Amazing Vietnam 16 days (trip)

Amazing Vietnam 16 days

  • Vietnam
  • Culture & Nature
“+ One-thousand-yearHanoi capital + Water puppet show – a unique art performance in Vietnam + Wonderful stay on a traditional… ”

from $2,538* per person16 DaysYear-round
Boutique accommodations Exertion level: 1
Operator: Insight Asia Travel 10 people max
Staring from Saigon, the most dynamic city in Vietnam, you will explore its historical attractions and colorful outdoor markets then visit the Cu Chi Tunnels – a famous place in the Vietnam-American  –  as  a way to ambush approaching US troops, move supplies, deliver information and even as living quarters.  After an overnight in the Mekong Delta cruising  the narrow canals and join in the  floating market you will continue  your  trip to the Central Vietnam Road  of Heritages visiting Hue Citadel, Hoi An Ancient town. In the North Vietnam you will have more chance to learn of the Vietnamese culture with a soft adventure to Sapa town meeting some ethnic group, visiting a colorful hill tribe  market before enjoying an marvelous stay overnight on a traditional junk in the Halong Bay.     

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Locations visited/nearby

Vietnam , Hanoi , Halong Bay , Hoian , Saigon , Mekong Delta, Vietnam, Hoian, Halong, Hanoi, Saigon, Mekong, Asia

1 testimonial about this trip

  1. Reviewer: Insight Asia Travel located in Hanoi, Hanoi
    + One-thousand-yearHanoi capital
    + Water puppet show – a unique art performance in Vietnam
    + Wonderful stay on a traditional junk in Halong Bay 
    + Stroll through the atmospheric World Heritage Hoi An Ancient town
    + Experience the Fast-Services Tailoring in Hoi An
    + Visit the authentic Ho Chi Minh City.
    + Explore the Mekong Delta.
    + Stay in the most luxury hotels and resort in Vietnam 

1 testimonial about the provider, Insight Asia Travel:

  • Reviewer: Dominique De Belder located in Melbourn, Australia
    Dear Trinh, We returned safely to Luxembourg. Thank you very much for your good arrangements in Myanmar, very interesting country to discover.We had a quite busy itinerary, but we visited so many...

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Special information

  • This is a custom departure, meaning this trip is offered on dates that you arrange privately with the provider. Additionally, you need to form your own private group for this trip. The itinerary and price here is just a sample. Contact the provider for detailed pricing, minimum group size, and scheduling information. For most providers, the larger the group you are traveling with, the lower the per-person cost will be.

Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to HCMC. Overnight: HCMC (D)

Warm welcome upon your arrival in HCMC. Your guide will meet you at the airport for a transfer to your hotel located in the downtown.  After check in you will have free time to relax, then your guide see you again for a welcome dinner at the river cruises on the Saigon river.

Day 2: HCMC Free Choices: Sightseeing - Street food- Dining. Overnight: HCMC

HCMC is a city full of surprises. The city’s core is still adorned with wide elegant boulevards and historic French colonial buildings and offers plenty of reasons to visit, from its blend of historic, attractions to vibrant shopping, dining and nightlife. You have a whole day to explore the HCMC. Do not forget to add your favourit street food to the list and the dining option to taste and experience the HCMC and South Vietnam cuisine.

HCMC Free Choice Offers. All included. No extra cost
+ Option 1: HCMC Full-day ( Maximum 6 places )
+ Option 2: HCMC Half-day ( Maximum 4 places ) & China Town & Thien Hau pagoda

2. Free Choice Street Food Lunch Break – Authentic experiences
3. Free Choice Dining

Feel free to personalize and enrich your visit

HCMC Sightseeings
1. Reunification Palace
2. Municipal Theatre – City Post Office – Notre-Dame Cathedral
3. War Remnants Museum
4. Vinh Nghiem pagoda
5. Hoang De pagoda
6. Ben Thanh market

Half-day China town & Thien Hau pagoda: The western part of the city is dominated by Cholon (Chinatown), a thickly settled district rife with teahouses and pagodas and the famous Binh Tay Market. Visit the Thien Hau pagoda which features interesting Chinese-Buddhist style architecture and interiors with pagodas, courtyards, altars and paintings. Chinatown is also home to the Cholon Mosque and Cha Tam, a small Catholic cathedral.

