CHARMING OF VIETNAM 14 DAYS

Breakfast at hotel. We drive to Cu Chi district, 50 km to the northwest of Saigon city. The incredible underground network in Cu Chi stretched over 200 kilometers and became legendary during the American war. The extensive tunnels have been specially constructed with living areas, storage facilities, weapon factories, filed hospitals, command center, plus accommodation. Upon arrival to the Cu Chi tunnels, watch a short introductory video showing how they were constructed, then spend the next hour exploring the maze of tunnels, you will even have a chance to crawl through the tunnels. Also on display are various mantraps, the remains of an American tank and numerous bomb craters made by 500 pound bombs dropped by B52 bombers. For those interested there's even the opportunity to fire off rounds from an AK47 or MK16 at the nearby rifle range. Have your lunch at Mandarin restaurant.

The following program is a sightseeing of major sights in Ho Chi Minh city. First stop is Notre Dame Catholic cathedral and short visit to French built Post office nearby and then we will visit the War Remnants museum, which primarily contains exhibits relating to the American phase of the Vietnam war. We continue to visit the Reunification palace. Discover the history and fascinating street life of Saigon on a walking tour along Dong Khoi street, known as Rue Catinat in French-colonial times.

Tonight we transfer to Binh Quoi village, where you are welcomed by friendly country girls and boys in typically northern traditional clothes, appreciating rich traditional southern Vietnamese cuisine and enjoy a traditional Vietnamese wedding ceremony. The show will tell you the Southern Vietnamese traditional wedding with folk music and classic melodies, rites expressing Vietnamese humanity….…..Free your time to explore Saigon nightlife. Overnight in Saigon.

Breakfast at hotel. We’ll take a scenic early morning drive to Vinh Long (140 km), stop for photos at Tan An town over the flat rice fields. The program will start with the visit of Cai Be colorful floating market cruising among local barges full of fruits and vegetables. Then, an optional stop can be made at local workshops where you can see how rice paste, coconut candy and pop-rice, pop-corn are made.

It’s so interesting to visit the handicraft village where you can see how they make some special products: making rice-net for spring-rolls, fish sauce & soya sauce, cooking salt, sewing coconut-leaves for cottage proof...

A mekong delta lunch will be served under the shade of local orchards on An Binh island with the famous dish “Fried Mekong Elephant Ear Fish”.

After lunch, the rowing boat will take you deeper into the countryside on smaller canals. It’s very interesting to see traditional houses made of wood and palm tree leaves and see some activities of the local farmers with some opportunities to interact with them and see how they catch fish or pick up fruits by ancestral ways in Mekong delta..

One more stop can be made at the nursery garden where you can learn how to have some high quality fruit trees. It’s the best choice for you to contact the real famous farmers - Mr Tiger & his son who are very successful in Vietnam agriculture. We will enjoy some kinds of fruits from his garden & homemade rice wine when listening to the traditional music. One more thing to do in this trip is biking. It will be so amazing to bike on village paths to see the local farms, houses, real life and the ancestral ways to pick up fruits in Mekong delta.

Drive back to Saigon. Free your time at leisure and overnight in Saigon.

Breakfast at hotel. You are picked up and transferred to the airport for a domestic flight to Hue in the morning (01 hour). You are welcome at Phu Bai airport then be transferred to your hotel for check in.

P.M: We will visit the Hue Citadel Complex including Royal Citadel and Forbidden Citadel - UNESCO World Heritage Sites, set up by Nguyen Dynasty from 1805 to 1945, is now one amongst the relics of the Hue ancient capital.

The sightseeing continues with a walk to the bustling Dong Ba Market - fantastic to wander boulevards, verdant parks and ochre buildings that retain an old-world around. It sells all manner of items and is a lively place to spend a couple charm, Dong Ba is also famous for the best conical hats in Vietnam.

Tonight you will have a chance to enjoy “Royal dinner“ at Royal Park restaurant. Enjoy a delicious food while listening to melodious music and having a feeling of being the King and Queen. All wear traditional royal clothes. All the served food is royal including dishes reminding dragon, phoenix, or peacock...Overnight in Hue.

We suggest 03 options for accommodation.

Breakfast at hotel. This morning an excursion boat trip along the romantic Perfume river carries us through a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes, where Hue’s best known religious sites are located. We will visit Thien Mu pagoda - one of the oldest ancient architectural structures for religious work ship in Hue. We include this in a half day cruise on the Perfume river which also gives us a taste of the scenic countryside and an enjoyable visit to the mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes. This impressive landmark reflects the beautiful architecture, intricate decor and mysterious statues. Afterwards we take a short drive though the rolling hill to see the elaborate royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc - One of the most beautifully designed complexes among the tombs of the Nguyen dynasty. Embedded in a lush pine forest, this tomb is the final resting place of Emperor Tu Duc (1848-83) who had the longest reign of all emperors of the Nguyen dynasty. Have your lunch at Tinh Gia Vien restaurant.

