7-Nights Tailor Made Vietnam: North to South - Luxury Tailor Made Travel from $6,820

Abercrombie & Kent

OFFER ID 1514813

Tailor Made Vietnam: North to South
Travel with your private party on this Luxury Tailor Made Journey, departing when you choose and with expert local guides leading the way; you can even customize the itinerary to your interests.

Set out on an enriching, in-depth journey to Vietnam, visiting must-see sites that include the Cu Chi Tunnels, high-energy Ho Chi Minh City; Hanoi, known for its French colonial architecture; and tranquil Ha Long Bay, where you cruise overnight and partake in a Vietnamese cooking lesson.

7 nights from $6,820 per person

Itinerary

Abercrombie & Kent: Short Escape: Vietnam

Day 1 HANOI, VIETNAM

Arrive in Hanoi, where you receive fast-track assistance through customs and immigration formalities before being met and transferred to your hotel.

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

Meals:

Day 2 HANOI

This morning, pay a visit to Ho Chi Minh’s stilted house, located among banyan and milkweed trees. Continue to the iconic, lotus-shaped One Pillar Pagoda, built by King Ly Thai To as thanks to the deity he believed helped his wife give birth to his son. See, too, the Temple of Literature (Quoc Tu Giam). Recognized as Hanoi’s first university, the temple is featured on the back of the 100,000 VND banknote. Proceed to the home of Mr. My, a former Vietnamese pilot who shares stories from his time during the Vietnam War, including the close friendship he developed with a U.S. pilot. After lunch at a local restaurant, pay a visit to the gatehouse-turned-museum at Hoa Lo Prison, used by the French colonists in Vietnam for political prisoners and later by North Vietnam for prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. Next, travel by cyclo (rickshaw) through the bustling Old Quarter along its time-honored streets before returning to your hotel.

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3 HA LONG BAY

Travel overland to Ha Long Bay — meaning “Where the Dragon Descends to the Sea” — and board your luxury boutique vessel. Enjoy a leisurely lunch as the dramatic beauty of the bay begins to unfold around you, taking in majestic views of the surreal landscape where hundreds of limestone karsts rise out of emerald waters. Pass by a century-old lighthouse, built by the French during colonial times. In the afternoon, visit Viet Hai, a village on Cat Ba Island where you hop on a bike (or an electric car, if you prefer) and cycle along small paved roads to a small village nestled in a valley. Pass by the village school and meet some of the villagers as you observe their simple lifestyle. Return to the cruise ship in the late afternoon where you are invited to join a cooking demonstration by the chef in the open kitchen, learning how to make a classic Vietnamese dish. Savor the cool sea breeze and the warm glow of twilight as the boat anchors for the night.

'ginger'

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 HA LONG BAY & HOI AN

Wake up to the peaceful sounds of the gentle breeze and water lapping against the boat in the early morning. Enjoy light refreshments, including tea, coffee and pastries in the dining room. For an energetic start to the day, head to the sundeck for an optional tai chi session. Visit Frog Lake, where you can truly immerse in the wild beauty of the bay. Kayak, or ride a sampan (wooden boat), to explore more of the tranquil scenery, admiring the dream-like landscape filled with tree-topped islands. Transfer back to Hanoi, where you fly to Danang, and continue to your hotel in Hoi An. The remainder of your day is at leisure.

Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai

Meals: Breakfast

Day 5 HOI AN

Travel to Tra Que Village, where you visit a local home and sample juice made from freshly squeezed fruits, followed by a stroll through the village gardens where local farmers still use traditional farming techniques. You may even assist some farmers with their crop collection. Return to Hoi An this afternoon and set out on a walking tour. Visit the Old House of Tan Ky, Fukien Assembly Hall and the 400-year-old Japanese covered bridge.

Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6 HO CHI MINH CITY

After a morning at leisure, transfer to the airport and fly to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, you are met and transferred to your hotel.

