Highlights of Vietnam 15 days

Day 01: Saigon arrival (D)

Arrive at Tan San Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh city, welcomed by our local guide and transfer to hotel. Free to discover the modern and busy Saigon (another name of Ho Chi Minh City). Have welcome dinner at local restaurant and stay overnight in Saigon.

Day 02: Saigon – Cu Chi tunnel – Saigon (B.L)
After breakfast at hotel. You will then, drive to Cu Chi Tunnel that consists of more than 200 km of underground tunnels. Walk around the tunnel area to see bomb craters, underground bunkers and deadly traps. Back to Saigon for lunch and visit the China Town, locally known as Cho Lon, the Thien Hau Temple. Next, visit Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office, which are in Romanesque art and French-style and a former Presidential Palace…Have your own dinner and stay overnight in Saigon.

Day 03: Saigon – My Tho (Mekong Delta) – Saigon (B.L)
After breakfast at hotel and then drive to My Tho Town in Tien Giang Province, one of 11 provinces in the Mekong Delta. You will take a boat trip on Mekong River to visit farmers’ house and garden. Have lunch on an islet. Visit bee-raising farm, coconut-candy enterprises. On the way back to Saigon, you will stop in Long An Town to visit Cao Dai Temple, a strange religion in the South of Vietnam. Have your own dinner and stay overnight in Saigon.

Day 04: Saigon – Da Lat (B.L.D) by flight
After having breakfast at hotel, you will betransferred to the airport for the flight from Saigon to Dalat. Arrive in Dalat, you will be welcomed and transferred to hotel for check in. Discover Dalat which is famous with many beautiful places.For instance: Xuan Huong lake – this man – made lake is located in the center of Dalat and surrounded by a pedestrian path. The Hang Nga art gallery was nicknamed as the Crazy House by the locals, this guesthouse, café and art gallery is run by the gallery designer, Mrs. Dang Viet Nga, who lived in Moscow in 14 years. The architecture of the place is undeniably unique, with whimsical touches such as cave, giant spider webs, and a concrete giraffe. The French District: a small delightful area for strolling, reminiscent of a provincial town in France. The Dalat Cathedral which was built between 1931 and 1942 and was used by the French residents and holiday makers. Inside, the stained-glass windows bring a hint of medieval Europe to Dalat and the Flower garden: established in 1966 by the South Vietnamese Agricultural Service and renovated in 1985. Return to your hotel and enjoy your own dinner and stay overnight in Dalat.

Day 05: Da Lat – Nha Trang (B)
After breakfast at hotel, visit the Dalat colonial Railway linking Dalat and Tham Cham from 1928 to 1964 and it was closed after that due to the war. The line has now been repaired and opened as a tourist attraction, with the length of 8km to Trai Mat Village and reverse direction. Then, continue the trip to the Bao Dai’s summer palace: a twenty-five room villa constructed in 1933 and filled with artifacts from the last decades and by last governments. Then gopast the Valley of love named the Valley of Peace by the Emperor. Its name was changed in 1972 by romantically minded students from Dalat University. Paddleboats, canoes and motorboats are available for rent. Local delicacies (jams, candied fruits) are on sale here as well. In the afternoon drive from Dalat to Nha Trang. It is time for leisure when you arrive in Nha Trang and you will stayovernight in Nha Trang.

Day 06: Nha Trang (B.L)
Have breakfast at hotel, then you will be transferred to Nha Trang pier at 8 amand take a boat trip to Tri Nguyen Aquarium and Hon Mun Island. Relax and have sunbath at Hon Mun and visit Hon Chong Rocks. Enjoy lunch with fresh seafood and cruise back to Nha Trang wharf. Visit the Cham Tower, Long Son Pagoda, Pasteur Institute and Nha Trang (Dam) market – the biggest fishes market in Nha Trang. Have dinner on your own and stay overnight in Nha Trang.

Day 07: Nha Trang – Da Nang – Hoi An (B.L) by flight
After breakfast at hotel. You will be freeto discover Nha trang until being transferred to Nha Trang airport for the flight to Da Nang. Arrive in Danang, welcomed by our local guide and transferred to Hoi An. Havelunch at local restaurant. Visit China Beach, Ngu Hanh Son Stone Village (handicraft). Drive to Hoi An ancient town, a World’s Cultural Heritage in the central. Have dinner on your own and stay overnight in Hoi An.

Day 08: Hoi An – Da Nang – Hue (B.L)
After breakfast at hotel. Visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese temple, Chinese Hall, Hoi An market and the Tan Ky ancient house. Have lunch at local restaurant. Then, depart toHue via Danang. On the way back to Hue, you will have chance to visit Cham Museum, go through Hai Van Pass. Stop on the top of the mountain for taking photos on Lang Co Beach. Arrive in Hue at the end of the day, check in atthe hotel and have free time to discover Hue. Have dinner on your own and stay overnight in Hue.

