12 Day(s)
Saigon – Mekong Delta – Hoi An – Hue – Hanoi – Sapa – Halong Bay
629
Opportunities to see something of the lives, customs and costumes of Vietnam’s ethnic minorities abound. Within 11-12 days, this Essential Vietnam Trip surely brings you many joyful experiences with beautiful landscapes and exciting activities. Traveling from South to North is the best direction to turn back time from modern daily life to the traditional culture and history of Vietnam. Easy to connect with Bangkok, Yunnan and Luang Prabang or extend to other parts of Vietnam/ Cambodia (Eg: Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Mui Ne, Siem Reap etc. are available upon request)
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Welcome to Saigon – Vietnam!
Upon arrival, transfer from Tan Son Nhat airport to the center of Saigon then check-in at hotel. At leisure to relax and get rid of jet lag. Overnight in Saigon.
Meal: None
Please note: Hotel check-in time is around 14.00.
This morning, we leave Saigon for My Tho, in the heart of Mekong delta with visit to the beautiful Vinh Trang pagoda on the way. Upon arrival, we will take a leisurely boat ride along the river, view the stilt houses, fruit plantations and fishing villages along the river bank. Proceed to Tortoise islet, have lunch in the orchard garden. Then a boat ride to An Khanh – a less touristy attraction in Ben Tre, enjoy cruising on a hand-rowed sampan under the shadow of the water coconut trees along natural canals, then enjoy seasonal fruit& honey tea to the sound of "Southern Vietnamese folk music", performed by locals.
Visit a family business which epitomizes the idyllic rural lifestyle, taste the delicious coconut candy & observe the pastoral life as you roam through the fruit plantation and village. Overnight in Saigon.
Meal: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch at local restaurant.
Saigon teems with energy, activity and motion. Everywhere you look, you see the meeting of traditional and modern life. The emerging modern skyline stands cheek by jowl with colonial buildings and traditional temples. Outside on the streets, young professionals zip by on motorcycles, chatting on cell phones; inside the quiet temple courtyards, worshippers pray amidst clouds of incense.
It’s your leisure time today to explore the town. No services provided. Overnight in Saigon.
Meal: Breakfast at hotel
Morning transfer to airport for your onward flight to Danang.
Upon arrival, picked up from Da Nang airport to your hotel in Hoi An. Hoi An ancient town – a must see place in central part of Vietnam and an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. This is also a wonderful town to shop for lanterns, soft silk, raw silk, or get your clothes tailored within a day.
Check in your hotel and at leisure in the rest of day. Overnight in Hoi An
Meal: Breakfast at hotel
After breakfast at hotel, we will then depart from Hoi An to My Son, where you can discover the hidden treasure of the Cham culture that once rightfully developed in the location of present Central Vietnam. Thanks to the mystery and construction secrets of the Cham towers hereby, My Son had been also designated by UNESCO as one of the five World Heritages in Vietnam.
Drive back to your hotel Hoi An later on.
It’s your own time to explore the town in the rest of the day & overnight in Hoi An.
Meal: Breakfast at hotel
There will be nothing better than a morning at leisure in the ancient town of Hoi An to refresh yourself and chill out your recent impression of your visits in Vietnam.
At leisure till drive back to Hoi An for your onward bus transfer to Hue.
Being recognized by UNESCO as the 1st Cultural World Heritage for Vietnam, Hue is highlighted by the old royal architectural works and the most traditional Vietnamese lifestyle. You are free at leisure to explore Hue on your own. Suggested route: you can discover the charm of the city from the Royal Citadel, Forbidden City or move on to the colorful Dong Ba market where you can see many of ingredients for making Hue local food, and explore the local business life.
Overnight in Hue.
Meal: Breakfast at hotel
After breakfast at hotel, heading straight to Hue airport for your flight to Hanoi.
Although being the modern-day capital of Vietnam, Hanoi still retains the mystery and charm of past centuries. Narrow lanes and traditional shop houses invite exploration, while its many beautiful public spaces; lakes, parks, tree-lined boulevards and monuments; give the city an air of elegance and harmony with nature unique among Asian capitals.
Upon arrival, our driver will pick you up and transfer to your hotel to check in.
Afternoon at leisure for yourself discover the town. If you look for places to go, the galleries in Hanoi, featured by lacquer ware and lacquered pictures, oil paintings, silk paintings and traditional paintings drawn or woodblock-printed on “giay do”, a special kind of paper made traditionally from rice powder or other crafts made of shell, straw and other ingredients, and different kinds of clothes of silk, linen, cotton, raw thread made by minority ethnic people etc. will surely attract you! Overnight in Hanoi.
Meal: Breakfast at hotel.
Early morning, board on our limousine bus to Sapa which is an incredibly picturesque town that lies in the Hoang Lien Son mountain range near the Chinese border in northwestern Vietnam, known as "the Tonkinese Alps". Sapa and its surrounding region is host to many hill tribes, as well as rice terraces, lush vegetation, and Fansipan, the highest peak in Vietnam.
Upon arrival, check in your hotel and at leisure in the rest of the day to explore Sapa at your own pace. Overnight in Sapa.
Meal: Breakfast at hotel.
The 100-year-old hill station with magnificent landscape of mountains, pinewoods and mysterious mist, Sapa, always inspires every artist and photographer who used to stopover or hear about this unique place. This morning, you are free to stroll around the marketplace of Sapa and Sapa church to discover this special ambiance of hill tribal minorities.
Our limousine bus will take you back to Hanoi in the afternoon. Overnight in Hanoi.
Meal: Breakfast at hotel.
If you wish to see how the Hanoi people rise and shine in the morning, wake up early and run to a lake close by your hotel, you can join an exciting scene of hundreds of locals, passionately attentive in their morning exercises of Tai Chi quan, jogging, martial arts, classical dance and so on. After breakfast at the hotel, we will head to Halong Bay, a Natural World Heritage as designated by UNESCO since 1994 and 2006, and check-in our overnight boat. Enjoy a trip on Halong with stops to visit caves or to swim and enjoy the sunset on the sea. Dinner with fresh seafood. Overnight onboard.
Meal: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch and dinner on board.
Please note: The program may change due to the weather without notice.
Morning wake up with a taichi-quan or yoga exercises guided by the crew before having breakfast whilst your boat goes on between Halong islets. Return to the Wharf to be back to Hanoi by shuttle bus at midday. Arrive in the city around 3-4pm.
Our private driver will pick you up to the airport later on for your departure flight. End of services!
Meal: Breakfast and brunch on board.
Today you arrive your home.
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