Vietnam Highlights & Mountain Trekking: From Hanoi to Saigon 15D14N

Hanoi Arrival

On arrival Hanoi airport, greeted by our private guide and driver, then get your private transfer to your hotel in city center. Check-in time is 2 pm, early check-in is subjected to availability. Rest of the day at leisure exploring Hanoi city, the capital of Vietnam, known for its centuries-old architecture and a rich culture with Southeast Asian, Chinese and French influences. Overnight in Hanoi.

Hanoi City Explore (B/L)

Breakfast at your hotel. By 8.30 am, greeted by your private guide and driver at your hotel, start our full day tour to Hanoi’s highlights sites including the Ho Chi Minh Complex:

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and his stilt house, Presidential Palace and the One Pillar Pagoda (Note: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum closes on every Monday and Friday. Remember to wear clothes that’s over your knee and covers your shoulder when visiting Ho Chi Minh complex or the pagoda). Next-stop is Temple of Literature, the first university in Vietnam dated back to 1070.

Enjoy lunch at local restaurant.

After lunch, continue to the Ethnology Museum (closes every Monday) where you can learn about all ethnic groups in Vietnam. Head back to Hoan Kiem Lake for a leisure walk around of which Ngoc Son Temple and The Huc Bridge will be the must not miss. Back to the Old Quarter, you can choose to walk/ have cyclo ride or shared electrical car through the narrow streets that were famous for its specialized craft making guilds. The guild streets were named for their product or location and still bear such names nowadays; and then join in a unique water puppet show that features the Viet folklore and culture.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Hanoi – Hoa Lu – Trang An – Mua Cave – Night train to Lao Cai (B/L)

Group tour by A Travel Mate

Breakfast at your hotel.

07:30 – 08:00 – Our guide will meet you at your hotel/stay and start 110km modern  Bus-journey through verdant landscape of country side. Short-brake en route.

10:30 – Visit Hoa Lu Ancient Citadel with Dinh King Temple and Le King Temple dating back to the 17th Century.

11:30 Leisure  cycling on rural roads alongside the extensive canal network and through small villages with back drop of a maze of limestone mountains

12:00 Enjoy the lunch at our restaurant with the great local cuisines.

13:30 Leave for the Trang An Grottoes, an out-standing natural beauty of majestic limestone massif at 20 square kilometer rise dramatically out from rice paddy fields. Deep into the linked chains of towering mountain are pristine places of mystical valleys, numerous fresh water ponds, and jungle.

Embark on a traditional sampan gently roweddown the exquisite river through numerous caves: Lam Cave, Vang Cave, Dai Cave, Thanh Truot Cave,…and Cao Sơn Temple, Suoi Tien Temple, Vu Lam Temple…

15:30 Arrive Mua Cave and start an amazing trek up to the top of Ngoa Long mountain for watching the spectacular rice valley with specious view of the nature.

17:15 Return to our bus and then come back to Ha Noi

19:30 Drop you off at your hotel. Trip ends. Leisure time (no hotel arranged)

WHAT TO BRING

Sun block, sport shoes, cash for personal expenses, and hat or umbrella

Tonight, by 21.00, private driver comes to your hotel to bring you to Hanoi Railway Station to board on an overnight train to Lao Cai. Overnight on train.

FAMILY EXPRESS TRAIN SP3 HANOI 22.00 – LAO CAI 06.20

Lao Cai – Sapa – Cat Cat – Y Linh Ho – Lao Chai (B/L)

Early arrive in Lao Cai station; greeted by driver, you will get tour private transfer to Sapa, which is about 30km away from Station. Nice drive with passes and rice terraces. Upon arrival, store your luggage and have breakfast at local restaurant. After breakfast, let’s start our trek today. We follow a road going downhill to Cat Cat village. You will stop by a waterfall and a hydroelectric station for a while before you trek on a dirt trail through rice paddy terraces. You will also enjoy spectacular scenery while walking along a narrow river. You eventually arrive in Y Linh Ho village of Black Hmong minority, where you can take a rest. After that, driver come to pick up, we head to Muong Hoa valley toward Lao Chai Village with the goal of reaching our accommodation tonight –Laxsik Ecolodge. Overnight in Sapa.

