Vietnam in Depth - 16 Days

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
Welcome to Hanoi, the charming capital of Vietnam. Your guide and driver will meet you outside the baggage claim of Noi Bai International Airport to welcome and take you to the hotel at city center. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure to recover from jet lag.
Meals: N/A.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi City Tour – Overnight train to Lao Cai
Today you spend a full day exploring the charming Hanoi City. Start with a visit to Ho Chi Minh Complex containing the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh, the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. Close to this complex is the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the foundation of city. You follow it with a visit to the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam. The sightseeing also includes the outlying Ethnology Museum, dedicated to Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups. Afterwards you drive back to the town center and enjoy a rickshaw ride through the Old Quarter where people still trade in old ways. Conclude your day at the famous water puppet theatre for a fantastic performance of the art form unique to Vietnam.
Transfer to Hanoi railway station to catch the overnight train to Lao Cai.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Overnight train to Lao Cai.

Day 3: Lao Cai – Sapa Trekking – Homestay
Upon arrival in Lao Cai railway station, you will be picked up by our guide and driver for 01 hour drive up to Sapa, where your breakfast is served.
Today is an intensive day. Begin with a transfer from Sapa Centre toward Sa Seng, a less visited ethnic Hmong minority village where you will trek around to explore the local daily life. Continue trekking uphill along the side of Den Thang Mountain for about an hour before arriving at Hang Da Village. This Hmong community is located at the elevation of 1,800m, therefore, you will find the breath taking view of the Muong Hoa Valley. Enjoy your picnic lunch followed by the next 30 minute walking down to Hau Chu Ngai, another Hmong village. Challenge yourself by descending into Hong Den Hamlet, consisting of only a few homes scattered on a rocky point. Take a moment to enjoy some of the best scenery in the area before following the trail down to Hau Thao village. Conclude your day at Ta Van Bridge for some awesome photos then head toward your homestay. Take part in the cooking demonstration and enjoy dinner with the host family before spending your night here.
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner.
Accommodation: Homestay.

Day 4: Sapa Trekking – Back to Sapa Town
Enjoy breakfast at homestay before setting out on a full day’s trek to explore Sapa’s cultural diversity and haunting natural beauty. Take a guided hike through yawning valleys decorated with terraced rice fields and pass through remote hill tribe villages. You have three trekking options to choose from: Soft trek (3 km), medium trek (6km) and long trek (~12km). Trekking is an excellent way to explore the daily life and familiarize yourself with the cultures of the H’mong, Dzao and Dzay people who populate the region.
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Sapa.

Day 5: Sapa free day – Overnight train to Hanoi
Today, you are free to relax or explore Sapa on your own.
In the evening, transfer to Lao Cai station where you will catch the overnight train to Hanoi.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Sapa.

Day 6: Hanoi – Halong Bay, overnight on cruise
(The route and activities depend on specific cruise, weather condition and permission of the Halong Authority and could be changed by season)
On arrival in Hanoi early this morning, transfer to the day- used hotel near the station for your breakfast and refreshment. Then, heading out of town you drive towards Halong Bay, truly one of Vietnam‘s most scenic impressive sights. On arrival you are welcomed onboard a traditional junk. Settle into a private comfortable cabin and unpack for a two day cruise around Halong Bay. Along the way you enjoy a huge lunch served on board and admire the picturesque scenery of islands. These limestone karst formations are littered with beaches, grottoes and beautiful caves. You will anchor for a leisurely swim in a secluded cove and an enjoyable visit to Sung Sot cave, one of the many hidden grottoes beneath towering cliffs. The remainder of day is for your own pleasure; observing the bay, lazing around the deck or simply soaking up the sunshine.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Accommodation: On Cruise.

Day 7: Halong Bay – Hanoi – Fly to Da Nang, transfer to Hoi An
The sailing junks navigating past over 2,000 limestone islands and outcrops jutting out of the clear and emerald water of the bay make for a marvelous scene. You have an option to get up early to observe the splendid landscape and see the fishermen on a morning catch. The huge breakfast is a perfect way to start your relaxing day. You will have chance to see Man Head and Tortoise rocks. These imposing islets are aptly named by their distinctive shapes. Cruise through Bai Tu Long and arrange your luggage to disembark at noon. Drive back to Hanoi, straight to the airport for the domestic flight to Da Nang. On arrival, you will be transferred to the sleepy riverside town of Hoi An. After check in to the hotel, spend your time at leisure.
Meals: Brunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An.

