Vietnam Explorer (21-days)
Ho-Chi-Minh City to Hanoi, seeing Hoi An, Hue, Sapa & Halong Bay.
Day 1. Arr.Ho-Chi-Minh City (D)
Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City! Upon arrival, you will be met and assisted by our friendly representative
all the way from the airport to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure for you to rest after
your journey. Evening dinner at a local Vietnamese restaurant.
Day 2. Ho-Chi-Minh City (B/L)
Today's tour of the city includes The Reunification Palace (former Presidential Palace), Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral,
Lam Son Square, Ben Thanh Market, Thien Hau pagoda, the Museum of the HCM Campaign and other sights of the city as time allows.
Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City - Tay Ninh - Cu Chi - HCMC (B/L)
This morning we drive through typical southern Vietnamese countryside to Tay Ninh Province in
the west of Vietnam. At Tay Ninh visit the incredible Cao Dai Great Temple, with architecture that could
have come straight from a Walt Disney fantasy and where all the major faiths of the world blend
together in a unique religious cocktail. In the afternoon visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, an
incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the long
struggle for independence. Return to HCMC.
Day 4: Ho Chi Minh City - My Tho - Can Tho (B/L)
Today we leave Ho Chi Minh City and head south to Can Tho deep in the Mekong Delta, breaking the journey at My
Tho, 2 hours south of HCMC, to visit the very ornate Vinh Trang Pagoda> Then we take a boat trip
to Thoi Son island, visiting fruit orchards and enjoying fresh fruits with traditional music performance,
Also we can see coconut candy being made, the production of honey and rice wine.
Our trip continues to Can Tho and we check into the hotel. Overnight in Can Tho.
Day 5: Can Tho - Chau Doc (B/L)
An early visit to Cai Rang floating market is an option before your breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, we
head northwest to Chau Doc, situated near the Cambodian border, checking-in at the hotel on arrival. In the afternoon
we take a boat to visit fish farms where fish are bred in wooden cages suspended under floating
houses on the river, then continue by boat to visit a village of stilt houses belonging to the Cham
minority where colorful traditional textiles are woven on old wooden looms. We return to dry land
in time to drive up Sam Mountain to watch the sunset over the Cambodian border. Overnight in
Chau Doc.
Day 6: Chau Doc - Ho Chi Minh City (B/L)
Leave Chau Doc after breakfast and head back towards Ho Chi Minh City via Vinh Long, breaking the
journey at Vinh Long to visit the Phan Thanh Giang Confucian Temple and take a boat trip to the cottage
industries of Cho Cua village. Visit a ceramic tile factory, a tofu and fish sauce factory and
a rice cracker making factory then continue to Cai Be Floating Market and rejoin the car to drive to Ho Chi
Minh City. Overnight in HCMC.
Day 7: Ho Chi Minh - Danang - Hoi An (B/L)
Today we transfer to the airport to fly to Danang. Afternoon tour includes China Beach, once famous as a beach
resort for resting US soldiers and the Cham Museum containing the finest collection of Cham sculpture in the world.
Drive to Hoi An, visiting on the way the five sacred hills known as the Marble Mountains containing
dozens of Buddhist shrines. On arrival in Hoi An transfer to hotel.
Day 8: Hoi An - My Son - Hoi An (B/L)
Hoi An was a major Asian trading port in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and its picturesque architecture
and relaxed lifestyle has changed little over the years. Take a walking tour of the ancient town centre to visit
former merchants' houses, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the colourful market. After lunch we
visit the capital and religious centre of the former Champa Kingdom, My Son. Here, 40km southwest of Hoi An, in a
lush green valley, are dozens of red brick towers and sanctuaries dating from between the seventh and thirteenth centuries.
Day 9: Hoi An (B)
A free day at leisure in Hoi An ancient town for you to wander among the many old Chinese houses, Chinese tea rooms,
temples & markets, or relax on Hoi An's superb beach.
Day 10: Hoi An - Hue (B/L)
After breakfast, we set off by road for Hue. The scenic route climbs over the Pass of Ocean Clouds before
dropping down to the wonderfully photogenic fishing village of Lang Co. We arrive in Hue,
the former imperial capital of Vietnam, in the afternoon and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Hue.
