Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, after clearing all customs procedures, please proceed to exit gate and look for your driver who will be waiting at the lobby, holding the Luxury Travel Vietnam signboard with your name on it, if you cannot locate your driver, please go to the Airport information counter situated in the middle of Domestic and International arrival lobby (inside the terminal) and call the emergency numbers (+84) ——– for assistance. Your driver will come to meet you up and transfer you to hotel for check in and free at leisure. Overnight in Hanoi.
Drive from hotel through the historical Ba Dinh Square where president Ho Chi Minh proclaimed the independence of Vietnam in 1945 and find out outstanding architecture, beautiful atmosphere around this square. Then reach to Lenin Garden, a communal space for locals. This also offers a perfect opportunity for people-watching, to get a better idea of the daily activities of the locals. After that, we make our way through a small alleys of Hanoi where sewing shops have been in family hands for generations and admire the daily life of local people who still practise old an old way of life in the alleys of Hanoi. Do not forget to bring your camera along to capture the unique experience. Continue walk to visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first national university built in the late 11th century and explore its role in the country’s past.
Then visit the fascinating Ethnology Museum (closed Mondays), which is both a research centre and a public museum exhibiting the ethnic groups of Vietnam and enjoy your lunch at local restaurant before make a stroll around the charming Hanoi old quarter to explore the fascinating maze of back streets. Then walking to busy street of Nha Chung where every day is always the busy by several vendors of food or vegetables gather for sale. And stop at old French house of Hanoian for tea break and talk with him to discover more about the change of local people, life and listen to the story of family in each period.
Finally, you will enjoy a Water Puppet show. A uniquely northern Vietnamese art form said to have originated in the flooded rice fields of the Red River Delta. Drive back to hotel.
Today, after breakfast at hotel, you drive to Sapa, take a scenic 5hr drive to your hotel in the former hill station of Sapa. A frontier town 350km northwest of Hanoi and close to the border with China, Sapa’s terraced rice fields are some of the world’s most beautiful. You have a lunch at local restaurant before trek through the Muong Hoa Valley to admire the beautiful orderliness of the fields created by skilled, diligent ethnic farmers. There is an opportunity to see different traditions and costumes of the Zay minority at Ta Van Village and the Red Dzao at Giang Ta Chai Village. Return to hotel where the remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure.
Overnight in Sapa
NOTES:
Suggested departure time: 08:00
Tour duration: 09 hours
Trekking distance: 11km (7mi)
Grade: Medium
Depart Sapa on an 8km (5mi) drive to the start of the O Quy Ho Mountain Pass along the Hoang Lien Son mountain range with several stops for photos of stunning Mount Fansipan and Sin Chai Valley. Turn and follow a narrow tarmac road, passing forests and waterfalls before arriving at the Ban Khoang Commune, home to the Black H’mong and Red Dzao ethnic groups. Walk to explore this remote village for an overview of local life. Then drive to the Ta Giang Phinh Valley, inhabited by the Black H’mong who live in several hamlets along a peaceful stream. Enjoy lunch on the banks of the stream, followed by a 2hr walk through wild and unspoiled scenery with imposing mountains and picturesque terraced fields. Observe the local villagers engaging in their daily activities including ploughing, harrowing, harvesting and handicrafts. Mid-afternoon, meet the car and return to Sapa.
NOTES:
Availability: Mornings only
Suggested departure time: 08:30
Tour duration: approximately 08 hours
Total trekking distance: 13km / 8mi
Easy walking, suitable for all fitness levels This trip can be organized year-round except in January and February when the weather is often foggy.
Sapa’s mountainous landscape is home to many ethnic minorities, each with their own customs and way of life. Today you will be welcomed to Thanh Kim Red Dzao hill tribe village, overlooking the Muong Hoa Valley. A warm cup of tea and the friendly smile of head of the tribe will greet visitors in the garden. Accompanied by his family, the head of the village will share his story and teach you about the culture of H’mong people. His optimism for the future of his village is contagious as he explains how he encourages his tribe to work hard in order to provide a better life. The experience will leave travellers with a greater understanding of this agricultural community and the important role they play in maintaining this traditional lifestyle. Enjoy a drink or a meal at the restaurant before drive back to Hanoi in the late afternoon.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Today, depart from hanoi for a 2.5-hour drive to Tuan Chau harbour, Haiphong via the new highway. You will be welcomed aboard and set sail through the bay while lunch is served. You will pass through the magical bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waves like dragons’ teeth. After lunch, you will take a short trek to a nearby summit for a panoramic view of the bay dotted with golden sails, and then go swimming on a quiet beach or sunbathing on the sundeck. Later in the afternoon, you will visit an interesting fishing village with the opportunity to interact with fishermen who have been living in the bay for almost three generations. Back on board, you can enjoy cocktails while watching the sunset. Later, you will unwind ata lavish dinner before an overnight stay on the deluxe junk.
