AMAZING VIETNAM TOUR – 19 DAYS FROM HO CHI MINH

It is worth to travel to Vietnam once in your lifetime as it will be really more different and interesting than just reading in the books, learning in the movies and hearing from the others. Vietnam is now far beyond your imagination with modern and dynamic cities, exotic and marvelous landscapes, famous natural and cultural World Heritage Sites. With efforts from our experienced travel consultants, it will be so quick and easy to plan your Vietnam tour packages.

Welcomed at Tan Son Nhat airport (Ho Chi Minh) by our experienced English speaking guide and driver and listen to a brief introduction about your beautiful Vietnam tour when we are on the way to hotel for check-in.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

Optional tour – Ho Chi Minh Vespa Tour: Experience as local people with a Vespa and escorted by a driver, visiting the city landmarks that give you a view of the city unlike anything on your Vietnam tour. Take a peek at the history, the streets and the sights that most visitors never even hear about or see. You will pass through the Chinese district of Saigon, stop to see a sweet smelling flower market and visit a breathtaking yet hidden Buddhist pagoda, Saigon Opera House & Post Office which were designed by Gustave Eiffel.

After breakfast, enjoy a morning 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 underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the long struggle for independence where you will understand more about the Vietnam War or American War, a must see Vietnam Tour for any tourists to learn about Vietnam past and present days.

Overnight in a Ho Chi Minh hotel.

Boarding at Can Tho at Ninh Kieu pier. Welcome drink, introduction to the ship and crew, check into the cabins. Departure downstream of the Hau river. Lunch on board while en route.

Tour near Tra On floating market.

Turning into Nicolai canal, towards the Mang Thit and Co Chien rivers. Rest on the upper deck in a scenery of rice fields, sugar cane, woods on the near banks.

By mid-afternoon, the Bassac casts anchor for a visit on shore: past the first tree line, quiet discovery of the peaceful life in the delta’s countryside, of rice fields, fruit trees and the welcoming inhabitants.

Boarding back, complimentary drink as a welcome back on board. Rest on the deck or around the bar enjoying the sunset.

The crew serves dinner while the Bassac is cruising Mang Thit river towards her anchorage point for the night.

The Bassac sets anchor for the night on river Mang Thit.

06:30 Departure towards Cai Be. The passengers take their breakfast while enjoying the scenery on the banks.

The Bassac crosses Co Chien river then branches into Cho Lach canal for 30 minutes through the traffic of sand and rice barges, in a scenery of fruit drying facilities and wooden ship building yards.

Arrival near Cai Be, check-out and transfer to a rowing boat for a quiet visit through a small canal.

Rendez-vous with a local boat, which will take you to shore for a visit of Cai Be’s handicraft.

End of services by mid-morning on shore at Cái Bè.

Please note you will leave the Bassac for good upon boarding the small boat for the last visit, typically about 8:30. Pick up and drive back to HCM and transfer you to Tan Son Nhat airport for short flight to Nha Trang.

Upon arrival Nha Trang, our private tour guide and driver will welcome you to the city of beach. Free at leisure and overnight in Nha Trang.

Our representiative will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to Nha Trang Port to board the Emperor Cruises Junk.

On arrival at the port you are greeted by the Experiences Manager with a welcome drink. Introduction to Nha Trang Bay, the locals, the food, the culture, the emperor, safety precautions, and the Emperor Cruises Junk. Start cruising through the spectacular landscape of Nha Trang Bay as the sun sets.

Cruise through Nha Trang Bay at night while sipping cocktails and wines on the sundeck as you are entertained by musicians playing against the stunning backdrop of stars, the moon, and the city lights.

Experience the gastronomical pleasure of a 5-course seafood dinner on board while being serenaded and served by the Emperor Cruises team.

End your romantic dinner by having drinks or cocktails at the lounge or on the sundeck before heading back to Nha Trang Port and returning to the mainland, where your transfers will be waiting to drive you back to your hotel.

Nha Trang is Vietnam’s best-known Vietnam beach destination, a perfect break during or your Vietnam Tours with miles of white sandy beaches, swaying coconut palms and wonderful fresh seafood restaurants. Day free at leisure, water sports abound including parasailing, jet skiing, water skiing and relaxing boat trips to the outlying islands. If you prefer to keep your feet dry then hop into a taxi or take a cyclo for an exploratory trip around Nha Trang.

Overnight in a Nha Trang hotel.

After breakfast, our Vietnam tour guide and driver in Nha Trang will transfer you to the airport for the morning flight with Vietnam airlines to Da Nang airport then transfer to Hoi An about 35km away.

Free at leisure. Overnight in a Hoi An hotel.

Our Farming & Fishing Life Tour provides you with a close-up and intimate exposure to both the local farming and fishing communities.

Accompanied by your tour guide, you commence the day leisurely cycling along country roads witnessing local Vietnamese rural life first hand, discovering all manner of photo opportunities – coming and visiting a beautiful organic vegetable village, watering and planting vegetable, hoeing a soil with local farmer, riding a water buffalo in a rice paddy field; seeing ducks swimming along the rice farm or farmers tending their crops. The photo opportunities are endless.

