Viet Nam Essential Discovery Tour / 16 days

Day 1: Welcome to Ha Noi – Vietnam’s Capital - City tour ½ day. O/n in Ha Noi (LD)

Am: Depending on your arrival flight time, our guide and driver pick you up at the Noi Bai International Airport and transferred to have lunch at the restaurant.

Pm: This afternoon, you will spend your time to visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum – the leader of Vietnam Nation. This is the complex of Ba Dinh Square, the Mausoleum where puts the memorial and body of this Vietnamese Leader, the place where he worked as a president, the museum and the stilt house with garden, fish pond and many memorable things of this great President. Then visit One pillar pagoda. After that visitting the Temple of Literature – the first university of Vietnam to get more knowledge of Northern Vietnam cultures as well as the thick history of our country. Then, you will enjoy the Water Puppet Show - the special traditional art of Vietnam. Check into hotel. Have dinner with streetfood. Overnight at hotel.

Inclusion: Transport, English Speaking guide, Lunch, Dinner, Entrance Fee, Hotel & Mineral Water.

Day 2: Transfer to Ninh Binh - Discover Tam Coc – Bich Dong – Hoa Lu– Take night train to Lao Cai - Sa Pa. O/n on train (BL)

Am:  Have breakfast at hotel. Our guide and driver will pick you up at hotel and transfer you to the south of Ha Noi with 2 hours to Ninh Binh Province. It will be an exciting day highlighted firstly by 2 hours local boat ride in Tam Coc “Three Caves” streams that we will enjoy the spectacular scenery while gliding along the river among rice paddies and ranges of Limestone Mountains peaking up towers over you. Then you continue to discover Bich Dong Cave - means “Green Grotto” or “Pearl Grotto”, which reveals its magnificent natural beauties. Sighting view of mountains, rivers, water, rice fields…with blue color so that he named the cave with a beautiful and poetic name “Bich Cave”. Coming here, you will have chance to visit Bich Dong pagodawhich was built on the Truong Yen limestone mountains range; it includes three palaces on three levels: Lower, Middle and Upper pagoda. When you stand on high pagoda located on the highest point nearby the top of Bich Dong mountain, you could survey the wonderful perspective view of the Bich Dong pagoda.

Pm: After lunch served with local food at a restaurant riverside, a short transfer through the peaceful country road to Hoa Lu, once the Vietnam’s ancient capital 11 centuries ago. Here are the two temples dedicated to the King Dinh and King Le, the founder of the capital in 10th century. Back Ha Noi. Then, you will transfer you to Hotel located near by train station to relax & shower before leaving Ha Noi. Free to have your own dinner. At 21:00 pm, check out your hotel, our guide will pick you up at your hotel and take you to Ha Noi train station for getting night train to Lao Cai on train –SP3 depart at 22:00 pm - AC soft sleeper (tourist cabins). Overnight on train.

Inclusion: Transport, English Speaking guide, Entrance fee, Boat, Breakfast, Lunch, Hotel for shower, Train ticket & Mineral water.

Day 3: Arrive Lao Cai - Sa Pa – Explore minority villages in Sa Pa. O/n in Sa Pa (BL)

Am: Thetrain arrives to Lao Cai Train Station about06:20 am. Our guide will pick you up at train station (outside) with welcome sign “Eco Nature Travel” and take you to have breakfast.  Then, you will be transferred to explore Lao Chai Village, following the road down the hill. Views of the Muong Hoa Valley and magnificent surroundings of mountains and rice terrace fields seen from this road. Along the road, people from many ethnic groups (H’mong, Zay, and Red Dao) likely to be met, and there are stalls along the way that serve tea, fruits, and sweets. Soon after turning off the main road and taking a local path, you will arrive in the Black H’mong village of Lao Chai, where you will experience the daily life of the villagers. After that, we walk from Lao Chai to Ta Van village where the Zay hill tribes live. Here, you trek around the village to get more exploration and to see daily activities of local people. Have lunch at the restaurant.

Pm: This afternoon, you will visit Cat Cat Village with beautiful landscapes and more experiences of tribe people here with black H’mong people family and discover their real life. You will walk down to the waterfall and Hydrogen power station built by French. You can have a chance to enjoy for more understanding of their cultures. Check in hotel. Relax at hotel or walking around the town for more explore… Stone church which is located in the heart of Sapa town built by the French from the early 20th century or enjoy the beautiful scenery of the mountain and the valleys surrounding. Free to have your own dinner. At night, you can visit Sapa Night Market to see the specific activity feature of this highland. Overnight at Sa Pa.

