Hanoi to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City - HCMC) private car transfer road trip from North to South or vice versa South to North from Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City - HCMC) to Hanoi
Pickup from Ha Noi (hotel, airport) going Southbound to Ninh Binh to visit Trang A scenic landscape complex - a world UNESCO heritage site renowned for its boat cave tours. Take a boat tour to discover the beautiful scenic landscape of Trang An. Back to Ninh Binh city, on the way we will take a look at Hoa Lu ancient capital - the capital of Vietnam in 10th and 11th century before moving to Phat Diem Cathedral - a catholic architecture resembles a buddhist temple whose history associated with the Operation Passage to Freedom after the Geneva accord signed in 1954. The largest numbers of Catholic refugees came from Phat Diem diocese with the highest percentage of Catholics in Vietnam. This cathedral was described as "more Buddhist than Christian" by novelist Graham Green in his novel-turn-movie the Quiet American. Drive all the way towards Thanh Hoa city of the same name province Thanh Hoa. Will have stop at Ham Rong bridge or Dragon's Jaw bridge - one of the dead coordinate for US bombing during Vietnam war operation Linebacker. Overnight in Vinh city.
Keep driving Southbound towards Ha Tinh province. Turn right at Nghen town of Can Loc district towards Dong Loc junction - a strategic road T-junction at the beginning of the Ho Chi Minh trail which was extensively bombed by American forces during the Vietnam War in 1968. The site is now mainly remembered for the memorial to ten young unmarried girls aged 17–22 who were youth volunteers helping with logistics at the T-junction.
Hanoi to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City - HCMC) private car transfer road trip from North to South or vice versa South to North from Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City - HCMC) to Hanoi
Having lunch at Phong Nha town before boarding a boat riding along Son river to visit Phong Nha cave (dubbed as river Styx cave) which is a unique underground river cave with amazing chambers, stalactites and stalagmites. You will have ample time sitting on the boat admiring the patterns of karst rock formations and strolling inside the cave with lots of photo opportunities. Phong Nha cave is also the earliest cave open to tourists and one of the most beautiful cave in the national park of Phong Nha - Ke Bang. Sitting on the boat watching magnificent limestone mountains and stalactites/stalagmites while the sailor paddling through the Son river (dubbed as river Styx of Vietnam) is a breathtaking experience for every tourists. Cruising back to boat station then drive all the way to DMZ freedom bridge and Ben Hai river at 17th parallel where divides Vietnam into North and South. DMZ freedom bridge a.k.a. Hien Luong bridge was a bridge that Vietnamese could not cross for technically almost 20 years 1955 -1975 and a river that divided not only a country in general but also a province, a district, a village, a hamlet, a family in specific. Take a look at the museum of 17th Parallel and Desire for Unification before having a stroll across the checkpoint ''Charlie'' in the middle of the bridge right at the Demarcation line or dividing line between the North and the South.
Driver all the way to Dong Ha for the night. Overnight: Muong Thanh Quang Tri hotel, Saigon Dong Ha hotel
In the morning, pickup from Dong Ha city going down South to Hue city where you'll have a chance to see Imperial city of Hue where the last Vietnamese royal family of Nguyen dynasty lived. We will have about 2 hours to visit royal palaces, royal temples, royal gates, royal garden, royal theater, forbidden city, concubine residences, ... Strolling through the ruins from the war time, especially the Battle of Hue 1968 Tet offensive, will give a good understanding of how devastating the Vietnam war used to be. After Imperial city, we continue onto Thuy Xuan incense village where you will have a lot of photo opportunities. You can support the locals here by buying some from a big selection of incense flavors (cinnamon, jasmin, frangipani, lemongrass, pomelo, lavender). Drive all the way to Ba Na Hills mountain resort where used to be a French summer retreat. Take a cable car ride to the top of the mountain to see the famous Golden Giant Hands bridge, Buddhist temple, flower garden, French village, fantasy park, moon castle, playing roller coaster, free fall, watching 4D and 5D movie, VR movie, ... Leaving Ba Na Hills at sunset for lantern town of Hoi An. Arrive Hoi An around 7:00 pm.
