Itinerary

Day 1:  Arrive Hanoi
Upon arrival at Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport, you will be welcomed by our representative and transferred to your hotel for check in. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2:  Hanoi
Hanoi is a city of lakes, shaded boulevards, and public parks and is the capital of Vietnam. It is an exotic city filled with charming French-colonial buildings and bustling streets with shops showcasing century old traditions. This morning visit the French Quarter and discover why this city is called the “Paris of the East”. After, proceed to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and visit the “Father of Nation” of Vietnam. Then stroll over to the Presidential Palace, Presidential Garden, his House on Stilts, and One Pillar Pagoda, followed by the famed Temple of Literature. After lunch, visit the Ethnology Museum to learn about Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups. You will ride on an electric cart to explore the Old Quarter, famous for its original street layout and architecture of old Hanoi. In the evening, attend a traditional Water Puppet Show, a fantastic art form originating in northern Vietnam. Overnight in Hanoi. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 3: Hanoi to Lao Cai
This morning, drive to Tay Phuong, one of the most beautiful pagodas in Vietnam. Located on a hilltop, this pagoda is famous for its architecture and collection of Buddha and Arhat statues from the 17th century. From the pagoda, take a bike ride through scenic rice fields and rural villages.  Arrive back at the car and drive to the ancient village of Duong Lam, nicknamed the “Hoi An of the Red River Delta.” Walk along narrow ancient alleys, visit the Communal House in Mong Phu hamlet and enjoy a traditional lunch hosted in the oldest house in the village. Then take another short bike ride around the village before returning to Hanoi. In the evening transfer to the Hanoi Railway Station for an overnight night train to Lao Cai. Overnight on train (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 4:  Lao Cai to Sapa
Arrive early morning at Lao Cai train station where you will be welcomed by our representative and drive about an hour to Sapa at an elevation of 5,200ft. Check-in at the hotel and enjoy your breakfast, then the rest of your morning is free until your guide meets you to take you to lunch in a local restaurant. After lunch, drive towards the Tram Ton Pass (6,200ft elevation), the highest motorable pass over the Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range. Also known locally as “The Gate to Heaven”, here you can admire the grandiose mountainous view of North West of Vietnam as well as Mt. Fansipan (10,311ft) – the highest peak in Indochina. On the way back to Sapa, visit Thac Bac, the most tremendous waterfall in Sapa falling over 330ft. Later, explore Sapa Town, a charming small hill station during the French colonial times. Overnight in Sapa. (Breakfast and Lunch)

Day 5:  Sapa
Today, explore dramatic landscapes and local ethnic villages nestled in the valleys around Sapa. You will drive along a scenic route towards the villages along the valley of Muong Hoa. Our first stop is at Y Linh Ho, a village of the H’mong people. You will do an easy trek for about three hours along rice fields, local villages and cross a stream on a suspension bridge towards Lao Chai Village. Here visit a wooden catholic church and the school of Mong people. After, continue a short hike to Ta Van Village of the Giay people. Enjoy a home hosted lunch in a traditional house and learn more about local culture. After lunch, you will drive back to Sapa. Visit Ham Rong mountain where you can see an interesting orchid garden and a little stone forest. Overnight in Sapa. (Breakfast and Lunch)

Day 6:  Sapa to Hanoi
Early morning, visit an authentic minority market to experience different hill tribes gathering to sell their local produce. You will have excellent photo opportunities of locals dressed in their colorful and traditional costumes as part of their daily wear. Such markets usually occur once a week and falls on different days in various villages, thus the final destination will be confirmed based on your final itinerary. After lunch in Sapa, take a 2 hours hike to Ma Tra – the beautiful area of Mong people with beautiful terrace rice field and friendly local people. This will be your final chance to interact with a minority tribe before driving back to Lao Cai station for the night train back to Hanoi. Overnight on the train. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 7:  Hanoi to Danang to Hoi An
Arrive at Hanoi station early morning at about 5 am. Your guide will welcome you at the train station and take you to a restaurant for a typical local breakfast of Pho or morning coffee if you prefer. Visit a big colorful Flower Market in Hanoi that is opened only in the early hours, then walk around Hoan Kiem Lake - where you can join many local people practicing Tai chi. Transfer to the airport for your flight from Hanoi to Danang. Upon arrival in Danang, you'll be met by our representative and be transferred to your hotel in Hoi An. Enjoy lunch in the old town of Hoi An and the rest of the day is free. Overnight in Hoi An (Breakfast, lunch)

Day 8:  Hoi An
After breakfast, take a walking tour to the old section of Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit Thang Loi Handicraft workshop in Phan Chu Trinh Street, and support local artisans producing a large variety of traditional handicrafts from Hoi An. Visit the old Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky Ancient House and Phuc Kien congressional assembly hall. Then enjoy some free time for discovering the town on your own or shopping. Hoi An is known for its tailor shops where you can get clothes made or tailored quickly for very reasonable prices. After lunch, take a cyclo ride to the rural areas of Hoi An. Follow the Thu Bon riverbank and enjoy the view of Hoi An over the river before exploring the local villages. End your day with a boat trip on the Thu Bon River where you can see the daily life activities while enjoying a beautiful sunset over the river. Overnight in Hoi An (Breakfast, lunch)

