ITINERARY Vietnam 14 Day Amazing Tour from South to far North Day 1: Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City On arrival in Ho Chi Minh City you will be collected from the airport and transferred to your Hotel. From temples to sky scrapers, museums, French architecture, shops and food stalls Ho Chi Minh City has plenty to explore. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City: Le Duy - Deluxe Room (3 Star); Muong Thanh Hotel - Deluxe Room (4 Star); Hotel Majestic Saigon - Colonial Deluxe Room (5 Star) Day 2: Visit the Mekong Delta Today you will be collected from your hotel and driven to the Ben Tre province, also known as land of Coconut, in the Mekong Delta. The drive is around 2 hours and on arrival in Ben Tre you can explore coconut workshops and the art of mat weaving in local houses. You can relax in the village or wander around observing the locals go about their daily life. When it is time for lunch, board a Xu Loi - a kind of motorised rickshaw and be taken to a riverside restaurant. After lunch you can either relax at the restaurant or take a bike ride around the lovely countryside. Then take a trip in a sampan through the canals and visit the local Ben Tre market before your transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City: Le Duy - Deluxe Room (3 Star); Muong Thanh Hotel - Deluxe Room (4 Star); Hotel Majestic Saigon - Colonial Deluxe Room (5 Star) Day 3: At leisure in Saigon then fly to Hoi An Enjoy your morning at leisure in the wonderful city of Ho Chi Minh, formerly known as Saigon. Later, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Da Nang where you will be met on arrival by your guide and driver and taken to your hotel in Hoi An. The Hoi An entrance fee is included. When you arrive in Hoi An, please remind your guide to give it to you. It is a compulsory ticket and it is recommended to keep this in your pocket during your stay in Hoi An. Sometimes the town security will ask you to show the ticket and if you do not have it, you will need to buy another one at around USD7. 1 of 5
Day 4: Hoi An Eco Tour and Cooking Class Today is a day to experience the local life and cuisine of Hoi An. Begin with a trip to the local markets - the morning time is when they are at their peak. Your guide can give you some bargaining tips as well as explain the ingredients that you will buy for your cooking class. Next, head to the water and hop into a coracle - a traditional round boat where you can paddle on the canals of the Bay Mau Nipa Forest. This is a great fun! Your guide will show you the folk game bit mat dap nieu. Then take a short break with local tea before your cooking class with the local chefs. The chefs will teach you how to cook Vietnamese foods and after you can enjoy your self-made lunch. Then relax on a sightseeing tour on the Thu Bon River by boat before being taken back to your hotel around 3pm. Day 5: Explore Hoi An a melting pot of cultures Today is a free day. Hoi An offers something for everyone. You can relax at the beach, enjoy great shopping and discover the grace and history of this well preserved ancient town. It is a culinary mecca with a laid back nature. The old-town character and friendly openness of the locals of Hoi An is a delight. Day 6: A day at leisure in Hoi An Enjoy another day relaxing as you wish in Hoi An. You may wish to pop back to the tailor if you are having clothes made or if you would like to do a day tour, these can easily be arranged. Day 7: Fly to Hanoi and enjoy an evening street foods tour This morning you will be transferred to Da Nang airport for your 1 hour flight to Hanoi. Spend the afternoon at leisure in Hanoi, known as the cultural capital of Vietnam. Set on the banks of the Red River, with many of the buildings being built during the French occupation, there is a distinct charm to Hanoi. 2 of 5
At around 4.00pm, you will be collected from your hotel and your guide will take you on a walking street food tour in the Old Quarter. Gain an insight into the intricacies and traditions of Vietnamese food culture including details on ingredients and historical backgrounds of popular Northern dishes. Eat as you go, walking through the maze of bustling streets, trying seasonal fruit and sampling tasty French-inspired snacks from a street cart. Try the famed Hanoi dishes such as Bun Cha Ta (a grilled pork and noodle dish) and Banh Cuon at a local eatery and watch as the skilled chefs demonstrate how this tasty dish is put together. Continuing into the atmospheric heart of the Old Quarter, wander past street stalls and quiet residential lanes where you can observe local life that has changed little since Hanoi was founded over 1000 years ago - a hint at why it is called the "Old Quarter". The next two snack stops are at outdoor BBQ stalls. Sit down with the Hanoi locals and sample various meat, vegetable and bread specialties that are flame grilled over hot coals for extra flavour. It s now time for dessert! Your local guide will then take you to one of Hanoi s best kept secrets - Banh My Hanoi - a hidden street food restaurant where you can taste the top street foods in Hanoi including Vietnamese Rice Wine and the famous Egg Coffee. This hard-to-find café is one of the few left in the narrow street inside the old quarter of Hanoi. Please note: If you have any special dietary requirements, please let us know so that we can accommodate