a lovely ancient seaport city located on the bank of Thu Bon River is not only famous for its architecture, temples, pagodas, ancient trading houses, tailor shops but also the hospitality and friendly people of this place. This pleasant city is a great experience that will last lifetime, we just spend our time to troll along the streets, talking to local people, visiting some local attraction sites; Thien Hau Temple, Japanese Bridge and Tan Ky House. Late afternoon we take an hour boat ride on Thu Bon River and this is a time for us just relaxing and enjoying the scenery. Rest of the day is free at leisure. If we are lucky enough to be in Hoi An on the full noon night, there will a lantern festival which is very interesting to take part in. We also have a chance to join "Bai Choi" game, it is a kind of traditional folk game accompanying with singers, drummer and game conductors on the streets. You may find it similar to the game of bingo in some stages.

Morning we take a half day trip to a World Cultural Heritage site My Son Sanctuary of Champa Kingdom, which was very powerful and prosperous Kingdom in Southeast Asia from 4th century to 11 th century. We drive 2 hours through rural area, rivers, paddy fields, mountains to this site for visiting this fantastic monuments of the Cham people and also have a chance to entertain Champa Traditional Dance show. After visiting this site we drive to Danang City for our lunch and then visit to Cham Museum which all artifacts were collected in My Son area and it is absolutely amazing collection of art and culture. We will end our day by stopping at Marble Mountains for our sightseeing. Taking steps up to Huyen Khong Cave, which was used as the hospital during the American and Vietnam War. It is actually the pagoda which has a giant marble Buddha statue seating on the rock and facing the main entrance inside the cave. Continuing our walk up the steps to Thien Phuoc Pagoda on the side of this mountain facing the ocean. It is a fabulous sea view from this site. Finishing our day with a stop at the stone carving village where we may have some souvenir gifts for our trip. Then we get back our hotel and free at leisure!

Today we will enjoy the most beautiful distance in Central part of Vietnam on our way to Hue, a world heritage site. It is only 140 km long but there are many things for us to see. First we again have a chance to view The Marble Mountains, Non Nuoc beach and Danang City. Second we will have the most scenic view of mountain and ocean as approaching to the top of Hai Van (Ocean and Cloud) Pass. Third a picturesque Lang Co fishing village in the bay as we are settling down the pass is a must for a photo stop. Next is Tam Giang lagoon and Hue city, a lovely and romantic city located on the bank of Huong (perfume) River. Hue is the ancient capital of Vietnam from 1802 to 1945 and famous for the Citadel, Imperial City, Forbidden City and the royal tombs of the Nguyen Dynasty, the last feudal regime of Vietnam. After check in our hotel we start our excursion by taking a boat trip on Huong River to Thien Mu pagoda which was built in 17th century on the top of the hill overlooking the river and Truong Son mountain range. Then we drive to the Imperial and Forbidden City of Hue, most of the contraction site of a heyday royal dynasty were destroyed during the turmoil of the war for many years but there is still the sense of grace and majestic of the rulers. Entertain Vietnamese royal court music show, a World Intangible Heritage of Humanity and then we drive to the royal tombs, the place were used during both life and dead of the Nguyen Rulers. A lovely traditional architecture royal tomb of King Tu Duc built in three years from 1864 -1867 is located outskirt of Hue among the fine forest and lakes and ponds meanwhile King Khai Dinh tomb is located on the hill step of Chau E mountain, the tomb is a blend of Western and Eastern architecture style and built in 1920.

Return to our hotel then free at leisure.

Morning we take a short flight to Hanoi Capital, a raddle of Vietnamese culture and the heart of all Vietnamese. This thousand year old city is definitely a great place for us to stroll around 36 ancient commercial streets in which each street is named basing on the produce that is sold as Hang Bac (Silver Street), Hang Giay (Shoes street), Hang Dieu (Tobacco street), Hang Dao (Silk street) .. and countless culture and historic sites for us to discover. On our arrival we will take an hour cyclo (pedicab) to the ancient quarter of Hanoi. It is an incredible way to discover this city and there are hundreds of photo opportunity; every comer of the street, shop keepers, vendors, street foods, a bustle and hustle of Dong Xuan Market and so on for us to take. We finish our ride at Thang Long theatre and walk around Hoan Kiem then visit to Ngoc Son temple. Check in hotel then free at leisure. Evening we will entertain the water puppet show, a unique northern Vietnamese art performance that we cannot be missed on our schedule for today. We will have a chance to learn more about the rural life of Vietnamese peasants and national heroes via a series of history story which were beautifully demonstrated by the artists who play with the water puppets.

Start our day with a visit to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, this is a very special place for all Vietnamese and also famous for foreigners around the world to see the whole complex, Uncle Ho's house on stilt where he lived and worked from 1958 -1969, his fishing pond and his garden. Then we head to One Pillar Buddhist Pagoda built in 1049 by King Ly Thai Tong who ruled from 1028 to 1054. Ly Thai Tong was childless and dreamt that he met the bodhisattva Avalokiteshava, who handed him a baby son while seated on a lotus flower. Ly Thai Tong then married a peasant girl that he had met and she bore him a son. The emperor constructed the temple for the gratitude for this miracle. Further on our excursion, we visit to Van Mieu, temple of literature to dedicate to Confucius and his four best disciples. This was also the first national university of Vietnam built in 1076 within the temple to educate Vietnamese bureaucrats, nobles, royalty and other members of the elite. This university remained open from 1076 to 1779. The interest thing in this place is the collection of steles of doctorates whose names, birth place, year of the examination, and the rank were engraved onto the marble stone stele placing on the top of the turtle. There are 1307 graduated doctor names on 82 stele in this place. After visiting this wonderful place, we will have lunch at Koto restaurant and refresh. Later in the day we visit to Ethnology Museum which is very rich culture collection of 54 ethnic groups living in Vietnam. The simple agriculture stools, fish traps, hand weaving cloths, crafts, festivals, folk arts, traditional houses, and lively activities of each tribe are all here for us to discover. Finish our day at history Museum, we not only see the exhibits from stone age, bronze ages and prehistoric era to prove that there were the ancient Vietnamese living in Hanoi but also the modern artifacts to show how the Vietnamese has been struggling for independence, freedom, peace and love. Return our hotel then free at leisure.