Day 9:  Hoi An to Hue
Today, drive from Hoi An to Hue via Danang. Visit the Cham Museum, which has the largest collection of Cham sculpture and artifacts in the world. Upon arrival in Hue, have lunch at local restaurant before checking in to your hotel. Afternoon, take a cyclo ride from your hotel over famous Trang Tien bridge and Dong Ba market. The cyclo will take you around the ancient citadel of Hue, local streets and shops for an over view of daily life. Stop at Noon gate of Imperial Citadel for the walking tour to the inner area of the citadel where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945 including Flag Tower, Noon Gate, Nine Dynastic Urns, Nine Holy Cannons, Thai Hoa Palace, and Forbidden Purple City. Overnight in Hue (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 10: Hue
Morning, drive to Thien Mu pagoda, the symbol of Hue city then walk around Kim Long Village to visit an ancient house of a former mandarin. Then visit Tu Duc Tomb to learn about the impressive architecture and story of the king. At noon, visit Dong Thien Pagoda to enjoy a vegetarian lunch prepared by the nuns. Our visit contributes to the Pagoda’s kindergarten that educates children from needy families. You will interact with the nuns and learn more about the Pagoda before going back to the hotel. The rest of the afternoon is free at leisure. Overnight in Hue. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 11:  Hue to Ho Chi Minh City
Transfer to the airport for your morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Upon arrival you’ll be welcomed by our representative and start the city tour. This former capital of South Vietnam is bustling with vast modernization intertwined with rich local heritage and past colonial era. Amidst high-rise buildings are local streets churning with all sorts of shops, street food, sleek new cafes and western style wine bars! Visit the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, and the Reunification Palace.

After lunch in a local restaurant, visit other iconic colonial buildings of Saigon, Opera House and Hotel de Ville. Proceed to Cho Lon, Saigon’s Chinatown bustling with Chinese heritage and traditions. Visit the Thien Hau Pagoda built in the early 19th century by early Chinese immigrants. Take a walk along an old street lined up with the last remaining colonial style houses in Saigon. Then learn about the wonders of Chinese medicine in a very unique herbal museum honoring famous Vietnamese physicians from 12th to 18th centuries. Overnight in Saigon. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 12:  Saigon
Morning, depart for Tay Ninh, the head quarter of the Cao Dai religion. Visit the impressive Holy Temple of Caodaism, a unique local religion, and witness the special mid-day mass. After lunch in a local restaurant, drive to Cu Chi tunnel. Cu Chi was an important base during the American War because of its strategic location. The Vietcong built a 200 kilometer network of tunnels connecting command posts, hospitals, shelter and weapon factories. Dug out of hard laterite by hand tools without the use of cement, this amazing network was never discovered. Overnight in Saigon. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 13:  Saigon to Cai Be to Can Tho
After breakfast, drive 2.5 hours from Saigon to Cai Be to begin your overnight Mekong Delta cruise on board The Bassac. After a welcome drink, and introduction to the ship and crew, check into your private cabin and sail towards Cho Lach on the Tien Giang river. While lunch is served, The Bassac slips into the Cho Lach canal through bustling river traffic, between markets and churches.  Stop over to visit a village on the banks of river Mang Thit, and some fruit orchards or rice fields nearby.  Back on the boat, relax on the deck while enjoying the sunset view over the river. Dinner will be served on board. The Bassac will set anchor for the night just downstream from the little Tra On floating market. Overnight on Bassac Cruise. (All meals)

Day 14:  Cai Be to Can Tho
Enjoy a relaxing breakfast on board while cruising towards the Tra On floating market and observe how locals sell typical local produce. Continue sailing towards Can Tho City and en route visit the biggest and most authentic floating market in South East Asia. Here in Cai Rang floating market, you will check out and transfer onto a small local boat to cruise within the market, the nearby arroyos and gardens before returning to Ninh Kieu pier. In Can Tho, you will visit the late 19th century Binh Thuy Ancient House built in unique French and Chinese architectural style. This house was featured in the famous movie “The lover” in 1992. After lunch at a local restaurant, check in your hotel in Can Tho. Afternoon you will have the option of relaxing at the hotel or taking a 4 hours trip to the town of Soc Trang – the center of Kho Me people in Mekong Delta. Visit Dat Set (clay) and Doi (Bat) Pagodas, two unique features in Soc Trang. Overnight in Can Tho (Breakfast, lunch)

Day 15: Can Tho to Saigon
Today drive along country roads from Can Tho to Sa Dec, a region famous for its abundant flower gardens. Visit Tu Ton Rose garden before having a local lunch served in a famous old house built in 1890. It was the original home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, a rich Chinese merchant in the early 20th century and well known for being the “Lover” of French novelist, Marguerite Duras, who was born in Sa Dec in 1914.  On the way back to Saigon, visit Xeo Quyt, an army base used by the Viet Cong during the war. Take a peaceful sampan cruise along a canal while listening to war time stories. Return to Saigon in the late afternoon and rest of day at leisure. Overnight in Saigon. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 16:  Depart from Saigon
Transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (Breakfast)

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