Exploring Vietnam – 12 days

DAY 1: HANOI CITY TOUR (L)

Arrival in Hanoi, we welcome you at airport and transfer to hotel. After a refeshment, start the tour by visiting Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ho Chi Minh Museum. Enjoy the architectural and historical aspects of Uncle Ho’s final resting-palace. Just next door is Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts where he used to live in the past. Lying to one side of the Mausoleum is the One Pillar Pagoda, built by King Ly Thai To in 1049 the structure has become an important symbol for the people of Hanoi. Continue to visit the Temple of Literature (Quoc Tu Giam) – Vietnam’s first University constructed in 1070. Its gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a relaxing glimpse into Vietnam’s past.

Have lunch at local restaurants. Proceed to visit the Ethnology Museum. After that we will take you to Hoan Kiem Lake, see the peaceful water, and visit Ngoc Son Temple. Take an hour cyclo tour around the bustling old quarter to see the ordinary life in Hanoi.

(Read more about these attractions)

At 18.00, Back to your hotel. It’s your free time now to have dinner and a short while to explore the streets of Hanoi. After your dinner, around 20.00,  Our tour assistant pick up from your hotel to go to Tran Quy Cap train station. He will lead you to your cabin on the train. The train departs for Sapa and sleep the night on train. Travel time approx 9 hrs.

DAY 2:  SAPA – Y LINH HO – LAO CHAI – TA VAN  ( B,L,D)

At 5.00am, arrival in Lao Cao station. We will pick you up at Lao Cai railway station by van, to take you to the township ofSapa which takes approx one hour arriving at.

After breakfast and a morning shower, start the first 6km of walking down to the south east of Sapa along the side of Muong Hoa valley to Y Linh Ho village of the Black H’mong. Continue on 2km of trekking down to Lao Chai village of the H’mong. Lunch at a local family, and then walk through terraced rice fields to Ta Van village of the Dzay minority people where we stay for the night. It gives you a worth chance for you to learn about the local house architecture which is full of their daily life styles and exclusive custom. Enjoy the landscapes.

Overnight in a local house of a friendly Dzay familly.

DAY 3: TA VAN – GIANG TA CHAI – SU PAN – SA PA (B,L,D)

Enjoy mountainous landscape with your sunrise coffee, then enjoy a delicious breakfast ready to trek through bamboo forests towards Giang Ta Chai waterfall, cross over a rattan suspension bridge and enter into Giang Ta Chai village which is inhabited by the Red Zao minorities. Here we will experience their daily life then cross over the Muong Hoa River up the mountain to visit Supan village of the H’mong people. We then take the bus back to Sapa. Take a fresh shower in our hotel in Sapa.

At 17.00, going to Lao Cao station and going back to Hanoi on a night train. Overnight on the train.

DAY 4: HA NOI – HA LONG BAY (B,L,D)

Arrive at Tran Quy Cap station (in Hanoi) at 5.00am. Our tour assistant welcomes you back and accompany you to hotel for morning shower and have a breakfast.

Around 08.00, Our guide Pick you up at your hotel and go to Halong bay on a shuttle bus. Take a rest at Humanity center and enjoy local specialties after 2h. Arrival in Halong at 11.45. The captain and crew welcome you aboard. Savor the delicious lunch as boat pass through thousands of Islands and Islets with different shapes.

After lunch, explore the biggest and the most amazing cave in Halong Bay –Surprise Cave. Then Kayaking for an hour around the fishing village and discover the life of community there. Then back to boat for Sunset Party, get to calm, clean water place for swimming. Enjoy delicious and romantic dinner with some barbecue courses.

In the evening, free time for entertainment with the funny plays such as squid fishing, karaoke program, stars watching on sundeck… Spend romantic night on board and overnight on board.

DAY 5: HALONG BAY – NAM CAT ISLAND (B,L,D)

Breakfast, tea and coffee will be served on boat. After breakfast, Start cruising to visit Van Gia floating village and passing by Halong Pearl Farm. Then take a local boat  to Lan Ha bay and biking at Catba national park, to visit VietHai village, in the valley of the heart of Cat Ba National Park. Visit Nam Cat Island and having lunch.

In the afternoon, Swimming or kayaking activities to explore the untouched area in LanHa bay. Visit Monkey island. At 15:30, Check in the Deluxe Bungalow on Nam Cat island – Catba Sandy Beach resort.  Free time for kayaking and swimming in private island. Your leisure time to relax & swimming.

Dinner and overnight in the bungalow on Nam Cat island.

DAY 6: HA LONG BAY – HA NOI – HUE (B,L)

Early morning, start your new day on Halong bay with doing morning exercises,Taichi or hunting photos. Breakfast with coffee or tea. After breakfast, our bus takes you to Cai Beo harbor, get on “Day Boat”, back boat. Then visit Ba Hang Fishing Village by tender to experience the lifestyle of local people. Back to boat restaurant to join cooking class and enjoy lunch.

