Destination:  VIETNAM: Ho Chi Minh City | Mekong Delta | Hoi An | Hue | Hanoi | Ha Long Bay,

Tour Commences in: Ho Chi Minh City

Tour Concludes in: Hanoi

Number of Days:  14 days / 13 nights

Tour Style:  Boutique Tour  (groups, couples & solo travellers)

Accommodation:  Modern & Boutique Hotels

Meals:    Breakfasts; 13: Lunches; 10: Dinners; 1:

Leaders:   Professional specialised guide

Transportation:    Private chauffeur driven air-conditioned vehicles, boats & planes

Tour Grading:    MODERATE: Suitable for travellers with an above average level of fitness and mobility

• A specially curated itinerary for Boutique Tours

• Discover significant landscapes and cultural sites throughout the country

• Experience the bustling city of HCMC

• Explore the local markets

• Visit the famous The Reunification Palace (Presidential Palace) Notre Dame Cathedral, the Centre Old Post Office

• Be moved at The War Remnants Museum,

• Experience the Cai Be floating fruit & vegetable market,

• Enjoy cruising the Mekong Delta River

• Encounter with guerrilla women in Mekong delta

• Tour an ancient mandarin house

• Walk & shop the delightful high-end shopping streets

• Be captivated UNESCO Listed charming ancient township of Hoi An

• ‘Shop till you drop’ amongst masterful tailors, artists in Hoi An

• Experience optional cooking & or lantern making lessons

• Explore the Old City including the 400 year old Japanese Bridge & Chinese Pagoda

• Be intrigued by the Imperial Citidel at Hue

• Enjoy cruising the Perfumed River

• Experience a cyclo ride in the old quarter of Hanoi

• Step inside Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, house on stilts. One Pillar Pagoda; full of history

• Visit Van Mieu- Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature & Vietnam’s first university). Constructed in 11th century,

• The Water Puppet show- a uniquely Northern Vietnamese art form depicting scenes from rural life and episodes of national history

• Meet silk weaving artisan

• Participate in a market tour & cooking class

• Be overwhelmed by Ha Long Bay, one of the World Natural Heritages recognized by UNESCO

• Enjoy fabulous wonderful cuisine and regional delicacies

Day 1: Friday: Arrive Ho Ci Minh City: (D)
Welcome to Vietnam. Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, you will be meet by your tour guide and transferred to your hotel in the city center. Enjoy a welcome drink upon on arrival. Depending on your arrival time you may have time to explore the local surrounding area or relax.
Later this evening guests are invited to rendezvous in the hotel lobby to meet fellow travelling companions for a tour briefing before enjoying our welcome dinner at a lovely local restaurant.
You may wish to arrive a day earlier to shop or maybe just to get your bearings and recover from any jet lag you may have. If you do choose to arrive early, we can extend your hotel booking and provide any information or advice you may need in order to make the most of your time in this exciting city.

Day 2: Saturday: Ho Chi Minh City: (B/L)
We begin the day exploring Ho Chi Minh City’s historical sights and present-day attractions. Visit the War Remnants Museum - originally opened in September 1975; it displays old military equipment and other related items from the Vietnam War. We continue to visit the Reunification Palace, former residence of the President of the Republic of Southern Vietnam until the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975. Continue our walk to the splendid Notre Dame Cathedral and historical General Post Office which are beautiful examples of architecture from the French colonial period.
Enjoy lunch at one of the best places to sample Vietnam’s most popular noodle soup. The restaurant has been run by successive generations of the same family, which adds a little history and ambience. The broth recipe here is a family secret which helps create a little mystique around the flavours. Served with your bowl of pho is a plate of deep fried bread called “qouy”. This bread is actually of Chinese origin, but it is finding favor as a daytime side dish.
We then visit the Fito Museum. It offers a wonderful insight into years of traditional herbal medicines and has a vast collection of almost 3000 items. Our visit concludes with a cup of herbal tea.
Saigon coffee is a must and is something that can’t be grasped or interpreted, it is only known that Saigon coffee has a strong attachment to people every day and has gradually become an indispensable part of Saigon people’s life and loves.
Our favourite café; first and foremost is one of the oldest coffee shops in Saigon. We stop and taste a cup of beautiful aroma coffee and enjoy a moment with the locals. We continue onto another unique small coffee bar or so called a specialty coffee lab. The owner – a famous barista in Saigon will share his technique and experiences on how to select good coffee. Later we return to our hotel. This evening is at your leisure.

