DAY 1 : ARRIVE IN HO CHI MINH CITY
Check-in time at Ho Chi Minh City in …
Customs formalities and luggage recovery (Estimated time approximately 30 minutes).
You will then be greeted by your guide and driver, outside the airport, transfer to the city for a day tour of the city
Ho Chi Minh city : also known as Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam with the population nearly 9 millions. The city is called ‘Diamond of the Far-East’, the same luxury level overriding Hong Kong or Bangkok. Ho Chi Minh city becomes very important city in Vietnam. The nice location at central of the South Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh city becomes very important center of transportation lead to surrounding provinces , bring opportunities to develop the economy and tourism of Eastern and Western area of the South.
Binh Tay Market, constructed by the French in the 1880s, is located in the centre of Vietnam’s largest Chinatown district. Unlike Ben Thanh Market in District 1, this market mainly serves the local population with its extensive range of fresh fruits, vegetables, poultry, meat and seafood from regions across Vietnam. Also known as Cholon Chinatown Market, Binh Tay Market occupies a two-storey building along Thap Moui Street. Travellers can also find an assortment of handicrafts, lacquerware, and textiles that are sold in bulk, though goods are not varied compared to other (more touristy) markets in downtown Hanoi. Along with the interesting historical and cultural aspect of Cholon, Binh Tay Market is great for experiencing the local lifestyle and sampling unique Vietnamese-Chinese delicacies.
Thien Hau Temple in Saigon is a Buddhist temple dedicated to the Chinese sea goddess, Mazu. It’s believed that she protects and rescues ships and people on the sea by flying around on a mat or cloud. Mazuism is connected with traditions and beliefs from both Taoism and Buddhism. Mazuism is therefore an incorporation of different aspects and traditions which have merged to form a new belief. You will find this temple in ‘Cholon’ (Chinatown) in District 5, which is roughly a twenty minute drive from the city centre.
Lunch at the restaurant.
Dinner at the restaurant
Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City
DAY 2 : HO CHI MINH CITY – MY THO – BEN TRE – CAN THO
Breakfast at the hotel
Depart to My Tho.
Welcome by your guide … speaking French and your Ho Chi Minh driver, transfer to My Tho
Arrival at My Tho at ….
Take a boat trip on the river Tien, to the other side of the river Tien: Ben Tre.
Visit a village practicing fish farming, the floating fish market along Dragon Island.
You cross the XEP canal to discover the coconut collection and how people make handicrafts from coconut trunks and hulls.
Enjoy seasonal fruits while listening to traditional music.
Carriage ride on the village path and stop at Mr Nam Ngo’s orchard
Taste honey with tea or wine. See breeding bees in wooden boxes under the longan tree.
Boat trip along the stream.
Lunch on one of the islets.
Visit a coconut candy factory, one of the specialties of the province of BenTre.
Depart to Can Tho
Can Tho Province : locates in the center of the Mekong Delta, Can Tho is endowed with favorable conditions: fertile soil, tropical climate, and an interlaced system of rivers and channels. With total area of nearly 1,400 square km2. If Halong Bay lures tourists by its majestic landscape, Phong Nha seduces travelers with its mysterious charm, Can Tho definitely will make tourists unforgettable by its idyllic beauty with floating markets, Buddhist pagodas, delicious food, tropical fresh fruit and Mekong charming girls.
Dinner at the restaurant
Overnight at hotel in Can Tho
DAY 3 : CAN THO – HO CHI MINH CITY
Breakfast at the hotel
Early In the morning, 6:00 am motor boat ride on the Cai Nong canal to visit the floating market of Cai Rang.
Floating Market Cai rank: the largest in the region, Very early in the morning, the Mekong Delta comes to life. Small and large boats rub shoulders, loading and unloading tons of fresh produce and immediately selling .
