10Days Formula 1 Grand Prix Vietnam April 2020

Begin your journey to the Cu Chi Tunnels by departing at around 8am from your hotel and travel through the countryside which was once a stronghold of the Viet Cong. Upon arrival, watch a short video about what life was like for soldiers who lived there during the war. The cramped tunnels were central to a few of the war’s strategic operations, including the famous 1968 Tet Offensive, and they didn’t escape damage. American B52 bombers dropped hundreds of missiles leaving huge tell-tale craters behind. The tunnels served not only as living quarters, but as supply routes and hospitals for thousands of guerilla fighters. Many died there from malaria and other diseases, and a few were also born or married. Today they are viewed by some as a testimony to the Vietnamese people’s resiliency.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

Your guide will meet you at your hotel and driven to Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, one of Saigon’s most notable pagodas. Built in traditional Vietnamese architecture style, the main building boasts intricate wood carvings. The main hall is home to a huge Buddha statue whilst the backside hall is dedicated to Mother Goddesses, venerable monks and spirits.Visit the city’s Central Post Office, which was designed by the renowned French architect Gustav Eiffel. Next, stroll toward the Saigon River along Dong Khoi Street, which figured prominently in Graham Greene’s famous Vietnam novel, The Quiet American, to the Saigon Opera House, a commanding building completed in 1901. Shelled during World War II, it was used to shelter French citizens fleeing North Vietnam in 1954, the year Vietnam earned its independence from France.

Depart from your hotel at 8am and drive about 2 hours from Saigon to the township of Cai Be to board the Cai Be Princess. The crew welcomes you aboard with cold towels and a refreshing drink as the Cai Be Princess Sampan sets off for its leisurely cruise on the busy waterways of the Mekong Delta.

On the river, all sorts of boats ply the water, from small fishing boats to cargo barges loaded with fruit and vegetables. Observe a little of river life as it plays out on the banks - noting the people and the stunning landscapes - while your attentive crew serves you tea and seasonal fruit. At Tan Phong Islet board a little rowing boat to explore the canal’s hidden mangroves. Return to your sampan to visit an ancient house built in the 19th century. Make stops along the way to provide glimpses of local cottage industries, including factories for the production of coconut candy and puffed rice (the local equivalent of popcorn), products that provide a living for the river people.

Your cruise ends at Le Longanier Restaurant. Lunch is served in this exquisite colonial-style villa set in a lush tropical garden by the river, surrounded by fruit trees, giving you a sense of life during the Indochina of yesteryear. After lunch, take a short walk along a small canal, towards the Ba Bon Bridge where your personal vehicle awaits to drive you to Ho Chi Minh City. Arrive at your hotel in the afternoon

Your guide will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your flight.

Upon arrival, your guide will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel.

Your guide will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your flight.

Upon arrival, your guide will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel.

Full day at leisure

 to see Free Practice 1 & 2

• Morning: Free Practice 1: duration ~1h30
• Afternoon: Free Practice 2: duration ~1h30

Transfer to F1 races.

• Morning: Free Practice 3: duration ~1h00
• Afternoon: Qualifying: duration ~0h45:
  • Q1: duration ~18mins: from 20 drivers, eliminate 5 slowest drivers (and any driver whose best lap takes longer than 107% of the fastest time in Q1 will not be allowed to start the race without permission from the stewards)
  • Q2: duration ~15mins: remaining 15 drivers, eliminate 5 slowest drivers
  • Q3: duration ~12mins: remaining 10 drivers, determines the starting order for the race on Sunday

Morning city tour including the historically important Ba Dinh Square, the very place where Ho Chi Minh read the Proclamation of Independence and where the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum was built. Uncle Ho’s final resting place, witness the imposing structure from outside and hear about the man who led Vietnam’s campaign for independence from French colonial rule. Afterward, set off through central Hanoi toward the Temple of Literature, the oldest university in Hanoi and a perfect example of ancient architecture built in homage to the Chinese scholar Confucius. Continue this captivating tour of Hanoi with a cyclo ride. Equal parts transportation and travel experience, these traditional bicycle rickshaws move at a leisurely pace that’s perfect for photos and slow-moving sightseeing. Sit back and relax whilst weaving through some of the Old Quarter’s busiest streets. Finish the tour of Hanoi’s highlights on a sweet note by indulging in a cup of the iconic egg coffee at one of the city’s quaint coffee shops.

Afternoon transfer to F1 races to see Grand Prix.

Transfer to the airport.