Essence of Vietnam Tour 14 Days 13 Nights

DAY 1: HANOI ARRIVAL

Welcome to Vietnam: after long time on airplane, you will reach Vietnam – the S-shaped land, where 54 different ethnic minorities inhabited.

Your group will be warmly welcomed by our guide and driver at the airport and transferred to your hotel in the city center of Hanoi

Free on your own afterward

Meals included: __/__/__

Parameter: Airport – Hotel: 30 km/Driving: 45 minutes

Overnight in Hanoi

DAY 2: HANOI CITY TOUR – NIGHT TRAIN TO LAO CAI

In the morning

• At 08:30, our guide and driver will meet you at your hotel then you start your day to discover Hanoi City
• Firstly, you will pay a visit to Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, is a building to commemorate the merits of Ho Chi Minh Uncle – a great leader of Vietnam, and the surrounding sites of One Pillar Pagoda and his ancient house.
• After 2 hours, you will go to the next site of the Temple of Literature, which is the first University of Vietnam and dedicated to Confucius (Khong Tu).

In the afternoon

• After saving energy with local lunch, you will leave for the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, which focuses on the 54 officially recognized ethnic groups in Vietnam.
• It is estimated to be 2 hours at the museum then you will be transferred back to the old quarter and visit the Hoan Kiem Lake
• Finally, you will sit in front of Cyclo to move around the Old Quarter and experience the local life in 45 minutes before coming back your transit hotel which is near Hanoi train station to freshen up and relax.

In the evening

• At 20:30, our guide will pick you up at the hotel then you will walk with our guide to the station for a night train leading to Sapa. The train leaves at 22:00 from Hanoi railway station.

Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/__

Parameter: On train: Hanoi – Lao Cai: 8 hours

Today useful note(s):

• Wearing formal clothes (cover your knees and shoulders) to visit some spiritual/cultural sites
• Museum of Ethnology will close on Monday so Hoa Lo prison will be the alternative attraction
• The complex of Ho Chi Minh mausoleum will not open for worshiping on Monday or Monday so you just visit the surrounding parts on those days

Overnight on train (sharing a 4-berth cabin)

DAY 3: LAO CAI – SAPA – MONG SEN – TA PHIN

In the morning

• At 06:00, the train will reach the station in Lao Cai and you will be warmly welcomed by our guide and driver. Then you will have breakfast in a local restaurant and short time for relaxing.
• At 08:00, you will reach your hotel in Sapa town. If the room is already available, you can check in and take a short rest or else you will go downhill to Mong Sen where you start a dirt trail through rice fields and villages. Along the way, it is a wonderful scenery with a full of green.
• At 12:00, you will have lunch in a local house

In the afternoon

• After lunch, you continue your trek downhill towards Taphin village inhabited by Red Dao and Black Hmong minorities. These are two largest ethnic groups living in Sapa area.
• Then you make a stop by some houses to meet local people and talk with them to understand their culture, customs and traditions. Late afternoon, you will trek back to to main road to get on our vehicle for the journey back to Sapa.
• At around 15:00, you will get out to the main road and our private car will take you back to your hotel

Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/__

Parameter: Driving: 2 hours/ Walking: 4 hours/Lunch: 1 hour

Overnight in Sapa

DAY 4: LAO CHAI – TA VAN – NIGHT TRAIN TO HANOI

In the morning

• At 08:00, you will be met up at your hotel by local guide and driver then transferred to Lao Chai village.
• Firstly, you will visit Lao Chai Village – a Black Hmong ethnic minority village
• Then, you will then be able to walk from Lao Chai to Tavan village where the Giay ethnic minority hill tribe lives.
• Enjoy lunch in a local house

In the afternoon

• The walk continues through a bamboo forest to Giang Ta Chai, a Red Dao ethnic minority village.
• After taking a rest nearby a waterfall to refresh, you start climbing uphill to a road where the car is ready for your journey back to Sapa.
• At around 17:00 you will be transferred to the train station for your night train back to Hanoi

Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/__

Parameter: Trekking: 04 hours, Driving: 1 hours

Today useful note(s):

• You may have dinner on your own in a local restaurant around the station before leaving.
• You will reach Hanoi in the early morning of the next day and be free on your own.

Overnight on train (sharing a 4-berth cabin)

DAY 5: HANOI – HALONG BAY/A NIGHT ON A PEACEFUL BAY

In the morning

• At 05:30, you arrive in Hanoi train station, walk to the hotel that we book at near to station for you to take rest, shower and breakfast.
• 07:45 - 08:30, our shuttle bus will pick you up and transfer you to Halong bay, which takes you around 4 hours through small villages with beautiful fields of rice and vegetable
• Reaching Halong bay at around 12:00 and you will check in your cabin and have lunch in the restaurant on cruise while cruising into the magnificent Halong Bay

In the afternoon

• 13:30 – 15:00: Savor a delectable lunch while cruising among the limestone islands.
• 5:00 – 16:00: Explore the amazing Sung Sot Cave – the most beautiful cave in Halong Bay.
• 16:00 – 17:00: Cruising to Titov island. Go swimming and relaxing at the beach of Titov or climb up to the top of the island for a panorama view of Halong Bay.
• 17:00 – 17:30: Return to the main boat and continue cruising to the quiet area while enjoy beautiful seascape on the way.
• 17:30 – 19:00: Enjoy Sunset Party on sundeck and admire the best moments of the day when the sun starts to set.

