SIC VFTA–18: 6D5N HANOI - HCMC CITY

 

8.00-8.45: Our Tour guide will pick you up at the hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter then depart to Halong Bay by Expressway Transfer.
10.30: Have a short break for 20 minutes to relax.
12.00-12.30: Arrive at Harbor. Welcome to Sea Lion 5-star Cruise. Have a Buffet Lunch. We will take you on a 6-hour journey via route 2 which is renowned for its striking passages, uninhabited islets and outcrops have been given imaginative names by the locals, due to their perceived shapes while having lunch on boat.
14.00: You will visit Surprising Cave to see a lot of stalagmites and stalactites with different shapes of sea lives.
15.00: Do kayaking or bamboo boat in Luon Cave to discover the beautiful Lagoon.
16.00: Visit Titop Island with sandy beach to the towering limestone mountain with excellent backdrop of the Bay, and climb up Titop Peak for a panoramic view of the bay like paradise.
18.00-18.30: Cruising back to harbor. There is a lot of time for enjoying a sunset party with tea, cakes, sunbathing on the upper deck with music and enjoying great fun of group touring fellows among world iconic natural scenery.
Then, we get on bus back to Hanoi by Expressway, have a short break for 20-30 minutes.
21.00: Arrive at the hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter. 
O/N at hotel in Hanoi.

ABF at hotel.
8.00-8.30: Our Tour guide and our Bus pick up at your hotel and start to discover Hanoi City.
08.45: Visit Ho Chi Minh Complex, the final resting place of Vietnamese great father or Uncle Ho. You have a chance to see the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh and then walk around the garden to see 2 houses where he lived & worked from 1954 to 1969. Then visit One Pillar Pagoda which worships the Goddess of Mercy – It is the most unique pagoda in the world.
10.15: Visit Vietnam Ethnology Museum to learn about the culture of 54 ethnic groups living in the whole country of Vietnam.
Special Note: We will visit Vietnamese Women’s Museum instead of Vietnam Ethnology Museum closed on Mondays.
12.30-12.45: Have lunch at our restaurant. You have an opportunity to enjoy Vietnamese cuisine. Vegetarian foods are available.
13.30: Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda located on Golden Fish Island in West Lake. It is the oldest pagoda in Hanoi built in the 6th century. 
14.30: Continue to visit Temple of Literature – the first university of Vietnam. The Temple of Literature (Van Mieu Quoc Tu Giam) is one of the most attractive tourist spots in Northern Vietnam. The Temple of Literature was founded in 1070.
15.30: Keep going to visit Hoa Lo Prison, the prison was built by the French, from 1886 to 1901, when Vietnam was still a part of French Indochina. The French called the prison Maison Centrale. The prison was called “A Hell on Earth” and now the prison is like a war museum for those who want to understand more about the war against France of Vietnamese people.
16.30: Our Bus take you back to Hanoi. 
Transfer to Noi Bai International Airport for domestic flight to Ho Chi Minh City.
Our driver will pick you up at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Flight TBA) and transfer to HCMC. Check in hotel.
O/N at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

ABF at hotel.
Take the morning trip to visit Independence Palace, also known at the Reunification palace, was built on the sight of the former Norodom palace. The Independence palace is a widely known landmark of Ho Chi Minh City and was designed by the architect Ngo Viet Thu. Continue seeing the beautiful structures from the French Colonial times such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, the historic Central Post Office, followed by the remarkable site of the War Remnants Museum. The museum has a vast display of the both the Indochina wars. 
Have lunch at a local restaurant.
Depart for Cu Chi tunnels, the trip will take approximately one and a half hours bus driving. Upon arrival, before exploring the tunnels, you will have some short introduction followed by introductory video about how the tunnels were constructed and how the people survived in the harsh conditions of the war time. Then, spend your time to explore the remaining area and tunnel systems which included the special constructed living areas with kitchens, bedrooms side by side with other martial facilities like storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, and command centers helping whoever lives inside the tunnels meet their basic needs. Besides, there are also many hidden trap doors and dangerous traps within the maze-like tunnels for security purpose during the war. Afterward, special tea and cassava (guerilla’s food during the war) will be served. 
Break time for relax or time for those who want to try the real shooting gun. 
Return to Saigon.
Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

ABF at hotel.
Leaving the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City and start your trip to depart for My Tho, the town lies on the left side of the Mekong River. Upon arrival, visit Vinh Trang pagoda which sated back to the late 19th century. Then boarding the sampan and cruising down the river around the four beautiful islands known as Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix and Tortoise islands. 
Stop over at Unicorn Island, go walking around country lane and seeing orchards, enjoy tropical fruits, folk song music which performed by the local people. Visit the fruit plantation. 
Riding a hand-rowed sampan through Thoi Son canal and treat yourself in the beauty of the countryside, visit the family business, visit honey-bee farm, enjoy honey tea and coconut candy workshop. 
Have lunch at a local restaurant. Break time.
In the afternoon, time for cycling around the Tan Thach village, meet the local villagers to experience the local daily life in the Mekong delta. Hammock relaxing and enjoy cool breeze for those can’t join the cycling trip. Return to Ho Chi Minh City. 
O/N at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.