DAY 01: HANOI ARRIVAL (B/ –/ –)

Welcome to Vietnam. Upon arriving in Hanoi, Asia Top Travel’s tour guide and driver will personally meet you at the airport and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day you are free at leisure.

Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

08.30 AM: Viet Unique Journey’s tour guide and driver will  welcome you at your hotel lobby departing for an exciting city tour of Hanoi’s significant highlights.

 Start with a tour of Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum: the final resting place of Vietnamese Revolutionary leader President Ho Chi Minh (It is closed on Mondays, Fridays and every afternoon).

Continue to Ba Dinh Square in front of the mausoleum: the site where President Ho Chi Minh declared the independence of Vietnam on September 2, 1945.

Visit the Presidential Palace, constructed between 1900 – 1906 by the French architect Auguste Henri Vildieu, was intended to be Ho Chi Minh’s official residence but he had opted for a traditional Vietnamese stilt-house instead.

The humble traditional House-on-Stilts where president Ho Chi Minh lived intermittently from 1958 to 1969 is set in a well-tended garden adjacent to a carp-filled pond and has been preserved just as Uncle Ho left it is worth a visit.

Visit the Temple of Literature, originally built as a temple to Confucius. This is the site of Vietnam’s first University dating back to 1070. The temple highlights the importance that Vietnamese society place then and now on education. 

Lunch will be served at the local restaurant.

In the afternoon, visit the Museum of Ethnology (closed on Mondays), widely acknowledged as the best in the country. It has an extensive display dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 Ethnic minority peoples. As well as the comprehensive array of exhibits inside, there are also traditional tribal houses reconstructed within the ground.

Discover Ngoc Son Temple, located on a jade island on the Hoan Kiem Lake. Its history dating back to the 13th century. The temple is reached by crossing the The Huc Bridge which literally means the ‘Place Touched by Morning Sunbeams’. The Hoan Kiem Lake is the local point of the city and the source of many legends.

A 45 minute – Cyclo Tour takes you through the Old Quarter that is also known as the 36 streets. This bustling area of narrow streets is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. Originally each of the 36s names’ was related to the products being sold there. It’s a great place to explore on foot with numerous photo opportunities.

Attend to the Water Puppet Show, before heading back to your hotel, you will enjoy this traditional art performance at Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. Transfer back to your hotel around 17.30

Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

8.00AM: Viet Unique Journey tour expert pick you up at your hotel then transfer to Hoa Lu. Hoa Lu was the former capital of Vietnam (968 – 1009) under Dinh and Le dynasties. Visit Dinh temple, Le temples and surroundings.

Have lunch at local restaurant. Then take a boat trip to visit Trang An grottoes.

15h00: Leave Trang An and drive back to Hanoi. Arrive to your hotel at around 5:30 Pm. The rest of the day you are free on your own.

Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

09:00 – 09:30 Pick up at your hotel in Ha Noi. After that we leave Hanoi for a 2.5 hour to reach Halong Bay.

12:00′ – 12:30′ At Tuan Chau International Marina, a tender boat will take you to our Halong Phoenix Cruiser. A refreshing welcome drink is served and you can check into your cabin.

13:00′ When you are putting all of your stuffs into your cabin, our boat starts gliding out to the centre of the World Heritage Site. Your lunch, at the boat’s restaurant, is would be served with fresh local seafood, but vegetable menu is always available at your request. From the marina area, our cruiser passes by Dog Head and Swan Islands, Ba Hang Floating villages (with floating houses), Incense Burner then Thumb Islands before reaching to Luon cave area for kayaking.

14:30′ – 15:00′ we have time to gear up for one hour kayaking around Luon cave area .Our guide will show you some basic safety guidelines and techniques to paddle before helping you to sit on our brand new sit-on-top kayaks.After that our boat will help you visit the Titop Island one hour for swimming, sun-bathing or getting a panoramic view on island peak.

17:00′ As the sun sets over the bay, we head back to our cruise and relax. Coffee, tea and fruits will be available on the sundeck or you can order your favorite drink while our boat cruises to the night’s anchorage area.

