A GLIMPSE OF VIETNAM (13 Days - RT P017)

ITINERARY IN DETAIL

DAY 1: HA NOI ARRIVAL

Arrive at Noi Bai International Airport, warmly welcome by our driver and transfer to hotel for check in. Overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 2: HA NOI CITY TOUR (B, L)

Our tour guide pick up from your hotel at 08:00, then visit president Ho Chi Minh museum where tourists will learn what he has done for Vietnam and some other countries and learn all kinds of information about president HCM. The next place to move to is One Pillar Pagoda - a group of structures consisting of a pagoda and a tower built in the middle of a square lake.
Leave one pillar pagoda for the temple of literature - Van Mieu - the first college of Vietnam and the place dedicating to Confucian.
At 12:30, enjoy local lunch, then visiting Ethnology Museum where you have great chance to know about culture, custom, languages, houses of 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam. The last place of city tour is Hoan Kiem lake with Ngoc Son temple.
After that, return the car to back your hotel (Approx 16.00). Overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 3: HANOI - THAI NGUYEN - CAO BANG (B, L, D)

7:30 – 8:00 Pick up from your hotel in Hanoi for driving on highway No3. You will also visit the Museum of the Cultures of Vietnam’s Ethnic Groups in Thai Nguyen City where you can browse the objects, photographs and exhibits that give a better understanding of the various ethnic groups and their agricultural tools, handicrafts and traditional costumes worn for worship. There will be a stop for lunch before your transfer extremely north to Cao Bang through scatterings of villages and rice paddies. You will get the chance to stop at a village known for its tobacco production (depend on growing season). This is the road less-travelled offering you the enjoy the views in peace. Tonight, you have dinner and stay overnight in the homestay of a Nung's family in Quang Uyen.

DAY 4: CAO BANG - BAN GIOC WATERFALL - BA BE LAKE (B, L, D)

After breakfast at the homestay, you will depart for Trung Khanh which lies on the border with China. Here you will have the chance to meet the Nung people in the village of Phuoc Sen, a mountainous village famous for its traditional blacksmith craft. The farming tools made here are an integral part of the lifestyle which is evident in the surrounding rice paddies and fields. Nestled in amongst these amazing landscapes is the breathtaking Ban Gioc Waterfall which spans over 300 meters, half in Vietnam and half in China. You will have time to soak up the powerful atmosphere of the falls and take some fantastic photos before heading to another natural wonder, Nguom Ngao Cave. This cave stretches out 2,144 meters underground and is brimming with incredible stalactites and stalagmites. You will then make your way to return Cao Bang town and going down on snake pass to Ba Be Lake, tonight you will stay overnight on traditional house of Tay ethnic family. At the homestay, you can relax and unwind from the day and enjoy a meal of home cooked local food.

DAY 5: BA BE LAKE - HANOI (B, L)

You can relax on board, do some wildlife spotting or if you need to cool off, you can jump into the cool, clean waters for a refreshing swim! As you float on Ba Be Lake, you can take in the scenery of the surrounding karsts decorated with patches of wild vegetation and inhabited by all sorts of interesting creatures. The boat ride along the Nang River, with time to explore the stunning Ba Be Lake, the caves of Puong Grotto where you can explore the stalactites and stalagmites which are a result of the erosion of the river on the karst as well as looking out for the bat colony several thousand strong. You will depart for the journey back Hanoi, a drive of approximately 150 miles (230 kilometers). We will stop at some hills tea plant before returning to your hotel in the bustling city of Hanoi.

DAY 6: HANOI – HA LONG - OVERNIGHT ON TRADITIONAL JUNK (B, L, D) ( JOIN TOUR )

We leave Hanoi for a 3.5 hour drive to Ha Long city with a short break en route. There you’ll board a wooden junk to take you to the World Heritage area and then to an island beach. Weather permitting, there’s time to swim, relax or climb a hill for a view over the Bay’s remarkable seascape. From there, continue your cruise to visit a fishing village and have a closer look at local life with a rowboat or kayak. A multi-course, luxurious Vietnamese dinner is served on board. You’ll spend the night in a comfortable cabin of Traditional Vietnamese Junk.

DAY 7: HALONG BAY - HANOI – DA NANG CITY (B)

You’ll wake up in the fresh air of the bay with a light breakfast pastry and tea or coffee, you’ll dock to visit one of the most famous caves in the Bay. You’ll return to the junk for a delicious brunch buffet while cruising back to the dock around noon whereupon you’ll return to Hanoi.
16:30 Arrive in Noi Bai Airport for your departure flight to Da Nang city in Central Viet Nam.
Upon arrival, you will be picked up at transferred to hotel for check in. Overnight in Da Nang.

DAY 8: DA NANG CITY FULL DAY – HOI AN ANCIENT CITY (B, L)

Today’s tour will begin at 08:30. The Da Nang city tour begins the local way- with a visit to Han Market. Explore row after row of dry goods for sale and mingle with the local shoppers. Then continue to Da Nang’s Military Zone Museum. See the extensive collection of historic military equipment and insightful displays about national revolutions and the Vietnam-American war.
Take a drive south to Marble Mountain, a group of limestone and marble hills filled with caves. Travel to the top and gaze upon the city, seeing new high rise buildings standing alongside traditional wooden houses. Then explore the mountain’s main cave to see a beautiful Buddha statue built in the Cham style.
After lunch at a local restaurant, continue exploring Da Nang with a visit to the Linh Ung Pagoda. This serene compound features stunning views over the sea and the Cham Islands. The pagoda is dominated by a 67-metre statue of Guanyin, the goddess of mercy. Then, you have a free time for sea bathing at Da Nang Beach before heading back to Hoi An. Overnight in Hoi An.

