Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
Arrival at Noi Bai International airport, our driver will meet you at the airport and transfer to hotel for check in. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 2: Ha Noi City Tour (B/L)
AM: 7.45 – 8.15: Free pick up at your hotel. Then visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum to explore the architectural and historical aspects of Uncle Ho’s final resting-place. Just next door
is Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts and lying to one side of the Mausoleum is the One Pillar Pagoda, which was founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049 – the structure has become an important symbol for the people of Hanoi. Then continue on to the Buddhist Tran Quoc Pagoda at West lake (One of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam).Then visit Bat Trang pottery village (applied on Mon, Wed & Fri). Lunch at local restaurant.
PM: After lunch proceed to visit the Ethnology Museum (apply on Sun, Tue, Thu & Sat), the Literature Temple and Quoc Tu Giam, see Vietnam’s first university, constructed in 1070 – it’s gardens and well-preserved architecture will offer a relaxing glimpse into Vietnam’s past. Take you past Hoan Kiem Lake to see the peaceful waters, and the beauty of Ngoc Son temple. At the end, journey through Hanoi’s Old Quarter, where you’ll then have a chance for some shopping and exploration. Tour ends around 15h30 – 16h00.
Day 3: Ha Noi – Sapa – Short trek to Cat Cat Village (B/L/D)
6.30 – 7.00: Pick up from your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter or meeting point (Hanoi Opera House), get on big bus and depart for Sapa. 9.30: Follow the highway to Lao Cai city with the first comfort break. 11.00: Second comfort break at Lao Cai city before approaching Sapa. 13.00: Arrive Sapa Town with colorful traditional costumes of H’mong, Dzao, Tay ethnic People. Our tour guide will inform short information to you before checking in then enjoy the set menu lunch with Vietnamese cuisine. 14.30: A short drive to the gate of Cat Cat village which is home of Black H’mong ethnic people and is located near the bottom of a deep valley at the foot of Fansipan Peak. Our local guide will show you the daily life activities of the locals, go trekking down to the valley bottom to the waterfall – Hydraulic Power Station; stop for photo with bridge and waterfall then you will walk up hill for bus to pick up to get back to Sapa in the afternoon. Trekking distance is about 2.5 kms and it lasts for 2 hours. 17.00: Come back to Sapa Town. Free at leisure until 19:00 Have dinner and overnight in hotel with night activities.
Day 4: Lao Chai – Ta Van – Muong Hoa valley (B/L/D)
7.00 – 8.00: Have breakfast at hotel, check out the room and prepare light pack for trekking. (Big luggage keep in hotel store). 8.00: A short trek through the rice terraces and along Muong Hoa Stream to the Black Hmong village of Lao Chai to see the spectacular landscape of Hoang Lien Son Mountain after that heading to Ta Van village – home of Dzay ethnic people. Trekking distance is about 9 kms and it lasts for 3.5 hours. 11.30: Our bus picks you up at Ta Van Bridge to get back Sapa. 12.30 – 13.30: Have lunch in the hotel.13.30 – 14.45: Relax and leisure on your own, have shower in the public bathroom in the hotel if you want.
Day 5: Sapa Ethnic Market – Drive back to Hanoi (B/L)
If you’re travelling all the way to Northern Vietnam, you shouldn’t miss Sapa markets – one of the most scenic regions of Northern Vietnam. Except for trekking in Sapa, ethnic Markets is a special highlights. You can meet many ethnic minorities and enjoy an unique feature of life in remote far North. It is place to exchange of numerous kinds of commodity, local products. The opportunity for upland people to go to the fair. The youth to encounter, get dating and show their affection through love songs, sounds of the flute…
Bac Ha market opens at around 7.30 am and closes mid-afternoon, opening on Sunday. You will meet Flower Hmong (Red Hmong), Black Dao, Tay, Nung, La Chi, Phu La and other minority groups. The market inspires from delicious and famous Vietnamese food, buffalo, cows, goats, fish and other livestock. Visitors enjoy from colorful household items to traditional intricately made clothing, from souvenirs to the essentials for everyday life.
