The Long Way Up

Itinerary

B(breakfast), L(lunch), D(dinner)

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1. 
   Day 01

   HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON) ARRIVAL AND CITY TOUR

   Meals: None | Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City

    

   Guests are welcomed at the airport by a local guide and transferred to the city centre hotel. In the afternoon, the city tour starts at the Reunification Palace, now a museum and reception hall, then continues to the colonial-style Central Post Office and Notre-Dame Cathedral (built 1877 to 1883). The day ends with a walk along Nguyen Hue Street, past the Opera House and the Ho Chi Minh Committee building (outside views only), to Ben Thanh Market for local life and handmade goods.

    

   Good to know: standard check-in is at 14:00; early check-in depends on hotel availability.

2. 
   Day 02

   HO CHI MINH CITY, MEKONG DELTA, HO CHI MINH CITY

   Meals: Breakfast, lunch | Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City

    

   After breakfast, guests drive to My Tho, a coconut-growing area with family workshops. A boat trip on the Mekong leads to one of the islands for tropical fruit in a garden, with traditional southern folk music. Small rowing boats take guests through narrow coconut-lined canals to a local workshop, where they taste honey tea and watch coconut candy being made. A horse-cart ride through the village follows. Lunch is at a local restaurant by the river, with elephant ear fish. On the way back, the group stops at Vinh Trang Pagoda, whose design blends Chinese, Cambodian and French influences.

3. 
   Day 03

   CU CHI TUNNELS TO MUI NE

   Meals: Breakfast | Overnight: Mui Ne

    

   In the morning, guests visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, part of a network of around 200 km of hand-dug tunnels used by guerrilla forces. Those who wish can crawl a few dozen metres underground. In the afternoon, the group drives about 220 km north on Highway One to Mui Ne (Phan Thiet), passing rubber plantations and, near the coast, semi-desert landscapes with cacti and dragon fruit trees. Arrival is in late afternoon or early evening, with the rest of the day free.

4. 
   Day 04

   MUI NE AT LEISURE

   Meals: Breakfast | Overnight: Mui Ne

    

   A free day on the beach. An optional tour takes in Po Shanu Cham Tower, then continues by jeep to the Fairy Stream, the Yellow Sand Dunes (with views over the fishing village) and the White Sand Dunes, finishing with sunset and a lotus lake.

    

   Good to know: the dune tour is optional and not included in the price.

   
   Optional tour: Discover Phu Hai Cham Tower and Dunes

   
   Pick up at the hotel and transfer to visit Poshanu Cham Temple (Phu Hai Cham Tower). Then transfer a wheel Jeep to visit Mui Ne Beach. The first stop is Fairy stream where you can not miss in Mui Ne because of the really nice place. Then customer will have a chance to visit Yellow sand dune. From the top of the Yellow one, you can see all of the scenery of Mui Ne when you can discover the daily activities of the fishing farm. Not only visiting white sand dune, you will be fulfilled by the beautiful white sand dune. It is more romantic time for seeing the sunset, slip on the sand. Moreover, in the middle of the white sand dune there is a lotus lake – lotus is one of the famous flowers in Viet Nam. Transfer back to Hotel. End of services

5. 
   Day 05

   MUI NE TO DALAT

   Meals: Breakfast | Overnight: Dalat

    

   An early departure takes guests to Dalat, the Central Highlands city known for its park-like setting and mild 15 to 24°C climate. On the way, the group visits the Elephant Waterfall and the Chicken Village of the K'Ho people, where gong culture is still kept alive, with time to see vegetable and flower farms, wooden houses and weaving. Arrival in Dalat is in late afternoon.

6. 
   Day 06

   DALAT TO NHA TRANG

   Meals: Breakfast | Overnight: Nha Trang

    

   The morning covers Bao Dai's Summer Palace, Tuyen Lam Reservoir, Truc Lam Temple and the Dalat Flower Garden (or the Crazy House, designed by architect Hang Nga). Lunch is at guests' own expense. The afternoon drive to Nha Trang (over 200 km) winds past pine forests, waterfalls, tea and coffee farms and Bellevue Pass, with stops at Danhim Reservoir and the Po Klong Garai Cham tower near Phan Rang. On arrival in late afternoon, if time permits, guests visit the Po Nagar Cham Towers.

7. 
   Day 07

   NHA TRANG AT LEISURE

   Meals: Breakfast | Overnight: Nha Trang

    

   A free day on the beach. An optional full-day islands and snorkelling tour (approximately 08:30 to 16:00) departs from Cau Da port, visiting the Tri Nguyen Aquarium, Mun Island for snorkelling, beach time at Tranh Beach or other islands, lunch on the island and a fishing village on the way back.

    

   Good to know: the island tour is optional and not included in the price.

   
   Optional tour: ISLANDS AND SNORKELING TOUR   

   
   Tri Nguyen Aquarium - Tranh Beach - Mun Marine Park - Fishing Village - Con Se Tre Village  

   Timing: Full day. 8.30 am – 4.00 pm.  
   Start from your hotel to Cau Da port. Tri Nguyen Aquarium on Mieu Island is the first place to visit, many sea  species of Nha Trang/Khanh Hoa  province  make  a  small ocean  world there. Mun  Island is the  best  island for snorkeling where you can see lots of lives colorful corals and fish. You will also be able to see caves in which the sea swallows make their nest . Then relaxing, swimming & doing water sports or other activities at Mot Island, Tranh Beach Island or on a small island calling “Mini beach”. Taking a fresh lunch at the island. On the way back you will visit a fishing village before going to the shore.

