Day 1 - Ho chi
minh arrival (D)
Arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport. You will meet
AnBinh Travel’s guide and transfer to hotel. Check in, relax. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at
hotel in Ho chi minh.
Day 2 - Ho chi
minh city – Cu chi tunnel (B, L)
Morning you will visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. Afternoon
you will discover dynamic city with the Reunification Palace and some
French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Sai Gon Post Office. After
seeing the Jade Emperor Pagoda, you continue your trip on to Ben Thanh Market where anything and
everything is for sale. Dinner at local
restaurant. Overnight at hotel..
Day 3 - Ho chi
minh – Mekong delta – Caibe floating market (B, L)
After breakfast at the hotel you will depart for Cai Be, stop for photos at Tan An
town over the flat rice fields. Arrive to Cai Be, start the motorized boat ro
visit the Cai Be floating market, see how river life goes on, experience how
people exchanging goods, fruit and many other commodities on their vessels. You
then roam into the small villages to visit the orchard, fruit plantation. Keep
cruising to Vinh Long through small canals to
enjoy the charm of the Upper Mekong Delta. Visit some hand made
family business products such as the coconut candy mill, the crispy rice
popcorn. Arrive in Binh Hoa Phuoc village the green pearl of Vinh Long town
where you can indulge yourself into the nature. Have lunch with fresh river
food served in the heart of the garden. Take a nice walk through the bonsai
garden. Meet the car/van in Vinh Long. Back to Ho Chi Minh city.
Day 4 - Ho chi
minh – Dalat (B, L)
After breakfast at the hotel you will depart for Dalat via the National highway 20.
Enjoy the smooth drive with the beautiful landscape. Stop for photos at the La
Nga lake and the floating village. Visit the Dambri waterfall. Lunch at local
restaurant. Visit the tea and coffee plantations in Lien Khuong. Overnight at
hotel in Dalat.
Day 5 - Dalat
– Nha trang (B, L, D)
You will visit some sightseeing in Da Lat: the
former residence of Emperor Bao Dai, Hang Nga Crazy
House, Tuyen Lam
Lake, the Central Market, the Love Valley and Lam Ty Ni Pagoda. In the afternoon,
our guide and driver will take you out
of Da Lat and back down the Prenn Pass for a stop at the ’’Chicken
village". From here we will head east and down the Ngoan Muc pass to the coastal
lowlands. Our destination for today is Nha Trang, the country’s premier Resort
town. This part of the country was once inhabited by an ancient civilization
known as the Cham, and our next stop will be at the Po Klong Garai Cham tower.
We will stop for a late lunch en-route and arrive in Nha Trang late afternoon. At leisure. Dinner at local
restaurants. Overnight at hotel in Nhatrang.
Day 6 - 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 7 - Nha
trang – Buon Ma Thuot – Lak Lake (B, D)
The beautiful Ponagar Cham Towers is one of the
most interesting sights in Nha Trang .You will
visit this tower and Long Son Pagoda before you head the
coast towards the Central Highlands, travelling via
the famous town of Buon Ma Thuot to Lak Lake. On
arrival, we enjoy half hour elephant ride. Then we transfer to June village
where we will be guest of a M’nong family in a traditional long house. You will
have a chance to explore the simple lifestyle of the M’nong hill tribe people.
Overnightat June village.
Day 8 - Lak
lake – Pleiku – Kontum (B, L)
You will have a short dugout ride on Lak Lake
surrounded by the verdant and rugged mountains, and them walk to discover a
nearby village, home of the M’nong hill tribe people. Upon leaving Lak Lake
travel by roads along the central highlands and pass Vietnam’s biggest growing coffee area to Pleiku
and Komtum. After checking into hotel in Komtum you will visit the town with
the Komtum Seminary, the traditional culture center, the Wooden Church and the Banar ethnic village. Overnight in
Kontum.
Day 9 - Kontum
– Hoian (B, L)
Morning we will transfer to Hoian. On arrival in Hoian we wander around to catch our
first glimpse of this delightful town. Here are plenty to see, some of which
are the famous Japanese Covered Bridges, the
Pottery Museum, the 200 years old Tanky House, Chua Ong Pagoda and the vibrant
market.Overnight at hotel in Hoian.
Day 10 - Hoian
– Hue (B, L, D)
After an interesting walk around the old quarter
streets you then depart for Hue, stopping en route to visit the
sensational Marble Mountains, the China Beach
and the Cham Museum. This structure is home
to Vietnam’s largest collection of Cham treasures. The winding roads begin as
you make your way up the spectacular Hai Van Pass. At the top of the
pass you will stop to admire a fantastic view north to Lang Co and south to Danang. After checking hotel in Hue
we explore the massive citadel, containing the Imperial City and the Purple Forbidden City. Overnight at
hotel in Hue.
Day 11 - Hue –
Hanoi overnight on train (B, L)
You will visit beautiful riverside pagoda of Thien Mu which now
becomes the symbol of Hue, and the elaborate royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc. We include
these in a half day cruise on the Perfume River which also gives us a
taste of the scenic countryside as well as an enjoyable visit to the mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang.
