Day 1: Ha Noi Arrival
Arrival in Hanoi – Pick up & transfer to the hotel for check-in. Free at leisure. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 2: Hanoi Full Day City Tour – Overnight Train to Lao Cai (B)
Start the tour with a visit to see important buildings in Ba Dinh Square, and view the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Temple of Literature. Head to the Hoa Lo Prison museum. Used by French Colonists for political prisoners till 1954 and later by North Vietnam for American POWs, the prison complex was sarcastically nicknamed the 'Hanoi Hilton' by American pilots during Vietnam War (1954-1975). Famous ex-prisoners of war include Pete Peterson (the first US ambassador to a unified Vietnam in 1995), and US Senator John McCain.
Continue on to the heart of Hanoi by Cyclo - visit the Hoan Kiem Lake, with its magnificent The Huc Bridge and Ngoc Son temple. Experience the spiritual harmony of different religions coexisting in the same place. Enjoy Water Pupet Show.
Day 3: Lao Cai Arrival – Sapa – Trekking to Cat Cat (B)
Arriving in Lao Cai in the morning, transfer by road to Sapa. Once there, walk around the foothills and cross an array of rice terraces before strolling across lush tea plantations. Along the way, meet some of the hill-tribe people. Arrive in Sapa – Pick up & transfer to the hotel. Start your trekking to Cat Cat, walk around the foothills and cross an array of rice terraces before strolling across lush tea plantations. Along the way, meet some of the hill-tribe people. Head out on a walking tour of Sapa town and also visit the town’s market. This is where you can indulge in some local goods, such as dyed fabrics, hemp plants and handmade textiles. From the market, venture out on a short trek (approximately 2.5 hours) to visit a hill-tribe village called Cat Cat. This is home to the H’mong people, who emigrated from China 300 years ago. Overnight in Sapa
Day 04: Free day in Sapa (B)
RECOMMENDED: Fansipan Peak - Lao Chai - Ta Van
Drive 9 km southwest of SaPa town in the Hoang Lien Son range of mountains, then take a cable car to highest mountain in Vietnam as well as in the Indochina Peninsula - Fansipan. Hence, it is branded as "the Roof of Indochina" with 3143m summit. Its name which is pronounced roughly by local people as "Hua Xi Pan" means "the tottery giant rock". You have free time to take photograph and relax before going down for lunch.
In the afternoon, we start trekking down to Lao Chai village of Black H’mong ethnic people. Here we will discover their daily life and how they make traditional clothes, handicraft, indigo... We will visit the biggest valley which provides the best view for golden rice terrace fields in Vietnam. After Lao Chai we walk to Ta Van village of Giay people. It is a small group of ethnic people in Vietnam with a rich culture and beautiful houses located on rice paddy fields.
Lao Chai & Ta Van Villages, about 8 km from Sapa town, where black H’mong and Giay people are living, it is also the beginning of the valley which is called Muong Hoa. From a high point of the main road, great view of the whole villages open wide to offer the marvelous panorama views, backed by high mountains and facing the river. Here you will enjoy the fresh air, see terrace fields, stream, discover and visit some Black H’mong families. You will have a welcome feeling at any house of the hospitable people there. You can interact them, learn about their culture and customs…
Day 05: Sapa – Hanoi by Bus (B)
Free in the morning. In the afternoon, pick up & transfer to the Bus Station for your trip back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 06: Hanoi - Pu Luong – Water wheels walk & rafting (B)
Breakfast at Hotel. Depart for Pu Luong, it takes you 1 & half hour to get there. You enter Pu Luong Nature Reserve by road via a breathtaking mountain pass giving you a panoramic view of the whole valley. You will be transferred to a suspension bridge over the Cham River, where you begin your walk in search of stunning water wheels. Get up close to each wheel and discover how water is moved from river to handmade bamboo aqueducts via simple constructions of all sizes.
Arriving at a local fisherman’s house, you have a short rest to gear up for the bamboo river rafting with Dinh and his team. Float along the calm river and enjoy the views, in between learning how to paddle and steer your handcrafted rafts.
Arriving at scenic Tan Lap bridge, you disembark to be transferred back to Pu Luong retreat for check-in. Free in the afternoon. Overnight in Pu Luong Retreat.
Day 07: Pu luong – Ninh Binh – Cycling Tour (B)
Breakfast at Hotel. Departure for Ninh Binh. Arrive in Ninh Binh – Cycling from Thai Phien Temple through stunning rice fiends & villages to visit Temple of King Dinh Le, then Boat cruise to visit Tam Coc – Bich Dong. Oveninght in Ninh Binh.
Day 08: Ninh Binh – Ha Long Bay Cruise (B, L, D)
Breakfast at Hotel. Depart for Ha Long Bay – Embark on Cruise. Lunch & Dinner included. Overnight on board.
Day 09: Ha Long Bay – Hanoi – Hue by an Overnight Train (B, Brunch)
Breakfast on board. Continue cruising. Disembark after brunch. Transfer back to Hanoi for an overnight train to Hue. Overnight on train.
Day 10: Hue Arrival – Free at leisure (B)
Arrival in Hue in the morning – Pick up & transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Hue.
RECOMMENDED: World Heritage City Tour
After being picked up from your hotel, begin your full-day excursion with a visit to Thien Mu Pagoda - hop aboard a boat for a relaxing morning cruise along the lovely Perfume River. Experience the enchantment of the meandering river as you enjoy the scenes of daily life along the way.
