Grand Vietnam 18 days

Route Map

Brief:

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival 

Day 2: Hanoi city tour 

Day 3: Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Train to Lao Cai

Day 4: Sapa – Mong Sen – Ta Phin 

Day 5: Lao Chai – Ta Van – Hanoi

Day 6: Hanoi – Ha Long

Day 7: Ha Long – Hanoi

Day 8: Hanoi – Hue

Day 9: Hue – Hoi An

Day 10: Tra Que village – Hoi An Walking tour

Day 11: Hoi An – Nha Trang

Day 12: Nha Trang

Day 13: Nha Trang

Day 14: Nha Trang – Ho Chi Minh City

Day 15: Ho Chi Minh city – Cu Chi Tunnels

Day 16: Ho Chi Minh – Mekong Delta

Day 17: Mekong – Ho Chi Minh

Day 18: Ho Chi Minh Departure

DAY 1: HANOI ARRIVAL

Welcome to Vietnam: after a long time on the airplane, you will reach Vietnam – the S-shaped land, where 54 different ethnic minorities inhabited.

You will be warmly welcomed by our guide and driver at the airport and transferred to your hotel in the city center of Hanoi.

Free on your own afterward.

Meals included: __/__/__

Parameter: Driving: 30 km/45 minutes

Overnight in Hanoi 

DAY 2: HANOI CITY TOUR/ THE PAST IN THE PRESENT

In the morning

• At 08:30, our guide and driver will meet you at your hotel then you start your day to discover Hanoi City.
• Firstly, you will pay a visit to Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, is a building to commemorate the merits of Ho Chi Minh Uncle – a great leader of Vietnam, and the surrounding sites of One Pillar Pagoda and his ancient house.
• After 2 hours, you will go to the next site of the Temple of Literature, which is the first University of Vietnam and dedicated to Confucius (Khong Tu).

In the afternoon

• After saving energy with local lunch, you will leave for the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, which focuses on the 54 officially recognized ethnic groups in Vietnam.
• It is estimated to be 2 hours at the museum then you will be transferred back to the old quarter and visit Hoan Kiem Lake.
• Finally, you will sit in front of Cyclo to move around the Old Quarter and experience the local life in 45 minutes before coming back your hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/__

Today useful note(s):

• Wearing formal clothes (cover your knees and shoulders) to visit some spiritual/cultural sites.
• Museum of Ethnology will close on Monday so Hoa Lo prison will be the alternative attraction.
• The complex of Ho Chi Minh mausoleum will not open for worshiping on Monday or Monday so you just visit the surrounding parts on those days.

Overnight in Hanoi

DAY 3: HANOI – NINH BINH – NIGHT TRAIN TO SAPA/ THE STORY OF ORIGIN

In the morning

• At 08:00, our tour guide and driver will meet you at your hotel and you will leave Hanoi for Ninh Binh – your destination today.
• The first visit in this legend area is Hoa Lu, the capital of Dai Co Viet (an old name of Vietnam). Being the capital of the first fundamental Government of Vietnam, Hoa Lu witnessed many important historical events: the union of Vietnam after “12 Lords Rebellion”, the war with the Song dynasty, the defense against the ancient Cambodian, and the formation of Hanoi nowadays.

In the afternoon

• After lunch, you will be rowed along the Ngo Dong River to visit Tam Coc, which makes for a truly unforgettable experience, passing between towering limestone peaks. Enormous limestone karsts jut out from the green rice fields giving rise to this place’s other name, “Halong Bay on land”.
  •  Option 1: Bicycle: Proceed a cycling along country lane to enjoy the beautiful scenery of lush paddy fields and discover real countryside of Vietnam.
  • Option 2: Mua Cave: Arrive at Mua Cave, the most beautiful place to view in Ninh Binh, which is considered as “miniature Great Wall” of Vietnam, hiking to the peak of Mua cave, you will see whole Tam Coc landscape and Ninh Binh city.
• Your tour will come to the end at around 16:30 then you will be transferred to your transit hotel which is near Hanoi train station to freshen up and relax.

