Hanoi

Tour

From northern minorities to deeper mekong delta

Day 1 HANOI

On arrival, welcome at the airport and proceed to your selected hotel. Afternoon, enjoy the orientation tour of the city including Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple and the Old Quarter and Temple of Literature. Enjoy then a cyclo (rickshaw) tour through the Old Quarter then a traditional water puppet show.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2 HANOI / HOA LU / HANOI / LAO CAI   (B/L/D)

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive through the countryside to Hoa Lu, the ancient 10th century capital of Vietnam. On arrival, take a bicycle ride to Bich Dong Pagoda and then continue to Thung Nang pier. Board a small sampan for a spectacular 2-hour journey through one cave and numerous waterways and beautiful rural scenery of limestone cliffs and rice paddies. Return to have lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit Dinh Tien Hoang and Le Dai Hanh Dynastic temples before driving back to Hanoi. Have a local dinner before transferring to the railway station for the overnight train to Lao Cai (Departure: 21h15 on the local train. Note that Victoria train depart at 21h55).

Overnight on the train.

Day 3 LAO CAI / SAPA    (B)

Arrival at Lao Cai railway station early in the morning. Drive to Sapa (approximately 1 hour). Breakfast will be taken on arrival at the hotel. Free time in the morning to relax. In the afternoon, visit Sapa Market, Thac Bac Waterfalls and Traurion Pass with the splendid views of its surrounding mountains and valleys.

Overnight in Sapa.

Day 4 SAPA   (B/L) < light trekking>

Breakfast at the hotel. Full day discovery of minority villages located in Sapa Valley. Drive to Lao Chai and then trek (2 km) through rice fields to a traditional Black H’Mong house and then continue the trek to Ta Van village (2 km) to visit a Giay minority village. Picnic lunch on the way, then walk through a bamboo forest until you reach Giangtachai, a Red Dzao village. This part of the trip is fascinating with beautiful scenery and colourful ethnic minorities such as the Red Dao with their unique customs and traditions. Your driver will be waiting for you at Giangtachai to bring you back to the hotel.

Lunch in a local restaurant in Sapa.

Overnight in Sapa.

Day 5 SAPA and its surroundings / LAO CAI / HANOI   (B/L) < minority market>

After breakfast, check out from the hotel to visit one of the beautiful minority markets in the region (depending on the day of the week). After a local lunch, depart to Lao Cai for the overnight local train to Hanoi leaving at 20h15 (Note that Victoria train depart at 21h05).

Overnight on the train.

Note: Room for day use at Lao Cai until the train’s departure is recommended.

Market days:

- Wednesday: Chin Xen (116 km from Lao Cai or 156 km from Sapa) or Cao Son (80 km from Lao Cai or 120 km from Sapa).

- Thursday: Lung Khau Nhi (61 km from Lao Cai or 90 km from Sapa). 

- Saturdays: Can Cau Market. Located in a neighboring valley to Sapa. To reach the market, follow a spectacular road with beautiful scenery. This market is the weekly meeting point for Flower H/Mong, Fula, Black H’Mong and is one the most authentic markets in the region. After the market, visit some nearby villages before returning leisurely to Lao Cai..

- Sundays: Muong Khuong or Bac Ha Markets : the busiest market of the region where you will meet the H’Mongs, Fula, Dao and other ethnic minorities who come and exchange not only the goods but the gossip of their own community.

Note: Tuesdays' Coc Ly Market is temporally inaccessible until further notice.

Day 6 HANOI / HALONG   (B/L/D)

Arrive in Hanoi early in the morning. After breakfast at a local restaurant, continue by road to Halong Bay. On the way, stop at the traditional ceramic factory of Chu Dau in Hai Duong. Arrive around 12h30 and board a junk for a memorable cruise through mystical Halong Bay. Enjoy a delicious lunch on board and spend your day admiring one of the natural marvels of Vietnam: visit islets, caves and weather permitting, enjoy a swim in the clear waters of the Gulf of Tonkin.

Dinner and overnight on the junk

Note: Recommend to book the hotel room in Hanoi for day use.

Day 7 HALONG / HANOI    (B/L)

After breakfast, discover Man’s Head Island, Tortoise Island, Luon Cave, Bai Tu Long Bay and Bai Tho Mountain. The cruise ends at around noon, then, drive back to Hanoi airport for your departure flight to Hue

Overnight in Hue.

Day 8 HANOI / HUE    (B)

After breakfast, visit the Imperial Citadel and Tu Duc Mausoleum. In the afternoon, visit Emperor Minh Mang’s mausoleum and drive to the seven-storey Thien Mu Pagoda on the riverbank at around 16h30 where you can watch the monks at their daily prayer. You will also stop at villages to see how conical hats and incense sticks are made. You will end the day with a boat trip on the gentle Perfume River.

