Day 1: Hanoi – Arrival (D)
You are welcome at Noi Bai airport and then transfer to the hotel for check-in. Welcome dinner with a show of water puppet.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 2: Hanoi City excursion (B,L)
The colonial capital city Hanoi is a unique Asian city with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and oriental pagodas and temples. This full day tour takes you around Hanoi's most interesting sights, including the Ho Chi Minh Complex: Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and his Stilts House, Presidential Palace and One Pillar Pagoda nearby, the Lake of the Restored Sword and Ngoc Son Temple, the Temple of Literature, peaceful West Lake with lovers’ street Thanh Nien, the sedate Tran Quoc Pagoda. Take 01 hour cyclo tour around the Old Quarter to enjoy the sounds and soul of Hanoi.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 3: Hanoi – Ha Long (B,L,D)
9h00 Drive to Ha Long Bay with 2,5 hours travelling for the overnight on a deluxe cruiser. 12:00: Upon arrival at the harbor, the staffs of Sealife Cruise welcomes the guests at the waiting room. Embark on the cruise, and check in cabin. Enjoy welcome drink, followed by a feast on a delicious lunch while the junk slowly sailing among beautiful of islets.
Afternoon activities: Explore the area of Hon Co Island and Thien Canh Son Cave (also know as Co Cave - Grass Cave). After exploring the cave, tourists can relax on the long white sandy beach of the island, enjoy swimming and revel in the breathtaking view of Bai Tu Long Bay. Go back to Sealife Cruise, the junk will sail to Cong Dosleeping area. Relax then enjoy the dinner on board.
Enjoy Happy Hour with special menu from 16:30 to 19:00. You will get discount with all of the drinks: cocktail, mock tail and mixed drinks. On board, attend chef’s cooking demonstration and try making spring rolls. Then Gala Elegant set dinner is served on board. Evening activities: relax at leisure; watch movie, board games or massage & spa services, squid fishing
Day 4: Ha Long Bay – Ha Noi (B,L)
Wake up early to join tai-chi class on the sundeck at the break of dawn on Bai Tu Long Bay.
Breakfast is served with cookies and tea, café at dinning room of the junk.
Next, tender transfer guests to Vung Vieng Village - see the pearl farms and fisheries. Back to the cruise, arrange the luggage and check out. Then enjoy an early lunch (brunch) while cruising back to main land.
Arrive at the harbor, disembark and transfer back to your hotels in Hanoi
Day 5: Hanoi – Mai Chau (B,L,D)
Morning departure for the spectacular Mai Chau Valley, 135km to the south of Hanoi. Once out of Hanoi the drive is an interesting one, especially as you start to descending into the valleys that surround Mai Chau - keep your camera at the ready!
During your time in and around Mai Chau there will be plenty of opportunities to enjoy some light trekking or cycling, visit several minority tribe villages, explore caves, visit local schools or simply relax in one of the most picturesque regions in Vietnam. The program is very flexible and your guide will be happy to discuss alternative activities if required.
In the evening, enjoy some traditional dances performed by the local Thái tribe people.
Stay overnight at homestay of a Thai family.
Day 6: Mai Chau – Ninh Binh (B,L)
Once again your program remains flexible although you will be departing for Ninh Binh in the early afternoon and therefore staying within in the vicinity of Mai Chau is advised. A bike ride through the surrounding rice paddies and up the valley sides that surround the lodge will appeal. The climb is steep in places but you can return to the flat whenever you choose.
Early afternoon departure east for Ninh Binh, Vietnam’s first capital then named Hoa Lu. The drive takes around four hours, however the time passes quickly especially as you start to drive amongst the looming lime-stone karsts that give the region of Ninh Binh the title of 'Halong on Land'.
Overnight in Ninh Binh.
