Vietnam World Heritage Sites – 13 Days

Admire exquisite beauty with a splendid view of classical architecture or pristine relics? Join us in World Heritages of Vietnam tour within itinerary 2 weeks to fulfill your dream and discover the cozy quaintness in a good selection of picturesque landscapes in Vietnam. Experience fully from thousand-year-old Imperial Citadel of Thang Long to magnificent Halong Bay surrounded by thousands of enchanted limestone islands emerging from shimmering water to Hue – Imperial City with a variety of historical sites, museums, tombs, pagodas and temples to scenic Ancient Quarter in Hoi An. Contact us and you will not miss any spectacular sites included in the UNESCO World Heritage list as well as other major highlights in Vietnam.

General Information

Duration: 13 Days/ 12 Nights
Start/ End: Hanoi/ Saigon
Tour Customizable: Definitely! (Tell us your specific requirements in the inquiry form)
Guides: Local Guide (English Speaking Guide, Other Languages upon Request)
Transportation: Private first-class air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation: Rooms with private bath or shower, hotel taxes, porterage, tips, and service charges (Upon your request)
Tour Type: Sightseeing, Explore and Experience

World Heritage Sites Included:

• Thang Long Imperial City
• Halong Bay
• Phong Nha Cave
• Hue Imperial Citadel
• Hoi An Ancient Town
• My Son Holy Land

Brief Itinerary 

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
Day 2: Hanoi – Full-Day City Tour
Day 3: Hanoi – Halong Bay
Day 4: Halong Bay – Yen Duc Village – Hanoi
Day 5: Hanoi – Flight to Dong Hoi – Phong Nha Cave
Day 6: Dong Hoi – DMZ (Former Demilitarized Zone) – Hue
Day 7: Hue – Full-Day Tour – Imperial Palace
Day 8: Hue – Hoi An
Day 9: Hoi An – My Son Sanctuary
Day 10: Hoi An – Da Nang – Flight to Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnels
Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City Full-day Tour
Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City – Ben Tre (Mekong Delta)
Day 13: Ho Chi Minh City Departure

Full Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival (D)

Welcome to Vietnam. Your adventure begins at Hanoi – the capital of Vietnam. Tour guide picks you up at Noi Bai Airport. Check into the hotel and we can have a tour around the Old Quarter by a cyclo. In the evening enjoy special dinner Hot Pot – a favorite food of Hanoi people Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi – Full-day City Tour (The 1st UNESCO World Heritage Site) (B, L)

After breakfast, we start with the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long. Enjoy walking and marvel at the Ly dynasty architecture and a thousand years of history. Later, visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and admire the common father of Vietnam leading the country to independence and freedom.

Be excited with the French architecture of President Palace and view fascinate 300 feet long boulevard with an orchard, Mango Alley. Next explore the beautiful lotus flower of Hanoi – One Pillar Pagoda, one of Vietnam’s most iconic temples. Gain insights into the Downed B52 at Huu Tiep Lake, a war trophy of Vietnam’s victory. The trip would not be complete without a visit to the Vietnamese Women’s Museum where you’ll learn the diversity of Vietnam culture and women’s significant contribution to the nation.

You eat lunch at KOTO (Know One Teach One) A restaurant sponsored by an NGO (a non-governmental organization) with staff are the former street children being trained in culinary. This afternoon, discover the impressive sight, considered as the first National University of Vietnam – Temple of Literature. The combination of the wood and tiles, along with hundred – year – old trees create the history of the Temple. Next, we will visit Hoa Lo prison known as the Hanoi Hilton during the American war and Ngoc Son Temple (Temple of Jade Mountain). Why not stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter to the end of your day. Appreciate the tree-lined road, folk games, and the bustling street. The rest of the day will be yours to explore at your leisure. Overnight in Hanoi

Day 3: Hanoi – Halong Bay (The 2nd UNESCO World Heritage Site) – On Board a Junk Boat (B, L, D)

Leave Hanoi this morning and head to Halong Bay. En route, you will go through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta. Get the first-hand look at the coastline of Vietnam, take plenty of photos and discover the hard work of the locals in the rice field. The special thing today, experience the seafood on your junk boat with the view of limestone cliffs and floating villages.

Cool yourself off the emerald water or relax at the sundeck and enjoy the peace of the scene. You can choose to explore the bay yourself by kayak. Afterward, admire the impressive of the most stunning limestone cave – Sung Sot Cave. Gaze out at the sunset of Halong Bay and turn back to dine at an elegant restaurant. Spend the rest of your day with fishing yourself, back to your junk boat to have a good night’s sleep. Overnight on board.

Note: Program may differ slightly based on your selected junk boat’s itinerary. An extra night can be added to the program. If your time is flexible, we highly recommend it.

Day 4: Halong Bay – Yen Duc Village – Hanoi (B)

Admire the wonder of Halong Bay in the dawn. After breakfast, continue the trip around the UNESCO World Heritage site. In the afternoon, head towards to Hanoi city. On the way back, you’ll drop in Yen Duc village. A beautiful and separate from the city, where you can wander around, meet and find out their daily life. After visiting, you can enjoy the amazing water puppet show performed by the locals.

The rest of the day will be yours after you check into the hotel in Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

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Day 5: Hanoi – Flight to Dong Hoi – Phong Nha Cave (The 3rd UNESCO World Heritage Site) (B, L)

Check out the hotel, head to the airport and have a flight to Dong Hoi. In Quang Binh province, you will have the chance to marvel at the Phong Nha Cave – the world’s longest limestone cave and recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Site. Approach the cave by the boat along the Son river, once you enter the cave, be amazed at the majestic stalactites system, the masterpiece of the world.

