Vietnam Historic & Natural Discovery – 18 Days

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival (D)

Upon arrival, welcome by a local tour guide and driver, then transfer to the hotel in Hanoi. Relax for the rest of the day.

Early arrival will give you a chance to enjoy “Pho” for lunch in a famous local restaurant without any charge. In the evening, enjoy dinner at Ngon Villa Restaurant. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi Cooking Class – Half-day City Tour – Night Train to Sapa (B, L)

After breakfast, you will be picked up and transferred to a cooking class (15 minutes). First of all, visit Ngoc Thuy market to interact with vendors who are the local farmers living and working in their fields near the Red River. Then buy some ingredients for the cooking class. Next, visit historical sites in town, such as the Temples of General Ly Thuong Kiet, or learn about herbs and vegetables in a nearby family garden. Later, begin the cooking class with 4 dishes of a traditional Hanoi meal, following the chef's instructions. Your lunch is exactly what you cooked today.

In the afternoon, join the Hanoi city tour at Ho Chi Minh complex, comprising Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum, his former stilt-house, the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh Museum, and One Pillar Pagoda. Next, explore the Temple of Literature, the first national university, originally built as a temple to Confucius.

Then discover the Museum of Ethnology, widely regarded as the best museum in the country, with an extensive display dedicated to the 54 peoples of Vietnam. Enjoy dinner at a nice restaurant with Cha Ca (Vietnamese turmeric fish with Dill), considered the most authentic and well-known dish in Hanoi.

Afterward, head to Hanoi train station for a night train to Sapa or Lao Cai. Overnight on the night train.

Day 3: Sapa – Villages & Rice Terraces (B, L)

After Lao Cai station arrival, take a short rest and have breakfast, start the trekking tour through the breathtaking scenery of Sa Pa Valley, and admire the rice terraces hidden behind the mist of the morning. Reach Muong Hoa River, then pass well-tended rice terraces on the way to the Black Hmong village of Lao Chai.

Continue through the colorful rice terraces to travel to the village of Ta Van Giay. Cross a small suspension bridge, roughly 2km from the settlement, to discover a fascinating collection of rock carvings. Enjoy lunch at a local house in the village.

After lunch, walk through a bamboo forest to Giang Ta Chai, a Red Dao ethnic minority village. Later, get in a car to return to Sapa town.

Approx: 1-hour driving/ 4 hours trekking/ 1-hour lunch.

Day 4: Fansipan by Cable Car – Limousine Van back to Hanoi (B, L)

After breakfast, take a Mountain Train through valleys, viaducts, and tunnels, offering beautiful views of surrounding villages and nature. Reach the Cable Car station and enjoy a 20-minute cable car ride to the top.

After that, challenge yourself with 636 high steps to the Fansipan Peak – considered ‘The Roof of Indochina’ at 3,143 meters. Enjoy the spectacular scenery of Hoang Lien Mountain and the lush forest. Walk down to the cable car station, ride back, and take the Mountain Train back to town, and have lunch in a restaurant.

Return to the hotel for leisure until mid-afternoon, then board a limousine van to return to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 5: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B, L, D)

In the morning, transfer from Hanoi to Halong Bay, then arrive at Cai Hai Port. Upon arrival, get on the cruise ship and enjoy a welcome drink. Lunch is served while cruising into the splendid Lan Ha Bay.

In the afternoon, experience kayaking through the poetically beautiful Tra Bau area, then swim in the emerald water. After that, visit a fish farm and socialize with the resident fishermen to learn more about local life and how the people work every day.

Return to the ship and enjoy “Happy Hour” drink time while taking part in the cooking demonstration. Delight in the shimmering atmosphere of thousands of stars while eating a fantastic, expertly prepared dinner on the top deck of your boat, all while floating in the center of the serene Lan Ha Bay. Dinner with fresh seafood on a boat and overnight at the Bay.

