- 14 DAYS
Routing: Ha Noi - Pu Luong - Ninh Binh - Ha Long - Hue - Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh - Can Tho - Ben Tre - Ho Chi Minh - Can Tho
Tour Style: Classic
Tour Start: in Ha Noi / Tour End: in Can Tho
Trip duration: 14 Days 13 Nights
Group size: 1 - 15 pax
Day 1: Welcome to Hanoi! (D)
Upon arriving at Noi Bai International Airport, our guide and driver will pick you up and drive you to your hotel.
There’s nothing better than taking a short break after your flight and discovering great local cuisine for dinner in Hanoi’s town. (First day’s schedule can be flexible to meet your arrival time)
Day 2: Hanoi - Half day city tour - Duong Lam Village (B, L)
Make our way to Ho Chi Minh Complex to check out Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum where preserved Uncle Ho’s corpse for people all over the country and international visitors to visit their beloved old father, and Ba Dinh Square where President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence on September 2, 1945. Another signature place in the complex is One Pillar Pagoda- a unique architectural style pagoda built-in 1049. After that, we will visit the Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh’s Residence which was used as his workplace and home back in the old time respectively, and Ho Chi Minh Museum. After that, visit the Temple of Literature- Quoc Tu Giam which is one of the most iconic places in Hanoi. Drive out of the Centre, we get to Duong Lam ancient village. After having a homemade meal with a local family, we will get to know more about Vietnamese culture and history by visiting heritage sites. Walking around village to chat with locals to learn more about their lifestyle before transferring back to your hotel in Hanoi.
Day 3: Hanoi - Pu Luong (B, L, D)
You enter Pu Luong Nature Reserve by road via a breathtaking mountain pass giving you a panoramic view of the whole valley. You arrive at your accommodation in time for a delicious lunch, followed by free time to explore the beautiful retreat, with its captivating panoramic views and tranquil setting.
In the afternoon, you will be transferred to a suspension bridge over the Cham River, where you begin your walk in search of stunning water wheels. Get up close to each wheel and discover how water is moved from river to handmade bamboo aqueducts via simple constructions of all sizes.
Arriving at a local fisherman’s house, you have a short rest to gear up for the bamboo river rafting with is team. Float along the calm river and enjoy the views, in between learning how to paddle and steer your handcrafted rafts.
Arriving at scenic Tan Lap bridge, you disembark to be transferred back to Pu Luong for dinner.
Day 4: Pu Luong Discover (B, L, D)
Start early to descend into the beautiful valley facing the Natura where you walk around tumbling rice terraces. Trek through small paths shrouded in vegetation to slowly reveal a picturesque village sitting at the base of a towering mountain.Your camera will not be able to sit still!
Continuing to the base of the valley, you weave between roads and farmland, villages and wild fields, ponds and rivers, mountains and open land. Savour the ever-changing scenery as you trek to a beautiful spot to enjoy a simple picnic lunch.
PM: After enjoying delicious food, you have free time to explore the refreshing water to the nearby river, before moving to our pick up point to be transferred back to the homestay.
Day 5: Pu Luong - Ninh Binh (B, L)
You will be woken up by roosters near & far and enjoy the peaceful scenery & fresh air in this remote village. After breakfast, you will say goodbye to the poetic Pu Luong and our driver is waiting you for a 3,5-hours transfer to Ninh Binh.
Upon arrival in Ninh Binh, have an interesting visit to Hoa Lu ancient capital - the heart of Vietnam in the 10th & 11th century, paying a visit to two remain temples: King & Le Temples. The visit offers you deep understanding of Vietnam's history under Dinh, Le & Ly dynasties and good insight of the 17th century's architectural values reflected in those temples.
Then do a short transfer to transfer Van Lam village, you get on a bamboo boat rowed by the local villager to explore the stunning scenery of Tam Coc. UNESCO has recognized Tam Coc to be the World Natural Heritage Site in 2014 and made this place become a famous destination in Ha Noi- Ho Chi Minh Tour. Boating along Ngo Dong River, you will be able to explore for the “Indochine” film-setting. The beauty of the area has attracted millions of French tourists since then. Continue cruising under the astonishing limestone cliffs, you will get to Hang Ca – first cave with the river going through. The cave is 132m long as you can see from our photo on the right side. Leaving the 2nd cave, your boat will head to Hang Ba – the final cave.
