Travel the length of Vietnam, stopping in Ho Chi Minh City (in the south), Hanoi (in the north), and the beaches and small towns of the central coast in between. Begin in dynamic HCMC, the country's commercial center and home to a growing number of upscale restaurants and shops. Visit Chinatown, the Thien Hau Pagoda, the Reunification Palace, the Opera House and Hotel de Ville. If desired, also visit the moving War Remnants Museum. Explore colorful outdoor markets and Dong Khoi Street, the city's upscale shopping boulevard with boutiques selling clothes and accessories designed by new Vietnamese designers, hill tribe crafts, high quality linens and housewares. Take a day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels and watch an eccentric religious ceremony at the main temple of Cao Daism, an eclectic fusion of world religions, in Tay Ninh. Alternatively, spend the day cruising the narrow canals of the Mekong Delta and stay in the boutique hotel in Can tho, the heart of the Mekong Delta.
Next fly to Dalat for 2 night stay, with its green trees, rolling hills, misty lakes and fragrant pine forests, Dalat is Vietnam's most romantic destination. The former French hill station of Dalat is situated 300 km north of Ho Chi Minh City in the Central Highlands. Set at an elevation of 1,475 metres, surrounded by forests, coffee plantations and gardens, Dalat, is often called the "City of Eternal Spring". In Dalat we will visit Bao Dai Palace, the art royal decored villa and its surrounding gardens provide a nice view of Dalat and the hills beyond. We venture outside of town to visit Truc Lam Thien Vien and Pagoda, take the short train on the old Cremaillere railway your leisure time. enjoy a cup of coffee at a stylish cafe in town, dine in style at the colonial Sofitel Dalat Palace or pamper yourself with Six Senses Spa at Ana Manara Villas Dalat or tee up at the first golf course in Vietnam.
Next, drive on the scenic road down to the premier beach city Nha Trang to spend several days in a secluded island resort overlooking beautiful Nha Trang Bay. Snorkel or dive among the coral reefs in crystal blue waters, hike nature trails, cool off in your pool, indulge in spa treatments or just relax on the white sand beach and admire the unspoiled mountain and sea views. Fly to Danang and land transfer to the atmospheric Hoi An, a UNESCO-designated World Heritage site. It is a riverfront port town crammed with historic homes, tiny museums, cafes, and bustling silk and fish markets. Nearby, see ancient sculpture in the Cham Museum, and tour Buddhist cave temples in the Marble Mountains. Opt to stay at a luxury beach resort in nearby Danang, or a boutique riverside hotel in the heart of Hoi An.
Next, huge the dramatic landscape of central coastline by a private car or minivan to Hue, the former Imperial capital of Hue is a quiet city renowned for the magnificent architecture of its citadel, palaces, royal tombs, pagodas and temples, built under the Nguyen dynasty on the banks of the Perfume River. Wrap up in Hanoi, Vietnam's artistic and intellectual capital. Explore the fascinating Old Quarter and its hundreds of specialty shops selling silk clothing, lacquerware, embroidered linens, furniture, bamboo, cooking utensils, ceremonial objects and more. Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, ride a cyclo to dinner, and watch a performance at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater. Dine in
French colonial villas converted into gourmet restaurants. Enjoy people watching at stylish cafes. Shop for impressive modern art in the city's many galleries. Also visit Hanoi's main cultural attractions, including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his House on Stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Fine Arts Museum and the Temple of Literature. Next, board the Victoria Oriental Express Train bound for remote Sapa, a mountain village near the Chinese border. Visit local markets where hill tribe minorities (including Hmong, Red Dao, Tay, Xa Pho and Giay) trade their goods. View spectacular waterfalls and drive through mountain valleys. Explore the hill station town of Sapa, and visit several villages where the tribes live. During free time, enjoy your mountain chalet hotel, where you can enjoy fondue by the fire, swimming, tennis, and mountain walks. Also spend an overnight in Halong Bay, where thousands of limestone rock sculptures jut dramatically from the sea and numerous grottoes have created an ephemeral, fantastic landscape. You may loose the way back!
