Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Hanoi (D)
Arriving at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, you'll be met and driven to your hotel. You’ll then be free until be picked up to watch the Water Puppet show an art form unique to northern Vietnam, and a good, light-hearted introduction to its rural culture. Later on, your driver will take you to the local restaurant for you “Welcome Dinner” with one of our representative. Spend the night in Hanoi.
Day 2: Hanoi (B, L)
After breakfast at your hotel, you'll be picked up to start a Hanoi city tour. You’ll visit Ba Dinh Square, where silent sentries guard the marble and Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum where Ho Chi Chi lies in state (closed on every Monday & Friday and October & November) and see the simple cottage where Uncle Ho lived and worked. You’ll continue to visit the One Pillar Pagoda and hear the legend of its construction, born from the love of an emperor in the 11th Century. You’ll drive to visit the serene Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest in Hanoi, on the banks of Hanoi’s West Lake. You’ll also call the Temple of Literature, built in 1070 and the dedicated to Confucius, it is a serene retreat from the busy streets outside and later become Vietnam’s first university.
After lunch at local restaurant, driver and guide will take you to visit the Ethnology Museum for an overview of Vietnam’s 54 distinct ethnic and enjoy an orientation of the tree-lined streets of Hanoi, resplendent with French colonial architecture, including the recently restored Opera House. Pass by Hoan Kiem Lake, also known as Lake of Restored Sword from the legend that surrounds it en-route to one of the city’s fascinating museums.
In the afternoon, you’ll take to the streets by walking tour of the Ancient Quarter of 36 streets District. This densely populated corner of the city was once a centre of commerce where goods were sold under the street name of a particular guild. Still a thriving community of sellers today, you’ll see streets name such as Sugar Street, Tin Street and Paper Street. Ancient homes and temples are interspersed with stores in this souvenir hunter’s paradise. Spend the night in Hanoi.
Day 3: Hanoi/Ninh Binh/Lao Cai (B, L)
Pick up at your hotel and drive to Ninh Binh (110 km). When you arrive in Hoa Lu, the former capital of Vietnam, you’ll visit Dinh and Le temples, which dedicated to Emperor Dinh and a memory of Emperor Le. You'll follow by a brief visit to the remains of the Old Palace. You'll be driven to Tam Coc (three grottoes) and have lunch at the local restaurant. You’ll be rowed along a gentle river between paddy fields and through the Tam Coc, You'll enjoy a peaceful valley among limestone ‘karst’ hills on the way. Drive back to Hanoi to refresh at local restaurant then take an overnight train to Lao Cai.
Day 4: Lao Cai/Sapa (B, L)
You'll be met by your tour guide at Lao Cai Station and have a breakfast at the local restaurant. You'll be picked up to visit a market frequented by ethnic minority peoples. Although it’s quite a long drive, the landscape is attractive and the ethnic markets are a fascinating experience. Unlike those in the tourist areas, the markets that we choose are for not only buying and selling, but also meeting places for ethnic minority people to meet and exchange news. There will be plenty of color and authentic costumes, but very little to buy as souvenirs unless you want to barter for a water buffalo or a sack of fertilizer!
Drive to Sapa, a scenic mountain area with high peaks, rivers, valleys and hillside terracing. The rest day will be free to explore Sapa town by yourself. You’ll spend the night in Sapa.
Day 5: Sapa/Lao Cai (B, L)
Breakfast at your hotel, you’ll hike down to the H’mong ethnic minority villages on the way. You'll then be driven by Jeep to visit Lao Chai village for your picnic lunch. You'll take a walk to visit Lao Chai village, a village of H’mong people and then to Ta Van village, a village of Day people. The walk is moderate to intermediate descending down into a scenic valley of cascading water crossed by suspension bridges. You’ll next visit the Giang Ta Chai, a village of Red Dao people before driving back to Sapa for freshen up at a local standard hotel. You’ll then be escorted to Lao Cai station. You’ll have dinner by yourselves. You'll then take an overnight sleeper train back to Hanoi. You’ll spend the night on the train.
