Exotic Vietnam
Hanoi - Traditional Villages - Halong Bay - Cat Ba Island - Hoi An – Hue –
Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta
What to expect?Travel with ‘love’ - the exotic of Vietnam will live inside you from the elegant milky pine tree-lined boulevard and colonial Hanoi to the historical legacy of Hue, from the charming fishing town of Hoi An to the hustle and bustle atmosphere of Ho Chi Minh City. Travel and enjoy the beauties exist only in Vietnam.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Hanoi ArrivalMeet on arrival at
Noi Bai Airport by
Hola Vietnam tour guide, transfer to hotel for check in.
Accommodation in hotel, Ha Noi.
Day 2: Hanoi City (B/L)Morning: A half day city tour by bus including
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum with its
house on stilts and One Pillar Pagoda. An orientation drive via colonial quarter to the
West Lake and Tran Quoc Pagoda, which is the oldest pagoda in Hanoi after taking a visit to
Temple of Literature well known as Vietnam’s first university.
Have lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, go to the famous
Ethnology Museum. Spend your time learning about 54 ethnics in Vietnam. Back to the Old Quarters to visit
Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple, Hang Be Market by foot.
Enjoy an evening
Water Puppet Show to end the day trip.
Accommodation in hotel, Hanoi.
Day 3: Hanoi - Traditional Villages - Night Train to Lao Cai (B/L)We start at 8.00 A.M driving to visit the well-known
Dong Ky Village in which thousands of families make wood - engraved handicraft and furniture by traditional techniques. Visit ancient
Dong Ky Temple and Pagoda. Continue to
Bat Trang Ceramic Village, situated approximately 15km outside of Hanoi, surrounded by fertile farmland. Here is the home of pottery artisans, who have been famous since 15th century for their superb crackle celadon and other types of porcelain. Watch the artisans forming, painting and glazing their products, which are then baked for several days in huge kilns. Visit around on a water buffalo transport. Return Hanoi for lunch.
After lunch, we head to the
silk village of Van Phuc to visit another family workshop. The famous Vietnamese silk being made by using the traditional mechanic system. It’s a good chance to choose handmade souvenirs. In the past, many Vietnamese Emperors and courtiers had their elaborate costumes created here. Nowadays, the village makes most of the material that is sold on
Hanoi’s famous Hang Gai Street. In the end, drive to
Thay Pagoda in Ha Tay province, visiting peaceful villages of Northern Vietnam.
Make the return journey to Hanoi and prepare for a
night train to Lao Cai.
Overnight on train.
Day 4: Lao Cai - Sapa - Trekking through hill tribes (B/L)At a height of 1,500 meters,
Sapa was once a hill resort of French administrators when the summer heat became unbearable. The Fan Si Pang range boasts Vietnam’s highest mountain and lends an alpine feeling to the area surrounding this hill station.
Today we have enough time to explore some of nearby hills. Transfer to Sapa after breakfast in
Laocai. Begin the walking day through tribe villages such as
Y Linh Ho y Lao Chai villages. Enjoy the lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, continue walking to
Ta Van and Giang Ta Chai villages, chatting with the local and take some picturesque photos of terraces.
You will be picked up in Giang Ta Chai to Sapa Town. Free to visit the busy
market of Sa Pa where the Red Dao, Black Hmong, Tay, Xa Pho ethnic minorities people converge from the surrounding valleys and hillsides to sell their goods and buy provision.
Hotel accommodation in Sapa.
Day 5: Sapa - Bac Ha Market - Laocai - Back to Hanoi by Night Train (B/L)Notes: * Bac Ha & Muong Khuong Markets on Sunday
* Can cau Market on Saturday
* Coc Ly Market on Tuesday
* Cao Son Market on Wednesday
* Lung Khau Nhin Market on Thursday
Breakfast at hotel before leaving
Sapa. We continue venturing into Northern Vietnam with the next stop at
Bac Ha Market, which also attracts a wide variety of ethnic minority groups including the Variegated H’mong, Dao, Phu La, La Chi, Tay. Experience the colorful and unique congregation. Lunch at a local restaurant.
