Hotel list for 5-star standard:
- Ho Chi Minh City: The Myst Dong Khoi (**** Featuring classic contemporary interiors and designs, offers a sophisticated accommodations in the heart of District 1, Dong Khoi room)
- Hanoi: Hotel de l’Opera Hanoi (***** just a step away from Hanoi’s OperaHouse and Hoan Kiem Lake – L’Opera Deluxe)
- Halong Cruise: Ambassador Cruise (***** luxury cruise in Halong Bay – Deluxe cabin)
Overview
Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City Arrival (D, GP)
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City/Vinh Long/Ho Chi Minh City (B, L, G)
Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City orientation/A O show (B, L, G)
Day 5: Hanoi/Ninh Binh/Ninh Hai embroidery village/Hanoi (B, L, G)
Day 6: Hanoi Orientation tour/Lacquer Class (B, L, G)
Day 7: Hanoi/Halong Bay/Ambassador Cruise (B, L, D, G)
Day 8: Halong/Hanoi/Bat Trang Ceramic village/Hanoi (B, D, G)
Day 9: Hanoi Departure (B, GP)
Itinerary
Day 1 :
Ho Chi Minh City Arrival (D, GP)
Arriving at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City on different flights, 10 guests will arrange their own transfers, while 1 guest will have a transfer provided.
The tour guide will be waiting to welcome in the hotel.
Later, at 6:00 PM, you will enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
You will spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 2 :
Ho Chi Minh City/Vinh Long/Ho Chi Minh City (B, L, G)
In the morning, you’ll be picked up at your hotel at about 8.30AM to travel to Vinh Long in 2-hour drive. On arrival, you will board a boat to cruise on the Mekong Delta and downstream on Mekong River seeing many floating cages for farming fish. Stop to visit Vinhlong market in the town. This is the best choice for you to take pictures of fish, shrimps, prawns, crabs, snakes, rice-field rats, tropical fruits, vegetables...
Then, stop to visit the brick kilns where you can see how the local people create beautiful potteries from clay.
Next visit the local workshop to see how to make rice paper, coconut candy, pop-rice... Enjoy some sweets with a cup of hot tea.
Lunch should be served on board when our cruise is coming to the Red Kingdom where you can see hundreds brick kilns on both sides of Thay Cai, Mỹ An and Hòa Tịnh canal.
We will walk/ bike in the peaceful village to see how they make bamboo baskets and you will try to make the bamboo basket by yourself with instruction from the local ladies. Our boat continues to travel on Long Ho canal and then return to Vinh Long city where you will leave Vinh Long and return to Ho Chi Minh city for overnight stay. You will arrive In Ho Chi Minh City around 6PM.
Day 3 :
Ho Chi Minh City orientation/A O show (B, L, G)
After breakfast, your guide will arrive to show you around Ho Chi Minh City. You’ll visit the HCMC Fine Arts Museum, an impressive example of Sino-French architecture, where you will look at the work of wartime artists, including both combat sketches and original propaganda posters. The Fine Arts Museum also houses modern works by both Northern and Southern artists. You also will be invited to see the differences between pre- and post-reunification artworks and learn how politics led to Vietnam’s 90’s art market boom.
You’ll also call in at the Jade Emperor Temple. It’s one of the best Taoist temples in Vietnam, with superb effigies, remarkable carved panels of the descent to Hell and somewhat incongruous terrapin and tortoise sanctuaries.
At 6.00PM you will have tickets of A O Show in 60 minutes at the Opera House. A O Show, one of a must-see shows in Hoian and Saigon, is a unique merge of bamboo circus, acrobatics acts, contemporary dance, traditional Vietnamese music and theatrical visual art. The name “A O” derives from “Lang Pho” which means village and city. This breath-taking contemporary circus performance features stunning acrobatics, graceful contortion and top-notch juggling, performed by dedicated artists. Live music is performed on some 20 different folk instruments played by musical scholars cum artists. Wondrously creative visions created with bamboo - considered the soul of village life - depict river or mountain, peace or war, as you explore the memory of ancient Vietnam For more information, please visit website at:
https://www.luneproduction.com/my-village.
Day 4 :
Ho Chi Minh City/Hanoi/Hanoi Old Quarter (B, G)
After early breakfast, and at 8.00AM you’ll then be transferred to Tan Son Nhat airport for the morning flight VN246 at 11.00AM to Hanoi, arriving in Hanoi at 13.05.
Arriving at Noi Bai Airport, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel to check in.
Later today, your guide will take you for a walk around the centre of Hanoi, including Hoan Kiem Lake, the Ngoc Son temple and the bustling Old Quarter, is a magnet for visitors – it’s noisy and hectic, but definitely a ‘must-see’ attraction. The Old Quarter is a maze of shopping streets and restaurants with a hotchpotch of architecture - traditional tube houses, religious buildings, artisans’ workshops and cottages, colonial houses and modern concrete edifices. You can try Vietnamese coffee and taste some local Vietnamese foods as you wish (inclusive). If time permits, you can visit Women museum.