Day 7: Ninh Binh Biking (B,L)
Make a morning visit to the nearby temples dedicated to King Dinh and King Le, the two remaining sanctuaries of the ancient citadel. Then you will start riding through the limestone peaks to Tam Coc, passing the rice paddies of Red River Delta. You will have lunch in Tam Coc, near the sampan pier, followed by a 3-hour sampan trip along the Boi river to visit the Tam Coc caves. After the sampan ride, you will continue biking to the Bich Dong Pagoda.
Overnight in Ninh Binh.
Day 8: Ninh Binh - Dong Hoi (B,L)
You’ll bid farewell to Ninh Binh and head to Quang Binh – a province on the North Central Coast of Vietnam. On the way, you will stop to visit the Citadel of the Ho Dynasty, named a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO in June 2011. The citadel was the capital of Vietnam from 1397 to 1407 and one of Vietnam’s most impressive architectural works, using around 20,000 cubic meters of rock and nearly 100,000 cubic meters of soil.
Overnight in Dong Hoi City.
Day 9: Phong Nha – Ke Bang - Hue (B,L)
In the morning you will head for the boat station to set out on a trip on the Son river to visit the 400 hundred meter high Tien Son Cave. Then you’ll re-board and set out to explore the 600 meter underground river, which is the longest underground river in the world.
We then head to Hue City to spend the night.
Overnight in Hue.
Day 10: Hue City excursion (B,L)
We star Hue City tour to the ancient walled Citadel containing the former Imperial Palace. The Citadel was closely modeled along the lines of the Forbidden City in Beijing. Later take a cruise on the Perfume River to see Thien Mu pagoda After lunch, we will set out on a tour of the Emperor's residence is a trip into the surrounding countryside to see the final resting place of the Emperors by visiting two of the most impressive Royal Tombs.
Day 11: Hue – Danang – Hoi An (B)
Today drive to Hoi An via Danang with 3 hours driving. The scenic route climbs over the Pass of Ocean Clouds before dropping down to the wonderfully photogenic fishing village of Lang Co.
Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 12: Hoi An – My Son Excursion (B,L)
In the morning, drive to My Son, a World Heritage, 40 kms southwest of Hoi An. My Son was a capital and religious center of Cham people, now remaining with red brick towers and sanctuaries. My Son, considered being in the same league as some of Southeast Asia's greatest archaeological sites, including Angkor in Cambodia, Bagan in Myanmar, Ayutthaya in Thailand and Borobudur in Indonesia. These towers and sanctuaries were built from the 7 to 13 centuries.
Back to Hoi An for lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, visit the tranquility and charm of Hoi An Town with its low tiled houses of Chinese appearance, Japanese covered bridge, brightly painted temples and pagodas make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Vietnam.
Ovenight in Hoi An.
Day 13: Hoi An – Quy Nhon (B)
In the morning, depart for Quy Nhon for the distance of 300kms with 7 hours driving.
Overnight in Quy Nhon, a destination of spectacular unspoiled beach.
Day 14: Quy Nhon (B)
Today is free at your own leisure.
Day 15: Quy Nhon – Pleiku (B,L)
Continue the trip to Pleiku with a short stop en route to visit coffee plantations. Upon arrival, visit Dektu and Dekcop villages of the Bana minority. Enjoy Bahnar gong music and Can wine.
Overnight at hotel in Pleiku
Day 16: Pleiku – Buon Me Thuot (B,L)
In the morning, depart to Buon Ma Thuot along the Ho Chi Minh Trail which forms the border with Cambodia. On the way, you will stop to visit the Drei Sap Waterfalls and the Ede Village of Akodhong near Buon Ma Thuot.
Overnight in Buon Ma Thuot.
Day 17: Buon Me Thuot (B,L)
After breakfast, depart along the scenic Highway 27 to Lak Lake and stop at Jun Village. Enjoy an elephant ride and cross Lak Lake to Mlieng village, home to the Mnong and Ede Minorities. Spend some time walking through the village and see their traditional long houses and then return to the other side of the bank by a dugout canoe.
