Vietnam adventure with Paola Caroti & Alessandro Rossi

Day 1 (27.12.2015): Hanoi arrival

Upon your arrival, your driver would be ready to welcome you right at the arrival lounge of Noi Bai international airport. You will be picked up to your hotel in Hanoi. For the rest of the day, it is time at leisure.

Day 2 (28.12.2015):  Duong Lam Village – Hanoi city tour (B)

Breakfast at your hotel. Our driver & tour guide will pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter, then travel west of Hanoi to visit Duong Lam village, a purely agricultural village of the Northern Red River delta where still preserve many hundred-year-old houses. It will be your unique experience as you walk along tiny ancient alleys; visit Mong Phu temple in Mong Phu hamlet – the only hamlet whose original village entrance gate remains intact, dedicated to national heroes. Have some talks with the locals in their ancient houses by visiting the ancient houses of Mr Lam, Mr Ha and Mr Huyen. Enjoy your special lunch with Vietnamese foods in an ancient house. In the afternoon, you go back to Hanoi and have lunche at local restaurant. Then you will visit Hoan Kiem lake, Ngoc Son Temple and Old Quarter.

Day 3 (29.12.2015): Hanoi – Profume Pagoda – Hanoi (B)

Our guide & driver will pick you up at your hotel in Ha Noi Old Quater, Then take 2 hours road trip. Then you take row-boat trip to go visit that land on the Yen stream “romantic time” about 1 hour to Thien Tru harbour. Then you will enjoy time to trekking go up and down visit the main cave so nice step by step you will arrive Huong Tich cave on the top of the mountain. To see Golden-Silver tree  rice stuck….One hour down. Have lunch at bottom mountain in restaurant beside. After lunch time, you will see the Heaven Kitchen pagoda and to know about Buddhism ancient architectural at Le Dynasty. Then you will come back by row-boattrip and 2 hour road trip to Hanoi and arrive at about 18h00.

And at 07:00PM you will take part in tour street food  with student speaking italian and taste specilities in Hanoi. This tour lasts for 3 hours.

Day 4 (30.12.2015): Hanoi – Ha Long Bay (B/L/D) 

Il pullman will pick-up you from your hotel to Halong.

08:00 departure for Ha Long Bay; enjoy a 3-4 hour drive to the UNESCO World Heritage Site: Halong Bay. Spend 24 hours on a traditional Junk Cruise in the amazing bay: a natural wonderland composed of jutting limestone islands and sparkling turquoise waters. Arrive at the dock around noon and board your junk. Savor a gourmet lunch of fresh seafood onboard as we sail out into the mystical bay. In the afternoon, cruise around some of Halong’s many islands, including Dinh Huong and Ga Choi. Along the way visit one of the bay’s 3 largest caves (Thien Cung, Dau Go or Sung Sot). Stop at an island cove with a sheltered white-sand beach and take a dip in the warm waters of the Tonkin Gulf (weather permitting). Pass the night on your junk, lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking of calm waters.

Day 5 (31.12.2015): Ha Long Bay – Hanoi (B/L/-)

Awake early and participate in Tai Chi on the top deck or simply relax and enjoy the sunrise over the bay’s towering islands. Enjoy a morning cup of coffee or tea, before setting out to explore nearby islands by rowboat. Return to the junk for breakfast then take advantage of the sundeck and admire the amazing rock formations of Bai Tu Long Bay as we navigate back to Halong City. Have brunch on board the boat before returning to Halong pier. Go back to your hotel in Hanoi.

Day 6 (01.01.2016): Ninh Binh Visit: Hoa Lu Temple –Tam Coc – Bich Dong Pagoda  – night train to Hue (B)

At 8:30 AM your driver and guide pick you up at 8.00am at your hotel to depart for NinhBinh city towards to the South of Hanoi, it takes about 2,5 hours to get there. Upon arrive Tam Coc grottoes, go ahead to take the Tam Coc boat trip, we will enjoy the spectacular scenery in Tam Coc (Halong Bay inland) while gliding along the river among rice paddies and ranges of limestone mountains. After 1,5 hour on boat, stop boat trip at Thai Vi temple for cycling around mountain & village, take beautiful time to enjoy local beauty. After lunch, visit Hoa Lu – The Ancient Capital and the remaining two temples of  Dinh King & Le King. After that, you will transfer to the station in Ninh Binh to catch your train to Hue at 21:49 in the evening. You will arrive in Hue at 08:30AM.

Day 7 (02.01.2016):  Hue city tour –Tam Giang lagoon

Your driver will pick-up you from the station in Hue and transfer to your hotel. In seguito la guida vi accompagnerà a visitare della città d’Hue. 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 Khai Dinh 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.

You will visit Tam Giang Lagoon.

Day 8 (03.01.2016): Hue – Danang – Hoi An visit (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.

Lunch would be served at a local restaurant in Hoi An right after your arrival.

Afternoon

Hoi An comes to your mind as the charming historic city known to early  Western merchants, one of the major trading centers of Southeast Asia in the 16th century. Hoi An has a distinctive Chinese atmosphere with low, tiled-roof houses and narrow streets; the original structure of some of these streets is still virtually intact. Many of the houses were constructed of rare timbers and decorated with lacquer panels engraved with Chinese characters and pillars carved with ornamental designs.

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).

Day 9 (04.01.2016): Hoi An free time – flight to Saigon (B)

Then transfer to airport to catch your flight to Saigon. Upon your arrival, your driver would meet you at airport in Saigon and take you to the hotel for check-in.. 

Day 10 (05.01.2016): Cu Chi – Saigon visit (B)

After the breakfast at your hotel, you will visit Cu Chi Tunnels (70 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City), an amazing complex of underground tunnels used during the Vietnam War. There are more than 200 km of tunnels, comprising a main axis system with many branches connecting to underground hideouts, shelters and other tunnels. You have the chance to crawl through this amazing system of tunnels. For a more “thrilling” experience, you can even test your shooting skills on original AK47s and other guns from past war times (subject to a surcharge).

In the afternoon, 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.

Day 11 (06.01.2016): Saigon – Mekong Delta: Vinh Long (B/L/D)

Breakfast at your hotel.

Pick up at your hotel and transfer to Cai Be. Upon arrival, embarkation on boat, you are welcomed with fresh cotton towels. The tour will begin with cruising through the small floating markets around Cai Be along the “Mighty Mekong”. Your sampan will take you to some local home factories to observe the making of rice paste, rice pop corn, coconut candy and dried longans.

A delicious lunch will be served at Le Longanier or Ba Kiet Ancient House, a superb Indochinese villa located in a lush tropical garden by the river.

After lunch, your sampan will proceed to Dong Hoa Phu canal, passing several islands famous for their fruit orchards. Stops on the way can be made at An Binh Ancient Church or at Tam Ho Bonsai Garden. After crossing the Co Chien River, the excursion will end at Vinh Long pier around 16:00 hrs, where your private vehicle will await you for your transfer to Can Tho.

Day 12 (07.01.2016): Cai Be floating market – Saigon (B/L)   

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 back to Saigon. Overnight at your hotel.

Day 13 (08.01.2016):  Saigon departure (B) 

Breakfast at your hotel. Free time before going to airport for your flight to Italy.