Highlights:
• Explore the hidden of Hanoi Old Quarter, enjoy Quintessence of Tonkin Show
• An overnight cruise in Halong Bay in a wooden cruise and visits Sung Sot caves
• Deeply trekking in Sapa and meeting ethnic minority people, visit Bac Ha Market
• Investigate the Imperial citadel and Royal life of Vietnamese Kings in Hue
• Seeing traditional fishermen and their unusual basket boats ply the water in Hoi An
• Discover the lushly green vegetation and mighty waterways in Mekong Delta on a charming river cruise
ITINERARY
DAY 1: HANOI ARRIVAL (MEAL: NO)
Arrival at Noi Bai Airport, Our driver will welcome you at airport terminal and transfer you to the hotel in the center. You will check in at the hotel and you will visit the center of the city by your own.
Overnight stay in Hanoi.
Please note that check in time at hotel is 14:00.
Inclusion: Airport pick up service, Accommodation
DAY 2: HANOI CITY TOUR – QUINTESSENCE OF TONKIN SHOW (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/-)
At 08:00 Am, Our guide will pick you up at hotel and we will 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. Lying to one side of the mausoleum is the One Pillar Pagoda which was founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049. You will then continue on to the Buddhist Tran Quoc Pagoda in West Lake. It is one of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam. Thereafter, you will visit the Bat Trang pottery village. The visit applies during Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. You will have lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon , after lunch, you will proceed to visit the Ethnology Museum. The tour applies on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. You will visit the Temple of Literature or Quoc Tu Giam and Vietnam’s first university which was constructed in 1070.
Then we past Hoan Kiem Lake to see the peaceful waters and the beauty of Ngoc Son Temple. Transfer to hotel. Until at 06:30 Pm, our staff will pick you up at hotel and transfer to meeting point for a shuttle bus transfer to the countryside of Hanoi named Saison district to watch a Vietnam must – see cultural spectacle which delivers audiences a unique and memorable exploration of the Red River Delta. Return back to hotel around 9:30 Pm. Stay overnight at hotel in Hanoi.
Inclusion: Transportation, English speaking guide, meals: breakfast and lunch, all entrance fees, accommodation.
DAY 3: HOA LU – TAM COC – NIGHT TRAIN TO LAO CAI (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/-)
At 08:00 Am: Meet your tour guide at your hotel. We will drive around 2.5 hours to Hoa Lu - the historic capital of Viet Nam and the famous ancient temples of the Le and the Dinh Dynasties. You can see the royal citadel where the emperors lived and know more about part of feudal dynasties and historical periods in Vietnamese history.
Then you will have Buffet lunch featuring Vietnamese cuisine.
Continue to take a boat trip to visit Tam Coc, known as “Halong Bay on land”. You will have a chance to see views of majestic limestone cliffs and three mysterious caves, as well as countryside sights, like peaceful streams, rice paddies and deserted green fields.
You can join to ride bicycle around countryside roads and villages to see the local farmers and buffaloes working on the rice fields. Get on bus to transfer back to Hanoi, drop you off at hotel. Free and easy in evening. Until our staff will come to pick you up at your hotel and transfer to Hanoi Railway Station for take a night train to Lao Cai. Stay overnight on train.
Inclusion: Transportation, English speaking guide, meals: breakfast and lunch, all entrance fees, train ticket - sharing train cabin 4 berth with A/C.
DAY 4: LAO CAI – BAC HA MARKET (SUNDAY MORNING) – SAPA (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/-)
At around 06:00 Am, You will arrive in Lao Cai train station, a small border town by the Red River. My guide will meet you at the exit gate, and take you to a local restaurant in Lao Cai for breakfast. Then you will leave for Bac Ha (70 km) via a winding road with breath-taking mountain views. Visit Bac Ha market (on Sunday only), considered the liveliest and crowded in the region. It attracts a large number of Flower H’mong and other hill-tribe groups (Nung, Phu La, Tay). It is no doubt one of the most attractive places for photo hunters in Vietnam. Lunch at local restaurant. Then, back to Lao Cai and continue an interesting trip to Sapa (38 km). Nestling on Fansipan mount, Sapa offers spectacular scenery and is home to different hill-tribes. Dinner on your own. Night at hotel in Sapa.