After an impressive boat trip you enjoy
a walk to the bustling Dong Ba Market that sells a wide
variety of local goods and handicrafts. Along the way you pass many fantastic
eating spots, all ideal for you to
sample some local delicacies. In the late afternoon, you board the train for an
overnight journey to Hanoi. Overnight on train.
Day 12 - Hanoi
(B, L, D)
Arrive in Hanoi in the morning. Pick up,
transfer to hotel for breakfast and relax. Our guide will show you the
most beautiful and interesting sights in Hanoi: One Pillar Pagoda; Tran Vu Pagoda; the 11th century Temple of Literature
- the first University of Vietnam. Then you will take a cyclo tour around the Restored Sword Lake (Hoan Kiem
Lake); Ngoc Son Temple and the 36 streets
of the Hanoi old quarter. If you arrive in
time, you will be able to enjoy water puppets show and elaborate
puppets floating gracefully over water Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.
Day 13 - Hanoi
– Son la (B, L)
Morning drive towards Son La. We pass through the
undulating terrains of tea plantations and the many timeless villages linked to
the road, which is the main artery of trade between the northwestern region and
the capital city. Arrive in Son La by mid or late afternoon. After checking into
hotel you will take a walk around this mountain town. Overnight at hotel in Son La.
Day 14 - Son
la – Dien Bien Phu (B, L)
You’ll have a chance to visit The provincial museum
and the nearby old prison before leaving for the next destination. The winding
roads cross over the Pha Din Pass before reaching Dien Bien Phu. After checking hotel
you’ll enjoy a walk around to see this
fast growing town. Our main stop is Dien Bien Phu’s Museum which
details the event in place. You also pay a visit to the old battle field where
the lush vegetation grows behind many war relics including old French tanks and
artillery pieces. Overnight at hotel in Dien Bien Phu.
Day 15 - Dien
Bien Phu – Tam Duong (B)
Heading out of the town, you’ll spend a full day
travelling into Vietnam’s most mountainous region. The roads are difficult at
times, but the spectacular landscape with a mixture of terraced fields and hill
villages makes the hardship all worthwhile. On the way, you’ll have some
opportunities to encounter the Red Hmong, Kho Mu, Mang, Dao people who still retain their
age old cultural traditions and are recognisably distinct from each other by
their dress. We arrive in Tam Duong by late afternoon and have time strolling
around to catch our first glimpse; a small town surrounded by breathtaking
mountains and tea plantations. Overnight in Tam Duong.
Day 16 - Tam
Duong – Sapa (B)
After breakfast you’ll set off on a half day drive
following the mountain roads to Sa Pa, our final destination. At an
elevation of 1,500 meters, Sapa was founded in the early years
of the last century as a hill resort for French administrators when the heat on
the plain became unbearable. Arriving in Sapa by mid afternoon, you and can
soak up the fresh climate as much as you want by spending your time wandering
this famous hill town. Overnight in SaPa.
Day 17 - Sapa
– Catcat village (B, L)
After breakfast, you’ll visit the bustling Sa Pa
Market where the Red Dao, Black Hmong, Tay and Xa Pho ethnic minorities
converge from the nearby mountainsides and valleys to trade their goods and buy
provisions. The Phan Si Pan Range boasts Vietnam’s
highest mountain and lends an alpine feel to the area surrounding this hill
station. This afternoon at 1pm from the hotel there will be a walking tour to
the hill tribe villages of Cat Cat, and Sansaho village home to the H’mong hill tribes minority peoples. Overnight at
hotel in Sapa.
Day 18 - Lao
chai – Tavan villages- night train back Hanoi (B, L)
Today’s destinations are 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. Transfer back to Laocai for night train back Hanoi.
Overnight on train.
Day 19 - Hanoi
– Halong bay on board (B, L, D)
Arrive in Hanoi around 5:30AM. Pick up and transfer
to the hotel for breakfast and relaxing. Then start a 3-hour drive through the Red River Delta to Ha Long City. Comfort stop en route
for photos and coffee before arriving to Ha Long City. You then transfer to
a refurbished wooden sailing junk for a cruise through the limestone cliffs and
emerald waters of Ha Long Bay. On board you will be served a sumptuous fresh,
local seafood lunch followed by a swim and exploring some of the limestone
caves in this area. When the sun comes down you drop anchor for the night
nearby a remote island. Overnight on Junk.
Day 20 - Halong
– Hanoi (Brunch)
Rising to the tranquil beauty of the bay you’ll have
time for an early morning dip with joys and emotions for watching sunrise on
sea followed by breakfast. This morning we continue to move around the bay to
find more secluded areas. The junk will be near us all the times. At around
midday you will return to the main harbor before transferring to our awaiting
vehicle for a 3-hour journey back to Hanoi. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.
Day 21 - Hanoi
departure (B)
Breakfast at hotel, free time until transfer to
the airport for your departure
flight.
Cultural tours
