Overview

 Brief itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi

Day 2 Hanoi city tour

Day 3 : Hanoi – Ba Be (B,L,D)

Day 4: Explore Ba Be Lake and National Park (B,L,D)

Day 5: Ba Be Lake - Hanoi (B,L)

Day 6: Hanoi - Cuc Phuong National Park (B,L,D)

Day 7: Cuc Phuong - Tam Coc boating – Hanoi (B,L)

Day 8 :  Hanoi – Halong Bay (B,L,D)

Day 9: Halong Bay – Hanoi  (B,L)                

Day 10: Hanoi -  Hue  (B)

Day 11: Hue - Bach Ma National park – Hue  (B,L)

Day 12: Hue – Hoi An  (B)

Day 13: Hoi An - cooking tour  (B,L)                          

Day 14: Hoi An – Danang - Saigon    (B)  

Day 15: Saigon – Cu Chi – Saigon   (B)                    

Day 16: Saigon – Cat Tien National park  (B,L,D)

Day 17: Cat Tien – Saigon   (B,L)

Day 18:  Saigon – Mekong Delta   (B,L)                                              

Day 19:  Saigon  Departure   (B)      

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

- Visit four of Vietnam’s rural and scenic National Parks and see the diversity of fauna and flora.
- 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  

-Marvel at the magnificent waterfall in Bach Ma National Park

- 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.

-Enjoy a night safari in Cat Tien National Park viewing the nocturnal animals in their natural habitat.

- 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

Arrival in Hanoi. You will be met at the airport by your English speaking guide and transfer to your hotel in downtown Hanoi.

In the afternoon, 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 of 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.

Overnight in Hanoi

 Day 2: Ha Noi city tour (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 see the Museum of Ethnology, where we'll learn about the fascinating cultural diversity of this ancient land.

At sunset we will enjoy a short walk along the West Lake and a visit to Tran Quoc pagoda.

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, laugh and even dance on the surface of the water. The audience is meant to experience the atmosphere of a village festival.
Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 3 : Hanoi – Ba Be (B,L,D)

After breakfast we will leave Hanoi and drive east past the Red River and Chuong Duong Bridge on a route up into mountain areas north east of Hanoi. We will stop en route to take pictures and visit local villages. After ascending a curving road we will arrive at Ba Be National Park, one of the largest natural lakes in Vietnam. The park is a tropical rainforest area with over 550 named plant species in the forest. It is home to around 300 wildlife species including mammals, birds, butterflies and other insects. The park is surrounded by steep mountains. Ba Be, or Three Bays, is in fact three linked lakes with a total length of 8km. The Tay ethnic minority inhabit this area.

After lunch we have the option to take a short hike to a nearby village or relax in front of the lake enjoying the spectacular scenery.

The night will be spent with a local Tay family in a traditional stilt house where you will experience their way of life.

Overnight in Tay stilt house.

Day 4 : Explore Ba Be Lake and National Park  (B,L,D)

The day begins with a morning hike in the park. We will descend into the scenic valley, home to the Tay minority people and encircled by rock formations. Then we will board a boat and tour along the Nang River where we will pass the Dau Dang Waterfall. The Dau Dang Waterfall consists of a series of spectacular cascades between sheer walls of rock.  The scenery along the lakes and river is extraordinary, with rural farmland and rugged mountains jutting out of the tangled jungle growth. We end our day in the park’s headquarters, where we spend the night at a comfortable park hotel.

Overnight in park hotel.

 Day 5: Ba Be Lake - Hanoi (B,L)

Today we enjoy a spectacular boat trip along Ba Be Lake. Hang Puong (Puong Cave) completely passes through a mountain. A navigable river flows through the cave.We stroll along the riverfront, visit some lovely villages and hike the upper reaches of the lake, in an area marked by massive limestone cliffs and mountains. After lunch in a local restaurant, we drive back to Hanoi, stopping to visit an Ethnic Minority Museum in Thai Nguyen on the way.

Overnight in Hanoi (B,L)

Day 6: Hanoi - Cuc Phuong National Park (B,L,D)

After breakfast we will depart for Cuc Phuong National Park one of Vietnam’s most important protected areas. Ho Chi Minh personally took time off from the war in 1963 to declare this Vietnam’s first national park, saying: ‘Forest is gold. If we know how to conserve it well, it will be very precious. Destruction of the forest will lead to serious effects on both life and productivity.’

We will visit EPRC (Endangered Primate Rescue Center) located at the entrance of the park. We will then go trekking, have a picnic lunch, hike through the rain forests (18km) to learn about the diverse fauna and flora and the chance to see some native animals such as deer, civets, gibbons and langurs. The park is home to a species of tree called Cay Kim Gao. In ancient times, kings and mandarins would only eat with chopsticks made from this lumber – it was said that anything poisonous it touches turns the light-coloured wood to black.

