A Journey of a Lifetime: 12-Day Vietnam Beach Holiday

Upon arrival, you will be met by your guide who will escort you to a waiting vehicle for your transfer to downtown with a brief introduction en route. Your guide will be holding a welcome signboard with the Sun Getaways Travel Logo & your name. 

Hanoi is Vietnam’s capital city and home to seven million people. Traditional and refined with French colonial architecture, tree-lined boulevards, scenic lakes and a bustling Old Quarter, Hanoi has a sophisticated charm. Observe locals practicing Tai Chi by the lake, with barbers and food vendors plying their sidewalk trade.

Night 1: Overnight in hotel in Hanoi

The capital of Vietnam, a city that celebrated 1.000 years in 2010 has countless fascinating cultural and historic sites and our days’ tour will visit the highlights.  See the grand and solemn mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh (viewed from outside; closed Mon and Fri and from Oct-Nov), the ‘icon of Hanoi’ – The One Pillar Pagoda, the beautiful Temple of Literature, West Lake’s Tran Quoc temple and Quan Thanh pagoda as well as the fascinating Ethnology Museum, the bustling Old Quarter – Return to your hotel and free time.

Night 2: Overnight in hotel in Hanoi

We’ll pick you up at hotel and drive through the verdant Red River Delta to make our way to the famous UNESCO World Heritage site, Halong Bay. 

You’ll board a luxury junk ship for an overnight cruise– while you relax on-board you can marvel at the incredible limestone karsts that jut out of the sea and the thousands of jungle-covered islands that seem to float on the waves. The turquoise waters of the Gulf of Tonkin swirl around hidden grottoes and ancient caves to create an enchanting, timeless world. 

We’ll serve you a fresh seafood lunch while you sit back and relax as you enjoy the incredible view with a drink in your hand. We’ll take you to a traditional fishing village where the locals have created an entire town on the decks of their boats, then you can explore Tien Ong Cave before returning to the cruise for cocktails, canapés, and a spectacular sunset. End your day with a romantic, candlelit dinner. 

Night 3: Overnight on board

Begin the day with a Tai Chi class on deck in the early morning mist or just admire the beautiful scenery as the sun rises over the azure waters. Choose between an excursion to a secluded island with a sandy beach for a swim or join the chef for a cooking demonstration to learn more about Vietnamese cuisine. 

Enjoy a leisurely brunch while your junk cruises Halong Bay, passing islets and caves as you make your way back to the dock. 

Arrive in Hanoi at around 15h00.

 Meet your guide upon arrival and you will be picked up and dropped off at the hotel in Hoi An town. Check-in and free time.

Night 4: Overnight in hotel in Hoian

Option 1 – Cooking class:

Your cooking class today will begin with a visit to a colorful local market, buying all the necessary ingredients and heading back to prepare. Your chef will demonstrate how to cook some typical Vietnam cuisine, you will then start cooking yourself and enjoy what you have cooked.

In the afternoon, explore the enchanting time-capsule town of Old Hoi An on a walking tour with your guide. Hoi An was a major seaport in Asia and it resulted in a fusion of style and culture that has been perfectly preserved. Wander traditional Chinese shops, luxurious French homes, and an ancient Japanese bridge. The town is home to silk markets, Vietnamese food stalls, and talented street performers– all of which are sure to charm you. 

Option 2 – Vegetable village:

Breakfast at your hotel and then it’s time for a little bit of exercise and riding a bike to Tra Que Village and a visit to a local farm. This is a very special involvement in true Vietnamese rural life. You will learn about the history of the village and then be shown the daily practices of growing vegetables. You will learn how vegetables are used in traditional Vietnamese medicine. 

You will join in the activities of the farmers – collecting seaweed fertilizer, sowing, raking, watering and picking. Your cultural immersion continues as you join the family to prepare and eat the lunch you have helped grow. You will also taste other local specialties such as Tam huu (spring roll) and Banh xeo (pancake). 

