Smiles of Vietnam

Itinerary in details

902
Day 1: Hanoi

Welcome to Hanoi!

We have conceived with care, itineraries comfortably designed to welcome wheelchair users, answering the needs of less mobile travelers to enable an exciting and serene visit of Vietnam.

We wish you a great trip to Vietnam, rich in encounters and discoveries. 

Warm welcome by your guide and your driver and transfer to your hotel. Have some time at your hotel to refresh and relax from your international flight.

Depending on your time of arrival:

Afternoon dedicated to a guided introduction of the capital city with a visit of the historical quarter of Hanoi, located around the Hoan Kiem Lake, also called the "Lake of the Returned Sword".

Enjoy wandering in this calm yet lively area and visit the little Ngoc Son Temple located at the center of the lake, linked by a bright red traditional bridge.

The excursion continues northbound at the famous quarter of the "36 old streets and guilds": the historical heart of the city. Each street, called "Hang" is specialized in an activity: Hang of silversmiths, Hang of coconut carpets, Hang of sweets, Hang of metal workers...old houses and temples are also located in those little streets.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Accomodation
Standard:
Superior:
Luxury:
903
day 2: Hanoi (B,L)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Hanoi, the timeless city of Vietnam will surprise you. While some travelers compare it to a village, others see a city in major expansion. But all agree on the fact that its cultural heritage and charm are both well preserved.

This morning, guided visit of the Ethnology Museum to learn about habits and ancestral traditions of the 54 ethnics composing the country: the courtyard of the museum displays impressive communal houses of the Banhar ethnic minority presenting a singular design.

Lunch in a nice Vietnamese villa.

Afternoon dedicated to the most renowned man of the nation: Ho Chi Minh. An impressive mausoleum hosts his body and, located nearby, many personal belongings are displayed in his former house. You will also visit the peculiar “One Pilar Pagoda”.

Time to rest at the hotel before heading to the city center for a water puppet show. The Vietnamese art of the water puppet is a cultural experience not to be missed during your stay in Hanoi. The show is performed every evening within the Bong Sen Theater. With traditional live music in the background, the puppets are brought to life to tell stories about the daily traditional Vietnamese life. The stories are easily understandable for all. The puppets are made of lacquered wood and represent fishermen, farmers, emperors, servants, animals, etc.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Accomodation
Standard:
Superior:
Luxury:
904
Day 3: Hanoi - Halong bay cruise (B,L,D)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Today depart for one of the most famous landscape of Asia: Halong Bay! Part of UNESCO heritage, they bay counts over 1600 karsts, carved by the sea over the centuries.

At the end of the morning you will embark a traditional boat for a lifetime cruise of 2days/1night. You will have plenty of time to contemplate this unique landscape from the superior deck.


You will be accommodated in a luxury cabin and meals will be served at the onboard restaurant offering a direct access to the outside deck for an easy access. The staff onboard will assist you during your cruise to fully enjoy this journey. 

Overnight onboard

Accomodation
Luxury:
905
Day 4: Halong bay cruise - Hanoi - Danang - Hoi An (B)

You will enjoy a magical breakfast this morning while cruising among the karsts.


A brunch will also be served before disembarkation.

Drive back to Hanoi, heading directly to the airport. Fly to central Vietnam: Danang.

Your guide and your driver will be there to welcome you.

Transfer to your hotel.

Overnight Hoi An

Accomodation
Superior:
Luxury:
906
Day 5: Hoi An (B,L)

Breakfast at the hotel.

The countryside of Hoi An remains quite authentic. It is only at a 10mn ride from your hotel that you reach the rural village of Tra Que located along a little canal.

Your guide will introduce you to the history of the village but also to the agricultural activity of this zone where all the work is still done manually thanks to ancestral techniques. 

Take a stroll on the paths along the plantation fields and then continue to a local house where you will watch a cooking demonstration. Enjoy tasting the local food specialties such as the "Tam Huu" rolls or the "ban Xeo" pancakes.

Lunch after the cooking demonstration.

Foot or neck massage under the bamboo hut.

Back to the hotel for some rest or head directly ot the old town for a guided visit.

Hoi An is the dreamed place to wander and shop. Listed as a UNESCO heritage site, the old town of Hoi An is entirely pedestrian.

Start the tour with your guide  in the beautiful little paved streets, with houses painted in warm colors, hanging lanterns on their doorsteps. Cross the popular Japanese bridge from the 16th century, built to link the Chinese and Japanese communities.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Accomodation
Superior:
Luxury:
907
Day 6: Hoi An (B)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Full day at leisure in Hoi An to enjoy the old town, its pedestrian streets, many restaurants and shopping boutiques!

