Vietnam is dominated by dramatic landscapes so your twelve days program offers endless discovery and insights into tmany natural wonders, from bays of emerald green to spectacular mountain passes and valleys of shimmering, golden crops. The deltas and rivers of both the North and South and the beaches of the Centre are sensual delights. You will also delight in interaction with the locals, it is a land of smiles, laughter and generous hospitality.
Inclusions:
- 11 night hotel accommodation as listed below or similar.
- 1 night on board in Ha Long Bay.
- Breakfasts, lunches and dinners at local restaurants
- Modern, comfortable transportation throughout the tour.
- Cruises in Ha Long, Tam Coc, and My Tho
- Bike, Kayak and Vespa
- Entrance fees as stated in the tour program.
- Local English or French speaking guide in the North, Centre and the South.
Exclusions:
- International ticket.
- Domestic tickets Hanoi - Hue/ Da Nang - Nha Trang - Saigon
- Any meals, drinks other than specified.
- Tips and personal expenses.
Arrive at Noi Bai airport and transfer to our hotel in Hanoi. Later enjoy one hour cyclo tour through the bustling Old Quarters and attend the performance of the unique water puppetry.
Breakfast – Lunch
After breakfast at hotel, we visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Temple of Literature to know more about the history and cultural events. Later on, we depart for Mai Chau. Located in the Northern of Vietnam, about 150 km from Hanoi, Mai Chau is well known for its natural beauty. In the afternoon, we ride a cycle to explore Mai Chau town, Pom Coong and Lac villages. Be welcomed by the friendly local people, talk with them and discover their traditional culture. We enjoyed the spectacular scenery of Mai Chau and the relaxed rhythm of local life and watched the sunset (if weather permitted). Return to the hotel. Free time. Then enjoy atraditional dance show and taste Ruou Can, a local rice wine. Free time and overnight in Mai Chau Ecolodge.
Breakfast – Lunch
This morning, we walk or bike to visit Mai Chau beautiful ethnic villages including Nhot, Na Tang, Na Phon ... Return to the hotel for breakfast then we travel south to Hoa Lu and the remains of the ancient capital of Hoa Lu.
A temple tour is followed by a rowboat trip through the stunning scenery of Tam Coc, which is surrounded by limestone mountains and known as Ha Long Bay on Land.
Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
This morning we leave Ninh Binh by road for Ha Long Bay, enjoying the timeless scenery of rice fields, water buffalo and daily life of the countryside. On arrival in Ha Long, we board a beautifully appointed wooden junk. A sea food lunch will be served as we cruise among the hundreds of islets in the Bay. Our cruise takes us to Sung Sot cave to witness a splendid sunset. Overnight on boat.
Breakfast – Lunch
Early morning coffee and tea will be served on the sundeck followed by a Tai Chi class. We continue exploring magnificent Ha Long Bay. Change to a small motor or rowing boat to see the floating village. When we return to the junk, a sumptuous meal, combining Vietnamese and Western cuisine will be served. On leaving the cruise, we depart for Bac Ninh Province to learn more of Vietnam’s fascinating history and culture. Then we enjoy a traditional music show Quan Ho or Quan Ho Folk song. We transfer directly to the airport for our flight to Danang. Arrival and transfer to Hoi An, check in hotel. Overnight in Hoi An.
Breakfast – Lunch
Nestled a couple of kilometers inland on Thu Bon river, Hoi An is typified by its rich mix of 16th century Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese architecture. A full day city tour includes the ancient Japanese Bridge, Phuoc Kien Pagoda, the ancient house Tran Phu and the Hoi An Museum. In the afternoon, we will ride a bicycle or take a jeep through the countryside of Hoi An. Enjoy two hours kayaking around the river and watch the sunset. Return to hotel, free time and overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast – Lunch
This day-long excursion combines a bicycle tour of coconut palm fringed villagers, a coracle tour of the waterways, with a unique opportunity to learn about the cultivation of organic produce alongside one of the local farmers. A great way to experience rural Vietnam and bring home a small part of it with your new cultivating and cooking skills.
09.00 A gentle cycle tour takes you on the short but beautiful ride through lush farm land, rice fields and small villages to Tra Que Village. Stopping along the way to visit local villagers and seeing how they use their surrounding resources to craft a living using age old methods.
10.00 Take a trip along the winding river, the journey take you through the untouched waterways, fringed by river coconut palms. Take the opportunity to see a local fisherman dredge the river bed in search of river snails.
11.00 Arrive at Tra Que. Enjoy the village tour to nurseries and herb gardens abundant with bird’s eye chilli, lemongrass, basil, coriander and spring onions. All thriving in the rich soil.
12.00 Relax and enjoy a traditional herbal foot massage in the garden.
12.45 Join in with a cookery class hosted by a local family. Each cooking lesson starts with a short introduction, explanations and demonstration. Enjoy your own Hoi An specality lunch including starter, main course and dessert. Taste your culinary creations at the family table overlooking the villagers tending their arable land.
15.30 Board your bicycles for a gentle ride back to Hoi An.
Note: Car is available for those who doesn’t ride bicycle.
Breakfast – Lunch
This morning we visit the best Cham museum in Vietnam before crossing the spectacular Hai Van Pass to reach Hue. In Hue we visit see the imposing Citadel and then cruise the Perfume River to the ancient Old Thien Mu Pagoda. The remainder of our time is free to explore the crowded market of Dong Ba where we can bargain for anything from souvenirs and bronze goods, to Hue sesame sweetmeat and conical poem hats.
Breakfast – Lunch
This morning, we continue to discover Hue and visit the impressive tombs of King Minh Mang and Tu Duc together with the Tu Hieu Pagoda. Later on, we visit Phuoc Tich ancient village. We walk into the village to enjoy the pleasant and peaceful atmosphere. Visit some typical ancient houses, local people, a pottery workshop, learn about the manufacturing process of pottery items by local artisans. Along the way, we stopped at Tam Giang Lagoon and enjoy watching the sunset in Tam Giang (if the weather permitted). Free time and overnight at hotel in Hue.
Breakfast – Lunch
In the morning, riding through the rice fields of Hue. Then we visit the home of rice and Thanh Toan bridge history. Lunch at local restaurant. We then transfer to the airport for our flight to bustling Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon, as the locals still call it.
Breakfast – Lunch
Our Vespa tour of Ho Chi Minh City will give you a view of Saigon unlike anything you'll see from a package tour, and much more of the city than you could see on your own. The tour includes: Bird Club (morning tour), Thich Quang Duc Monument, Flower Market, Ong Bon Pagoda, the tailor accessory market, Chinese traditional medicine area in Chinatown, Van Phat pagoda, the building of the People's Committee, the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Post Office, the CIA building on Dong Khoi Street, Opera House.
Guests ride pillion behind our drivers.
The stops could be changed due to seasons and time of tour.
Notes: Stations are used to show you Saigon lifestyles, cultures, customs, religions, economics...
Breakfast – Lunch
This morning, we will depart for My Tho, the gateway to the Mekong Delta. We travel by boat along the Mekong water-way, visiting Xep canal, where you totally escape from the busy own. We disembark and have a walk around the village. Stop at a local family to enjoy tropical fruit, taste honey tea and listen to Vietnamese traditional music, performance by the villagers. Later on, we will get experience a horse cart trip along village road. Enjoy your peaceful moment on a rowing boat through the small canal to our motor boat. Transfer back to Saigon.
Breakfast
Free time until your transfer to the airport for our onward flight.