18 Day Vietnam Holiday from South to North

18 Day Vietnam  Holiday  from South to North
Activity Level:  Classic & Moderate
Group size:  Private &Group Tour
Tour date: Daily

Brief Description:
As you travel from south to the north, share the pleasure of relaxing in tranquil beach resorts, exploring unspoiled architectural majesty and meeting friendly locals. The journey starts in Ho Chi Minh – the  biggest city in Vietnam where retains much relic of Vietnam history and war in the past as well as filled with bustling modern life.Moving up, the heritage harbour town of Hoi An mesmerises with its quaint traditional architecture, cafes and art galleries. Come with Hanoi to see a fascinating city with historical charm. During your trip in Vietnam, there are ample opportunities to savour local specialties in some…

Detailed itinerary:

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh Arrival

Upon at Tan Son Nhat International airport, you’ll be met and take you to your hotel in the city. Check in and free time to relax, and explore the area.

Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnels (B,L)

We’ll pick you up in the morning and take you to Cu Chi Tunnels, a major part of the Vietnam-American War. You have chance to explore the mysterious tunnels, find hidden doors and once-deadly traps. After lunch, we’ll go back to Ho Chi Minh and spend the afternoon for half day city to visit the War Remnants Museum, the Presidential Palace – the former Presidential Palace for the president of the South of Vietnam. Then go around the city’s colonial streets to visit the Old Saigon Post Office, Dong Khoi Street, Continental Hotel, Opera House and City Hall.

Day 3: HCM – Cai Be – Vinh Long  (B,L)

After having breakfast we will leave Sai Gon for Mekong Delta for Vinh Long. Upon Arrival we will take a walk to see Vinh Long market. Then we boat to visit Tien Chau pagoda and local brick & pottery workshops. Passing a fish-raft village. On the way to homestay, visit the bigest nursery garden in An Binh Island. Lunch in garden restaurant. Homestay arrival. Short cycling or walking to discover daily life.
Free for personal discovery and join the family in preparing dinner. Dinner and overnight in their house.

Day 4 :  Cai Be  floating market–Ho Chi Minh City (B,L)

Pick up at your hotel after breakfast then we take a rowing-sampan through An Binh island to Mr. Cai Cuong’s former landlord house. Taste the fresh fruits of the Delta. Visting local pop rice, rice paper workshops. Continue boating to Cai Be floating market, a very colourful picture of hundreds boats exchanging local products. After that you are transferred directly to Ho Chi Minh City for another night

Day 5: Ho Chi Minh – Fly to Da Nang – Hoi An (B)

Picking up at your hotel at 08:00 A.M for a transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for our flight to Da Nang. Upon on your arrival, you are picked up then transfer to Hoi An for checking in the hotel. The rest of day, you are free at your leisure.

Day 6: Hoi An – Tra Nhieu Fishing Village (B,L)

8:00: the guide welcome guest at hotel lobby, walk to Thu Bon wharf on Bach Dang street, and sailing along Thu Bon River to Tra Nhieu village.Here you will have a biref introduction to the history , traditional handicraft of the village such as : farming, fishing, poultry and livestock breeding, mattress making….After that, you will be taken in a boat with local fisherman to learn how to cast a net, catch fish, …Have lunch with special dishes ai the village. Bidding farewell to the local fisherman, continue to Cam Kim village.Back to Hoi Anby boat. End the today tour.

Day 7: Cooking Class Tour (B,L)

8:00 local guide pick up you at the hotel’s lobby. Take a bike to the downtown, stop by Hoi An’s colorful central market. Here you will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers and learn about the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later. So make sure your camera is handy. 10:00 bike to Tra Que vegetable village. Welcome drink for rest and walk through the vegetable gardens where local farmers work on their fields using the traditional methods of hundreds of years ago, no electrical machinery here. 11:00 Work together with the chef. Learn the traditional ways of preparing and cooking Vietnamese food. After the lesson, enjoy what you have cooked.

