Saigon, Hanoi, Halong Bay and Northern Mountains Tour
Vietnam is a country filled with incredible beauty and culture. This communist nation has it all from Unesco World Heritage sites, stunning landscapes with lush jungles, mountains, pristine beaches, sand dunes, limestone karsts, flood plains, river systems and turquoise waters. Some of the world’s best cuisine and most interactive and story telling locals you’ll find yourself mingling, socializing and learning the culture and history everywhere. That history goes deep and is still prominent with the Vietnam war with the Americans as well the French. This fast paced country with its people are resilient and have persevered while maintaining their tradition and customs.
Highlights
Explore the bustling cities of Ho Chi Minh city and Hanoi and there uniqueness like the French Quarter and the mesmerizing motorbike traffic. With such diverse geographical landscapes across Vietnam you’ll see why it’s an adventure travel paradise. With the wealth of activities like biking, hiking, sandboarding, kitesurfing, snorkelling, kayaking and many more you will discover one of Asia’s most fascinating and unique places.
Realize what true Vietnamese cuisine is like and learn how to cook these incredible full flavoured dishes first hand. You’ll think it’s Photastic!
See the differences that separate the north and the south with rural Vietnamese hill tribes in Sapa (in the North) to those living on the Mekong Delta in the South. Just outside Ho Chi Minh City will visit the incredible Cu Chi Tunnels where the Vietnamese withstood the American Army Forces with elaborate tunnels that were dug out to surprise and defend Saigon. Will continue north to the lazy yet action packed beach town of Mui Ne where they’ll be ample of time to relax and enjoy the beaches and thrilling activities.
Get a glimpse of Vietnam through this video
Vietnam Travel and Tourism by hotpot004
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City
In Ho Chi Minh City you will be welcomed by our guide and transferred to your hotel. Formerly known as Saigon, today’s Ho Chi Minh City is the bustling and vibrant economic centre of the South. Over the past few centuries, Saigon was called the “Pearl of the Far East” and was an important trading centre for the Chinese, Japanese and Western merchants who traveled along the Saigon River. Settle in and enjoy the evening at your leisure.
Day 2: Vietnam Cooking Class & Cu Chi tunnels
We will tour the most popular market in Ho Chi Minh City – the spectacular Ben Thanh market. During the market visit we will describe the classic Vietnamese produces. You will learn how to recognize the different Vietnamese ingredients and be guided in their application. After visiting the Market will transfer to the Vietnam Cookery Centre for a private cooking class.
This afternoon enjoy a scenic drive through the countryside as people work on their rice paddies and thatched hut villages scattered along the way. Visit a local village making rice paper, a well known product used to make the delicious spring rolls. Arriving at the Cu Chi Tunnels to explore part of the 151-mile underground network that zigzagged from the southern tip of the Ho Chi Minh Trail near Cambodia to the Saigon River. Cu Chi is a must for anyone interested in understanding a vital aspect of guerrilla warfare fought by the Vietnamese against both the French and the Americans. These criss-crossing tunnels were built in the late 1940s by local resistance fighters looking for a place to hide their weapons from the French. Discover secret trapdoors, field hospitals, command posts, underground kitchens, living areas and meeting rooms.
Day 3: Free Day/Volunteer Day in Ho Chi Minh
Day 4: Ho Chi Minh City / Mui Ne
En route visit the 13th century Po Klong Jarai Cham Towers at Phan Rang, perched high on a rocky hill surrounded by prickly pear cacti. More photo stops will be made at the fishing harbour of Phan Thiet and at the vast sand dunes at Cape Mui Ne, which have inspired numerous photographers for many years. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 5: Mui Ne
Enjoy the day at the beach or doing any activity at your leisure. Optional activities in and around Mui Ne include kitesurfing, sandboading, hiking and dune buggies.
Day 6: Mui Ne / Hanoi
After morning leisure, continue your journey to Ho Chi Minh City (driving time approx 4 hours) and transfer to Ho Chi Minh Airport for our flight to Hanoi. As the actual and cultural capital of Vietnam, Hanoi is both energetic and genteel. Ochre-colored colonial-style buildings and tree-lined avenues, showing the influence of the West. However the city was built here in 1010 by King Ly Thai To because the location’s feng shui was auspicious. Settle in and enjoy the evening at your leisure.
Day 7: Hanoi / Lao Cai
Morning City Tour. In the afternoon drive through Colonial Hanoi, seeing the Opera House and other local sights. Go inside infamous Hoa Lo Prison (“Hanoi Hilton”), where Senator John McCain and Douglas “Pete” Wilson were once imprisoned, and continue to the National History Museum of Vietnam. Take a cyclo ride through the Hanoi’s Old Quarter, a network of narrow alleys and shop houses also known as “The 36 Streets.” This is a wonderful place to watch the local life, and peruse items from fabrics to crafts to exotic medicines. Enjoy a traditional Vietnamese water puppet performance, a uniquely North Vietnamese art form celebrating rural life and folklore for over 1,000 years, this evening.
Overnight train trip to Lao Cai in shared sleeping compartments
Day 8: Lao Cai / Sapa / Lao Chai / Tavan / Sapa
Early morning arrival at Lao Cai, the border town to Yunnan, China. The journey starts with a 38 km drive on winding roads up the mountains to Sapa, located approx. 1,500 m above sea level. On clear days you can see the highest mountain of Vietnam, the Fansipan. After breakfast at the hotel, drive from Sapa town down to Lao Chai village. Views of the Muong Hoa Valley and magnificent surroundings of mountains and rice terrace fields can be seen from this road. Along the road, people from many ethnic minority groups (H’mong, Zay, and Red Dao) are likely to be met, and there are stalls along the way that serve tea, fruits and sweets. Soon after turning off the main road and taking a local path, we will arrive in the Black H’mong village of Lao Chai, where you will experience the daily life of the villagers. Continue walking from Lao Chai to Ta Van village, where the Zay hill tribes live. Enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by your local guide in a local house. After lunch, continue walking to the meeting point for your transfer back to Sapa town. The rest of the day is at leisure. Discover Sapa town on your own, its bustling market, the colourful dresses of the ethnic people, tea and coffee shops as well as the local life in this mountain town.
Day 9: Sapa / Ma Tra / Ta Phin / Lao Cai – Night Train To Hanoi
Enjoy a full day of trekking. Visit Suoi Ho village with tea plantations and cardamom gardens. Follow the buffalo trails to visit the hospitable villages of the Black Hmong minority people in Ma Tra. After passing a school and scenic views en route, a picnic lunch will be served. After lunch, continue trekking to Ta Phin village where you will meet Red Dao people who are famous for their weaving skills. Proceed to the meeting point and transfer back to Sapa. After a short rest (time permitting), transfer to Lao Cai railway station where you will board the overnight train to Hanoi Overnight on TRAIN.
Day 10: Hanoi / Halong Bay
Enjoy our journey to Halong Bay (approximately 3 hours) to board an overnight cruise on Halong Bay. Halong means, “Where the dragon descends into the sea” and legend has it that the 3,000 islands rising from the clear waters of Halong Bay were created by a great dragon who formed the visible rock outcrops with its flailing tail.
Day 11: Cap La / Cong Dam / Cong Do
Cruise to Cong Dam while appreciating the rock formations of Halong Bay. Kayak through hidden lagoons and Cong Damgeological park. Sunbathe, relax or swim at Tra Gioi Beach. BBQ lunch followed by relaxation on the deserted beach. Visit Cong Dam Fishing Village by a rustic rowing boat, meat the local people and pass through the lagoons. Cruise back to Cong Do for swimming or kayaking. Have dinner and stay overnight on board.
Day 12: Cong Do / Thien Canh Son / Hanoi
Visit Thien Canh Son Cave in the morning followed by a little swimming. Disembark then drive back to our hotel in Hanoi. Settle in and enjoy a farewell dinner with everyone.
Day 13: Depart Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City
Transfer to the Hanoi airport in time for your flight to Ho Chi Minh then your next destination. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey.
