Vietnam Tours | Culture Tours

Vietnam in Depth 19 days
Tripcode: VCVD19D

Travel the length of Vietnam, stopping in Ho Chi Minh City (in the south), Hanoi (in the north), and the beaches and small towns of the central coast in between. Begin in dynamic HCMC, the country's commercial center and home to a growing number of upscale restaurants and shops. Visit Chinatown , the Thien Hau Pagoda, the Reunification Palace , the Opera House and Hotel de Ville. If desired, also visit the moving War Remnants Museum. Explore colorful outdoor markets and Dong Khoi Street, the city's upscale shopping boulevard with boutiques selling clothes and accessories designed by new Vietnamese designers, hill tribe crafts, high quality linens and housewares. Take a day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels and watch an eccentric religious ceremony at the main temple of Cao Daism, an ecelectic fusion of world religions, in Tay Ninh. Alternatively, spend the day cruising the narrow canals of the Mekong Delta and stay in the boutique hotel in Can tho, the heart of the Mekong Delta.

Next, fly to the resort of Nha Trang to spend several days in a secluded island resort overlooking beautiful Nha Trang Bay. Snorkel or dive among the coral reefs in crystal blue waters, hike nature trails, cool off in your pool, indulge in spa treatments or just relax on the white sand beach and admire the unspoiled mountain and sea views.

Fly to Danang and land transfer to the atmospheric Hoi An, a UNESCO-designated World Heritage site. It is a riverfront port town crammed with historic homes, tiny museums, cafes, and bustling silk and fish markets. Nearby, see ancient sculpture in the Cham Museum, and tour Buddhist cave temples in the Marble Mountains. Opt to stay at a luxury beach resort in nearby Danang, or a boutique riverside hotel in the heart of Hoi An.

Next, huge the dramatic landscape of central coasline by a private car or minivan to Hue, the former Imperial capital of Hue i s a quiet city renowned for the magnificent architecture of its citadel, palaces, royal tombs, pagodas and temples, built under the Nguyen dynasty on the banks of the Perfume River .

Wrap up in Hanoi , Vietnam's artistic and intellectual capital. Explore the fascinating Old Quarter and its hundreds of specialty shops selling silk clothing, lacquerware, embroidered linens, furniture, bamboo, cooking utensils, ceremonial objects and more. Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake , ride a cyclo to dinner, and watch a performance at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater. Dine in French colonial villas converted into gourmet restaurants. Enjoy people watching at stylish cafes. Shop for impressive modern art in the city's many galleries. Also visit Hanoi 's main cultural attractions, including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his House on Stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Fine Arts Museum and the Temple of Literature.

Next, board the Victoria Oriental Express Train bound for remote Sapa, a mountain village near the Chinese border. Visit local markets where hill tribe minorities (including Hmong, Red Dao, Tay, Xa Pho and Giay) trade their goods. View spectacular waterfalls and drive through mountain valleys. Explore the hill station town of Sapa , and visit several villages where the tribes live. During free time, enjoy your mountain chalet hotel, where you can enjoy fondue by the fire, swimming, tennis, and mountain walks.

Also spend an overnight in Halong Bay, where thousands of limestone rock sculptures jut dramatically from the sea and numerous grottoes have created an ephemeral, fantastic landscape. YOU MAY LOOSE THE WAY BACK!

Day 1. Arrival HCMC (D)

Welcome on arrival at HCMC 's Tan Son Nhat International airport by our guide and transferred to your hotel. At leisure. Transfer out for welcome dinner at a chic restaurant. Overnight in HCMC.

Day 2. Ho Chi Minh City Tour (B/L)

Begin our urban experience in bustling HCMC (formerly Saigon ), the country's commercial center and home to a growing number of upscale restaurants and shops. Visit Chinatown, the Thien Hau Pagoda, the Reunification Palace , the Opera House and Hotel de Ville. If desired, also visit the moving War Remnants Museum.

Explore colorful outdoor markets and Dong Khoi Street , the city's main shopping boulevard with shops selling clothes and accessories by new Vietnamese designers, hill tribe crafts, high quality linens and housewares. The urban modern Ho Chi Minh City with its numerous shopping malls, cinemas, discotheques and a bewildering number of bars. Overnight in HCMC.

