Veterans Memorial Tour

Upon landing in Hanoi airport, you’ll find your local guide and driver waiting for you outside the baggage claim area, holding a board reading your name. After receiving a warm greeting, you’ll be transferred to the hotel in downtown.

➤ Free-time Activities Recommended upon Arrival in Hanoi
If you arrive early, tour the Hanoi Museum on your own to learn about Vietnam's history and culture. The four permanent sections display relics from prehistory to August Revolution in 1945. You might be particularly interested in the third section, which shows you artifacts left from feudal Hu Dynasty (1400 - 1407) to revolutionary modern era, as well as the treasure of the museum - the Prison Diary of President Ho Chi Minh, the founding father of Vietnam. If it happens to be a Monday, when the Museum is closed, visit the Memorial House of Ho Chi Minh, where Ho wrote the Declaration of Independence in 1945. The first and second floors are available on weekdays, and the third floor is open to the public to offer incense to the great man on special festivals like his birthday on May 19. While out on streets, keep an eye on those swarms of motorbikes’ dashing out from every intersections - this bustling side of the local life is a culture of its own. Find a restaurant named Banh Mi 25 to try its signature pork sandwich, Vietnam's specialty, and mango smoothie. It costs ₫100,000-200,000 ($4-8) per person on average.

Accommodation: Pan Pacific Hanoi (5 stars) or Hanoi La Siesta Hotel & Spa (4 stars)

In the morning, your guide will pick you up from the hotel lobby and then accompany you to visit the Confucius Temple, a landmark in Hanoi built in 1070. Then visit Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, where the body of the President lies in state. Uncle Ho’s remains was secretly transferred five times during the Vietnam War (1955 - 1975), and finally placed in the Mausoleum. The Presidential Palace and One Pillar Pagoda which is built in a pond are nearby.

After lunch, visit the Hoa Lo Prison to see history-recorded photographs, instruments used for torturing prisoners, including a chilling guillotine, as well as prisoners' personal belongings. It was built by French in 1896, named "Central House" at that time to lock up Vietnamese political enemies. During the Vietnam War, it was used to intern American soldiers, including Douglas Peterson, the 1st US Representative in Vietnam, and John McCain, the U.S. Navy pilot in the war and 2008 American presidential candidate. You’ll also learn that although patriots of Viet Cong guerrilla forces were confined in prison, their revolutionary will and patriotism had never been sapped in the least, and they had insisted on fighting for victory of the revolution.

Then, we’ll witness some relics burnt down during the Vietnam War. In December of 1972, the US started the Operation Linebacker. Over 20 thousand tons of bombs were dropped from B-52 bombers to attack Hanoi and many places had been flattened. In addition to the ruins, your guide will also accompany you to see a downed B-52 and Huu Tiep Lake, which is also called B-52 Lake. At the end of the day, you’ll be escorted back to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Pan Pacific Hanoi (5 stars) or Hanoi La Siesta Hotel & Spa (4 stars)

After breakfast, your driver will escort you to the UNESCO-honored Ha Long Bay through highway, which takes about 3 hours. You may have appreciated karst terrains on land before, but you’ll definitely marvel at the bay’s more than 3,000 karst islets rising out of sea. These limestone boulders vary in size and shape, such as one looks like two cocks fighting and one an incense burner.

Upon arrival, embark on the cruise ship we’ve carefully handpicked for you to fully admire a scenic bay off the beaten track. There are two kinds of luxury cruises, heading to different and more pristine waters from Ha Long Bay, for you to choose from. The Indochine Cruise, whose room even boasts a balcony, will escort you to Lan Ha Bay. Besides karst islets and emerald waters, Lan Ha Bay is famous for its thousand-year-old karst cave with stalactites and interesting natural habitants like bats. Kayak to the island and disembark to explore all these. The Signature Royal Cruise will show you around Bai Tu Long Bay. Here, you’ll get insight into the daily life of water-dwelling people in a fishing village! You might see friendly locals selling fresh fruit and seafood like fish and shrimp on a boat. Hidden white sand beaches perfect for swimming and diving are another highlight here. In addition, you could also experience canoeing, diving and squid night fishing on both ships. Tonight, stay overnight onboard.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Indochine Cruise - room with balcony (5 stars) or Signature Royal Cruise (4 stars)

This morning, you could attend the Tai Chi class on the top deck or enjoy the stunning sunrise. After morning coffee or tea, you’ll change to a small boat to admire nearby caves. After brunch, check out from the cruise ship. Your guide and driver will pick you up at the pier, escort you to Hanoi airport and assist you to board the flight to Hue. Upon arrival, your Hue local guide and driver will meet you and send you to the hotel. You are free to enjoy the rest of the day.

