15 DAYS DISCOVERING AWESOME VIETNAM

DETAILS ITINERARY:

DAY 1 29-MAR HANOI - ARRIVAL -HALF DAY CITY TOUR [GUIDE]

Breakfast at hotel, then our driver will pick you up to hotel for check in and take a rest.

In the afternoon, meet our guide at hotel, then you will have a short tour to discover Hanoi. 

In the afternoon, you will discover Hoa Lo prison, where you can see the awfully Vietnam-France and Vietnam-America War/ Then you will drive back to central Hanoi for a walking tour through the famed Old Quarter known for its ‘36 streets of 36 wares’ named after the original 36 artisan guilds that date as far back as the 13th century. You will visit Hoan Kiem Lake with Ngoc Son Temple – the temple of the Jade Mountain. 

Next you will enjoy Water Puppet show, a traditional art dating back from 11th century. 

Then you will enjoy street food in Hanoi. 

Below is some suggestion for you: 

1. Banh My – a simple Vietnamese baguette 
2. Bun Cha – made of grilled pork & noodle, a well-known local food in Hanoi. 
3. Banh Trang Tron – Rice Paper Salad – one of best street food
4. Tasting Egg Coffee or Sweet Soup (chè) 
5. Nem Lui – Grilled ground pork on stick 

Overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 2 30-MAR HANOI - NINH BINH - TAM COC [GUIDE/B]

Depart Hanoi for a 2hr drive to the Trang An Landscape Complex in Ninh Binh Province.

Continue to Tam Coc, known as “Halong Bay on Land”, where a skilled rower will take you on a 2hr slow journey on the winding river and canals. Enjoy the views of the beautiful karst formations as you enter three of the many natural caves formed under the hills.

After lunch time, you will visit Vietnam’s ancient capital of Hoa Lu, the country’s first centralized feudal state from the end of the 10th century. While the ancient citadel has largely disappeared, the temples of the Dinh and Le dynasties still stand surrounded by rice paddies. 

Then explore & hike to Mua mountain which shapes a bell with a width of around 800 square metre. The way leading to the cave formed by a long stone staircase zigzags through the karst, there are nearly 500 steps to a simple altar to Quan Am (the Goddess of Mercy). It is assumed that the cave entrance seems to be similar as“ Great wall of China ”. 

Overnight in Ninh Binh.

DAY 3 31-MAR NINH BINH TRANG AN - NINH BINH [GUIDE/B]

Breakfast at hotel, then have you will discover 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

After lunch time our your own, 

Then you will discover Trang An. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014, Trang An is famed for its spectacular landscape of limestone karst peaks whose sheer vertical walls rise abruptly 200m (656ft) above the surrounding land and  water. Dense rain forest covers the landscape, even clinging to the cliffs and peaks, blending naturally with rice  paddy  fields  and  rivers,  creating  a  picturesque  patchwork of color. 

Then you will back to Hanoi. 

Overnight in Hanoi 

DAY 4 1-APR HANOI - HA LONG BAY [B/L/D] SHUTTLE BUS

In the morning you will depart Ninh Binh 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 5 2-APR 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 in Hanoi

Overnight in Hanoi

DAY 6 3-APR HANOI - FLIGHT TO DA NANG [NO GUIDE/B]

Free and easy, then our driver will pick you up to airport for flight to Da Nang. 

Arrival in Da Nang, transfer to hotel in Hoi An for check in and take a rest. 

Overnight in Hoi An.  

DAY 7 4-APR HOI AN - SNORKELLING TOUR [B/L] GROUP TOUR

(seat - in - coach/ shared big wooden boat. Boat transfers an hour to Cham Island) 

• 07:40 - 8:00am: Our guide and minivan pick up for customer at the hotel in Hoi An

• 8:15am: Reach the pier, board the boat

• 8.20am: Departure from the pier to reach the Marine Protected  Areas of Cham Island.

• 09:30-10.30am: Customers enjoy snorkeling under supervision of our guide with full equipment provided

• 10:30-10.50am: Surface interval. Water, coffee, tea and snack available on board.

