Meals: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

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

Hanoi – capital of Vietnam. The city is situated in northern Vietnam on the western bank of the Red River, Thang Long remained the main capital of Vietnam until 1802, when the last Vietnamese dynasty, the Nguyen (1802–1945), transferred the capital south to Hue. Today you will take the highlight of Vietnam trip in Hanoi with culture, history and all the outstanding landmarks.

Morning:

• You will be transferred to the historic complex of Ba Dinh. Visit Ba Dinh Square, where The Late President Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnams Independence on 2 September 1945, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and continue to the One Pillar Pagoda, the must-see monument in Hanoi – It is an ancient Buddhist pagoda, built in the early 11th century in the reign of King Ly Thai Tong, all construction supported by only one pillar, resembling a Buddhist lotus.
• Visit Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature – The first Imperial school in Vietnam) built in 1070 during the dynasty of King Ly.
• Lunch at local restaurant.

Afternoon:

• Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest pagoda and situated in the center of the capital of Vietnam, unlike other ordinary pagodas, Tran Quoc Pagoda was built in a very intricate way, there are many valuable statues, such as the red lac statue trimmed with gold of Sakyamouni Buddha’s Parinirvana, which is a masterpiece of Vietnamese sculptural art, and lots of ancient stele.
• Hoa Lo prison This thought-provoking site is all that remains of the former Hoa Lo Prison, ironically nicknamed the ‘Hanoi Hilton’ by US prisoners of war (POWs) during the American War. Most exhibits relate to the prison’s use up to the mid-1950s, focusing on the Vietnamese struggle for independence from France. A gruesome relic is the ominous French guillotine, used to behead Vietnamese revolutionaries.
• Water Puppet Show (Making puppets dance on water) – is a tradition that dates back as far as the 11th century when it originated in the villages of the Red River Delta area of northern Vietnam. The puppets are made out of wood and then lacquered. The shows are performed in a waist-deep pool. A large bamboo rod supports the puppet under the water and is used by the puppeteers, who are normally hidden behind a screen, to control them.

Back to your hotel and free until driver come and transfer you to bus station to take a night train to Lao Cai which departs around 21:45

Overnight on train.

Meals: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

Arive Lao Cai, driver will come and pick you at station then:

Transfer you to Sapa hotel for breakfast (check in time will be 14:00). You will be greeted by the local tour guide who will give a brief introduction about the whole tour. After that, the trekking expedition starts. You will go off the main road, onto hilly mountainous trails. Your surrounding is filled with lush vegetation, pine forest and fresh air. You will experience the untouched beauty of the area. Matra is the newly added location in a series of villages in Sapa that visitors can go to. The village is about 5km from the town of Sapa. This has around 50 households, resided by only H’Mong people. Ma Tra village has restored the traditional flax weaving loom, forging tools and carved silver production as part of tourism. After 3h walks from Matra, you will then reach Taphin village where the red Dao and H’mong reside. With this mix of ethnicity, the culture is this village is rather exciting and colorful. Lunch will be served on the way in a local family.

You will also have a chance to visit the unique caves in the Taphin area. This cave system is small and meandering, leading to all different direction but will eventually lead you to one point. The village also has an old monastery built during the French colonial period. There is also an arts and crafts house displaying and selling authentic jewelries made by the locals. In late afternoon, you will take your car back to the town.

Approx: 0,5 hour driving/ 4 hours walking/ 1 hour lunch.

Overnight in Sapa

Meals: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

On the way you will learn more about how is the rice cultivating, from when the seed sowed to harvested, until being served as cooked rice on your dinner table. The trip offers an opportunity to meet Black Hmong, Giay and Red Dao minorities as well as explore their different cultures. 

The day is devoted to a beautiful hike through the breathtaking scenery of Sa Pa valley. Start by road that descends in the wake of the street Cau May (6 km) En route, admire the rice terraces hidden behind mist of the morning, a truly awe-inspiring sight.

Follow a small track and cross Muong Hoa River and pass well tended rice terraces on your way to the Black Hmong village of Lao Chai.  Continuing through the colorful rice terraces you will reach the village of Ta Van Giay. As you continue your trek along the Muong Hoa River you will cross a small suspension bridge, roughly 2km from the settlement. Here you can discover a fascinating collection of rock carvings. These engravings depict some beautiful images of man, stilt houses and some beautiful decorative patterns. We lunch in a home in the village. After lunch the walk continues through a bamboo forest to Giang Ta Chai, a Red Dao ethnic minority village. After taking a rest nearby a waterfall to refresh, you start climbing uphill to a road where the car is ready for your journey back to Lao Cai for train back Hanoi.

