Adventurous Vietnam – 15 days

A holiday for true explorers-give Vietnam a few extra days and you can head off the trail to see some of the country’s lesser known delights. Adventurous Vietnam combines the charming of Hanoi and Hoi An with Old Quarters, the stunning villages in nearby Sapa and the sprawling Mekong Delta.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Stroll around the busy streets of Hanoi’s Old Quarter
• Trekking in nearby Sapa
• Sailing aboard a traditional junks in Halong bay
• Cycling to visit charming villages in Hue and Hoi An
• Explore little islands dotted with bonsai gardens along the waterways of the Mekong Delta

ITINERARY

Day 1:  Hanoi Arrival
Day 2:  Full Day Hanoi City Tour
Day 3:  Hanoi – Ha Giang
Day 4:  Ha Giang – Hoang Su Phi
Day 5:  Hoang Su Phi – Sapa
Day 6:  Sapa Trekking – Night train to Hanoi
Day 7:  Arrive to Hanoi – Halong Bay
Day 8:  Halong Bay – Hanoi/Fly to Hue
Day 9:  DMZ Tour
Day 10: Hue Cycling Tour – Hoi An
Day 11: Half Day Hoi An Tour
Day 12: Hoi An – Danang/Fly to Ho Chi Minh City – City Tour
Day 13: Cao Dai Temple – Cu Chi Tunnel
Day 14: Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta – Can Tho
Day 15: Can Tho – Ho Chi Minh City Departure

DAY 1:             HANOI ARRIVAL (D)

Upon arrival in Hanoi, you will be picked up from the airport and transferred to a hotel in Hanoi for relaxing and your welcome dinner.
 
Overnight in Hanoi.

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DAY 2:             FULL DAY HANOI CITY TOUR (B, L)

Depart your hotel to visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex (Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh Museum and One pillar pagoda) and the Tran Quoc Pagoda. Continue to the Temple of Literature, the first University in Vietnam dating back to the 16th century. 

In the afternoon, enjoy a walking tour through the Old Quarter will provide another fascinating insight into the character and history of the city, before moving on to Dong Xuan Market with its bustling stalls and brisk trading of day-to-day local goods. Finish the day with a traditional water puppet show.
 
Overnight in Hanoi.

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DAY 3:             HANOI – HA GIANG (B, L, D)

Early morning departure from Hanoi, heading north to Ha Giang (300km), is amongst the least visited destinations in Vietnam due to its remote location, where traditional cultures are very strong in the region and tourism has made little impact thus far.

Along the way there will be plenty of opportunity to take comfort breaks, break for lunch and to enjoy the incredible backdrop. Upon arrival in Ha Giang there will still be time to visit some Tay minority people at the village of Phuong Do, the oldest Tay community in Ha Giang. The village is surrounded by terraced paddy-fields dotted with large houses-on-stilts.

You will have a chance to walk around the village and to converse with the inhabitants, learning about their way of life, thanks to the multi lingual abilities of your local guide. You will soon discover that Tay hospitality knows no language barriers!
Return to Ha Giang in the late afternoon and check in to your hotel.

Overnight in Ha Giang.

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DAY 4:             HA GIANG – HOANG SU PHI (B, L, D)

After breakfast transferring 105km to Quang Vinh town let of Hoang Su Phi district. Contrasting to the rocky land of Meo Vac, Dong Van and Yen Minh, Hoang Su Phi district and its neighboring Xin Man district have very different scenery. Lying on the top of the Chay River Massif, these two districts are covered by lush and green forest, tea farms and possess the most impressive terraced rice fields in.

If on Sunday, spend 2 hours joining local market of Flower Hmong, Red Zao, Nung and Tay people which is famous for its cattle exchanging on the large ground on the bank of the Chay River.

Overnight at Pan Hou Lodge in Hoang Su Phi.

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DAY 5:             HOANG SU PHI – SAPA (B, L)

Leave Hoang Su Phi for 100km excursion along Chinese border through the Chay River Massif and explore local life for the Flower Hmong, Tay and Nung. Spend 02 hours walking through Lung Cai commune which is beautifully set on a high mountain range, overlooking down a narrow and steep valley where the Chay River winding its way between Vietnam and China. Arriving to Bac Ha Town let at noon, paying visit to Hoang A Tuong Castle before having a lunch break.

