Highlights of Vietnam - 12 Days
Tour Code: VT-1
An excellent value tour covering all the principal sights of Vietnam in a short space of time. Highlights include an overnight cruise around Halong Bay on a junk boat, the historic town of Hoi An, a full day sightseeing trip in the Mekong Delta and the two main cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. This tour features our selection of the best local hotels which are all centrally located, allowing independent exploration of Vietnam’s delightful shops and restaurants.
Start ~ Hanoi, Vietnam
Finish ~ Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
Physical rating: 2 out of 5
The Itinerary
“Welcome to Vietnam” at the airport by your EMH tours’ transfer team. We then transfer you to the hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Meal is not included on this day.
Suggestions for your free time:
- Take a slow walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, which is very scenic, so remember to bring your camera.
- In walking distance from your hotel, you can go to Thang Long theatre where you can enjoy traditional Vietnamese water puppet show.
- Another option is to do shopping, you will find plenty of shops in the old town as well as street night market. Should you wish to taste famous Vietnamese coffee, you will find many coffee shops in French style with a view to the lake.
After breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up for the city tour. We first head out to the Tran Quoc Pagoda, a 1400 year-old temple, the oldest in the city and is located near West Lake offering a watery landscape, the pagoda is a very scenic attraction.
Then, we’ll drive to Ho Chi Minh Complex, where you’ll have the opportunity to visit President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Uncle Ho’s House and the One-pillar pagoda – a very iconic temple in Vietnam.
Temple of Literature will be our next stop. This ancient site offers a lake of literature, the Well of Heavenly Clarity, turtle steles, pavilions, courtyards and passageways that were once used by royalty. Visiting the Temple of Literature you will discover historic buildings from the Ly and Tran dynasties in a revered place that has seen thousands of doctors’ graduate in what has now become a memorial to education and literature.
Thereafter, we will continue our tour to Ngoc Son Temple, also known as the Temple of Jade Mountain, dedicated to Confucian and Taoist philosophers and the national hero Tran Hung Dao. Photography is also popular at this Huc bridge, a landmark red wooden bridge, leading over a lake to a shrine.
This tour will end with a drop off back to your hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Wake up early and depart your hotel in Hanoi for a transfer by shared van to Ha Long Bay. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the true natural wonders of the world. In this sweet spot where the land meets the Gulf of Tonkin, over 1,000 karst islets rise above emerald waters and the seascape takes on an otherworldly quality.
The eastward drive from Hanoi takes about four hours, and you’ll arrive at the port about noon. Here you’ll board a pleasure boat for an unforgettable overnight cruise along the bay. After a welcome aboard the ship, you’ll be led to your cabin followed by a short trip briefing.
Once the ship gets underway, you’ll enjoy a lunch of fresh, locally caught seafood.
Cruise at a gentle pace, disembark onto smaller boats to venture into grottos and caves, stop to explore floating fishing villages and picturesque lookout points.
You’ll return to the boat just in time to watch the incomparable sunset from the top deck ship before sitting down for a dinner of more delicious, fresh seafood.
Evening entertainments or activities onboard (such as cards game, chess, karaoke, squid fishing) are also available.
Please note, each junk operates with a slightly different itinerary and on board facilities.
Accommodation: Overnight Onboard a Cruise Ship
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Begin your day with a Tai Chi session on the cruise’s sundeck accompanied by complimentary tea and coffee. It’s the perfect locale to integrate your mind and body as the sunrise over the bay compliments this internal martial art perfectly. With a rejuvenated spirit and newly healthy qi (life energy), you’ll sit down for a light breakfast to be served on board.
After breakfast, you’ll have the opportunities for a swim, or to explore by kayak or to join other available activities.
Please note, each junk operates with a slightly different itinerary and on board facilities.
Afterward, you’ll return to the cruise where you’ll have time to relax and enjoy lunch. Then you’ll be transferred to a dock on the mainland followed by a drive to Hanoi.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Breakfast and free time until time to go to the airport for your flight to Da Nang. The flight time is approx. 1 and half hours. On arrival, we’ll drive to Hoi An, about 45 minutes drive, to check-in the hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Today you are free at leisure to explore Hoi An, a World Heritage Site.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Suggestions for your free time:
Walk around Hoi An in the morning. Visit popular highlights including the Japanese Bridge, the Chinese Temple and Phung Hung Old House.