Free Choice Street Food Lunch Break – Authentic experiences 
1. “ Banh mi”
2. “ Hu tieu Saigon
3. “ Banh canh ”
4. “ Banh xeo ”
5. “ Com tam”
All street food is followed by a cup of Vietnamese coffee/tea at street-side pub

Free Choice Dining:
1. Vegetarian set-menu at local restaurant
2. Vietnamese set-menu at French building restaurant
3. South Vietnamese buffet at local restaurant

Day 3: HCMC - My Tho - Can Tho. Overnight: Can Tho (B-L-D)

Today you leave HCMC for the Mekong Delta. Surrounded by thousands of crisscrossed canals, life in the Mekong Delta revolves much around the river, most of the villages are often accessible by rivers and canals rather than by road. Upon arrival you take a motor-boat to explore the Thoi Son islet. Following a village path passing local houses to visit some family-run coconut candy mills then you take a horse-cart from village to village. Enjoy lunch with local special dishes followed by the “Southern Vietnamese folk music”, a very common art activity in the Mekong Delta performed by local people.  Rejoin your car for a drive to Can Tho.

Day 4: Floating market - Villages biking - HCMC. Overnight: HCMC (B-L) 

Early wake up today to join in the Cai Rang floating market, one of the most exciting activities you should do when you are in this area. Take a motorized boat to join the market and experience how people exchange goods, fruit and many other commodities on their vessels. You also find floating restaurants, floating bars, floating gas stations, and many other floating shops. Back to the shore and take a bike cycling from village to village on path, over monkey bridges, get in touch with local people. Lunch is at local restaurant before driving back to HCMC.

Day 5: Free Choices HCMC Surrounding - Street food - Dining. Overnight: HCMC

You have a whole day to explore the HCMC Surroundings. Please select the below options to learn more about the South Vietnam. Do not forget to add your favourit street food to the list and the dining option to taste and experience the HCMC and South Vietnam cuisine.

HCMC Free Choice Offers. All included. No extra cost
1. Free Choice Surroundings
2. Free Choice Street Food
3. Free Choice Dining

Free Choice Surroundings:
1. Half-day Cu Chi Tunnels
2. Full-day Tay Ninh Holysee Temple & Cu Chi tunnels

1. Half-day Cu Chi tunnels: Around 70 kilometers northwest of HCMC, Cu Chi Tunnel is right near the so-called “Iron Triangle” of Southern Vietnam. This underground complex is a must-see when you are in HCMC. You are invited to crawl around in the safer parts of the tunnel system or try a shooting range where you can fire a number of assault rifles, such as the M16 rifle or AK-47, as well as a light machine gun like the M60.

2. Full-day Cao Dai Holysee temple & Cu Chi tunnels: In the morning you drive to visit Cao Dai Temples in Tay Ninh and observe the midday service. This temple is the cathedral of the Cao Daism religion and home of the Divine Eye, the official symbol of this unique religion. Cao Dai followers worship Jesus Christ, Confucius, Taoism, and Buddha. On the way back you stop to visit Cu Chi Tunnels. Very famous in the wartime with its smart and complicated system including underground meeting room, kitchen, food, weapon caches, hospital. This underground complex is a must-see when you are in HCMC. You are invited to crawl around in the safer parts of the tunnel system or try a shooting range where you can fire a number of assault rifles, such as the M16 rifle or AK-47, as well as a light machine gun like the M60. Back to HCMC. Rest of the day is your free time.

Free Choice Street Food Lunch Break – Authentic experiences 
1. “ Banh mi”
2. “ Hu tieu Saigon
3. “ Banh canh ”
4. “ Banh xeo ”
5. “ Com tam”
All street food is followed by a cup of Vietnamese coffee/tea at street-side pub

Free Choice Dining :
1. Vegetarian set-menu at local restaurant
2. Vietnamese set-menu at French building restaurant
3. South Vietnamese buffet at local restaurant

Day 6: Fly to Hue. Overnight: Hue (B-D)

Enjoy your free time until transfer to airport for flight to Hue. Located in central Vietnam, the World Cultural Heritage Site Hue used to be the Citadel of the Nguyen Dynasty from 1805 to 1945. Your local guide meets you at the airport for a transfer to hotel. Free. At leisure. Evening meeting with your guide again for a Hue Royal style dinner, taste some Royal cuisines at local restaurant.

Day 7: Hue Free Choices Sightseeings - Street food - Dining. Overnight: Hue 
Besides Hue citadel and tombs, Hue still has a lot to offer you. Hue Sightseeing Freedom of Choices and Meal options will satisfy you. All you have to do is to select one of the Hue city options and one of the Hue Surroundings to explore Hue by your own way.

