Tour is finished from : Ho Chi Minh City
Tour duration : 17 Days
Vietnam holiday 17 days
BRIEF ITINERARY:
Day 1- 7 Jul./ in Hanoi: Hanoi – Arrival
Day 2- 8 Jul./ in Hanoi: Hanoi Relaxing (B)
Day 3-9 Jul./ in Halong: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Cruise & Overnight on Bhaya Cruise (B, L, D)
Day 4- 10 Jul./ in Hanoi: Halong Bay Cruise – Hanoi (B, L)
Day 5- 11 Jul./ take train to Sapa: Hanoi City – Bat Trang Ceramics Village – Catch night train back Sapa ( B)
Day 6- 12 Jul./ in Sapa: Sapa – trekking to Villages – Ta Van Village of Giay people (B, L, D)
Day 7- 13 Jul./ in Sapa: Sapa- trekking to Village – Overnight at hotel (B, L)
Day 8- 14 Jul./ take train back Hanoi: Sapa Treeking & Motobike Ride – Catch night train back Hanoi ( B, L, D)
Day 9- 15 Jul./ in Hanoi : Arrive early - – Ninh Binh – Tam Coc Tour (B)
Day 10 16 Jul./ in Hue: Morning flight to Hue – 1/2 day tour in afternoon (B)
Day 11- 17 Jul./ in Hoi An : Hue City Tour & Boat Trip – Transfer to Hoi An (B)
Day 12- 18 Jul./ in Hoi An : Hoi An Half Day Walking Tour – Relaxing (B)
Day 13- 19 Jul./ in Saigon: Hoi An – Fly to Ho Chi Minh City/ Saigon (B)
Day 14- 20 Jul./ in Saigon: Saigon City Tour (B)
Day 15- 21 Jul./ in Saigon: Saigon – Cu Chi Tunnels (B)
Day 16- 22 Jul./ in Saigon: Saigon – Mekong Delta Boat Trip & Bike Ride (B, L)
Day 17- 23 Jul./ Departure: Saigon – Departure (B).
Day 1 : Hanoi – Arrival
Upon arrival to the airport in Hanoi, you are met and transferred to our hotel in Hanoi for check in.Include:
- Private transportation by car with air conditioner & experienced driver
- Hotel in Hanoi : GOLDEN RICE HOTEL – 3 star
Day 2 : Hanoi Relaxing (B)
Upon arrival to the airport in Hanoi, you are met and transferred to our hotel in Hanoi for check in.
Include:
- Meal : Breakfast
- Hotel in Hanoi : GOLDEN RICE HOTEL – 3 star
Day 3 : Hanoi - Halong Bay - Cruise & Overnight on Cruise (B, L, D)
After breakfast at hotel, at around 8am, our driver and tour guide picks up and transfers you to one of the most magnificent scenic environments in the world, Halong Bay. Covering 577 square miles, this vast bay is filled with more than 3,000 limestone “peaks” or karsts that jut from the deep blue water as far as the eye can see. We’ll spend a day and a half, including an overnight with dinner and breakfast onboard, exploring this overwhelming seascape from the decks of a traditional Vietnamese boat. Comfortable and intimate, your boat features hand-crafted wooden interiors including a dining room and pleasant air-conditioned cabins with private baths. Since we’re overnight on the water, we’ll be able to explore Ha Long Bay’s most beautiful spots with time to swim and even visit some of the largest rock formations and caves. This promises to be one of your most memorable travel experiences in Asia. Stay overnight on Boat.
Include:
- A/C 16 seats van
- English speaking tour guide
- Meal : Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Entrance fees
- Cruise in Halong
Day 4 : Halong Bay Cruise – Hanoi (B, L)
Rising to the sound of lapping bay waters, we have time for an early morning dip followed by breakfast. Sitting on the upper deck, you can relax while taking in the breath-taking beauty of the rocky islands rising from the emerald water of the bay. After breakfast, explore Sung Sot cave, swim and relax. Cruises back to the jetty while brunch is served while you are cruising through the bay, along the way seeing more of the fascinating formations. Cruise check-out. The car transfer you back our hotel in Hanoi.
