9 Days | Insights of Vietnam + Flights from Melbourne

Hanoi Overnight Halong Bay Cruise (Victory Star Cruise)

12:00 : Arrive at Halong International Cruise Port.

12:30 : Embark on Victory Star. Check-in, enjoy welcome drinks and cruise briefing.

13:15 : Enjoy lunch while cruising to the magnificent Halong Bay. Admire fascinating formations on the way.

15:30 : Luon Cave excursion on bamboo rowing boats or kayaks.

17:00 : Swimming at Ti Top (Titov) Beach.

18:00 : Pre-dinner cocktail party (complimentary Halong sunset cocktail with snacks).

18:15 : Cooking class.

19:30 : Savour a delicious set dinner in the dining room.

21:00 : Night-time squid fishing.

22:00 : Relax or retire to your cabin for the night .

Overnight on cruise

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 

Halong Bay Hanoi 

06:30: Enjoy sunrise on the bay. Morning Tai Chi session on top deck.

07:00: Light breakfast. Coffee, tea, and pastries are served in restaurant.

07:30: Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave excursion.

09:15: Check-out of cabins. Start cruising towards the port.

09:30: International buffet brunch served in dining room.

11:00: Disembark at pier and return to Hanoi We arrive in Hanoi to enjoy with the refreshment by Hoan Kiem Lake, visit Hoan Kiem Lake (Restored Sword Lake) with Ngoc Son Temple before taking cyclo tour through the Old Quarter, also known as the 36 streets, this bustling area of narrow streets is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. It’s a great place to explore with plenty of photo opportunities.

Overnight Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast and lunch on cruise

*Details of the cruise program will be provided upon confirmation. Changes to departure date may incur without notification due the weather or quay policy.

Optional Activity (Additional Charge): Hanoi Evening Street Food Tour This tour into the Old Quarter will begin from your hotel in the early evening. Your English-speaking local guide will give you an insight into the intricacies and traditions of Vietnamese food culture, including details on ingredients and historical backgrounds of popular northern dishes. Walk through the maze of bustling streets that is Hanoi’s Old Quarter and tempt your tastebuds with the famed Hanoi dish Banh Cuon at a local eatery. Watch as the skilled chefs demonstrate to you how this tasty dish is put together. Continuing onwards, wander past street stalls and quiet residential lanes where you can discover how the local’s live in the old quarter. Afterwards you will stop at the barbeque stalls. Settle down with the locals and sample various meat, vegetable and bread specialties grilled over hot coals for extra flavor. The search for dessert will bring you down to a small alley, here you will find fruit served in a cup and smothered with crushed iced and condensed milk – this specialty is one not to be missed! Your local guide will then take you to one of Hanoi’s best kept secrets, a hidden street food restaurant to taste top ten street foods in Hanoi include Banh My Hanoi, Vietnamese Rice Wine and famous Egg Coffee along with many other specialties. Follow these delicious meals with an ice-cold local beer. Your trip ends in the middle of the old quarter, and you will continue onwards to discover Hanoi by night at your own leisure, or the tour guide can arrange a taxi for you to go back to your hotel (taxi not included). Inclusions: English speaking tour guide, all food and drink as mentioned above.

Hanoi Danang

After breakfast at hotel, you will transfer to the airport for your fight to Da Nang. Upon arrival, you are met and tranferred to Hoi Ann. 

Overnight in Hoi An

Meal included: Breakfast at hotel

Hoi An

Enjoy today at your leisure in Hoi An or Da Nang. 

