Highlights of Vietnam in 20 Days

Day 02: Hanoi City Tours – Lao Cai (B/-/-)

Pick up from your hotel for a full-day tour of Hanoi, a blend of the modern with the mystery and charm of bygone eras, Hanoi offers an air of elegance and harmony with nature. The day’s sightseeing begins with a visit to Ba Dinh Square to see Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, which houses a museum about his life as well as the simple cottage where he lived and worked. Then, see the Presidential Palace, a house on stilts, and the One Pillar Pagoda (also known as Chua Mot Cot), which was built in 1040 A.D. on a pillar made of a single large tree trunk.

Later, take a walk along West Lake to see the Quan Thanh and Tran Quoc temples. The former is a Taoist temple in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi. The temple, which dates from the 11th century, was dedicated to Xuan Wu, or Trn V in Vietnamese, one of Taoism’s main deities. The latter is the city’s oldest pagoda, having been built in the sixth century during Emperor L Nam’s reign (from 544 to 548), giving it a history of more than 1,450 years.

Then go to Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature), which was built in 1070 and is dedicated to the Confucius cult. Continue on to the National Museum of Vietnam History, which was built between 1925 and 1932 and was previously home to the École Française d’Extrême Orient. Bronzes from the Dong Son culture (3rd century BC to 3rd century AD) are kept in the museum, as well as Hindu statuary from the Khmer and Champa kingdoms, imperial Vietnamese jewelry, and displays about the French occupation and the Communist Party.

Next, go to the nearby Hanoi Opera House and the lovely Hoan Kiem Lake, also known as the Lake of the Restored Sword. Later, ride a cyclo through Hanoi’s Old Quarter, a maze of narrow alleys and shop houses known as “The 36 Streets.” This is a great place to observe local life and shop for everything from fabrics to crafts to exotic medicines. Then, transfer to Hanoi Railway Station for an overnight train to Lao Cai in an A/C soft cabin.

Day 03: Lao Cai – Sapa – Hiking – Sapa (B/L/-)

Upon arrival at Lao Cai railway station, our guide and driver will meet you and transport you to your hotel for relaxation, showering, and breakfast. Then, proceed to Sapa. Stroll through the village and stop by welcoming Red Zao families to learn about their culture. You will deviate from the main road and onto hilly mountainous trails. Your surroundings are lush with vegetation, pine forest, and clean air. You will be able to enjoy the area’s untouched beauty.

Start to visit Cat Cat village. Nestled in a beautiful valley about three kilometers from Sapa Town, Cat Cat- the old village of ethnic groups- attracts for its distinctive customs and practices which have been lost in almost ethnic villages. The village is within easy walking distance from any hotel in downtown Sapa. Enjoy the musical dancing performed by the local hill tribe.

Ma Tra is about 3 km walking from Ta Phin which is the newly added location in a series of villages in Sapa that visitors can go to. The village is about 5km from the town of Sapa. This has around 50 households, resided by only H’Mong people. Ma Tra village has restored the traditional flax weaving loom, forging tools and carved silver production as part of tourism. Experience tribal life on mountain, see how the locals make clothes and handicrafts, and enjoy amazing scenery that you can never forget. Transfer to the center for overnight at hotel.

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Day 04: Sapa – Hiking at hill tribes villages – Hanoi (B/L/-)

Enjoy breakfast at hotel before going down to Muong Hoa valley. Beginning of the trip is the moment for admire the panorama view of the town and then the valley from the main road. After 4km on the main road, we start going down to the valley by the small trails through the terrace rice fields to get to Y Linh Ho hamlet, a small village of the Black Hmong people.

From Y Linh Ho village, we go along the river to go to Lao Chai village (means “old village” in the local dialect). It is time for you to visit the local families, listen to your guide’s explanation about the local culture: how they live, way of building the traditional house, and techniques of making clothes… or listen about the way of treatment for a sick person. Stop for lunch. The lunch is served in one of the local refreshment restaurants on the side of the river.

In the afternoon, we leave Lao Chai to continue to Ta Van village, the Giay people’s residence. The guide to bring you into some family: listen about their life, enjoy some green tea, and learn about the differences of their culture from the other hill tribes even they leave close to each other. Finally, transfer to Lao Cai for overnight train to Hanoi.

Day 05: Hanoi – Ninh Binh (B/-/-)

Train arrives in Hanoi early morning, check in hotel right in front of the railway for your shower, relax and breakfast. Afterwards, you will be picked up by driver around 8 am to Ninh Binh known as “Halong Bay on land” one of the most beautiful land for its relics and impressive limestone peaks. Visit Hoa Lu which was once depicted the ancient capital of Viet Nam, settling up in the 10th century. Also, visit temples of two dynasties of Dinh and Le with a very unique architecture in the old time. Learn about ancient culture through an excavation of vestiges of Royal Palaces ground dated 10th century.

