Vietnam Special 15 days (ATD-V10)

On arrival at Hanoi International Airport, you will be greeted by your private driver and guide, and transferred in a private vehicle to your hotel for check-in. You will have some time free to rest and relax after your flight.

Overnight in Hanoi

After breakfast, dive into the sights, sounds, and aromas of Hanoi. Start with Ho Chi Minh Complex including his Mausoleum (Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed all afternoon, every Monday & Friday, and from late September until December), the Presidential Palace, the historic Stilt house, and the One Pillar Pagoda.

Continuing on your journey through Hanoi, you head to Tran Quoc Pagoda (which means “Stabilizing the Nation”), the oldest pagoda constructed in the sixth century in the Westlake and also a famous attraction for pilgrims.

From there, you will proceed to the Temple of Literature. Originally built in honor of Confucius by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong in 1070, a university was added to the grounds six years later. The university provided education to the royal family and children of the aristocracy or “mandarins”.

Around 12.30: you will have lunch at a local restaurant. Following lunch is a short drive to the Museum of Ethnology, a museum of the 54 officially recognized Ethnic Groups in Vietnam (Ethnology Museum is closed every Monday).

Return to the City center to visit Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake, the heart and soul of Hanoi.

End up your day with a fun cyclo/ rickshaw ride through the French Quarter and then enjoy a Water Puppet show, a uniquely northern Vietnamese art form depicting scenes from rural life and episodes of national history.

Around 18.00 – 18.30, return to your hotel where the rest of the day will be free at your leisure.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Hanoi

Depart Hanoi for a two-hour drive to the province of Ninh Binh, approximately 100 kilometers away. Your first destination is Hoa Lu, the location of the capital of Vietnam during the Dinh Dynasty (968-980) and early Le Dynasty (980-1009). The ancient citadel once covered 300 hectares of land, however, the passage of time has left few remains of this once glorious capital of Vietnam.

On arrival, dive into history at the Dinh & Le Temples. Restored in the 17th century, the temples are dedicated to the Dinh and Le emperors and believed to be built on the original foundations of the old palaces from the 11th and 12th centuries.

After visiting the Ancient Capital, you will be transferred to Tam Coc, stop en-route to take photographs of the local villages and stunning landscape. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant (serving local specialties with vegetarian meals upon request).

After lunch and a short rest, board a sampan to visit Tam Coc (Three Caves), rowing down the river among the villages, mountains and lush green rice fields. Known as “Halong Bay on land”, Tam Coc are three limestone caves stretching along the splendid Ngo Dong River. During the boat trip, you will enjoy the impressive natural landscape, reflexing the spectacular Limestone Mountains, rice paddies, and temples. Pass through 3 caves to get a unique feeling of the mesmerizing underground system. Your boat will return to the dock and you will be taken back to Hanoi.

This evening you will be transferred to the train station to catch the overnight train to Lao Cai.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight on Train (Soft sleeper cabin with AC)

The train will arrive in Lao Cai train station in the early morning. At the train exit, you will be picked up by your local tour guide and driver, and transferred to a local restaurant for breakfast.

Depart Lao Cai you will embark on a scenic drive through the beautiful landscape to Bac Ha Sunday Market. Start early in the morning, the hill tribes are from the surrounding villages, some of them are from very far and remote villages gather at the market for trades. Set among beautiful rolling mountains, these markets are full of local products and handicrafts. Here you will find Flower Hmong (Red Hmong), Phu La, Black Dao traders engaged in business. Enjoy spending time walking around the market taking in the sights and sounds (not to mention tastes) and perhaps engage in some business with the local people.

After spending the morning exploring the market, your lunch will be served at a local restaurant. Following lunch is a leisurely walk to Ban Pho village of Nung and Flower Hmong, which locate in a small valley. The villagers grow vegetables and fruit trees. One of the most famous fruits in the area is plum. You will be able to visit a local house, where you might have a chance to taste a cup of corn wine, another famous product of the village.

Leaving the village you will be transferred directly to Sapa. Established as a hill station by the French in 1922, Sapa today is northern Vietnam’s premier trekking base.

After checking into the hotel you will spend the remainder of the day at your leisure. You can stroll around the old town or climb the Dragon’s jaw mountain to enjoy the panoramic view of Sapa town below.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Sapa

After breakfast, start your trekking day through the beautiful Muong Hoa valley to Y Linh Ho village, home to Black Hmong minorities. If the weather permits, you will enjoy stunning views across the valley with mountains and rice terraces as far as the eyes can see. The next stop is Lao Chai, an established Hmong minority village that has been inhabited for centuries. Here you will have the opportunity to see the products of this minority at its best with hereditary rice terraces, homes and a vibrant community.

