Vietnam Authentic with Valentina Bianchi e Paolo Ferrari

Vietnam Authentic Adventure

Xin chao Lam.

Thank you for the wonderful trip that you’ve arranged for us !!! We have already nostalgia … of those wonderful places !!!

We have come back to normal life, as soon as we have some time. I send you photos and I do the review !!!

Thanks again for everything, hope to hear about us next year (I would also go to Cambodia and Laos)!

Say hello to Quan for us !!

Valentina

Group: Valentina Bianchi & Paolo Ferrari
Tour name: Vietnam Authentic Adventure
Travel date: 7/8/2013
Travel style: Adventure Travel
La recensione del nostro cielente sul Tripadvisor

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
Upon your arrival, your guide and driver would be ready to welcome you right at the arrival lounge of Noi Bai international airport. Your guide would debrief for you about the whole trip itinerary, and eager to respond to all of your wonderings. For the rest of the day, it is time at leisure.

Flight:  VN 254 SGN-HAN: 16:00 – 18:00

Note: For the Vietnamese Visa on Arrival, please make sure you have 2 passport sized 4 cm x 6 cm photos and $25 for the stamping fee.

Day 2: Hanoi Visit – Night train to Sapa
Breakfast at hotel and ½ day city tour in Hanoi. You would be taken to highlight sites of Hanoi: the Presidential Palace (formerly Palace of the Governor-General of French Indochina), Ho Chi Minh house-on-stilt, One-Pillar Pagoda. You may also have chance to visit Vietnam’s very first university dated back in the 11th century. It is well-known in Vietnam for a combination of Confucian sanctuary and academy clearly proved by stone tablets which you may see.

Your next place is the West lake and Tran Quoc pagoda, the biggest natural lake with an area of 4km2 then visit Temple of Litterature, the first university of Vietnam built in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius.

Pause for lunch in the local restaurant before you will take cyclo ride into old quarter of Hanoi, each street take the name from its typical product like paper street, shoses street etc…

Cyclo will take you also to the Returned Sword Lake with all old trees and it is the wonderful place for jogging and Tai Chi. You also visit Ngoc Son Temple and close your day with Water puppet show.

Free time until the transfer to station before you take the night train to Sapa.

Day 3: Lao Cai – Sapa Trekking
Arriving in the early morning at Lao Cai station, you would be on a scenic drive to Sapa after the short breakfast at the downtown. You may be catching some wow moments along the way by witnessing spectacular views of rice-terraced mountains besides with hill tribe people (Black H’Mong and Red Dao) walking along the side with unique colorful wares.

Then checking in at the hotel, there would be a short walking tour to the market to catch up with the local life of ethnic people from faraway villages converging there. Lunch would be at your own arrangement.

Afternoon:

Your guide would wait to see you to start the trekking along the vast Muong Hoa valley with terraced fields lying on, heading to Lao Chai and Ta Van villages of H’mong and Tay people. Here, there are 3 options for you: the soft trek (at only 3 km), medium trek (around 6 km) or long trek (nearly 12 km). For each, you would have chance to imbue the well-preserved unique culture and traditions of the north ethnic minorities.

Day 4: Sapa – Can Cau Market – Train to Hanoi
Being on an early drive to Can Cau, you will have time for a short visit to Phong Hai market – 40 km from Sapa. Then arriving in Can Cau, which is 130 km far from Sapa, you would walk through colorful market of hill tribe people such as: Flower Hmong, Phu La and Dao Tuyen, … who gather there for goods’ exchange.

Afternoon:

After lunch, you keep moving by car to Trung Do and have a short trek of around 4km for Tay people’s village visiting. Then you get on boat of nearly 1.5 hours up the Chay river for experiencing the magnificent sights of natural caves and the Raining waterfalls. Your driver would wait for you at Bao Nhai – the boating stop to take you back to Lao Cai ‘s Tran Hung Dao temple, the long live banian  tree, the 12 zodiac-signs park, and the Chinese Vietnamese borderline. After all, you have time for freshing up at the hotel before moving to train station for overnight train back to Hanoi.

Note: The sample itinerary for Bac Ha on Sunday: depend on your departure. You could visit:

  Coc Ly market:                 Tuesday
  Cao Son market:             Wednesday
  Lung Khau Nhin:             Thursday
  Can Cau:                          Saturda

Day 5: Hanoi Arrival – Ninh Binh – Phat Diem – Trang An (B/-/-) 
Your train will arrive in Hanoi at the early morning. Your driver and guide would see you at the station then take 2.5 hour drive to Tam Coc. Time for breakfast and relax before make trip to Phat Diem stone church, Trang An and Hang Mua

Day 6: Ninh Binh – Kenh Ga – Hoa Lu – Mai Chau – Mai Hich (B/L/D)  
Depart for Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam in 41 years under the regein of Dinh and Le dynasties. Continue trip to Kenh Ga to make boat trip in 2 hours.

