Day 1: ARRIVE HANOI (D)
Upon arrival at Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport, you
will be welcomed by your guide and transferred to your hotel. Check-in
(official check-in time is at 2:00 PM). Take a rest after your long flight.
Enjoy an orientation tour of Hanoi's ancient quarter, visiting Hoan Kiem Lake
with The Huc Bridge, Quan Thanh Temple, and the Main Post Office. Walk through
Hanoi's Old Quarter and take a one-hour cyclo ride – a traditional Vietnamese
pedicab – to further explore the area. Enjoy a welcome dinner at a local
restaurant and overnight stay in Hanoi.
Day 2: HANOI – HALONG BAY (B, L, D)
Start your day with a Hanoi tour, exploring Hoan Kiem Lake
and joining locals practicing their morning exercises. Experience the local
life of Hanoi in the early morning, perhaps enjoying breakfast or a cup of
coffee on the sidewalk. Try egg coffee – a Hanoi specialty. At 9:30 AM, leave
Hanoi for Halong Bay (a 2-2.5 hour drive). The Gulf of Tonkin was once a haven
for Vietnamese and Chinese pirates, and in Halong Bay, the romance of old
Vietnam still lingers, with its bizarre karst islets and traditional junks
sailing across the waters. With 3,000 limestone and dolomite islets scattered
over 1,500 square kilometers, Halong Bay offers a wonderland of karst
topography. After breakfast, depart for a three-hour journey through the scenic
landscapes of the rural northeast. Arrive at the Got Ferry in Hai Phong and
board your cruise. The cruise proceeds to Da Chong Islet, where you can see a
lighthouse built by the French over 100 years ago. Enjoy an international
buffet lunch while passing the islets of the Con Vit area. These limestone
karst formations rise impressively out of the sea. Take a sampan boat to the
Dark and Light Caves area and enjoy swimming at Tra Bau. As you return to the
cruise, watch the magnificent sunset over the Gulf of Tonkin. Onboard, you can
join a traditional cooking class where the chef will instruct you in preparing
Vietnamese dishes. In the early evening, the boat has a Happy Hour deal. Enjoy
dinner and an overnight stay on board.
Day 3: HALONG BAY - HANOI – LAO CAI (Brunch, D)
Wake up to a beautiful sunrise over Halong Bay. Start your
day with an invigorating Tai Chi session on the sundeck while enjoying the
serene beauty of the bay. Afterward, enjoy a light breakfast. Continue your
journey, cruising past Cat Ba Island, the Thoi Quyt area, Coc Ngoi Islet, and
through the Gia Luan area, which belongs to Cat Ba National Park. Take a bus to
Trung Trang Cave on Cat Ba Island, located in the middle of Cat Ba National
Park, surrounded by Kim Giao Forest. Return to the cruise for brunch. At 11:00
AM, disembark and transfer back to Hanoi. Visit Ho Chi Minh's home in the Ba
Dinh Quarter and enjoy a “Bia Hoi” in the Old Quarter. Have dinner at a local
restaurant and board a night train to Lao Cai. Overnight on the train.
Day 4: LAO CAI – BAC HA MARKET – SAPA (must be on Sunday)
(B, L, D)
Upon arrival at Lao Cai station, enjoy breakfast. Transfer
to Bac Ha (a 1 hour 40-minute drive) and arrive at the bustling marketplace.
Spend two hours experiencing the market alongside local tribal people,
including the Flower H'mong, Black Zao, Phu La, and Tay. Witness their vibrant traditional costumes
and festive atmosphere. Every Sunday, these communities gather for shopping and
socializing. The cattle and clothing sections are particularly interesting
until 11:00 AM, followed by the food section, where people meet, talk, enjoy
local delicacies, and drink locally made corn wine. Enjoy lunch at a local
restaurant. Afterward, transfer to Sapa town and take a rest. Later in the
afternoon, explore Sapa, visiting Sapa Church and Sapa Lake. Overnight in Sapa.
