9 Day HCM Ha Noi for Indians
Highlights
Tourist Seasons in Vietnam
- LOW SEASON: May 1st - September 30th
- HIGH SEASON: October 1st - April 30th
- The hotel cost is not applied on special holidays in Vietnam - please contact us if the overnight stay falls on the following dates: (hotel cost increases 50-100%) - Please contact us directly for cost customization
- Christmas Day: Dec 24th - 25th (2 nights)
- Western New Year: Dec 30th -31st and Jan 1st (3 nights)
- Vietnamese Lunar New Year (it varies from year to year, usually falls on mid Feb of Western calendar and lasts for a week)
- Feb 3rd to Feb 10th 2027
- Jan 23rd to Jan 30th 2028
- Vietnam Liberation Day: April 28th - 30th (3 nights)
- Vietnam Independence Day: Aug 30-31 and Sep 1-2 ( 4 nights)
Itinerary
Day 1 : HCM arrival
Inclusions: Private transport, guide, hotel
- Arrive at Tan Son Nhat airport of Ho Chi Minh City
- Our guide/driver holds a welcome board at airport
- Welcome and transfer for hotel check in
- Evening and dinner are on your own with our team’s support from distance.
- It depends on your arrival time, the day can be remade with revised cost.
Day 2 : HCM - Cu chi tunnels - city tour (B,)
Inclusions: Private transport, guide, entrance fee, hotel
Cu Chi underground tunnels: Located 60km from Ho Chi Minh City, Cu Chi is now considered a heroic district for its role during the American war in Vietnam. It is legendary for its network of tunnels, which extend over 250km, and is a popular destination for both Vietnamese and foreign visitors.
Briefing itinerary:
9h00 AM : OurTour guide and car pick up at hotel and depart for Cu chi tunnels in 2 hours with one stop for coffee and toilet
11h00 AM : Arrive at Cu Chi tunnel historical site. Walk with our guide to explore the hidden stories and traps used during the Vietnam war
13h00 PM: Get on car and drive to a nearby restaurant for lunch if you like.
13h00 - 14h00 PM: Enjoy lunch at a Vietnamese/Indian restaurant. Then drive back to Ho Chi Minh city downtown.
16h00 : Arrive in the city downtown. You can choose to rest in the hotel or shopping at local markets with our team’s support.
19h30 - 21h30: Enjoy dinner and get back to the hotel with our guide’s support
Lunch and dinner are on your own account.
Day 3- HCM - Mekong delta - HCM (B)
INCLUSIONS: private transport, boat trip, guide, entrance fees, water, hotel
My Tho is the nearest city from Ho Chi Minh city, which represents the typical simple life of the Mekong Delta. The tour emphasizes village life, village home made production, small canal means of transportation, and typical Vietnamese food.
9h00 AM : Tour guide and car pick up at hotel and depart for My Tho city in 2 hours with one stop for coffee and toilet
11h00 AM : Arrive at My Tho boat station. Board a private boat for a 3 hour river cruise, enjoy some coconut juice on board.
11h30 AM: Visit a home made coconut candy factory
12h00 AM: Enjoy a 15 minute ride on XE LOI - 3 wheel pulling motorbike around the village
12h20 PM : Stop by a family to enjoy a traditional fork music performance by local amateur singers while enjoying some tropical fruits
13h00 PM: Enjoy a 15 minute hand-rowing sampan along a small peaceful canal
13h30 - 14h30 PM: Enjoy lunch if you like.
15h00 : Visit a home made honey farm and enjoy some honey tea with kumquat juice.
16h00: Get back to car and drive back to HCM city
18h00: Arrive HCMC, Take a rest in your hotel
21h30: Enjoy dinner and get back to the hotel with our guide’s support.
Lunch and dinner are on your own account.
Day 4- Ho Chi Minh flight Hanoi (B)
Inclusions: Private transfer and pick up airport, guide in Hanoi, hotel
Enjoy the whole morning free then our car will transfer you to Ho Chi Minh airport for your flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival in Hanoi, our private guide and driver will pick you up and transfer you to Hanoi in 45 minutes for hotel check in.
Then we will enjoy pleasant walks around Hanoi old quarters to witness the real life of the locals around Hoan Kiem Lake.
19h30 - 21h30: Enjoy dinner and get back to the hotel with our guide’s support.
Lunch and dinner are on your own account.
Day 5 - Hanoi city tour (B)
Inclusions: Private car, guide, entrance fees, water, hotel
Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam which was established in 1010. Since then it’s been the long lasting center of politics, culture, education and religion of Vietnam. Hanoi is like a book to hold all the ups and downs of Vietnam’s history.
9h00 AM Our guide and car will pick you up at your hotel, then start to explore Hanoi city culture, daily life and history.
