Depth of Vietnam

Meals: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

Morning, breakfast then drive to Thai Nguyen province for Tan Cuong green tea, bicycle will be with you for beautiful tour, then visit a small village nearby. Then back to Hanoi.

8h30: Star from hotel to Thai Nguyên, enjoy the view both side of the road.
10h30: Arr, visit- local house, then he will introduce you to how to make tea.
Then have lunch with local family – with the host family. His lunch time 11-11h30. Then the host and tour guide will guide you by bicycle around the town – the tea museum, and the old church near there.

15h00: star to get back Hanoi.
Note: please confirm me your tall for the bicycle. Overnight in Hanoi.

Meals: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

City tour will have you drive to Ho Chi Minh’s complex, including the mausoleum of the nation’s founder and leader. Here, large crowds gather to pay their respects to the man they simply call “Uncle Ho” as they silently file past his glass sarcophagus. The Presidential Palace and Uncle Ho’s wooden stilt house can also be seen here. One of must-see places in the complex is the One Pillar pagoda dating back to the 11th century.

The next stop is the Temple of Literature, the site of Vietnam’s oldest university and dedicated to one of the world’s most famous scholars, Confucius. Inside the temple grounds, huge steles rest on the backs of even larger stone turtles (in Vietnam’s culture, the turtle represents longevity). The stele recorded the names of the successful candidates who later became mandarins in the Emperor’s court. Visit Historical Museum.

The sightseeing tour including Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple (Jade mountain Temple), But Tower (Pen – shaped tower), Dai Nghien (Ink Stand), the Red – painted wooden and The Huc Bridge… Have a walking trip around with 36 streets of Ha Noi ancient town you have a free time to shopping at 36 streets of Hanoi Old Quarter. Water puppet show will be hight light of the day.
Free until being transfer to Hanoi train station for train to Lao Cai.

Note:

 – During the months of October, November and all Mondays of the year Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, museums in Hanoi will remain closed and will be replaced by a panoramic visit.

– You should just take enough clothes for a couple day in Sapa, and leave the rest in hotel. Don’t forget to take your trekking shoes.

Overmight on train.

Meals: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

Option 1: (Sunday Only)
Bac Ha market, located in the heart of Bac ha small town is the largest one in the area. Every Sunday, the different and colorful ethnic minority come all here to sell their homemade products or buy something for the family. They are Hmong, Phu La, Back Dzao, Tay or Nung minorities. Some of these ethnic minorities can’t be met in any other areas.

The highlights of this trip is to live yourself in Bac Ha colorful market that happens only on Sunday and also to take a wonderful boat trip upstream Chay River, to have some pleasant walks through Tay village.

You will be met by local guide and driver upon your arrival at Lao Cai station then transferred to a local restaurant for breakfast .Then start our drive to Bac Ha town. The road is relatively flat from Lao Cai to Bao Nhai bridge. After crossing the bridge, we begin our journey up to Bac Ha. Bac Ha market, located in the heart of Bac ha small town is the largest one in the area. Every Sunday, the different and colorful ethnic minority come all here to sell their homemade products or buy something for the family. They are Hmong, Phu La, Back Dzao, Tay or Nung minorities. Some of these ethnic minorities can’t be met in any other areas. Your lunch will be provided in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we drive downhill towards Lao Cai for about half an hour. We stop on the way (before reaching Lao Cai) to take a short walk to Trung Do village inhabited by Tay people. Tay villages are always set up at the foot of a mountain or along a stream and are named after a mountain, a field, or a river. Each village contains about 15-20 households. A large village is divided into many small hamlets. The houses are built on stilts or level with the ground. Stop by a traditional Tay house for a cup of tea before taking a boat cruise upstream the Chay River. The scenery is very beautiful on both sides of the river. The boat trip will end at Bao Nhai bridge where your vehicle will be waiting for you for the journey back to Sapa.

Option 2: (at any day)
Arrive Lao Cai in the early morning then driver will come and transfer you to Hotel for breakfast. Met up at your hotel in Sapa by local guide and driver for a short road transfer heading northwards of Sapa along national road 4C to O Quy Ho with several stops for magnificent landscapes of Fansipan, Sin Chai valley and especially amazing flower and vegetable farms. Then turn right to follow a narrow road for half an hour getting through the wild region with thick rain forest covering walled-up mountains, passing several waterfalls before arriving to Ban Khoang, a village of the Red Zao ethnic peoples who live their unique way of life and well maintain their traditional values. The village looks prosperous thanks to the combination of wet rice cultivation on the terraced fields with cardamom farming under the shade of trees in thick forest. Spend over an hour walking to explore this remote village for a brief understanding of local life. Leaving Ban Khoang and process along the road for about 10km to Ta Giang Phin valley inhabited by the Black Hmong who live in some small villages scattering along a peaceful stream.