• 11:00-12.00: Make second snorkeling at second spot.

• 12.30: Boat leaving for Bai Chong beach for lunch and relax.

• 13.00: Enjoy Vietnamese lunch on beach: seafood, meat or vegetarian option. (water is provided during lunch). 

• Relax on beach: hammocks free, swimming from the beach

• 14:30pm-15:00pm: Departure from the beach to return to mainland

• 16:00–16:30pm: Boat lands in Cua Dai pier: minivan drop customer off at hotel.

DAY 8 5-APR HOI AN ANCIENT TOWN AND LANTERN DROP AS WELL AS STREET FOOD [B/D] GROUP TOUR 

Free and easy in the morning. 

In the afternoon, our guide will pick you up to discover Hoi An and enjoy local street food in Hoi An. 

Our guide will meet you at our hotel in Hoi An center and start the Hoi An City Tour.- Firstly, you’ll visit Hoi An Market which is always bustling. It offers an unmissable shopping experience. This market is full of sights, colors, sounds and smells.

- Then, our tour guide will buy entrance tickets (included in the price) and start walking to the Hoi An Old Town- Go to the  Phuc Kien Chinese Assembly Hall, a colorful mélange of bright gates, dragon statues and elaborate rooftops. Get an introduction to ancestor worship while visiting the family altar and watching local devotees making offerings. You will see remarkably well-preserved old houses Phung Hung Ancient House or Tan Ky Ancient House - That have withstood 200 years of weather and war. Learn about the prosperous merchants who used to live in these homes, trading with buyers from all around the world.

- Make a stop at the Japanese Bridge. The bridge spans a small waterway and was constructed more than 400 years ago to connect the Japanese community with the Chinese who lived on the other side of the water. Admire the carvings and paintings inside the bridge, learning about their symbolism and cultural significance.

- Additionally, visit some of Hoi An’s well-known handicraft shops and artwork galleries. Discover smaller laneways and local neighborhoods gaining a better appreciation of Hoi An’s endless charm.

- Enjoy your time with the boat ride and drop flower lanterns to pray for good luck for you and your family.You will immerse yourself in the fanciful space of the lantern street.

Then you will enjoy amazing street food here such as below suggestion: 

DAY 9 6-APR HOI AN/ DA NANG - FLIGHT TO SAIGON -DINNER ON CRUISE [NO GUIDE/B/D]

Free and easy, then our guide will pick you up to airport for flight to Saigon. 

Arrival in Saigon, transfer to hotel for check in and take a rest. 

18:45 PM:  Pick up at your hotel to start the trip 

19.15 PM: Be taken to  experience Saigon’s nightlife and reach the harbor for a dinner cruise on the river. Observe the beautiful scenery of the city while enjoying Vietnamese cuisine on a traditional-style boat.

See the illuminated sights of Ho Chi Minh City at night and dinner with Vietnamese folk music and dance entertainment

21:30 PM: Finish the trip.

DAY 10 7-APR SAIGON MEKONG DELTA [GUIDE/B]

Receiving at Mỹ Tho tourist boat station: No 6-8, 30/4 Street, Ward 1, Mỹ Tho City, Tiền Giang province.

Cruising on the Mekong river for a sight-seeing of the four islands: Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle, Phoenix and Rạch Miễu bridge.

Heading toThới Sơn (Uniorn island, the biggest island in this area which is about 1.200 square hectare and about 11 km long).

Visiting an orchid garden to to see orchid flowers, some bee hives and enjoy honey tea as well as to have a look at a local chocolate processing workshop.

Continuing to Bến Tre province visit a coconut candy workshop and riding tuktuk along the village road.

Resting at a farm-house to enjoy some fresh tropical fruits and listen to some traditional music performed by local people then rowing small boat (sampan) along a beautiful natural canal and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere in the countryside.

Getting to a local restaurant for lunch with some typical Mekong Delta food... 

Returning to Mỹ Tho city and enjoy fresh coconut on the boat.

Visiting Vinh Trang Pagoda with beautiful architecture.

