CTV18: Amazing Vietnam Holiday 25 days 24 nights

Itinerary in Brief:

Day 1: Hanoi arrival
Day 2: Hanoi – Hoa lu – Tam coc – Hanoi ( B, L )
Day 3; Hanoi city tour – night train to Sapa ( B, L )
Day 4: Sapa – Cat cat village ( B, L )
Day 5: Lao Chai – Ta van village ( B, L )
Day 6: Sapa – Hanoi night train back ( B )
Day 7: Hanoi – Halong bay cruise ( B, L,D )
Day 8: Halong bay  cruise ( B, L,D )
Day 9:  Halong bay -  Hanoi – Hue flight( B )
Day 10: Hue city tour( B, L )
Day 11; Hue – Danang – Hoian  ( B )
Day 12: Hoian – My son sanctuary( B , L)
Day 13: Hoian free ( B )
Day 14: Hoian – Danang  - Nha trang ( B )
Day 15; Nha trang island tour ( B, L )
Day 16: Nha trang relaxation ( B )
Day 17: Nha trang relaxation ( B )
Day 18: Nha trang – Dalat ( B )
Day 19: Dalat ( B, L )
Day 20: Dalat – Ho chi minh ( B )
Day 21: Ho chi minh city ( B, L )
Day 22: Ho chi minh – Tay ninh – Cu chi ( B, L )
Day 23: Ho chi minh – My tho – Ben Tre – Can tho ( B, L )
Day 24: Can tho – Ho chi minh ( B, L)
Day 25; Ho chi minh departure ( B )

Itinerary in Details!

Day 1 :Hanoi arrival
Arrival at Noi Bai Airport, you are warmly welcomed  and transferred  to hotel by private Asia View Travel’s guide with signboard, check in, relax. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi – Hoa lu – Tam coc – Hanoi ( B, L )
Breakfast at hotel, 8;00 AM drive to Ninh Binh. Arrive Ninh binh at around 10:30 AM, visit  Hoa lu, the ancient citadel of Vietnam in 10th century, to visit temples of two Kings: Dinh and Le, walking up and down in the beautiful Truong Yen Valley to enjoy the marvelous scenery. Lunch at local restaurant in Tam Coc.Afternoon, take aboard sampans at Tam Coc to ferry down the Boi river, spend some time relaxing on a 2 hour boat trip. The boat goes through 3 cavernous limestone tunnels, offering a cool break from the sunshine and astounding views of the cave structures. After boat tour in Tam Coc, you have the chance to visit the 15th century Bich Dong Pagoda complex. On a limestone mountain three pagodas were built, the Lower, the Middle and the Upper pagoda. Transfer back Hanoi for overnight at hotel.

Day 3: Hanoi  city tour- night train to Sapa ( B, L )
Breakfast at hotel, This morning we start city tour  with the Ho Chi Minh Complex. This famous site contains the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh (Close on Monday, Friday & October for annual maintenance ), the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. Close to this complex is the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the foundation of city. We follow this with the impressive Ethnology Museum, dedicated to Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups.  Lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon, visit the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam, Vietnam’s first university.  Constructed in 1070, the gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a relaxing glimpse into Vietnam’s past. We continue to visit the Restored Sword Lake (Hoan Kiem Lake) and Ngoc Son Temple,  do a cyclos tour around   around the 36 streets of the Hanoi old quarter to learn more about simple life of Hanoian. Enjoy water puppet show- a remarkable Vietnamese art form that combines traditional music, fireworks, underwater puppeteers, and elaborate puppets floating gracefully over water. Transfer to the train station for night train to Sapa. The train leaves Hanoi at around 9:00 PM. Overnight on train.

Day 4: Sapa – Catcat villages ( B, L )
The train arrives at the Lao Cai train station at approximately 06:00. There will be a vehicle waiting to transfer us to Sapa. The drive to Sapa is only 33km but it takes around 1.5 hours to make our way up the mountains. Arrival in Sapa, enjoy buffet breakfast at hotel. (There will be surcharge if you require early check in).
From  hotel there will be a  tour to the hill tribe villages of Cat Cat, visiting some H'mong hill tribe’s 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 at hotel in Sapa.

Day 5: Lao chai – Tavan hill tribe villages ( B, L )
Buffet breakfast at the hotel Embark on a lovely  walk  that will take us along small paths and trails and through several hill tribe villages of Lao Chai and Tavan, home to H'mong, and Dzay people. This is a absolutely spectacular walk through stunning scenery inhabited by some of the friendliest people you can meet. Stopping for a picnic lunch on the way at a family in Ta Van village. Opportunity to meet with local people and study the art of making batik and local weaving villages - study textile tradition of craft women o Black H'mong and Red Dzao. Overnight at hotel in Sapa.