The most attractive area at Bac Ha Market is jewelry, dresses and brocade cloths. Here, you dazzle with brilliant colorful dresses of H’Mong and Red Dzao girls. Foreign tourists often admire the hand-woven paintings with vivid motifs and harmonious colors. Can Cau market is a small ultra-colorful market situated in a valley surrounded by mountains, just below the Chinese border. The market takes place every Saturday where you will encounter minority peoples. It includes the Flower Hmong (Red Hmong), Dzay, Nung, Phu La and even Chinese people from across the border. The distance from Lao Cai station to Can Cau market is not too far, but you might feel exhausted due to rough road. However, you will amaze the bustling and colorful scene of this market. Unlike some other markets with most of the Chinese products, the market still retains the inherent characteristics. They sell and buy all kinds of goods here, from fabrics to various types of livestock to the powerful local corn wine. There are many markets are held on week, like Coc Ly market on Tuesday, Lung Khau Nhin market on Thursday,…You will come back hotel at noon for lunch then get to the bus to Ha Noi. Arrival in Ha Noi at 9 – 9 :30 pm. Overnight stay at hotel
Day 6: Ha Noi – Ha Long (B/L/D)
Program customize up to cruise
7:30 – 8:00: Take a 3-hour scenic drive from Hanoi to Halong Bay.
12:00-12:30 : Arrive in Tuan Chau Tourist Wharf. Transfer to Halong Cruise by tender.
12:30 : Welcome drink on the boat and check in to your private cabin.
13:15-14:15: Serve have lunch on board while cruising to some magnificent Halong bay scenes.
14:45 -15:00: Visit Titop island where you take your time on swim, sunbath, trekking….
16:30: Arrive in Pearl Farm Village. Visit around and swim, kayaking in the bay.
17:30: Back to the cruise and join cooking class to have experience in some traditional dishes. Tea time on sundeck.
Day 7: Ha Long – Ninh Binh (B/L)
Program customize up to cruise
6:00 : Practice Tai Chi on the Sundeck.
7:00-7h30: Start your day with a light breakfast. During breakfast, cruising to explore other part of Halong Bay, admire the beauty of one in seven new wonder in the world.
8:30 – 9h30: Arrive in Surprise cave, explore the Cave, one of the most beautiful caves in Ha Long bay.
9:45: Check out and take all luggage outside of your cabin, cruise back to the Tourist Wharf through Ha Long bay.
10:00: Have brunch and clear bills.
11:30: Back to the Tourist Wharf.
12:00: Departure to Ninh Binh
16.00: arrive in Ninh Binh. The distance from Halong Bay to Ninh Binh is about 300km , it takes 4 hours to get there. Overnight stay at homestay.
Day 8: Hoa Lu – Tam Coc – Ha Noi (B/L)
Hoalu – Tam Coc is perfect combination for a day trip to learn about a dark period when Vietnam was conquested by Northern Invader. Hoalu is a sacred land with two temple worshiping those kings in 10 century who gave great contribution for the nation. Next, let’s take a boat trip along the Ngo Dong river to enjoy landscape in Tam Coc. You will know why it’s named Halong Bay on Land
AM : 8:00 – 8:30. Our guide & driver will pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter, then leave by coach to Hoa Lu (2.5 hrs). Visit the historic capital of Vietnam and the famous ancient temples of Le and the Dinh Dynasties. Then our bus will transfer you from Hoa Lu to Tam Coc for lunch around at 12:30PM.
PM : After lunch, boat trip to visit Tam Coc to see the beauty of the karst formations as you pass along their base and row into one of the many caves carved through the limestone. Then, cycle for an hour on quiet roads through villages, rice fields, rivers and rocky outcrops in Tam Coc – Bich Dong (around 5 km). Dive back to Hanoi and drop off at your hotel around at 18:30PM.
Day 9: Ha Noi (B) – Flight to Dong Hoi (Flight included)
Breakfast at hotel, free time for your own leisure then transfer to airport for flight to Dong Hoi.
