Best of Vietnam Tour: Amazing Ha Long Bay to Labyrinth Cu Chi Tunnels (14 Days)

The Sounds of Hanoi

Welcome to the eclectic city of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. You are met at the airport by your private transfer and taken to your luxurious accommodations located within the center of the city. The variance of the city is felt within its streets. The sound of bustling motorbikes brings a sense of the modern world to the traditional neighborhoods where the whir of bicycles and jovial conversation in small restaurants is also heard. In the evening you will delight in your first taste of Vietnam at a charming restaurant within a French Colonial building before arriving at the famous Water Puppet Theater. The traditional entertainment stems from the 11th century paddy fields which flooded during the monsoon season. You watch the history and mythology of the countryside come to life over a series of stories that dance on the water’s surface with intense interest from the players and the crowd alike. 

What’s Included: transfer, dinner, theater, accommodation

The Many Karsts of Nature

Enjoy the flavors of breakfast accentuated by the rich scent of fresh Vietnamese coffee. Afterwards you will be whisked away to the shores of Ha Long Bay to step aboard a traditional Chinese Junk. The wooden-style ship has sails that span out with the texture of unfolded paper fans. It is impossible not to notice the water sparkling like emerald in the afternoon sun. Limestone karsts rise out of the water like protectorates of impressive height and stature. The breeze is cool on your cheeks and brushes over the South China Sea. Over 1,600 islands create the archipelago that is filled with sensational beaches and unparalleled caves.

When the boat docks for a moment you have the opportunity to step into Surprise Cave on Bo Hon Island. Considered to be the most captivating cave on the islands, the name originates from the overwhelming beauty that comes along with stepping inside the main grotto. The colors shift from the filtering sunlight within the cool air that sweeps through the earth. The walls are smooth on your fingers while you follow the path through stalactites and stalagmites to the deepest grotto known as the Royal Garden. A clear pond sites at the bottom of the open space and looks as though it contains a fascinating collection of mountains. The scent of Benjamin figs overtakes the stone and the majesty of nature continues.

What’s Included: breakfast, dinner, transfer, tour, accommodation

Present Capital to Past Capital

The morning is yours to stroll along the walkways beside Hoan Kiem Lake or linger in the cafes situated within the French Colonial architecture of Ba Dinh Square. In the afternoon you will make your flight to Hue, the classic imperial city in central Vietnam. You will be collected upon your arrival at the airport, and soon settled into your comfortable accommodation, and then taken out to experience the first part of the history that brims over with wonder. A large number of the current population of the city resides within the citadel.

Walls that are over six-feet thick spanning over six-miles wrap around the entire area, encircled by a moat. Here you will find what remains of the elegant former city dating back to the 19th century. The energy is both resigned and exciting. The courtyard at the center of the complex once held the Forbidden Purple City which was accessible only to royalty, but was destroyed during the Tet Offensive in the 1960s. However, the citadel remains impressive, displaying the essence of the city’s and the country’s past within the large stone walls and impressive moat, where the Nine Holy Cannons still act as protectorates of the palace and the kingdom.

What’s Included: breakfast, tour, transfer, accommodation

A Higher Pass and Further Past

The day begins with a delicate breakfast which highlights the energizing taste and aroma of Vietnamese coffee. Soon you will venture outside of Hue and find yourself on the Hai Van Pass, one of the most fabulous roadways in the country. The jade of the lush trees and grass rises and falls along the landscape of the mountains, sloping downward towards the South China Sea, and brings the emerald land to the edge of the sapphire water.

You will arrive in Danang in time for a tour of the Cham Museum.  The Champa Empire dates back to the 2nd century evolving from its Indian roots. The museum houses over 300 terracotta and stone works that have been found all over the country and date back as far as the 7th century. The building that houses the relics combines French Colonial architecture with Cham styling, and simple, elegant lines. Touring through the artifacts will lead you through what feels like an outdoor museum with large pillared spaces open to the garden outside. After browsing the stone lions and garuda-style statues you will arrive in Hoi An with the flickering light of paper lanterns twinkling along the streets.

What’s Included: breakfast, transfer, tour accommodation

The Artistry of History

Outside of Hoi An you venture through the opulent jungle green until it reaches an opening overrun with large red karsts. However, you realize that those aren’t karsts but temples within the My Son complex, a series of sandstone stupas from the Champa Empire that date back as far back as the fourth century. Constructed throughout the powerful reign of the Champa, the complex pays homage to many of the Hindu beliefs intricately carved along the stone structures. Vast mountains fill the horizon and bring majesty to the skyline. The main tower is a symbol of sacred Mount Meru and is considered to be at the center of the universe. You can find the delicate display of gods like Vishnu and Shiva carved over doors and along reliefs bringing splendored history to light through this devotion.

What’s Included: breakfast, lunch, tour, accommodation

The River’s Calm Journey

Today you will venture away from the bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh City and come to the vivacious waterways of the Mekong Delta. Once at My Tho you can see the region rich in agriculture, from terraced rice paddy fields to shallow skimming boats driven by women in conical hats paddling their way elegantly down the water. Come to the Vinh Trang Pagoda known as a haven for children with disabilities, orphans, and children in need. The façade is an opulent mixture of Vietnamese tradition. A stone pathway sifts through the manicured gardens that are decorated with a collection of large Buddha statues. Along the water you surround yourself with large fringed palms that block the riverbanks and showcase the essence of the delta,; displaying the unique communities that have flourished on and beside the water for centuries, stretching from the Tibetan Plateau to the South China Sea.

What’s Included: breakfast, lunch, tour, transfer, accommodation

The Calls of the Dai

Today you will once again find yourself outside of the bustling streets of Saigon discovering the unique experience of witnessing the Cao Dai Holy See. Founded in the 1920s the religion blends elements of Taoism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, and Confucianism attempting to create a perfect peaceful religion. The bright colors of the church shine along the carved ornaments. Once inside you find the vaulted interior and pillars standing beside animated pagodas. The atmosphere is diverse and welcoming, from the colorful scenery to the friendly people.

You can stand along the upper balcony overlooking the temple to see the procession beginning with a vibrantly dressed priest. When the congregation begins to sing you notice the blending rhythms and hums that combine eastern and western influences, culminating in an eclectic sound of the followers’ devotion, and that is unlike anything you have ever heard. In the early afternoon you will venture to the Cu Chi Tunnels to discover the vast expanse of networks within the earth before returning to Saigon for the night.

What’s Included: breakfast, lunch, tour, accommodation