Afternoon, enjoy a
boat trip down stream
Chay River and take visit to
Trung Do village of Tay ethnic group along the river, discover the local people daily life.
Transfer to Lao Cai and have a
bath in mini hotel before take the overnight
train back to Hanoi.
Accommodation on train to Hanoi.
Day 6: Hanoi – Tai-Chi Sunrise Markets - Kayaking Halong Bay (B/L/D)Early arriving at
Hanoi Railways Station. Sunrise is the most tranquil and authentic part of the day in Hanoi. It is a time for
Tai Chi and exercise around the lakes, specially the
Centre lake of Hanoi - Hoan Kiem Lake. In addition, the best time to explore authentic life of a very different culture with a pure taste is in the
Nights' markets.This time of day provides a stark contrast to the bustling city before 8 A.M - there are very few motorbikes on the street and purely fresh atmosphere.
We begin with the surprise morning
Flowers Market. Then pass the
Vegetables Market. People in these markets start their day at midnight, prepare the best products for wholesale in markets. Flowers are covered with papers and vegetables are carefully tied to keep them well - protected and fresh. This is a good opportunity for you to take unique and most authentic photos. A morning strolls around
Hoan Kiem Lake, before joining
Tai Chi Group. Tai Chi is about finding balance and unity of outer and inner part of the body. Hola Vietnam guide will give you a brief about the spirit of Tai Chi, interpret and accompany you in the lesson. You can join the group to practice and experience it yourself.
Say goodbye to Tai Chi group. We walk to a local Café for a traditional breakfast of many choices menu among a beautiful setting of green trees and singing birds.
You will leave Hanoi for
Halong City in 3,5 hours on road before embarking a nice junk. On the way to Halong City enjoy the journey through the rich farmlands of the
Red River Delta and the scenery of rice fields, water buffalo and everyday Vietnamese village life. Arrive in Halong and have lunch served with a welcome drink while the boat cruising the bay to enjoy the beautiful limestone seascape. After visiting
Amazing Cave we stop at a floating house and go kayaking to
Luon Cave to enjoy the quiet atmosphere of the bay. Fresh fruit platter will be served followed by a dinner between 6h30 and 7h00 pm.
Halong overnight on board.
Day 7: Halong Bay Kayaking – Cat Ba Island (B/L)Sunrise breakfast is ready to serve around 7h30 am. The guide will show you the most beautiful parts of the bay through a maze of islets amidst dramatic natural scenery to explore stalactite caves such as
Drum cave, Man’s head islet, Turtle islet and Fairman’s cave before heading to
Van Gia fishing village for BBQ lunch and relaxation. You will have a chance to understand more about fishermen’s daily life in the bay. Afterwards we continue kayaking to the other sides of the bay to visit a
pearl farm. We leave the junk at about 4.00 P.M for
Cat Ba Island. We have free time to relax on the beach or explore the
Ecological Reservation Area.Hotel O/N in Cat Ba.
Day 8: Cat Ba Island - Hanoi - Da Nang - Hoi An (B/L)After breakfast our bus picks you up for transit boat to the junk, keeping on cruising along another part of bay with arm – chair exploration of more beautiful limestone islands en route to the dock. Have lunch on board with a variety of local foods before back to
Halong dock. Have a short break and then en route to
Noi Bai Airport for one hour flight to Da Nang.
Arrive
Da Nang and transfer one hour to
Hoi An ancient town, which was originally one of major trading centers of Southeast Asia in the 16th century.
Hotel accommodation in Hoi An.
Day 9: Hoi An (B)Your whole day free for self discovering this ancient seaport.
Option 1: After breakfast, you can leave hotel to visit
My Son Sanctuary, one of the oldest civilization of Cham people. Try yourself to discover the attractions on this land: from special constructions of the tower to its survival over hundred years of natural disasters and wars, from the unique dances to special skills in making terracotta. Spend the
afternoon on boat exploring fishman’s lifestyle in some local villages and going on to see the sunset at the estuary where the river meets the sea.