your needs and wishes. and dinner Day 8: A day in Hanoi and the overnight train to Sapa Today is a day free at leisure in Hanoi. There are many great things to see and do in and around Hanoi. In the evening you will be taken to the train station for the overnight train to Sapa. The train departs from Hanoi at 21:40 or 22:00. The train is the best way to get to Sapa as the road is known for its bumps. The train has full amenities such as air-conditioning and comfortable beds. Please note: check out time is 6pm from the hotel. After this time you can leave your bags at the hotel and return for them before your transfer to the train station. If you wish to check out after 6pm please contact us and this will incur an extra fee. Overnight train to Sapa: King Express - Shared cabin (3 Star); Chapa Express - Shared cabin (4 & 5 Star) The cabins have 4 berths per cabin. If you would like to book the entire cabin, making it a private cabin, please let us know and we will get a quote for you to cover the cost of the extra berths. 3 of 5
Day 9: Arrival in Lao Cai, picturesque landscapes and colourful hill tribes Arrive early morning at Lao Cai station. You will be picked up by a local guide and taken on a scenic one-hour drive up to the hill station of Sapa. From there you can take a short 30-minute journey South toward Muong Hoa Valley, a stunning place boasting the largest terraced rice fields in Sapa. If your visit is between May and October, the local harvest period, you will have a chance to see the local farmers in action. It is a nice chance to take in the scenery and a great photo opportunity. The walk takes you from Lao Chai Village of the Black H'mong Minority to the Ta Van Village of the Giay Minority with a stop at the local Catholic Church, taking in the different traditions, cultures and costumes of the two minority groups. After that, you will return to Sapa and you can spend the rest of your afternoon at your leisure. Please note: The planned walking for Days 9 and 10 in Sapa is for 3 hours each day and is considered easy trekking. We can adjust the length of the walk to make it either less or more depending on your preference. We can be quite flexible with this and you can plan in advance, or when you are in Sapa you can discuss this with your guide. Overnight in Sapa: Sunny Mountain Hotel - Deluxe room (3 Star), Amazing Sapa Hotel - Superior room (4 Star), Victoria Sapa Resort - Superior room (5 Star), lunch and dinner Day 10: Explore the spectacular charm of Sapa After breakfast, you will check out of the hotel and depart towards Tram Ton Pass. Along the way, take a short walk to Silver Waterfall and head to Heaven s Gate, where you can see Fansipan Mountain the highest peak in Indochina. A one and a half hour downhill ride to Binh Lu includes a stop at Chu Va Village of the Flower H'mong tribe. Enjoy a packed lunch on the way. Trek to Pa Pen Village of the Lu Minority where you can talk with the locals and visit the local school (closed on weekends). Return to the hotel where you can freshen up before transferring to Lao Cai station to board the train back to Hanoi. Overnight train to Hanoi: King Express - Shared cabin (3 Star); Chapa Express - Shared cabin (4 & 5 Star) The cabins have 4 berths per cabin. If you would like to book the entire cabin, making it a private cabin, please let us know and we will get a quote for you to cover the cost of the extra berths., lunch and dinner Day 11: Back to Hanoi and a day at leisure The train arrives early morning (5.30/6:00am) at the Hanoi train station. You will be collected from the station and taken to your hotel. Check in time is 8am and breakfast is included at the hotel. The day is yours to do as you please. 4 of 5
Day 12: Cruise the Emerald Waters of Ha Long Bay The cruise company shuttle bus will pick you up at your hotel and depart for Ha Long Bay for your tour through the scenic countryside. Embark on a boat for an exploration of the wondrous Ha Long Bay (translated as where the dragon descends into the sea ) and enjoy one of Vietnam s most impressive scenic sights. This exciting cruise will provide a fantastic view of the picturesque scenery blending with the sky and some 3,000 limestone islands rising amazingly from the clear and emerald water. The limestone karsts formations are littered with beaches, grottoes and beautiful caves. Along the way, anchor for a leisurely swim in a secluded cove and an enjoyable visit to one of the many hidden grottoes beneath towering cliffs. Note: Please bring an overnight bag with you, because you will not be able to (or want to) take all your luggage with you on the Ha Long Bay excursion and cruise. There would not be enough room to accommodate everyone s luggage gracefully. You will be leaving from and returning to the same hotel in Hanoi where you can safely store your remaining luggage. Overnight Ha Long Bay Junk Cruise: V'Spirit - Deluxe cabin (3 Star); Huong Hai Sealife - Suite (4 Star); Athena Luxury Cruise - Athena Executive Suite (5 Star), lunch and dinner Day 13: A leisurely morning in Ha Long Bay, travel back to Hanoi After breakfast enjoy swimming, sunbathing and relax amongst the scenic wonders. After lunch return to Hanoi for a leisurely afternoon. Day 14: Time to go home or onto your next adventure Today the tour ends. You will be taken to the airport in time for your flight home or onto your next adventure. 5 of 5