Grand Vietnam Tour 18 Days

Grand Vietnam Tour 18 Days
 
Destinations: Hanoi, Sapa, Halong Bay, Hue, Phong Nha, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Saigon, Mekong Delta
 

Day 1: Hanoi arrival
Upon arrival in Hanoi – a thousand years Capital, our guide will welcome you at Noi Bai airport and then transfer to the hotel in city center. Relax some time to recover somewhat from jet-leg and for the refreshment. Overnight in Hanoi.
 
Meals: N/A
Service included: Private car, guide
 
Day 2: Hanoi City Tour – Night Train to Sapa (B)
Today, we will take the sightseeing of the most city’s outstanding historical and cultural sites. The visit includes:
– The complex of Ho Chi Minh historical sites, also called the political center of Vietnam.
– One-pillar Pagoda and The Temple of Literature for the brief understanding about the two most popular religions in Vietnam (Buddhism and Confucianism).
– Visit one of the museums in Hanoi (Museum of History, Museum of Ethnology, Museum of Fine Art).
At the end of Hanoi city tour, you can enjoy the famous traditional water puppet show where you will have a chance to experience an overview of daily life in Vietnam’s rural areas in dramatic form.
You will have time for dinner by your own before transferred to Hanoi Railway Station for a night train to Sapa.
Overnight on train in 4 soft berths cabin with A/C.
 
Meals: Breakfast
Service included: Private car, guide, entrance fee, Water Puppet Show, train ticket
 
Day 3: Sapa Villages (B/L)
Arrive at Lao Cai train station at about 5.00am. Meet the local guide at the main entrance and take our private car for the transfer to Sapa 35km away. Take a short rest and have your breakfast at the local restaurant before starting to explore Sapa town.

Today is for discovering the nature as well as different culture of hill tribal people. We will start our trekking up and down hills with nice rice terraces, spectacular scenery the Fansipan Mount, and through scenic Muong Hoa valley. We walk up and down the rice terraces, hills, bamboo forests and streams to Lao Chai and Ta Van Villages which is decorated by terraced-fields and the house of H’mong, Red Zao and Zay people. You will have great opportunity for taking photos of breathtaking landscapes, meeting friendly hill-tribe people at home and work, and getting to understand their tradition, habits…Enjoy picnic lunch. We will return to our hotel in Sapa by car in late afternoon.
Overnight in your hotel in Sapa.
 
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Service included: Private car, guide, entrance fee
 
Day 4: Sapa – Visit Hill Tribe Market – Night train back to Hanoi (B/L)
After breakfast we will leave for a Hill Tribe Market for about 3 hours driving to the market. Join in the colorful market of the tribal people in this region. On the fair market the H’mong, Dzao, Phu La people in their best traditional costumes go to the market for shopping and meeting friends and relatives. Say goodbye to the colorful market, transfer to a local restaurant for lunch and drive to Lao Cai for the train back to Hanoi.
Overnight on train in 4 soft berths cabin with A/C.
 
NOTE: Depends on your travel date, this day can be flexible to adopt with the local hill tribe market in specific weekday or weekend.
 
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Service included: Private car, guide, entrance fee
 
Day 5: Hanoi – Halong Bay Cruise (B/L/D)
The train arrives back to Hanoi early morning, meet our driver at the station then transfer to hotel for breakfast and take a rest (breakfast only/no checking-in).
 
8:00 am: You will be picked up by shuttle bus to Ha Long Bay, one of the most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Areas and the world’s largest marine limestone ‘karst’ landscape. Arrive the jetty in 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.
You will soon leave the mainland far behind, navigating amongst the jagged limestone islands and karsts emerging from the emerald waters. Whilst some islands are no more than large rocks others are far more substantial in size.
During your cruise there will be opportunities to disembark, often using smaller boats, or possibly kayaks, to venture into hidden grottos and caves. You will also make stops to explore points of interest such as floating fishing villages and picturesque lookout points. At the end of the day the boat sets anchor for the night among the karst formations. Dinner is served on board. Overnight on cruise in Halong Bay.
 
