GRAND OF VIET NAM ( Code VNCV 02 )

Destination: Ha Noi - Sa Pa -  Ha Long - Hue - DMZ - Hoi An - Nha Trang - Da Lat - Ho Chi  Minh - Cu Chi - Me Kong Delta.

Duration: 21 days / 20 nights

Itinerary:

Day 1: Ha Noi arrival (D)

Our guide and driver will welcome you at the airport and transfer downtown to hotel for checking in. This depends on your arrival time, you can have time to explore the beauty of the Old Quarter and take a visiting tour around Hoan Kiem Lake. Have dinner at restaurant. Overnight in Ha Noi.

Day 2: Ha Noi - City tour of a 1000 years old Capital - Take night train to Sa Pa (B, L, D)

Am. After your breakfast, our guide and driver pick you up at hotel to discover Vietnam's capital. Today you will have time to know more about Hanoi culture and people and it’s attractive as well. You will making a city tour around the Old Quarter on a three-wheel “Xich Lo" to visit Ho Chi Minh complex, the Temple of Literarure. Take break for having lunch at restaurant.

Pm. You will visit Ethnology Museum and enjoy water puppet show. Have dinner at restaurant then  the driver will transfer you to Ha Noi train Station for taking night train at 8.30 pm to Sa Pa. Overnight on train with comfortable AC soft sleepers.

Day 3: Sapa arrival & trek to Ta Van village ~ 22km / 7 hours (B, L, D)

Am. The train arrives in Lao Cai Station at 6.30 a.m, Eco team will welcome you by reading sign of Eco Travel. We ride to Sa Pa in about 1, 5 hours by a car or van; you will be taken to a hotel for a morning shower & breakfast.

We are getting started walking from Sa Pa town down hills to the valley of Muong Hoa, we will be trekking along the rice paddies, crossing the stream and visit the Hmong village at our break. Picnic lunch en route and we keep hiking up and down the green hills to Ta Van village of the Zay people; you will be greeted by your host.

Pm. You will have free time in the afternoon to wonder around or join in some of the life activities here. Dinner and sleep in the house of the Zay.

Day 4: Keep trekking to Ho village ~15 km (B, L, D)

Am. You will not be sleeping that long in the morning at any villages when you trekking, since the noise of the pigs, dogs, cats…will keep you awake early and it would be nice for you to take part in an activity here with the Zay. Breakfast and say goodbye to the host. Today we will do about 7 hours trekking through forests, villages and streams and so to meet the locals working on the mountain sides or the rice terraces. We will break for a picnic lunch en route.

Pm. Trekking to Ban Ho village of the Tay people where you will be warmly welcomed by the host, share the dinner with them, and stay at their traditional house on stilts.

Day 5: Trek around Ban Ho and back to Sapa (B, L)

Am. waking up early can help you see more daily life activities of the locals here. Our guide and host will serve you breakfast before we are walking around village to visit more Tay families, school & beautiful silver waterfall & nice streams. The return to Ban Ho center for Jeep riding back to Sapa for the hotel check in, rest & own lunch.

Pm. We will have an interesting visit Ham Rong beautiful mountain and ethnic traditional music show by ethnic minority people. And then we will return to hotel area for your free time to discover hidden corner of colorful town. Overnight in hotel in Sapa town.

Day 6: Free leisure in Sapa - Night train to Hanoi (B)

Today you are free at leisure, to visit around the town of Sapa (Dragon mount, Orchid garden, Waterfall) or relax in town and inhale the fresh air. Leave Sapa by Jeep/Van in the late afternoon (5.30 p.m.) to Lao Cai station for our night train back to Hanoi. Departs Lao Cai at 8.50 p.m. Overnight on train with A/C soft sleepers. You will arrive Ha Noi by 4.30am next day.

Day 7:   Hanoi to Ha Long (B,L, D)

Am. The driver will welcome you at 4.30 am at Ha Noi train Station and transfer you to guesthouse for having a short break and take a shower. Have breakfast, then at 8.00 am our guide and driver will transfer you to Ha Long Bay (3.5hrs). When you arrive Ha Long city then board our own private boat for Halong Bay cruise. Lunch is served aboard on the Bay.