Day 10: Dong Hoi – Phong Nha & Paradise cave (B/L) – Hue overnight
Phong Nha Cave has been regarded by British Cave Research Association as the top cave in the world due to its 4 top records: the longest underground river, the highest and longest cave, broadest and most beautiful fine sand beaches inside the caves, the most spectacular stalagmites and stalactites. Once you reach at the entrance of cave, you will feel like you are entering in the mouth of mountain. Paradise Cave is one of the most famous cave in Viet Nam. It has 31.4km length, with many beautiful stalacties and stalacmites. British Caving Association has been evalucated as the most beautiful and longest dry cave in Asia. It has been creating continuously by the nature over 350 million years. It was ranked at international level in terms of science and high aesthetics. It is waiting you to discover and enjoy.
Phong Nha cave and Paradise cave are the two most famous caves in Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, which was listed in UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites in 2003 for its geological values. Both of them have created a special attraction for the “Kingdom of the caves”, Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park. Nowadays, there are a lot of tourists not only domestic but also international coming to visit and admire their beauty. If you are a person who likes exploring caves, Phong Nha is really an ideal place for you..
Tour itinerary:
07:45- 08:00: Our car and tour guide will pick up guests in Dong Hoi and drive you to Paradise cave – the longest dry cave in Asia (located in Phong Nha – Ke bang National Park’s core zone). It is approximately 75 km from Dong Hoi and an 80 minute drive). You will then be taken by golf cart (1.6km) from the main gate through the jungle, to where you will then climb to the mouth of the cave; a climb that boasts spectacular views of the mountainous region around the cave. 12:30: Lunch at local restaurant in Phong Nha village. Here you will enjoy a traditional vietnamese dish. Vegetarian option available. Please contact us in advance if you have any dietary restrictions and we will do our best to accommodate you.
13:30: Depart for Phong Nha Cave. You will then take a 25 minute ride to the cave via traditional dragonboat. This cave is called a water cave as it exhibits an underground river. After going into the cave by boat, you will explore 300 meters into the cave on foot. Then, you will be taken back by boat. This cave is famous for its spectacular rock formations. It has been given names such as the “Lion”, the “Fairy Caves”, the “Royal Court”, and the “Buddha”. 17:00: Transfer to hotel in Hue from Phong Nha, it takes 1 – 1.5 hours. Overnight stay in Hue
Day 11: Hue City Tour (B/L) – Private car to Hoi An
08:00 am – 8:15 a.m: We will pick you up at your hotel in Hue center and start Hue to Hoi An tour by bus. On the way you will have a chance to visit: Thanh Toan Tile-Roofed Bridge – an ancient bridge in Thanh Thuy Chanh village. The bridge was built to help travelers stop and relax when they arrive here. The Thanh Toan tile-roofed Bridge crosses a canal flowing from the beginning to the end of Thanh Toan village, Thuy Thanh Commune, Huong Thuy district at present. Lang Co beach – was voted the most beautiful bay in the world. Swimming in Lang Co, we can feel the clean and cool beach with white sand. The beach lies at the northern end of Hai Van Pass, and the sands of Lang Co begin just where the mountain switchbacks end. Behind the long stretch of beach is a large lagoon, and the lightly populated town area is just a narrow strip. Hai Van pass – a natural border located between Hue and Da Nang City. On the top of the pass, we can see the Bach Ma Mountains with primary forest and enjoy the fresh cool air. Regarding visibility, it is not recommended to go through the pass during bad weather due to low visibility. Historically, the pass was a physical division between the kingdoms of Champa and Dai Viet. It has a good view between beach and mountain. 12:00 p.m: Visit Marble Mountain or we can call them by Thuy mountain built by Emperor Minh Mang for his younger sister. What’s special on this mountain is the ancient pagoda system on top and inside the caves. Visit Marble Mountain, you have a chance to see the statues made by hand of artists. 1:30 p.m – 2:00 p.m: Arrive in Hoi an, the bus will drop you off at your hotel in Hoi An center.
