DAY 1: HANOI ARRIVAL
Meal: Dinner
Arrive at Noi Bai International Airport, welcome by our guide and transfer to your hotel. (Driving time is approximately 45 munities).
Hanoi or “River-bound City” as its name literally means is Vietnam’s capital with a thousand-year-old history dating back to 1010. The city’s fascinating beauty which is characterized by unique cultural relics, ancient streets of antique houses, elegant French colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards and romantic lakes has made it one of the most charming cities of Asia.
DAY 2: HANOI – FULL DAY HANOI CITY TOUR
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Morning, start a full day city tour beginning with Ho Chi Minh Complex which features the life of Ho Chi Minh, the nation’s founder. At the complex, visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum where the nation’s founder’s body is preserved (closed on Monday, Friday and through October - November) and the rural style house on stilts where Ho Chi Minh lived and worked. Stop by one of Hanoi’s icons, the One Pillar Pagoda, built in the 11th Century in dedication to Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara or Buddha of Compassion and reminiscent of a lotus blossom rising from a pond. Continue to the Temple of Literature, known as the first university of Vietnam built in 1070 by the Ly Dynasty to honor Confucius, sages and outstanding Vietnamese scholars. Lunch in a restaurant (included)
Afternoon, continue the tour to one of the following museums of choice namely the Museum of Fine Arts, the National Museum of Vietnamese, the Museum of Revolution, the Museum of Military History and the Museum of Ethnology. Go to Hoan Kiem Lake, the center point of Hanoi whose name “The Return Sword Lake” originated from a legend of a sacred sword and home to a rare endangered giant turtle species and visit Ngoc Son Temple on the lake. Next, take a one-hour cycle tour of the Old Quarter of Hanoi with its ancient streets representing traditional trades from the past. Finish your Hanoi tour at the Thang Long Opera Theatre with a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show.
DAY 3: NINH BINH LANDSCAPE EXPLORING
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, depart from your hotel and continue your Vietnam tour packages to the site of Vietnam’s first capital, Hoa Lu. Along the way, you can take photographs of local villages and the surrounding landscape. On arrival in Hoa Lu – the ancient capital of Vietnam in 10th and 11th century, visit two temples, one of them dedicated to Emperor Dinh (968-980) and the other in memory of Emperor Le (980-1009). Continue to Tam Coc Town for a Vietnamese lunch; then board your private sampan boat on Ngo Dong river through “the Ha Long on land” the quiet and peaceful landscape of rice fields surrounded by limestone formations to visit three grottoes of Tam Coc (Hang Ca, Hang Giua & Hang Cuoi). You can cycle around paddie field and Tam Coc area. Overnight in Hanoi.
DAY 4: HALONG – UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning pickup at 8:00 AM from your hotel for transfer for a Halong Bay tour, which is about 160 km or 3.5-hour drive away. On the way, you will see some rural areas of the Red River Delta with plenty of chances to take photos of Vietnamese farmers working in paddy fields. Stop half way to visit a handicraft workshop of fine clothes and embroidered paintings.
Arrive in Ha Long City at 11:30 AM and check in aboard the booked junk right after the welcome drink is served. Start cruising while having lunch on board and enjoy the mighty bay view. Halong Bay means Descending Dragon Bay in Vietnamese as legend has it that it was where a holly dragon landed down from sky. The bay, famous as one of the world’s wonders and heritage sites whose formation dates back 500 million years, consists of around 2,000 karst islands and islets scattered over an area of 1,553 km2. The bay cruise will continue with up close sighting of Dinh Huong Island, Ga Choi Island, Dog Island, Sail Island, a visit to Sung Sot Cave and swimming stop at Titov Beach. Relax to enjoy the bay view at sunset, have dinner after, go fishing at 09:00 PM and spend a night on board.
