TRIP OVERVIEW
Vietnam Adventure - Classic is a 14-day travel itinerary which, as the name suggests, includes the most fascinating and traditional attractions of Vietnam, from Hanoi to the Mekong Delta.
Walking through the streets of beautiful Hanoi and visiting the Temple of Literature, the first university of Vietnam, the imposing monument dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh, the hidden charm and antiquity of the old quarter with the wonderful cuisine and the renowned show of puppets on the water.
Immerse yourself in the breathtaking scenery of Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994 and one of the Seven Wonders of the World, surrounded by spectacular karst mountains.
A visit to Perfume Pagoda from Hanoi offers a unique glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of Vietnam and A visit to the Perfume Pagoda from Hanoi offers a unique glimpse into the rich cultural heritage and natural beauty of Vietnam
Sapa is a place of natural beauty, with cascading rice terraces, misty valleys and majestic peaks. It is also a cultural hub, home to several minority ethnic groups with unique customs and traditions.
Quang Binh - It is a sleeping beauty of Vietnam with a 116.04 km long coastline. Featuring beautiful landscapes, Quang Binh is home to Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, a famous local attraction recognized by UNESCO as a Natural World Heritage Site. The complex consists of beautiful caves and caverns with fantastic stalagmites and stalactites.
An excursion along the province of Quang Tri in the demilitarized zone of latitude 17, the demarcation line separating two regions of South and North Vietnam, so it was a very fierce battle during the 20 years of the Vietnam War (1954-1975).
Visit the historic imperial capital Hue, the ancient trading port town of Hoi An with millions of lanterns, and cosmopolitan Ho Chi Minh City.
Experience the enchantment of the Mekong Delta, sometimes known as the "Vietnam rice bowl", as you sail aboard a traditional sampan between floating cities and colorful riverside markets.
The proposed itinerary can be adapted to your specific travel needs and combined with additional routes.
Group tour: Yes
Data: As you wish
Start end: Hanoi – Saigon / vice versa
Type of tour: Heritage and Nature
Tailor-made tours: Absolutely yes!
Itinerary
Day 01: Hanoi – arrival – city tour
Day 02: Hanoi – Perfume Pagoda – night train to Lao Cai
Day 03: Lao Cai – Bac Ha weekly market – Sapa
Day 04: Sapa – trekking – Lao Cai – night train to Hanoi
Day 05: Hanoi – Halong bay
Day 06: Halong – Hanoi - flight to Quang Binh
Day 07: Quang Binh – visit natural heritages
Day 08: Quang Binh – Quang Tri – Hue
Day 09: Hue – Da Nang – Hoi An
Day 10: Hoi An – My Son
Day 11: Hoi An – Saigon – Cu Chi tunnel
Day 12: Saigon – city tour – Can Tho – Mekong Delta
Day 13: Cai Rang – floating market – Chau Doc
Day 14: Chau Doc – boat to Phnom Penh
Day 01: Arrival in Hanoi – city tour
Welcome to Hanoi – the cultural and political capital city of Vietnam.
At Noi Bai International Airport you will be welcomed by our guide and driver for the transfer to the city center.
The Hanoi city tour begins with a visit to the Tran Quoc Pagoda – Country Defense Pagoda – this 1,500-year-old pagoda combines ancient architecture with the poetic and mesmerizing beauty of the West Lake landscape.
Then we head towards the Ba Dinh National Square where you can see the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, It is the ancient Mot Cot Pagoda – One Pillar Pagoda to represent the purity of the lotus flower. Next, we pay a visit to the Van Mieu - National Tutor (Temple of Literature), the first university in Vietnam built in 1070. We return to the center for a walk Green lake (lake of the returned sword), the Ngoc Son Temple, The old quarter with 36 streets of own goods, Hanoi ancient house.
During the tour here, you could taste some Hanoi specialties such as Egg coffee. Our local guide will then take you to one of Hanoi's best kept secrets, a hidden cafe with breathtaking views of the picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake. This hard-to-find cafe is one of the few remaining in the city that still serves egg coffee, a delicious local delicacy that we'll sample while admiring the hustle and bustle of the city center below. Or, if coffee isn't your style, a cold beer or fresh coconut awaits you!
Let's relax after the day with one water puppet show reflecting the daily life of Vietnamese farmers (growing rice and catching fish), community entertainment (swimming competition, dragon dance) and historical legends.
Overnight in Hanoi.
