Explore Kong Skull Island in Vietnam: A 14 Day Journey

Upon arrival, you will be met by your driver who will escort you to a waiting vehicle for your transfer to downtown with a brief introduction en route. Your driver 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

After breakfast at your hotel. At 8h00 am, our friendly tour guide will pick you up at your hotel and then visit the capital of Vietnam, a city that celebrated 1.000 years in 2010 and has countless fascinating cultural and historic sites and our day tour will visit the highlights.

Firstly visit Tran Quoc Pagoda then go to visit Ho Chi Minh Complex; Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum. This used to be the residence of the Governor of Indochina. After 1954 it was named the Presidential Palace and became the place where Ho Chi Minh lived and worked until he passed away in 1969. On the way out visit the One Pillar Pagoda. The pagoda was constructed in 1049 by King Ly Thai Tong according to his dream of Bodhisattva sitting on a lotus flower and leading him to the pagoda. In 1954, the pagoda was destroyed by the French before their withdrawal. 

Arrive at the Temple of Literature. This is the combination of the Confucius Temple which was built in 1070 and the first Royal National university in Vietnam built 6 years later in 1076. Considered as ‘an escape’ from the bustling city, this temple and its beautiful garden provide an opportunity to learn more about education in Vietnam since 1000 years ago until recent times. Enjoy a delicious lunch in a local restaurant with traditional local Vietnamese Cuisine. After lunch, continue to visit more interesting museums. 

There are some options that you can choose from such as the Ethnology Museum (Close on Monday), the Museum of Vietnamese History the Hoa Lo Prison Museum, and the Women’s Museum. Located west of the city centre, all of the museums offer informative and well-documented displays of the country’s heritage. Visit Hoan Kiem Lake (Restored Sword Lake) and Ngoc Son Temple. Situated in the heart of Hanoi, the lake got its name according to a national legend. In the 15th century during the Ming Chinese invasion, General Le Loi was presented with a holy sword. With the help of this sword, he expelled the Chinese from Thang Long, Hanoi and proclaimed himself King Le Thai To. One day, when the king was sailing on the lake, suddenly a golden turtle emerged from the water and claimed back the sword which had been believed to have been given to him by God. Since then, the lake has been known as Ho Hoan Kiem or the lake of the Restored Sword. 

On an island in the northern part of the lake stands Ngoc Son or Jade Mountain temple, one of the most beautiful and important religious sites in the capital. The temple was established by a Mandarin named Nguyen Van Sieu and is dedicated to the spirits of the soil, medicine, literature, and also to Tran Hung Dao, the general who defeated the Mongols in the 13th century.

This afternoon, you will explore Hanoi’s Old Quarter for visiting the bustling Old Quarter. At the end of the day, experience the magic of a water puppet show at a traditional theater in Hanoi. Gain fascinating insight into the origin of water puppetry from your guide then take a seat to witness a 50-minute performance that offers a unique glimpse into traditional Vietnamese culture. We will return to your hotel. You will have free time and overnight at a hotel in Hanoi. 

Night 2: Overnight in hotel in Hanoi

Following with breakfast at your hotel

Pick up at your hotel in Ha Noi by shuttle bus (on request). After that we leave Hanoi for a 2.5 hour to reach Halong Bay.

At Tuan Chau International Marina, a tender boat will take you to our Halong Phoenix Cruiser. A refreshing welcome drink is served and you can check into your cabin.

When you are putting all of your stuffs into your cabin, our boat starts gliding out to the centre of the World Heritage Site. Your set menu lunch, at the boat’s restaurant, is would be served with fresh local seafood, but vegetable menu is always available at your request. From the marina area, our cruiser passes by Duck then Thumb Islands before reaching to Luon cave area for kayaking.

We have time to gear up for one hour kayaking around Luon cave area .Our guide will show you some basic safety guidelines and techniques to paddle before helping you to sit on our brand new sit-on-top kayaks. After that our boat will help you visit the Titop Island one hour for swimming, sun-bathing or getting a panoramic view on island peak.

As the sun sets over the bay, we head back to our cruise and relax. Coffee, tea and fruits will be available on the sundeck or you can order your favorite drink while our boat cruises to the night’s anchorage area.

Dinner will be served with local seafood. After dinner you may choose to enjoy drinks from the bar or top deck or experience squid fishing before retiring.

Night 3: Overnight on Cruise

Enjoy the morning view of the beautiful landscape with a cup of coffee or tea. Have breakfast in the fresh air.

You will visit the impressive Cave of Halong Bay – Surprising Cave (Sửng Sốt) with your tour guide, a truly awesome and amazing cave to experience.

Check out of your cabin and settle your bill as our boat begins cruising back to the harbor. Experience more views of Halong Bay such as Fighting Cocks Island (Symbol of Halong Bay), Incense Burner and Stone Dogs Islands.

A cooking demonstration onboard shows you how to make authentic Vietnamese Spring rolls. You will learn about the recipes and techniques that create this popular dish of Vietnamese people.

Lunch is served on board during cruising towards the harbor.

