Classic Vietnam: Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue & More

On arrival at Hanoi's Nội Bài International Airport you will be met by Goway's local representative and transfered to your hotel.

A must-visit is Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam and the country’s second-largest city. Hanoi is situated on the west bank of the Red River, which flows from southwest China through northern Vietnam, to the Gulf of Tonkin.

The balance of the day is at leisure to rest, relax or begin exploring the city at your own pace.

Visit Ba Dinh Square where silent sentries guard the marble mausoleum in which Ho Chi Minh lies in state. Subject to opening hours, the interior of the mausoleum may be visited. Continue to the modest stilted wooden bungalow where Uncle Ho lived and worked, before visiting Ho Chi Minh Museum. Dedicated to the 'father of the country', the museum chronicles the evolution of Vietnamese independence.

French architecture features prominently in Hanoi and the nearby former Governor's Residence is a fine example. Continue to the One Pillar Pagoda, a Buddhist pagoda with a history steeped in folklore. The final stop is the Thang Long Royal Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the 11th century during the Ly Viet Dynasty. This important historical site served as the capital of Vietnam for eight centuries.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing your exploration of the city, resplendent with French colonial architecture including the exquisite, Opera House. Pass Hoan Kiem Lake, also known as the 'Lake of the Restored Sword' after the legend that surrounds it, en-route to one of the city's many fascinating museums: choose from History Museum, Military Museum, Hoa Loa Prison or Fine Arts, depending on your personal interests. Continue to the Temple of Literature, a serene retreat from the busy streets outside. Built in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius, it became Vietnam's first university.

The best way to experience Hanoi's Old Quarter is on foot and next, take a walking tour through an area of the city known as '36 Streets'. The oldest continuously developed area of Vietnam, this densely populated section of Hanoi was once an important centre of commerce where goods were sold on the street name of a particular guild. The labyrinthine alleyways are perfect for exploring on foot with names such as Sugar Street, Tin Street and Paper Street.

This morning, you will transfer to a cruise for your journey on Halong Bay. Sailing through emerald waters and past rocky islets and lush islands, a delicious lunch will be served on board.

Halong Bay is blessed with numerous grottoes, hidden pools and mystical islands and this afternoon, there will be the opportunity to disembark the boat and explore the region further. Off-boat excursions are usually by ship's tender. Visits to nearby caves or sandy beaches may also be on the agenda and of course there is always the option to remain on board and take in the glorious vista from the spacious sundeck.

As night falls, the boat will drop anchor in a peaceful spot. Enjoy the view from the sundeck before sitting down to a leisurely dinner which will be served inside the dining room depending on the vessel.

Early risers may have the opportunity to witness sunrise over the bay. Then enjoy a breakfast, before disembarking the boat once more for further discovery. On the return journey to port, there is the opportunity to savor the glorious scenery of Halong Bay one final time.

Following the cruise, transfer to Hue, via Hanoi.

Located in central Vietnam, Hue was the country’s capital from 1802-1945, during the Nguyen Dynasty. Now the capital city of Thua Thien – Hue province, Hue is considered the most beautiful city in the country while on a Vietnam, vacation and has long been a major cultural, religious, and educational centre.

Hue is a city steeped in rich history, particularly from the Nguyen Dynasty. The city boasts magnificent architectural works, temples, and Royal tombs with outstanding cultural and architectural values as a former capital city. This excursion commences with an interesting boat ride along the Perfume River to the Thien Mu Pagoda, an octagon shape with 7 floors. Seven is a sacred number according to Vietnam Buddhism. Take a leisurely walk to a private museum housed in a beautiful ancestral temple filled with pieces collected by a Vietnamese-born German professor who teaches East-West comparative philosophy at the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich. After more than 50 years of living abroad, she followed her heart and returned to her hometown of Hue to contribute to the preservation and promotion of Hue's traditional cultural values. This museum is the first and only private museum dedicated to ancient artifacts fished out of the Perfume River. Next, visit the Imperial Citadel. Built between 1804 and 1833, this heavily fortified structure remains the heart of modern-day Hue, despite its tumultuous history. The fortress is still remarkably well-preserved and provides an incredible insight into the grandeur of Vietnam's past.

Depart Hue and travel overland to Hoi An via Cloudy Pass, with a visit to the idyllic fishing village of Lang Co en-route.

Located 30KM south of Danang, the sublime riverside town of Hoi An is a feast for the eyes. Devoid of most forms of motorised transport, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town of this ancient port is ideal for exploring on foot. Discover beautifully preserved old merchant houses, atmospheric temples and lively markets as you stroll through the back streets of this enchanting destination. You will visit the iconic 400-year-old Japanese Bridge and the busy waterfront, where colourful fishing boats bob up and down on the Thu Bon River. There will also be time to peruse the numerous boutiques and galleries that line the narrow streets and perhaps make a purchase or two. During the walk, a quick visit at the market to find out well-known local cakes in Hoi An market such as Banh It la Gai or Banh Dau Xanh.

With steep mountains and dense sub-tropical forests, Ba Na Hill is home to the most outstanding bridge structure in Vietnam. Located 1,400 meters above sea level with a length of nearly 150 meters, the Golden Bridge is held up by two giant hands and designed to resemble a silk strip floating among white clouds. Reach the bridge by cable car and enjoy the beautiful landscape.

