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Quintessence of Vietnam

14 DAY(S) Top Selling Tours

Hanoi - Pu Luong - Ninh Binh - Halong Bay - Hue - Danang - Hoi An - Saigon - Cao Lanh - Sa Dec - Saigon

Description

If you want to experience Vietnam in a different, insight way, or prepare to return to Vietnam on the 2nd time, this tour will deliver new discovery and can be customized to suit your needs better. Let’s capture the spirit of magical Vietnam on this comprehensive 14 day tour starting from Hanoi to Saigon. Enjoy panoramic view of Pu Luong Retreat, contemplate poetic landscapes with many caves in Ninh Binh, cruise along emerald waters on a Halong Bay boat trip and get lost in the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City. This is an adventure full of life, color and flavor that introduces you to the highlights of this fascinating nation.

Highlights

  • Visit Hanoi by walking, enjoy Vietnam street foods and drinks.
  • Explore the charm of remote mountain area at Pu Luong reserve. 
  • Biking in Ninh Binh, visit communal house styled church in Phat Diem.
  • Visit the odd shaped Golden Bridge in Danang, opened in June 2018. 
  • Sail through Halong Bay’s limestone karsts and island caves and spend the night checking out the stars on an overnight cruise.
  • Intermingle with the local people during off-the-beaten tracks visits in Sa Dec and experience a night at rural homestay in the South.  
  • Travel like a local on a motorbike tour, riding pillion and taking in the historical pagodas, bridges and villages of Hue.
     

Itinerary

Welcome to Hanoi!
Upon arrival at Noi Bai airport, we will be warmly welcomed by our professional Tour guide and transferred to hotel for checkin and refreshment. Travel around by cyclos, a kind of three wheel rickshaws, in the "Old Quarter" of Hanoi, so-called "The Old Hanoi with 36 streets", which are named after the products made and sold by family workshops hereby. This is also a unique chance to take best pictures of the authentic life in Hanoi, especially at Silverware, Ma May or Matress streets. (Optional visit on foots if you love walking). The cyclo tour will end in one of small shrines, ancient temples (on Silver and Drum streets) or traditional houses in Ma May, hearing stories of the city and meet friendly locals in their daily routines. Wrap up our walk with a visit to Ngoc Son temple, Hoan Kiem lake and enjoying an "Egg coffee" at the Water Puppetry Theatre Cafe before joining an exciting show of Puppetry. Meet and discuss with the artists after the show before dinner. Overnight in Hanoi. 

 

(After breakfast at hotel) This morning we will visit the Museum of Vietnamese Women (always rated in top 10 things to see in Hanoi), where we can witness the role of ladies in the local culture, and along with them - the way foods and cuisine of Vietnam become famous. Walk up to the area of St. Joseph Church, north of Hoan Kiem lake, considered the center of Roman Catholicism activities in Hanoi, and visit the exciting surrounding full with good shops and foodstaffs. Taste some Phở (Noodle soup) and try a dish of Bánh Cuốn (a kind of steamed rice rolling pie), best cooked in Hanoi, and share with your Guide and the locals about the way to make different dishes in Hanoi. Thanks to ''Phở'', a lot of Vietnamese restaurants are known now in UK, Germany and France, wherever there are big overseas Vietnamese communities. Continue our walk to one of the most exciting areas in Hanoi, the intersection between Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen Streets, nicknamed “the international crossroad". This is a place with a plethora of tourists and locals alike, gathering, chatting and enjoying "Bia Hơi" (the local draught, fresh beer), which is brewed daily with no preservatives and must be consumed within 24hrs after production. Afternoon stroll around with our Guide to visit the exciting quarter of Hanoi, stop spontaneously at any place you may like to get real local touch of the city. Early dinner with some "Bún chả", a combination of vermicelli served with aromatic herbs and grilled pork, dipped in fish sauce. 
Back to hotel in the evening. Overnight in Hanoi. 

 

After breakfast and checkout, we’ll be transferred to Pu Luong Nature Reserve. Enjoy panoramic view of the mountains and valleys along the way. Upon arrival at this boutique resoort after appx. 5hrs, depending on local traffic, we will enjoy a refreshment with delicious lunch of local mountain dishes (veg available upon request). This afternoon drive to a suspension bridge over Cham River, where we begin our trek passing a stunning water wheel to reach a local fisherman’s house. Have a short rest to gear up for a light rafting with the local experts. Float along the calm river and enjoy scenic view, learn how to paddle and steer the handcrafted rafts. Arrive at Tan Lap bridge, disembark and drive back to Pu Luong Retreat for overnight.
 