Hue Free Choice Offers. All included. No extra cost
1. Free Choice Sightseeing
+ Option 1: Hue Full-day ( Maximum 7 places )
+ Option 2: Hue Half-day ( Maximum 4 places ) & One of Hue Surroundings

2. Free Choice Street Food Lunch Break – Authentic experiences
3. Free Choice Dining

Feel free to personalize and enrich your visit 
Hue Sightseeings
1. Dragon boat trip to visit the Thien Mu pagoda
2. King Minh Mang’s tomb ; 3. King Tu Duc’s tomb
4. King Khai Dinh’s tomb ; 5. King Gia Long’s tomb
5. Hue Citadel Complex ; 6. Notre Dame Cathedral | Tu Hieu pagoda
7. Dong Ba market – a paradise for snapshots of daily activities.

Hue Surroundings
1. Phuoc Tich ancient village: Located on the bank of leisurely O Lau River, about 30 kilometers from center of Hue city, Phuoc Tich village, built in 1470, is the symbol of architecture of the central region and famous for traditional pottery. Trip to Phuoc Tich village offers you a view of Centre Vietnam countryside, too.

2. Thanh Toan village: This is one of the most beautiful villages in Hue. The village, 8km east of Hue, is famous for its beautiful roads, peaceful rural landscape, particularly the tile-roofed bridge, communal houses, clan worshiping houses, traditional festivals, farming practices and local people’s daily activities. You also can join in the village market and taste some local culinary specialties like Hen rice, fish-pancakes, and a wide variety of rice noodles.

Free Choice Hue Street Food Lunch Break – Authentic experiences
1. “ Bun bo Hue”
2. “ Banh khoai “
3. “ Cơm Hến “
4. “ Nem lụi Hue “
All street food is followed by a cup of Vietnamese coffee/tea at street-side pub

Free Choice Dining 
1. Hue vegetarian food at local restaurant
2. Vietnamese set-menu at local restaurant
3. Dinner with Vietnamese traditional songs on the dragon boat.

Day 8: Hue - Hoian. Overnight: Hoian (B-D)

Today you leave Hue for Hoi An, another World Heritage site in the Central Vietnam. Hoi An is one of the oldest towns in south-east Asia and characterized by a rich blend of Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese and European architecture. Formerly known as Faifo, the ancient riverside town of Hoi An was a major trading port from the 16th to the 19th century. Journey to Hoi An is travelling over the Hai Van pass where you have a stop for a panoramic view over the Lang Co beach. On the way to Hoi An you may like to stop at one of the interesting places:
1. Museum of Cham Sculpture
2. Marble Mountains and Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village

Day 9: Hoian Free Choices Sightseeings - Street food - Dining. Overnight: Hoian

Your stay in the Hoi An Ancient town will be full of interesting. Please select two of the Free Choice Sightseeing – Hoi An & Surroundings to start your interesting day in Hoi An.

1. Walking in Hoi An Ancient town
Walking tour to explore the town with old houses, narrow streets and stop to visit the lantern makers, Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese Assembly Halls, Handicraft workshop.

2. Tra Que Vegetable village by bicycle
Where you can join with gardening activities as preparing the land and fertilizing with seaweed from the local lake, prepare food and join lunch with a local family. It is also good time to relax and learn more about the Vietnamese village.

3. Kim Bong Carpentry village by boat
Formed in the 15 th century by Vietnameses from the Northern Vietnam, Kim Bong carpentry developed vigorously and the occupational village was established with three groups: Ancient architectural construction, civil wooden furniture and shipbuilding. Many carpenters from this village worlked to build Hue Citadel

4. My Son Sanctuary
My Son Sanctuary dates from the 4th to the 13th centuries. It was a unique culture on the coast of contemporary Vietnam, owing its spiritual origins to the Hinduism of India. This is graphically illustrated by the remains of a series of impressive tower temples in a dramatic site that was the religious and political capital of the Champa Kingdom for most of its existence. The My Son Sanctuary is a remarkable architectural ensemble that developed over a period of ten centuries. It presents a vivid picture of spiritual and political life in an important phase of the history of South-East Asia.

5. Red Bridge Cooking Class (Joined group)
Begins with a with a drink at Hai Scout Café followed by a visit the Hoi An colorful market. It is time to get in touch with local sellers and purchase some of the ingredients for your own cooking lesson. Boat trip cruising along the Hoi An river to the cooking school. On arrival, you explore the cooking school’s herb and vegetable garden. Learn about some of Hoi An and Vietnam’s well-known dishes. The 2-hour cooking lesson includes a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving. Try some dishes yourselves. Lunch is served included what you have cooked.