We continue our trip to Da Nang (110 km) via Lang Co beach and Hai Van pass, you’ll have a brief look at the remarkable Hindu statuary in the Cham museum - One of the largest collection of Cham sculpture and artwork in the world. The museum is officially known as the Museum of Champa Sculpture. We continue to visit a nearby stone-cutting craft village before leaving for Hoian ancient town (35km) - an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. Hoian has 1,068 ancients houses, 19 pagodas, 43 temples, 23 communal houses, 38 family temples, 5 assembly halls, 11 old wells, one bridge, 44 ancient tombs. In old quarter, there are more than 1000 relic sites. Discovery Hoian’s night and overnight in Hoian.

We suggest 03 options for accommodation.

Breakfast at hotel. Walking around the historic town. Soaking up the atmosphere. Exploring the many Chinese assembly halls and fascinating ancestral homes, some of which have been occupied by the same family for fifteen generations. One of the most spectacular Assembly Halls is the Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, built in 1690. The pagoda inside contains intricate statues and artwork, in part dedicated to Thien Hau Than Mau, the Goddess of the Sea and protector of fishermen.

Walking tour of the ancient town center takes us to the sites of former merchants’ homes, the 400-year old Japanese Covered bridge - The symbol of Hoian. The Japanese Covered bridge was the first bridge in Hoian and was constructed in 1593. It was built by the Japanese community of Hoian to link them with the Chinese quarters across the stream.

Have your lunch at Morning Glory restaurant.

The town is also famous for its shops in particular it’s large number of tailors. If you wanted, you could have a whole new wardrobe made for you here. You can enjoy browsing and shopping in one of the most colorful local marketplaces in all of Southeast Asia. Free your time to relax or discover the hidden charm of Hoian town. Overnight in Hoian.

Free your time to relax or discover the hidden charm of Hoian town until our guide and driver pick you up and transfer to the airport for domestic flight to Hanoi capital (01 hour). You are welcome at the airport and then transferred to the hotel for check-in. Free your time at leisure.

Evening we enjoy the famous water puppet theatre. This is a fantastic art form originated in northern Vietnam, and Hanoi is the best place to see it. Water puppetry is performed in a chest-deep pool of water, with the water’s surface as a stage. Overnight in Ha Noi.

We suggest 03 options for accommodation.

Breakfast at hotel. Full day city tour starting with the Ho Chi Minh complex (Closed on Mondays and Fridays mornings and whole September and October for annual repairs). Visit One Pillar pagoda, founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049. This structure has become an important symbol for the people of Hanoi. Our next stop will be the Temple of Literature - Vietnam’s first university. Constructed in 1070. The temple is dedicated to one of the world’s most famous scholars, Confucius. Inside the temple grounds huge stone stele rest on the backs of even larger stone turtles (in Vietnamese culture the turtle represents longevity).

After lunch at Cha ca street with “Cha Ca La Vong”, a favorite dish of Hanoian - Listed in 1000 places to visit before you die, we continue to visit Vietnam Museum of Ethnology - The museum has successfully recreated the daily life together with the religious rituals and the symbolic festivals of each ethnic group in Vietnam. Visitors have the opportunity to admire costumes, embroidery as well as outside stilt houses and habitats from the 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam.

We will have a short walking to visit the oldest bridge of Hanoi “Long Bien bridge” to take photos and see the local life of Hanoi people before enjoying a cyclo ride through Hanoi’s Old Quarter, also known as “36 streets.” This bustling area of narrow streets and alleys is home to thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. It’s a great place to explore with plenty of photo opportunities all around you. We will travel around the famous Hoan Kiem lake (Lake of the Restored Sword.) - The heart of Hanoi capital. Have your dinner at Au Lac House restaurant.

Free your time until 20:30 p.m to take night train to Lao Cai. Overnight on train (soft sleeper 4-berth shared cabin).

We suggest: Sapaly Train ; King Express ; Victoria Express Train (Superior - soft sleeper 4-berth shared cabin).

6:30 a.m. Upon arrival in Lao Cai station. Our driver will pick you up and transfer to Sapa town (35 km). Enjoy the picturesque scenery along the way leading towards Sapa, a mountainous area of stunning natural beauty and diverse ethnic minorities. You will be taken to a local restaurant for a morning shower & breakfast.

We transfer to Lao Chai, a Black H’mong ethnic minority village and we then walk to Ta Van village where the Giay ethnic minority hill tribe lives. Here we will be able to rest and enjoy our lunch in a local restaurant. After your lunch our walk continues on a hilly trail through a bamboo forest to Giang Ta Chai, a Red Dao ethnic minority village. On the way, we make a stop at a waterfall for a rest and to take in the beautiful surroundings and then descend to a suspension bridge before reaching the main road where our vehicle is awaiting for our drive back to Sapa. Free your time at leisure and overnight in Sapa (Excluding early check in).