In the afternoon, depart for Sapa. Arrive in Sapa in the late afternoon and transfer directly to your hotel. Free evening at leisure.

Overnight in Sapa.

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DAY 6:             SAPA TREKKING – NIGHT TRAIN TO HANOI (B, L)

Morning drive to Y Linh Ho from where you will start your days trek with a walk into the Muong Hoa Valley below, passing through some of the stunning rice paddy terraces that the region is so well known for.

The total trekking time is likely to be three to four hours and throughout the morning the backdrop is breathtaking. You will stop at several spots that offer panoramic views of the valleys below and you are also likely to pass many H’mong people. Thanks to the linguistic skills of your guide, you will have the opportunity to interact with them and learn more about their way of life.

Having returned to Sapa for lunch, in the afternoon take a trail heading out of town. Passing through beautiful gardens and lush pine forests you will soon arrive at the Black H’mong ethnic minority village of Matra.

The late afternoon is at leisure in Sapa, with a late check-out arranged at your hotel, before your transfer to Lao Cai for the overnight train back to Hanoi.

Overnight on train.

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DAY 7:             ARRIVE TO HANOI – HALONG BAY (B, L, D)

Arrive Hanoi in the early morning, transfer to local restaurant for breakfast. Continue to Halong Bay. Arrive at Halong City at noon and proceed with check-in formalities. After your welcome onboard, a lunch will be served while cruising towards the bay itself. A truly memorable experience awaits you as you cruise the delightful Bay. In the afternoon, enjoy some visits and/or activities depending on each boat’s itinerary or just spend some time relaxing on board. 

Towards the end of the day the boat sets anchor for the night among the karst formations. Dinner is served on board. 

Overnight onboard Halong Bay.

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DAY 8:             HALONG – HANOI/FLY TO HUE (BRUNCH)

Start your day with calming Tai Chi, enjoy the sunrise over the Bay and continue cruising. Enjoy the brunch on the way back to port, transfer to Hanoi. En route visit Thanh Chuong Palace, the home and studio of Thanh Chuong, of the most celebrated painters in Vietnam. More a living space than a museum, the Palace is an architectural gem showcasing Vietnamese traditional cultural objects, exquisite antiques and remarkable structures.

Continue driving to Hanoi airport, fly to Hue. Upon arrival Hue, transfer to hotel, check in. Free evening at leisure.

Overnight in Hue.

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DAY 9:             DMZ TOUR (B, L)

After breakfast, drive north and stop at La Vang Cathedral (which despite its years of turmoil remains an important pilgrimage site for Vietnam’s Catholics). Carry on to what is left of Quang Tri Citadel, where in 1972 a fierce battle raged for 81 days, visit the museum where photographs, war remnants and artillery can be seen.

Continue up Highway 1 across the Hien Luong Bridge, and over the Ben Hai River which demarcated North and South Vietnam, this area saw some of the heaviest fighting during the war. Doc Mieu Firebase, which lies just north of here, played a pivotal role in the South’s defence and for a while, this was the command post for calling in airstrikes along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. 

The journey from here to Vinh Moc Tunnels is scenic after you leave the main highway, pass through quaint villages and skirt along Cua Tung Beach. The village of Vinh Moc found itself tragically positioned in one of the most heavily bombed areas of Vietnam.  In order to escape this bombardment, the villagers constructed approximately 2.8 km of underground tunnels which they used as a refuge to survive the bombings.  Three hundred people lived intermittently in the tunnels from 1966 to 1971.  

From Vinh Moc drive to Truong Son National Cemetery where the remains of some 15,000 Vietnamese soldiers and civilians have been laid to rest, sadly many tombstones bear no name.  

Overnight in Hue.

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DAY 10:           HUE CYCLING TOUR – HOI AN (B, L)

After breakfast, enjoy a relatively easy ride on the back roads of Hue through lush countryside on a mix of footpaths and quiet country lanes. We will ride to the Imperial Citadel and Forbidden City. Then ride following the banks of the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda.