Overnight in Danang

Meals: Breakfast at hotel

Optional Tour: Da Nang & Hoi An Ancient Town Discovery

Explore Danang city and Hoian ancient town. In the morning you  will be collected from the hotel in Da Nang city centre and transfer to visit Linh Ung pagoda of Son Tra peninsula. Linh Ung pagoda of Son Tra peninsula is the largest pagoda in Central Vietnam. On arrival, we can feel the cool sea wind, see Da Nang panoramic, the Arhat statues and Lady Buddha statues which are the tallest in Viet Nam. Leaving Linh Ung pagoda, we will visit My Khe beach, of the nicest beaches in Central Vietnam with white sand and pure water. Visit Marble Mountain. Marble Mountain is located between Da Nang and Hoi An, is a fairyland with a dreamlike scenery, pagodas, and grottoes. You will be amazed in front of the unique architecture of the pagoda and temple. Besides from these amazing landmarks, we will conquer 108 steps from foot to top of the mountain. Explore Marble Mountain don’t forget to stop at Xa Loi tower, Tam Thai pagoda, Tang Chon cave, Hoa Nghiem cave, Huyen Khong cave. In the afternoon enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before heading to Hoi An. You explore Hoi An Ancient Town with Phuc Kien assembly hall, Tan Ki house, Phung Hung ancient house and Japanese covered bridge. We will pick you up again in Hoi an ancient town and come back Da Nang. Drop you off at your hotel in Da Nang . Tour ends.

Hoi An Da Nang Hue

This morning, you’ll be transferred to Hue – Vietnam’s last feudal capital. This small and quite city is widely known for its magnificent architecture, pagodas and royal tombs laid in many small villages and surrounding hills. 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 of Lang Co Beach. In the afternoon, you will enjoy a boat cruise downstream to visit the charming pagoda of Thien Mu built in 1601 lying on the top of Ha Khe Hill, hidden behind 7 layers of Phuoc Duyen tower. You also visit Tu Duc tomb - one of the most beautiful royal architectures of Nguyen dynasty.

Overnight in Hue

Meals: Breakfast at hotel

Hue Ho Chi Minh

This morning, we will take a short drive to explore the massive Hue citadel built in 1832 – Western architecture combined with Eastern the citadel contains the Imperial City and the Purple Forbidden City. This Royal Residence was destroyed during the 1968 Tet Offensive but with renovations by a great work of local artiest have restored most of it to its former glory. Then we will transfer to airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh. Upon arrival Tan Sơn Nhat airport, you are met and transfer to your hotel. Then you are free. 

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh

Meals: Breakast at hotel

Ho Chi Minh - Cu Chi Tunnels Tour

After breakfast at hotel, we will visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. Located 60km from HCMC, Cu Chi is now a popular spot for both Vietnamese & foreign tourists - the network of over 200km of tunnels became legendary when they played a vital role in the War. In their day, the tunnels were functioning underground cities including numerous trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers & kitchens. Today, ducks and water buffalos happily co-exist in the rivers along the side of the road. However, the peaceful rural rice paddy scenery belies the area’s violent history. Visitors will find it hard to imagine the destruction, damage & defoliation over this whole area, caused by bombing and mines. There is plenty of evidence of the fierce battle that took place here during the 1960s when Cu Chi was a "Free Target Zone". Start our tour in the morning, before entering the tunnels visitors can watch a short introductory video showing how the tunnels were constructed. You will spend the next hour exploring the tunnels. Afterwards, enjoy tea, cassava (guerrilla’s food during the war). Return to Ho Chi Minh.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh

Alternate Day Tour Option: 'The Mekong Delta'

This morning after breakfast be picked up from the hotel and travel to the city of My Tho (approx. 1.5 hours) on the banks of the Mekong. Upon arrival board a motorboat and cruise along the Mekong River. The boat will take you to Xep Canal, a lovely place where you can escape the traffic of the main river. Here you will cruise under coconut trees before arriving at a small islet. Disembark and walk around a small local village. Stop at a local family's home to enjoy tropical fruit, honey tea and wine and listen to traditional Vietnamese music performed by the villagers. Afterwards continue onwards to another islet where a traditional Vietnamese lunch will be prepared by a local family (included). In the afternoon return to Ho Chi Minh City and your hotel accommodation.

Surcharge for changing from Cu Chi tunnel to Mekong Delta: AUD$50 per person

Meals: Breakfast at hotel

Depart Ho Chi Minh Arrive Melbourne

Enjoy your morning at leisure before being transferred to airport for your return flight home.

Meals: Breakfast at hotel and Inflight Menu