Park Hyatt Saigon

Meals: Breakfast

Day 7 HO CHI MINH CITY

Begin your day with a visit to Cu Chi, a small community located northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, known for its network of deep tunnels that provided shelter and an effective source of infiltration for the Vietcong during the later years of the Vietnam War. The tunnels, which reached hundreds of miles in total length, housed storage rooms, makeshift hospitals and sleeping quarters. After experiencing the Cu Chi Tunnels, return to Ho Chi Minh City for lunch. Later, uncover the stories of Ho Chi Minh City's dynamic past, visiting the Reunification Palace and the Historical Museum. Then, get in touch with southern Vietnam's spiritual side at a colorful Cao Dai temple. Return to your hotel enjoy an evening at leisure.

Park Hyatt Saigon

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8 HO CHI MINH CITY

Rise early for a cyclo ride through the streets as the city slowly comes to life. Stroll through a special section of Tao Dan Park, where locals congregate with their prized birds and the air is alive with birdsong. Next, visit the memorial park dedicated to a Buddhist monk remembered for performing self-immolation in protest of the South Vietnamese government in 1963. Continue along Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street to visit a little-known, hard-to-find weapons bunker, as well as a food market and flower market. Round out your morning exploration of local life by sampling some of the city’s most sensational pho at one of its most popular restaurants. Transfer to the airport and board your departure flight.

Meals: Breakfast

Featured Destinations

Cat Ba

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is often referred to as Vietnam’s jewel and the Pearl of the Orient. Located in south Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is the country’s largest city, with more than six million people and over one million motorbikes. Under the current regime the city is once more being rebuilt. Whole blocks are disappearing, being replaced by concrete, steel and glass structures. Central Saigon, which is still the official name for the city center, shows evidence of the French colonial city, with wide, tree-lined boulevards, sidewalk cafés and elegant French architecture. The city is divided into two sections: Saigon, the municipal and historical district, and Cholon (Chinatown), where the entrepreneurial talent and private funds are concentrated. Cholon appears to be the most populated and in general the most vigorous part of Ho Chi Minh City. It is well worth a visit for its bustle and activity and its pagodas, which are reputed to be the finest in the whole city.

Excursions

Cu Chi Tunnels & Sai Gon Highlights Tour – 10 hours - Saigon

Highlights of Ho Chi Minh City Tour – 10 hours - Saigon

Mekong Delta Tour – 10 hours - Saigon

Saigon Port

Full Day Saigon City Tour (8 hours)

On arrival to Saigon (Nha Rong Port), drive 20mins to the city centre for a tour of some of Saigon’s historic landmarks reflecting its French and Chinese influences. Visit the Notre Dame Cathedral, a red brick edifice with twin spires constructed from materials imported from France (entrance is only permitted when no services are being performed). Then head across the square to the Central Post Office, completed in 1891. Appreciate the restored exteriors of the Saigon Opera House and the elegant City Hall (the former Hotel de Ville), two of Saigon’s most stunning colonial monuments. If time permits, we will visit the iconic Ben Thanh Market, one of the earliest surviving structures in Saigon and popular wholesale market for local handicrafts, textiles, souvenirs and street food.

Drive to the former residence of the US Ambassador of South Vietnam in the early 1960s, Mr. Henry C. Lodge Jr., who supported the overthrowing of the South Vietnamese Government. Enjoy a cold drink while watching a 10min documentary film about Saigon during that time.

After lunch on your own, we then drive to Saigon’s Chinatown to visit the beautiful Thien Hau Pagoda, built by the Cantonese community in the early 19th century to honour the Goddess of the Sea. Take time to make a wish, write it on a small card and attach it to one of the incense coils according to local custom. Continue your visit to FITO, the first museum of traditional medicine in Vietnam, offering insight into the history and application of traditional medicine in everyday life before taking the scenic route through the city back to the ship.

