Day 1: Hanoi Arrival

Upon arrival at Hanoi airport, you will be greeted by your local English-speaking guide. Travel by private car to your hotel (check in after 14:00, early check-in is subject to availability). Relax and free time in the afternoon. Meals on your own. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2: Hanoi (B)

Begin the first full day with a visit to the highly acclaimed Vietnam Women’s Museum. The museum is located near Hoan Kiem Lake and offers wonderful insight into the significant role women play in Vietnamese society.

Continue with a visit to Vietnam’s first university, the Temple of Literature. Founded in 1076 Quoc Tu Giam was established within a temple to educate Vietnam's royalty, mandarins and members of the elite. The university functioned for an incredible 700 years and its gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a fascinating glimpse into Vietnam’s past.

Continue to the nearby mausoleum of the historic figure and father of modern Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh (viewed from outside), and visit the former president’s house on stilts where he lived from 1958 to 1969. Afterwards, pay a visit the small but iconic One Pillar Pagoda before heading back to the hotel. Meals on your own. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3: Hanoi – Sapa

Guide and private car will pick up you at your hotel and transfer to Sapa. It takes about 6 hours to go there.  In the afternoon, visit Cat Cat Village which located on the foot of Fansipan mountain, highest peak of Indochina region. Beautiful landscape, waterfall and cultural performance will appeal you about this peaceful village.

Meals on your own. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4: Sapa  - hiking Y Linh Ho - Lao Chai - Ta Van (B, L)

After your breakfast at hotel, we start your amazing trekking day to the most impressive areas of Sapa. Drive up to Y Linh Ho Village of the Black Hmong people from here you will hike along small paths down the valley to the Muong Hoa River to visit the Black H’mong village in Lao Chai, one of the biggest minority groups in Sapa area. They are proud of their culture and keep their own traditions and lifestyle. Continue to Ta Van village (1.2 km) to visit Zay hill tribe people, a fairly small minority group of about 38.000 people who live mainly in the mountains in Northwest Vietnam. Zay women still wear traditional shirts with a purple, blue or green color. The Zay houses are built of wood and bamboo with a clay floor. Return to Sapa and then free at your leisure. Dinner on your own. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5: Sapa – Hanoi (B)

Free at your leisure before transfer back to Hanoi on the new highway. Meals on your own. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 6: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B,L,D)

Leave Hanoi in the morning and head straight to Halong Bay, a stunning UNESCO World Heritage site with its 3,000 islands of towering limestone dotting the bay and Gulf of Tonkin. Upon arrival in Halong, you will board a beautiful boat for an overnight cruise in the bay with an excellent menu of fresh seafood.

Overnight on board.

Day 7: Halong Bay – Hanoi – Hue (B)

Wake up early in the morning to enjoy the aquamarine waters of the bay at its best. After tea/coffee and pastries have been served, the boat will continue to cruise quietly through the spectacular limestone formations of Halong Bay. Enjoy this more isolated part of the bay’s spectacular and unique islands. Overland to Hanoi Airport where you take onward flight to Hue.

Overnight in Hue.

Day 8: Hue – former royal capital city

Being recognized by UNESCO as the 1st Cultural World Heritage for Vietnam, Hue is highlighted by the old royal architectural works and the most traditional Vietnamese lifestyle. We will discover the charm of the city from the Royal Citadel, Forbidden City, Hue Royal Museum and Dong Ba bustling market.

In the afternoon pay a visit to the tomb of the former emperor Minh Mang which is located in a tranquil setting of gardens and ponds. Journey on to Khai Dinh’s Tomb, which is traditional Vietnamese in design with a European flare, making it entirely unique from the other tombs in Hue.

Day 9: Hue – Danang – Hoi An (B)

Enjoy 3,5 hour drive from Hue to the ancient port town of Hoi An with stop at spectacular Hai Van mountain pass and scenic fishing village, coastline and paddy fields for a close up touch. In spite of Hoi An’s passing of 200 years and the ravages of weather and war, the centre of the ancient city remains wholly untouched. Meals on your own. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 10: Hoi An (B)

After breakfast, you will depart the hotel for a discovery tour around Hoi An. Start with a boat ride to the mouth of Thu Bon river to enjoy the daily activities of the fishing people such as throwing a fishing net and trading their products. Your boat will then continue cruising for about half an hour to a fishing village where you will change to a smaller bamboo boat (a coracle) to discover a distinctive mangrove forest. This excursion will also give you a chance to admire skillful fishermen working in the forest. You will head back to the main land in mid-morning and will then take a stroll through the small streets of the town to explore some of the two-century-old Chinese houses. Sites include the Japanese Bridge, the Chinese Temple, and Tan Ky trading house.

Meals on your own. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 11: Hoi An – Danang – Ho Chi Minh City (B)

Free at your leisure till transfer to Danang Airport to take the midday flight to Saigon. From the airport you will travel to the city to start your exploration of this dynamic metropolis. You will visit the historic sites including: the Old Post Office, the Notre Dame cathedral, Dong Khoi Street and the Chinese District of Cho Lon with bustling Binh Tay Market and Thien Hau Pagoda. You will be back at your hotel later in the afternoon. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 12: Mekong Delta (B,L)

Pick up at hotel in HCMC.Depart for Ben Tre ( 86km from HCMC by car / van via Trung luong Freeway).

On arrival in Ben Tre. Boat on river to brickwork to see workers make bricks in handy traditional method.Visite one of coconut processing workshops located along canal where you can sample fresh coconut and see how every single part of this versatile nut is turned into food and other products; Go on natural scissors canals spreading out to rural village.The boat will then stop at a quiet village where you can have a short walk to experience real delta village life, visite a mat weaving house, where straw mats are woven using a hand loom – you can even have a go at weaving yourself, enjoying fruits and tea, and chatting with local people by the way.

Riding on motocart or bike on shady road, pass by green rice fields and vegetable plains.Stop at local restaurant. for delicious lunch featuring such local specialities as elephant-ear fish and river shrimp. Go back to pier by sampan and boat, transfer back to Saigon.

Overnight in Saigon

Day 13: Ho Chi Minh City – Departure (B)

Enjoy your free time until transfer to the airport for your onward flight. Ends of services.

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