Day 6: Hanoi/Ha Long (B, L, D)
You’ll leave for Ha Long Bay, which is often called Vietnam's eighth wonder of the world and once visited, it is hard to dispute that claim. 4000 spectacular limestone outcroppings, cliffs, arches and coves compete for space in an area that is without doubt the most outstandingly naturally beautiful in the country - incomparable coastal scenery. On arrival, you’ll board your boat, a wooden junk that will take you first to the busy World Heritage area Ha Long Bay, which is translated as “Descending Dragon”. You’ll stop off at an islet and climb though a series of breathtaking caves and grottoes, marveling at some of the most impressive stalactite and stalagmite formations anywhere in the world and then making a stop secluded beach where you can enjoy cruising among the cave dotted island and seeing the small fishing boats with are always feature of this lovely bay. Weather permitting, you’ll be able to swim, fish, climb a hill for an overview of the Bay’s remarkable seascape. All your meals will be provided on board, usually based on fresh seafood. Spend the night in Ha Long Bay.
Day 7: Ha Long/Hanoi/Hue (B, L)
You'll have western breakfast on boat and then spend the morning cruising Ha Long Bay, followed by lunch just before docking to the harbour at around 11.30. On the way back from Ha Long, you’ll enter one of the villages nearby to enjoy the life of the Northern farmer. If the time permits, you can visit a school for children. You’ll return to Noi Bai airport in Hanoi for your flight to Hue. When you arrive, you’ll be picked up to travel to your hotel. Spend the night in Hue.
Day 8: Hue (B, L, D)
After breakfast at your hotel, you'll drive to visit Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the most famous structures in Vietnam on the banks of the Perfume River.
You’ll then be taken by boat to cruise along the Perfume River to the Royal Tombs of Minh Mang, the most majestic emperor and a staunch follower of Confucianism with many wives, concubines and a small army of children. Planned by the Emperor and built shortly after his death in formal Chinese style, it’s opulent and exotic, and a good example of classic Sino-Vietnamese architecture.
In the afternoon, you'll drive to visit Royal Tu Duc tomb, the "poet Emperor", is set in an elegant garden with a magnificent lake and pavilion complex. The simplest of the actual tomb (a monument - he was buried elsewhere to thwart grave robbers) is at odds with the lavish opulence of his reign. You'll then be picked up to visit the Royal Khai Dinh tomb is an unprepossessing concrete construction on the side of a wide valley. Its interest lies in the uneasy combination of Vietnamese and European features, the use of fragments of ceramics and glass for decoration, and the striking views from the courtyard in front of the mausoleum.
In the evening, you'll sit down for dinner in the pleasant surroundings and a comfortable atmosphere of another of the garden houses. The owner will prepare and serve a traditional meal based on the distinctive characteristics of classic Hue cuisine. The garden houses are a unique feature of Hue. The houses are traditional, privately owned, and set in attractive formal gardens. Some have connections with the old Royal Imperial Court. Hue traditional architecture has long had close associations with the natural environment. The garden houses reflect this association. Each is highly individual - house and garden, people and scenery, plants, clouds and water co-exist and blend with each other in a harmonious context. The narrow streets and abundant flora give the garden house area a country village feeling. Spend the night in Hue.
Day 9: Hue/Hoi An (B, L)
Breakfast at your hotel, you'll then be picked up to travel to Hoi An. You’ll drive to Lang Co Beach and the lagoon far below. You'll then cross the high mountain pass of Hai Van with excellent view to see Danang spread out. After lunch at local restaurant, you’ll have a brief to visit Cham museum, remarkable Hindu statuary. The Cham left a legacy of excellent sculptures as they were pushed south by the advancing Vietnamese invaders. Driver and guide will take you to visit China Beach, immortalised for many by the US television show and still one the the most spectacular beach in Asia. You’ll then visit the Marble Mountain, Stone Carving village where you can admire the stone products of local people. You'll travel to Hoi An to have a visit the town, and enjoy its considerable significance in the history of Vietnamtown. You’ll enter a narrow street to look at unique Japanese covered bridge, Chinese communal house, shop for art at one of the numerous galleries and enjoy riverside ambience. Spend the night in Hoi An.
