Day 1: Arrival
Welcome to Hanoi, your starting point for the Wonders of Vietnam tour. This itinerary has been created with care and is designed to welcome wheelchair users to the exciting experiences that this destination has to offer.
Upon arrival, your guide and driver will greet you before taking you to the hotel where you will have time to relax and recharge after your long journey. Depending on what time you arrive, there will be a little guided tour in the city, near your hotel, before staying overnight in Hanoi.
Day 2: Hanoi (B, L)
After breakfast at the hotel, take a trip to the timeless city of Hanoi and prepare to be amazed. You’ll begin your exploration with a guided tour of the historic quarter, located near the Hoan Kiem Lake also known as the Lake of the Returned Sword.
Following your morning of exploration, enjoy lunch in a Vietnamese colonial villa before an afternoon visit to the Women Museum - an impressive museum that celebrates and explains the unmeasurable level of assistance that was provided by women during wartime.
Day 3: Hanoi’s Renowned Monuments (B)
After breakfast at the hotel, you'll visit the Ethnology Museum, where you will learn all about the habits and ancestral traditions of the 54 ethnicities that make up the country of Vietnam. Lunch is at your leisure, with the possibility of dining at the restaurant in the museum.
The first half of the afternoon will be dedicated to the most renowned man of the nation, Ho Chi Minh, with a trip to an impressive mausoleum that houses his body. Many of his personal belongings are displayed in his former house nearby. You will also visit the peculiar One Pillar Pagoda or Lotus Pagoda, the most important historical site of present-day Hanoi and known for its distinctive style of architecture which resembles a lotus flower in bloom.
Day 4: Ninh Binh (B, L)
Today, you will be taking a trip from Hanoi to the dry Halong Bay, which is less touristy than the maritime one, providing a more tranquil experience. This landscape consists of the beautiful Karst Mountains that stand as one of the most spectacular sights in all of Vietnam. During the 10th century, this region was the capital of 3 feudal dynasties that resulted in several temples and historical buildings being built, which you will have a chance to see first-hand.
Enjoy some of Ninh Binh’s culinary specialities for lunch before exploring a lost temple in the lush countryside that offers an unforgettable visual experience. You will then continue along a stunning promenade, among epic rice paddies, and once again marvel at the majestic Karst mountains that surround you.
Day 5: Halong Cruise (B, L, D)
This morning depart for one of the most famous landscapes in all of Asia, Halong Bay! Part of UNESCO heritage, this bay is home to over 1600 karst formations that have been sculpted and carved by the sea over centuries to form this now stunning landscape.
At the end of the morning, you will embark on a traditional boat for your cruise, where you will have plenty of time to witness this unique landscape from the deck, which offers panoramic views of your surroundings.
You will be accommodated in a luxury cabin and meals will be served at the onboard restaurant, enabling easy and direct access to the outside deck, with a staff onboard that will assist you during your cruise so that you can fully enjoy this journey.
Day 6: Scenic Morning Cruise (B)
You will enjoy breakfast this morning while cruising among the karsts, with one last chance to embrace your picturesque surroundings during brunch before you disembark. Your driver will then transport you back to Hanoi, where you will be dropped off at your hotel to enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.
Day 7: Hoi An (B)
Today, you will travel from Hanoi to Danang, where you will be welcomed by your guide and driver and transported via an adapted transfer to your hotel in Hoi An.
In the afternoon, follow your guide to the beautiful little paved streets nearby, with houses painted in warm colours hanging lanterns on their doorsteps. You will then cross the famous Japanese bridge from the 16th century, built to link the Chinese and Japanese communities, as you absorb the rich cultural history that surrounds you.
Day 8: Tra Que Rural Village (B, L)
The authentic countryside of Hoi An is on your itinerary today, with a trip to the rural village of Tra Que, just 10 minutes from your hotel, located along a little canal. Your guide will introduce you to the history of the village, as well as the agricultural activity of this region, where all the work is still done manually.
Take a stroll along the plantation fields and continue to a local house where you will watch a cooking demonstration and taste the local food specialities on offer. Lunch will be taken after the demonstration. Foot and neck massages will be available before your return to the hotel.
Day 9: Day of Leisure in Hoi An (B)
After breakfast, you have the full day free, allowing you to enjoy the several shops and attractions that are located nearby or experience a relaxing day to recharge. Hoi An is easy to navigate without the use of your guide, giving you free rein to do as much or as little as you please.
Day 10: Hue (B)
Relax in Hoi An this morning, before checking out at noon and starting your journey to Hue, the former imperial city of Vietnam.
Upon arrival, check-in at your hotel, ideally located in the heart of the city centre, and enjoy a little tour with your guide, giving you a sample of what is to come during your time in the city.
Day 11: Hue’s City and Countryside (B)
Start your tour of Hue with a stop at Dong Ba market, located along the perfume river, filled with stalls of fruit, vegetables and local spices. Continue with the highlight of the city, listed as a UNESCO Heritage site, the Imperial Citadel, built similarly to the Forbidden City in Beijing. Wander in the park of the Imperial City and visit the pavilions, as well as the many courts, before heading back to the hotel for some relaxation.
The countryside of Hue is one of the most beautiful of the whole country, with lush rice paddies and numerous temples, offering stunning landscapes that you won’t forget in a hurry. Continue to the tallest religious building in Vietnam, the Thien Mu Pagoda, overlooking the perfume river, enabling you to experience the area from a different perspective and admire its beauty from afar. Take a short ride to an ancient Japanese bridge located in the countryside, wander along the rice paddies and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere.
Day 12: Saigon Arrival (B)
After breakfast at the hotel, you'll be driven to the airport for a southbound flight to Saigon, the economic capital of the country. On arrival in Saigon, your guide and driver will transfer you to your hotel and take you on a tour of the city in a cyclo (three-wheel bicycle taxi).
Enjoy this typical form of city transportation to visit the architectural highlights of the area, including the Notre Dame Cathedral, Reunification Palace and the Central Post Office, designed by the famous French architect Gustave Eiffel.
Day 13: A Day in Saigon (B)
Good morning Saigon! The Vietnamese wake up early to enjoy the fresh morning air while exercising and hanging out with their domestic birds. Depart toward Tao Dan Park, located in the heart of the city, where you can enjoy observing the locals performing Tai Chi - a gracious martial art originally from China.
Take a ride to the flower market of Ho Thi Ky and delight in the beautiful sights and smells of photogenic tropical flowers. End the morning's visit with the War remnants Museum, where you will encounter a fascinating experience learning more about the American conflict from the Eastern point of view.
Enjoy the afternoon at your leisure, to rest or continue exploring the city and/or central market with your tour guide.
Day 14: Mekong Delta (B, L)
Today, you will visit the very dynamic little market of Cai Be, located along the Mekong River, which offers a great variety of locally-produced fruit and vegetables, as well as seafood sourced from the river. The market is also the place where you will find cooking utensils, gardening tools, coal, incense and more, as supermarkets are not accepted in the countryside and markets remain the chief source of materials.
After visiting the market, continue to a local manufacturer of coconut candies, pop-rice and liquor, before having lunch in a restaurant located along the river. In the afternoon take the ferry boat for a short ride to an island where you will have a little tour in the quiet and lush countryside, allowing you to witness the living style of some of the local people. At the end of the day, travel back to the hotel in Saigon and enjoy your last night in Vietnam.
Day 15: Departure day (B)
After breakfast at the hotel, you will have some time to explore at leisure, before your adapted transfer to the airport for your flight home.