Start your day at Ba Dinh Square, where Vietnam’s modern history was shaped.
Highlights: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (viewing inside if open) , Presidential Palace (outside view), One Pillar Pagoda – small, symbolic, serene (Ho Chi Minh rest in peace place can be closed without notice)
11:30 AM – Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda (West Lake) which is Hanoi’s oldest pagoda, floating in stillness. Just 10 minutes from the Mausoleum, Tran Quoc Pagoda offers a spiritual contrast
12h30 Continue to visit the Temple of Literature – the first university of Vietnam, The Temple of Literature (Van Mieu Quoc Tu Giam) is one of the most attractive tourist spots in Northern Vietnam. The Temple of Literature was founded in 1070.
14h00: Enjoy lunch
15h30– Visit Train Street - Where daily life meets raw adrenaline. It’s a narrow residential street. Cafés inches from the tracks.
When the train comes, locals calmly move tables aside, cameras pause, hearts race, steel roars through the neighborhood
Sit at a café, sip Vietnamese coffee, and feel the vibration under your feet.
16h00– Visit Ngoc Son temple right on Hoan Kiem Lake, admire 2 giant turtle corpses representing Hanoian people’s spirits.
17h00-19h00: Shopping time in town - optional water puppet show (our guide will support)
19h30 - 21h30: Enjoy dinner and get back to the hotel with our guide’s support
Lunch and dinner are on your own account.
Day 6 - Hanoi - Ninh Binh (Tam Coc - Hang mua cave) (B)
Inclusions: private car, guide, boat trip, entrance fees, water, hotel
Often called “Ha Long Bay on land,” Ninh Binh is a poetic blend of limestone karsts, emerald rivers, and thousand-year-old history. Just 2 hours south of Hanoi, it feels like stepping into an ancient Vietnamese ink painting.
This is a long day (10 hours)
8h00 – Depart Hanoi → Ninh Binh - Our guide and car will meet you at your hotel then we will depart for Ninh Binh in 2 hours with a stop for coffee break and toilet.
10h30– On arrival, we will visit the first attraction : Hoa Lu Ancient Capital - Where Vietnam’s first kings ruled
Step into 10th-century Vietnam, when Hoa Lu was the political heart of the nation. We will spend 60 minutes learning about Vietnam’s first Emperor in 968. The ancient citadel consists of 2 main temples Dinh Tien Hoang (first King) and Le Hoan (2nd king)
12h00– Enjoy lunch if you like.
13h00-14h20– Tam Coc Boat Trip (2 hours) You’ll board a small sampan rowed by a local, gliding silently through 3 caves, rice paddy fields. It’s such a great relaxing way to enjoy this natural beauty
15h00-16h30– Hang Mua Cave & Viewpoint - The climb worth every step - Climb nearly 500 stone steps to one of the most iconic viewpoints in Vietnam.
At the top: A sweeping view of Tam Coc valley , Winding rivers cutting through golden (or green) rice field, a dramatic stone dragon statue guarding the peak
Golden hour magic: Late afternoon light turns the valley into liquid gold.
16h30– Return to Hanoi with our private car and guide
19h30 : We reach Hanoi, enjoy dinner then get back to the hotel with our guide’s support
Lunch and dinner are on your own account.
Day 7 - Hanoi - Halong bay overnight cruise (B,L,D)
Inclusions: Shared bus, 5 star cruise cabins, lunch, dinner, sight seeing fees, guide
NOTE: No Indian foods on cruise, and no choice
Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay are 2 different areas. While Halong Bay is a UNESCO natural heritage and always crowded (but it has more things to do), Lan Ha Bay is quieter, further away and has quite similar landscapes but The Halong Bay route is more interesting with more caves and beaches.
The following itinerary is based on AMANDA CRUISE which uses the HALONG Bay route.
NOTE: The cruise can be changed by us with the same cost in case AMANDA CRUISE is sold out or you can request your favorite cruise and pay extra if any.
8:00 AM: Check out the hotel in Hanoi then drive towards Halong Bay in 3 hours with a rest stop.
11h30-12h00: Upon arrival at Tuan Chau International Cruise Port, you will enjoy a warm welcome by our cruise staff in the waiting lounge and complete check-in procedure.
12h00: Upon boarding Amanda Cruise, our crew welcome you with a refreshing drink and cold towel before checking into your cabin. The vessel leaves Tuan Chau Marina, taking you on an exciting journey to discover the beauty of Ha Long Bay. Along the way, you can enjoy the view of some of the most beautiful spots in Ha Long and admire the grandeur of the Bay with thousands of limestone islands while the vessel heads to Luon Cave & Titop Island.
Enjoy your lunch at our luxurious restaurant on board while the vessel cruises toward Luon Cave.
14h00: You return to your cabin for a short rest and prepare for kayaking activities in Luon Cave.
