This morning after breakfast proceed for a full day city tour. Stop by one of Hanoi’s icons, the One Pillar Pagoda, built in the 11th Century in dedication to Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara or Buddha of Compassion and reminiscent of a lotus blossom rising from a pond. Continue to the Temple of Literature, known as the first university of Vietnam built in 1070 by the Ly Dynasty to honor Confucius, sages and outstanding Vietnamese scholars. Afternoon, visit Hoan Kiem Lake or “Returned Sword Lake” which originated from a legend of a sacred sword. On an islet in the lake, there locates Ngoc Son Temple which is accessible by a classically red painted wooden bridge. Touring through the Old Quarter, famous for its ancient streets representing traditional trades from the past by cyclo or enjoy a coffee at a local café. Overnight stay in Hanoi.

This morning check out and transfer to HaLong Bay (Pick up at 8 AM), which is about 160 km or 3.5-hour drive away. Arrive at the jetty in Ha Long City towards noon and proceed with check-in formalities. Be welcomed onboard, 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 cruises in HaLong Bay.

Today, enjoy the fresh morning in the middle of the bay, the sun rises on Ha Long in the morning and breakfast is served, while the vessels cruise slowly through the magnificent rock formations and back towards port. Disembark and transfer back to Hanoi. Arrival Hanoi, transfer to the airport for flight (air tickets not included) to Ho Chi Minh. Arrive in Ho Chi Minh in the evening, you will be picked-up at the airport and proceed to the hotel for check-in. This evening is free at leisure. Overnight stay in Ho Chi Minh.

This morning after breakfast, proceed to a half-day tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels, 75 km northwest of downtown Ho Chi Minh City, which were once a major underground hideout and resistance base of Viet Cong forces during the two wars against the French and later on Americans. The tunnels, entirely hand-dug, formed a highly intricate network of interlinked multilevel passageways at times stretched as far as the Cambodian border and totaling over 120 km in length. Its complexity was beyond imagination, containing meeting rooms, kitchens, wells, clinics, schools, depots, trenches and emergency exits all aimed for guerrilla warfare. The tunnels were deep and strong enough to withstand destructive bombings and self-contained enough to outlast prolonged sieges. Back to Ho Chi Minh City and spend time at leisure. Later in Afternoon, take a half-day city tour to visit the former Presidential Palace, headquarters of the Saigon Government during the Vietnam-American war. You may also like to visit the War Remnants Museum for a vivid insight into the Vietnam-American war from a Vietnamese perspective. Next stop is the Notre Dame Cathedral, a red brick building with twin spires based on the original construction from Paris, then head across the square to the Central Post Office designed by the French architect Gustav Eiffel. Return back to the hotel. Overnight stay in Ho Chi Minh.

Today, proceed to My Tho, the capital of Tien Giang Province. Situated on the Mekong River, 75 kilometers southeast of Ho Chi Minh City, the city is surrounded by orchards and rice fields, which produce grain for the entire country. Visit one or two of the islands that produce traditional handcrafts, coconut candy and bee farms. Visit the Vinh Trang Pagoda, the oldest one in the delta on your boat trip on the Mekong River. Return back to the hotel. Overnight stay in Ho Chi Minh.

After breakfast it’s time to check out. Transfer to the airport for your onward flight or back home.