Tour guide meets you at your hotel and cycle to a local farming village traveling along picturesque country roads.

Share in the daily work life of local farmers – hoeing and a soil, watering veggie at an organic herb garden, riding water buffalo in the field and enjoy the freshest air of the countryside beauty.

Board  and cruise to the mouth of the river where it meets the Cua Dai Sea. Learn and try your hand at local traditional fishing techniques using round and cast nets. Learn to paddle the strange and unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boats.

Explore the now tranquil coconut-palm flanked waterways of a past war and hear of the extreme conditions endured by soldiers on both sides

Back on-board our Hoi An boat, enjoy lunch and cold beer or soft drink

Return to hotel by car and overnight in Hoi An.

Hoi An Ancient Town -the highlight of any tour to Vietnam that no Vietnam Tours maker would skip, is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. Its buildings and its street plan reflect the influences, both indigenous and foreign, that have combined to produce this unique heritage site.

Day free to cycle through rice paddies in the countryside of Hoi An ancient town, shop for souvenirs among the antique shops and art galleries, or just sit at sidewalk cafes and soak up the atmosphere of this quaint town. Or relax on the white sandy beach of the famous Cua Dai Beach. Overnight in a Hoi An hotel.

After breakfast, leave Hoi An for Hue, the last imperial capital of Vietnam, well-known for magnificent architecture, pagodas and royal tombs laid in small villages and surrounding hills and one of the most popular cities for all the Vietnam Tours. En route have a look at the famous Danang Beach and visit Cham Museum which contains the finest collection of Cham sculpture in the world.

Upon your arrival at Hue city, check in hotel if the room is available. Free at leisure and overnight in Hue.

A full day trip to visit the old capital city of Vietnam under the Nguyen Dynasty ruled from 1802 to 1945, with first stop at the Imperial Citadel giving you a better understanding of the beauty of Vietnamese Royal architecture and culture.

Then we will take a beautiful dragon boat trip along Perfume River and visit to Thien Mu Pagoda – one of the most popular attractions in Hue. It is located on the banks of poetic Perfume River with typical traditional architecture of Hue pagodas and famous for the event that buddhist monk from this temple, Thich Quang Duc, burn himself to death for anti-government protest in 1963.

The next stops will be King Ming Mang and King Khai Dinh tombs which are the most beautiful works of royal architecture of the Nguyen dynasty.

Overnight in Hue.

Free at leisure until our private tour guide and driver transfer you to Hue airport for flight Hanoi (operated by Vietnam Airlines), the capital of Vietnam with a long background of history and culture. Besides historical destinations, Hanoi is well-known for its beautiful lakes with the image of local Tai Chi in the early morning, tree-line boulevards, funny street vendors & special street food cuisine.

Upon arrival Hanoi, check in hotel and start our street food tour by visiting one of the local markets in the city to see all different kinds of food that used for a Vietnamese breakfast, lunch, dinner and understand more about life of Vietnamese.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Ranked among the world’s best destinations, Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam with more than 1000 years of history and culture. Hanoi is also well-known for its beautiful lakes with the image of local Tai Chi in the early morning, tree-line boulevards, flowers on bicycles and delicious dishes.

05:30 Wake up early and be ready for an amazing morning trip around Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter – the symbols of Hanoi city and Hanoian. You will be surprised by seeing local Hanoians doing morning exercises around Hoan Kiem Lake as they are so natural practicing such strange Tai Chi in their own ways. Let’s see the way they do and join with them! From Hoan Kiem Lake, take a look at the Old Quarter as it is the only time in day you can enjoy quiet atmosphere.

07:00 Have breakfast with Pho – the most famous and popular dish in Vietnam in general and Hanoi in particular.

08:00: Visit Ho Chi Minh complex with first stop at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum –a large memorial pays homage to the national hero – President Ho Chi Minh who led the country to independence and reunification. The Mausoleum is located at Ba Dinh Square where Ho Chi Minh President read the Declaration of Independence on September 2, 1945 establishing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Then take a short walk to the Presidential Palace and house on stilts.

Next to Ho Chi Minh complex, One Pillar Pagoda (special with unique architecture of lotus flower) is a must-see place for tourists to Hanoi.

Continue to the Temple of Literature which is the first university in Vietnam. It was constructed in 1070, first to honor Confucius and nowadays to celebrate the doctorates and ranked scholars of Vietnam.

After lunch, visit the Museum of Ethnology – an insight into the 54 different ethnic groups living in Vietnam.It is here you will learn about the cultural diversity of different ethnic groups from religious events to the symbolic rituals as well as display of a variety of Vietnamese homes as full-scale replicas outside.

End the day with a short cyclo ride around the old streets observing daily life of Hanoian, take exotic photos of Hanoi traffic and enjoy a fantastic water puppet show.

Overnight in Hanoi.

08:30 Pick up at your hotel and take a smooth drive on new national highway to Sapa, passing beautiful sceneries on both sides of the road including countryside areas, rice fields and mountains.

