HANOI - HALONG - NIGHT TRAIN TO PHONG NHA CAVE (-/L/D)

DAY 1 Pick-up at your hotel in Hanoi. Drive to Halong Bay (165 km east of Hanoi), listed as a World Heritage Area of outstanding natural beauty. “Dragon descending to the sea“ as it is known in Vietnamese, picturesque Halong Bay has more than 1,000 limestone islets rising from the sea, many of them containing beautiful grottoes. Enjoy a relaxing 5-hour boat trip through Halong Bay, fresh seafood lunch is prepared and served on board. Drive back to Hanoi. Dinner at local restaurant then transfer to Hanoi Railway Station. Board the night train to Dong Hoi. Accommodation on board (sharing 4-berth air-conditioned compartment without local tour guide accompanying).

DONG HOI - PHONG NHA - HUE        (B/L/D)

DAY 2 Arrive at Dong Hoi Railways Station, meet local tour guide and have breakfast at local restaurant. Drive up north to Phong Nha, take a boat trip from a critical point of the Ho Chi Minh trail to go inside and visit Phong Nha cave, known as the longest and most beautiful karst cave in the world. Lunch at local restaurant, then continue driving to Hue, the former Royal City of the 13 ruling Nguyen dynasties. Arrival & transfer to hotel for check-in. Dinner and accommodation.

HUE                                                         (B/L/D)

DAY 3 Take a boat trip on the Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the oldest ancient architectural structures for religious worship in Hue, continue to visit the Imperial Citadel and Forbidden City. Lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon, visit the royal tombs of Tu Duc and Khai Dinh and if time permits we will also visit the colorful local market. Dinner and accommodation

HUE - DANANG - HOI AN                       (B/L/D)

DAY 4 Depart to Danang. The scenic 4-hour drive via Hai Van pass offers spectacular views of mountains, the sea, idyllic beaches and villages. Visit Cham Museum on the way. Lunch at local restaurant. We continue further south to the charming historic city of Hoi An. Known to early Western merchants, Hoi An was one of the major trading centers of Southeast Asia in the 16th century. Hoi An has a distinctive Chinese atmosphere with low, tiled-roof houses and narrow streets; the original structure of some of these streets is still virtually intact. Many of the houses were constructed of rare timbers and decorated with lacquer panels engraved with Chinese characters and pillars carved with ornamental designs. During a leisurely discovery tour on foot you will visit some of the historic merchant and community houses, places of worship and famous bridges. Dinner at local restaurant. Accommodation.

HOI AN - MY SON - HOI AN                 (B/L/D)

DAY 5 Drive to My Son, the imperial city of the Champa empire of the 4th to 12th centuries, My Son Sanctuary is a large complex of religious ruins comprising more than 70 architectural remains. Drive back Hoi An with stop overto visit Phuoc Kieu Village, the village is well-known for their copper GONG & CHIENG handmade. Lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon, at leisure on the beach. Dinner and accommodation.

HOI AN - DANANG - DEPARTURE         (B/-/-)

DAY 6 At leisure until transfer to Danang Airport for your onwards flight. End of services.

Our tour prices are inclusive of transfers and tours with English or French speaking guide, accommodation in shared twin rooms with air-condition and private bath room, meals as specified in the program (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner), train ticket Hanoi - Dong Hoi in shared compartment with 4 soft berths, entrance fees, boat fees.

Not included are surcharges for other language guides, compulsory gala dinners during festive seasons and peak season surcharges, which will be advised at time of booking.

NOTES: The train trip is a local experience. Cabins are shared with other local passengers (unless private cabin is requested and all berths paid for). Communal rest rooms at either end of the carriages complete the local experience. Train schedule is subject to change without prior notice.

Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road conditions, flight schedules and room availability.