VIETNAM THOROUGLY – Authentic & Rich
(21 DAYS 20 NIGHTS)
Hanoi – Halong – Sapa – Vinh – Dong Hoi – Phong Nha – DMZ – Hue – Danang – Hoi An – Quy Nhon – Nha Trang – Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta
Description
This incredible 21-day journey on the backbone roads of Vietnam will entitle you to say “I know Vietnam well”. In fact, the winding road along Vietnam's coastline connecting the country's important cities offers stunning landscapes beyond imagination. Furthermore, the journey will give you a chance to have a full picture of Vietnam’s charming inhabitants and their traditional culture from north to south. It is an exclusive journey that will be remembered for a lifetime.
Highlights
- Meet the local people and taste delicious Vietnamese food every day
- Discover Hanoi’s landmark monuments
- Take a cyclo ride though the classic streets of Hanoi’s Old Quarter
- Explore limestone islands and emerald green waters of Halong Bay, a World Heritage site
- Gaze at Sapa’s beautiful mountainous landscapes and meet wonderful ethnic minorities
- Trek through the hills surrounding Sapa Valley
- Row with a traditional sampan through rice paddies to one of the world's longest caves
- Discover the demilitarized field zone of Quang Tri
- Wander in the charming streets of Hoi An
- Tour the former imperial capital of Hue, home of the imperial dynasties
- Explore the remains of the mighty Cham kingdom which centuries ago stretched across modern-day Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam
- Snorkel the pristine waters of the South China Sea
- Explore vibrant Ho Chi Minh City, the dynamic heart of Vietnam
- Cruise to evergreen islands in the Mekong River through large networks of meandering rivers.
Program
DAY 1: WELCOME TO HANOI
Pick up and transfer to your hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital city. Overnight in Hanoi.
DAY 2: HANOI – HALONG
A morning sightseeing tour features both cultural and historical highlights, comprising Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum and his house on stilts; the One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, the Ethnology Museum, the Quan Thanh Temple, the Tran Quoc Pagoda, the old quarters and a downtown pedicab ride (1 hour). In the afternoon, transfer to Halong (170km), a World Heritage site recognized by UNESCO in 1994. Overnight in Halong.
DAY 3: HALONG – HANOI
Board a private junk for a fantastic cruise in Halong Bay (4 hours), visit magical grottoes and relax in the best scenic beauty of Vietnam. Lunch of fresh and tasty seafood is served on board. Return to Hanoi with stopover at the Bat Trang pottery village. Explore generation-to-generation pottery techniques and get to know the potters’ daily life. You can also try glazing some small pottery pieces. The sightseeing day ends with the water puppet show. Overnight in Hanoi.
DAY 4: FREE TIME IN HANOI – NIGHT TRAIN TO SAPA
A full day free for leisure activities in Hanoi. Enjoy dinner with a traditional music show then transfer to the Hanoi rail station for a night train to Lao Cai. Overnight on board.
DAY 5: LAO CAI – SAPA – SOFT TREKKING
Early in the morning, arrive in Lao Cai, a small border town by the Red River. We meet at Lao Cai station and travel up to Sapa by bus. Sapa is a small mountainous town frequently shrouded in mist and famous for hill-tribe villages nearby. Trek around with local guide and hike along small paths to visit Lao Chai and San Chai minority villages. The rest of the day is leisure or shopping for delicate embroideries and batik at Sapa Fair. We then climb to Ham Rong Mount for a panoramic view of Sapa. Overnight in Sapa.
DAY 6: TA PHIN – CAN CAU – LAO CAI – HANOI
Visit the villages of the Red Yao and the Black H’mong ethnic minority people at Ta Phin. Socialize with the villagers, wander around the villages (2km) and get to know their simple lifestyle in harmony with nature. Say farewell to Sapa and head back down to Lao Cai to board the night train back to Hanoi. Overnight on board.
DAY 7: FREE TIME IN HANOI
Arrive in Hanoi in the early morning for a transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is all yours. Overnight in Hanoi.
DAY 8: HANOI – VINH
Travel south to Vinh by bus, 300km from Hanoi. The afternoon highlight is a visit to President Ho Chi Minh’s birth home in Kim Lien Village where farm houses made of bamboo and palm leaves over 100 years ago are restored. Overnight in Vinh.
