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14 Day itinerary in Vietnam, Asia

Overall Vietnam

Experience Vietnam by sampling its cultural hubs, the wide range of must-do activities guarantee you a memorable holiday.

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LindaJacquelineAlessiaThreelandSophie

By Linda, Jacqueline, Alessia, Threeland and Sophie

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Easy
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Recommended Age

Everyone

Operated in

English

GUIDANCE

On Some Day Trips

starting point

Ho Chi Minh City

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Indigenous culture

Meet local people

Nature & Wildlife

Start

Night

End

Highlights

1

Discover Southern Vietnam with Ho Chi Minh city, Cao Dai and Cu Chi tunnels

2

Mingle yourself in the historical and cultural sites of Hue and Hoian

3

Explore Halong Bay's unusually picturesque beauty with rocks and islets, beaches and hollow islands

4

Experience the thriving Vietnamese culture and charming vibes of Hanoi and Sapa

Itinerary

Mid-Range Accommodation - 3* standard expand_more

Day 1

place SAIGON ARRIVAL

Xin Chao! Welcome to Saigon (now known as Ho Chi Minh City) – the most hectic and busiest city of Vietnam. Upon arrival at the airport, welcomed by the local tour guide and transfer to the city center. Check in hotel. Overnight in Saigon. Please note: Normal check in time at hotel is 14:00 – 15:00, early check in is subject to availability

Guide: Included for the day

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation - 3* standard: Liberty Hotel Saigon Parkview
  • High-end Accommodation - 4* standard: Gracy R&J Hotel
  • High-end Accommodation - 5* standard: Hotel Majestic Saigon
Day 2

place SAIGON – CU CHI TUNNELS – CITY TOUR

Breakfast at hotel. Depart for Cu Chi tunnels. Our tour guide will give you an overview introduction of Cu Chi Tunnels and its legendary history. Enjoy the scenic drive northwest towards the Cambodian border. Today you will get to explore a section of the network of some 125 miles (200 kilometers) of subterranean passages and rooms. Upon on arrival, we will watch a short documentary film about this tunnels tell you how about the histories and how fierce the war happened. Then the tour will help you to learn the pivotal part they played in the war such as trap doors, and climb inside to see where the Viet Cong built storage facilities, weapons factories, kitchens… Afterward travelers can try local special food - rice tapioca & hot tea which was main food during the war. Visitors can try to fire off an AK47 or M16 or machine guns at the nearby shooting range (At your own account). Afternoon, we start the city tour at the Reunification Palace, the witness of the fierce Vietnam War ended in 1975. The grand building today is a Museum and Hall of official receptions. Nearby the Palace are the colonial-styled Central Post Office and the Notre Dame Cathedral (outside due to construction), built between 1877 and 1883 and one of the city’s major landmarks. Have a walking tour on Nguyen Hue street to take the photos of the Opera House and the Ho Chi Minh Committee (outside). From here, walking to Ben Thanh Market one of the most typical symbol of Saigon to experience the daily life of the locals and do shopping the hand-made goods there. Overnight in Saigon.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation - 3* standard: Liberty Hotel Saigon Parkview
  • High-end Accommodation - 4* standard: Gracy R&J Hotel
  • High-end Accommodation - 5* standard: Hotel Majestic Saigon
Day 3

place SAIGON – BEN TRE – SAIGON

Breakfast at hotel. Morning transfer from Saigon to Ben Tre, a province nearby Saigon but full of the exciting life of the Mekong people. Being one of several mightiest rivers in the world, the Mekong flows into Vietnam at its lowest part before coming to the Pacific and left behind a hectic life of “Mekong people”. Upon arriving, go between coconut lines by boat to reach some gardened houses where people run their family factories producing candy, feed honey bee or plant orchards. You can taste some wine or tea with honey right at the gardens here. Back to Saigon later afternoon. Overnight Saigon.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation - 3* standard: Liberty Hotel Saigon Parkview
  • High-end Accommodation - 4* standard: Gracy R&J Hotel
  • High-end Accommodation - 5* standard: Hotel Majestic Saigon
Day 4

place SAIGON – MORNING FLIGHT TO HUE - CITY TOUR

Breakfast at hotel and check out. Private transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport to take the morning flight to Hue. Upon arrival at the airport, welcomed and transferred to the city center to check in hotel. Being recognized by UNESCO as the 1st Cultural World Heritage for Vietnam, Hue is highlighted by the old royal architectural works and the most traditional Vietnamese lifestyle. Afternoon, we will discover the charm of the city from the Royal Citadel, Forbidden City, Hue Royal Museum. Go on having a boat trip on Perfume river to visit Thien Mu pagoda, the iconic of Hue city. Overnight in Hue.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation - 3* standard: ÊMM Hotel Hue
  • High-end Accommodation - 4* standard: Eldora Hotel
  • High-end Accommodation - 5* standard: Indochine Palace Hotel
Day 5