Lunch at the restaurant
Dinner at the restaurant
Back to Ho Chi Minh City
Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City
DAY 4 : HO CHI MINH – DA NANG – HOI AN
Breakfast at the hotel
Then transfer to Ho Chi Minh City Airport for flight to Da Nang
Arrival in Da Nang, transfer to Hoi An
Hoi An : is one of the most famous destinations in the middle part of Viet Nam , 30km far from Da Nang. Hoi An ancient town was recognized as the World heritage by UNESCO. Moreover, the diverse cultural influences remain visible today from the culture of Kingdom of Champa ,the Asian culture of Japanese, Chinese, Indian and the Western culture during the trading time from the 16th century. Since 1998, the Hoi An resident decided to preserve one of the beautiful culture that’s using colored lanterns. On the 14th of each lunar month, residents will switch off their lights and hang cloth and paper lanterns on their porches and windows. Others electronics as TV, radios, street lights and neon lights are turned off, and a sparkling, romantic and mysterious view is opened. Hoi An residents place offerings of food and incense on their ancestral altars and then go to visit the pagodas. The scent of incense and the sounds of people singing add to the town’s enchanted atmosphere.
Walk to the ancient city of Hoi An: VND 120,000 voucher giving you access to 4 tours to choose from: visit the Hoi An Historical and Cultural Museum, Quan Cong Temple, Phuc Kien Temple and Headquarters, a show dances or singing cham of about twenty minutes is offered, visit also the Japanese bridge which was built in 1593 and the old house of Phung Hung …
Lunch at the restaurant.
Dinner at the restaurant
Overnight at hotel in Hoi An
DAY 5 : HOI AN – HUE
Breakfast at the hotel
Depart to Hue
Hue : is located in central Vietnam on the banks of the Huong River, a few miles inland from Bien Dong. It is about 700 kilometers south of the Hanoi national capital and about 1100 kilometers north of Ho Chi Minh City. Throughout the centuries, the quintessence of country converges here to create a fantastic natural picture with romantic river and charming mountain. The architecture seems to be mixed with wonderful nature, which creates the charming picture.Today, Hue becomes the typical city of Vietnam. Every two years, people welcome Hue festival.
Perfume River Hue – Huong River Hue city : is famous for its romance and charming beauty, and Perfume River is one of its outstanding. Its length is around 80 kilometers, before coming Hue it go through many forests of aromatic plants before, so it creates the river’s purity and fresh aroma. In the autumn, the river becomes more beautiful and charming when flowers from plantations fall into the water. Artists’ inspiration is derived from the Huong’s water, its landscape and even the bridge over the river. Especially, it becomes more beautiful at night when the lights are on.
Thien Mu Pagoda : is situated on Ha Khe hill, on the north bank of the Perfume River, 5 kilometers from Hue city. The beautiful pagoda was built in 1601. The most striking feature of the pagoda, Phuoc Duyen tower (initially called Tu Nhan tower), was erected in 1884 by King Thieu Tri, and has become the unofficial symbol of Hue. It is the highest stupa in Vietnam, and is often the subject of folk rhymes and cadao about Hue, such is its iconic status and association with the city. More importantly, it is regarded as the unofficial symbol of the former imperial capital. To the left of the tower is a pavilion sheltering an enormous bell. The bell, called Dai Hong Chung, was cast in 1710 by Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu. It is famous for the great size, which is 2.5m high and 3,285 kg weigh.Besides, there are several popular works of art inside the pagoda, which are of great captivation to tourists.
Hue Citadel : has a circumference of 10 kilometers with the height of 6.6 meters and 21 meters thick with forts being meanderingly arranged, accompanied by cannons, artilleries and ammunitions. Initially the fortress was built solely by soil, only to be replaced by bricks afterward. Surrounding the city is the complicated canal system served not only as a protection but also as a waterway with nearly seven kilometers. There are total of ten main majestic gates leading to the Imperial City of Hue. All the typically traditional Eastern architectures including majestic palaces, tombs and museums stand accordantly together to make an utmost amusing attraction right in the heart of Vietnam.Famously being one of Vietnam’s seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Lunch at the restaurant.
The village making conical hats.
Dinner at the restaurant
Overnight at hotel in Hue.
DAY 6 : HUE – DONG HOI
Breakfast at the hotel
Then depart to Dong Hoi
Visit the Vinh Moc tunnels located in the demilitarized region at the 17th parallel.
