Day 01: Hanoi arrival

Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam’s bustling colonial capital. Your driver and guide will meet you outside the baggage claim of Noi Bai Airport and take you to your hotel in the city center. In the afternoon, enjoy an orientation walk, visiting some of Hanoi’s main attractions: the Opera House, Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple. In the evening, savor a welcome dinner of authentic Vietnamese food at one of Hanoi’s finest restaurants.

Meals: Dinner

Hotel: The Lapis Hotel/Superior Room http://thelapishotel.com

 

Day 02: Hanoi City Tour

Today you have a full day to explore Vietnam’s charming capital. With its wide tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and ancient oriental pagodas, Hanoi is an eclectic mix that offers something for everyone. Your city tour will take you to Hanoi’s key sites: the Ho Chi Minh Complex (Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and stilt house); the Presidential Palace; the nearby One Pillar Pagoda; the Temple of Literature; West Lake; the sedate Tran Quoc Pagoda & Quan Thanh Temple; and one of the city’s museums (a choice between the History Museum and the Ethnology Museum). In the evening enjoy a traditional Water Puppet Performance – a unique Vietnamese art form hailing from Southeast Asia’s wet-rice culture.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Hotel: The Lapis Hotel/Superior Room http://thelapishotel.com

 

Day 03: Hanoi – Transfer to Sapa (private car 6 hours) – Ta Phin Village – Sapa

Morning, we driver to Sapa (5,5 hours) Arrive in Sapa at noon. After lunch, travel by car to Ta Phin village where you can meet Red Dao people( the most colorfull people in Sapa). You will walk around Ta Phin village where 2 ethnic groups, Black Hmong and Red Dao minorities, live their own way with no cultural mixture. Experience how different they are in many ways by visiting their house and interact with the locals. Overnight in Sapa.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Hotel: Amazing Sapa/Deluxe room/ https://amazinghotel.com.vn

 

Day 04: Sapa – treking tour (Hau Thao – Giang Ta Chai Village) – Overnight in Sapa hotel

Explore Sa Pa by hiking though villages of ethnic minorities. This is a good opportunity to learn and discover the lifestyle and customs of different ethnic groups. Start your walking at Hau Thao village of the Black H’Mong minority from which you enjoy superb panoramic views over the valley. Follow your trail through rice terraces, and villages until you arrive at Giang Ta Chai village. You will be transfered back to Sa Pa by vehicle. Overnight in Sapa.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Hotel: Amazing Sapa/Deluxe room/ https://amazinghotel.com.vn

 

Day 05: Sapa – Lao Cai market – Transfer back Hanoi (Private car)

After breakfast drive to visit a weekly colourful tribal market. Bask in the vibrant colours of traditional hill tribe costumes. This is a good place for taking photos and learning about the culture of the hill tribes living in the area. Lunch at Lao Cai then transfer back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Note : There’s no tribal market on Monday & Friday. If you arrive on these days you could change the visit to the next day or arrange visit to ethnic minority villages instead.

Hotel: The Lapis Hotel/Superior Room http://thelapishotel.com

 

Day 06: Hanoi – Mai Chau – Homestay

This trip to the northwest highlands of Mai Chau offers a balance of cultural interest and physical activity, set amongst some of northern Vietnam’s most stunning scenery.Your driver and guide will meet you at your hotel and take you along highway 6 to Mai Chau: a small town nestled in the midst of a lush valley and surrounded by emerald-green rice fields. Enjoy picturesque views of the scenic landscape, sown with pagodas and rural villages. Stop along the way to visit the Muong tribe and then at Thung Khe Pass for a spectacular view of Mai Chau Valley. Have lunch in Mai Chau then spend the afternoon trekking off the typical tourist track, along the Song Ma River. Trek through terraced rice paddies and small villages, discovering the natural beauty of the valley and encountering the culture of the White Thai people, living in the region. Stop at a Thai village for the night, having dinner with a local family and enjoying a homestay in Mai Chau.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Hotel: Homestay in Mai Chau.

 

Day 07: Mai Chau – Hanoi

Start the day with a simple breakfast with your host family then take a short drive through the surrounding countryside, before setting off on a trek through rice paddies and down winding lanes to visit the “Cum” and “Xam Khoe” villages. Immerse yourself in the vibrant local culture and enjoy an authentic lunch at one of the villages. In the afternoon, drive back to the bustle Hanoi.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Hotel: The Lapis Hotel/Superior Room http://thelapishotel.com

 

Day 8: Hanoi – Halong Bay

After breakfast, depart for Halong Bay, one of the most stunning natural wonders of the world, a picturesque blend of harmonious transition between the mountains and the sea. On arrival, board a traditional junk and head out into the Gulf of Tonkin amongst the huge limestone outcrops and emerald waters. You spend the rest of the day cruising the myriad of tiny islands and many grottoes created by wind and the waves over the centuries. You will get to visit a cave and participates several activities on board such as “Master Chef Competition” and fruit carving demonstration. Lunch and dinner on board.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Cruise: Bhaya Classic Cruise/ Deluxe cabin with window (or cruise at similiar standard)

 

Day 9: Halong Bay – Hanoi – Flight to Hue

Start off your day with a Tai Chi lesson on the sundeck with complimentary tea and coffee being served. Rejuvenate your body and mind with the slow movement of Tai Chi and enjoy the dawn on the bay.Light breakfast is served onboard. The boat weighs anchor to sail to Cua Van floating village, you will take your time to visit the village which is voted as one of the 11 insanely beautiful small towns around the world by huffingtonpost.com. You can choose either kayak or traditional rowing boat to go around discovering local life on the waters.Return to your boat and relax. Enjoy the brunch before checking out.Back at the dock at around 11 am, you will be met and transferred to the airport for flight to Hue. Pick up at the airport then transfer to Hue for check in. Overnight in Hue.