Stay overnight at hotel in Hanoi
Include:
- A/C 16 seats van
- Entrance fees
- Meal : Breakfast, lunch
- – Hotel in Hanoi : GOLDEN RICE HOTEL – 3 star
Stay overnight at hotel in Hanoi
Include:
- A/C 16 seats van
- Entrance fees
- Meal : Breakfast, lunch
- – Hotel in Hanoi : GOLDEN RICE HOTEL – 3 star
Day 5 : Hanoi City – Bat Trang Ceramics Village Tour – Catch night train to Sapa (B)
Today we start our one day city tour from the lobby of the hotel. We will drive to Ho Chi Minh Complex, where we will spend a couple of hour to visit: Ho Chi Minh museum and one pillar pagoda. Keep going to see the Temple of Literature: Originally built as a temple to Confucius, this is the site of Vietnam’s first university dating back to 1070. The temple highlights the importance that Vietnamese society placed then and now on education. We will visit one of the most interesting museums in Vietnam; Museum of Ethnology, which is widely acknowledged as the best in the country and has an extensive display dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 Ethnic minority peoples. Following by that we will wander around the city by car to see the real life of Hanoian as well as the difference parts the city.
Continue exploring the daily life of traditional ceramics village of Bat Trang. Visit the pottery showrooms and see how they modeled the products.
Drive back Hanoi to take one-hour cyclo tour around the Old Quarter, known as the 36 streets, this bustling area of narrow streets is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. Originally, each of the 36 streets names’ was related to the products being sold there.
Before we go to railway station to catch our night train to Sapa, we will have chance enjoy the unique Water Puppet show. Hear the Vietnamese traditional instruments and singing from the live musicians who play throughout the show.
Stay overnight on train
Include:
- Private transportation by car with air conditioner & experienced driver
- English speaking tour guide
- Meal : Breakfast
- Entrance fees
- train ticket : Hanoi – Sapa
Day 6 : Sapa arrival – trekking to Villages – Homestay (B, L, D)
Arrive Lao Cai Railway Station at 6:00am. Pick up to Sapa town for check in. Having breakfast The first part is on the road but we soon turn to the right and walk on a small path down the valley to the Muong Hoa River and from here to the Black H’mong village Lao Chai. Black H’mong is one of the biggest minority groups in the Sapa area. They are proud of their culture and keep their traditions and way of living. They have their own language and wear traditional indigio blue clothing. After this you continue to Ta Van village (1.200 m) to visit Zay people. Zay is a fairly small minority group of about 38.000 people who live mainly in the mountains in Northwest Vietnam. The development has meant that some of their old customs have been lost but many women still wear traditional shirts with a purple, blue or green color. The Zay houses are build of wood and bamboo with a clay floor. We stay overnight with a local family in Ta Van and have our dinner here.
Trekking distance: 15 km.
Include:
- Private transportation by car with air conditioner & experienced driver
- English speaking tour guide
- Meal : Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Entrance fees
- Homestay in Tavan village of Giay people
Day 7 : Sapa arrival – Bac Ha Sunnday Market or trekking to Villages – Hotel (B
After the breakfast we transfer to Bac Ha Sunday market or continue to visit Red Dao people at Giang Ta Chai where we also see a waterfall. The Red Dao women have very colourful red embroideryand coins on their clothing. On their head they wear a red scarf. Some of the women have shaved off their eyebrows because of a nice Red Zao Legend. We come back our hotel in Sapa Town,
Trekking distance: 10 km.
Stay overnight at hotel in Sapa
Include:
- Private transportation by car with air conditioner & experienced driver
- English speaking tour guide
- Meal : Breakfast, lunch
- Entrance fees
- Hotel in Sapa : ROYAL VIEW HOTEL – 3 star
Day 8 : Sapa Treeking & Motobike Ride – Catch night train back Hanoi ( B, L, D)
Our guide will takes you to visit two villages of Black H’mong people (Cat Cat Village), a waterfall and you have a chance to see the hydroelectric power station built by the French ( This activity take 2 hours walking up and down to the valley ) . Back to Sa Pa for lunch at Red Camellia Restaurant.
PM : We discover Sapa by Motobike Ride
We leave Sapa for Lao Cai Railway Station for our dinner before to catch our night train back Hanoi.