Inclusion: Transport, English speaking guide, Entrance fee, Breakfast, Lunch, Hotel & Mineral water.

Day 4: Visit Fansipan Moutain at 3,143 metres - Tram Ton Pass - Heaven gate & Love Waterfall. O/n in Sa Pa. O/n in Sa Pa (BL)

Am: Have breakfast at hotel. Our guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel and transfer tovisit visit Fansipan, the highest peak of Indochina mountains. It normally takes people one or two days to reach the peak of Fansipan mountain on foot. However, you will take The three-rope cable car system which carry you from the bottom to the highest point of the mountain in 15-20 minutes. From there, you can enjoy the scenery and magnificent views to Sapa area and beautiful landscape of Lai Chau province. Then, you will be transferred back to Sapa to have lunch at the restaurant.

Pm: This afternoon, you willvisit Tram Ton Pass - Vietnam highest mountain pass and known as Heaven’s Gate. From here you can see great views of surounding mountains. You will trek through forest and along the stream to arrive Love Waterfall to relax and listing a legendary love story. Back hotel to relax. Free to have your own dinner. Overnight at hotel.

Inclusion: Transport, English Speaking guide, Entrance fee, Breakfast, Lunch, Cable Car, Hotel & Mineral water.

Day 5: Sa Pa – Visit Sunday Market – Lao Cai – Night train back Ha Noi. O/n on train (BL)

Am: After your breakfast at your hotel, you will travel to Bac Ha which is 100 kms Northeast of Sa Pa. The ride is relatively flat from Lao Cai to Bao Nhai where you will be taken through rural area. Bac Ha is the largest market in the area, situated inside the small town of Bac Ha. On every Sunday mornings, it is literally a riot of color as many different ethnic groups such as Flower Hmong, Phu La, Black Dao, Tay, Nung minorities, etc who gather to buy and sell useful goods for daily life and handicraft products. After spending the whole morning exploring the market, you will have your lunch in a restaurant.

Pm: This afternoon, you will enjoy a walking tour to surrounding villages of H’Mong and Tay Minorities (Ban Pho Village) for more discoveries of ethnic people here and their cultures as well. The life on mountainous area will give you more experiences of the living way on highland area in the Northern Vietnam. Then our guide and driver take you toLao Cai Train Station for getting night train return Ha Noi City. Check in mini hotel for shower and relax. Free to have your own dinner. Get on train- SP4 depart at 21:05 pm- A/C soft sleeper (Tourist cabins). Spending night on train.

Inclusion: Transport, English Speaking guide, Breakfast, Lunch, Train ticket, Hotel for shower & Mineral water.

Day 6: Ha Noi Arrive – Transfer to Ha Long Bay – Visit Lan Ha Bay. O/n on Cruise - Share group (BLD)

Am: The train arrives Ha Noi train station at about 05:22 am, our guide will pick you up at station (outside)and take you to check in mini hotel near by train station to relax and shower. Have breakfast at hotel. At 07:30 am, our shuttle bus with tour guide will pick you up at your hotels. At 10:30 am, stopover in Hai Duong City where you can experience our hand-made Vietnamese handicraft products. 12:30 Arrive in Tuan Chau Marina Pier (Tuan Chau Island). Followed by activities such as: boarding Cruise for departure, welcome drink will be served and cruise briefing, safety instructions, check-in cabins.

Pm: At 13:30pm, great lunch is served while cruising passing by islets. Then arrive at Luom Bo area. At 16:00 pm, arrive at the Luom Bo area. Upon arrival we will transfer by tender to Ba Dinh area. Kayaking at emerald water and explore Ba Dinh area. Joining in floating bar with nice music. Offer 01 cocktail free for 01 guest swimming on the sea (not apply for guest kayaking). At 17:30 pm, happy Hour. Buy 2 beverage get 1 for free At 18.00, cooking class. Our Chef will demonstrate the preparation of a particular Vietnamese cuisine in the dining room. Our guide will let you know what item will be prepared and will explain the process during the demonstration. Duration about 20 – 30 minutes. Around 18:30, enjoy Sunset Party with fruits and tea. At 19:30, under the magnificent night sky, our luxury set menu dinner is served with variety of Vietnamese and Asian foods. At 21:00 Joining the squid fishing on boat with our crews and can enjoy the squid cooked with assistance from our chef or laze yourself with our happy-hour drinks at the bar. Overnight on Cruises.

Inclusion: Shuttle Bus, English Speaking Guide, Entrance fee, Boat, Kayak, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Room on cruise, Mineral water.