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Service included: Private car from Hanoi station to hotel in Hanoi, shuttle bus from Hanoi to Halong Bay, English speaking guide onboard, entrance fee
 
Day 6: Halong Bay – Hanoi – fly to Hue (B)
We will wake up in the morning to the calming sound of the waves breaking on the nearby islands. Enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning and relax. Early risers may wish to start the day with a Tai Chi class on the top deck as the sunrises over the bay. Sitting on the upper deck and enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the rocky islands rising from the crystal-clear waters of the Bay.  The peace here is absolute; we can hear only birds singing, cicadas chirping and the gentle lapping of the waves against our boat, the perfect soundtrack to accompany the fresh air and gentle breeze.
Enjoy brunch onboard whilst your junk slowly turns back in the direction of the mainland, stopping at points of interest en route. After arriving back at harbor by 12:00 noon, you will be driven back to Hanoi by shuttle bus.
 
Upon arrival at Hanoi, our driver will pick you up and transfer you to Noi Bai airport for your flight to Hue. Arrive Phu Bai airport in the evening and have a short transfer to your hotel in town. Overnight in Hue.
 
Meals: Breakfast (or Brunch)
Service included: Shuttle bus from Halong Bay to Hanoi, English speaking guide onboard, entrance fee, private car from hotel in Hanoi to Noi Bai Airport, private car and guide from Hue Airport to hotel in Hue
 
Day 7: Hue City sightseeing (B/L)
This morning, we will board a dragon boat to cruise down the Perfume River to Thien Mu pagoda. Thien Mu pagoda is one of the best-loved pagodas in Vietnam and is considered by many to be the unofficial symbol of Hue.  It is an active Buddhist monastery with its origins dating back to 1601.
 
We then visit another pagoda for an elaborately prepared vegetarian lunch, which will be served by the nuns of the pagoda.  This gives a fascinating insight into the life of religious people in the area. After lunch visit the elaborate mausoleums of Emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh, both extravagant complexes of pavilions, temples, courtyards and lakes. You can also walk through the heavily bombed remains of the Imperial Citadel, built along the lines of the Forbidden City and from where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. We return to the hotel in the late afternoon. Overnight in Hue.
 
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Service included: Private car, guide, entrance fee, boat trip
 
Day 8: Hue – Visit Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park (B/L)
After breakfast at your hotel, our guide and driver will come to pick you up and transfer to Quang Binh province. Upon reaching Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, getting on boat and cruise along the river to Phong Nha Cave. The park has some beautiful limestone formations, grottoes and caves and forest. The park also contains the largest primeval forest in Vietnam and the biggest limestone mountain range on the planet. The most impressive cave – Phong Nha cave is probably the most beautiful with many fascinating rock formations with imaginative names such as The Lion, Fairy Caves, Royal Court and Buddha. Phong Nha also boasts underground rivers, large caverns and passageways and broad pristine sandbanks. If time permitted, we will visit Thien Duong cave (or “Paradise cave”) – the largest and the most beautiful cave in Phong Nha-Ke Bang area. Drive back to Hue in the late afternoon. Overnight in Hue.
 
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Service included: Private car, guide, entrance fee, boat trip
 
Day 9: Hue – Hoi An (B)
Today we will heading to Hoi An through Hai Van pass, and Lang Co beach – one of the most beautiful beach of Vietnam. Visit Cham museum on the way, Cham museum is the open air collection of Cham sculpture. Many of the sandstone carvings are breathtaking. Arrive in the sleepy riverside town, Hoi An, in the late afternoon, check in at the hotel and then enjoy the rest of the evening free at your leisure. Overnight in Hoi An.
 
Meals: Breakfast
Service included: Private car, guide, entrance fee
 
Day 10: Hoi An walking tour (B)
Located on the north bank of the Thu Bon river, the historic town of Hoi An was one of South East Asia’s major international ports and today it still retains that special old-world feel. Enjoy a half day Hoi An walking tour through the Old Quarters to see the town’s landmarks of Japanese Covered Bridge, ancient Assembly Hall, Phuc Kien Temple. You are free in the afternoon. Overnight in Hoi An.
 
Meals: Breakfast
Service included: Private car, guide, entrance fee
 
Day 11: Hoi An – Da Nang – Nha Trang (B)
Transfer (without guide) to Da Nang Airport for your flight to Nha trang. Relax on the beach of Nha Trang.  Overnight in Nha Trang.
 
Meals: Breakfast
Service included: Private car
 
Day 12: Nha Trang - Full day with Ocean and Islands (B/L)
Morning we will depart for an excursion out to the bay of Nhatrang, one of 28 best bays in the world. Start from your hotel to Cau Da port, we will embark to our boat and sail to Tri Nguyen Aquarium where you can see many sea species of Nha Trang like a small ocean world there. After that, we will cruise to Mun Island that very well-known as the best island for snorkeling where you can see lots of lives colorful corals and fish. After having a good time swimming or snorkeling in crystal blue water at Mun Island you will have a chance to see caves in which the sea swallows make their nest. Then relaxing, swimming & doing water sports or other activities at Mot Island, Tranh Beach Island or on a small island calling “Mini beach”. Taking a fresh lunch at the island. On the way back you will visit a interesting local fishing village before going to the shore. Overnight in Nha Trang.
 
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Service included: Private car, guide, entrance fee, boat trip
 
Day 13: Nha Trang – Saigon (B)
Enjoy your leisure on the beach until the transfer time (without guide) to Cam Ranh Airport for a short flight to Saigon. On arrival you will be met by guide and transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Saigon.
 
Meals: Breakfast
Service included: Private car, guide
 
Day 14: Saigon city tour (B)
Today you will have a full day to explore Saigon. You will visit the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post Office, Remnant War Museum, Giac Lam Pagoda, Chinatown with ancient pagodas and temples, and bustling Binh Tay Market. 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. Overnight in Saigon.
 
Meals: Breakfast
Service included: Private car, guide, entrance fee
 
Day 15: Saigon – Cu Chi Tunnels – Tay Ninh – Saigon (B)
A full day sightseeing tour to Cu Chi, located about 70 km from Saigon, where you will visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, the former stronghold of the Viet Cong with a network of tunnels three levels deep stretching over 200 km. Then we visit the Cao Dai Temple in Tay Ninh and learn about its unique world religion. This large and colorful compound is home to the hybrid religion founded in the 1920s: Caodaism, which combines elements of Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam in order to promote peace. Overnight in Saigon.
 
Meals: Breakfast
Service included: Private car, guide, entrance fee
 
Day 16: Saigon – Mekong Delta – Can Tho (B/L)
Morning we will drive from SaiGon to Cai Be. Upon arrival, visit Cao Dai Temple in Cai Be before embarking for the boat trip to colorful Cai Be floating  Market,  then visit follow the canal along the Cai Be town to visit some local home factories to discover traditional rice paste making, rice pop corn, coco candies, and longans drying process. After enjoying beautiful lunch at a family run restaurant of Mr. Muoi Huong, follow the Co Chien rive to An Binh Island – where you can visit the nurslings garden of Mr. Tam Ho. You will have a chance to taste the typical tropical fruit there and enjoy the authentic tradition music show performed by local farmer there.  On the way back to Vinh Long, visit the local brick and pottery factory – where you can experience the way of local people firing brick in special brick kiln by rice husk from Mekong Delta. In the afternoon we continue driving toward Can Tho. Overnight in Can Tho.
 
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Services included: private car, guide, boat trip, fruit, and local music
 
Day 17: Can Tho – Cai Rang floating market – Saigon (B/L)
The watery world of the Mekong Delta is home to many bustling floating markets. This day we take a boat trip exploring the vibrant floating market of Cai Rang, in which the trading way is unique; each boat usually sells one particular item, they are whether pumpkins, pineapples or sugar canes and so on. After an impressive boat trip, you are back to Saigon.
Overnight in Saigon.
 
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Services included: private car, guide, boat trip
 
Day 18: Saigon – Departure (B)
Free time for shopping or optional visit before transfer (without guide) to Tan Son Nhat Airport for departure.
 
Meals: Breakfast
Services included: private car

Prices are quoted in US dollars per person base on minimum two travelers
 
Rates vary depend on group size, travel time, accommodation level, transportation and other service. Please contact us to get the best price!

- Hanoi – Hue: 110 USD/ticket
- Danang – Nha Trang: 110 USD/ticket
- Nha Trang – Saigon: 86 USD/ticket

- The Hung Kings Anniversary from 6 April 2017 to 7 April 2017
- Victory Day & Labour Day from 29 April 2017 to 02 May 2017
- Independent Day from 02 September to 03 September 2017
- Christmas Eve gala dinner (December 24, 2017)
- New Year’s Eve gala dinner (December 31, 2017)
- New Year & Holiday: 24 December 2017 to 10 January 2018
- Lunar New Year from 15 Feb 2018 to 20 February 2018