DAY 5: HALONG – HANOI
Meals: Breakfast, Brunch
Wake up at 06:30 AM and refresh your body and mind with a Tai Chi exercise on the sundeck. Tai Chi is an ancient internal martial art often practiced in soft and gracefully slow moves to enhance internal harmony and vitality. Have tea and coffee onboard before proceeding to Titov Islet or Soi Sim Island to trek and swim. Check out at 09:30, have a buffet brunch while cruising back to shore. Disembark at 11:00 AM to drive back to Hanoi and stay overnight.
DAY 6: IMPRESSIVE MOUTIONOUS SAPA – TOPAS ECOLODGE
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Morning: you will commence from your Hanoi hotel with Topas Mountain Express for a 5 hours transfer to Topas Ecolodge in Sapa. After checking in your bungalow, you will enjoy the beautiful and peaceful view of the surrounding mountains and valleys from your private balcony.
The walk in the afternoon starts from Topas Ecolodge on a quiet road with a great view of the rice terrace below. You then take a slightly ascent to Lech village. You will now visit a wooden local house, meet the friendly Red Dao hosts and experience their daily way of life. The Red Dao women, as their ancestors, having hair and eyes brows shaved and wearing very colorful customs. They are famous for beautiful handmade embroidery. On the way back to Topas Ecolodge, you will walk on small trails passing rice terraces and cross a suspension bridge, where you can take some great pictures of the natural landscape. Your guide will explain about the interesting cultivating culture of the local farmers.
DAY 7: EXPLORE THE MOST REMOTE AREA OF SAPA
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Enjoy a great breakfast and prepare for today´s walk. At 9:00 AM, you will commence the excursion with a transfer deeper into Hoang Lien National Park to the trek starting point near Sin Chai village. You are now “off the beaten track” enjoying beautiful views of high mountains, waterfalls and the deep valleys. The trails will soon lead you to the Red Dao village of Nam Nhiu, here you will meet the villagers, enjoy a cup of green tea in their house, and learn about their daily way of life. Leaving the village behind, you will turn into a small dirt trail and soon be inspired by the marvelous view of the rice valley dotted with bamboo huts, which used by local farmers as overnight lodge in harvesting days. Passing the rice terraces and a river you will walk on a quiet road for a while before arriving at Nam Cang village. Your lunch is served at Nam Cang Riverside Lodge, with jungle behind the lodge and river in front.
Nam Cang village locates at the most remote area of Sapa. The Red Dao women wear some of the most colorful and diverse costumes of all Vietnam’s ethnic groups. Herbal bath, local medicine and embroidery are some of the things that the Red Dao are very skilled at. Accompanied by your guide, you will explore around the village and learn how the local villagers make writing rice paper, jewelry and embroidery. You may also want to take a swim in the river.
At 14:50, you will have a transfer back to Topas Ecolodge. Here you may want to book a traditional Red Dao herbal bath at the lodge’s newly opened spa.
DAY 8: LEAVING THE MOUNTAIN AND BACK TO HANOI
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
The morning is at your leisure at Topas Ecolodge. You can either relax or borrow free of charge high-quality mountain bikes from the lodge for an exploration to surrounding areas. You can also take a scheduled shuttle bus to Sapa to visit the town or book a half day tour to explore the highest peak of Indochina, Mount Fansipan (3.143m) by the newly launched cable car.
Transfer back to Hanoi for overnight.
DAY 9: HUE ANCIENT CAPITAL
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Free at your leisure to enjoy Hanoi. Then, you will transfer to the airport for your flight to Hue City. Upon arrival at Phu Bai Airport In Hue, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel. In the evening, you will have a chance to experience the Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City’s at night. You will enjoy royal-style dinner before an overnight stay in Hue City.
DAY 10: HUE CITY TOUR - HOI AN
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Rising up in the ancient land, you will enjoy your breakfast in the hotel and then board a private boat for a cruise on the romantic Perfume River. You will visit the Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda), and then take a drive to visit King Minh Mang's tomb and King Tu Duc's tomb before lunch at a local restaurant.