Day 7: Ha Long Bay - Surprising Cave -Back Ha Noi. O/n in Ha Noi(Light breakfast/Brunch)

Am: At 06:15, Tai Chi class on the Sun-Deck. Have light breakfast with coffee, tea, and bakeries on board. At 07:45, arrive at the Surprising cave, the biggest cave in Ha Long Bay with 10,000 square meters, when you visit the cave like our Vietnamese house with three chambers as lobby, dining room and bedroom with most beautiful stalagmites and stalactites. We will tour the cave for about 60 minutes. At 09:00 am, upon return to the boat you will have time to freshen up and finish packing. When checking out please remove all of your belongings from the cabins, you may leave heavy luggage outside of the cabins. At 10:00, relaxing on the sundeck or in the dining room enjoying the bay scenery as we approach the pier. At 10.45 am, brunch is served. After brunch, Relax on the sundeck or in the dining room enjoying the bay scenery as we approach the pier. At 11:45, disembark at Tuan Chau New Marina.

Pm: Our shuttle bus and tour guide transfers you back Ha Noi. You arrive at hotel in Ha Noi about 16:30 pm. Free to have your own dinner. Overnight at hotel.

Inclusion: Shuttle Bus, English Speaking tour guide, Entrance fee, Boat, Breakfast, Brunch, Hotel & Mineral Water.

Day 8: Ha Noi city tour ½ day & Ha Noi  Departure – Flight to Da nang – transfer to Hoi AN O/n in Hoi An (BLD)

Am: Have breakfast at hotel. This morning, you will take Cyclo tour to visit The Old Quarter to understand more about the local life here as well as go around Hoan Kiem Lake. Next, you continue visit Ngoc Son Temple on a small island in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake. After that transfer to visit the Hoa Lo Prison - a prison used by the French colonists in Vietnam for political prisoners, known to American prisoners of war as the “Hanoi Hilton”. Then have lunch at the restaurant.

Pm: After lunch, transfer you to Noi Bai International Airport to take afternoon flight to Da Nang. At Da Nang Domestic Airport, our guide and driver welcome at airport and transfer you to hotel in Hoi An. Check in hotel. Have dinner with street food. Next, our guide will bring you to explore the charming beauty of Hoi An at night. After 6 o’clock in the evening, as the old town lightened, it’s the time for paper lanterns with small candles inside twinkle so you could buy (by yourselves)the candlelit paper flowers from little lovely girls who wear the Vietnamese traditional dress “Ao Dai” with conical hat and holding flat basket full of paper lanterns. Buy some and put them down on the Hoai River then make a wish. This is considered to bring you good luck and happiness. Next, you will have chance to see traditional game in Hoi An named: “Bai choi” which is crowded with people at night to play at the wide yard near the bridge to get more interesting experience. Beside, you could walk around the night market to buy some handmade souvenirs for your friends and relatives… Overnight in hotel.

Inclusion: Transport, English Speaking Guide, Entrance Fee, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Hotel & Mineral water.

Day 9: Visit My Son –visit Kim Bong Carpentry Village& Explore Hoi An Ancient Town. O/n in Hoi An (BL)

Am: Have breakfast at hotel. In the morning, you will leave Da Nang City for visiting My Son Holly Land to learn more about Champa culture and tower. Here is the chance for you to enjoy traditional music show.Then back to make boat trip for visitting Kim Bong Carpentry Village with more than 600 years old, this village is a famous brand about woodwork of Hoi An. The woodwork of Kim Bong village is skilful including beautiful wooden statue; decoration and daily tools and especially making boat for fishing…Then embark the boat on Thu Bon River back to Hoi An.Have lunch at restaurant.

Pm: This afternoon, you will make a walking tour around old streets to discover the charm of Hoi An Ancient Town including Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese Assembly Halls,  Sa Huynh Museum, old houses and the local market…Hoi An is an ideal place for shopping and making tailor with reasonable price.Free to have your own dinner. Overnight in hotel.

Inclusion: Transport, English Speaking Guide, Boat, Entrance Fee, Breakfast, Lunch, Hotel & Mineral Water.

Day 10: Learning fishing, farming & cooking. O/n in Hoi An (BL)

Am: In this early morning, our guide welcomes you at the hotel in Hoi An and takes you to sititng on boat to learn fishing for more experience under the instruction of the local people. Especially, you will practice by yourselves how to catch fish, how to catch the net into the river…Then you will visit green Bay Mau water coconut forest. Coming here, you have chance to row the basket boat to enjoy the tranquil atmosphere admire the revolutionary base of Hoi An in the past and use fishing tools to fish the field crab. Leaving this beautiful land with heroic traditions, you will be transferred to continue to ride bicyclefor visiting Tra Que Vegetable Village far from Hoi An Ancient Town 3km. You ride through peaceful villages and enjoy the beauty of countryside surrounding Hoi An. On arrival, you are welcomed with the friendly smiles and special drink; “E” water or local tea. Here is the chance for you to have a cooking class with the family. Under the instruction how to prepare ingredients, you will cook Hoi An special foods.  Have lunch at the family.

