Truly Vietnam 16 Days 15 Nights

This full-day tour will take you around Hanoi’s most interesting sights. This morning, our guide and driver will take you to visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and his Stilts House, the Presidential Palace, the One Pillar Pagoda and temple of literature nearby and the Old Quarter, known for its maze of 36 streets and former craft guilds. And then one of the city’s best museums, either the History Museum or the Ethnology Museum. We go back to your hotel; the tour ends around 5:00 PM. And this evening, you will be transferred to the train station to Lao Cai. Overnight on train.

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

Following breakfast, you will explore the Sapa market and then set out on a 3-4 hour trek that will take you 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 a truly spectacular walk through beautiful scenery with some of the friendliest people you will ever meet. You will stop for a picnic lunch on the way to Ta Van village. You will be transferred to Lao Cai for the night train back to Hanoi, where you will stay overnight.

Early arrival in Hanoi. you will be picked up and go to a local restaurant for breakfast and morning coffee. You will then leave Hanoi for Ha Long Bay, arriving at the jetty around 12:30 p.m. Upon arrival, you will set out on a junk cruise on the bay while leaving Hanoi by road for Ha Long Bay. Enjoy the journey through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta and the scenery of rice fields, water buffalo, and everyday Vietnamese village life. Arrive in Ha Long and board the traditional sailing junk. Whilst cruising the exquisite waters, sample the regions fresh seafood. Visit the recently discovered Surprise Grotto with its great views, and on the next island, see the yawning mouth of Bo Nau Cave. Alternatively, journey to Dau Go Cave and nearby see the famous stalagmites and stalactites of Thien Cung Cave. Enjoy a swim in the emerald waters of Ha Long Bay or kayaking if you wish. Watch the sun set over the bay whilst enjoying a delicious dinner. Overnight on-board junk.

Wake up to fresh coffee and a wholesome breakfast before cruising back to Ha Long City. En route, the junk weaves through strange-shaped rock formations that invite comparisons from fighting cocks to dragons and even General de Gaulle’s nose! After another wonderful brunch on board, disembark at the dock in Ha Long City. Transfer back to Hanoi, arrival at Hanoi at mid-afternoon, free at leisure, and overnight in Hanoi.

Breakfast at your hotel, transfer to Hanoi airport to take a short flight to Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. On arrival at Hue, met by our local guide, then transferred to hotel for check-in. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the Imperial Citadel, from where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. Dinner with Hue cuisine and royal court music. Overnight in Hue.

After breakfast, enjoy a boat trip on the romantically named Perfume River, which visits Hue’s best-known religious site, Thien Mu Pagoda, and the mausoleum of former emperor Minh Mang in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes. In the afternoon, visit the elaborate mausoleums of emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh, then back to the city centre to visit Dong Ba historic market. Free for the rest of the day. Overnight in Hue.

Leave Hue for Hoi An, a major Asian trading port in the 17^th and 18^th centuries whose architecture and relaxed lifestyle have changed little over the years The scenic route passes through the wonderfully photogenic fishing village of Lang Co before climbing over the Pass of Ocean Clouds. On arrival at Danang, visit Cham Museum—a collection of Cham sculptures—then visit Marble Mountain—a cluster of 5 marbles & limestone hills, famous for stone sculpture making & stone cutting crafts—then charming Eastern sea of Vietnam before being transferred to Hoi An. Overnight in Hoi An.

A half-day trip to visit the capital and religious centre of the former Champa Kingdom, My Son. Here, 40 km southwest of Hoi An, in a lush green valley, are dozens of red brick towers and sanctuaries dating from between the seventh and thirteenth centuries. Visit the museum and the holy site, then head back to Hoi An for lunch.  In the afternoon, enjoy a walking tour of the ancient town centre to visit the former merchants’ homes, the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the colourful market.  Overnight in Hoi An.

Breakfast at your hotel, free at leisure till being transferred to airport for flight to Nha Trang, welcome and transfer to your hotel, then free to chill out on the beautiful and white sandy beach. Overnight in Nha Trang

After breakfast, free at leisure till being transferred to Cam Ranh airport for the short flight to dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many locals. On arrival, met by our local guide, then transferred to your hotel for check-in, free for the rest of the day. Dinner cruise on the Saigon River with traditional music performance. Overnight in HCMC.

Depart Ho Chi Minh City at 08:00 in the morning for the drive to the Cu Chi Tunnels. Leaving the city behind, the scenery changes to views of rice paddies, villagers drying noodles by the side of the road and other everyday activities. On arrival, start the visit with the Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc sections of the tunnel. Here you can imagine how a guerrilla lived and fought in such difficult, dark and narrow environment. Back to HCMC for lunch Enjoy city tour of dynamic Ho Chi Minh City after lunch, still called Saigon by many locals, visit the War Museum and the former Presidential Palace; and from there on, you will go on foot (the car will be available at all times) to visit the major sights of colonial Ho Chi Minh City: the Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Saigon Post Office, Opera House and City Hall. After this historical visit, enjoy funny shopping at Ben Thanh market if time permits. Overnight in HCMC.

Depart for Cai Be, deep in the Mekong Delta, and embark on a cruise to explore the delta. The tour begins with a visit of the colourful Cai Be landscape, followed by a visit to some local home factories that produce rice paste, rice popcorn, and coconut candy. Proceed to evergreen islands among the Mekong River through a large network of meandering tributaries, crisscrossed with countless arroyos. Enjoy lunch at a fruit orchard before the cruise back to Cai Be Pier, where our vehicle is ready to transfer you back to Saigon. Arrival at late afternoon. Overnight in HCMC.