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival HCMC. Warmly welcome on arrival at HCMC's Tan Son Nhat International airport by our guide and transfer to your hotel. Check in. At leisure. Welcome dinner at a chic restaurant. Overnight in HCMC. Includes: (D).
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City Tour
Begin our urban experience in bustling HCMC (formerly Saigon), the country's commercial center and home to a growing number of upscale restaurants and shops. Visit Chinatown, the Thien Hau Pagoda, the Reunification Palace, the Opera House and Hotel de Ville. If desired, also visit the moving War Remnants Museum. Explore colorful outdoor markets and Dong Khoi Street, the city's main shopping boulevard with shops selling clothes and accessories by new Vietnamese designers, hill tribe crafts, high quality linens and housewares. The urban modern Ho Chi Minh City with its numerous shopping malls, cinemas, discotheques and a bewildering number of bars. Overnight in HCMC. Includes: (B), (L).
Day 3: Cu Chi Tunnels and Cao Dai Temples
This morning we drive to Cao Dai Temples in Tay Ninh to observe the midday service. Following lunch we will drive to the Cu Chi Tunnels and then return to HCMC at around 6 pm. Tay Ninh, near the Cambodian border, is home to the unique Cao Dai sect, whose patron saints include Joan of Arc, Victor Hugo and Winston Churchill to name a few. The religion is a hybrid of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and Christianity. The Cao Dai Temple at Tay Ninh has been described as a Walt Disney fantasia of the East. The temple's exterior is decorated with multi-colored dragons of all shapes and sizes competing for space with a number of religious symbols.
Above the main entrance is the all-seeing holy eye, the symbol of the Cao Dai sect. The interior is just as engaging as statues of Jesus Christ, Buddha and the Hindu god, Brahma, stand side by side. The trip to Tay Ninh is combined with a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels. At its height, the tunnel system stretched over 250km. from Saigon to the Cambodian border and was three levels deep. The network included innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens. Today the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience and a feel of what underground life during the U.S.-Vietnam War must have been like. Overnight in HCMC. Includes: (B), (L).
Day 4: HCM City – My Tho – Can Tho / Mekong Delta. Leave HCMC to lush My Tho where we cruise on a private boat through the green vegetation of the canals to an orchard, where we are treated to a delicious lunch. Includes: (B), (L).
Day 5: Mekong Delta - HCM City
You wake up to the sounds of the Mekong River welcoming a new day. Take boat trip to join in the Cai Rang floating market – one of the most bustling floating markets in Mekong Delta with hundreds of small boats barging and jostling for space to sell their goods and to experience the Mekong rural lifestyle. After sampling local fruits, our guide will escort the guests back to the hotel through myriad canals. Lunch at local restaurant before return to Ho Chi Minh City. Overnight in HCMC.
Alternative for people can wake up early: Join in Floating market by “The Lady Hau” cruise. Enjoy breakfast on the "Lady Hau" while cruising to the floating market. When the "Lady Hau" arrives at Cai Rang floating market, guests are transferred to a local traditional boat to enter the market. Then, continue cruising with the hotel's guide along narrow creeks to visit a noodle factory and an orchard. After sampling local fruits, our guide will escort the guests back to the hotel by local boat throughmyriad canals. (Starting at 6:30 AM, the Lady Hau cruise and tour extension takes around 4 hours; minimum 4 persons). Includes: (B), (L).
Day 6: HCMC – Dalat. This morning, we leave Ho Chi Minh City for Dalat - known as the City of Eternal Spring by plane. Upon arrive in Da Lat airport pick up and transfer to hotel. Late in the afternoon you will be able to take a short walk to get a feel for this delightful city. This evening we will head out to one of the fine restaurants in town. Overnight in Dalat. Includes: (B), (L).