Hanoi to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City - HCMC) private car transfer road trip from North to South or vice versa South to North from Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City - HCMC) to Hanoi
Day 4: Hoi An - leisure day
On this day, in the morning, you can have a walking tour around the old town of Hoi An to see Japanese bridge, Chinese assembly hall, old houses, having some clothes measure to made, enjoy a traditional Vietnamese music and dance show. Have some cao lau noodle for your lunch. In the afternoon, you can go to coconut forest for a basket boat ride and basket boat spinning which has a lot of fun. At night, you can take a lantern boat ride on the river and enjoy the mesmerized atmosphere of Hoi An by night.
Day 5: Hoi An - Pleiku
On this day, we will switch from coastal road to mountain road traveling inlands onto Central Highlands which is famous for coffee plantations of Vietnam's finest coffee brands. Our noontime will be spent in Mang Den town - a 1000-m high town in the middle of pine forest which has a European climate where we can have a cup of coffee while relaxing in a serene atmosphere. You'll have chance to try many unique local foods like fresh vegetable rolls, purple sticky rice served in bamboo tube, grilled beef served with ant salt, ... Enjoy a sip of ruou can liquor while listening to traditional gong music show of Jarai ethnic people is an unforgettable experience for anyone who comes to 700-m Central Highlands of Vietnam. Overnight in Pleiku city
Day 6: Pleiku - Nha Trang
This is another interesting day of traveling from highlands to lowlands beach city of Nha Trang. En route we will have a stop at Buon Ma Thuot - the coffee capital of Vietnam where the famous coffee brand Trung Nguyen originated. In Buon Ma Thuot, we will have time to visit the Coffee Museum where you can understand more about the coffee culture of Vietnam with many types of coffee and also learn about the procedure of planting, growing, harvesting, processing coffee in Vietnam. Having lunch with local grilled chicken and macadamia firewood roasted is a great way to get back your energy before the second leg of traveling to Nha Trang beach city. Dinner with nem nuong Ninh Hoa and muc mot nang sa te is a great choice for the night.
Hanoi to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City - HCMC) private car transfer road trip from North to South or vice versa South to North from Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City - HCMC) to Hanoi
Day 7: Nha Trang - Da Lat
We will start this day much later in the morning so that you can have time for a stroll on the beach street of Tran Phu to have some fresh air for the day. If you wish, mud bath is a good option for this morning. Check out your hotel around noon time and go to city of flowers Da Lat - a very romantic city for lovers with cool weather. Da Lat used to be a summer retreat for the French and also for the last emperor of Vietnam Bao Dai. The emperor's palaces were built by the French and spread around the town in the middle of pine forest are such great masterpiece of architecture. Coming to Da Lat, you can also understand about the upheaval time of Vietnam history during the reign of the last emperor. Spend your dinner at a hillside restaurant having grilled pork while watching the smoke rising during sunset time in the pretty cold weather is such a marvelous image.
Day 8: Da Lat - Ho Chi Minh City
Finding a weasel coffee place in the mist of clouds for the last morning in the Central Highland is probably the best option. Drive along highway 27 to Phan Rang - Thap Cham to see one of the most magnificent temple of Champa people still standing - Po Kong Garai. On the way you can buy some local Vietnamese apples which has a very good quality and unique flavor. Keep driving to Mui Ne and visit a fish sauce factory to learn about the making process of fish sauce - the most important secret in many Vietnamese cuisine. You can buy some fish sauce bottles bring home as souvenirs for families, friends. Drive all the way to HCMC. Great farewell to guide and driver and safe travel home.
Hanoi to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City - HCMC) private car transfer road trip from North to South or vice versa South to North from Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City - HCMC) to Hanoi
If you only want half of this trip from Hanoi to Hoian, please see this link
Tour price: please contact
What's inclusive: private car transfer, private guide Tam Le, private driver, accommodation, lunches, all admissions, tolls, parking
What's exclusive: insurance, dinners, gratuity, personal expenses