place HUE CITY TOUR – TRANSFER TO HOIAN

After breakfast, drive 12 km out of Hue City to visit the Tombs of Emperor Minh Mang located on the west bank of Perfume river, which was built from 1840 and completed in 1843 with the effort of ten thousand workers and artisans. The Tomb offers a balance of nature and structures that is unmatched among tombs in Hue. The solemn and quiet architecture set in a poetic landscape demonstrates both the Emperor's strictness and deep beliefs. Continue visiting Emperor Khai Dinh’s Tomb, the last great tomb of the Nguyen dynasty with a mix of Asian and European style in architecture and decoration. The tomb began construction in 1920 and took eleven years to complete, and was still unfinished when the Emperor Khai Dinh passed away. Though in extent, Khai Dinh’ Tomb is small in comparison with the rest of Imperial tombs, its construction, decoration and details are very elaborate. At noon, check out hotel and we will depart from Hue to Hoian by the Hai Van Pass (the “Ocean Cloudy Mountain Pass”) and enjoy the beauty of Lang Co Beach before reaching Hoian. Check in hotel. Overnight in Hoian.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation - 3* standard: Lotus Hoi An Boutique Hotel & Spa
  • High-end Accommodation - 4* standard: Hoi An Rosemary Boutique Hotel & Spa
  • High-end Accommodation - 5* standard: Little Riverside Hoi An - Little Luxury Hotel & Spa
Day 6

place HOIAN - MY SON SANCTUARY - HOI AN TOWN TOUR

After breakfast, we will depart from Hoian to My Son, where you can discover the hidden treasure of the Cham culture that once brightfully developed in the location of present Central Vietnam. Thanks to the mystery and construction secrets of the Cham towers hereby, My Son had been also designated by UNESCO as one of the five World Heritages in Vietnam. This afternoon is for Hoian ancient town – when walking over the tile-roofed Japanese Bridge, visit taciturn Chinese Assembly Halls and Trading Houses, Pagodas, and stroll around the market located by Thu Bon river, you may find out the same feelings of the artists, who see the charm of Hoian a magical old world of Oriental feel and source of inspiration. Overnight in Hoian.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation - 3* standard: Lotus Hoi An Boutique Hotel & Spa
  • High-end Accommodation - 4* standard: Hoi An Rosemary Boutique Hotel & Spa
  • High-end Accommodation - 5* standard: Little Riverside Hoi An - Little Luxury Hotel & Spa
Day 7

place HOIAN - BA NA HILL - DANANG – EVENING FLIGHT TO HANOI

Breakfast at hotel and check out. Morning transfer to Ba Na Hills for discover this beautiful attraction in Da Nang city. You will take a cable car to the summit of mountain (at 1487m of sea level). Start visiting Ba Na Hill with many different attractions: Funicular, Debay ancient wine cellar & Le Jardin D’Amour, Linh Ung pagoda, Thich Ca Buddist statue, etc. This afternoon you continue to join activities and games in Fantasy Park. Later walk to the summit of the mountain at the height 1487m – the highest one of Ba Na Mountain, visit Bell Tower, Nghinh Phong tower and Golden Bridge, to take beautiful photos of the mountain and Da Nang city. Late afternoon, head to Danang airport for flight to Hanoi. Upon your arrival in Noi Bai Airport, our guide and private car will greet you and transfer to hotel for check in. Overnight in Hanoi. Please note: Wax Museum entrance fee, wine tasting cost and coin games at Fantasy Park are not included, joining them will be at your own account.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation - 3* standard: Adamas Hanoi Hotel
  • High-end Accommodation - 4* standard: Thang Long Opera Hotel
  • High-end Accommodation - 5* standard: Meliá Hanoi Hotel
Day 8

