Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi (Welcome dinner)
Upon your arrival at Noi Bai Airport, you will be picked up and transferred to a hotel in Hanoi. Check into hotel. If time permits, you can enjoy a short cyclo excursion through the bustling old quarter streets named after the specific goods once offered for sale at these places. Enjoy our welcome dinner at one of the finest restaurants. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 2: Hanoi City Tour (B, L)
After breakfast at hotel, start city tour with Ho Chi Minh Complex for visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh Museum and One pillar pagoda, Tran Quoc Pagoda. Continue to visit Literature temple, the first University in Vietnam in 16th century. Have lunch in one of famous restaurant in Hanoi.
PM: Visit Ethnological museum then have Cyclo in the Old Quarter and visit Dong Xuan market, enjoy Water Puppet show in the afternoon. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 3: Hanoi - Halong (B, L, D)
8.30: Shuttle bus will pick up for a drive to Halong Bay. On the way, we stop for refreshment and photos.
12.30: Boarding Phoenix Cruiser. Welcome drink is served.
13.00-14.30: Lunch is served while cruising through Halong Bay. Roam around the labyrinth of the Bay through the Fighting Cock, Canh Buom, and stop for swimming then go for visiting Sung Sot cave (The Sudden Surprise). Kayak to Luon cave, Dau Nguoi Mountain, Titop beach.
18.30: Docking for overnight.
19.30: Dinner is served. Overnight on the Junk.
Day 4: Halong - Hanoi - Lao Cai Railway Station (B, L)
08-09.30: Buffet breakfast while cruising back to Halong wharf and visit Fire Island, Dinh Huong Island, floating village.
10.30: Luggage pulls out. Clear all bills.
11.30: Arrive at the pier. Time to say Goodbye.
12.00: Shuttle bus will take you back to Hanoi. Dinner on guest's account.
Relax until transfer to Hanoi railway station to catch the night train to Sapa. Overnight on train.
Day 5: Sapa - Cat Cat Village (B, L, D)
Train arrives at Lao Cai Railway Station at 06.00AM. Transfer to Sapa by private van. Have breakfast at the hotel or in the local restaurant (optional). Relax for a while. Your guide will meet you at hotel for short downhill walk to Cat Cat village. This village of the H'mong tribe in the valley, remains in very original style. Excellent views of the valley with the magnificent limestone hills and paddy fields of the H'mong village. Mix with the local families and learn of their customs and social life. Further down past the village down you will reach the Cat Cat waterfall. A "white curtain" cascade appears which is surrounded by a flowery valley and deep-green pines. The rocks near the river and waterfall provide a marvelous place for photos and sunbathing during good weather You will also see a disused French hydro power station. Dinner on guest's account. Discover Sapa in night and see the ethnic people and their activities and life in Sapa. Overnight at hotel in Sapa.
Day 6: Lao Chai - Ta Van Village (B, L)
Breakfast before a private jeep transfers you to Lao Chai village, a village of the Black H’mong. A short walk down to the river will take you to a hill tribe house to see their living style and the local women making their handicraft clothes. Further on along the road, the Tavan village where Dzay people stay can be seen. Visit the village and learn their customs. Back to Sapa in the afternoon. Dinner on guest's account. Overnight in Sapa.
Day 7: Bac Ha Market - Lao Cai Railway Station - Hanoi (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel. Upon leaving Sapa we set off on our scenic drive through the border town of Lao Cai to the colourful Sunday Market at Bac Ha (If time permits). This market also attracts a wide variety of ethnic minority groups including the Variegated Hmong, Dao, Phu La, La Chi and Tay. They still retain their old age cultural traditions and are recognisably distinct from each other by their dress. The experience of this congregation is colorful and unique. After the market we enjoy a walk around the area, visiting the Hmong King’s former residence and Ban Pho where the villagers make the potent local maize alcohol before transfer back to Lao Cai railway station for night train back to Hanoi. Overnight on train.
Day 8: Hanoi - Hue (B, L)
Train arrives back in Hanoi at around 6.00am in the morning. Pick up at the railway station and drive to the restaurant for breakfast. Relax until transfered to the airport for the flight to Hue. Upon arrival in Hue, you will be picked up and transfered to hotel for check in and relax. Overnight in Hue.
