KONG: SKULL ISLAND tour and following Kong’s footsteps across Vietnam in 11 Days

IDC Travel’s tour guide and driver will meet you at the airport exit gate when you arrive at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi.

Our tour guide will quickly discuss your tour program, general and important information for your time in Vietnam, double check with you on topics you may need to clarify, and verify with you for the following day pick up time on the way from the airport to the hotel.

If time permits, we will ride cyclo around the Old Quarter, see a late-afternoon Water Puppet Show, and enjoy a welcome meal.

Overnight in a Hanoi hotel

Hoan Kiem Lake – Hanoi

We depart Hanoi at 8.30 a.m. after breakfast for Halong Bay (180KM).

Arrive at Hon Gai Wharf around midday, when the junk sailors will greet you on board.

While cruising into Ha Long Bay, have welcome beverages and settle into your cabin, followed by a meal of excellent local seafood. After 2 hours, arrive in Vung Vieng. When you start kayaking around Vung Vieng fishing hamlet and the secret lagoons of Bai Tu Long Bay, you’ll see a lot of these famous karsts that occur throughout Kong: Skull Island.

Back to rubbish to rest or watch the sunset. Dinner and stay on board in the adjacent hamlet of Vung Vieng (or Trinh Nu cave)

Ha Long Bay

In the morning: Early risers may take in the dawn and the peaceful, breath-taking splendor of the Bay’s scenery. Ala carte service is available from 7.30 to 10.30 a.m. (Guests can place any orders of any dishes in the menu at any time they want).

Begin exploring Ba Cua beach at 8 a.m., where tourists enjoy swimming, sunbathing, and resting. Back to the rubbish, sort bags, and check out the stateroom while we cruise back. Disembark around 11.30 a.m.

In the afternoon: Transfer to Ninh Binh (200KM from Ha Long Bay)

We settle in and relax before dinner when we get at Ninh Binh.

Ninh Binh overnight

We begin our full-day tour of Ninh Binh after breakfast at the hotel.

First, we go to Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s historic capital, and see the famed old temples of the Le and Dinh Dynasties. Then we go to Van Long dock and enjoy a short boat ride into the reservoir at Van Long Nature Reserve, which is the largest wetland in northern Vietnam. Many of the sequences in Kong: Skull Island were also shot here.

Lunch should be taken at a neighboring restaurant.

In the afternoon, we take a boat journey to Trang An, one of the filming locations for Kong: Skull Island, which has wooded limestone mountains contrasted in green sea, caverns, lowland, and rivers.We will tour an 11-cave network with stunning stalactites of all forms and hues.

Later in the afternoon, we board our car and return to Hanoi (110 kilometers) for dinner.

Recheck into the hotel and spend the night in Hanoi

Evening optional activities in Hanoi:

– Have a drink at a neighbouring café/bar/pub.

– Exploring the downtown Hanoi area (walking streets on Weekends from Friday night until Sunday around Old Quarter areas and Hoan Kiem Lake)

– Go on a nighttime motorbike/scooter/walking tour.

Today, we will see the following Hanoi highlights:

– The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and his stilted dwelling. You’ll learn about the man who spearheaded Vietnam’s independence movement from French colonial domination.

– The Imperial Citadel, for more than a millennium the pinnacle of regional political authority, where research and excavation are now ongoing

The Temple of Literature – Hanoi

Following lunch, we go to the Temple of Literature, which was established in honor of the Chinese scholar Confucius.

The journey continues with the Ethnology Museum, where you may learn about the culture, customs, languages, and dwellings of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups.

Back to the motel to rest.

After checking out, our tour guide will meet you at your hotel for supper and drive you to the Hanoi train station in time for the 19:30 train. The train arrives in Dong Hoi, Quang Binh, approximately 05.30 the next morning.

When you arrive, a driver will be ready to take you to breakfast. Then, we go on a one-day journey into the heart of tropical Tu Lan to witness the epic natural magnificence of Phong Nha National Park, which is home to the world’s largest cave and is also known as the home of Kong in the film.

Visit Hang Chuot, Hung Ton Caves, and To Mo Valley on an outing. In a voyage into the heart of Central Vietnam’s natural reserve, explore karts, rainforests, waterfalls, and river caves.

Before traveling to the spectacular Hung Ton Cave and To Mo Valley, see the massive structures of Hang Chuot (Rat Cave).

Back to the hotel for dinner and relaxation.

