Mesmerizing Vietnam – 22 Days

North Vietnam 8-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival (D)

Your Hanoi Arrival at Noi Bai International Airport will be welcomed by our guide. Transfer to hotel for check-in and relaxation. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi Food & City Tour (B, L, D)

Today, venture out to explore Hanoi and enjoy the local food. In the morning, leave the hotel at 08:00 AM then move to a local Pho restaurant for breakfast. Walk down to Hang Be street for visiting the local market to learn about unique ingredients of Vietnamese cuisine and lifestyle of local people here. Continue our trip along different streets to taste some types of local specialties such as tofu, oil-fried pastry,  rice pancake, egg coffee, sweet soup, pillow cake, stuff pancake with pork, draught beer… Stop at Dong Xuan wholesales market, the biggest traditional market in Hanoi to buy amazing gifts and souvenirs. Lunch at a nice local restaurant.

In the afternoon, begin the historical journey in Hanoi with Ho Chi Minh complex as the first attraction. It includes Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum at Ba Dinh Square, his stilt house, the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh Museum, and One Pillar Pagoda. Then travel to the Temple of Literature to see how the first university in Vietnam looks like. End the journey by spending one hour sitting on a cyclo and visiting around the Old Quarter with iconic 36 streets.

After dinner, find a good seat at a local theater to enjoy a fantastic Water Puppet Show Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 3: Hanoi – Hoa Lu & Tam Coc – Hanoi (B, L, D)

Pick up at your hotel at 8 AM, we will drive Southward of Hanoi to Ninh Binh province. On arrival, we will visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital dated back from the 10^th and 11^th centuries, it features several dozen monuments. Lunch with Ninh Binh’s specialties at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, take a sampan downstream Ngo Dong River to visit three mysterious caves with the starting point from Van Lam embroidery village, proceeding through a scenic landscape dominated by rice fields and karst limestone. Return to Hanoi in the late afternoon. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 4: Hanoi – Halong Bay with Cruise (B, L, D)

This morning, take 180km to Halong Bay, which was recognized by UNESCO as the World Natural Heritage in 1994 and 2000. On arrival, we will board our overnight cruise and savor a delicious seafood lunch. We will be passing through several limestone islands, kayaking among the hidden areas of the Bay, swimming at Soi Sim Beach or trekking to the top of the island. Dinner and overnight on boat.

Day 5: Halong Bay – Freedom Island (B, L, D)

Get up early in the morning and enjoy breakfast in the breathtaking scenery of Halong. We then transfer to a day-cruise and explore Lan Ha Lagoon by cliff jumping, enjoying beautiful swimming time by jumping off from the top of the boat. Head to a private beach on Freedom Island.

Lunch will be served at around noon. We then play football, volleyball on the beach or relax on the floating mattress until party time in the evening! Spend the night in a shared-bungalow in the Freedom Island.

Day 6: Halong Bay – Hanoi – Night Train to Sapa (B, L)

Start your last day at Halong Bay with Tai Chi exercises before breakfast. Afterward, explore Sung Sot Cave – one of the most amazing caves in Halong Bay and pass through Ba Hang Fishing village,Dog Islet and more. Watch the cooking demonstration and enjoying lunch before cruising back to the pier and find our car to take us back to Hanoi.

In the evening, our car will take us to Hanoi Railway Station to board the night train to Lao Cai.

Day 7: Sapa Villages Trekking Tour – Lao Chai Homestay (B, L, D)

Early morning marks our Lao Cai arrival. Receive a warm welcome by our local guide and transfer to Sapa. After breakfast, trek to Cat Cat Village then to Y Linh Ho village of the Hmong people to take a closer look at the life of the ethnic minorities. Lunch at a local stilt house.

In the afternoon, move to Muong Hoa Valley where we continuously visit villages of Lao Chai and Ta Van have a chance to interact some of the locals. Overnight in a homestay in Lao Chai village.