Day 6: Sapa - night train back Hanoi ( B )
Morning, you are free to discover Sapa town by yourself. Afternoon,  we will visit the gardens of beautiful Ham Rong mountain & take part in a traditional ethnic music performance put on by the ethnic minority people.  Drive  back to Lao cai for the night train to Hanoi.. Overnight on train.

Day 7: Hanoi – Halong bay ( B, L,D )
Arrival in Hanoi in the early morning at round 5:00 am. Please find your way by foot back to a mini hotel near the Tran Quy  Cap station gate to have shower and basic set menu breakfast.
Then 8:30 AM start a 3.5 hour drive through the Red River Delta to Ha Long City. Comfort stop en route for photos before arriving to Ha Long City.
12h00; Arrival dock, get on the junk,check in, welcome wine
13h00; Lunch
13h30: Visiting Ha Long bay. Round over Thien Cung cave (palace of heaven), Dau Go ( grotto of wood ), Tuan Chau island, Dog island, Dinh Huong, Ga Choi (fighting cock mountain), Turtle island, Visiting Sung Sot cave and have a siwm at Titop beach or Soi Sim beach. Enjoy sunset, having dinner, fishing – drinking, singing - karaoke and overnight on the junk

Day 8:  Halong bay cruise ( B, L, D )
Full day cruise  giving us the chance to take in the stunning scenery of this World Heritage Site. While on board we will be served sumptuous fresh, local seafood meals followed by a swim and exploring some of the limestone caves in this area. When the sun comes down we drop anchor for the night nearby a remote island. Overnight on Junk.
6h00; Sunrise.
7h00; Breakfast.
7h30; Visting Man’s head island, Tortoise island, Luon cave by a small bamboo row boat
12h00; Lunch
13h00; Visiting Ba Ham lake, fishery village,Cua Van, swimming at Ba Trai Dao beach.
18h00; Having dinner, fishing – drinking and overnight on the junk

Day 9: Halong bay – Hanoi – Hue flight ( Brunch )
7h00; Breakfast
8h30; Roud over Bai Tu Long bay, Dragon island, Teapot island, Tortoise island, Man’s head island, Fire island,
Indochina studio, Ha Long Market Chopsticks island, Bai Tho Mountain …
9: 30 :  Brunch
11;30 . We will return to the main harbor before transferring to our awaiting vehicle for a 3.5hour journey directly to the airport for flight to Hue. The guide in Hue will pick you up, transfer to hotel, check in, relax.

Day 10: Hue city tour( B, L )
Breakfast at hotel, we then set out for the exploration of Hue's famous highlights, including the Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City. Built in the 19th century by the Nguyen dynasty, the City was home to the former Emperors of Vietnam from 1802 until 1945. We embark on a boat for cruise upstream on the Perfume River, viewing the city and the tranquil villages on the riverbank. We will walk up to visit the Thien Mu pagoda, a nicely located pagoda, overlooks the Perfume River and the beautiful scenery beyond, where you get to learn more about the Buddhism in Vietnam.  One of the most poignant displays here is a car belonging to a former monk, who in 1963, drove to Saigon and set himself alight to protest against the South Vietnamese regime and its treatment of Buddhists. Disembark the board for a visit the elaborate mausoleum of former emperor Tu Duc, built decades before its occupant's death the tomb was used as a palace retreat before the emperors final resting place. On return to the city, we then take a walk to the bustling Dong Ba Market and pass many fantastic eating spots where visitors have a chance to sample some local delicacies.

Day 11; Hue – Danang – Hoian  ( B )
This morning free and easy to discover Hue city by your self. Afternoon,  say good bye Hue and embark on southern bound journey to  Hoian – the old trading town. Along the way though we will stop at Lang Co beach for coffee ( by your own ) and refreshments. From here we head up to the Hai Van pass, stopping at the top to take in the stunning views north over Lang Co beach and south over Danang city. Continuing on our way down the other side and into Da nang, where we will stop at the beautiful Non Nuoc Beach and Cham Museum, which contains the finest collection of Cham sculpture in the world. We also visit the Marble Mountains, five sacred hills containing dozens of Buddhist shrines. Arrive in Hoian ancient town late afternoon, check in, relax.