Day 3 .HCMC – Cu Chi Tunnels and Cao Dai Temples (B/L)

This morning we drive to Cao Dai Temples in Tay Ninh to observe the midday service. Following lunch we will drive to the Cu Chi Tunnels and then return to HCMC at around 6 pm. Tay Ninh , near the Cambodian border, is home to the unique Cao Dai sect, whose patron saints include Joan of Arc, Victor Hugo and Winston Churchill to name a few.

The religion is a hybrid of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and Christianity. The Cao Dai Temple at Tay Ninh has been described as a Walt Disney fantasia of the East. The temple's exterior is decorated with multi-colored dragons of all shapes and sizes competing for space with a number of religious symbols. Above the main entrance is the all-seeing holy eye, the symbol of the Cao Dai sect. The interior is just as engaging as statues of Jesus Christ, Buddha and the Hindu god, Brahma, stand side by side. The trip to Tay Ninh is combined with a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels. At its height, the tunnel system stretched over 250km. from Saigon to the Cambodian border and was three levels deep. The network included innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens.

Today the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience and a feel of what underground life during the U.S.-Vietnam War must have been like. Overnight in HCMC.

Day 4. HCM City - Mekong Delta (B/L/-)

Leave HCMC to lush My Tho where we cruise on a private boat through the green vegetation of the canals to an orchard, where we are treated to a delicious lunch in a bonsai garden in the heart of the Mekong , complete with tropical fruits. We also visit the snake farm Dong Tam that breeds snakes for, among other things, snake wine and enjoy a bonsai garden in Trung Luong, visit VinhTrang pagoda, a combination of Asian and European pagoda before heading Can Tho city, heart of the Mekong Delta. Overnight in Can Tho.

Day 5. Mekong Delta - HCM City (B/L/-)

You wake up to the sounds of the Mekong River welcoming a new day. Take boat trip to join in the Cai Rang floating market – one of the most bustling floating markets in Mekong Delta with hundreds of small boats barging and jostling for space to sell their goods and to experience the Mekong rural lifestyle. After sampling local fruits, our guide will escort the guests back to the hotel through myriad canals. Lunch at local restaurant before return to Ho Chi Minh City . Overnight in HCMC.

Alternative for people can wake up early: Join in Floating market by “The Lady Hau” cruise. Enjoy breakfast on the "Lady Hau" while cruising to the floating market. When the "Lady Hau" arrives at Cai Rang floating market, guests are transferred to a local traditional boat to enter the market. Then, continue cruising with the hotel's guide along narrow creeks to visit a noodle factory and an orchard. After sampling local fruits, our guide will escort the guests back to the hotel by local boat throughmyriad canals. ( Starting at 6:30 AM, the Lady Hau cruise and tour extension takes around 4 hours; minimum 4 persons).

Day 6. HCMC – Nha Trang (B)

Free until transfer to airport for flight to Nha Trang. Pick up and transfer to hotel. Free. At leisure. Overnight in Nha Trang.

Day 7. Nha Trang (B/L/-)

Full Day Cruise in Nha Trang Bay with some stop for snorkeling and swimming. Overnight in Nha Trang.

Day 8. Nha Trang (B)

Free time at the resort. Overnight in Nha Trang.

Day 9. Nha Trang – Danang - Hoi An (B)

Free until transfer to airport for flight to Danang. Pick up and transfer to Hoi An. At leisure. Overnight in Hoi An

Day 10. Hoi An (B)

Free at leisure. Overnight in Hoi An

Day 11. Hoi An – Danang - Hue (B/D)

Leave Hoi An for Hue . This afternoon we embark on a tour of Hue City including the Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City , the Imperial Museum and Dong Ba market. Tonight you enjoy the fine cuisine of Hue in the Tinh Gia Vien Restaurant. Overnight in Hue .

Day 12. Hue (B/L)

Rising up in the ancient land, breakfast in hotel, we board on a private boat for cruising on the romantic Perfume River . This time we head out for the countryside. Being the ancient capital, Hue is surrounded with ancient tombs of emperors past, and a visit to some of these tombs will be on the itinerary for today. The charming Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda) will be the first stop of the day. Setting in the converge of rivers, and gives you a great view on the Perfume River and surrounding area. From here we will cruise further to the ornate Minh Mang's tomb. We will enjoy lunch on boat before getting out the Dragon boat for driving to Khai dinh's stomb. Overnight in Hue.