Of course, you must also join in the after-lunch nap before returning to the field to learn how to harvest and wrap the produce. Mid-afternoon we wave goodbye to your new friends and go back to Hoian to visit Hoian Old Quarter. Return to your hotel for relaxing 

Option 3 – Countryside biking or motor riding:

Our guide will pick you up at the hotel by motorbike, ride to Tra Que village and then ride back to the river for aboard a local ferry to  Kim Bong Village. This village is not only famous for wood carving but weaving sleeping mats as well, so we will stop at a family to see how they weaved the mat for everyday use in the old times before having today’s popular mattresses. 

Visit a local family making the famous local noodle – Mi Quang is another chance to learn the local life. You also have a chance to make and eat the perfect banh dap (rice cracker). Riding into a small village. Here, the local ferry crossing takes guests to the water coconut palm fringed Cam Thanh village.  Have lunch at Cam Thanh homestay. Back to town for a walking tour and free in the evening. 

Note: If you prefer biking than scooter tour, we can be flexible to modify the route, matching with your ability. 

Night 5: Overnight in hotel in Hoian

You’ll have the morning for a leisurely breakfast before we come to collect you and take you to Danang to catch a flight to Saigon. 

When you arrive at the airport, you will be met and transferred directly to your hotel. Enjoy the balance of the day at leisure. 

Night 6: Overnight in hotel in Ho Chi Minh

We’ll pick you up in the morning and take you to the Cu Chi Tunnels, a major part of the Vietnam-American War and a fascinating day trip– explore the mysterious tunnels, find hidden doors and once-deadly traps. 

After lunch, we’ll go back to HCMC and spend the afternoon either visiting the War Remnants Museum or the Presidential Palace, whichever you prefer. Then stroll around the city’s colonial streets in the evening to the Old Saigon Post Office, Dong Khoi Street, Continental Hotel, Opera House and City Hall.

Night 7: Overnight in hotel in Ho Chi Minh

Leave your hotel this morning, heading to visit the Mekong Delta. On arrival in Hàm Luông pier. Cruise on Bến Tre River exploring the lively activities along the river as fishing and water transferring. See brick making in handy traditional style by printing and baking. 

Visit one of plenty of coconut processing workshops located along the canal. Turn on natural scissors creeks where they look smaller and smaller to go to the village. Take a walk to the family workshop make sleep mats and enjoy some fruits and tea. 

Riding a motor cart (xe lôi) or bike on shady paths, pass by green rice fields and vegetable plains to be able to touch on real life and find out about tropical culture from Peasants. Lunch at Hai Hồ house. Afternoon – riding a sampan along the canal, before the boat back to Ham Luông pier.  End your touring, heading to Can Tho for overnight

Night 8: Overnight in hotel in Can Tho

Take a leisurely boat trip to explore the picturesque tributaries of the Lower Mekong River (Bassac River), then proceed to visit the Cai Rang floating market which is the liveliest in the whole religion. Return to your hotel for checking out and fly to Phu Quoc. Meet your driver upon arrival and head to your beautiful resort in Phu Quoc.

Night 9: Overnight in Phu Quoc

Breakfast at the hotel and be free at leisure.Also called the island of pearl, Phu Quoc Island possess many beautiful places, amazing islands and deserted beaches.If you love relaxing, then your resort is amazing enough.. if you love outdoor activities, please don’t hesitate to discuss with our travel experts for some suggestions.

Night 10: Overnight in Phu Quoc

Breakfast at the hotel and be free at leisure until your flight back to Saigon. Airport transfers will be arranged.

Night 11: Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Your time will be your own until your private car and driver arrive to take you to the airport for your flight to your next destination. Tour ends

Accommodation: Check-out time is at 12:00 pm.

This is the end of your trip with Sun Getaways Travel. We thank you for joining us on this incredible experience to explore all the wonders of Vietnam. Goodbye, and we hope to see you again next time!