Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi – City tour (L, D)
Our guide and driver will pick you up at the airport. You will be driven to downtown Hanoi.
During the morning, we will visit several major landmarks of the capital: the Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, and Tran Quoc Pagoda.
After a good lunch at a local restaurant, we will visit the Museum of Ethnology, where you will learn about the 54 ethnic groups populating Vietnam. You will see a collection of costumes worn by the different ethnic minorities, learn about traditional customs, and visit replicas of typical homes of some minority groups.
In the evening, you will enjoy a water puppet show.
Overnight at a hotel.
Day 2: Hanoi – Duong Lam – Nghia Lo (B, L, D)
We leave Hanoi in the morning and to drive Nghia Lo. We will stop at the ancient village of Duong Lam, where you will discover: old traditional houses of Vietnamese architecture, the village entrance gate, the 100-year-old banyan tree, the Mong Phu Communal House, and the Mia pagoda.
We will then continue our road from Duong Lam to see the first hills with tea plantations, where farmers collect tea leaves. Later, we will make another stop to see a water wheel, an original irrigation method used by the Thai ethnic group.
We will reach Nghia Lo in the afternoon. Afterwards, we will go for a walk to Nghia An, a village inhabited by the Black Thai minority. This peaceful community is made of stilt houses, and you will be able to interact with the welcoming people living there.
Overnight in Nghia Lo at a hotel or homestay.
Day 3: Nghia Lo – Tu Le – Khau Pha – Nga Ba Kim – La Pan Tan – Than Uyen (B, L, D)
After breakfast, we will ride along the famous Road No32 leading to Mu Cang Chai. While on this stretch of 100 km, you will be marveled by the vast rice terraces. Stop at Khau Pha Pass to enjoy a beautiful view of Tu Le Valley.
We will head to Nga Ba Kim, then, go for a 6-km hike through La Pan Tan rice terraces, classified by the Vietnamese government as a "National Heritage." After a stop at a Thai village, we will head to Than Uyen.
Check-in at the hotel and overnight.
Day 4: Than Uyen – Sapa – Lao Chai – Giang Ta Chai – Sapa (B, L, D)
After breakfast, we will head to Sapa. Along the way, we will visit several ethnic villages, including a Lao Lu Village. While on the road from Than Uyen to Sapa, you will see beautiful hills covered by extravagant greenish tea plantations.
In the afternoon, we will start an easy hike through wonderful landscapes and visit Lao Chai village (home of Black H’Mong ethnic group) and Giang Ta Chai village (home of Red Dzao minority). You will have the opportunity to contemplate the beauty of a waterfall and a suspended bridge while discovering the lifestyle of locals, their customs and culture.
Back to Sapa for dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 5: Sapa – Bac Ha (B, L, D)
We leave Sapa in the morning and head to Bac Ha, where we will arrive around noon.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, we will enjoy a 4-hour hike through Ban Pho and Phu La villages, home of the Flower H’Mong ethnic group.
Overnight at a hotel.
Day 6: Bac Ha – Hanoi (B, L)
Wake up early in morning to have breakfast before going to Bac Ha market. This famous market is the biggest in the region and a place where many ethnic groups gather, such as: the Black H’Mong, Fula, Ha Nhi, Dzao, and others. They come to sell goods such as wheat, vegetables, cattle (buffaloes, pigs…), and fabrics. The market is busiest around 10:00am, when all the villagers of the area are present, wearing their traditional costumes. At this point it becomes a very colorful and lively place for tourists to experience.
Afterwards, we will enjoy a walking tour in a Tay village.
Later, we will hit the road and travel back to Hanoi. Check-in at the hotel. Dinner on your own and free time during the evening.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 7: Hanoi – Ha Long Bay (B, L, D)
08:00am: You will be picked up at your hotel and we will drive through the Red River Delta until reaching Ha Long around noon. You will then get on the boat and have lunch onboard.
The cruiser will sail, passing between numerous islands and islets. You will have the opportunity to admire the incredible beauty of this World Natural Heritage site.
