Day 1 : Arrival in Hanoi – Pick up
Chuong Duong bridge - Hanoi
Upon arrival to Hanoi, our driver and tour guide will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel for check in.
Stay overnight at hotel in Hanoi
Includes:
– Private transportation by car with air conditioner & experienced driver
– English speaking tour guide
– Accommodation in Hanoi
Day 2 : Hanoi – Craft village – Catch night train to Sapa (B)
Bat Trang Ceramic Village - Hanoi
Bat Trang, a small village in the north of Vietnam, is about 13 kilometers south east of Hanoi center, on the other side of Chuong Duong bridge. Why is its name popular to most tourists to northern Vietnam? The answer is its ever famous ceramic and pottery products of high quality. If you have known about Vietnam, you may not be surprised that Bat Trang’s vases, bowls, dishes, and many other kinds of ceramic products have been exported worldwide. Should you would like to contemplate workers making ceramic products by hand, just come here! What’s more, you can also try it yourself!
Driver & Tour guide pick you up at hotel and drive to Bat Trang Ceramic Village. It has been famous for its ceramics for a thousand years, particularly dinnerware and ornamental ware. Arrive Bat Trang, you visit Bat Trang Communal House (outside only) and take a walk to discovery ancient town of Bat Trang through narrow street to witness the art of making ceramic. Stop at local cottage industry and try to making your own ceramic product under guidance of artisans. After finishing your shape, you will visit the market to explore the variety of ceramic products while waiting for your product dried. Walk back to local cottage industry to complete your work by painting which is instructed under artisans. Drive back to Hanoi railway station to catch our night train to Sapa.
Stay overnight on train
Includes:
– Private transportation by car with air conditioner & experienced driver
– English speaking tour guide
– All entrance fees
– Meal : Breakfast
– Accommodation on Train: Hanoi – Sapa
Day 3 : Sapa – Thursday Market (B, L)
Tam Duong market - Sapa
Train arrive around 6am, our driver and tour guide pick up and Tam Duong Thursday Market to discover the cultural market of many tribes such as ( Lu, Lao, Black Dzao, Tien Dzao, Red Hmong, Dzay, Black Thai). We visit the Ban Hon Village of Lu & Thai people in the afternoon. This is a good opportunity to take many pictures of Fansipan‘s imposing mountain peak, via Heaven’s gate, Tram Ton Pass & Silver Waterfall on the way back to Sapa.
Stay overnight at hotel in Sapa
Includes:
– Private transportation by car with air conditioner & experienced driver
– English speaking tour guide
– All entrance fees
– Meal : Breakfast, lunch
– Accommodation in Sapa
Day 4 : Sapa - to MachaTaphin village – Catch night train back Hanoi (B, L)
Taphin Village - Sapa
Guide picks you up at Lao Cai railway station and transfers you to Sapa for 1 hour. After checking in a hotel and freshening up we trek to Ta Phin. The whole day trekking following the buffalo trails, we trek up and down hills through the forest and on the terraced rice fields and visit the villagers of Black H’mong tribe in Ma Tra and Suoi Ho villages. We pass schools with scenic views of terraced rice fields and picnic lunch on the way and then continue our trek to Ta Phin with Red Dzao ethnic group. We meet the jeep & transfer back to Sapa.
Trekking distance: 10 km.
Includes:
– Private transportation by car with air conditioner & experienced driver
– English speaking tour guide
– All entrance fees
– Meal : Breakfast, lunch
– Accommodation on Train: Sapa – Hanoi
Day 5 : Hanoi – Halong (B, L, D)
Halong City
Site visited: Halong Bay, Caves
Upon arrival, you will transfer to hotel for breakfast and freshen up. Then you depart for Halong Bay. You will cruise in this secluded bay, marveling at 3000 limestone peaks that emerge from the emerald water. You have an opportunity to visit spectacular limestone cave, swim from the boat, and can kayak to explore the hidden charm part of the bay. Overnight on boat.
Includes:
– Private transportation by car with air conditioner & experienced driver
– English speaking tour guide
– All entrance fees
– Meal : Breakfast, lunch, dinner
– Hotel in Hanoi for breakfast and freshen up.
