Christmas Day in Ho Chi Minh City and New Year’s Eve in Hanoi

Starting City: Saigon | Last City: Hanoi

Saigon | Cu Chi | Ben Tre | Hoi An | Hue | Hanoi | Halong

Start time: Your arrival on 23rd of December | End time: Your departure on 1st of January | By flight, car, cart, boat, cruise. Cyclo subject to availability.

Accommodation: DEFINITE Luxury
Saigon City | 3 nights | Caravelle | Deluxe
Hoi An Town | 1 night | Life Hoi An Resort | Junior Suite River View
Hue City | 1 night | La Residence | Deluxe Riverview
Hanoi City | 3 nights | Hilton | Executive
Halong Cruise | 1 night | Indochina Sails | Valentine Deluxe
Accommodation: DEFINITE Premier
Saigon City | 3 nights | Park Hyatt | Park Room
Hoi An Town | 1 night | The Nam Hai | One bed room villa
Hue City | 1 night | La Residence | Deluxe River View
Hanoi City | 3 nights | Sofitel Legend Metropole | Luxury
Halong Cruise | 1 night | Indochina Sails | Valentine Suite
Other accommodation options are available on request.

Merry Christmas in Vietnamese is Chuc Mung Giang Sinh! We at Definite Journey wish you all the best for the Christmas season!

Day 1 ~ 23rd of December ~ Arrival to Saigon
Upon your arrival in Saigon airport you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.

Day 2 ~ 24th of December ~ Saigon Pearl and Cu Chi Tunnels, Christmas Night Celebration in Saigon
Start with a walk along Dong Khoi Street and visit the most prominent French colonial structures in the city centre including the Municipal Theatre, City Hall, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office with its ochre and white walls, dark wood and painted maps showing telecommunications in late 19th century Indochina making it one of the best preserved colonial style buildings in Asia. You will then travel to the site of the impressive Reunification Palace and War Remnants Museum. Continue to Red Door Deco where you can find luxurious and second-to-none gifts for your friends and relatives or something as a decoration for your house or workplace. After lunch, drive to Cu Chi. On arrival you will be guided through the famous tunnels used by the communist guerrillas during the Vietnam War. The tunnel network stretches over 250km and extends to three levels underground providing you with a remarkable insight into the hardships, courage, determination and terror of a guerrilla war. Return to your hotel. Celebrate Christmas Night at your hotel in Saigon.

Caravelle Hotel: Besides parties for Christmas and New Year at Nineteen Restaurant, there is Reflections and Saigon Saigon Bar. Festive Afternoon High Tea & Christmas Goodies on sale at Lobby Lounge.

Park Hyatt: The Christmas Eve Dinner, Christmas Day Lunch and Christmas Day Roast Dinner are available at its Opera and Square One Restaurants where children will receive a surprise gift from Santa Claus.