You’ll spend the night in Hanoi.
Day 5 :
Hanoi/Ninh Binh/Ninh Hai embroidery village/Hanoi (B, L, G)
In the morning, at 8AM you’ll be picked up in Hanoi for the two-hour drive to Ninh Binh.
On arrival, you’ll visit Tam Coc (three caves), a peaceful valley among limestone ‘karst’ hills by rowing boat, There, you’ll be rowed along a gentle river between paddy fields and through the caves. On the way back, you’ll disembark for a pleasant stroll (about 2km) through the rural scenery to Thai Vi temple. You will return to Tam Coc Pier for a drive to have lunch.
In the afternoon, you will visit Ninh Hai embroidery village. Ninh Hai Village is famous all over the country for its lace embroidery. Currently, every family in Ninh Hai has many kinds of embroidery frames, some frames as big as several meters, and some as small as a handkerchief. Lace-embroidery products are diverse; including bedspreads, curtains, pillow covers, table covers, napkins, handkerchiefs, paintings and photos.
Late afternoon you will take a drive back Hanoi. Arriving in Hanoi in early evening.
You will spend the night in Hanoi.
Day 6 :
Hanoi Orientation tour/Lacquer Class (B, L, G)
You’ll have the whole day to explore Vietnam’s capital city. Your guide will take you to the Temple of Literature, the first university in Vietnam dating back to the 11th century, and Ethnology Museum, offers an insight into the 54 different ethnic groups of Vietnam.
After lunch, you will be driven to the private house of a master artisan for a 2-hour class at a private lacquer workshop offering clients the chance to take part in the first or last step of the lacquer process, with Eggshell inlay or hand-painting. It’s not only a perfect introduction to the ancestral tradition of lacquer art, but also to the exclusive, modern Hanoian fashion and trendy collection, mixing Eastern and Western knowledge. After a presentation by the artist about the Vietnamese lacquer process, a process that involves 20 stages and not less than 100 days to finish a small or large object, the craftsmen share their knowledge and art with the visitors. Upon the client’s departure, a lacquer gift is given as a souvenir.
We’ll arrange your programme to avoid the busy times at popular destinations, but if there’s anything you particularly want to see, let us know.
* Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum opens in the morning only and closes on Mondays and Fridays. Other museums close on Mondays.
Day 7 :
Hanoi/Halong Bay/Ambassador Cruise (B, L, D, G)
At 08:30AM, you’ll leave for Ha Long Bay, one of the most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Areas and the world’s largest marine limestone ‘karst’ landscape. There you’ll board the Ambassador Cruise and discover some of the treasures scattered across the Bay of the Descending Dragon during the afternoon.
Notes: Due to cruising conditions, itineraries may change without prior notice. Wi-Fi is available in the restaurant/bar area, but internet connectivity is limited due to the geography of Halong.
12.15 – 12.30: Be present at the check in lounge B135-B138 Sunworld, Bai Chay, Halong
12:30 – 14:00: Lunch at Ambassador Restaurant Lunch will be served in the restaurant while Ambassador Cruise heads toward Halong Bay. You will pass the thousands of towering limestone islands.
14:30 – 15:30: Excursion Your first excursion is a visit to Tung Sau Pearl Farm, an area in Halong Bay dedicated to growing pearls and practicing a handmade technique based on Vietnamese tradition and Japanese technology. This is also an ideal destination for kayaking* (kayaking is excluded).
16:00 – 16:45: Excursion Your second stop of the day is popular Ti Tov Island, where you can go swimming or hike to the top for another stunning, panoramic view of the Bay
15:45 – 16:30 Onboard activities If the excursion doesn’t take your fancy, stay on board and you can opt for an afternoon of pampering at Ambassador Spa* (spa is excluded), enjoy the outdoor Jacuzzi or treat yourself to a delicious standard afternoon tea at Piano Lounge.
17:30 – 18:30: Pre-Dinner Sunset Cocktails* At sunset, Ambassador Cruise will anchor overnight at Coconut Tree Island. Enjoying Pre-Dinner Sunset Cocktails* and canapes at the bar on the twin sundeck or enjoy live music at Piano Lounge.
19:00: Dinner at Ambassador restaurant Savour a delicious dinner party in the restaurant. After dinner, indulge in drinks*, squid fishing, a spa treatment at Ambassador Spa* or movies in your cabin.
20:30: Live music at Piano Lounge Join us for a glamorous night with live music from Midnight Buzz Band (except Monday) as you sip on our wine collection*.
You will spend the night on Ambassador Cruise.