14:30 Arrive at your hotel in Sapa, check-in your hotel and take a short rest.

16:00 Take a glimpse of Sapa town and you will have chance to see Sapa Stone Church and old streets.

Have dinner at a local restaurant (on your own) and overnight in Sapa.

Sapa is considered á the queen of mountains in Vietnam blessed with highest peak – The Fansipan and beautiful valleys with amazing rice terraces where inhabited by some ethnic minorities such as Black H’Mong, Red Dao, Day, Tay and Xa Pho. Today’s Sapa tour, Vivutravel will take you to the most spectacular part of Muong Hoa valley.

After breakfast, our driver and tour guide will take you to Y Linh Ho village where we trek down to the bridge and it is time to trek up and down to Lao Chai village. Both are villages of the Black H’Mong minorities. This trekking route is not hard and enables you to take great photos of the terraced fields as well as visit some of the local families to learn about their life and culture, etc.

After lunch in a local restaurant, we head to Ta Van village of the Day minorities where we spend a night in peaceful and picturesque village. Here, we will stay in a homestay. The rest of this afternoon, it is free for you to relax or take a walk around the village. Dinner will be cooked by local family and do not forget to try some rice wine.

After breakfast, trek to Giang Ta Chai village through bamboo forest to visit Giang Ta Chai waterfall and the Red Dao minority then trek up hill to meet your driver. Time for lunch in a local restaurant and drive back to Sapa. Overnight in Sapa

The markets in the Northern Vietnam are always the colorful meeting places for the hill tribes, spotlight for any Sapa Tours and of course, your unique Vietnam Tours experience. Minority people come down from the mountains to sell their products, or just for catching up on the latest news, gossip, drinking away troubles or seeking for lover. In the morning, drive to visit one of the areas weekly markets;

Market days:
Can Cau Market – Saturdays
Bac Ha Market or Muong Hum Market or Muong Khuong Market – Sundays
Cao Son Market – Wednesdays
Lung Khau Nhin Market – Thursdays
Coc Ly Market – Tuesdays

In the afternoon, drive back to Hanoi for overnight.

Arrive at Hanoi railway station in the early morning, pick up and transfer to a mini-hotel for taking a short rest and having breakfast.

We start at 8.00 A.M for the 3.5 hour drive (170 km) through the Red River Delta, which offers plenty of chances for taking photos of Vietnamese farmers tilling the vast green paddy fields. At half way, we’ll have a visit to a handicraft workshop with fine clothes, embroidered paintings, stone statuettes and all kinds of gems mined in Vietnam such as star rubies or sapphires… Our destination is Halong bay – the most famous World Heritage Site in Vietnam, famous for its beautiful seascape, thousands of spectacular islands and islets jutting out from the sea, amazing caves with marvelous stalagmites and stalactites in different sizes and shapes.

11:30 – 12:00 Upon arrival, you’ll be welcomed on board our luxury junk and treated with wine and fresh local seafood. As our junk gliding further into the tranquility of Ha Long Bay amid the towering mountain cliffs and on the emerald green water, you’ll have relaxing time combining the fine tastes of the wine and the freshness of Ha Long Bay. During the cruise, we’ll stop some times for visiting the amazing Sung Sot cave and the Ti Top white sand beach before anchoring for the night.

Overnight on board the junk in the wild of Halong Bay.

It is said that your Vietnam Tours will not be complete without a tour to Halong Bay and spending one night on romantic Halong Cruise. People describe Halong Bay as majestic and mysterious, inspiring and imperious and words alone cannot do justice to the natural wonder that is Halong Bay, a priceless collection of unfinished sculptures hewn from the hand of nature.

After breakfast, we’ll take a little sampan to visit a secret lagoon of Ha Long Bay while the surrounding mountains are just waking up. After that our cruise takes us further into the Bay of Bai Tu Long traveling past the Human Head Island, the Turtle Island, and the Duck Islet… to the studio site where the famous Indochine film was shot. Around noon, our junk travels back to the harbor, pick up and drive back to Hanoi.

Arrive in Hanoi, enjoy the food tour experience with a first visit to one of the local markets in the city to see all different kinds of food that used for a Vietnamese breakfast, lunch, dinner and understand more about life of Vietnamese.

Secondly, we walk to explore everyday life of Hanoian, try some more different dishes which are very special, popular and favourite such as;

1. Banh Ran – Sticky rice pancake
2. Fried Tofu and Vermicelli Shrimp Sauce
3. Bun Cha – Hanoi Style Vermicelli with Grilled Pork
4. Hanoi grilled pork in stick
5. Bia Hoi – Draught beer
6. Trung Vit Lon – Fertilized duck eggs
7. Egg coffee
8. Mix fruits

Finally, we will try Cha Ca – Fried Fish which is considered as one of the best dishes to try while you are traveling in Hanoi. This unforgettable Hanoi food tour will take about 4 hours and you will end the trip at your hotel at around 19:00.

Overnight in Hanoi.