Day 8: Homestay – Mount Fansipan by Cable Car – Hanoi (B, L, D)

After breakfast at the homestay, visit Fansipan Summit – which is considered “the roof of Indochina”. Normally, it only takes around 20 minutes to travel to the peak of the mountain instead of two or three days on foot. After that, we will be back to the town center and have lunch.

In the afternoon, enjoy a short time free at the town center visiting its market before getting in the Express Bus and transfer back to Hanoi at 4 PM. Arrive in Hanoi at around 9 PM and transfer to the hotel for an overnight stay.

Central Vietnam 9-Day Itinerary

Day 9: Hanoi – Fly to Hue – Half-day City Tour (B)

You will be free to visit Hanoi until our car picks you up to travel to the airport to take a noon flight to Hue.

After Hue arrival, meet our guide and driver to transfer to hotel for check-in and relaxation. Then visit the Imperial Citadel where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945, after exploring the ruins of this wonderful monument. Next, depart to the Hue Royal Fine Art Museum, which used to be the former Royal Palace Dien Long An. Finish our day with discovery to the local Dong Ba Market to see the daily life of local people and buy some interesting souvenirs. Overnight in Hue.

Day 10: Hue’s Riverboat & Royal Tombs – Hoi An (B, L, D)

After breakfast at the hotel, board the Dragon Boat for a leisurely cruise in the romantic Perfume Riverto visit Thien Mu Pagoda, the most ancient pagoda in Hue found in 1601 under Nguyen Hoang Emperor. Get on our car then and visit King Tu Duc’s Tomb before driving to Hoi An and have free time here. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 11: Hoi An – Eco-Farming & Fishing – Walking Tour (B, L, D)

Start early this morning as heading off to our Farming & Fishing Life Eco Tour. At Tra Que Village, get a personal insight into the farming communities to see what farmers usually do. Joining the work by preparing the land for sowing, helping to fertilize the garden using seaweed from the local river and watering it in using huge tin cans strapped to our backs.

Following this, begin our leisurely Hoi An cycling tour through the countryside witnessing local rural life first hand. After that, board our Hoi An boat tour for a river cruise to meet local fishermen work their craft, before enjoying a hands-on experience of traditional net fishing. Lunch today is on board our boat, which is prepared using vegetables picked earlier at Tra Que Village.

In the afternoon, transfer to a Vietnamese bamboo basket boat then for a quick race and ride down a coconut palm-lined waterway. We then start our walking tour around this charming ancient town visiting Japanese Covered Bridge, Pottery Museum, Tan Ky old house, Cantonese congregation. Enjoy dinner of Hoi An local specialties. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 12: Hoi An Leisure Day (B)

The day will be free for strolling in the town or whatever takes our fancy. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 13: Hoi An – Fly to Nha Trang – Historical Journey (B, L, D)

Free at Hoi An until our car arrives to take us to the airport to board a noon flight to Nha Trang City. On arrival at the airport, we will be greeted and driven to our hotel in the city center. After check-in and some rest, it is the time to explore Nha Trang.

Before dreaming beaches and lovely islands, take a Nha Trang tour from its historical relics from Cham civilization at Po Nagar tower, a sacred Hindu religious palace from the 7th century. Move to Stone Church then built by French in colonial time as well as Long Son Pagoda, the Buddhist pagoda constructed in commemoration the sacrifices of the monks and nuns whilst fighting former South Saigon Government. Overnight in Nha Trang.

Day 14: Nha Trang Beaches & Special Islands Tour (B, L, D)

After breakfast at the hotel, we will be picked up and transferred to the harbor. Visit firstly Vietnam Oceanographic Institute and see hundreds of special sea creatures. Get on our boat then and have a short stop at Tri Nguyen Aquarium (outside photo shot only).

Continue the Nha Trang tour to Mun Island for snorkeling and sitting on a basket boat to touch the working day of fishermen at Mieu fishing village. We then travel to Bamboo Resort for a special seafood lunch. Swim and relax at Bamboo Island until late afternoon. Get back to the hotel for lunch. Overnight in Nha Trang

Day 15: Nha Trang Leisure Day (B)

We will have a full day free at the beach for swimming or do some water activities. Overnight in Nha Trang.