Day 6: Ninh Binh - Halong Bay (B, L, D)
After breakfast, you’ll take a 3-hours drive to Halong Bay, one of the great nature of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Upon arrival, the boat crew will welcome you and transfer you to the junk for check-in and enjoy a cruise around Halong Bay with a delicious local seafood lunch served on board. At the same time, you can behold thousands of limestone islands and grottoes rising from the clear, emerald water. After lunch, you’ll join some activities on the boat to discover the beauty of the bay such as visiting a cave, kayaking, or enjoy swimming in the sea before getting back to the junk for relaxing and dining. In the evening, you can join night fishing with locals. Overnight on board.
Day 7: Halong Bay - Hanoi - Night train to Hue (B, Br)
In the morning, your breakfast will be served while floating on the sea to explore the beauty of Halong Bay before disembarking time. Joining some more activities on the boat and then checking out the cabin. The early lunch will be served before getting back to the main dock and transferring you back to Hanoi. Then you will get on a train to Hue (by SE3 Hanoi-Hue from 19:20 to 08:40).
NOTE: Overnight on 4-berths cabin train
Day 8: Hue City tour - Boat on Perfurm river (B, L)
Our driver and tour guide will welcome you at the station, then take you to a restaurant for breakfast. After breakfast, we will start our city tour by visiting the ancient tomb of Vietnam's kings. Being the last great tomb from the Nguyen dynasty, The Nguyen Emperor Khai Dinh's Royal Tomb consists of many royal tombs. One of those belonged to Khai Dinh, who built his final resting place to be monumental in style and bombastic in execution. It has mixed architecture of Western and Asia, modern and traditional Vietnam. The tomb clearly reflects the past period and the characteristic of Khai Dinh king, and the story behind it has always been the key attractive point for tourists to come and find out. Then, visit Tu Duc tomb which is a complex system of the pavilion, temple, chamber, courtyard and personal palace. Tuc Duc’s Tomb is a symbol of himself, portraying one of the Nguyen Dynasty’s Emperor: having majesty, power, but no less elegance and grace. The beautiful scenery of the tomb looks like various colored classic paintings with small bridges crossing the flowered lake, green shades and a peaceful atmosphere, which attracts tourists from all over the world.
Depart to Citadel which has a variety of structures with the royal style. You will explain about the history of 13 reigns of Nguyen Emperor, visit the palace where king and queen live.
In the end of day, you will have a cruise on the beautiful Perfume River by dragon boat and viewing Thien Mu pagoda, the daily activities of other people, visit the sampan village along the Perfume River.
Day 9: Hue - Drive to Hoi An - Half day city tour (B, L)
Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel then we start drive to Hoi An. On the way, we will stop at Lang Co beach to have a break and take some photos. Lang Co is an 8km white sandbank, mixing with the natural scenery of Hue forming a mysterious picture. The peaceful and charming of the fishing village and the beaches will win the heart of tourist.
After that, we take you over the beautiful Hai Van Pass - Vietnam geographical and psychological boundary between the North and the South. Hai Van attracts the tourist by the scenery of mountain hiding in the cloud, curvy road surrounding from the bottom to the top, it's a great place for the adventurer to conquer and test self-limit.
Arrive in Hoi An, we will walk through town, seeing remarkably well-preserved traditional houses 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 over the world. The next destination is the Japanese Covered Bridge, one of two such bridges in Vietnam. This beautiful bridge was first constructed in the 1590s by linking it with the Chinese quarters. Following Tran Phu Street, we will reach The Assembly Halls. There are 4 Assembly Halls in Hoi An which you can find when walking along Tran Phu Street. Each of those Halls belongs to a Chinese community who have their own beliefs, different assembly halls worship different gods and goddesses.
Day 10: Hoi An - Cooking Class - Village tour (B, L)
Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel then we go to An My Paddy Field, see the buffalo – the symbol of countryside in Vietnam. Continue to the local house in Tra Que Village, enjoy welcome drink. Taking part in a cooking, learn how to make traditional rice milk and having super lunch with local food at the local family. This will be a true experience of the trip. After lunch, meeting local farmers, talking with them and share about their local farming, experience daily life, Listening to the tour guide introduced and explained about the process of the wet rice how to grow it and have chance to work as a really farmer. (NOTE: Minimum 2 pax for cooking class)
After that, we go to to the boat station. Take a boat and then begin the tour to traditional villages. The first destination is Kim Bong carpentry village, established from the 15th century. From the 16th century, Kim Bong was famous for home appliances, shipbuilding... products. The village had a significantly contribution to the development of Hoi An trading port. Nowadays, skillful craftsmen turn to make handicraft products. Although the product is more simple and plain, it still shows the skillful and talent of the craftsman.