Day 12: Hoian – My son sanctuary( B , L )
This morning, take a walk tour to explore Hoian ancient town, once a major Asian trading port in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Hoi An’s architecture and relaxed lifestyle have changed little over the years. Take a leisurely walking tour of the ancient town center and visit the sites of former merchants’ homes, a 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, and a Chinese Communal Hall. Believed to have been settled no less than 2,200 years ago, Hoi An was known as Faifo to early Western traders.  Hoi An was one of the major ports of Southeast Asia from the 17th to 19th centuries. Chinese, Japanese, French, English, Spanish, Portuguese and other traders had small communities here, and the old wooden houses, bridges and temples that remain are reminiscent of a Vietnam of centuries past. This unique old trading town slowly became isolated due to its river silting up and by destroyed rail lines, leaving it untouched by war and frozen in time. Nowadays, this absolutely charming and relaxed town has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town is also famous for it's shops in particular it's large number of tailors. If you wanted, you could  have a whole new wardrobe made for you here.
Afternoon take a trip to My Son Sanctuary. My Son is a former capital of the ancient Cham civilization that ruled in the central Vietnam area between the second century and the thirteenth century. Hinduism from India heavily influenced these peoples religion. My Son is considered to be one of the best-preserved Cham structures in Vietnam. The complex is comprised of seventy Hindu-like towers and temples dating from the second century. This site is a must-see for those people who are interested in architecture and ancient civilizations and is now one of the four world heritage sites in Vietnam. Return Hoian for overnight.


Day 13: Hoian free ( B )
Today there is plenty of time to discover Hoi An  by yourself. You can spend your time  walking around exploring the many Chinese  assembly halls and  fascinating ancestral  homes, some of which have been occupied  by the same family for fifteen genera ions. The town is also famous for it's shops in particular it's large number of tailors. If you wanted, you could have a whole new wardrobe made for you here! You might like to take a boat ride with one of the local women across the Thu Bon River. Perhaps you would like to hire a bicycle and head off on a scenic ride to Cua Dai beach, about 4 km away. There's even the chance to improve your culinary skills with a Vietnamese cooking lesson! One thing is for sure - there is no shortage of things to do in this town .

Day 14: Hoian – Danang  - Nha trang ( B )
Transfer to the Danang airport for flight to Nha trang. Pick up at Nha trang airport, transfer to resort, check in, relax.

Day 15; Nha trang island tour ( B, L )
Start from your hotel to Cau Da port. Tri Nguyen Aquarium on Mieu Island is the first place to visit, many sea species of Nha Trang/Khanh Hoa province make a small ocean world there. Mun Island is the best island for snorkeling where you can see lots of lives colorful corals and fish. Visit a fishing village and taking a fresh lunch at the island. On the way back you will be able to see caves in which the sea swallows make their nest.

Day 16: Nha trang relaxation ( B )
Full day free  for the beach relaxation or water sport activities. Overnight at  resort in Nhatrang.

Day 17: Nha trang relaxation ( B )
Full day free  for the beach relaxation or water sport activities. Overnight at  resort in Nhatrang.

Day 18: Nha trang – Dalat ( B )
After breakfast at hotel we drive up to Dalat and see its waterfalls, cathedral, key pagodas, Lang Biang ethnic village and the lovely old French colonial houses. Check in hotel up on arrival in Dalat and then visit the visit Emperor Bao Dai's Summer Palace that is indicative of Bao Dai's status as the puppet ruler of an occupied country. Time is on your own to explore Dalat by yourself. Remember that coffee and cake in Dalat are some of the best in Vietnam and easily to be found in any finer cafes. Overnight at hotel in Dalat.

Day 19: Dalat ( B, L )
Breakfast at hotel, we spend full day to discover Dalat city. 9:00 AM we take the cable car to visit  Truc Lam Buddhist Meditation Monastery to visit attractive Flower Garden. We continue with Hang Nga Crazy House, the romantic Love Valley. You'll be taken to have a look at an embroidery workshop in an attractive garden setting called “XQ Su Quan” then visit Prenn waterfalls, free at leisure. Overnight at hotel in Dalat.

Day 20: Dalat – Ho chi minh ( B )
Transfer to the airport for flight to Ho chi minh city, pick up at Tan Son Nhat airport, transfer to hotel in city center. Free and easy to discover the dynamic city by yourself.

Day 21: Ho chi minh city ( B, L )
Pick up at  hotel, take city tour of dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many locals. We visit the Reunification Palace which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975, and some French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Sai Gon Post Office before we shall see the exhibition on Vietnam War to the famous War Museum. Lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon, we pass a place with its famous lacquers and the tour ends at the city's finest shopping street, Dong Khoi Street and the bustling Ben Thanh Market where anything and everything is for sale. Overnight at hotel in Ho chi minh.

