This short excursion introduces travelers to Vietnam’s two key cities: the bustling southern city of Saigon, and Hanoi, the northern heart of Vietnamese culture. Begin your journey with a two-night stay in Saigon, where you will visit the colorful Binh Tay Market, Cholon (Chinatown), Reunification Palace, and the important War Remnants Museum. Also spend a day in the country visiting the Cao Dai Temple and the Cu Chi tunnels or heading out for an excursion to the Mekong Delta. Next, fly to Hanoi, the cosmopolitan urban gem in northern Vietnam. Visit the late Ho Chi Minh’s traditional teakwood house and the mausoleum where his body is interred. Also visit Hanoi’s Temple of Literature, a testament to the Confucian history of the city. Meander through the Old Quarter, a warren of elegant colonial buildings now inhabited by a range of craftspeople, and visit the city’s many impressive modern art galleries. Your final day can be spent exploring Hanoi at your leisure or taking an optional trip to mystical Halong Bay. At Halong Bay, thousands of limestone rock sculptures jut dramatically from the sea and numerous grottoes have created an ephemeral, fantastic landscape. After this brief but enjoyable foray into Vietnam, you will be transferred to the airport for your departure flight.