Best of Vietnam 14 Days/13 Nights

On arrival at Noi Bai airport, you will be picked up by our guide. Private car transfer to the hotel in the city Free time- Evening, enjoy dinner at local restaurant then move to enjoy water puppet show at Thang Long water puppet theater.Overnight in Hanoi

Experience Halong Bay, on a V’Spirit Classic Cruise, one of the best mid-range cruises available. You will not only see many fantastically shaped islands, beautiful beaches, and great natural caves, but you will also learn more about its history and local people…

08h00 – 08h30 Pick-up at hotel and start the scenic, 3 and ½ hour drive to Halong Bay.
12h30 – 13h00 Embark on V’Spirit Classic Cruise followed by a short cruise briefing.
13h30 – 14h30 Savor a delectable lunch as V’Spirit Classic cruises among the limestone islands.
14h30 – 15h30 Explore the amazing Sung Sot Cave – the most beautiful cave in Halong Bay.
15h30 – 16h30 Kayak among the hidden areas of the bay, around the Drum Cave area.
16h30 – 17h30 Return to the main boat and continue cruising to the quiet area while enjoy beautiful seascape on the way.
17h30 – 19h00 Enjoy Sunset Party on sundeck and admire the best moments of the day when the sun starts to set.
19h00 Dinner is served. Socialize with other guests, take part in board games, fish for squid, or just laze around. Overnight on board.

06h30 – 07h30Start your day with Tai Chi exercises or a photo hunt.
07h30 – 08h30 Have breakfast on board and enjoy the peaceful morning of Halong Bay.
08h30 – 09h30 Cruising to Titov island. Go swimming and relaxing at the beach of Titov or climb up to the top of the
island for a panorama view of Halong Bay.
09h30 Return to the boat. Freshen up and check out of your cabin.
09h30 – 10h30 Continue your cruise exploring the Bay, passing Ba Hang fishing village, Dog Islet, and more.
10h30 – 11h30 While heading back to the harbor, watch the fruit carving demonstration and participate in the Cooking Class before enjoying a traditional Vietnamese lunch.
10h30 – 11h30 Disembark V’Spirit Classic.
12h30 – 13h00 Transfer back to Hanoi.
Trip finishes at around 17h00.

Free time at leisure in Hanoi until evening, our staff would come to your hotel lobby to pick you up and transfer to the train station for overnight train to Lao Cai. Soft sleeper in 4 berth sharing AC wooden cabin – Livitrans Express – SP1

Arrival Lao cai at 5.30am , Private car will transfer you go up hill to Sapa ( 1 hour), for breakfast. Relax.

Morning depart from Sapa town by car to Lao Chai village, following the road down the hill. Views of the Muong Hoa valley and magnificent surroundings of mountains and rice terrace fields can be seen from this road. Along the road, people from many ethnic groups (H’mong, Zay, and Red Dao) are likely to be met, and there are stalls along the way that serve tea, fruits and sweets.

Soon after turning off the main road and taking a local path, we will arrive in the Black H’mong village of Lao Chai, where you will experience the daily life of the villagers.After that, we walk from Lao Chai to Ta Van village, where the Zay hill tribes live. Here you take a rest and enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by your local guide in a local house.

After lunch you trek up and downhill. Specially you will trek through bamboo forest then relax beside the waterfall. Explore the Red Dao village of Giang Ta Chai where you will also have the chance to see their daily activities. In the afternoon the car will pick you up for the return journey to Sa Pa.

Overnight in the hotel in Sapa.

Transfer by driver in 40 minutes to Tram Ton pass at the height of 2047 meter above sea level (the highest pass in Vietnam) where great view are offered of the surrounding mountain and lust forest of the Hoang Lien national park.

From there you will trek 30 minutes through lust forest. Along the way, you have many chance to see wild flowers . Trekking along the stream you will arrive the Love waterfall. It is the best place for relax in Sapa then return to Tram Ton and drive back to Sapa for lunch and free to explore the town.

Shuttle bus pick up at hotel for transferring back Hanoi – Overnight in Hanoi
Depart 14.30 – Arrive 19.30_ 9 seat Limousine VIP bus ( join bus) Overnight in Hanoi.

08:15 Private tour guide and car pick up at hotel. After short drive, start visiting first place named Tran Quoc Pagoda, a Buddhist relic and national heritage lying on the West Lake.

09:00 Visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, the final resting place of Viet Nam’s greatest father, walking along Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house where he lived and worked from 1958 to 1969.

