Day 1: Depart USA. Your exotic journey to Vietnam begins as you check in today for your flight bound for Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 2: Saigon. Arrive to Ho chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) today. Vietnam's largest city is the industrial, and cultural center of the country. After clearing customs you are greeted by the local guide who will remain with you throughout your stay. Transfer to your elegant Majestic Hotel , a luxurious Art-Deco style hotel built in 1920. Tonight enjoy a delicious welcome dinner with traditional music and dance at Rex Royal Court. (D)

Day 3: Saigon. Set off on a guided sightseeing tour of the French colonial architecture of Ho Chi Minh City, once called the "Pearl of the Orient" and still commonly referred to as Saigon. The first stop on your tour is Reunification Hall, the former Presidential Palace. Here everything has been left much as it was April 30, 1975, the day Saigon fell. Next visit the neo-Romanesque Notre Dame Cathedral, a prominent legacy of French culture and style. In the centery of the city, enjoy browsing through lively Ben Thanh Market, one of Saigon's most famous open markets. Lunch at le Chateau. Afternoon free for shopping. Dinner at Binh Quoi with folk show. Majestic Hotel (B/L/D)

Day 4: Saigon-Mytho. Today's expedition takes you to Mytho, one of the most beautiful areas of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam's most fertile agricultural center. You'll get to take a boat trip along narrow canals which offers a unique insight into local village life. Visit coconut candy factory, bee raising family and some lush orchards in the village. Delicious lunch is served in a typical Mekong Delta garden. Majestic Hotel (B/L)

Day 5: Danang / Hoi An. Board a short flight to Danang. Here, visit the Cham museum, which houses an exquisite collection of sandstone carvings and sculptures. Next stop is the Marble Mountain, a cluster of five limestone peaks rising dramatically from a flat plain. Historically, the Marble Mountain was a sacred place of pilgrimage for Hindus and Buddhists, who built altars in the caves. Proceed to China Beach, which was the site of the largest base during the Vietnam War and where the first American forces landed in Vietnam. Tranfer to Hoian. This charming medieval city was once a busy port which attracted Dutch, Portuguese, and Japanese trading vessels in centuries past. Learn the rich history of this unique town on a guided stroll through streetscapes of elegant pagoda, colonnaded French buildings and the Japanese Bridge, gracefully curving over a tributary of the Phu Bon River and Phuc Kien Pagoda. Hoi An Hotel (B/L/D)

Day 6: Hoian / My Son. A free day to visit this charming city on foot or join an optional tour to visit the Cham ruins in My Son. Hoi An Hotel (B)

Day 7: Hoian / Hue. Travel today through some of the Vietnam's most spectacular scenery as you cross the Hai Van Pass (Ocean Cloud Pass) and enjoy pristine coastline views en route to Hue, the former Imperial Capital of Vietnam. Upon arrival, visit the Citadel in the old city, the Flag Tower, Ngo Mon Gate (Noon Gate) and the Forbidden Purple City, the former home of the Royal Family before 1945. Although the Citadel suffered severe damage during the Vietnam War, you can still see where the kings and queens lived; where they discussed literature and listened to concerts; and where they were educated and buried. Enjoy dinner tonight at one of the most beautiful and exquisite restaurants in Hue, Tinh Vien Tu. Your home tonight will be the chic Saigon Morin Hotel built in 1901. (B/L/D)

Day 8: Hue. Set out on a boat-trip along the Perfume River to see Hue's oldest pagoda, Thien Mu. Then journey on to the palatial royal tombs of Minh Mang and Tu Duc. Lunch will be served on board. Saigon Morin Hotel (B/L)

Day 9: Hue / Hanoi. Board a short flight to Hanoi, elegant capital of Vietnam. Hanoi's rich history is closely tied to Chinese and French colonialism whose influences are evident in the city's architecture, cuisine and culture. After lunch , you'll explore some of the highlights of this fascinating city. Visits to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the One Pillar Pagoda. Dinner at the famous Indochine Restaurant followed by a performance of the centuries-old art of water puppetry at Thang Long Theater. Horison Hotel (B/L/D)

Day 10: Hanoi. Morning city tour includes visits to to the Temple of Literature, Hoan Kiem Lake and the historic Old Quarter. Afternoon free. Horison Hotel (B)

Day 11: Hanoi / Halong Bay. This morning travel to Ha Long Bay via Hai Phong, the second largest in the North. After hotel check-in, embark on a boat ride visiting Halong Bay. The bay is comprised of over 3,000 small jagged limestone islands that rise out of the South China Sea. These dramatic rock formations are the backdrop of your 5-hour exciting boat cruise today where a seafood lunch will be served on board. You'll stop to visit several above-ground caves filled with spectacular stalacite formations. Halong Plaza Hotel (B/L)

Day 12: Halong / Hanoi / Laocai. Drive through the rural landscapes of northern Vietnam with a visit to a local crafts village en route to Hanoi. Afternoon free. Tonight board a night train to Laocai via Victoria Train. Dinner will be served on train. Couchette accommodation in A/C compartment . (B/D)

Day 13: Laocai / Sapa. Morning arrival in Laocai. Transfer to hotel in Sapa, a place famous for its pristine landscape. Sapa is home to more than 30 colorful hill tribes and to Vietnam's highest peak, the 3,143 meters Mount Fansipan. After lunch visit to Ta Van Village. In the evening you'll get to see the famous Cho Tinh (Love Market) where the hill tribe people come to meet and maybe find some romance if they're lucky. It's quite charming and unforgettable. Victoria Sapa Hotel . (B/L/D)

Day 14: Sapa / Bac Ha. Early departure to catch the famous morning Sunday market in Bac Ha. Transfer to Lao Cai for night train back to Hanoi. O/Night on Victoria train. (B/L)

Day 15: Hanoi. AM arrival in Hanoi. After breakfast at hotel, enjoy your relaxing day to explore Hanoi on your own. Farewell dinner at the elegant Seasons of Hanoi. Horison Hotel (B/D)

Day 16: Hanoi / Los Angeles. Transfer to airport for flight to the US. Arrive in LA later today.