Authentic Vietnam
17 days - 16 nights
- Hanoi - discover the colonial charm of Ancient Quarter of the capital
- Halong Bay - enjoy an overnight junk boat cruise in this UNESCO Listed region with thousands of beautiful limestone peaks and islets
- Ninh Binh - River valley known as the 'Halong Bay on land'
- Explore the verdant rice terraces of Sapa, visiting its local ethnic villages
- Discover Vietnam's imperial history at the Imperial Citadel in Hue
- Explore Hoi An Ancient Town – World Heritage site
- Savor the best of street food in Saigon on motorbike
- Infiltrate the secret underground network of the Vietcong at Cu Chi Tunnels
- Venture down to the verdant landscape of the Mekong Delta by sampan cruise
- DAY 1: HANOI ARRIVAL
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DAY 2: HANOI HISTORY & CULTURAL TALES
Begin the morning with a visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex, which includes Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum (outside), the final resting place of the beloved national hero, Uncle Ho, and President Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house where he lived off and on from 1958 to 1969. At 09:30 you’ll visit the One Pillar Pagoda, which is actually a group of structures that collectively make up a pagoda built over the water in the middle of a square lake.
After that, you’ll have a chance to explore the Tran Quoc Pagoda on the shore of west lake. From there, it’s onto the Temple of literature, which was Viet nam’s first university and is dedicated to Confucius. Stop at the University of Vietnam built in 1076. After lunch, enjoy cyclo ride through the busting Old Quarter, visit the Lake of the Returned Sword and Ngoc Son Temple at the late evening of the day. Overnight in Hanoi.
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DAY 3: HALONG BAY CRUISE
After breakfast, we leave Hanoi for an overnight boat trip on Halong Bay. Journey there through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta, observing everyday life of Vietnamese villagers along the way. Arrive in Halong City late morning and board the boat for the overnight journey into the bay. Lunch will be served en route, whilst cruising along the bay’s iconic limestone formations. Towards the end of the day set anchor for the night. As the sun sets over the bay, dinner is served on board with fresh seafood, salads, and fruits. Overnight in Halong Bay.
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DAY 4: HALONG BAY, DRIVE TO NINH BINH
For early risers, complimentary tea and coffee are served on the sundeck followed by a Tai Chi class. On the cruise back to Halong City, enjoy a wholesome brunch as the boat weaves back to port through strange-shaped limestone rock formations. Upon disembarkation, the guide will pick up and provide a private transfer to Ninh Binh for check in. Overnight in Ninh Binh.
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DAY 5: NINH BINH, OVERNIGHT TRAIN TO LAO CAI
Breakfast at hotel. 8:30 am, guide pick up for visiting the historic capital of Vietnam and the famous ancient temples of Le and The Dinh Dynasties. Then our car will transfer you from Hoa Lu to Tam Coc then take boat trip to visit Tam Coc to see the beauty of the karst formations as you pass along their base and row into one of the many caves carved through the limestone in Tam Coc. Have lunch and drive back to Hanoi for overnight train to Lao Cai.
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DAY 6: SAPA, EXPLORE MINORITY VILLAGES (LAO CAI & TA VAN)
6:00 am, arriving Lao Cai, picked up at Lao cai Railway station early in the morning by car. Arrive at Sapa round 8:00 AM. Check in hotel, breakfast and shower. The road from Sapa winds through hilly terrain passing terraced rice paddy fields, where you reach Cat Cat cultural village, just 3km from Sapa town. A leisurely walk through the old village offers you an overview of the traditional customs and practices of the ethnic Black H’mong people. Stop by a stunning waterfall and the vestige of a hydroelectric power station, constructed by the French during the colonial era in Vietnam. Follow a dirt trail snaking through the mountain. Enjoy spectacular scenery while trekking along a narrow stream until you reach Y Linh Ho village also home of the Black H'mong minority. Head toward Muong Hoa valley.
Descending into the valley, you will see the largest terraced rice fields in the Sapa area. (If you visit the valley between May and October, you have the chance to observe and experience how the local people plant and harvest rice). The walk takes you from Lao Chai village of the Black H'mong minority to Ta Van village of the Giay minority. You will take a break to enjoy a picnic lunch at a local house before transferring back to Sapa. Overnight in Sapa. -
DAY 7: SAPA, TREK TO RICE PADDLE FIELD (NAM CANG & NAM NHIEU)
Start in the morning driving down to the lowest valley of Sapa, around 2 hours driving descending the Sapa valley, Along the way you have many chances to see breathtaking view of paddy terrace field and cornfield, where is the largest terrace paddy of Sapa District. Passing Ban Ho village. Your car ascend to My Son Village then Nam Cang Village, where are minorities people living such as Xa Pho, Red Zao, White H’mong Stopped by Nam Than Village, You can visit minority people house then You start to trek by suspension bridge.
First impression is approaching small waterfall with breezy and cool, Along your trekking are many small waterfall like that, Furthermore is the most stunning view of lowest Valley, Constituted by paddy terraces and “Buffalo house on stilts” scattered on paddy terrace, More special is along your trekking you have chance to enjoin with forest song –“Bird singing”. After 2 hours trekking you will have lunch in a minority people house on stilts in Thanh Phu Village then transfer back to Sapa by viewing sun set on the mountainous. Overnight in Sapa.
