Vietnam has many things to offer, you will see sights that challenge your mind, from splendid valleys and mountains in Sa Pa to spotless beaches in Hoi An. Not to mention your heart will be taken by the charming old town of Hoi An. Besides that, you can not miss the magnificent Ha Long Bay and be ready to be fascinated by the famous Cu Chi Tunnels used during the Vietnam war. You’ll start in colonial Hanoi and conclude your visit the vibrant Ho Chi Minh City. This is going to be a remarkable trip in your life as Vietnam will also surprise you with friendly people and stunning cuisine.
Your trip begins with your arrival in Vietnam. Your private driver will meet and greet you at the airport. You will be escorted to the hotel by private transportation. Check in to the hotel and get over the jet lag.
You can mooch through the streets of the city. Historic charm, architectural marvels, and various products are splashed all over this area.
After enjoying the first day yourself and return to the hotel for a relaxing sleep.
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Overnight in Hanoi:
3 Stars – Mina Hotel or similar
4 Stars – Tirant Hotel or similar
5 Stars – Apricot Hotel or similar
You will be picked up from the hotel at 07:30 and transferred to Ba Vi. You will visit 3 villages, at each village, the local host will show you Vietnamese countryside life. You will be welcomed by Mr. Duoc – a veteran, and listen to his stories about his life during and after the Vietnam War. He also is an expert in handling raw tea leaves and making them into products to sell on the market Then you will visit a tea village with 30-year-old tea trees. There besides walking and helping local people to harvest the tea leaves, you will know how to pick the best part of the tea tree to make the most wonderful beverage in the world. Then heading to Mrs. Chin’s house for a cooking lesson and have lunch with in the garden. After the lunch have some rest and your host will take you around her village and you will visit the local workshops. You will learn how to make tofu, unshell the rice and will see the workshop of local hammerer who is working there for 70 years. Cycling through the rice fields then you will arrive to the house of your next host Mr. Chau, have your feet soaking in warm water with herb leaves following the recipes of Muong ethnic minorities. Continue the boat trip along the Da river and view the stunning scenery and discover the life of local people alongside the river.
Drive back to Hanoi in the evening, end your Bavi Eco Tour at the hotel around 18:30.
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Overnight in Hanoi:
3 Stars – Mina Hotel or similar
4 Stars – Tirant Hotel or similar
5 Stars – Apricot Hotel or similar
Have an early breakfast at the hotel and complete the check-out formalities. Take the limousine bus to get to Sapa, the travel time will take around 6 hours. Upon arrival to Sapa, you will be transferred to your accommodation. The rest of the day is free to explore this charming town right in the middle of the mountains.
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Overnight in Sapa:
3 Stars – Sapa Panorama Hotel or similar
4 Stars – Amazing Sapa or similar
5 Stars – Silk Path Grand Resort and Spa or similar
Have breakfast at the hotel. Meet your guide around 9:30 am and start your 12 km trekking. You will visit Y Linh Ho and Lao Chai villages of the Hmong minorities. On the way admire the breathtaking landscapes of rice terraces and mountains. Have lunch in Lao Chai village nearby the river. Continue your hike to Ta Van village of the Dzay people. Here you will stay overnight and have the opportunity to experience the daily life of and original customs of local people.
Overnight at the Dzay local house.
Once you get energy for your last day trek by having a delicious breakfast, you leave for Giang Ta Chai village of the Red Dao minority. You will trek through a bamboo forest, which belongs to Hoang Lien National Park. On the way, you will pass by a waterfall and rattan bridge, where you will have time to take a rest and enjoy the surroundings. You will find a nice place to enjoy lunch.
After lunch, you continue toward Su Pan, a small village located by the road. From here you will start your journey back to Sapa by car. You will be transferred back to Hanoi by limousine bus.
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Overnight in Hanoi:
3 Stars – Mina Hotel or similar
4 Stars – Tirant Hotel or similar
5 Stars – Apricot Hotel or similar
Have breakfast. Our cruise will pick you up from your hotel. Take the most scenic route to reach Halong Bay, taking you across the Red River Delta with emerald green rice paddies stretching for as far as the eyes can see. On arrival at Halong, you get to enjoy a cruise on the Bay to explore the limestone rocks and the karst grottoes.
After you are done with your exploration of the bay, it is time to enjoy an utterly delicious seafood lunch, after which there will be a trip to the famous Limestone cave in Ha Long Bay, you’ll get to spend some time here, kayaking or swimming so that you can get closer to the floating villages and shops. Towards the evening, you will return to the boat for an early dinner, followed by some time at leisure. You can optionally attend the activities taking part on the boat or relax for the day.
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Overnight in Halong Bay:
3 Stars – Le Journey Cruise or similar
4 Stars – La Pandora Cruise or similar
5 Stars – Doris Cruise or similar
Rise early for a lesson in Tai Chi or just to enjoy a hearty breakfast. The boat will make its way back to the port stopping at the Limestone Cave, full of stalagmites and stalactites. From here, it’s clear sailing back to the main harbor and the return to Hanoi around 17:00. Free in your leisure time.
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Overnight in Hanoi:
3 Stars – Mina Hotel or similar
4 Stars – Tirant Hotel or similar
5 Stars – Apricot Hotel or similar
Have breakfast at the hotel, have some free leisure time until there will be a private cab to transfer you to the airport, and get ready for the next flight to Hoi An.