Depend on your time, you can enjoy one of interesting local markets (optional tour will be surcharged):

Bac Ha market on Sundays only - The largest and most colorful market in the area. Muong Hum market on Sundays only - This hidden Sunday market will allow you to meet a large variety of ethnic minorities. Coc Ly market on Tuesdays only - Coc Ly market is a small market which takes place every Tuesday. Can Cau market on Saturdays only - very colorful market. Xin Cheng market on Wednesday only - With many local minorities. Muong Khuong market on Sundays only - Which is 50 km Northeast of Lao Cai.

We suggest 03 options for accommodation.

Breakfast at hotel. Today we leave Sapa behind and take a short transfer to the small village of Sin Chai, inhabited by Black H’mong people. Sin Chai is located at the foot of Fansipan mountain in an area covered by rain forest and under the protection of Hoang Lien National park. Upon arrival at the village, we experience the daily life of the villagers who still maintain their ancestor’s way of life. Departing the village, we take in the spectacular scenery as we follow a dirt trail running through rice paddies and along a narrow river where we also visit a local house of the few Black H’mong families living here. Have your lunch at local restaurant. Drive back to Sapa. Free your time at leisure. Overnight in Sapa.

Breakfast at hotel. We will visit Ham Rong mountain with a stop at a garden of orchids. Here you can observe more than 300 species of orchids blooming profusely. Keep on following the path leading to the mountain covered with plum, peach and apricot trees, you will get into European Garden with many kinds of beautiful flowers. Continue discovering the charming and imposing scenery of Ham Rong mountain by dropping in Four Season Flower garden, culture village of ethnic minorities in Sapa, Heaven gate, and Cloud yard on the top of Ham Rong mountain is an ideal stop for a full overview of a fanciful Sapa in mist. Have your lunch at Cha Pa Garden restaurant.

Free your time at leisure until the time our guide and driver takes you to Lao Cai for sightseeing tour and short visit to the Ha Khau border gate of Vietnam - China on the bank of the Red river which serves here as a natural border line. Afterwards transfer to the train station for night train to Ha Noi. Overnight on train (soft sleeper 4-berth shared cabin).

5:30 a.m: Arrival in Ha Noi. Pick-up at the Hanoi train station. After breakfast at local restaurant we depart for Ha Long city (170 km), approximately three hours away to visit Halong bay (a World Natural Heritage site and a New World’s Wonder). Halong bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes with 1969 islets. Several of the islands are hollow, with enormous caves, other support floating villages of fishermen. You have chance of observing scenic country side of Vietnam dominated by enormous lush rice field.

Upon arrival in Halong. Check-in between 11:30 - 12:00 at the boat port. Enjoy a refreshing “Welcome cocktail” upon check-in on the sun deck. Enjoy your lunch as the vessel sails to Halong Bay passing the Fighting cocks islet, the Elephant leg islet, the Castle islet, the Soi Sim island. Arrive at Surprise grotto - one of the most famous grotto in the entire Halong, we will visit the cave by Tender. After taking a lot of photos and admire the beauty of the cave we will visit the fishing village by local rowing boat (1 hour) with the opportunity to interact with fishermen who have been living in the bay for almost three generations then we return to the vessel for free time at your leisure. You can swim in the clear emerald waters, soak up the sun over a cool beer on the top deck sun lounge or try your hand at some kayaking (your account) amongst the huge limestone outcrops that surround us. We retire to the junk and relax on the top deck and enjoy a refreshing drink from the bar. Enjoy and learn the Vietnamese cooking demonstration on the Sundeck. Your delicious seafood dinner will be served at the restaurant. Stay overnight on cruise for a more in-depth experience.

(The itinerary above may be changed depending on the cruise we choose and weather permitting).

We suggest 03 options for accommodation.

Greet the day with a morning Tai Chi exercise with an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay. Sitting on the upper desk we can enjoy the breath - taking beauty of the rocky islands rising from the crystal-clear water of the bay. We can hear the birds singing, cicadas chirping ashore and the gentle lapping of the waves against our boat, the perfect soundtrack to accompany the fresh air and gentle breeze. International brunch buffet served in the restaurant. Check-out on board and disembarkation at boat port, Halong city.

Our tour guide and driver will pick you up and transfer to Hanoi. On the ways we will visit the But Thap pagoda and Bat Trang ceramic village - is popular for being an ancient pottery handicrafts village. Most of the pottery kilns in the village still produce goods in the traditional way, which is similar to the ancient way dating back 700 years.

Free your time at leisure, walking or shopping around the old quarter. Overnight in Hanoi.

Breakfast at hotel. Free time to relax or visit the exciting Dong Xuan covered market, the oldest and largest market in Hanoi. Here you can buy anything from ‘ghost money’ (usually fake $100 bills!) to replica Louis Vuitton bags. Our guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel and transfer to the airport for your departure flight.