Day 6: Halong Bay (B, L, D)

Begin your second day in Halong Bay with a Tai Chi session or a photo hunt. After breakfast, transfer to a day-boat for a cruise to explore Lan Ha Bay. Join a trekking and cycling tour to Viet Hai village, then return to the cruise ship for lunch.

In the afternoon, swim and kayak in Ba Ham Lake, a mystical wild lagoon on the bay, and enjoy dinner on the top deck, squid fishing, or just laze around. Back to the main back in the late afternoon, freshen up and sit down for dinner. Overnight on a cruise. Central Vietnam – 6 Days

Day 7: Halong – Hanoi – Fly to Hoi An (B, L)

After breakfast at the restaurant, on a bamboo boat, explore Bright Cave and a serene round lake surrounded by rich forest and precipitous stone cliffs before coming back. After that, return to the cruise to pack your luggage and check out of your cabin while en route to the port. Enjoy an extraordinary buffet lunch before returning to the mainland and boarding our bus back to Hanoi.

Drop off at the hotel. Relax until being picked up and transferred to the airport for a flight to Danang. Next, travel by vehicle to Hoi An Ancient Town. Upon arrival, our local guide and driver will welcome you and transfer you to the hotel for check-in. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 8: Hoi An – Farming – Fishing – Walking Tour (B, L)

This morning, cycle to a local farming village to join the daily work life of local farmers – hoeing the land, watering veggies at an organic herb garden, riding water buffalo in the field, and enjoying the freshest air of the countryside beauty.

After that, board a boat and cruise to the river where it meets the Cua Dai Sea. Later, you also have a chance to learn and try our hand at local traditional fishing techniques using round and cast nets, and learn to paddle the strange and unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boats. Explore the now-tranquil, coconut-palm-flanked waterways of a past war and hear of the extreme conditions endured by soldiers on both sides.

After that, visit a local water coconut palm village, then take a walk around the village and have some tea and snacks while listening to local stories…Back on board our Hoi An Eco-tour boat, enjoy our lunch and cold beer or soft drink on the boat, then back to the resort. In the afternoon, begin a walking tour around the ancient town to visit the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge, the Pottery Museum, the 200-year-old Tan Ky house, the Cantonese congregation, the silk street of Hoi An, and the Chinese-style temples and pagodas. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 9: Hoi An Leisure (B)

This day will be free for shopping, strolling in the town, lazing on the beach, or whatever takes your fancy. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 10: Hoi An – Golden Bridge – Hue (B, L)

After breakfast, travel to Sun World Ba Na Hills in Danang and have a half-day of sightseeing and entertainment here. Firstly, take a cable car up to the mountains, enjoy the scenery of Truong Son Mountains, and most especially, the Golden Bridge – the new symbol of Danang, thanks to its unique design and magical settings.

Next, it is your free time to wander through the Le Jardin Garden, with its variety of flowers, or admire the architecture of the French village. After lunch, take the cable car down and transfer to Hue. Check into your hotel and spend the night in Hue.

Day 11: Hue City Tour (B, L)

In the morning, board the Dragon Boat on the romantic Perfume River heading out for the rural scenes. Stop by the charming Thien Mu Pagoda, considered the symbol of Hue and of Buddhism in Vietnam. Next, continue to visit King Khai Dinh’s Tomb and King Tu Duc’s Tomb – the rest in peace of two emperors of the last Feudal dynasty in Vietnam.

In the afternoon, visit the Imperial Citadel, where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled Vietnam in the 19th and 20th centuries, featuring many stunning palaces and unique architecture. Then, visit the Hue Royal Fine Art Museum and the former Dien Long An Royal Palace to gain a deeper understanding of Vietnam's long-standing history and traditions.

Finish the day with the local Dong Ba Market to see the daily life of local people and find some specialties to satisfy your hungry stomach. Overnight in Hue.

Day 12: Hue – Fly to Ho Chi Minh City (B)

After breakfast, you will be free until you are transferred to the airport for your flight to HCMC. On arrival at Tan Son Nhat airport, you will be greeted and taken to a hotel in the city center.