➤ Free-time Activities Recommended in Hue
If you’re still energetic, visit the modern-style Phu Cam Cathedral by yourself. You’ll see the two front towers spreading like wings of an angel. Get inside the courtyard to show respect to the statues of Vietnamese martyrs, and learn more in an old shop next door. After visiting the church, treat yourself with a dinner at the DMZ Bar & Restaurant. The restaurant is inspired by the Vietnam War, which you can see from the DMZ (demilitarized zone) model on the ceiling, the billiard table in the center and the White Christmas music - American Radio Service’s playing this song marked the retreat of US troops from Saigon. You may also go to the top of the restaurant to appreciate the night view of Hue or take a walk along Hue Night Market Street to enjoy the view of Perfume River.

Meal: Brunch
Accommodation: Indochine Palace (5 stars) or Moonlight Hotel Hue (4 stars)

In the morning, your guide will escort you to travel along the Route 1 to visit DMZ, the demilitarized zone during the Vietnam War near the 17th parallel. At first, go on a drive northward for less than 2 hours to the Hien Luong Bridge built over Ben Hai River, the division line of South and North Vietnam during the war from 1954 to 1972. Next, keep traveling northward to Vinh Moc Tunnels, a three-level underground system well equipped with living facilities. During the war, about 300 villagers lived inside for about 2 and a half years.

In the afternoon, we’ll travel along the Route 9 to mountainous areas. Along it, you’ll see the American observation post - the Rockpile, which was used to observe the action of Viet Cong guerillas from 1966 to 1968. There’s no way up and down this 230 meters (755 feet) high Rockpile, and all supplies were dropped by helicopter then. The Dakrong Bridge you’re going to cross is not only a road bridge, but also the starting point of Route 15, a main branch of Ho Chi Minh Trail, a secret network of routes via which North Vietnam infiltrated information and transported supplies to guerrillas in South Vietnam. The labyrinthine network once so seriously nagged US military that they jetted about 200,000 electronic sensors to detect suspect traces, and to jam it, North Vietnamese used cattle and sheep for cover, which resulted in US military’s wasting lots of bombers. Then they resorted to bulk defoliant, hoping to expose their opponents that used leaves for shelter. There were up to 100,000 air strikes during this conflict, which still failed to help the US side to eradicate the Trail.

The final stop today will be the Ta Con Base, also known as Khe Sanh Combat Base, of US troops during the war time. The Base was the main battlefield of the Battle of Khe Sanh, the bloodiest and deadliest one lasted for 77 days in 1968 during the Vietnam War. After today's visit, we’ll go back to Hue.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Indochine Palace (5 stars) or Moonlight Hotel Hue (4 stars)

After breakfast, we’ll take a stroll around Hue, the capital of Nguyen Dynasty (1802 - 1945), Vietnam’s last dynasty before the Democratic Republic was established. First, admire Tomb of Khai Dinh to learn about the 12th emperor of Nguyen Dynasty - Khai Dinh (reigned in 1916 - 1925). Then, stroll around the UNESCO-listed Imperial City along the Perfume River. You’ll see the City is surrounded by a moat and like a miniature version of the imperial palace complex in Beijing, China.

Then, drive to Hoi An, a quaint town of lanterns, via Da Nang. Not destroyed by war, Hoi An is still how it looked like over 400 years ago. On arrival, your guide will help you check into the hotel and then accompany you to take a stroll in Hoi An Ancient Town to appreciate the buildings absorbing Chinese, Japanese, Indian and other architectural elements. The paved lane teeming with variegated lanterns and shops selling food, souvenirs and lanterns radiate a vivid glamor. The town embraces its peak charm at night, when you’ll see lit colorful lanterns illuminating the peaceful flow of Tue Bon River and buskers playing traditional instrument. Maybe find a lantern workshop and try to make a lantern on your own - use bamboo to make a nice skeleton and stick it on with a piece of fabric you like. The colors imply different meanings, such as red for good luck and yellow for joy.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa (5 stars) or Little Beach A Boutique Hotel & Spa (4 stars)

Today, your guide will accompany you to the place of My Lai Massacre - Son My Village, which is about 2 hours' drive southward. There, we will visit the ruined houses reminiscent of March 16, 1968, on which 504 villagers, including defenseless women and children, were slaughtered. Inside the Son My Memorial and Museum of Son My Massacre, the ample horrifying photos, historical records and reconstructed parts of the village bring back sad and sobering memories of the onslaught. Please be prepared in advance. You will want to pray for the dead yourself when you see the gravestones carved with their names and ages, some being only 1-year-old. If you want, you could also pay a visit to the Worship House for 504 victims and pray for them.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa (5 stars) or Little Beach A Boutique Hotel & Spa (4 stars)

This morning, we’ll leave it on your own to let you explore the kaleidoscopic town. Maybe visit assembly halls, the Japanese Bridge, and the Old House of Tan Ky, etc., all of which tell you historical changes and show the integration of Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese local architectural styles. Then, you may treat yourself to a delectable lunch at Hong Phuc 2, which is next to the Old House and faces the Thu Bon River. The grilled fish in banana leaves is highly recommended. It costs ₫100,000 - 200,000 (about $4 - 8) per person on average.