Then you will transfer direclty to Can Tho.

Overnight in Can Tho. 

DAY 11 8-APR MEKONG DELTA – CAI RANG FLOATING MARKET – VINH LONG [B/L/D]

Around 5:30AM, you will discover Cai Rang floating market with bustling fruit market on water, etc. 

Back to hotel and get the breakfast.

Then you will transfer to Vinh Long.  

After a chance to rest, you select bicycles for a cycling tour around village paths leading us to home of Mr. Cong where you watch how he makes pop rice, shows you the blend of traditional and modern agricultural method that sustains the local village. He will reveal the secret of making 'rice pop'. This unique and nutritious foodstuff will become a gift for locals or children in school. Your guide explains how the animals are raised and shows you the way they collect 'biogas' to make free and sustainable cooking food.

Continuing riding on quiet village roads passing by a duck farm if we get a chance, green rice paddies, sedge field and small villages. Along the way, you visit one of the dragon or orange fruit plantations and taste it directly at the garden. This is a relaxing time with plenty of chances to capture the picturesque Asian sun set scenes. Enjoy the beautiful sunset before returning to the lodge on your bicycles.

Shower and refresh, you start to walk to home of neighbor who fought during the Vietnam war and be shared with the story, experienced of "poon" lights  and traditional music. End of the show, we walk back in hand of traditional torche made of dried coconut leaves.

You are the chef! A traditional cooking class with Vietnamese pancake made by you. A great learning experience that means you can take a little of Vietnam home with you. Dinner is served at lodge's restaurant

DAY 12 9-APR MEKONG DELTA [GUIDE/B/L]

After breakfast, loaded boats are already heading to local squatting market and transporting goods such as coconuts from one factory to the other, crossing local ferry to visit beautiful Cao Dai temple. We also had a chance to see these factories. Situated alongside the river, these are small coconut-processing operations. Once the coconut has been shelled, the coconut fibers are removed from the husk to make rope, which in turn is used to weave rugs. You can watch the whole manufacturing process in a short period of time. Most of the work is done by hand at very low cost. The buyers are mostly foreign companies.        

Back to the Lodge, if time permitted, take some activities as to harvest some water coconut leaves and weave them up by you. These leaves are a key building material in the Mekong Delta as they are used to build the walls and roof of the houses. The local people will show you not only how they use these leaves but also how to make the 'poon' sticks that illuminated in the previous night.

Then you will transfer back to Ho chi minh.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh. 

DAY 13 10-APR SAIGON CITY TOUR AND STREET FOOD [GUIDE/B/D]

Breakfast at hotel, our guide will pick you up and transfer directly to Cu Chi Tunnel for a 2hr drive northwest to the Cu Chi Tunnels. The ingenious tunnel complex was initially started in 1948 to protect the Viet Cong guerrillas from the French air and ground sweeps. The tunnels also served as communication routes, storage facilities for food and weapon caches and contained hospitals and living quarters for guerrilla fighters throughout the American War.

Lunch on your own 

In the afternoon, you will discover History Museum, which shows you the rich cultural heritage of Vietnam as you explore various exhibits and artifacts on display.

Then you will visit Reunification palace. It was designed by architect Ngô Viết Thụ and was the home and workplace of the president of the Republic of Vietnam. It was the site of the Fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975 that ended the Vietnam War, when a North Vietnamese Army tank crashed through its gates. Finally, you will visit Old Post Office, constructed from 1886-1891 and depicts classic elements of Gothic, Renaissance and French colonial design.

Then you will enjoy street food in Saigon. 

Overnight in Saigon. 

DAY 14 11-APR SAIGON FREE AND EASY [B]

Free and easy 

DAY 15 12-APR SAIGON - DEPARTURE [NO GUIDE/B]

Free & Easy at hotel, then transfer to airport for flight home. 

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; 

+ Accommodation shared in Triple 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)

+ Halong Bay cruise program as specific

+ 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

+ Domestic/International flight tickets

+ Evisa Assistance to Vietnam 

+ 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