| Day
1: Hanoi |
| Arrival
in Hanoi, the 1000-year-old capital city of Vietnam,
airport pick-up, hotel check-in. Afternoon: 1 hour
rickshaw tour around the town center to be amazed by
the unique hustle and bustle of the city. |
| |
| Day
2: Hanoi |
| Full
day for exploring the fascinating city of Hanoi where
old and new things blend together, Vietnamese, Chinese
and French cultures mix together. Activities: a
pleasant walk around the peaceful Ho Chi Minh area,
another pleasant walk at the beautiful Temple of
Literature, a fascinating walk through the famous 36
busy streets of the Old Quarter, and a good visit at
the interesting Ethnology museum. The day is ended
with an interesting water puppet performance. |
| |
| Day
3: Hanoi – Ha Long bay |
| Morning:
a nice visit to the famous Bat Trang ceramic village
Afternoon: a scenic drive through rice paddies and
mountains to Halong Bay, a World Natural Heritage
Site. Hotel check-in, at leisure till dinner, an easy
walk in town after dinner. |
| |
| Day
4: Ha Long Bay – Lao Cai |
Morning:
an enjoyable cruise along simply gorgeous sceneries
including a very delicious lunch on board. Afternoon:
drive back to Hanoi, boarding on the night train after
dinner.
|
| Day
5: Lao Cai – Muong Khuong – Sapa |
| Morning:
early arrival at Lao Cai railway station, then a
scenic drive up the mountains to the colourful Sunday
market of hill tribes in Muong Khuong. Afternoon:
drive back to Lao Cai and go on to Sapa, a tourist hub
in North Vietnam. |
| |
| Day
6: Sapa |
| Morning:
great soft trekking at Ta Phinh village of Red Dao
people. Afternoon: another enjoyable soft trekking to
Cat Cat village of the H’mong tribe. |
| |
| Day
7: Sapa – Hanoi |
| Scenic
drive along mountains, green fields of rice, maize,
and sugar canes along the Red River. |
| |
| Day
8: Hanoi – Hue |
| Flight
to Hue, the last Royal City, a World Cultural Heritage
Site. Afternoon: excellent motorbike trip with drivers
to interesting traditional villages and beautiful
sceneries around Hue. Evening: end the day with a
special dinner feast. |
| |
| Day
9: Hue |
| Full
day enjoy Hue’s typical features: peaceful,
traditional and beautiful. Activities: lovely boat
trip on the Perfume River to the beautiful Thien Mu
pagoda and Minh Mang tomb, 1 hour cooking lesson
aboard to learn about the impressions of the artistic
style of Hue cuisine. Then drive to the Royal Citadel
of Hue, enjoy a pleasant walk in this interesting
area, then visit the amazingly full Dong Ba market. |
| |
| Day
10: Hue – Hoian |
| Enjoy
a scenic drive to Hoian with many beautiful photo
stops on route. Visit the Cham museum in Danang, then
a nice climb on the Marble Mountains. Overnight in the
charming ancient city of Hoian, a World Cultural
Heritage Site. |
| |
| Day
11: Hoian |
| Full
day enjoy the wonderful features of Hoian: relaxing,
charming, and great shopping Activities: pleasant city
walk to a museum, a Chinese temple, an old Chinese
merchant’s house, the famous Japanese pagoda bridge,
and many beautiful shops. Afternoon enjoy a uniquely
fabulous bicycle ride through the gorgeous sceneries
of the countryside. |
| |
| Day
12: Hoian |
| Another
enjoyable day including boat and bus trips to the most
impressive ruins of the country in My Son. Afternoon
some free time for shopping and relaxation in Hoian. |
| |
| Day
13: Danang – Nha Trang (Cam Ranh) |
| Morning
flight to Cam Ranh, then a scenic drive along the
coast to the harbour in Nha Trang, board on boat for
half day cruise on one of the most beautiful bays of
the world, enjoys swimming and snorkeling. |
| |
| Day
14: Nha Trang – Mui Ne (Phan Thiet) |
| Morning
city tour in Nha Trang, visit the popular Po Nagar
temple and Long Son pagoda. Transfer to Mui Ne, a
marvelous area of seaside resorts, palm plantations
and sand dunes. Afternoon enjoy a beautiful walk
through the dunes, villages and river. |
| |
| Day
15: Mui Ne – HCMC |
| Free
morning to enjoy the hotel beach and swimming.
Afternoon drive to HCMC |
| |
| Day
16: HCMC |
| Full
day city tour in HCMC, the biggest city of Vietnam, a
modern hustle and bustle city. Activities: visits to
busy China town, beautiful Chinese temple, interesting
War museum, charming city center, interesting lacquer
ware factory. |
| |
| Day
17: HCMC – Tay Ninh – Cu Chi |
| Full
day excursion to visit two contrast sites: the
colourful Cao Dai Holy See of the most egalitarian
religion and the impressive tunnels system of the most
violent battlefield of the Vietnam War.Start your
exploration of the terrific tropical Mekong Delta with
a bus drive to Xeo Quit, a former communist military
base, and then enjoy wonderful boat trips around
scenic swamps and forests of eucalyptuses and ivies.
Late afternoon drive to Can Tho, the capital of the
Mekong delta |
| |
| Day
18: Can Tho – HCMC |
| Morning
a wonderful boat trip to lively floating markets and
villages along the lower Mekong branch, a fascinating
tuk tuk ride along evergreen rice fields and orchards.
Afternoon drive back to HCMC |
| |
| Day
20: HCMC / Onward destinations |
| Tran
sfer to the airport for departure. |