Day 1: Arrival in Saigon
Arrival in Saigon. Meet our guide at the airport and transfer to hotel in Saigon. Welcome dinner and tour briefing in the evening. Overnight in Saigon
Summary
Hotel transfer: 20 mins
Meal: Welcome Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon
Day 2: City tour & Cu Chi Tunnel
After breakfast in hotel we take a city tour to see the different faces of this bustling city on a full day tour with extensive visits to the Re-Unification Palace, the Central Post Office, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Jade Emperor Temple and the Ben Thanh market. Lunch in local restaurant. After lunch we drive to the famous Cu Chi underground tunnel system to experience how the Viet Cong lived and fought during the American War. Back to Saigon in the afternoon.
Summary:
Sightseeing: Half day city tour & half day tour to Cu Chi tunnel
Transportation: AC vehicle
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon
Day 3: Mekong Delta
After breakfast we depart for Cai Be. Upon arrival in Cai Be we board a boat for a journey through the town’s floating market. See how river life goes on, trading between merchant ships and local farmers. Cruise through secluded canals and over the Mighty Mekong to an island where we stop to enjoy seasonal fruits. More cruise on small canals by rowing boat. Visit to local families and have lunch in local restaurant. Take motor boat to Vinh Long town. Bus transfer back to Saigon. Overnight in Saigon.
Summary:
Cruise & Culture exploration: Full day
Transfer Saigon – Cai Be: 1.5 hr
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon
Day 4: Saigon – Nam Cat Tien National Park
07.30 Departure by car to Cat Tien National Park. The terrain rises up gradually via volcanic area. On arrival, we cross Dong Nai River to the park center.
11.30 Check in room at the park center. Lunch break.
13.30 Start walking 8km along the ecologic route: sites of Lagerstroemia Ovalfolia (BangLang), Tetrameles nudiflora (Tung), Cycas rumphii (Thien Tue), Ancistrolandus tectorius (Trung quan), Afzelia cyclocarpa (Go). Then trek back to the center.
20.00 Jeep transfer to TaLai buffer zone for animal spotting (view animals at night).
Summary
Transfer Saigon – Cat Tien: 3 hrs
Trekking: 8 km – Introductory to Moderate grade
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Forest station
Day 5: Nam Cat Tien – Saigon
Jeep transfer 9km inside the park to junction where we turn off the main route and trek 5km to Crocodile lake station. Short break at the lake watch tower. Then trek back to the main route. Jeep pick up, transfer back to the center. Check out. Lunch in the park before heading back to Saigon.
Leave Cat Tien Park. Ferry crossing the river. Transfer by car to Saigon. Check in hotel and relax.
Summary
Transfer Cat Tien – Saigon: 3 hrs
Trekking: 10 km – Introductory grade
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon
Day 6: Flight to Danang – Hoian
Breakfast in hotel and free at leisure until we are transferred to airport to take a short flight to Danang. On arrival in Danang we take a bus ride to the ancient town of Hoian. We will check in a resort on the beach and spend the rest of the day relaxing on the beach. In the evening we take a walk in the illustrated ancient part of Hoian and have dinner with local delights. Overnight in Hoian.
Summary:
Flight Saigon – Danang: 1hr
Transfer Danang – Hoian: 1hr
Transportation: Airplane, AC vehicle
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian
Day 7: Hoian – Bach Ma National Park
After breakfast in the hotel we drive north to Bach Ma National Park, which is located in the mid way from Hoian to Hue. Upon arrival at the park we visit the visitor centre take a jeep ride up to the centre of the park where we have lunch in the restaurant of the park. After lunch we embark on a beautiful jungle trek. We will walk on animal trails and listen to bird songs and see beautiful water falls. After the trek we take a great jeep ride to the summit of the mountain for watching sunset and panorama view of the park. Dinner and overnight in Bach Ma resort in the park.