Continue through the quiet roads of Hue’s countryside to visit the royal tomb of Ming Manh, a former Nguyen emperor, and loop back across the river to Hue via the funerary monument to Khai Dinh. 

Return to central Hue early this afternoon for a short refreshment before transferring by car to Hoi An via the Hai Van Pass and through the picturesque fishing village of Lang Co. Arrive Hoi An, check in hotel.

Overnight in Hoi An. 

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DAY 11:           HALF DAY HOI AN TOUR (B)

In the morning, enjoy a walking tour around Hoi An ancient town and explore its treasures: the Japanese Bridge, Phuc Kien Pagoda, Phung Hung Old Merchant House, and Quang Dong Assembly Hall.

This afternoon is free afternoon at leisure.
 
Overnight in Hoi An.

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DAY 12:           HOI AN – DANANG/FLY TO HO CHI MINH CITY – CITY TOUR (B, L)

After breakfast, drive to Danang to take the morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to hotel, check in. 
 
In the afternoon, visit the Former Presidential Palace, the town’s center with the Notre Dame Cathedral, the City Hall, the Municipal Theater, Quan Am Pagoda, Cho Lon and China town. 
Finish the tour in fine style by heading up the Bitexco Tower, which is the city’s tallest building. Your guide will be happy to wait for a short while whilst you enjoy a stylish sundowner with breath-taking skyline views, those wanting more time may choose to take a taxi back to their hotel at a later stage.
 
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

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DAY 13:           CAO DAI TEMPLE – CU CHI TUNNEL (B, L)

Depart Ho Chi Minh City in the morning for the drive to Tay Ninh visit the Cao Dai Temple, a syncretistic, home-grown Vietnamese religion which incorporates aspects of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and Catholicism. Construction of the Cao Dai Holy See began in 1933. It has a unique architectural style which reflects the roots of its blended traditions.

After lunch in a local restaurant visit the famous Cu Chi, 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.
In the late afternoon journey back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

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DAY 14:           HO CHI MINH CITY – MEKONG DELTA – CAN THO (B, L)

This morning, leave bustling Ho Chi Minh City for the 2 hour drive to the delta town of Ben Tre. Board your local boat through small canals with beautiful tropical scenery. En-route visit the brick making factory, where the locals still use centuries-old traditional methods to make the bricks by hand then visit a small factory producing handicrafts made of coconut. Afterwards, take a ride on a horse driven cart along country roads, through the fruit plantation before enjoying lunch at riverside restaurant.

In the afternoon, enjoy a ride in a rowing boat along the palm creek before heading to Can Tho. Free evening at leisure.
 
Overnight in Can Tho.

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DAY 15:           CAN THO – HO CHI MINH CITY DEPARTURE (B, L)

Wake up early for a boat cruise to the colorful Cai Rang floating market which bustles with wholesalers on big boats. Here, during the early morning market hours, larger sized boats anchor and create lanes that smaller boats weave in and out of. The main items sold here are fruit and vegetables and every boat has a long upright pole at its bow from which samples of the goods for sale are hung. The waterway becomes a maze of hundreds of boats packed with mango, bananas, papaya, pineapple, and even floating pho vendors. 

After lunch, transfer to Ho Chi Minh City airport for your departure flight.

SERVICE INCLUDED

• Shared accommodation in twin/double room with daily breakfast
• Tours as per itinerary with local speaking guide (NO guide on board Halong Bay)
• All transfers and transportation with air-con vehicles
• All entrance fees as program
• Train ticket: Laocai-Hanoi (soft sleeper bed, share cabin)
• Private boat trips in Mekong Delta
• Meals (B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner) as indicated in the program
• A bottle of mineral water per day tour

 
SERVICE EXCLUDED

• Drinks
• Mineral water beyond that supplied
• Tips
• Personal expenses and tips
• Visa to Vietnam
• Airfares (international and domestic)
• Meals (other than mentioned in the program)
• Airport taxes  
• Early check in or late check out
• Insurances
• Optional excursions and activities
• Additional transfer required due to any emergency situation
• Items of a personal nature (Phone calls, laundry, beverages…)
• Peak season surcharges if any
• All not mentioned above