You will also visit Sung Sot Cave (or “Surprise Cave”), the largest in Ha Long Bay. You will marvel at the sight of spectacular stalactites and stalagmites. Thereafter, enjoy free time for kayaking or relaxing while enjoying the scenery.
You will have a delicious dinner onboard around 7:30pm.
Overnight stay on the cruiser.
Day 8: Ha Long Bay – Ninh Binh (B, L, D)
Wake up to enjoy breakfast while observing the sunrise. In the morning, you will go for an excursion by sampan to explore the bay. Brunch onboard and disembark around 11:30am.
We will then start our road to Ninh Binh. We will stop along the way at Keo Pagoda, known for its original architecture. This pagoda was built in the 11th century, during the reign of the Ly Dynasty. The current structure was renovated several times and dates to the 17th century. The architecture is beautiful, most notably due to its tower with three overlaid roofs and rich balconies carved in the iron wood columns with elaborate details. The pagoda was built on a 17-hectare area and is surrounded by an appeasing environment.
Later, we reach Ninh Binh. At night we stay at a homestay, located in the middle of a rural area.
Enjoy the night in the peaceful countryside.
Day 9: Ninh Binh (B, L, D)
In the morning, we will visit the local market and go for a bike ride through villages and rice fields. It will be a relaxing time and an opportunity to discover the authentic life of the inhabitants living in the countryside of the Red River Delta. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to try local fishing techniques and interact with the hospitable and friendly farmers.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, we will board a rowing sampan boat and explore Van Long Nature Reserve. You will be taken through scenic landscapes filled with limestone peaks of distorted shapes, emerging from the middle of rice fields. You will also navigate through two beautiful caves. If lucky, you will be able to catch a glimpse of the white shorts langurs.
Overnight at a hotel.
Day 10: Ninh Binh – Hue (B, L, D)
After breakfast, we will go for an excursion by sampan to visit Trang An, a World Natural Heritage site made of beautiful grottoes. Next, we will go to Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam during the 9th and 10th centuries. We will visits the temples of Dinh and Le, also dating to the 10th century.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, we will visit the old Bich Dong Pagoda. You will be able to appreciate a panoramic view of “Ha Long Bay on land” from the courtyard in front of the pagoda. Visit also Thai Vi temple.
Later, after dinner, you will take the night train to Hue.
Day 11: Hue – City Tour (B, L, D)
You will arrive in Hue in the morning. Our driver will pick you up and take you to the city center.
In the morning, you will go to the Imperial Citadel, built according to similar architectural plans as the Forbidden City in Beijing. The Citadel is encircled by a long, thick wall.
Lunch at the restaurant.
In the afternoon, we will visit the tombs of emperors Tu Duc and Minh Mang.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 12: Hue – Da Nang – Hoi An (B, L, D)
During the morning, we will visit the charming Thanh Toan covered bridge, then drive towards our next destination. We will go through Hai Van Pass, known as “Ocean Cloud Pass”, where you will enjoy a jaw-dropping view of Da Nang and its surroundings. In Da Nang, we will visit the Cham Museum, which houses the largest collection of Cham sculptures in the world. Then we head to Hoi An.
Check-in at the hotel and lunch at a local restaurant.
Our afternoon will be dedicated to the discovery of the charming town of Hoi An. We will walk and visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, Phuc Kien Temple, Chua Ong Pagoda, Tan Ky House, Phung Hung House, and Chuc Thanh Pagoda, while also assisting to a 20-min long show of Cham local music and dances.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 13: Hoi An – My Son – Hoi An (B, L, D)
We will depart for the sacred valley of My Son in the morning. This archeological site is home to fabulous remains dating back from the Champa Kingdom. There are 70 sanctuary towers which were built of bricks and stone between the 7th and 13th centuries.
After our lunch break, we will board a boat to navigate down to Cua Dai estuary, to the river Co and then to Bay Mau to visit wild mangroves covered by Nipa palms.
