Authentic Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City - Hanoi)

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh Arrival
Arrive at Tan Son Nhat International airport. Welcome by our driver with your name on board. Then transfer you to Ho Chi Minh center. Lunch/dinner at your account. Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh city.

Day 2: Cao Dai Temple - Cu Chi Tunnel Full Day (B,L)
Breakfast at your hotel.
08:00 - 08:30 Our driver will take you to Tay Ninh - a province 95 kms South East of HCMC, close to Cambodia border. The Cao Dai Temple is like a Walt Disney fantasia of the East. Its exterior is decorated with multi-colored dragons of all shapes and sizes competing for space with a number of swastikas. Above the main entrance is the all-seeing holy eye, the symbol of the Cao Dai sect. The interior is just as engaging as statues of Jesus Christ, Buddha and the Hindu god, Brahma, stand side by side.
At about 13.00 pm, after lunch, will leave Tay Ninh and travel to Cu Chi. Once in Vietnam, you must visit this spot. This is where guerilla warfare optimized and exemplified. You’ll learn the clever design of the tunnels and the strategic use of trap doors. Even with B-52 bombers dropping 30-ton loads of explosive, turning the jungle into a pockmarked moonscape, 30 thousand American troops failed to conquered the area! You’ll have a chance to crawl around a portion of the 121 km long, multiple-layered tunnel. You’ll learn how thousands of guerillas managed to stay underground many days at a time, also their great technique to conceal smoke from their cooking. There’re a lot more to enjoy, even a chance to fire real AK bullets…17:30 Back to hotel. Dinner at your account.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

Day 3: Saigon - Cai Be - Vinh Long - Can Tho (B,L,D)
07.30 - 07:45AM: Pick up & start to Mekong Delta Tour
10.30am: Arrive in Cai Be, you’ll board a motorized boat that takes you to the floating market and spend time there for an interaction that you’ll see no where else in the world.
Next, then on foot to reach a coconut candy, a crispy rice cake factories (served free with premium hot tea) and you might buy coconut candy and handcrafted items from coconut trees of Mekong Delta for souvenir.
When you feel it's enough for the serenity, let's get back to the large motor boat for something different in An Binh Island. It is well-known fresh fruits whole year. On the way , we have a chance to look the sightseeing 2 long sides river and find out the life of rural people in Mekong Delta.
The time now should be around 12 noon. Time for lunch! Let's go to the local people's house for that (in the seasonable fruits garden).
After lunch, we are divided into many groups and get on small row boats. During this 20 minutes trip, your boat will zigzag thru a maze of shadow canals to enjoy the fresh air along the canal and beautiful water coconut tree scenery. Then we will ride bicycles and roaming through a village about 20 minutes to check out our natural landscape with quite and peace villages or we can relax on a hammock for a short rest in Mekong Delta.
The next stop is Vinh Long City from An Binh Island (35 minutes by boat), we will land on a marketplace and walk around to see how and what the poor rural people of Vietnam sell in Vinh Long City. You are encouraged to interact with the vendors and see how friendly and respectful they are. You might also buy many interesting things for very little amount of money. We spend about ½ hr here and then board our bus/private car and travel to Can Tho.
Over night in Can Tho.

Day 4: Can Tho - Cai Rang - Chau Doc (B,L,D)
After breakfast, around 7:15 am, we board a boat and travel for about 40 minutes to get to our first spectacular landscape ---- Cai Rang floating market...
This is the largest of its type in the whole Mekong delta. During this visit, you'll have a chance to board a merchant boat that sells pineapples which come from Can Tho City.
After that, we continue on our riverine route for 5-7 minutes and then on foot for about 5 minutes to reach a noodle and a rice paper factories.
The next stop is a rice processing factory where you'll learn the many steps that transform "rice with a brown cover" to the delicious and beautiful rice grain that we consume daily.
The time now should be around 12 noon. Time for lunch! Let's go back to Can Tho for that.
After this, our bus/private car takes you to Chau Doc. On the way, we will stop at Long Xuyen to visit Crocodile farm. And we will continue to Chau Doc.
Over night in Chau Doc.