Continuing on to Ta Van Village, you will visit the Giay minority people. This group traditionally fished for a living and as a result, established their homes close to the rivers. They have mastered the art of fishing with bamboo sticks, and cook the fish inside bamboo. Nowadays, however, you are more likely to see the Giay working in fields planting or harvesting rice.

Lunch will be served at a local house in Ta Van village, with a great view over the rice fields and valley. After lunch, you will leave the village and proceed to the main road where your driver will take you back to Sapa. Stop en route to visit the ancient rock field, an area of remains consists of large rocks engraved with ancient images.

*** Note: Appropriate footwear must be worn for treks to local villages.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Sapa

The whole morning will be free at your leisure. You can hang around the town or take a light walk to the nearby Cat Cat village, home to the Black H’mong minority.

Check out of the hotel at around 12.00. After that, you will be picked up by your driver and transferred back to Hanoi. The scenic drive will be around 05hrs with breaks on the way.

Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Hanoi

After breakfast you will leave the busy streets of Hanoi behind, bound for the serenity of Halong Bay where you will discover the UNESCO World Heritage-listed landscapes. The limestone karsts and tropical islets rising up from the emerald waters provide an ethereal backdrop for your leisurely cruise.

Once there, you’ll be welcomed aboard your traditional-style Vietnamese Junk boat, each with its own individual route, to begin your cruise around the bay’s rocky islands and hidden caves.

After lunch on board, you will take a small boat transfer to the Tien Ong Cave and Cua Van Fishing Village, whose residents still live in traditional floating houses.

Return to your Junk boat for a cooking demonstration with the chef or enjoy a mesmerising sunset on the top deck before enjoying a scrumptious dinner and a peaceful overnight stay in this UNESCO-listed natural wonder.

Note: If your time permits, we would highly recommend an additional night on board which gives you a lot more time to relax and take in the amazing landscape. You’ll get to cruise deeper into the Bay where it’s more beautiful and less crowded. 

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight on board in Halong Bay

The graceful practice of Tai Chi eases you into your day as is the local custom. Join a ‘Local Specialist’ on the deck of the Junk boat for a morning class in exquisite natural surrounds. You’ll have time for an early morning swim at one of Halong Bay’s quiet beaches and, if you’re feeling energetic, a brisk walk to catch one last view of scenic Halong Bay before your drive to Hanoi Airport to catch your flight to Hue.

You’ll meet your guide on arrival and drive straight to your hotel for check-in.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Hue

After breakfast, you will join your guide for a tour around some of Hue’s important historical sights. First, you will embark on a traditional dragon boat trip on poetic Perfume River, stop to visit Thien Mu (Celestial Lady) Pagoda. This iconic seven-story pagoda is regarded as the unofficial symbol of the city, overlooking the Perfume River. In the backyard, you will see the Austin car which took Monk Thich Quang Duc to Ho Chi Minh City where he famously set himself on fire in 1963 as a dramatic protest against the unfair treatment of Buddhists by the Diem regime. The photo of his self-immolation is one of the most well-known images of the war.

Continue to visit the Royal Citadel, where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled the country from 1802 till 1945. You will explore the ancient and atmospheric walled Citadel which contains the former Imperial Palace and the Forbidden Purple City. You will have a chance to visit the Royal Antiques Museum – A collection of ornaments from the Nguyen dynasty. After that, proceed to the vibrant Dong Ba Market, sited on the northern bank of Perfume River.

Today you will enjoy a delicious lunch at a Buddist Monastery tasting various vegetarian dishes cooked and served by the monks.

You will spend the afternoon exploring Hue’s famous royal tombs, illustrious examples of the Grand Dynasty’s past, and garden houses. First, you will visit Emperor Minh Mang’s tomb, one of the most beautiful and majestic tombs of the Nguyen Dynasty. The next stop will be the Emperor Khai Dinh’s Tomb, an impressive monument situated in an imposing site nestled high on the mountainside.

Pause at a local workshop where you can see how incense sticks and traditional conical hats are made. Interact with the local people and try your hand at making some incense sticks.

Return to your hotel in the late afternoon where the remainder of the day will be at your leisure.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Hue

After breakfast, you will depart Hue heading south along the coastline to Da Nang and Hoi An. En-route you will stop to visit Lang Co Beach and Hai Van Pass (Cloudy Pass). Reaching Da Nang, you will enjoy a hike up to the Marble Mountain, a cluster of five hills made from limestone and marble in Da Nang. It’s also a well-known pilgrimage site with peaks, caves, tunnels, and temples all just waiting to be discovered. Reaching the summit, you will enjoy spectacular panoramic views of Da Nang city below.