19:00′ Dinner will be served with local seafood. After dinner you may choose to enjoy drinks from the bar or top deck or experience squid fishing before retiring.

Spend your awesome time on Cruise in Halong Bay.

07:00′ – 07:45′ Enjoy the morning view of the beautiful landscape with a cup of coffee or tea. Have breakfast in the fresh air.

08:00′ – 09:00′ You will visit the impressive Cave of Halong Bay – Surprising Cave (Sửng Sốt) with your tour guide, a truly awesome and amazing cave to experience.

10:00′ Check out of your cabin and settle your bill as our boat begins cruising back to the harbor. Experience more views of Halong Bay such as Fighting Cocks Island (Symbol of Halong Bay), Incense Burner and Stone Dogs Islands.

10:20′ A cooking demonstration onboard shows you how to make authentic Vietnamese Spring rolls. You will learn about the recipes and techniques that create this popular dish of Vietnamese people.

10:45′ Lunch is served on board during cruising towards the harbor.

11:20′ Depart the Halong Phoenix Cruiser and travel by tender boat back to Tuan Chau International Marina where you then board the van for the drive back to Hanoi.

Free your time till transfer to Railway Station for night train to Sapa.

20:00pm your guide and driver pick you up and transfer to Hanoi railway station for the night train to Lao Cai.

Overnight on the train.

Upon arrival Lao Cai, your local guide will pick you up and escort you to Sapa for breakfast.

You will commence your short journey by driving south toward Muong Hoa valley. You will then start your walk by descending into the valley, which is the largest rice paddy terraced among Sapa area.

If you visit the valley sometime in between May and October, you will be able to observe and experience how the local do planting and harvesting, one of the most important activities in the daily life. The walk takes you from Lao Chai village of Black Hmong minority to Ta Van village of Giay minority including a visit to the local Catholic Church. After visiting Ta Van the car will return you to Sapa.

The afternoon is left free at your leisure.

Overnight at the hotel in Sapa.

Remark: Approx 2 hours driving/ 2 hours trekking.

Start walking 5km from Sapa, downhill and cross the stream to the other bank where Suoi Ho village beautifully sits on the top of a low hill. Spend half an hour to visit several local homes for understanding of local life. Continue walking along a large path on hillsides which is paved with rock to get through Ma Tra village, a very small village hiding way from the civilisation. The walk continues through rice paddy fields and spectacular scenery. During the day you will also be able to visit a local school.

Transfer back to Sapa for lunch.

Then you may walk around Sapa town for shopping until 15:00-15:30 the minivan will pick you up and transfer you to Hanoi.

Arrival your hotel at about 21:00. Dinner today will be on your own account.

Overnight at the hotel in Hanoi.

The morning is left free at your leisure until our driver escorts you to Noi Bai airport for the afternoon flight to Hue.

Upon arrival at Hue airport, your tour guide will escort you to the hotel for check-in (check-in time from 14.00). The rest of the day is free at leisure.

Overnight at the hotel in Hue.

8:00am the tour starts. Take a boat trip along poetic Perfume River to reach the ancient Thien Mu pagoda, a special cultural – historical site where still preserves a legendary tale about the Heaven Fairy Lady since Nguyen Dynasty.

Then, visit  Hue Citadel. Here you will walk around and take a look into the special feudal relics of immense architectural and cultural values.

Have lunch at Y Thao garden restaurant.

Afternoon, visit the tomb and monument of King Tu Duc which is located in a very beautiful area.

Back your hotel for overnight.

Optional: If you are not tired and the weather is good

Then we visit Conical hat village: To see and learn how the locals make the conical hat (non la). Non la- traditional indispensable accessory expressing the hidden charm and simplicity of women.

Conclude your day at Incense stick making village: Observe how locals make sandalwood and cinnamon incense.

Breakfast is at your hotel and check out.

8h30: We depart to Hoi An. Drive over the mighty Hai Van pass for an over view of the Pacific Ocean and famous Lang Co fishing village.