Overnight by the Lak Lake.
Day 18: Buon Me Thuot – Dalat (B,L)
Morning departure to Dalat, known as the city of love at the altitude of 1,500m above sea-level. Visit to impressive Dambri waterfall on the way.
The journey takes 5 hours to drive on the distance of 250km.
Overnight in Dalat
Day 19: Dalat (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel. Full day tour to the most wanted places of Dalat including Dalat railway station, Linh Phuoc Pagoda, Lat Village, Robin Hill, Truc Lam Zen Monastery and Bao Dai Summer Palace.
Overnight in Dalat
Day 20: Da Lat Free
Today is free at your own leisure.
Day 21: Dalat - Ho Chi Minh City (B, D)
Morning: time at leisure
12h00: Check out then you will be transferred to the airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City, meet our tour guide on arrival, you will be transfer to the hotel, free time
Day 21: Ho Chi Minh highlights and Cu Chi Tunnels (B, L)
Departure for the Cu Chi Tunnels, an impressive network of tunnels with a length of over 250 km. This strategic place was used by 15,000 Viet Cong fighters during the war. After Cu Chi visit, return to Saigon for lunch, then continue the day with a visit to the highlights of Saigon including The Central Post Office, The Notre Dame Cathedral, The Reunification Palace, The War Crimes Museum. Spend some time for Ben Thanh Market. dinner on the cruiser in Saigon River, back to your hotel.
Day 22: Mekong Delta excursion (B, L)
Boat trip to floating markets; cycle ride; boat trip to island homestay guesthouse
We have an early start for a boat trip along the Bassac River towards Cai Rang, the largest and liveliest floating market in the Delta. Float through a maze of boats filled with fruits, vegetables and plants, and watch the techniques the sellers use to make a living. One includes attaching their produce to long poles and hanging them above the boat, enabling them to showcase their items from all angles and distances. Since you'll be witnessing authentic trade in full swing, there will be countless opportunities to capture traditional scenes on camera.
Afterwards, we cycle to Vinh Long through rural villages and scenic landscapes (approximately 20mi/32km). Reaching the end of the day, we transfer by motorboat to an island in the middle of the Mekong River to overnight at a simple homestay guesthouse built in the style of a local house. Bedding, a mosquito net and a small towel are provided.
Day 23: Cruise to Cai Be; to Ho Chi Minh City for afternoon city tour
Cruise by boat along the Cai Be floating market and visit cottage industries manufacturing local products such as popped rice, sweets, pancakes and wine. Recently, the market is becoming less crowded and smaller as fruit trading is mostly now done by trucks. However, this is still a great opportunity to see a local market and traditional trade on a smaller scale. We return to Ho Chi Minh City, which was devastated by the Vietnam War but is now a bustling free-market city. A combination of old and new diversifies the city with temples standing among zooming scooters and modern developments.
The Reunification Palace is one stop on our tour, known for its 1960s architecture and slightly garish appeal as much as its association with the fall of Saigon (now HCMC) in 1975. Another stop is the War Remnants Museum, housing a collection outlining the horrors of modern history and warfare and impact on innocent civilians. Be aware, these records are often very graphic and distressing. Heading to the romantic Catholic Notre Dame Cathedral throws yet another light on the city.
Day 24: Ho Chi Minh (B)
There is no activity planned for today, but there will plenty to do if you so choose. Perhaps you’ll want to hop on a cyclo for an adventure through the city’s winding street as you pass popular sights like Tao Dan Park on your way to a tour of Notre Dame Cathedral. Or, you can simply sample a variety of food and drink at the cities seemingly endless array of restaurants and cafes. You’ll have an overnight stay and have a chance to relax and reflect upon everything you have seen.
Day 25: Ho Chi Minh (B) Free
Today is free at your own leisure.
Day 26: Ho Chi Minh - Departure (B)
Time is at your own leisure until get transferred to the airport for your flight departure. End of our services.