– Cruise in Halong Bay
Day 6 : Halong – Ninh Binh (B, L)
Ninh Binh City
Site visited: Halong Bay, Hallow cave
In the morning you be able to do some more kayaking to explore Luon cave and from here you can kayak toward Turtle islet, Human Head islet and the Saddle islet. After having lunch on boat you are leaving Halong Bay for Ninh Binh.
Stay overnight at hotel in Ninh Binh
Includes:
– Private transportation by car with air conditioner & experienced driver
– English speaking tour guide
– All entrance fees
– Meal : Breakfast, lunch
– Accommodation in Ninh Binh
Day 7 : Ninh Binh Tour - Hanoi - Fly to Hue (B)
Bich Dong Ninh Binh
After breakfast at hotel
Visiting King Dinh and King Le’s temples.
Arriving in Tam Coc Wharf.
Having lunch with Vietnamese Cuisine.
Getting on Sampan boats through caves and visiting countryside landscape
Back to Tam Coc Wharf to chill out.
Biking to Bich Dong on country road
Getting back to Hanoi
Stay overnight at hotel in Hanoi
Includes:
– Private transportation by car with air conditioner & experienced driver
– English speaking tour guide
– All entrance fees
– Meal : Breakfast
– Internal air ticket : Hanoi – Hue (Vietnam Airline)
– Accommodation in Hue
Day 8 : Hue Tour (B)
Dong Ba market - Hue
Hue is known as an ancient Capital city of many original historical vestiges. There are more than 100 architectural works to be extremely reflected the life of Emperors and Mandarins under Nguyen’s reign. Situated in the middle of hills on the Southern Bank of Perfume River are very beautiful tombs of Nguyen Kings.
Our tour starts at 08:00 in the morning at the lobby of the hotel. We will be met and transferred to the Wharf where we will cruise along the Perfume River to visit:
Thien Mu Pagoda (The Heavenly Lady pagoda), from here we will have a good view of Perfume River and surroundings.
Tu Duc King’s tomb, which is one of the most beautiful works of Royal Architecture of the Nguyen Dynasty. The tomb lies in a boundless pine forest.
Then we transfer back to the city for our delicious lunch at a fine local restaurant. In the afternoon, we will visit the Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City; Tinh Gia Vien Garden house and Dong Ba market. Tour ends at around 06:00PM at hotel. Overnight in Hue.
Includes:
– Private transportation by car with air conditioner & experienced driver
– Private boat to cruise in the river
– English speaking tour guide
– All entrance fees
– Meal : Breakfast
– Accommodation in Hue
Day 9 : Hue – Hoi An Cooking Class (B)
Hoi An Cooking Class
This morning, we leave Hue for Hoi An. Upon arrival to Hoi an, relaxing until we will have meeting point at restaurant to prepare for cooking class in Hoi An. After taking the welcome drink, we visit Hoi An’s colorful market and experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy market. We will have our opportunity to interact with local sellers and purchase some of the ingredients to be used in the coming cooking lesson. After that we board the Red Bridge boat for a leisurely cruise about 25 minutes along Thu Bon River to Cooking School. This is a chance to view local river life and make sure your camera is in your hand. Up on arrival, we explore the cooking school’s herb and vegetable garden before learning about some Hoi An and Vietnam’s well-known dishes. The cooking lesson runs for about 2 hours, each dish is first demonstrated by the Chief before we prepare the same dish ourselves. Included in the class is a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving (plate decoration). After the lesson we enjoy our products then.
Recipes (our food contains no MSG):
1. Making fresh Rice paper
2. Fresh Rice Paper Rolls of Shrimp
3. Crispy Hoi An Pancakes with Shrimp, Herbs & a Peanut Sauce
4. Marinated Beef on a Sizzling Plate
5. Vietnamese Eggplant in Clay Pot
6. Food Decoration – Pineapple Boat, 3 Colored Flowers & Vietnamese Hand Fan
Lunch includes the above meals as well as:
Steamed Ocean Fish on a bed of Freshly Chopped Vegetables (not included in the demonstration)
A vegetarian lunch can be provided on request.
