Amazing holidays in Vietnam

Hanoi arrival (-)

Arrival at Noi Bai Airport, warmly welcomed by our guide and transfer to the center of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. Hanoi has retained the old world charm of the French colonial area. The city face has not changed much in decades.

This is probably the most charming city of Vietnam with its authenticity, large shady avenues, numerous lakes, and manicured gardens.

Meals included: None

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

The room is available from 14:00

Arrival flight: To be advised

Hanoi sightseeing - Night train to Lao Cai (B,L,D)

We begin the tour of the capital by the complex Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, which dominates the Ba Dinh Square and his house on stilts to understand a great man whose life was very modest. The One Pillar Pagoda is famous for its original construction connected to an interesting legend from the 11th century. 

Then visit the Temple of Literature dedicated to Confucius and his disciples. As you visit the University, we understand more feudal education in Vietnam. In the afternoon, we visit the Museum of Ethnology, the largest museum and also the most complete of the 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam. A cyclo ride an hour in the Old Quarter with its narrow shopping streets allow us to discover the main interests of the Vietnamese capital.
End of the day, we visit Ngoc Son Temple in Hoan Kiem Lake, the giant tortoise in this temple tells the legend of the lake from the 15th century. Attend the Water Puppet Show in the evening - the typical art due to Vietnam. After that, you will be taken to Hanoi Station for your sleeper train to Lao Cai - Sapa.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Overnight on the local train (sharing train - soft sleeper 4 berth cabin with air-conditioned)

Lao Cai - Sapa (B,L,D)

Arrival in the early morning at Lao Cai Station then transfer by private car to Sapa, we admire the rice terraces hidden behind the clouds. Located 1,650m above sea level, with the temperate climate, Sapa was an old resort created by the French in the region of Fanxipan Mount (3143m) which is considered as the roof of Indochina. 

This city interest visitors by the mosaic of minorities H'mong, Red Yao, Tay, Dzay Safo... For hundreds of years, they live together and conduct their ancestral life despite modernity.
Rest at the hotel and lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon, we trek to the Black H'mong villages Lao Chai and Ta Van Dzays to where we have opportunities to discover the specific culture of each ethnic group. Back to Sapa by car.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Sapa

Sapa - Lao Cai - night train to Hanoi (B,L,D)

Morning, you will visit the daily Sapa central market where the ethnic groups come to exchange their agricultural products or sell their traditional costumes made meticulously by women's hand. It is also a place well-liked by young couples. Then we are going to climb the mountain Ham Rong (Dragon Jaw) where we can not miss the opportunity to take great photos of the area. An interesting walk takes us to the theatre where we will have the chance to attend the dance performance of five ethnic groups of Sapa. 

After lunch at a local restaurant, return to Lao Cai, we will make a detour to Ta Phin village where we discover the old traditions Red Yao. Before going to the station, stop at the Sino - Vietnamese border where we see the confluence of the Red River (red) belonging to Vietnam and Nam Thi River (green) to China.
Boarding the overnight train from Lao Cai around 20h30 to Hanoi. Overnight on train, soft sleeper 4 berth cabin with air-conditioned.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Overnight on the local train (soft sleeper with air - conditioner)

Hanoi - Ninh Binh (B,L)

The train arrives at Hanoi train station at 05h00. After having shower at the hotel and breakfast, depart for Ninh Binh. You will arrive at the Nature Reserve of Van Long after two hours’ drive (110km), board a bamboo rowboat as soon as we arrive for 1 hour rowing along this beautiful wetland of Van Long. Enjoying spectacular scenery surrounded by rice paddies and towering limestone mountain peaks.

After lunch served at a local riverside restaurant, you make a short transfer down a peaceful countryside road to Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s ancient capital eleven centuries ago. Here, spend one hour visiting the Dinh and Le temples of the Ancient Capital Hoa Lu which are dedicated to King Dinh and King Le, the founders of the ancient capital during the 10th century.

Alternatively, you might opt for a biking trip around the countryside of Van Long natural reserve instead of Dinh & Le King temple.

In the evening, you are free at your leisure.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Ninh Binh

Distance: Hanoi - Ninh Binh - 1h30 minutes

Ninh Binh - Halong Bay (B,L,D)

In the morning, you will travel to Halong Bay (3,5 hours). Upon arrival, transferred by tender to cruise – enjoy a welcome drink and cruise briefing, check into cabin and begin your cruise. HaLong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular travel destination, located in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam. The bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Overnight on cruise

Distance: Hanoi - Ninh Binh - 3,5 hours

Halong Bay - Hanoi - Flying to Hue (B,L)

Early in the morning and depending on the season, you will wake up to enjoy the sunrise over the aquamarine waters of the bay. Then, you will practice Tai Chi on the sundeck for those who want to do while the cruise will be around the bay until you disembark at the end of the morning. After that, you will return to Hanoi for your flight to Hue. Welcomed and taken to hotel in Hue by a local guide. In the evening, you are free at your leisure.

Meals included: Breakfast, brunch

Distance: 170 kilometers – 2h 30min to 2h45min

Suggested flight: HAN - HUI in the afternoon

Hue sightseeing (B,L,D)

The capital of the Nguyen dynasty of 1802-1945, declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1993, Hue offers its visitors a perfect picture of harmony of many historical sites still well preserved in the milieu of the charm of nature.

