Duration: | 20 Day(s) - 19 Night(s) |
Tour Category: | Classic & Cultural |
20D 19N GRAND VIETNAM TOUR
Hanoi – Halong Bay – Hue – Hoi An – Nha Trang - Saigon – Mekong Delta
Day 1: Hanoi Arrival (L)
Welcomed at Noi Bai International Airport by our guide and transferred to your hotel. Relax after a long journey before we present you with Vietnam's daily life with a city walk that commences at the fountain at the north end of Hoan Kiem Lake at the southern end of Hang Dao St. Travels through some of the streets of the Old Quarter, highlighting the concept of the ‘36 trade streets’ where each street is named after the original product or service of the individual trade guilds. We see examples of traditional, French, and Art Deco architecture.
After lunch, we also visited a communal house and pagoda, the famous Bach Ma Temple, and saw the house where Ho Chi Minh drafted the Declaration of Independence. Around the Hoan Kiem Lake, visit Ngoc Son temple and Old Quarter streets. Stop at Thang Long Theatre for one hour of Water Puppets shows. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 2: Hanoi full-day visits – Night train to Lao Cai (B, L)
Today we would like to show you the major cultural sites around Hanoi. The first visit to Ba Dinh Square to visit Uncle Ho’s Mausoleum (Mondays & Fridays are closed), His Residence area, and one Pillar – pagoda nearby, then we go to Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam (the Temple of Literature & the first university in Vietnam). In the afternoon, we will visit the largest and most interesting Museum of Vietnam Ethnology, then go back to the Old Quarter for shopping, and free time until the local train to Lao Cai – Sapa. Overnight on the train.
Day 3: Lao Cai – Sa Pa – Lao Chai – Ta Van (B, L)
Upon arrival at Lao Cai, our local guide and car will pick you up and transfer you to Sapa. Enjoy breakfast at a restaurant and relax before continuing the drive to the Lao Chai Village of Black Hmong people. Take a light trek through Muong Hoa Valley with beautiful scenery to Ta Van Village of Dzay ethnic people. Continue to visit the Ma Tra village. Then return to Sapa overnight.
Day 4: Sapa – Sa Seng – Hau Thao – Giang Ta Chai – Night Train to Hanoi (B, L)
Breakfast at the hotel and the car will drive you to Sa Seng Village. Here you will have a panoramic view of the whole Sapa town, with a beautiful green landscape. We see the Muong Hoa Valley, inhabited villages of ethnic black H’Mong. Continue to Chua Sau village. Upon arriving, we started to trek for about 03 hours to tribes Hau Thao and Giang Ta Chai.
On the road, the landscape opened our eyes to more and more fantastic and beautiful: the stairs of rice fields and the houses of local people. Picnic lunch and return to Sapa before transfer to Lao Cai for a train to Hanoi. Overnight in the shared cabin of 04 berths soft on train
Day 5: Hanoi - Halong Bay – The World Heritage (B, L, D)
Early arrive in Hanoi and check-in sub-hotel for fresh up and breakfast. 08:30 am Picked up and transferred directly to Ha Long Bay, a World Heritage Area of outstanding natural beauty.
Arrive in Halong Bay after 3.5 hours, transfer to a junk for a cruise around Halong Bay with a delicious local seafood lunch served on board. The cruise passes by many rocks and islets in many funny shapes. The cruise may stop for a while to visit a beautiful case, if not today, you will do it tomorrow according to each boat/junk’s itinerary. Again your dinner is served on board. In the evening, enjoy the night fishing (optional) and later overnight on board.
Day 6: Halong Bay – Hanoi (Brunch)
In the morning, your breakfast or brunch will be served while doing a further cruise to explore the beauties of the Bay before returning to the Wharf. Enjoy brunch on board before disembarking. Return to Hanoi by private car. Free time for optional visits and dinner is on your own arrangement. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 7: Hanoi - Dong Hoi – Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park (B, L )
Take an early morning (wake up around 04:30 am) flight to Dong Hoi town. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel for breakfast (early check-in is not guaranteed). After breakfast, we start the excursion to Phong Nha Grotto – Ke Bang National Park. Get on a boat and cruise on the world's longest underground river to Phong Nha Cave.
The deeper one penetrates, the more magical the natural aspects of the caves. After on a boat for 700m, a large dry passage appears, then you can walk to discover the cave for 500m more. You will have a chance to explore the remains of Cham Altars and Inscriptions inside. Overnight in Dong Hoi Town.
Day 8: Dong Hoi - DMZ - Hue (B)
Leave Dong Hoi early for Hue. Drive along back to Hue with a stopover at the historic Hien Luong Bridge, Ben Hai River, and the famous Vinh Moc Tunnel. Arrive at your hotel in Hue City at noon. Free time in the afternoon. Overnight in Hue.
Day 9: Hue – Cooking Class Vuon Y Thao Garden House (B, L)
This morning, we joined a half-day cooking class at Vuon Y Thao Garden House. First, we followed the restaurant owner to Dong Ba Central Market, where she gave instructions on how to choose ingredients for our cooking lesson. Then we had her demonstration of 3 Vietnamese dishes. Lunch is the food we have prepared. In the afternoon, we start the tour with a visit to the Imperial Citadel and King Tu Duc Tomb, King Minh Mang Tomb, and Thien Mu Pagoda. Overnight in Hue.