Remark: Bac Ha market is open on Sunday only, the following markets may replace Bac Ha market according to your arrival date:
- Can Cau market (20 km from Bac Ha) on Saturday morning.
- Coc Ly market on Tuesday morning.
- Cao Son market on Wednesday morning
- Lung Khau Nhin market on Thursday morning.
Inclusion: transportation, English speaking tour guide, meals: breakfst and lunch, all entrance fees, accommodation.
DAY 5: SAPA TREKKING TO HANG DA – HAU THAO - SAPA (B/L/-)
Breakfast at hotel. 08:00 You start the tour from Sapa. Take a short road transfer along the motor way southwards for 4 km with a stop along the way for stunning scenery of Fansipan mountain and Muong Hoa valley. Trekking uphill along a large and rocky path for 2 hours to Hang Da village of the Black H’mong which hides itself under lush trees on high elevation of the Den Thang Mountain. Explore the village, paying visiting to local families. Lunch break in the village.
After lunch, continue trekking along the same trail which goes on the high mountain side for about an hour which offers a great view of Muong Hoa valley until arriving at Thao Hong Den, another village of the Black H’mong to pay a visit to several local families. To continue, you will go downhill for another hour along a dirt track to Pho village at the center of Hau Thao commune. You will be picked up and transfer by road back to Sapa. Dinner on your own. Overnight in hotel in Sapa
Remark: The program of trek can be adjusted depending on the weather conditions, your age and your healthy status:
– Option 1: Lao chai / Ta Van (5 km, soft trek, very touristy)
– Option 2: Cat Cat / Y Linh Ho / Lao Chai / Tavan (14 km, medium trek)
– Option 3: Xau Chau / Xa Xeng / Hau Thao / Giang Ta Chai (14 km, medium trek, off the beaten tracky)
Inclusion: English speaking tour guide, meals: breakfast and picnic lunch, all entrance fees, transportation.
DAY 6: SAPA TREKKING TO VILLAGES: SUOI HO – MA TRA – AFTERNOON BUS TO HANOI (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/-)
At 8:00Am, Start a short walk (3 km) downhill through beautiful orchid gardens and pine forests. You will reach the village of Suoi Ho, home to H’mong minorities from where you can enjoy views over endless rice paddies. Continue our trek on a trail through rice paddy fields toward Ma Tra village, another village of H’mong minorities. Their house is normally built of land and has no windows because of the cold in the winter. It is possible to stop by a primary school (close at weekend and summer time) for a quick visit. Transfer to Hanoi by shared bus (6 hours). Dinner on your own. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.
Inclusion: Transportation, English speaking tour guide, meals: breakfast and picnic lunch, all entrance fees, sharing bus from Sapa to Hanoi.
DAY 7 : HANOI – HA LONG BAY (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER)
08:00 – 08:30: Our tour guide and bus pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi old quarter.
08:30: Departure to Halong Bay for 3.5 Hours.
10:00: Arrive in Hai Duong province, and have 20 minute short break.
12:00: Arrive to Tuan Chau harbor, 12:15 Welcome to cruise and enjoy Welcome drink, get a brief introduction about cruise and safety guidelines. Check-in your cabin.
12:30: Enjoy Vietnamese seafood and vegetarian lunch, while cruising in the magnificent Halong Bay, admiring the fascinating rock formations in the bay.
15:00: You at Tung Gau Area. The airy and fresh air, cool breezes, blue sea and sky, and natural seascape will captivate any visitors setting foot here. Especially, Tung Gau of Lan Ha Bay is extremely suitable for enjoying kayaking and swiming and then Visiting Halong Pearl Farm Village
17.30: Come back to our cruise and relax.
19:30: Time for dinner enjoying special food on the cruise.
21:00: Evening entertainments: play game on the cruise: cards game, chess, karaoke, squid fishing, and overnight on the cruise.
Inclusion: Transportation, English Speaking Guide, All entrance fees, Kayaking, Swimming, meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner, accommodation on cruise
Note: Cruise itinerary and schedule are subject to change due to weather and operating conditions.
DAY 8: HA LONG BAY - HANOI (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/-)
06.30: Early morning sun risers can enjoy Tai Chi lesson on sundeck.
07.00: Morning view of bay’s landscape with a cup of tea or coffee. Have breakfast.
