Cultural Wonders of Vietnam

Arrive at Noi Bai airport, transfer to the hotel. We take a cyclo tour for a short excursion through the bustling old quarter streets named after the specific goods once offered for sale at these places. Following by a fantastic traditional water puppet show.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Today we enjoy a full day city tour of this charming capital city including the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh (close on Monday & Friday), the Presidential Palace, the Ho Chi Minh‘s house on stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, the impressive Ethnologic Museum, the beautiful West Lake, the Tran Vu Pagoda, the peaceful lake of the Restored Sword.

In the evening, transfer to the Hanoi Railway Station for the overnight train to Lao Cai.

Overnight on train.

Arrive in Lao Cai in the early morning. After breakfast, you will travel by car to one of the famous markets here where you can meet many ethnic minorities such as Flower Hmong, Black Dao, Phu La, Tay, Nung …These markets gather only one time per week and they offer its variety of local products, which could not be found in others areas (Bac Ha market & Muong Hum market on Sundays, Coc Ly market on Tuesdays, Lung Khau Nhin market on Thursdays & Can Cau markets on Saturdays only).

After the visit to market, we will drive to Sapa for hotel’s check in.

Overnight in Sa Pa.

Today we visit scenic villages Ta Van of Zay hill tribe people and Lao Chai of Black H’mong people, where we will enjoy a walk and discover the traditional livestyle of welcoming people who are proud of their culture and keep their traditions and way of living. They have their own language. Zay women still wear traditional shirts with a purple, blue or green colour. The Zay houses are build of wood and bamboo with a clay floor. Black H’mong women wear traditional indigo blue clothing.

Late afternoon, transfer to the Lao Cai Station for an overnight train to Hanoi.

Overnight on board the train.

Early morning pick-up at Hanoi Railway Station. After having breakfast, overland to Ha Long Bay (165 km), the most wonderful scenic sight of Vietnam, the World Natural Heritage Site with over 3000 limestone islands and islets rising fantastically from the clear and emerald water. Board a traditional-style wooden junk to travel around this magnificent landscape visiting its amazing grottoes and caves. Opportunity to dive off the boat and have a pleasant swimming in the deep blue water of East Sea. Enjoy excellent fresh seafood.

Overnight on board.

Morning continue our cruise exploring the natural beauty of the World Heritage. Afternoon return to Hanoi, stop en route at Dong Trieu ceramic village. Transfer to the airport for the flight to Hue, Vietnam’s last feudal capital where Nguyen Dynasty once ruled Vietnam during period 1802 – 1945. This small and quiet city is well-known for magnificent architecture, pagodas and royal tombs laid in small villages and surrounding hills. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel for check in.

Overnight in Hue.

Morning take a boat trip on the romantic Perfume River visiting Hue’s oldest and most revered site, Thien Mu Pagoda, and the mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes.

Afternoon visit Imperial Citadel, Purple Forbidden City, the mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc and Dong Ba market.

Overnight in Hue.

Drive south to Hoi An, a recognised World Heritage Site, which famous by its ancient architecture of mixed Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese style from the 16th century. Stop at Cham Museum which contains the finest collection of Cham sculpture in the world. Upon arrival, we walk around this ancient town of 600-year old visiting the 200 year-old Tan Ky house, Phuc Kien Pagoda, the Assembly Hall, the former merchants’ houses, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the colourful riverside market.

Overnight in Hoi An.

After breakfast, leave Hoi An to Da Nang airport for a short flight to Nha Trang, a beautifully coastal city. Rest of the day is free for relaxing on the beach. Overnight in Nha Trang.

The fabulous sunny weather, turquoise water surrounding a string of islands and white sandy beach stretching the whole length of the city make Nha Trang one of Vietnam’s premier beach resorts. Take a boat trip around the coastal islands visiting the Tri Nguyen aquarium, a local fishing village to observe the island life. Today we also have lots of time on the blue clear water enjoying swimming and snorkelling or lazing on a beach. We arrive back in town late afternoon and visit the Long Son Pagoda with its enormous white Buddha statue, and the impressive Ponagar Cham Towers, a secret Hindu site dating back to the 2nd century AD.

Overnight in NhaTrang.

Leave Nha Trang for Da Lat, the “City of Eternal Spring”. Stop en route visiting the famous PoKlong Jarai Cham Towers which represent an interesting culture and a colorful history of the Cham people. The charming town Da Lat is set around a lake and surrounded by evergreen forests, gardens, meadows, lakes, waterfalls and rolling countryside. On arrival in Da Lat we visit the Love Valley, the Xuan Huong Lake, the Lake of Sighs and the Flower Garden.

Overnight in Da Lat.

Morning visit the summer residence of Vietnam’s last Emperor Bao Dai, the Lam Ty Ni Pagoda, Hang Nga Guesthouse and Truc Lam Thien Vien Pagoda.

Afternoon we make our way down hill to Ho Chi Minh city through many tea and coffee plantations around Bao Loc and past a floating village at La Nga Lake. Arrive late in Ho Chi Minh city. This bustling metropolis, contradiction of its northern counterpart, is crowded with bikes and motorbikes, excited by numerous shopping area and sidewalk cafes.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

We travel through the rolling countryside to Vinh Long, the heart of Mekong Delta (125km). Upon arrival, ride a bicycle around the village to see local daily activities, visit a bonsai garden or fruits garden, boat building workshop, coconut candy and girdle cake shop. Tonight we have dinner with the host where we stay overnight, enjoy Mekong Delta’s traditional music and songs performed by villagers or even maybe our hostess.

Overnight at the simple local house

Take a boat trip for an exciting excursion around the tributaries of the mighty Mekong River to Cai Be vibrant floating market whose trading way is unique; each boat usually sells one particular item, whether it be pumpkins, pineapples or sugar canes… Walk around to visit fruit orchards, enjoy diverse types of tropical fruits.

Then drive back to Ho Chi Minh city. Upon arrival, we spend time for seeing some major sights of the city such as the Reunification Palace, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Sai Gon Post Office.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

This morning we drive to Cao Dai Temples in Tay Ninh to observe the midday service. Tay Ninh , near the Cambodian border, is home to the unique Cao Dai sect, whose patron saints include Joan of Arc, Victor Hugo and Winston Churchill to name a few. The religion is a hybrid of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and Christianity. The Cao Dai Temple at Tay Ninh has been described as a Walt Disney fantasia of the East. The temple’s exterior is decorated with multi-colored dragons of all shapes and sizes competing for space with a number of religious symbols.

The trip to Tay Ninh is combined with a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels. At its height, the tunnel system stretched over 250km. from Saigon to the Cambodian border and was three levels deep. The network included innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens.

Today the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience and a feel of what underground life during the U.S.-Vietnam War must have been like. Overnight in HCMC.

Free at leisure until transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport for departure flight.

End of services.