Free Choice Street Food – Authentic experiences
1. “ Rice & Chicken” followed by a cup of Vietnamese coffee/tea/softdrink
2. “ Banh Xeo Hoi An “ followed by a cup of Vietnamese coffee/tea/softdrink
3. “ Cao Lau Hoi An” followed by a cup of Vietnamese coffee/tea/softdrink
4. “ Mi Quang ” followed by a cup of Vietnamese coffee/tea/softdrink

Free Choice Dining:
1. Hoi An cuisine set-menu at local restaurant.
2. Dinner on the beach at local restaurant.
3. BBQ fresh seafood on the beach at local restaurant.
4. Relaxing Dinner Cruise on the Hoai river and the Thu Bon river

Day 10: Fly to Hanoi. Overnight: Hanoi (B-D)

Again you take a one-hour flight to Hanoi. Widely acknowledged as one of the loveliest cities in Asia, this one-thousand-year old city offer you its unique images that totally different from other Asian cities. Hanoi still retains a small-town provincial charm and unique intermingle with a French legacy wide, tree-lined boulevards, parks, grand villas and an artistic, café society.

Your guide meet you at the airport for a transfer to your hotel located in the  downtown.  Enjoy a cyclo ( trishaw) riding around Hanoi Old Quarter with last stop at the famous Thang Long Water Puppet Theater for a Water Puppet Show – a unique art performance. Welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 11: Free Choices Sightseeings - Street food - Dining - Train to Sapa. Overnight: Train 

Different people, different interests and tastes. Hanoi Free Choice Sightseeing – Street Food – Dinning offers you the best things that Hanoi has to offer and satisfy you with a personalize discovery and authentic experience. Please select one of the Hanoi city options and one of the Hanoi Surroundings to enjoy the day in Hanoi before having a night train to Lao Cai for Sapa.

Widely acknowledged as one of the loveliest cities in Asia, this one-thousand-year old city offer you its unique images that totally different from other Asian cities. Hanoi still retains a small-town provincial charm and unique intermingle with a French legacy wide, tree-lined boulevards, parks, grand villas and an artistic, café society.

Different people, different interests and tastes. Hanoi Free Choice included Sightseeing – Street Food – Dinning offers you the best things that Hanoi has to offer and satisfy you with a personalize discovery and authentic experience. Please select one of the Hanoi city options and one of the Hanoi Surroundings to enjoy the day in Hanoi. Do not forget to add your favourit street food to the list and the dining option to taste and experience the Hanoi and North Vietnam cuisine.

Hanoi Free Choice Offers. All included. No extra cost
1. Free Choice Sightseeing
+ Option 1: Hanoi Full-day ( Maximum 7 places )
+ Option 2: Hanoi Half-day ( Maximum 4 places ) & One of Hanoi Surroundings

2. Free Choice Street Food Lunch Break – Authentic experiences
3. Free Choice Dining

Feel free to personalize and enrich your visit 
Hanoi Sightseeings:
1. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum ( open in the morning) ; 2. One Pillar Pagoda
3. Quan Thanh Temple ; 4. Temple of Literature
5. Bach Ma Temple ; 6. Hanoi Ancient House
7. Tran Quoc pagoda ; 8. Sword Lake and Ngoc Son Temple
9. Vietnam Military History Museum ; 10. Vietnam National Museum of History
11. Vietnam Museum of Ethnology ; 12. Vietnamese Women’s Museum

Hanoi Surroundings
1. Bat Trang pottery villages: About 13 kilometers south east of Hanoi center, Bat Trang village, established in 14th or 15th century, is famous for ceramic and pottery products of high quality such as vases, bowls, dishes, and many other kinds of ceramic products which have been exported worldwide.

2. Van Phuc silk village: About 8 km southwest of Ha Noi, Van Phuc silk village is well known for its traditional sericulture, weaving, and silk products for a long-lasting history of more than two thousand years. The village makes more than 2 million meters of silk per year and is an ideal place for silk products & souvenirs

3. Duong Lam Ancient village: Duong Lam ancient village, some 60km to the west of Hanoi, has a history of about 1,200 years with many houses dating back up to 400 years. One special thing about the village is that most of the buildings here are made of laterite and mud, two materials that are abundant in the area. The village also has its prestige as two of Vietnam’s kings, Phung Hung (761-802) and Ngo Quyen (896-944) were born in here.

4. Dong Ho painting village: Dong Ho painting village, 30 km to the East of Hanoi, or Vietnamese woodblock prints is a distinct Vietnamese folk art. Dong Ho paintings reflect people’s innermost feelings. Dong Ho paintings is made of of bark of a tree called “Dzo. Colors of the painting are refined from various kinds of tree leaves that people can easily find in Vietnam. Dong Ho paintings have about 300 years of history in the north of Vietnam. It is always considered a symbol of traditional culture and aesthetic value of Vietnam.

