Day 1: Arrival Hanoi
Welcome to Vietnam!
Our local tour guide will be welcoming you at Noi Bai airport; it takes us 35 minutes driving to the center of Hanoi to check-in hotel. It’s then your own time to relax after a long haul flight. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 2: Hanoi – Sapa – Cat Cat Village – Ban Mong Alpine Coaster – Local Market
Breakfast at hotel then check out and transfer to Sapa.
Arrive in Sapa at around 13h00, drop off at your hotel to check in. After a good rest, we go downhill to Cat Cat village with beautiful landscape along the way. Cat Cat village locates near the bottom of a deep valley at the foot of Fansipan Peak, is home of Black H’mong ethnic people. Our guide will tell us about the locals’ culture and daily life while we trek down to the valley to the waterfall where the French built a Hydraulic Power Station.
Walk uphill to the main road and head to Ban Mong, where you will enjoy your alpine coaster ride (at your own expense). Stretching over 1.5 kilometers, the coaster winds through lush forests, terraced hills, and local ethnic villages. Riders control their own speed, making it suitable for both adrenaline seekers and those who prefer a leisurely scenic ride. Later this afternoon, take a leisue walk to visit the church and Sapa market, where we meet the montagnards and admire their handicrafts made of wood, silver, or dyed and embroidered fabrics and clothes. Rest time of the day is at leisure to enjoy time shopping at the town market. Overnight in Sapa.
Day 3 : Sapa – Fullday trekking to Lao Chai – Ta Van
Breakfast at hotel and prepare light pack for trekking.
At 08:00 am, we can start trekking from Lao Chai village (means old village in the local dialect). It is time to visit the local families, listen to our guide’s explanation about the local culture: how they live, way of building the traditional house, techniques of making clothes… Stop for lunch (on your own account or you can book in advance). The lunch is served in one of the local refreshment restaurants on the side of the river. In the afternoon, we leave Lao Chai to continue to Ta Van village, the Giay people’s residence.
Our guide will bring us to visit some family: listen about their life, enjoy some green tea, learn about the differences of their culture from the other hill tribes even they leave close to each other. Quitting Ta Van, we head up to the main road where the car will pick up us to transfer back to Sapa. Overnight in Sapa.
Day 4: Sapa – Fansipan Peak by Cable Car
Breakfast at hotel.
Morning, we take a cable car up to Fansipan Mountain. This is the world’s longest and highest cable car, running up from Sapa to the Peak of Fansipan Mountain, known as Indochina’s rooftop. The lush green and subtropical vegetation makes this mountain really beautiful. Visit the spiritual cultural complex on the peak, with its many Buddha statues, and take pictures of the surroundings from the top of the mountain. Transfer downhill also by cable car then back to the town centre. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Sapa Town. Overnight in Sapa
Day 5: Sapa – Hanoi – City tour
Breakfast at the hotel then check out. You will then be transferred back to Hanoi.
Check in your hotel in Hanoi. In the afternoon, we will have an overall view of the capital by a “cyclo” tour, which will start around the Old Quarter of Hanoi, stop at Ngoc Son Temple located on the Hoan Kiem Lake (the “Sword” Lake), and at Quan Thanh Taoist Temple. Our day end by a Show of Water Puppetry, a stage art created by the Vietnamese peasants. The show last more than an hour and is a wonderful opportunity to learn about some of Vietnam’s mythology, traditions and current customs in Vietnam. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 6: Hanoi – Hoa Lu & Tam Coc – Hanoi
Have breakfast at hotel. This morning, you will be picked up at your hotel and head Ninh Binh, the ancient capital of Vietnam. The 90-kilometer drive south will take you through stunning countryside, where rice paddies stretch to the horizon and sometimes seeing water buffalo graze in the fields. In Ninh Binh, you’ll visit Hoa Lu, the site of the Dinh and Le temples. These temples were built in the 10th century to honor the Dinh and Le kings of Vietnam.
They are famous for their beautiful wooden carvings. In the afternoon, you’ll take a boat trip through Tam Coc, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This stunning landscape is home to towering limestone karsts that rise up from the lush green rice paddies. It’s been called the Halong Bay on Land, and it’s easy to see why. After your boat trip, you’ll drive back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 7 : Hanoi – Halong/ Lan Ha Bay
Breakfast at the hotel, then check out.
At around 8:00 am, you will be picked up at your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarters and transferred to Ha Long Bay, the pride of the Gulf of Tonkin, a Natural World Heritage as recognized by UNESCO in 1994 and 2006. Upon arrival at the Cruise Port, you will enjoy a warm welcome from cruise staff and complete the check-in procedure for the overnight cruise to discover the magnificent beauty of this Descending Dragon bay, created by thousands of odd-shaped limestone rocks and karst grottoes.
After a lunch on board, we can visit the Grottos, stop for swimming or kayaking, pass floating houses, and approach islets to enjoy their beauty in close proximity. Later in the afternoon, go back to the cruise and enjoy the cooking demonstration before having dinner. In the evening, attend activities on the boat or relax at your own leisure. Overnight on the cruise.
Day 8: Halong Bay – Hanoi – Fly to Hue
You should wake up early to enjoy the dawn on the sea in the early morning. The Vietnamese call the East Sea by a point-oriented name Eastern Sea, so you may guess how miraculous seeing the sudinrise over the islets of the Bay. After breakfast our boat will continue to cruise in marvelous areas, where almost each islet has its own name, adopting its shape or reminiscent like Sail Island, Fisherman’s head rock, Butterfly rock or Turtle islet etc. Check out your room and have brunch on board while the cruise coming back the pier.
Disembark from the cruise, you will be transferred back to the airport in Hanoi for a short flight to Hue. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel to check in. Overnight in Hue.
Day 9 : Hue City Tour
After breakfast at the hotel, begin your full-day exploration of Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. Start with a visit to the Imperial Citadel (Hoàng Thành), the UNESCO World Heritage Site where the Nguyen Emperors once lived and ruled. Explore the Noon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace, the Forbidden Purple City, and other impressive royal structures that reflect the grandeur of Vietnam’s last dynasty.
Continue to the majestic Khai Dinh Mausoleum, an architectural masterpiece blending Eastern and Western styles. Admire its intricate mosaics and elaborate decorations, considered among the finest of the Nguyen tombs.
Next, proceed to the Minh Mang Mausoleum, set in a serene landscape of lakes, gardens, and courtyards. This is one of the most beautiful royal tombs, reflecting perfect harmony between architecture and nature. Enjoy a scenic boat ride on the Perfume River to visit the iconic Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue’s oldest and most famous pagoda.
Conclude your day at the bustling Dong Ba Market, the largest and oldest market in Hue, where you can explore local specialties, handicrafts, and street food. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon. Overnight in Hue.
Day 10 : Hue – Hai Van Pass – Cam Thanh Coconut village – Hoian Ancient Town
Breakfast at hotel until check out time.
Today we depart to Danang, passing Lang Co Beach and enjoy the landscape of Hai Van (the “Ocean Cloudy Mountain Pass”). Upon arriving at Danang, we head to Cam Thanh village and Bay Mau coconut forest. Here you have
chance to experience the traditional way of life. Take a bamboo basket boat tour through the coconut groves, learn how to paddle a traditional boat . Relax in the peaceful countryside by simply sit back and enjoy the views. Learn about traditional handicrafts by watching local artisans weave baskets and mats using coconut leaves and other natural materials. You can even try your hand at making your own.
Next, after our transfer to the Ancient Town of Hoian. We will walk over the Japanese Bridge, visit Chinese Assembly halls, and explore ancient houses. We can also listen to folk music at old club-houses or stroll into the market by Thu Bon river. Here, we may feel the same inspiration as artists who have found the rooftops of Hoi An to be a source of inspiration.
The rest of the time is free for shopping. Hoi An is legendary for its affordable yet quality tailoring services. The streets of the ancient town are also lined with shop houses and makeshift stalls selling handicrafts, jewelry, traditional apparel, and shoes. The central marketplace is filled with locals bargaining for fresh produce and foodstuffs. Hoi An town in the evening is a magical place, where is bathed in warm yellow light from the lanterns that hang from the shophouses, and the streets are filled with the sound of music and laughter. Back to your hotel. Overnight in Hoian.
Day 11 : Hoian – Marble Mountain – Bana Hills – Golden Bridge – Hoian
Breakfast at the hotel.
This morning we head to Bana Hills and make a stop en-route at Marble Mountain. Climb Thuy Son (Water Mountain) by the stone stairs (elevator cost excluded: USD 1/pax/way – to be paid on spot) and enjoy the panoramic view of the nearby countryside, and visit Huyen Khong cave before entering Tam Thai and Linh Ung pagodas where you will be rewarded by great city views and amazed by the main cave which houses a beautiful Cham Buddha sitting under a natural shaft of light. We also visit Am Phu Cave with impressive
rock formations featuring the Buddhist perception of hell or purgatory. Spend time if you wish to admire the masterpieces of exquisite stone sculptures created by the skillful hands of artisans in Non Nuoc village at the foot of the mountain.
Arrive at Ba Na hills and take Cable Car which gains 5 world scores to Ba Na hills station. Stop at By Night station to visit Vong Nguyet hills, Linh Ung pagoda, The Old Villas of French. Enjoy games at Fantasy Park – the third biggest indoor games zone in Vietnam with series of interesting games. Go down by cable car and visit the Nui Chua Mountain – the top of Ba Na range, visiting Golden Bridge, held up by two enormous stone-colored hands. The bridge opened in June 2018, is 150 meters long and 1,400 meters above sea level, with views across the green mountains cape. Continue visit Nginh Phong top, Le Nim Villas, Orchid Garden… Overnight in Hoian.
Day 12 : Hoian – Danang – Fly to Ho Chi Minh – Sightseeing
Breakfast at the hotel then check out. You will then be transferred (no guide) to the airport for a short flight to Ho Chi Minh city..
Upon arrival, welcomed by the local tour guide and transfer to hotel to check in. This afternoon, we start our day with a visit to the War Remnants Museum, which documents the Vietnam War in graphic detail. The museum’s exhibits are both harrowing and thought-provoking, and they provide a valuable glimpse into one of the most destructive wars in history. Next, we visit the Reunification Palace, which was formerly the Independence Palace of the South Vietnamese president. The palace was stormed by tanks on April 30, 1975, marking the end of the Vietnam War.
Today, the palace has been preserved in its original state, and it’s a fascinating glimpse into a bygone era. We end our day with a walk through the city center, where we’ll see some of Ho Chi Minh City’s most iconic landmarks, such as City Hall, the Opera House, Notre Dame Cathedral (view from outside only), built between 1877 and 1883, and the colonial- styled Central Post Office. We’ll also visit Ben Thanh Market, a bustling marketplace where you can find souvenirs, handicrafts, and local delicacies. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.
Day 13: Ho Chi Minh – Mekong Delta Tour
Breakfast at hotel. You will be picked up from your hotel and leave the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City and start your trip to depart for My Tho, the town lies on the left side of the Mekong River. Upon arrival, visit Vinh Trang pagoda which sated back to the late 19th century. Then boarding the sampan and cruising down the river around the four beautiful islands known as Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix and Tortoise islands.
Stop over at Unicorn Island, go walking around country lane and seeing orchards, enjoy tropical fruits, folk song music which performed by the local people. Visit the fruit plantation. Riding a hand-rowed sampan through Thoi Son canal and treat yourself in the beauty of the countryside, visit the family
business, visit honey-bee farm, enjoy honey tea and coconut candy workshop.
In the afternoon, time for cycling around the Tan Thach village, meet the local villagers to experience the local daily life in the Mekong delta or take a Hammock relaxing and enjoy cool breeze for those can’t join the cycling trip. Return to Ho Chi Minh City late in the afternoon. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.
Day 14: Ho Chi Minh – Departure
Breakfast at the hotel. Time at leisure until check-out, and transfer to the airport for the departure flight
back home.