Have a sunbath at
Cua Dai beach or further exploration in Hoi An Ancient Town.
Option 2: My Son Holy land tour.Hotel accommodation in Hoi An.
Day 10: Hoi An - Hue (B/L)In the morning, after driving to visit
Marble Mountains with its beautiful grottoes and temples, we arrive a
workshop of Sculpture made of local Marble rocks in
Da Nang. Then proceed to Hue. On the road, spend time having lunch.
The scenic 3-hour drive via
Hai Van Pass offers spectacular views of mountains, sea, idyllic beaches and fishing villages (we can choose the shorter way by driving through the tunnel).
Arrive in
Hue, time to visit
Imperial Citadel from where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. Then
boat trip on Perfumes River to visit Thien Mu riverside pagoda.Hotel accommodation in Hue.
Day 11: Hue City Tour - Kim Long Village (B/L)In the morning, we continue a car- trip to visit the
Royal Tombs of Tu Duc and Khai Dinh, each of which expresses their host’s personality. End the morning by the visit to
Tu Hieu Pagoda.In the afternoon, take time for discovering the typical features of Vietnamese lifestyle at
Kim Long ancient village; and if you are a culinary arts’ partisan, don’t miss your only chance to taste a delicious cuisine dish of roll cake. In the end, stroll in
Dong Ba riverside Market before transfer back to hotel.
Accommodation in hotel, Hue
Day 12: Hue -Ho Chi Minh City (B)After breakfast, transfer by bus to
Phu Bai airport. Fly one hour from Hue to
Ho Chi Minh City.
This metropolis, contradiction of its northern counterpart, is crowded with bikes and motorbikes, excited by numerous shopping area and sidewalk cafés.
Upon arrival in Saigon, spend your afternoon free exploring this bustle and hustle city.
Optional: Make up your mind where to visit. It can be the
Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, or Wars Museum. In the afternoon, try getting to some workshops and discover the techniques of local lacquer ware productions with egg shells and sand. You can continue on the city trip by visiting
Vinh Nghiem Pagoda and China Town, where you in person experience a local Chinese market.
But don’t forget your check in your hotel for refreshment at about 13.00 o’clock.
Hotel accommodation in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 13: Ho Chi Minh - Xeo Quyt (Mekong Delta) - Ho Chi Minh (B/L)In the morning, transfer around 3 hours to
Xeo Quyt in Dong Thap province. Spend a half day boat trip in this watery world. Here is the base of the provincial Party Committee Kien Phong in the resistance war against U.S. (since end of 1959). The natural cajuput forest has been a safe shelter for officers, soldiers till Independence Day. As well as cajuput forest at the Dong Thap Muoi, in the U Minh Thuong, U Minh Ha has been associated with Vietnamese historical struggle to protect its land and keep the attractive beauty for generations today.
Have a late lunch in a local restaurant before driving back to Hochiminh City.
Hotel accommodation in Ho Chi Minh.
Day 14: Cu Chi Tunnels - Cao Dai Temple (Tay Ninh). (B/L)Depart for
Tay Ninh, the head quarter of
Cao Dai religion founded on 1926. On arrival we attend the fantastic mid-day mass when the followers fill the hall wearing colored robes, a symbol of the curious combination of the Confucianism, Taoism, Christianity and Buddhism. Lunch in a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, transfer about 30km north-west of Ho Chi Minh City to Cu Chi town.
Cu Chi tunnels were used as the base from which the Vietnamese mounted their operations of the Tet Offensive in 1968. The Cu Chi tunnels consist of more than 200km of underground tunnels. This main axis system has many branches connecting to underground hideouts, shelters, and entrances to other tunnels, the tunnels are between 0.5 to 1m wide, just enough for a person to crawl along. Back to
Hochiminh City for the last night in Vietnam.
Hotel accommodation in Saigon.
Day 15: Ho Chi Minh Departure (B)At leisure for your further exploration of
“Orient Pearl” until transferring time to
Tan Son Nhat Airport for departure flight (check out hotel before 12.00 AM).