DAY 9: VINH – DONG HOI – PHONG NHA CAVE
We’ll travel onwards to Dong Hoi on Truong Son Road (200km) through war vestiges. Stop by the Dong Loc T-junction, learn the story of 10 female youth volunteers who sacrificed themselves for the safety of the road under heavy bombing. Transfer to the Xuan Son ferry landing and take a boat ride on the Son River to the spectacular Phong Nha Cavern. Check in at your hotel in Dong Hoi. Overnight in Dong Hoi.
DAY 10: DONG HOI – HUE
Before leaving for Hue, wander in the Nhat Le fish Market, an ideal photo spot with sellers and buyers invariably wearing the ubiquitous conical hat. Drive to Hue (165km), passing the former demilitarized zone (DMZ) along the Ben Hai River where vestiges of fierce battles can be seen. Travel on Truong Son Road, nicknamed the Ho Chi Minh Trail, which was the north-south supply route during the Vietnam War. Overnight in Hue.
DAY 11: HUE
Your morning tour focuses on the Imperial Citadel, built in 1804 on a site chosen in accordance with the principles of geomancy (Fung Shui), and Dong Ba Market, famous for its renowned conical hats. In the afternoon, visit the tombs of King Tu Duc and King Khai Dinh. These monuments, designed by the kings themselves, were also used as holiday retreats during their lifetime. Travel overland to Thien Mu Pagoda and attend the afternoon service. In the evening, a typical royal court dinner with a presentation of ancient dancing and court music is arranged. Court royal music of Nguyen Dynasty has been recognized as a world intangible heritage by UNESCO in late 2003. Overnight in Hue.
DAY 12: HUE – DANANG – HOI AN
Leave for Hoi An (140km). Enjoy beautiful landscape on the way through the Hai Van Pass. Panoramic views of the clouds, the sea and the mountains around unfold from the summit. Arrive in Hoi An, a centuries–old city with ancient houses, temples, markets and handicraft workshops. Overnight in Hoi An.
DAY 13: AROUND HOI AN
Enjoy a full day trip to explore the ancient town by pedicab ride (1 hour) and by walking. Overnight in Hoi An.
DAY 14: HOI AN – QUY NHON
We leave for Quy Nhon (250km). Stop over at Tam Ky and visit of the Chien Dan Towers, built in the 13th century. The rest of the day is all yours to relax by a pool or on the sandy beach of Quy Nhon. Overnight in Quy Nhon.
DAY 15: QUY NHON – NHA TRANG
Leave for Nha Trang (250km), across picturesque coastal plains. Nha Trang is considered the most charming coastal town of Vietnam with a seemingly endless white sandy beach and ocean blue waters. Stop over at the Dai Lanh fishing village, the Cham towers and the coconut farms en route for snapshots. Overnight in Nha Trang.
DAY 16: NHA TRANG
Transfer to Cau Da Jetty for a day cruise to the islets. The water is clear and the marine life is diverse for snorkeling and sunbathing. Optional activities include scuba diving, wind surfing and parasailing on Tam Islet. Lunch of seafood is served on board. Overnight in Nha Trang.
DAY 17: NHA TRANG
You are free for leisure activities in Nha Trang. Overnight in Nha Trang.
DAY 18: NHA TRANG – HO CHI MINH CITY
We leave for Ho Chi Minh City (450km). Stop over at a semi-arid area in Phan Rang, home to Cham people and then visit the My Nghiep brocade-weaving hamlet and the Poklong Garai Towers. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
DAY 19: EXCURSION TO MEKONG DELTA
Enjoy a full–day excursion to My Tho, a peaceful town on the bank of the Mekong River. The tour comprises a cruise on the Mekong River, a visit to orchards and local homes, a sampan ride on palm–shaded creeks, a taste of seasonal fruit-and-honey tea and a performance of traditional southern singing. Lunch of Mekong specialties is arranged. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
DAY 20: AROUND HO CHI MINH CITY
Your morning tour visits the major sights of Ho Chi Minh City. It features the former Presidential Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Saigon Post Office, Dong Khoi Street, Opera House, City Hall, and History Museum. You are free in the afternoon. Farewell dinner is staged with a folk show on Saigon River. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
DAY 21: DEPARTURE FROM HO CHI MINH CITY
Spend your last minutes shopping downtown or at leisure before check–out. Transfer to the airport for departure.