Lao Chai – Giang Ta Chai – Drive to Hanoi (B/L)

Breakfast at your lodge. This morning, guide comes to Laxsik, starting our trekking day passing through Lao Chai village of Black Hmong minority and then Tavan village of Giay minority by following a very popular trekking route. You will be able to take a walk to enjoy the valley view as well as swim in the river nearby. After resting, we leave for Giang Ta Chai village of Red Dao minority. You will trek through bamboo forest, which belongs to Hoang Lien National Park. On the way you will pass by a waterfall where you will have time to take a rest and enjoy the surroundings. Once done the trek, driver comes to bring you to a local restaurant in Sapa town for lunch. After lunch, we bring you to bus station to get your shared transfer back to Hanoi

HK BUSLINE – SAPA – HANOI depart around 14.00; arrive around 21.30

Arrives Hanoi around late evening. Driver will wait at bus station to bring you back to your hotel in Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

Note: You should bring clothes and stuff enough for 2 days in separate backpackers as you need to do trekking during excursion. Main big luggage can be stored at reception of hotel in Hanoi.

Hanoi – Halong – Lan Ha Bay (B/L/D)

Option 1: Sena Cruise

07:45 – 08:30 | Pick-up (estimated time)

Around 7:45 – 8:30, shared shuttle bus will pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter.

11:30 – 12:00 | Arrive Tuan Chau Harbor

12:00 – 12:30 | Transfer to the main boat by tender. Embark on Sena Cruise Warmly welcome to Sena Cruise! While enjoying a welcome drink, our cruise manager will deliver a cruise briefing and safety introduction. After that you will check in your cabin.

13:00 – 13:30 | Enjoy fabulous lunch

Fabulous lunch is served while Sena Cruise – Luxury Boutique Cruise starts her sail into magnificent Lan Ha Bay – an extension of Ha Long Wonder which is much quieter and has fewer tourists. The cruise will pass a thousand of uniquely shaped limestone towers and islands.

15:00 | Explore Lan Ha Bay

We will visit the Dark and Bright Cave – famous for the pristine natural beauty and poetic, attractive seascape of Lan Ha Bay. Here you will take some photos of the romantic, lyrical local see-sights. This is also the best time for tourists to enjoy bamboo boats or swimming – which is an interesting activity to discover the truest beauty of the Limestone Mountains and the blue sky of Lan Ha Bay.

Afterwards, visitors immerse in the emerald green water of Lan Ha Bay with exciting swimming activities.

17:00 | Return to Sena Cruise

Enjoy a sunset party on Lan Ha Bay. It is an ideal time for photography enthusiasts to capture the stunning moment of sunset at Lan Ha Bay.

You will also have a chance to join our Cooking class to challenge your skills in preparing very famous Vietnamese spring rolls.

Before dinner, our experienced captain will choose the most tranquil area to anchor for overnight.

19:00 | Savor deluxe dinner

Reward yourself with a large selection of cocktails at a panoramic bar or take one of our onboard activities: squid fishing, karaoke. (We open the light and prepare the squid fishing rods)

You will stay overnight on cruise.

Option 2: V’Spirit Cruise

Around 8:15 – 8:45, shared shuttle bus will pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter.

11:45 – 12:00 Welcome to V’Spirit Cruises lounge at Tuan Chau International Harbor and complete check-in procedures.

12:00 Transfer to V’Spirit Cruises by a tender boat.

12:30 Embark V’Spirit Cruises, and enjoy a welcome drink while listening to cruise briefing and safety introductions.

13:00 Have lunch at The Dawn Restaurant while cruising from Ha Long Bay to Lan Ha Bay.

15:00 Explore Bright cave on a traditional rowing bamboo boat with locals.

17:00 Join a cooking demonstration to get to know Vietnamese cuisine and create your own special flavors.

17:30 – 18:30 Enjoy a Sunset party with some complimentary while waiting for twilight over limestone islands. Take the chance of HAPPY HOUR to have your favorite drinks.

19:00 Dinner at the restaurant. Fine dining setting with degustation experience will create your memorable moments.

21:00 Enjoy starry night on the bay from the top deck with your favorite drink and have fun with board games. You can also try your luck with squid fishing. Overnight on the cruise.

Lan Ha Bay – Halong – Hanoi – Flight to Hue (B/Br)

Option 1: Sena Cruise

06:00 | Sunrise Tai-chi section on sundeck

Be an early bird for a photo hunt and join our Tai-chi session on the sundeck to refresh your body and mind.

07:00 | Having light breakfast

Sena Cruises – Luxury Boutique Cruises continues her sail, passing amazing karst towers. Tea, coffee and light breakfast is served with fresh air and peaceful surroundings.

08:15 | Explore Tra Bau Area

Join kayaking & swimming to explore the Tra Bau area – the famous filming location for Kong Skull Island (King Kong) in Quang Ninh in 2018.