Free Choice Street Food Lunch Break – Authentic experiences
1. “ Pho Hanoi “
2. “ Banh Cuon “
3. “ Bun Cha Hanoi “
4. “ Bo kho ”
All street food is followed by a cup of Vietnamese coffee/tea at street-side pub.

Free Choice Dining :
1. “ Cha Ca Hanoi “ in Hanoi Old Quarter area at local restaurant.
2. Vegetarian set-menu at local restaurant
3. Vietnamese set-menu at French building restaurant
4. Vietnamese cuisine a-la-carte at Ngon restaurant
5. KOTO restaurant. Know One Teach One unique restaurant.

Day 12: Lao Cai - Sapa - Cat Cat Village. Overnight: Sapa (B-D)

Early arrive in Lao Cai, a Vietnam-China border city. Meet you local driver for transfer you to your hotel located in Sapa town. Enjoy the North Vietnam mountainous area with its winding road, terrace rice fields and minority ethnic villages.  Time for relaxation or explore the mountainous town on your own (early check-in is subject to availability). Afternoon you have a short walking tour to visit the Cat Cat village – home of the H’Mong ethnic people located in the beautiful valley and learn about their unique customs and practices. Stop at the Cat Cat waterfall for some photo shots before returning to hotel. Enjoy dinner at local restaurant.

Day 13: Ethnic Villages - Night train to Hanoi. Overnight: Train (B-L-D)

You start the day with a soft trek along buffalo paths to the Ta van and Lao Chai, villages of the H’Mong and the Day ethnic peoples, through stunning scenery inhabited by some of the friendliest people you can meet. More time to learn about other ethnic community in Sapa. Lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon your driver picks up you from the village and transfer you back to Sapa for a short break then to Lao Cai. Dinner at local restaurant then you catch a night train to Hanoi.

Day 14: Hanoi - Halong Bay. Overnight: Tradional Junk (B-L-D)

Early arrive Hanoi in the morning, your driver meets  you at the station and offer you a drive to watch local people do morning exercise at the lakes or join in the morning flowers market before having a breakfast and a cup of coffee.  Leave Hanoi for Halong Bay via the Red River Delta. Enjoy welcome drink onboard then start cruising through Bai Tu Long Bay while lunch is served. Stop to visit and explore Vung Vieng fishing village by bamboo boat or you can have a kayak around Vung Vieng area. Time to relax, sunbath or swimming at Ban Chan Beach. Back to the junk to enjoy the sunset cocktail while the boat is cruising to Cong Do area docking for overnight.  BBQ dinner followed by some activities of board games or squid fishing.

Day 15: Halong Bay - Hanoi. Overnight: Hanoi (Brunch)

Early bird with exercises with Tai chi on the sundeck then enjoy a light breakfast. Explore Thien Canh Son Cave. Watching fruits carving demonstration. Enjoy Ha Long Bay scenery while the junk boat cruising back to shore. Rejoin your car for journey back to Hanoi. Enjoy one of the below activities before back to hotel for relax and at leisure.

Free Choice Activities
1. Enjoy some glasses of “Bia hoi Hanoi ” at local pub.
2. Enjoy Vietnamese ca tru (ceremonial singing) traditional music

Day 16: Departure Hanoi (B)

Today is the last day of your trip. Enjoy your free time at your hotel or you can do your last minute souvenir shopping before transfer to airport for your flight home. Have a good journey and thanks for joining us.

WHAT INCLUDED:

Private airport pick-up & drop off
Private sightseeing tour with English speaking guide
Private boat trip as per tour program
Hotel accommodation – Shared in double room
Meals as stated in the program
Water and tissues on coach
All entrance fees
All in-tour flights
24/7 hotline support
Guarantee 100% money back if not satisfied
Complimentary Vietnam visa on arrival pre-approved letter.
Tour duration less than 15 days, visitors from the following countries do not need a visa to Vietnam: Kingdom of Great Britain, Republic of France, Federal Republic of Germany, Kingdom of Spain, Republic of Italy Japan, Korea, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden and Russia. 
Vietnam 30-day single-entry e-visa can be applied by citizens of: Ireland ; Germany ;  Denmark; United States of America; United Kingdom ; Sweden….(Total 40 countries)

WHAT EXCLUDED:

International flights & tax
Travel insurance
Beverages
Personal expenses, tips and gratuities
Peak season or Public holidays surcharge if any
Compulsory Gala dinner on Christmas or New Year if any
Visa fee
Other services not mentioned above

More information from Insight Asia Travel: