Vietnam Expedition 17 Days, 16 Nights

Arrive in the capital city of Vietnam; Hanoi welcomes you with a smile.

After clearing immigration, proceed to the baggage reclaim area to collect your luggage. Your private tour guide and driver from Asia Dream Tours will be waiting for you outside the baggage claim/ custom area to transfer you in a private vehicle to the hotel in downtown.

Arrive at your hotel then check in and relax at your own leisure in Hanoi.

Overnight in Hanoi.

(Check in time is 14.00 – Early check in is upon availability)

The full day tour takes you around Hanoi’s highlights sites including the Ho Chi Minh Complex: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and his stilt house, Presidential Palace and the One Pillar Pagoda. You also have chance to visit historic University – The Temple of Literature, that dates back to the 11th century; learn about Buddhist practices in a serene lakeside pagoda. Visit the famous Ethnology Museum. Back to the Old Quarter to walk through the narrow streets that were famous for its specialized craft making guilds, the guild streets are named for their product or location and still bear such names nowadays.

Return to your hotel after the visit.

This afternoon, you will have dinner at a fine-dining local restaurant then ready for transferring to the train station for a night train to Sapa.

Overnight on train.

On arrival to Lao Cai Train Station (around 6.30a.m), our tour guide will take you to a local restaurant nearby the station for having breakfast as well as taking some break.

After breakfast, we will then head to Sapa for storing our luggage at the hotel. Rest of day is for relaxing at your own leisure in Sapa town.

Optional Activity:

After check in, we will then start our visit to Fansipan Peak.

Today, we will visit Fansipan Mountain by the cable car – The world’s longest and highest cable car, running up from sleepy Sapa Town in Lao Cai Province to the peak of 3,143-meter Fansipan Mountain, known as Indochina’s rooftop. Enjoy the view from the highest point of this incredible mountain. The lush green and subtropical vegetation makes this mountain really very beautiful.

After the visit, our driver and tour guide will transfer you back to your hotel in Sapa. Rest of day is for relaxing at your own leisure.

Overnight in Sapa

We start the day trekking through the beautiful Muong Hoa Valley to Y Linh Ho village, home to Black H’mong minorities. Weather permitting you will enjoy stunning views across the valley with mountains and rice terraces as far as the eye can see. Next on the route is a stop at Lao Chai, an established H’mong minority village which has been inhabited for centuries. Here you will have the opportunity to see the products of this minority at its best with hereditary rice terraces, homes and a vibrant community. Continuing on to Ta Van Village you will visit the Giay minority people. This group traditionally fished for a living and as a result established themselves close to rivers. They have mastered the art of fishing with bamboo sticks, and cook the fish inside bamboo. Nowadays however you are more likely to see the Giay working in fields planting or harvesting rice. Transport will be waiting in Tavan to take you back to Sapa.

Overnight in Sapa.

This early morning, we will leave for Bacha Market. The road is relatively flat from Lao Cai to Bao Nhai bridge. After crossing the bridge, we begin our journey up to Bac Ha market, located in the heart of Bac ha small town is the largest one in the area.

Every Sunday, the different and colorful ethnic minority come all here to sell their homemade products or buy something for the family. They are Hmong, Phu La, Back Dzao, Tay or Nung minorities. Some of these ethnic minorities can’t be met in any other areas. Free time for visiting one of the most colorful market in the world. At the market, you have chance to enjoy BacHa people’s simple but unique kinds of food with special wines made from rice, cassavas, corn and different sorts of fruits such as plumps, apples, peaches… talking to the minorities through the guide’s interpretation. After lunch leave the market for visiting the H’mong King’s house (King Hoang A Tuong) built by the French colonists and the Chinese in 1920, short walking to see BanPho village where is homeland of flower Hmong.

In the afternoon, we drive downhill towards Lao Cai. We stop on the way (before reaching Lao Cai) to take a short walk to Trung Do village inhabited by Tay people. Tay villages are always set up at the foot of a mountain or along a stream and are named after a mountain, a field, or a river. Each village contains about 15-20 households. A large village is divided into many small hamlets. The houses are built on stilts or level with the ground. Stop by a traditional Tay house for a cup of tea.

Afterward, we will drive toward Lao Cai where we will take the night train back to Hanoi

Overnight on train.

*** Different market open on specific days in Sapa (Coc Ly Tuesday Market, Cao Son Wednesday Market, Lung Khau Nhin Thursday Market, Can Cau Saturday Market, Bac Ha Sunday Market)

On arrival to Hanoi, our staff will pick you up at the train station then we will check in to a nearby hotel for relaxing and having breakfast.

At 8.30, we will head to Ninh Binh then join a “countryside leisure excursion” ride on bicyclesbetween the lush green fields and through the narrow lanes, seeing the locals going about their daily lives.

Afterward, we will join an authentic “local cooking” demonstration learning how to make some local specialties. You will have the opportunity to prepare and cook some food of your own.
At around 12:00, enjoy a delicious lunch which you have prepared.

Then we will take a relaxing sampan boat (4 people in each sampan) down a small canal to visit Thien Ha caves, enjoying the natural scenery along the way. This is a newly discovered eco-tourism attraction and said to be the most beautiful cave in Ninh Binh by tourists, offering endless photo opportunities.

After discovering Thien Ha Caves you continue your leisurely boat trip. You are rowed for 2,5 hours more on an untouched water route toward Thung Nham a pristine and untouched area surrounded by sheer limestone cliffs and stunning rice paddies. Along the way you can enjoy the fresh air, clean and clear water with under water grass while having plenty of Kodak moments. Also the absolute absence of crowds will be a big bonus.

Arrival Thung Nang you are picked up by your awaiting driver and then transfer to Hoa Lu, The Ancient Capital where you will visit the remaining two temples of Dinh King and Le King.
Check in to your hotel after the tour. Rest of day is for relaxing at your own leisure.

Overnight in Ninhbinh.

At 08:00, you will leave Ninh Binh for Halong Bay after 3.5 hours drive and board a boat, enjoying lunch while cruise through the bay. The magical bay is home to thousands of limestone islands rising from the waves like dragons’ teeth. Later in the afternoon, you will visit an interesting fishing village with opportunity to interact with fishermen who have been living in the bay for almost three generations. Back on board, you will enjoy cocktails or cooking classes while watching the sunset, before indulging in a lavish dinner onshore. Afterwards, you can choose to do anything from joining movie night, playing board games, or relaxing at the beauty spa before retiring for the night.

Overnight on board with the cruise

*** Itinerary varies depending on which cruise you are going to take

Wake up on the bay to the sounds of waves, fresh air, and breeze welcoming the new day. After breakfast, visit a beautiful limestone grotto then walk back to the boat for a final glimpse of Halong Bay while cruising back to the dock. The boat arrives at the harbor by 11.30am and your driver is waiting to take you back to Hanoi airport for your short flight to Dong Hoi. Meeting up at Dong Hoi airport by our driver and tour guide, you will then head to your hotel for check in. Rest of day is for relaxing at your own leisure.

Overnight in Dong Hoi.

This morning, our tour guide will pick up guests in Dong Hoi and drive you to Paradise cave – the longest dry cave in Asia (located in Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park’s core zone). It is approximately 75 km from Dong Hoi and a 1h15 minute drive)
You will then be taken by golf cart (1.6km) from the main gate through the jungle, to where you will then climb to the mouth of the cave; a climb that boasts spectacular views of the mountainous region around the cave.

12:00: Lunch at Dark cave restaurant. Here you will enjoy a traditional Vietnamese dish. Vegetarian option available. Please contact us in advance if you have any dietary restrictions and we will do our best to accommodate you.

13:00 Visit Dark cave (located in Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park). Participate in the many adventure activities: muddy bath, ziplining, swimming, kayaking, adventure course, caving etc.

16:15 Return to your hotel and relax at your own leisure at your hotel.

After breakfast, we will drive straight to Vinh Moc tunnel – a bomb shelter for local villagers to hide US bombing from the air, artillery shells form across the DMZ and firepower from US Navy warships across the Gulf of Tonkin.
You will be amazed by how the locals could survive during the hardships of the Vietnam war from 1967-1972.

Continue on to DMZ bridge (Hien Luong bridge in Vietnamese) crossing Ben Hai river at 17th parallel. A bridge that Vietnamese could not go across for technically almost 20 years 1955 -1975 and a river that divided not only a country in general but also a province, a district, a village, a hamlet, a family in specific. Take a look at the museum of 17th Parallel and Desire for Unification before having a stroll across the checkpoint Charlie in the middle of the bridge right at the Demarcation line or dividing line between the North and the South.

Next, we continue to Doc Mieu firebase – a US Marine base south of the DMZ along the McNamara line and one of the strongest point of the defensive line. Visit the cemetery of Gio Linh district where 1634 NVA and VC rest in peace, of which 350 labelled as known whilst most of them labelled as Unknown Soldier. Head straight to your hotel in Hue city

Overnight in Hue.

After breakfast, your private tour guide will pick you up for an adventure on a dragon boat cruise on the Perfume River. During the cruise, you will visit the Thien Mu (Heavenly Lady) Pagoda with its characteristic seven-tiered tower. You will also see the Austin car which took Monk Thich Quang Duc to Saigon where he famously set himself on fire in 1963 as a dramatic protest against the unfair treatment of Buddhists by the Diem regime.
Continue on to the Hue Royal Complex, former home to the Nguyen Dynasty, the last the last Monarchy of Vietnam from 1802 – 1945. You will explore the ancient and atmospheric walled Citadel which contains the former Imperial Palace and the Forbidden Purple City.
Today you will enjoy an excellent Vegetarian lunch at a local Buddhist Monastery, prepared and served by the nuns.
In the afternoon, you will visit the final resting place – so-called the King tomb of Tu Duc.

Afterward, we will travel to Thuan An Beach by car, a roughly 20 minute trip. Board a wooden boat to the Tam Giang Lagoon, then switch to a traditional sampan after 30 minutes on the water. Go deeper in to the lagoon by sampan, which can navigate even the shallow parts of the tidal lagoon. Watch for fishermen who use handmade, conical traps to catch fish, beating the water with long, wooden poles, then pull up alongside their boats and try the traditional technique yourself. You’ll see the sun set over mainland Vietnam as you continue across the lagoon—sunsets here are particularly scenic, as they illuminate the rolling terrain around Hue, which make the perfect backdrop for photography. After the sun goes down, head to shore, then meet a car for the return trip to your Hue hotel, where this tour concludes.
Return to your hotel after the visit. Rest of day is for relaxing at your leisure.

Overnight in Hue.

After breakfast we drive approximately 4 hours to Hue, via the scenic Hai Van Pass. En route we stop to visit the Cham Museum in Da Nang, Marble Mountain with the carving village at the foot of the mountain and My Khe Beach which was home to American GIs during the war.
On arrival to Hoi An, your private tour guide will pick you up and take you on a half-day walking tour of Hoi An through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter. From the 16th to the 18th century, Hoi An was a thriving international commercial port. Today it is a quaint riverside town popular with tourists for its eclectic architecture, tailor shops, and cafes.
Visits:
– Chua Ong Pagoda
– The Assembly Hall
– The 200-year-old Tam Ky house
– The Japanese Covered Bridge
– Hoi An central market

After the visit, you will check into your hotel. Rest of day is for relaxing at your own leisure in Hoi An.

Overnight in Hoian.

This morning, your private tour guide will meet you up at the hotel then start commencing the visit to My Son Sanctuary – the spiritual center of the ancient kingdom of Champa situated in the heart of a beautiful valley and surrounded by high mountains, 45 kilometers away from Hoi An.
Letters from the 4th century were found during excavations at My Son, revealing that the temples of the complex were used to worship and make offerings to the Hindu gods. In 1999, UNESCO designated My Son a World Heritage Site.

Originally built from wood, the temples were completely destroyed by fire in the 6th century and then rebuilt in the 7th century with locally made bricks. By the 13th century, more than 70 similar temples had been built, establishing My Son as a sanctuary of Hinduism in the Champa Kingdom.

Return to Hoi An, you are free at your own leisure for the rest of day.

This morning, you will be free at your own leisure until our driver transfers you to the airport for your short flight to Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival, check into your hotel and relax at your own leisure for the rest of day.

This morning, you are free at your own leisure until our driver transfers you to the airport for your departure flight home.

This morning, you are free at your own leisure until our driver transfers you to the airport for your departure flight home.