Approx: 1-hour driving/ 4 hours walking/ 1-hour lunch.

Overnight on train

Meals: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

Note: Itinerary will be different depend on cruises.

Note: Itinerary will be different depend on cruises.

Pick up at the train station, transfer to a hotel for breakfast before ready for Halong Bay. At around 8:00 am to 8:30 am leave Hanoi for Halong Bay.

Halong Bay, Hạ Long Bay, in northeast Vietnam – one of the most breathtaking natural landmark in Vietnam¸ is known for its emerald waters and thousands of towering limestone islands topped by rainforests. It is closely attached to important historical milestones of Vietnam from the establishment stage to the present time. This will be the outstanding of this Vietnam trip.

Breakfast in the hotel, then shuttle bus will pick you up at hotel (for hotel in old quarter). Leaving Hanoi by road for Ha Long Bay, enjoy the journey en route as the  weaves through the picturesque countryside landscapes, 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. Land on the beautiful island, enjoy the great view of Halong bay. Visit cave with paddle boat. 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 board.

Meals: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

Wake up and enjoy the sunrise, a wholesome breakfast before visiting the recently discovered Grotto with its great views, and on the next island see the yawning mouth of Cave. Continue visiting bay En route the junk weaves through strange-shaped rock formations that invite comparisons from fighting cocks to dragons. After another wonderful fresh seafood lunch on Board,

Check-out the boat and take a van back directly to Hanoi. Then driver will come and transfer you back to Hanoi then the driver to Noi Bai Airport to catch a flight to Hue. Driver in Hue will welcome and transfer you to hotel in Hue.

Note: The itinerary base on difference cruises

Overnight in Hue.

Meals: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

An important part of Vietnam trip is Hue – Hue owes its charm partly to its location on the Perfume River, Hue intimately connected to the imperial Nguyen Dynasty, based in Hue, who ruled from 1802 to 1945, when the Emperor Bao Dai abdicated in favor of Ho Chi Minh’s revolutionary government blends new and old as sleek modern hotels tower over crumbling century-old Citadel walls.

Morning: breakfast, you will take the cruise along the Huong River view some fine examples of Buddhist architecture for Royal Pagoda – Mu Lady Pagoda, the symbol of Hue tourism. Then visit the last imperial capital of Vietnam from 1802 to 1945 and has recently been recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site.

• Imperial Palace (city), Forbidden City – the center where the history, culture and romance all combine. The imperial palace is in fact a citadel within a citadel within a citadel. The Imperial city is 2km by 2km and where the emperor held important ceremonies.  Forbidden City was reserved solely for the personal use of the emperor – the only servants allowed into this compound were eunuchs who would pose no threat to the royal concubines.
• The royal Antiques Museum: A gallery of antiques displaying collection of bronze pottery, Chinaware, Phap Lam enamel, court robes, head- gear and personal belongings of former Vietnam Emperors of Nguyen Dynasty.
• Lunch in the local restaurant.

Afternoon:

• Tu Duc Tomb – is not only one of the most beautiful works of the Nguyen dynasty, but it is also the romantic scenery of mounts and lakes.
• Tu Hiếu Pagoda – The pagoda was built by Nhat Dinh in 1843, with the help of the king’s eunuchs and courtiers.
• Conical hat village: To see and learn how the locals make the conical hat (non la). (Non la- traditional indispensable accessory expressing the hidden charm and simplicity of women).
• Incense stick making village: Observe how locals make sandalwood and cinnamon incense Then transfer back to Hotel in Hue

Overnight in Hue.

Meals: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

After a relaxing breakfast we depart for Hoian, heading south, stop on Hai Van Pass to take beautiful picture and get overview of Beach while enjoying the view of the coast and Da Nang, and explore the Buddhist Shrines of the Marble Mountain Caves then visit Non Nuoc Beach, we visit the fascinating Cham museum in Danang  

Departure to Hoian, a small and charming town that located by Thu Bon River. Afternoon we will make a stroll between the  844 houses and temples in Hoian, 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.

Overnight in Hoian

Meals: 1 Breakfast, 1 Dinner

Free and easy until time to transfer to Danang Airport for a flight to Nha Trang. Arriving at Cam Ranh airport, welcome by Palm Vietnam’s guide and driver, then being transfered to the reserved hotel in Nha Trang for check in (standard time for check in: 14:00)

15:00 Po Nagar is a Cham temple tower founded sometime before 781 and located in the medieval principality of Kauthara, near modern Nha Trang in Vietnam. It is dedicated to Yan Po Nagar, the goddess of the country, who came to be identified with the Hindu goddesses Bhagavati and Mahishasuramardini, and who in Vietnamese is called Thiên Y Thánh Mâu.

