Christmas in Vietnam
Christmas in Vietnam
Christmas in Vietnam
13 Days
Visiting: Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong River Delta, Hoi An, Tra Que Village House, Hue, Hanoi, Hạ Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay
Tour operator:
Tour code:
2261
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Trip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Want to explore Vietnam's top sights at the most wonderful time of year? December is a perfect month to visit Vietnam, so why not enjoy a change of pace and celebrate Christmas there too? Begin your adventure in the historic city of Saigon before heading to the coast to see the charming towns of Hoi An and imperial Hue. From here, fly north to Vietnam's leafy capital, Hanoi. Come Christmas Eve, embark on an exciting two-night cruise into the waters of Halong Bay and its secret twin, the ethereally beautiful Lan Ha Bay, where you can swim, kayak and relax to your heart's content.
Itinerary
Day 1 - 2 : Days 1-2 Fly To Saigon
Location: Ho Chi Minh City
Meals Included: Dinner
Fly overnight to Saigon, Vietnam's largest and most evocative city. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.
Day 3 Discover Saigon
Location: Ho Chi Minh City
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning, contemplate the struggles of guerrilla warfare at the Cu Chi Tunnels before returning to Saigon. This exuberant city is driving Vietnam forward into the modern world, but it is also a treasure trove of fascinating heritage. See the colonial Notre Dame Cathedral and visit the Central Post Office, the Reunification Palace, and the chilling War Remnants Museum.
Day 4 Mekong Delta
Location: Mekong River Delta
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Journey to Ben Tre to take a cruise on the Mekong. Paddle through the maze of palmlined canals and get a glimpse of daily life on the Mekong Delta. Enjoy a lunch of typical Mekong dishes. Make a stop at Vinh Trang Pagoda en route back to Saigon.
Day 5 Journey To Hoi An
Location: Hoi An
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Fly to Danang and transfer to Hoi An. This afternoon take a walking tour of this charming town – a wonderfully laidback and wilfully traditional place, whose streets are a delight to wander. Visit an old merchant's house, Quan Cong Temple, the elaborate Japanese Bridge and the bustling market.
Day 6 Tra Que Village
Location: Tra Que Village House
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Head out into the countryside to Tra Que, a small farming community that supplies many hotels and restaurants in the area with vegetables and herbs. Here you can enjoy the lush green countryside and stroll through the gardens to see the farmers at work. Later spend the afternoon at leisure back in Hoi An.
Day 7 Imperial Hue
Location: Hue
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Leave Hoi An for Hue, taking a scenic route over the Hai Van Pass. The epitome of Vietnam's dynastic past, Hue is a dignified and scholarly city. Visit the imposing Imperial Citadel and Forbidden Purple City. The magnificent centrepiece of the Royal Empire, the citadel was extensively damaged during the Vietnam War. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Royal Tomb of Minh Mang, a complex of 40 monuments set in surroundings of gardens and pools. Continue to the old Thien Mu Pagoda before taking a cruise on the Perfume River.
Day 8 Fly To Hanoi
Location: Hanoi
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning, fly 1 hour and 20 minutes to the charming city of Hanoi, where the afternoon is at leisure.
This evening, attend The Quintessence of Tonkin show, a famously artistic open-air performance celebrating the rich history of northern Vietnam.
Day 9 Explore Hanoi
Location: Hanoi
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sightseeing today includes a wander through the Ho Chi Minh Quarter, where you'll visit Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum (closed at certain times of year) and the Stilt House set in the gardens of the Presidential Palace. Also visit One Pillar Pagoda and the Confucian Temple of Literature. End the day's explorations with a cyclo tour through the Old Quarter and enjoy a flavourful Vietnamese coffee at a café overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake.
Day 10 Christmas Eve In Halong Bay
Location: Hạ Long Bay
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Travel to Halong and embark on an unforgettable adventure – a two-night cruise out to the far-most corners of the bay. Settle in with lunch on board and enjoy the passing scenery as you journey out into the waters.
This afternoon, enjoy the included activities on offer, such as swimming and sunbathing at Trinh Nu Beach, or exploring Trinh Nu Cave. End the day on deck with a drink in hand to watch the sunset over the bay, and watch or even enter a light-hearted spring roll making competition on deck – MasterChef in Halong Bay!
Day 11 Christmas Day In Halong Bay And Lan Ha Bay
Location: Lan Ha Bay
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Begin a Christmas Day like no other – watching the sun rise over Halong Bay.
Sail into Lan Ha Bay – Halong's equally beautiful but lesser-known twin! Far fewer cruise ships are permitted to operate in Lan Ha Bay, thanks to its protected status as part of Cat Ba National Park. Enjoy the Halong experience without the crowds.
Today, choose from included activities such as kayaking at Ho Ba Ham (Three Tunnel Lake). Here, limestone tunnels connect three peaceful lakes within the bay – an extraordinary place where time seems to stand still. Alternatively, join a tour of Cua Van Fishing Village, a colourful floating village inhabited by multiple generations of fishermen and their families.
This evening, enjoy a drinks reception on deck, exclusively for Wendy Wu Tours travellers.
Day 12 Return To Hanoi
Location: Hanoi
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Begin the morning with a choice of activities – a revitalising Tai Chi session on deck at sunrise, or an early morning adventure to Sung Sot Cave! This vast grotto has two impressive chambers filled with stalactites and stalagmites, and is one of the biggest and most beautiful caves in Halong Bay.
