Experience in Vietnam Tour

We’ll spend our first full day in Vietnam visiting the Perfume Pagoda. Located 60 km southwest of Hanoi, it is best approached by rowing boat on the wide, swiftly flowing Suoi Yen. We take a boat trip for about one hour along the Yen stream, passing beautiful and peaceful rice fields towards the Chua Huong pagoda. From here we climb ancient paths to reach and explore the Perfume Pagoda. We stop at the most important pagoda, the 17th century Thien Chu. We continue four kilometers further to reach Huong Tich (Fragrant Traves). This pagoda is on the top of the Huong Tich Mountains, inside a big cave. Return to Hanoi in the afternoon.

A full day Hanoi city tour offers us a chance to visit the Ho Chi Minh complex, including its mausoleum and the impressive house on stilts that was Uncle Ho’s former residence. Later we visit the One Pillar Pagoda and learn more about Vietnam’s history and culture at the peaceful Temple of Literature, known since the 11th century as the Vietnam’s first university. In the afternoon, we will visit the Ethnologic Museum, one of Hanoi’s most interesting museums. The rest of the day is free for shopping in the old quarter until we are transferred to the station for an overnight train to the town of Lao Cai.

We arrive at Lao Cai station early in the morning and are transferred to Sa Pa by bus. After breakfast at a local restaurant, we depart by car to Su Pan Village. From here we walk downhill through breathtaking scenery, passing through picturesque Ban Ho village, home to the Tay minorities. Here we enjoy stunning views of the valley and rice paddy terraces. The trip will offer us the opportunity to meet the Tay minority and experience their costumes and daily life. Lunch will be served in a local house. We continue our trip and walk through the green rice fields to reach the Red Dao village of Nam Toong. We enjoy a cup of tea before heading back to Ban Ho for a swim in the nearby river. Then transfer back to Sa Pa Town.

This morning we trek deeper into the mountains, to Ta Van village where we can see the H’mong, Zay, Dao, dressed in their traditional costumes which is unique to the Northern region. You’ll experience a simple and traditional way of living that has continued unchanged for centuries. We tour to villages and visit traditional houses surrounded by unspoilt natural beauty, enjoying the hill tribes’ hospitality before returning to the town. Afterwards we visit Ham Rong Mountain, Orchid Garden and enjoy a traditional show. We visit Sa Pa market for a last glimpse of life in this mountainous area before transferring back to Hanoi by bus or by car.

Overnight in Hanoi.

08:30: We leave the hotel for Ha Long Bay, taking in the beautiful scenery of rice fields, water buffalo and daily life of the countryside. We arrive in Ha Long and board a typical traditional wooden Junk. A seafood lunch will be served as we cruise among hundreds of extraordinary islets rising out of the clear emerald water. Later we will stop at Sung Sot Cave, one of the most spectacular caves in the bay before witnessing a splendid sunset. Dinner and overnight on boat.

Remark: The itinerary of Ha Long bay will be changed according to the cruises ‘itineraries.

Early morning coffee and tea will be served on the sundeck, followed by a Tai Chi class. Then we continue exploring the magnificent Ha Long Bay with a visit to the Luon Cave. Passing through the pretty entrance, we come across a tranquil round lake, surrounded by luxuriant trees and high stonewalls. We leave the junk and transfer directly to Hai Phong or Noi Bai airport for the flight to Da Nang (depending on the flight time and airfare). We arrive in Da Nang and are transferred to the ancient and peaceful city of Hoi An.

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, we will take a tour with Basket Boat is known locally as “Thung Chai” and is very popular among the local fishermen in the central regions of Viet Nam. The local fishermen really like to use it because it is very mobile and convenient, as it can easily transport people from their big boats to the land. Furthermore, the fishermen use it to catch fish with the fishing net and to carry oil, wood, food and other things they might need while fishing. The shape of the Basket Boat is to be re-tarred every 6 months, depending on how one much care one puts in using it. The safe capacity is normally 5 people per Boat (4 guests + 1 rider).  In order to learn how to have a go at it, you must have a practice round first, and then go for the real thing the second time. It will certainly be a lot of fun, with loads of spinning around as the boat will madly go round and round and round.  In fact, the Basket Boat is also called “The Round Boat”, for obvious reasons. Another name for it is “The Coracle Boat”, from Wales in The Great Britain.

In the afternoon, we take a walking day around the ancient town of Hoi An. Nestled a couple of kilometers inland on Thu Bon river, Hoi An contains many superb examples of 16th century Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese architecture. A full day city tour is a chance to see the Japanese Bridge, Phuoc Kien Pagoda, the ancient house Tran Phu and the Hoi An museum (Sa Huynh museum or Ceramic museum). In the afternoon we walk in the old town, experiencing its spectacular, original culture. We do some shopping for tailor-made clothing, lanterns, shoes and food, or we simply relax on the beach.

This morning we visit Vietnam’s best Cham Museum and the Marble Mountain. Crossing the world-famous Hai Van Pass, we reach Hue, where we can see the Hue Royal Complex, former home to the Nguyen Dynasty, the last Monarchy of Vietnam from 1802 – 1945. You will explore the ancient and atmospheric walled Citadel which contains the former Imperial Palace and the Forbidden Purple City.

We’ll cruise on the Perfume River to admire the Old Thien Mu Pagoda. The remainder of the day we are free to explore the crowded market of Dong Ba where we can bargain for anything from souvenirs and bronze goods, to Hue sesame sweetmeat and conical poem hats.

This morning we continue to discover Hue and visit the impressive tombs of King Minh Mang.

Later on, we visit the Thanh Toan Village where we see the lively morning market. This is where the locals come to buy their daily food. Nearby is the 300-year-old Thanh Toan bridge and a Cultural Museum which you can visit and talk to the locals.

Wind your way to visit Cat Tuong Quan Zen House. It’s a perfect combination of architecture, culture and people. Here we have the opportunity to learn more about Hue culture, experience Qigong and do meditation.

Transfer to the airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon. Arrive and transfer to the hotel.

Today we will have the opportunity to visit the controversial War Remnants Museum, the Reunification Palace, the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Post office. In the afternoon, we will see Thien Hau Pagoda, China town and its busy market of Cho Lon. This busy, modern city on the Saigon River boasts some of the most ornate pagodas in the country. Don’t miss Ho Chi Minh City’s atmosphere by night. This city lives up and is excitingly vivid at night.

This morning we will leave for the Mekong Delta. We drive through the Delta to Cai Be Floating market where we start cruising along the endless waterway of the mighty Mekong. We will stop at an old southern house with a bonsai garden and visit some local cottage industries that produce candy and rice cakes. We will enjoy a sumptuous delta lunch, including the popular dish of “Elephant ear fish” before continuing our exploration of the tributaries and canals of the delta. Later we arrive at Hoa Khanh Village where we will ride bicycles along the riverside, past the quiet activities of the local rural people and visit Mr. Ba Duc’s old-style house. The last stop is Mr. Ba Kiet’s old style house where we will be his guest tonight. The rest of the day is free for gardening or fishing. Later we will enjoy dinner and a peaceful night in the countryside.

After breakfast with the host family, we take a boat trip to visit the Cai Be Floating Market, a typical part of culture of the south western waterways. We continue along the maze of waterways and canals, calling at An Binh Island. Here we’ll visit Tam Ho’s nursery garden, where we enjoy some tropical fruit, have lunch at a local restaurant before we transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City. We take time to see the Ben Thanh market, Vietnam’s oldest and busiest market. With over 3,000 stalls, we are sure to find something interesting to take home.