Optional Evening A O Show:
À Ố Show, phonetically understood as the Ahhh! Ohhh! Show, has its meaning derived from the word ‘village’ and ‘city’ in Vietnamese. It depicts the charming beauty and richness in culture of Vietnamese lives in the countryside versus the country’s racing urbanization
The show time is at 8:00 at Sai Gon Opera House

Day 3: Sunday: Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta: (B/L)
We leave bustling Saigon and drive to the “rice bowl” of Vietnam, the Mekong Delta. It is carpeted with rice paddies, floating markets, crisscross rivers and canals. We drive to a not so well-known area by tourists to Ben Tre. Ben Tre, well known for coconuts, it attracts visitors to its fresh-aired environment of large green coconut and fruit gardens.
On arrival, we board our private river barge open on all sides to allow the river breezes to flow freely. (air-conditional – local style) As we meander down the Mekong, we have a chance to observe local life as it plays out on the riverbanks: the people and stunning landscapes, whilst at the same time enjoy cold drinks and seasonal local fruit offered by the very attentive staff. We stop and visit a local factory to learn the traditional methods used to make coal from the coconut hard-shell. Ride Tuktuk through local village and meet the locals. Enjoy lunch today at a wonderfull Mekong riverside restaurant. Relax and soak up the tranquil atmosphere before our boat transfer back to the pier and we later return to our hotel in Can Tho.

Day 4: Monday: Mekong Delta – Ho Chi Minh City: (B/L)
Cai Rang market is one of the largest floating markets in Mekong Delta. In the early morning, the waterways become a maze of hundreds of boats selling daily necessities of seasonal fruits and farming products and even noodles for breakfast. Sellers tie their goods to a tall pole so that buyers can see from a distance what they are selling.
This morning we join them aboard our small private boat and our tour guide will prepare some products on a pole. We will play the role of seller in the market to learn more of this unique trading way in Mekong Delta and have a fabulous time interacting with the community. Cruise further onto smaller waterways and witness local life along the riverbank.
We stop and visit a fruit orchard before returning to our hotel for breakfast and a refresh.
Visit the friendly family’s traditional rice noodle house. You’ll be impressed by the colourful noodles, and how fascinating the noodles are made by locals.
We continue our excursion to a lovely town situated on the bank of Mekong River and visit the delightful Huynh Thuy Le's Ancient House where Marguerite Duras spent some of her childhood.
After exploring the nearby local market and flower village in Sa Dec, we visit a delightful garden for afternoon tea.
We later return Ho Chi Minh City. This evening is at your leisure.

Day 5: Tuesday: Ho Chi Minh City – Danang – Hoi An: (B/Snack-D)
After breakfast at our hotel, we transfer to the airport for a short flight to Danang City. (Suggested flight departs Approx 1220 – lands ;1350) Our local guide will meet us at the airport then it’s a 40 minute drive to the quaint town of Hoi An.
We check-in, then go on a walking tour of Hoi An’s charming Ancient Town. We visit its fascinating architecture including the old Japanese covered bridge, the Chinese assembly hall and the local market where we meet and chat with stallholders about their food.
We continue along both high streets and back streets discovering local street vendors making and selling a wide variety of exotic foods and tasty local special dishes such as Cao Lau Noodles, Vietnamese sizzling pancake, Vietnamese Waterfern cake, Grilled meat skewers and the famous baguette – Banh Mi Phuong. A perfect arrangement of crisp bread filled with homemade pork liver pâté mixed with fat and ground pork, thinly sliced roast pork loin, pork meatloaf, sprout-sized coriander, a healthy dose of mint, Vietnamese coriander, thinly sliced green onions, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, julienned pickled carrots, and the sauces which remain closely guarded secrets. Taste it and find out why it has become so widely known over the last few years. Later return to your hotel. This evening is at your leisure.