Optional Tour (additional cost applies, this tour can be booked locally): Golden Bridge – Travel to the foot of the Ba Na Hills and ride by cable car up to the Marseille station. It is a short walk to the Golden Bridge from the station. The newly-opened bridge has been designed to make its visitors feel as though they’re walking on clouds. Make sure your camera is charged for the incredible photo opportunities! Continue with a walk into le Jardin d’Amour. The whole garden is made up of 9 gardens, all telling different stories and designed in different styles. The last stop of the excursion is a visit to Linh Ung Pagoda to admire the 27-metre high Shakyamuni statue.
Optional Tour (additional cost applies, this tour can be booked locally): Tra Que Vegetable Village Tour – Observe and try the local farming activities. Learn the process of planting vegetable such as raking the ground, sowing, watering, picking vegetables and many others. A light meal will be served during the tour.
After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll set off to My Son, a World Heritage site, 50 km southwest of Hoi An.
We will learn about the Cham history and how this massive sanctuary was built. My Son is a complex consisting of more than 65 architectural towers and temples dating back to 4th century. The site was used for religious ceremonies for Kings of the ruling dynasty as well as burial site for national heroes and royal family up to the 19th century. My Son is considered to be of the same historical significance as Southeast Asia’s greatest archaeological sites, including Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Bagan in Myanmar, Ayutthaya in Thailand and Borobudur in Indonesia.
After that, we’ll drive to the Thu Bon river, where we will take a boat trip back to Hoi An. Then we’ll have a lunch at the restaurant before we return to the hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll leave for the Da Nang airport to fly to the Ho Chi Minh City. The flight time is approx. 1½ hours. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to the hotel for check-in. The remainder of the day is at leisure.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll set off to explore the Cu Chi Tunnels.
Cu Chi is a network of more than 120 km under the ground and were built by sweat and blood of Vietnamese guerrillas to hide and fight against the rival forces. You will be introduced to many kinds of booby traps used during Vietnam War. We will take time to explain the methods of creating, maintaining and living in these tunnels as well as the special technique of hiding smoke invented by the guerrillas.
This tour also includes visiting different types of underground halls, secret working, meeting rooms. We’ll also have the opportunity to spend an hour experiencing the tunnels with a guide.
After that, we’ll enjoy the tea and cassava (guerrilla’s food during the war) before watching a short (15 minutes) documentary about the tunnel. At the end of the tour, we’ll return to the hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast at the hotel, we will set off to explore Vietnam’s picturesque Mekong Delta on this day trip. The Mekong Delta, located in southern Vietnam, is a stunning maze of rivers, islets, small villages with rice paddies and fruit plantations.
Firstly, we’ll drive to My Tho City. We can observe as the bustling city views transition to serene rice fields and rural settings. On the way, you will have a visit at the Vinh Trang Pagoda. On arrival in My Tho, hop on a boat for a calm cruise along the river observing stilt houses, fruit plantations and fishing villages. Then, continue to Tortoise Islet where we’ll have our lunch in the orchard garden.
After lunch, your boat will take you to An Khanh in the beautiful green province of Ben Tre. Taste some local treats like coconut candy and honey tea as you sit back and relax on your wooden river boat in the comfort of the shaded canals covered by water-coconut trees.
Then, your boat will bring you to the marvellous tropical fruit gardens to enjoy a Southern Vietnamese folk music performance by the local islanders. After a relaxing cultural experience on the water, we’ll return to the Ho Chi Minh City by road.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today is at leisure to relax at your hotel, or explore more of the local area independently.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Suggestions for your free time:
Optional Tour (additional cost applies, this tour can be booked locally): A O Show is a sophisticated cultural show featuring talented. This show will bring you on a journey from the rural to the urban life of Vietnam via a series of sketches and acts involving Vietnamese traditional props.