Then we go to Thanh Ha Pottery village, established in the late 15th century, was once listed as "National native product". Thanh Ha village used to produce bowl, jar, roof tile, lining brick... to distribute to Hoi An and another nearby area. There's a time that the village was nearly forgotten, however with efforts from the heart of the craftsman, the village was gradually recovered. You will have a chance to hear the story of the craftsman, watching the process of making a pottery product, and even more excited is to try to make a product of your own.
Get the special bamboo basket boat on Cua Dai river, exploring the Seven hectares water palm forest, learn how to catch purple crabs… Back to hotel.
Day 11: Hoi An - Danang - Flight to Saigon - Streetfood tour (B, D)
Start your day on the right foot with a delicious breakfast to get you going. Then, your driver will take you to Danang Airport, where you will take a flight to Ho Chi Minh City.
Upon arrival in HCMC, our driver and tour guide will transfer you to your hotel in the city center. Check-in and get some rest.
We begin the food tour around 6 o'clock in the afternoon to discover the most interesting thing in Vietnam. That’s street food tour. First of all, we will go Ho Thi Ky Flower market walking all around and enjoying street food (BBQ, skewers, mixed rice paper, fruits…) inside the market. Then we will go straight to Chinatown, we will stop a Vietnamese Chinese Herbal tea shop and visit Cha Tam Church (A 300 years catholic Church). From here you can choice so many thing: Dumpling in a local shop, Pho, Broken rice, Banh Xeo, Pancake with egg… Then we will be back to Nguyen Hue walking street. You might get tired already, so we will have a beer/juice or smoothies in Bui Vien walking street or you can join a sky bar in De Tham. Back to your hotel and finish your day.
OPTIONAL: STREET FOOD TOUR BY VESPA - $80/PAX
Day 12: Ho Chi Minh - Mekong Delta - Can Tho (B, L)
Pick up at your hotel and transfer to Hung Vuong Pier (Ben Tre city). Take a boat on the Ben Tre River – one of the tributaries of the Mekong River, sight-seeing lively activities along the river as fishing, and water transferring…Stop at brickwork to see how to make bricks in handy traditional style by printing and baking. Visit one of the plenty of coconut processing workshops where people to open a coconut by hand (husking coconut), coconut candies are made, and have a chance to learn the coconut candies making process located along the canal (Ms. Lan coconut candy workshop), taste tropical fruit, honey tea. Turn on natural scissors creeks where they look smaller and smaller to go to the village. Take a walk to the family workshop making sleep mats. Afterward, being on a cart powered by a motorbike and traveling through some tranquil villages where vegetable gardens to be able to touch on the real life of local people. Afternoon, take a rowing boat along water palm creek and boat back to Hung Vuong Pier. Take a rest and enjoy a peaceful time. Lunch is served at a riverside restaurant with 5-course Vietnamese food. Drive to Can Tho, the capital city of the MekongDelta. Take a rest and enjoy a peaceful time.
Day 13: Can Tho - Cai Rang Floating Market - Ho Chi Minh (B, L)
We start the day by exploring the characteristic and picturesque tributaries of the Lower Mekong River, also known as the Bassac River. Visit Cai Rang floating market which is one of the most representative attractions of this place and also one of the top 10 most interesting markets in the world. Cai Rang market is not really about tourism but concentrates on real commerce as a wholesale. Allow a few hours here to see how it works and the produce available. There are many smaller boats selling food and café for locals and tourists in the market too. Don’t miss out! Make our way across the famous Monkey Bridge built entirely with bamboo stems, and we visit the emblematic orchard garden of the area. After lunch, hop on the bus to go back to Sai Gon. In the evening, our tour guide and driver will take you to a restaurant for the farewell dinner. Thank you for traveling with us.
Overnight in Saigon
Day 14: Ho Chi Minh - Departure (B)
We enjoy one last hearty breakfast with our travel companions before getting transferred to Tan Son Nhat International Airport where your journey with us ends.