- DAY 8: SAPA, BACK TO HANOI & FLY TO HUE
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DAY 9: HUE IMPERIAL TOUR
Breakfast at hotel. Guide pick up at hotel to tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh, the 12th King of Nguyen Dynasty. The architectural work owns a harmonious combination between the European modernity and the Vietnam classical characteristics. Then we drive to a buddhism Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the most famous Vietnamese landmarks. Enjoy 1-hour boat drive on Huong River to Imperial City. Have lunch before visit Imperial City is the most well known and iconic site in Hué. Famously being one of Vietnam’s seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Imperial City of Hue has long been a must-see attraction for tourists visiting a hidden charm of Vietnam. Overnight in Hue.
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DAY 10: HUE, DRIVE TO HOI AN
Breakfast and check out hotel. 8:00 am, we leave Hue for Hoi An, on the way to stop for sightseeing the high mountain pass of Hai Van: Lang Co Beach; the lagoon far below with Danang spread. 1:00 pm, lunch in Hoi An. 2:30 pm, explore the ancient city of Hoi An which former name’s Faifo where there were a lot of Chinese living together with the Japanese and Vietnamese, the highlights will be Japanese Covered Bridge, Phung Hung Ancient Trading House, Phuoc Kien Temple, the Cantanese congregation, silk street in Hoi an, the temples and pagodas of Chinese appearance. Overnight in Hoi An.
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DAY 11: HOI AN RICE FARM CULTURE
Breakfast at hotel. Today, you will experience an unique adventure in Hoi An join a Rice Farm. Learn hands on about the whole process of how rice reaches its finished product. Start the day by cycling to the rice farm, riding a water buffalo and then take part in ploughing, raking, sowing, planting, grinding and separating the rice and making rice flour.
At the end of the tour you will have the opportunity to cook and eat beautiful crispy pancakes which will be served with a cool drink. This whole experience is held on a family farm and will be something you will never forget. Just be prepared to get dirty! We are sure this tour will make your trip an extremely memorable experience. Back to hotel around 2:00 pm. Overnight in Hoi An.
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DAY 12: HOI AN AT LEISURE
Breakfast at hotel. You will have free time to to explore Hoi An. Overnight in Hoi An.
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DAY 13: HOI AN, FLY TO SAIGON & CU CHI TUNNELS
Breakfast at hotel. Guide pick up and transfer to Danang airport for flight to Saigon. Upon arrive in Saigon, guide pick up and transfer to local restaurant for lunch. After lunch, we heading to Cu Chi Tunnels.
We then spend time exploring the maze of tunnels including innumerable trap doors, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens. These tunnels consisted of many ‘moving parts’ making them a livable structure for long periods of time. 16:00 We then drive back to Saigon and end the Cu Chi Tunnels tour. Check in hotel, free time for rest. Overnight in Saigon.
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DAY 14: SAIGON HISTORY & FOOD EXPERIENCE
Breakfast at hotel. We start this day tour by a visit to The Reunification Palace. This is one of the most important buildings in the city. Continue to The Post Office Center for the best examples of classical French colonial architecture in Saigon, Notre Dame Cathedral and War Remnants Museum, which formerly known as the Museum of American War Crimes.
Lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon, we will go to Thien Hau Pagoda, and Binh Tay Market. Come back to your hotel around 5:00 pm. 17:30 PM Tour guide from Food Tour will pick up you at hotel for explore Saigon by night on scooter. Overnight in Saigon.
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DAY 15: MEKONG DELTA EXPERIENCE
Breakfast at hotel. Depart to Cai Be, which is about 2 hours drive from Saigon. Upon arrival, pick up at a rice factory in An Cu, hop on a boat to visit the rice floating market, the largest rice floating market in Mekong delta. You will get to meet and learn from rice workers. Next stop is an ancient house in Dong Hoa Hiep Hamlet then the Cai Be floating market. Leaving the market, visitors will now come to a bee farm and Hai Yen flora garden. You can learn about how honey and pollen and royal jelly are harvested then you can try the samples; next you might want to try lifting a fishing net and walking on a “monkey” bridge.
The following stop is a fruit orchard owned by a lady named Hang. You can explore the orchard and pick some fruits down to enjoy. You will later be guided to a house where you will enjoy Mekong traditional music. Then you will hop on a rowing boat to tour through a canal and arrive at Mekong Ecolodge to participate in a cooking session then enjoy lunch, then heading to Can Tho. Overnight in Can Tho.
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DAY 16: CAN THO FLOATING MARKET, BACK TO SAIGON
Breakfast at hotel. Guide pick up and hop on a boat to head for Cai Rang Floating Market which operates from 5:00 am to early afternoon every day. This is the biggest floating market in the delta. Your boat will go through the market and weave among local barges laden with fruit and vegetables. You will learn interesting facts about a very typical lifestyle of Vietnamese people in Mekong. (*If you think 6 am is too early, there is an option that you go to the floating market at 8 am after breakfast). Head back to your hotel t and fresh up before check out. Back to Saigon. Overnight in Saigon.
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DAY 17: SAIGON DEPARTURE
Breakfast at hotel. Free time till driver pick up at hotel for next departure flight. Tour ends