Discover wonderful Vietnam World Heritage Sites 12-day trip

At 8.30 am, our guide will meet you in the foyer of the hotel to discuss the day’s itinerary.  Your tour will be tailored to meet your interests and energy levels. Beginning at the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum (outsides only) to pay respects to Uncle Ho and learn about his incredible life.  The tour then continues to the nearby Presidential Gardens and One Pillar Pagoda. The next stop will be The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long which has long been known for its unmatched historical and cultural values.

You can then choose one of these places from the following; Temple of Literature, Fine Arts Museum, Hoa Lo prison, Military Museum. This is a full-day tour, so the day is yours to fill as you please. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant (set menu).

After lunch, you will pay a visit to a local coffee shop called Hidden Gem Coffee Shop to learn how to recycle things from unused or second-hand items. Located on a small valley off Hang Tre – Hanoi Old Quarter, 95 percent of the items here have been recycled. Discarded wheels, wheel parts, and plastic items have been turned into interior decorations. The aim of this activity is to protect the environment. A cup of traditional Vietnamese coffee, especially coffee with eggs, is highly recommended there. Finally, our guide & driver drop you off at the hotel for relaxation.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Ha Noi One Pillar Pagoda

This morning, depart the hotel at 08:00 for a 2.5-hour drive through rural northern Vietnam to the site of Vietnam’s first capital, Hoa Lu. Visit the temples dedicated to Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang of the Dinh Dynasty (968 – 80), and Emperor Le Dai Hanh of the Le Dynasty (980–1009). The ancient Hoa Lu Citadel, most of which has since been destroyed, once covered an area of three square kilometers.

After visiting Hoa Lu, if time and energy levels permit, choose to take a half-hour walk up one of the surrounding limestone karst hills and be rewarded with spectacular views.

In the late morning, depart for a Vietnamese lunch. Along the way, make stops along the way to take pictures of local villages and the surrounding stunning landscape.

After lunch, visit the Trang An Landscape Complex which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in June 2014.

Take a relaxing boat ride on a peaceful river passing through a series of caves (one of which takes 15 minutes to pass through in darkness). Trang An is a spectacular landscape of limestone karst peaks permeated with valleys, some of which are submerged and surrounded by steep, almost vertical cliffs. As the boat gently slices through the water, notice the enormous limestone karsts jutting out from the green rice fields, giving rise to another name, ‘Halong on Land’. In an eco-tourism area, the only interruptions here are the sound of birds and the gentle paddle of the oar upon the crystal clear river.

If you’re feeling adventurous, climb up to Bich Dong Pagoda on nearby Ngu Nhac Mountain. Dating back to 1428 and comprising three structures: Ha, Trung, and Thuong Pagodas, in ascending order, Bich Dong Pagoda is stunning.

Transfer to the hotel and spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Ninh Binh Hoa Lu citadel

The scenery of Halong Bay, where thousands of limestone islands jut out of the emerald sea, sculpted into bizarre shapes, is truly an iconic image of Vietnam. An overnight boat trip is the best way to enjoy this Vietnamese must-see.

Attracting millions of visitors each year, Halong Bay entices travelers with its enchanting landscape of magnificent mountainous peaks rising and piercing through the soothing emerald water. Take a rowing boat inside of one of the mystical caves and you’ll witness the hidden limestone pillars as they glisten when the light touches the reflective water.

After breakfast, you are transferred through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta to the legendary Halong Bay. It takes you 3 hours, including a 20-minute stop on the way.

Arrive at the jetty in Halong City towards noon and proceed with check-in formalities. After a welcome onboard, lunch will be served while cruising towards the bay itself. In the afternoon, enjoy some visits and/or activities (depending on each boat’s itinerary) or just spend some time relaxing on board.

Towards the end of the day, the boat sets anchor for the night among the karst formations. Dinner is served on board.

