Explore Vietnam

ITINERARY

• DAY 1

  Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam!

  Welcome to Hanoi, the Capital City of Vietnam!

  Our local guide will welcome you to Noi Bai airport; it takes us 35 minutes to drive to the center of Hanoi. Check-in the hotel and have a short time to freshen up.

  Late afternoon, have an overall view of the capital by a “cyclo” visit, which will go through the fascinating network of narrow alleys and shop houses also known as ‘The 36 Streets’ – each street being named after the merchandise traditionally sold there, ranging from fabrics to crafts and from medicines to tombstones. Drop by at Ngoc Son Temple, located on Hoan Kiem Lake. End of the day, we will enjoy a unique, fascinating show of Water Puppetry, a traditional stage art of Northern Vietnam. Welcome dinner will be followed at the fine dining restaurant. Overnight in Hanoi.

  What's included?

  • Dinner
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
  • Transfer
• DAY 2

  Hanoi - City tour

  Today, we will start our city tour from the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his simple house-on-stilts, and the One-Pillar pagoda near Ba Dinh Square, where the most solemn ceremonies of Hanoi take place. Go on to the Temple of Literature, the very first high school for Vietnam Scholars and a temple dedicated to Confucious. Have lunch at KOTO Van Mieu restaurant, which provides hospitality and life skills to disadvantaged youth in Vietnam.

  Continue the trip to picturesque West Lake to visit Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest pagoda in Hanoi, built in the 6th Century. In the afternoon, we will move on to the Museum of Ethnology, where you can find an entire collection of 54 ethnic groups living in Vietnam and the wonderful implications of artifacts and patterns from their traditional handicrafts and clothes. Overnight in Hanoi.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
• DAY 3

  Overnight in Train - Visit the capital city of ancient Vietnam, Ninh Binh

  After breakfast, drive to Ninh Binh, the site of the one capital city of ancient Vietnam before Hanoi took its leading role in the 11th century. The area is featured in many well-known sceneries, including Tam Coc Caves and Hoa Lu ancient capital, with the old temples dedicated to King Dinh & King Le reigned in the 10th century. The visit to Ninh Binh starts with a boat trip in Tam Coc, where spectacular limestone karsts just out from the green paddy fields remind us of Guilin (China) and Halong Bay of Vietnam, which gives this scenery the name “Halong-bay-on-land.” Further discovery in Ninh Binh will be continued by visiting Thai Vi Temple and Bich Dong Pagoda. Late afternoon turn back to Hanoi. Take a rest at your day-use mini intel. Dinner at your own arrangement before transferring to Hanoi Railway Station to board the night train to Lao Cai, the land of the hill tribe people. Overnight on the train at 4-berth wooden compartment with AC.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
  • Train
• DAY 4

  Sapa - Experience the weekly market in Bac Ha

  Arrive at Lao Cai Station at 06.00 am and be transferred for breakfast at a local restaurant.

  If today is Saturday, Sunday, or Tuesday, nothing will be better than driving overland to a market of the hill tribal people, mainly from Flower Hmong ethnic group.
  After breakfast, we will drive toward Bac Ha, about 70km from Lao Cai. With a dozen tribes living in the surroundings, including Flower Hmong, Chinese, Nhang, Dzao, Nung, Phu La, Thai, and King (or Viet), the market is fascinating, especially in the early morning. The winding road to Bac Ha helps maintain the area’s colors (in both literal and figurative sense). The distance to Can Cau and Coc Ly from Bac Ha is 23 miles (37km).