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Overnight in Hoi An
3 Stars – Kim An Hotel Hoi An or similar
4 Stars – Silkotel Hoi An or similar
5 Stars – Palm Garden Hoi An or similar
Custom tailoring is a huge industry in Hoi An. Hoi An is home to more than 400 tailoring shops and thousands of tailors who are not only talented at making clothes but are skilled in making shoes and handbags as well! The average turnaround time for full suits is a day and about 4 hours for handbags or shoes! If you are interested in getting custom-made items, try to find a shop of your liking as early as possible during your visit.
The afternoon is the perfect time of day to see some of the famous sights within Hoi An. But first, before you set out on foot to discover the city, we recommend that you grab a Banh Mi sandwich to fuel you for the afternoon. Banh Mi Sandwich in Hoi An is both famous and different from any sandwich you will get in other parts of Vietnam. The bread and fillings are unique to the region and it is a great first insight into local cuisine. We highly recommend Madam Khanh’s stand, who has been dubbed the Banh Mi Queen in Hoi An.
After dark, the Old Town in Hoi An transforms into a mystical row of lights and lanterns. In fact, Hoi An is a big center for paper lantern manufacturers and merchants. Every shop or establishment will have a few lanterns outside, but the real sight is the lantern market. Here you’ll be able to see how these lanterns are made and will have a plethora of choices should you wish to take some home with you.
After a stroll through the market, check out the outdoor traditional theatre. You will have a chance to see Vietnamese folk dancers and musicians perform traditional pieces. The theatre runs from 9 pm to 10 pm at the square on Nguyen Thai Hoc street. It is completely free and open to the public so it’s interesting to see, even if it’s just for a few minutes as you pass by. Before you get back to your hotel, be sure to light a candle box and set it in the water. Many kids sit along the banks of the channel and offer candles to you – remember to make a wish.
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Overnight in Hoi An
3 Stars – Kim An Hotel Hoi An or similar
4 Stars – Silkotel Hoi An or similar
5 Stars – Palm Garden Hoi An or similar
Today you will have free time to explore Hoi An at your own pace, seeing what interests you. This ancient town is full of Japanese merchant houses and pagodas, temples, and antique warehouses. Or just lounge about in a laid-back riverside café on the bank of the Thu Bon River.
(OPTIONAL TOUR: HOI AN ECO TOUR)
Today your English-speaking guide will meet you at the hotel and take you on a tour of the countryside and rivers around Hoi An. As you meander through the countryside you will experience the friendliness of the local people greeting you along the way. After that, you will board the Hoi An Eco-tour boat for a river cruise to meet and engage with local fishermen. Enjoy a hands-on experience of traditional net fishing. You will also take a paddle boat trip in a unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boat down the waterways of a coconut palm paradise.
In the afternoon, leisure time on your own exploring the ancient town or relaxing at the hotel.
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Overnight in Hoi An
3 Stars – Kim An Hotel Hoi An or similar
4 Stars – Silkotel Hoi An or similar
5 Stars – Palm Garden Hoi An or similar
Breakfast at the hotel. Then, taking the flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Check-in your hotel and free at your leisure time to get your energy back.
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Overnight in Ho Chi Minh
3 Stars – Prague Hotel or similar
4 Stars – Alagon Sai Gon Hotel or similar
5 Stars – The Myst Dong Khoi or similar
(Start 7:20 am – return around 17.30)
7:20 am Pick up from the hotel.
Kick start your day with a hearty breakfast and a trip to Mekong Delta follows, depart for My Tho, the town that lies on the left side of the Mekong River. Boarding the sampan and cruising down the river around the four beautiful islands known as Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix, and Tortoise Islands.
Stop over at Unicorn Island, go walking around the country lane and see orchards, and enjoy tropical fruits, folk song music which performed by the local people. Visit the fruit plantation.
Riding a hand-rowed sampan through Thoi Son canal and treat yourself in the beauty of the countryside, visit the family business, visit a honey-bee farm, enjoy honey tea and coconut candy workshop.
Have lunch at a local restaurant. Break time.
In the afternoon, time for cycling around the Tan Thach village, meet the local villagers to experience the local daily life in the Mekong delta. Hammock relaxing and enjoy cool breeze for those can’t join the cycling trip. Return to Ho Chi Minh.
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Overnight in Ho Chi Minh
3 Stars – Prague Hotel or similar
4 Stars – Alagon Sai Gon Hotel or similar
5 Stars – The Myst Dong Khoi or similar
Depart for Cu Chi Tunnels, the trip will take approximately one and a half hours driving. Upon arrival, before exploring the tunnels, you will have a short introduction followed by an introductory video about how the tunnels were constructed and how the people survived in the harsh conditions of wartime. Then, spend your time exploring the remaining area and tunnel systems which included the special constructed living areas with kitchens, and bedrooms side by side with other martial facilities like storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, and command centers helping whoever lives inside the tunnels meet their basic needs. Besides, there are also many hidden trap doors and dangerous traps within the maze-like tunnels for security purpose during the war. Afterward, special tea and cassava (guerilla’s food during the war) will be served.
Break time for relax or time for those who want to try the real shooting gun. Return to Ho Chi Minh.
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Overnight in Ho Chi Minh
3 Stars – Prague Hotel or similar
4 Stars – Alagon Sai Gon Hotel or similar
5 Stars – The Myst Dong Khoi or similar
Relish a healthy breakfast on the final day of your trip. Complete the hotel check-out formalities after which you can visit the local markets and buy souvenirs for your loved ones. Later, proceed for departure and board your flight back home.
Trip Ends.