Day 7: Dalat. Today we will take a tour of DaLat and the surrounding areas. We will visit Bao Dai Palace. From here we visit the rather bizarre and very aptly named Crazy House, a brightly painted concrete house which winds itself around trees, mimicking their shapes. It now functions as a guesthouse. Next visit is Truc Lam Thien Vien and Pagoda. This afternoon, for those interested, we can take the short train ride on the Cremaillere railway to the village of Tri Mat. In the evening, you will enjoy fine cuisine at a local restaurant. Overnight in Dalat. Includes: (B), (L).
Day 8: Dalat– Nha Trang
Our drive today will take us out of Da Lat and back down the Prenn Pass for a stop at the Chicken village, so-called because of its statue of a chicken, inhabited by the Koho minority people. From here we will head east and down the Ngoan Muc pass to the coastal lowlands. Our destination for today is Nha Trang, the country's premier resort town. This part of the country was once inhabited by an ancient civilization known as the Cham, and our next stop will be at the Po Klong Garai Cham tower. This amazing structure, which has endured the test of time, the elements and indeed war, was built in the 13th century. We will stop for a late lunch at Cam Ranh Bay and arrive in Nha Trang by late afternoon. Check in hotel and enjoy free time. You may also enjoy the night life that Nha Trang has to offer. Overnight in Nha Trang. Includes: (B), (L).
Day 9: Nha Trang. In the morning transfer to Cau Da port for a cruise on the Nha Trang Bay to visit Tri Nguyen Aquarium on Mieu Island to enjoy hundreds of nice and precious marine creatures then continue the trip to Mun Island - the best island for snorkeling with lots of lives colorful corals and fish. Taking a fresh lunch at the Con Se Tre island and relax. Back to hotel. Overnight in Nha Trang. Includes: (B), (L).
Day 10: Nha Trang. Today is a free day at leisure in Nha Trang for relaxing and unwinding at the resort overlooking beautiful Bay. Snorkel or dive among the coral reefs in crystal blue waters, hike nature trails, cool off in your private plunge pool, indulge in spa treatments or just relax on the white sand beach and admire the unspoiled mountain and sea views. Overnight in Nha Trang. Includes: (B).
Day 11: Nha Trang - Danang - Hoi An. Free until transfer to airport for flight to Danang. Pick up and transfer to Hoi An. At leisure. Overnight in Hoi An. Includes: (B).
Day 12: Hoi An. Free at leisure. Overnight in Hoi An. Includes: (B).
Day 13: Hoi An – Danang - Hue. Leave Hoi An for Hue. This afternoon we embark on a tour of Hue City including the Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City, the Imperial Museum and Dong Ba market. Tonight you enjoy the fine cuisine of Hue in the Tinh Gia Vien Restaurant. Overnight in Hue. Includes: (B), (L).
Day 14: Hue
Rising up in the ancient land, breakfast in hotel, we board on a private boat for cruising on the romantic Perfume River. This time we head out for the countryside. Being the ancient capital, Hue is surrounded with ancient tombs of emperors past, and a visit to some of these tombs will be on the itinerary for today. The charming Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda) will be the first stop of the day. Setting in the converge of rivers, and gives you a great view on the Perfume River and surrounding area. From here we will cruise further to the ornate Minh Mang's tomb. We will enjoy lunch at local restaurant before continue drive to visit Tu Duc tomb and Khai Dinh's stomb. Overnight in Hue. Includes: (B), (L).
Day 15: Hue - Hanoi
Transfer to airport for flight to Hanoi. The colonial capital city Hanoi is a unique Asian city with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and oriental pagodas and temples. In the afternoon visit Hanoi : Vietnam's artistic and intellectual capital. Explore the fascinating Old Quarter and its hundreds of specialty shops selling silk clothing, lacquerware, embroidered linens, furniture, bamboo, cooking utensils, ceremonial objects and more. Enjoy people watching at stylish cafes. Shop for impressive modern art in the city's many galleries. Also visit Hanoi 's main cultural attractions, including the Fine Arts Museum and the Temple of Literature. Overnight in Hanoi. Includes: (B), (L).
