Best of Vietnam 15 days

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 wondering.

For the rest of the day, it is time at leisure. And based on your choice, your guide could take you out by rickshaw cyclo (traditional bike-propelled cart), going through main attractions: the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son temple, the Opera House.

And last, savoring the taste of Vietnam food at an authentic restaurant would make you feel at ease.

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.

Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

You would have the full day to explore the charm of Vietnam's capital.  

Morning:

9 am: Your guide and driver would wait for you at the lounge of the hotel.

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.

Afternoon:

After having lunch at a nice restaurant, upon your request, we would plan to visit Hanoi History Museum or the Museum of Ethnology - the space just for you to spot past events and turning points of Vietnam people along with the identity of 54 recognized ethnic groups of this S-shaped country.

Following by the Old Quarter Walking tour, you would have time at Café Giang  for some bitter sweet coffee, enjoying the local life at the oldest home-made coffee brand in Hanoi.

The day ended up with a Water Puppet Show which had been maintained there in Vietnam for around 1000 years.

Notes: The city tour program is flexible. Our guide would be more than happy to adjust the tour itinerary at your needs. You can skip one site or add another if you wish so.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Ha Noi.

GET ON A BIKE, SEE THE CITY

OUR CHARITY PROJECT – BIKING FOR BIKES

Experience the city like the locals do!!!

Have you ever thought that you could discover Hanoi like the locals? A special biking tour of Vanasia Travel called "Hidden Hanoi" was created by three young Hanoians in order to show you as many other surprising secrets hidden as possible in the zigzag alley ways in Ngoc Ha Flower village and discovering many former traditional handicraft villages around West Lake which are now replaced beautiful villas and to a floating driving range in the Red River with its kumquat and peach blossoms.

From the mystifying shores of the red river to the dazzling old quarter, our cycling tours would take you through picturesque backstreets, narrow alleys and wide boulevards - discover the soul of the city and meet real people.

At the end of the day, the driver would help your move from your hotel to the Hanoi train station for an overnight train ride to Lao Cai.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: On train

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.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Sapa

Morning:

Being on an early drive to Bac Ha, you will have time for a short visit to Phong Hai market - 40 km from Sapa. Then arriving in 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

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: On train.

Morning

Your train will arrive in Hanoi at the early morning. Your driver and guide would see you at the station then take you to an restaurant for breakfast, before setting out on a 3.5 hour drive to the UNESCO World Heritage Site: Halong Bay. Then you would have 24 hours on a traditional style Vietnamese Junk Cruise which would set sail at noon and board your junk. Lunch with diversified fresh seafood would be served on board.

Afternoon

Aboard the cruise, you would take time to visit several highlight locations:

• 3 largest caves: Thien Cung, Dau Go, Sung Sot
• Titop beach for swimming (weather permit) or being on the deck for sunbathing
• Nearby summits where you can take short trekking to watch over the bay from the high.

Back on the junk, the stunning sunset time is on your view and a dinner awaits with cocktails available for purchase from the bar. Passing the night on your junk, the gentle rocking of calm waters will lull you to sleep.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: On junk

Morning

Waking up early in the calming sounds of waves crashing the nearby islands, you can enjoy a morning coffee and watch the sun rise on the top deck, or you may join Tai Chi Class if you wish to. You will continue sailing around the magnificent bay and even to Bai Tu Long, where the movie “Indochine" was filmed. Sitting on the upper deck and enjoy the breath-taking beauty of the rocky islands rising from the crystal-clear water of the bay. The brunch would be served while the junk starts cruising back.

Afternoon

Your cruise will end at noon (around 12:00 pm) and your driver will be waiting at the dock and ready to take you right to Noi Bai airport for your in-country flight to Hue. Upon your arrival, your guide  and driver would meet you at Phu Bai airport in Hue and take you to the hotel for check-in.

Note: You could have a choice to go back to Hanoi for further shopping or visit one place: But Thap Pagoda or Tho Ha Village or Phu Lang Pottery Village before the transfer to Noi Bai Airport (applied for the tour with private car).

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Morning

Breakfast is served at the hotel then you may 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.

Afternoon

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.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation : Hotel in Hue

Morning

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).

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Morning

After your breakfast at the hotel, your private guide would warmly support you for the biking tour from your hotel to Tra Que Organic Village, going through the market gardens where local farmers work on their fields using the traditional methods from the past hundreds years. You may pick by yourself saw-tooth coriander and Vietnamese mint for our cooking lesson later, before trying a special herbal drink at a local home.  

Nearly the lunch time, biking to a family house, you get the chance to freshen up before beginning the cooking class. Working together with the Family Chef you will learn the traditional ways of preparing and cooking Vietnamese food from scratch. Using the freshest ingredients and traditional Vietnamese utensils (still in use until nowadays) you on your own will cook 4 famous dishes then enjoying the village atmosphere in a family setting. Amo Travel would like to keep the authentic hospitality this way: simple, warm, with nice light "spa" food and plenty of home-grown organic vegetables and herbal foot treatment. You can experience the traditional techniques of our eight generations of home grown organic vegetables and herbal and authentic Vietnamese cuisines. After the class we sit down and a chance to savour the dishes we have prepared.

Afternoon

Resting after lunch, you can enjoy the taste and quiet environment of authentic villages in the middle of Vietnam. Then taking your time, with your guide, you travel back to your hotel by bike. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation : Hotel in Hoi An

Morning

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".

Afternoon

You will be supported for check-in at the hotel from the mid-day. The rest of your day is on your own for the exploration of this Metropolitan City

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation : Hotel in Ho Chi Minh city

Morning

After breakfast, you will be picked up and start moving to Cu Chi Tunnels (in the northwest of Ho Chi Minh city). In the Vietnam war in the 19th century, these were used as the hiding places for defending against the French. And until now, some have still been reserved, where you could spend time visiting. Right after that, your driver will pick you up back to Ho Chi Minh for the afternoon itinerary.

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. Dinner this evening is ready to await you at a local Vietnamese restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

Morning

Your guide and driver would be waiting for you at the hotel lounge, ready to transfer you to Vinh Long in the Mekong River. Depending on your choice, you can have a coffee break at Mekong Rest stop along the way. On arrival in Cai Be town, there would be a motorized boat to take you to visit local corn/rice pop making family. More than just seeing, you have chance to witness the life on and around the water of “Nine Dragon River” by boarding on traditional wooden sampan boat around Cai Be floating market. There would be boats with exotic produce and interactions by locals so as to discover more about their stocks besides the natural folk views of fish traps and fruit gardens along the canals. Your lunch time would be served in a bonsai garden with elephant ear fish and more Mekong specialities and also some samples of local wine.

Afternoon

You will be re-boarded to cruise towards Vinh Long downtown. The drive to the largest city in the Mekong delta - Can Tho will be set up right after your arrival. It is like a buzzing town with a lively waterfront and a colorful mix of narrow back streets. You would be resting in a hotel there for 1 night stay. For the rest of the day, it is on your own for some walking around Ninh Kieu and pedestrian bridge of this city.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Can Tho

Checking out of your hotel in the late morning, you start boarding out to visit Cai Rang floating market by an motorized boat. This is definitely the time for you to capture every single moments of life with the views of colorful boats laden with fruits and vegetables. There will be an stopover at a Bun Tau noodle factory and a rice husking mill. There, you can even try passing one of many fragile monkey bridges along the canals. You will leave Can Tho and start moving back to Saigon (around 3.5 hour driving). You will check in the hotel for one night stay.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon.

Free at leisure until transfer to the airport for departure flight.

Meals: Breakfast

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