Lunch and dinner at the restaurant
Overnight at hotel in Dong Hoi
DAY 7 : DONG HOI – VINH
Breakfast at the hotel
Then depart to Vinh
Phong Nha Caves : only 60km away from Dong Hoi City, this number one cavern in Vietnam has become an increasingly famous attraction in recent years. Phong Nha Cavern has many sections, with a total length of up to 20km. The mouth of the cavern has a width of 20m and a height of 10m. Phong Nha has more than 20 caves with a huge 1500m-long main hall as well as many supplement halls which are hundreds meter long. The outer caves have 10m high ceilings and the inner caves have 25-50m high ceilings. It is hard and even nearly impossible to describe in words the majestic beauty of those caves and halls painted with the glistering color of underground water reflecting on huge blocks of stalagmites and stalactite.
Lunch and dinner at the restaurant
Overnight at hotel in Vinh
DAY 8 : : VINH – NINH BINH
Breakfast at the hotel
Then depart to Ninh Binh
NINH BINH: The Land Halong Bay is known for the famous Tam Coc Caves. This wonderful landscape, where beautiful scenes of the film Indochina were shot, is located about 8 km south of Ninh Binh, an ordinary middle town where most hotels are located. More beautiful and much less touristy than that of Tam Coc, the caves of Trang An are a nugget still unknown, and whose visit will certainly be one of the most memorable moments of your stay in Vietnam. 10 km north of Ninh Binh, the city of Hoa lu, located in the opposite direction to Tam Coc, was the capital of Tonkin for about forty years, around the year 1000. Today the city of Hoa Lu has no interest in itself, but the surrounding countryside is definitely worth the detour.
Trang An Eco-Tourism Complex : is a complex beauty – landscapes called as an ‘outdoor geological museum’ with numerous caves, mountains, valley water, trees and the historic relic. The Trang An eco-tourism site is considered the “Ha Long Bay land”. Here, space was so quiet that the only sounds were those of the trains. In the distance, visitors have the opportunity to perceive the white flowers of the reeds in the foothills. While enjoying fresh air and mountain scenery, which takes visitors into a magical world. On June 25th, 2014, at the 38th session of the World Heritage Committee in Qatar, the UNESCO named Trang An Landscapes Complex as a world heritage, becoming the first recognized cultural and natural heritage site in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
Lunch and Dinner at the restaurant
Overnight at hotel in Ninh Binh
DAY 9: NINH BINH – HA LONG
Breakfast at the hote
Then depart to Ha Long
Ha Long Bay : in the Gulf of Tonkin, includes some 1,600 islands and islets, forming a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars. It was called ‘the wonder standing in the heaven’. In the heart of stone islands, there have the beautiful caves such as Thien Cung Cave, Dau Go Cave, Sung Sot Cave, and Tam Cung Cave that are really the castles of the heaven. With the special values, on December 17th 1994, in the 18th session of World Heritage Committee of UNESCO, Halong Bay was officially recognized as the World natural heritage. In November 2000, Halong Bay was recognized by UNESCO as the World natural heritage about the values of geomorphology. On April 27th, officially stated that Halong Bay became one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Cruise on Halong Bay: aboard a junk built entirely of wood, you will spend a memorable cruise. Enjoy a delicious seafood meal on board and spend your day admiring one of Vietnam’s natural wonders. Visit islets, caves, If the heart tells you, you can make a dip in the jade waters of the Gulf of Tonkin.
Night on board in Ha Long
DAY 10: HA LONG – HA NOI – LAO CAI
Breakfast at the hotel
you will have the opportunity to see the sunrise over the bay.
After we continue the cruise to Bai Tho Mountain in the other beautiful bay of Bai Tu Long.
Lunch and return to the pier
Back to Hanoi, free time for purchase
Transfer to the station, depart to Lao Cai
Night on board the train.
DAY 11 : LAO CAI – SAPA
Breakfast at the hotel ,
Arrival at Lao Cai at …, Depart to SaPa
SAPA : located in the north – west of Vietnam, about 350 km from Hanoi. It belongs to Lao Cai province, which a modest land but hides many wonders of the natural scene. The natural beauty of Sapa is combined with human creativity, the topography of the mountains, green forests, which creates romantic spot.
Walking tour to Cat Cat, the village of Black H’mong. The walk takes us to the waterfall in the middle of the village, the contacts with the H’mong will offer us interesting memories
Then, we will climb the mountain Ham Rong (jaw of the dragon) where we can not miss the opportunity to take great pictures of the region.