Day 16: Hanoi - Lao Cai. Full day of leisure and evening train to Lao Cai. Your Sapa adventure trip to Laocai begins with an overnight train from Vietnam 's capital city to the border town of Lao Cai. Overnight on train. Includes: (B).
Day 17: Lao Cai - Sapa
The train arrives at Lao Cai train station at approximately 6:00 am. There will be a vehicle waiting to transfer us to Sapa. The drive to Sapa is only 33 km but it takes around 1.5 hours. Once at Sapa, we will early check-in the hotel (room subject to availability). Freshen up and have breakfast at restaurant in the hotel and then enjoy a free morning to explore around town. At 10 am from the hotel there will be a walking tour to the hill tribe villages of Cat Cat, home to the H'mong hill tribes minority peoples. As we walk to the villages nestled in the valley below Sapa, we will meet some of the local minority people on their way to and from Sapa. Here we have the opportunity to share cultural experiences with the families that live in the area. Overnight in Sapa. Includes: (B), (L).
Day 18: Sapa – Lao Cai - Train back to Hanoi
Following breakfast, we explore the Sapa Sunday market and then set out on our 3-4 hour trek that will take us along buffalo paths and trails and through several hill tribe villages of Lao Chai and Ta Van, home to H'mong, and Dzay people. This is an absolutely spectacular walk through stunning scenery inhabited by some of the friendliest people you can meet. We will stop for a picnic lunch on the way to Ta Van village. We transfer back to Lao Cai for the Express train journey back to Hanoi . Overnight on train. Includes: (B), (L).
Day 19: Lao Cai - Hanoi - Halong Bay
Arrive in Hanoi around 5 a.m. Pick up from here, transfer to restaurant for breakfast and morning coffee. Leave Hanoi by private vehicle at 8:30 a.m. arriving at the jetty around 12:30 p.m. Our crew welcomes you on board the Deluxe Cruise. Enjoy a welcome drink, check-in to your cabin. A fresh seafood lunch will be served at 1 p.m. At that time, we will begin our 3.5 hours cruise through mystic Halong Bay to see the amazing karsts with different formations: Mat Qui (Monster's face) islet, But Moc islet, Cap De islet, Trong (Drum) cave, Trinh Nu cave, floating fishing village, with its unique way of life. Then head to Luon cave, enjoy swimming, sun bathing at Ti Top beach or climb the peak of the mountain for a breath-taking panorama view of Halong Bay. Enjoy another seafood feast for dinner and for the night owls, there is an option of night fishing. Overnight on cruise. Includes: (B), (L), (D).
Day 20: Halong Bay - Hanoi
Rising to the sound of lapping bay waters, we have time for an early morning dip followed by breakfast. Sitting on the upper deck, you can relax while taking in the breath-taking beauty of the rocky islands rising from the emeraude water of the bay. After breakfast, explore Sung Sot cave, swim and relax. Our boat cruises back to the jetty while brunch is served. We continue cruising through the bay, along the way seeing more of the fascinating formations. Cruise check-out. Our boat arrives at the harbor by noon for our drive back to Hanoi for overnight. Includes: (B).
Day 21: Departure Hanoi. There are no activities planned for today. You may enjoy your free time until transfer to the airport for your onward flight. Includes: (B).
Member discount:
10% discount for InfoHub customer. Request a free gift certificate.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- All private transfer and transportation
- Accommodation in twin share basis with daily breakfast
- French or English Speaking Guide
- Domestic flights
- Train ticket Hanoi/LaoCai/Hanoi
- Boat trip in Halong Bay
- Meals as stated in the itinerary
- Sightseeing tickets
- Vietnam visa approved letter
- Services charges and government taxes.
Price Excludes:
- International flights
- International departures taxes
- Personal expenses, tips and gratuities
- Travel insurance
- Meals and beverage.
Also see tour packages in:
Asia
Vietnam
Local Culture
Cultural Journey
Shopping Trips
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