18 DAYS DISCOVERING AWESOME VIETNAM

HOCHIMINH - MEKONG DELTA - HOIAN - NINHBINH - SAPA - HANOI 

OUTLINE ITINERARY:

Day 1 Ho Chi Minh [Arrival]

Day 2 Ho Chi Minh Cu Chi Tunnel [Guide/B]

Day 3 Ho Chi Minh Mekong Delta  [B/L/D] Group Tour

Day 4 Mekong Delta - Ho Chi Minh [B/L] Group Tour

Day 5 Ho Chi Minh Flight To Da Nang/ Hoi An [Guide/B]

Day 6 Hoi An Farming And Fishing Tour [B/L] Group Tour

Day 7 Hoi An My Son Sanctuary [B/L] Group Tour

Day 8 Hoi An Bana Hill [B/L] Group Tour

Day 9 Da Nang - Flight To Hanoi [Guide/B]

Day 10 Hanoi - Ninh Binh [Guide/B]

Day 11 Ninh Binh - Hanoi - Night Train To Sapa [Guide/B]

Day 12 Sapa - Sinchai - Cat Cat - Y Linh Ho [Guide/B/L/D]

Day 13 Y Linh Ho - Lao Chai - Ta Van [Guide/B/L/D]

Day 14 Ta Van - Giang Ta Chai - Su Pan - Limousine Return Hanoi [Guide/B/L] 

Day 15 Hanoi Ha Long Bay [B/L/D] Shuttle Bus

Day 16 Ha Long Bay Hanoi [B/Br] Shuttle Bus

Day 17 Hanoi City Tour [B/L] Group Tour

Day 18 Hanoi Departure [Guide/B]

DETAILS ITINERARY:

DAY 1 HO CHI MINH [ARRIVAL]

Arrival in Saigon, our guide will pick you up to hotel for check in and take a rest.

Overnight in Saigon. 

DAY 2 HO CHI MINH CU CHI TUNNEL [GUIDE/B]

Breakfast at hotel, then 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. End trip.

DAY 3 HO CHI MINH MEKONG DELTA  [B/L/D] GROUP TOUR

Pick up at your hotel in Ho Chi Minh city and start the trip to My Tho. Upon arrival, visit Vinh Trang pagoda which sated back to the late 19th century. Then  boarding the sampan and cruising down the river around the four beautiful islands known as Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix and Tortoise islands.

Stop over at Unicorn Island, go walking in the village paths to contemplate orchards, enjoy tropical fruits, and Vietnamese folk music performed by the local people. Visit the fruit plantation.

Be rowed in a small sampan through the Thoi Son canal and treat yourself to the beauty of the countryside, visit the family business & bee-keeping farm, enjoy honey tea and coconut candy workshop.

Have lunch at the local restaurant. Break time.

The afternoon is time for cycling around the Tan Thach village, meeting the local people to experience their daily life in the Mekong delta. Relaxing on hammocks to enjoy the cool breeze is for those do not want to join the cycling trip. Proceed to Can Tho City and overnight in Can Tho

DAY 4 MEKONG DELTA - HO CHI MINH [B/L] GROUP TOUR

Have breakfast at hotel. You can take a leisurely boat ride to explore the picturesque tributaries of the Lower Mekong River (Bassac River), then visit Cai Rang Floating Market, the most vibrant floating market in the area.

Walking tour of the local noodle factory. Visit Munir Ansay Pagoda - Khmer temple, famous for its unique structure. Then move by boat to the Con Son tourist area, visit the fruit plantation and enjoy seasonal fruits.

Have lunch and return to Ho Chi Minh city.

DAY 5 HO CHI MINH FLIGHT TO DA NANG/ HOI AN [GUIDE/B]

Breakfast at hotel, then our guide will pick you up to airport for flight to Da Nang.

Arrival in Da Nang, you will visit Marble Mountain with Huyen Khong Cave and Linh Ung Pagoda. 

