Colorful Paradises of Vietnam

Upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport, you are welcomed by our guide and taken to the hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free at your leisure.

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Meals included: None

Breakfast is served at your hotel.

Today, we will visit the outside of the Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum then stroll through the garden to the Ho Chi Minh Stilt House where Ho Chi Minh lived from 1958 until he passed away in 1969. Continue to the special architecture 11th century One Pillar Pagoda which was rebuilt after being destroyed by the French in 1954.

Secondly, visit the Temple of Literature – The first royal academy in the country.

Break for lunch at a local restaurant.

Thirdly, we continue to visit the Museum of Ethnology (Hoa Lo Prison if you visit on Monday) – one of Asia’s 25 most attractive museums. The museum was opened in 1997 to preserve and introduce most of the richest cultures, and traditions of 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam. It is a place that is combined with a very green and tranquil garden behind where you can see and learn more about some of the very popular architectures as the King people’s traditional house, the Ede tribe’s longhouse, Bana tribe’s communal house, Stilt house of Tay tribe…

Walking through the Old Quarter. It’s a great place to explore on foot with numerous photo opportunities and go shopping at Dong Xuan market. Dinner is on your arrangement.

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast at the hotel

At 08:00 our guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel for Hoa Lu. It takes more or less 2,5 hours from Ha Noi to Hoa Lu. Hoa Lu was the capital of Vietnam between the 10th and 11th centuries. The area is one of the rice fields broken by picturesque limestone mountains, the capital at Hoa Lu covers an area of 300 ha (3.0 km2), including both the Inner and Outer Citadels. It included defensive earthen walls, palaces, temples, and shrines, and was surrounded and protected by limestone mountains. Today, the ancient citadel no longer exists, and few vestiges of the 10th century remain. Visitors can see temples built in honor of the emperors Dinh Tien Hoang and Le Dai Hanh, their sons, and Queen Duong Van Nga. After lunch, at 13.30 Go to Tam Coc wharf, and get on a private sampan to enjoy rowing through three famous caves in Tam Coc (Hang Ca, Hang Hai, and Hang Ba). After finishing visiting Tam Coc, get in the car and return to the hotel in Ha Noi.

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Our guide and shuttle bus/private car will pick you up at the lobby hotel at 8.00 – 8.20 AM and start the journey east to Halong Bay, through picturesque rice-farming villages of the Red River Delta, where we see everyday Vietnamese village life. On arrival, we board a beautiful traditional junk and spend a full day and night cruising the bay’s 3000 magnificent limestone islets. In the evening when the boat anchored in the middle of the stunning lagoon, we enjoy a wonderful seafood meal and later there is an opportunity for an evening swim from the side of the boat. Spend the night on our luxurious boat

Accommodation: Overnight on cruise (sharing)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Awake early and participate in Tai Chi on the top deck or simply relax and enjoy the sunrise over the bay’s towering islands. Enjoy a morning cup of coffee or tea, before setting out to explore nearby islands by rowboat. Return to the junk for breakfast then take advantage of the sundeck and admire the amazing rock formations of Halong. Have brunch on board the boat before returning to Halong Pier to get back to Hanoi.

21:00, the driver will take you to Le Duan train station to catch the local train (4-berth cabin with A/C) to Lao Cai.

Accommodation: Overnight on local train (sharing)

Meals included: Breakfast, Brunch

The train arrives at Lao Cai station in the early morning (05.00 – 06.00 AM), our driver and tour guide will pick you up and start to drive uphill to the mountainous town of Sapa where the monotony of the expansive green landscape is enlivened by the colors of its hill-tribes. Arrive at Sapa and have breakfast at a local restaurant. Then take a walk from Sapa downhill along a narrow trail for an hour through fruit gardens and vegetable farms to the southern end of Cat Cat village (from 1,486m to 1,288m). Then follow the steps down to Muong Hoa River, and enjoy a short rest near Cat Cat Waterfall (1,212m). Continue to enjoy spectacular views of rice-terraced mountains, and see local people dressed in colorful costumes walking along the roadside and return to Sapa through the local market. Balance of the day at leisure.

Accommodation: Hotel in Sapa

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, visit Fansipan Mountain by cable car. Fansipan’s cable car is the world’s longest and highest cable car, running up from sleepy Sapa Town in Lao Cai Province to the peak of 3,143-meter Fansipan Mountain, known as Indochina’s rooftop. Enjoy the view from the highest point of this incredible mountain. The lush green and subtropical vegetation makes this mountain very beautiful. Take some pictures for an unforgettable experience from the top.  After taking scenery then get cable car back to Sapa.

Free leisure for shopping at Sapa market until 14:00 the driver will take you to Hanoi.