09:30 | Return to the boat for check-out

10:00 | Lunch time

During the time well prepared lunch is served, Sena Cruise – Luxury Boutique Cruise slowly navigates emerald water and thousands of Karst Mountains towards the Harbor.

11:30 – 12:00 | Disembark Sena Cruise and farewell the crew and back to Hanoi by bus

15:00 – 16:00 | Arrive at your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter.

Option 2: V’Spirit Cruise

6:30 Start a day with a Tai Chi session, enjoy the fresh air and watch the sunrise on the bay.

7:00 Have a light breakfast on board.

7:30 Explore the Tra Bau area by kayaking, get closer to the rocky islands and admire the stunning nature of the bay. You have chance to kayak pass by a hidden temple of the fishing villagers if weather permits.

8:00 It’s time for swimming and water activities, immersed in the green water of the Bay with floats.

9:00 Return to the cruise, check-out.

9:30 Enjoy brunch at the restaurant while cruising back to Tuan Chau port.

11:00 – 11:30 Disembark at Tuan Chau Marina. Return to Hanoi by the shared transfer.

CABIN CHECK-OUT: 09:00 AM

15:00 – 15:15: Arrive in Hanoi at your hotel and take a short rest.

Around 16:30, your private driver will transfer you directly to the airport for your flight to Hue.

VIETNAM AIRLINES HANOI – HUE VN1549 HAN – HUI 20:05 – 21:15

Upon arrival Hue airport, greeting by private driver then bring you to hotel, overnight in Hue.

Special notes: Lunch = Brunch

Hue city group tour (B/L)

Group tour by Asiana Travel Mate (max 12 people)

Pick up at hotel (center) 8h00 – 8h30

Drop off at hotel 16h00 – 16h30

Breakfast at your hotel. This morning, you will be picked up at your hotel by a shared shuttle bus with guide and driver for a full-day sightseeing tour in Hue.

Morning

• Dragon boat trip to Thien Mu pagoda – The oldest pagoda in Hue city.
• Imperial Citadel – The home of Vietnam last royal dynasty – the Nguyen Dynasty.
• Hue Royal Antiques Museum – A collection of ornaments from the Nguyen dynasty.
• Dong Ba Market to see the daily life of local people.

Afternoon

• Lunch at local restaurant.
• Khai Dinh King’s Tomb – a blend of Western and Eastern architecture.
• Minh Mang King’s Tomb, one is impressed by the majesty and symmetry of the architectural constructions.
• Conical hat village, incense stick making village
• Back to your hotel. Tour ends. Overnight in Hue.

Hue – Drive to Hoi An (B)

Breakfast at your hotel. This morning, around 09.00 am or your preferred time, private driver comes to bring you to Hoi An over beautiful Hai Van pass. Stops on the way can be arranged like Marble Mountain, Lang Co Beach, Hai Van pass (entrance fees on guests account). Arrive Hoi An in the afternoon. Overnight in Hoi An.

Hoi An Heritage Town (B/L)

Breakfast at your hotel. Today this morning, by 09.00 am, private guide comes to hotel. We have a Heritage Walking Tour in Hoi An old town. Tour includes Assembly Hall of the Fujian Chinese Congregation, Phuoc Kien assembly hall, Japanese recovered bridge and one of the most famous old houses in town, Tan Ky house. After tour, you will have free time for shopping. Hoi An is one of the best places in Vietnam to shop for souvenirs at bargain prices including silk, handicrafts, antiques and paintings. Or you can visit the numerous art and craft shops and tailors, who can produce made to-measure clothes for yourselves. Bring you back to your resort after tour. Overnight in Hoi An.

Hoi An Countryside Cycling – Drive to Danang – Flight to Saigon (B/L)

Group tour by Heaven & Earth from 8h30 to 15h00 (9km cycling) – max 10 people

Breakfast at your hotel. This morning, be picked up and bring to Heaven Office, No. 61 Ngo Quyen by 08.15 am. Let’s spend a day leisurely cycling though the scenic countryside of Vietnam, far from the traffic the motor scooters, and the noises the city. You will cross the islands on the Song Thu river delta using local transportation, including ferries and floating bridge. This tour will take you to discover how wooden river boats are made, learn the secret of weaving the colorful straw “Hoi An” sleeping mats. Try the renowned Vietnamese basket boats. You will spend the day with first-hand contact with one of the rural inhabitants of the region, far from the usual tourist circuits. At lunchtime you will be invited into the home of a local Vietnamese family for a traditional Vietnamese meal, and learn their customs and traditions. After you have relaxed for a while under the shade of a mango tree, you will Begin your return towards Hoi An, which will take about an hour. Tour finishes in Heaven & Earth office in town. Bring you back to hotel after tour.