Return to the ship and enjoy brunch on board as you sail back to the embarkation point. Drive back to Hanoi, where the rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 13 Departure
Location: Hanoi
Meals Included: Breakfast
Transfer from the hotel to the airport, according to the departure time of your onward flight. Any time before your flight is at leisure to enjoy the city.
Check out our Q&As
-
What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If, after our confirmation invoice has been issued, you wish to change your travel arrangements in any way, we will endeavour to make these changes, but it may not always be possible. Any changes to confirmed bookings need to be sent to us in writing via your travel agent. Please refer to our booking conditions for further information and fees.
-
Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Customers booking to travel solo can choose our ‘Happy to Share’ option, which may enable them to share a twin room with other solo customers of the same gender who also request Happy to Share, thus avoiding the need to pay single room supplements. Note that ‘Happy to Share’ requests can be received when you make your booking with us but will not be confirmed until your final payment due date.
-
What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your Final Travel Documents are usually sent to you 2-3 weeks prior to your departure. Your travel pack will include your tour itinerary, hotel details, flight e-tickets and a travel guide. If you have booked with a travel agent, your tickets will be dispatched to your travel agent unless we have been otherwise informed.
-
Will I be travelling with passengers from other countries?
Our passengers generally enjoy the mixture of British, Australian and American clients on tour. Occasionally we are joined by English-speaking passengers from other countries.
-
What is 'Happy to Share'?
Customers booking to travel solo can choose our ‘Happy to Share’ option, which may enable them to share a twin room with other solo customers of the same gender who also request Happy to Share, thus avoiding the need to pay single room supplements. Note that ‘Happy to Share’ requests can be received when you make your booking with us but will not be confirmed until your final payment due date. If a share partner is found, the Single Supplement will be removed from your booking. If a share partner is not found, the Single Supplement will remain and is payable with your final balance in line with our normal booking conditions. Either way, our Operations Team will contact you around 75 days before departure to let you know whether a share partner has been found or not. We regret that Happy to Share requests cannot be accepted within 75 days of departure. Wendy Wu Tours reserves the right to change or withdraw this arrangement at any time.
-
Do you allow children on your tours?
We allow children 12 years and over on our group tours. We recommend that families with children of any age take advantage of our private or tailormade tours. This will give you more flexibility while on tour.
Reviews of this operator
1 Select your preferred date
Sunday - Friday
Dec 15, 2024 - Dec 27, 2024Monday - Saturday
Dec 15, 2025 - Dec 27, 2025Book with Confidence
-
Low Deposit
Barrhead Travel requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 98 days before departure.
-
Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of barrhead travel charges.
Up to 98 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 97 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 28 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
-
How we Keep you safe on our Tours
Your safety and well-being will always be our Number 1 priority which is why we’ve instituted the most stringent COVID health and safety protocols on all of our tours. Here is a brief summary of the steps we are taking to ensure you will be safe, secure and satisfied when you travel with us.
Guides and National Escorts
Our National Escorts and guides will conduct a Health and Safety briefing with you before the tour begins and will help everyone ensure they adhere to social distancing, hygiene practises and local regulations. They will carry a supply of face masks and hand sanitiser for you to use free of charge and will, of course, observe the highest level of personal hygiene at all times.
Should anyone on the group fall ill your National Escort will ensure the individual receives swift medical attention and can only return to the group once cleared to do so.
Transport & Sightseeing
Vehicles will be thoroughly cleaned with disinfectant after each excursion service, overnight and between different groups.
You will always have at least one seat between you and your fellow tourers, hand sanitiser will be given to the group on each embarkation and vehicles will be thoroughly ventilated prior to passengers boarding.
Drivers will always embark vehicles after clients, disembark the group vehicle prior to clients disembarking, and maintain social distancing and a high level of personal hygiene at all times.
Your guides will assess the situation on the ground avoiding large crowds – where possible, alter timings and splitting the group into smaller sizes.
Accommodation
Wendy Wu Tours will only offer hotels that have undergone a detailed hygiene assessment, have specific COVID-19 protocols in place and comply with government standards.
We will ensure these protocols include staff practising social distancing and wearing appropriate PPI, regular cleaning and disinfection of high frequency touch points in all areas and food safety.
Dining
All the restaurants we visit will be researched and inspected regularly to ensure that they follow the strictest health, cleanliness and safety guidelines.
All waiting staff will wear face masks and gloves and we will arrange à la carte dining, waiter-served meals or waiter-assisted buffets throughout the tour. We will not share open-buffet meals with other hotel or restaurant guests.
Hand sanitiser will be provided to the group before and after every food and beverage service. -
Terms and Conditions
Why book with Barrhead?
Fully Protected
All our holidays are fully financially protected.
Your flight & hotel package is fully ATOL protected.
Range
Our bespoke holidays are tailor-made to suit your personal requirements.
We can book flights, rail journeys, accommodation, cruises, attraction tickets and much more.
Industry leading discounts, we won't be beaten on price.
Expert Knowledge
We know because we go – our Touring & Adventure specialists have travelled to over 55 countries.
Reliable & unbiased advice from our trusted travel experts.
Trusted Agent
Multi award-winning agency with almost 50 years experience.
Rated 4.9/5 on Trustpilot – the highest-rated high-street travel agent.
We look after you every step of the way.