This 8-day itinerary is specially designed for students within limited budget. You will not only experience friendly and personal service from chosen guesthouse, homestay, but also enjoy some nights in higher category of accommodation. For the tours, you will have some joined tours and some private tours, that makes a balance of a conventional group and private small group. No problem to cut or add some days to the itinerary, just let us know and we will customize the trip.
General Information
Tour Code: VSST-01
Duration: 8 Days/7 Nights
Start/End: Hanoi/Hanoi
Tour Route: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Overnight Train to Hue – Danang – Hoi An
Tour Customizable: Absolutely! (Tell us your specific requirements in the inquiry form)
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi arrival
Day 2: Hanoi City Tour – Joined Tours (B, L)
Day 3: Hanoi – Halong Bay, Overnight Cruise by Shuttle Bus (B, L, D)
Day 4: Halong – Hanoi – Overnight Train to Hue (B, L)
Day 5: Hue – River boat & Royal Tombs (B, L)
Day 6: Hue – Danang – Hoi An (B, L)
Day 7: Hoi An – My Son Santuary – Joined tour (B)
Day 8: Hoi An – Danang Departure (B)
Full Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi arrival
On arrival at Noi Bai International airport, students will be welcomed by our guide and driven to the hotel in Hanoi in a private vehicle. The rest of the day will be free at leisure. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 2: Hanoi City Tour – Joined Tours (B, L)
Pick up at Guesthouse by our shuttle bus, today, we will join a city tour with other visitors. It’s not only reducing the cost, but also giving students a good chance to make friends with others. We first visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, including the mausoleum where he rests in peace, the museum which dedicated his life, his simple house where he lived and worked. We will also call in at the nearby One Pillar Pagoda, which was built in 1049 under the Ly’s King. Our next visit is Quan Thanh Temple and Tran Quoc Pagoda, both located by the West Lake and are among the oldest pagodas in Vietnam.
Lunch will be in a good local restaurant with delicious Vietnamese food. In the afternoon, we will proceed to the famous Ethnology Museum which display on culture and customs of different 54 groups in Vietnam. The tour ends in the central of Hanoi including Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple at around 4 PM. Afterward, we will be transferred back to the hotel or free for shopping in the Old Quarter. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 3: Hanoi – Halong Bay, Overnight Cruise by Shuttle Bus (B, L, D)
After breakfast at our guesthouse, we will be pick up by the cruise’s shuttle bus and transfer to Halong Bay – one of ‘The New 7 Wonders of Nature’ in 2011 and twice recognized by UNESCO as Nature Heritage Site. On arrival, we will embark on a traditional junk followed by a short cruise briefing. We then savour a delectable lunch our junk cruises among the limestone islands.
In the mid-afternoon, we will kayak among the hidden areas of the bay, around the Bo Nau Cave area before going back to cruise and continue to Soi Sim Island. Go swimming and relaxing at the beach of Soi Sim or climb up to the top of the island for a panorama view of Halong Bay.
In the evening, we will cruise back to the main boat for a shower before having dinner and spend the night onboard.
Day 4: Halong – Hanoi – Overnight Train to Hue (B, L)
Wake up early in the morning and start your day with Tai Chi exercises or a photo hunt before having breakfast. After that, we will explore the amazing Sung Sot Cave – the nicest cave in Halong Bay. After that, we will return to the boat, freshen up and check out of our cabin. Continue our cruise exploring the Bay, passing Ba Hang fishing village, Dog Islet, and more. While heading back to the harbour, watch the cooking demonstration before enjoying a traditional Vietnamese lunch. We will disembark at round noon and find your car is waiting and take you back to Hanoi.
The rest of the day will be free to wandering around the streets, shopping and dinners before our private car arrives to take us to Hanoi Railway Station to board the overnight train to Hue (SE1, 7.30 PM – 8.50 AM next day).
Day 5: Hue – River boat & Royal Tombs (B, L)
On arrival in Hue at around 8.50 AM, we will have breakfast with Bun Bo Hue (Hue’s Noodle with beef), a special dish of Hue. After that, we will leave luggage at the hotel before boarding the Dragon Boat on the romantic Perfume River heading out for the countryside. Our first stop is the charming Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda) where we can enjoy a great view on the Perfume River and surrounding area. From here, we rejoin our van and go visit King Tu Duc's Tomb.
We then visit Dong Thien Pagoda, one of the most ancient pagodas in Hue built from 18th century. Our guide will explain us about the Buddhism in Vietnam before introducing us the Monk Monastery in the pagoda where we will have delicious vegetarian lunch with tus seeds, potatoes, carrots, muang beans, mushrooms and soy sauce…
Our afternoon includes visits to the Imperial Citadel where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945 and the local Dong Ba market. Overnight in Hue.
Day 6: Hue – Danang – Hoi An (B, L)
After breakfast, we travel by vehicle to Hoi An along scenic highway 1A. Along the way, we will stop to contemplate the stunning views North, to Lang Co Beach and South to Danang city.
On arrival in Danang, we will have a brief visit at Cham Museum – the houses of the most complete collection if Cham Artifacts anywhere in the world; China Beach – where the American named and used to have their Rest and Relaxation; and the Marble Mountain – the five elements of the Universe (water, wood, air, fire and earth).
We will arrive in Hoi An in the afternoon and have free time to explore the Ancient Town of Hoi An including Japanese Covered Bridge, the Pottery Museum, Tan Ky old house, the Cantonese congregation, the silk street of Hoi An, the temples and pagodas of Chinese appearance. Overnight will be in a friendly Guesthouse near the Ancient Town.
Day 7: Hoi An – My Son Santuary – Joined tour (B)
My Son – the former capital of the ancient Cham civilization that ruled Central Vietnam from the second to the thirteenth century is located 75 KM from Hoi An. The complex is comprised of seventy Hindu-like towers and temples dating from the second century and now remains more than 70 architectural works. This joined tour will take us to visit the sanctuary for half-day starting from 8.00 AM from our hotel. Once there, we visit the Tra Kieu capital, which was the former administration center of Champa Kingdom. Discover the majestic ancient ruins at My Son including ancient towers, which were built from the fourth century. At around noon, we will return to Hoi An and have lunch on our own account.
The rest of the day will be free time at beach, shopping or wandering around the Ancient Street. Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 8: Hoi An – Danang Departure (B)
Time will be free until our car arrives to take us to the airport in Danang in good time to board your departure flight. Tour ends.
Hotel List:
Location | Hotels & Ratings (please click to open hotel website links) | Room Type |
Hanoi | Hanoi BC Family Homestay | Shared room |
Halong Bay | V’Spirit Cruise *** | Deluxe cabin |
Hue | Festival Hotel *** | Superior room |
Hoi An | Dong Khanh Hostel | Shared room |
Inclusions:
- Transfers between airports, hotels and scenic spots while sightseeing by private air conditioned vehicle with a driver
- English speaking tour guide as in the itinerary
- Accommodation with daily breakfast as per detail itinerary
- Entrance fees & permits (if have)
- Meals as in the itinerary
- Boat excursions
Exclusions:
- International and domestic flights and airport taxes
- Vietnam Visa
- Travel insurance
- Other meals which are not indicated above
- Surcharge and Compulsory dinners (if any)
- Beverages in the restaurants where meals are included
- Gratuities to guides and drivers
- Personal and other expenses such as porterage, bar bills and laundry not stated in the itinerary.
