Vietnam Discovery

14 days - A fantastic holiday that includes visiting remote mountain villages and visiting cultural sights & cities across Vietnam...

• Hanoi (2 night)
• Halong Bay - overnight on luxury junk
• Sapa (1 nights)
• Sleeper train to/from Sapa
• Hoian (3 nights)
• Hue (1 night)
• Mekong Delta
• Can Tho (1 night)
• Ho Chi Minh City - Saigon (3 nights)
• Guaranteed departure

View Itinerary

Price & Departure dates

Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi
Meeting & greeting at the airport upon your arrival and transfer to hotel for check-in and tour briefing. If time permits we will take an orientation tour around central Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi City Tour - Night train to Lao Cai (B)
Today we'll be on a full day tour to discover the most outstanding attractions of Hanoi. First we pay a visit to the complex of memorials to Ho Chi Minh to know his amazing life.

Continue to the Single Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature to gain understanding of the two driving forces in Vietnam culture. Afternoon we visit the Museum of Ethnology which exhibits a large collection of artifacts about the cultures of the 54 ethnic groups in the country. Next we enjoy a rickshaw ride through the lively Old Quarter, a series of 36 ancient streets where peddlers still trade the way they have done for centuries.

The rickshaw tour ends up at an old house on Ma May Street, an example of dwellings in the 19 century. Later we walk through the busy traffic to the water puppet theatre and enjoy a performance of the famed traditional art form created by village farmers around the Red River Delta region. Transfer to Hanoi Railway Station and board a night train to Lao Cai on the border with China, the gateway to Sapa.

Alternatively private guide and driver using new highway to Sapa is now also available. Please enquire at time of booking.

Day 3: Lao Cai -Sapa (B, L)
Early morning arrival at Lao Cai Railway Station, we'll be greeted and transferred 40 km upland to Sapa. Enjoy breakfast then descend by car to Muong Hoa Valley where we'll trek a meandering path through the villages of Lao Chai and Ta Van of the Black Hmong and Day people. Home visits are included to discover local life.

Enjoy a picnic lunch in a village on the trek route then return to town. Take a moderate climb up the Ham Rong Mount for a great view of Vietnam's highest mountain range, Fanxipan, filled with terraced rice paddies and deep valleys. There's also a chance to enjoy a show by ethnic minority artists.

Day 4: Sapa - Lao Cai - Train to Hanoi (B, L)
Free in the morning to relax or explore the town independently.

In the afternoon we travel by car to the ethnic villages of Ma Tra and Ta Phin and take a light trek to experience the local life of the ethnic minority people of H'Mong and Red Dzao, the 2 largest ethnic groups in the area. You can already recognize them by their distinctive dressings.

Later we transfer to Lao Cai and visit the border gate to China before the night train back to Hanoi.

NOTE: Alternatively, a hill tribe market tour can be arranged (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday)

Travel downhill from Sapa to Bac Ha/ Coc Ly/Lung Khau Nhin/Pha Long passing the beautiful mountainous road. In Bac Ha/ Coc Ly/Lung Khau Nhin/Pha Long, visit the colourful market where you can meet about 10 different ethnic minorities. People flock to the market for not only trading but also drinking local whiskey and socialization…

Later, visit some more hill tribe villages which is a great opportunities to see local life amidst natural scenic setting. Transfer to Lao Cai and tour the gate to China before the night train back to Hanoi.

Day 5: Hanoi - Halong Bay (B, L, D)
Back in Hanoi early this morning, we'll be met and transferred to a mini hotel for refreshment and breakfast.

Afterwards, we journey east to Halong Bay, through picturesque rice-farming villages of the Red River Delta, where we see everyday Vietnamese village life.

On arrival, we board a beautiful traditional junk and spend a full day and night cruising the bay's 3000 magnificent limestone islets. In the evening when the boat is anchored in the middle of the stunning lagoon, we enjoy a wonderful seafood meal and later there is opportunity for an evening swim from the side of the boat. Spend the night on our luxurious boat.

NOTE: Kayaks are available if specified at time of booking.

Day 6 Halong - Danang - Hoian (B, L)
Wake up to fresh coffee then further cruising and more sightseeing. En route the junk weaves through impressive rock formations that invite comparisons from fighting cocks to dragons and even further!

Disembark and transfer to airport for a flight to Danang in Middle Vietnam. Meet up with our local guide upon arrival and drive 35 km along the scenic coast to the quaint town of Hoian for the night.

Day 7 Hoian (B)
This morning we'll be on foot exploring the ancient quarter of Hoian, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site because of its historic role in international trade, unusually well-preserved ancient streets and homes. Sites include the Japanese Bridge, a Sino-Vietnamese merchant house, a Chinese Temple, the Central Market, and the Culture Museum.

There'll be time for independent exploration and shopping opportunities, which many of our guests prefer as Hoian is a very good place to find interesting gifts. This is also the place that you can have a suit or dress tailor-made (usually ready in 24 hours).

