15 Days Best of China and Vietnam Group Tour

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Beijing

Temple of Heaven, Hutong, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City

OM local guide will meet you at your hotel lobby at the appointed time. It will be an exciting day as we will explore the world well-known wonders today. The 1st stop is Temple of Heaven, the existing largest structure for sacrifice to heaven and a place where the emperors prayed for a year of abundance. In the visit of Temple of Heaven, you will be astonished by the exquisite ancient Chinese architectures. Besides, you will see local seniors doing morning exercises in the square and full of vigor. You will have chance to watch Chinese Kongfu, Taichi, square dancing, playing cards, playing chess etc.

Then you will enjoy a Beijing Hutong tour by rickshaw with a local family visit, which will give you a deep impression of the local residents' live. A la carte lunch is served at a local restaurant to have a taste of the authentic Chinese food at noon time and have a break at the restaurant.

Then continue this Beijing city treasure tour by a visit to Tian'anmen Square, the world's largest city center square, the locality of numerous major political and historical events. It is the witness of Chinese development. It is only a walking distance from Tian'anmen Square to Forbidden City, the world's existing largest and most complete ancient wooden structure buildings. You will explore the glorious palace halls and gardens for more than 2 hours in Forbidden City, learning the legendary story of the emperors and how the royal family lived there. You will be stunned by the numerous old art treasures exhibited in halls. The memorable Beijing city tour for the 1st day ends by dropping off at your hotel lobby. 

Notes:  At night, a lively and dramatic Chinese Kung Fu Show at the Red Theater or the Acrobatic Show can be your optional night entertainment.  

Forbidden City

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Beijing

Mutianyu Great Wall with round way cable car, exterior of Bird Nest and Water Cube

It will be an exciting day today. In the early morning, guide will pick you up from your hotel lobby. Today we will visit the must-visit spot in Beijing--- Mutianyu Great Wall, one of the famous sections of China Great Wall. It takes about 2 hours driving from the downtown of Beijing to Mutianyu Great Wall. Mutianyu Great Wall was first built in the mid-6th century during the Northern Qi, making it older than the Badaling section.(***Round way cable car are included at Mutianyu Great Wall***)

A la carte lunch is arranged at a good restaurant at the foot of Mutianyu. Drive back to downtown of Beijing. When we reach Beijing, we will have a photo stop outside the Bird Nest and Water Cube, which were the famous sites constructed for 2008 Beijing Olympic. The tour finishes by dropping off at your hotel. If you would like to try local specialty tonight, you could ask for some suggestion about Peking Roast Duck Restaurant.

Mutianyu Great Wall

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Xi'an

Summer Palace, High speed train to Xi'an

In the morning, check out from hotel and start to visit the last spots in Beijing --- Summer Palace, the existing largest, best-preserved imperial garden in China. The Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake are regarded as the representative of Summer Palace. In the park, you could choose to take a boating trip on the lake, enjoying the beautiful royal garden view. Walk along the Long Corridor--- the longest corridor in the world, admiring the extremely rich and prestigious paintings on the beams of the corridor.

A la carte lunch will be arranged at a local restaurant on the way to Beijing West Railway Station to take high speed train (2nd class seat, duration: about 5-5.5 hours) from Beijing to Xi'an. OM guide will wait at the exit of Xi'an train station with our signboard and transfer you to check in hotel. Free at leisure for the rest of the time.

Summer Palace

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Xi'an

Ancient City Wall, Terracotta Warriors, Pottery workshop, Bell Tower Square

Today we will have a full day to explore this historical and cultural city in China. Pick up from hotel in the morning, and then have a visit to the landmark of Xi'an---Xi'an City Wall. You could choose to have a bicycle riding on the city wall (***Bicycle riding is optional and excluded from our price***). 

After that, we will drive to the highlights in Xi'an ---the Terracotta Warriors. On the way to Terracotta Warriors, we will have a stop at a cave dwelling pottery workshop, where you will have chance to learn how to make a miniature terracotta warrior and discover the unique ancient housing style in north China.  A la carte lunch is arranged at a local restaurant nearby Terracotta Warriors. In the afternoon, we will have enough time to visit this world wonder --- Terracotta Warriors, one of the world’s most important archaeological finds, with troops, horses and carriages in battle formation.

When you back to downtown, we will walk around Bell Tower Square, a lively public space where locals gather for activities, surrounded by traditional hutongs and modern city life. The tour finishes by dropping-off at the hotel lobby.

Notes: You could ask your local guide for some information about evening entertainment or night show, such as Tang Dynasty Show.

Terracotta Warriors

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Shanghai

Muslim Quarter, Gao's Courtyard, Big Wild Goose Pagoda North Plaza, Fly to Shanghai

You will have a leisure morning for your to walk around. Then our guide will meet you at hotel and help you with check-out. Continue to the well-known Muslim Quarter to visit Gao's Courtyard, which is a wonderful choice for you to appreciate ancient residences and explore the local culture of shadow puppetry. Continue to our trip to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda North Plaza, from which you will have photo stop at this landmark of Xi'an and enjoy the magnificent and world top music fountain show at the plaza at 12:00 （depends on the availability).

Take a short flight from Xi'an to Shanghai, one of the main gateway cities in China.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Shanghai

Shikumen, Yuyuan Garden, Chenghuangmiao Old Street, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, City History Museum, the Bund

The last day but still an inspiring day to explore the city of Shanghai,the largest and most modern city in mainland China. We will start the tour by walking into Nong Tang, the alleys in Shikumen, where you could witness the locals' relaxing and plain life. You will also find the unique architectural feature of Shanghai.

