OVERVIEW:
Destination: HANOI – HA LONG BAY – NINH BINH – HANOI – LAO CAI – SAPA – DONG HOI – PHONG NHA – PARADISE CAVE – QUANG TRI – HUE – DA NANG – HOI AN – HO CHI MINH CITY – CU CHI – MEKONG DELTA – RACH GIA – PHU QUOC – HO CHI MINH CITY
Duration: 21 days 20 nights


Enjoy a 21-day odyssey with this proposed tour that will provide you with a little bit of everything about Vietnam: wonderful karst landscapes in three UNESCO World Heritage sites – Ha Long Bay, Trang An, and “Ha Long Bay on land” in Ninh Binh, the Phong Nha - Ke Bang region; the mountainous scenery of the North and their ethnical minorities, the historical Vietnam with the millennium city of Hanoi, the ancient capital of Hue, the charming port of Hoi An, and the Cu Chi Tunnels; the modern Vietnam with Ho Chi Minh City and last but not least, a relaxing beach break in the heavenly island of Phu Quoc.


HIGHLIGHTS:

  • A journey across Vietnam, from the Northern Mountains to the Southern Islands
  • A wide variety of landscapes: mountains, oceans, karst sites, beaches
  • A discovery of Vietnam’s culture and history throughout the whole trip

QUICK LOOK ON THE ITINERARY:

Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi (-)
Day 2: Hanoi – City Tour (B, L, D)
Day 3: Hanoi – Ha Long Bay (B, L, D)
Day 4: Ha Long Bay – Ninh Binh (B, L, D)
Day 5: Ninh Binh – Hanoi – night train to Lao Cai (B, L, D)
Day 6: Lao Cai – Sapa (B, L, D)
Day 7: Sapa – Lao Cai – Night Train to Hanoi (B, L, D)
Day 8: Hanoi – Dong Hoi (B, L)
Day 9: Dong Hoi – Visit to Phong Nha Cave – Paradise Cave – Dong Hoi (B, L)
Day 10: Dong Hoi – Quang Tri – Hue (B, L)
Day 11: Hue – City Tour (B, L)
Day 12: Hue – Hoi An (B)
Day 13: Hoi An (B)
Day 14: Hoi An – Da Nang – Ho Chi Minh City (B)
Day 15: Ho Chi Minh City – City Tour – Cu Chi Tunnels (B, L, D)
Day 16: Ho Chi Minh City – Cai Be Floating Market – Can Tho (B, L)
Day 17: Can Tho – Rach Gia (B, L)
Day 18: Rach Gia – Phu Quoc (B)
Day 19: Phu Quoc (B)
Day 20: Phu Quoc – Ho Chi Minh City (B)
Day 21: Ho Chi Minh City – Departure (B)


TOUR IDENTIFICATION CODEVDIN07

Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi (-) 

Upon arrival in Hanoi, our bus will pick you up and take you to your hotel for check-in.

Free time for the rest of the day.

Day 2: Hanoi – City Tour (B, L, D)

Today, we will discover the millennium city of Hanoi and learn more about its rich History. Hanoi is without a doubt one of the most interesting cities to visit in Vietnam.

First, we will visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, Presidential Palace, and Temple of Literature.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we will visit the Vietnam Military History Museum, West Lake, the Old Quarter (including Dong Xuan Market, Hang Giay Street, and the O Quan Truong gate), and Hoan Kiem Lake.

Finally, we will rejoice by watching a very nice water puppet show.

Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at the hotel.

(Note: visit of Hanoi night market on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays).

Day 3: Hanoi – Ha Long Bay (B, L, D)

Today, we will drive for 3h30 to reach Ha Long City.

At Ha Long tourist port, we will get onboard and enjoy a fresh seafood lunch while cruising through the thousands of islands and islets that forms this incredible World Natural Heritage site. We will have the opportunity to swim in the bay, explore caves with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites or take kayaks and discover the hidden treasures of Ha Long Bay.

Dinner and overnight onboard.

Day 4: Ha Long Bay – Ninh Binh (B, L, D)

Wake up early to enjoy breakfast while seeing the sunrise. The boat will continue the cruise in Ha Long Bay and we will stop to visit Thien Cung cave. Then, back to the boat to enjoy the cruise while admiring the beauty of Ha Long – if time permits, we will stop for swimming.

Lunch on board while cruising.