Lunch and dinner at the restaurant
Overnight at hotel in Sapa
DAY 12 : SAPA – LAO CAI – HA NOI
Breakfast at the hotel
At the local restaurant, back to Lao Cai, we will make a detour to Ta Phin village where we discover the ancient traditions of the Red Yaos. We return to Lao Cai, stop at the Sino-Vietnamese border where we see the confluence of the Red River (red) belonging to Vietnam and the Nam Thi River (green) to China.
Transfer to the station, depart to Lao Cai
Night on board the train.
DAY 13 : HA NOI
Breakfast at the hotel
Arrival in Ha Noi at …, visit :
HANOI CITY : is the capital of Northern Vietnam and keeps this role until now. The city is located on the right bank of the Red River and far about 1760 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City. Hanoi features a warm humid subtropical climate with plentiful precipitation. In addition, Hanoi is considered one of the main cultural centers of Vietnam, where most Vietnamese dynasties have left their imprint.
Temple of Literature : founded in 1070 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong, the Temple of Literature is dedicated to Confucius (Khong Tu). Inside you’ll find a pond known as the ‘Well of Heavenly Clarity’, a low-slung pagoda and statues of Confucius and his disciples. A rare example of well-preserved traditional Vietnamese architecture, the complex honours Vietnam’s finest scholars and men of literary accomplishment. It is the site of Vietnam’s first university, established here in 1076, when entrance was only granted to those of noble birth.
Ngoc Son Temple was built in the 18th century on Jade Island in the centre of the ‘Lake of the Returned Sword’ or Hoan Kiem Lake. Legend describes how an emperor was once given a magical sword which helped him defeat the Chinese Ming Dynasty and in doing so saw the return of the Golden Turtle God to the lake.
Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Restored Sword) : refers to a legend of the great Vietnamese hero, Le Loi, who led a successful uprising against the Chinese in the fifteenth century. Tradition has it that Le Loi netted a gleaming sword while out fishing in a sampan and when he returned as King Ly Thai To, after ten years of battle, he wanted to thank the spirit of the lake. As he prepared the sacrifice there was a timely peal of thunder and the miraculous sword flew out of its scabbard, into the mouth of a golden turtle (Vietnamese use the same word for turtle and tortoise) sent by the gods to reclaim the weapon.
Lunch at the restaurant.
Saint Joseph Cathedral Ly Quoc Su : is a Roman Catholic cathedral with neo – gothic fashion, which was constructed about 120 years ago. The structure with domes of the cathedral follows the Gothic style and design of Paris Cathedral. It’s 64.5m in size, 20.5m in width with two bell towers of 31.5m-height. Although the looks of the cathedral, from the doorways, the colourful window glass, to the non secular work for adornment follows Western model, the primary inside half is adorned in Vietnamese approach with two typical colours yellow and crimson. Outside, in front of the cathedral is the statue of Mother Maria.
Water Puppet show : is a tradition that dates back as far as the 11th century when it originated in the villages of the Red River Delta area of northern Vietnam. The puppets are made out of wood and then lacquered. The shows are performed in a waist-deep pool. A large bamboo rod supports the puppet under the water and is used by the puppeteers, who are normally hidden behind a screen, to control them. Thus the puppets appear to be moving over the water.
Dinner at the restaurant
Overnight at hotel in Ha Noi
DAY 14 : HA NOI – RETURN
Breakfast at the hotel
Visit :
Hanoi Cyclo : an hour cycling around and take photos in the Old Quarter.
The Old Quarter (36 old streets) : has a history that spans 2,000 years and represents the eternal soul of the city. Ha Noi Old Quarter with its old-styled narrow streets full of antique brick houses seems to nostalgically resist the flow of time while still actively trying to adapt to the dynamic atmosphere of the modern city. Once a bustling area where merchants and artisans gathered to sell their products, Ha Noi Old Quarter consists of many small, meandering streets, each bears the name of the goods that was specifically traded there such as Hang Bac (Silver Product), Hang Ma (Paper Product), Hang Go (Wood Product), just to name a few.
Lunch at the restaurant.
Transfer to Ha Noi Airport for flight return.
Takeoff at …. On the flight…