Day 9: Hue City Tour (B, L)
AM: Visit Royal Citadel which was constructed by Emperor Gia Long in the style of French military architect Vauban during the first decades of the 19th century. Before leaving the site of Imperial city we visit ImperialMuseum, many precious objects which were salvaged from the Imperial city then we visit Khai Dinh Tomb, have lunch.
PM: A boat trip along Perfume River to visit Thien Mu pagoda, Minh Mang tomb, visit Dong Ba market. Overnight in Hue.
Day 10: Hue - Hoi An (B, L)
Upon leaving Hue we drive south to Hoi An which was originally a Cham seaport but has been influenced down the centuries by a myriad of traders from various cultures. The scenic road is hugging the coastline before crossing over the winding Hai Van pass. A view from the top of the pass is one of Vietnam’s most impressive panoramic scenes. We stop en route to visit the Cham Museum in Danang City, the China Beach and the Marble Mountain, whose peaks represent the five elements of the universe. Overnight at hotel in Hoi An.
Day 11: Hoi An Walking Tour (B, L)
The ancient architecture of Hoi An is a fascinating combination of Vietnamese traditional characters with Chinese and Japanese influence.
There is plenty to see in this delightful town, some of the attractions are the famous Japanese Covered Bridges, the Pottery Museum, the 200 years old Tamky House, the Chua Ong Pagoda, the vibrant market.
Today we include some of these on a walking tour past many low tiled houses scattered along the small streets and assembly halls which reflect the town's multi-cultural past. A perfect way to round off the day is a boat trip on the Thu Bon River, which also gives us a chance to admire the spectacular countryside and explore a handicraft ceramic village and boat building yards. Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 12: Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh City (B, L)
AM: Free & easy
PM: Transfered to the airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, picked up and transfered to hotel for check in and relax. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.
Day 13: Ho Chi Minh City Tour - Cu Chi Tunnels (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel. Then spend full day visiting the city: Ho Chi Minh Cityis the largest and busiest city in Vietnamwith a population of 6 million people. Much of the daily life takes place on the streets, which are lined with shops, stalls and vendors with their wares spread out on the footpath. We start our tour with a visit to the ReunificationPalacewhich was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975. Close to this sight are some of the best French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Saigon Post Office. Visit the Jade Emperor Pagoda, the War Remnant and the bustling Ben Thanh Market. Here anything and everything is for sale. Lunch at local restaurant. Afterwards we continue to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, which were an incredible underground network constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the long struggle for independence. The tunnels contained hospitals, plus accommodation and schools, and were used as a military base for the Vietcong in the American war. Turn back to Saigon for relax. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.
Day 14: Ho Chi Minh - Mekong Delta - My Tho - Can Tho (B, L)
8: 00Pick up at hotel. Transfer to My Tho. Take the motorized boat through the Bao Dinh natural canal; view the stilhouse and the fruit plantation along the canal sides. Visit the My Tho wholesale fruit market. Proceed to the Tortoise Island. Lunch served in the heart of the orchard. Enjoy the nice boat ride through the Tan Tach natural canal in Ben Tre, cruise under the shadow of the water coconut trees. Visit the family business where you can experience the agricultural lifestyle. Trekking through the fruit plantation in Thoi Son island, enjoy the rowing boat ride on the creeks before returning to My Tho by rowing boat. Proceed to Can Tho. Check in on arrival. Overnight in Can Tho City.
Day 15: Can Tho - Mekong Delta - Ho Chi Minh City (B, L)
08: 00 After breakfast, take the morning boat trip to visit the Phong Dien floating market with the busy sense right at the time. Keep cruising through the small channels system, visit the rice noodles making village. Experience the “monkey Bridge “in the Delta. Visit the second floating market of Cai Rang. Break time for lunch. Return to Hochiminh city. Stop for visit & rest at the Bonsai garden in My Tho. Drive back to Ho Chi Minh city. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.
Day 15: Ho Chi Minh City & Departure (B)
Free at leisure until time to transfer to the airport for the flight back home.
End of services. Our staff will give you the warmest goodbye and hope to see you again. |