Overnight on board.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Ha Long Bay landscape view

Wake up and enjoy the sunrise in Halong Bay. Engaging in a Tai Chi session in the early morning is the perfect way to start your new day in Halong Bay. Tai Chi is a gentle physical exercise combining deep breathing and relaxation with slow and easy movements. A form of martial art, Tai Chi is extremely beneficial for your health as it helps to reduce stress, prevent falls, and improve balance and general mobility. It is strongly recommended that you wake up early and participate in the session.

Join some activities on board (depending on each boat’ itinerary).

Disembark from the boat. Your private driver is waiting for you at the dock to send you back to Noi Bai Airport.

Today, you will take a 1 hour and 15 minute flight from Hanoi to Dong Hoi. Upon arrival at Dong Hoi Airport, your private driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel in Phong Nha to check-in. The rest of the day will be yours to explore at your leisure.

Along with Halong Bay, the Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park is the second of Vietnam’s only two natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

With a massive network of caves and underground rivers, including the world’s largest cave, many parts of this natural wonder have yet to be discovered. The elaborate karst formation of this mysterious natural World Heritage Site is thought to have been around for over 400 million years.

Overnight in Phong Nha.

Meals: Breakfast, Brunch.

Ha Long Bay Tai Chi Class

The Paradise Cave (Hang Thien Duong) discovered by scientists of the British Caving Research Association in 2005, has a length of 31 km, the longest dry cave in Asia.

With its naturally primitive features, Paradise Cave looks like a landscape painting, making it very attractive to visitors. According to spelunkers, the deeper one journeys into the cave, the more one feels the wells of heavenly clarity all around them. There is a series of white crystal stalactites resembling glass pillars and many other spectacular formations.

Phong Nha cave is not only a natural legacy of the world or a wonder of the country of Vietnam but also a relic system of the historic street Ho Chi Minh which collaborates with Xuan Son Ferry to create a route supporting the battleground of South Vietnam during US War. Today, this place has become the first section of Ho Chi Minh Trail. Therefore, coming to Phong Nha means you are visiting these legendary trails.

Detailed time plan:

Our car and tour guide will pick you up at your hotel. You will explore the most impressive Phong Nha caves (50 km from the city, 45 minutes driving). After 25 minutes on the boat, you will arrive at Phong Nha cave, and it will take a couple of hours to see the cave. This cave is called a “water cave” and is famous for its rock formations, which have been given names such as the “Lion”, the “Fairy Caves”, the “Royal Court”, and the “Buddha”. Lunch at a local restaurant in Phong Nha village before exploring the National Park in the afternoon Tip: bring a swimming suit and towel for swimming in the summertime: April up to August

In the afternoon, visit Paradise Cave – the longest dry cave in Asia (located in Phong Nha – Ke bang National Park’s core zone, 25km from Phong Nha cave, 75km from Dong Hoi and 1h20 minutes driving) for the rest of the day. Back to your accommodation in the Phong Nha area. Tour ends.

Overnight in Phong Nha.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Phong Nha Paradise cave

After breakfast at the hotel, travel to Hue, the ancient capital of Vietnam.

On the way, visit the famous Vinh Moc Tunnel. Local people dug in for 2 years (1965–1967) to create a system of 1.7 km long and 10 to 23 m deep tunnels which were used as bomb shelters during the Vietnam War. The site is evidence of the heroism of the Vietnamese people.

Continue your journey to Hue and stop for an excursion to the well-known 17th Parallel. According to the agreement of Geneva, this historical site was the border between the Communists in the North and the Non-Communists in the South of Vietnam. Visit the museum, the flag tower, the Ben Hai River, and the Hien Luong Bridge to learn more about the special history of this land.

Keep making your way to Hue in the late afternoon. On arrival, check into the hotel. Free to stroll to visit the former ancient capital at night. Overnight in Hue.