After breakfast, let's pack and leave for visiting villages upon the hills above the Retreat. Meet and experience the daily life with the locals in their routine and visit their farms and fields; upon their guideline, we can also learn how to make rice wine and weave local colorful textiles. Lunch will be at a local house, whilst tasting “rượu cần” (wine drunk via pipes from a jar, in traditional mountain way), which is very healthy and popular among the highlanders. 

Afternoon, we will go from Pu Luong to Ninh Binh. Checkin hotel and overnight in Ninh Binh. 

Breakfast at hotel before the trip today. Being a karst formation area with poetic landscape with many caves and grottoes, along with magnificent panorama from top of mountain ranges in between typical Northern villages. We'll have two options today:

Option 1: Start our trip at Trang An route today and ending at Hang Mua (Mua Cave). In Trang An, take a boat to visit cave complex: Sang and Toi caves, Ba Giot cave, Nau Ruou cave in mystery and wildness, contemplating the scenery of mountain and rivers hereby; with the same limestone structure of Halong, Trang An is so-called "Ha-Long-bay-on-land". If you have watched “Kong: skull island” movie, you can choose to row thru the Route 2 to the Kong’s open-air studio, settled in 2016. Back to the mountainfoot to climb up 500 steps to Mua Cave on the peak of the mountain, from here we can get grand view of the whole area.

Option 2: Let's biking in Ninh binh in the morning. Together with our guide, we will have a leisure bike from the hotel to Hoa Lu, visiting two ancient famous temples, dedicated to King Dinh and King Le who had reigned Vietnam consecutively during the 10th century, before Thang Long (aka Hanoi) became the official capital. The temples are wellknown not only for historic value, but their wonderful lacquer statues and carvings of stone and wood. From Hoa Lu, take our car to Phat Diem, where located an incredible architectural work of a Catholic Church in late 19th century combined with traditional design of a typical Vietnam Communal house. Phat Diem Church is a combination of several churches made of wood, stone, and the whole complex is unique not just in Vietnam but amongst worldwide Roman Catholic churches. Visit the Phat Diem roofed bridge on the way back. 

Late afternoon back to hotel. Overnight in Ninh Binh. 

Morning at leisure until 09.00am to pack and transfer to Tuan chau island - Halong Bay  for a sea cruise. Appx. 12.30 we will arrive at our Pier at Tuan chau island and take our boat for cruising. After checkin the Cruise, the Manager and Tour guides will advise us Briefings of the program before Lunch being served with delicious seafood and local Vietnamese foods, while the Cruise head to the Bay. At your leisure after lunch to enjoy hundreds of limestone islands with various shapes. This is the best time to contemplate unparalleled scenery of Halong in a slow motion. Around 15.00-15.30, our cruise will anchor and from here we take our tenderboat to discover the area’s tranquility by kayak or rowing boat, which are best mean to really enjoy the seascape and to go between limestone rocks. Join other water activities depending on the option program of each cruise. Later afternoon join a cooking demonstration onboard before having dinner with local cuisine. Free choice of evening activities (movie watching, fishing tools and guitars, cards, etc.) after the dinner. Overnight onboard in Halong Bay. 

Please note! 
Final cruise itinerary may be varied upon the booking confirmation depending on weather, tidal and seasonal features. 
 

Breakfast and excercises on the sundeck with the guideline of cruise manager (usually taichi-quan or yoga for half hour). After breakfast, we can choose to relax onboard for sunbath or attend morning activities of the cruise (visiting caves or swimming). Back to the boat for brunch after the activities and checkout before embarking at Tuan Chau again. Transfer by our private car to Hanoi airport for flight to Hue.    
[Suggested flight VN 1545 HAN HUI 18:15 - 19:25, tentatively].

Upon arrival in Phu Bai airport, welcomed by our guide in Hue and transferred to the hotel to checkin. Evening at leisure to stroll around to enjoy delightful night life of Hue. Overnight in Hue.
 

Breakfast at hotel. 