10:00 Visit One-Pillar Pagoda – the one modeled after a lotus flower, a symbol of Hanoi city.
11:00 Visit the colorful features of the 54 ethnic groups of Viet Nam in the Ethnology Museum.
13:00 Car takes you to a local restaurant in Hanoi Old Quarter, have a rest and enjoy the lunch.
14:00 Visit Temple of Literature, the most famous temple situated in Hanoi, also functioned as Vietnam’s first university. It was first constructed in 1070 under King Ly Nhan Tong and dedicated to Confucius, sages and scholars. A vast structure that has existed to present day.
15:30 Drive to legendary Hoan Kiem Lake, visit Ngoc Son Temple dedicated to Van Xuong saint and former general commander Tran Hung Dao for his struggle against Mongolians. You also see the beautiful Vietnamese and French architecture around the lake.
16:00 Arrive back to your hotel. Overnight in Hanoi

In the morning you will be transferred to Noi Bai International Airport to take your morning onward flight to Hue – the most romantic and poetic city in Vietnam, attributed to the atmospheric combination of the Perfume River and the ancient architectural grandeur of the Imperial Citadel which provides a reminder of a town once ruled by kings and queens. Famous for being one of Vietnam’s seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Imperial City of Hue has long been a must-see attraction for tourists visiting the hidden charm of Vietnam.

On arrival in Hue, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel.

After check-in at the hotel in Hue, the guide will take you to the Imperial Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City. Modelled on the Forbidden City in Beijing by the Nguyen emperors in the early 19th century, the city was badly damaged during the war but the imposing city walls surrounded by a large moat still afford good views of Hué. The palace retains a feeling of its past scale and importance, with detailed stonework and pavilions and it is at the moment in the process of being restored to its former magnificence. The last stop today is the Dong Ba market which is in Hue City centre. The Dong Ba market architecture is not really the main highlight but rather the atmosphere and the daily pace of the market itself. Special cultural gifts and souvenirs of Thua Thien Hue can be found in Dong Ba Market.

They include “non la bai tho” (conical hats having poems woven into their design) from Phu Cam Village, which is made of latanier leaves; me xung (candies), Truoi berries, Tuan tea, tom chua (Hue Sour Shrimp), lotus seed of Tinh Tam Lake, etc. Traditional food such as mussel rice, beef vermicelli, leaves cakes, etc. can be purchased in the market, too. Overnight in Hue

Take a morning cruise on the Perfume River, named after the tree resins and blossoms it carries on its way to the Pacific. Visit the Thien Mu Pagoda, sitting on the riverbank outside the city, this octagonal seven tier stupa has long been regarded as the symbol of Hué and was founded in 1601. It is still a site of Buddhist worship and its huge bell is said to be audible across the city.

The boat continues up the river taking you to Hon Chen Temple. This underrated temple is one of Hue’s most interesting. Followed by a devoted number of Cham descendents that worship the Goddess Ya NA, this temple houses some unique artefacts and colourful designs. Its location on the Perfume River by Jade Cup mountain make a visit here all the more pleasant. Move to the Minh Mang Tomb. The Tomb is 12km south of Hue City centre.

This location is where 2 tributaries join to form the picturesque Perfume River. Touted as the most majestic of all Nguyen Dynasty royal tombs, Minh Mang Tomb is a complex of 40 constructions: palaces, temples, pavilions, etc. Many believe that it’s a perfect combination of the manmade and natural beauty of Hue, where architecture fits harmoniously into the surrounding landscape.

Lunch will be taken on boat and in a local restaurant.

You continue on the trip to Tu Duc Tomb. Its is one of several Royal Tombs in the outskirts of the former Imperial Capital built between 1864 and 1867, it was designed as a tribute to the fourth Nguyen Emperor’s long and somewhat sad life.

No other Royal Tomb in Hue can compare to Tu Duc’s in terms of size and luxuriousness. The tomb’s architecture was designed to work in harmony with the carefully-manicured landscape.

After visiting Tu Duc Tomb, you will be transferred to Khai Dinh tomb.

Overnight in Hue

You will be driven south, along highway 1, to Hoi An, a journey of approximately 5 hours. Soon the highway meets the Hai Van Pass (meaning Pass of the Ocean Clouds). There are some spectacular vista points and photo opportunities en-route as the Truong Son mountain range cuts across the narrow centre of the country and the pretty island-like stretch of palm-shaded sand at Lang Co. The mountain range has created a barrier to the cold airstreams from the north which often results in thick cloud banks over the peaks.