Our class finishes at approximately 1pm / 6.00pm. We transfer back to central Hoi An.
Includes:
– Private transportation by car with air conditioner & experienced driver
– Cooking class
– English speaking tour guide
– All entrance fees
– Meal : Breakfast
– Accommodation in Hoi An
Day 10 : Hoi An – Free day (B)
Hoian Food
Free day at your leisure
Stay overnight at hotel in Hoi An
Includes:
– Meal : Breakfast
– Accommodation in Hoi An
Day 11 : Hoi An – Free day (B)
Hoian Shopping
Free day at your leisure
Stay overnight at hotel in Hoi An
Includes:
– Meal : Breakfast
– Accommodation in Hoi An
Day 12 : Hoi An – Fly to HCMC – Cu Chi Tunnels (B)
Cu Chi Tunnel
After the breakfast at hotel, our driver picks up and transfers you to the airport to catch our short flight to Saigon. Upon arrival to Saigon, you are met and transferred to hotel for check in hotel.
In the afternoon, we visit Cu Chi Tunnels otherwise known as the “Iron Triangle” or “Iron Land”. On our way there we will drive through pleasant countryside; rubber plantations and rice paddies. Before entering the tunnels, we will see a short introductory video showing how they were constructed, followed by an exploration of the maze of tunnels, some of which have been widened to allow tourist access. Also on display are various mantraps and the remains of an American tank as well as numerous bomb craters made by 500lb bombs dropped by B52 bombers.
Stay overnight at hotel in Saigon.
Includes:
– Private transportation by car with air conditioner & experienced driver
– Air ticket : Danang/ Hoi An – HCMC (Vietnam airline)
– English speaking tour guide
– Private boat to cruise in the river
– Meal : Breakfast
– Entrance fees
– Accommodation in HCMC
Day 13 : HCMC – Mekong Delta (B)
Cai Rang floating market in Can Tho
Phong Dien – Can Tho
Sites visited : Cruising in My Tho – Ben Tre – Homestay
Pick you up at hotel in Saigon at 8am. A smooth one and half hour car ride passing the green rice fields, leads you to the beautiful rural MYTHO city. The morning trip continues on the motorized boat on the Tien river to the Qui (Tortoise islet). On the way, you will view the fishing port, stilt houses, boat-building workshops, the other Dragon, Phoenix and Unicorn Islet. The cruise will lead you through Bao Dinh canal to enter Ben Tre province, “the country of coconut”, to see a typical agricultural model call “Garden – Pond – Cage” then enjoy coconut candy mill and the relaxing honey tea. Then the amazing rowing boat trip on the small canal – fully covered by the shadow of the water coconuts’ tree and cool breezes is something you can’t be missed. Lunch will be served right in the heart of the orchard garden. After lunch, we will walk along the village, visit fruit garden, enjoy the tropical fruit while you are listening to the sound of “Southern Vietnamese folk music” performed by the islanders. Here you can join the daily activities of the local people and enjoy the atmosphere of this beautiful natural countryside.
Tonight we stay overnight with the local family in Can Tho.
Includes:
– Private transportation by car with air conditioner & experienced driver
– English speaking tour guide
– Private boat to cruise in the river
– Meal : Breakfast
– Entrance fees
– Accommodation at homestay in Can Tho
Day 14 : Can Tho - HCMC (B)
Early morning board for a 3-hour cruise to Cai Rang and Phong Dien, 2 big floating markets with stops at a Bun Tau noodle factory and a short trek before arriving at a rice-husking mill. You can even try passing one of the many fragile monkey bridges along the canals photo shot. At the floating markets, you will discover a typical way of displaying and advertising farm products of local people gathering on the Mekong river to trade their goods. Drive to Chau Doc for overnight.
Includes:
– Private transportation by car with air conditioner & experienced driver
– Meal : Breakfast
– Private boat to cruise in the river
– English speaking tour guide
– Entrance fees
– Accommodation in HCMC
Day 15 : HCMC – Departure (B)
Opera House - Saigon
Free time until our driver picks up and transfers you to the airport to catch your flight back home.
Includes:
– Private transportation by car with air conditioner & experienced driver
– Meal : Breakfast