Our day starts with a short visit to Thuy Thanh village, where we can see a lively morning market which consists of every specialty of Central Vietnam. Nearby is the 300-year Thanh Toan Tile-Roofed bridge and an agricultural museum house, where we can discover traditional farming tools of the locals and enjoy talking and exploring their lives. Back to the Forbidden Purple City. The palace retains the ambience of its old-time scale and importance, with delicate stonework and pavilions that captivate visitors for their tranquility and authentic cultural values. After lunch at Vuon Y Thao garden, we'll go on to the expanded Minh Mang Royal tomb and Thien Mu Pagoda, the charming attractions of Hue not only for their historic significance, but magnificent view and landscape.  End our day in a lotus-tea stall in Hue to discuss about the art of making lotus tea in traditional Vietnamese way. At leisure and overnight in Hue. 
 

After breakfast, pack and go with our Guide along the Highway 1 down to Hoi An, a journey of appx. 03hrs, with a long stop at Ba Na Hills to Golden Bridge, opened in June 2018 near Danang. Located in Thien Thai gardens at Ba Na Hills Resort, built by French in 1919 with hundreds villas, the Golden Bridge has become another reason to explore the Central Vietnam. We will take the Cable Car to Ba Na hills station, with stops to visit many hills and pagodas, French built villas en route, each of them deep in pleasant environment and graceful design. Lunch at the site. Afternoon we will visit Golden Bridge before going on to Hoi An ancient town (70km away) to check-in hotel. The rest of day is at our leisure. Overnight in Hoi An. 
 

Breakfast at hotel. 

Today we'll discover how traditions of the past are treasured in present Hoi An. Located by Thu Bon River, a key international trading port between the 15th and 19th centuries, Hoi An is no longer a port but turned into the most charming old quarter in Vietnam, recommended by every visitor and recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site for its well-preserved, centuries-old streets, dwellings, temples and pagodas. Together with our Guide, let's explore peaceful tree-lined streets, tiny long alleys, visit the red-painted Chua Cau Bridge and hundred year old houses or old Chinese trading community houses. Stop at some small museums for visits and enjoy folk music. Before ending the trip, we will visit a house of a traditional lantern maker for a demonstration of this time-honored craft; meet the artisans and try our skills when creating our own lantern.  Visit Tra Que vegetable village, a unique graceful village nearby the town and discuss with the locals on the way they use to plant veggies here in traditional way. Overnight in Hoi An. 

Optional: Visit Tra Que by motorbikes instead of walking at extra cost. 

Morning at leisure until checkout and be transferred to Danang airport for flight to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh city). Upon arrival, we will be welcomed by the Guide in Saigon and visit the city from the center of District 5. Together with our Guide, visit Binh Tay market and walk along to Thien Hau sacred pagoda nearby. Being one of symbols of Saigon, Thien Hau reflects the traces of the Chinese community in Saigon as a part of successful traders of the city. (Depending on arrival flight time, we can stroll around by Cyclo at own cost]. At leisure in the evening. Overnight in Saigon.

 

After breakfast, pack and leave Saigon to head to Cao Lanh District. Visit the "Ancestor's pagoda", or Bửu Lâm pagoda, meeting the monks and listening to their introduction about the local areas, habits, and taste healthy drinks made of black bean. Go on to Sa Dec district, visiting great flower garden with more than 2,000 flower species and the original house of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, a local landlord, main hero of the French famous movie "The Lover" based on the real life story of Marguerite Duras, a famous French writer. On the way to our hometay for overnight, visit Ong Quach and Quang Trach temples of the Chinese communities. Checkin a CBT (Community based house) homestay in Sa Dec and enjoy a tasty dinner with Southern Vietnamese cuisine. Overnight in Sa Dec. 

After breakfast at our CBT Homestay, relax to enjoy the rural landscape before checkout and head back to Saigon, today will be our further discovery at Long Hau boat making village in Lap vo district, where the villagers make all kinds of river boats, from little to huge cargo ones, then Dinh Yen village - where we can watch the locals making seagrass mattress before having lunch with local decicacy. Pass by many orchards with tropical fruits between visits. Afternoon going by ferry over the river and visit Chau Thanh district, where dozens of old brick ovens with beautiful shape like small temples make a special view of the district. Head back to Saigon late afternoon. Overnight in Saigon. 

At leisure until checkout and transferred to the airport by our Guide to take our departure flight. 
End of services. 