- Assistance: private guide & driver
- Meals included: no
Day 02: Hanoi – Perfume Pagoda – night train to Lao Cai
Breakfast at the hotel, we spend about two hours driving through picturesque countryside and back roads to the village of Duc, where we hop on a small rowing boat for a one-hour trip along the Yen Creek up to Thien Tru Pagoda. The boat travels along a narrow stream surrounded by rice fields, temples and grass and you will have the chance to stop and visit some of these temples before heading to the grotta di Huong Tich.
Let's take the cable car up the mountain to the Perfume Pagoda (mountain top), enjoy the spectacular scenery and learn more about the typical Vietnamese Buddhist religion.
Going down and having lunch in a restaurant. Then return to Thien Tru Pier to visit more beautiful and precious sculptures, take photos, worship, get on the boat again to return to the pier and return to Hanoi.
Transfer to the train to Lao Cai.
Overnight on the night train to Lao Cai.
- Assistance: private guide & driver
- Meals included: breakfast in hotel
Day 03: Lao Cai – Bac Ha weekly market – Ta Phin
Arrive in Lao Cai early around 5:00 in the morning.
Welcome by the local guide in English in Lao Cai and departure for Bac Ha, 70 km from Lao Cai, to visit the Bac Ha weekly market - where Red Dzao and Black H'Mong meet to exchange goods, all types: buffalo, pig, horse, chicken, dog, tobacco, chili pepper, vegetables, medicinal plants, litchi. All markets in the Bac Ha region are held weekly and are particularly colorful and lively thanks to the different traditional costumes, especially the floral costumes of the H'Mong Fiori people. This is a good opportunity to learn about local life.
After that, a short walk to Thai Giang Pho village. We will be invited to join a local family for enjoy a green tea or a grappa di corn It is chat with families. Return to Lao Cai, enjoy splendid landscapes until arriving in Sapa, capital of upper Indochina.
NB: In order to visit the weekly market, we must be there on Tuesday for Coc Ly market, Wednesday for Cao Son market, Saturday for Can Cau market or Sunday for Bac Ha market.
Overnight in Sapa.
- Assistance: private guide & driver
- Meals included: breakfast in hotel
Day 04: Sapa – Y Linh Ho trek – night train to Hanoi
After breakfast, we begin to do the trekking to Y Linh Ho village and Muong Hoa valley, hides within blankets of fluffy white clouds, among pristine forests and mountains with lush green terraced rice fields, deserted and peaceful. Y Linh Ho wins the traveler's heart with her small, simple, even very rudimentary houses of the H'Mong people, host a community with preserved ancestral customs, giving you the chance to discover, share and exchange with a community that has remained authentic.
A delicious lunch at Lao Chai village of Giay minority, free time for a rest, or a massage after trekking, you can take a walk to enjoy the view of the valley, as well as swim in the nearby river.
In the afternoon, transfer to Lao Cai for night train to Hanoi.
Overnight stay on the night train.
- Assistance: private guide & driver
- Meals included: breakfast in hotel
Day 05: Hanoi – cruise to Halong Bay
After breakfast, departure for Halong Bay – the eighth wonder of the world through the rice fields and countryside of the Red River Delta. Arrive Halong at around noon, board a boat for one cruise magnificent in the bay. During this cruise, you can admire many karst mountains, caves, lagoons in all forms. Furthermore, the light, the clouds and the fog create a magical atmosphere. Free time to do a bath or discover the bay in kayak. In the late afternoon, the ship drops anchor for the night in the bay. After your seafood dinner on board, you can participate in squid fishing or sing karaoke.
Overnight stay on board in a private cabin.
NB: The program of each cruise will be as on the website of the boat you choose
- Assistance: private guide & driver (the private guide does not come on board)
- Meals included: breakfast in hotel, lunch and dinner on board
Day 06: Sunrise at the bay** **Halong – volo per Quang Binh
In the morning at 6:00, those who get up early manage to participate in do Tai Chi in the middle of the bay and admire the sunrise. After breakfast, we leave our junk and with sampans (typical boats) and leave for the visit to a cave/island famous or we will have time to a few bathrooms on these small and splendid beaches (if the climate allows it). After brunch (early lunch) on the junk, we return to the port of embarkation. At the end of the morning we return to Hanoi. On the way, we make a stop to visit the Phu Lang pottery village.
Arrival at the airport in Ha Noi, we take the direct flight to Quang Binh. Arrival at the airport, meeting with private driver and transfer to the hotel in the center (about 15 km).