Stop for lunch on the way then depart for Mai Chau, one of the tipical sighseeing place in the middle of the way to Dien Bien Phu. You could visit villages of black Thai peoples where you are welcome and overnight in their still house.

You could also observe their daily lives and lunch served directly on the ground floor. Musical performance and popular dances with rice-wine (ruou Can) tasting in a jar with bamboo straw, specialties of the region (optional for a group of more than 10 people).

Overnight in traditional still houses on Mai Hich (basic and comfort).

Day 7: Mai Chau – Hoa Binh – Hanoi (B/L/-)
Breakfast at homestay. Farewell to the host then visit Poom Cong and Lac villages before depart for Hoa Binh. Admire the hills covered with plantations, rice paddies and limestone rocks.

Visit of a Muong minority village, which has maintained its customs and traditions. The Muong tribe is the only one who always uses bronze drums invented three thousand years ago. The Muong still follow the matriarchal society, grows rice on water paddies and sometimes practices hunting.

Lunch at the locals. Return to Hanoi.

Day 8: Hon Gai – Bai Tu Long – Cap La (-/L/D)
07.45  Pick up at your hotel in Hanoi by shuttle bus.
12.00   Embark at Hon Gai International harbour.
13.00   Check-in, enjoy a welcoming drink and cruise briefing.
13.30 Have lunch while cruising in the magnificent Bai Tu Long Bay, admiring the fascinating rock formations in the bay.
15.00   Cruise to Cap La.
16.30   Enjoy paddling around Cap La and Tra San by kayak.
17.45   Back to junk for swimming or relaxation.
19.00   Have dinner and stay overnight on board.

Service Inclusion: breakfast, lunch, dinner, guide, kayak
Cruise: Dragon’s Pearl Cruise Type 4 cabin, 02 DBL Cabin

Day 9: Cap La – Cong Dam – Cong Do (B/L/D)
07.30 Enjoy the bay’s morning landscape with a cup of tea or coffee. Have breakfast in the open air.
08.30 Cruise to Cong Dam while appreciating the rock formations of Halong Bay.
09:00 Kayak through hidden lagoons and Cong Dam geological park.
11.30 Sunbathe, relax or swim at Tra Gioi Beach.
12.30 BBQ lunch followed by relaxation on this deserted beach.
14:30 Visit Cong Dam Fishing Village by a rustic rowing boat, meat the local people and pass through the lagoons.
16.00 Cruise back to Cong Do for swimming or kayaking.
19.00 Have dinner and stay overnight on board.

Service Inclusion: breakfast, lunch, dinner, guide, kayak
Cruise: Dragon’s Pearl Cruise Type 4 cabin, 02 DBL Cabin

Day 10: Cong Do – Thien Canh Son – Hoa Gai    
07.30 Enjoy the fresh air and gentle breezes of the bay in the morning while having breakfast on board.
08.30 Visit Thien Canh Son Cave followed by swimming.
10.30 Cruise towards the harbor while an a la carte lunch is served.
11.45 Disembark. Farewell.
15.45 Arrive in Hanoi. End of trip.

Service Inclusion: breakfast, lunch, guide, kayak

Day 11: Hanoi Free time (B/-/-)
Hanoi free time at leasuire and transfer to Hanoi ralways station to take overnight train to Hue

Day 12: Hue Arrival – City Tour in Hue (B/L/-)
Arrive Hue in the early morning. Breakfast is served at the hotel then you will spend the entire day to explore Vietnam’s former ancient capital.

Your guide and driver pick you up and transfer you to the wharf for your boat ride on the Perfume River. During the boat trip, you will stop to visit the iconic Thien Mu Pagoda, a symbol of Hue – the oldest ancient architectural structures for religious worship. Then you go to visit the Imperial Citadel of Hue with the Purple Forbidden City – once the Emperor’s private residence. You will be having lunch at a local restaurant.

The Hue Citadel is situated on the Northern bank of the Perfume River. It covers an area 500 ha and has a system of three circles of ramparts: Kinh Thanh Hue (Hue Capital Citadel), Hoang Thanh (Royal Citadel) and Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden Citadel). The Hue royal complex has been officially recognized by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

You may continue to visit a tomb monument of King Tu Duc which is located in a very special area. More than just a tomb visiting, it’s the great chance to learn more about Nguyen King and the landscape is spectacular. Back to hotel, dinner is on your own.