8. 
   Day 08

   NHA TRANG TO HOI AN

   Meals: Breakfast | Overnight: Hoi An

    

   An early transfer to the airport for the flight to Da Nang (flight not included). A local guide meets guests on arrival and continues to Hoi An, a major Asian trading port in the 17th and 18th centuries. A relaxed walking tour covers Tan Ky House, the Japanese Covered Bridge and a Chinese assembly hall, with time at one of the most colourful local markets in the region. In the evening, guests can watch the traditional Bai Choi folk performance on the street.
    

9. 
   Day 09

   MY SON AND HOI AN

   Meals: Breakfast | Overnight: Hoi An

    

   After breakfast, guests visit My Son Sanctuary, about 60 km southwest of Hoi An, the religious centre of the former Champa Kingdom and the most significant archaeological site in central Vietnam. In the afternoon, the group returns to Hoi An to explore more of the ancient town with the guide, including the covered bridge and old merchant and community houses, with a chance to see folk music performed by local artists in small museum houses.

    

   Good to know: tickets for the optional "Palao" show, which recreates Cham culture and life, should be booked as early as possible.

    

10. 
    Day 10

    HOI AN TO HUE

    Meals: Breakfast | Overnight: Hue

     

    Guests leave Hoi An for Hue via Da Nang, stopping at the Marble Mountains, five sacred hills with Buddhist shrines, and the Cham Museum, home to a fine collection of Cham sculpture. The road then crosses the Hai Van Pass, the natural boundary between central and southern Vietnam, often shrouded in cloud. Hue was the capital under the Nguyen dynasty until 1945 and is known for its calm, traditional atmosphere. Check-in on arrival.

11. 
    Day 11

    HUE CITY TOUR, FLY TO HANOI

    Meals: Breakfast | Overnight: Hanoi

     

    The day starts with the tombs of Emperor Khai Dinh and Emperor Minh Mang, followed by a boat trip on the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda. In the afternoon, guests explore the Imperial Citadel, home of the Nguyen dynasty from 1802 to 1945, then take a cyclo ride around the old town. A transfer to the airport follows for the flight to Hanoi (flight not included), where a local guide meets guests and transfers them to the hotel.

12. 
    Day 12

    HANOI CITY TOUR

    Meals: Breakfast | Overnight: Hanoi

     

    After breakfast, guests visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and his stilt house in the surrounding gardens, then One Pillar Pagoda and the History Museum. Lunch is at guests' own expense. The afternoon covers the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university (built 1070), a walk around Hoan Kiem (Sword) Lake with a stop at Ngoc Son Temple, and a water puppet show in the evening.

     

    Good to know: the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed on Mondays and Fridays, when it can only be seen from outside.

13. 
    Day 13

    NINH BINH, TAM COC AND NIGHT TRAIN TO LAO CAI

    Meals: Breakfast | Overnight: Night train

     

    The group drives through rural northern Vietnam to Hoa Lu, an ancient capital, and visits the temples of Kings Dinh and Le. A sampan ride follows through rice paddies and the caves of Tam Coc, among limestone karsts that earn the area the nickname "Halong Bay on land". Adventurous guests can climb to Bich Dong Pagoda for countryside views. In late afternoon, the group returns to Hanoi, with free time before the transfer to the railway station for the night train to Lao Cai (4-berth air-conditioned cabin).

14. 
    Day 14

    LAO CAI, SAPA, LAO CHAI AND TA VAN

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch | Overnight: Sapa

     

    The train arrives at Lao Cai at 06:00, followed by a 40 km drive up to Sapa past pine forests and terraced paddy fields. After breakfast and luggage drop-off, guests visit Sapa's market street and Cat Cat Village of the Hmong people. After lunch, the group drives 10 km to Lao Chai and treks 5 km to Ta Van through villages of the Hmong, Tay and Dzay peoples, then returns to Sapa for the night.

15. 
    Day 15

    SAPA HILL-TRIBE MARKET, NIGHT TRAIN TO HANOI

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner | Overnight: Night train

     

    The program depends on the day of the week.

     

    On Saturday, Sunday or Tuesday, guests drive to a weekly hill-tribe market: Can Cau (Saturday), Bac Ha (Sunday, about 110 km from Sapa, departing around 07:00) or Coc Ly (Tuesday), where Flower Hmong and other groups gather. Lunch is in Bac Ha, with optional walks to nearby hamlets afterwards.

     

    On other days, guests visit Taphin village of the Red Dzao, hike through paddy fields past an old seminary, and see Taphin Cave and a Black Hmong hamlet, with a picnic lunch. Either way, guests return to Lao Cai station in late afternoon, have dinner in Lao Cai, and take the night train to Hanoi.

16. 
    Day 16

    HANOI TO HALONG BAY, OVERNIGHT CRUISE

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner | Overnight: Halong Bay cruise

     

    Guests are picked up at Hanoi Station around 05:00 and can join locals exercising by the lakes before breakfast. The drive to Halong Bay takes a little over 3 hours through the Red River delta. A cruise boat then takes the group among the limestone islands, with a seafood lunch on board, a visit to the Surprising Grotto, swimming or kayaking, and views of floating villages. The evening is for on-board activities or rest, with the boat moored near Titov Beach.

     

    Good to know: the program varies slightly by cruise, and kayaking is included on some cruises only. Food on board is Vietnamese and international.

17. 
    Day 17

    HALONG BAY TO HANOI

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch | Overnight: Hanoi

     

    Early risers can watch the sunrise over the bay. After breakfast, the boat cruises past islets named for their shapes, including Sail Island, Fisherman's Head, Butterfly Rock and Turtle Islet, before guests disembark and return to Hanoi by car.

18. 
    Day 18

    HANOI DEPARTURE

    Meals: Breakfast | Overnight: None

     

    After breakfast, guests with afternoon flights have half a day for sightseeing and shopping until check-out (around 12:00), followed by the airport transfer. Our services end at the airport.

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