Optional Tour (additional cost applies, this tour can be booked locally): Teh Dar Show – Join us a fantastic cultural Teh Dar Show and immerse in an interesting story of Vietnamese highlanders. Get ready to be amazed at the stunning acrobatic movements of the skilled artists and feel the spiritual life’s beauty through an exceptional background live music.
Optional Tour (additional cost applies, this tour can be booked locally): Dinner on Saigon River Cruise Tour
Breakfast and free time until time to go to the airport for departure flight. Then, transfer you to the Ho Chi Minh International Airport according to your flight departure time.
Meals: Breakfast
~ 10 nights accommodation: Standard Option (3 Star Hotels) or Premium Option (4 Star Hotels)
~ 1 night accommodation onboard a Halong Majestic Cruise or similar kind in Halong Bay
~ 11 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 1 dinner as mentioned
~ 2 internal flights
~ professional English speaking tour guides
~ sightseeing tours with air-conditioned vehicles
~ kayaking in Halong Bay
~ boat to explore the Mekong Delta
~ entrance fees for mentioned visits
~ return airport transfers
~ enjoy exploring Vietnam as per itinerary
~ Visa fee
~ Meals not specified in the “Inclusions” section
~ Tips to guides (Optional)
~ Personal insurance and other personal expense
Do I need a visa to visit Vietnam?
Most nationalities are required to obtain tourist visa in advance to travel to Vietnam. When obtaining your visa, you should allow 3 weeks for processing with your nearest embassy or consulate, the cost is approximately US$60 to US$100. Please check with your embassy or consulate for further requirements.
Some nationalities are exempt from visas for a stay of a maximum of 15 days, including British, German, French, Spanish and Italian citizens travelling to Vietnam. This exemption period is currently effective until 30 June 2021, and is based upon meeting all conditions prescribed by Vietnamese laws. If you are planning on staying in Vietnam for longer than 15 days, you will need to obtain a visa extension in advance (please contact your relevant Consulate or Embassy).
An eVisa is available for some nationalities including passport holders from Australia (from 2018), France, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States of America, valid for a single entry of a maximum of 30 days stay in Vietnam. For information on obtaining an eVisa visit the immigration website, https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/.
E-visas take up to 3 days to be processed. You will need a clear electronic copy of your passport data page and passport photo, and to make a non-refundable payment as outlined on the immigration website. Keep the customs and immigration form you receive on arrival, as you need it to complete exit formalities on departure.
Do I need any vaccinations before visiting Vietnam?
You should seek medical advice from your local health practitioner before travelling to Vietnam and ensure that you receive all of the appropriate vaccinations. As a guide Diphtheria, Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Tetanus are strongly recommended.
Can I drink the tap water in Vietnam?
As drinking tap water isn’t safe in Vietnam, only drink bottled mineral water, which is readily available in hotels, shops and restaurants. You can help the environment and try to avoid buying bottled water. Instead, fill a reusable water bottle with filtered water. Your tour guides and your hotels can tell you where to find filtered water at hotels.
What is currency in Vietnam?
The official currency in Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong, which is abbreviated to ‘d’.
Euro, British Pounds, US Dollars and other major currencies can be exchanged locally at the airport, bureau de changes or banks. US Dollar notes are widely accepted and shopkeepers use both currencies interchangeably. You can often pay for items in USD and receive your change in USD notes and VND coins. Make sure that your USD bills are crisp and clean and you will have no problem using or exchanging these throughout your stay.
ATM machines can be found in all major cities though it is not common to pay with credit card in restaurants, cafes or shops for purchases.
Please note, it’s nearly impossible to change the currency outside of Vietnam so make sure you exchange any leftover notes before you leave.
What do foods and drinks cost in Vietnam?
Local-style coffee at a cafe = around 15,000 VND
Bowl of pho from street stall = between 20,000-30,000 VND
Dinner at a simple restaurant = between 70,000-100,000 VND
Dinner at a up-market restaurant = 200,000+ VND
What’s the food like in Vietnam?