Optional tour of herb village: take a bike ride or car depending on your preference through the rural scenery of Hoian to a small vegetable planting village located on the banks of Tra Que lagoon (5km - 15mins cycling from Hoian). Tra Que village has been known for its special aromatic herbs such as mint and basil. Join local people in their daily work of planting and watering vegetables. Learn to cook some local specialties, for example "Tam Huu" - a set of shrimps, pork and aromatic herbs, and then enjoy lunch. Tour finishes around 14:00 PM. We can re-arrange your morning walking tour to suit.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 8: Hoian (B)
Free day to relax in Hoian and enjoy the hotels ammenities, the local beaches and/or shopping.

Day 9: Hoian - Danang - Hue (B, D)
We leave Hoian and travel overland to Hue, the former capital of Vietnam, This visiting the Cham sculpture museum, the Non Nuoc Beach and Marble Mountains in Danang, climbing over the breathtaking Pass of Ocean Clouds and passing by the scenic beach of Lang Co.

In Hue we'll be exploring the former Imperial Citadel, a complex of palaces and temples built in the early 19th century and a recognized UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. We also take a leisure boat trip on the scenic Perfume River and visit Thien Mu pagoda.

Round off the evening with Hue cuisine and folk music.

Day 10: Hue - Saigon (B)
This morning we visit the tomb of Emperor Minh Mang and also a fascinating royal garden house before taking the flight to Saigon.

Upon arrival in Saigon, meet your guide and explore some of Saigon's famous landmarks including the Former Presidential Palace, War Remnant Museum, War Remnant Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, the Opera House, the City Hall, and Ben Thanh Market.

Day 11: Saigon - Tay Ninh/Caodai Temple - Cu Chi Tunnels - Saigon (B, L)
Our tour today includes a visit to the opulent Holy See Temple of Caodai Sect in Tay Ninh. Caodai is a fascinating Vietnamese religion combining aspects of Christian, Buddhism, Muslim, Taoism and Confucius into a single religion. There's a chance to observe the impressive noon service of adherents.

Early afternoon we travel to Cu Chi to explore the legendary network of underground combat tunnels where our guide will explain how the Vietcong survived and fought during the Vietnam War. Known as the "Iron Triangle" during the war of the 60's, the story of Cu Chi is one of struggle, determination against all odds, and eventual victory. Now the tunnels are a major site of interest for tourists and historians, and those interested in Vietnam's military history.

Day 12: Saigon - My Tho - Can Tho in Mekong Delta (B, L)
We leave the hustle and bustle of Saigon behind and journey to Mekong Delta, a world that lives and works on the waters. Arriving in My Tho, a prosperous town just 80 km from Saigon, we take a boat to an insular village to visit family workshops producing handicrafts and candy from coconut. Tasting seasonal tropical fruits in an exuberant orchard, we ride a horse cart to a typical Delta house and enjoy folk music by amateurs.

Proceed by local sampan through the small canals and side arms of the river to further experience river life. For lunch we'll sample regional specialties such as Elephant Ear Fish, Rice Ball, etc… After a pleasant break we travel to Can Tho where we take a spin around Ninh Kieu Quay - bustling and exciting with river life on Hau River.

Day 13: Can Tho - Saigon (B)
Early morning, we take a boat to the extraordinary floating market of Cai Rang. Famous as one of the largest markets on the complex of waterways that comprise the Mekong Delta, hundreds of boats packed with local produces gather and make for an exciting maze. Boats come to us from all sides, offering fruits, vegetables, plants, foods, etc… Sellers advertise their wares by hanging samples high atop bamboo poles so that their customers can find from afar.

It is a great view of how commerce actually happens in the Mekong. The boat tour is capped off with an orchard visit. We then return to Saigon.

Day 14: Departure (B)
Free before transferring to the airport for the departure flight.

2016 / 2017 Dates & Prices Small Group tour

Prices are based upon a small group tour excluding international flights from UK. As an agent for airline consolidators, we can obtain your international flights at a competitive rate to suit your preferred departure date. Contact us to discuss your requirements.

Hotel upgrade to 5-Star is available and private tailor-made tours can also be arranged.

Price Includes (The prices shown are 'per person')

• All flights within Vietnam including airport tax.
• All airport/hotel transfers where specified (private transfer).
• Selections of superior/deluxe (4 star) hotels
• Overnight on the train in 4-person soft-berth deluxe comfort with Air-conditioner. (possible sharing with others)
• Sightseeing tours including entrance fee by professional English-speaking tour guide.
• Meals as specified in the itinerary.
• Air conditioned transportation and bottle water on coach.
• Guaranteed Departure

Price Does Not Include

• International Flights: We are happy to provide flights with full ATOL Protection.
• Visa letter of ariival fee (please contact us for details).
• Travel Insurance.
• Tip for driver and Guide.

Meals: As stated in itinerary, B = breakfast, L = Lunch, D= Dinner

FAQ and further Tour information
Please see our FAQ page for further essential tour information.

The itinerary is designed according to the most updated information of the flight available, although occasionally the sequence in which cities are visited and duration of time spent in each city can change due to local conditions which are out of our control. The above itinerary highlights the main attractions that are to be visited each day. Further places of interest may be visited during your stay, which will provide unique ethnic and cultural handcraft shopping opportunities. We reserve the right to change, amend or alter the itinerary, although we will act in your best interests to handle any amendments. Please refer to the booking form for detailed terms & conditions.