After meeting with your guide and driver at your hotel, set off for the approx. 1.5-hour drive to the bottom of Ba Na Hill. Experience an amazing view over the primitive forest from one of the world's longest cable cars. The main attraction is the Golden Bridge. The eye-catching design is unique, with giant stone hands carrying the bridge. There are a variety of optional attractions to discover on your own. Debay wine tunnel and Le Jardin D'amour flower garden are landscaped gardens. Other possible visits include Linh Ung pagoda and Shakyamuni Buddhist statue. Continue to the last cable car stop at the top, where there is spectacular panoramic view of Da Nang city.

After lunch, walk to the highest point of Ba Na Hills (1487m altitude), then visit Bell Tower and Nghinh Phong tower. If time allows, there are other optional activities such as the alpine coaster, the Wax Museum and Fantasy Park.

The journey back to the foot of the hill will be by cable car. At the bottom, you will meet with the driver and transfer back to the hotel.

A full day to explore ancient Hoi An at your own pace.

Hoi An’s Old Town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, definitely to be visited on a Vietnam vacation.

Hoi An’s history goes back 2000 years, as it possessed the largest harbour in Southeast Asia in the 1st century. A significant part of the Cham Kingdom, which controlled the strategic spice trade with Indonesia from the 7th to the 10th centuries, Hoi An was then a major international trading port from the 15th to 19th centuries, attracting Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, and Indian traders to settle in the area. Known as Hai Pho, or Faifo to Western traders, the city featured a prominent Japanese settlement, found across the infamous Japanese Bridge.

Following breakfast, transfer to Ho Chi Minh City via Danang.

Beginning in the centre of the city, the first stop on today's itinerary is Reunification Palace. Formerly named the Presidential Palace, this important city landmark was assured its place in history on 30th April 1975, when the first North Vietnamese tanks rumbled past, signalling the Fall of Saigon and ultimately the end of the Vietnam War. Now a museum complete with period meeting areas, war rooms and a basement communication centre, after your visit, walk the short distance to Notre Dame Cathedral. At the centre of HCMC's government district, this romantic church dates back to the late 19th century and is a popular backdrop for wedding photographs. Across the street from the cathedral is the city's striking French colonial-era post office, whilst Hotel de Ville de Saigon, officially Ho Chi Minh City Hall, is another of the city's more prominent buildings. The Museum of Vietnamese History is housed in yet another fine example of Sino-French architecture. Dating back to the 1920s, it contains an excellent series of exhibits dating from the Bronze Age to the Nguyen dynasty, the last ruling family of Vietnam.

As an alternative to the Museum of Vietnamese History, visit the elegant Fine Arts Museum with its impressive collection of ancient and modern art and sculptures, or the War Remnants Museum, which is primarily dedicated to the Vietnam War but also includes exhibits dating back to the French colonialist period and the first Indochina War.

The final stop today is the unforgettable Jade Emperor Pagoda. With the pungent smell of incense hanging heavy in the air and an interior packed full of ornate carvings and fierce-looking statues, this Taoist temple is one of the most atmospheric places of worship in the city. Transfer back to your hotel after your visit or alternatively be dropped off at Ben Thanh market for personal exploration and a spot of souvenir hunting.

The Mekong Delta is a rich fertile region of farmland interlaced with countless waterways and crisscrossed by low-lying rice paddies. Today you will explore one of the country's most enchanting landscapes travelling by car to the Delta town of Cai Be before boarding the Cai Be Princess, a traditional bamboo-covered wooden boat.

After two hours drive to Cai Be from Ho Chi Minh city, the visitors are getting on board of a motorised boat to take a breeze drive in Mekong river. At Tan Phong Islet, board a small row boat to better explore the canal's hidden mangroves. On the island, visit an ancient Mandarin house dating from the 19th century where several generations of the same family live together. You will also visit some interesting home factories to see how local products such as coconut candy and puffed rice (the local equivalent of popcorn) are made, and learn about the drying process for longan fruit, another cottage industry in the Delta. Lunch awaits you at Le Longanier, a superb Indochinese villa located in a lush tropical garden by the river and surrounded by fruit orchards. Following lunch and a short walk along a beautiful canal, you reach Ba Bon bridge at around 3:30 PM for your transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Synonymous with the Vietnam War and a testament to the determined spirit of the Vietnamese, the underground network of passages at Cu Chi is a fascinating day trip out of the city.

Work on the tunnels began during the war against the French in the 1940s and over the next 25 years as the conflict with America escalated, they were improved and expanded to create an underground city of meeting areas, storerooms, living quarters and much more. The tunnels allowed the Viet Cong to control a vital area of South Vietnam and at their height, extended for more than 200KM in length and stretched from what was then Saigon to the Cambodian border.

Preserved as a memorial park, a small section of this remarkable network is open to the public and there is the option to go below the surface to visit the tunnel first hand. There is plenty of interest above ground as well and it is recommended to bring good footwear, sunscreen and a hat. Please note you may get a little dusty if you decide to go underground.

Following breakfast, transfer to the airport in time for you onward flight.