  In all these markets, we can meet hundreds of beautiful women from the Flower Hmong tribe, who are famous for their wonderful craft and hand-made flowering clothes and textile fabrics, or intermingle with people from Black Hmong, Dzay, Dzao, and other ethnic groups coming to the market not for purchasing stuff, but for meeting and chatting – just once a week – like in an authentic cultural center. After lunchtime, we can hike around or take our car heading to further hamlets in Ban Pho, Trieu Cai, or Na Hoi, and in the afternoon, drive to Sapa.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
• DAY 5

  Overnight on train - Talk and learn the Hmong Ethic lives in Cat Cat Village

  After breakfast, hanging around with our guide visiting the Sapa town, including the church, walk the streets where we can meet the Montagnards and admire their handicrafts made of wood, silver, or dyed and embroidered fabrics and clothes. We then take 1.2 miles(2 km) short trekking to Cat Cat Village, the home of Hmong Ethic. Meeting and talking with locals to learn more about their daily life. Go on to Lao Chai (10km from Sapa) and walk through 3km to Tavan with stops at the villages of the tribal people Hmong. Afternoon drive to Lao Cai Station to board the night train back to Hanoi. Overnight on the train. (a 4-berth wooden compartment with AC).

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
  • Train
• DAY 6

  Overnight on Cruise - Halong Bay

  Upon arrival in Hanoi, we will be picked up at the Station and arrive in a mini-hotel for Breakfast and a short relaxation before transferring to Halong Bay. At 9 am, head East for more than 2 hours to Halong Bay, the pride of the Gulf of Tonkin, a Natural World Heritage designated by UNESCO in 1994 and 2006. The road will pass by the Red River delta with green paddy fields and rural villages, where hard-working farmers are busy with their farming jobs, plowing buffaloes, or planting seedlings. Upon arrival in Halong, check in the overnight cruise to discover the magnificent beauty of this “Descending-dragon” bay, created by thousands of odd-shaped limestone rocks and karst grottoes. After lunch on board, we can visit the Grottos, stop for swimming or kayaking, pass floating houses, and approach islets enjoy their beauty from a close distance. Back to the cruise, enjoy cooking demonstrations before having dinner. Evening attends activities on the boat or relaxes at your leisure. Overnight stay is on the cruise.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
  • Cruise/Boat
• DAY 7

  Hue – Seeing the miraculous sunrise over the islets of the Bay

  You wake up early to enjoy the dawn on the sea in the early morning. The Vietnamese call the “East Sea” by the point-oriented name “Eastern Sea,” so you may guess how miraculous seeing the sunrise over the islets of the Bay. After breakfast, our boat will continue to cruise in marvelous areas, where almost every islet has its name, adopting its shape or reminiscent like Sail Island, Fisherman’s head rock, Butterfly rock, Turtle islet, etc. Check out your room and have brunch on board while the cruise comes back to the pier. Disembark from the cruise, transfer overland to Noi Bai Airport for boarding the flight to Hue, the Old Capital of Vietnam, before Hanoi took its role as the current Capital City of Vietnam. Upon arrival, the local tour guide picked you up and transferred you to the check-in hotel. Dinner and overnight in Hue.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
  • Transfer
• DAY 8

  HUe - Full day sightseeing in Hue

  Being recognized by UNESCO as the 1st Cultural World Heritage for Vietnam, Hue is highlighted by the old royal architectural works and the most traditional Vietnamese lifestyle. We will discover the city’s charm from the Royal Citadel, Forbidden City, and Hue Royal Museum. Go on a boat trip on the Perfume River to visit the Thien Mu pagoda, the iconic of Hue city. Lunch at a local restaurant.

  In the afternoon, visit the Tombs of King Minh Mang and Khai Dinh – two important monuments of the Nguyen Emperors since the early 19th and early 20th centuries with their unique beauty. Visit Dong Ba Market after that. Overnight in Hue.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
• DAY 9

  Hoi An - Walk over the tile-roofed Japanese Bridge and stroll into the market by the Thu Bon river

  Have breakfast at the hotel and check out. Transfer to Hoi An, an architectural combination of Vietnamese, Japanese, and Chinese styles. The trip will take more than 3-hour driving through Hai Van Pass (the “Ocean Cloudy Mountain Pass”), enjoying the beauty of Lang Co Beach en route. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel.