Stay overnight on train
Include:
- Private transportation by car with air conditioner & experienced driver
- English speaking tour guide
- Meal : Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Entrance fees
- train ticket : Sapa – Hanoi
Day 9 : Arrival Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Tam Coc (B)
Arrive Hanoi Railway Station at 5:30am. Pick up & transfer to hotel for short rest & breakfast until 8am. We leave Hanoi for Ninh Binh, upon arrival to Ninh Binh, we enjoy tw hours Sampan boat ride at Tam Coc (2 people share a boat) to drift down the river among the villages, mountains and lush rice fields. Passing through 3 caves “Hang Ca – First cave, Hang Hai -Second cave, Hang Ba – Third cave” to get a strange feeling.
Lunch
PM: two hours cycling ride along country lane (from Tam Coc to Bich Dong Pagoda, estimated time 40 minutes for 5km cycling 2 ways), experiencing the beautiful scenery of lush paddy fields. Before transfer back Hanoi, we visit endangered primate rescue centre.
Stay overnight at hotel in Hanoi
Today we start our one day city tour from the lobby of the hotel. We will drive to Ho Chi Minh Complex, where we will spend a couple of hour to visit: Ho Chi Minh museum and one pillar pagoda. Keep going to see the Temple of Literature: Originally built as a temple to Confucius, this is the site of Vietnam’s first university dating back to 1070. The temple highlights the importance that Vietnamese society placed then and now on education. We will visit one of the most interesting museums in Vietnam; Museum of Ethnology, which is widely acknowledged as the best in the country and has an extensive display dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 Ethnic minority peoples. Following by that we will wander around the city by car to see the real life of Hanoian as well as the difference parts the city.
Continue exploring the daily life of traditional ceramics village of Bat Trang. Visit the pottery showrooms and see how they modeled the products.
Drive back Hanoi to take one-hour cyclo tour around the Old Quarter, known as the 36 streets, this bustling area of narrow streets is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. Originally, each of the 36 streets names’ was related to the products being sold there.
Before we go to railway station to catch our night train to Sapa, we will have chance enjoy the unique Water Puppet show. Hear the Vietnamese traditional instruments and singing from the live musicians who play throughout the show.
Stay overnight on train
Include:
- Private transportation by car with air conditioner & experienced driver
- English speaking tour guide
- Meal : Breakfast
- Entrance fees
- train ticket : Hanoi – Sapa
Day 6 : Sapa arrival – trekking to Villages – Homestay (B, L, D)
Arrive Lao Cai Railway Station at 6:00am. Pick up to Sapa town for check in. Having breakfast The first part is on the road but we soon turn to the right and walk on a small path down the valley to the Muong Hoa River and from here to the Black H’mong village Lao Chai. Black H’mong is one of the biggest minority groups in the Sapa area. They are proud of their culture and keep their traditions and way of living. They have their own language and wear traditional indigio blue clothing. After this you continue to Ta Van village (1.200 m) to visit Zay people. Zay is a fairly small minority group of about 38.000 people who live mainly in the mountains in Northwest Vietnam. The development has meant that some of their old customs have been lost but many women still wear traditional shirts with a purple, blue or green color. The Zay houses are build of wood and bamboo with a clay floor. We stay overnight with a local family in Ta Van and have our dinner here.
Trekking distance: 15 km.
Include:
- Private transportation by car with air conditioner & experienced driver
- English speaking tour guide
- Meal : Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Entrance fees
- Homestay in Tavan village of Giay people
Day 7 : Sapa arrival – Bac Ha Sunnday Market or trekking to Villages – Hotel (B
After the breakfast we transfer to Bac Ha Sunday market or continue to visit Red Dao people at Giang Ta Chai where we also see a waterfall. The Red Dao women have very colourful red embroideryand coins on their clothing. On their head they wear a red scarf. Some of the women have shaved off their eyebrows because of a nice Red Zao Legend. We come back our hotel in Sapa Town,
Trekking distance: 10 km.
Stay overnight at hotel in Sapa
Include:
- Private transportation by car with air conditioner & experienced driver
- English speaking tour guide
- Meal : Breakfast, lunch
- Entrance fees
- Hotel in Sapa : ROYAL VIEW HOTEL – 3 star
Day 8 : Sapa Treeking & Motobike Ride – Catch night train back Hanoi ( B, L, D)
Our guide will takes you to visit two villages of Black H’mong people (Cat Cat Village), a waterfall and you have a chance to see the hydroelectric power station built by the French ( This activity take 2 hours walking up and down to the valley ) . Back to Sa Pa for lunch at Red Camellia Restaurant.