Arrive at the Muong ethnic minority village before dark where we enjoy dinner and free time to learn about the Muong people.

Overnight in Muong house   

Day 7: Cuc Phuong - Tam Coc boating – Hanoi (B,L)

In the morning, after breakfast, we continue to explore Cuc Phuong National Park, then transfer to Tam Coc. We will have lunch on the way.

The afternoon will be spent in a rowing boat along the shallow rice paddies enjoying the limestone landscape of Tam Coc, the "Halong Bay on Land". We will pass through 3 caves (Hang Ca, Hang Hai, Hang Ba) created by wind and water during ancient times when the sea occupied this area. This is a great photographic opportunity.

Return to Hanoi

Overnight in Hanoi

Day 8 :  Hanoi – Halong Bay (B,L,D)

After breakfast 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 9: 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 10: 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 11: Hue - Bach Ma National park – Hue  (B,L)

After breakfast we have an early departure to Bach Ma National Park, a former French-era hill station. You will visit Do Quyen Waterfall, also known as Rhododendron Falls. It is more than 300m high and 20-30m wide. It is amazing to watch the silver water running into the bright red of the flowers. The hiking trails meander through evergreen forests and sub-tropical rainforests.

After lunch at a local restaurant, we will walk to Hai Vong Dai, the highest point in the Park, where you will have a stunning panoramic view of the coastline and its surrounding scenery. Walk about 30mins around Bach Ma summit to see the wonderful views of Bach Ma, the flora, birds and butterflies. Forty-three species of mammal have been definitively recorded within the boundaries of the park, with a further 76 species, including tigers and leopards, potentially present.

Overnight in Hue.

Day 12: 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 13: Hoi An - cooking tour  (B,L)                            

After breakfast we start with a trip to a local market to purchase ingredients for today’s appetizing experience: a cooking class at the Red Bridge Restaurant. A short cruise on the Thu Bon River brings you to the restaurant and cooking school, where you will help to prepare five traditional dishes for lunch.

After lunch 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.

Overnight in Hoi An

  Day 14: Hoi An – Danang - Saigon    (B)  

Free morning at leisure in Hoi An, then transfer to Danang airport and 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 15: Saigon – Cu Chi – Saigon   (B)                    

In the morning, visit the famous War Remnants Museum, with armored vehicles, artillery pieces, bombs and infantry weapons displayed in an outside walled courtyard.

Early afternoon departure 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.

Overnight in Saigon

Day 16: Saigon – Cat Tien National park  (B,L,D)

After an early breakfast we will drive to Dong Nai province to visit Cat Tien National Park which comprises an amazingly biodiverse region of lowland tropical rain forest. In 2001 Unesco added Cat Tien National Park to its list of biosphere reserves.
During three hours of trekking through the Reserved Core Area we will see many kinds of old growth trees that are hundreds of years old and survived the defoliants of the American War. We will return to the park center for dinner.
Highlight: Two-hour night night safari into the jungle in a jeep, where you will be able to watch the wild animals drinking and hear the calls of rhinoceros.

Overnight at a comfortable park hotel

Day 17: Cat Tien – Saigon   (B,L)

Wake up to the songs of native birds. There are 326 bird species in the park, including the rare orange-necked partridge, green peafowl and Siamese fireback.

After breakfast there is another four-hours trek to see the Crocodile Swamp (Bau Sau).

We return to the park headquarters for lunch and then return to Saigon.

Evening at leisure.

Overnight Saigon

 Day 18:  Saigon – Mekong Delta   (B,L)                                              

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 will be served lunch by 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 19:  Saigon  Departure   (B)      

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

Tour map

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Tour price

The price includes :

-     Accommodation based on twin sharing

-      Daily Breakfast

-     Other meals as indicated

-     Local English speaking guides (other languages available on request )

-     All entrance fees for the itinerary

-     Transportation within Vietnam

-     Internal flight within Vietnam (HAN/HUI, DAD/SGN)

-     Domestic airport taxes

-     Service charges, room tax

-     Cruise on (Mekong River, Perfume River, Halong Bay)

The price is not includes :

-     Vietnam Visa (can be arranged)

-     International airfare to/from Vietnam

-     Meals not included in itinerary

-     Optional tours

-     Tipping for guides, drivers, porters, maids

-     All personal expenses such as: extra meals and drinks, laundry, excess baggage charges, telephone calls, souvenirs

-     Trip insurance