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Itinerary:
Day 1: Hanoi Arrival – ½ City Tour
Day 2: Hanoi – Halong
Day 3: Halong – Ninh Binh – Hoa Lu
Day 4: Ninh Binh – Mai Chau – Homestay
Day 5: Mai Chau – Hoa Binh – Hanoi
Day 6: Hanoi – Hue – Overnight train
Day 7:Hue – Fullday City Tour
Day 8: Hue – Hoi An – Danang
Day 9: Hoi An – Free
Day 10: Hoi An – Danang – Flight to Saigon
Day 11:Saigon – Cai Be (Tien Giang) – Can Tho
Day 12: Can Tho – Saigon
Day 13: Saigon Departure
Detailled program
Day 1: HANOI ARRIVAL – ½ DAY CITY TOUR
Pick up at the airport and transfer to the hotel (about 45 km from the airport to the hotel about 1 hour transfer). Orientation tour of the Vietnamese capital with the discovery of the colonial neighborhoods. Ethlonogy Museum. Also visit the Jade Temple on the Lake of the Restored Sword, followed by a rickshaw ride in the old commercial quarter of the 36 guilds. Dinner with musical entertainment. Overnight at hotel.
Day 2: HANOI – HALONG
The tour guide and driver will get back and pick you up for the morning drive overland to Halong City, your entry point to the Bay of the World Heritage by UNESCO. Thousands of islands rise dramatically from the waters of Halong Bay and, to further their beauty, intricate cave systems naturally exist throughout these limestone karst formations. The traditional styled junk will cruise in between the towering islands, visit a limestone cave in the afternoon and do some kayaking and swimming (depending on the weather) Your accommodation tonight is a truly special experience – sleeping on a boat surrounded by high limestone karsts. Overnight on board.
Day 3: HALONG – HOA LU
Wake in the heart of Halong Bay and breakfast on board. Continuation of the cruise among the surrounding islands. Arriving at the jetty around noon. Drive to Hoa Lu ancient capital made famous by the movie "Indochine". Culinary discovery: goat pellets. Overnight in hotel.
Day 4: HOA LU – VALLEY MAI CHAU – HOMESTAY
Breakfast.In the morning sampan trip through the magical landscapes of the site of Thung Nang, still unknown and preserved. Also visit Bich Dong Pagoda, perched on a wooded mountain overlooking peaceful rice fields.Lunch at local restaurant HOA LU.
Scenic route to the Valley of MAI CHAU to meet ethnic minorities in the NORTH, you will experience the highlights among the villagers. Change of scenery! (200 km or 5 hours drive).
Tonight, you are welcomed by the villagers for dinner. A typical meal will be served and tasting rice wine jar that we drink with major flaws. You will then attend folk dances presented by the White Thai girls of the village.
Accommodation in shared house, clean bedding, mosquito nets, fans.
Day 5: MAI CHAU – HOA BINH – HANOI
Breakfast with the locals.
Visit the villages of ethnic minorities including the White Thai and discover their crafts.
Return to Hanoi (160 km or 4 hours drive) through HOA BINH, on the road stop in Muong villages. Lunch then continue until road Hanoi. Installation at the hotel. Rest. Dinner specialties in the city including the famous "Cha Ca". Overnight at hotel.
Day 6: HANOI – HUE – OVERNIGHT TRAIN
Breakfast at the hotel. Free day at leisure. Free lunch. Puppet show on the water. Light dinner in town (soup "pho" North specialty) Boarding the night train to Hue (900 km journey is 11 am on the night train). Small basket snack. Overnight on board, soft berth.
Day 7: HUE – FULLDAY CITY TOUR
Arrive around 8:30. Transfer to hotel for breakfast. Guided tour of the tomb of Emperor Tu Duc, immense edifice built by the emperor himself. On the road you can also visit a factory of conical hat &incense sticks.
In the afternoon,visit the CITADEL which was built from 1802 under the orders of the first Emperor Gia Long. The site was selected based on geomantic parameters. The citadel was inspired by Vauban fortifications. It is composed of three parts the capital city (Kinh Thanh), the imperial city (Hoang Thanh) and the Forbidden City (Cam Thanh). It was largely destroyed in 1968 during the Vietnam War. Today many donations are used to restore this priceless heritage. Walk in the Dong Ba Market, famous for its conical hats.
Visit the famous Pagoda of the Celestial Lady. Overnight at hotel.
Day 8: HUE – DANANG – HOI AN
Breakfast at the hotel. Road to Hoi An (150 km or 3 hours drive) via the Cloud Pass. Continue by road to Hoi An, formerly Faifo at the time of the first Western counters, who was one of the most important ports in South East Asia in the trade of Western wealth. On the way, stop in the village of marble cutters. Arrive in Hoi An, walking tour of the small town of Hoi An also known for its beauty and unique architectural diversity in Vietnam. Many wooden houses, Chinese traders buildings, pagodas, Chinese and Vietnamese temples, Japanese bridge. Installation at the hotel.
Visit a local family that produces natural silk and silk products. A silk lantern will be offered during the visit. Getting on a traditional boat for a cruise on the Thu Bon River. Dinner in local restaurant and overnight at the hotel.
Day 9: HOI AN FREE
Breakfast at the hotel. Completely free for personal discovery. Opportunity to go to the beach or wander by bicycle to the countryside. Meals at your expense. Overnight at hotel.
Day 10: HOI AN – DANANG – FLIGHT TO SAIGON
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Danang airport for a flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Transfer to the city.
Then departure to visit the sights of this great dynamic city: colonial neighborhoods, Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office and the Pagoda of the Jade Emperor, Chinese influence. In the evening, dinner at a restaurant in town. Overnight at hotel.
Day 11:SAIGON– CAI BE – CANTHO
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Cai Be.
Getting on a boat for a river trip on a branch of the Mekong through islands covered with lush flora. Stop on an island, visiting factories where one makes delicious small candies made from coconut, popcorns, rice cakes etc ... and walk in the orchard, stopping in a house capita for a tasting of tropical fruits and hot jasmine tea. Small live show with songs and music typical of the Mekong Delta, presented by local artists.
Southern specialties Lunch with the locals. Continuation visit by a small sampan ride through the arroyos shaded. Landing drive to Can Tho (crossing the bridge instead of the ferry, saving time!). Dinner in town and overnight at the hotel.
Day 12: CANTHO – SAIGON
Breakfast at the hotel. Early departure for a boat trip to Cai Rang floating market, during visiting tour of a factory noodles ...! The merchants advertise their products by attaching on a long bamboo, a specimen of what they have on board, which serves as their brand. Other large boats sell various goods: gasoline, oil, salt, salted water, medicines, cakes, candies.
Return to Ho Chi Minh City (200 km evening 4 hours drive). Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City in the late afternoon.Overnight at hotel.
Day 13: SAIGON DEPARTURE
Breakfast at the hotel. According to the flight schedule, free time for shopping. Free lunch. Transfer to the airport for departure.