Continue to drive to the nearby town of Hoi An. From the 16th to the 18th century, Hoi An was a thriving international commercial port. Today it is a quaint riverside town popular with tourists for its eclectic architecture, tailor shops, and cafes.

After checking into your hotel you will head out for lunch and then embark on a walking tour winding through the winding narrow streets of the Ancient Quarter. You will visit the town’s major top attractions including Chua Ong Pagoda, the Assembly Hall, the 200-year-old Tam Ky house and the Japanese Covered Bridge. You will also attend a traditional music show and explore the Lantern making factories, a traditional hand-made product of Hoi An.

The rest of the day will be free at your leisure. You can visit the tailor shops to have some clothes made to measure within 24 hours. Or just relax and enjoy the comforts of the hotel

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Hoi An

A charming town, Hoi An is perfect for you to spend a day wandering around, exploring things by yourself. You can head to An Bang beach, 5 km away from the Old town to relax or consider joining our optional recommended experience below.

After breakfast and check out you will be driven to the airport for a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City (also known as Saigon).

Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred in a private vehicle to your hotel to check-in. The rest of the day will be free at your leisure. Perhaps you will join our optional recommended experience below.

Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in HCM City

After breakfast, we will travel over 70 kilometers to the legendary Cu Chi Tunnels, which was built by the Viet Cong in the war battles for the South of Vietnam. The tunnels are a sobering insight into the dedication of the Viet Cong who lived almost entirely underground in the narrow and claustrophobic tunnels, for up to 10 years!

Upon arrival, you will have a chance to watch a brief video that will introduce you to the Cu Chi tunnels, followed by a walk through the reserve. In this walk, you can see the Secret Entrance to the tunnels, workshops for the handmade weapons, the clinic bunker, the commander bunker, the meeting bunker and the kitchen bunkers, which are all open and above ground. Nearby is a chilling exhibition of the traps and weapons used during the war.  You can experience the Cu Chi tunnels by crawling inside to see how difficult life must have been, and discover the 3 levels underground.

For those who do not like the claustrophobic atmosphere, you will not have to crawl into these tunnels! The small replica displayed outside will give you a perfect example of what the interior looked like.

Finish the tour and return to HCM City around noon for lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, your guide will show you the most interesting sights that Ho Chi Minh City has to offer. Depart from your hotel to the Reunification Palace; this beautifully preserved palace was the residence of the President of the Republic of Vietnam. On April 30th, 1975 the American War officially came to an end here. Proceed to the War Remnants Museum, where you can see countless artifacts, photographs, and pictures documenting the second Indochina war.

Continue to visit the Notre Dame Cathedral, built in 1880, and the Old Post Office, which was built sometime between 1886 and 1891. It is one of the best examples of classical French colonial architecture. Next will be Jade Emperor Pagoda, nestled in a quiet enclave in downtown HCM City, the Pagoda offers a calming sanctuary from the bustle of the busy streets outside

The final stop will be Ben Thanh Market where you can practice your bargaining skills while shopping for souvenirs. You’ll find some of the friendliest, liveliest, most convivial people in the city here.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in HCM City

After breakfast, you will depart for a two-hour drive to Ben Tre Town, in the Mekong Delta, popularly known as the “rice bowl” of Vietnam, and is famous for its vast rice fields, orchard farms, coconut trees, numerous waterways, and beautiful landscapes.

Upon arrival you will embark on a motorized boat trip around the scenic Ben Tre River, viewing various local industries along the way. During the boat ride, you will stop to visit the small local factories where bricks and sleeping mats are made. Take a leisure walk along the village lanes visiting the local homes to try dry fruits, taste honey tea while enjoying a local Tai Tu music show. Continue to visit a coconut mill workshop where the local delicacy of coconut candy is produced and a range of coconut husk and fiber products are skillfully handcrafted.

You next take a small sampan boat through palm-fringed back canals, gliding peacefully along the hidden waterways surrounded by an immense variety of tropical plants. The quiet, rural setting is a welcome and restorative retreat to the frenetic buzz of Ho Chi Minh City which seems far, far away.

Enjoy sitting in the back a Motor Cart (xe lôi) passing rice and vegetable orchard farms while meeting with local people. Then head to a local restaurant for a simple lunch, after which you will be driven back to the city.

The rest of the day will be free at your leisure or you can consider joining our recommended optional experience below.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in HCM City

Your private transfer greets you at the hotel after breakfast and escorts you to Ho Chi Minh International Airport where you board your flight home or travel on to more adventures, we will help you with the planning.

Meals included: Breakfast