This is the comprehensive alternative to our previous trip and shows you Vietnam in close-up, from top to bottom. It's not just a change of direction - this trip packs another adventurous week into the itinerary. We'll explore Hanoi, Halong Bay and visit the hill tribes of Sapa and colourful Bacha market before slowly making our way south along stunning coastline to Ho Chi Minh City, the vibrant City and the mighty Mekong Delta.
Day 1: Ha Noi arrival (D)
Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport in Ha Noi, you will drive to proposal hotel. Then have welcomed dinner.
Include: Hotel in Ha Noi, Transportation, Meal: Welcomed dinner
Day 2: Ha Noi city tour (B, L)
After breakfast at hotel, start city tour with Ho Chi Minh Complex for visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh Museum and One pillar Pagoda. Continue to visit Literature Temple, the first University in Vietnam in 16th century. Have lunch in one of famous restaurants in Ha Noi. PM: Visit Ethnological museum then have cyclo in the Old Quarter and visit Dong Xuan market, enjoy Water Puppet show in the afternoon
Include: Hotel in Ha Noi, Transportation, Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Tour guide, Entrance fees
Day 3: Ha Noi – Ha Long (B, L, D)
Pick up at your address in Ha Noi at 8.00 AM and drive to Ha Long. Arrive at 12.00 noon. At Ha Long Port, our Crew welcomes you on Junk, enjoy welcome drink & check into your cabin. Lunch with seafood will served right after. At 13.00, boat starts 3.5 hours cruising into Ha Long bay to see the amazing karsts with different formations: Mat Qui (Monster’s face) Islet, But Moc Islet, Cap De Islet, Trong (Drum) Cave, Trinh Nu Cave, to a Floating Fishing village to see this unique way of life... and then explore Luon Cave (from 16.40 to 17.30). There will be lots of time for swimming, sun bathing. Enjoy a great sunset dinner and relax under the starlit sky before retiring to the comfort of your cabin.
Include: Accommodation on boat, Transportation, Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, Welcome cocktail, Tour guide on boat, Entrance and sightseeing fees, Junk Insurance
Day 4: Ha Long – Ha Noi – Railway Station – LaoCai (B, L, D)
Early risers can enjoy a morning view of Bay’s landscapes with a cup of tea, coffees, fresh fruits. Sitting on the upper deck, we can enjoy the breath - taking beauty of the rocky Islands rising from the crystal-clear waters of the Bay. The quiet is almost eerie; we can hear birds singing, cicadas chirping ashore and the gentle lapping of the waves against our boat, the perfect soundtrack to accompany the fresh air and gentle breeze. Then explore Sung Sot (Amazing) Cave (8.00 to 9: 00), swim and relax at Titop beach. At 09.30, junk starts cruising back and brunch buffet will serve from 10.30 to 11.30, check out procedure at 11.35. Arrive at harbor by 12.00 at noon, and drives back to Ha Noi for relax. In the evening, after dinner you will be escorted to Railway Station for night train to Lao Cai that depart at 21.15
Include: Transportation, Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Train tickets: (A/C 4 soft berth)
Day 5: Lao Cai – Sapa – Cat Cat (B, L)
Train arrives at Lao Cai Railway Station at 06.00 AM. Transferred to Sapa by private van, Have breakfast at hotel or in the local restaurant (optional). Relax. Your guide will meet you at hotel for short trek to Cat Cat village, the village of H'mong tribe in the valley, which remains very generally uncorrupted outside forces. Excellent views of the valley, the magnificent limestone and paddy fields of H'mong village. Enjoy some visits to local families and reach their customs. After the village down into the valley, the Cat Cat waterfall will be visible. A "White curtain" cascade appears, surrounded by flowery valley and deep-green pines. The rocks near the river and waterfall provide a marvelous place for picturesque photos and sunbathing during good weather.
Include: Hotel in Sapa, Transportation, Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Tour guide, Entrance fees
Day 6: Sapa – Lao Chai – Ta Van (B, L)
Breakfast before private jeep transferred to Lao Chai village, a village of Black H’mong. Short trek down to river to visit hill tribe house to see their living style and the local women made their handicraft clothes. Further on along the road, you visit the Ta van village where Dzay people staying and living with all their daily activities. Visit the village and reach their customs then turn back to Sapa in afternoon. Stay over night at hotel
Include: Hotel in Sapa, Transportation, Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Tour guide, Entrance fees
Day 7: Local market – Train Station (B, L, D)
Today you will have chance to visit one of market that hold on Tuesday (Coc Ly market), on Saturday (Can Cau market), on Sunday (Bac Ha market), this is optional due to your traveling date In the afternoon, transferred back to Lao Cai railway station for night train back to Ha Noi that depart at 20.15
Include: Transportation, Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, Tour guide, Entrance fees, Train tickets: (A/C 4 soft berth)
Day 8: Ha Noi – Hue (B, L)
Train arrival Ha Noi around 4.30 am in the morning. Pick up at railway station and have breakfast then drive towards Ha Noi airport for flight to Hue that departs at 07.00. Our tour guide in Hue will greetings you at airport for transfer to hotel and relax PM: visit Old Royal City in Vietnam in 17th century. As Vietnam’s last feudal capital, the small and quiet city of Hue is widely known for magnificent architectures, pagodas and royal tombs laid in many small villages and surrounding hills. We spend this afternoon to visit Hue with the massive citadel, which contains the Imperial City and the Purple Forbidden City. This royal residence all was destroyed during the 1968 Tet Offensive; however, it is still fascinating to walk among the ruins.