Day 5: Chau Doc - Sai Gon (B,L)
07.00am - 07.30am departure to visit Raft village, and to learn the history of development of fishery (a type of specific economic on the river).
Then continue by boat along the cannal into the village of Cham where we visit the ancient largest Mosques of Cham community in An Giang and to show a clear distinctive architecture and customs of residents here, it is shown all in Chau Phong temple .
Visiting Cave pagoda and local market.
We end our sightseeing trip at Chau Doc Town. On the way back to Saigon by bus/car, we'll have a stop at an interesting point to rest and also have photographs.
Tour will arrive at 18:00 in your hotel. Dinner at your account.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

Day 6: Ho Chi Minh City Tour (B,L)
Breakfast at hotel. You will check-out & put your luggages at lobby of hotel. Then our driver & guide will pick you up at 08:00 - 08:30 to visit Ho Chi Minh city. We will visit Reunification Hall which was the residence of the President of the former South Vietnam until 1975. You will see many interesting things: formal meeting rooms, private bedrooms, war situation rooms 10 meter beneath earth’s level.
This address today still holds many important functions in HCMC. We have guide who speaks your language to tell you important historical facts about this building and some French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral (built in 1877), General Post Office, City Hall, War Crime Museum.
Afternoon: China touwn is the biggest Chinese community and Binh Tay market is wholesale market. With a stop for a while at a lacquer shop, you can buy some gifts for your friends, beloved relative. Drop off in the hotel at 17:00. Dinner at your account.
18h We will take you to Train Station. Your train will depart at 19h00. Overnight on train to Da Nang (schedule 19:00 - 11:50)

Day 7: Da Nang City Tour (L,D)
11:50AM Arrival in Danang. Pick-up guests for lunch - enjoying the Danang local food and check-in hotel. Cross the Thuan Phuoc Bridge to visit Son Tra Penisula named as Monkey Moutain. Drive around the Son Tra peninsula to admire the beauty of the whole city below . Visit Linh Ung Pagoda and enjoying swwming at My Khe beach- classified as one of the most attractive beaches on earth. Dinner at local restaurant.
Overnight in hotel in Da Nang city.

Day 8: Marble Mountain - Hoi An ancient town (B,L,D)
Breakfast at hotel. Then visit Marble Mountains - named as 5 elements of universe and stone carving village of Hoa Hai. Depart for Hoian ancient town for lunch. Take a walking tour around the old sections (charming and wonderfully preserved, combining Chinese, Japanese and European influences). Explore Cua Dai Beach. Dinner at restaurant. Free to discover the “Hoi An ancient night”, get yourself back to the 17th century, relax and soak up the atmosphere. Then back to Da Nang city.
Overnight in Da Nang city.

Day 9: Hoi An - Hue Imperial City (B,L,D)
Breakfast and check-out. Leaving Da Nang for Hue Imperial City, through Hai Van tunnel, en route, stop-over for photos at the top of Cloud - Ocean pass, overlooking the scenic Lang Co fishing village. Luncheon and hotel check-in. Afternoon, visit the Imperial Citadel - The grand palace of the last dynasty of Nguyen and Goddess-heavenly pagoda. Dinner at restaurant.
Overnight in hotel in Hue city.

Day 10: Hue - Ha Noi City Tour (B,L)
06:00 Breakfast at hotel.
06:45 We will pick off you to Hue airport, take a flight which depart at 08:00 depart to Ha Noi capital.
09:10AM Arrival in Ha Noi. Pick up to hotel in Ha Noi city. Put your luggages there, then you will join Ha Noi City Tour. Continue to visit the Quan Thanh Temple (Taoist - dating from the Ly Dynasty) and the Buddhist Tran Quoc Pagoda on the West lake (One of the oldest pagoda in Vietnam). Then visit Bat Trang pottery village (apply on Mon, Wed & Fri). Lunch at local restaurant.
PM: After lunch we’ll proceed to visit the Ethnology Museum (apply on Sun, Tue, Thu & Sat), the Literature Temple and Quoc Tu Giam. We’ll also see Vietnam’s first university, constructed in 1070 - it’s gardens and well-preserved architecture will offer a relaxing glimpse into Vietnam’s past. We will take you past Hoan Kiem Lake to see the peaceful waters, and the beauty of Ngoc Son temple. For the last part of the tour we’ll journey through Hanoi’s Old Quarter, where you’ll then have a chance for some shopping and exploration. Then enjoy Water Puppet show which is a tradition that dates back as far as the 11th century CE when it originated in the villages of the Red River Delta area of northern Vietnam. Back your hotel around 17h00. Dinner at your account.
Overnight in your hotel.