The pass has been a strategic military focal point during Vietnam’s turbulent history and from the top there are panoramic views of the curve of Danang Bay. En route you will pass through the port city of Danang with the option of stopping to see the Marble mountain, famous ‘Danang Beach’ and Cham Museum before continuing south to Hoi An where you will check-in to your hotel.

Ancient and peaceful, Hoi An is one of the most popular destinations in Vietnam that caters to travellers of all tastes and from across the continents. In 1999, UNESCO formally recognized Hoi An as a World Heritage Site. The little town is a perfect example of the splendid quality that the Vietnam tourism industry can show to the world.

You can find a wide range of services for recreation and adventure, aside from sightseeing and shopping. With rustic paddy fields, bucolic villages, beautiful river, gorgeous beach and undamaged coral reef, Hoi An is the place for you to encounter new things.
Alternatively there are opportunities to visit the beach, cycle in some beautiful countryside, visit the ruins at My Son, discover the artists of Hoi An or see a tailor to get some clothes made. Lunch will be taken in local restaurants.Overnight in Hoian

Today journey takes you back towards Danang where you will take your morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam’s largest and most vibrant city and is packed with timeless traditions, an ancient culture, fantastic architecture, bustling markets and a modern business district.

Today’s included sightseeing tour takes in Dong Khoi Street, the main shopping thoroughfare, the Notre Dame Cathedral and the splendid Central Post Office. Afterwards visit the Reunification Palace, the Jade Emperor Pagoda, as well as the Chinese district of Cholon.

Lunch will be taken in local restaurants during tour. Overnight in Saigon

The Great Holy See Temple, built in 1926, is considered one of the most striking structures in all of South-East Asia. It is the headquarters of the unique Cao Dai sect, a religion with a hybrid of Buddhism, Christianity & Confucianism. Above the entrance is the all-seeing holy eye – symbol of the sect. Visitors will attend the midday ceremony’s extravaganza to witness the daily mass held by the Cao Dai followers which is a fantastic experience. After lunch, proceed to Cu Chi to explore the amazing site where Viet Cong hid during the War. It is now a popular spot for both Vietnamese & foreign tourists – the network of over 200km of tunnels became legendary when they played a vital role in the War.

In their heyday, the tunnels were functioning underground cities including numerous trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers & kitchens. There is plenty of evidence of the fierce battle that took place here during the 1960s when Cu Chi was a “Free Target Zone”. Visitors can watch a short introductory video showing how the tunnels were constructed before entering the tunnels. Spend the next hour exploring the tunnels. Afterwards, enjoy tea, cassava (guerrilla’s food in war time). Return to Ho Chi Minh city.Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city

Enjoy the scenic journey along the National Highway bordered by green rice fields.

On arrived at My Tho, visit Vinh Trang pagoda, take a leisurely boat ride along the river, view the stilt houses, fruit plantations and fishing villages along the river bank. Proceed to Tortoise islet, have lunch in the orchard garden.

Then a boat ride to An Khanh – a less touristy attraction in Ben Tre, enjoy cruising on a hand-rowed sampan under the shadow of the water coconut trees along natural canals, then enjoy seasonal fruit & honey tea to the sound of “Southern Vietnamese folk music”, performed by locals. Lunch is served at local restaurant on the island

Visit a family business which epitomizes the idyllic rural lifestyle, taste the delicious coconut candy & observe the pastoral life as you roam through the fruit plantation and village. Meet the bus and return to Saigon. This trip provides a fascinating insight into daily life in the Mekong Delta and you are guaranteed to take home your own private collection of beautiful memories. Transfer to Can Tho. Free to explore Can Tho market. Overnight in Can Tho

Morning, take a leisurely boat trip to explore the picturesque tributaries of the Lower Mekong river ( Bassac River), then proceed to visit Cai Rãng floating market (& Phong Dien is optional), which are the liveliest in the whole religion.
Have you ever tasted Vietnamese vermicelli soup? Well, now go and see how it is made. Then wander around the village and meet the friendly local people and experience how to cross a “Monkey bridge” which is built by only o¬ne stem of bamboo. Visit the orchard garden. Stop for lunch. Back toSaigon.

Then free to enjoy dinner on your own account. You may like to try some of variety delicious dishes in the “heaven of street food” such as banh my (Saigon bread), hu tieu (a southern rice noodle), banh xeo (beansprout pancakes)… Overnight in Saigon

Private car and driver pick up at hotel. Transfer to the airport for your flight back home. End of services