The day will begin with a two-hour ride from Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong Delta. Upon arrival, we will take a boat cruise to visit Cai Be Floating Market. The floating market is one of the most interesting and exciting attractions to visit in the Mekong Delta. At the floating market you can watch locals aboard their small boats trading fresh goods and local commodities.
Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City – Arrival
Pick-up and welcome at the airport with the transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 2: Mekong Delta – Cai Be floating market (B – L) by minivan – 2 hours
The day will begin with a two-hour ride from Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong Delta. Upon arrival, we will take a boat cruise to visit Cai Be Floating Market. The floating market is one of the most interesting and exciting attractions in the Mekong Delta. At the floating market, you can watch locals aboard their small boats trading fresh goods and local commodities. We will stop over at a local house where we can see how they make coconut candy, rice-paper, rice-pop corn and rice wine. Leave Cai Be for Binh Hoa Phuoc Islet where the maze of shady creeks will surely fascinate you. You will have a chance to spend time amidst the local farmers, enjoying traditional music and tropical fruits. Have a traditional lunch at a local home, including the popular dish of ‘Elephant Ear Fish’. Return to Ho Chi Minh City. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 3: Cu Chi Tunnels – Da Nang (BL) by flight – 1 hour
Start the day with a visit to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, a network of tunnels stretching over 200 km. Cu Chi became legendary during the 1960’s in playing a vital role in the Vietnam War by allowing Viet Cong (communist guerillas) to control large rural areas, just 30 to 40 km away from Ho Chi Minh City. After lunch, transfer to airport for a flight to Da Nang. Upon arrival, pick up and transfer to the hotel.
Day 4 Da Nang – My Son Sanctuary (B)
After breakfast, a visit to the My Son Sanctuary is an experience that should not be missed while visiting the beautiful city of Hoi An. With us as your tour guide, enjoy a half-day trip to visit the capital and religious centre of the former Champa Kingdom, My Son, which has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. During a time spanning from the 4th to 8th centuries, when Tra Kieu (then known as Simhapura) served as the political capital of Champa, My Son was the site of the most important Cham intellectuals and a religious centre. It is also believed that this site could have been used as a place of burial for Cham monarchs. My Son is considered to be Cham’s counterpart to the grand cities of South-East Asia’s other Indian influenced civilizations: Angkor (Cambodia), Bagan (Myanmar), Ayuthaya (Thailand), and Borobudur (Java). After the tour to the sanctuary, we will return to your hotel. Free time in the afternoon. Overnight in Da Nang.
Day 5 Da Nang – Hoi An – Ann Tailor for a free tailor-made item of clothing – Hoi An City Tour (B)
10:00 Check out. Transfer to Hoi An and visit a Tailor shop to have a free tailor-made item of clothing. In the afternoon, exploring Hoi An on foot is one of the best ways to absorb the beauty of this city. While walking around Hoi An, exploring the small yet beautiful town, tourists (even frequent visitors) find that it is a place of quiet and peace. The unique atmosphere combines elements of Vietnam, China and Japan. The most remarkable views are from the ancient houses, reminding visitors of a long gone past and providing a momentary glimpse of a more subdued and simple time. The tour includes visits to Hoi An’s Museum, many of the town’s renowned Ancient Houses which boast remarkable architecture, Assembly Halls of Chinese influence, a handicraft workshop, and of course the Japanese Covered Bridge. Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 6 Hoi An – Foodie tour (B – L)
09:00 Foodie tour. Discover Hoi An’s countryside and its local food by bicycle. We will start our tour by going through the countryside and stop to enjoy a bowl of Cao Lau. Cao Lau is a specialty and a traditional Hoi An dish composed of flat noodles, pork, bean sprouts, and greens served in a savory broth. The noodles are made with local sticky rice soaked in the water that must be taken from Ba Le Well. We will continue our visit to Tra Que, a famous vegetable village, and on to Cam Ha. You will have the opportunity to enjoy My Quang noodles, another very famous local specialty. Before the end of the tour, we will go to Cam Nam to enjoy the Ying and Yang food. This tour is definitely an interesting journey, allowing you to try local specialties and enjoy the charming countryside of Hoi An.
Day 7: Hoi An – Da Nang – Ha Noi City Tour (B – L) by flight – 1 hour
Have breakfast. Check out. Transfer to Da Nang airport for a flight to Ha Noi. Once arrived in Ha Noi and checked-in to your hotel. After lunch, you visit the Temple of Literature (The first Imperial School in Vietnam), Hoan Kiem Lake, the Jade Mountain Temple, But Tower (Pen-Shaped Tower), Dai Nghien (Ink Stand), The Red – painted wooden and the Huc Bridge…Have a cyclo (pedicab) ride around Ha Noi ancient town. Overnight in Ha Noi.