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

8h00: Pick up at your hotel and travel to Quang Phu Cau Incense village

9h15- 9h30: Arrive in Quang Phu Cau village, we will start the walking tour around the village and see how the local people make the incense including bamboo chopping, dipping the sticks in the dye, creating incense paste and drying the incense in the sun… talk to the locals to know about the history of making incense of the village. You are free to walk around the village to take photos of incense bundles, and incense making process…

11h00: Drive back to Hanoi to have lunch at a local restaurant.

After that, we will come to Hanoi Train Street, have a sip, and watch the train pass by. Dropping into these cafes, ordering a cup of Vietnamese coffee, and watching the train pass by will bring you one unforgettable experience. Additionally, you can bring a camera to record the magnificent beauty of trains, as well as the lively life of locals.

In the afternoon, you will travel to Hanoi Airport for your flight to Da Nang. Upon arrival, the driver and tour guide will welcome you and take you to the hotel. The balance of the day is free at your end.

Accommodation: Hotel in Da Nang

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, at 08:30 the driver and tour guide will pick you up at the hotel lobby, and then take you to Ba Na Hills.

Upon arrival, you will move to Ba Na cable car station, then sit in the cable car cabin, midair, looking upon the endless tree line of the forests, you will enjoy breathtaking views of the lush jungle and waterfalls along the way. After that, you will visit the Golden Bridge, then visit the French village on top of the mountain, and take a walk to visit Linh Ung Pagoda, where you can find the Big Buddha statue. Continue to visit Le Jardin Garden, The Old Villas of France, the Nui Chua Mountain – the top of Ba Na range, Nginh Phong top, and free joining games in Fantasy Park – the third biggest indoor games zone in Vietnam with a series of interesting games: 4 – 5D film, skiver, The death race, Dinosaur park… End of the day, you will take the cable car back to the station, and then visit Marble Mountain which is a complex consisting of 5 main elements of the universe in Asia Culture. You will discover the mysterious beauty of caves combining the sacred atmosphere of Buddhism.

Accommodation: Hotel in Da Nang

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, our guide will pick you up at the hotel at 8.00 am & cycle to Cam Thanh Fishing Village, where you can learn something about the local fishing industry and its local cultural life. You will take a rest at a local home with a cup of tea offered by a local host. Our guide will give you a brief about basket boat adventure. You will be told about the safety instructions, how to get balanced on the round basket boat, and how to paddle in it a proper way. Of course, a life jacket will be provided for you and our local people will help you to navigate it. We will be confident until you can row it by yourself. Your tour ends after a light snack at a local family while enjoying a great round basket performance on the river which is awesome that you can see only one time in your lifetime.

Then, walk to visit Hoi An ancient Town by visiting a lovely old house, still occupied by the descendants of the merchants who built it over 200 years ago, before seeing the elaborate Japanese Bridge, a Chinese temple, and the bustling market.

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

My Son Sanctuary, situated around 50km away from Hoi An, is another Cultural Heritage site recognized by UNESCO in 1999 with 32 epitaphs and 71 monuments. The unique Hindu sanctuary is the perfectly ideal destination for those who want to learn everything about the Champa Ancient Kingdom including its history, culture, and architecture.

This morning (afternoon), you will set out on a drive to the southwest of Hoi An to My Son Sanctuary for a My Son half-day tour. This is where the Cham culture in Central Vietnam started in the 4th century, declined in the 13th century, and ceased to exist in the 15th century. The once capital of the Champa Kingdom dedicated to the worship of the god Shiva is now a cluster of partially ruined and heavily damaged Hindu temples, with only 20 left, due to age and bombing during the Vietnam War. This unique and majestic sanctuary stands as a witness to a glorious bygone era of the once-thriving Cham culture.

The rest of the day, you will be free on the beach to relax.

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

You will leave Hoi An in the morning for Hue via the scenic Hai Van Pass with a stop to view the spectacular panorama of the central coastline.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Imperial Citadel, which is well known for its fortress-like look, embedded in the heart of the city. You will then enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the old town in a cyclo, a traditional mode of transport in Vietnam. At the end of the day, take a stroll around the Dong Ba market at the center of the city located on the edge of Perfume River.

Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, you will visit Tha Om Garden House, where at first the owner will introduce you to the various buildings that make up the house. Your hostess will then take you to the kitchen and teach you how to prepare traditional Hue dishes. You will learn to play with the combinations of flavors, which you will easily be able to recreate at home. During lunch, you will taste the dishes you have prepared yourself as well as other specialties of the region cooked by your hosts.

In the afternoon, you will board the boat for a cruise on the romantic Perfume River heading out to the countryside; and stopping to visit the charming Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda). Thien Mu Pagoda is considered the symbol of Hue and of Buddhism in Vietnam. From here you will rejoin your car and visit King Minh Mang’s Tomb OR King Tu Duc’s Tomb.

Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, travel to Hue through the infamous demilitarized zone (DMZ). You will stop on the road to see some of the famous DMZ sights, such as the Vinh Moc tunnel, a strategic site that was the target of endless bombing during the Vietnam War. You will descend into this underground village, which was dug by the population who occupied it for two years, to explore a system of three-floor tunnels consisting of small cells, kitchens, toilets, wells, and a hospital where seventeen children were born. You will then visit the famous Hien Luong Bridge, as well as the Quang Tri Citadel, before arriving in Hue by the end of the afternoon.

Accommodation: Phong Nha Lake House/ Chay Lap farm stay

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Distance: 230 kilometers – 4h 30min

After breakfast, you will take a boat trip on the Son River, which offers beautiful landscapes along the riverbanks. Once you reach the entrance of a cave along your journey, you will feel like you are entering the mouth of a giant beast, before visiting the astonishing Phong Nha Cave, the longest cave in Southeast Asia. After returning to the pier, you will travel to Thien Duong Cave, another fantastic cave, and the largest of its kind in central Vietnam’s Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park. Here, the stalactites are more diverse, and depending on your perspective and imagination, each traveler will see different shapes and images. Finally, you’ll spend the night in Phong Nha.

Accommodation: Phong Nha Lake House/ Chay Lap farm stay

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Notes: 

– During the rainy season (September, October, and November), the caves may be inaccessible due to high levels of water.

– During the summer, visiting the caves should be arranged in the early morning or noon time to avoid crowds of Vietnamese visitors.

In the early morning, you will travel to Dong Hoi Airport to take your flight to Ho Chi Minh City.

Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by a tour guide and driver. Then, they will take you to start with a few minutes of driving around the city, you will be welcomed at the first stop by the host of the night. The host will give you the night’s plan and present your first cups of craft beer, which have been brewed by local breweries, as well as some matching food. Enjoy these beers, chit-chat, and share some downtime with friends over delicious drinks. As the night continues, you will continue on your private Vespa, visiting local breweries, sampling the best beers the city has to offer, and exploring Saigon’s hottest new gastronomic trend.

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Meals included: Breakfast, Beer and matching food

In the morning, you will set off to visit the historical sites of the city: the old Post Office (built in the French Indochina era), Notre Dame Cathedral, and Dong Khoi Street – a wide avenue lined with luxurious shops and hotels. After that, you will discover the city’s Chinatown (Cholon), where Binh Tay International Market and Thien Hau Pagoda are located. Depending on your interests, you can choose to visit the War Remnants Museum or the FITO Museum. The first exhibits US weapons and vehicles used during the Vietnam War, along with photos showing the consequences of this war and details of the chemical weapons that were used (caution: some images can cause discomfort). The FITO Museum, which is the largest private museum in the country, is dedicated to illustrating the history of traditional medicine in Vietnam. At the end of your visit, you will have some free time to stroll around and explore the city.

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Notes:

– The FITO Museum is open daily from 08:30 to 17:30

– The War Remnants Museum is open from 07:30 to noon and from 13:30 to 17:00

– Notre-Dame Cathedral is closed for renovations until early 2020- Exterior only

Pick you up at the hotel at 08:00 A smooth one-and-half-hour bus ride through rice field scenery along National Highway 1 brings you to the beautiful rural district of Trung Luong. On arrival at My Tho, after visiting Vinh Trang Pagoda, take a motorboat to enter My Tho city through the Bao Dinh natural canal. Take a leisurely cruise on the Tien River to view the four beautiful islands known as Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix, and Tortoise Islands. Enjoy lunch at the local restaurant, then visit the coconut candy mill and take an amazing rowing boat trip along the small canal on a hand-rowed sampan under the shadow of the water coconut trees along natural canals. Then enjoy seasonal fruit & honey tea to the sound of “Southern Vietnamese folk music”, performed by locals. Meet at the bus and return to Ho Chi Minh City. This trip provides a fascinating insight into daily life in the Mekong Delta and you are guaranteed to take home your private collection of beautiful memories.

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Morning Breakfast at the Hotel.

After breakfast, proceed to Cu Chi Tunnel. The Cu Chi Tunnels are an immense network of interconnected tunnels near Saigon that are part of a much larger network lying below much of the country. A guided visit to these tunnels provides a better understanding of their history, the hardship of life underground, and the resilience of the Vietnamese during combat. The tunnels were built and used initially by the Viet Cong guerrillas as hiding spots to protect them from the French air and ground sweeps. They later served as communication routes, storage facilities, hospitals, and living quarters for the guerrilla fighters throughout the Vietnam-American war. You are invited to enter a section of the tunnels to witness the secrets of the tunnels first-hand. Your guide will also show you various mantraps employed from this period, the remains of an American tank, and numerous B52 bomb craters.

In the afternoon, you will be free to relax after the Cu Chi Tunnels excursion. Then, the driver will take you to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your departure flight. Ends of service.