Then continue the day trip to Yuyuan Garden which is a Chinese classic garden in city downtown. Then continue to explore the Yuyuan Bazaar (Chenghuangmiao Old Street) nearby.

After a la carte lunch is served at a local restaurant, we continue our trip to the foot of The Oriental Pearl TV Tower to visit Shanghai City History Museum(The Former Shanghai Wax Museum), where you will know more about the history and development of Shanghai. Then take the elevator up to the 2nd ball of the TV tower, from which you will have a bird-eye view of Shanghai. Go on driving through Lujiazui, the finance & trade zone in Pudong of Shanghai, where you will find many skyscrapers. We will have a view of the modern skyline of Shanghai.

Then back to the Bund, admire the illuminated buildings lining the Huangpu River. From the Bund, you could see the landmark of Shanghai--- The Oriental Pearl TV Tower as well as other high-rised buildings, just on the opposite of Huangpu River. 

The Bund

Meals: Breakfast
Recommended Hotel: In Hanoi

Fly to Hanoi, tansfer service to hotel in Hanoi

Your China Experience is over as your transfer to the airport by our driver and fly to Hanoi. Upon arriving in Hanoi, we will meet you at the airport by our driver and transfer to hotel. Free at leisure for the rest of the day.

Note:
1. In Shanghai, we generally arrange the free hotel-airport transfer on sharing basis according to all the travelers' departure flights. If a separate private transfer is required, it will cause transfer supplement: US$75 per 5-seat car per way. Independent private transfer service will be required in advance.
2. In Hanoi, generally speaking, the hotel check-in time is after 14:00. Early check-in may cause extra fee.

Hanoi City View

Recommended Hotel: In Hanoi

Hanoi city highlights, Old Quarter Rickshaw, Taste Egg Coffee

After breakfast, our guide will pick you up from your hotel to begin today's full-day tour. Today, Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is the only Asian city with tree-lined avenues, French colonial architecture, tranquil lakes, and oriental temples. The tour includes the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (exterior visit), Ho Chi Minh's stilt house, the Presidential Palace (exterior visit), the One Pillar Pagoda, and the Temple of Literature, the country's first university, founded in 1070.

Continue to the Tran Quoc Pagoda , a Buddhist temple and national heritage site, located next to West Lake. Experience the vibrant energy of Hanoi with a traditional rickshaw tour through the bustling streets. As you weave through its lively neighborhoods, you'll witness the city's fast-paced rhythm up close—passing by local vendors selling a variety of traditional goods and gaining an authentic glimpse into everyday life.

After the ride, immerse yourself in Vietnam's rich coffee culture with a special egg coffee experience. Famous across the country, egg coffee is a unique and delicious local specialty. During this experience, the café owner will show you how to prepare egg coffee allowing you to fully appreciate both the craft and flavor of this iconic drink.

Clothing: Appropriate clothing such as a shirt or t-shirt that covers the shoulders, a skirt and shorts or trousers that reach at least to the knees.

One Pillar Pagoda

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Hanoi

Drive to Ninh Binh, Hoa Lu, Tam Coc & Mua Cave

Embark on a two-hour drive from Hanoi to reach Trang An Landscape Complex in Ninh Binh Province. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014. The Trang An complex is renowned for its magnificent scenery of limestone karst peaks that soar 656 feet (200 meters) above the surrounding terrain and water. The landscape is lush with dense rainforest covering the cliffs and peaks, blending seamlessly with rice paddies and rivers to create a picturesque patchwork of colors. Within the complex, visit the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, which was Vietnam's first centralized feudal state in the late 10th century. Although the citadel has mostly vanished, the Dinh and Le dynasty temples remain standing amid rice paddies.

After lunch, proceed to Tam Coc, known as "Halong Bay on Land," where an expert rower will take you on a leisurely 2-hour journey along the winding river and canals. As you enter three of the many natural caves that have formed under the hills, admire the stunning karst formations. Then, hike to Mua mountain, which resembles a bell with an area of about 800 square meters. The dragon or phoenix decorations on the stones flanking the staircase leading to the cave are meticulously carved and strikingly beautiful. The path through the karst zigzags up a long stone staircase with almost 500 steps to a modest altar devoted to Quan Am, the Goddess of Mercy.

Finally, return to Hanoi in the late afternoon.

View of Ninh Binh

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: On board

Halong Bay Cruise

After a leisure breakfast in the hotel, our guide and shuttle bus will pick you up at lobby of hotel and start journey east to Halong Bay, through picturesque rice-farming villages of the Red River Delta, where we see every day Vietnamese village life.

On arrival, we board a beautiful traditional cruise and spend a full day and night cruising the bay's 3000 magnificent limestone islets. Enjoy lunch as the ship gently sails through the bay. In the evening when the boat is anchored in the middle of the stunning lagoon, don't miss the sunset before having dinner. Later there is opportunity for an evening swim from the side of the boat. Spend the night on the cruise.

Note: In case of bad weather, the itinerary might be changed or canceled if the boats are not allowed to leave the port. Your travel consultant will make other arrangements for you in this case.

Halong Bay

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Ho Chi Minh

Meals: Hotel breakfast & Chinese lunch
Recommended Hotel: In Ho Chi Min

Meals: Breakfast& Lunch
Recommended Hotel: in Ho Chi Minh

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch