A JOURNEY THROUGH VIETNAM

DAY 1:VIST HANOI THE WHOLE DAY (BREAKFAST, LUNCH)

After breakfast at the hotel, around 9am (to avoid the rush hour) our guide will greet us at the hotel and go with us via car to the Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, the 1st president of independent Vietnam in 1945. The Mausoleum is a complex of the tomb in which Ho Chi Minh is resting, the house on stilts, where he used to spend his 11 last years, and his fish pond within a poetic large garden. Adjacent to the complex is an ancient Buddhist pagoda, built 1st time since 1049 AD, reflecting the shape of a lotus flower. Leaving the Mausoleum, we will head to Van Mieu, or Temple of Literature, dedicated to Confucius scholars under feudal dynasties, and also a study place of high-ranking families’ children.  We will have lunch at Koto, a restaurant near Van Mieu.

In the afternoon, we will visit the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. There, we can learn about the different cultures in Vietnam and see fascinating artifacts. After that, we’ll visit Tran Quoc Pagoda, a peaceful temple by West Lake. It’s a great place to find calm and discover more about Vietnam’s spiritual and religious life. After the trip, we will walk around Truc Bach Lake to take photos and enjoy Tay Ho ice cream. Then, we’ll head back to the hotel. Dinner at your arrangement. Overnight in Hanoi.

Noted: The Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh will close on Monday and Friday so we’ll visit the Hilton Hanoi Museum on those days instead.

DAY 2: HANOI – HALONG BOAT TRIP – HANOI (Breakfast, Lunch)

After breakfast at the hotel, the cruise’s vehicle and guide will pick us up at Halong Bay, a great UNESCO World Heritage site. The road takes about 2h30’.

Welcome onboard and have a nice trip of 5hrs on the Bay with a nice Cruise, with nice and exciting activities [swimsuits recommended]. Being a small bay with nearly 2,000 islands and islets, some with craters, Halong has been recognized twice by UNESCO as a World Heritage to emphasize its value and the need to be protected. We will have a great day here on a medium-sized cruise. Lunch onboard at noon. At about 5.30 pm, the cruise will take us back to the pier. Our vehicle will greet us again and come back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 3: HANOI – NINH BINH – BAI DINH – TAM COC – HANOI (Breakfast, Lunch)

After breakfast at the hotel, our vehicle and guide will meet us to head South to Ninh Binh. Being an ancient capital city a millennium ago, Ninh Binh is now known for its poetic landscape and ancient relics. Visit Bai Dinh Buddhist Pagoda, a massive temple with dedicated carves and sculptures, a pride of modern Vietnamese architecture, before taking a leisure boat trip to Tam Coc. Lunch in Ninh Binh with goat meat and other famous local specialties.

Afternoon we will visit a craft village making embroidery before our vehicle takes us back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi. 

DAY 4: HANOI – SAPA – CAT CAT (Breakfast, Lunch)

Have breakfast at the hotel before our vehicle and guide pick us up to Sapa by highway Hanoi – Lao Cai. The road takes about 5hrs thru magnificent mountains and hills with long and winding roads. 

Sapa mountains are very popular for the ethnic culture of Vietnam and the incredible mountain landscape. Arriving in Sapa, we will have lunch at a local restaurant before checking in at the hotel. After a short rest, we will visit Cat Cat village, located about 4km from Sapa town, to explore the life of the Hmong ethnic people, visit traditional craft villages, or go shopping for brocade souvenirs like towels, shirts, skirts, bags made by the Hmong batik. 

Later, we can walk around to Sapa Church and the night market in our leisure time to spend a great time by ourselves in the evening. Overnight at a hotel in Sapa.

DAY 5: SAPA – FANSIPAN (Breakfast, Lunch)

Our guide picked us up this morning to head to the Sapa Legend Tourist Area, where we get in cable cars to conquer the top of Fansipan – The Roof of Indochina at an altitude of 3,143m above sea level. 

The cable cars have many records: the longest 3-wire cable car in the world is 6292.5m long, the cable car with the largest difference between arrival and departure station at 1,410m high, and the safest rope in the world. We can take the cables up to an altitude of about 2,900m, then walk to Thanh Van Dac Lo and Bich Van Thien Tu to perform an incense offering ceremony at an altitude of 3,037m.

Let’s continue the journey to conquer the roof of Indochina! When standing on the top of Fansipan, we’ll have the opportunity to see Sapa town in the clouds and the majestic northwestern mountains of Vietnam. Have lunch at a restaurant in the Fansipan Tourist Area.

After we take the cable cars down the mountain, our Vehicle will pick us back to the hotel to relax. In your leisure time in the evening, you can hang around and taste delicious mountain street foods like baked corn, cassava, or eggs. Overnight at a hotel in Sapa.

DAY 6: SAPA – HAM RONG MOUNTAIN – HANOI (Breakfast, Lunch)

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Today, we will discover Ham Rong Mountain with magnificent scenery.

We will visit the Indochina orchid garden with all kinds of colorful orchids, including the glorious Thach Lam Dragon head. Passing the Heaven Gate, we will reach the highest point of Ham Rong, which is San May, and enjoy the panoramic view of Sapa from above. After the visit, we head back to Sa Pa town and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. 

Our vehicle and guide will take us back to Hanoi in the afternoon. Arrive in Ha Noi, dinner at your arrangement. Overnight in Ha Noi.

DAY 7: HANOI – HUE IMPERIAL CITY (Breakfast, Lunch)

Have breakfast at the hotel before our vehicle and guide take us to the airport to depart for Hue city.

Have lunch at a restaurant. Then check in at the hotel to rest.

Afternoon our vehicles will take us to visit Hue Citadel (the Royal Palace of the 13 kings of the Nguyen Dynasty, the last feudal dynasty of Vietnam, with Ngo Mon, Thai Hoa Palace, Forbidden City, The Mieu, Hien Lam Cac, Cuu Dinh places.

Later, we will visit the Tomb of Khai Dinh King, one of the massive mausoleums built over 11 years with unique architecture and structure, with local and foreign materials.

Dinner at own arrangement. Overnight in Hue.

DAY 8: HUE – BA NA HILLS – HOI AN (Breakfast, Lunch)

Have breakfast and check out the hotel; our vehicle and guide will take us to Ba Na Hills.

Sun World Ba Na Hills is Vietnam’s most significant resort and recreational complex. At the height of 1,487 meters from sea level, we will find ourselves relaxing in the typical rotation of four seasons in a single day and numerous festivities, recreations, and diverse cuisine. We will visit the Golden Bridge, a prominent golden silk stripe that shines among the majestic mountains, along with a pair of giant stone hands that seemingly hold the Bridge –  a true impressive masterpiece for all visitors.

Have a buffet lunch at Ba Na Hills

Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at Ba Na Hills before getting off the cable car and moving to Hoi An. The vehicle takes us to the hotel and takes a rest. Dinner at your arrangement. Overnight at a hotel in Hoi An. 

DAY 9: HOI AN – VEGETABLE VILLAGE TRA QUE (Breakfast, Lunch)

We’ll have breakfast at the hotel; then our guide will pick us up at the hotel and depart for Tra Que Vegetable Village – Hoi An.

Tra Que is located in Cam Ha commune, Hoi An town (Quang Nam), where the vegetables have been famous for a long time for being seeded on fertile soil, and fertilized with the seaweed taken from Co Co river, so it has its flavor.

Tra Que is not only a famous brand for making high-quality clean vegetables but also an attractive destination for visitors. In spring, we can go to Tra Que to enjoy the fragrant aftertaste of vegetables and watch the villagers in their daily activities. Have lunch at a restaurant with Tra Que products. After lunch, we will return to Hoi An and walk around to visit the ancient streets. Being an old port in Vietnam until the 17th century, Hoian has a unique architecture mixed up between China, Vietnam and Japanese styles. Here we can walk into Chua Cau bridge, Hoian market, or hang around ancient streets along the Hoai River to enjoy the city’s tranquility.  

Overnight in Hoi An.

DAY 10: HOI AN – DA NANG – HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON) (Breakfast, Lunch)

After having breakfast at the hotel, our vehicle and guide will take us back to Da Nang airport to depart for Ho Chi Minh City.   

We were welcomed by our Guide in Saigon. Being less than 400 years old, Saigon is dynamic yet peaceful, a warm city with lower humidity and no cold season like Hanoi or towns up north. We will have a nice trip visiting cultural aspects of Saigon, from Tan Dinh Church to Cho Lon’s exciting market, and tasting local foods for lunch today. 

Dinner on your arrangement. Overnight in Saigon.

DAY 11: HO CHI MINH CITY – CU CHI TUNNEL (Breakfast, Lunch)

After breakfast, we will visit the War Remnant Museum in the morning to learn more about the fierce wars that defined Vietnam as a slow-developed country in Southeast Asia. Lunch in Saigon. Afternoon we will go with our guide to the Cu Chi tunnel.

A huge underground system not far from Saigon, Cu Chi is the evidence of a very fierce war that the Vietnamese called “the War against the Americans” and the whole world calls it “The Vietnam War.” For many years before 1975, Cu Chi covered troops of Vietnamese guerillas not only from attacks but protected their daily lives; it became a strong base for the Vietnamese forces during the conflicts and is now a weird war remnant that can make anyone of us feel a stronger love to peace and everyday life upon each time visiting this place.

Back to Saigon for Overnight. 

DAY 12: SAIGON BIKE TOUR (Breakfast, Lunch)

After breakfast at the hotel, our guide will meet you on a Vespa tour. Let’s visit Saigon the Vietnamese way.

Starting from a Cafe in central Saigon, we ride the busy city streets, first, stopping at the unique Bird Club in the park before visiting the famous and thought-invoking Burning Monk Memorial Statue. Our adventurous mix of historic landmarks and hidden treasures continues as we soak up the local culture at a fresh flower market and a bright and vibrant fabric market. We zoom through Saigon traffic on the back of our comfortable Vespas to the captivating District 5, visiting a traditional medicine shop, and an ancient Buddhist temple. Our final ride will take us into the heart of Saigon to see some classic city landmarks – the French architectural influences of Saigon Post Office and beautiful Notre Dame Cathedral or Tan Dinh Church (outside), before we end with a short history lesson outside the striking Independence Palace. Have lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we will visit the Temple of God Thien Hau in District 5, a beautiful temple that appears in many fine pictures of Vietnam, and Binh Tay Market (or the Big Market). The culture of Saigon is influenced by many strong characteristics of the Chinese community: concentration, resourcefulness, and District 5 depict them well. Dinner at your arrangement and overnight in Saigon.

DAY 13: HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON) – SIEM REAP (CAMBODIA) (Breakfast, Lunch)

Breakfast in your leisure time until our guide and vehicle pick us up at the airport and depart for Siem Reap. Lunch will be arranged according to your flight schedule.

Visit to the unique interior brick sculptures of Prasat Kravan, Srah Srang (“The Royal Baths” was once used or ritual bathing), Banteay Kdei(surrounded by 4 concentric walls), Ta Prohm, one of the area’s most beautiful temples. Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool (representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake) and Preah Khan temple, Built by the King Jayavarman VII. Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulder hugging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, however, the temple of Preah Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation. 

Dinner on your arrangement. Overnight in Siem Reap.

DAY 14 SIEM REAP – ANGKOR WAT TOURS (Breakfast, Lunch)

Breakfast at hotel

Visit the antique capital of Angkor Thom (12 century): the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, the Bayon Temple, unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara, the Phimeanakas, the Royal Enclosure, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. 

Have a lunch at local restaurant 

Visit to the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Enjoy wonderful sunset from the top of Phnom Ba Kheng Temple.

Dinner on your arrangement. Overnight in Siem Reap.

DAY 15: SIEM REAP – BOAT TRIP – DEPARTURE (B)

Breakfast at hotel

In the morning, we will enjoy a boat ride on the Tonle Sap Lake at KAMPONG PHLUK VILLAGE. This is the largest permanent fresh-water lake in South East Asia and flows into Tonle Sap River, joining the Mekong in Phnom Penh. We will see a fishermen’s “floating village” with floating schools, floating police station, etc. It is same as a big village floating on the lake, and the “village” move from place to place following water levels and current. Lunch not included

Our guide and vehicles will transfer us to Siem Reap Airport for our departure flight.

NOTE FOR DAY 4:

Option1: Cat Cat Village is quite crowded so we can choose Option 2. 

Option 2: Go hiking at LAO CHAI – TA VAN, about 10km [First, we will walk 6km down southeast of Sapa along Muong Hoa valley, past Y Linh Ho village, then go another 2km to Lao Chai village, through the terraced rice fields to Ta Van village of the Dzay ethnic people.]