Group of Barbara Ferrari and Daniele Gatti

Group : Mrs  Barbara Ferrari e Daniele Gatti

Travel time : 25/10/2013 – 6/11/2013

Tour Detail

Day 01: WELCOME TO HANOI (-/-/-)

Fly to Hanoi ( Flight SQ176 ). Upon arrival to the airport, you well be met by our guide and transfer to you hotel. Free dinner and overnight stay at hotel.

Day 02: HANOI VISIT – LAOCAI (B/-/-)

At 09:00AM, our waiting guide and driver will welcome you at your hotel and transfer us to Temple of Literature. Following is a visit to The Presidential Palace (formerly Palace of the Governor-General of French Indochina), Ho Chi Minh’s house-on-stilt and nearby One Pillar Pagoda. Then followed by Van Mieu literally translated “Temple of Literature” which is wel-known in Vietnam for a combination of Confucian sanctuary and academy, the centre also housed the country’s first university, founded in 1076. We have time to wander through the stone tablets and soak up a thousand years of learning with our local guide. Lunch break in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we visit Ethnographic Museum. 

Next is Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake Walking tour. Followed by, we travel by rickshaw cyclo (traditional bike-propelled cart) and foot along tree-lined boulevards and through the 1000-year-old Old Quarter, exploring the markets and taking in some of the city’s great colonial architecture. Then visit Ngoc Son Temple.

We finish day by Water puppetry show.

In the evening transfer to the station for the train to Lao Cai.

Overnight in train.

Notes:  
Ho Chi Minh Museum and Mausoleum closes on Mondays and Fridays and closes yearly Sep/Oct/Nov for maintenance (specific dates to be advised) & all afternoon. Other museums close on Mondays. 

Offer from Amo Vietnam: welcome dinner with local family.

Day 3: LAO CAI – BAC HA MARKET– SAPA (B/L/-)  

Morning:

Being on an early drive to Bac Ha, 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  4: SAPA – LAO CAI – HANOI  (B/L/-) 

Morning:

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 5: HANOI – HA LONG  (B/L/D)   

Pick up at your hotel in Ha Noi or nearby by shuttle bus (mini van).

Embark at Hon Gai International harbor. Embark on the boat. Enjoy welcome drink as Cruise Manager gives you a brief overview of the itinerary and important safety guideline. Check in your cabin.

Visit and explore the well-hidden Sung Sot Cave.

Return to the boat and enjoy Happy hour. You will have 30% discount off from the special menu drinks including of cocktail, mock-tail and mixed drinks (from 16.30 pm to 19.00 pm.). 

Dinner is served in the restaurant. You can enjoy the charm of Bai Tu Long Bay at night.

Enjoy evening activities (Squid Fishing, Movie Night, Board Games, Massage & Spa services) or relax at the leisure then overnight at private cabin.

Day 06: HALONG – HANOI – FLIGHT TO DANANG – HOI AN (B/L/-)

Welcome a new day with an amazing dawn on Bai Tu Long Bay. Refresh your body and soul with a Tai-chi session on the sundeck.

Catch the morning view of seascape while enjoying the breakfast with cookies and tea, café in the restaurant.

Pick up the luggage and check out of the cabin.

Enjoy the brunch in the restaurant while cruising back to Vinashin tourist harbor.

Disembark from boat.

Your driver takes you back to Noi Bai airport for flight to Hue.

Upon arrival you are welcome by driver and transfer to hotel. Overnight in hotel.

DAY 7: HOI AN / MY SON / HOI AN ½ DAY CITY TOUR  (B/L/-) 

08:30 Departure in the right time for the direction of My Xuyen District, My Son is located 55 km southwest of Hoi An. There is a beautiful show of dance and music of the people of Champa and 9h30 and 11h00 (closed on Monday, October and special occlusion).