Day 6: Wednesday: Hoi An: (B/L)
This morning, we attend a hands-on class cooking Vietnamese dish. We walk with our chef to the Central Market to learn tips on picking fresh ingredients & bargain for the best price. We then cruise on Thu Bon River to reach a cooking school deep within the water coconut forest. On arrival, learn about Vietnamese veggies and herbs in preparation for 4 Vietnamese signature dishes. Enjoy lunch that you’ve prepared together in this very pleasant setting. Later, return to the hotel in the early afternoon and afternoon is at your leisure.

Day 7: Thursday: Hoi An: (B)
Free day at leisure.

Optional Tour:
Discover Ba na Hilss and Golden Bridge.
Drive to the Ba na Hill. A scenic mountainous area with panoramic views. Ride the Ba Na Hills cable car to enjoy a birds eye view of the strikingly beautiful countryside. Later walk the Golden bridge – a pair of golden hand jutting out of the mountain. Enjoy a delicious lunch before returning to your hotel

Day 8: Friday: Hoi An – Hue: (B/L)
Today we drive to the Imperial City of Hue via Hai Van Pass, where from the top is a panoramic view of Vietnam’s central coastline.
Following lunch we visit ‘Hope Center’ in Hue, an N.G.O established in 1999, which provides free vocational training courses and creates job for disabled and disadvantaged children and ethnic minority people. On our tour of the centre, they demonstrate how to “throw” on the potter’s wheel and weaving from electrical wires and bamboo. It is a humbling experience. We later take a boat trip on Perfume River and view sunset from the river. (if weather permits).

Day 9: Saturday: Hue: (B/L)
We continue exploring Hue Imperial City including visiting the Imperial Citadel – UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. It is where Kings of Vietnam’s last feudal dynasty ruled from 1802 to 1945. The site includes the Flag Tower, Nine Holy Cannons, Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace, Nine Dynastic Urns and the Forbidden Purple City.
Next, we visit an ancient pagoda, a convent for Buddhist nuns on the outskirts of Hue. The Pagoda is very basic in its fittings, quiet and surrounded by lots of big-leafed palm and banana and fig trees. We then will experience a vegetarian lunch at a local restaurant.
We continue and visit the last resting place of the 12th King Khai Dinh, who left behind a magnificent and huge burial tomb idyllically located in Chau Chu Mountain just outside of Hue, it is a mix of eastern and western architecture.
We stop and meet a local family that have a traditional rice wine production. Later we return to our hotel.

Optional Tour:
Hue Perfume River King Dragon Boat dinner cruise with Royal court music.
Embark on a lovely evening cruise along the Perfume River to see several historic and royal landmarks in Hue. Witness a gorgeous sunset and enjoy the sounds of folk music aboard an authentic dragon boat. (weather permitting) Boarding time - 6.00pm or 6.30pm

Day 10: Sunday: Hue – Hanoi: (B/L)

After breakfast, take a short morning flight to Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam. Upon arrival, you will be greeted and transferred to the city center. Later enjoy a delicious lunch at a fabulous restaurant, grilled pork and noodle is on the menu.
After lunch, we take a visit to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (close on every Monday) – the biggest in-house and open-air museum with its remarkable cultural and daily life displays, is the only and most interesting museum about fifty-four different ethnic minorities currently inhabiting in Vietnam. Then jump on a Cyclo (trishaws) to explore the famous chaotic streets of Hanoi's Old Quarter. This evening is at your leisure.

Day 11: Monday: Hanoi: (B/L)
This morning, we drive 50km south of Hanoi to visit a silk village. We meet the owner, a highly skilled silk weaving artisan, she has 40 years of experience in the industry-primarily using the centuries-old method of turning the fiber released by silkworms and weaving it into blankets, scarves and dresses. The artisan is also famed for producing lotus silk by cutting the stems of lotus plants and extracting the cellulose threads from within and weave them together and create a unique form of silk. It’s a great chance for us to have her share her experience and to show us the processes of producing silk from silkworms (and from lotus if in lotus season). We wind our way to a nearby village that have tradition producing incense sticks. Mingle with the locals as they lay their colorful incense sticks to dry along the village road.
Return to Hanoi city, lunch will be served at one of the most stylish vegetarian restaurant with all-you-can-eat menu concept. Buddhism has a long history of development in Vietnam so vegetarian food is an indispensable part of its culinary culture. With their creativeness, Vietnamese chefs have made diverse vegetarian foods which are full of delicious Vietnamese tastes.
In the afternoon, we explore some other attractions in Hanoi City. There are about fifty-four ethnic minorities currently in Vietnam.
Visit Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Gium, a must-see city site with stories about Vietnam culture, architecture and education for thousands of years. This evening is at your leisure.