Arriving at Luon Cave area, you will participate in kayaking or rafting here around the thousand-year-old rock formations.
16h00: You will be transferred to Titop Island by tender. Visit Titop Island and hike to the top for stunning views of Ha Long Bay, or have a fun swim in the clear blue water.
17h30-18h00 Back on board, you will participate in Sunset party & cooking class while the vessel cruises toward the shore. You can enjoy relaxing moments while sipping a cup of traditional Vietnamese tea or coffee on the sundeck amid wonderful scenery and beautiful sunset. Ha Long Bay is calm during the day, but when the sun goes down, the Bay becomes even more tranquil and peaceful.
You will be instructed to make delicious Fresh Spring rolls by our chef and then enjoy the rolls made on your own.
17h30-18h30 Happy hour – BUY 2 DRINK GET 1 FOR FREE
19.30 Gala Dinner. Enjoy your dinner on the Sundeck (if the weather is favorable)
20h30 After dinner, you will enjoy a peaceful view of the Bay at night on the deck. You can also participate in evening activities such as herbal foot bath in your room (free of charge), Bamboo dancing, fashion show traditional costumes “Footsteps of Heritage” and some drinks at Sky Bar and massage (subject to additional charge), while admiring breathtaking view of the Bay at night and squid fishing.
The cruise ship anchors for your peaceful night stay in quiet area
Day 8 - Halong bay - Hanoi (B,L)
Inclusions: Breakfast and brunch on cruise, sightseeing fees, shared bus to Hanoi, guide, hotel
NOTE: No Indian foods on cruise, and no choice
06h15: Start your day with Tai Chi class on the sundeck.
06h30-07h00 Enjoy a light breakfast with coffee, tea, cake and fruit.
07.30 Exploring Sung Sot cave. This is one of the largest and most beautiful caves in Ha Long Bay. The cave has some unique rock formations which couldn’t be found anywhere else. The path to the mouth of Sung Sot Cave is under a canopy of leaves. Walking through steep stone steps, tourists may have the feeling of climbing on mountains and experience the excitement as if they are stepping to the sky.
08h30-09h30 Back on board, you can rest in your room, enjoy the herbal foot bath prepared by our crew, sunbathe on the sundeck, take pictures of HaLong Bay or shop for souvenirs on the boat.
09h30 Check-out time. Please put your luggage outside your cabin and leave the room key at the reception desk. Our staff will transfer your luggage to the waiting area. While waiting, you can shop for some products of Amanda cruise.
10h00 Enjoy an early lunch buffet at the restaurant on the 2nd floor and settle the bills if any.
11h00 Arrival at Tuan Chau Marina. Then our private bus and guide will pick you up and drive back to Hanoi in 3 hours with a rest stop.
15h00: Arrive Hanoi, check in the hotel and rest .
Dinner and evening time are on your own.
Day 9 - Hanoi departure
Inclusions: private transfer.
By your chosen time, our private guide and driver will transfer you to Hanoi airport for your departure flight
THE TRIP ENDS
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What's included & good to know
QUOTED HOTEL LIST: The hotel cost above is applied only for the hotel list below
- ** Ho Chi Minh
- 3 star: Saigon Riverside, Aquari, White Lotus, Calista, Jovia
- 4 star: Sky Gem Central, Saigon Lotus, Saigon Oscar, Victory (additional 10usd per room/night if using these hotels: Kim Do royal, Saigon Palace, + 35 USD for Saigon Prince hotel, Liberty Central Riverside)
- 5 star: Lavela, Grand hotel (additional 40usd per room/night if using these hotels: The Myst, Nikko, Caravelle, Rex )
- **Hanoi
- 3 star: Sunrise, Hoa Binh
- 4 star: Minasi Premium, Thang Long Opera, Nesta (additional 20 usd per room/night if using these hotels: Hanoi pearl, Hanoian central)
- 5 star: La mejor indochine,Champton, Heritage Ham long ((additional cost 25 USD/room/night if staying in these hotels: Hotel du parc, Dusit, Meritel)
- ** Halong bay cruise
- 5 star standard: Amanda group cruise, Viet Sails, Dragon Bay (applied for 3 and 4 star hotel category)
- 5 star luxury: Velar of The seas, Elisa, Lux Cruise, Indochine Cruise, Venus, Rita, Alisa (applied for 5star hotel category)
Agreements and Commitments
- Tour cost INCLUDES GOVERNMENT TAX following Vietnamese national tax laws.
- There are NO INDIAN FOODS for some places clearly stated in the itinerary.
- None of the hotels above have Indian food for breakfast..
- The daily timing is just our suggestion, you can start any time but the finish time is still 10:00 PM . Any additional hour using guide and car after 10:00 PM will be charged 20 USD
- For group tours, the timing and inclusions are fixed, guests are strictly required to follow. We’re not responsible for any late show-up and guests might be required to arrange their own transportation to the meeting point. No refund will be made in case of no show or last minute cancellation.