After that, transfer to Tam Coc upon arrival boarding the sampan to travel along river among the villages, mountains and rice fields. Pass through 3 caves “Hang Ca – First cave, Hang Hai – Second cave, Hang Ba – Third cave” to get a wonderful feeling.

Later visit, around the village to enjoy the peaceful climate of Vietnamese countryside and meet welcoming and hospitable locals to get deep understanding of their life. Transfer to hotel in the center of Ninh Binh for overnight.

Day 06: Ninh Binh – Hanoi (B/-/-)

Enjoy your breakfast at hotel and then transfer to Thien Ha Cave, which is the 200-meter-high Tuong Mountain – part of the mountain range that helped to protect the Hoa Lu ancient capital from invaders in 10th century.

Although the mouth of the Thien Ha Cave is only about 4 meter across, the visitors who desire to go inside this cave will not be disappointed with its size. The entire cave is around 900 meters deep, but only 700 of those meters are accessible by foot, others are by boat as they are under water.

Get on the port then take a bike ride to Bich Dong cave. This charming cluster of cave temples is a couple of kilometers north of Tam Coc. The Lower Pagoda is located at the base, from which 100 steps lead to the Middle Pagoda, then a shorter but steep ascent to the Upper Pagoda. Inside each cave temple, looming statues peer from the haze of burning incense. Outside offers incredible countryside views. Transfer back to Hanoi for overnight.

Day 07:Hanoi – Ha Long Bay – Cruise (B/L/D)

Around 8am, you will be picked and transferred by car to Halong Bay. 12.00: Arrive at Tuan Chau Island.

12.30: Welcome Drink – cruise briefing, safety instructions, check-in cabins. Cruise and program commence

13.00 – 14.30: Serve Special Lunch on board while cruising and exploring Halong Bay passing by Soi Sim Beach, Coconut Three Island.

14.45 – 15.45: Exploring Cua Van Floating Village by rowing bamboo boat with local people or kayaking by yourself.

15.45 – 17.00: The Vessels will continuous cruising in Halong bay passing by Tien Ong Cave, Trong Cave, Ho dong Tien, Luon cave, Ti Top Island and Coconut Three Island for overnight stay. Enjoy spa at your leisure on-board.

17.00 – 19.00: Enjoying “Happy Hour” Buy one take one on selected beverages, while the vessels is anchoring at Coconut Three Island for overnight stay.

18.00 – 19.00: Enjoy cooking demonstration with Chef to discover the Vietnamese cuisine. Learn how to toast Vietnamese way through the evening’s toast of the local rice wine and follow the Pre – dinner cocktail on the sundeck serving assorted canapé and nuts. 19.30 – 22.00: Serve elegant dinner.

21.00 – 23.00: Evening Activities – relax at leisure; enjoy Movie Night and squid Fishing or Beauty Spa services.

Day 08: Ha Long Bay – Cruise – Hanoi (B/L/-)

6.30: Tai Chi session on Sundeck.

7.00 – 7.30: Coffee & tea with assorted homemade pastries.

7.30 – 8.30: Relax or Visit Sung Sot Cave – Hiking up and down 600 steps to the magnificent limestone formations of the most beautiful and biggest cave in Halong bay.

8.30: Serve Breakfast Menu.

9.30: Check-out cabins and settle bills.

10.30: Arrive at Tuan Chau Island.

10.30 – 12.00: Set lunch served on the cruise

12.15 – 12.30: Shuttle bus picks up guests to Hanoi.

16.30 – 17.00: Arrive at hotel in Hanoi. Check in hotel and overnight in Hanoi.

Day 09: Hanoi – Duong Lam – Hue (B/-/-)

In the morning, you will be taken to Duong Lam, an ancient agricultural village approximately 40 miles (65 kilometers) west of Hanoi on the northern Red River Delta.  The charming village has a history that dates back 1,200 years, and many of the village’s houses were built over 400 years ago. Take your chance for the discovery by walk or bike to see old houses of red laterite and rammed earth. Visit the town hall of the village

Getting picked up at the hotel in Hanoi and take 40-minute drive to Bat Trang Ceramics Village. The village is located besides the Red River and rich in clay. This seven-century old pottery village has become an interesting attraction that visitors can easily access from Hanoi. Arrive at the village, you are taken to some local workshops and witness the local techniques of making fine ceramics products. You also have chance to experience hand-on ceramics making along with a local artisan’s guidance. While waiting for your own work ready, take a short stroll around the village’s market to see how various the products are.

Then transfer to the airport for flight to Hue. Upon arrival, be welcome by our guide then transfer to hotel in center for check-in and overnight in Hue.