The center of the area between the 4th and the 13th centuries, part of the Heritage of Humanity was discovered by French archaeologists in the late nineteenth century: still today, they find traces of 72 temples, of which only twenty are in good condition. The monuments are divided into ten sectors, the most important of which are those B, C and D, sector A was almost completely destroyed by bombing during the Vietnam War but ruins still show the refined culture of Indian ascendancy. We can find such monuments as Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Prambanan in Indonesia.

Lunch in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we take a walking tour through the narrow streets, visiting a number of attractions in town: the PhucKien Assembly Hall, the Chua Ong Pagoda, the Japanese Covered Bridge, the hundred-year old merchant house … and colorful local markets. Hoi An is also famous for its large number of tailor shops, so if you want to have a new wardrobe made up, this is the time to do it.

Day 8: HOI AN / HUE  (B/L/-)        

Morning transfer to Hue.

Stop to visit the pass of Hai Van (Cloud Pass) where the sky, the mountain and the sea reach. Visit the Sculpture Village under Marble Mountain and the Champa Museum.

Arrival in Hue. Start discovering the city.

Day 9: HUE VISIT (B/-/-)

Upon arrival, transfer the hotel to leave their luggage.

The day is dedicated to visit Hue City.

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.

In the morning, enjoy a scenic boat trip on the Perfume River to visit the Thien Mu Pagoda or Heavenly Lady pagoda, one of the oldest ancient architectural structures for religious worship in Hue. Situated 4 km upstream on the banks of the Perfume River, it is an active Buddhist monastery with its origins dating back to 1601.

Visit the Imperial Citadel of Hue with the Purple Forbidden City.

Lunch at a local restaurant then transfer to Tu Duc Royal Tomb, the Emperor of the Imperial City built his own tomb during his reign and today you will visit one of the most beautiful mausoleums and Dong Ba Market.

Free dinner and overnight in hotel.

Day 10: HUE – FLIGHT TO SAI GON – ½ DAY CITY TOUR (B/-/-)

Morning transfer to Danang airport for the flight to Saigon.

Upon arrival you are welcome by driver and transfer to hotel.

The afternoon is dedicated to Sai Gon City visit: Post Office, Catedrale Notre Dame, Chinese Quatiere with Thien Hau Pagoda, War Museum, Dong Xuan Market.

Overnight in hotel.

Day 11: SAIGON / MEKONG DELTA / CAI BE – VINH LONG / CAN THO  (B/L/-)

After breakfast, transfer along the panoramic path between the countryside and the huge paddles, in the direction of Vinh Long (140km). The program begins with a visit to the colorful Cai Be floating market and local shops where you can see how rice pies, coconut candies and popcorn and pop rice are made. Particularly interesting is the visit to the villages where daily life today as in the past coincides with all its tradition and wisdom in preparing and packaging handicraft products: spring rolls, fish sauce and soy sauce , kitchen facilities and coconut leaves for cottages. Lunch will be served in the shade of fruit on An Binh Island, enjoying the famous Fried Mekong Elephant Ear Fish. After lunch, a rowing boat will take you through the countryside through the smallest canals to open moments of peace. 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 ancestrally. Stay at the Nursery Garden where to learn how to pick the best quality fruits followed by Mr.Tiger’s advice and his son who have been very successful in farming in Vietnam. You will taste some of the fruits of your garden and home-made wine, listening to traditional music. With the boat you continue for another floating village where you will be able to catch the fish under the houses. Meeting with the private car at Vinh Long and transfer to Can Tho. Check-in hotel. Free dinner and an overnight stay in hotel.

Day 12: CAN THO – CAI RANG MARKET – SAI GON (B/-/-)  

Take a 3-hour boat trip to discover the beautiful Cai Rang Floating Market and its surroundings. Visit a vermicelli making shop, a rice husking mill, fruit gardens. Enjoy tropical fruit (free). See the peaceful life the rural area. Have lunch before going to Saigon.

Overnight in hotel.

DAY 13: SAI GON DEPARTURE (B/-/-)

Breakfast at hotel. Then transfer the airport to take international flight to Italia (SQ 185).