Summary:
Trek: 3-hr, intermediate grade
Transfer Hoian – Bach Ma: 2hr
Transportation: AC vehicle, Jeep
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in the park
Day 8: Bach Ma – Hue
Short trek in the morning following jungle trails. If we are lucky we would see animals seeking food. Breakfast at the campsite. We leave Bach Ma National Park at 10 am driving to Hue. Upon arrival in Hue we check in hotel and have lunch in local restaurant. In the afternoon we visit to Imperial Citadel, which is a walled fortress and was intended to be a copy of Chinese Emperors’ Forbidden City in Beijing. After the trip we transfer back to hotel. Overnight in Hue
Summary
Transfer Bach Ma – Hue: 1,5 hrs
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hue
Day 9: Hue – Night train to Hanoi
Today we have a full day tour to see all the “must-see” in Hue. In the morning we will take a relaxing boat trip on Perfume River to reach Thien Mu Pagoda, a beautiful pagoda on a small hill looking over the river. After the pagoda we continue cruising on the river to reach the Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc, with its lotus-filled lake and central pavilion and the simple and serene Tomb of Khai Dinh. After that we drive back to Hue for lunch. Back to hotel for a short rest before we catch train to Hanoi. Overnight on train
Summary:
Sightseeing: Full day
Transportation: AC vehicle, Boat, Night train
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Soft sleeper AC cabin on train
Day 10: Hanoi – Cuc Phuong National Park
Arrive in Hanoi in early morning. Picked up at Hanoi Railway Station and transferred to Ninh Binh which is 100km south of Hanoi. Upon arrival in Ninh Binh we have breakfast in local restaurant and continue to Cuc Phuong National Park. We will visit to Primate Rescued Centre where we meet the park’s rangers and learn about different kinds of monkey, gibbon and langur in Vietnam. We continue to Bong, the centre of the park, where we start our jungle trek. We will have picnic lunch in the park under the shade of a giant tree. This jungle trek ends in the afternoon when we reach Khanh Village, home of Muong ethnic minority. Tonight we will have dinner and overnight in a traditional house-on-stilt of a Muong family.
Summary
Transfer Hanoi – Cuc Phuong: 2.5 hr
Trekking: 18 km, Intermediate to Challenging grade
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Home stay
Day 11: Cuc Phuong – Tam Coc – Hoa Lu – Hanoi
Breakfast in the village before we head to Tam Coc, also known as Halong Bay on the rice field thanks to its stunning rock formations emerging on river and rice field similer to Halong Bay. We will take a relaxing rowing boat trip on river to see caves and impressive scenery. Lunch in local restaurant in Tam Coc before we drive to Hoa Lu, the former capital of Vietnam, which dates from 9th century. Visit to temples and walk hundred steps up to top of a mountain for a panorama view of the old capital. Drive back to Hanoi. Check in hotel. Overnight in Hanoi.
Summary
Transfer Hoa Lu – Hanoi: 2 hrs
Boat trip: 2 hrs
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
Day 12: City tour of Hanoi
After breakfast in the hotel you will take an interesting guided city tour of Hanoi including Ho Chi Minh complex (the mausoleum, the house & garden and the museum) and One Pillar Pagoda, a unique ancient architecture. After here we move to Temple of Literature, the site of Vietnam’s first university, dates back to 1070. Its peaceful gardens and pavilions offer a relaxing respite from Hanoi’s busy streets. Lunch in local restaurant.
In the afternoon, we enjoy a relaxing cyclo tour in the ancient part of Hanoi. Walking down some small and lively street to see busy local market then join locals for green tea or coffee in local café. Free time for shopping. Back to the hotel. Overnight in Hanoi.
Note: “Cyclo is three wheeled rickshaws, operated by pedal-power, with a seat attached to the front.