Day 8: Hoi An – My Son – Hue (B,L)

08:00 am: local guide pick you up at the hotel’s lobby an depart for the ancient Chamruins of My son.Once there ,visit the Tra Kieu capital which was the the formeradministration centre of champa kingdom.Discover the majestic ancient ruins at My son including ancient towers which were built from 4th C.Then go to Hue. Check in the hotel then you are free at your leisure.

Day 9: Full Day Hue City Tour (B,L)

At 8:30 a.m., you will be greeted at the hotel by a driver and guide. You will board the Dragon Boat for a cruise on the romantic Perfume River heading out for the countryside. Being the ancient capital, Hue is surrounded with ancient tombs of emperors past, and a visit to the most beautiful tombs will be on the itinerary for today. The charming Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda) will be the first stop of the day. You will enjoy a great view on the Perfume River and surrounding area. Thien Mu Pagoda is considered the symbol of Hue, and of Buddhism in Vietnam. From here you rejoin your car and go visit King Minh Mang’s Tomb and King Tu Duc’s Tomb. You will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to visit Hue Citadel and Dong Ba Market. Our tour ends at the hotel around 03:00 P.M

Day 10: Hue – Fly to Hanoi (B)

Picking up at your hotel lobby at 08:45 A.M for a transfer to Phu Bai Airport for your flight to Hanoi at 10:45 A.M. Arriving at Noi Bai Airport at 12:05 P.M, you are welcomed by our driver then we have a short transfer to the hotel in the old quarter.

Day 11: Full Day Hanoi City Tour  (B,L)

You have breakfast at your hotel then we get on the car  to have a short transfer to center of Old Quater where you will walk to visit Communal houses, Tubular Houses , French buildings. The following, you are transferred to Literature Temple ,originally built as a temple to Confucius, this is the site of Vietnam”s first university dating back to 1070. The temple highlights the importance that Vietnamese society placed then and now on education. Ho Chi Minh Mausoluem
Lunch will be at a fine local restaurant in Hanoi. Following by that we will wander around the city by car to see the real life of Hanoian as well as the difference parts the city. After that we will take one-hour cyclo around the Old Quarter, known as the 36 streets, this bustling area of narrow streets is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. Stopping at Water Pupet Theathe for a show watching then we will be back to the hotel around 05:00 P.M

Day 12: Hanoi   – Ha Long Bay – Bai Tu Long Bay (B,L,D)

Pick up from your hotel in Hanoi at 07:45 A.M by our guide then we drive to Halong City through the paddy fields in the Red River Delta. Stopover at Hai Duong province for refreshment about 20 – 30 minutes. Arrive in Tuan Chau Wharf – Breaking and taking photo at Glory Legend Private Lounge around 12:00 P.M  you will be transferred by tender to the boat to check in and enjoy Welcome Drink, receive cruise brief and safety instruction by crew member and Cruise Manager. Start cruising. Enjoy set menu lunch while cruising to magnificent Halong Bay – Bai Tu Long Bay, admire the fascinating formations on the way. You will have opportunity to see the famous such as: Perfume Rock, Fighting Cock, Lonely Rock, Saddle Rock…. before arrives to “Vung Viêng” village where we will visit “Vung Viêng” village by a rustic – row boat, meet the local people who will help you row the boat for sightseeing. Enjoy quiet space and fresh air, you will feel truly relaxing. Free optional swimming and kayaking around many small and big islands at emerald Bai Tu Long water. In the after afteroon, we can join to free cooking class on cruise. Having dinner and stay overnight on cruise. In the evening, you can try your luck  with squid fishing  on the boat

Day 13: Ha Long Bay – Hanoi – Night Train to Lao cai (B,L)

