Best of Vietnam in 17 Days

DAY 01: HA NOI ARRIVAL

Arriving at Noi Bai airport, after clearing immigration and customs, you will be met and privately transferred to the hotel. Check in and relax after a long flight. Stay overnight at the hotel in Ha Noi.

DAY 02: HA NOI – HA LONG BAY: OVERNIGHT ON HA LONG BAY CRUISE (MEALS: B, L, D)

Breakfast at the hotel and then start a 3-hour driving to Ha Long City. Comfort stop en route for photos and coffee before arriving to Ha Long City. We then transfer to a refurbished wooden sailing junk for a cruise through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters of Ha Long Bay to enjoy a fantastic view of the picturesque scenery blending with the sky and some 3,000 limestone this World Heritage Site.

While being on board, we will be served a sumptuous fresh, local seafood lunch followed by swimming and exploring some of the limestone caves in this area. Try the feeling of witnessing the sunset on boat is really great. Have a dinner on board. The captain then will anchor for the night nearby a remote island. In the evening, there is the option for night fishing or just sit out on the deck and relax under the stars. Stay overnight on Junk.

DAY 03: HA LONG BAY – HA NOI (MEALS: B, L)

Waking up surrounded by the tranquil beauty of the bay, we have time for an early morning dip with joys and emotions for watching sunrise on sea followed by breakfast. The cruise continues to move around the bay for us to discover more secluded areas; we then take kayaking and swimming in the stunning bay. The junk will be near us at all times serving as a backup vessel for those that require it. At around midday we will return to the main harbor before transferring to our awaiting vehicle for a 4-hour back to Ha Noi. Arrive in Ha Noi, check-in hotel. Stay overnight in Ha Noi.

DAY 04: HA NOI CITY TOUR – TRAIN TO SAPA (MEALS: B)

After having breakfast, meet your guide and start for full day city tour exploring Hanoi. Start with the Mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh and the Presidential Palace, followed by the serene One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature known as the site of Vietnam’s first university. Next, visit the National Museum of Vietnamese History – it has a total area of more than 2,200m2, displaying nearly 7,000 documents and objects. It also has over 100,000 specimens of precious objects from the cultures of Nui Don, Hoa Binh-Bac Son, and Dong Son. In the afternoon, walking around the Ha Noi Old Quarter, ending at the historic Hoan Kiem Lake, visit Ngoc Son, enjoy the Water Puppet Show…

After dinner, drive to Ha Noi Railway Station for the night train to Sapa. Stay overnight on train.

DAY 05: SAPA VILLAGES AND PEOPLE (MEALS: B)

Arrival in Lao Cai. Local guide and car pick up at train station then transfer to Sapa. Enjoy breakfast at local restaurant. Then trekking to Lao Chai, Ta Van Village. The road leads to Ta Van village that is small and narrow. Along two sides has a fertile terraced field which adorns by the green of corn and rice. When visitors come to Ta Van village, they will not be amazed at the simple beauty of the houses in the village. Previously, Ta Van based on the customs and characteristic of the Giay in Lao Cai. They live together at the bottom, mountains, the valleys, along streams. They rarely live in the mountain or the top. Because living in a same local, according to historical process, the Giay is influenced by the culture of the Tay, Thai, Nung about language, home, dress and some cultural activities…

Lao Chai village where the black H’mong people are living, it is also the beginning of a valley which is called Muong Hoa valley. From a high point of the main road 8 Km from Sapa town, great view of the whole village open wide to offer the marvelous panorama of the village, backed by high mountains and facing the river. Here you will enjoy the fresh air, see terrace fields, stream, visit and discover some of the H’mong’s families, three large villages with over 100 families of the Black H’mong ethnic, and people here are quite hospitable. In this village which you will have a welcome feeling at any house of the hospitable people there. You can interact them, learn about their culture and customs. Stay overnight in Sapa.

