Upon arrival, a local guide with your private driver will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel.

Note: Normal check in time for hotels is 14:00

Overnight in Hanoi.

***Distances and journey time:

     Noi Bai Airport to your chosen hotel in Hanoi (35km): 60mins.

Depart hotel for a walking tour to explore the famous Old Quarter, then Vietnam’s first university - the Temple of Literature, and the Museum of Ethnology. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant with authentic Vietnamese cuisine.

In the evening, you will enjoy a traditional water puppet show, an art form which was invented a thousand years ago by the farmers of the Red River Delta area and then elevated to royal entertainment under the Ly and Tran dynasties.

Overnight in Hanoi

This morning, you will be transferred to Sapa by shuttle bus. (Approximately 6 hours)

Upon arrival in Sapa, check-in hotel. The rest of day is free at leisure.

Overnight in Sapa

***Optional: take overnight train to Sapa

Depart Sapa on an 8km (5mi) drive to the start of the O Quy Ho Mountain Pass along the Hoang Lien Son mountain range with several stops for photos of stunning Mount Fansipan and Sin Chai Valley. Turn and follow a narrow tarmac road, passing forests and waterfalls before arriving at the Ban Khoang Commune, home to the Black H’mong and Red Dzao ethnic groups. Walk to explore this remote village for an overview of local life. Then drive to the Ta Giang Phinh Valley, inhabited by the Black H’mong who live in several hamlets along a peaceful stream. Enjoy lunch on the banks of the stream, followed by a 2hr walk through wild and unspoiled scenery with imposing mountains and picturesque terraced fields. Observe the local villagers engaging in their daily activities including ploughing, harrowing, harvesting and handicrafts. Mid-afternoon, meet the car and return to Sapa.

NOTES:

Availability: Mornings only 

Total trekking distance: 13km / 8mi

Easy walking, suitable for all fitness levels 

This trip can be organized year-round except in January and February when the weather is often foggy

Overnight in Sapa

***Depend on each day, you can visit market tour in Sapa as below schedule: 

• Coc Ly market: Tuesday 
• Bac Ha, Muong Khuong: Sunday
• Lung Khau Nhin: Thursday
• Can Cau: Saturday

Depart Sapa on a 3hr drive along reasonably good roads to the Bac Ha Market, the largest and most colourful market in the area. Every Sunday morning, many different ethnic groups like the Flower H’mong, Phu La, Black Dzao, Tay and Nung minorities gather to buy and sell local products including homemade wares ranging from embroidery, tobacco and rice wine to farmyard animals such as chickens, pigs, horses and buffaloes. This is also a place for the locals to catch up and meet friends over rice wine at the end of the week. Visit the Tay ethnic village of Trung Do where you can meet and interact with the local people over a packed lunch. Continue on a local boat ride along the Chay River as it snakes between forested mountains. Transfer the Lao Cai Train Station for overnight train to Hanoi.

In Lao Cai, check-in a mini-hotel for taking bath. 

Notes:  

• Suggested departure time: 07:30
• Tour duration: 10 hours
• Tour is only available on Sundays. On weekday, the tour can be replaced by other markets. 
• Optional return to Lao Cai Train Station via a 2.5hr drive
• The boat cruise is not suggested during rainy season from June to September due to the run-off from the surrounding mountains which causes the water to be muddy and not clear.

Overnight on train

Early this morning, upon arrival in Hanoi, you will be greeted by your local guide and then transferred to a mini hotel for freshen-up &  breakfast before heading to Halong bay for overnight cruise. 

Arrive at noon and proceed with check-in formalities. After a welcome onboard, lunch will be served while cruising towards the bay. In the afternoon, enjoy some visits and/or activities (depending on each boat’s itinerary) or just spend some time relaxing on board. Towards the end of the day the boat sets anchor for the night among the karst formations. Dinner is served on board.

Overnight on Halong Bay.

Early in the morning and depending on the season, you will wake up to enjoy the sunrise over the aquamarine waters of the bay. Breakfast is served on board (brunch on some boats) while the cruise will tour around the bay until you disembark at the end of the morning.

Then transfer back to Hanoi for a flight to Hue. 

Upon arrival, your guide will transfer to hotel in Hue.

Overnight in Hue

Start the tour at the Imperial Citadel of Hue where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945 then continue to the Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue’s best-preserved religious monument. Have lunch at a local Vietnamese restaurant. 

In the afternoon, you will be driven to the countryside to visit the Tomb of Tu Duc. Afterwards, journey on to Khai Dinh’s Tomb, designed in traditional Vietnamese style with a European touch making it unique from the other tombs in Hue.

Before heading back to the hotel, take time to stroll around Dong Ba Market with the guide. The market is another of the must see sites in Hue, with stalls teeming with color and life.

