This is the comprehensive alternative to our previous trip and shows you Vietnam in close-up. It’s not just a change of direction , this trip packs another adventurous days into the itinerary. We’ll explore Hanoi, the Thai and Muong hill tribes of Maichau, visit Halong Bay and Cat Ba before making our way south via Hue, Hoian to Ho Chi Minh City.
Route: Hanoi – Catba Island – Mai Chau – Hue – Hoian – Saigon – Mekong Delta – Saigon.
Day 1: ARRIVAL – HANOI (-/-/-)
Day 2: HANOI – CITY TOUR (B/-/-)
Day 3: HANOI – HALONG – CAT BA ISLAND (B/-/-)
Day 4: CATBA ISLAND – HAIPHONG – HANOI (B/-/-)
Day 5 : HANOI – HOA BINH – MAI CHAU (B/-/-)
Day 6: MAI CHAU – NINH BINH (B/-/-)
Day 7: NINH BINH – TAM COC – HOA LU – HANOI (B/-/-)
Day 8: HANOI – HUE (B/-/-)
Day 9: HUE – MYSON – HOIAN (B/-/-)
Day 10: HOIAN (B/-/-)
Day 11: HOIAN – DANANG – SAIGON (B/-/-)
Day 12: SAIGON – CITY (B/-/-)
Day 13: SAIGON – MEKONG DELTA (B/-/-)
Day 14: SAIGON – DEPARTURE (B/-/-)
Inclussion:
Exclussion:
Arrive at Hanoi airport. Meet the tour guide at the airport and transferred to the hotel. First visit of the city with guide. Take a cyclo tour around Sword Lake and the Old quarter. Dinner and night in Hanoi.
Breakfast at hotel. Full day city tour : the old quarter, Ngoc Son temple or «Jade Mountain which was built on Jade island in the 19th century. It was dedicated to Van Xuong, considered as the brightest star in Vietnamese literary.
Visit Ly Ouoc Su pagoda, vestige of the dynastic temple of Ly. Have a look at the cathedral located at side. Visit Temple of the literature, the oldest school, established in 1070. One of the five courses is the most perfect example of Vietnamese architecture, with her wood sculptures. Visit famous pagoda with the single pillar “Chua Mot Cot”, built at the 11th century, by king Ly Thai To.
Walk in the streets of the 36 corporations, the street of silk, the street of hemp, etc. In the evening, enjoy water puppet show. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.
Departure towards Halong bay, Cruising on the bay, enjoy the landscape of 3000 islands in the sugar loaf shape, scattered on 1550km2 which constitute this archipelago bathing in the surprising green emerald water. Multiple caves, like Thien Cung grottos, the cave of the wonders, Surprise grotto. Many fine sand splits and beaches in a enchanting decoration. Visit a part of the islands and caves (approximately 6 hrs of boat). Lunch on board with seafood. Overnight at hotel in Cat Ba island.
Drive to visit Cat Ba National Park. Bathing at Cat Co Beach. Lunch. PM: Get hydrofoil to HaiPhong City. Drive back to Hanoi. Dinner and night in Hanoi.
8:00: Pick up at your hotel in Hanoi. Drive to Hoa Binh (about 2 hours). Short stop for break and coffee. Drive on to Man Duc for lunch. Leave Man Duc to Muong village where you can do a short walk for 2 hours. then drive on to Mai Chau with few stops on the way for taking pictures.
Go around the valley before having dinner at a stilt house of Thai minority village. Night in the village. Clean and comfortable mattress, blanket and pillow are provided.
Breakfast. Discover the Thai people. They are the most minority of Vietnam, a visit which will make you enter in a true patriarchal society. Lunch then continue to Ninh Binh by a very beautiful road of countryside. Check in hotel. Dinner and night in Ninh Binh.
Hoa Lu is called “Ha Long bay in land”, it is a landscape similar to that of Halong bay (without the sea but in the rice fields). You will embark in small boats at Van Lam, led by young women, to sail on Ngo Dong river which curves among the rice fields and the mountains of limestone and threads under three mountains, to arrive till Tam Coc caves (three caves). Superb landscapes and the meeting of the life on river of the fisherman and Vietnamese farmers. In the afternoon, return to Hanoi. Night in Hanoi.
Breakfast and transfer to the airport for flying to Hue. Pick up and transfer to the hotel. AM: Boat trip on Perfume River to visit handicraft village: making conical hat and bronze casting. Visit Thien Mu Pagoda considered as Royal Pagoda of the Nguyen Dynasty and Imperial Citadel. Lunch.
PM: Visit Mausoleums of Tu Duc and Khai Dinh King. Visit a typical garden-house in Hue (Hue has another name as “city of garden”). Visit Dong Ba market. Overnight at hotel.
Depart for Lang Co, a small village of fishermen. Taking photograph from Hai Van Pass (The pass of Sea and Cloud). Visit Cham Museum in Danang. Have Lunch. Drive to MY SON. Very spectacular, the site Cham of My Son Afternoon visit Marble Mountain. Arrive Hoian. Dinner and overnight in Hoian.
Breakfast. Start the visit of this charming small town, first commercial center in Vietnam since the 15th century, with more than 800 classified buildings : Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky Old house, Assembly Hall Chinese. Phuc Kien Pagoda, Hoian Museum and Market.. After lunch, continue the visit. In the evening, walk on the river Thu Bon in sunset. Diner at the restaurant. Overnight at hotel.
Breakfast. Transfer to airport for the morning flight to Saigon. Upon arrival in Saigon, check-in hotel and at leisure. O/N Saigon
Breakfast. Beginning of the city tour: post office, cathedral, Reunification palace, centre town, then continuation towards Cholon by trishaw, visit Thien Hau temple, Binh Tay market. Lunch. Afternoon is free for personal discovery. Overnight at hotel.
Breakfast and drive to Mekong delta. Morning is reserved to a boat trip at Caï Be, on the innumerable channels connected to each other. You will discover a watery life. Thousands of people live there, on water, in water, for and thanks to water. Lunch on an island. Afternoon, back to Saigon. Night at hotel.
Breakfast at hotel. Free time for shopping. Transfer to the airport 2h before the departure flight to your home.