Afternoon: you will leave the UNESCO-designated World Heritage Hue for Hoi An. You will travel over the Hai Van pass to have an overlook Lang Co Beach, stop in Danang City for a visit to the Cham Museum and handicraft villages on the foot of Marble Mountain before arriving in Hoi An. Once in Hoi An, you will check into our hotel. Free at leisure in Hoi An.
DAY 11: HOI AN ANCIENT TOWN
Meal: Breakfast
In the morning you will enjoy a half-day walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter, visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, Chinese Assembly Halls, the 200- year old Tam Ky ancestral house, and the Japanese Bridge. Following Hoi An tour there will be free time for shopping or relaxing. Take part in a lantern making class. Then join in releasing lanterns on Thu Bon River in the romantic evening before another overnight stay in Hoi An.
DAY 12: MOVING TO NHA TRANG (BY FLIGHT)
Meal: Breakfast
After breakfast, transfer to Danang airport for Nha Trang. Transfer to Hotel upon arrival in Nha Trang.
DAY 13: NHATRANG BEACH RELAXATION
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, travel on a private boat trip to the islands and fishing village.
DAY 14: NHATRANG – DALAT (BY COACH)
Meal: Breakfast
Free at leisure until heading to Da Lat city - "the city of flowers". It takes about 3.5 hours on road to get there. Free for shopping at Dalat Night Market. Overnight in Dalat.
DAY 15: DA LAT CITY TOUR
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, visit to Truc Lam Pagoda take a cable car (included 1 way cable car) to visit a pine covered island in the middle of Tuyen Lam Lake (Paradise Lake), following visit Tuyen Lam Lake (Paradise Lake), it was created by Tia Stream – head water of Da Tam River. Continue visit Datanla Waterfall (include 2 ways self-controlled rollercoaster car) which is a nature amusement park of sorts, offering several activities besides sightseeing. After lunch, continue visit Domaine de Marie, the church is located atop a hill in Dalat. It is built in a style reminiscent of 17th Century French architecture, there have a lovely garden in the back yard and have a good view from the hill. Visit to Dalat Flower Garden, where you can different kind of flowers and enjoy the beautiful scenery and take selfie. Hằng Nga guesthouse, popularly known as the “Crazy House”: Described as a “fairy tale house”, the building’s overall design resembles a giant tree, incorporating sculptured design elements representing natural forms such as animals, mushrooms, spider webs and caves. Bao Dai Summer Palace that you can discover the living of the royal family through 25 rooms and its amenities. Overnight at hotel in Da Lat.
DAY 16: HO CHI MINH CITY TOUR
Meal: Breakfast
Transfer to Ho Chi Minh City. Your friendly guide will transfer you directly to your centrally located hotel.
In the late afternoon, join in our jeep car tour:
We’ll start Saigon night tour where we will admire the most magnificent French colonial monuments of the city such as Opera House, City Hall, Notre Dame, Post Office and Walking street, explore the local night market. Then, Get to cruise to enjoy dinner and traditional music show by the most famous musician of Vietnam, artist Duc Dau.
After the dinner, it is about time to enjoy the fresh air by night, Jeep tour will take you around Saigon to admire the panorama view of the city.
DAY 17: MEKONG DELTA EXCURSION
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
The Mekong Delta is the southernmost region of Vietnam and is often referred to as the rice bowl of Vietnam as it produces three crops of rice per year. The fertile Mekong Delta is also famous for its tropical fruits and flowers.
You will leave HCMC to lush My Tho, where you will board a private boat to go through the green vegetation of the canals to an orchard, where guests are treated to a delicious lunch in a local restaurant in the heart of the Mekong, complete with succulent tropical fruits. In your Mekong Delta tour, you will also visit the snake farm, Dong Tam, that breeds snakes for, among other things, snake wine. Then you will head back to HCMC for an overnight stay.
DAY 18: DEPARTURE
Meal: Breakfast
There is no activity planned for today, so you can enjoy your free time souvenir shopping until transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
"Cam on va chao tam biet!"