Saigonese people celebrate their Christmas Night in unforgettable style. Take a walk along Dong Khoi Street and look around Notre Dame Cathedral for a first-hand experience of just how enthusiastic the Vietnamese can be about Christmas! With hundreds of festive decorations lighting up the central city streets, the heart of District 1 and its surroundings are filled with Christmas wreaths, holly, and various depictions of Santa Claus, many lit up like Christmas trees. People in Santa suits whiz by on motorbikes, adding to the bright and cheery atmosphere. Merry Christmas, Chuc Mung Giang Sinh!
Meal included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3 ~ 25th of December ~ Mekong Full Day
Travel south to My Tho, the closest city to Saigon within the delta. Take a boat trip on the Mekong River for sightseeing on the island named after four holy animals; the Dragon, Unicorn, Tortoise and Phoenix. Visit Phong Phu Coconut Candy Workshop (the famous special food of Ben Tre Province). Take a cart ride through a coconut tree orchard on the countryside paths to discover how Vietnamese farmers work in their rice fields and orchards as well as observe daily activities of the villagers in the Mekong Delta. Stop to enjoy seasonal tropical fruits before visiting a local house where people make sticky rice cakes mixed with coconut flesh, banana or beans. You also have the chance to cross the “monkey bridge” for lunch. Return to your hotel.
Meal included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4 ~ 26th of December ~ Saigon to Hoi An, Marble Mountain, China Beach, Hoi An Explorer
Take a flight from Saigon to Da Nang. On the arrival at Hoi An, visit Ngu Hanh Son (five elements) mountains, a series of large marble outcrops which have acquired mythical significance over the centuries. The caves of the Marble Mountains contain a number of sacred Buddhist shrines as well as a former Communist guerrilla hospital from the Vietnam War. From the Marble Mountains take a short drive around to China Beach for a well-earned swim at the former U.S. R&R beach escape. Take a cyclo tour for a journey through the enchanting streets of Hoi An ancient town with their numerous art and crafts shops and tailors. The town's heritage is quite multicultural, the architecture fusing Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and European influences. You will visit a traditional ancient house, the Hoi An Museum, and a Chinese Assembly Hall. Also visit the town's emblem, the Japanese Covered Bridge, which was originally built in the mid 16th century and which, along with the numerous Chinese assembly halls, helps to give Hoi An a cosmopolitan feel. Experience the centuries-old Cao Lau noodles which are uniquely served here before returning to your hotel. (VN322 0945//1055)
Meal included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5 ~ 27th of December ~ Hoi An Eco Fisherman Tour, Hoi An to Hue, Sunset Cruise Dinner
Travel to the jetty to board your private boat for a cruise through the water coconut palm canal, a tranquil area seldom visited by tourists. You will enjoy a wide range of experiences, from learning traditional fishing techniques to paddling the strange and unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boats while exploring the now tranquil coconut-palm flanked waterways of a past war. On this tour we provide an authentic social and cultural insight into the local Vietnamese way of life. As well you will take part in some hands-on activities that are fun, safe and interesting to people all of ages. Check out from Hoi An and drive to Hue over the spectacular Hai Van Pass. Enjoy a sunset cruise dinner in Hue.
Meal included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 ~ 28th of December ~ Hue Explorer, Hue to Hanoi, Water Puppets Show
Take a cyclo to the nineteenth century Citadel, the impressive home of the Nguyen Dynasty emperors. The citadel was begun in 1802 by Nguyen Phuc Anh (later emperor Gia Long) and served as Vietnam's capital until 1945. Also Visit the tomb of the second to last emperor, Khai Dinh. The tomb, located on the slopes of Chau Chu Mountain, was built in 1920 over 11 years with a startling mix of European Baroque and ornamental Sino-Vietnamese styles. Check out from Hue and take a flight from Hue to Hanoi. In the evening, travel to Thang Long Opera Theatre where a Water Puppets Show (Mua Roi Nuoc) will be performed. This art form, unique to Vietnam, was developed in the Red River Delta in the 10th century during the Ly Dynasty. The farmers in this region put on performances for other villagers in flooded rice paddies. The Water Puppets Show is performed in a pool of water. The puppeteers stand behind a screen and control the figures using a long bamboo rods and string mechanism hidden beneath the water surface. The stories are about rural life including farming, fishing, romance and children playing and are acted out vividly by the wooden puppets. The performance runs for approximately 50 minutes. Return to your hotel. (VN244 1430//1540)
Meal included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7 ~ 29th of December ~ Hanoi Full Day Explorer
Travel to Ho Chi Minh Quarter, dedicated to the father of modern Vietnam, "Uncle Ho", to see his mausoleum and the “house on stilts” and museum. Ride through the fascinating Old Quarter of 36 ancient streets where you can observe the daily bustle of life around the markets where peddlers continue to trade as they have done for centuries. Continue your tour with a visit to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university in 1070 and now dedicated to Confucian worship. Then visit the “Hanoi Hilton”, the nickname given to the place where U.S. pilots shot down over North Vietnamese airspace were imprisoned during the Vietnam War, now converted into a museum. Return to your hotel.
Meal included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8 ~ 30th of December ~ Hanoi to Halong
Travel to Halong pier to board the cruise. Considered Vietnam’s greatest natural wonder, Halong Bay boasts over 3,000 islands that rise out of the sea to provide a spectacular natural environment. En route enjoy the captivating rural scenery and see fields of busy workers farming their rice fields using traditional methods of cultivation. After a welcoming drink on board, check in to your cabin and have lunch served on the cruise, then visit Titop Island to enjoy swimming, relaxing on the beach and climbing the steps to the top of the mountain on the island for fantastic views and photo opportunities. Next stop is Bat Cave where you have two options: Kayaking or visiting Cua Van floating fishing village, the largest floating fishing village in Halong Bay. Continue to Luon Bo area to anchor overnight. Dinner is served on the cruise and amazing activities are available.
Meal included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 ~ 31st of December ~ Halong to Hanoi, New Year’s Eve Night
Greet the day with a morning Tai Chi session on the sun deck and take the opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay. Visit a beautiful Surprise Cave then head back to the boat for a final glimpse of Halong Bay and a buffet brunch while cruising back to the dock. Return to your hotel in Hanoi. Enjoy a farewell dinner at a floating restaurant.
Celebrate New Year’s Eve Night in your way with our escorting. Both Hilton and Sofitel Legend Metropole have special gala dinner for New Year’s Eve.

Do you love Jazz? Come to Minh’s Jazz Club in the heart of the Old Quarter to celebrate and count-down New Year’s Eve with Mr Minh, an amazing jazz player.

Do you prefer a quiet place? Bobby Chinn is recommended. Pull into streets along Hoan Kiem Lake and count-down together with the Hanoiese!
Meal included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 10 ~ 1st of January ~ Departure Hanoi
Transfer to the airport for your next escape.
Meal included: Breakfast

Price Inclusion:
Accommodation as described with daily breakfast
Cruise cabin with air conditioner and en-suite bathroom with daily breakfast
All private transportations
Cyclo at Hoi An, Hue, Hanoi Old Quarter
Domestic air ticket economy class
Professional English speaking travel mate
All meals as described
Beer, soft drink, mineral water and chilled tissue served on trip. Extra beverages on the Halong cruise are at your own expense
First class water puppets ticket
All admission fees
Tips
Special ‘responsible travel’ farewell souvenir
One Travel Insider per traveler per Vietnam Journey
Social-work contribution

23rd December to 1st January