The French gave the name “Mandarin Route”  to Vietnam’s National Highway #1, which stretches north to south following the coastline from Hanoi to Saigon.  When travelers ask about Vietnamese life they are often advised to “go to the road”.  The story of much of present-day Vietnam is played out along the Vietnamese Highways, where within only a few feet of the tarmac, in what seems like an endless stream, is every possible business venture, along with restaurants, homes and farms in all sizes, made of all manner of material.  In that small strip of land the Vietnamese trade with each other and with the drivers of passing vehicles.  Not all vehicles are motorized; traffic includes cyclos (man-powered rickshaws), bicycles, people on foot, and on the backs of water buffalo.  Children play and go to school, animals graze, chickens peck, and there is a constant commotion and noise from voices and horns--this is Vietnamese life along the Mandarin Route! 

Day 1:   Arrive Hanoi airport and transfer to your hotel.
Overnight Hanoi.
Day 2:   Morning tour of  Hanoi, visiting the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, the Quan Thanh Temple and the Temple of Literature.  This afternoon travel to HaLong Bay, one of the most scenic areas in Vietnam, a UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Overnight HaLong Bay. (B)
Day 3:  4-hour junk cruise into HaLong Bay, sailing amongst the fascinatingly sculpted islands, which rise from the waters of the Gulf of Tonkin.  Seafood lunch on board.  Return to Hanoi with a stop enroute at BatTrang ceramic village. Cyclo ride followed by a performance of Vietnamese Water Puppet Show.
Overnight Hanoi. (BL)
Day 4:   Transfer to Hanoi airport for flight to the imperial city of Hue.  Enjoy a boat ride on the Huong Giang (Perfume River) to Linh Mu Pagoda, visit the Imperial Palace and  the mausoleums of Khai Dinh and Tu Duc. 
Overnight Hue. (B)
Day 5:   From Hue journey down Highway #1 south to DaNang across the Hai Van Pass.  Crossing the mountains allows for magnificent views across the South China Sea down to the many beautiful and untouched beaches and coves. In DaNang visit the open-air Cham Museum, considered to be one of the finest collections of Cham sculptures in the world.  Continue  to Hoi An, a lovely and well-preserved 600-year-old town, an architectural living museum with its eclectic mix of restored homes, winding streets and ancient bridges.  Overnight Hoi An. (B)
Day 6:   Back on Highway #1, your journey takes you through Tam Ky and Quang Ngai to the seaside town of Quy Nhon.    Once part of the Kingdom of Champa (2nd century AD – 1720), there are still several Cham Empire ruins in the area.  
Overnight Quy Nhon.  (B)
Day 7:   From Quy Nhon you will continue south on Highway #1 to NhaTrang, best known for its beaches and pristine waters. 
Overnight NhaTrang.  (B)
Day 8:   Sightseeing in Nha Trang includes a delightful boat ride to the island Hon Mun.
Overnight NhaTrang.  (B)
Day 9:   From NhaTrang your journey takes you past Cam Ranh Bay to Phan Rang, where you will visit the Po Klong Garai Cham towers.  Here you leave Highway #1 and travel inland through the beautiful Trong Son Mountains to DaLat.  Le Petit Paris was the name given to this former French hill station.  The Vietnamese call it City of Eternal Spring because of the cooler, fresher air of this mountainous region.  Nestled in the central highlands on the shores of Xuan Huong Lake, DaLat was a favorite retreat of the French during colonial days and the French influence is evident in the lovely colonial villas dotted throughout the town. 
Overnight DaLat. (B)
Day 10:  After a morning sightseeing,  journey south through the mountains where you will again join Highway #1 passing Bien Hoa before entering Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City).  Highway #1 ends in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City).  Here you will find the former Presidential Palace, the Museum of History, Notre Dame Cathedral, many beautiful pagodas, ChoLon and wonderful local markets. 
Overnight Saigon.  (B)
Day 11:  Morning city tour.
Overnight Saigon. (B)
Day 12: The final part of your journey along Highway #1 will take you to Can Tho in the Mekong Delta, the southern rice bowl of Vietnam, a fertile area covered with rice fields and winding tributaries of the Mekong River. Originating in the high plateau of Tibet, the Mekong River, over 2600 miles long, travels through China, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia before reaching Vietnam where it empties into the South China Sea.  You will travel by boat and sampan along the Mekong River and experience a colorful display of rural life with its lush vegetation, island farms and floating markets. 
Overnight Can Tho. (BL)
DAY 13:  Morning sightseeing.  Afternoon return to Saigon. 
Overnight Saigon.  (B)
DAY 14:  Airport transfer.   (B)

 
 TOUR INCLUDES:
      Hotel accommodation with daily breakfast (B)
      Lunch (L) per itinerary (excluding beverages)
      Tours and transfers by private vehicles
      English-speaking guides
      Domestic air ticket: Hanoi-Hue
      Entrance fees

PER PERSON BASED ON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY

Hotel category	Standard	Superior	Deluxe
Double Single supplement	$2525.00 $610.00	$3400.00 $1390.00	$4690.00 $2550.00