Enjoy an hour lunch break on the bank of a stream before walking along village path which connects village to village to witness daily activities of local life such as plough and harrow the fields, growing, harvesting or doing some house work. In leisure months men often gather to built new houses or repair parts of old ones while women stay home making their traditional costumes. The walk ends in mid afternoon, picked up for the road ride back to Sapa. Overnight to Sapa.

Meals: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

Visiting different ethnic groups such as the Tay, the Xa Pho who which cannot be found in other areas of Sapa. Even though they live close to each other, their living standard, their customs and traditions are not the same. Also enjoy beautiful landscape in Ban Ho valley.

Met up at your hotel in Sapa by local guide and driver then transferred to Thanh Phu Bridge. We will trek along the Ngoi Bo River for 1 hour, then uphill to Muong Bo Village at the center of Thanh Phu Commune where your lunch will be provided in a local house. After lunch time, you head to Sin Chai B village. This is a village of of Red Dao people. Dinner and overnight in a local house in the village.

Approx: 1-hour driving/ 5 hours walking/ 1-hour lunch. Overnight in homestay in Sin Chai B, Sapa.

Meals: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

After breakfast, we start our day by walking downhill toward the My Son village which is inhabited by the Xafo ethnic minority, one of the smallest group’s ethnic in Northern Vietnam. After one and a half hours walk to the Red Dao village of Nam Toong, we bill stop for lunch.

In the afternoon, we continue our trip towards Ban Ho village where it will be possible to take a swim. Please check your guide’s advice before jumping on the water. Then our vehicle will transfer you back to Lao Cai from ban Ho. Then take the train back to Hanoi.

Approx: 1-hour driving/ 5 hours walking/ 1-hour lunch. Overmight on train.

Meals: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

Arrive Hanoi in the early morning, the driver will wait in the gate of the station and bring you back hotel for breakfast (No check in ) then wait until the shuttle bus come and pick up at the hotel lobby around 8:00 am to 8:30 AM leave Hanoi for Halong Bay.

Enjoy the journey through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta and the scenery of rice fields, water buffalo and everyday Vietnamese village life.

Arrive in Halong and board the traditional sailing junk. Have lunch with regional fresh seafood while explore Halong bay on the most wonderful route: Dinh Huong island, Ga Choi Island, Dog Island, Sail island, Binh Phong mountain, Man’s head island, Tortoise island. Land on a beautiful island, climb up and enjoy the great view of Halong bay, swim in the emerald water of Halong Bay or relax by the beach. Watch the sun set over the bay whilst enjoying a delicious dinner. Join the Crew’s squid fishing or enjoy a Karaoke party. Overnight on cruise.

Meals: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

Wake up and enjoy the sunrise, a wholesome breakfast before visiting the recently discovered Surprise Grotto with its great views. Continue visiting bay En route the junk weaves through strange-shaped rock formations that invite comparisons from fighting cocks to dragons and even General de Gaulle’s nose!

After another wonderful fresh seafood lunch on Board, check-out the boat and take a van directly to Hanoi. The driver will come and pick you up for Hanoi airport for flight to Hue.

Note: Bus will bring you back to hotel in Hanoi, then driver will come to hotel at 5pm and bring you to airport. Overnight in Hue.

Meals: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

07h00: Depart from hotel, leave for Dong Hoi. Then visit Hien Luong Bridge and Ben Hai River once the demarcation line between North and South Vietnam. Next, you will explore Vinh Moc Tunnel, an accommodation established underground for civilians to prevent from bombing during wars. Then visit Phong Nha caves. Overnight in Quang Binh.

Meals: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

Breakfast in your hotel, then transfer to Thien Duong Cave (Paradise Cave). The cave is far away 30km from Phong Nha Cave. It was discovered in 2005. This cave is 31 km long and considered as the longest cave in Phong Nha-Ke Bang national park. Come back Hue. Leisure at your time. Overnight in Hue.

Meals: 1 Breakfast

A cycling day tour of Hue will star along Huong River to view some fine examples of Buddhist architecture and visit Thien Mu pagoda.