Pm. You will visit Caves and go swimming. Then having more cruise around this wonderful bay of islands. You have dinner on boat with fresh sea specialties. Maybe more swim at nights and sleep on boat.

Day 8:   Ha Long to Ha Noi and take flight to Hue (B, L, D)

Am. You have more cruises after breakfast then the boat will stop some where in the middle of the bay for swimming (if you wish) or you keep cruising back to the pier at 12h00. Lunch served in a restaurant in Ha Long City.

Pm. Take a minivan goes back to Ha Noi. The driver will transfer you directly to Noi Bai airport for taking flight to Hue city. Eco team will welcome you by reading sign of Eco Travel at Phu Bai airport and transfer to hotel for checking in. Have dinner at the restaurant. Overnight in Hue.

Day 9: Boat Trip on Perfume River and City tour (B, L, D)

Am. After your breakfast, our guide and driver will take you to the boat landing on river for making a boat trip on Perfume River to visit Thien Mu pagoda. Then you will go on visiting the Forbidden City. Have lunch at garden restaurant.

Pm. This afternoon you will visit Tu Duc Mausoleum, Minh Mang Mausoleum. Tonight you will enjoy  royal dinner at a royal restaurant. You will try to wear King/Queen customes while taste Hue traditional foods.  Overnight in Hue.

Day 10: Full day to DMZ (B, L, D)

Am. After your breakfast, our guide and car will pick you up at your hotel in Hue city to transfer to DMZ. On the road you will visit Hien Luong bridge, Museum, Ben Hai River, the 17th Parallel, Vinh Moc tunnel and Cua Tung beach. Have lunch at the restaurant.

Pm. You will go on visiting Highway 9, Dakrong Bridge, Ho Chi Minh trail, Paco minority village and Khe Sanh Combat Base. Back to Hue and have dinner at restaurant. Overnight in Hue.

Day 11: Hue to Hoi An ancient Town (B, L, D)

Am. After your breakfast, our guide and driver transfer you to Hoi An. On the way you will have time to stopover at Lang Co Beach, Hai Van Pass. On arrival Da Nang, you will stop to visit Cham Museum, Marble Mountain. Have lunch at restaurant.

Pm. You will transfer to Hoi An. Check in hotel. This afternoon you will make a cycling around Hoi An ancient Town to visit Viet ancient traditional village. At 6.00 p.m you will take part in cooking class at restaurant and taste dinner with dishes you cook. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 12: Visit Hoi An and My Son Hollyland (B, L, D)

Am. After your breakfast, our guide and driver will drive you to My Son Hollyland to visit Tra Kieu Catholic and the ruins of Cham people. Back Hoi An for having lunch at restaurant.

Pm. You will visit around Hoi An ancient Town with Japanese Bridge, Tan Ky ancient house, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall. Have dinner at restaurant. Enjoy the balance of the evening to explore Hoi An on your own. Overnight in hotel in Hoi An.

Day 13: Transfer to Danang and take flight to Nha Trang (B, D)

Am. After your breakfast, your free time to explore more about the charming of Hoi An ancient Town and go shopping at silkshop here or go to Cua Dai beach - away 4km from the Town.

Pm. The driver will transfer you to Da Nang airport for taking flight to Nha Trang city. Eco team will welcome you by reading sign of Eco Travel at the airport and transfer to City center. Check in hotel. Have dinner at restaurant. Free time to chill out on beautiful beach in Nha Trang.  Overnight in Nha Trang.

Day 14: Nha Trang boat trip on islands (B, L)

Am. After your breakfast at your hotel, our guide and drive transfer to boat station. Take a boat trip to Mun Island, this is one of the best places for snorkeling/diving in Nha Trang. The next visit Tri Nguyen aquarium with a collection of sea fish before heading back to the boat station. Have luch in restaurant.

Pm. Have more free time to chill out or swim on beautiful beach in Nha Trang. Overnight in hotel in Nha Trang.

Day 15: Nha Trang to Da Lat by car & half day city tour (B, D)

Am. After your breakfast, 5 hours road trip upwards over the beautiful and spectacular passes to the Central Highland of Da Lat. You will have some snack on the way to Da Lat by your own.