NOTES:
·       There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
·       Outside visit only due the renovation at Notre Dame Cathedral until further notice
·       Tour duration: 08 hours

Meals: None
TOUR INCLUSIONS

Inclusive of: Non-inclusive of:

·     Private transfers and transportation on tour
·     Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides
·     Entrance fees and boat rides if any
·     Cold towels and water on sightseeing days
·     Welcome pack
·     Dock permit
·     Tips & gratuities
·     Vietnam visa
·     Accommodation on board
·     All meals where not mentioned in the program
·     Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners
·     All flights & airport taxes
·     Hotel early check in/ Late check out
·     Overweight luggage
·     Personal expenses
·     Travel insurance
·   Other services not listed in inclusive column

Half-Day Saigon: History of Architecture with History Researcher (4 hours)

On arrival to Saigon (Nha Rong Port), drive 20mins to the city center for a tour of some of Saigon’s historic landmarks reflecting its French and Chinese influences. Meet with a local cultural and history researcher at your hotel lobby and take a short trip to local coffee shop for an overview of the impressive history of the city once known as “The Pearl of the Orient”. Then take a step back in time to visit several of the very best examples of “storytelling” architecture. Start at Jade pagoda established in the early 1900s to get a glimpse of ancient history when a group of Chinese fled the new regime to Saigon around the end of 17th century under the reign of Lord Nguyen.

Then wind your way to Archbishop's Palace – with a prayer house more than two hundred-years old (outside visit) as the home for the first French Catholic missionary. Gain an overview about the first approach of the French during the Cochinchina period in the early 18th century. Stroll around the University of Social Sciences & Humanities which used to be the 11th infantry regiment colonial military barracks for an insight into French campaigns against Viet Minh at the time. Your stop will be at the former residence of the US Ambassador, Henry C. Lodge in the 1960s for a drink and watch 10-min movie about Saigon back in the day.

NOTES:
·       There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
·       Total duration: 04 hours

Meals: None
TOUR INCLUSIONS

Inclusive of: Non-inclusive of:

·     Private transfers and transportation on tour
·     Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides
·     Entrance fees and boat rides if any
·     Cold towels and water on sightseeing days
·     Welcome pack
·     Dock permit
·     Tips & gratuities
·     Vietnam visa
·     Accommodation on board
·     All meals where not mentioned in the program
·     Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners
·     All flights & airport taxes
·     Hotel early check in/ Late check out
·     Overweight luggage
·     Personal expenses
·     Travel insurance
·   Other services not listed in inclusive column

Half-Day Saigon: Retracing the Past (5 hours)

On arrival to Saigon (Nha Rong port), disembark the ship and meet your guide. Commence with a visit of the shrine outside of the US Consulate then continue to the former CIA building (outside visit only), where helicopters evacuated the remaining US citizens in 1975. Head to the rooftop café of the Rex hotel, a familiar landmark for Americans during the Vietnam War. Sit down for a drink, enjoy the view and this piece of history which your guide will help to explain. Then visit the Reunification Palace for a guided tour of the former headquarters of the South Vietnamese Government and residence of the presidents. Drive to the former residence of the US Ambassador of South Vietnam in the early 1960s, Mr. Henry C. Lodge, who conducted a mission to overthrow the South Vietnamese Government. Watch a 10 minutes documentary film about Saigon during that time while enjoying a cold drink. Then drive to a secret weapon chamber which VC used as a place to hide and store weapons during Vietnam War. Then weave through tiny back alleys and meet and chat with the locals who are living in tiny houses. Head to a historic venue for a late lunch of “pho” (noodle soup). The house number 07 on Ly Chinh Thang Street (former Yen Do street) is now known as Pho Binh restaurant which used to be the headquarters of Viet Cong Commanders where they gathered to plan for the 1968 Tet Offensive. Take a walk upstairs to learn more about the history through the family’s photo collection. Then drive back to the port to embark the ship.