After lunch, follow your guide to the Tam Co temple and the extraordinary Thien Duong Cave or Paradise Cave. The length of the cave is 31km and bound with a great number of the lime peaks. The limestone formation is spectacular, while you walk down the wooden stair, you enter the fairy world and dazzled by this gift of nature Return to Dong Hoi and the rest of the day is free Overnight in Dong Hoi.

Day 6: Dong Hoi – DMZ – Hue (B, L)

This morning, follow your guide to Hue the former capital of Vietnam – A UNESCO World Heritage site. You will stop at Hien Luong Bridge in the former of DMZ on the road and spend time exploring the area. The Quang Tri Ancient Citadel and the War Museum former are military bastions, today are the Memorial Site. Continue on to the awe-inspiring complicated of Vinh Moc tunnels, during the Vietnam War, it was strategically located on the border of North Vietnam and South Vietnam. After that, you will enjoy your lunch at a local restaurant.

Back to Hue and today afternoon is free to explore. Overnight in Hue.

Day 7: Hue City Tour – Imperial Palace (The 4th UNESCO World Heritage Site) (B, L)

The first stop today is the Thanh Toan village. Visit the Thanh Toan market, stroll around the markets, meet and chat with the locals or buy souvenirs. Head to the small museum displayed agriculture of Vietnam and Thanh Toan Covered Bridge from the 1700s.

Then, the Imperial City – UNESCO recognized site will leave you a spellbound due to its ancient beauty. Explore the city and you find out the history of Nguyen Dynasty through many historical sites, museums, tombs, pagodas, and temples.

Continue the journey with the visit of the tomb of Emperor Tu Duc, one of Vietnam’s most magnificent royal tomb. Indulge in vegetarian lunch with the nuns of a Buddhist monastery. Appreciate your meal while contact with them and find out more Buddhism In the afternoon, board a dragon boat to sail along the Perfume River and discover the Thien Mu pagoda.

The rest of the day will be yours to explore. Overnight in Hue.

Day 8: Hue – Hoi An (The 5th UNESCO World Heritage Site) (B, L)

Depart from Hue, you will travel to the riverside town in Hoi An. The ride will stick to the coastline along the Eastern Sea while you feast your eyes the unforgettable view of Hai Van Pass. Stop at the extraordinary fishing village at Lang Co beach for photos. Through Da Nang, you discover the Cham Sculpture Museum and ascend the Marble Mountain.

Check into the Hoi An hotel, try Hoi An delicious cuisine and find out why Hoi An named “Kitchen of Hoi An”. Afternoon, enjoy a half – day walking tour of Hoi An, through the Ancient Quarter with paper flowers on either side of the road. Hoi An former was a flourish commercial port. Now, this is a charming riverside town. You can also discover Hoi An sightseeing: Chua Ong Temple, the 200-year-old Tam Ky house, The 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, the symbol of Hoi An and Hoi An central market. One interesting thing in Hoi An, there are a lot of tailors producing a custom suit in 24 hours or less with reasonable prices.
The rest of the day is free to explore Hoi An. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 9: Hoi An – My Son Sanctuary (The 6th UNESCO Old Heritage Site) (B, L)

My Son Sanctuary is the destination today, dating from the 4th to 14th centuries. My Son is an important archaeological site of Hindu temples. These temples were built by the Cham Empire which once was the ruler much of central and southern Vietnam. My Son was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site in 1999. The afternoon is free to discover at your leisure.

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Day 10: Hoi An – Da Nang – Flight to Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnels (B, L)

This morning, leave Da Nang and head towards the airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City with a 2-hour tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels. This place is legendary and very important during the Vietnam War. Be mesmerized by the immense network of connecting underground tunnels. Watch a brief introductory video and experience the severe by going into the Tunnels.

Finish the trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels, back to the Ho Chi Minh for lunch. The rest of your day is free. We highly recommend you visit the Ben Thanh Market, the biggest one in town.

Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City Tour (B, L)

Time to relax and figure out Ho Chi Minh City. In the morning, you can stroll along the Tao Dan Park, enjoy the coffee with Saigon style while listening to the history and practice keeping birds in Vietnam. Immerse yourself to the blooming scene of the flowers market Ho Thi Ky. Visit the sacred Thich Quang Duc monument – the monk burned himself to protest against the discrimination of Buddhists. Take a ride through Cho Lon – one of the oldest markets in Saigon to discover Nhi Phu Temple built by Chinese immigrants.

In the afternoon, you will continue with the marvel at the French architecture of the General Post Office (GPO) and Notre Dame Cathedral. Admire the magnanimity of Reunification Palace where the Vietnam War was officially ended. Drive to Dong Khoi Street, see the photo of the helicopter lifting the people out of Saigon in 1975. Discover the must-see view of Saigon Opera House, Ho Chi Minh City People Committee, and War Remnants Museum.

The rest of the day will be yours to explore at your leisure. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City – Ben Tre (Mekong Delta) (B, L)

Check out the hotel and follow your guide to the heart of the Mekong Delta – Ben Tre. Explore Ben Tre town with a motorized boat trip and visit the coconut village. Experience the made of bricks and sleeping mats as well as a coconut workshop to understand how coconut candy is produced. Turn back to the land and sit in the back of a motor cart (xe loi), across the local orchard and farm a chance to meet and figure out more about their work. Say goodbye to Ben Tre after having lunch and come back to Ho Chi Minh City. The rest of the day is free. Overnight in Ho chi Minh City.

Day 13: Ho Chi Minh City Departure (B)

Your holiday ends today. After having breakfast and check out the hotel, your private driver will pick you up and take you to the airport for your flight home. Vietnam World Heritage Site Itinerary 2 weeks ends. See you in the next Vietnam vacation packages!