Day 8: Ha Noi – Ha Long Bay (B – L – D)
The bus will pick you up at your hotel and depart for Ha Long Bay, go through the scenic countryside. The wondrous Ha Long Bay is truly one of Vietnam’s most impressive scenic sights. Heading out of the town, embark on a boat for an exploration of the legendary Ha Long Bay. This exciting cruise will provide a fantastic view of the picturesque scenery blending with the sky and some 3,000 limestone islands rising amazingly from the clear and emerald water. The limestone karsts formations are littered with beaches, grottoes and beautiful caves. Along the way, anchor for a leisurely swim in a secluded cove and an enjoyable visit to one of the many hidden grottoes beneath towering cliffs. Stay overnight on the Junk Cruise.
Day 9: Ha Long Bay – Ha Noi (B – L)
After breakfast, swimming and sunbathing. After lunch, return to Ha Noi. Arrives back in Ha Noi at 4.30pm. The rest of the day is free at leisure until transfer to the train station at 8.30 pm to board your overnight train to Lao Cai. Overnight on train.
Day 10: Arrive Sapa, explore old French hill station
Upon arrival at Lao Cai station, we will be met and transferred to the old French hill station of Sapa. We check into our hotel and have breakfast before starting our great day exploring Sapa. We have a full day today to soak up the atmosphere of this town set amongst a backdrop of lush rolling hills and spectacular cascading rice fields.
Day 11: Commence trek to village homestay
Ethnic minorities or ‘hilltribe’ people as they are otherwise know inhabit the mountainous regions of Vietnam such as in Sapa. Each group is distinguished by its own dress, language and culture and there is thought to be around 15 separate groups that make up the population of over 4 million minority people. This morning we transfer by car to Thanh Phu Bridge where we start trekking to Muong Bo hamlet of Tay people. We then trek to Nam cum, Sin Chai B village of Red Zao people. We overnight with at the local family homestay. Trekking details: Transfer 50mins from Sa Pa town to Thanh Phu bridge Trek duration: 6hrs trek Grade: Moderate – Hard The trail could be slippery on rainy days
Day 12: Trek to Thanh Phu village
Today’s trek takes us through several villages where we will be able to meet Tay, Hmong and Xa Pho ethnic minorities. It is estimated there are only 6500 people from this ethnic group all over Vietnam. We will have time to photograph the beautiful rice paddy terraces and the surrounding mountain. On the way we will visit a local school where we will learn a little about Vietnamese education and meet the students. Our lunch will be prepared and served in a local house. In the afternoon, we head back to Thanh Phu village of Tay minority where we will spend the night. The evening is free to relax before we enjoy a delicious local Vietnamese dinner. Trekking details: Trek duration: 4-5hrs trek / 20kms Grade: Moderate The trail could be slippery on rainy days
Day 13: Trek from Thanh Phu to Sapa, overnight train
Following breakfast we enjoy a walk around the village where our guide will interpret some of the culturally significant aspect of the village. We then trek to Thanh Phu bridge and transfer back to Sapa. Back in Sapa we have the use of day room in our hotel to freshen up before our late departure from Lao Cai on our overnight train back to Hanoi. Trekking details: Trek duration: 3-4hrs trek / approx 15kms Grade: Easy-Moderate The trail could be slippery on rainy days
Day 14 – Arrive Hanoi where trip concludes
Price: Contact us for best price
What’s included
-
Accommodation
8 Nights at hotels + 1 Night on cruise
-
Guide:
- English speaking tour guide
-
Meals
- 9 Breakfasts
- 6 Lunches
- 1 Dinner
- Mineral water
-
Transport
- Minivan with air-conditioning
- Hotel pick-up and return
- Boat trip in Ha Long, in Mekong delta
- Domestic Flight ticket (Ho Chi Minh City – Da Nang; Da Nang – Ha Noi), 20 kg checked baggage, 7 kg hand baggage
-
Additional Services
- All entrance fees
- Pre-approval letter for visa on arrival
- Small group tour of maximum 10 persons per tour
- Child 0 – 5 years old: 10%, 6 – 10 years old: 50% using the same bed with parents
-
Additional Services
- Visa stamp fee (paid to the Visa office at Tan Son Nhat Airport)
- Compulsory dinner on 24 Dec and 31 Dec surcharge will be advised
- Tips and gratuities
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses such as: shopping, telephone, beverage, etc.
- International air tickets
- Optional Extras
- Minimum 2 people per booking