Greet the day with a morning tai chi session, with an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay. After breakfast, you will visit a beautiful limestone grotto and then go back to the boat for a final glimpse of Halong Bay while cruising back to the dock. Checkout is at 11:45 am and the boat arrives at the harbor by noon for the drive back to Hanoi airport for your onward flight to Hue. Upon on arrival, after clearing all customs procedures, please proceed to exit gate and look for your driver who will be waiting at the lobby, holding the Luxury Travel Vietnam signboard with your name on it, if you cannot locate your driver, please go to the Airport information counter situated in the middle of Domestic (inside the terminal) and call the emergency numbers (+84) ——– for assistance. Your driver will come to meet you up and transfer you to hotel for check in and free at leisure.
Overnight in Hue.
At 08:00 am, after a strengthening breakfast at the hotel, you will board a private boat for cruising the romantic Perfume River and visiting the Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda). The charming Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda) with its iconic seven-story pagoda is regarded as the unofficial symbol of the city and it has often been the subject of folk rhymes and ca dao about Huế.
You will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to visit Tu Duc’s Tomb. This tomb, constructed between 1864 and 1867, is the most popular and impressive of the royal mausoleums. Emperor Tu Duc designed it himself to use before and after his death. The enormous expense of the tomb and the forced labor used in its construction spawned a coup plot that was discovered and suppressed. A visit to Hue would not be complete without taking in attractions such as the Citadel, the Forbidden Purple City, the Imperial Museum.
Overnight in Hue.
After breakfast at hotel, Then drive 3.5 hours to Hoi An along a scenic coastal route passing mountains on one side and the ocean on the other. Upon arrival in Hoi An, check in your hotel and free at leisure.
In the afternoon, enjoy walking tour Hoi An.
Between the 15th and 19th centuries, Hoi An known then as ‘Faifo’, was a prosperous trading port, attracting Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, Portuguese and Spanish ships amongst others. Today, this World Heritage ancient town is recognised for its well-preserved architecture, pedestrian-only streets and distinctive local cuisine, allowing visitors a glimpse of its illustrious past. Hoi An’s narrow lanes are ideal for a guided walking tour of its many atmospheric sights including: the old merchant houses with influences from Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese architecture; the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, first built in the 1590s by the Japanese community to link them with the Chinese quarters across the stream; the Assembly Hall of the Chaozhou Chinese Congregation with its intricate woodcarvings; and the colourful market with stalls brimming with local specialties including silk, which can be turned into fashionable garments within a day or two.
NOTES
Suggested departure time 14:00
Tour duration: 03 hours
After breakfast at hotel, You will be picked up and transferred to Vong Nhi village by E-car, you receive the bikes and we start cycling through the village (around 6 km). On the way we may see lots of stunning landscapes from peaceful countryside such as green water coconut forest and prawn & red snapper farms or immerse ourselves in rustic beauty of rice fields. Arrival at Thanh dong organic farm- a 10,000sqm organic garden supporting 10 local families. We will take a short stroll around the vegetable garden while listening to the life-changing story of the farmers since they have been approached organic method of cultivating herbs.
Afterwards we join the farmers to do some gardening activities like preparing and applying organic manure to the land, raking the ground, sowing herb seed, watering or picking vegetables. Then, we leave the farm for taking the basket boat ride along the Do River to The Field Restaurant. You may enjoy the beautiful scenery or fishing life of local villagers on the way there. Before getting back to the hotel, we will enjoy short cooking class and have Vietnamese family style lunch
Overnight in Hoi An.