  Afternoon, you take an exciting walk over the tile-roofed Japanese Bridge, visit taciturn Chinese Assembly Halls, enjoy the attractiveness of ancient houses or listen to the folk music of Central Vietnam at old club-houses. Later we can stop at shrines or stroll into the market by the Thu Bon river, where you may find the same feelings as the artists who see the rooftops of Hoian, a magical old world of Oriental feel and source of inspiration. This is also a wonderful town to shop for lanterns, soft silk, raw silk, or get your clothes tailored within a day. The rest of the day will be free on your own to discover the town lighten up with thousands of colorful lanterns and a night market by the River. Overnight in Hoian.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
• DAY 10

  Hoi An - Cooking Class & My Son Sanctuary tour

  Today is your time for a cooking class to learn more about Vietnamese cuisine. With your tour guide, you will be transferred by boat trip to a local market to purchase the food. Here your guide will explain to you the river life, traditional fishing methods, and how to choose the food for your lunch. After that, having a cooking lesson with our chef at the floating restaurant. Enjoy your lunch and take a short rest.

  Afternoon, drive to visit My Son Sanctuary, where you can discover the hidden treasure of the Cham culture that once brightly developed in the area of present Central Vietnam. Thanks to the beauty and secrets of building the Cham Towers, The My Son Sanctuary has also been designated by UNESCO as one of the five World Heritages in Vietnam and is a remarkable architectural ensemble that developed over the ten centuries. Transfer back to Hoian Town.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
  • Cruise/Boat
• DAY 11

  Ho Chi Minh - Dinner cruise on Saigon River

  Breakfast at the hotel. Time at leisure for a stroll around Hoian’s ancient town to shop or relax at the beach. Afternoon, transfer to the airport for the flight to Saigon.

  Upon your arrival at Saigon (official name as Ho Chi Minh City nowadays) – Vietnam’s most hectic and business city, you were welcomed by our guide and transferred to your hotel for check-in and relaxation. Dinner on the cruise on Saigon River, and enjoy traditional folk music on board. Overnight in Saigon.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
  • Transfer
• DAY 12

  Ho Chi Minh - Saigon city tour and see the Cu Chi Tunnels

  After breakfast, your day will begin with a visit to the Reunification Palace. They witnessed the fierce Vietnam War that ended in 1975. The grand building today is a Museum and Hall of official receptions. Nearby the Palace is the Notre Dame Cathedral (view from outside only), built between 1877 and 1883, and the colonial-styled Central Post Office, one of the city’s major landmarks. Then visit Ben Thanh market, a symbol of Saigon. Lunch at a local restaurant.

  In the afternoon, transfer to visit Cu Chi tunnels – the network of over 200km of tunnels became legendary when they played a vital role in the War. In their heyday, the tunnels were functioning underground cities, including numerous trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers & kitchens. After a short introductory video showing how the tunnels were constructed, you will have a chance to crawl into a short section of the tunnels to feel the oppressive narrowness and heat inside. Return and overnight in Saigon.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
• DAY 13

  Ho Chi Minh - Boat cruising on Mekong Delta

  Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Head to My Tho, the homeland of coconut and family factories with local products like coconut candy, rice paper,… Upon arrival, embark on the boat cruising on the mighty Mekong River, viewing the life of the local people living along the banks. We stop to visit an island in the area and enjoy the fresh tropical fruits served in the heart of the lush garden accompanied by traditional southern Vietnamese folk music. Later, embark on other small boats rowed by the local people through the small canals shadowed by water coconut trees to visit the local factories. There you will taste the honey tea and see the local people produce the coconut candy, milk, and of course, you also can try it or stroll in the garden where the locals feed honeybees. Lunch is served at a local restaurant by the river.

  In the afternoon, continue to visit Vinh Trang pagoda, a famous pagoda in the area with an architectural combination of Chinese, Cambodian, and French cultures. Return to Saigon late afternoon. Overnight in Saigon.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
  • Cruise/Boat
• DAY 14

  Depart to the airport to fly back home or extension to the next destination

  Breakfast at the hotel. Time at leisure until check-out time and transfer to the airport for the departure flight back to your sweet home or extending some days for beach relaxation or next destination.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Transfer