At 11.45, Disembark and transfer back to Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi at 16.30.

Flight to Hue City. Overnight at hotel in Hue.

DAY 7: HUE CITY TOUR (B,L)

AM: After breakfast, at 08.00, Our guide and driver pick up you at your hotel and then take a full day to discover Hue: visit Emperor Minh Mang’s Mausoleum, Emperor Khai Dinh’s Mausoleum, Performing Programs Of VO KINH VAN AN – Vietnam Traditional Kungfu and Emperor Tu Duc ’s Mausoleums. Stop on the way to see how conical hats and incense sticks are made. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

PM: Visit Imperial capital during Nguyen Dynasty and the seven – storey Thien Mu Pagoda on the riverbank. Return by boat on the gentle Perfume River and do not miss the sunset on the river. You will come back your hotel at 17.30pm to pick up your luguage.

Transfer to Hoi An and stay overnight at hotel in Hoi An.

DAY 8: HOI AN – MY SON SANCTUARY (B,L)

Morning, at 8.00, Our guide picks you up at hotel and leave Hoi An for visiting My Son Holly Land – the ruins of Cham people and was an imperial city during Cham dynasty. Here you can have more chance to explore and understand of technique of Old Cham people in making red bricks to build Tower which still now a secret to everyone, you can see a large complex of religious relics that comprises more than 65 architectural works. It also surprises for those who are curious with architectural art. In 1999, UNESCO labeled the Cham architecture in My Son as a World Cultural Heritage Site. Moreover, you have chance to enjoy traditional music performed by Cham girls in their colorful uniforms.

Afternoon, we will discover the city of Hoi An by foot. The historic town which used to be a prosperous seaport city from the 16th to 18th centuries is now a beautiful city that can’t be missed while touring the South East Asian region. While walking through the city, we will visit Hoi An’s Colorful Local Market, Tan Ky Old House, Fu Jian Assembly Hall, and the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge. Travelers can also see local residents raise silkworms and produce silk for Hoi An’s burgeoning textile industry.

Stay overnight at hotel in Hoi An.

DAY 9: HOI AN – HO CHI MINH (B)

Morning, your leisure time for exploring the ancient town yourself or get a coffee to enjoy the peaceful ambiance of the town. Afternoon, transfer to Da Nang airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh city.

Stay overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh.

DAY 10: HO CHI MINH – MEKONG DELTA (B,L)

Around 8.00am, Leave Ho Chi Minh city, enjoy the scenic journey along the National Highway bordered by green rice fields. On arrived at My Tho, visit Vinh Trang pagoda, take a leisurely boat ride along the river, view stilt houses, fruit plantations and fishing villages along the river bank. Proceed to Tortoise islet, have lunch in the orchard garden. Then a boat ride to An Khanh, a less touristy attraction in Ben Tre, enjoy cruising on a hand-rowed sampan under the shade of the water coconut trees along natural canals.

Have a short cycling tour then enjoy seasonal fruit & honey tea to the sound of “Southern Vietnamese folk music”, performed by the locals. Visit a family business which epitomizes the idyllic rural lifestyle, taste delicious coconut candy & observe the pastoral life as you roam through fruit plantations and villages. Proceed to Can Tho. Free time to visit bustling Can Tho market.

Stay overnight in Can Tho.

DAY 11: MEKONG DELTA – HO CHI MINH (B,L)

Take a leisurely boat trip to explore the picturesque tributaries of the Lower Mekong river ( Bassac River), then proceed to visit Cai Răng floating market (Alt: Phong Dien market), which are the liveliest in the whole religion. Have you ever tasted Vietnamese vermicelli soup? Well, now go and see how it is made. Then wander around the village and meet the friendly local people and experience how to cross a “Monkey bridge” which is built by only o­ne stem of bamboo. Visit the orchard garden.

Stop for lunch. On the way back to Ho Chi Minh city by bus the last stop is to see how incense sticks are made. Arrive in Ho Chi Minh city at 05.30pm.

Stay overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh.

DAY 12: HO CHI MINH & CU CHI TUNNEL – DEPARTURE (B,L)

Morning, Ho Chi Minh City tour. We start the trip by visiting Notre Dame Cathedral, the historic Central Post Office, followed by exploring the Reunification Palace, and the remarkable site of the War Remnants Museum, (optional Ben Thanh Market – only drop off).

Afternoon, visit Cu Chi Tunnels. Located 60km from HCMC, Cu Chi is now a popular spot for both Vietnamese & foreign tourists – 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.

Finish the tour at 17.30. We transfer you to airport for your departure flight.

End of the journey!