Vietnam in Depth

Chao Ban! Welcome to Hanoi, we will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel for check-in. Today is free at your leisure to rest or explore, discovering your own first impressions of Vietnam (depending on what time you arrive).

Today, we will visit Hanoi with Ho Chi Minh Complex that completed in 1975. The complex includes Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, House-on-Stilts, and the Ho Chi Minh Museum. You will enjoy Vietnamese traditional music and culture show which you see soul of Vietnamese villages by four intangible cultural heritages of humanity.
Next, visit the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, the apex of regional political power for more than a millennium where research and excavation is still underway, and then head to another 11th century relic, the Temple of Literature, which was built in homage to the Chinese scholar Confucius.
After lunch, we continue our trip to visit Museum of Ethnology: This museum is widely acknowledged as the best in the country and has an extensive display dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 Ethnic minority peoples. As well as the comprehensive array of exhibits inside, there are also traditional tribal houses reconstructed within the ground.
Then, we back to the center of Hanoi to visit Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake. You will then visit the city’s largest covered market, Dong Xuan. Your expert English-speaking local guide will give you an insight into the intricacies and traditions of Vietnamese food culture including details on ingredients and historical backgrounds of popular northern dishes. We eat as we go, trying seasonal fruits and local street food.

Depart from your Hanoi hotel at 8:00 transferring to Mai Chau on our spectacular drive. Upon arrival at Poom Coom village in Mai Chau, we will take a short walk to visit the ethnic Thai people then lunch will be served.
13:00, take a short car ride in about 1 hour before we set off for our hiking through the beauty of Pu Luong nature reserve, the trek is intermediate level and will require some walking up hills but it’s worth your hike as we will see many spectacular views of villages and terraces.
Arrival at the Thai stilt homestay in the late afternoon. Free time to rest and shower, then a traditional dinner with our host family. Overnight here.

Note: Contact us if you wish to stay at an eco lodge at Hieu village, instead of homestay.

Waking up early today is recommended as your chance to witness more local activities in the morning. Our breakfast and we will say good-bye to our host by around 8.00 for our good hike ahead.
We will be doing from 5-6 hours hike today through more gems of Pu Luong including beautiful view of valleys, nice terraces and peaceful villages.
We stop for our picnic lunch then continue our trek through more villages to reach to Hieu village in the afternoon.
Take rest as you wish then you are free to stroll around the village to interact with the locals and visit the beautiful waterfall nearby. Back to the homestay for dinner and overnight at homestay.

Your last day here at this beautiful nature reserve and friendly villagers so take the chance to explore around on your own or with our guide around the village.
We will then take an easy walk in about 1,5 hours to the town-let of this nature reserve where you van is waiting for us.
Lunch at one of the local restaurants before having a scenic drive to Ninh Binh. On arrival in Tam Coc check in and visit around village.

This morning, have breakfast at your hotel then we will ride on the rowboat as soon as we arrive to Trang An, this is a very beautiful boat ride in about 1,5 hours a meandering stream with towering limestone mountain peaks above and rowing through some limestone caves. We make a short transfer along the peaceful country road to Hoa Lu – here our guide will take you through this interesting history part of Vietnam’s ancient capital in the 9th century, with stories of the two kings are now being worshiped there.

After breakfast, we will depart for Halong Bay – designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage site since 1994. Travelling through the scenic fertile Red River Delta countryside, we get to Ha Long Bay by noon. The natural world heritage site Halong Bay is truly one of the most impressive scenery that should not be missed if someone ever come to the north. Upon arrival at Ha Long, we embark on a chinese style junk for an exploration of the legendary Halong Bay. This exciting hours cruise passing by the evocatively shaped islets will provide us a fantastic view of the picturesque scenery blending with the sky and some 3,000 limestone islands and islets rising amazingly from the clear and emerald water. Enjoy a Sea food lunch while you cruising through the bay.
Here the limestone karsts formations are littered with beaches. You then explore the Surprising Sung Sot cave which still reserve much of the amazing original stalactites and stalagmites. By summer, there is always some chance to leisurely swim in a secluded cove of the bay. Dinner will be served on board and stay overnight on Cruise

Wake up in the morning to the calming sound of the waves crashing on the nearby islands. Enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning and relax. Sitting on the upper deck, you can enjoy the breath – taking beauty of the rocky Islands rising from the crystal-clear waters of the Bay. The quiet is almost eerie; in summer you can hear birds singing, even that cicadas chirping ashore and the gentle lapping of the waves against our boat, the perfect soundtrack to accompany the fresh air and gentle breeze. Our boat start cruising back and brunch buffet will be served on the way. Check out and arrive at the harbor by 11:30. You get back on our car and head back to Hanoi for overnight train to Dong Hoi Station.