place HANOI CITY TOUR

Breakfast at hotel. Morning transfer to Ba Dinh Square – the biggest square in Hanoi where all the biggest cultural, political events of the cities, especially demonstrations, take place. Start our visit at the Complex of Ho Chi Minh including Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (closed on Mondays, Fridays and 3 months annually for restoration), Ho Chi Minh’s house-on-stilts, his fish pond and the One-Pillar Pagoda. Then, visit the Temple of Literature which is considered as the first university of Vietnam. Continue the trip to picturesque West lake to visit Tran Quoc pagoda, the oldest pagoda in Hanoi built from 6th century. Afternoon, we drive to visit the Museum of Ethnology (closed on Mondays). This is one of the largest Museums in Vietnam with 2 exhibition areas – inside and outside. Visiting this Museum will bring you the knowledge about the Ethnic groups in Vietnam and their cultures. Late afternoon, we have an overall view of the capital by a “cyclo” visit, which will start around the Old Quarter of Hanoi, stop to visit Ngoc Son Temple located on the Hoan Kiem Lake (the “Sword” Lake). From here, we wander on the narrow streets of the Old Quarter to experience the daily life of the local people. Evening highlight will be the Water Puppet Show. Overnight in Hanoi.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation - 3* standard: Adamas Hanoi Hotel
  • High-end Accommodation - 4* standard: Thang Long Opera Hotel
  • High-end Accommodation - 5* standard: Meliá Hanoi
Day 9

place HANOI – HOA LU – TAM COC – HANOI – NIGHT TRAIN TO LAO CAI (NO GUIDE ESCORT ON TRAIN)

Breakfast and check out hotel. This morning, take a 90km driving south of Hanoi will lead you to Ninh Binh, the site of the one capital city of ancient Vietnam before Hanoi took its leading role in 11th century. The area is featured by lots of well-known sceneries, which include Tam Coc Caves and Hoa Lu ancient capital with the old temples dedicated to King Dinh & King Le reigned in 10th century. The visit in Ninh Binh starts by a boat trip in Tam Coc where spectacular limestone karsts jut out from the green paddy fields reminding about Guilin (China) and Halong Bay of Vietnam, which gives this scenery the name “Halong-bay-on-land”. Further discovery in Ninh Binh will be continued by visiting Bich Dong pagoda. Afternoon drive back Hanoi, on the way, stop to visit Hoa Lu, the site that used to be the kings’ palace in 10th century and now famous for the wooden relieves of the shady Dinh and Le temples. Back to Hanoi in the late afternoon. Transfer to a mini hotel for a short rest before heading to the train station for your night train to Lao Cai. Overnight on train (4-berth sharing cabin with A/C).

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation - 3* standard: Chapa Express Train
  • High-end Accommodation - 4* standard: Chapa Express Train
  • High-end Accommodation - 5* standard: Victoria Express Train
Day 10

place LAO CAI – MARKET VISIT OR SIN CHAI – CAT CAT VILLAGES – SAPA

Arrive at Lao Cai Station at 06.00, picked up by our guide and transferred to have breakfast at local restaurant. Option 1: If today is Saturday, Sunday or Tuesday, nothing will be better than driving overland to a market of the hill tribal people, mainly from Flower Hmong ethnical group. Depending on the day, you can choose either Can Cau (Sat), Bac Ha (Sun) or Coc Ly (Tue). In all these markets, we can meet hundreds of beautiful women from Flower Hmong tribe, who are famous for their wonderful craft and hand-made flowering clothes and textile fabrics, or intermingle with people from Black Hmong, Dzay, Dzao and other ethnic groups coming to the market not for purchasing stuffs, but for meeting and chatting – just once a week - like in a real cultural center. After sightseeing, drive to Sapa to check in hotel and stay overnight. Option 2: If today is not Tuesday, Saturday or Sunday, we visit hill tribe villages surrounding Sapa town. After about 45 minutes driving uphill to Sapa town, we leave the luggage at hotel then walk around the town. We then visit Cat Cat Village, about 1 km from Sapa town. It's located at the bottom of the Muong Hoa Valley and near the stunning Cat Cat Waterfall. This is an age-old village of H'Mong ethnic group remaining unique customs and practices that are lots in other villages. Then next 3 km to Sin Chai, the village located at the foot of Fansipan Mountain, “the roof of Vietnam and Indochina”. From here you can enjoy huge stunning landscapes and fall in the beauty in Sapa. Drive back to your hotel. Overnight in Sapa.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation - 3* standard: Sunny Mountain Hotel
  • High-end Accommodation - 4* standard: Sapa Highland Resort & Spa
  • High-end Accommodation - 5* standard: Silk Path Grand Sapa Resort & Spa
Day 11

place SAPA - Y LINH HO, LAO CHAI, TA VAN VILLAGES - LAO CAI – NIGHT TRAIN TO HANOI (NO GUIDE ESCORT ON

Breakfast at hotel. Begin trekking from Sapa towards another part of Muong Hoa Valley where you can see the magnificent landscapes of the mountainous region. Trek through Y Linh Ho, the village of the Black H’mong. The walk then takes you from Lao Chai village of Black Hmong minority to Ta Van village of Giay minority including a visit to the local Catholic Church. After that, the car will take you back to Sapa town. Finish the tour, we drive to Lao Cai station for the overnight train to Hanoi, stop at a mini hotel for shower and a short rest. Overnight on train (4-berth sharing cabin with A/C).