- Business hours of Vietnam are from 7,30 - 8,00 AM to 5,00 PM
- Opening and closing times for most tourist attractions are 7,00 -7,30 AM and 5,00 PM
- Tipping is customary in Vietnam and it’s suggested 20 USD for guide per day and 10 USD for driver per day (for the whole private group less than 10 pax) and this can be done directly from guests to guides and drivers.
- Tipping for big groups (more than 10 pax) will be quoted 3USD/pax/day for both guides and drivers. This will be included in the tour cost (only with groups from 10 persons)
Trip Inclusions Clarification
- Trip inclusions will surely be done as exactly as in each day’s INCLUSIONS LINE
- This tour quoted cost includes hotel rooms (and cruise cabins) of minimum 2 persons per room - a third person will have an extra bed.
- Hotel rooms are with windows and random views of internal view /city /garden /sea/ pool view) This will be stated clearly in the confirmed itinerary.
- Hotel check in/out time is 2.00 PM - 12.00 PM. Any early check in or late check out request will be subjective to availability and is charged by hotel regulations.
- Halong bay cruise: check in at 12.00 PM and check out at 9.30 AM (guests still stay on cruise till disembarkation) No early check in or late checkout is allowed.
- Entrance fees to all sites mentioned above
- 2 bottles of water per guest per day (for daily tours).
- Travel insurance valued at 2.000 USD (only for accidents and food poison caused by the food/drinks offered by our included meals)
- Private English speaking tour guide for daily tours – not for airport pickup/dropoff/transfer. The tour guide for group tours is for the whole group.
Trip Exclusions
- International air tickets
- Visa to Vietnam
- Domestic air tickets
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Ordering drinks during included meals
- We don’t include any lunch and dinner but our guide will support you to enjoy your best meals if needed
NOTE ON HOTELS AND HALONG BAY CRUISES: very important.
- The quoted cost is based on the the suggested hotel list above
- We reserve the right to choose any hotel among them
- In case the quoted hotel/cruise is sold out at the moment of tour confirmation, we have the right to replace it with a similar quality one.
- None of the above hotels/cruises have Indian foods and this cannot be requested due to the accommodation regulations (staying guests are not allowed to bring their own foods on cruise)
- In case guests require a hotel/cruise they like, the tour cost will be revised based on their preferred hotels/cruises
- We can only accommodate Indian food for Halong bay cruise if it’s chartered and with an additional cost (limited cruises accept this)
Transportation Standards
- 2 - 4pax: 7 seater car
- 5-13pax: 16 seater minivan
- 14-19 pax: 29 seater bus
- 20-40 pax: 45 seater bus
- We don’t include transport for taking you to dinner but we include our guide to support you for dinner, as some restaurants are very close to the hotel or sometimes you might want to enjoy dinner at the hotel
- In case you have to take transport to dinner, please just pay the taxi fare with our guide’s support.
Payment & cancellation
Payment and Deposit Policy
- Airfare MUST be fully paid at the time of booking confirmation.
- 50% of the tour cost must be paid at the time of booking confirmation
- 30% of the tour cost must be paid 3 days before the tour starts
- The other 20% can be paid by cash on arrival or by our online link.
Accepted Payment Methods
- Bank transfer to our company’s USD account is without transaction fee, clients just pay their side’s fee
- Credit card (Visa/master) by online payment link with 3% transaction fee.
CANCELLATION POLICY- Cancellations must be sent in writing (email accepted). The following refund amount will apply:
Time before service date
Refund amount - based on deposit amount
From and more than 30 days : Full refund minus bank fees
16- 29 days: 50% of deposit amount
8-15 days: 25% of deposit amount
Less than 8 days: 0% of deposit amount
Children Policies and Costs
Age classification( not applicable for airfare)
- Age is based on year of birth, not date of birth.
- Infants (0–6 years): Free of charge - sharing the same food portion and same bed with parents
- Children (7-10): Charged at 50% of adult cost sharing the same food portion and same bed with parents
- Children (7-10): Charged at 75% of adult cost separate food portion and same bed with parents
- Children (7-10): Charged at charged as adult cost if requiring separate food portion and separate bed
- From 11 years: Charged as adults
Entrance fees based on height (just for references)
This is just to provide clients of how the total cost is quoted and this entrance fee is not quoted separately.
- Below 1.0 meter: Free entrance
- From 1.0 meter to 1.39 meter: 75% of adult fee
- From 1.4 meter: Charged as an adult
- Some exceptions will be stated clearly during tour consultation
- Clients are responsible to provide correct information
- In case the actual children’s height is different from what is provided, clients are required to pay the additional entrance fee if any.