Arriving at Dong Hoi station, you will be picked up and taken to a mini hotel to take a basic shower and short rest. After breakfast, you will be depart for Phong Nha Cave. You will then take a 25 minute ride to the cave via traditional dragon boat. This cave is called a water cave as it exhibits an underground river. After going into the cave by boat, you will explore 300 meters into the cave on foot. Then, you will be taken back by boat. This cave is famous for its spectacular rock formations. It has been given names such as the “Lion”, the “Fairy Caves”, the “Royal Court”, and the “Buddha”. You will be driven to Phong Nha Village.

After breakfast, Our car and tour guide will drive you to Paradise cave – the longest dry cave in Asia (located in Phong Nha – Ke bang National Park’s core zone).
You will then be taken by golf cart (1.6km) from the main gate through the jungle, to where you will then climb to the mouth of the cave; a climb that boasts spectacular views of the mountainous region around the cave.
Lunch at Dark cave restaurant. Here you will enjoy a traditional Vietnamese dish.
In the afternoon, you will visit Dark cave (located in Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park). Participate in the many adventure activities: mud bath, ziplining, swimming, kayaking, adventure course, caving etc.
Depart back to Dong Hoi

Leave Dong Hoi for Hue – to the old imperial city (150 km). In 1993 Hue was made part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. From here the 13 emperors of the Nguyen dynasty ruled the country and erected splendid palaces, temples and tombs. After check-in we go on a boat trip on the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda, the oldest pagoda in the city. We go on to see the tomb of Emperor Minh Mang.

After breakfast, you will visit the Citadel – The palaces of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945), the last dynasty of Vietnam – Noon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace, Imperial Ancestral Temple and Hue Royal Antiques Museum then Khai Dinh Tomb which represents a fusion of traditional Vietnamese style and modern influence. The tomb is almost entirely made of concrete and includes many European architectural details.
Visit the Tu Duc Royal Tomb then lunch will be served at a local traditional restaurant at noon.
Next, make your way to Thanh Tien Village, well-known for over 300 years of crafting paper flowers. Meet one of the local villagers and learn how to make your own ornate paper flower. You can be sure that your visit is backing a good cause as it is supported by Backstreet Academy, a social enterprise providing struggling artists, craftsmen and home-based workers with additional income and recognition.

After breakfast at your hotel around 9:00 am we will go on a relaxing 1 hour Vietnam cyclo ride to visit Dong Ba market. After it will be time to begin our transfer to Hoi An (about 4 hours). There is fabulous sightseeing en route and we may make stops at: Lang Co Beach, Hai Van Pass, Cham Museum, and the Marble Mountains depending on time. Hoi An in the evening.
Tip: This is a very good chance for you to get great tailor-made clothes at reasonable prices. Hoi An is well known for its tailoring.

The center of Vietnam has many World Heritage Sites, and Hoi An is one of them. This ancient town of Hoi An, 30 km south of Danang, lies on the banks of the Thu Bon River.
At 8:00 am your guide will pick you up at your hotel for our bicycle trip to the countryside of Hoi An Town.
Arrival at Tra Que Organic village, then have a walk to visit the gardens of local farmers. Learn about their traditional methods and farming techniques – no machines here. Later, we will partly join-in some of the garden work followed by a short feet-soaking in Vietnamese herbs – a lovely treat.
12:00 noon, we head back Hoian town for lunch at a local restaurant then take free time to take a rest as you wish until 2:00 pm. We’ll walk around the town and experience its charming culture. We will visit the old Tan Ky House, the famous Japanese Covered Bridge, and the stylish Phuc Kien Assembly Hall. Back to hotel in the late afternoon. Free time to relax and discover other corners of Hoi An on your own. Overnight at your hotel.

