Vietnam Express Southbound 10 days

Day 1: HANOI CITY TOUR  Pick-up airport and transfer to city. Half day city tour in the afternoon: Temple of Literature, Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi Old Quarter Day 2: HALONG BAY Travel by minibus to the spectacular World Heritage site of Halong Bay. The bay is dotted with sandy coves, grottos and 1,600limestone islands. Board a cruise the bay, exploring island caves and perhaps even enjoying a swim from Ti Top Island Beach during the warmer months. Spend a peaceful night aboard the boat beneath the night sky Day 3:HALONG - TRAIN TO HUE  Return by boat to Ha Long, and at approximately midday travel by bus back to Hanoi. Arrive late this afternoon, and use free time to shop or just relax. Later tonight board an overnight train to Hue Day 4: HUE  Arrive into Hue at about 11am and transfer to the hotel. Once the imperial capital of Vietnam, Hue holds the treasures of the country’s royal past. Reunite with the group to visit the war-damaged ruins of the Hue Imperial Citadel complex, which once contained temples, state houses and the emperor’s palace Day 5: HUE MOTORBIKE  Today, tour the sights of Hue on the back of a motorbike driven by a local guide. Explore the ruins of the Forbidden Purple City, once reserved for the personal use of the Emperor and his concubines. Visit Thien Mu Pagoda, you’ll see the car of a former monk who drove to Saigon in 1963 to set himself alight to protest the poor treatment of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese regime. Finally, visit the lakeside royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc before heading back to Hue Day 6: HOIAN  This morning travel by bus through coastal rice paddies and the spectacular Hai Van Pass to Hoian. Your tourguide will take you on a sightseeing walk through the Old Town and visit a handful of the city's major attractions Day 7: HOIAN  Today is a free day to explore Hoi An Day 8:HO CHI MINH  Today take a short early morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City,a fascinating history and is arguably Vietnam’s capital of commerce and culture. After landing, take a sightseeing bus tour around the city. Pass the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Opera House, stopping in at the War Remnants Museum to discover some of the sobering stories of the war Day 9:MEKONG DELTA  Head out on a day trip to explore the Mekong Delta. Board a boat to Ben Tre to visit a coconut candy factory and sample their sweet products. Learn about local rural life and stop to sample tropical fruits. Eat lunch at a restaurant, sampling regional specialties such as the famous Elephant Ear fish. Afterwards, paddle in sampans past water coconut trees along the Mekong. Return via bus to HCM Day 10: DEPARTURE Transfer to airport

• 9 nights accommodation: 7 nights hotel + 1 night on board + 1 night in sleeper train

• Meals: 8 breakfast + 3 lunched + 2 dinner

• English speaking tour guide

• Transport: Boat, Motorbike trip in Hue, Overnight sleeper train (4-berth sharing cabin) Hanoi - Hue, plane Danang - Ho Chi Minh, bus Hue - Hoian, private airport transfer car

• Breakfast

• Lunch

• Dinner

• Bottled water

• Food and drinks, unless specified

• Gratuities