Arrive Hoian and have lunch!

In the afternoon, enjoy a walking tour in Hoi An town, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site because of its unusually well-preserved ancient streets and homes. Set out to explore the quaint cobblestone streets of the town with more than two-century-old Chinese houses. Sites include Chua Ong Pagoda, Chinese Assembly Halls, the 200- year old Tan Ky ancestral house and the Japanese Bridge.

08.00 AM: Our local guide meet you at the hotel lobby, you enjoy a cycling trip along country lanes at a peaceful pace viewing local life and pause to see farmers toiling in their rice fields using centuries of farming practices. Peddle your way through palm forests, across bridges, fields of water buffalo. Riding along country lanes at a peaceful pace viewing local life and stop over to see farmers (If you can’t cycle, we will arrange car or minivan as an alternative)

9:00 AM: Take a short break in a local family at Cam Thanh Village before enjoying 1.5 hours ride on Traditional Basket Boat (round boat) in the Water Coconut Palm Forest. Learn how to sail the basket boat and spend your time to catch fishes and “purple crabs” in the Canal.

10:30 AM: Continue to drive to Tra Que Organic Vegetable Village where a large variety of vegetable are produced for the local community. At the village, you will be shown the environmentally sustainable practices which the local villagers have used for centuries and is still being used extensively today.

11:30 AM: Visit a local family and after a short, informative and fun cooking lesson, we sit down for a delicious lunch. Be back to town central your hotel for relax.

Breakfast is served at your hotel. This day is left free at leisure for your own discovery or just relaxing at your hotel/resort.

Breakfast is served at hotel. You are free until meet our driver, transfer to Danang Airport for the flight to Nha Trang. Upon arrival in Nha Trang, your tour guide and driver will escort you to the hotel for check-in. The rest of day you are free at leisure.

Overnight at hotel in Nha Trang.

Today, you have opportunity to get experience a luxury boat tour on Nha Trang Bay. JOINING THE EMPEROR CRUISES.

08:00 – 08:45: Pick up from your hotel and transfer to Nha Trang Port to board the Emperor Cruises. 

08:45 – 09:00: Arrival at the port where you will be greeted by the Experiences Manager with a welcome drink. Introduction to Nha Trang Bay, the locals, the food, the culture, the emperor, safety precautions, and the Emperor Cruises Junk. Start cruising through the spectacular landscape of Nha Trang Bay.

09:00 – 09:45: Continue to cruise pass by the Tam, Mot, in Nha Trang Bay while guitar player will bring you deep in classical music. Your destination is Mini Beach in Mieu Island

09:45 – 11:30: Arrive at Mini Beach where you can either go swimming, kayaking, snorkeling and enjoy some drinks and fruits. Alternatively, just relax under the big trees, enjoying the stunning views of the bay and Emperor Cruises’ sails against the clear blue waters of the bay. Besides, there are many other activites on the beach which you can join such as Diving, Jetski, Para sailing and Banana boat (exclusion in the price).

11:30 -14:00: After so many activities, you will surely be hungry. It’s time to go back the boat. You will be served a sumptuous set lunch on board with local beers, soft drink, fine wine, or premium spirits as the boat anchors near Hon Tre Island with its tranquil lagoon. After lunch, relax and go finish ing on boat.

14:00 – 14:30: Visiting Fish farm for exploring the beautiful landscape by basket boat surrounding the finish villlage.

14:30 – 15:00: Cruise back to Nha Trang Harbor passing Vung Ngan floating village and Vinpearl Island, before catching a glimpse of the Bao Dai Villas as we return to the mainland.

15:00: At the port your Emperor Cruises Van will be waiting to take you back to your hotel. You are free on your own for the rest of the day.

Overnight at hotel in Nha Trang.

Dalat is famous for thousand flowers and there are lots of farms for growing vegetable that only can be found in Dalat.

After breakfast at the hotel, your tour guide and driver will meet you at the hotel lobby for a 4 hour drive to Dalat over beautiful Khanh Le Pass. Stop along the way to take photos. Check-in hotel in Dalat. The rest of day is your leisure time.