Day 10: Hoi An free (B)
Your free day to visit the town or relax on the beach as you wish.
Optional tour to My Son half day:
Breakfast at your hotel, your driver and guide will pick you to visit the World Heritage My Son Sanctuary, the guide will show you the remains of the remarkable brick towers, and explain their origins and purpose. You'll return to Hoi An. Rest of day will be free perhaps to stroll around the Old Quarter of relax on the beach. You’ll spend the night in Hoi An.
Day 11: Hoi An/Ho Chi Minh City (B)
After breakfast, your time is your own until your car arrives to take you to Danang airport for the afternoon flight to Ho Chi Minh City, where a guide will meet you and take you to your hotel. After checking in you’ll be free, perhaps for a preliminary wander around Ho Chi Minh City’s busy streets and shops. Spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City/Cu Chi (B, L)
In the morning, your car and driver will come to take you for your Ho Chi Minh City tour. You’ll be driven to visit the Museum of War Remnants provides a very partial, but riveting, perspective of the ‘American War’. You’ll then visit Centre Post Office with colonial building and the Cathedral Church. You'll then be driven to visit the Jade Emperor Temple. It’s one of the best Taoist temples in Vietnam, with superb effigies, remarkable carved panels of the descent to Hell and somewhat incongruous terrapin and tortoise sanctuaries.
In the afternoon, you'll visit the Cu Chi tunnels, a byzantine maze of underground passages, chambers, rooms and booby traps used by both the Vietminh and the Viet Cong to suddenly materialize as if from nowhere, launch a lightning ambush, and vanish equally rapidly. You’ll drive back to Ho Chi Minh City. Spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 13: Ho Chi Minh City/Vinh Long (B, L)
Drive to Vinh Long, a city famous by the Mekong River and floating market. You’ll cruise to visit Cai Be floating market, fruit orchards, a traditional family-run brick kiln, and drop in to look at some traditional cottage industries - a workshop making the huge coffins unique to the Mekong is particularly interesting. You'll have a lunch at one of the local family and have a shot show of traditional music in Mekong Delta which is operated by the local people.
You'll have time to wonder around the fruit market to buy some kind of famous tropical fruit such as banana, pomelo, dragon fruit and so on. You'll then return to Ho Chi Minh City. Spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 14: Ho Chi Minh City departure (B)
Your time will be your own until your private car and driver arrives to take you to Tan Son Nhat airport for your departure flight.
Tour Prices
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Class |
2 Pax |
3 - 7 Pax |
8 - 11 Pax |
12 - 15 Pax |
16 Pax Up |
Single Supplemental |
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Note: Number of Person in Group/Pax Tour cost per Person (in US $)
Trip includes:
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Breakfast and accommodation sharing a twin or double room.
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Pick-ups and transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle as specified in the itinerary above
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One way domestic flight tickets: Hanoi – Hue, Danang – Ho Chi Minh City, including domestic airport taxes.
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Return train tickets: Hanoi-Lao Cai-Hanoi, air-condition, soft 4 berths cabin.
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Boats cruise as programme. For Ha Long Bay, you’ll join other passengers on a high quality wooden boat with comfortable accommodation, good facilities and an experienced crew. The boat will be fully licensed and comply with current safety regulations.
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Travel by private, air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced, safe driver.
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The services of experienced English-speaking guides as indicated in the itinerary
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Where necessary, entry fees for all visits as mentioned in the programme.
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Lunches and dinners, as specified, in the local restaurants and full board on the boat in Ha Long Bay.
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VAT and other taxes
Trip excludes:
- International flight tickets and airport tax.
- Visas (see visa service information)
- Dinners, except as specified above.
- Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses.
- Insurance.