Day 11: Ha Noi - Hoa Lu - Tam Coc - Ha Noi (B,L)
Breakfast at hotel. Then you will check-out and put your luggages here, too.
AM : 8:00 - 8:30. Our guide & driver will pick you up at your hotel in Ha Noi Old Quater, then leave by coach to Hoa Lu (2.5 hrs). Visit the historic capital of Viet Nam and the famous ancient temples of Le and the Dinh Dynasties. Then our bus will transfer you from Hoa Lu to Tam Coc for lunch around at 12:30PM.
PM : After lunch, boat trip to visit Tam Coc to see the beauty of the karst formations as you pass along their base and row into one of the many caves carved through the limestone. Then, cycle for an hour on quiet roads through villages, rice fields, rivers and rocky outcrops in Tam Coc - Bich Dong (around 5 km). Dive back to Ha Noi and drop off at your hotel around at 18:00PM. Dinner at your account.
20:00 Our driver will transfer you to train station for departure to Sapa ( schedule: 21:15 - 06:15 ). Overnight on train at the A/C soft sleeper cabin.

Day 12: Lao Cai - Cat Cat - Sin Chai Villages (B,L,D)
AM : 6h30 arrive Lao Cai, pick up at Lao Cai Station then transfer to Sapa. You will have breakfast and some time for R& R. 09h00 - 09h30 Trek to Cat Cat and Sin Chai villages of Black H'Mong tribe . Enjoy the waterfall in Cat Cat and beautiful scenery along the way. Then check-in hotel (check-in after 12:00PM). Enjoy lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon: free time to explore & discovery Sa Pa market & Stone church. Back to hotel for dinner and enjoy the night in Sa Pa town.

Day 13: Lao Chai - Ta Van Villages - Lao Cai Station (B,L)
After breakfast you will check out and leave your luggage in the hotel, get ready for the trip. Trek down to Lao Chai village to visit the Tay and Day tribes then keep going along the bottom of the Sapa valley to get to Ta Van village which is supposed to be the most beautiful one in the area. Have a picnic lunch on the way. You go back to Sapa by motorbike/jeep. Back to Lao Cai Station by our car, then dinner at your account.
Overnight at the A/C soft sleeper cabin to Ha Noi (schedule: 20:15 - 04:30).

Day 14: Ha Noi - Ha Long (B,L,D)
04:30AM Pick you up at the Station, transfer you to hotel/restaurant. Have breakfast at your account.
08:00 - 08h30 Our driver & guide will leave Ha Noi for Ha Long City by a modern bus. Get on luxury junk boat and enjoy a welcome drink and lunch of savoury local sea food. Check into your cabin and start cruising around the bay to see the amazing karsts with different formations: Lion, Tea Pot, Toad, Dau Nguoi (Human Head) islet, and then stop for a walk through the Sung Sot cave "Amazing Cave" There will be plenty of time for kayaking, swimming and sunbathing (If weather permitted) after the boat anchors at a clean calm sea. Enjoy a wonderful sunset dinner in our beautiful restaurant before retiring to the comfort of your cabin. Dinner and overnight on Boat.

Day 15: Ha Long - Ha Noi (B,L)
07.15: Cakes, fruits, tea and coffee will be served. Continue the cruise through Halong Bay.
09.30 - 10.30: Enjoy the lunch after you pack your things and leave the cabin.
11.30 - 12.00: Sail back Ha Long pier and take a van back to Hanoi.
16:15 Arrive in Ha Noi. Check-in hotel & free time there with dinner at your account.
Overnight in Ha Noi city.

Day 16: Ha Noi Departure (B)
After breakfast, you will get free time until your flight depart. Our driver will pick off you 3 hours before departure time.
Tour end here.