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Vietnam Top to Tail

This 12-day tour is designed for first time travelers who wish to experience the highlights of Vietnam including the best of 3 regions: north, centre and south of Vietnam. The tour can be combined with extended nights or added more activities to your wish. The tour can be fully customized to start in Ho Chi Minh City and to fit preferences, budget and time frame.
  • Hoan Kiem lake
  • halong bay cruise
  • Halong-Bay-Tours-Visit-fishing-village
  • hoi an ancient town
  • saigon cathedral
  • central post office
  • mekong_lunch
  • _cu-chi--ben-dinh1
  • cu-chi---ben-dinh
  • Biking in the countryside
  • cooking at homestay
  • Mat weaving

TRIP OVERVIEW

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Destinations: Hanoi - Hoi An - Danang - Hue - Cu Chi - Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho
Starts in/Finishes in: Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City
Highlights:

  • Enjoy a cyclo ride of Hanoi’s Old Quarter to learn about traditional Vietnamese architecture
  • Experience the uniquely northern Vietnamese water puppet performance.
  • Spend a night cruising Halong Bay aboard a traditional Junk
  • Visit the sights of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Hoi An on foot
  • Tread in the footsteps of emperors from the Imperial Citadel to the Royal tombs of Hue
  • Explore the engrossing underground network of Cu Chi Tunnels
  • Visit the Mekong Delta – Vietnam’s ‘rice basket’, cruise the watery through sleepy villages and green fields, visit one of the most lively floating market in the region

Duration: 12 days

Travel Style: Classic & Culture , Featured Tours
Suitable: First timers, Culture seekers, Cruise lovers, Families with teens, Honeymooners, Couple

TRIP IN DETAILS

When you arrive at Noi Bai International airport in Hanoi, you’ll be welcome by one of our representative and transferred to your hotel in the downtown. The remainder of the day will be your own.

Overnight in Hanoi

Meals:
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

This city tour of Hanoi takes in essential sites which will commence from your hotel lobby at 08.30 am. In the morning, you’ll visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex including the Mausoleum, his former stilt-house residence, the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh Museum; The Temple of Literature – Vietnam’s first university dating back to 1070.

After lunch at a local Vietnamese restaurant, you’ll continue visiting the Museum of Ethnology, widely acknowledged as the best in the country, containing an extensive display of life-size structures dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 ethnic minority peoples; Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake – the Ngoc Son Temple is set on a tiny island on Hoan Kiem Lake, its history dating back to the 13th century; a cyclo ride for 1 hour touring through the narrow, chaotic streets of the Old Quarter – a must for any visitor to Hanoi! The day finishes with a traditional performance of the famous Vietnamese water puppets.

Note: the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed all day on Monday and Fridays, as well as from 15th June to 15th August (approx.) for annual conservation.

Overnight in Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

After breakfast, you’ll leave for Halong Bay with a refreshment break en route. Meet the crew upon boarding the traditional wooden junk, then relax and enjoy lunch while the boat heads towards the secluded islands. Visit ancient limestone caves and go sea kayaking and swimming if the weather permits. Return to the junk refreshed and invigorated and relax on deck with a drink to watch the sunset. Enjoy a freshly prepared seafood dinner under the stars.

Overnight on a traditional junk in Halong Bay

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight Cruises
Transportation: Private vehicle, Boat

Enjoy an early morning swim (if weather permits) followed by breakfast. The tour then visit one of the famous caves in the middle of the bay before cruising back to the main harbor for the 4 hour drive straight to Noi Bai airport in Hanoi for a late afternoon flight to Danang. On arrival, met and transferred to your selected hotel in Hoi An.

Overnight in Hoi An

Meals: Breakfast, Brunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle, Boat, Plane

8:30 a.m., your guide will meet you at your hotel lobby and show you around the old town. You’ll start a walking tour with numerous places of interest: the 400-year old Japanese Covered Bridge, the Phuc Kien Assembly Halls, a museum and the colorful local market. Following the narrow lanes, you walk along tiny streets with houses influenced by Chinese, Japanese, French and European architectures.

After your walking tour, your time will be at leisure to wander around or go shopping. Your lunch will be at a local restaurant. The remainder of the day will be your own.