Pm: You will dress in farming clothes, take a short walk around to visit the garden where local farmers work and use the traditional methods without having electrical machines support. Next, you will enjoy cooking class with family. After that you are under the instruction of household; he will show you how to prepare and make the land, you fertilize green manure before growing vegetables. Watering the vegetables, which you have just grown, is the last activity in the procedure of planting them. After that, you come back the house to relax by soaking your feet in Vietnamese herbs. This is one of the ways to refresh ourselves after the hard time in garden of Vietnamese. Then you be transferred back your hotel in Hoi An.

Inclusion: Transport, Local Boat, Basket boat, Bicycle & helmet, English Speaking guide, Entrance fees, Cooking class, Breakfast, Lunch, Hotel & Mineral water.  

Day 11: Visit Marble Moutain – Cham Museum – Transfer to Hue. O/n in Hue (BLD)

Am: Have breakfast at hotel. The morning, you will visit Marble Mountains which was named after the ancient oriental philosophy including 5 elements creating universe: metal, wood, water, fire and earth. Reaching here, you will see the systems of caves and tunnels and Cham Museum in Da Nang where displays the whole culture and collections of Cham people in Vietnam to feel about legend stories of glorious stage of ancient Champa Kingdom and to enjoy its simple and elegant patterns. Have lunch at restaurant.

Pm: After lunch, you will be transferred you to Hue city. On the High Way, you will discover some simple but unique places such as Hai Van Pass for wonderful sight-seeing, Lang Co Beach the most beautiful beach of Asia, a fishing villages, Cau Hai Lagoon. Arrive in Hue city, check in hotel. Have dinner with street food. At night, you have free time to wander around Hue for more exploration by wandering along Truong Tien Bridge with colorful lights or souvenir shops for more enjoyment and experiences of local life. Overnight at hotel

Inclusion: Transport, English Speaking guide, Entrance fees, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Hotel & Mineral water.

Day 12: Hue city tour. O/n in Hue (BL)

Am: Have breakfast at hotel. This morning you will visit and free go shopping at Dong Ba Market – most famous market in Hue to discover daily life and get more experience about local people here. Next, you will walk to boat landing for making boat trip on Perfume River to enjoy a tranquil atmosphere and beautiful scenes along two sides of banks’ river and stop to visit Thien Mu Pagoda - one of the oldest and prettiest religious buildings in Hue and Vietnam. Then you go on visiting the Imperial City was the place where Nguyen Dynasty’s Emperor and royal family worked and lived from year 1802 to 1945 including many palaces and architectures and surrounding: Noon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace, Purple Forbidden City, Nine Dynastic Urns, The Temple… Have lunch at restaurant.

Pm: After lunch, you will visit Minh Mang Mausoleum & Khai Dinh Mausoleum which is harmonious with natural surroundings to get some experiences of one of the most famous Emperors in Nguyen Reign. Free to have your own dinner. Overnight at hotel.

Inclusion: Transport, English Speaking guide, Entrance fee, Breakfast, Lunch, Boat, Hotel & Mineral water.

Optional: Travelling in Hue, you have a chance to taste a Royal dinner at a restaurant. You will wear King/Queen customs, Royal mantles, Imperial Robes, taste Royal dishes and enjoy Hue folk song performed by musician and singers as a Royal family in Hue in the past. This is the wonderful time to try to be a King/ Queen and to get more knowledge of royal and traditional Hue culture.

Day 13: Hue– Take flight to Ho Chi Minh City & Cu Chi Tunnels (B L)

Am: Have breakfast at hotel. Then our driver will pick up you at hotel in Hue and transfer to Hue Airport for taking flight to Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival Tay Son Nhat Domestic Airport, our guide and driver pick up and transfer you to visit Cu Chi Tunnels – far 70kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City. Have lunch at restaurant.