In the evening

• At 20:30, our guide will pick you up at the hotel then your group will walk with our guide to the station for a night train leading to Sapa. The train leaves at 22:00 from Hanoi railway station.

Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/__

Parameter: Hanoi – Ninh Binh: 100 km/Driving: 2 hours – Boat trip: 1.5 hour

On train: Hanoi – Lao Cai: 8 hours

Overnight on train (sharing a 4-berth cabin)

DAY 4: LAO CAI – SAPA – MONG SEN – TA PHIN/ THE VOICE OF THE MOUNTAINS

In the morning

• At 06:00 a.m, the train will reach the station in Lao Cai and you will be warmly welcomed by our guide and driver. Then you will have breakfast in a local restaurant and short time for relaxing.
• At 08:00 a.m, you will reach your hotel in Sapa town. If the room is already available, you can check in and take a short rest or else you will go downhill to Mong Sen where you start a dirt trail through rice fields and villages. Along the way, it is a wonderful scenery full of green.
• At 12:00, you will have lunch in a local house.

In the afternoon

• After lunch, you continue your trek downhill towards Taphin village inhabited by Red Dao and Black Hmong minorities. These are two largest ethnic groups living in Sapa area.
• Then you make a stop by some houses to meet local people and talk with them to understand their culture, customs and traditions. Late afternoon, you will trek back to main road to get on our vehicle for the journey back to Sapa.
• At around 15:00, you will get out to the main road and our private car will take you back to your hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/__

Parameter: Driving: 2 hours/ Walking: 4 hours/Lunch: 1 hour

Overnight in Sapa

DAY 5: LAO CHAI – TA VAN – NIGHT TRAIN TO HANOI/ NORTH-WEST CULTURE EXPLORATION

In the morning

• At 09:00 a.m, you will be met up at your hotel by local guide and driver then transferred to Lao Chai village. 
• Firstly, you will visit Lao Chai Village – a Black Hmong ethnic minority village.
• Then, you will then be able to walk from Lao Chai to Tavan village where the Giay ethnic minority hill tribe lives.
• Enjoy lunch in a local house.

In the afternoon

• The walk continues through a bamboo forest to Giang Ta Chai, a Red Dao ethnic minority village.
• After taking a rest nearby a waterfall to refresh, you start climbing uphill to a road where the car is ready for your journey back to Sapa. 
• At around 17:00 you will be transferred to the train station for your night train back to Hanoi.

Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/__

Parameter: Trekking: 04 hours, Driving: 1 hours

On train: Lao Cai – Hanoi: 8 hours

Overnight on train (sharing a 4-berth cabin) 

DAY 6: HANOI – HA LONG BAY/ A NIGHT ON A PEACEFUL BAY

In the morning

• At 05:30 a.m, you arrive in Hanoi train station, walk to the hotel that we book at near to station for you to take rest, shower and breakfast.
• 07:45 – 8:30, our shuttle bus will pick you up and transfer you to Halong bay, which takes you around 4.0 hours through small villages with beautiful fields of rice and vegetables.
• Reaching Halong bay at around 12:00 and you will check in your cabin and have lunch in the restaurant on cruise while cruising into the magnificent Halong Bay

In the afternoon

• 13:30 – 15:00: Savor a delectable lunch as V’Spirit Classic cruises among the limestone islands.
• 5:00 – 16:00: Explore the amazing Sung Sot Cave – the most beautiful cave in Halong Bay.
• 16:00 – 17:00: Cruising to Titov island. Go swimming and relaxing at the beach of Titov or climb up to the top of the island for a panorama view of Halong Bay.
• 17:00 – 17:30: Return to the main boat and continue cruising to the quiet area while enjoying beautiful seascape on the way.
• 17:30 – 19:00: Enjoy Sunset Party on sundeck and admire the best moments of the day when the sun starts to set.

In the evening

• 19:00: Dinner is served. Socialize with other guests, take part in board games, fish for squid, or just laze around.

Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Parameter: Hanoi – Halong: 180km/Driving: 4 hours

Overnight on cruise 

DAY 7: HA LONG BAY – HANOI/ A NIGHT ON A PEACEFUL BAY

In the morning

• 06:30 – 07:15: Start your day with Tai Chi exercises or a photo hunt.
• 07:30 – 08:30: Have breakfast on board and enjoy the peaceful morning of Halong Bay.
• 09:00 – 10:00: Kayak among the hidden areas of the bay, around the Bo Nau area.
• 10:15: Return to the boat. Freshen up and check out of your cabin.
• 10:15 – 11:00: Continue your cruise exploring the Bay, passing Ba Hang fishing village, Dog Islet, and more.
• 11:00 – 11:45: Join a cooking demonstration before enjoying an exceptional Buffet lunch.

In the afternoon

• 12:00 – 12:30: Disembark V-Spirit cruise and get on the car to get back to Hanoi.
• 16:30: Trip finishes at the hotel in Hanoi and you have your own free time.

Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/__

Parameter: Halong – Hanoi: 180km/ Driving: 4 hours

Overnight in Hanoi  

DAY 8: HANOI – HUE – HUE CITY TOUR/ A HISTORY FLASHBACK

In the morning

• At 06:30, our driver will pick you up in the hotel for the domestic flight to Hue
• Upon your Hue arrival, you will be welcomed by our tour guide and driver and start Hue City tour.
• First, you will get the romantic experience by taking a leisure boat trip along the Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the most famous Vietnamese landmarks.
• Later, lunch will be served in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon

• At 14:00, you will understand apart of Vietnam history by visiting Tu Duc tomb, which is considered as one of the most beautiful and picturesque and largest works of architecture of Nguyen Dynasty’s royal palaces and tombs
• The next activity is visiting Imperial Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City, created in the 19th century for the Emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty
• Around 17:00, tour come to the end and you have your own free time later

Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/__

Flight information: VN 1543                    Vietnam Airlines       08:40   09:50

Parameter: Hotel – Noi Bai Airport: 30 km/Driving: 45 minutes

Phu Bai airport – Hue: 15 km/Driving: 25 minutes

Overnight in Hue

DAY 9: HUE – HOI AN/ INCREDIBLE COASTAL LINE

In the morning

• At 08:30, our guide and driver will meet you up again and start your journey to Hoi An town
• You will firstly pass the Hai Van Pass and Lang Co, over a spur of the Truong Son Mountain Range that juts into the South East Sea, with spectacular views along the way
• At 10:30, you will reach Danang and visit the Cham Museum, which features a fine collection of open air sandstone carvings.
• The next site will be Son Tra Peninsula, which is a typical Vietnam tourism magnet along the coastline: fantastic, untouched natural scene with transparent sea, white sand, and mysterious primitive jungle with a vast diversity of plants and animals.
• At noon time, you will have time for lunch in a local restaurant

In the afternoon

• At 14:00, you will depart for Marble mountain, visit Non Nuoc stone carving village, one of the four ancient villages in Quang Nam – Da Nang
• To be continued, you will climb up to mountain, visit Thuy Son – the biggest and the most beautiful mountain in Da Nang
• At around 16:00, you will reach your hotel in Hoi An and have free time on your own

Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/__

Parameter: Hue – Hoi An: 120 km/Driving: 2.5 hours

Overnight in Hoi An

DAY 10: TRA QUE VILLAGE – HOI AN WALKING TOUR/ FARMING AS THE LOCALS

In the morning

• At 08:30, after enjoying breakfast at your hotel, you start riding your bicycle to Tra Que village (private car will be used if you cannot ride a bike)
• You firstly will be introduced about the history of the village, the cultivation of the vegetables as well as discovering about the use of vegetables in traditional Vietnamese medicine.
• Then you will take a trip around the vegetable garden and join the farmers in preparing the land and fertilizing it with seaweed from the local lake.
• Continue doing activities such as raking, sowing, watering greens, picking greens and many more gardening activities before spending the rest of the morning working the land in the time honoured way
• After finishing all the activities, you will take a break and prepare lunch with a local family.
• You will have lunch in a local house with many local delicacies including Tam Huu spring roll, Banh xeo or the local pancake of the people from the middle region

In the afternoon

• At around 15:00, riding back to Hoi An town and you will start discovering this World Heritage site.
• You will be introduced with many delights of Hoi An. From expert dressmakers and tailors, who will craft a complete outfit for you in a couple of days, to a dawn photo trip along the river or from a fun visit to Hoi An Local Market then following small alleys to see the Chinese Assembly Hall, the famous Japanese Covered Bridge and Tan Ky Ancient House and the China Town in the other side of the canal, you’ll find yourself miss that one-of-a-kind port town in every single road of your ahead travel.
• At around 17:00, the tour will come to the end ad you have free time on your own later.

Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/__

Overnight in Hoi An

DAY 11: HOI AN – NHA TRANG/ THE CHARMING OCEAN

 In the morning

• At 10:00, our driver will pick you up at the hotel to Danang airport for the flight to Nha Trang.

In the afternoon

• Upon arrival in Nha Trang, our driver and guide will welcome you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel in the city center.
• After that, free at your leisure time.

Meals included: Breakfast/__/__

Flight information: VN1945              Vietnam Airlines            12:05       13:20

Parameter: Hoi An – Danang airport: 30 km/Driving: 45 minutes

Cam Ranh airport – Nha Trang: 35 km/Driving: 55 minutes

Overnight in Nha Trang

DAY 12: NHA TRANG CITY TOUR/ A VISIT TO AQUARIUM WORLD

In the morning

• At 08:30, our guide and driver pick you up at your hotel and drive you to Cau Da for a visit to the Vietnam Oceanographic Institute to see the whole collection of sea creatures in Nha Trang bay.
• You also go to Long Son pagoda and Cathedral or Stone Church built in French colonial time, the Po Nagar Temples.
• Lunch will be served in a local restaurant

In the afternoon

• After having lunch, you will visit Chong Promontory Rocks, which offers fine views of the mountainous coastline north of Nha Trang and the nearby islands.
• Next, you visit local Dam market, which is used mainly by the local people, which gives you a glimpse into the daily lives of the Vietnamese people.
• At around 16:00, the city tour will come to an end and you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/__

Overnight in Nha Trang

DAY 13: NHA TRANG FREE DAY/ ENJOY THE SUN AND THE SEA

Free at your leisure time

Meals included: Breakfast/__/__

Overnight in Nha Trang

DAY 14: NHA TRANG – HO CHI MINH CITY/ JOIN THE BUSTLE

In the morning

• At 09:30, you will be picked up by our driver to Cam Ranh airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh city.
• Our tour guide and driver will pick you up at the airport, then you will go directly to your hotel for check in.

In the afternoon

• You will have free time in the afternoon.

Meals included: Breakfast/__/__

Flight information: VN 1345          Vietnam airlines        10:55         11:55

Parameter: Nha Trang – Cam Ranh airport: 35 km/Driving: 55 minutes

Tan Son Nhat airport – Ho Chi Minh city center: 10 km/Driving: 30 minutes

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city

DAY 15: HO CHI MINH – CU CHI TUNNELS/ BACK TO THE WAR TIME

In the morning 

• At 08:30, you will be met up by our guide at the lobby of the hotel after you have breakfast, then transferred to Cu Chi tunnels.
• Cu Chi tunnels are famed for its 200-kilometre-long tunnels, an incredible underground network built by Vietcong during the Vietnam war. By visiting this site, you will have a chance to look back to the War time of Vietnam and see how we fight the invaders.
• After spending time visiting these long tunnels, you will go to the local restaurant for lunch.

In the afternoon

• After saving with lunch of local foods, you will get back to Ho Chi Minh and visit the highlights of the city.
• Firstly, you will visit The Reunification Palace, whose architecture is a blend of traditional ritual and modern architecture, typical of the 60s’.
• Next, you will walk a short distance to The Central Post Office, which is one of the oldest buildings in Ho Chi Minh. Being a mixture of Gothic, Renaissance and French influences, this building fascinates tourists by its typical colonial French features, from exterior to interior decorations.
• Then, the last attraction is Notre Dame Cathedral. The cathedral is considered the symbol of this dynamic city, is located in the downtown of Ho Chi Minh and reaches a height of up to 60 meters.
• If time allows, you can pay a visit to Ben Thanh market, which is one of the biggest wholesale markets of the city.
• At around 17:00, you will be transferred back to your hotel and have your own free time afterward.

Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/__

Parameter: Ho Chi Minh – Cu Chi: 90km/Driving: 1.5 hour

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

DAY 16: HO CHI MINH – MY THO – CAN THO/ TASTE OF MEKONG RIVER

In the morning

At 08:30, you will be met up with our guide and driver at your hotel and leave the hustle Saigon heading to My Tho, the closet delta town to Ho Chi Minh city. It will be a 90-minute driving through the small villages in the western region.

• You will start your delta trip with a visit to Vinh Trang Pagoda, the most beautiful and ancient pagodas in Mekong Delta. 
• Then take a boat trip on the great Mekong River (Tien River) to visit fish farms where fish are bred in wooden cages suspended under floating houses on the river and see 4 islets: Long (Dragon) islet, Lan (Unicorn) islet, Quy (Turtle) Islet and Phung (Phoenix) islet.
• Proceed to Thoi Son Islet, visit farmers’ houses and gardens. Enjoy fruits and honey tea served by local people while listening to Tai Tu music – Traditional music of the Mekong people.  Discover small canals of Mekong delta by hand rowing boat.
• Leaving Thoi Son, move by boat to visit Coconut – candy workshop and taste a hot coconut candy, Coconut handicrafts as souvenirs.
• Then you can walk and enjoy riding a horse-drawn carriage on country lanes to see some activities of the local farmers.
• You will have lunch in a local restaurant at noon time

In the afternoon

• After lunch, you will get back to the mainland where your private car is waiting and go to Can Tho
• At around 17:00, you will reach your hotel in Can Tho and the tour will come to tan end with your own free time afterwards.

Parameter: Ho Chi Minh – My Tho: 70 km/Driving: 1.5 hour

My Tho – Can Tho: 100 km/Driving: 2 hours

Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/__

Overnight in Can Tho

DAY 17: CAI RANG FLOATING MARKET – HO CHI MINH CITY/ EXPERIENCE THE “FLOATING” CULTURE

In the morning

• At 07:00 a.m in the early morning, you will start from Ninh Kieu boat quay, where you cruise along the small and picturesque canals and stop to see the Cai Rang floating market (the nicest one with heaps of rowing boats).
• You then make a stop to enjoy the beautiful scenery and the daily activities of the locals who live along the Mekong canals. You continue walking through the village to visit a rice husking mill and a rice/noodle shop, where we observe how it is made.
•  From 12:00 – 13:00, enjoy lunch in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon

• After having lunch, you will have some free time before leaving back to Ho Chi Minh at 15:00
• At around 18:00, you will reach your hotel in Ho Chi Minh and have your own free time afterwards.

Meals included: Breakfast/Lunch/__

Parameter: Can Tho – Ho Chi Minh: 170 km/Driving: 3.5 hours

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh

DAY 18: HO CHI MINH DEPARTURE

Depending on your flight time, our driver will pick you up at your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your departure flight.

Meals included: Breakfast/__/__

Parameter: Hotel – Airport: 7 km/Driving: 20 minutes