Then transfer to Hoi An, check in at hotel 

In the late afternoon, you will discover Hoi An Ancient Town -– the well-preserved ancient architecture of a trading port from 15 – 19^th century. Take a walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the ancient town centre, visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, the Chinese Assembly Hall, the 200-year old Tam Ky ancestral house and the famous Japanese Bridge. 

Back to hotel and take a rest

Overnight in Hoi An. 

DAY 6 HOI AN FARMING AND FISHING TOUR [B/L] GROUP TOUR

Pick you up at your hotel by private car and transfer you down to PHƯỚC HẢI- CỬA ĐẠI Fishing Village 

Board  Jack Tran’s  boat cruise and commence cruising on CỬA ĐẠI River

Enjoy Thúng Chai basket boat demonstration by Jack Tran’s crews.

Learn to paddle the unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boats and join in a basket boat racing for fun while exploring waterways palm coconut canals waterways of a past war and hear of the extreme conditions endured by soldiers of both sides of V.C & US army. Enjoy your fun catching purple crabs 

Join local fishermen life on the river and enjoy hands-on experience cast net fishing

Enjoy learning and experiencing cultural folk music of singing and rowing Bả Trạo with local fishermen  

Keep arriving to an islet fisherman for big net fishing            

Back on-board our boat, enjoy lunch and cold beer or soft drink.

Then come back hotel and take a rest. 

DAY 7 HOI AN MY SON SANCTUARY [B/L] GROUP TOUR

Breakfast at hotel, then our guide will pick  you up to depart to My Son Sanctuary – take around 1 hour for transfer. My Son – “the spirit and art valley” is a symbol for a brilliant period of Champa kingdom. Since 1999, My Son has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage

Arrive in My Son Temple, a special electric car will pick you up at the main gate and take you to the place where was chosen to build the temple tower of the Champa Royal for nearly 1000 years with many ancient towers hidden in a discreet valley. The place where the most exquisite focus of ancient Champa culture – is considered to be the Holy Land.

There, you will hear the stone bricks tell about the dancing gods, tell about the gods of worship in the Champa culture, and so many secrets that until now still have no explanation and maybe you will be the first decode them.

After visiting and listening to the tour guide talk about the mysteries here, you will be back to the main gate of My Son Ruins by special electric car. Leave My Son Holy land behind.

Lunch at local restaurant. 

Overnight in Hoi An

DAY 8 HOI AN BANA HILL [B/L] GROUP TOUR

After breakfast at your hotel, our guide will pick you up to Bana Hill to discover Bana. 

Arrive at the cable car station. Sitting in the cabin, in midair, looking upon the endless tree lone of the forest. Experiencing the pristine ecological system of the Ba Na mountain will leave you a sense of unforeseeable discovery.

Visit the Le Jardin, old wineries - remains of French Villas and Linh Ung pagoda with 27m high Buddha statue. Leave Le Jardin for Gare Debay, the second cable car station, to go to the top of Ba Na

Visit and play game at the Fantasy Park- Ba Na Hills Fantasy Park- the third largest indoor amusement park in the world (only some free games depending on Ba Na policy).

Conquer the Peak of Chua mountain at the height of 1,487m. Enjoy the panorama view of the Da Nang from the top of Ba Na Hills.

DAY 9 DA NANG - FLIGHT TO HANOI [GUIDE/B]

Arrival in Da Nang, our guide will transfer to airport for flight to Hanoi. 

Arrival in Hanoi, our driver (our guide) will transfer to hotel.

Check in and take a rest.

Overnight in Hanoi. 

DAY 10 HANOI - NINH BINH [GUIDE/B]

Breakfast at hotel, then our guide will pick you up from hotel to Ninh Binh in around 2.5 hours.

Arrival in Ninh Binh, you will visit Hoa Lu, an ancient capital dating back to the 10th century, packed with temple & fortress ruins. 

Then you will visit the Temple of King Dinh and King Le and learn more about Vietnamese history under the Dinh, Le, and Ly Dynasties.