After lunch, back to the bus to drive through the Red River Delta from Ha Long to Hai Phong, then Thai Binh, Nam Dinh and finally Ninh Binh. While on our way, we will make a few stops: visit Tran Temple in Nam Dinh to learn about the most successful dynasty in the history of Vietnam and go into traditional villages specializing in making lacquers and wood carving.

In Ninh Binh, we will check-in at your hotel located in the middle of a rural area. You will have free time to enjoy the peaceful countryside.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 5: Ninh Binh – Hanoi – night train to Lao Cai (B, L, D)

Today, we will visit Ninh Binh, surrounded by many limestone mountains emerging from rice fields. Ninh Binh is known as “Ha Long Bay on land”.

We will visit the Trang An caves, newly recognized as World Natural Heritage site by the UNESCO. There, we will board bamboo row boats and cruise along the stream through 9 grottoes including Ba Giot, Dia Linh, Toi (“Dark Cave”), Sang (“Bright Cave”), Ao Trai and Seo. We will also visit the valleys of Tran Temple, May, Khong, and Nau Ruou.

Later, we will go to Bai Dinh pagoda, the biggest in Vietnam.

Finally, we will return to Hanoi.

Dinner at a local restaurant before going to the train station. You will take your night train for Lao Cai (air-conditioned cabin shared by 4 persons, soft beds).

Day 6: Lao Cai – Sapa (B, L, D)

Early morning arrival to Lao Cai. A bus will pick you up for a 38-km drive to Sapa. Breakfast at your hotel before visiting Sapa and the surroundings: Cat Cat Village, Cat Cat Waterfall, an old hydroelectric factory, and a local Black H’Mong family.

Back to town and lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, visit to Ham Rong Mountain, where you will have an astounding view of the town of Sapa and on Mount Fansipan. 

Later, you will watch a traditional show performed by local minorities.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 7: Sapa – Lao Cai – Night Train to Hanoi (B, L, D)

Today, we will take the footpath to trek on the rim of the deep valley of Muong Hoa. During the trek, you will have the opportunity to see the most enchanting rice terraces of the area and meet the H’Mong hill tribes of Lao Chai Village and the Dzay hill tribes of Ta Van Village.

Lunch on the way before being picked up by our bus to head back to Sapa.

Free time for the rest of the day before the transfer to Lao Cai station. You will take your night train and return to Hanoi (air-conditioned cabin shared by 4 persons, soft beds).

Day 8: Hanoi – Dong Hoi (B, L)

Arrival early in the morning. Check-in at a small guesthouse near the train station for a nap and free time until being picked up and taken to the airport for a flight to Dong Hoi.

On arrival, our driver will pick you up and take you to the resort for check-in.

Lunch at local restaurant.

Free afternoon to relax on the beach.

Day 9: Dong Hoi – Visit to Phong Nha Cave – Paradise Cave – Dong Hoi (B, L)

After a good breakfast at the resort, we will drive to Phong Nha Cave, a marvelous World Natural Heritage site. You will get to board on a tiny boat and cruise on the river while catching a glimpse of the daily life of local people. After approximately 25 minutes, we will finally reach Phong Nha Cave. You will have time to admire the beauty of the mineral and rocky formations of this splendid cavern. Some of them have been given nicknames such as “Lion”, “Unicorn”, “Fairy Caves”, “Royal Court”, “Kneeling Elephant”, and “Buddha”.

Lunch at local restaurant in Phong Nha.

After a nice meal, we will drive to Paradise Cave. We will walk around half an hour in a typical tropical forest before reaching this huge cave (31.4-km long and a height ranging between 30 m and 100 m). After a fabulous discovery of the cave, we will drive back to the resort.

Free time for the rest of the day.

Day 10: Dong Hoi – Quang Tri – Hue (B, L)

Free morning.

After lunch, we will get on a bus and drive to Hue. While on our way, we will stop for several visits at Vinh Moc Tunnel, Hien Luong Bridge – where you will learn more about the war – and at the damaged Bo De School in Quang Tri.

We will reach Hue around 5:30pm.

Check-in at hotel and enjoy free time for the rest of the day.

Day 11: Hue – City Tour (B, L)

The day will be dedicated to an exciting full-day visit of Hue.

After breakfast, we will hit the road to Perfume River tourist port where we will cruise along the peaceful river and its stunning scenery. After, visit Thien Mu Pagoda and The Citadel.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we will visit the tombs of Emperors Minh Mang and Khai Dinh. After heading back to the city we will visit Duc Son pagoda, which is also an orphanage home to hundreds of children taken care of by the monks.