08:00: Arriving Sung Sot Cave (Amazing Cave) and joining with guide to visiting and explore the cave
10:00: Check-out and enjoy a fantastic cruise on the bay. Join cooking class guided directly by Chef of Rosa Boutique cruise. You have chance to practice Vietnamese traditional dishes such as spring roll or famous cuisine of Vietnam.
11:00: Enjoy the lunch on cruise.
12:00: Rosa Cruise are landing Halong Bay harbor, tourist say goodbye to sailors and finish the cruise.
12:30: Return to Hanoi by shuttle bus.
14:30: Stopover in Hai Duong province to visit a ceramics workshop.
16:00 – 16:30: Arrive in Hanoi. Free and easy the evening. Stay overnight in Hanoi.
Inclusion: Transportation, entrance fees, meals: breakfast and lunch, English speaking guide, accommodation
DAY 9: HANOI – FLY TO HUE (BREAKFAST/-/-)
Free and easy visit Hanoi. Until our driver will pick you up at hotel and transfer to airport and fly to Hue. Another driver will pick you up at airport and transfer to hotel. Stay overnight in Hue.
Inclusion: Airport transfer service, Domestic flight, meals: breakfast and lunch, Accommodation
DAY 10 : HUE CITY TOUR (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/-)
At 08:30 Am, our tour guide will pick you up at hotel. Then you will start the Hue city tour. Visit Thanh Toan Bridge - The only other tiled roof bridge in Vietnam aside from the one in Hoi An. This wooden arch bridge has been built for the local villagers who are into farming and fishing. The old bridge served and still serving the local villagers on their daily life needs. The bridge connects the local market and the village houses.
Visit Minh Mang tomb - The tomb of the most beloved Emperor of Nguyen dynasty. Minh Mang Tomb is considered as the most majestic of all of the Royal Tombs. The impressive architecture that complements with the nature gives you a good impression of the Emperor who lives within the walls of the 18 hectares tomb.
Visit Khai Dinh tomb - The smallest but the most expensive tomb of all. Every corner of the tomb is very detailed which reflects how luxurious the emperor was. Lunch in a restaurant that serves Western, Asian and Vietnamese food.
We visit Citadel - Imperial City is the home of Vietnam's last royal dynasty - the Nguyen Dynasty. This is the highlight of the tour. You will learn the rise, struggles and fall of the Nguyen Dynasty and how it affected the whole country.
Visit Thien Mu Pagoda - The oldest pagoda in Hue city.
Get on a dragon boat cruise to see the sunset on the way back to the city.
Drop you off at your hotel in Hue. Stay overnight in Hue.
Inclusion: Transportation, English speaking guide, meals: breakfast & lunch ; all entrance fees, accommodation.
DAY 11: HUE – HOIAN (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/-)
Breakfast at hotel. At 08:00 Am, Transfer to Hoi An along Highway 1 which links Hanoi to Sai Gon. This drive is reputedly the most beautiful in all Vietnam, taking you past coastal fishing settlements, most notably Lang Co with its stunning lagoon backdrop. The drive also takes you over Hai Van Pass (or ‘pass of the ocean clouds’). Lunch at a local restaurant in Hoian.
The afternoon is spent strolling through the narrow streets of this atmospheric old town. This former port, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is full of architectural gems that show a range of influences. Around the seventeenth century Hoi An was one of the busiest ports in South East Asia. Enriched by the proceeds of this trade many merchants constructed beautiful homes. You should start by visiting Japanese bridge, Quan Cong temple, Fujian temple, one of the old houses and the local market. Then , take a boat trip on Thu Bon river. Dinner on your own. Overnight at hotel in Hoi An.
Inclusion: Transportation, English speaking guide, meals: breakfast & lunch ; all entrance fees, accommodation.
DAY 12: HOI AN RICE PLANTING AND FISHING TOUR (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/-)
Picking you up at your hotel by mini- van, we will bring you over the countryside where bike are available to ride (If you don't know how to ride bicycles, please use our scooter "XE OM" services and you pay the extra 120,000 VND).
You start the day by cycling to the local farmer in Cam Thanh Ecological village. Here you are greeted by a local host and then you join with them how to grow wet rice with their family.
Starting farming work like plough and raking with buffalo, riding water buffalo, learning how to transplant rice, flooding farm, grinding rice, pounding rice.