In the afternoon, your guide and driver will send you to Da Nang Airport to take the flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). In the eyes' of the tourists, the city is romantic; but in the eyes' of people attending or familiar with the Vietnam War, it evokes calamitous memories. Many battles once happened in and around Saigon, causing deaths of as many as 58,000 American soldiers and 3,100,000 Vietnam soldiers and common folk. After the "Operation Frequent Wind" (April 29 - 30, 1975), the efforts made to evacuate American civilians and life-threatened Vietnamese, the Viet Cong took over the city, symbolizing the end of Vietnam War.

On arrival, your local guide and driver will pick you up and send you to the hotel for check-in. In the evening, you may go to Ben Thanh Night Market on your own and experience the charm of local life. The market is teeming with specialties for you to explore, like well-known Vietnam coffee beans and tropical fruits like mangosteen and rambutan. Maybe find a vintage logo T-shirt at a bargain price.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Nikko Saigon (5 stars) or Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel (4 stars)

After breakfast, your guide will lead you to visit Cu Chi Tunnels, the underground fortress of Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. The tunnels were dug with bare hands by Vietnamese peasant soldiers in 1948, and were originally built to fight French colonizers and then the US force during the Vietnam War. The depth of the tunnels, about 3 - 12 meters (10 - 40 feet), and the high stability of the soil made Cu Chi Tunnels being able to withstand even artillery and tank attacks. Parts of the tunnels have been widened for tourists, and your experienced guide will show you the hidden entrance and accompany you to walk inside.

Then, go back to the downtown area to visit War Remnants Museum. Approaching it, in the outdoor space, you will first spot a series of military aircraft and tanks used by US army. Once the office of CIA, it has many photos and records about the Vietnam War displayed inside. Before abundant rare and shocking photographs taken by war correspondents, you will be like witnessing the horrors of the war. Maybe take a look at the documentary about an American veteran's "redemption" trip to Vietnam on second floor.

Then visit the shooting spot of the movie "Fall of Saigon" and the Former American Embassy, which was demolished in 1998 and rebuilt as the US Consulate. You’ll look back at the historical changes in the converted park within it. Move on to the Independence Palace, once the command center of South Vietnam. The central garden was used as the parking apron during the war.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Nikko Saigon (5 stars) or Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel (4 stars)

Today, your guide will accompany you to Ben Tre through a 2.5-hour drive to enjoy a Mekong River Cruise. The Mekong River Delta is located in southwestern Vietnam, where the landscape and local life are inseparable from water. On the canal, all kinds of ships shuttle, including cargo ships, passenger boats, motorboats and hand-rowing boats. Upon arrival, change to a small wooden boat to admire the unique woods of Southeast Asia, visit candy and rice paper factories, and taste some local snacks. The water coconut tree is ubiquitous in Mekong Delta and can be processed into a variety of products: its trunk is used to build houses; its palm leaves are used as roofing material; its fibrous husk is used to make ropes and brushes; and coconut meat can be made into coconut oil, coconut milk and coconut sugar. For lunch, you’ll have a chance to try fried elephant ear fish, a special delicacy in Mekong River. The way to eat it is particular: tear off a piece of the flesh and put it on a pliable rice paper; add some basil, rice noodles, fruit and vegetables; then roll it up and dip in fish sauce. Enjoy its sour and spicy flavor. Next, enjoy the idyllic scenery by "Xe Loi" (a motorized rickshaw) or bicycle. At the end of the day, you’ll be escorted back to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Nikko Saigon (5 stars) or Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel (4 stars)

Your 11 days Vietnam tour from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City comes to an end today. According to your flight schedule, your driver will see you off at the airport. Wish you a smooth onward journey!

➤ Independent Exploration for Late Departures
If time allows, get up early to visit the colonial-era architectural complex not far away from your hotel and beat the crowds. You can visit the Saigon Opera House, Notre Dame Cathedral which is modeled after its namesake cathedral in Paris, and Central Post Office, a masterpiece by the designer of the Eiffel Tower. Maybe send some postcards to your friends in the Post Office before leaving.

Meal: Breakfast