Inclusion

  • English-speaking professional Tour guides. 
  • Land transfers by air-con vehicle. Water during transfer. 
  • Accommodation on twin/double-shared basis with daily breakfast.
  • Lunch, dinner as mentioned in the program. 
  • Boat trips as mentioned in the program.
  • Entrance fee, cruising fee. 

Exclusion

  • Airfare
  • Visa arrangement, visa stamp fee (Vietnam: USD 25/person, Cambodia: USD 30/person for visa-on-arrival, if requested); fast track services (to be arranged upon request). 
  • Personal expenses (early check-in, late check-out, drinks, tips).
  • Optional tours, biking tours. 
  • Optional show tickets.

Hotels list(for details, please click on each hotel name below)

# Destination Standard / Superior Deluxe Luxury
1 Halong Cruise Oriental Sails Cruise
2 Ho Chi Minh City Aristo Hotel
3 Hoian Muca Hoian Boutique Resort & Spa
4 Hue Eldora Hotel
5 Ninh Binh Ninh Binh Hidden Charm Hotel & Resort
6 Siem Reap Somadevi Angkor Resort & Spa
7 Thanh Hoa Pu Luong retreat - Shared house-on-stits Pu Luong retreat - Bungalow
 

Reviews

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Outstanding trip!

Shane Carson

Viet was outstanding! He was knowledgable and outstanding. Great trip. Very nice hotel with a great breakfast. I was very please with the whole trip! great!

Perfect service

Rita Vought

This was a very well planned holiday, good hotels, central location in every city and village. Vietnam is really worth to be in your travel list because you will experience different culture and travel over the diverse terrain. For that reason, I recommend you to have a travel agency arrange a tour as I did. Ms.Carol from Threeland Travel supported me a lot to make a customized tour as well as during my tour. She was very attentive and responsive in satisfying dozens of my question. For a 14-day tour in Vietnam, it's supposed to take you a month for searching and arranging everything, but with a travel agency, you just need a few days. 
After all, love Vietnam country and Vietnamese people. 

Excellent Trip

Charles Lo

Great value for money accommodation and transport are excellent. I enjoyed all activities

Unforgettable Vietnam

Robert

After some research, we decided to choose a 2-week tour from Hanoi to Saigon with Threeland. We were very satisfied with this program and really enjoyed. Really good value for money. All the agents and staffs were very responsive and helpful for tailoring our own tour.
For a customized tour, in my opinion, I think a (half) day for Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh is enough, spend more time to explore Mekong Delta river, Ninh Binh, or rustic Pu Luong which I really loved. The tour included immense activities that you will never get bored: cyclo around Hanoi, street food tour, overnight cruise, easy trekking through terrace rice fields, river rafting, interacting with the locals, etc. Just prepare your time and money, Threeland travel will do the rest.

Excellent trip!

Afhleigh Stier and Shaun Byrnes

The food was definitely a highlight. Amazing quality and presentation. The cooking class and daily activities were also great. Staff offered fantastic service and friendly, helpful

Relaxing trip

Elaina Heagerty

We love the tour and Halong bay. The schedule should include times that passengers are expected to leave the boat, not when the tours is expected to arrive at tour destinations. It will be clearer to the pasasngers. Also, people have traveled far distances. It would be better not ot feel rushed. Overall we had a wonderful time. thank you

A great way to spend the day!

Anuj sharma

It was a pleasure being on the trip. Was memorablereally. Staff were most attentive and helpful. Excellent standard of care. Thank you. You can consider changing the music

Wonderful experience

Mrs. Bharati Jivan

Myself and three friends did a day tour from the North to the South of Vietnam. Our guide was great and very helpful, and took lots of pictures for us. Overall we had an amazing day and loved Ninh Binh, however the bike ride was short and there wasnt a sunset party as the order of the itinerary changed, I would however still highly recommend

Really interesting and informative

Thomas Toulson

Wine in room was really free. Great touch. Great food, service and lovely room. Perfect bed. Great view, would definitely recommend.

Best experience

Kwok K C

It was beautiful near and it was wonderful being here. We need a good time. All the crew are excellent. Happy done an excellent work. Thanks for everything.

Best trip ever!

kunal005 || Trip Advisor

Full credits for making my Vietnam tour memorable goes to three land travels. great services . Extremely satisfied with stay ,food & transfer services.

 
 

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