Day 12: Hoi An Free & Easy (B/L)
Breakfast at hotel, free time for your own leisure. Overnight stay in Hoi An
Day 13: Hoi An free (B) – Cham island sightseeing & snorkeling tour as optional (L)
Breakfast at hotel, today you will free of your time by your own plan to visit Hoi An town or joining us for Cham island tour. 07h30-08h30: Pick up at hotel ( Hoi an city) to Cua Dai harbour. 08h30: Relaxing in fresh cool wind , you will enjoy the beautiful landscape on a speed boat to Cham Island. 09h00: Arriving at Lang Beach. Visiting the Marine Protected Area, The Boat Shelter, Hai Tang pagoda, Traditional fishing Village. 10h00: Swimming and snorkeling. 11h30: Staying at Bai Ong ecological zone or Bai Chong beach, swimming, taking time to enjoy a sea food lunch. 14h00: Packing luggage for return trip to Hoi An. 14h30: Seeing you off at your hotel and finish your trip
Day 14: Hoi An (B) – Da Nang – Flight to Ho Chi Minh (Flight included)
Breakfast at hotel, free time for your own leisure then transfer to airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 15: Cu Chi tunnels (B) – Optional Street food by Vespa tour
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.
Today, ducks and water buffalos happily co-exist in the rivers along the side of the road. However, the peaceful rural rice paddy scenery belies the area’s violent history. Visitors will find it hard to imagine the destruction, damage & defoliation over this whole area, caused by bombing and mines. There is plenty of evidence of the fierce battle that took place here during the 1960s when Cu Chi was a “Free Target Zone”.
Start our tour in the morning, before entering the tunnels visitors can watch a short introductory video showing how the tunnels were constructed. You will spend the next hour exploring the tunnels. Afterwards, enjoy tea, cassava (guerrilla’s food during the war). Return to Sai Gon.
In evening time, we would like to invite you joining us for Sai Gon Street food by Vespa tour. This Saigon night tour is part night excursion, part street food adventure. Experience Saigon nightlife the way locals do, all from the back of a vintage Vespa scooter. To start off this Saigon night tour, enjoy drinks at our Vespa-themed café, Café Zoom, to watch “as the world goes by” (as said in the Lonely Planet guide book). Throughout the night, try a variety of food and drinks at 2 local restaurants and samplings of Saigon’s best authentic local food. Zoom past the famous must-see sights of Ho Chi Minh City while in the bustling traffic. We’ll also go to a Vietnamese-style coffee shop with special live music bar, and then wrap up the evening at an exciting music bar where the new generation of Vietnamese unwind and flaunt their unique styles.
Guests ride pillion behind our drivers to enjoy and experience the Vietnamese nightlife with friends. This tour includes free flowing drinks and all you can eat, so come with an appetite! *Saigon Night Tour Highlights*- All-you-can-eat & free flow drinks, cocktails & snacks at Cafe Zoom, local seafood restaurant, local Vietnamese pancake restaurant, zooming by famous Saigon sights, live music cafe, live music bar.
Day 16: Mekong Delta (B/L)
HCM – My Tho – Ben Tre – HCM ( start 8.00 – return 17.00 ) Enjoy the scenic journey along the way bordered by green rice fields. On arrived at My Tho, visit Vinh Trang pagoda, take a leisurely boat ride along the river, view the 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 shadow of the water coconut trees along natural canals, then enjoy seasonal fruit & honey tea to the sound of “Southern Vietnamese folk music”, performed by locals. Visit a family business which epitomizes the idyllic rural lifestyle, taste the delicious coconut candy & observe the pastoral life as you roam through the fruit plantation and village. Meet the bus and return to HCMC. This trip provides a fascinating insight into daily life in the Mekong Delta and you are guaranteed to take home your own private collection of beautiful memories. Overnight at hotel.
Day 17: Ho Chi Minh Departure (B)
Breakfast at hotel, free time for your own leisure then transfer to airport for flight to home, trip ends
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