Meals: Brunch

Hotel: Eldora Hotel/Deluxe city room

 

Day 10: Hue city tour

Enjoy an entire day touring the Vietnam’s former ancient capital. Start the day with a visit to the Imperial Citadel, home to the Imperial City and Forbidden Purple City – once the Emperor’s private residence. The Imperial City was created in the 19th century and modeled on the Forbidden City in Beijing. The Imperial Enclosure houses many palaces and temples within its walls.Lunch at Tu Hieu Pagoda. In the afternoon, continue on your tour stopping at the Imperial Museum, and vibrant Dong Ba riverside market.

Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Hotel : Eldora Hotel/ Deluxe city room/ http://eldorahotel.com 

 

Day 11: Hue – Danang – Hoian

Spend the morning on a private boat cruise down the romantic Perfume River to visit the iconic Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda), an elegant seven-tiered octagonal tower that has become Hue’s most widely recognizable monument, and the ornate Minh Mang’s tomb. Have lunch at a riverside restaurant before starting on your drive to Hoian. Pass over the 500m-high Hai Van pass and stop en route in Danang for a visit to the Cham Museum and handicraft villages at the foot of Marble Mountain. Arrive in the sleepy riverside town, Hoian, in the late afternoon, check in at the hotel and then enjoy the rest of the evening free at your leisure.

Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Hotel: Silk village Hoi An/ http://www.hoiansilkvillage.com

 

Day 12: Hoian Cooking Class – Walking Tour

This morning take part in a cooking class at the Red Bridge Cooking School. Meet at the Hai Scout Cafe in Hoian’s Old Town. From there we will head to Hoian’s colorful market. Explore the market and interact with local vendors to purchase some fresh ingredients for today’s cooking class. Next, board the Red Bridge boat for a leisurely 25min cruise along the Hoian River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. Discover the school’s herb and vegetable garden. Learn to cook and help prepare five traditional dishes to enjoy for lunch. You will also be entertained and taught some special techniques at the fruit and vegetable carving demonstration.Enjoy an afternoon walking tour through the narrow, winding streets of the ancient quarter, visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, the Chinese Assembly Hall, the 200-year old Tan Ky ancestral house and the famous Japanese Bridge. Conclude the day with a relaxing sunset boat trip.

Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Hotel: Silk village Hoi An/ http://www.hoiansilkvillage.com

 

Day 13: Hoi An Farming & Fishing Life – Join in group

This tour provides you with a close-up and intimate exposure to both the local farming and fishing communities. Accompanied by your tour guide, you commence the day leisurely cycling along country roads witnessing local Vietnamese rural life first hand, discovering all manner of photo opportunities – coming and visiting a beautiful organic vegetable village, watering and planting vegetable, hoeing a soil with local farmer, riding a water buffalo in a rice paddy field; seeing ducks swimming along the rice farm or farmers tending their crops. The photo opportunities are endless. As well you will experience the friendliness of the local people greeting you along the way. Later you will board our Jack Tran’s boat for a river cruise to meet and engage with local fishermen and enjoy a hands-on experience of traditional net fishing. You will also experience paddling the unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boat while the waterways of coconut palm paradise. This tour provides you with a cultural window into the ways of life of both our farming and fishing communities.

Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Hotel: Silk village Hoi An/ http://www.hoiansilkvillage.com

 

Day 14: Hoi An Free Day

Today you are at leisure on beach or go shopping on your own interest.

Meals: Breakfast

Hotel: Silk village Hoi An/ http://www.hoiansilkvillage.com

 

Day 15: Hoian – Danang – Fly to Nha Trang

After breakfast, your driver will pick up and transfer you to Danang Airport for a short flight to Nha Trang where 10km of white sandy beach awaits. Rest of the day, you are free at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Hotel: Green World Hotel/Superior room/ http://greenworldhotelnhatrang.com

 

Day 16: Nha Trang – Dalat

This morning, drive up hills to Dalat with a stopover of rural Nha Trang on your way out for a peek of what countryside living in Vietnam is all about. You will reach the mountain town of Dalat, known as the “City of Eternal Spring”, after four hours on the road. An afternoon of sightseeing takes in the art deco former summer residence of Bao Dai – the last Emperor of Vietnam, the old Dalat Railway Station, the Central Market and famous XQ embroidery workshop. There will be the chance for a short walk around Xuan Huong Lake to get a feel for this delightful city in the evening.

Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Hotel: Saigon Dalat Hotel /Deluxe room/ http://www.saigondalathotel.com

 

Day 17: Dalat City tour

After breakfast, visit Thien Vien Truc Lam – the largest Zen Monastery of Vietnam. Then take the steps down toward the Tuyen Lam Lake, enjoy sightseeing of the nicest vast lake of Dalat on boat. On the way back to the city for lunch, visit Lat village, home to a number of distinct ethnic minority groups with varying traditions and beliefs. Here you have the chance to purchase traditional handicrafts and gain a unique insight.

Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Hotel: Saigon Dalat Hotel /Deluxe room/ http://www.saigondalathotel.com

 

Day 18: Dalat – Ho Chi Minh Departure

Today, we transfer to the Dalat airport for flight to HCMC. Tour guide will say good bye at Dalat airporrt.

End of services.