Optional Tour: Water Puppet Show: A unique Northern Vietnamese art form depicting scenes from national history.

Day 12: Tuesday: Hanoi – Ha Long Bay: (B/L/D)
After breakfast, we depart Hanoi for Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, where thousands of spectacular limestone islets and grottoes rise from the clear emerald Gulf of Tonkin. On arrival at the port, we transfer to our boat and check in. once onboard, enjoy a welcome drink before having lunch. Relax while the boat cruises among many stone islets, floating villages and small beaches. We visit a floating fishing village, a usual way of life. Later there is an opportunity to swim or free time at your leisure on the boat’s sundeck. Dinner will be served when the boat anchors at a quiet designated overnight area.

Note: Itinerary is subject to change without prior notice according to weather conditions or local administration regulations.

Day 13: Wednesday: Ha Long Bay – Hanoi: (Brunch) (Cocktails)
A Tai Chi class is available on the sundeck for early risers. Breakfast is served while the boat continues cruising around Ha Long Bay. You will pass many islets with names inspired by their shapes. We continue to explore the magnificent limestone grottos before we cruise back to the wharf. Following disembarking we transfer to Yen Duc village (lies on the way back to Hanoi from Ha Long). enjoy Water puppet show, a uniquely Northern Vietnamese art form depicting scenes from rural life and episodes of national history at the lakeside water puppetry theatre.
Following disembarking we transfer back to Hanoi and check in to our hotel. A final gathering at twilight to enjoy a drink and reminisce about our journey. This evening is at your leisure.

Day 14: Thursday: Depart Hanoi: (B)
Our small group tour concludes after breakfast and for most guests today it is time to say farewell to acquaintances, new-found friends and Vietnam.

At your leisure before transferring to the airport for your onward or homebound journey.

Depending on your departure itinerary, you may have time for some last-minute sightseeing and shopping. We are able to organize our private guide to accompany you.

Some guests may wish to stay another day or more in this amazing city; please don’t hesitate to contact Boutique Tours & Travel for further travel arrangements.

Our itineraries are carefully planned to ensure you are rewarded with the best experiences in Vietnam. The magic of travelling in a small group allows us to cater for spontaneity and it is sometimes these unplanned moments that can be the most memorable and together with the rich tapestry of experiences and the characters we meet along the way that make this a very special tour.

• A specially curated itinerary for Boutique Tours & Travel. 

• A Small Group Tour (2 – 12  Guests)

• Private international airport arrival transfers (1 - 2 days Pre Tour- to Tour Hotel)

• Private international airport departure transfers for all guests (1 – 2 days  Post Tour- from Tour Hotel)

• Private airport International & Domestic arrival and departure transfers for all guests

• Internal Airfare – Economy Class: HCMC/Danang - Hue/Hanoi – Business class on request

• Modern & Boutique Hotel accommodation – upgrades available at extra costs

• Two day / one night cruise package in Ha Long Bay

• Private air-conditioned chauffer driven vehicles for all your transportation

• Private Boat fees where applicable; Mekong Delta, Hue

• Meals as listed in the program B= Breakfast; L= Lunch & D = Dinner

• Experienced professional tour guide

• Street foods as indicated in itinerary

• Coffee culture in Ho Chi Minh

• Bicycle & cyclo tour as mentioned in itinerary

• Private cooking class with lunch in Hoi An

• Entrance fees to buildings, monuments, workshops,

• Some Gratuities & Tipping

• Bottled water in car during the tour

• An exclusive BT&T Information iPhone App.

Not Included:

• International and domestic airfares and airport taxes

• Travel Insurance, personal expenses & Tips

• Visa processing fee, visa stamping fee

• Meals & Drinks not included

• Some Gratuities & Tipping

• Optional Tours