NOTES:
·       There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
·       Total duration: 05 hours

Meals: None
TOUR INCLUSIONS

Inclusive of: Non-inclusive of:

·     Private transfers and transportation on tour
·     Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides
·     Entrance fees and boat rides if any
·     Cold towels and water on sightseeing days
·     Welcome pack
·     Dock permit
·     Tips & gratuities
·     Vietnam visa
·     Accommodation on board
·     All meals where not mentioned in the program
·     Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners
·     All flights & airport taxes
·     Hotel early check in/ Late check out
·     Overweight luggage
·     Personal expenses
·     Travel insurance
·     Other services not listed in inclusive column

Half-Day Saigon: Culinary Experience at Former Ambassador's Residence (4 hours)

On arrival to Saigon (Nha Rong port), disembark the ship and meet your guide. Drive 20 minutes to Ben Thanh market to buy all the fresh ingredients before continuing an historic Ambassador's home for a private hands-on cooking demonstration. The American Ambassador to South Vietnam in the 1960s, Mr. Henry Cabot Lodge, carried a mission of overthrowing the southern government at that time. When Lodge arrived in Saigon, an old villa in District 3 was converted into the Ambassador’s residence. Mr. Lodge lived in this home between1960-1965 and the architecture is a mix of Vietnamese, French and American. Today it remains a private residence owned by Trails of Indochina and it has been fully restored to its former glory. The guide will provide an orientation tour of the house while the chef prepares the ingredients. Learn typical Southern style dishes throughout the morning. The chef will show you how to serve each dish before the meal, and you will need to master the chopsticks before you can savor your own culinary creations in the old world ambiance of the villa.

After lunch, transfer back to your ship.

Note: There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.

Meal: Lunch

TOUR INCLUSIONS

Inclusive of: Non-inclusive of:

·     Private transfers and transportation on tour
·     Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides
·     Lunch
·     Entrance fees and boat rides if any
·     Cold towels and water on sightseeing days
·     Welcome pack
·     Dock permit
·     Tips & gratuities
·     Vietnam visa
·     Accommodation on board
·     All meals where not mentioned in the program
·     Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners
·     All flights & airport taxes
·     Hotel early check in/ Late check out
·     Overweight luggage
·     Personal expenses
·     Travel insurance
·     Other services not listed in inclusive column

Hoi An

Hoi An is an ancient port town that was designated an UNESCO World Heritage site. It is one of the rare places in Vietnam to discover genuine Vietnamese architecture. Walk through the Old Quarter and get a glimpse of a medieval Vietnam that no longer exists in the other areas of the country. Visit the Phuc Kien Pagoda, the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the colorful bazaar

Excursions

Tien Sa Port

Hoi An Culinary at Market Restaurant (5-6 hours)

On arrival in Danang (Tien Sa port), disembark the ship and meet your guide. Drive for 1 approximately hour to the ancient town of Hoi An. Learn the secrets of preparing traditional Vietnamese cuisine with a market tour and cooking class. Set off to a local market with a chef from the Market Restaurant and Cooking School. Your chef will share shopping tips including how to select fresh eggs and ripe fruit and which herbs are used in Vietnamese cuisine. Continue to the school, an elegant old building with a French colonial-style exterior and traditional Hoi An interior. Then participate in an entertaining, hands-on cookery course held in one of three teaching areas with modern equipment for a truly immersive cooking experience. Chat with your chef to learn more about typical ingredients of Central Vietnamese cuisine then enjoy tasting what you have prepared.

NOTES

There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
Tour duration: 05-06 hours

Meal: Lunch
TOUR INCLUSIONS

Inclusive of:	Non-inclusive of:
· Private transfers and transportation on tour · Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides · Meals as per specified · Entrance fees and boat rides if any · Cold towels and water on sightseeing days · Welcome pack · Dock permit · Tips & gratuities	· Vietnam visa · Accommodation on board · All meals where not mentioned in the program · Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners · All flights & airport taxes · Hotel early check in/ Late check out · Overweight luggage · Personal expenses · Travel insurance · Other services not listed in inclusive column

Halong Bay (Hanoi)

Meaning “Bay of the Descending Dragon,” Halong Bay’s water is calm and undisturbed despite the jutting limestone mountains that soar out of the water and toward the sky. As if a tail of a Dragon plunged into the earth, the mountains are craggy, sharp, and barren, and are dotted with thousands of small caves of various depths and heights. At dusk, they all take on mysterious shades of gray, mauve and olive, lending credence to the local legends.

