VP4-HN14D: Treasure of Viet Nam Culture: Ha Noi – Sapa - Ha Long - Hue - Da Nang - Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh city - Mekong Delta (14 days - 13 nights)

Brief itinerary & tour map

Day 01: Arrive in Hanoi - Tour briefing and Hanoi introduction
Day 02: Viet ancient village. Overnight in Hanoi

Day 03: Ha Noi full day visit. Overnight train to Lao Kai
Day 04: Arrive in Sapa. Enjoy the charm of Sapa town
Day 05: Sapa - Sightseeing around Sapa. Take overnight train to Hanoi
Day 06: Arrive Hanoi. Full day Halong Bay. Five hours cruise World Heritage Site. Overnight on Boat

Day 07: Back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi
Day 08: Flight from Hanoi to Hue. Visit the Ancient Imperial City. Overnight in Hue.
Day 09: Half day visit Hue. Transfer to Hoi An. Explore Da Nang & Hoi An. Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 10: Join to Cooking Class. Overnight in Hoi An..
Day 11: Flight to Ho Chi Minh. Take half day tour. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.
Day 12: Mekong Delta. Overnight in Can Tho.
Day 13: From Can Tho back to Ho Chi Minh.Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

Day 14: Transfer to airport / or departure for next destination

Detail tour program

Day 1: Hanoi - Arrival (D)
You are arrival at our thousand years Capital – Ha Noi city. Our guide will welcome you at the airport Noi bai airport and then be transferred to your hotel in the center of city.
After freshen up, we would like to show you of Hanoian daily life with one hour Cyclo (trishaw) ride around the old streets, then we stop at Thang Long Theatre for enjoying 01 hour Water Puppets Show. Enjoy welcome dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Ha Noi.

Day 2: Viet Ancient Village (B/L)
One of few Ancient village remaining Hanoi. It is Duong Lam village, a purely agricultural village of the Northern Red River delta where still preserve many hundred-year-old houses. Upon arrival, bike along tiny ancient alleys to visit Mong Phu temple in Mong Phu hamlet - the only hamlet whose original village entrance gate remains intact, dedicated to national heroes. Continue riding around the village to discover the daily life and farming working of Vietnamese peasants along the terrace with a stop in two ancient houses: the biggest ancient house was build 200 years ago and the most ancient house back to 400 years ago.
After lunch and resting, visit Ngo Quyen temple and Phung Hung temple, places dedicated to two national heroes Ngo Quyen and Phung Hung. Again biking to visit Mia Pagoda (other hamlet in Duong Lam village), is built in 15 th century and admire 287 statues of all sizes, among with are famous sculpture such as the statue of Buddha in the Himalayas and the statues of the Eight Vajra Deities. Drive back to Hanoi for overnight.

Day 3: Hanoi full day visits – Night train to Lao Cai (B, L)
Today we would like to show you the major cultural sites around Hanoi city. The first visit to Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam (the Temple of Literature & the first university in Vietnam), then we go to Ba Dinh Square for visiting Uncle Ho’s (Ho Chi Minh President) Mausoleum, His Residence area, and one Pillar – pagoda nearby.
Next site is Tran Quoc pagoda and lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, we will visit the largest and most interesting Museum of Vietnam Ethnology, then go back to the Old quarter for shopping. Dinner on your own arrangement before overnight on train to Lao Cai.

Day 4: Sapa – Hill tribes colorful market – night train to Hanoi Cai (B/L)
Upon arrival to Lao Cai train station, drive to visit one of the colorful tribal market near Sapa area (incase no Market available at your date, you will visit Cat Cat & Ta Fin villages).
Tuesday: Coc Ly Market (this market is not available until further notice due to the construction site nearby)
Wednesday: Cao Son Market
Saturday: Can Cau Market
Sunday: Bac Ha Market Market
Then transfer to Sapa for overnight.