Day 22: Ho chi minh – Tay ninh – Cu chi ( B, L )
Pick up at hotel, travel by roads to Tay Ninh to see the ornate temple of Cao Dai and attend the fantastic mid-day service when the followers fill the hall wearing colored robes, a symbol of the curious combination of the Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. After wards we continue to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. At the height of the Vietnam war, the tunnel system stretched from the outskirts of Saigon all the way to the Cambodian border of over 250 kilometers of tunnels. The tunnel system, built over 25 years starting in the 1940s, let the Viet Minh and, later, the Viet Cong control a huge rural area. It was an underground city with living areas, kitchens, storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers. In places, it was several stories deep and housed up to 10,000 people who virtually lived underground for years.... getting married, giving birth, and going to schools.
Transfer back Ho chi minh city.  Overnight Ho chi Min City.

Day 23: Ho chi minh – My tho – Ben Tre – Can tho ( B, L )
You will be picked up at your hotel, transfer to My Tho, 84km from Ho chi minh city. This trip provides a look at a wide variety of the life and scenery on Vietnam River from the peaceful Delta. The huge ships, which come from many different countries moving slowly, quietly along the river is what you will see at the Saigon River. Do not miss this sight! On the way you will see daily activities of local people along the river sellers and buyers bargaining, exchanging fish, the products that they got from their working on the sea. From My Tho, you will ride on a local motor boat around Dragon Island, Unicorn Island, Phoenix Island, Turtle Island and stop at the famous Unicorn Island. While at the Unicorn Island, you will take a short trek and go for a rowing boat trip. You will also enjoy lunch, tropical fruit and free time  bike ride in the rural village. From there, you will continue your motor boat trip to Ben Tre province to visit a handmade coconut candy workshop. Then transfer to a small motor boat and travel along the lush, green canals that are so beautiful for photography. We continue drive to Can Tho. Overnight at the hotel in Can Tho.

Day 24: Can tho – Ho chi minh ( B, L)
Cruising along the small and picturesque tributaries by local boat, we will see the Cai Rang floating market (The nicest one with heaps of rowing boats). Take in the beautiful scenery and daily activities of locals who live along the Mekong canals and you will roam through the village to visit a rice husking mill and a rice noodles making shop. Stops at Can Tho market where a  car/van  will drive you back to Sai Gon. Drop off at your hotel in Saigon. End of tour.

Day 25; Ho chi minh departure ( B )
Breakfast at hotel, free until transfer to the airport for your home flight,  say goodbye Vietnam.  End of tour.

Accommodation Options

Location	Standard	Superior	First class	Deluxe
Hanoi	Hanoi Paradise 3 *	May De Ville Old Quarter 3*	Hanoi flower garden 4*	De L' Opera 5*
Halong boat	Baitho	Baitho	Emotion	Victory Star
Sapa	Boutique 3 *	Boutique 3 *	Chau long II 4 *	Victoria sapa 4 *
Hoian	Vinh hung II 2*	Thuy Duong III 3 *	Hoian Beach reosort 4*	Palm Garden 5  *
Hue	Hue Holiday 2*	Asia hotel 3*	Gerbera 4*	Imperial 5*
Nha trang	The Light hotel 3 *	The Light hotel 3*	Michelia 4*	Sunrise Beach Resort 5*
Dalat	West Bestern Plaza 3 *	West Bestern Plaza 3 *	Ngoc lan 4*	Ana Mandara Villas 5*
Saigon	Le Duy  3*	Tan Hai long hotel& spa 3*	Norfolk 4*	Majestic  5*
Can tho	Kim tho 3 *	Kim tho 3 *	Nambo Boutique 4 *	Victoria 4 *

Tour includes:
• All accommodation in double/ twin room with daily breakfast at selected hotels
• 3 days 2 nights cruise on Halong bay ( private cabin – Sharing boat )
• 2 nights on train with soft sleep 4 berth /  cabin
• All tours & transfers in private air-conditioned vehicles
• Private English / French speaking guide during guided time
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary at local restaurant with local foods (B = breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner)
• Round trip train ticket Hanoi – Lao cai with soft sleep 4 berth /  cabin
• Boat cruise as stated
• Domestic airfares & airport taxes:  Hanoi –  Hue, Danang – Nha trang, Dalat – Ho chi minh
• Entrance fees and permits for all sights visited
• Mineral water & towel
• Government taxes & Service charges
 
Tour excludes:
• International flights that not mentioned above
• Vietnam visa arrangement (upon request visa on arrival at 10 USD, not including stamping fee at airport at  25 USD)
• Meals not indicated in the itinerary
• Kayak in Halong bay
• Personal travel insurance (Compulsory)
• Surcharge on Christmas, New Year and our Lunar New Year
• Personal expenses such as Telephone and Laundry bills
• Tips and gratuities