Then, come back to the Boat Station for a visit to Hue Citadel. Explore royal palaces and shrines at the Imperial City and see the emperor's private residence at the Forbidden City. Walking through the palace grounds just as the royals did, learn more about the Nguyen Emperors who ruled the former capital of the city from you informative guide.
After a delicious lunch of Vietnamese dishes, continue to see the Tu Duc & Khai Dinh tomb. Despite being the smallest, Khai Dinh tomb is a majestic synthesis of Vietnamese and European elements and considered the most costly among others.
Day 11: Hue – Hoi An - Free at leisure (B)
Depart for Hoi An. Free at leisure. Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 12-13: Free in Hoi An (B)
RECOMMENDED:
Excursion to Craftwork & Farming Village
Your tour guide will meet you at the lobby, ride a bicycle a local lantern craftsman’s house. You will observe and learn how to make one of those beautiful lanterns that you’ve admired all around Hoi An Ancient Town.
Continue your trip to a local farm known as Tra Que Village. This experience will give you an insight into how farmers work and cultivate their vegetable gardens. You will have time to take a break and have lunch at a restaurant in Hoi An.
After lunch, your afternoon will start with a boat trip along Thu Bon River. Stop to visit Kim Bong Carpenter, then head to Thanh Ha Pottery Village, where you will meet local people working on handmade potteries. At the end of your tour, your driver will bring you back to your hotel.
Cooking Class
Together with a cook assistant, we will have an opportunity to visit the colorful market in Hoi An and enjoy amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy area and intermingle with the local sellers to buy some ingredients used for the cooking class. Later the cook will present to us how to prepare some of Hoi An's well-known dishes. After cooking, we will eventually enjoy local delicious foods, of which some have been prepared by ourselves! Yum! Finally we will take you back to your hotel.
Day 14: Hoi An – DaNang – Nha Trang Beach by an Overnight Train (B)
Breakfast at Hotel. Free until transfer to the Train Station in Da Nang for an overnight train to Nha Trang.
Day 15-16: Nha Trang – Free at leisure (B)
Arrive in Nha Trang at about 06:20am and transfer to your hotel. You’ll have today free to spend as you wish. Perhaps enjoy your time on the sunny beaches or explore the local markets. Be sure to try some of the excellent seafood in town. Also nearby are the Cham Towers, where you can go for a day trip to see the fascinating archaeological site.
RECOMMENDED:
River Rafting in Nha Trang
Known as the International Scale of River Difficulty, below are the six grades of difficulty in white water rafting. They range from simple to very dangerous and potential death or serious injuries.
- Grade 1: Very small rough areas, might require slight maneuvering. (Skill level: very basic)
- Grade 2: Some rough water, maybe some rocks, might require some maneuvering. (Skill level: basic paddling skill)
- Grade 3: Whitewater, small waves, maybe a small drop, but no considerable danger. May require significant maneuvering.
- Grade 4: Whitewater, medium waves, maybe rocks, maybe a considerable drop, sharp maneuvers may be needed.
- Grade 5: Whitewater, large waves, large volume, possibility of large rocks and hazards, possibility of a large drop, requires precise maneuvering.
- Grade 6: Class 6 rapids are considered to be so dangerous that they are effectively unnavigable on a reliably safe basis. Rafters can expect to encounter substantial whitewater, huge waves, huge rocks and hazards, and/or substantial drops that will impart severe impacts beyond the structural capacities and impact ratings of almost all rafting equipment. Traversing a Class 6 rapid has a dramatically increased likelihood of ending in serious injury or death compared to lesser classes.
- 09h00: Minibus and tour guide pick you up
- 10h00: Start to rafting, down stream with distances about 8 km. The biggest rapids are class 2 & 3 (safety for the beginners)
- 12h00: Visit fruits garden and enjoy tropical fruits12h45: Have lunch BBQ and drinks
- 13h00: Continue rafting
- 15h00: Finish rafting15h30: Minibus and tour guide take you back to hotel
Day 17: Nha Trang – Hochiminh by Overnight Train (B)
Transfer to the Train Station for an overnight train to Hochiminh.
Day 18: Hochiminh – Mekong River Delta – Can Tho (B)
Arrival in Hochiminh – Pick up & transfer to directly to Can tho – Mekong Delta. Overnight in Can Tho
Day 19: Can Tho – Floating Market - Hochiminh (B)
Early morning to Cai Rang floating market. Then, visit Binh Thuy temple – it is a kind of traditional temple in the
Southern of Vietnam, Binh Thuy ancient house which structures and precious furniture have been kept up
to now. That location was chosen to become scenes of the famous films as The Lover, Miss Tay Do,… Sitting on the car on high way No. 91, you will see the countryside: immense rice fields, fruitful farms along with the road. Then, visit Bang Lang stork sanctuary where thousands of storks are living. Come back to Hochiminh City.
Day 20: Hochiminh - Departure (B)
Breakfast at Hotel. Transfer to the airport for international flight back home.
Cu Chi Tunnels
Depart from Saigon to Cu Chi Tunnels. Once you arrive at Cu Chi Tunnels (Ben Dinh), you will begin your excursion by watching a documentary film about one of the most sophisticated man-made tunnels together with its extraordinary wartime legends and:
- Walking in the jungle and visiting the traps, the secret entrances, the bunkers, and underground hideouts.
- Relaxing with shooting real guns at the riffle range of Cu Chi Tunels. (Exclusive of bullets)
- Seeing the rice- paper (spring roll skin) and rice- wine production line.
- Crawling into the tunnels and enjoying the special and fantastic feeling.
- Taking a rest, drinking green tea and having tapioca - the main food served during the war time.
You will be taken back to Hochiminh.