Around 16:00, our driver will pick you up and transfer you to Danang Airport for your flight to Saigon.

VIETNAM AIRLINES DANANG – SAIGON VN137 DAD SGN 18:00-19:30

Upon your arrival, be picked up by private driver and then we will take you to your hotel in Saigon. Overnight in Saigon.

Saigon City – Cu Chi tunnels (B/L)

Group tour by TNK Travel (max 12 people)

Pick up: 07h30 – 08h00

Return: 19h00

Breakfast at your hotel.

This morning, you will be picked up by a shared shuttle bus with guide and driver at your hotel in District 1. Take the morning trip to visit Independence Palace, also known at the Reunification Palace, was built on the sight of the former Norodom palace. The Independence palace is a widely known landmark of Ho Chi Minh City and was designed by the architect Ngo Viet Thu. Continue seeing the beautiful structures from the French Colonial times such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, the historic Central Post Office. Followed by the remarkable site of the War Remnants Museum the museum has a vast display of the both the Indochina wars.

Have lunch at local restaurant.

Depart for Cu Chi tunnel, the trip will take approximately one and a half hours bus driving. Upon arrival, before exploring the tunnels, you will have some short introduction followed by introductory video about how the tunnels were constructed and how the people survived in the harsh conditions of the war time. Then, spend your time to explore the remaining area and tunnel systems which included the special constructed living areas with kitchens, bedrooms side by side with other martial facilities like storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, and command centers helping whoever lives inside the tunnels meet their basic needs. Besides, there are also many hidden trap doors and dangerous traps within the maze-like tunnels for security purpose during the war. Afterward, special tea and cassava (guerilla’s food during the war) will be served.

Break time for relax or time for those who want to try the real shooting gun.

Return to Saigon. Overnight in Saigon.

Saigon – Cai Be – Vinh Long – Can Tho (B/L)

Breakfast at your hotel. This morning, by 8 am, private driver comes to hotel in Saigon to pick up, we depart for Cai Be. On arrival, meet up with your local guide. The program will start with a quick visit of Cai Be town & the ancient church from the boat. Then, we’ll come to Tân Phong island for the rowing boat. They will take you deeper into the countryside on smaller canals to enjoy the peaceful time under the shade of mangrove trees. Stop at local garden to enjoy some fruits with hot tea when listening to the traditional music. Then, start the biking trip on village paths to see the local daily life: orchard, school, church, pagoda, traditional houses… On the way, we can make some stops to see how they wave the dried water-hyacinth to make many products: baskets, bags, hats, wallets, shoes… (You can walk, but see less).

Back to our boat to go across one of the longest rivers in the world, Mekong River, to come to An Bình Island. Travel on the handmade canal to Ut Trinh home & have an optional lunch at this traditional house. After lunch, we can walk in the local village to visit the local workshop to see how to make rice paper, coconut candy, pop-rice… Enjoy some sweets with a cup of hot tea. Visit the brick kilns where you can see how the local people create beautiful potteries from clay. The cruise will end at the new boat station of VinhLong city where our awaited driver will bring you onward to Can Tho. Arrive Can Tho in the afternoon and rest at leisure. Overnight at hotel in Can Tho.

Can Tho – Cai Rang floating market – Saigon (B)

Breakfast at your lodge. This morning, join a private tour organized by Green Village Mekong from 5.30 am to 10.30 am. 5h30 – 10h30 (in the morning). Departing from our own boat station in front of the property then taking a wooden boat on a non-touristic canal and arrives Cai Rang floating market more or less 60 minutes (it may take longer to arrive if the boat goes upstream or against the stream). ​ After the floating market, visiting a glass noodle factory then stopping at Cai Rang fish land market to see how local people shop every day for very new fresh food. Bring you back to lodge, leisure time then later the day, based on your preferred time, driver comes to bring you back to Saigon. Tour ends at your hotel in Saigon.

Note: The floating markets in the Mekong Delta are not tourist markets but wholesale markets where produce of the Mekong Delta, like fruits and vegetables, is traded. For this reason, the number of boats on the market fluctuates depending on harvesting seasons and market demand. Furthermore, modern wholesale markets are becoming more popular in Vietnam. This can result in a decrease in a number of boats being present on the markets.

Saigon Departure (B)

Breakfast at your hotel. Today is your last day, free at leisure to explore city and do last-minute shopping until check-out time by 12 pm, hotel is happy to keep your luggage. Three and a half hours prior to your departure flight, private driver comes to bring you to airport. Tour ends at airport, see you again in Indochina!