You will disembark to discover the daily life of locals before getting on a round bamboo-woven sampan to visit the area. You will have the opportunity to fish crabs as the local fishermen do.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 14: Hoi An – Kon Tum (B, L, D)
We leave Hoi An after breakfast for a 7-hour drive on 340 km.
We will have lunch in Dak Glei.
After our nice meal, we will visit a village inhabited by the Gie Trieng ethnic group.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 15: Kon Tum (B, L, D)
Breakfast.
Then, visit Jarai villages, where traditional customs are still preserved. Your guide will enlighten you about the peculiar burial custom in Jarai culture as you visit a house dedicated to the dead.
In the afternoon, visit Kon Tum, the land of the Bahnar and Sedang. These ethnic groups have their own writing and most of them are Catholics. You will visit the city and explore its seminaries, museums, famed wooden cathedral, and the orphanage. Finally, we will discover an ethnic village inhabited by the Ro Ngao ethnic minority.
We will close the day by sitting in on a gong music show in the evening.
Overnight stay in a homestay.
Day 16: Kon Tum – Pleiku – Lak Lake (B, L, D)
Off to Buon Ma Thuot, the capital of coffee in Vietnam. We will make several stops on our way in order to visit Lake T'Nung (an ancient crater), Dektu and Dekrol Village, and Bahnar villages. We will also stop at some coffee plantations.
In the evening, you will be invited to drink fermented rice wine with M'Nong people and enjoy a concert of gongs performed by the villagers.
Dinner and overnight in a bungalow at Lak Resort.
Day 17: Lak Lake – Dray Nur falls – Buon Ma Thuot (B, L, D)
Today, you will experience a fantastic elephant ride and an appeasing boat cruise on Lak Lake. You will also visit M’Lieng village.
Afternoon: visit to Dray Nur waterfalls, 30km away from Buon Ma Thuot City.
Overnight at a hotel in Buon Ma Thuot.
Day 18: Buon Ma Thuot – Yok Don National Park – Ban Don – Ho Chi Minh City (B, L, D)
After breakfast, we will go to Yok Don National Park, the largest National Park in Vietnam. There, we will start a 2-hour walk in a forest with diverse flora and fauna. You will admire several species of orchids.
Picnic lunch near a waterfall.
Then, visit to Ban Don, the village of elephants. Your guide will tell you more about the legend of the King of Elephants, the founder of the village and of the art of elephant hunting. Next is a visit to a 120-year old stilt house and a 750-m long suspended bamboo bridge on Serepok River.
Back to Buon Ma Thuot for your evening flight to Ho Chi Minh City.
You will be picked up at your arrival and taken downtown Ho Chi Minh City.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 19: Ho Chi Minh City – Ben Tre – Cho Lach (B, L, D)
Today, we will depart for Ben Tre, the land of coconut trees in the Mekong Delta. On arrival at the pier, we will board a boat on the Ham Luong River for a cruise through authentic landscapes. A few stops are scheduled for a visit to an artisanal brick factory and a coconut processing plant. We will also go to a house where the inhabitants weave mats.
Then, we will enjoy a nice bike ride around the village of Thanh Nhon, through orchards and coconut plantations.
Lunch with the locals.
In the afternoon, we will continue to explore the area as we go to a rice cake workshop and coconut candy factory. Afterwards, we will head to Cho Lach and rest in bungalows at a homestay near a river. You will have the opportunity to participate in the preparation of the night meal with the host family.
Dinner and overnight at the homestay.
Day 20: Cho Lach – Cai Be floating market – Ho Chi Minh City (B, L)
Have a nice breakfast before we head to Cai Be. We will hop on a boat to visit Cai Be floating market, floating shops, and the botanical garden. We will also explore the island by foot and go through a village where we will taste seasonal fruit in tropical orchards and listen to traditional folk music Don Ca Tai Tu, recognized by the UNESCO as a World Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Lunch at an old house.
We will drive back to Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon, with a stop along the way to visit a major Cao Dai temple.
Overnight at the hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 21: Ho Chi Minh City – departure (B)
Free time until the bus takes you to the airport for your departure flight.
