Tour Detail

VIETNAM CLASSICO

TOUR 8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS - Special departures (SIC) group with local Italian-speaking guides

Day 1

HANOI - Arrival

Arrival in Hanoi, immigration procedures and transfer to hotel (Check-in time: 14.00 - Early check-in available with surcharge). Hanoi, the political capital of Vietnam, means 'on this side of the river' in Vietnamese, lying along the banks of the Red River and inhabited by about one million people. An imperial capital since 1010 and during the Le dynasty from 1428 to 1788, it resumed its role in French Indochina during the colonial period from 1902 to 1953, to become the country's political capital after reunification in 1976. In the afternoon, visit the Single Pillar Pagoda, built in 1049 to represent the purity of the lotus blossom; Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (the esplanade), the Temple of Literature, an ancient university built in 1070 in honour of Confucius, the Quan Than Temple, the Lake of the Returned Sword, surrounded by ancient trees. Overnight stay in a hotel.

IMPORTANT NOTE: In case of arrival at Hanoi airport after 1/13,30 pm the visits of the 1st day will be limited or not feasible so, if possible, plan a pre-night with supplement on request (according to the chosen category)

Day 2

HANOI - HALONG [B/L/D]

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, depart for Halong Bay, dubbed the Eighth Wonder of the World, with a seafood lunch on board. The bay, studded with karst rocks, has been eroded by wind and water over the millennia, creating a phantasmagorical environment of islands, islets and stacks, some of which are hundreds of metres high. Some islands have even formed an internal lake, accessible through a passage that disappears completely at high tide, while others have caves and formations of the strangest shapes. During mid-season, the morning mist creates even more striking effects, making islands and rocks appear and disappear in the distance. According to one legend, the hundreds of islets are the remains of the tail of a dragon that sank in the waters of the bay. Visit to a cave. Dinner and overnight on board.

Day 3

HALONG – HAIPHONG – DANANG – HOI AN [B/BR]

Breakfast on board and continue the bay cruise. Late morning return to port and departure for Haiphong Airport. Brunch during the excursion. Boarding operations and departure with flight to Danang. Arrival in Danang, meet our guide and transfer to Hoi An for overnight. On the way (about 30 minutes) the guide will have the opportunity for a brief introduction about the history of central Vietnam as well as provide you with useful information for your stay. Dinner at leisure. Overnight stay at a hotel in Hoi An.

Day 4

HOI AN [B/L]

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning dedicated to a visit to the sacred site of My Son, with remains of temples from the Cham kingdom, on to Danang for a visit to the Cham Museum. Lunch on the excursion. Hoi An is full of buildings with Chinese architectural influence, testifying to its important past as a trading centre. Known to the ancients as Faifo. Hoi An was a bustling trading port since the 2nd century AD, under the Champa kingdom. Having declined in the 14th century, it resumed its function as an international emporium in the mid-15th century. It was only in the 19th century, with the silting up of the Cai River, that the town lost importance in favour of Danang, which lies 30 km to the north. Visit the old town with the Japanese bridge from 1592, the temple dedicated to the goddess Fukie, the old municipal houses. Dinner at leisure. Overnight stay in a hotel.

Day 5

HOI AN - HUE [B/L]

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning departure for the city of Hue. The city lies along the banks of the Perfume River and was founded in 1687 taking the name Phu Xuan and becoming the capital of the southern part of Vietnam in 1744. It was still the capital of Vietnam from 1802 to 1945 under the reign of the 13 emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty. In 1802, Emperor Nguyen An made it the capital of the entire country, renaming it Hué. The Old City, with the Citadel and the imperial residence, stand on the left bank of the river, while the New City (where the Europeans once resided) and the imperial tombs. Visit to the imperial tomb of Ming Mang, continue to the Thien Mu pagoda overlooking the Perfume River and visit the imperial citadel, now restored with the help of Unesco. Lunch in a restaurant with a cooking class. At the end of the visit, check-in at the hotel and overnight stay. Dinner at leisure.

Day 6

HUE - HO CHI MINH [B/L]

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer in good time to the airport, flight to Saigon and start sightseeing in Saigon, a lively city but also rich in relics of the past: Notre Dame Cathedral (visit from outside under renovation) dating from 1877, the Post Office, Binh Tay market, Cho Lon district and the Thien hau pagoda. Lunch at a local restaurant. Overnight stay in a hotel.

Day 7

HO CHI MINH - MEKONG DELTA – HO CHI MINH [B/L]

Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion to the Mekong Delta, the largest rice basket in the country. Transfer to My Tho. Embark on a cruise on the Mekong to observe the daily life of the local people living along the great river: floating fish farms navigating small canals bordered by papaya and coconut trees. Leaving the boat we visit the locals to see the way they make their home 'appliances' from coconut logs and roofing. Tasting of seasonal fruits with performances of traditional music. The journey continues with a buggy ride on quiet, traffic-free roads to an orchard where a cup of tea and natural honey will be offered. You will experience a small sampan for transfer to a local house for lunch. At the end return by boat to My Tho and transfer to Ho Chi Minh City. Arrival and check-in at the hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 8

HO CHI MINH [B]

Breakfast at the hotel. Time at leisure until transfer to the airport - end of services