Day 5: Lao Cai – Sapa- Hill Tribe villages (B/-/D)
Drive to visit Lao Chai village – home of Black H’Mong – here you trek through terraced rice fields to villages, meet and talk with locals to learn more about their daily life and habits. You then trek through Ta Van village. Lunch on your own arrangement. Car pick up at Ta Van and transfer to Lao Cai station for overnight train back to Hanoi.

Day 6: Hanoi - Halong (B/L/D)
Arrive in Ha Noi around 04:30 – 05:00. Check in a mini hotel for refresh and breakfast. Start at 08:30am from your hotel, after 03 hours and a half drive we arrive in Ha Long bay, a World Heritage Area of outstanding natural beauty. Upon arrival, transfer to a junk for a cruise around Ha Long Bay with a delicious local seafood lunch served on board. Passing many rocks and islets in shape of Dog, Incense, Fighting-cock, Finger, Hoa Cuong etc and visit Surprise cave and short swim at Titov beach, kayak (kayak cost is not include in this package), if weather permitted. Have dinner on board. In the evening, enjoy the night fishing and later over night on board.

Day 7: Ha Long bay - Hanoi - (B/L)
In the morning, cruising to Bai Tu long bay, Fire Island, Bo Nau Island, fishing village. Arrive at Ha Long wharf about 12.00 noon. Return to Hanoi by private car. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 8: Hanoi – Hue (B/D)
AAfter breakfast, we transfer to Noi Bai airport for short flight to Hue city.
In the afternoon, visit the Imperial Citadel of Hue. Enjoy dinner at Royal Park restaurant with Hue Folk songs performed by ladies in Hue Long dresses. Overnight in Hue.

Day 9: Hue – Danang - Hoi An (B/L)
Half day visit Hue with Minh Mang King’ tomb and Thien Mu pagoda. After lunch the car will drive you to Hoi An town, which is about 135km from Hue. You will travel through Hai Van Pass to Danang, the car will stop for the visit to Cham museum where displays an open air collection of Cham sculptures. Many of the sandstone carving are breathtaking. Arrive Hoi An town in the late afternoon. Check in and time at leisure.

Day 10: Hoi An - Da Nang – Cooking Class at Red bridge Cooking School (B, D)
In the morning, you will walk to visit ancient tiny town Hoi an. The visit will includes Japanese covered bridge, some Chinese Assembly Halls, and some typical Vietnamese houses of 18 century. Free time for lunch then.
13:30 Come to the Hai Scout Café at 98 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street to meet the Chef. First, we will have a first lesson of buying ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later. After the market visit, you board the Red Bridge boat for a leisurely cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoi An River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. This is a chance to view local river life. On arrival, we explore the cooking school’s herb and vegetable garden, before learning about some of Hoi An’s and Vietnam’s well-known dishes, which is the mix of Vietnam and Chinese cuisine. The cooking lesson runs for about 2 hours – each dish is first demonstrated by the Red Bridge chef’s, before you prepare the same dish ourselves. Included in the class is a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving (plate decoration). After the lesson, we sit down and eat exactly what we have cooked. Then our boat will pick you up at Red Bridge School for a river cruise along Hoi An River back to Hoi An Town. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 11: Hoian - Ho Chi Minh City (B)
Leave your hotel early for the first flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Half day city tour including the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, and bustling China town is should not be missed as well. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

Day 12: Hochiminh – Cai Be – Sa Dec – Can Tho (B/L/D)
Early start at 07:30am from your hotel in Hochiminh, we arrive in Phu An hamlet located next to Cai Be town, approximately 2 hours drive south.
Welcomed by crew team upon embarkation, the excursion will begin with the visit of some local home factories where you will be able to observe how rice paste, coconut candies and other specialties are traditionally made. We will then proceed to Cai Be colorful floating market, cruising among local barges full of fruits and vegetables.

Your sampan will take direction of Vinh Long and Sa Dec town which will appear like a little ’Venice’ with numerous narrow canals , cruising by evergreen Dong Phu and An Binh islets famous for their fruit orchards.