Lunch on your own  

In the afternoon, you will visit Tam Coc, known as “Halong Bay on the land”, where you can spend 1.5 hours on the bamboo boat to explore this area. On this excursion down the Ngo Dong River, you will pass through the beautiful paddy fields, limestone karst formation, and a stunning cave system including Hang Ca, Hang Hai, and Hang Ba for an unforgettable experience. 

We continue to visit Mua Cave, also known as the “Great Wall of China” in Vietnam, and climb 500 steps to reach the peak of Ngoa Long Mountain, overlooking the amazing view of the city and Tam Coc below.

Overnight in Ninh Binh. 

DAY 11 NINH BINH - HANOI - NIGHT TRAIN TO SAPA [GUIDE/B]

Breakfast at hotel, then you will visit Trang An which was recognized by UNESCO as A World Heritage Site in 2014. There, you can spend 2.5 hours on the boat ride to enjoy the beauty of this place, which owns a wonderful tunnel cave system and appears in the New Version of Kong in 2016 – “Skull Island”.

Lunch on your own

In the afternoon, you will visit Bai Dinh Pagoda – one of the most famous pagodas in Vietnam and well-known for many Asian and Vietnamese records. In the pagoda, you can see 500-stone statues of Arhats, a Belltower with 27 tons and 36 tons of bronze bell, and a Golden statue of the Goddess of Mercy.

Return Hanoi.

Transfer to train station and take a night train to Lao Cai (Cabin 2 beds)

Overnight in train. 

DAY 12 SAPA - SINCHAI - CAT CAT - Y LINH HO [GUIDE/B/L/D]

Arrival in train station, you will take a light breakfast and take a shower at our lounge. 

Then our guide will pick you up downhill to Sin Chai village of Black Hmong minority, which locates right at the foot of Hoang Lien mountain range. Here you start heading up the mountain. Once you get to the top, you will trek on a small trail with pectacular view and then gradually descend to Cat Cat village, where you will have lunch nearby a waterfall.

In the after noon, you take a trail sneaking through mountain. You also will 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 in a nice spot nearby the beautiful river. You will stay overnight in a local family of Black H’mong in Y Linh Ho village.

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

DAY 13 Y LINH HO - LAO CHAI - TA VAN [GUIDE/B/L/D]

Today’s trek will continue along Hoang Lien mountain range, which offers you many opportunities to enjoy view over huge rice paddy terraces in Muong Hoa valley, the largest one in the area.

After having lunch at a nice spot, you descend into the bottom of the valley. You will pass through Lao Chai village of Black Hmong minority and then Tavan village of Giay minority by following a very popular trekking route. You spend the night in a traditional house of Giay minority. You will be able to take a walk to enjoy the valley view as well as swim in the river nearby.

Approx: 4 hours walking/ 1-hour lunch

DAY 14 TA VAN - GIANG TA CHAI - SU PAN - LIMOUSINE RETURN HANOI [GUIDE/B/L] 

Today’s trek is short, but still the landscape is beautiful. Once you get energy for your last day trek after having breakfast, you leave for Giang Ta Chai village where you can take a rest nearby a waterfall to enjoy the surroundings. You will continue trough a bamboo forest, and when you have passed the forest we find a nice place to enjoy lunch.

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 continue on a small trail towards Supan where your transfer back to Sapa is waiting.

Then take a limousine and return Hanoi. 

Overnight in Hanoi 

Approx: 0,5 hour driving/ 3 hours walking/ 1 hour lunch

DAY 15 HANOI HA LONG BAY [B/L/D] SHUTTLE BUS

In the morning you will depart to Ha Long Bay City. On the way, you will stop for refreshments, and upon arriving in Halong City, you will take a tender transfer to your junk and set sail through the bay while lunch is served. As you cruise the magical bay, you will notice thousands of sculpted limestone islands rising from the waves like dragons' teeth. Later in the afternoon, you'll visit a fishing village with the opportunity to interact with fishermen who have been living in the bay for almost three generations. Back on board, you'll enjoy cocktails or a cooking class while watching the sunset, and later you can unwind at a restaurant with a lavish dinner. To end the day, you can enjoy some evening activities such as movie night, board games, or a beauty treatment, before an overnight stay on the junk.

