Highlights of Vietnam

Experiences

If you arrive early, enjoy some time exploring the capital city. Top sights include the Temple of Literature, National Museum of Vietnamese History and Hoan Kiem Lake. Walk around and explore the vibrant city - you never know what gems you’ll stumble across.

Experiences

Visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex. The Ho Chi Minh complex is an important place of pilgrimage for many Vietnamese. Roam through the house and presidential palace of Ho Chi-Minh, the president of North Vietnam from 1954 to 1969. The complex includes beautiful botanical gardens and his original Stilt House. Catch a glimpse of the erstwhile president himself in his resting place, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

One pillar pagoda. A pagoda is a tiered tower that acts as a Hindu or Buddhist temple. The Buddhist One Pillar Pagoda is considered one of the most unique landmarks in Vietnam. Built to resemble a lotus flower, the temple stands on a single 4m-high pillar.

Temple of Literature. Built in 1070 as the temple of Chinese teacher and philosopher, Confucius, the Temple of Literature is listed as one of the 23 national monuments of Vietnam and also depicted on the 100,000 Vietnamese dong note.

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. The museum exhibits objects, movies and cultural objects signifying the 54 official ethnic groups in Vietnam.

Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple. Hoan Kiem Lake means ‘Lake of the Restored Sword’, so named after the legend of a tortoise using a sword to drive the Chinese from Vietnam and then returning the sword back to the lake. Found on an island in the lake is the Ngoc Son Temple, meaning ‘Temple of the Jade Mountain’.

Experiences

Ha Long Bay.  This unique bay and all its towering islands have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the most visited places in Vietnam. It’s also known as the ‘Descending Dragon Bay’.
 
Sung Sot Cave. The cave was first discovered in 1901 by Frenchman. They named it ‘Grotte des Surprises’ because of the cave’s surprising beauty. The cave is divided into two caverns and bright lights illuminate the different formations.
 
Cooking demonstration. Seafood is prepared in a traditional Vietnamese style right before your eyes.
 
Night-time squid-fishing (onboard). Get to know the local cultures and customs as you partake in night-time squid fishing.
 
Indochina movie screening (onboard). Sit back and relax as you enjoy a movie about Ha Long Bay and its history.

Experiences

Tai Chi lesson. Enjoy panoramic views and a glorious sunrise as you take part in a Tai Chi lesson on the boat’s sundeck. 

Tour to Luon Cave. A bamboo boat will transport you to Luon Cave - your last bit of exploring of Halong Bay. The 60m arch of the cave only rises 4-6m above the water level (depending on the tide). So, the only way to enter the cave is by kayak or small boat. 

Experiences

Cruise the Perfume River on a Dragon boat. Hop onto a colourful, traditional dragon boat to float down the Perfume River. The river was given its name many years ago because of the scent carried along from flowers that dropped into the water upriver.  

Visit Thien Mu Pagoda. Thien Mu, meaning ‘Heavenly Lady’, was originally built in the 1600s, but the current 7-tiered tower was completed in the mid-1800s. 

Visit the ancient Imperial Citadel. Hue is often referred to as “Vietnam’s Imperial City” because it was home to the last of its dynasties. The Nguyen Dynasty ruled from this citadel, as did many others before. 

Visit Royal Mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc. One of the must-see sights in Hue is Emperor Tu Duc’s Mausoleum. The tomb was built while the emperor was alive and he lived out his last days in this lavish setting. 

Free time in Dong Ba Market. Chong Dong Ba is the oldest market in Hue. Here, you’ll find hundreds of stalls selling anything from fresh food to household items and clothing.

Experiences

Scenic drive from Hue to Hoi An. Glimpse the beauty of Vietnam’s coast. See how the locals live and take in all the beautiful scenery.
 
The Marble Mountains. The five limestone hills are known as Ngu Hanh Son in Vietnamese. Each mountain represents one of the five elements - Tho Son (Earth), Thuy Son (Water), Moc Son (Wood), Kim Son (Metal or Gold) and Hoa Son (Fire).

Experiences

Japanese Covered Bridge Pagoda. Built in 1593, the bridge connected the Japanese community to the Chinese across the stream. While the French flattened the arches for vehicle access, they have since been restored.
 
Sa Huynh Culture Museum. Beautiful exhibits of artefacts from the Sa Huynh civilization, which flourished 2,000 years ago. They founded the Hoi An trading port, which allowed for trade with merchants from Southeast Asia, South India, and China.
 
Tran Family Chapel. Dating back to 1802, the chapel was built for worshiping the Tran family’s ancestors. The unique architecture contains something from both the Chinese (the ‘turtle’ style roof) and Japanese (the triple beam) cultures.
 
Lantern Workshop. Lanterns are a traditional gift from Hoi An Ancient Town. Constructed from bamboo and silk, making these lanterns takes skill and patience.   
 
Phuoc Kien Assembly Hall. The pagoda was built in 1690 and used by the largest Chinese ethnic group in Hoi An (the Fujian). Today, the temple is still used as a place of worship by the people of Phuoc Kien.

Experiences

Visit Binh Thuy Ancient House. The French Colonial-style home is an iconic landmark in the Mekong Delta region. Built in 1870 and later restored in the 20th century, the house has served as a backdrop for many films in Vietnam. 

Experiences

Cai Rang Floating Market. Soak up the unique experience of shopping for fresh produce and local foods from a floating store. Head up to the sun deck of one of the traders and capture a picture of the bustling market below.

Visit An Binh Market. Watch as local farmers bring their fresh produce, meat and merchandise to trade at the indoor market. Experience the difference between the floating market and the bustling indoor market.

Rau Ram canal walking tour. Experience the activities of local life as you wander through the local village. Capture the moment as people use traditional methods in their daily lives.  
 
Demonstration at a rice processing factory. Learn how to make rice noodles and taste some of this delicious Vietnamese staple food.
 
Visit Ba Cong tropical fruit garden. Taste some of the delicious fruits as you learn how to garden with a local family.

Experiences

Cu Chi Tunnels. Visit the 200 km-long network of tunnels used by the Viet Cong during the war. Crawl through the small and dark tunnels and experience what life must’ve been like during the war for the guerilla fighters.

Notre Dame Cathedral. This 60m-high cathedral is a symbol of the French and Christian influence on Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City. The cathedral was built in the late 19th century by French colonists.

Presidential Palace. Also known as the Reunification Palace, it’s one of the most important historical buildings in Vietnam. It was here where the South Vietnamese government lost power after the National Liberation Front tanks crashed through the gates.  

Ben Thanh Market. This is the best place to see where the locals buy their clothes and trinkets, and also happens to be a great spot to shop for some of your own.

Experiences

The tour ends after breakfast. Make sure you have exchanged contact details with your new-found travel friends, and share your amazing tour memories with us online using the hashtags #ExpatExplore and #BetterTogether.