Summary:
Sightseeing: full day
Transportation: AC vehicle, cyclo
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
Day 13: Hanoi – Halong Bay
Leave Hanoi for Halong Bay at 8.30am. On the way we will have a short break for refreshment at a handicraft centre. Upon arrival in Halong City we board a junk for a fine seafood lunch and an amazing cruise on the bay. We will explore a cave and have more cruising on the bay after lunch. Dinner and overnight on junk
Summary:
Transfer Hanoi – Halong: 3.5 hrs
Transportation: AC vehicle, Junk
Activities: Cruising
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Twin shared AC cabin on Junk
Day 14: Halong – Cat Ba National Park
After breakfast we will move to another junk for a cruise to Lan Ha Bay, which is smaller than Ha Long Bay and near Cat Ba Island. We cruise around Lan Ha Bay and reach Cat Ba Island around noon. Transferred to Cat Ba Town we check in hotel and have a lunch break. In the afternoon we take a beautiful drive to Cat Ba National Park for a short hike to the summit of Trung Trang peak for panorama view of Halong Bay. Overnight in hotel on Cat Ba Island.
Summary:
Transfer Halong – Cat Ba: 3 hrs
Transportation: Boat, Bus
Activities: Cruising, Hiking, Introductory grade
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel on Cat Ba Island
Day 15: Cat Ba – Hai Phong – Hanoi – Night train to Lao Cai
Breakfast in hotel and free at leisure in the morning. In early afternoon we take a hydrofoil to Hai Phong City. We will be picked up and transferred back to Hanoi.
Arrive in Hanoi we then have time to shop around the Old Quarter and have dinner before being transferred to Hanoi Railway station to catch the night train to Lao Cai (9.10pm – 5.30am). Overnight on train.
Summary:
Transfer Cat Ba – Hai Phong:1 hr
Transfer Hai Phong – Hanoi: 2 hrs
Transportation: Hydrofoil, AC vehicle, Night train
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Soft sleeper in AC cabin
Day 16:Transfer to Sapa – Trek to Giang Ta Chai Village
Arrive in Lao Cai around 5.30 am. We will take 1hr bus ride uphill to the beautiful town of Sapa. The ride give you a glimpse of the stunning vistas and impressive rice terraces. Upon arrival in Sapa Town we have breakfast in local restaurant and prepare for a great trek down to the picturesque valley of Muong Hoa.
You will commence your journey from Sapa by car to Lao Chai village, a Black Hmong ethnic minority village. You will then be able to walk from Lao Chai to Tavan village where the Giay ethnic minority hill tribe lives. After lunch the walk continues through a bamboo forest to Giang Ta Chai, a Red Dao ethnic minority village where we will have unique homestay experience among hill tribe people. Pinic lunch on the way. Dinner and overnight in the local house.
Summary:
Transfer Lao Cai – Sapa: 45 mins
Trekking: 5-hr trek/dirt paths/downhill
Accommodation: Homestay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 17: Trek Giang Ta Chai – Su Pan – Thanh Kim - Thanh Phu Village
After breakfast, we start the trek through the rice terraces to the village of Su Pan then continue to Thanh Kim for lunch. After lunch time, we will trek along a narrow valley downhill for 2 hour to the Ngoi Bo River, then uphill for 1 hour to Muong Bo Village at the center of Thanh Phu Commune - a village of Tay minority. We will have dinner and stay overnight in a wooden Tay stilt house.
Summary:
Trekking: 7-hr trek/dirt paths/downhill
Accommodation: Homestay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 18: Thanh Phu Village - Sapa - Lao Cai
After breakfast, we walk down hill to Thanh phu bridge to take a beautiful drive back to Sapa. Upon arrive in Sapa we take shower and spend the rest of the day exploring Sapa town. 5.30 pm we will be transferred to Lao Cai for the night train back to Hanoi.
Summary
Trekking: 1-hr trek, Introductory grade
Transfer Sapa - railway station: 1 hr
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Soft sleeper in AC cabin
Day 19: In Hanoi
Arrive in Hanoi early in the morning. Transferred to hotel, breakfast in the hotel and free at leisure for the rest of the day. Overnight in Hanoi.
Summary
Transfer to hotel in Hanoi: 10 mins
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
Day 20: Departure
Breakfast in the hotel and free until we are transferred to airport for departure. Trip completes.
Summary
Transfer to airport: 50 mins
Meal: Breakfast
Note on client safety
We reserve the right to deviate from this itinerary for any reasons, including road and weather conditions, frequency of visits to a village, or for any other factor which may influence client safety. |
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