***Special Note: Cruise Itineraries may be subject to change due to weather condition without prior notice.

DAY 16 HA LONG BAY HANOI [B/BR] SHUTTLE BUS

Wake up on the bay to the sounds of waves and bird welcoming the new day. You will have an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay. After breakfast, visit a beautiful limestone grotto then walk back to the boat for a final glimpse of Halong Bay while cruising back to the dock.

Disembark on cruise, then back to Hanoi.

Free and easy. Overnight in Hanoi 

DAY 17 HANOI CITY TOUR [B/L] GROUP TOUR

AM : 

8.00- 8.30: Get picked up by our friendly guide and start to explore Hanoi City

08.45: Arrive at Tran Quoc Pagoda located in the West Lake

It is the oldest pagoda in Ha Noi built in the 6th century.

09.30: Visit Ho Chi Minh complex, you have a chance to see the embalmed body of  Ho Chi Minh then walk around the garden to see 2 houses where he lived & worked from 1954 to 1969. Then visit One Pillar Pagoda where worships the Godess of Mercy – It is the most unique pagoda in the world

Should dress modestly by covering from shoulders to knees when visiting Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, temples, pagodas…

Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum is closed on Mondays and Fridays.

 Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum is closed for at least 2 months (15th June -15th August) for annual maintenance but still can take pictures Mausoleum and visit that area

11.15: Visit Vietnam Ethnology Museum to learn about the culture of 54 ethnic groups living in the whole country of Vietnam

Special Note: we will visit the Women's Museum instead of the Ethnology Museum closed on Mondays

12.45: Have lunch at our restaurant. You have an opportunity to enjoy Vietnamese cuisine with 8 delicious dishes.

PM : 

14.00-14.15: Continue to visit the Temple of Literature – the first university of Vietnam, established in the 11 century

15.15: Leave for Hoa Lo Prison Museum which was originally used by the French colonists in Indochina for political prisoners, and later by North Vietnam for U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. During this later period, it was known to American POWs as the "Hanoi Hilton"

16.15 -16.30: you will watch Water Puppet Show – a traditional art dating back from 11th century. 

Return hotel, trip ends! 

DAY 18 HANOI DEPARTURE [GUIDE/B]

Free and easy, then our driver (no guide) will pick you up to airport for flight home. 

Trip ends! 

We look forward to seeing you again on your next adventure with Vinasoul Travel!

SERVICE INCLUDES

+ Private door-to-door pick-up & drop-off services; 

+ All private transfer and transportation, except some group tour and shuttle bus as mentioned 

+ Train ticket from Hanoi to Lao Cai, Cabin 2 beds 

+ Domestic flight from Saigon To Da Nang, Da Nang to Hanoi, economy class 

+ Accommodation shared in Twin/Double room with daily breakfast 

+ Tissues and water on coach; Services charges and government tax; Exclusive and personalized single agent/single customer service; No extra charge after services confirmation; 24/7 hotline support guaranteed;

+ All Meals as stated in the itinerary (B: Breakfast ; L: Lunch ; D: Dinner)

+ Experienced English-speaking guide during all tours and transfers

+ Private boat trip for sightseeing as mentioned in the program, Entrance fees for all visits as mentioned in the itinerary

SERVICES EXCLUDES

+ International flight tickets

+ Visa to Vietnam and Cambodia 

+ Meals, if not specified in the itinerary

+ Tipping for guides, drivers, hotel staff, restaurant staff, boat rider, etc. Personal expenses, such as laundry, telephone, drinks, etc. All other services not specified in the itinerary Surcharge for Peak season, Tet Lunar New year holidays, and compulsory dinner at some hotel & resort on Xmas and New year’s Eve

+ Travel insurance (we highly recommend that you purchase adequate insurance).

Suggestions for tipping and gratuities: 

+ Group under 6 pax: 20 USD per Group per day.

+ Group from 6 pax up: 3 - 5 USD per pax per day 

+ Group under 6 pax: 10 USD per Group per day. 

+ Group from 6 pax up: 2 USD per pax per day