Overview

            Brief itinerary

Day 01: Arrive in Hanoi

Day 02: Hanoi city tour – Lao Cai                                                 

Day 03: Lao Cai – Sapa

Day 04:  Sapa- Hanoi

Day 05:  Hanoi – Halong Bay

Day 06: Halong Bay – Hanoi                                                         

Day 07: Hanoi - Hue 

Day 08: Hue – Hoi An 

Day 09: Hoi An                                                                                                                    

Day 10: Hoi An – Danang - Saigon                        

Day 11: Saigon – Tay Ninh – Cu Chi – Saigon                  

Day 12:  Saigon – Mekong Delta                                                                            

Day 13:  Saigon  Departure  

 
      Highlight of the trip:
- Enjoy the colonial French architecture of Hanoi

- Discover the varied ethnic minorities in the hilly rural North of the country and grab some fantastic photographs as they carry on their daily activities.

- Cruise along Halong Bay with its other-worldly karst islands
- Visit the Imperial City in Hue and then take a dragon boat up the Perfume River  

- Stroll along the traffic free streets of Hoi An’s old town
- Experience the  vitality of Saigon with its unique blend of history, culture and modern conveniences
- See how the Viet Cong lived during the war; take a guided tour through a portion of a tunnel.

- Observe the religious ceremonies of the flamboyant Cao Dai sect in their Great Temple.

- Wander along the Mekong Delta with its floating markets and lush water-side villages

- Marvel at the delicious fresh cuisine and decadent French pastries served by friendly and cheerful wait-staff.

Full itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi

Arrive in Hanoi - Noi Bai International Airport.
You will be met at the airport by your English speaking guide and transfer to your hotel in downtown Hanoi. Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is a beautiful city of lakes, shaded boulevards and verdant public parks.  After check-in we will enjoy a short walk through the Old Quarter of Hanoi, where we observe the daily life of the locals on busy markets and narrow shaded streets. The Old Quarter includes 36 old streets with each name representative of the type of merchandise sold in it.
Overnight in Hanoi

Day 2: Hanoi city tour – Lao Cai (B)                                     

In the morning we will visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & Museum, the One Pillar Pagoda, the French colonial styled Presidential Palace and the historical Temple of Literature, the first university of Vietnam, built in 1070 in honor of Confucius.
In the afternoon we will will see the Museum of Ethnology, then visit Hoan Kiem Lake (The Restored Sword Lake) and the Ngoc Son Temple, which is on an island in the northern part of the lake. We will enjoy a Cyclo tour along the narrow streets of the Old Quarter of Hanoi. The Old Quarter includes 36 old streets with each name representative of the type of merchandise sold in it.
In the evening we will attend a traditional Water Puppet show. This art originates from rural festivals in Vietnam. The artists – men and women – stand waist deep in the water to manipulate the puppets, making them move about, talk, and laugh and even dance on the surface of the water. The audience is meant to experience the atmosphere of a village festival.
Transfer to the Hanoi Railway Station for the overnight train from Hanoi to Lao Cai.
Overnight in the train (each compartment contains 4 beds). (B)

Day 03 : Lao Cai – Sapa (B)

Early morning arrival at Lao Cai Railway Station.
Private transfer from Lao Cai to Sapa (45 minutes).
Enjoy a buffet Breakfast at Sapa hotel followed by free time to relax and enjoy the hotel facilities.
In the afternoon, our guide will take you to discover Sapa Town with its lovely small church and colorful market.
Then, continue to Ham Rong Mountain, located at 1,5 km from Sapa, at 1750 meters high. From here, you can see the whole panorama of Sapa Town. Ideal for walking and enjoying the beautiful scenery. Discover the orchid gardens with their beautiful flowers and enjoy the art of the ethnic minority groups in Sapa.

Trek to Cat Cat village, home of the Black H’mong.

Overnight in Sapa.

Day 4 :  Sapa- Hanoi (B)

Morning sightseeing to Binh Lu Market (on Thursday), located 50 km from Sapa. This is a very pleasant trip that takes you past impressive landscapes including terraced rice paddies. Visit the ethnic minorities such as the Nung, H’Mong, and Dao, and enjoy their market wares. You will have the chance to see a remote cave with remarkable stalactites and stalagmites.

Return to Sapa for time to explore the town and purchase souvenirs. Sapa is noted for its silk clothing and laquerware as well as hand made items from the ethnic minorities.
Transfer from Sapa to Lao Cai Railway Station in time to enjoy dinner before taking the train back to Hanoi.
Overnight in the train (each compartment contains 4 beds).

Day 5 :  Hanoi – Halong Bay (B,L,D)

Early morning arrival in Hanoi.
After breakfast of traditional Vietnamese “Pho”, drive to Halong Bay (3 hours), a UNESCO World Heritage site. Whoever comes to Vietnam should not miss the chance to visit Halong Bay, a picturesque blend of harmonious transition between the mountains and the sea.
Halong Bay is in the Bac Bo (Tonkin) gulf and stretches over an area of 1,500 km2 with three thousand green islands that look like jewels. Upon arrival at the harbor we will embark on a junk. We will enjoy a fresh seafood lunch on the boat while experiencing the majestic beauty of Halong Bay. The junk is a wooden sailboat designed in a traditional Vietnamese style while offering a full range of modern amenities. Visit the fascinating Dau Go Cave called “The Cave of Marvels” and Thien Cung Cave, the “Heavenly Palace cave” surrounded by spectacular stalactites and stalagmites.

