Absolute Vietnam Discovery

After breakfast, you will take a morning drive to the famous Cu Chi tunnels - an incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the long struggle for independence. The tunnels, over 250km in length and up to three levels deep in places, played a huge part in the Viet Cong’s victory over the Americans, allowing them to control a large rural area surrounding Ho Chi Minh City. Today, some of the remaining tunnels have been opened to tourists, offering a unique insight into what underground life must have been like during the ‘American’ war. Upon return to Ho Chi Minh take a tour of the city centre such as Reunification Palace where the South finally fell to North Vietnamese troops in 1975; Notre Dame Cathedral; the Old Saigon Post Office; Thien Hau Pagoda in the city’s bustling Chinatown and the War Crimes Museum, highlighting the suffering of the Vietnamese people during recent conflicts – you won’t be too surprised to find it’s not exactly a politically balanced exhibition.

The remainder your day is at leisure. It’s a great city to explore at night, lots of bars and great restaurants...you’ll be spoilt for choice. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Morning depart to My Tho - Mekong Delta. On arrival, take a cruise along one of the nine main tributaries of the Mekong River before arriving at Ben Tre where you will visit a handicraft workshop creating products made from coconut trees. From here switch to horse-drawn cart to visit local houses where you can enjoy tea and a variety of tropical fruits grown in their garden before floating on a sampan (typical delta boat) through the narrow, tree-lined canals of the Mekong Delta. After lunch, the boat returns you to the mainland. If time permits, stop at the Vinh Trang Pagoda on the way. Drive further south to Can Tho, the economical and cultural capital of the entire delta region. Check in at your hotel. The remainder of your day is at leisure. Overnight in Can Tho.

This morning, you will continue to take a boat trip to visit Cai Rang Floating Market, one of the busiest floating markets in South East Asia. You may even purchase some local tropical fruits here. After seeing how the locals live and sell their products of fruit and vegetables on their boats. You will drive back to HCMC. Stop en route for lunch. Rest of the day is free at your own pace.

Morning flight to Dalat – Vietnam’s most popular honeymoon spot and flower city located on 1,500 meters above sea level. Dalat became popular with Europeans as a cool retreat from the sweltering heat of the coastal plains. It is highly praised and well-known for its lakes, waterfalls, pine-forests and French-styled villas.  On arrival, you will visit the Bao Dai’s summer palace (the last emperor of nguyen dynasty (1945), Crazy house, City flower garden, XQ art-embroidery family and Rooster Cathedral. Rest of the day is free to explore the market or enjoy coffee and fruit drinks nearby. Tonight you will have dinner together to share the experience of this city. Overnight in Dalat.

You will start your day tour from the top of Robin hill with cable car where you can see the panorama of Da Lat. The cable car with morden European technology covering 2.3 km runs from Robin Hill to Tuyen Lam Lake, the most beautiful lake in Dalat, it looks like a paradise with the Truc Lam Zen Monastery what is the biggest Zen University in Viet Nam at present. A very quiet scenery beside it’s beautiful flower garden, which is built on the top of Phoenix Hill appropriate for enjoying peaceful and poetic space of meditation realms. You will go along the lake to Fairy Rock Site for a 30 minute Elephant ride, spend exciting and strange experiences on elephant’s back along the Paradise Lake and around the pine forest.

Afterward, you will move to Datanla waterfall where you can walk on peaceful path under the canopy of leaves or take thrilling alpine coaster down hill to touch cool cascade. There are beautiful and glossy rock slabs where fairies from heaven legendarily used to bathe and get amused. Visit Dalat Railway Station,  the nicest Old Railway Station of Indochina with ancient French architectures, the old steam locomotive of Japan and the unique cog railway with Swiss technology offering an atmospheric slice of Dalat history. If possible, you can take the train about 7 kilometers from Da Lat to Linh Phuoc pagoda through flower and vegetable plantations. Overnight in Dalat.

After breakfast, you will take a road trip down to Nha Trang City.  The new road offers a spectacular view starting from elevation of 1500m to bottom and it takes about a 2,5 hour drive. On arrival, you will visit Long Son Pagoda, Ponagar Tower and Ocean Institute. Overnight in Nha Trang.

After breakfast, free for swimming or being at your own activities. Overnight in Nha Trang.

After breakfast, free for swimming or being at your own activities. Overnight in Nha Trang.

You will take a morning flight to Hoian that was a major trading centre dating back to the 16th century. It has a distinctive Chinese atmosphere of tiled roof houses with narrow streets, still virtually intact. The houses are constructed of rare timer and decorated with lacquer panels and pillars carved with ornamental designs.

After lunch at a local restaurant, an afternoon tour includes Ancient Street, Japanese Covered Bridge, Phung Hung Old House, Phuc Kien Temple and Hoian Museum. Rest of the day is free at your own pace. Overnightin Hoi An.

Today you have a choice of activities. Just let the tour guide know which activity you wish to do. Your group may split across both activities depending on each individual’s choice.

Option A: Vietnamese Cooking Class

After a tour of the morning market and some shopping for the ingredients required, take a boat to the Red Bridge cooking school and restaurant.

The cooking class is suitable for all levels and ability, it will be a fun morning and we get to ‘enjoy’ our efforts in the restaurant for lunch. Return to your hotel at approximately 2.00 pm.