You will be picked up at your hotel lobby and transferred to Danang airport for your flight to Saigon. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed and transferred to to Mekong Delta. The transfer to Coco Riverside Lodge, Trung Nghia – Vung Liem is about 3 hours drive via Bentre.
Upon arrival at the lodge, you will meet a representative and you are led to the lodge along countryside path. After just a short walk you will be treated to a welcome drink. Check in and have lunch at lodge’s restaurant
After a chance to rest, you walk around village paths leading us to home of Mr. Cong where you watch how he makes pop rice, shows you the blend of traditional and modern agricultural method that sustains the local village. He will reveal the secret of making ‘rice pop’. This unique and nutritious foodstuff will become a gift for locals or children in school. Your guide explains how the animals are raised and shows you the way they collect ‘biogas’ to make free and sustainable cooking food.
Walk back to Lodge, select bicycles for a cycling tour in the afternoon on quiet village roads passing by a duck farm, green rice paddies, sedge field and small villages. Along the way, you visit one of the many dragon/orange fruit plantations and taste it directly at the garden. This is a relaxing time with plenty of chances to capture the picturesque Asian sun set scenes. Enjoy the beautiful sunset before returning to the lodge on your bicycles.
After shower and refresh, you start to walk to neighbor home and enjoy a “poon” lights while traditional musical performance by war veteran artist. Then, experience of traditional torches made of dried coconut leaves to get back.
You are the chef! A traditional cooking class with Vietnamese pancake made by you. A great learning experience that means you can take a little of Vietnam home with you. Dinner is served at lodge’s restaurant
Accommodation at Coco Riverside Lodge
After breakfast, loaded boats are already heading to local squatting market and transporting goods such as coconuts from one factory to the other, crossing local ferry to visit beautiful Cao Dai temple. We also had a chance to see these factories. Situated alongside the river, these are small coconut-processing operations. Once the coconut has been shelled, the coconut fibers are removed from the husk to make rope, which in turn is used to weave rugs. You can watch the whole manufacturing process in a short period of time. Most of the work is done by hand at very low cost. The buyers are mostly foreign companies.
Back to the Lodge, if time permitted, take some activities as to harvest some water coconut leaves and weave them up by you. These leaves are a key building material in the Mekong Delta as they are used to build the walls and roof of the houses. The local people will show you not only how they use these leaves but also how to make the ‘poon’ sticks that illuminated in the previous night. Check out and Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant on the way back to HCMC.
This morning, you will depart from hotel for a 2hr drive northwest to the Cu Chi Tunnels. The ingenious tunnel complex was initially started in 1948 to protect the Viet Cong guerrillas from the French air and ground sweeps. The tunnels also served as communication routes, storage facilities for food and weapon caches and contained hospitals and living quarters for guerrilla fighters throughout the American War. Continue your journey with a 1.5hr drive to the Cao Dai Great Temple in Tay Ninh. Founded in the early 20th century and indigenous to Vietnam, Cao Dai is a fusion of elements from Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism, with some aspects of Christianity and Islam. The elaborate architecture of the temple reflects this unique combination of religions. Visitors are welcome inside the temple to observe the colourful midday service. There is a viewing balcony which affords excellent views and photography is permitted. Enjoy a Vietnamese lunch at a simple, local restaurant before returning to Saigon.
AFTERNOON IS CITY HIGHLIGHTS TOUR
In the afternoon, join HCMC city tour. With over eight million inhabitants and four million motorbikes, Saigon is truly a city that never sleeps. Despite its modernity, Saigon maintains a strong link to the past and our city tour takes in some of Saigon’s most historic landmarks including the Notre Dame Cathedral, a red brick edifice with twin spires constructed from materials imported from France (entrance is only permitted when no services are being performed). Then head across the square to the Central Post Office, completed in 1891. A short drive away is the former Presidential Palace, the headquarters of the Saigon Government during the American War. Continue to the War Remnants Museum for a vivid perspective of the American War through the eyes of the Vietnamese. (Please note that some of the displays are very graphic.) Experience Saigon’s famed street coffee culture while your guide provides a brief language lesson as well as insights into daily life of a Saigonese before returning to your hotel.
Overnight in Saigon.
After breakfast at hotel, you are free for shopping until transferring to airport for your onward flight to go home
Click one of our contacts below to chat on WhatsApp