Include: Hotel in Hue, Transportation, Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Tour guide, Entrance fees
Day 9: Hue city tour (B, L)
After breakfast at hotel, we embark on boat visit the beauty of riverside pagoda of Thien Mu which now becomes the symbol of Hue, and the elaborate royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc are not to be missed and visit Khai Dinh tomb. Then we return to the town and enjoy a walk to the bustling Dong Ba Market that sells a wide variety of local goods and handicrafts. Along the way, we pass by many fantastic eating spots, ideal places for visitors to sample some local delicacies.
Include: Hotel in Hue, Transportation, Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Tour guide, Boat trips, Entrance fees
Day 10: Hue – Da Nang – Hoi An (B, L)
Drive to Hoi An via Da Nang and visit Cham Museum & Marble Mountain en route. Afternoon we visit Hoi An ancient town, a major Asian trading port in the 17th and 18th centuries whose architecture and relaxed lifestyle has changed little over the years. Take a walking tour of the ancient town center to visit the former merchants' homes, the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the colorful market.
Include: Hotel in Hoi An, Transportation, Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Tour guide, Entrance fees
Day 11: Hoi An – Free at your leisure (B)
Free at your leisure
Include: Hotel in Hoi An, Meal: Breakfast
Day 12: Hoi An – Da Nang – Ho Chi Minh City (B, L)
An early transfer to Da Nang Airport for a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City that depart at 8.00, still called Saigon by many locals, this bustling metropolis, contradiction of its northern counterpart, is crowded with motorbikes and cars, excited by numerous shopping area and sidewalk cafés. The sightseeing tour of Ho Chi Minh begins with a visit to the Reunification Palace, which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975. Close to the palace are some striking French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Sai Gon Post Office. We also visit the Jade Emperor Pagoda and the War Remnant Museum before continuing to the bustling Ben Thanh Market where everything and anything is for sale!
Include: Hotel in HCMC, Transportation, Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Tour guide, Entrance fees
Day 13: HCMC – Cao Dai – Cu Chi tunnels (B, L)
The head quarter of Cao Dai sect is located in Tay Ninh. This religion was founded in 1923 and now the number is over 2 million members. After breakfast we travel by roads to Tay Ninh to see the ornate temple of Cao Dai and attend the fantastic mid-day service when the followers fill the hall wearing colored robes, a symbol of the curious combination of the Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. Then transfer out to explore the Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible underground network of approximately 200 km constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the long struggle for independence. The tunnels contained hospitals, plus accommodation and schools, and were used in the American-Vietnam war as a military base for the Vietnamese soldiers.
Include: Hotel in HCMC, Transportation, Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Tour guide, Entrance fees
Day 14: HCMC – Can Tho (B, L)
8.00 Pick up at hotel. Transfer to My Tho. Take the motorized boat through the Bao Dinh natural canal; view the house on still and the fruit plantation along the canal sides. Visit the My Tho wholesale fruit market. Proceed to the Tortoise Island. Lunch serves in the heart of the orchard. Enjoy the nice boat ride through the Tan Tach natural canal in Ben Tre, cruise under the shadow of the water coconut trees. Visit the family business where you can experience the agricultural lifestyle. Trekking through the fruit plantation in Thoi Son Island, enjoy the rowing boat ride on the creeks before returning to My Tho by rowing boat. Proceed to Can Tho. Check in on arrival.
Include: Hotel in Can Tho, Transportation, Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Tour guide, Entrance fees
Day 15: Phong Dien floating market – Cai Rang – HCM (B, L)
8.00 After breakfast, take the morning boat trip to visit the Phong Dien floating market with the busy sense right at the time. Keep cruising through the small channels system, visit the rice noodles making village. Experience the “rope Bridge “in the Delta. Visit the second floating market of Cai Rang. Break time for lunch. Return to Ho Chi Minh city. Stop for visit & rest at the Bonsai garden in My Tho. Finish the trip around 17.30 pm in HCMC.
Include: Hotel in HCMC, Transportation, Meals: Breakfast, Lunch. Tour guide, Boat trips, Entrance fees
Day 16: HCMC – Departure (B)
After check out of hotel, driver will transfer you forward to airport for your ongoing flight. End of service
Include: Transportation, Meal: Breakfast