In the evening

• 19:00: Dinner is served. Socialize with other guests, take part in board games, fish for squid, or just laze around.

Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Parameter: Hanoi – Halong: 180km/Driving: 4 hours

Overnight on cruise

DAY 6: HA LONG BAY – HANOI – FLY TO DANANG – DRIVE TO HOI AN

In the morning

• 06:30 – 07:15: Start your day with Tai Chi exercises or a photo hunt.
• 07:30 – 08:30: Have breakfast on board and enjoy the peaceful morning of Halong Bay.
• 09:00 – 10:00: Kayak among the hidden areas of the bay, around the Bo Nau area.
• 10:15: Return to the boat. Freshen up and check out of your cabin.
• 10:15 – 11:00: Continue your cruise exploring the Bay, passing Ba Hang fishing village, Dog Islet, and more.
• 11:00 – 11:45: Join a cooking demonstration before enjoying an exceptional Buffet lunch.

In the afternoon

• 12:00 – 12:30: Disembark cruise and get on the car to to Hanoi airport for the flight to Danang city (2.5 hours)
• Arrive in Danang, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel in Hoi An. It takes 30 mins on the way

Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/__

Estimated flight information: VN259      Vietnam Airlines      17:00  19:15

Parameter: Halong - Hanoi: 180km/Driving: 4 hours

Overnight in Hanoi  

DAY 7: HOI AN – TRA QUE VILLAGE – WALKING TOUR

In the morning

• At 08:30, after enjoying breakfast at your hotel, you start riding your bicycle to Tra Que village (private car will be used if you cannot ride a bike)
• You firstly will be introduced about the history of the village, the cultivation of the vegetables as well as discovering about the use of vegetables in traditional Vietnamese medicine.
• Then you will take a trip around the vegetable garden and join the farmers in preparing the land and fertilizing it with seaweed from the local lake.
• Continue doing activities such as raking, sowing, watering greens, picking greens and many more gardening activities before spending the rest of the morning working the land in the time honoured way
• After finishing all the activities, you will take a break and prepare lunch with a local family.
• You will have lunch in local house with many local delicacies including Tam Huu spring roll, Banh xeo or the local pancake of the people from the middle region

In the afternoon

• At around 15:00, riding back to Hoi An town and you will start discovering this World Heritage site.
• You will be introduced about many delights of Hoi An. From expert dressmakers and tailors, who will craft a complete outfit for you in a couple of days, to a dawn photo trip along the river or from a fun visit to Hoi An Local Market then following small alleys to see the Chinese Assembly Hall, the famous Japanese Covered Bridge and Tan Ky Ancient House and the China Town in the other side of the canal, you’ll find yourself miss that one-of-a-kind port town in every single road of your ahead travel.
• At around 17:00, the tour will come to the end ad you have free time on your own later

Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/__

Overnight in Hoi An

DAY 8: HOI AN – DA NANG – HUE/INCREDIBLE COASTLE LINE

In the morning

• At 08:00, after having breakfast, you will meet up our guide and driver to start your journey.
• The first destination today is Marble mountain. This is a cluster of five marble and limestone hills located in Ngu Hanh Son ward, south of Da Nang city in Vietnam. The five ‘mountains’ are named after the five elements: metal, water, wood, fire and earth.
• Then, you will transfer to visit to Linh Ung pogada, which is the famous pagoda with the highest Lady Buddha statue in Vietnam
• After that, it’s time to enjoy the delicious lunch in a local restaurant

In the afternoon

• After saving energy with the lunch, you will be transferred to Hue – the old capital of Vietnam where is far from Danang 105 km
• On the way, you will reach Hai Van pass and it is recommended to make a stop to enjoy the fantastic view to the sea
• At around 17:00, you will reach your hotel in Hue, check in then you have free time on your own

Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/__

Parameter: Hoi An – Danang: 30 km/Driving: 40 minutes
Danang - Hue: 105 km/Driving: 2.5 hours

Overnight in Hue

DAY 9: HUE CITY TOUR/THE IMPRESSION OF THE ROYALS

In the morning

• At 08:30 after breakfast, our guide and driver will pick you up at the hotel to start the exciting day tour by exploring Hue’s beauties
• First, you will get the romantic experience by taking a leisure boat trip along the Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the most famous Vietnamese landmarks.
• After that you will pay a visit to Tu Duc tomb, which is considered as one of the most beautiful and picturesque and largest works of architecture of Nguyen Dynasty’s royal palaces and tombs
• Then lunch will be served in a local restaurant at noon time

In the afternoon

• At 14:00, you will continue your day trip by visiting Imperial Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City, created in the 19th century for the Emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty
• The next experience is exploring the local life by visiting Dong Ba market to experience the local life and learn how the locals operate their market
• At around 17:00, the tour will come to the end and you have free time on your own later

Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/__

Overnight in Hue

DAY 10: HUE – FLY TO HO CHI MINH

In the morning

• After having breakfast at the hotel, you will enjoy your free time in Hue
• Depending on your flight, the driver will take you to the airport for taking the flight to Ho Chi Minh
• On your arrival at Ho Chi Minh airport, you will be warmly welcomed by our local guide then transferred to the city center.