Dinner on your own and free time in the evening.

Day 12: Hue – Hoi An (B)

After breakfast, our driver and guide will pick you up and drive to Hoi An, with a stop at the top of Hai Van pass, where the view is absolutely fantastic. We will have another stop at the Cham Museum in Da Nang, where you will see the biggest collection of Cham sculptures in the world.

Upon arriving in Hoi An, check-in at the hotel and lunch on your own.

In the afternoon, visit the ancient city and its major landmarks, including the famous Japanese bridge, the old house of Tan Ky, and many others.

Back to the hotel and free time for the rest of the day.

Day 13: Hoi An (B)

Free day in Hoi An for shopping or for optional visits.

Day 14: Hoi An – Da Nang – Ho Chi Minh City (B)

Enjoy free time at your own leisure until the bus picks you up and takes you to Da Nang airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City.

You will be picked up upon arrival and directly taken to your hotel for check-in.

Free time for the rest of the day.

Day 15: Ho Chi Minh City – City Tour – Cu Chi Tunnels (B, L, D)

This morning, we will discover some of the major landscapes of Ho Chi Minh City: the Independence Palace, War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Ben Thanh Market.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we will drive for 60km until reaching the site of Cu Chi Tunnels. This vast underground system was created in 1948 to assist the Viet Minh in their battle against the French. Afterwards, the tunnel complex kept being built and extended over 25 years. Indeed, it played a big role during Vietnam War and acted like a real underground city with living areas, kitchens, storage units, field hospitals, weapons factories, and command centers. At its peak, it housed around 10,000 people who virtually lived underground for years, with some getting married and giving birth to children inside the tunnels.

Later, we will drive back to Ho Chi Minh City and have dinner.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 16: Ho Chi Minh City – Cai Be Floating Market – Can Tho (B, L)

Our car will pick you up at your hotel in the early morning for a 2-hour drive to Cai Be.

Upon arrival, you will embark a private boat to cruise around Cai Be floating market where you will see local people selling, buying, and exchange goods from boat to boat. Visit a local garden and a house to see orchards, then visit a small rice crips workshop.

After lunch, more cruising along the river to witness the tranquil life of villagers and admire the marvelous natural setting of Mekong Delta region. The boat will arrive at Vinh Long Market around 3:00pm. Take a walk and wander around to explore Vinh Long Market. Finally, we will go to Can Tho and check-in at the hotel.

Dinner on your own and free time during the evening.

Overnight in Can Tho.

Day 17: Can Tho – Rach Gia (B, L)

Today, we will hop on a rowing boat and cruise along the narrow and scenic rivers of the Mekong. Visit the Cai Rang Floating Market – one of the liveliest of the Delta. Immortalize the scenery with your camera while observing the daily life of locals who live along the Mekong canals. We will roam through the floating village and visit a rice husking mill and a rice noodles workshop.

After a stop at Can Tho Market, we will hit the road for a 3-hour drive to Rach Gia where you will spend a night at a hotel.

Dinner on your own and free time in the evening. 

Day 18: Rach Gia – Phu Quoc (B)

Free time in the morning until transferring to the port. Embark for a 3-hour cruise to Phu Quoc Island.

On arrival, you will be picked up and taken to your hotel.

Free time for the rest of the day.

Day 19: Phu Quoc (B)

Enjoy a full day of rest to discover the beauty of Phu Quoc and relax on its stunning sandy beaches. Optional visits possible. 

Day 20: Phu Quoc – Ho Chi Minh City (B)

Free time until the bus picks you up and takes you to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City.

Upon arrival, you will be picked up and driven to your hotel for check-in. Free time for the rest of the day.

Day 21: Ho Chi Minh City – Departure (B)

Free time in Ho Chi Minh City until the bus picks you up and drives you to the airport for your departure flight.

Please contact us for more information about this tour or to customize this itinerary.

Included:

  • All transportation
  • Accommodation (twin room or double room) 
  • All entrance fees
  • Meals as mentioned in the itinerary (B for breakfast, L for lunch, D for dinner) 
  • English-speaking tour guide
  • Private room on the boat to visit Ha Long Bay
  • Boat cruise on Perfume River in Hue
  • Boat to visit Mekong Delta
  • Boat ticket Rach Gia – Phu Quoc
  • Water puppet show
  • One small bottle of water on the bus everyday
  • Service fees
Excluded:

  • Personal expenses
  • Insurance
  • Drinks
  • Flight tickets
  • Visa to Vietnam if needed