PM : We discover Sapa by Motobike Ride
We leave Sapa for Lao Cai Railway Station for our dinner before to catch our night train back Hanoi.
Stay overnight on train
Include:
- Private transportation by car with air conditioner & experienced driver
- English speaking tour guide
- Meal : Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Entrance fees
- train ticket : Sapa – Hanoi
Day 9 : Arrival Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Tam Coc (B)
Arrive Hanoi Railway Station at 5:30am. Pick up & transfer to hotel for short rest & breakfast until 8am. We leave Hanoi for Ninh Binh, upon arrival to Ninh Binh, we enjoy tw hours Sampan boat ride at Tam Coc (2 people share a boat) to drift down the river among the villages, mountains and lush rice fields. Passing through 3 caves “Hang Ca – First cave, Hang Hai -Second cave, Hang Ba – Third cave” to get a strange feeling.
Lunch
PM: two hours cycling ride along country lane (from Tam Coc to Bich Dong Pagoda, estimated time 40 minutes for 5km cycling 2 ways), experiencing the beautiful scenery of lush paddy fields. Before transfer back Hanoi, we visit endangered primate rescue centre.
Stay overnight at hotel in Hanoi
Include:
- Private transportation by car with air conditioner & experienced driver
- English speaking tour guide
- Meal : Breakfast
- Entrance fees
- Boat trip
- Bike tour
- Hotel in Hanoi: GOLDEN RICE HOTEL – 4 star
Day 10 : Hanoi – Fly to Hue – Tour in the afternoon (B)
Free time until the time our driver picks up and transfers to the airport to catch our short flight to Hue, upon arrival in Hue, you are met and transferred to hotel for check in. Relaxing.
In the afternoon, we will visit the Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City
Include:
- Private transportation by car with air conditioner & experienced driver
- Domestic air ticket : Hanoi – Hue (Vietnam Airline)
- English speaking tour guide
- Meal : Breakfast
- Entrance fees
- Hotel in Hue : HUE SERENE PALACE HOTEL – 3 star
Day 11 : Hue City Tour & Boat Trip - Hoi An (B)
Hue is known as an ancient Capital city of many original historical vestiges. There are more than 100 architectural works to be extremely reflected the life of Emperors and Mandarins under Nguyen’s reign. Situated in the middle of hills on the Southern Bank of Perfume River are very beautiful tombs of Nguyen Kings.
Our tour starts at 08:00 in the morning at the lobby of the hotel. We will be met and transferred to the Wharf where we will cruise along the Perfume River to visit:
Thien Mu Pagoda (The Heavenly Lady pagoda), from here we will have a good view of Perfume River and surroundings.
Tu Duc King’s tomb, which is one of the most beautiful works of Royal Architecture of the Nguyen Dynasty. The tomb lies in a boundless pine forest.
Then we transfer back to the city for our delicious lunch as well as visit at Cuc Son Orphanage. In the afternoon, we will visit the Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City; Tinh Gia Vien Garden house and Dong Ba market. Then we leave Hue for Hoi An.
Stay overnight at hotel in Hoi An
Include:
- Private transportation by car with air conditioner & experienced driver
- Entrance fees
- Boat trip
- Meal : Breakfast
- Hotel in Hoi An : HA AN HOTEL – 3 star
Day 12 : Hoi An Half Day Walking Tour – Relaxing (B)
Today we enjoy half day walking tour in Hoian, an ancient Japanese port of trade. Much of Hoi An’s rare wooden architecture remains in this small, pleasant town. There are plenty to see in this delightful and tranquil town, some of which are the famous Japannese Covered Bridges, the Pottery Museum, the 200 years old Tam Ky House, the Chua Ong Pagoda, the vibrant market. We wisit these on our morning walking tour past many low tiled houses scattered along the small streets and assembly halls, which reflect the twon’s multi-cultural past. The rest time for shopping or doing other things you are interested in or take part in Vietnamese Demonstration cooking class.
Stay overnight at hotel in Hoi An
Include:
- Private transportation by car with air conditioner & experienced driver
- Entrance fees
- Meal : Breakfast
- Hotel in Hoi An : HA AN HOTEL – 3 star
Day 13 : Hoi An – Fly to Ho Chi Minh City/ Saigon (B)
Today you will be free at leisure for shopping around before being transfer to the airport for a short flight to Saigon. Picked up and transferred to hotel for check in. Rest of the day is free at leisure.