Day 8: Hoi An Walking Tour – Cooking Class
In the morning, join the fantastic cooking class with us. First, go visiting Hoi An colorful market to experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy market; and purchase some of the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later.
Then, board the river boat for a leisurely cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoi An River to the Red Bridge Cooking School; explore the cooking school’s herb and vegetable garden before learning about some of Hoi An’s and Vietnam’s well-known dishes. The cooking lesson runs for about 2 hours – each dish is first demonstrated by the chef, before preparing the same dish yourselves. Included in the class is a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving (plate decoration).
After the lesson, you sit down and enjoy the fantastic food you’ve cooked.
Spend this afternoon exploring Hoian Town, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site because of its historic role in international trade, unusually well-preserved ancient streets and homes. Sites include the Japanese Bridge, a Sino-Vietnamese merchant house, a Chinese Temple, Hoian Central Market, and the Culture Museum.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An.

Day 9: Hoian – Free at leisure
Today is a free day for you to relax. However, if you wish, please feel free to contact with our travel consultant to get their advice and choose one of the following optional tours to take part in:
1. Sunrise fish market
2. Farming and Fishing life
3. My Son day trip
4. Hoian Biking Tour
5. Ba Na Hills.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An.

Day 10: Hoian – Danang – Fly to Can Tho
After breakfast, transfer to Danang Airport to catch the domestic flight to Can Tho, the center of Mekong Delta. On arrival, your local tour guide and driver welcome and transfer you to the hotel. After checking in, spend the rest of afternoon at your leisure.
In the evening, meet your guide and stroll along Ninh Kieu Pier, or take a boat on Hau River while enjoying traditional folksongs named “Don Ca Tai Tu”. After that, you will be taken to the night market and explore the exciting night activities of the locals.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Can Tho.

Day 11: Cai Rang Floating Market – Soc Trang sightseeing
Wake early and leave the hotel to visit the famous Cai Rang floating market by motorized boat. Continue the boat ride to visit the Mekong Delta’s famous fruit orchards and sample the fresh, exotic fruit. Then venture deeper into the country-side, passing traditional houses made of wood and palm leaves as you observe the activities of the local people. Later, you come back to hotel for your breakfast and check-out.
Scenic drive while passing many rice paddy fields, we reach Soc Trang Province, the center for the Khmer people. Visit Kh’leang Pagoda which was originally built from bamboo in 1533 and rebuilt in 1905 by bricks and roof was covered with tiles. The pagoda consists of a central chamber and a range of wooden stilt-house, used as places for holding traditional ceremonies. Next, visit Dat Let pagoda or Clay pagoda (called Buu Son Tu by Vietnamese people). You will be impressed with hundreds of statues and sculptures that adorn the interior were hand-sculpted by the monk named Ngo Kim Tong. The pagoda is also well-known for almost all the clay objects in the pagoda are fragile, especially the four pairs of giant candles that weigh 200kg each.
At the end of day, transfer to hotel and have refreshment.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Soc Trang.

Day 12: Soc Trang – Speedboat to Con Dao – Beach time
This morning you leave Soc Trang for Con Dao by the new route speedboat.
Upon arrival, transfer by hotel shuttle bus to “your home away from home”. Rest of the day is your own leisure.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Con Dao.

Day 13: Con Dao – Free at leisure
Today is your free time at the beach
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Con Dao.

Day 14: Con Dao – Free at leisure
Today is your free time at the beach
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Con Dao.

Day 15: Con Dao – Fly to HCMC – Visit the City
This morning, connect with the Con Dao Airport by the hotel shuttle bus to catch your domestic flight to Saigon.
Welcome to Saigon, Vietnam’s modern metropolis. Arrive in the late morning, you will be transferred to the city center through Ho Chi Minh City’s bustling streets.
Your sightseeing tour includes the Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the City Post Office, the Opera House, the City Hall and Ben Thanh Market.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon.

Day 16: HCMC Departure
Have breakfast at hotel then enjoy a free morning before driving to the airport to catch your departure flight home.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: N/A.