After check-in, feel free to wander around the bustling city, sampling amazing street food such as banh mi and noodle soup. Overnight in Saigon.

Day 13: HCMC – Cat Tien National Park (B, L, D)

After breakfast, travel 170km to Cat Tien National Park in Dong Nai Province. Check in at the guesthouse on arrival. At the national park, see an incredible diversity of birds and mammals living in the forest and wetland habitats of Cat Tien, comprising about 230 bird species, including endangered species such as the German Peacock-Pheasant, Green Peafowl, and Orange-necked Partridge.

Some mammals, such as wild boar, Samba Deer, the rare Black-shanked Duoc Langur, the Yellow-cheeked Gibbon, and the Crested Gibbon, are also found in the park. The afternoon is free for bird watching and photo shooting along the road or trails.

Overnight in the park.

Day 14: Nam Cat Tien National Park (B, L, D)

After breakfast, spend a full day of birding along the road and forest trails at Cat Tien National Park. Hire a jeep at the park headquarters and visit some areas, such as Bird Lake to see waders or Crocodile Lake, where Lesser Adjutant, Green Peafowl, and Purple Heron can be found.

During the walk through the forest to Crocodile Lake, look out for Bar-bellied and Blue-rumped Pitta, Red, and Black and Banded Broadbill, and Orange-breasted Trogon, amongst others. Overnight in the Park.

Day 15: Nam Cat Tien National Park – Back to HCMC (B, L, D)

In this final morning, explore the national park along the trails or perhaps the headquarters road to behold Green-eared, Blue-eared, Lineated, and Red-vented Barbet.

Check out of the park guesthouse and meet up with the driver before leaving for the 150km drive to Dalat. It is a scenic drive through tea and coffee plantations to the cooler climes of the former colonial hill station. Transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City and have the rest of the day free at leisure. Overnight in Saigon.

Day 16: HCMC – City Tour & Cu Chi Tunnels (B, L)

In the morning, visit the Reunification Palace, the former Presidential Palace of the puppet South Vietnam government.

After that, explore the War Remnant Museum to see countless artifacts, photographs, and pictures documenting the Vietnam War. Next, visit Notre Dame Cathedral and the Ho Chi Minh Post Office to capture great shots for our memory of the most fascinating city in Vietnam.

After lunch, visit Cu Chi tunnels, famous as the “Iron Triangle” or “Iron Land”. Before exploring the tunnels, see a short video showing how they were constructed.

Followed by an explorer, discover every hidden corner of the tunnels and see incredible underground life from the past. You also have a chance to see numerous mantraps, American tanks, and bombs left from the Vietnam War.

Transfer back to Saigon and overnight in the city.

Day 17: HCMC – Mekong Delta (B, L)

Wake up early this morning and pay a visit to colorful and vibrant Cai Be. Then, reach Tan Phong islet for a bike or walking tour around the village to see local daily life in the fruit orchard, the local school, the church, the pagoda, and the ancient houses. On the way, stop to see how they make rice net for spring rolls, sew coconut leaves for a cottage roof, and especially see how they wave dried water hyacinth to make many products: baskets, bags, hats, wallets, shoes…

Next, sit on a rowing boat to get deeper into the countryside on smaller canals to enjoy the peaceful scenery. Travel to An Binh Islet. Lunch at a local house.

After lunch, enjoy some cups of tea while listening to traditional music in the ancient house. Then visit the local workshop to see how to make rice paper, coconut candy, pop-rice… and stroll around the orchard where you can enjoy ripe fruits picked directly from the trees. Before ending the cruise trip in Vinh Long, visit the brick kilns to see how local people create beautiful pottery from clay. Return to Saigon for overnight.

Day 18: HCMC Departure (B)

After breakfast, feel free until our vehicle takes you to the airport for your departure flight. Tour ends. See you again in the next Vietnam tour packages.