Day 16: Nha Trang – Drive to Dalat (B)

Time will be free until our car arrives to take us to Dalat City. On arrival, we will be greeted and driven to our hotel in the city center. After check-in, we will be free to wander around this romantic city. Overnight in Dalat.

Day 17: Dalat City Tour (B, L, D)

Today, visit seven attractive places of Dalat city with the first destination of the Robin Hill, 1,650m height to get the panorama of the romantic city of Dalat. Afterward, visit Truc Lam Zen Monastery(Cable car upon request), Tuyen Lam Lake, and Bao Dai Summer Palace.

After lunch, keep on visiting the Crazy House a brightly painted concrete house that winds itself around trees, mimicking their shapes. Move to Dalat Railway station which is remarkable with its unique architecture and old steam locomotive. Later of the day, take a 7km train to this place (one-way train only), Linh Phuoc pagoda, caved with tens of thousands of beer bottles and broken china ceramic, Lat village of ethnic minorities, where the people live in thatched, wooden huts. Overnight in Dalat.

South Vietnam 5-Day Itinerary

Day 18: Dalat – Fly to Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnels (B, L, D)

Your time in Dalat will be free until our car arrives to take us to the airport to board an afternoon flight to Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival at the airport, we will be welcomed and driven to our hotel in the city center.

After check-in, drive to Cu Chi Tunnels and explore the maze of tunnels, some of which have been widened to allow tourist access. We will also see the remains of an American tank as well as numerous bomb craters made by 500lb bombs dropped by B52 bombers. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

Day 19: Ho Chi Minh City Tour & Vespa Tour (B, L, D)

Today, visit all the highlights in Ho Chi Minh City including the Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Old Post Office. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, travel to district 5 to visit Cho Lon (China town) and FITO Museum – the first and the most interesting museum on Vietnam traditional medicine. Afterward, head back to the city center for shopping at the famous Ben Thanh market with a wide selection of products ranging from local handicraft to amazing street foods.

Then sit behind Vespa driver at 6 PM and move to meet happy point at Cafes Zoom to enjoy welcome drink and snack. The drivers take us around the big streets to small streets and we can see all the daily nightlife of local people. Stop at a seafood workshop for our tasting meal. After that, Vespa drivers take us back to the central district, and reach Banh Xeo workshop and have a try with a cold drink. Next, sit on the Vespa again to visit a hidden Vietnamese-style coffee shop to have a taste of Vietnamese live music as local. We are back to hotels, say goodbye with Vespa drivers, tour guide, and enjoy a peaceful night in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 20: Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta (B, L, D)

We are picked up at the hotel then travel to Vinh Long town where we have a stop at the local market. Here we can experience as well as have nice photos of fish, shrimps, prawns, crabs, snakes, rice field rats, tropical fruits, vegetables…. After that, take a boat trip to visit the brick kilns, orchard, and traditional house; enjoy some kinds of fruits and tea when listening to traditional music at a local home.

The rowing boat continues on bringing us deeper into the countryside on smaller canals to see traditional houses made of wood and palm tree leaves and see some activities of the local farmers see how they catch fish or pick up fruits by ancestral ways in Mekong Delta…Then we will bike on village paths to see the local farms, houses, “monkey” bridge… The cruise transfers us back to Vinhlong city where we take our own vehicle to Can Tho City, the heart of Mekong Delta. Overnight in Can Tho.

Day 21: Can Tho – Cai Rang Floating Market – Ho Chi Minh City (B, L)

Take a boat trip again to visit the famous Cai Rang floating market in the early morning today. It is the biggest floating market in town which is considered the best place for you to see the daily life and local people selling their products on boats.

After that, you will be back to the hotel and have free time until check out. At noon, we will head back to Ho Chi Minh City and have lunch en-route. Arrive at our hotel in the afternoon and have free time at leisure. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

Day 22: Ho Chi Minh City Departure (B)

After breakfast, wait for our car arriving at the hotel to transfer to the airport in good time to board our departure flight. Vietnam tour 3-week itinerary ends.