Day 10: Hue - Hoi An (B)
Today we will head to Hoi An through Hai Van Pass, and Lang Co Beach – one of the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam. Visit Cham Museum on the way, Cham Museum is an open-air collection of Cham sculpture. Many of the sandstone carvings are breathtaking. After check-in at the hotel, you will be free for the remainder of the day. Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 11: Hoi An – My Son Sanctuary by Car and Back by Boat (B, L)
We travel about 50km from Hoi An to My Son's sanctuary. It comprises many Champa temples, in a valley roughly two kilometers wide, surrounded by two mountain ranges. It was the site of the religious ceremony of kings of the Champa dynasty and was also a burial place for Champa royals and national heroes.
The My Son temple complex is one of the foremost temple complexes of Hinduism in Southeast Asia and is the foremost heritage site of this nature in Vietnam. Though the complex has been destroyed over time, we still see many majestic ancient ruins of temples in the area.
Leaving this site we go back by car for about 30 km then will go on a Boat trip along the Thu Bon river. Have a lunch box; disembark sometimes to visit the handicraft pottery village located along the riverside. Get back to the Hoian old town by boat. We continue to walk to visit the ancient town of Hoian. The visit will include a Japanese-covered bridge, some Chinese Assembly Halls, and some typical Vietnamese houses of the 18th century. Free time for shopping later on. Overnight stay in Hoian.
Day 12: Hoi An - Danang – Nha Trang (B)
Transfer to Danang Airport to fly to Nha Trang. Relax on the beach. Overnight stay in Nha Trang.
Day 13: Nha Trang – Full-Day Excursion (B, L)
In the morning, we take a boat trip to Tri Nguyen Aquarium on Mieu Island and continue cruising to Mun Island, the best site for snorkeling where you will see lots of live colorful corals and fish. This site has been officially protected with the support of the Danish Government. Have lunch at Se Tre Island before returning to the city. In the afternoon we visit the Long Son Pagoda and Cham Po Nagar temples. Just next to Cham Po Nagar temples is the Thap Ba Hot Spring Center. Enjoy fun with Mud bathing and Mineral springs swimming. Overnight in Nha Trang.
Day 14: Nha Trang – Dalat (B)
In the morning, we drive from the coastal city to the highland by road. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel for fresh up. Half-day city tour commences with a short drive to Robin Hill – a former artillery base (1650m-5300F), full view of the city of Dalat.
Then take a cable car (2.3 km) to Tuyen Lam Lake – the nicest lake in Dalat and Truc Lam Zen Monastery – the biggest Zen Monastery in Vietnam. Next up enjoy a short elephant ride near the Tuyen Lam Lake area, and back to your hotel overnight. Overnight in Dalat.
Day 15: Dalat – Conquering Liang Biang Mount (B, L)
Pick up from the hotel. Transfer to Lang Biang Mountain, the highest peak from Dalat to the South of Vietnam. Trek from the base 1.450m (4.850f) to the summit 2.169m (7.000f). Pass vegetable farms, woods, and rainforests. Enjoy the commanding view of the highlands. Visit Lat village – the indigenous people of Dalat with their rich culture, longhouses, weavings… Back to Dalat city overnight. Overnight in Dalat.
Day 16: Dalat – Saigon (B)
Breakfast at the hotel and relax until your flight to Saigon. Welcomed at International Tan Son Nhat Airport by our tour guide then transferred to your hotel in the city center. Overnight in Saigon.
Day 17: Cu Chi Tunnels (B)
Take a guided tour of the Cu Chi tunnels with a veteran guide to gain deep insight and personal accounts of the wartime era. On arrival, he will meet the group and take them on a guided tour of the tunnels. If desired (and not for the faint-hearted and on their own account) a round of bullets can be fired from an AK47 gun at a target range in the tunnels. The afternoon visit will offer a quick view of the busiest city including the War Museum, and Reunification Palace. Overnight in Saigon.
Day 18: Mekong Delta (B, L)
After arrival in Cai Be, a boat will take you to the floating market. Have lunch at an Ancient garden house, then we proceed to Vinh Long through small and beautiful canals, tranquil villages, and the marvelous natural setting of the Mekong Delta region. Stop at An Binh Islet, famous for fruit orchards. Enjoy the local tropical fruits and see the orchards, ceramics, popcorn, and rice paper shops... A nice chance for bicycle riding through the village and the local handicraft shops. Another stop at Vinh Long Market, and then we continue driving to Can Tho. Overnight in Can Tho.
Day 19: Can Tho – Saigon (B, L)
Cruising along the small picturesque tributaries by rowing boat, we will see the Cai Rang floating market. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and the daily activities along the Mekong canals, and visit a rice husking mill. Disembark at Ninh Kieu Quay and visit an ancient house in Binh Thuy (10 km from Can Tho city) and the Cantho Museum. Drive back to Saigon via My Tho. Overnight in Saigon.
Day 20: Saigon Departure (B)
Free time for last-minute shopping before transferring to Tan Son Nhat Airport for departure. Airport transfer without a guide.