Then it’s offers us an opportunity to explore the “Forbidden City”, Imperial Palace .This is your chance to explore the center where the history, culture and romance all combine of the last dynasty in Vietnam which is ended in 1945.

Today, the tour guide will guide you around to try local food (Hue is very famous of Royal Gastronomy) – paid by pax account.

After lunch visit Khai Dinh Tomb, in late afternoon, driver to Hoi An. Overnight in Hoi An.

Meals: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunchr

We will make a stroll between the 844 houses and temples in Hoi An, including the Tanky’s House, 200 years of antiquity, with Chinese poems written in nacar inlaid, or ever the structure oldest call “The House at Tran Phu St.”, made of carved wood. Visit city’s Market, one of the most colorful places of the trip.

Located 60 km. from Da Nang, 150 km. from Hue and 75km from Hoi An, My Son is the former capital of the ancient Cham civilization that ruled Central Vietnam from the second to the thirteenth century. Their religion was primarily derived from Indian Hinduism. My Son is considered to be one of the best-preserved Cham structures in Vietnam.

The complex is comprised of seventy Hindu-like towers and temples dating from the second century. This site is a Must-See for those people who are interested in architecture and ancient civilizations and is now one of five UNESCO World Heritage sites in Vietnam.

Then try cooking class for dinner time. Overnight in Hoi An.

Meals: 1 Breakfast, 1 Dinner

Enjoy Hoi An your way, then cooking class in the evening. Overnight in Hoi An.

Meals: 1 Breakfast

Check out of your hotel, driver will transfer you to Da Nang for your relaxing time here.
Note: Check in time in Da Nang will be 14h. So, the driver will come to hotel in Hoi An at 12h30. Overnight in Da Nang.

Meals: 1 Breakfast

Free on your own. Overnight in Da Nang.

Meals: 1 Breakfast

Taking flight to Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many local, driver will come and pick you up and transfer you to hotel for check in. You will have a appointment from tour guide for time for tour next day. Spend your first night in Saigon.

Note: Driver will come to hotel at 9h30 AM. Overnight in Saigon.

Meals: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

Morning: Pick up at hotel, transfer to visit Cu Chi. Sightseeing on road such as; rice field and potter’s kilns. Visit the underground village, which used to be a bitter battle ground for a long period during the Vietnam War. The amazing network of over 200 km of underground tunnels will offer you impression of the former fierce war in South Vietnam.

Afternoon: Transfer back to Saigon and take a tour of beautiful Ho Chi Minh city, continue visiting Reunification palace, Jade Emperior Pagoda, Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Post Office – formerly US Embassy, Lacquer factory, shopping at Ben Thanh market. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

Meals: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

After Breakfast, start a full day trip to Cai Be, the watery world of the Mekong Delta.

After driving to Cai be, we go on a boat trip along narrow waterways overhung with dense vegetation. We try exotic fruits in one of the many orchards. We visit the floating market CAIBE, Visiting the local pop rice, rice paper workshops, and take part in making popcorns and taste the warm crispy ones right after they are made. We have late lunch in a bonsai garden especially to try eating the local Elephant Ear Fish.

Direct to Can Tho, arriving home stay, find your most favorite place, rest. The landlord will guide around the neighborhood and visit the garden. You could walk around the village, visit the rice paddy, talk to local farmers or join their daily activities. One of the highlight points is try to be a farmer by doing real farming work such as bailing water into rice paddy with a four-stringed bucket which you have to balance a bucket of water by four strings or catch fish for your own dinner.

You can learn to cook simple local dishes with fresh ingredients collected in the garden or a small market nearby for their own dinner under the landlord’s instructions.

After dinner, the landlord may need your help to make sticky rice cakes for breakfast and enjoy some cups of rice wine.

Note: to joint more activities in Can Tho, you are better star the tour early as 7h30 am. Please note that this is homestay, so it living standard will be local standard. Overnight in Can Tho Homestay.

Meals: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

After breakfast, you will visit the biggest and busiest wholesale floating market of Vietnam where not only local people but people from all over Mekong delta come to exchange their farming products. Finishing the market, you can visit handmade noodle workshop or shipyard to deeply understand the Mekong delta life. Say good bye to Can Tho and drive back to Saigon. and dinner on cruise along SAIGON river. Overnight in Saigon.

Meals: 1 Breakfast

Breakfast in the hotel, and free at leisure till check out time for flight Saigon then your flight home./.