DAY 9: MY SON SANCTUARY & HOI AN WALKING TOUR (B, L)

8:00 Your guide and car will meet you at your hotel for your drive through the beautiful countryside villages and towns en route to the ancient relics of My Son Sanctuary.
9:00 We arrive to the haunting sound of Cham music and stop to take in the vibrantly dressed dancers enjoying a traditional dance performance.
9:30 Your walking tour begins with a short ascent up to the Cham ruins. Walking along a track bordered by jungle. As we reach the top, the magnificent Cat’s Tooth mountain, which borders the ruins comes in to view and we progress on to one of many Cham sites where your guide will explain the history of the religious site which served as a burial place for the Cham monarchs many centuries ago.
11:00 Visit the onsite museum of relics before returning to your car.
12:30 We stop for a local lunch in a local Vietnamese restaurant.
14:00 We then travel to the old town, where your guided walking tour of the UNESCO heritage town begins, visiting numerous places of interest including the 400-year old Japanese Covered Bridge, the Phuc Kien Assembly Halls, museum and a private family ancient house. Following the narrow lanes lined with houses influenced by Chinese, Japanese, French and European architecture.
16:00 After you board the Chic Boat for 2 hours, and as the sun begins to set, relax and feel the cool wind in your hair and watch the river life of local. Return to your hotel for a good night’s rest. Overnight in Hoi An.

DAY 10: CAM THANH WATER COCONUT VILLAGE HALF DAY – HUE (B, L)

8:00 You will be collected at your hotel lobby and transferred to Cam Thanh water coconut village. Learn about the daily life of Vietnamese fishermen, their families and their community. Take a trip along the winding river by Coracle boat. A local family and guide will take you on a journey through the untouched waterways, fringed by river coconut palms. Take the opportunity to see a local fisherman dredge the river bed in search of river snails.
9:30 Continue to Tra Que Vegetable Village. Enjoy the village tour to nurseries and herb gardens abundant with bird’s eye chilli, lemongrass, basil, coriander and spring onions. All thriving in the rich soil.
Jump right in and see how the plots are planted, tended and watered with the guidance of local family farmers. Relax and enjoy a traditional herbal foot massage in the garden.
12:00 Join in with a cookery class hosted by the local family. Each cooking lesson starts with a short introduction, explanations and demonstration of starters, accompaniments, main course and dessert, before you get to roll up your sleeves and try your hand at preparing your own Hoi An specality lunch including starter, main course and dessert. Sit back and enjoy your culinary creations at the family table overlooking the villagers tending their arable land.
14:00 After lunch, our waiting car and guide will transfer to Hue. Via stopping exploring Cham Museum, where displays approximately 300 sculptures the Cham People who lived in this area of Vietnam from the 4th to the 14th centuries, among which some are made from terracotta.
Continue driving over the Hai Van Pass. Stop to enjoy the charming beauty of Lang Co beach- one of the best thirty bays in the world. After that, continue to drive to Hue for check in and relax.
Overnight at hotel in Hue.

DAY 11: CITY HUE FULL DAY TOUR (B, L)

After breakfast, today we will explore this fabulous city. We will visit the charming Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda) located at the convergence of rivers, which makes it an ideal place for a great view of the Perfume River and surrounding area. From here you will go further to the ornate Minh Mang's tomb. Then the vehicle will transfer to Khai Dinh tomb, which is a blend of Western and Eastern architecture.
In the afternoon, we continue to visit Imperial Citadel, which is a walled fortress and was intended to be a copy of Chinese Emperors’ Forbidden City in Beijing, China. After access the Ngo Mon Gate, we will take in the Purple Forbidden City. The Forbidden City was reserved for the Nguyen royal family from the 18th century until the mid-1900s. Unfortunately, American bombing in 1968 in response to a communist takeover of Hue flattened most of the city.
Then you will be transferred to the airport for your next flight to Ho Chi Minh city.
Upon arrival, you will be picked up at transferred to hotel for check in. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

DAY 12: HO CHI MINH CITY FULL DAY TOUR (B, L)

8:30 We pick you up at your hotel to history architectural with Notre Dame Cathedral and Saigon Central Post Office, The Reunification Palace; China town with Chinese temple and Chinese market Have lunch at Vietnamese restaurant War Remnants Museum – the famous place with stories of the war, serious losses and sacrificed to get independence for mother land…Coffee shop afterward will be great place for you to know how strong of Vietnamese coffee and experience Vietnamese Cuisine culture in locally atmosphere (Optional). Keep touring to Ben Thanh market, a very well-known place in central of city before drive back to your hotel (Approx: 16.00)

DAY 13: MEKONG DELTA TOUR FULL DAY (B, L)

7:30 Pick up from your hotel, take you go through city to the North West direction of Sai Gon, you can get Cu Chi Tunnel, where is Vietnamese’s people proud of for undaunted ness in struggle during the war. Over 200 km of underground tunnels, the trip will take you back to understand how hard of the life during the wartime and you also have chance to shoot many kind of guns on the shooting range (extra charge).
After that we will leave tunnel for Mekong Section, on the way, we will stop for delicious lunch at beautiful local restaurant then keep journey to My Tho City, the Capital of Tien Giang (Front River) province then take the big boat to cross the river to Ben Tre Province .
Stop over to learn how to do handmade coconut candy. Horse-drawn carriage takes you on the village’s roads.
Getting to know daily activities of the local peoples along tributaries of river and enjoy some typical produces of the Mekong Delta like tropical candies, bee’s horny, fresh fruits (depend on the season) while the local music band serve you by traditional music.
Hand–rowing sampans take you along the small canal afterward head to Turtle Island for short trekking on the village’s road then stop to visit local family to see local people life / culture before coming back to the car. Drive back to in Ho Chi Minh city, end of tour at your hotel (Approx: 17:30).