Day 1 Hanoi arrival
Upon arrival at Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport, our guide and driver will welcome you
and transfer you to hotel in Hanoi.
The rest of your day is at leisure for independent exploration – just catch a
sight of Hoan Kiem lake or explore the maze of streets in the city's fascinating
Old Quarter where you are certain to find something unique to buy.
Overnight at La Suite hotel in Hanoi
Meal inclusions: None
Day 2 Hanoi city tour, Water Puppetry performance
On the morning of day 2 we take a city tour to Ho Chi Minh complex, his house on
stilts and the museum and One Pillar Pagoda. We also make a visit to the Temple
of Literature – the first university of Vietnam, which is now dedicated to
Confucian worship and “Hanoi Hilton” – a nick name given by US pilots during the
war.
For lunch today we will try Pho (beef noodles), a famous specialty of Hanoi.
In the afternoon we attend a performance of traditional water puppetry and take
a walking tour around the Old Quarter.
Overnight at La Suite hotel in Hanoi
Meal inclusions: Breakfast and lunch
Day 3 Halong Bay Cruise (Join group tour)
08:00 – 08:30 You are collected at hotel by your guide for the 4 hour drive to
Halong Bay. En route there will be a short stop at the Sao Do centre run for and
by handicapped children. On arrival we board our deluxe junk, this traditional
wooden sailing junk boat offers a unique way of navigating the limestone karsts
of Halong Bay with all the comforts of a motorised, floating hotel. Once settled
in, you start your cruise round the majestic Halong Bay while enjoying a
delicious lunch. After lunch you have the chance to explore some of the
limestone caves dotted around the bay. Then, the captain will find a secluded
spot where you can swim in the clear water of the bay, soak up the sun on the
top deck. In the evening the cook prepares a sumptuous meal as the boat weighs
anchor in the heart of the bay.
Meal inclusions: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Overnight: White Dolphin cruiser
Day 4 Halong bay exploration
After breakfast, you are transferred to a day – trip boat with private crew and
another wonderful cruise to the bay’s most untouched areas to visit Tortoise
island , Man's head island, Dong Tien Lake, Van Gia floating villages..., if the
tides are low, we have a chance to visit Ba Ham Lakes, Three Peach Island. Lunch
is served on board by your chef, your cruise continues as you move around the
bay finding more secluded lagoons for swimming or kayaking. Late in the
afternoon we return to the mother boat for the night
Meal inclusions: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Overnight: White Dolphin cruiser
Day 5 Halong cruise – Hanoi – Overnight train to Sapa
Rising to the tranquil beauty of the bay we have time for an early morning dip
or enjoy a morning view of the Bay's landcapes with a cup of tea. The boat keeps
cruising to float fishing village for you to have a look of local people lives
on water. We enjoy brunch on board and around midday we will return to the main
harbor before transferring to our awaiting vehicle for your journey back to
Hanoi. We should be back in Hanoi at around 17.00
You are free to have dinner before boarding our overnight train for Sapa. We
travel in air-conditioned comfort in our soft sleeper cabins!
Overnight on train (Private cabin for 2 people)
Meal inclusions: Breakfast and lunch
Day 6 Sapa tour, trekking Ta Van – Lao Chai villages
The train arrives in Lao Cai at about 6:00 am where our guide will welcome you.
Look for the sign bearing your name when you exit the train station. We take a
morning drive through the clouds by car to Sapa (about 1 hour).
At an elevation of 1500 meters, Sapa was founded in the early years of the last
century as a hill resort for French administrators in summer time. Just soak up
the fresh climate by spending our time wandering this famous hill town. The
ethnic people are frequently seen on the main street of Sapa and small vendors
along the street selling local textiles and handicraft
After checking in the hotel and have breakfast our guide will pick you up for a
short walk along buffalo paths and trails through several hill tribe villages of
Lao Chai and Ta Van, home to H'mong, and Dzay people. This is a absolutely
spectacular walk through stunning scenery inhabited by some of the friendliest
people you can meet…
The remainder of your afternoon is at leisure to explore this fascinating
hillside town.
Overnight: The View hotel in Sapa
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
Day 7 Visit Cat Cat valley, Overnight train back to Hanoi
Wake up in Sapa town, breakfast at the hotel then our guide will take you with a
walk to Cat Cat Village, set in a beautiful valley just outside Sapa. Cat Cat is
home to the H'mong people who originated from China about 3,000 years ago. The
H'mong people are easily recognisable by their dark blue or black clothing, dyed
using the juice of indigo plants, which are native to the area. H'mong women
wear long aprons with embroidered waistcoats and have their hair rolled up into
a turban-like hat, while the men wear black skullcaps, long waistcoats and loose
trousers.