Day 11: Hue (B/L)
Today we take a full day tour of the sights of Hue, starting with a boat trip on the romantically named Perfume River
to visit Hue's best-known religious site, the Thien Mu Pagoda, and the mausoleum of former emperor Minh Mang,
in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes. In the afternoon visit the elaborate mausoleums of emperors
Tu Duc and Khai Dinh and the Imperial Citadel from where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945.
Overnight in Hue.
Day 12: Hue - Hanoi (B/L/D)
Today, we transfer to the airport for your flight to Hanoi, Vietnam, where our hanoi guide will meet you and take you
to your hotel. Afterwards, we take a city tour of Hanoi, including (as time allows) Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, the One-Pillar
Pagoda, the Army Museum, the Temple of Literature, built in the 11th century as Vietnam’s first university, the Fine Art Museum,
and the Quan Thanh Temple. In the evening, see the famous Vietnamese Water Puppet show, followed by dinner at a
local restaurant.
Day 13: Hanoi - Lao Cai (B/L)
We continue our city tour of Hanoi to those places not visited yesterday, including Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple
in the Old Quarter of Hanoi. In the evening, transfer to railway station for the overnight train journey to Lao Cai
Day 14: Lao Cai - Sapa (B/L/D)
Upon arrival in Lao Cai, we drive the 40km to Sapa, through picturesque mountain scenery. Sapa is a mountainous area
of stunning natural beauty and diverse ethnic minorities. After checking in at the hotel and breakfast, we take a
walking tour of the Saturday 'mountain market', followed by lunch at a local restaurant. Afterwards, we drive
to Ta Van village, about 8 km of twisty road from Sapa town, probably seeing along the way many H’Mong, Dzay and Dzao people dressed
in their traditional colourful costumes, then take a two-hour trekking tour through terraced paddy fields to discover
the lifestyle of the Dzay minority.
Day 15: Sapa - Bac Ha - Lao Cai (B/L/D)
From Sapa, we drive to Bac Ha for the Sunday 'mountain market' full of montagnards from surrounding villages.
They dress in their most colourful costumes and head to the market to exchange goods or sell self-made crafts. After lunch,
we take a walking tour at Ban Pho village, then return to Lao Cai for dinner and to take the overnight train back to Hanoi.
Day 16: Hanoi - Hoa Lu - Hanoi (B/L)
Arriving back to Hanoi in the early morning, we set off from the station towards Hoa Lu, (100 km south of Hanoi), famous
as the so-called Dry-Halong Bay, having the same limestone rocks as Halong Bay but lying in rice fields with winding streams
instead of the sea. The spectacular scenery can be enjoyed during the boat trip to the Tam Coc caves. Lunch at a local restaurant.
After lunch, visit Bich Dong Pagoda and the Temples of the Dinh and Le dynasties. Return to Hanoi.
Day 17: Hanoi (B)
A free day in Hanoi to do some shopping or simply wander in this old city full of French-style cafes & old avenues.
Day 18: Hanoi - Ha Long Bay (B/D)
After a morning at leisure in Hanoi, we take the 4 hour drive to Ha Long Bay. Upon arrival, we check-in at hotel and take
dinner at a local restaurant.
Halong Bay
Day 19: Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba (B/L/D)
A morning cruise in a private junk on the emerald green waters of Halong Bay, among the 3,000 spectacular limestone islands, raises
the appetite for the fresh seafood lunch on board. Afterlunch, we sail onwards to Cat Ba Island, the largest in the bay.
Afternoon tour of Cat Ba includes Cat Ba's national park, the local market etc. The evening is spent in one of the many
fine local restaurants on the island.
Day 20: Cat Ba - Haiphong - Hanoi (B)
After a morning at leisure on Cat Ba, we take the afternoon hydrofoil to Haiphong and from there drive back to Hanoi.
Day 21: Hanoi - Departure (B)
At at leisure until it is time to transfer to the airport for departure flight.
Please note: In order to arrive in Sapa for the Saturday mountain market, your departure date
for this tour must fall on a Saturday.
Whilst every effort will be made to carry out the programme shown above,
small changes may sometimes be necessary.
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