Day 8 :
Halong/Hanoi/Bat Trang Ceramic village/Hanoi (B, D, G)
7:00 – 7:30: Light breakfast Enjoying tea, coffee, and cake in the restaurant
7:30 – 8:20: Excursion Explore Sung Sot Cave – the largest and most magnificent cave in the bay where you can see the stalactites in different forms
8:30 – 9:30: Breakfast Buffet at Ambassador Restaurant Back on board, a buffet breakfast will be served as we once again cruise past Bai Tu Long Bay before your bill settlement, check-out, and return to Halong International Cruise Port.
10:15 – 10:30: Disembark at the Halong International Cruise Port and you will meet your driver again to be driven to Hanoi.
* Due to cruising conditions, itineraries may change without prior notice. Wi-Fi is available in the restaurant/bar area, but internet connectivity is limited due to the geography of the bay. Thank you for your understanding.
10:45: Meet your driver to return to Hanoi.
13:00: You’ll stop to explore Vietnam’s premier ceramics centre in detail, Bat Trang village. The road to Bat Trang runs about 15km downriver from Hanoi to reach the village, famous for producing fine ceramics. Your guide will take you through the busy tourist area to the much quieter old part of the village right on the river. There you can stroll the narrow streets to observe the time-honoured manufacturing processes still in use and meet the ceramic artisans.
16:00: Arriving at your hotel in the mid-afternoon, get rest and be ready for the farewell dinner this evening.
19:00: You will have a farewell dinner in Hanoi at a nice restaurant.
You will spend the night in Hanoi.
Day 9 :
Hanoi Departure (B, GP)
Your After breakfast, enjoy free time to explore at your own pace—perhaps take a walk around your hotel or Hoan Kiem Lake.
Check out by 12:00 PM and continue your leisure time in the afternoon.
For the one guest departing today, a transfer to Noi Bai Airport will be arranged at 8:00 PM for their departure flight. The remaining guests will have a free day to explore Hanoi further.
Our price includes:
- Breakfast and accommodation
- Pick-ups and transfers by private air-conditioned Deluxe Coach vehicle as specified in the itinerary above
- Luxury Cruise in Halong Bay: Ambassador Cruise ***** (Deluxe cabin)
- Other boat cruises as specified in the programme. All Ha Long Bay boats will be fully licensed and comply with current safety regulations.
- Travel in an appropriate private air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced safe driver.
- The services of 1 experienced and professional English-speaking guides during the tour, as indicated in the itinerary.
- Where necessary, entry fees for all visits as mentioned in the programme.
- Lunches and dinners (as specified in the itinerary) in the best local restaurants, or picnics where no suitable restaurant is available, and full board on the boat in Ha Long Bay. With one item of soft drink per person per meal which included
- Ticket of A O show, Ooh class.
- VAT and other taxes
- Compulsory tipping: USD 10 per person per day * 9 days = USD 90 per person (for guide and driver)
Our price does not include
- Internal flight Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, economy standard, including airport taxes
- International flight tickets and airport tax.
- Visas
- Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses.
- Insurance.
- Compulsory meal (if any)
DEPOSIT
(1.1) FIT – An initial deposit of 20% is required at the time of booking.
(1.2) Leisure groups – An initial deposit of 20% is required at the time of booking.
(1.3) Incentive and MICE groups – An initial deposit of 20% is required at the time of booking.
(1.4) In some circumstances it may be necessary for us to request additional deposits due to the contracture requirements of our suppliers. SKY ASIA TRAVEL will advise you of the complete conditions attached to any deposits required at the time of confirmation.
(1.5) In the event of the non-payment of any requested deposit, we reserve the right to cancel the reservation.
(1.6) Note that if many extra services are booked after initial confirmation, Cashel Travel may require extra payments.
(1.7) Please note initial deposits (20%) are non-refundable
CONFIRMATION
Following the receipt of the initial deposit, the client will be furnished with a confirmation of the tour details. The client shall immediately notify in writing if any errors are noted. SKY ASIA TRAVEL shall not be responsible for any errors not so notified.
+/ Full payment must be received 45 days prior to the tour/programme commencement date unless credit facilities agreed.
+/ In the event of the non-payment by due date we reserve the right to cancel the reservation, and in such event all deposits received shall be non-refundable.
+/ In the event of billing errors we reserve the right to re-invoice the correct amount.
+/ Amendments: In the event of cancellation of individual participants which results in changes in number of passengers within the group, SKY ASIA TRAVEL might apply a charge.
INSURANCE
Travel insurance and medical precautions are essential. We do not give specific advice on these matters as we are expert in neither, and individual circumstances differ.
We advise you to tell us the name of the company and its contact details so that we can give notification on your behalf if you are unable to do so in the unlikely event of an accident occurring.
If you are intending to engage in any activity that could be considered ‘hazardous’ in any way, you should check your insurance carefully to make sure that you will be covered in the case of an accident.