Pm. On arrival Da Lat, our guide will welcome you at the hotel for check in then take you to visit around city and Da Lat Flower market. Have dinner at restaurant. Overnight in Da Lat.

Day 16: Da Lat City tour (B, L, D)

Am. After your breakfast, today our guide and driver will take you to make a city tour to visit the charming beauties of Da Lat city where has the cool weather during the year. You will start to visit Chicken Catholic, Tuyen Lam Lake, Prenn waterfall and Flower garden. Have lunch at restaurant.

Pm. Take an upward climb to Langbiang mountain summit where you can see and to take a picture of Da Lat city. Have dinner at restaurant. Enjoy the balance of the evening to explore Da Lat flower city. Overnight in Da Lat.

Day 17: Flight to Ho Chi Minh City – half day city tour (B, L, D)

Am. After your breakfast, at 7.50am the driver will drop you off Da Lat airport for taking flight to Sai Gon the flight at 9.50 am. On arrival Tan Son Nhat airport, Eco team will welcome you by reading sign of Eco Travel, and transfer to City center. Check in hotel. Then visit War crimes Museum. Have lunch at restaurant.

Pm. This afternoon our guide and driver will take you to make a city tour to visit around Sai Gon city with Reunification Hall, Notre Dame Cathedral, former US Embassy, and Ben Thanh Market. Have dinner at restaurant. Overnight  in Ho Chi Minh.

Day 18: Tay Ninh and Cu Chi tunnels (B, L, D)

Am. After your breakfast. Our guide and driver pick you up at hotel and transfer to Tay Ninh-the Great Cao Dai temple (a religious mixture of Buddhism, Confucius, Taoism, Hinduism and Christian) Observe the noon mass (one hour). Have lunch at restaurant in Tay Ninh.

Pm. During the afternoon, you visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels where you will have an opportunity to experience the underground life of guerilla fighters during the past war. (The crawl through 50–100 meters of the tunnel system is unforgettable). Local rice paper workshops and nice paddy fields are pleasant sights on the way. Back to Ho Chi Minh and have dinner at restaurant. Overnight in hotel in Ho Chi Minh.

Day 19: Ho Chi Minh to Mekong Delta (B, D)

Am. After your breakfast, guide and driver take you to depart Ho Chi Minh head south to Cai Be. On arrival at 10.30, boarding a boat for a journey through the town’s floating market. See how river life goes on, trading between merchant ships and local farmers. Cruise through secluded canals and over the Mighty Mekong to island where we stop to enjoy seasonal fruits before our boat takes us to Vinh Long where we get back on the bus for our trip to CanTho. Hotel checks in. Have dinner in restaurant. Overnight in Can Tho.

Day 20: Mekong Delta to Ho Chi Minh (B, D)

Am. An early start for a boat trip to Cai Rang floating markets, and then we have a long distance cruise & walk on a quiet country road to take in the magnificent scenery and get close to the locals as they go about their daily routine. We try a xe loi, the local colonial-era cab pulled by motorbike, on a country road.

Pm. We head back to Saigon. You will arrive in Saigon at 6pm. Have dinner at restaurant. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

Day 21: Relax and Departure Ho Chi Minh (B)

After a long but wonderful and memorable visit throughout Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh city is a good place for go shopping, you to relax, and note things. Then the drive will transfer you to Tan Son Nhat airport for taking flight back home or arrive to next destination. Good bye and see you again!

Price: usd /person

All this included:

Accommodations on this Tour: Standard is 2 stars, Superior is 3 stars, Deluxe is 4 stars hotels.

Fully guided sightseeing as noted in the itinerary including park and entrance fees.

Transfers, flights Ha Noi to Hue, Danang to Nha Trang & Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh.

Meals as specified: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Dinner (D). Bottled water supplied during sightseeing.

Excluded: Airport taxes, fees, Vietnam departure taxes, optional tours, and tips to local guides, drivers & visa fees.

What to bring: It is wise to travel light, here are things you have; passport, good shoes for trekking, rain gears, hat, sun cream, extra clothes, camera with lots of films, your sense of adventure, meeting and trying locals.

Notes: Upgrade is available upon requests. This tour costs are for private tours.