You should  get up early to enjoy Tai Chi instruction on the sundeck (duration about 30 minutes). And then you are transferred by tender to the Sung Sot Cave. Walk up about 100 steps to the cave entrance and tour the cave for approximately 45 minutes. Walk down about 100 steps and return to the boat. (Proper shoes are highly recommended). Back to the cruise by tender, then check-out and enjoy a fantastic cuise on the bay. You will have buffet brunch (breakfast/lunch) while cruising back through Halong Bay to the pier. We will settle bills after breakfast. Relax on the sundeck or in the dining room enjoying the bay scenery as we approach the pier. At 11:30 we will be transferred by tender to the pier. Time to say goodbye  to the crew to have a 4 hour driving backto Hanoi. Arriving in Hanoi at 04:30 P.M then you are free at your leisure until 09:00 P.M, we will transfer you to Hanoi Train Station to catch our night train to Lao cai.

Day 14: Lao Cai – Sapa – Love Waterfall – Golden Stream – Tram Ton Pass – Sin Chai Village (12km trekking, 4 hour trekking). B,L,D

Arrive in Lao Cai around 06:30 a.m. We will take 1 hour van ride uphill to the beautiful town of Sapa. You have breakfast at the hotel before having a 30 minute drive takes you to Tram Ton Pass at the height of 2,100 meters above sea level where great views are offered of the surrounding mountain and lush forests of the Hoang Lien National Park. From there you will trek an hour through forest, along Golden Stream to the Love Waterfall. It is the best place for relax in Sapa. Then return Tram Ton for a short drive to  O Quy Ho where you start to trek about 9km along the mountain trails to visit Sin Chai village, home to Black Hmong, pinic lunch will be served along the way. Being transferred back to Sapa in the late afternoon.

Day 15 :Sapa – Suoi Ho – Ma Tra – Ta Phin  – Day Bus to Hanoi (10 trekking, 3-3,5 hour trekking) B,L

Having breakfast at the hotel  before walking about 10km along the mountain trails or main road to visit Suoi Ho, Matra and Taphin villages which are inhabited by Black Hmong and Red Dzao tribes. Along the way we can come in some schools as well as tribal houses to have experience of local Sapa life. Moreover, the landscape, culture, custom and tradition of Black Hmong tribe of Suoi Ho and Matra villages are preserved from tourists so you can study the raw things here. Picnic lunch will be served on the way. Arriving at Ta phin village of Red Dzao people in the afternoon, you are transferred back to Sapa for your shower. At 04:00 P.M, we will catch our bus to Hanoi. Arriving in Hanoi at 09:00 P.M, you are transferred to the hotel.

Day 16:  Hanoi  – Hoa  Lu – Tam coc – Bich Dong – Hanoi(B,L)

AM: Pick you up at 8.00am at hotel in Hanoi, then depart for NinhBinh city towards to the South of Hanoi, it takes about 2,5 hours to get there(130 km).
Arrive in Hoa Lu, Visit Hoa Lu – The Acient Capital and the remaining two temples of Dinh King & Le King. 2). We will arrive in Tam Coc (Three Grottoes). Visit Hoa lu, around 16 km from Tam Coc by car, Take some steps to climb up the viewpoint to take photo of Hoalu panorama, charmed by the marvelous scenery offered by the mountains, rivers and temple, from here We can take the car or moving to Tam Coc by bike. Take a bike then cycle along the village roads with beautiful sightseeing and friendly local people.
Then drive in 30 minutes move to Tam Coc grottoes, have lunch at vietnamese restaurant with local food(1hr).
PM: Take an exciting boat ride in Tam Coc grottoes(Halong bay inland) that we will enjoy the spectacular scenery while gliding along the river among rice paddies and ranges of limestone mountains peaking up towers over you(2 hrs).
Return to Hanoi at around 5 pm by dropping you at your hotel

Day 17:  Hanoi Free Day (B)

Today, you are free at your leisure to relax or walk around the town

Day 18:   Hanoi Departure (B)

Today, you are free at your leisure until the time being transferred to the airport for your flight back home.