Overnight in Hoi An

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

Apart from exploring Hoi An’s World Heritage architecture & colorful market on foot, you might visit Vietnam’s grandest Cham ruins at My Son; attend a cooking class at a riverside restaurant; or join other travelers to get up close and personal to daily farming and fishing life. For early risers, why not capture the real Hoi An by joining a 4-hour photography tour led by a local expat expert? If you want to go below, hop on a boat to Cu Lao Cham Island for a fun and relaxing day to explore exotic coral reefs and marine life [best between March & September]. If you’d like any of these activities to be included during your free time in Hoi An, just let it be known during your enquiry, or ask one of the Travel Specialists.

Overnight in Hoi An

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation:

This morning you’ll drive north to the Royal City of Hue with en-route stop to visit either the Cham Museum in the city centre OR the famous Marble Mountain, which stands for the five essential elements that establish nature. Continue the scenic route to Hue, enjoy the view of the coast line and Danang from the top of the Hai Van Pass (Pass of the Clouds) makes your journey interesting and have your camera ready for some great photo opportunities.

In the afternoon, you will cruise the Perfume River by a dragon boat to serene Thien Mu Pagoda and drive to visit the majestic Royal Tomb of King Ming Mang or King Khai Dinh. Return to your hotel by road just before sunset.

Note: You might consider a candle-lit dinner set in a garden house which is a traditional feature of Hue’s culture. Both the garden house and the cuisine are great introduction into Hue’s culture.

Overnight in Hue

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle, Boat

After breakfast, you’ll spend the full day for a city tour of Imperial City of Hue, firstly with the ancient walled Citadel including the former Imperial Palace. You’ll then visit the Dong Ba market to learn about local produce and specialties of Hue. You might get some great deals done at the local Dong Ba Market.

In the afternoon, drive to Phu Bai airport in Hue for an afternoon flight to Ho Chi Minh City. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle, Plane

After breakfast, you will drive to Cu Chi Tunnels where you will visit the amazing network of underground tunnels was used during the Vietnam War by the Viet Cong. This huge construction was a habitation for villagers in the war time. With 3 levels of depth, it was never discovered by the US during the Vietnam War despite its proximity to Saigon. Visit the fighting tunnel system with your local guide.

After lunch, return to Ho Chi Minh City for a guided city tour, starting with the War Remnants Museum – a real eye-opening part of Vietnam’s proud history; followed by the Reunification Palace; the former South Vietnam Presidential Palace; the Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post Office, as you get your camera working overtime peeking into the past of Vietnam’s biggest, most energetically progressive city. You will also visit Ben Thanh market) for an insight into where locals shop. Return to your hotel at around 18.00.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle

This morning you’ll head south to visit of Cai Be floating market cruising among local barges full of fruits and vegetables. Then, an optional stop can be made at local workshops where you can see how to make rice paper, coconut candy and pop-rice, pop-corn …Visit a handicraft village where you can see how they make rice-net for spring-rolls, fish sauce & soya sauce, cooking salt, sewing coconut-leaves for cottage roof. Later, a rowing boat will take you deeper into the countryside on smaller canals to enjoy peacefulness of the Delta. You will also see traditional houses made of wood and palm tree leaves and see some activities of the local farmers with an opportunity to interact with them and see how they catch fish or pick up fruits by ancestral ways in Mekong Delta. A tasty lunch will be served at a local restaurant. Afternoon walk around and then enjoy some fresh fruits while listening to the traditional music. The trip today also takes in some gentle cycling along village paths to see the local farms, houses, real life and the ancestral ways to pick up fruits in Mekong Delta. The cruise will end at Vinh Long city where you will drive to Can Tho in the heart of the Mekong Delta for overnight stay.

Overnight in Can Tho

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle, Boat

Today an half hour boat cruise will take you to visit the vibrant Cai Rang floating market to experience a special type of market in which all purchasing activities take place on boats and ships. Then continue to small canal to visit a fruit garden where your guide will show you around before having a plate of delicious fruits. Return to Can Tho and observing the rural life and the lush vegetation along the riverbanks. Drive back to Ho Chi Minh City with lunch en-route, arriving in the late afternoon.