Overnight in Hue

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Da Nang via the Pass of Ocean Clouds and drop down to the wonderfully photogenic fishing village of Lang Co. 

On arrival in Danang, visit the Cham Museum, containing the finest collection of Cham sculpture in the world. Continue to Hoi An, a major Asian trading port in the 17th and 18th centuries, whose architecture and relaxed lifestyle has changed little over the years.

Transfer to the hotel.

Overnight in Hoi An

Between the 15th and 19th centuries, Hoi An known then as ‘Faifo’, was a prosperous trading port, attracting Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, Portuguese and Spanish ships amongst others. Today, this World Heritage ancient town is recognised for its well-preserved architecture, pedestrian-only streets and distinctive local cuisine, allowing visitors a glimpse of its illustrious past. Hoi An’s narrow lanes are ideal for a guided walking tour of its many atmospheric sights including: the old merchant houses with influences from Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese architecture; the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, first built in the 1590s by the Japanese community to link them with the Chinese quarters across the stream; the Assembly Hall of the Chaozhou Chinese Congregation with its intricate woodcarvings; and the colourful market with stalls brimming with local specialties including silk, which can be turned into fashionable garments within a day or two.

The rest of day is free at leisure.

Overnight in Hoi An                                                                                                             

NOTES                               

Availability: Morning, Afternoon

Suggested departure time: 09:00, 14:00 

Tour duration: 03 hours

The Hoi An entrance ticket is valid for entry to 5 sightseeing spots in Hoi An including merchant houses, the Japanese Covered Bridge, museums, pagodas and assembly halls for 24 hours. It also provides entry into Hoi An Ancient Town for as long as you are in Hoi An. Please keep the entrance ticket with you at all times should you independently visit Hoi An later in the evening or on another day.

Free time at leisure, check-out hotel standard is at 12:00 then you will be transferred to airport for short flight to Ho Chi Minh.

Upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh, you will be greeted by your local guide and then transferred to hotel for check-in.

The rest of day is free at leisure.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh

From Ho chi minh, take a 2hr drive northwest to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, an immense network of connecting underground tunnels started in 1948 to protect the Viet Cong guerrillas from the French air and ground sweeps. The tunnels also served as living quarters, communication and supply routes, and housed hospitals, food and weapons caches. Touring the underground compounds will provide a better understanding of the history of the tunnels, the hardship of life in the tunnels and the Vietnamese resilience during combat. Return to Ho chi minh.

In the afternoon, depart for half day city tour. With over eight million inhabitants and four million motorbikes, Ho chi minh is truly a city that never sleeps. Despite its modernity, Ho chi minh maintains a strong link to the past and our city tour takes in some of Ho chi minh’s most historic landmarks including the Notre Dame Cathedral, a red brick edifice with twin spires constructed from materials imported from France (outside only). Then head across the square to the Central Post Office, completed in 1891. A short drive away is the former Presidential Palace, the headquarters of the Ho chi minh Government during the American War. Continue to the War Remnants Museum for a vivid perspective of the American War through the eyes of the Vietnamese. (Please note that some of the displays are very graphic.) Experience Ho chi minh’s famed street coffee culture while your guide provides a brief language lesson as well as insights into daily life of a Ho chi minhese before returning to your hotel.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh

Morning departure from Ho chi minh for a 2.5hr drive to Cai Be in the Mekong Delta. Settle on board with a refreshing welcome drink followed by lunch as the ship begins cruising past fascinating riverscapes of the Delta.

In the afternoon, take a guided walk through a village and the surrounding fruit orchards and rice fields to meet some of the friendly villagers and sample the local produce. Enjoy the sunset view over dinner as the ship cruises along the Mekong River.

Overnight on cruise

Enjoy breakfast on board as the boat manoeuvres past colourful barges on the water and by wooden shipbuilding yards and racks of drying fruit on land.  Check out and board a smaller boat to explore the famed Cai Rang floating market where dozens of boats laden with fruits, vegetables and fish from all over the Delta jostle for trade. Notice as goods are tossed from one end to the other in the cramped confines of the boats. There is activity in every direction making for amazing photo opportunities. Back on shore, a transfer awaits to transport you back to Ho chi minh.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh

Free time at leisure, check-out time standard is at 12:00 then you will be transferred to airport for onward flight.

Our services include:

• Accommodation in a shared twin or shared double room

• Meals as mentioned (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner)

• English or French speaking guide (for other languages and a national guide supplements apply)

• Tours and transfers as mentioned by private air conditioned vehicle

• Entrance fees for mentioned visits

• Boat trip as mentioned in the itinerary 

Our services do not include:

• Other meals than mentioned

• Other services than mentioned

• International and domestic Flights

• Laundry, telephone calls and expenditure of a personal nature

• Tips, Travel insurance

Notes: 

• We strongly recommend the purchase of travel insurance (covering emergency medical evacuation) for trips to Vietnam.