After dinner, enjoy fishing with local fishermen. The reflection of the limestone outcrops, the sight of fishing boats lit up in the darkness; enjoy these precious moments in one of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world.
Overnight on board the junk.

Day 6: Halong Bay – Hanoi (B,L)                     

After gazing at the sunrise, you will navigate through the numerous oddly shaped limestone outcrops. Stop by a cove for a panoramic view of Halong Bay. Seafood feast on board. On the afternoon return to Hanoi we’ll stop at Dong Trieu Village and visit a ceramic craft workshop.
Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 7: Hanoi - Hue  (B)

After breakfast we depart to the airport for a short flight to Hue. Upon arrival in Hue, the guide will meet you at the airport and accompany you to the hotel. After check-in and some time for relaxation we continue with a visit to the Imperial City, an impressive royal complex built in the 17^th century based on the ancient feng shui practice of geomancy.  The Imperial City is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Overnight in Hue.

Day 8: Hue – Hoi An  (B)

In the morning we will take a dragon boat trip along the Perfume River. We will stop at the Thien Mu Pagoda, which is located on the southwest bank of the Perfume River and was the centre of Buddhism in Central Vietnam. Then on to the King Tu Duc tomb, which was built between 1864-1867.  The King’s tomb was laid out with palaces, statues and monuments in perfect harmony to form a natural poetic setting. We continue to Lang Co, which we will reach after approximately two hours. Optional lunch at the Lang Co Beach Resort. We head on to Hoi An with a photo stop on the summit of the breathtaking Hai Van Pass. Hoi An old town has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site as an example of a well preserved South East Asian trading port of the 15^th – 19^th century.  In addition to its unique architecture, it is also noted for its tailors and handicrafts, especially lanterns.

Evening at leisure to enjoy the sights of the illuminated old town.
Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 9: Hoi An (B)                                            

After breakfast, enjoy a walking tour of Hoi An Old Town. Visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky old house, a handicraft market where you can see the artists at work making beautiful silk lanterns, the Cantonese Assembly Hall, temples and pagodas in the Chinese architectural style, and the large colorful market.

Afternoon at leisure.

In the late afternoon take a boat trip on the Thu Bon River to enjoy the sunset.

Evening at leisure.

Overnight in Hoi An

Day 10: Hoi An – Danang - Saigon       (B)  

After breakfast, transfer to Danang airport for a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). On arrival we transfer to the hotel and then enjoy a city tour to visit Reunification Palace, Ben Thanh Market, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the beautiful French-style Post Office with its glass canopy and iron structure designed by Gustave Eiffel. Then, continue to Cholon, the Chinese quarter, and see Binh Tay Market with its big clock tower in the centre.  Discover the Thien Hau Pagoda, build by the Cantonese congregation in the 19th century. 

Evening at leisure.
Overnight in Saigon

Day 11: Saigon – Tay Ninh – Cu Chi – Saigon   (B)                       

Enjoy a morning drive through typical Southern Vietnamese countryside to Tay Ninh, a small town located 96km West of Saigon. Tay Ninh town is the headquarters of one of Vietnam’s most interesting indigenous religions, Caodaism, with architecture that could have come straight from a Walt Disney fantasy and where all the major faiths of the world blend together in a unique religious cocktail. The Cao Dai Great Temple at the sect’s Holy See is one of the most striking structures in all of Asia. Built between 1933 and 1955, the temple is a rococo extravaganza combining the perhaps conflicting architectures of a French church, a Chinese pagoda, Hong Kong’s Tiger Balm Gardens and Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum. Prayers are conducted four times daily in the Great Temple. Attend the noon ceremony in the Cao Dai Great Temple.
Enjoy a typical lunch at a Tay Ninh restaurant (paid by yourself)
After the lunch continue to the small town of Cu Chi, located 35 km from Saigon (1h30), an incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the long struggle for independence.

Visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnel Network which became legendary during the 1960s for its role in facilitating Viet Cong control of a large rural area. At its height, the tunnel system stretched from the South Vietnamese capital to the Cambodian border; in the district of Cu Chi alone, there were over 250 km of tunnels. The network, parts of which were several stories deep, included innumerable trapdoors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapon’s factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens. The tunnels of Cu Chi were built over a period of 25 years beginning in the late 1940s.
In the afternoon, return to Saigon.
Overnight in Saigon.

Day 12:  Saigon – Mekong Delta  (B)                                                   

We depart from the hotel in the morning and drive southwards to Vinh Long Province, which is situated between two branches of the downstream Mekong River.
On arrival, we enjoy a boat trip along the river’s narrow waterways, overhung with dense vegetation. We will have the opportunity to try exotic fruits in one of the many orchards. For lunch, you can try (paid by yourself) the local delicacy - Elephant’s-Ear fish. We continue with a visit to the Cai Be floating market before heading back to Saigon.

Overnight in Saigon.

Day 13:  Saigon  Departure     (B)     

Free time at leisure for last minute shopping before transferring to the airport for departure home.

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