Include:
- Private transportation by car with air conditioner & experienced driver
- Domestic air ticket : Danang/ Hoi An – Saigon (Vietnam Airline)
- Meal : Breakfast
- Hotel in Saigon : GRAND HOTEL – 4 star
Day 14 : Sai Gon City Tour (B)
After breakfast at hotel, our guide and driver will pick you up and head to Cholon, the city’s Chinatown district, discover the markets and shops of the area, and also the Cantonese Thien Hau Pagoda – dedicated to the goddess of the Sea.
Next visit the FITO Museum, Vietnam’s first traditional medicine museum, displaying an amazing collection of 3,000 items relevant to the development of traditional Vietnamese medicine, implements used to prepare indigenous herbs, objects commonly found in traditional pharmacies as well as ancient books and documents on traditional Vietnamese medicine.
Head back into the centre of the city to visit Ben Thanh Market where an incredible display of fresh produce is offered. Simply stroll through the market seeing and enjoying the variety of goods for sale.
This afternoon visit the War Remnants or History Museum (choose which one you would most like to see) and the former Presidential Palace, from there stroll (your vehicle will be available at all times) to the major sights of colonial Ho Chi Minh City: the Old Saigon Post Office, Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat), Continental Hotel, Opera House and City Hall. At the end of the afternoon head back to your hotel.
Include:
- Private transportation by car with air conditioner & experienced driver
- Meal : Breakfast
- Tour guide
- Entrance fees
- Hotel in Saigon : GRAND HOTEL – 4 star
Day 15 : Saigon – Cu Chi Tunnels (B)
Depart Ho Chi Minh City at 0800 in the morning for the drive to Cu Chi district. Leaving the city behind, the scenery changes to views of rice paddies, villagers drying noodles by the side of the road and other scenes typical to southern Vietnam.
Arrive and start the visit of the famous Cu Chi Tunnels which consist of an incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters (Viet Cong) during both the French and American
wars. Start the visit with the Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc sections of the tunnel. Here you can imagine what it was like to be a guerrilla complete with Russian Carbine rifles and AK 47’s. In the early afternoon journey back to Ho Chi Minh City. Rest of the day is free at leisure.
Include:
- Private transportation by car with air conditioner & experienced driver
- Meal : Breakfast
- Tour guide
- Entrance fees
- Hotel in Saigon : GRAND HOTEL – 4 star
Day 16 : Saigon – Mekong Delta Boat Trip & Bike Ride (B, L)
Pick you up at hotel in Saigon at 8am. A smooth one and half hour car ride passing the green rice fields, leads you to the beautiful rural MYTHO city. The morning trip continues on the motorized boat on the Tien river to the Qui (Tortoise islet). On the way, you will view the fishing port, stilt houses, boat-building workshops, the other Dragon, Phoenix and Unicorn Islet. The cruise will lead you through Bao Dinh canal to enter Ben Tre province, “the country of coconut”, to see a typical agricultural model call “Garden – Pond – Cage” then enjoy coconut candy mill and the relaxing honey tea. Then the amazing rowing boat trip on the small canal – fully covered by the shadow of the water coconut’s tree and cool breezes is something you can not miss. Lunch will be served right in the heart of the orchard garden. After lunch, we wil enjoy our biking ride along the village, visit fruit garden, enjoy the tropical fruit while you are listening to the sound of “Southern Vietnamese folk music” performed by the islanders. Here we also can join the daily activities of the local people and enjoy the atmosphere of this beautiful natural countryside. Your expectations will be fulfilled by final boat trip back to My Tho on the Tan Thach natural canal.
Note: Our this trip is also included the coconut candy workshop and An Khanh village to see fish breeding.
Car back to Saigon.
Include:
- Private transportation by car with air conditioner & experienced driver
- Meal : Breakfast, lunch
- Tour guide
- Entrance fees
- Boat trip
- Bike
- Hotel in Saigon : GRAND HOTEL – 4 star
Day 17 : Departure – Sai Gon (B)
Free time until our driver picks up and transfers you to the airport to catch your flight back home.
Source : Vietnam holiday 17 days
