Vietnam Essential 14 days 13 nights
Day 1: Hanoi arrival
Upon your arrival at international airport, you will be picked up by your English speaking and then transferred to city centre with a brief introduction before arrival to hotel for check in. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 2: Hanoi city tour – Night train to Lao Cai (B,L)
After breakfast, we will start to explore Hanoi city with the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (closed on every Monday and Friday), an imposing monument made of generous amount of marble and granite. This is where the preserved body of “Uncle Ho” can be viewed. Continue visiting the lotus-shaped One-Pillar Pagoda (Chua Mot Cot), whose origins date back to the foundation of city, then visit to Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam. Enjoy lunch at local restaurant.
In the afternoon, we follow with the wonderful Ethnology Museum to understand about Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. Then continue the route to visit Tran Quoc pagoda – a cultural symbol of Vietnamese Buddhism for an introduction to Buddhism. Afterwards, get on a cyclo for a 1-hour ride to through the Old Quarter with 36 streets and 36 wares and be dropped off to enjoy the Water Puppet Show, the unique art of Northern Vietnam.
Tonight, after dinner on your own, drive to Hanoi station for the night train to Lao Cai. Overnight on train.
Day 3: Lao Cai – Sapa – Cat Cat – Taphin (B,L)
Upon your arrival to Lao Cai station, pick up and transfer to Sapa for relaxing and having breakfast at hotel. (Your room may not be available in the morning). Then start to explore Sapa Town. Lunch at local restaurant.
In the afternoon, take a 2km trek to Cat Cat Village, home of H’mong Ethnics. Meet & talk with locals to learn more about their daily life. Then continue the ride to Tafin village (12km from Sapa) home to the Red Dzao minority. Visit Tafin Cave, Tafin handicraft shops and explore the daily life of Red Dzao. Here you have good choice to buy woven and textile brocades, which are hand made by ethnic people. Visit a small hamlet of Black H’mong people here too. Back to hotel. Dinner is your own. Overnight at hotel.
Day 4: Sapa – Lao Chai & Ta Van – Lao Cai – Night train to Hanoi (B,L)
After a leisurely breakfast at hotel, we will visit Lao Chai village of Black H’mong people. Then trek a little to visit Ta Van village of Dzay ethnic people. Drive back to Sa Pa for lunch at your own arrangement. A short shopping in town before moving to Lao Cai station. Dinner is at local restaurant in Lao Cai before taking the night train back to Hanoi. Overnight on train.
Day 5: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B,L,D)
Upon your arrival to Hanoi station, pick up then transfer to Hoan Kiem lake for doing Tai Chi and have breakfast at local restaurant. Then, depart for Halong Bay. En route we have a short stop at the Sao Dao center run for and by handicapped children for short break. Upon arrival at Bai Chay Whalf, we will be met by captain and board your traditional wooden junk. and start cruising out to the mystic bay while a seafood lunch is served on board.
In the afternoon, we cruise to the inside of magical landscape and admire the Dinh Huong island, Ga Choi Island, Dog Island, Binh Phong mountain. And stop to visit the Surprise cave (Sung Sot cave), visit Luon cave for swimming or mountain climbing to Titop peak for panoramic view of the bay. Have dinner on board. Late tonight, join with the junk crew for squid fishing on board if interested. Overnight on junk.
Day 6: Halong – Hanoi – Flight to Danang– Hoi An (B,L)
Rise to the sound of the ocean coming to life for another lovely day. Before breakfast, you may have an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay. After breakfast, we cruise to the Bai Tho Mountain in the other beautiful Bai Tu Long Bay and we cruise back to the Halong dock. Lunch/ Brunch buffet breakfast is served on boat before checkout. Boat arrives at harbor then transfer back to Hanoi for your own shopping before driving to airport for flight to Danang.