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation - 3* standard: Chapa Express Train
  • High-end Accommodation - 4* standard: Chapa Express Train
  • High-end Accommodation - 5* standard: Victoria Express Train
Day 12

place HANOI – PRIVATE TRANSFER TO HALONG BAY/LAN HA BAY – OVERNIGHT ON CRUISE

Upon arrival, picked up and transferred to have breakfast at a local restaurant. This morning, we will drive via the new expressway, which takes around 2.5 – 3 hours (instead of 3.5 – 4 hours via the old road) to Halong, one of the earliest World Heritages Sited designated by UNESCO for Vietnam in 1994. Note: the drive will take 2 hours from Hanoi to Hai Phong (Lan Ha Bay). Upon arrival in Halong, check in the overnight cruise to discover the magnificent beauty of this “Descending-dragon” bay, created by thousands odd-shaped limestone rocks and karst grottoes. After a lunch on board, we can visit the Grottos, stop for swimming or kayaking, passing floating houses and approach islets to enjoy their beauty in close distance. Back to the cruise, enjoy cooking demonstration before having dinner. Evening attend activities on the boat or relax at your own leisure. Overnight on the cruise. Please note: the program may vary depending on the cruise you choose. You will have station English speaking guide on board.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation - 3* standard: Phoenix Cruise
  • High-end Accommodation - 4* standard: Victory Cruise
  • High-end Accommodation - 5* standard: Era Cruise
Day 13

place HALONG BAY/LAN HA BAY – PRIVATE TRANSFER TO HANOI

You should wake up early to enjoy the dawn on the sea in the early morning. The Vietnamese calls the "East Sea" by a point-oriented name "Eastern Sea", so you may guess how miraculous seeing the sunrise over the islets of the Bay. After breakfast, our boat will continue to cruise in marvelous areas, where almost each islet has its own name, adopting its shape or reminiscent like Sail Island, Fisherman’s head rock, Butterfly rock or Turtle islet etc. Check out your room and have brunch on board while the cruise comes back the pier. Disembark from the cruise, our driver and tour guide will transfer you back to Hanoi from Halong via the old road (3.5 – 4 hours driving) or via the expressway from Hai Phong (2 hours driving). Check in hotel and time at leisure. Overnight in Hanoi. Note: You can choose to be transferred by shuttle bus provided by Cruise company instead of private transfer for cost optimizing in case you are a group of less than 6 people.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation - 3* standard: Adamas Hanoi Hotel
  • High-end Accommodation - 4* standard: Thang Long Opera Hotel
  • High-end Accommodation - 5* standard: Meliá Hanoi, Lý Thường Kiệt
Day 14

place HANOI DEPARTURE

Breakfast at hotel and check out. You are free until transfer to airport for departure flight. Please note: Normal check out time at hotel is 11:00 – 12:00, late check out is not included

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

What’s Included

Accommodation expand_less

  • Liberty Hotel Saigon Parkview
  • ÊMM Hotel Hue
  • Lotus Hoi An Boutique Hotel & Spa
  • Adamas Hanoi Hotel
  • Chapa Express Train
  • Sunny Mountain Hotel
  • Phoenix Cruise
  • Victory Cruise
  • Gracy R&J Hotel
  • Eldora Hotel
  • Hoi An Rosemary Boutique Hotel & Spa
  • Thang Long Opera Hotel
  • Chapa Express Train
  • Sapa Highland Resort & Spa
  • Era Cruise
  • Hotel Majestic Saigon
  • Indochine Palace Hotel
  • Little Riverside Hoi An - Little Luxury Hotel & Spa
  • Meliá Hanoi Hotel
  • Meliá Hanoi
  • Victoria Express Train
  • Silk Path Grand Sapa Resort & Spa
  • Meliá Hanoi, Lý Thường Kiệt

Meals expand_less

  • Breakfast (13)
  • Lunch (2)
  • Dinner (1)

Transport expand_less

  • Cruise on non-private junk in Halong Bay/ Lan Ha Bay
  • Round trip overnight train tickets Hanoi - Lao Cai - Hanoi: 4-berth sharing cabin
  • Private boats for sightseeing as per program
  • Private transportation by vehicle with A/C

Activities expand_less

  • Activities as listed on the itinerary

Extras expand_less

  • Water during tour day

Not Included expand_less

  • Visa Approval letter/ Visa stamp fee/ Fast track
  • Meals not mentioned in the program
  • Any flights (International & Domestic) and airport tax
  • Single Supplement; Early check-in and late check-out; Hotel/Room upgrade
  • Tip, drinks, personal expenses and any services not mentioned in the program

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