Day 5: SAPA - LAO CHAI VILLAGE - TAVAN VILLAGE (B, L)
After breakfast, embark on a walk from Y Linh Ho village to
Ta Van village, home to the Zay minority, via Lao Chai village of the Black
H'mong minority (approximately 5 km). This trek provides an opportunity to
witness the distinct traditions, activities, and costumes of these ethnic
minority groups. Learn about their rice planting and indigo dyeing techniques.
Descending into the valley, you'll see the largest terraced rice paddy in the
Sapa area (best viewed from May to October). Enjoy lunch at La Dao restaurant,
which offers stunning views of Muong Hoa Valley. Overnight in Ta Van (Sapa).
Day 6: SAPA (B)
Enjoy a free day at your leisure in Ta Van. Overnight in Ta
Van (Sapa).
Day 7: SAPA – NOI BAI AIRPORT / DA NANG (B, D)
In the early morning (6:30 AM), depart from Sapa and
transfer to Noi Bai Airport (289 km – 4 hours 40 minutes). Have a light lunch
at the airport before taking a flight to Da Nang (1 hour 30 minutes). Meet your
driver at the airport and transfer to your hotel in Da Nang. Overnight in Da
Nang.
Day 8: DA NANG – BA NA HILLS - HOI AN (B, L, D)
After breakfast, transfer to Ba Na Hills (20 minutes). Ride
the cable car to the peak and discover the theme parks: Le Jardin Garden, Moon
Place, Golden Bridge, and Fantasy Park. Return to Da Nang in the afternoon and
transfer to Hoi An. Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 9: HOI AN (B, L)
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. Spend half a day exploring
Hoi An, visiting the Japanese Covered Bridge, Cantonese Assembly Hall, Phung
Hung House, and Hoi An Market. Have lunch at Sakura restaurant. Enjoy a free
afternoon in Hoi An. Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 10: HOI AN – MY SON – HOI AN (B, L)
Today, journey to My Son to explore the My Son Sanctuary, a
remarkable architectural ensemble dating back to the 4th century. This UNESCO
World Heritage Site was once the religious and political capital of the Champa
Kingdom. On the way back to Hoi An, stop
at Cua Lau Bridge and take a boat ride back to the town. Enjoy lunch in Hoi An.
In the afternoon, transfer to your resort at An Bang Beach. Overnight in Hoi
An.
Day 11: HOI AN (B)
Enjoy a free day at your leisure on An Bang Beach, located 5
km from Hoi An. Overnight at An Bang Beach.
Day 12: HOI AN (B)
Enjoy another relaxing day at An Bang Beach. Overnight at An
Bang Beach.
Day 13: HOI AN – DA NANG / CAN THO (B, D)
After breakfast at the hotel, check out and enjoy free time
until your transfer to Da Nang Airport for your flight to Can Tho. Can Tho is a
city in southern Vietnam's Mekong Delta region, known for its canal network and
nearby floating markets. The busy Ninh Kieu waterfront is a hub for boat trips
on the surrounding waterways. Upon arrival at Tra Noc - Can Tho Airport,
collect your bags and transfer to your hotel. Check in, refresh, and take a
short orientation walk to a local restaurant for dinner. Overnight in Can Tho.
Day 14: CAN THO – CAI RANG FLOATING MARKET – SAIGON (B,
L, D)
Wake up early and take a boat trip to Cai Rang Floating
Market, the largest floating market in the Mekong Delta. Experience the unique
market culture on the waterways. Check out of your hotel and depart Can Tho for
Vinh Long. From Vinh Long, take a boat trip to explore the canals of Long Ho,
Hoa Tinh, and My An, discovering the "Red Kingdom." Stop at a local
village to see how bamboo trays and baskets are woven. Continue by boat to the
My An – Hoa Tinh canals, where you can see numerous kilns. You have the option
to bike or walk through Hoa Tinh village, visiting the old kilns and taking
pictures of these heritage sites. Enjoy a tea break with local cakes on the
boat. Stop at a pottery factory to see how beautiful pottery is created from
clay. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Afterward, drive to Saigon (Ho Chi
Minh City). Check in to your hotel and enjoy free time. Have dinner at a local
restaurant. Overnight in Saigon.
Day 15: SAIGON – DEPARTURE (B)
Enjoy free time to discover Saigon until your transfer to
Tan Son Nhat Airport for your departure.