In the afternoon

• Enjoy your free time on the rest of the day

Meals included: Breakfast/__/__

Estimated flight information: VN1373         Vietnam Airlines       14:20 15:50

Parameter: Tan Son Nhat airport – Ho Chi Minh city center: 10 km/Driving: 30 minutes

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh

DAY 11: HO CHI MINH – CU CHI TUNNELS – CITY TOUR

In the morning 

• At 08:00, you will be met up by our guide at the lobby of the hotel after you have breakfast, then transferred to Cu Chi tunnels.
• Cu Chi tunnels are famed for its 200-kilometre-long tunnels, an incredible underground network built by Vietcong during the Vietnam war. By visiting this site, you will have a chance to look back to the War time of Vietnam and see how we fight the invaders
• After spending time visiting these long tunnels, you will go to the local restaurant for lunch

In the afternoon

• After saving with lunch of local foods, you will get back to Ho Chi Minh and visit the highlights of the city
• Firstly, you will visit The Reunification Palace, whose architecture is a blend of traditional ritual and modern architecture, typical of the 60s’.
• Next, you will walk a short distance to The Central Post Office, which is one of the oldest buildings in Ho Chi Minh. Being a mixture of Gothic, Renaissance and French influences, this building fascinates tourists by its typical colonial French features, from exterior to interior decorations.
• Then, the last attraction is Notre Dame Cathedral. The cathedral is considered the symbol of this dynamic city, is located in the downtown of Ho Chi Minh and reaches a height of up to 60 meters.
• If time allows, you can pay a visit to Ben Thanh market, which is one of the biggest wholesales market of the city.
• At around 17:00, you will be transferred back to your hotel and have your own free time afterward

Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/__

Parameter: Ho Chi Minh – Cu Chi: 90km/Driving: 1.5 hour

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh

DAY 12: HO CHI MINH – MY THO – CAN THO/TASTE OF MEKONG RIVER

In the morning

• At 08:30, you will be met up by our guide and driver at your hotel and leave the hustle Saigon heading to My Tho, the closet delta town to Ho Chi Minh city. It will be a 90-minute driving through the small villages in the western region.
• You will start your delta trip with a visit to Vinh Trang Pagoda, the most beautiful and ancient pagoda in Mekong Delta.
• Then take a boat trip on the great Mekong River (Tien River) to visit fish farms where fish are bred in wooden cages suspended under floating houses on the river and see 4 islets: Long (Dragon) islet, Lan (Unicorn) islet, Quy (Turtle) Islet and Phung (Phoenix) islet.
• Proceed to Thoi Son Islet, visit farmers’ houses and gardens. Enjoy fruits and honey tea served by local people while listening to Tai Tu music – Traditional music of the Mekong people. Discover small canals of Mekong delta by hand rowing boat
• Leaving Thoi Son, move by boat to visit Coconut – candy workshop and taste a hot coconut candy, Coconut handicrafts as souvenir.
• Then you can walk and enjoy riding a horse-drawn carriage on country lanes to see some activities of the local farmers.
• Enjoy your lunch

In the afternoon

• After lunch, you will get back to the mainland where your private car is waiting and go to your hotel in Can Tho.
• At around 17:00, you will reach Can Tho, check in your hotel and free on your own afterwards

Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/__

Parameter:

• Ho Chi Minh – My Tho: 70 km/Driving: 1.5 hour
• My Tho – Can Tho: 100 km/ Driving: 2 hours

Today useful note(s):

• Wearing clothes covering your shoulder and knees to visit the pagoda but comfortable to do the boat trip and walking
• Sun cream must be prepared to protect your skin from sun

Overnight in Can Tho

DAY 13: CAI RANG MARKET – HO CHI MINH/EXPERIENCE FLOATING MARKET

In the morning

• At 07:00 in the early morning, you will start from Ninh Kieu boat quay, where you cruise along the small and picturesque canels and stop to see the Cai Rang floating market (the nicest one with heaps of rowing boats).
• You then make a stop to enjoy the beautiful scenery and the daily activities of the locals who lives along the Mekong canals
• After that, you check out hotel and depart for local restaurant for lunch

In the afternoon

• After having lunch, you will have some free time before leaving back to Ho Chi Minh at 15:00
• At around 18:00, you will reach your hotel in Ho Chi Minh and have your own free time afterwards.

Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/__

Parameter: Can Tho – Ho Chi Minh: 170 km/Driving: 3.5 hours

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh

DAY 14: HO CHI MINH DEPARTURE

Depending on your flight time, our driver will pick you up at your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your departure flight.

Meals included: Breakfast/__/__

Parameter: Driving: 7 km/25 minutes

Today useful note(s):

Check all your luggage and belongs before checking out and make sure you miss nothing.

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