You will begin the city tour by boat to Thien Mu Pagoda, located along the Perfume River. The cruise takes you to the Minh Mang tomb, this majestic tomb reflects the Eastern philosophy of harmony between man and nature.
Lunch at a local restaurant. Visit the Imperial Citadel, a Vauban style architecture, built in the style of the Chinese imperial palace between 1805 and 1832. At the end of the day, a walk to Dong Ba market where you will find the best conical hats in Vietnam.
Royal diner, you are in the costumes of emperors, queens, princes, and princesses, imperial taste the dishes accompanied by traditional music.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

Hue - Hoi An (B,L,D)

Morning you visit the Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc amidst frangipani and pine trees, this is not a simple tomb, it evokes the idea of eternal life rather than death and visit traditional village manufacturing incense and conical hats.
Lunch at a local restaurant in the city of Hue and then the road to Danang via the famous road to the Hai Van Pass, you will have a beautiful view of dozens of kilometers of beaches of the peninsula of Lang Co.
In Danang, you visit Cham Museum (built-in 1916), the famous collection of the civilization of the Champa kingdom and the Marble Mountain, next to the most beautiful beach of Vietnam. Continue to Hoi An, or Faifo, one of the busiest commercial ports from the 17th to the 18th centuries throughout Asia: Chinese, Portuguese, Japanese, Indonesian, French and Dutch all traded there. Classified as World Heritage by UNESCO in 1999, this charming city fascinates not only by the authenticity of the architecture, the romantic scenery of the river and the beach but especially by the light of glimmering lanterns after sunset. 

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Distance: Hoi An – Hue 150km – 3 hours

Hoi An sightseeing (B,D)

Morning you discover the ancient city of Hoi An, visiting a traditional Vietnamese old house, a Chinese congreration, Japanese covered bridge in the old neighborhood.
Free lunch in town and the afternoon is at your leisure to discover the beautiful city. Rent bicycles (in option) for exploring the surrounding area and relax on the beach.  Dinner at a restaurant in town.

Meals included: Breakfast, dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Hoi An- My Son - Hoi An (B,L)

Morning on the way to My Son, 70 kilometers from Hoi An which was classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO along Hoi An all temples and shrines wasn't only the religious capital but also the last houses of emperors of the Cham kingdom from the 5th to 13th centuries. They tell us the most glorious of this kingdom ruined through architectures and sculptures but how to make bricks there is still a mystery.
Back to Hoi An for lunch. Afternoon free to explore at your leisure the beautiful city. Possible to rent bicycles for exploring the surrounding area and relax on the beach. Overnight in Hoi An.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Distance: Hoi An - My Son - 40km

Hoi An - Danang - Ho Chi Minh City (B,L,D)

Transfer to Danang airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh. Meet on arrival by our guide, then transfer to the city. Ho Chi Minh City (former Saigon), the economic center of Vietnam, located in the heart of the Mekong Delta is also the largest city with the population of more than 8 million.
City tour: Notre Dame Cathedral, red brick building in neo-Romanesque style, which was consecrated in 1880. Post Office built by Gustave Eiffel, the Opera House and City Hall with beautiful architecture. Visit Thien Hau Pagoda if time permits.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Suggested flight: DAD - SGN at noon

Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta (B,L,D)

In the morning, you will travel to Mekong Delta (Cai Be) - one of the regions that possess the most magnificent paddy fields in Vietnam. First of all, you will visit unique local workshop where you are going to see how local people make things such as Vietnamese rice paper and earn a living from those, then take a sampan ride and paddle along the small canals that pass through the mangrove forests. Let’s try to travel like a local by a sampan boat as this is the main means of transportation of the local people in Mekong Delta.

Have a delicious lunch at a local restaurant. Take a short break and fill your tummy with Vietnamese food! Walk or cycle around the village and make some spontaneous discoveries such as a visit to a local school. You’ll find many interesting things in the Delta to explore and remember.

After that, you will travel to Can Tho for overnight.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Can Tho

Distance: Ho Chi Minh City - Cai Be - 3 hours

Mekong Delta - Ho Chi Minh City (B,L)

Ho Chi Minh City - Tay Ninh - Cu Chi Tunnels - Ho Chi Minh City (B,L)

Drive to Tay Ninh where there is the great Cao Dai Temple, an amazing religion, is unique and pure in Vietnam with more than two million followers, mostly in the South. We have the opportunity to attend the noon Mass on the altar and find all the great men of the world: Cakyamauni, Confucius, Jesus Christ, Laos Tseu even Janne d' Arc, Victor Hugo, Lenin, etc ... the eye symbolizes divine philosophy "all religions are moving toward the same path".
After lunch, we continue to visit Cu Chi Tunnels which is known by the name "Iron Triangle" and the "Free Fire zone". These tunnels are controlled by the Viet Cong, allowed them to communicate with each other when they were confined by the American and their South Vietnamese ally. They also provided shelter to the population during air attacks. The Vietcong soldiers lived there in harsh conditions, they are also living witnesses of the patriotism of Vietnamese people. Then return to Ho Chi Minh city and a free night at your leisure.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Distance: 75 kilometers - 1hr 55 min

Note: Cu Chi Tunnels is not recommended for people with claustrophobia

Ho Chi Minh City Departure (B)

Free time for your shopping or at leisure before the transfer to the airport for departure flight.

Meals included: Breakfast

The room is disposal until noontime only

Departure flight: To be advised