Day 13: Hue – Hoi An (B/-/-)                         
Checking out in the morning, you would depart to Hoi An. You may stop by Lang Co beach to have short break before crossing Hai Van Pass. At the height of 450 meters above sea level Hai Van pass is the high dividing line between the climate zones of north and south Vietnam.. Here you can enjoy the magnificent view of the central coast. The soft adventure drive over the 23 km long pass will add more highlights for this trip. Moving southwards passing Lang Co, there will be a lovely stretch of beach curving outwards between a clear blue lagoon and the South China Sea, and the large coastal city of Danang before arriving in Hoi An.

Visit Cham Museum at Danang: this houses probably the best collection of Cham art to be found anywhere in the world. There are more than 300 artifacts in the museum, many dating to the 4th century. There are beautiful sculptures reflecting the 1000 year Cham period.

Drive to Hoi an, check-in at hotel and the rest of the day is free and easy.

Day 14: Hoi An Visit (B/-/-)                        
Breakfast at hotel then visit sightseeing in Hoi An

Hoi An is picturesque riverside town south of Danang. Known as Faifo to early western traders, it was one of Southeast Asia’s major international ports during the 17th, 18th, 19th centuries. Now this beautifully preserved historic city is best seen on foot. The walking tour includes: Japanese covered bridge, Ceramic museum, Phung Hung ancient house, Phuoc Kien Assembly Hall and Lantern Making Working Shop.

Hoi An is very well-known for Tailors so Amo Vietnam Travel would recommend the Le Loi or Yaly Tailor for your suite made (please note that we do not make any commission for the suggestion, the choice is yours).

Afternoon is your free time to do shopping or take a boat trip to enjoy sun set on Thu Bon river

Day 15: Hoi An Free time on the beach (B/-/-)                         
All day free at lesuire to enjoy the beach. You could cycle from your hotel to An Bang beach.

Day 16: Hoi An – Flight to Saigon – ½ City Tour (B/-/-)
Enjoying your breakfast at the hotel, your driver will transfer you to the Danang international airport. You will catch in-country flight to Ho Chi Minh city, commonly known as Saigon. It is the largest city in Vietnam and is located near the Mekong Delta.

Upon your arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport, your driver and private guide will be ready to welcome you to our “non-sleeping city”.

This is the perfect timing for you to explore our city tour. You would visit the former Presidential Palace, which is now preserved as a museum, including the underground communications bunkers, headquarters for the Saigon Government during the American (Vietnam) War. Following that, you continue with Notre Dame, an impressive neo-Romanesque cathedral in the centre of city, the ‘wedding cake’ styled Hotel D’ville and Dong Khoi streets, formerly the center of haute couture in Saigon when it was known as Rue Catinat. Dinner this evening is ready to await you at a local Vietnamese restaurant.

Day 17: Saigon – Cai Be – Cho Lach (B/L/D)                                                                    
Breakfast at hotel and trasfer to the Mekong Delta considered the “rice paddle of Vietnam”.

You will arrive Cai Be Town where you will start your boat trip to visit Cai Be floating market where we can study the lives of boat dealers and how to trade products with local people and visit local cottage where you can see how they make candy coconut and pop corn and pop rice. Of particular interest is the visit to the villages where daily life, as in the past, welcomes with all its tradition and wisdom in the preparation and packaging of handicraft products: spring rolls, fish sauce and soy sauce, kitchen cabinets and coconut leaves for cottages.

Lunch will be served on the fruit garden An Binh island, tasting the famous Fried Mekong Elephant Ear Fish dish. After lunch, a rowing boat will take us through the smallest canals where we could enjoy peaceful moments.

It is interesting to see the traditional houses made with wood and palm leaves and some of the local farmers’ activities, such as catching fish or collecting the fruits.

End of the trip in Vinh Long, meet the private car at Vinh Long and transfer to Cho Lach

15:00, Jardin du Mekong check-in, time to relax and visit the village, fruit garden, fish or pick up vegetables for cooking lessons. Enjoy the home-cooking with the family and dinner

Day 18: Cho Lach– Saigon (B/ L/-)                                                                                                           
Breakfast at hotel.

08.00- 08.30 You will visit Cho Lach by bike and by boat. Discovery local life, school, garden…

Lunch at homestay. In the afternoon,you will  visit around.

End of afternoon. Transfer to Saigon and overnight in Saigon.

Day 19: Saigon  Departure (B/-/-)                                                                                                                           
Breakfast at hotel. Free at leisure. At 15:00 pick-up and transfer to the airport for departure flight. Home sweet home