Option B: My Son Sanctuary

After breakfast, depart on a half day tour of ‘My Son Holy land”. My Son Sanctuary is a large complex of religious ruins dating back to the 4th century, comprising more than 70 architectural remains. These include temples and towers with distinctive and complicated red brick designs. The most important features of “Cham” architectural design are the towers built to reflect the divinity of their kings. The “Cham” architecture in My Son is one of the main attractions of Danang. Return to Hoian for Lunch. Arrive back at the hotel approximately 2.00pm.

In the afternoon, you will have free time for shopping or taking in the beautiful scenery along the Thu Bon River and Cua Dai beach.  Overnight in Hoi An.

After breakfast, take a breathtaking journey over the Hai Van Pass which brings you to Hue. On arrival, you will visit Thien Mu pagoda, Tu Duc Tomb and and Imperial City, which served as Vietnam’s capital from 1802 to 1945 under 13 emperors of the Nguyen dynasty. Famed for its beautiful architecture, citadels and palaces, set along the banks of the Perfume River. After dinner, you will take a boat on Perfume River to enjoy the Traditional Folk Music. Overnight in Hue.

After breakfast, you will take a morning flight to Hanoi. You will visit Ethnology Museum, Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo Prison known as the “Hanoi Hilton” by the American pilots in the 1960’s and 70’s, Cathedral, Opera House and Hoan Kiem Lake. In the evening, enjoy Vietnam‘s famous Water Puppetry show in a theatre near Hoan Kiem lake. Overnight in Hanoi.

This morning, you will drive further south to Ninh Binh  to to visit Trang An – a new tourism complex. Upon arrival, you will get on sampans and start a loop tour through 9 caves in which the longest one is 320m, it is a good chance to walk up some temples and enjoy the spectacular view of the valleys created by Karts that’s why it is called Halong bay on land. The rowing trip is around 2,5 hours. Lunch before continue  to visit Bai Dinh Pagoda complex, which has the biggest statue of Budha in Southeast Asia.  Return to Hanoi for your overnight stay.                                                                        

Today you will take an excursion to Duong Lam ancient village in Son Tay Town. On arrival, explore the Mong Phu village with its old houses made of red literate and rammed soil. Most of the original village architecture still remains such as the village gate, the communal well and the temple courtyard. It is great to take a walk and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and to experience the daily life there. It’s also an opportune time to meet and interact with the local people.

Enjoy lunch at the local ancient house in the village. After resting, continue driving to visit Mia Pagoda (another hamlet in Duong Lam village), which was built in the 15th century. Admire 287 statues of all sizes, with famous sculptures such as the statue of Buddha in the Himalayas and the statues of the Eight Vajra Deities. In the afternoon you will have free time to prepare for your overnight train journey to Sapa.

Arrive at Lao Cai station at 6: 00am, transfer by coach to Sa Pa town. Check in at the hotel to freshen up, before starting our 3 hour easy walk around Cat Cat village.

Here you will learn about the ancient culture of the Black H'Mong minority people, see their homes and explore their way or daily life.. Also enjoy the majestic scenery of the mountains and rice fields along the way.

Return to Sa Pa township for lunch before continuing on to visit Ham Rong, known as “Dragon’s Jaw”, to get an over view of the Sa Pa township. Stop along the way to visit the Europe Flower Garden and Orchid Garden. In the evening, take your time to enjoy the many small bars and restaurants in Sa Pa.

Overnightnin Sapa.

After breakfast, you begin your walk to Lao Chai village, home of the Dzay minority and the village of the Red Dzao in Ta Van.

You will also have a chance to visit Sa Pa’s ancient carved rock field located in the Muong Hoa valley that Ta Van consumes.

The 4 km by 2 km field includes 159 slabs of ancient carved stone. It was discovered in 1925 by V. Goloubew, a French scholar. Among the patterns carved on the rocks are circles, parallel lines, squares, rectangles, human figures and writings. The secrets of the stone field are being researched by scientists and historians who are now studying the meanings of the carvings and odd patterns on the rocks.

Continue back to the main road to meet our coach and transfer back to Lao Cai station. We will have dinner in Lao Cai at a local restaurant prior to taking a night train back to Hanoi.

Overnight on the train.

Arrive at Hanoi Railway Station early this morning. Enjoy breakfast prior to driving to Halong Bay.

On arrival, embark your boat and enjoy a welcome drink on the vessel. The cruise will head toward the Cave of Surprise which will be visited via small sampans. Once there, enjoy a walking tour through the cave before returning to your boat. Depending on the weather there may be time to swim at Titop Beach before heading to Trong Cave where you can enjoy dinner. Overnight on boat.

Following breakfast,  you will visit Luon Cave by small sampan. Then you will continuously pass the area where the scenes of the famous film “Indochina” were filmed. See the famous islets along the way such as Teapot Islet, Marker Islet, Fire Islet, and Dove Islet. After lunch on board, you will be transferred to a day boat to go toward Cat Ba Island. On arrival, you will get transferred to visit National Park and Military Holpital Cave on the to Cat Ba Town. Tonight after dinner  you are free to discover the nightlife on the Island. Overnight in Cat Ba Island.

You will take a boat trip to visit Monkey Island and 3 Peach Island before having lunch and taking hydrofoil to Hai Phong where our driver returns you to Hanoi for your overnight stay.

Today after breakfast, spend your last minute shopping or being at your own activities till transferring to the airport for your flight home. End of services.