Highlights of Vietnam

After breakfast we will take a drive of approximately two and a half hours to Hanoi Airport for our flight to Da Nang in central Vietnam. There will be a stop along the way for lunch (included).

On arrival at Da Nang airport we will transfer by coach to our hotel in Hoi An, our base for the next three nights, with a journey time of approximately forty-five minutes.  After check in, we can enjoy dinner at our hotel (included), relax after our journey and look forward to discovering Hoi An and its surroundings.

Please note your internal flight times for Hanoi to Danang and Hue to Saigon (Ho Chi Min) will be advised locally, and tickets will be given locally for your flights.

Today we begin to uncover the wonders of Ho Chi Min City (Saigon). First stop on this morning’s guided tour is at Reunification Palace (formerly Presidential Palace) an important historical landmark.  After that, we take a short walk to the Notre Dame Cathedral, past the French Colonial Post Office and other prominent buildings. Our final stop this morning will be at the Jade Emperor Pagoda, before enjoying a light lunch at a local restaurant (included).

After lunch, we continue our excursion, moving on to Cholon, Ho Chi Minh City’s largest Chinatown. Here we’ll uncover historic and cultural treasures including Cha Tam Church, Thien Hau Temple and the authentic Binh Tay market.  The tour ends with a visit to a small Cao Dai Temple. The rest of the evening will be at leisure, to relax after a memorable day of sightseeing in Ho Chi Min City.

Today we will embark on an excursion to discover the Chu Chi network of underground tunnels. These tunnels were the location of many of the Viet Cong’s military campaigns during the Vietnam War (or American War, as it is called in Vietnam). The tunnels were used as hiding places during combat; also serving as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food storage and living quarters for the Vietnamese fighters.

For those preferring to remain above ground, there is ample opportunity to view excavated areas from above.  The more daring among us can enter some of the tunnels with our guide. As this requires crawling along on hands and knees in the darkness of the tunnel, it is certainly not for the faint hearted!

Lunch is included today.

Returning from our excursion to the Cu Chi tunnels, let’s enjoy an evening at leisure and perhaps dine out in one of the city’s many restaurants.  Our expert guide will be happy to offer suggestions and recommendations.