Overnight in Quang Binh.
(The cruise itinerary will vary depending on the type of junk used and the sea conditions. The common guide on board will be in English/French)
- Assistance: private guide & driver
- Meals included: breakfast & lunch on board (brunch)
Day 07: Quang Binh – visit the natural heritages
After breakfast, meeting with the private driver and guide and transfer to Phong Nha - Ke Bang Park, a UNESCO heritage site. An excursion to the Paradise Cave and Phong Nha Cave. These caves are known as “Underground Royal Palace” and “the largest cave in the Vietnamese mountains". They possess a system of glittering stalactites and stalagmites, as well as breathtaking natural landscapes.
We then head to Cave of Paradise, the longest dry cave in Asia. It was discovered by the exploration of British Research Cave in 2005 and is considered to be a branch cave with beautiful structure.
Return to Phong Nha Town for lunch and rest.
Afterwards visit to grotta di Phong Nha. It is a rock wonder recognized by UNESCO as a world natural heritage. The cave has underground rivers running through the mountains and magical caves dating back millions of years. You will board a boat to travel along the Son River, going into the caves to admire the beautiful rocks created by nature.
Overnight in Quang Binh.
- Assistance: private guide & driver
- Meals included: breakfast in hotel
Day 08: Quang Binh – Quang Tri – Hue
In the morning, we have breakfast and then depart for Hue, during the trip we do some exploration of the tunnels to Vinh Moc where many people lived during the bombings. We will also visit the Hien Luong Bridge, which separates North and South Vietnam at the 17th parallel.
Next, visiting several places along the way, first a trip to the DMZ of Vietnam along National Highway 1 and National Highway 9, in the following, a visit to Dong Ha village, Doc Mieu and Khe Sanh military bases, the bridge of Hien Luong across Ben Hai River, Ho Chi Minh Road, Truong Son Cemetery where 10,263 martyrs across the country fell for national protection and independence.
Finally, transfer to Hue.
Overnight in Hue.
- Assistance: private guide & driver
- Meals included: breakfast in hotel
Day 09: Hue – city tour – Da Nang – Hoi An
Hue - a charming city located on the banks of the Perfume River, where the last feudal Nguyen dynasty in Vietnam was located, offers a tour of cultural heritages and royal architecture.
After breakfast, we begin to visit the pagoda in Thien Mu - Celestial Woman Pagoda - one of the oldest religious buildings in Hue and Vietnam. Next, we head to visit the imperial citadel which was the home of Vietnam's last royal dynasty. It is composed of three distinct parts: the capital city, the imperial city and the forbidden city with the Pavilion of the Five Phoenixes, The Supreme Peace Palace and the Dynastic temple The Mieu: grandiose buildings arranged in a harmonious succession according to the principles established by geomantic science.
Before leaving the city of Hue, we stop to visit the tomba di Minh Mang - a carefully planned place of peace and rest that reflects the peaceful and contemplative spirit of the eponymous emperor.
Departure for Hoi An town, located about thirty kilometers south-east of Da Nang, on the banks of the Thu Bon River. In the 16th century, this ancient port of Champa was called Faifo. You can take a walk in the historic center to admire the glittering and most romantic town with millions of lanterns in Vietnam.
Overnight in Hoi An.
- Assistance: private guide & driver
- Meals included: breakfast in hotel
Day 10: Hoi An – My Son sanctuary – Hoi An – city tour
In the morning visit to the ancient "Holy Land of My Son" of the Kingdom of Champa, the My Son Sanctuary, a group of ruined temples and sanctuaries built about 30 km from Hoi An, which was contemporary and antagonistic to the great Angkor Empire, classified "World Heritage" by UNESCO. In a magnificent rocky amphitheater surrounded by thick wild vegetation, the ancient Cham rulers built brick and sandstone sanctuaries between the 6th and 14th centuries, where they venerated the gods Shiva and Vishnu. Ceremonies in honor of the gods have been celebrated for centuries.
Return to Hoi An for a walking tour of Old Town of Hoi An, one of the most precious jewels of Vietnam's historical heritage, declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Hoi An is a city full of buildings from this period, including the famous Japanese bridge built in the style of a pagoda in the 16th century, the meeting rooms where locals gathered for celebrations and traditional houses which are still preserved, even the descendants of the first owners still live here. We stop at one workshop to learn silk production and craftsmanship of Hoi An. You have an opportunity to make a lantern of bamboo and silk and you could take it home as a beautiful memory of this romantic town.