Upon arrival at airport, pick up and transfer to hotel for check in hotel in Hoi An. Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 7: Hoi An biking (B,L)
This morning, take a bicycle ride to a craftsman’s house in an old street of Hoi An. Learn about the daily life of Hoi An people and see how they make lanterns. You can make one by yourself and keep it as a souvenir. Have lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, continue biking to Tra Que Vegetable Village, walk around a vegetable garden and join the farmers in preparing the land, fertilizing it with seaweed from the local lake, raking, sowing, watering greens, picking greens and many more gardening activities. Then spend the rest time to learn how to prepare ‘Tam Huu’ spring roll & banh xeo with your host. Ride back to your hotel by bike.
Day 8: Hoi An – My Son – Hue (B,L)
After breakfast, pick up at your hotel then depart to My Son, a World Heritage site, 40 km southwest of Hoi An. Located in a lush valley, My Son was a capital and religious center of Cham people, with red brick towers and sanctuaries, considered to be in the same league as some of Southeast Asia’s greatest archaeological sites, including Angkor-Wat in Cambodia, Bagan in Myanmar, Ayutthaya in Thailand and Borobudur in Indonesia. These towers and sanctuaries were built from the 7 to 13 centuries. Lunch is at a local restaurant.
This afternoon, drive to Hue via Danang where you will stop to visit the Cham Museum and China Beach, the via Hai Van pass where a spectacular panorama of the central coastline can be viewed from the summit before heading Hoi An. Check in hotel upon arrival. The balance of time is free. Overnight in Hue.
Day 9: Hue (B,L)
After breakfast at hotel, start to explore Hue city by enjoying the boat cruise on Perfum River, viewing the city and the tranquil villages on the riverbank. Then walk up to visit the Thien Mu Pagoda, a nicely located pagoda, overlooks the Perfume River and the beautiful scenery beyond, where you get to learn more about the Buddhism in Vietnam. Next, take a short ride to visit the Imperial Citadel from where the Nguyen emperors once ruled Vietnam. Lunch at local restaurant.
Afternoon, drive to visit the Tomb of King Tu Duc and Khai Dinh. Then, walk with your guide around Dong Ba Market to experience local commercial life activities and shopping opportunities. Transfer back to your hotel. Overnight in Hue
Day 11: Hue – Flight to Sai Gon – Sai Gon city tour (B,L)
Today, you will take early flight to Sai Gon. Upon arrival, pick up and transfer to hotel. Then start to explore the city including the visit to the Re Unification Palace, the former palace of President Thieu and his predecessors. Today this building is a museum and venue for official receptions. Nearby is the Post Office and the Notre Dame Cathedral, built between 1877 and 1883 and one of the city’s major landmarks. Neo-Romanesque in form, Notre Dame is the major seat of the Catholic religion in modern Vietnam. Lunch is at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, visit the History Museum for a thorough understanding of the Vietnamese history and then visit the War Remnant museum to have an overall picture of the most recent wars in country. End the day with shopping opportunities at Ben Thanh market and boutique shops along Dong Khoi street if interested. Overnight at hotel in Sai Gon.
Day 12: Sai Gon – Vinh Long – Can Tho (B,L)
This morning, pick up at your hotel then depart for Cai Be floating market which is situated in the Mekong delta. Upon arrival, embark a private boat to cruise around Cai Be Floating Market to see local people being selling, buying, exchanging goods from their boats. Visit local garden and house to see orchard, rice crisped producing process, etc.. .
After lunch at local restaurant or local family, continue cruising along river to see peaceful tranquil life of villagers, admire marvelous natural setting of Mekong Delta region. The boat will arrival at Vinh Long Market, walking around to explore Vinh Long Market.
Next, drive to Can Tho for check in hotel. Overnight in Can Tho.
Day 13: Can Tho – Sai Gon (B,L)
After breakfast, start your trip with a boat cruise on sparking streams along the endless waterway of mighty Mekong River to the colorful Cai Rang floating market. There will be hundreds of boats loaded with fruits, vegetables and fish jostling for trade. Sellers advertise their wares by crying out across the waters. Lunch is at a local restaurant.
This afternoon, return back to Sai Gon. The balance of time is free for your own shopping. Overnight in Sai Gon.
Day 14: Sai Gon departure (B)
Today, you will be free until the time to transfer to airport for your departure flight. End of our services.
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