Tour Itinerary

Day 1 Hanoi Arrival

Upon arrival, our guide will be holding a sign with your name and welcome you at Noi Bai International airport, transfer to Hanoi Old Quarter and drop at hotel to check in. The rest of the day, you can stroll around the Old Town to get used to the City or just relax to recover from the jetlag or enjoy Half Day Tour by Cyclo to discover chaotic streets of the Old Quarter.

Overnight: Hanoi

Meal: No Meal

Day 2Hanoi – Lao Cai

Breakfast at hotel, our guide and driver will meet you at lobby of hotel at 08:00 AM for full day to explore Vietnam’s charming capital. With its wide tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and ancient oriental pagodas, Hanoi is an eclectic mix that offers something for everyone. Your city tour will take you to Hanoi’s key sites: the Ho Chi Minh Complex (Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and stilt house); the Presidential Palace; the nearby One Pillar Pagoda; the Temple of Literature; West Lake; the sedate Tran Quoc Pagoda & Quan Thanh Temple; and one of the city’s museums (a choice between the History Museum and the Ethnology Museum). End of the day you can enjoy a traditional Water Puppet Performance – a unique Vietnamese art form hailing from Southeast Asia’s wet-rice culture. Afterwards you are free until 8.00pm and be transferred to Hanoi Railway Station for the night train to Sapa.

Overnight: on the train

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Note: 　If you don’t want to share train cabin with the other passengers, please let us know to book a whole four berths cabin or a cabin with two berths. Surcharge is applicable

Day 3Lao Cai – Sapa

Arrival at Lao Cai station at 6:00 am. Pick up at Lao Cai Station then transfer to Sapa. Have breakfast before the trip starts. Drive to Y Linh Ho and start Trekking downhill to Muong Hoa Valley through rice paddies and small hamlets to learn the life of hill tribes here. Communication exchange with local people in Lao Chai village. Cook & have lunch at local family, continuing trekking through villages and rice terraced fields to Ta Van village settled by Dzay ethnic people which is supposed to be the most beautiful one in the area. Diner and overnight Hotel

Overnight: Sapa

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4Sapa - Hanoi

Breakfast at the hotel then we embark on a lovely walking tour to the hill tribe villages of Cat Cat, home to the H’mong hill tribe’s minority people. As we walk to the villages nestled in the valley below Sapa, we will meet some of the local minority people on their way and share cultural experiences with the families that live in the area. Jeep back to Sapa. Check out the hotel. Have lunch at the local rest aunt. Afternoon, Free to visit Sapa town and go shopping. Dinner on guests account.

Overnight: on the train

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5Hanoi – Halong Bay

Arrival in Hanoi in the early morning. Our driver pick you up at station and bring you back to hotel (early check in hotel booked). Our shuttle bus will pick up at lobby of hotel at 8.00am, take 3.5 hours drive to Halong Bay, a Wolrd Heritage Area of outstanding natural beauty. Spend 24 hours on a traditional Junk Cruise in the amazing bay: a natural wonderland composed of jutting limestone islands and sparkling turquoise waters. Arrive at the dock around noon and board your junk. Savor a gourmet lunch of fresh seafood onboard as we sail out into the mystical bay. In the afternoon, cruise around some of Halong’s many islands, including Dinh Huong and Ga Choi. Along the way visit one of the bay’s 3 largest caves (Thien Cung, Dau Go or Sung Sot). Stop at an island cove with a sheltered white-sand beach and take a dip in the warm waters of the Tonkin Gulf (weather permitting). Pass the night on your junk, lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking of calm waters.

Overnight: Halong Bar on board

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 Halong Bay – Hoi An

Rise early for a lesson in Tai Chi or just to enjoy a hearty breakfast. The boat will make its way back to the port stopping at the Cave of Surprises, full of stalagmites and stalactites. From here, it’s clear sailing back to the main harbour and the return drive to Hanoi and transfer to Noi Bai airport for a jump flight to Da Nang. Subject to flight time we offer optional stop in Bac Ninh, for visiting a special place and the cradle of Vietnamese folklore music in the Red River Delta or Thanh Chuong Viet Palace (with additional charge).

Overnight: Hoi An

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7Hoi An

In the morning, you will visit Hoi An ancient town. The visit includes Japanese covered bridge, some Chinese Assembly Halls, and some typical Vietnamese houses of 18 century. Next Visit Hoi An’s colorful market, and experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy market. We will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers and purchase some of the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later. We board the Red Bridge boat for a leisurely cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoi An River to Cooking School. This is a chance to view local river life, so make sure your camera is handy. On arrival, we explore the cooking school’s herb and vegetable garden, before learning about some of Hoi An’s and Vietnam’s well-known dishes. The cooking lesson runs for about 2 hours – each dish is first demonstrated by the Red Bridge chef’s, before we prepare the same dish ourselves. Included in the class is a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving (plate decoration). Free time then on for shopping or relax at café etc by yourself.

Overnight: Hoi An

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8 Hoi An

Today is free for you to enjoy sightseeing at this ancient town with numerous interesting places. It is time for you to explore art and handicraft galleries, try on clothes tailor-made, relax at the riverside restaurants or take the short journey to the nearby beach.

Overnight: Hoi An

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 9Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh

In the morning, our car (no tour guide ) will pick you up at lobby of hotel and transferred to Da Nang International Airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh. Our driver and tour guide will holding a sign with your name and welcome you. Transfer directly to hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. After check in, take half day city tour including War Museum, Reunification Palace and Notre Dame Cathedral. Visit China bustling city with Thien Hau pagoda.

Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 10 Ho Chi Minh

Travel about two hours south of Ho Chi Minh City to Ben Tre, the gateway to the Mekong Delta. Hop aboard a small boat and explore the waterways stopping off at a small home-based factory where workers process coconuts to be used in products like matting and candy. Then transfer to Le Jarai, a converted rice barge and continue your cruise along the Mekong River. Join in a demonstration of Vietnamese cooking and watch the river go by as you enjoy a sumptuous three- course lunch of Mekong specialties! Late in the afternoon back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 11Ho Chi Minh

Half Day Cu Chi Tunnels Tour will bring you to a network of tunnels stretching over 250 km, have proven to be one of the most famous and historical aspects of the Viet Nam War. The tunnel system was created in 1948 to assist the Viet Minh as they fought the French for independence. Digging and building of tunnels continued over the next 25 years until it was an underground city with living areas, kitchens, storage, weapons factories, field hospitals and command centers. The tunnels could house thousands of people who lived almost entirely underground for years. In 1988, two sections of tunnels were opened up for visitors. Now you have the chance to enjoy this wonderful and informative experience. Created with “moving parts” these structures were designed to livable for long periods of time. And for those who are interested, there is an opportunity for you to fire off rounds from a war era M16 or AK47 at the nearby firing range. (This activity is optional; Fees for firing range are not included).

Overnight:Ho Chi Minh City

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 12 Ho Chi Minh Departure

After breakfast, free for leisure until our driver (no tour guide) will pick you up at lobby of hotel in Ho Chi Minh and transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for flight back home.

Meal: Breakfast

Services end