After then, Our guide and van will bring down to a local fishing village. You will be boarded on boat .
Joining to go fishing with local fishermen at Phuoc Hai local fishing boat to experience local cast net CHAI.
Continue to visit water coconut palm jungle, enjoying the basket boat and visiting the water coconut palm forest.
Learn how to learn origami such as grasshoppers, flowers, rings, caps, bracelets toys made from water coconut leaves...,
Having a fun to catch crab around the water coconut palm forest and after then boarding back boat, morning time you will get lunch and afternoon time you will get dinner on boat, and cold beer or soft drink we will bring you back to your hotel. Free and easy visit Hoi An in afternoon. Stay overnight in Hoi An.
Inclusion: Transportation, English speaking guide, meals: breakfast & lunch ; all entrance fees, accommodation.
DAY 13: HOI AN – DANANG AIRPORT – HO CHI MINH CITY (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/-)
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to the Danang airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City, transfer to your hotel.
Saigon is not only the most important economic centre in Vietnam, it also has some very imposing colonial architecture which was the center of attention in our fascinating past. Almost a hundred years of French rulers bestowed upon the city with some pearls of colonial architecture. Begin your exploration of this frantic city with lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, visit the Central Post Office, designed by Gustave Eiffel, and the Notre Dame Cathedral, inspired by its counterpart in Paris. Next, visit the moved War Remnants Museum which presents a partial, but riveting, view of the American war, as it is known in Vietnam. Continue your city tour with a visit to District 5, formerly known as Cho Lon or Chinatown. Cho Lon, or ‘big market’, with its congested streets is where most of the city’s ethnic Chinese population lives. The district lives up to its name in the form of Binh Tay wholesale markets. Founded in 1778 the market sells a stunning array of goods and produce, ranging from fish to incense. We will finish our city tour with a stop at the Thien Hau temple, otherwise known as ‘The Temple of the Heavenly Lady’, to marvel at its intricate friezes and coils of incense. Dinner on your own. Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
Inclusion: Transportation, English speaking guide, meals: breakfast & lunch ; all entrance fees, accommodation.
DAY 14: HO CHI MINH – CAI BE – VINH LONG – CAN THO (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/-)
Depart Ho Chi Minh City around 8h30 Am for a scenic morning drive to Cai Be. From Cai Be ,take a boat trip along the mighty Mekong River and its tributaries to view the daily lives of people who work and play on the waterways of the Mekong Delta.The trip includes a visit to the floating market at Cai Be,and a family-run business producing pop rice,coconut candy,rice paper- a key ingredient in Vietnamese cuisine.Lunch is on an island mid-river,in a local house set amongst fruit orchards and bonsai trees and then followed by a performance of traditional Vietnamese music.Continue to Vinh Long by sampan boat, and proceed by car to Can Tho for overnight. Stay overnight in Can Tho.
Inclusion: Transportation, English speaking guide, meals: breakfast & lunch ; all entrance fees, accommodation.
DAY 15: CAN THO – CHAU DOC (BREAKAFST/LUNCH/-)
After breakfast, 8am take a boat trip to explore the picturesque tributaries of the Lower Mekong River (Bassac River), then visit the Cai Rang floating market, which are the best in the region. You will probably have tried Vietnamese vermicelli soup, so now go and see how it is made. Then wander around the village and talk with the local people. Learn how to cross a "monkey bridge" which is built from a single bamboo. Break for lunch. Proceed to Chau Doc. Overnight in Chau Doc.
Inclusion: Transportation, English speaking guide, meals: breakfast & lunch ; all entrance fees, accommodation.
DAY 16: CHAU DOC – HO CHI MINH CITY (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/-)
After breakfast, take a nice boat trip through the floating village to visit a fish farm to see how the Mekong Delta people raise fish in their floating houses. Visit the Cham minority with their traditional weaving village, followed by a local Islamic Mosque. Trip back to Hochiminh city. Check in hotel. Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Inclusion: Transportation, English speaking guide, meals: breakfast & lunch ; all entrance fees, accommodation.
DAY 17: HO CHI MINH DEPARTURE (BREAKFAST/-/-)
Breakfast at hotel. Free at your own time until the driver meets you then transfers to the airport for your flight home or next destination. Tour ends.
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