Day 1 - Hanoi, Vietnam
| Hanoi is a lovely city of lakes, shaded boulevards and public parks, and your hotel is nicely situated in the heart of the city. Settle-in to your comfortable Club Room at the Sheraton Hotel and enjoy the balance of your day at leisure. |
Day 2 - Hanoi to Ha Long Bay
| Drive to Ha Long Bay, filled with more than 3,000 limestone peaks that rise dramatically from the deep blue water as far as the eye can see. Your overnight cruise aboard the traditional Bai Tho Junk is the best way to explore this breathtaking region, and includes lunch and dinner onboard with plenty of time this afternoon to enjoy the sweeping vistas of sea, land, and sky. Your charming vessel is comfortable and intimate, with hand-crafted wooden interiors and spacious air-conditioned cabins with private baths. You’ll explore the most beautiful spots – fascinating rock formations and hidden caves – with opportunity to relax and swim. Ha Long Bay is truly magical, and this is certain to be one of the best travel experiences of your life! Meals B,L,D |
Day 3 - Ha Long Bay / Hanoi
| Arise early to watch the sun cast its first light across the peaks and waters of Ha Long Bay. After breakfast, relax onboard enjoying the vistas as your vessel charts a leisurely course through the Bay to Bai Tho Mountain. An early lunch is served before you disembark at midday and return to Hanoi for sightseeing. Travel along the tree-lined streets of the city, resplendent with French colonial architecture, including the lovely Opera House. Pass by the Lake of the Restored Sword (Hoan Kiem Lake) and hear the legend behind its name. Visit the 11th-century Temple of Literature and then walk with your guide through the historic Old Quarter, where streets – like Sugar Street and Paper Street - are named for the goods that have been sold there for generations. Your exploration of Hanoi also features a delightful Cyclo ride, the traditional way to get about the city. Overnight in the deluxe Sheraton Hotel. Meals B,L |
Day 4 - Hanoi / Danang / Hoi An
| Fly to Danang and visit the Cham Museum, an open-air collection of some of the finest sandstone carvings in the world including temple decorations from the Hindu culture that flourished in Vietnam from the 4th to 14th centuries. Continue on to the Marble Mountains, arriving in picturesque Hoi An. Known as Faifo to early western traders, it was one of Southeast Asia’s major international ports during the 17th to 19th centuries, home to Japanese, Indian, Chinese and Portuguese merchants. Today, Hoi An is remarkable for its collection of original Chinese temples and glorious homes built by these wealthy merchants of earlier times. Sample excellent Vietnamese cuisine at an in-town restaurant and enjoy two nights in comfortable River View Rooms at the Hoi An Riverside Hotel, a superior first class resort on the banks of the Song Do River. Meals B,D |
Day 5 - Explore Hoi An
| Today’s sightseeing in this historic town, remarkably preserved, visits former merchant homes, temples, art galleries, and a bustling local market. As you explore with General Tours guide through the traffic-free cobblestone streets of this ancient seaport, it’s easy to imagine yourself a sailor of the 18th century, when Hoi An was one of the busiest ports in all of Asia. You’ll also enjoy a boat excursion on the Thu Bon River and a visit to a local school. The afternoon is free to explore at your own pace or to relax and enjoy the amenities of your riverside resort. Meals B |
Day 6 - Hoi An / Danang / Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
| If Hoi An and Hanoi reveal Vietnam’s long and colorful history, then Ho Chi Minh City is a look at the future. Situated on the edge of the Mekong Delta, the city is poised and ready for growth – with lots of new construction, new technology, and new opportunities for its residents. Drive to Danang Airport this morning for a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City, where you’ll be greeted and escorted to the superior first class Majestic Hotel, set in an 80-year-old French colonial landmark. Tonight, you dine at the elegant Maxim’s Nam An Restaurant. Meals B,D |
Day 7 - Ho Chi Minh City
This morning you’ll visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, the incredible underground network that once stretched for 210 miles. This tunnel complex was built by guerilla fighters beginning in 1940 and construction continued throughout the Vietnam War. Marvel at secret trapdoors, underground kitchens, living quarters, and even conference rooms. You’ll have ample opportunity to view the excavated areas from above. The more adventurous can explore the deeper second and even third-level tunnels.
Return to Saigon for afternoon sightseeing, including Reunification Hall - formerly known as the Presidential Palace. It was towards this modern building that Communist tanks rolled on the morning of April 30, 1975, as Saigon fell. Visit the History Museum and delight in a Water Puppet performance, a traditional Vietnamese art form. Your tour also features Notre Dame Cathedral, the historic Hotel de Ville, and Dong Khoi Street, once the center of haute couture in Saigon when it was known as the famous Rue Catinat. Meals B,L |
Day 8 - Ho Chi Minh City
| Your program finishes this morning. Or, extend your travels with General Tours FreeStyle Add-ons, an easy and affordable way to discover more of Asia. Meals B |
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