A value tour of the top sights in Vietnam, explore with your private guide, driver and vehicle. Hanoi is considered the cultural centre of Vietnam, and has served as the capital for almost a thousand years. Steeped in colonial French architecture and languidly situated amidst rivers and lakes, the old quarter aromas of dark coffee and hot beef noodles will tantilize the senses. You'll enjoy a private day trip to the spectacular karst formations in Ha Long Bay. Fly south to the bustling markets and war museums of Ho Chi Minh City, teeming with scooters and bursting with bargains. The Explorer tour is perfect for adventure, culture and relaxation. And with the comfort of Kensington's 24/7 support and seamless transfers and in-country arrangements, you simply show up and enjoy.

Day 1
Hanoi
Transfer between Hanoi airport and your Hanoi hotel by private car and english speaking driver. Kensington Tours donates a portion of our proceeds to our charitable initiative www.kensingtoncares.com which supports education-based initiatives in disadvantaged communities. Enjoy dinner at leisure (not included in tour price). Located in Hang Dao Street, the most crowded and oldest business centre in the area of Old Quarter. Serenade Hotel is a three-star hotel with unique architecture of Old Quarter in Hanoi. It is about a walking distance from Sword Lake (Hoan Kiem Lake) - A pearl of Hanoi capital, you will come to your ideal destination. The hotel is located within walking distance to Thang Long Puppet Theatre, where you can enjoy the unique and attractive art of Vietnam. Hanoi is nestled on the banks of the Red River, it is a beautiful city that retains an air of French colonial elegance with pretty yellow stucco buildings lining leafy streets. Hanoi is also a city of lakes, which adds to its air of sleepy grace. In the middle of the city lies the peaceful Hoan Kiem Lake with the 18th-century Ngoc Son Temple sitting on an island in its center. To the north of Hoan Kiem Lake is the Old Quarter, a fascinating maze of small antiquated streets lined with markets and pavement restaurants and cafes. Also worth a visit, the former Ville Française was the old French administrative center and is characterized by enormous colonial-era châteaux and wide spacious boulevards. It also houses Hanoi’s most popular attraction, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

Day 2
Hanoi
Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and his former residence ( Closed on Monday, Friday and the whole of Oct & Nov), One pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature. After lunch, continue city tour to one of the museums ( Fine Art, History, Revolutionary, War, Ethnology Museum) of your choice ( closed on Monday), Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple and 01-hour cyclo. Finish your day off at the Thang Long Opera Theatre for a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show. Enjoy lunch (included in tour price). Enjoy dinner at leisure (not included in tour price). Overnight at Serenade Hotel (3+*).

Day 3
Hanoi
Early morning departure from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay ( 165 km east of Hanoi). Enjoy a boat cruise through the UNESCO World Heritage of Ha Long Bay with its islands, rocks and caves rising from the sea. A fresh sea food lunch is prepared and served during the cruise. Return and transfer to Hanoi. Enjoy lunch (included in tour price). Enjoy dinner at leisure (not included in tour price). Overnight at Serenade Hotel (3+*).

Day 4
Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City
Transfer between Hanoi airport and your Hanoi hotel by private car and english speaking driver. Enjoy a private transfer with english speaking driver between Ho Chi Minh City airport and your hotel. Enjoy lunch at leisure (not included in tour price). You will be picked up by private car and english speaking driver for a half day city tour, which enables you to gain a sense of the rich tapestry that makes up this city of 8 million inhabitants. Ho Chi Minh City is a city full of contrasts, locals in their conical hats, women in their traditional "aodai" (Vietnamese dress) and a city full of the latest motorbikes. Your tour starts with a visit of the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Post Office. You will then visit the Reunification Palace and the War Remnants Museum. Enjoy dinner at leisure (not included in tour price). Centrally located in Ho Chi Minh City, Kimdo Royal City Hotel is near Ho Chi Minh City Hall, Ho Chi Minh City Museum, and Ben Thanh Market. Another attraction in the area is Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica. Guestrooms have complimentary wireless Internet access, complimentary high-speed (wired) Internet access, and premium bedding; rooms also include coffee/tea makers, separate bathtubs and showers, and bathrobes. Recreational amenities include an indoor pool, a health club, and a spa tub. Other amenities include a restaurant, a bar/lounge, and a fitness facility. Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is more modern than other Vietnamese cities, and has retained its French colonial influences. The streets are jam-packed with mopeds and scooters, often carrying whole families. Highlights in the city include the colorful Emperor of Jade Pagoda, an excellent example of a Chinese temple. The Hôtel de Ville is a wonderful example of French colonial architecture. The twin towers of Notre Dame Cathedral have been a familiar landmark in Ho Chi Minh City since the 1880s. The War Remnants Museum bears witness to the suffering inflicted on the Vietnamese people during the Vietnam War in the 1960s and 1970s. Other sites relevant to that era are Re-Unification Hall and the former US Embassy. An interesting excursion from Saigon is a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels in which the South Vietnamese Communists concealed themselves and from which they launched attacks on US soldiers.

Day 5
Ho Chi Minh City
Tay Ninh is home to the unique Cao Dai sect. The religion is a hybrid of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and Christianity. The Cao Dai Temple at
Tay Ninh has been described as a Walt Disney fantasia of the East. The interior is truly engaging as statues of Jesus, Buddha and the Hindu god,
Brahma, stand side by side. Depart your hotel early morning by private vehicle and english speaking driver and take the opportunity to watch the worshippers in their white long tunics during noon mass. After lunch, visit Cu Chi tunnels, an amazing complex of underground tunnels used during the Vietnam war. Enjoy lunch (included in tour price). Enjoy dinner at leisure (not included in tour price). Overnight at Kimdo Royal City (3+*) .

Day 6
Ho Chi Minh City
Enjoy a private transfer with english speaking driver between Ho Chi Minh City airport and your hotel. Depart from Ho Chi Minh City International airport - end of itinerary.