Traditional Vietnamese food is typified by its use of fresh herbs and vegetables and it is wide regional variance. Vietnamese food is influenced by its Chinese and Khmer neighbours and echoes of French colonisation. Some of the best things to eat in Vietnam are noodle soups (pho, bun mam, bun bo hue), bread rolls (banh mi), savoury pancakes (banh xeo) and fresh tropical fruits.
Is tipping customary in Vietnam?
Tipping isn’t mandatory or customary in Vietnam, but a tip of spare change or another small amount would be appreciated by restaurants, drivers and other service workers, especially if the service has been particularly good.
What’re the toilets like in Vietnam?
Although Western-style flushable toilets can be found in your hotels and tourist areas, squat toilets are most common in Vietnam. Please ensure that you carry your own toilet paper and hand sanitizer, as they are usually not provided.
Is WiFi widely available in Vietnam?
Internet can be accessed at tourist areas and most hotels, but be aware, the speed may be slower than what you are used to.
Can I use my mobile phone while in Vietnam?
You’ll be able to use your mobile phone in most tourist areas of Vietnam, although rural and remote areas may not have network coverage. Ensure you have global roaming activated with your mobile carrier before you leave home if you wish to use your mobile while in Vietnam.
What to wear in Vietnam?
While the tropical climate lends itself to layered, breathable clothing all year round, if you are taking a tour in the North, cold winters mean you might need to bring a fleece or jacket.
What sort of sockets are used in Vietnam and what is the voltage?
The standard voltage in Vietnam is 220 volts. Primary sockets generally require 2 flat prong plugs, 2 round pin plugs, and many of the new 4 and 5 star hotels use British standard 3-pin plugs. We recommend that you pack a universal travel adaptor. You will need a voltage converter and plug adaptor in order to use U.S. appliances.
Weather overview
While Vietnam is typically warm and humid, the country has a highly variable climate that’s best explained by dividing the country into three distinct regions – the north, central and the south.
North Vietnam (Hanoi, Halong Bay, Cuc Phuong, Mai Chau & Ninh Binh) has a distinct winter and summer season. The cool but mostly dry winter lasts from November to April when temperatures average 17-22°C with the coldest months being January – March.
Summer lasts from May to October when it is hot and humid and the region experiences its highest rainfall. July to September are often the wettest months of the year. During these months, severe weather can prevent junks sailing in Halong Bay although such weather is rare.
Mountainous Far North (Sapa, Ha Giang, Bac Ha, Mu Cang Chai) is divided into two seasons: the dry season runs from October to late March with the wet season lasting from April to September. It can get very cold and frosty in December and January, especially at night.
The best months to travel in the north-east (Ha Giang) is during the dry season, from October to April, although December and January can get very cold. We recommend avoiding travelling in Ha Giang during the rainy season (May to September).
Trekking and adventure:
The best trekking conditions in Sapa and around Mu Cang Chai can be experienced between September & November, and from March to May. Daytime temperatures range from 15-28°C, and night-time temperatures from 10-18°C. Trekking and cycling are possible year round, however the winter time can be rather chilly, and the summer rather wet.
Central Vietnam (Hoi An, Danang, Hue, Dalat, Quy Nhon & Nha Trang) have hot and dry weather from mid-January to late August, with temperatures often reaching the mid-30’s °C. During the winter months the rainfall increases with October and November achieving peak levels, occasionally in the form of typhoons.
South Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City, The Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc & Con Dao, Phan Thiet & Mui Ne, Ho Tram & Long Hai): the climate of the south is split into two simple seasons, wet and dry. The dry season begins in November and ends in April/early May with late February to May being slightly hotter and more humid. The wet season lasts from May until early November with the months from June, July & August receiving the highest rainfall of the year. Throughout much of the wet season rainfall is generally heavy but short lasting, often occurring in a mid-afternoon heavy downpour. The average temperatures in the south range between 25 – 35°C year round.
Don’t forget you can modify this tour. Whether you enjoy travelling as a part of a small group with other like-minded travellers, or perhaps you are looking for your very own private journey, we have the right option for you. Click on talk to us button to send us your enquiry.