Lunch and dinner at leisure.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Accomodation
Superior:
Luxury:
908
Day 7: Hoi An - Hue ( B)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Take your time to relax in Hoi An this morning.

Check out at noon. Departure to Hue, the former imperial city of the country. Upon arrival, check in at your hotel.

Have a little city tour with your guide. Your hotel is ideally located in the heart of the city center.

Overnight in Hue.

Accomodation
Standard:
Superior:
909
Day 8: Hue (B)

Breakfast at your hotel.

Start with a stop at Dong Ba market, located along the perfume river: nice stalls of fruits and vegetables, local spices...

Continue with the highlight of the city listed as a UNESCO Heritage site: the imperial citadel (capital of Vietnam from 1802 until 1945), built on a similar plan as the Forbidden City in Beijing. Wander in the park of the imperial city and visit the pavilions as well as the many courts (pavilions are not accessible inside by wheelchairs). 

Back to your hotel to refresh before heading to an afternoon visit.


The countryside of Hue is one of the most beautiful of the whole country: lush rice paddies and numerous temples offering a great landscape.
Visit Thien Mu Pagoda which is the tallest religious building in Vietnam, overlooking the perfume river.

Short ride to reach an ancient Japanese covered bridge located in deep countryside.
Take your time to wander on the paths along the rice paddies for taking great pictures and enjoying the great atmosphere. 
 

Overnight in Hue.

Accomodation
Standard:
Superior:
910
Day 9: Hue - Saigon (B)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to Hue’ airport and flight to Saigon.
On arrival in Saigon, meet with your local guide and transfer to your hotel.

Lunch at leisure (suggested to have lunch at the airport while waiting for your flight to depart).

Named Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon, the economic capital of Vietnam is here, and one can feel it: trendy youth, overloaded traffic of scooters, luxury shops! 

The afternoon will be dedicated to the visit of the city's architectural highlights: Notre Dame Cathedral built with French pink bricks, the Central Post Office designed by the famous French architect Gustave Eiffel, the Reunification Palace also called Independence Palace ... not forgetting an enjoyable break at the park, under the shadow of the trees, to taste a local favorites: "cà phê sữa đá", a sweet iced coffee!
 

Overnight in Saigon.

Accomodation
Standard:
Superior:
Luxury:
911
Day 10: Saigon (B)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Good morning Saigon! Vietnamese wake up early to enjoy the morning fresh air for exercising and hang out with their domestic birds.

Departure toward Tao Dan Park, located in the heart of the city. You will enjoy wandering in there to watch the locals performing Tai Chi: a gracious martial art originally from China.

Take a ride to the flower market of "Ho Thi Ky" to delight yourself with this beautiful sight and smell of photogenic tropical flowers.

Back to the hotel for some rest.

Afternoon at the central market for those willing to purchase last minute souvenirs or at the War remnant museum depending on your interests.

Overnight in Saigon.

Accomodation
Standard:
Superior:
Luxury:
912
Day 11: Saigon - Mekong Delta - Saigon (B,L)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Endless rice paddies, plenty of small canals with traditional little ferry boats, lush orchards: a complete day among this colorful landscape and with engaging locals.

Today, you will visit the very dynamic little market of Cai Be. This market is located all along the Mekong River and it offers a great variety of product locally produced: plenty of fruits, vegetables but also all the fish and shells produced in the Mekong River. The market is also the place where you will find the cooking utensils, gardening tools, the coal, the incense etc because supermarket are not popular in the countryside and markets remains the main grocery place.

After the visit of the market, continue to a local manufactory of coconut candies, of pop-rice and liquor.

Lunch in a restaurant located along the river.

This afternoon, take the little ferry boat for a short ride to an island. Have a little tour in the quiet and lush countryside to witness the living style in Mekong’s countryside.

Back to Saigon at the end of the afternoon after a great day away from the city.

Overnight in Saigon.

Accomodation
Standard:
Superior:
Luxury:
913
Day 12: Saigon - Departure (B)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Day at leisure until your time of departure to the airport for your international flight. Possibility to arrange visits on that day once we know your flight schedule.

Drive to the airport for your flight. Time to say goodbye.

Possibility of a trip extension to Siem Reap to enjoy the temples of Angkor.

Accomodation
Price from
1870 $ / Pers. (1710 €)
Price includes
  • 11 nights as mentioned in the program, standard accommodation (Other categories, contact us).
  • Transfers by air-conditioned car.
  • Breakfasts and meals as mentioned in the program.
  • A local English-speaking guide during visits and transfers.
  • Admissions fees to sites.
  • Assistance of your advisor (before, during and after the trip).
Price doesn't include
  • Air Transport (contact us).
  • Meals not mentioned (contact us).
  • Tips.
  • Travel insurance.