Day 09: Hue – Discover (B.L)
After breakfast at hotel. Visit Hue by taking a small sampan for a cruise on the Perfume River to visit the famous Thien Mu Pagoda and the Minh Mang King’s tomb. Have lunch at local restaurant. We then visit the complex of Tu Duc Emperor’s tomb, Hue Imperial City and Dong Ba Market. Then transfer to Hue airport for the short flight to Hanoi. Arrival in Hanoi, welcomed by our local guide and our driver, transfer to hotel. Enjoy your own dinner and stay overnight in Hanoi.

Day 10: Hanoi City Tour (B.L) by flight
Breakfast at hotel. Visit today Vietnam’s capital, including Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum, traditional stilts house, the revered One-Pillar Pagoda, Quan Thanh Temple and walk along the shore of West Lake to visit Tran Quoc Pagoda. Have lunch at local restaurant. Then, visit the Vietnam’s first university – the thousand year old Temple of Literature, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son temple and enjoy a wonderful rickshaw in the Old Quarter of Hanoi to explore the very busy part of Hanoi. In the evening, you will take part in the water puppet show. Have dinner on your own and stay overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Day 11: Hanoi – Hoa Lu – Hanoi – Lao Cai (B.L.D) by train
After breakfast at hotel, depart to Hoa Lu at 8 am, one of the most famous sites of Vietnam for its historic vestiges and its impressive pitons limestone. You will visit Temples of Dinh Bo Linh and Le Hoan Kings. After lunch at local restaurant, take a sampan cruise to discover the caves of Tam Coc (“three lagoons”) and Bich Dong Pagoda. Back to Hanoi and take a night train in Hanoi Railway Station to Lao Cai. Have dinner at local restaurant and have an overnight on the train.

Day 12: Lao Cai – Sapa – Lao Chai – Ta Van – Sapa (B.L.D)
Arrive at Lao Cai station in the early morning, drive up to Sapa (45 minutes) on the road which exposes a beautiful view. Check in the hotel and have breakfast, free at leisure to discover Sapa. Have lunch at local restaurant and then trek down to the valley of Sapa, pass rice-field to Lao Chai and Ta Van hill tribe’s villages to discover their daily life. Return to Sapa. Have dinner and stay overnight at hotel in Sapa.

Day 13: Sapa – Bac Ha market – Hanoi (B.L.D) by train
After breakfast at hotel, depart in the early morning for Bac Ha market, the most colorful market in Northwest of Vietnam where you can meet different ethnic minorities.Not only do people attend for trading but also do enjoy rice-wine drinking, social communication, meeting, friend making in the market. Have lunch at a local restaurant and trek down to some villages of flower of the Hmong, Tays and Phu La…. Return to Lao Cai for the night train back to Hanoi. Have dinner at local restaurant and take an overnight on the train.

Day 14: Hanoi arrive – Ha Long – Overnight on boat (B.L.D)
Arrive in Hanoi in the early morning and transfer to hotel for having breakfast. Then drive to Ha Long Bay, one of the World’s Natural Heritage.
12h00 – 12h30: Embark on the traditional wooden junk followed by a short cruise briefing.
13h00 – 15h30: Savor a delectable lunch as cruises among the limestone islands.
15h30 – 16h30: Kayak among the hidden areas of the bay, around the Bo Nau Cave area. Back to the junk
16h30 – 17h30: Cruise to Soi Sim island. Go swimming and relaxing at the beach of Soi Sim or climb up to the top of the island for a panorama view of Halong Bay.
17h30: Cruise back to the main boat for a shower. Relax or snap photos as the sun starts to set.
19h00: Dinner is served. Socialize with other guests, fish for squid, or just laze around. Take an overnight on board..

Day 15: Ha Long – Hanoi – Departure (B.L)
06h30 – 07h00 : Start your day with Tai Chi exercises or a photo hunt.
07h30 – 08h30 : Have breakfast
08h30 – 09h30 : Explore the amazing Sung Sot Cave – the most amazing cave in Halong Bay.
09h30 : Return to the boat. Freshen up and check out of your cabin.
09h30 – 10h30 : Continue your cruise to explore the Bay, passing Ba Hang fishing village, Dog Islet, and more.
10h30 – 11h30 : On the way back to the harbor, it is time to watch the cooking demonstration before enjoying a traditional Vietnamese lunch.
12h00 – 12h30 : Disembark and back to Hanoi and transfer to Noi Bai airport for the departure.