Note: Cai Rang market is one of the three biggest markets (Cai Be, Phung Hiep, Cai Rang) in the Mekong Delta. You can visit the market at any time of the day but it is most crowded and busy from sunrise to 9:00 am.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Transportation: Private vehicle, Boat

Your time will be your own until being picked up to Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City for your onward journey or departure flight.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation:
Transportation: Private vehicle

PRICE GUIDE & NOTES

From: US$ per person for a private tour of minimum 4 guests traveling together
Valid till October 31, 2025

Meals: 11 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches, 1 Dinner, 1 Brunch
Transportation: Private vehicle, Boat, Plane
Accommodation: 11 Nights

WHAT'S INCLUDED

  • All pick-ups and transfers by private vehicles with experienced drivers.
  • Accommodation in chosen hotels – Twin/Double share and 1 night on a traditional wooden junk on Halong Bay.
  • Domestic flight tickets Hanoi – Danang and Hue – Ho Chi Minh City (economy class by Vietnam Airlines)
  • Experienced English speaking local guides
  • Private boat cruise in Hue and in the Mekong Delta
  • Meals as indicated in the programme
  • All entrance fees as mentioned in the programme
  • 1 hour cyclo ride through Hanoi’s Old Quarter & First class water puppet tickets
  • All VAT and other government taxes

WHAT'S EXCLUDED

  • Entry visa to Vietnam
  • International flights and airport taxes
  • Travel Insurances
  • Drinks, tips and other personal expenses or services not mentioned on the program
  • Bank transfer fees
  • Gala Dinner on Dec 24, 2024 and Dec 31, 2024
  • Peak season surcharge for traveling between Dec 20, 2024 – Jan 10, 2025

BEST TIME TO VISIT

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FAQ

Are there any restrictions on photography in Vietnam?

Yes. Photography in or near military installations, airports or similar locations is prohibited. Anyone caught doing so will have the film, and possibly the camera or camcorder, confiscated and may be arrested.

Can I change my tour details after confirmation?

Once the official payment has been made, changes in tour details should be requested via email (info@absoluteasiatravel.com or email of the staff processing your booking), and is subject to a surcharge of hotels and restaurants (depending on each case). Possibility of reservation amendments is also subject to service availability of our suppliers (hotels, restaurants and other)

Can I enter Vietnam later than my granted arrival date in visa approval letter?

Yes, you can enter later than the granted arrival date in visa approval letter providing that you exit by granted exit date.

Aweasome Testimonials

MEET OUR HAPPY TRAVELERS

2-Week Itinerary Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam

A wonderful, well organized holiday

I was tasked by friends to organize a holiday in the Far East. I was put in touch with Tuan at Absolute Asia Travel and from that time on had the concern and hassle taken off my shoulders. From giving him an idea of what we wanted to see and do he organized our trip to be exactly what we desired. We did make some small changes to the itinerary and these were catered for without any problem.

5 friends from Australia met my wife and I in Bangkok and we flew into Luang Prabang to start our 15 day tour of Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. The hotels booked for us throughout were of high standard with excellent, friendly service. The flights, the mini-bus trips, the boat rides, were always organized and there on time.

The guides we had were all very knowlegable, with good English and were pleasant and always ready to put themselves out to suit our wishes.
We visited Hanoi, Halong Bay (a 2 day trip), Sa Pa(a short trek through the hills), Saigon (incl. Cu Chi tunnels), Mekong Delta and Siam Reap (the Angkor complex and Tonie Sap lake).

We parted back in Bangkok with all of us raving about the holiday.

Mr NEIL HAY

Australia

November 2, 2016

Excellent service from start to finish

Excellent service from start to finish! I booked a 3D/2N tour from Hanoi to PuLuong and everything went very well: smooth on-time transfers, nice hotel, good guide constantly taking care of travelers. On top of it I had online support always available to help me with information and adjustments. Highly recommended!

Mr Claudio Cerasoli

Italy

March 1, 2019

BEST part of our Vietnam Travel Experience

From the moment I wrote an inquiry email to the person I dealt with till the last moment when we stepped off the boat, our experience with Absolute Asia Travel was excellent. The customer service was top notch, the food was perfect, the activities suited for our family of six, and the cleanliness and accommodations were comfortable. Our guide, had a wonderful sense of humor, incredible patience and a diligence that paid off when we tried to find a location that my father in law had visited back in the 1960’s. We will definitely choose Absolute Asia Travel again in the near future and you should too.

Ms JENNIFER

Afghanistan

January 17, 2018

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