DAY 06: SAPA – TRAIN BACK TO HA NOI (MEALS: B)

Morning, after breakfast, visit Sapa town. Trekking excursion to Cat Cat Village. Cat Cat Village is 2km from Sa Pa Townlet, Sa Pa District. This is an age-old village of H’Mong ethnic group remaining unique customs and practices that are lots in other villages. Then visit Ham Rong Mountain and San May (Cloud Yard). In the afternoon, transfer to Lao Cai railway station. Train back to Ha Noi. Overnight on the train.

DAY 07: HA NOI – FLIGHT TO HUE – CITY TOUR (MEALS: B)

Arrive in Ha Noi train station in early morning, car and guide pick up, then breakfast with Viet Nam “Noodle” (Pho Viet Nam). Enjoy a cut of coffee, sightseeing local life in morning. Then, transfer to Ha Noi airport for flight to Hue (Flight VN1541 at 09h00 AM). Arrive in Hue city, check in the hotel. In the afternoon, take a visit to the Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City. After that, walking around and shopping in Dong Ba Market. Stay overnight in Hue City.

DAY 08: HUE – DA NANG – HOI AN (MEALS: B)

Morning, start Hue city tour including: Boat trip on Perfume River to visit the picturesque Thien Mu pagoda, Tu Duc Tomb, Minh Mang tomb. In the afternoon, drive to Hoi An ancient town. The scenery on the way is very beautiful, do not forget bring your camera, taking a lot of pictures. Stop at Lang Co beach for coffee and refreshments before winding our way up the spectacular Hai Van Pass to admire the stunning views north to Lang Co beach and south to Da Nang City. Continue on our way down to the other side and head to Hoian ancient town. Stay overnight in Hoi An.

DAY 09: HOI AN CITY TOUR – TRA QUE VILLAGE (MEALS: B)

Morning, car and guide pick up for city tour visit Hoi An Town: Temple Kwan, Phuc Kien Temple, Tan Ky Ancient House, Phung Hung house, Japanese Bridge and cultural show rooms in Hoi An.

Hoi An Ancient Town – World Cultural Heritage: What is so special about Hoi An is that this little port town is in an incredible state of preservation. It offers some of the most densely-concentrated sights in Viet Nam with its old streets bordered with ancient houses and assembly halls, its pagodas, temples, ancient wells and tombs. In total, more than a thousand places of interest. The architecture of Hoi An is characterized by a harmonious blend of Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese influences. After many centuries, Hoi An is still respectful of its traditions, folk festivals, beliefs and of its sophisticated culinary art. Set in a quiet environment, Hoi An is surrounded by peaceful villages that have crafts such as carpentry, bronze making, ceramic…

In the afternoon, visit Tra Que Vegetable Village. Your cycling trip takes you on narrow roads to visit a place is famous for many kinds of vegetables in a long time: lettuce, salad, houttuynia, flagrant knoutwed, basil and coriander vegetables etc.. The village is named after the sweet scented vegetables that spice up the everyday meals of the Hoi An people. Then, ride a bicycle on the path of De Vong River , along the both sides of rice field, water coconut area, lakes of shrimp…. Have a chance to take photos on the ways and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the country side there. Back to hotel in late afternoon.

Overnight at hotel in Hoi An.

DAY 10: HOI AN – FLIGHT TO Ho Chi Minh City – CITY TOUR (MEALS: B)

Morning, transfer to Da Nang airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Flight VN107 at 8h55 AM). Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City, car and guide pick up for half day city tour visit: Reunification Palace, War Remnant Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Post office, Dong Khoi Street, Ben Thanh market, Thien Hau Pagoda, China Town.

Free at the rest of day. Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

DAY 11: HO CHI MINH CITY – CU CHI TUNNELS (MEALS: B)

After breakfast, drive to Cu Chi tunnels. We will visit a network of 200km long underground dug-out which was being used during the Vietnam – USA war. There is little evidence to indicate the intense fighting, bombing and destruction that went on in Cu Chi during the war. Have lunch at local restaurant.