Day 13. Hue - Hanoi (B/L)

Transfer to airport for flight to Hanoi . The colonial capital city Hanoi is a unique Asian city with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and oriental pagodas and temples.

In the afternoon visit Hanoi : Vietnam 's artistic and intellectual capital. Explore the fascinating Old Quarter and its hundreds of specialty shops selling silk clothing, lacquerware, embroidered linens, furniture, bamboo, cooking utensils, ceremonial objects and more. Enjoy people watching at stylish cafes. Shop for impressive modern art in the city's many galleries. Also visit Hanoi 's main cultural attractions, including the Fine Arts Museum and the Temple of Literature. Overnight in Hanoi .

Day 14. Hanoi - Lao Cai (B)

Full day of leisure and evening train to Lao Cai. Your adventure trip to Laocai / Sapa begins with an overnight train from Vietnam 's capital city to the border town of Lao Cai . Overnight on train.

Day 15. Lao Cai - Sapa (B/L)

The train arrives at Lao Cai train station at approximately 6:00 a.m. There will be a vehicle waiting to transfer us to Sapa. The drive to Sapa is only 33 km but it takes around 1.5 hours. Once at Sapa, we will early check-in ( room subject to availability). Freshen up, and have breakfast at the restaurant in the hotel and then enjoy a free morning to explore around town. At 10 am. from the hotel there will be a walking tour to the hill tribe villages of Cat Cat, home to the H'mong hill tribes minority peoples. As we walk to the villages nestled in the valley below Sapa, we will meet some of the local minority people on their way to and from Sapa. Here we have the opportunity to share cultural experiences with the families that live in the area. Overnight in Sapa.

Day 16. Sapa – Lao Cai - Train back to Hanoi (B/L)

Following breakfast, we explore the Sapa Sunday market and then set out on our 3-4 hour trek that will take us along buffalo paths and trails and through several hill tribe villages of Lao Chai and Ta Van, home to H'mong, and Dzay people. This is an absolutely spectacular walk through stunning scenery inhabited by some of the friendliest people you can meet. We will stop for a picnic lunch on the way to Ta Van village. We transfer back to Lao Cai for the night train journey back to Hanoi. Overnight on train.

Day 17. Lao Cai - Hanoi - Halong Bay (B/L/D)

Earlt arrive in Hanoi around 5 a.m. in. Pick up from here, transfer to local restaurant for breakfast and morning coffee. Leave Hanoi by private vehicle at 8:30 a.m. arriving at the jetty around 12:30 p.m. Our crew welcomes you on board the Deluxe Cruise. Enjoy a welcome drink, check-in to your cabin. A fresh seafood lunch will be served at 1 p.m. At that time, we will begin our 3.5 hours cruise through mystic Halong Bay to see the amazing karsts with different formations: Mat Qui (Monster's face) islet, But Moc islet, Cap De islet, Trong (Drum) cave, Trinh Nu cave, floating fishing village, with its unique way of life. Then head to Luon cave, enjoy swimming, sun bathing at Ti Top beach or climb the peak of the mountain for a breath-taking panorama view of Halong Bay . Enjoy another seafood feast for dinner and for the night owls, there is an option of night fishing. Overnight on cruise.

Day 18 . Halong Bay - Hanoi (B)

Rising to the sound of lapping bay waters, we have time for an early morning dip followed by breakfast. Sitting on the upper deck, you can relax while taking in the breath-taking beauty of the rocky islands rising from the emeraude water of the bay. After breakfast, explore Sung Sot cave, swim and relax. Our boat cruises back to the jetty while brunch is served. We continue cruising through the bay, along the way seeing more of the fascinating formations. Cruise check-out. Our boat arrives at the harbor by noon for our drive back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi

Day 19 Departure Hanoi (B)

Free until transfer to airport for departure.

Tour price includes:

•  All private transfer and transportation
•  Accommodation in twin share basis with daily breakfast
•  French or English Speaking Guide
•  Domestic flights: Hanoi-Saigon and airport taxe
•  Boat trip in Halong Bay
•  Meals as stated in the itinerary
•  Sightseeing tickets
•  Visa approved letter
•  Services charges and government taxes

Tour price excludes:

•  International flights
•  International departures taxes
•  Personal expenses, tips and gratuities
•  Travel insurance
•  Meals and beverage
•  Visa stamp fee

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