Excursions

Ha Noi City Tour & Street Food Tour – 12 hours - Hanoi

Ha Long Bay Cruise (5 hours)

Ha Long Bay Cruise (7 hours)

Hanoi

Hanoi is a city with a history that dates back to the 7th century. In 1954 Hanoi was declared the capital of the Democratic Republic of North Vietnam, and in 1976, following the Vietnam War, it became the capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. This political history has made Hanoi one of the country's most fascinating cities to explore. The most renowned of all the monuments is the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. It is dedicated to Vietnam's most well-respected President, who in 1945, led his country to independence. Other highlights include the Museum of History, containing ancient artifacts from Cambodia, Thailand, Japan and China, the 11th century One Pillar Pagoda and legendary Sword Lake.

Excursions

Hon Gai / Hai Phong Port

Hanoi Full Day Tour (10 hours)

On arrival to the port (Cai Lan /Hongai/ Halong port) disembark the ship and meet your guide. Then take 4 hours’ drive to Hanoi for an informative city tour.

With ochre-colored colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards and scenic lakes, Hanoi is full of charm. Start the tour at the Temple of Literature, the first University for the sons of mandarins, for an overview about Hanoian culture and appreciation for ancient Vietnamese architecture. Then head to the Vietnamese Women’s Museum that offers a broad insight into Vietnam’s people including its 54 ethnic groups through a lens of women’s topics. Walk through diverse exhibitions from street vendors to marriage to family life to traditional fashion.

Lunch is on your own.

End the trip with a cyclo tour from the museum to the Old Quarter. Ride through its narrow streets to indulge yourself in the bustle and hustle of the local daily life. Later, drive back to Halong to embark the ship.

NOTES
·       There is an extra charge for the transfer at the other ports.
·       Tour duration: 10 hours

Meals: None

TOUR INCLUSIONS

Inclusive of: Non-inclusive of:

·     Private transfers and transportation on tour
·     Sightseeing with Local English speaking guides
·     Entrance fees and boat rides if any
·     Cold towels and water on sightseeing days
·     Welcome pack
·     Dock permit
·     Tips & gratuities
·     Vietnam visa
·     Accommodation on board
·     Other meals where not mentioned in the program
·     Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners
·     All flights & airport taxes
·     Hotel early check in/ Late check out
·     Overweight luggage
·     Personal expenses
·     Travel insurance
·     Other services not listed in inclusive column

Vacation Details

Valid Date Ranges

01/01/2024 - 12/31/2024

from $6,820 per person

* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.

Prices Start At

from $6,820 per person

Length

7 Nights

Air City

Call for airfares from your city.

Vacation Rating

Luxury
The finest hotels in the world, luxury lodging is characterized by luxury accommodations, impeccable service and the highest standards of comfort and pampering. Luxury hotels and resorts are often found in the most desirable locations. Building from the amenities and guest services offered at a deluxe hotel or resort, the luxury establishment usually puts on the finishing touches - fresh flowers around the hotel and original works of art throughout. Hotel restaurants often employ world renowned chefs to create delectable dishes and a unique dining experience. Attention to detail and personalized service are the hallmarks of luxury hotels and resorts.

Remarks

Prices are per person, double occupancy and include internal air where applicable. Holiday surcharge may apply. Departure dates, prices and availability may change at any time. Some restrictions may apply.

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.

OFFER ID

1514813

Reference this number when contacting our agency so we may better serve you. Also keeping this number handy will allow you to locate this document again quickly.

Golden Anchor Travel, Inc.

1909 Southwood Street
Sarasota, FL 34231
USA

(941) 922-4070
(800) 299-1125

Inclusive of:	Non-inclusive of:
· Private transfers and transportation with Local English speaking guide · Cold towels and water on car · Dock permit · Tips & gratuities	· Vietnam visa · Accommodation with daily breakfast · Entrance fees · All meals · All flights · Personal expenses · Travel insurance · Other services not listed in inclusive column