Hue was the capital city of the Nguyen Dynasty that closed the historical Imperial Era of Vietnam. The complex of Hue Monuments harmoniously lies along the banks of the Perfume River, giving it a nostalgic and equally romantic setting, as if you’re transported back in time. This Vietnamese World Heritage Site covers an extensive area, consisting of many monuments such as the Imperial City, royal residences, temples, tombs, and fortresses. A visit to the site will definitely bring visitors into an exploration of the historical, cultural, and spiritual essences of Vietnam during the Nguyen Dynasty.

Overnight in Hue.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Quang Tri Hien Luong Bridge

At 8.30am, our guide will meet you at your hotel and introduce you to our highly skilled and qualified drivers, who are sensitive to tentative pillion passengers and will travel at a gentle pace of 40km or less. After a safety briefing, your adventure begins.

During the tour, you will ride through little laneways, beside canals, and through local markets; visit a king’s tomb, a pagoda, and local handicrafts. During your journey, you will visit Hue’s Citadel and the forbidden Purple City and learn about Vietnam’s emerors and their intriguing histories.

Lunch is a delicious traditional Buddhist banquet served at a pagoda. This is a truly action-packed day of scenery, history, culture, and cuisine. You have the option of joining this tour by private air-conditioned vehicle.

Overnight in Hue.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Hue city - Khai Dinh Tomb

At 8.30 am, you will depart Hue to begin your 160km journey to Hoi An traveling through coastal rice paddies to the fishing village of Lang Co, before taking the scenic mountainous route over the spectacular Hai Van Pass. You will climb to 496 m (1,627 ft) on a road quoted in the Top Gear Program as “a deserted ribbon of perfection—one of the best coast roads in the world.”

On the way to Hoi An, visit the Marble Mountains (Five Elements Mountains), a cluster of five marble and limestone hills located in Ngu Hanh Son District, south of Da Nang city in Vietnam. The five mountains are named after the five elements: metal, water, wood, fire, and earth.

Arrive in Hoi An at midday. Check in to the room and take a short break. Lunch is your arrangement.

In the afternoon, our guide will meet you at the hotel’s lobby for an orientation walk in Hoi An town. Known as Faifo to early Western traders, Hoi An was one of the major trading centers in Southeast Asia between the 16th & 17th centuries. A charming 16^th-century merchant town, with strong Japanese and Chinese influences, Hoi An is best explored on foot.

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved architecture and is a thriving center for traditional handicrafts. Wander through the cobbled streets, past low tile-roofed buildings, the bustling central market, and the small harbor where colorfully painted boats are moored.

Your walking tour will include visits to a private house where members of the same family have lived continuously for centuries in a traditional setting and to one of the family chapels built by prominent merchant or official families as centers for ancestor worship. Continue to the Sa Huynh Museum, which contains exhibitions from the earliest period of Hoi An’s history. Finally, continue to the famous Japanese Covered Bridge Pagoda, first constructed in 1593 by the Japanese community of Hoi An to link the town with the Chinese quarters across the stream.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Meals: Breakfast.

Hoi An Ancient Town

The tour starts in the morning when your private guide will pick you up from the hotel and then leave Hoi An for My Son holy land, arriving at 8:45 am. Upon arrival, you spend 2 hours walking around My Son with your guide, seeing the beauty of My Son in the morning. This is also the best time of the day to see My Son without many tourists, and the temperature is also cooling.

We also enjoy the traditional Cham dance. They show local costumes and songs with traditional instrumental accompaniment. Say goodbye to My Son, you will return to visit Hoi An.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Meals: Breakfast.

You have a full day to relax in the town, at the beach, or book one of the many optional tours such as a cooking class, bicycle tour, history tours of the My Son Ruins and Marble Mountain, and a day of snorkeling at Cham Island. Just let us know and all the arrangements can be made.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Meals: Breakfast.

Hoi An An Bang Beach

After breakfast and a leisurely morning on your own, you will check out by midday and your private driver will pick you up and take you to the Da Nang Airport for your departure flight home.

Meals: Breakfast.

Hoi An ancient town