Overnight at hotel in Dalat.

8:00 meet the guide at hotel lobby.

Transfer to Cable Car to get the panorama view of the city and Tuyen Lam Lake, visit flower and vegetable fields on the way. Surrounding by pine forest, Tuyen Lam lake looks like a paradise with the Zen meditation monastery named Truc Lam which is built on the top of Phoenix Hill.

Next place is the Dalat Railway station which is the most beautiful railway station in Indochina.

Get a lot of nice photos in The City’s Flower Garden for a plentiful collection of flowers, the Valley Of Love – romantic and fabulous landscape, the largest colourful preserved flower Showroom.

Lunch is served at a local restaurant.

Afternoon, visit Bao Dai’s Summer Palace, where the last Emperor of Viet Nam – Bao Dai stayed and ruled his Viet Nam from 1949 to 1954.

If you love art works, XQ Embroidery village is a worthy place to see many miraculous hand-made embroidery works and find out how they broider those fantastic art works.

The tour is finished after we visit the special architecture of Dragon pagoda-Linh Phuoc Pagoda which was built from debris of glass, pottery and porcelain, and the unique Guan Yin statue by immortal flowers of Vietnam.

Transfer back to your hotel. The rest of the day you are free on your own.

Overnight at hotel in Dalat.

Take a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat airport, you will be picked up and escorted to hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free at leisure.

Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh city.

Departure for a drive through pleasant countryside before arriving at Cu Chi. Spend the next hour exploring the maze of tunnels where the Vietnamese could escape bombings, hide from enemy, and mount surprise attacks. Also on display are various mantraps and the remains of an American tank as well as numerous bomb craters made by 500 pound bombs dropped by B52 bombers.

After a lunch in Cu Chi, head back to Saigon. Visit the Notre Dame Cathedral built between 1877 and 1883. This is one of the best examples of classical French colonial architecture. Nearby is the Old Post Office that is another example of French colonial architecture and is also the country’s largest post office.

Move on to see the Reunification Palace, one of the most important buildings in the city. Here on April 30th 1975 the ‘American War’ officially ended when tank number 843 of the North Vietnamese Army crashed through the gates of what was, at the time the residence of the President of the Republic of Vietnam. After that, we continue to visit War Remnants Museum (American War Crimes), a poignant display of the futility of war.

Depending on the timing, have a look on a wide selection of goods at Ben Thanh Market.

Late afternoon, transfer back to your hotel.

Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh.

08:00am: our guide and driver pick you up from your hotel and bring you to the “Capital” of Coconut – Ben Tre. It takes about 2.5 hours transfer on the way to Ben Tre.

On arrival in Hung Vuong Pier (Ben Tre town), take a boat on Ben Tre river – one of tributaries of Mekong river, Sight-seeing lively activities along river as fishing,water transfering… Stop at brickwork to see how to make bricks in handy traditional style by printing and baking. Visit one of plenty of coconut processing workshops located along Cái Sơn canal.

Turn on natural scissors creeks where they look smaller and smaller to go to Nhon Thanh village. Take a walk to family workshop making sleepmats and enjoying some fruits.

Take a tuk-tuk or ride on shady paths, pass by green rice fields and vegetable plains to be able to touch on really life and find out about tropical culture from Peasants. Lunch at local restaurant.

Afternoon – Take rowing-boat along water palm creek and  boat along Cai Coi creek back to Hung Vuong Pier. And transfer to Can Tho for overnight. Check in hotel in Can Tho. Dinner is on your own cost.

Overnight at hotel in Can Tho.

Enjoy an early boat trip to visit the biggest floating Market in Mekong. This is a great opportunity to see and taste different type of tropical fruits and vegetables.

On the way, visit the rice noodle maker and brick manufacture, the boat trip ends at the local market where you can see the local life with selling local product.

Go back to your hotel for breakfast and after that transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City. Lunch is on route.

Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh.

Free morning at your own leisure until the transfer to the airport for your flight departure.