In the afternoon we depart for the Lao Cai train station. We have dinner here
before boarding the night train to Hanoi.
Overnight on train (1 private cabin)
Meal inclusions: Breakfast
Days 8 – 9 Hoi An
A short flight brings us to the beach town of Hoi An, you are welcomed by our
representative and transferred to your hotel.
Once a thriving river port, the town's architecture has been preserved and
restored. This small town is a favourite with international travellers, and
wandering the streets and narrow alleyways brings hours of pleasure and
discovery. Today's trade is in ceramics, wood-ware, paintings and tailoring.
There is something here for everyone and it is the perfect place to pick up
gifts for those at home. There are options here for a visit to the traditional
handicraft villages of Kim Bong carpentry, Thanh Ha ceramics or simply lazing
the day away on a nearby beach.
Overnight at Hai Au hotel in Hoi An
Meal inclusions: Breakfast
Day 10 Hoi An to Hue by car
Leaving Hoi An, our journey takes us north to the famous China Beach, we keep
driving through rural countryside and the picturesque fishing village of Lang Co
after descending the dramatic Hai Van Pass and then to the imperial city of Hue
- declared World Heritage Site (approx. 3 hours)
The rest of your day is at leisure for independent exploration – just catch a
sight of this quiet city widely known for the magnificent architecture of its
citadels, palaces, royal tombs, pagodas and temples built under the Nguyen
dynasty in a poetic background of greenery on the banks of the Perfume river. A
coffee at one of the riverside coffee shops at sunset is also an experience not
to be missed.
Overnight at Asia hotel in Hue
Meal inclusions: Breakfast
Day 11 Hue motorbike tour
On day 11 we have the opportunity with a motorbike tour around town, a great way
to get off the beaten track & see Vietnam in close-up, On this action packed day
you will see the Imperial Citadel and Forbidden Purple City, the Thien Mu
Pagoda, one of the king’s tombs and Bunker Hill. You will feast on a Buddhist
vegetarian lunch at a pagoda, see the making of incense and conical hats, visit
the ruined Tiger Arena… This truly is a fabulous day full of outstanding
photographic opportunities.
Overnight at Asia hotel in Hue
Meal inclusions: Breakfast and lunch
Day 12 Sai Gon (Ho Chi Minh City)
We are transferred to the airport for the flight to Sai Gon (1 hour). Our hotel
is located close to Ben Thanh Market and the city's main shopping district, so
there is much for you to discover on your own and you will have plenty of
interesting and fun ideas. How about scooting off on cyclos to Cholon, the
Chinatown area of Ho Chi Minh City for a spot of temple hopping? Or perhaps
you'd like to visit the Vietnamese version of a department store for some
shopping - the choice is yours!
Overnight at Le Duy hotel in Sai Gon
Meal inclusions: Breakfast
Day 13 Cu Chi tunnels – Mekong Delta homestay
On day 13 we head to the tunnels of Cu Chi. This former Viet Cong stronghold
provides an insight into the resourcefulness and tenacity of the Vietnamese
people.
We jump on our car and keep driving south to Cai Be (approx. 3 hours), we board
our waiting boats to cross the upper Mekong River and explore its intricate
waterways. This is our introduction to a world where life depends on the river.
We visit a fruit orchard where we can sample tropical fruits, before continuing
on to visit some local cottage industries. Around sunset we make our way up one
of the many canals to our homestay. Our treat this evening is a wonderful meal
of Delta specialities before settling down under our mosquito nets for the
night.
Overnight at Le Duy hotel in Sai Gon
Meal inclusions: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 14 Mekong Delta exploration
Rising early to the sounds of the Delta coming to life for another day, we have
breakfast and start our trip with a boat cruise on sparking streams along the
endless waterway of Mighty Mekong River to visit a floating market. There will
be hundreds of boats loaded with fruits, vegetables and fish jostling for trade.
Sellers advertise their wares by crying out across the waters.
Leaving the market, you will re-board our car for the drive back to Sai Gon. We
return to Ho Chi Minh city in the afternoon.
Overnight at Le Duy hotel in Sai Gon
Meal inclusions: Breakfast and lunch
Day 15 Departure
Today is your departure, you are free at your leisure until transferred to Sai
Gon airport for the flight home. Tour ends.
Meal inclusions: Breakfast
Pls request us for the rate!