After an early breakfast, we check out and go to the railway station in time for the 07:25AM train to Da Nang.

13:00: Arrive in Da Nang, transport to Hoi An hotel for check-in and relaxation.

Hoian walking excursion in the afternoon.

We will begin our trek in a little lane between Phan Chu Trinh Street and Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street. This is a typical Hoi An ancient street that can offer you the excellent ambiance of the ancient town. Visit the Japanese Cover Bridge, Hoi An’s icon.
Following that, we go to Tan Ky, the most famous and authentic historic home in town. Then go to the town market by walking down Nguyen Thai Hoc, Hoi An’s old street.Visit the Hoi An local market and the Phuc Kien Congressional Assembly Hall, which serves as a gathering place for the Chinese community from Fukien province in China, as well as the worshiping temple to Thien Hau, the Goddess who protects people on the sea, which was once very important to Chinese merchants and fishermen.

Then you have time to explore the town on your own or go shopping.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will begin our riding journey to Tra Que Village. (A car is available upon request.)

We’ll ride our bikes to a nearby farm in Tra Que village. After a brief trip around the vegetable garden, you may help the farmers in preparing the field and fertilizing it with seaweed from the nearby lake. Other processes include raking the ground, seeding, watering, vegetable harvesting, and many other gardening chores. After all of this, we’ll take a little break before making lunch with a local family.

Our lunch will include a variety of local dishes such as “Tam Huu” spring rolls and Banh Xeo, a local pancake popular in Vietnam’s central region. On these dinners, you may prepare with the chef. Following your morning excursions and lunch, we will enjoy a typical Vietnamese postprandial siesta before learning how to gather and wrap veggies.

Return to the hotel, check out, and be taken to Da Nang International Airport for an afternoon flight to Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City.

Collect at the airport and transport to the hotel for check-in.

We will have dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight stay in a hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Evening optional activities in Ho Chi Minh City:

– Enjoy local café/pub/bar beverages.

– Strolling around the night walking street (Bui Vien, De Tham streets)

– Go on a nighttime scooter or motorcycle trip.

After breakfast, we will begin our full-day exploration of the Mekong Delta. We can see the lush paddy fields reaching to the horizon on the approach (3 hours driving).

We take a boat in Cai Be to explore the gorgeous nature of the Mekong Delta and the active floating market customers negotiating. Following that, a rowing boat cruises through a maze of shady canals to arrive at a nearby orchard to observe the everyday activities and artisan villages of the locals. Lunch is served in the fruit garden during the break.

After lunch, we take a boat down the Mekong River to Vinh Long, a tropical fruit center, where we will make a brief stop at the Vinh Long market. We then make our way across the famous My Thuan suspension bridge and take a break at the Mekong Rest Stop before getting back to Saigon.

A restaurant dinner. Overnight in Saigon

After breakfast, we go on a full-day trip of Ho Chi Minh City and the Cu Chi Tunnels.

The Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office are our first stops. Notre Dame Cathedral was erected between 1877 and 1883, with all the stone supplied from France.

The Central Post Office, which lies next to the cathedral, was completed in 1891. It is Vietnam’s largest post office and another superb example of French architecture.

We continue with The Reunification Palace, which served as the former residence of South Vietnam’s President until April 30, 1975.

Then we go to the War Remnants Museum, which contains a multitude of photos from the wars, the most affecting of which is the ‘Requiem’ display, which is devoted to Vietnamese and international journalists and photographers who died during the French and American campaigns.

In Ho Chi Minh City, we have lunch.

We will go on an expedition to the famed Cu Chi tunnels in the afternoon. During the 1960s, this network of tunnels, which spanned over 200 kilometers, became renowned. The Cu Chi tunnels were crucial in the Vietnam War because they allowed the Viet Cong to dominate a huge rural region roughly 30 to 40 kilometers from Saigon. At its peak, the tunnel system connected Saigon to the Cambodian border. The network, which had multiple levels, included several trap doors, specially built living rooms, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers, and kitchens.

For our advantage, the tunnels have been expanded (otherwise we would not be able to enter). Those who are interested can even test out an AK47 or MK16 at the neighboring rifle range.

We fly back to Ho Chi Minh City for a goodbye meal.

Relax and spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.

We have breakfast at the hotel.

Our car and tour guide will follow the group to surrounding renowned markets for shopping before transferring to the airport for your return journey.

Sweet home!