Pm: After lunch, our guide will show you the structure of Cu Chi tunnels system with 200 km-long network that was built over 2 decades and used as an army base during the Vietnamese-American War. You will be amazed at the tunnels with their underground story including trap-door, living areas, storage, weapon factories, clinics, kitchen, command centre, etc. Cu Chi Tunnel is worthy with the name of "Land of the steel." The driver takes you back Ho Chi Minh City to check in hotel. Here you will see the hustle and bustle of Vietnamese life everywhere – in the street markets, sidewalk cafes and sleek new restaurants and pubs. Yet within this teeming metropolis are 300 years of timeless traditions and the beauty of an ancient culture. Free to enjoy your own dinner. Overnight at hotel.

Inclusion: Transport, English Speaking guide, Entrance fees, Breakfast, Lunch, Domestic flight ticket, Hotel & Mineral water.

Day 14: Ho Chi Minh – My Tho – Ben Tre – Can Tho (BL)

Am: In the morning, our guide and driver welcome you leave Ho Chi Minh for My Tho Province and have a smooth one-and-half-hour car/van ride through beautiful rice field scenery along Trung Luong Express Highway. Take a boat along the river to visit the stilt houses, fruit plantations and fishing villages. Proceed to Tortoise islet, have lunch in the orchard garden. Enjoy a boat ride through natural canal in Ben Tre, cruising on a hand-rowed sampan under the shadow of the water coconut trees along natural canals, enjoy seasonal fruit& honey tea and “Southern Vietnamese folk music”, performed by the islanders.

Pm: Then, make a bike trip around the fruit plantation and village to visit a family business which epitomizes the idyllic rural lifestyle, taste the delicious coconut candy and observe the pastoral life. Next, on the route transfer to Can Tho City you have change to visit Vinh Trang pagoda which is the greatest pagoda of My Tho city, Tien Giang Province. About 1km from the city centre, this pagoda has an ancient southern architectural gem. The beautiful architecture of it is a harmonious combination of Asian and European types of architecture. Free to have your dinner at restaurant. Check in your hotel. At night, you are free to explore Can Tho City by yourself with Ninh Kieu famous boat pier. Overnight in hotel.

Inclusion: Transport, English Speaking guide, Entrance fees, Local boat, Bicycle, Breakfast, Lunch, Hotel & Mineral water.

Day 15: Visit Phong Dien – Cai Rang Floating Market & back to Ho Chi Minh (B L)

Am:  In this early morning, about 05:00 am you will make a boat trip on Mekong River to visit Cai Rang Floating Market in the morning to enjoy the purchasing activities on boat of local people in Mekong Delta. Next, go on cruising via small channels to visit rice noodle making villages. You have a chance to cross through the “Monkey Bridge” – a special cover building through channels in the Delta. You visit the second floating market in Phong Dien floating market to enjoy more. Mekong floating market is a specialty of Mekong delta so coming there you can enjoy the daily life of local people and variety of Vietnamese customs. Back your hotel around 09:00 am. Have lunch at restaurant.

Pm: After lunch, you will be transferred back Ho Chi Minh City. Along the way via Vinh Long you can stop to visit local snake market where you can see local people buy and sell variety of snakes and learn more people here. You are back Ho Chi Minh city at around 6.00 pm. Drop you off hotel in Ho Chi Minh. Tour ends at your hotel.

Inclusion: Transport, English Speaking guide, Entrance fees, Local boat, Breakfast, Lunch, Hotel & Mineral water.

Day 16: Ho Chi Minh City Tour & Departure (BL)

Am: Have breakfast at hotel. This morning, you will take a half-day city tour our guide and driver will transfer to you go on visiting Independent Palace, Notre Dame Catholic and The Old Post Office to learn more about a part of Vietnam history in the war between Vietnam and America. Next, visitand go for shopping at Ben Thanh Market – the central market for the city and one of the liveliest areas. Have lunch at the restaurant

Pm: Depend on your flight time, our guide and driver drops you off the Tan Son Nhat International Airport for taking Flight back home. End tour & see you again

Inclusion: Transport, English Speaking guide, Entrance fees, Breakfast, Lunch & Mineral water.

Price: USD/Person 

Included: All mentioned in itinerary details. (Meals: B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner)

Excluded: International & Domestic Flight Tickets, Tips for tour guide and driver, Visa fee, personal expenses, insurance & other services not mention above in detail itinerary.

What to bring: Passport, change of clothes, sun-glasses, hat, good shoes, sun cream, umbrella or rain coat & camera.

Notes:

- Price for 01 pax includes single supplement already.

- Single Supplement means the single using his/her own room.

- Hotel:  Twin/Double shared room. Check in time: 14:00; Check out time: 12:00 noon.

- Sites closed: Ho Chi Minh mausoleum is closed on Monday, Friday and the whole from 2nd September to 2nd November for the maintenance. 

- All services are for private tour except Ha Long Bay tour.