Our guide picks you up at hotel and leave Hoi An for visiting My Son Holly Land – the ruins of Cham people and was an imperial city during Cham dynasty. Here you can have more chance to explore and understand of technique of Old Cham people in making red bricks to build Tower which still now a secret to everyone, you can see a large complex of religious relics that comprises more than 65 architectural works. It also surprises for those who are curious with architectural art. In 1999, UNESCO labeled the Cham architecture in My Son as a World Cultural Heritage Site. Moreover, you have chance to enjoy traditional music performed by Cham girls in their colorful uniforms. Then transferring you back to Hoi An to visit the handicraft village of Thanh Ha Ceramic where you will view the various stages of producing the many kinds of the pottery products. The villagers use clay as main material to create pottery products such as bowls, jars, vases, earthen pot, decorative lamps, etc…with a variety of shapes and colors. Especially, you also have opportunity to make a small product by yourself. Take a boat trip on Thu Bon River back to Hoian, you will admire the daily activities of people on the boat go to markets along the river’s bank to earn their life.

This morning we will transfer you to the meeting point for join in cooking class, the first you will go to local market with our chef to buy all ingredients for our dishes then back to the kitchen to learn how to cook Vietnamese foods. You will have lunch with the food what you cook before. Relax and swim at cooking school then transfer back your hotel around 2:00pm. Free at your leisure and o/n in Hoian.

Today free at your leisure to visit around Hoian town for relax on the beach

Breakfast at the hotel then transfer to the airport in Danang for a noon-flight to Nha Trang. Upon arrival, airport picks up then transfers to your hotel. Free to chill out on the beautiful white sand beach.

Morning pick up from hotel and transfer to the boat station (15 minutes). Hop on the shared boat and begin a day on the water. The first stop will be Tri Nguyen Aquarium. Then we will cruise to Mot Island. This is one of the best places for snorkeling in Nha Trang. Hold your breath for as long as you can and dive deep into this colourful world of fish and coral. Next stop, Coral Island for sun bathing and relaxing on the off shore beach. Lunch will be served with a selection of fresh seafood. After lunch, cruise to Tranh Island for more swimming and relaxing then boat back to Nha Trang city for around 5:00 pm. Free time in the evening and overnight at your hotel.

Today free at your leisure for relaxing on the beach or shopping

More time to relax on the beach in Nha Trang until we transfer to airport for flight to Saigon. On arrival, pick up and transfer to your hotel for check in.

In the morning, depart from Saigon and drive through peaceful countryside to get Cu Chi tunnel. We then spend the next hours discovering the fascinating underground tunnels where the Viet Cong stayed and mount surprise attacks. Our guide will introduce you various mantraps and the remains of an American tank as well as numerous bomb craters made by B52 bombers. Cu Chi was really a former battlefield. Afterwards, we head back to Ho Chi Minh city.

After lunch, take a half day city tour of Saigon highlights. This half day tour features the Notre Dame Cathedral church built between 1877 and 1883 and it is one of the best examples of classical French colonial architecture.Another example of French colonial architecture and also the country’s largest post office is the nearby Old Saigon Post Office. We then move on to visit the Reunification Palace one of the most important buildings in the city. Here on April 30th 1975 the ‘American War’ officially ended when tank number 843 of the North Vietnamese Army crashed through the gates of what was, at the time the residence of the President of the Republic of Vietnam. After that, we continue our trip at War Remnants Museum which is formerly known as the Museum of American War Crimes, a poignant display of the uselessness of war.

Pick up at your hotel and departure to My Tho. On arrival, cruising along small creek to Mekong River estuary. The motorized boat cruise more along natural creeks and quiet village of Mekong Delta region. Visit orchards, bee – keeping farm, taste natural honey and honey wine, enjoy tropical fruit, traditional music, see round a distillery, explore the local coconut candy production process, taste candy & coconut pulp. Stop over a garden restaurant at a local house for Vietnamese lunch then move to hotel in Can Tho.

After Breakfast at hotel, take a motor boat to visit Cai Rang – the most fascinating floating market where we can see all trading activities on Mekong river. A short stop to orchard garden to taste a variety of delicious fresh fruits and walk around the village to see the beautiful scenery and daily activities of the locals.

Today we will take morning flight to Phu Quoc. On arrival, pick you up and transfer to your hotel for check in and free to relax on the beach.

Those days free at your leisure to relax on the beach.

More time to relax on the beach until we transfer to Phu Quoc airport for flight to Saigon. Airport picks up and transfers to your hotel in Saigon for check in.

Breakfast at hotel. Depending on your flight you may have some more time for shopping. Then we will transfer you to the airport for your flight home. Goodbye and hope to see you again soon!