Depart the Halong Phoenix Cruiser and travel by tender boat back to Tuan Chau International Marina where you then board the bus for your return journey to Ninh Binh. Overnight at hotel in Ninh Binh

Night 4: Overnight in hotel in Ninh Binh

Breakfast at your hotel. The guide pick you up and transfer you to visit Van Long, known lovingly as “Halong Bay on land”. . Arrive in Gia Vien District, you will take a boat to explore Van Long Van Long Nature Reserve – the largest wetland in northern Vietnam. 

This is also where many of the scenes from Kong: Skull Island took place. After lunch, transfer for visiting visit Hoa Lu – the Ancient Royal capital of Viet Nam. We will visit Dinh King temple and Le King temple, in the 10th century, find out the heroic histories of these two Kings in Chinese Wars. At the end of day, transfer back to Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi, check in hotel and free time.

Night 5: Overnight in hotel in Hanoi

Breakfast at your hotel, free time for relaxing or shopping until pick you up and transfer you to the airport for a flight to Hue. 

Arrive in Hue, the guide pick you up and transfer you to your hotel. Free time.

Night 6: Overnight in hotel in Hue

Start your day with a visit to the Imperial Citadel where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945.  After exploring the ruins of this wonderful monument take a cyclo through the ‘Old City’ to Tinh Tam Lake where the Emperors used to come to relax. 

This afternoon, visit Mu Pagoda overlooking the Perfume River End the day at Khai Dinh’s Tomb which boasts a traditional Vietnamese design with a European touch, making it unique from the other tombs in Hue. Then free time.

Night 7: Overnight in hotel in Hue

Breakfast at your hotel, the guide pick you up and transfer you to Hoian. On the way to Hoian, stop over to visit the picturesque fishing village of Lang Co Beach Cham Museum, ascending the Pass of Ocean Clouds for panoramic views of the surroundings. Arrive in Hoian, check in hotel and free time.

Night 8: Overnight in hotel in Hoian

8:00 am: the local guide will see you at your hotel with your bicycle. you will cycle to a local farm in Tra Que village. A short stroll will take you around the vegetable garden and then you can join the farmers in preparing the land and fertilizing it with seaweed from the local lake. 

Following steps are raking the ground, sowing, watering, picking vegetables and many other gardening activities. after all these activities, you will take a short rest and enjoy a foot bath before getting to preparing lunch with a local family. Your lunch will consist of many local delicacies including ‘tam huu’ spring roll, Banh xeo or local pancake of people in Vietnam’s middle region. 

You can join the cooking with the chef on these meals. After your morning excursion and your lunch, you will take a Vietnamese traditional post-prandial nap before learning how to harvest and wrap the vegetables. Around 13.00: bid farewell to your host family before riding back to Hoi An. 

Then you will take the time to visit Hoian Old Quarter, a walking tour of Hoi An’s ancient town centre will take you back in time to when it was a major trading port in Asia. Visit old shophouses, the 400-year-old Japanese Bridge, a Chinese communal hall and the colorful market in this well-preserved town. Then free time for relaxing on An Bang Beach.

Night 9: Overnight in hotel in Hoian

Breakfast at your hotel, free time until transfer to the airport for a flight to Ho Chi Minh City. 

Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City, pick you up and transfer you to the hotel. Free time.

Night 10: Overnight in hotel in Ho Chi Minh

Breakfast at your hotel, transfer for visiting Cu Chi Tunnels. After lunch in Cu Chi, the driver back to Ho Chi Minh City. 

This afternoon, depending on your preference, visit either the War Remnants Museum or History Museum, and the former Presidential Palace. Finish the day with a stroll around the city’s colonial architecture, including the Old Saigon Post Office, Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat), Continental Hotel, Opera House and City Hall.

Night 11: Overnight in hotel in Ho Chi Minh

Breakfast at your hotel. The guide pick you up and transfer you to Ben Tre.  Pick up at Phong Nam Pier (Phong Nam old ferry station). Take the boat on along the  River – one of the tributaries of the Mekong River, Sight-seeing lively activities along the river as fishing, and water transferring.

Stop at brickwork – coconut charcoal making and coconut husking.  Then visit one of the plenty of coconut processing workshops where coconut candies are made and have a chance to learn the coconut candies-making process 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 making sleep mats. Afterward, being on a cart powered by biking and traveling through some tranquil villages where vegetable gardens to be able to touch on real life and find out about tropical culture from Peasants. 

Lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon, take a bike around the village, rowing-boat along water palm creek and boat to Hung Vuong Pier. Then take a car to Can Tho. Arrive in Can Tho, check in hotel and free time.

Night 12: 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. Have you ever tasted Vietnamese vermicelli soup? Well, now go and see how it is made. Then wander around the village and meet the friendly local people and experience how to cross a “Monkey bridge” which is built with only one stem of bamboo. 

Visit the orchard garden. Stop for lunch. On the way back to HCM city by bus, the last stop is to see how incense sticks are made.

Night 13: Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

After breakfast at the hotel, this morning is free at your leisure for last minute shopping and sightseeing before 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!