Cu Chi Tunnels: This marvelous tourist attraction lets visitors experience what it must have been like for soldiers who used an extensive network of tunnels to move around undetected by their enemies. There is an informative movie to watch, followed by a guided tour of some mock recreations of daily life for the Viet Cong hiding in the jungle. Burnt out tanks make for a great photo prop and then everyone gets to crawl through a small section of the tunnels which has been widened and supported with concrete.

Back to Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon. Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

DAY 12: HO CHI MINH CITY – MEKONG DELTA (MEALS: B, D)

In the early morning, transfer to Ben Tre in Mekong Delta.

The boat will cruise along the Ben Tre river (a branch of the Mekong) and stop off at various local workplaces to give you a picture of how the local economy works, including a brickworks, where bricks are still painstakingly made by hand; bees-keeping farm, where you can try honey tea, some kinds of tropical fruits and listen the traditional music.

Then we go through the zigzag canal to visit a coconut candy workshop, where you can try fresh coconut candy and see how every single part of this versatile nut is turned into food and other products.

The boat will then stop at a quiet village where you can have a short walk to experience real Delta village life, and a mat weaving house, where straw mats are woven using a hand loom – you can even have a go at weaving yourself, before boarding your “xe loi” (a kind of motorized rickshaw) and traveling into the forest. It’s time to board a sampan for a relaxing trip along narrow canals. Stopping at a riverside restaurant for a delicious and filling lunch, featuring such local specialties as elephant-ear fish… , washed down with some cold drinks or beers.

After lunch. You will then hop onto a bicycle for a fun ride through the forest to Mr. Khanh’s house. He is a passionate antiques collector and his house is jam packed full of fascinating artifacts’ from Vietnam and elsewhere in Asia. He also has some fascinating family albums dating back to French colonial times.

You will then get back on your bike and cycle back to the family home where you will have a cooking lesson featuring local dishes such as chicken with lemongrass and turmeric and green papaya salad.

Home-stay in Ben Tre.

DAY 13: MEKONG – HO CHI MINH CITY (MEALS: B)

Have breakfast, check out. Cycle to local market in Phu Nhuan (approx 1,5 hours). Get on boat and cruising along Ham Luong river (one of branches of Mekong river). Seeing activities on the river. Go up stream Mo Cay river you can see coconut forest along the river. Stop at Hoa Phu boat station ( around 65 minutes). Ride bicycle in the village path to discover the village of Mekong Delta (about 6 km).

Visit traditional career village to visit traditional coconut workshops along the riverside: coconut fiber workshop, coconut processing workshop, coconut oil factory with traditional way. Stop at Thom market. Get on the car to come back Ho Chi Minh City. Have lunch on the way back.

Back to Ho Chi Minh City at late afternoon. Stay overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

DAY 14: HO CHI MINH CITY – MUINE BEACH (MEALS: B)

Transfer to Phan Thiet. Check in resort then free for relax. Overnight in Muine Beach.

DAY 15: MUINE BEACH FREE LEISURE (MEALS: B)

Free at leisure!

DAY 16: MUINE FREE LEISURE (MEALS: B)

Free at leisure!

DAY 17: MUINE – HO CHI MINH CITY – DEPART (MEALS: B)

Free until car transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City for departure. End of our services in Vietnam.

• 3 , 4 or 5 star luxury accommodation on a twin-share basic with daily breakfast
• Meals as mentioned in the itineraries.
• All landed transfers within the tour by air-conditioned vehicle.
• Home-Stay in Mekong Delta.
• Domestic flight ticket in Vietnam (Vietnam Airlines)
• English speaking guide.
• All entrance and sightseeing fees as mentioned in the program
• All services charge.
• 1 bottle of mineral water and 1 wet tissue per person per day