Disembark at the local market place for a guided visit of this charming town, walking along its narrow streets where beautiful French old houses and Chinese temples dating from the last century are numerous. Your lunch await you at an ancient house dating from 1890, home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, the “Lover” of Marguerite Duras famous writer. (see her novel and adapted movie “The Lover”)

Before sunset, we will have our last stop on the banks arranged at a splendid ancient house or “Nha Co” dating from the early 19th century. After being greeted by the owners, we will cater a candlelight dinner for you, an unforgettable experience in a unique atmosphere.
After dinner, we will proceed the cruise for approximately one hour until Can Tho. We will moor for the night in a quiet place. Your bed will be ready for your night on the Mekong river.

Day 13: Cai Rang – Cantho – Hochiminh (B/L)
At around 06am, your sampan will slowly start cruising. Your breakfast will be served on board at 07am while approaching Cai Rang floating market actually still the largest in the whole Mekong delta.
We will pass by countless sampan boats carrying sand, rice, fruits and vegetables, fish, flowers… showing an intense activity on the river.
Your cruise journey will end at around 10.am at Ninh Kieu pier after a visit at Can Tho local market. Lunch at local restaurant on the way back to Hochiminh city.

Day 14: Ho Chi Minh City - Departure (B)
Free time for shopping or optional visit before transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport for departure.

TYPE OF TOUR:
Private tour. (This is the sample tour, you may go with all details above or we can modify to fix your way of travel)
Easy tour
Departure: Any day

FEATURE OF TOUR:
This tour concentrate in cultural exchange:
Overview Vietnamese Culture in Hanoi
Ethic people discover in Sapa
Imperial study in Hue
Gourmet learning in Hoi An
Real life understanding in Mekong Delta

Tour price

PRIVATE SERVICES – based on twin room or triple room share
Number of passengers - Price per pax (adult) in US Dollars - Currency converter
Tour class	2 pax	3 pax	4 pax	5-7 pax	8-10 pax	11-14 pax	15-19 pax	20-15 pax	26-30 pax	31+
Budget Mini hotel	1650	1475	1328	1287	1137	1090	1036	1011	991	977
Standard 3-star hotel	1794	1618	1471	1430	1281	1234	1180	1126	1107	1093
Superior 4-star hotel	2192	2016	1869	1828	1679	1632	1578	1524	1505	1491
Deluxe 5-star hotel	2457	2281	2135	2094	1944	1897	1843	1790	1770	1756

Private tour: To do the tour privately. The tour is not fixed, it is possible to be customized for your group. All service is reserved for your group only. You do not have to share the bus, boat, tour guide with other tourists. One exception, if you stay at the boat in Halong bay - it is like the hotel in Halong - you still have to share the boat with other people.

Rates are inclusive of:

• Hotel accommodation based on twin or triple share with daily breakfast (incl: services charges, room taxes and baggage handling)
• Private car/mini van,
• Join junk in Ha Long, Private boat in Mekong
• English- speaking guide (other languages are available upon request).
• Sightseeing as specified including entrance fees
• All meals as per program & cooking class in Hoi An
• Hanoi - Lao Cai train ticket (4 berths AC cabin)

Description of service in details

Rates are not inclusive of:

• 150 US$ for domestic flight (Hanoi - Hue & Da Nang - Ho Chi Minh City)
• Optional tours
• Tips for tour guide, driver
• Travel insurance
• Expenditure of a personal nature, tips, such as drinks, souvenirs, laundry, emergency transfers & etc

• Visa fee (If you don’t have enough time to complete visa before your departure to Vietnam, we will help you to obtain visa on arrival easily - details...)

• International airfare to/ from Vietnam & International airport tax in Vietnam
• Others which are not mentioned in the inclusion

Remark:

Accommodations offers in this trip (The hotel may be changed up to its availability. It will be confirmed after getting your deposit/ payment)