16:00 Depart to Thap Ba hot spring for muth path and mineral swimming pool (group will try muth path in common pool, private pool will be own expense)

18:00 Go for dinner

Overnight in Nha Trang

As a important part of Vietnam Trip, Nha Trang is a coastal resort city in southern Vietnam known for its beaches, diving sites and offshore islands. Its main beach is a long, curving stretch along Tran Phu Street backed by a promenade, hotels and seafood restaurants 

Meals: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

Nha Trang is ideally situated between the ocean and the mountains. Directly off the coast are five main islands, the largest being Hon Tre, providing protection from storms and giving Nha Trang the best beach climate in Vietnam. These islands also make Nha Trang a great place to explore by boat.

8:00     Breakfast in the hotel

09:00 Depart to the Cau Da pier, take to wooden boat cruise to Tri Nguyen Seapark - aquarium 
09:15: Visit Tri Nguyen Aquarium is a unique structure designed to resemble the old sailing vessel and is structured like the aquarium in the fairytale. Tourists will like to go to the Palace of the King with a very interesting and strange flora and fauna in the sea. Visitors will be told by our guides interesting stories about each kind of fish, creatures here. About the fish species, giant sea monster Amazon River, about the characteristics of the fish species to sleep on, the story of seahorses is unique, males carry eggs and give birth.

10:15 cruise to Mun island - is known as the snorkeling and diving island, with great visibility during the dive season from March to September. We will spend time here for snorkeling in the beautiful corals.

12:30 Cruise back Con se tre for Seafood lunch

14:30 Cruise back to the pier, drive back to your hotel for relax until time for dinner.

(time is just estimated, tour time might change depend on passengers or climate)

Overnight in Nha Trang

Meals: 1 Breakfast

Free and easy by the beautiful beach. Overnight in Nha Trang.

Meals: 1 Breakfast

After breakfast, transfer to Cam Ranh Airport for a flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Guests are welcomed by Palm Vietnam travel’s driver, transfer directly to the hotel.
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 for lunch and take a tour of beautiful Ho Chi Minh city, continue visiting:

   ·    Jade Emperor Pagoda – Built in 1909 in honour of the supreme Taoist god (the Jade Emperor or King of Heaven, Ngoc Hoang), this is one of the most spectacularly atmospheric temples in Ho Chi Minh City, stuffed with statues of phantasmal divinities and grotesque heroes. The pungent smoke of incense (huong) fills the air, obscuring the exquisite woodcarvings. Its roof is encrusted with elaborate tile work, and the temple’s statues, depicting characters from both Buddhist and Taoist lore, are made from reinforced papier mâché.

• War Museum – the Museum of thematic research, collection, storage, preservation and display of the material, photographs, artifacts on the evidence of the crime and the consequences of the war that the invasion force has caused to Vietnam. Thereby, the Museum of educating the public, especially the younger generation, mental struggle for independence and freedom of the country, the anti-war sense of invasion, to protect peace and solidarity friendship between the peoples of the world.

• Notre Dame Cathedral (officially Basilica of Our Lady of The Immaculate Conception) – the ancient cathedral is located in a very peaceful picturesque corner in the downtown of Ho Chi Minh City. Constructed between 1863 and 1880 by the French colonists, following their conquest of the city, the building reaches a height of up to 60m. In 1962, Vatican anointed it as Saigon Chief Cathedral conferred it basilique. Since this time, this cathedral is called Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica.

• Old Post Office Being a mixture of Gothic, Renaissance and French influences, this building fascinates tourists by its typical colonial French features, from exterior to interior decorations. It was built around 1886 – 1891, based on the design of Gustave Eiffel – a famous French architect and has become a significant symbol of the city, just like its opposite neighbor Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral.

• Shopping at Ben Thanh market – Built in 1870 by the French, the market was initially called Les Halles Centrales before being renamed Ben Thanh in 1912. That makes it a must for any visitors travelling to this 300-year-old city. 

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city

Meals: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

Breakfast, then transfer to the riverside town, Cai Be. Upon arrival, taking a boat trip to discover Cai Be floating market where local people sell, buy and exchange goods on their boats. Next, transfer to a workshop in a village where you can see how the locals make rice paper, coconut candy & pop rice. Enjoy Vietnamese traditional music then take a small sampan rowing by hand of local to feel the real Mekong river.

After lunch, time for walking around or biking around the island for 1 hour, back to the boat then free for short rest then visit to a brick kiln before taking another boat to Vinh Long, the center of tropical fruits and stopping for a short visit at Vinh Long marketthen transfer back to Saigon.

Overnight in Saigon