Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City - Arrival (L)
Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport, our guide and driver will pick you up and take a city tour:
• The Reunification Palace: This is one of the most important buildings in the city.
• Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post Office: Built between 1877 and 1883 this is one of the best examples of classical French colonial architecture.
After lunch at local restaurant we continue to visit:
• Giac Lam Pagoda: This is HCMC's oldest pagoda, dating back to 1744 and one of the finest in Vietnam.
• Cholon, including the Thien Hau Pagoda: Cholon actually means Big Market – a claim that is well justified as Vietnam 's largest market, the Binh Tay, is located here.
• Ben Thanh Market: This bustling and well-organized market is very popular with tourists, primarily due to its central location. It has a wide selection of goods ranging from fake Nike shoes to beautiful silk Ao Dais.
Back to hotel. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.
(The itinerary can be changed on this day. It depends on your arrival flight)
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City - Tay Ninh - Cu Chi Tunnels - Ho Chi Minh City (B, L)
08:00 am. Our guide will pick you up at the hotel. This morning you take a drive to Cao Dai Temple in Tay Ninh to observe the midday service. Following we will drive to the Cu Chi Tunnels and then return to Ho Chi Minh city at approximately 18:00 pm.
Tay Ninh, near the Cambodian border, is home to the unique Cao Dai sect, whose patron saints include Joan of Arc, Victor Hugo and Winston Churchill to name a few. The religion is a hybrid of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and Christianity. The Cao Dai Temple at Tay Ninh has been described as a Walt Disney fantasia of the East. The temple's exterior is decorated with multi-colored dragons of all shapes and sizes competing for space with a number of Buddhist symbols. Above the main entrance is the all-seeing holy eye, the symbol of the Cao Dai sect. The interior is just as engaging as statues of Jesus Christ, Buddha and the Hindu god, Brahma, stand side by side.
The trip to Tay Ninh is combined with a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels. At its height, the tunnel system stretched over 250km. from Saigon to the Cambodian border and was three levels deep. The network included innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens. Today the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience and a feel of what underground life during the U.S.-Vietnam American must have been like. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.
Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City - Da Nang - Hoi An (B, L) - by flight
Breakfast at hotel. Free time in the morning for shopping then transfer to the airport for flight to Da Nang. Pick up and drive to hotel for check in and having lunch.
In the afternoon, strolling around the Hoi An ancient town to visit: Chua Cau or Japanese Covered Bridge-considered the symbol of Hoi An the finest example of Japanese architecture. Step back in time to discover the Chinese street with stunning Phuc Kien Hall and Phung Hung old house typical of Hoian original architecture. We then visit Hoi An vibrant market and ancient port to explore the rythm of local daily life and savor the true color, flavor and taste of the oriental. Finally, we visit Phuc Thanh Pagoda – the oldest pagoda in Hoi An built in 1454 with Chinese bonze. Transfer back to the hotel afterward. Relax and Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 4: Hoi An - Hue (B, L)
The next destination is Hue, the Old Royal City in Vietnam in 17th century. Upon leaving Hoi An, we drive north to Hue. The scenic road is hugging the coastline before crossing over the winding Hai Van pass. A view from the top of the pass is one of Vietnam’s most impressive panoramic scenes. We stop en route to visit the Lang Co beach before reaching Hue city. As Vietnam’s last feudal capital, the small and quiet city of Hue is widely known for magnificent architectures, pagodas and royal tombs laid in many small villages and surrounding hills. Free and easy in the afternoon. Overnight in Hue.
Day 5: Hue - Departure (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Then transfer to the Phu Bai airport for the your flight. End of services.