Overnight in Hue.

Day 9 HUE / DANANG / HOI AN   (B)

After breakfast, depart to Danang via the Hai Van Pass. On arrival, visit the Cham Museum and continue the trip to Hoi An. The rest of the day is free time at leisure.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 10 HOI AN   (B)

After breakfast, visit the riverside town of Hoi An, which was an important trading port during the 17th and 18th centuries and which, is now officially considered a UNESCO World heritage site. Take a walking tour around Hoi An ancient town and explore its treasures, then visit a lantern making cottage and try to make your own lantern.

In the afternoon, enjoy a cruise on the Thu Bon River and stop on the way at a traditional ceramic and carpentry village. The rest of the time is at leisure.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 11 HOI AN / DANANG / HO CHI MINH CITY   (B)

After breakfast, depart to Danang Airport for your morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival, proceed to your selected hotel. In the same morning, discover the bustling Saigon: Enjoy a tour in the Old Colonial Residential Quarter with the old Hotel de Ville, the Opera House, the 19th century Notre-Dame Cathedral, the beautiful Central Post Office and the Reunification Palace (outside). In the afternoon, visit the War Remnants Museum and continue to Cho Lon and the bustling Binh Tay Markets. Finally, end the day with a visit to Vinh Nghiem Pagoda and a lacquer ware factory.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 12 HO CHI MINH CITY / CAI BE / VINH LONG / CAN THO   (B/L)

After breakfast, depart Ho Chi Minh City and drive to Cai Be in the heart of the Mekong Delta. On arrival, board a sampan for a journey on the Mekong River and its myriad canals to Vinh Long. Visit an old colonial house, a rice popcorn factory and taste local specialties for lunch. In the afternoon, continue the trip to Can Tho, the principal town of the Mekong Delta.

Overnight in Can Tho.

Day 13 CAN THO / CAI RANG / CHAU DOC   (B)

After breakfast, board a sampan to visit Cai Rang floating market and witness the rural life and the beautiful vegetation along the riverbanks. Discover Can Tho’s market and then drive to Chau Doc, near the Cambodian border. On arrival, visit Sam Mountain, a popular pilgrimage site with a selection of Chinese, Cham and Khmer temples before checking into your hotel.

Overnight in Chau Doc.

Day 14 CHAU DOC / HO CHI MINH CITY   (B)

After breakfast, cruise through a fascinating floating village where fish are bred in their natural environment, and learn more about Cham culture while visiting a small village and its mosque. In the afternoon, drive back to Ho Chi Minh City via Cao Lanh. Arrive in Ho Ch Minh City in the evening.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 15 HO CHI MINH CITY   (B)

Breakfast at the hotel. Free time until your departure to Tan Son Nhat airport for your flight.  

End of our services.

Our prices include:

• Accommodation in shared double or twin room at hotels selected.
• Transfer by private air-conditioned vehicle as per program.
• English speaking guide for each area except during time at leisure.
• Entry fees for all sightseeing as mentioned on the program.
• Private boat for the trips mentioned.
• Shared junk in double cabin in Halong Bay
• Meals as mentioned on the program: (B) for breakfast, (L) for lunch or (D) for dinner.
• Local train Hanoi - Lao Cai - Hanoi in sleeping carriages of 4 berths with air-conditioning.
• Government taxes currently in force (V.A.T.).

Our prices do not include:

• Visa for Vietnam.
• Flights Hanoi - Hue / Danang - Ho Chi Minh City including domestic airport taxes.
• International flights and airport taxes.
• Drinks, tips, personal expenses and all services not clearly mentioned.

Note:

• Program is subject to change without prior notice due to airlines unexpected changes of schedule or flight cancellations.
• We reserve the right to adjust the prices at any time in the event of an increase in the fuel surcharge applied by airlines or any other transport companies.
• Visa into Vietnam available upon arrival at the airport with prior arrangement for authorisation letter.
• In general most places ( shops, markets) are closed in Vietnam throughout the period of the Lunar New Year (from January 25th to 29th 2009).
• If the clients cannot ride bicycle in Hoa Lu, transfers will be available by car or van.

Supplement:

• Half-board: 9 lunches at local restaurants.
• Full-board: 9 lunches and 13 dinners at local restaurants.

Source: phoenixvoyages.com

Information

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Tour Map

Related Places

Hanoi	Ninh Binh	Lao Cai
Sapa	Ha Long Bay	Hue
Da Nang	Hoi An	Ho Chi Minh City
Can Tho	Chau Doc