Overnight in Hoi An.
- Assistance: private guide & driver
- Meals included: breakfast in hotel
Day 11: Hoi An – Da Nang - flight to Saigon – Cu Chi tunnel
After breakfast, transfer to Da Nang for flight to Saigon – the vital city but also rich in testimonies of the past.
Arrival and transfer to visit Cu Chi tunnel located 60 km from Saigon. The tunnels connected command posts, hospitals, shelters and weapons factories during World War II. There famous underground fortress of the Viet Cong who built an incredible underground network of warehouses, dormitories, armories, kitchens, medical departments and command posts, connected by 250 kilometers of tunnels and tunnels, and withstood every bombing and attack by American forces for years. The visit begins with a documentary on the tunnels and wars of the 60s and 70s. Then we get into underground tunnels, which are only large enough for one person at a time, where there are offices, kitchens, conference rooms, an armory and even a hospital.
Return to Saigon.
Overnight in Saigon.
- Assistance: private guide & driver
- Meals included: breakfast in hotel
Day 12: Saigon – city tour – Mekong Delta – Can Tho
In the morning, we visit the most important places in the city: the War Museum, designed to denounce American aggression in Vietnam; Central Post Office, with rich colonial reliefs, gracious shuttered windows, and a vast concourse with arches like those of a Victorian train station; The Notre Dame Cathedral, an elegant combination of red brick and white stone, overlooks a large tree-lined square; Chinatown with Binh Tay market, the pagoda in Thien Hau and finally the Ben Thanh market.
In the following, departure towards Can Tho, along the way we stop to visit the Binh Thuy ancient house, which is recorded in the romantic and famous film of “Lover”. The house contains a mixture of Eastern and Western cultures, the place of worship inside the house is still purely Vietnamese. This demonstrates the sophistication and aesthetics of the family owner: absorbing new things but still retaining the soul of the nation.
Arrival at the hotel in the afternoon and check in.
Overnight in Can Tho.
- Assistance: private guide & driver
- Meals included: breakfast in hotel
Day 13: Can Tho – floating market - Chau Doc – Tra Su forest
In the morning visit the Cai Rang floating market, one of the largest floating markets in the Mekong Delta. Here we have the opportunity to see the hustle and bustle of hundreds of boats of different sizes, canoes, boats loaded with fruits, vegetables, rice, spices, clothes and goods of all kinds. A beautiful background for photos and impressive memories.
Next, visit a local orchard where we can taste many tropical fruits.
After the visit, transfer to the pier di Chau Doc to visit the Tras forest, a vast swamp covered with thick and impenetrable cajuput forest. About 70 species of large water birds live among these trees, including the rare one Red stork (Mycteria leucocephala) and the beautiful Anhinga Melanogaster, with a very long and slender neck.
Both species are in danger of extinction and Tra Su is one of the few places where you can still easily spot them. We must continue our journey calmly on a small rowing boat. The best time for viewing is in the evening, just before sunset. This is actually our last stop of the day before arriving at the provincial capital Chau Doc, where the Vinh Te Canal and the Hau River converge just outside Cambodia.
Overnight stay in Chau Doc.
- Assistance: private guide & driver
- Meals included: breakfast in hotel
Day 14: Chau Doc – boat to Phnom Penh
After breakfast, transfer to the pier to depart boat and sail towards Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia, where we will arrive after about 5 hours. Upon arrival, we went through customs procedures, met our guide and driver and then headed towards the centre.
In the afternoon, we pay a visit to the Tuol Sleng genocide museum, the main detention camp under the regime of Pol Pot. Afterwards, visit the Palace Real of Cambodia on the banks of the Mekong River, its architecture is a unique blend of traditional Cambodian styles and French colonial influences.
Overnight in Phnom Penh.
- Assistance: private guide & driver
- Meals included: breakfast in hotel
End of program
*****
Il tour include:
• Tours and transfers in private air-conditioned vehicles
• 2 bottles of water/per day/person
• All domestic flights – with Vietnam Airlines (23kg hold and 7kg carry-on)
• All overnight stays with daily breakfast in selected hotels
• Private Italian speaking guide
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary with local foods (B=breakfast; L=Lunch; D=Dinner)
• Boat cruise as indicated
• Entrances and permits for all places visited
• Mineral water and towel
• Government taxes and service charges
The tour excludes:
• International airfare and airport tax
• Personal travel insurance
• Personal expenses such as telephone and laundry bills
• Tips