Mountain and Sea of Vietnam

Arrive at Noi Bai airport, you will be greeted and transferred to the hotel. After short break, you take a cyclo tour through the bustling old quarter streets named after the specific goods once offered for sale at these places. Evening, enjoy a fantastic traditional water puppet show.

Overnight in Hanoi.

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

Overnight in Sa Pa.

Today you will trek to visit scenic villages Ta Van of Zay hill tribe people and Lao Chai of Black H’mong people, where you discover the traditional lifestyle 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 color. The Zay houses are built 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 to the local restaurant for 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 dinner on the boat.

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 to Hoi An, a recognized World Heritage Site, which is 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 colorful 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 snorkeling or lazing on a beach. We arrive back to the 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”. 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.

Today we visit the Reunification Palace, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Sai Gon Post Office and Ben Thanh market. In the afternoon continue to visit this dynamic city including the China town with Thien Hau pagoda and Binh Tay wholesale market where we have 30 minutes free time for shopping. Then visit a lacquer ware factory and Vinh Nghiem pagoda to see the 4p.m ceremony. Late afternoon stroll down the fashionable Rue Catinat of old Saigon. 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 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.

Journey to My Tho (65 km). Upon arrival we take a boat trip visiting the fish wharf, the 4 famous islands of Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle and Phoenix. Take a short tour by “xe loi” (motorized rickshaw) to the bank of Mekong River visiting a rice farm, candy workshop and honey bee farm, then journey by small sampan through the canals and mangrove forests where we watch the fishermen lay their fish traps. Enjoy time on the Unicorn Island visiting the fruit orchards, taste diverse types of tropical fruits, tea mixed with bee’s honey. Experience a wonderful show of Mekong Delta’s traditional music and songs.

You enjoy the free time until transfer to airport for your departure flight.

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