Vietnam Tours | Culture Tours

Vietnam in Depth 19 days
Tripcode: VCVD19D

Day 1 Arrival HCMC (D)

On arrival at HCMC 's Tan Son Nhat International airport, you will be greeted by our guide and transferred to your hotel in town for two-night stay. Welcome dinner at a chic restaurant. Overnight in HCMC.

Day 2 Ho Chi Minh City Tour (B/L/-)

Begin our urban experience in bustling HCMC (formerly Saigon ), the country's commercial center and home to a growing number of upscale restaurants and shops. Visit Chinatown, the Thien Hau Pagoda, the Reunification Palace , the Opera House and Hotel de Ville. If desired, also visit the moving War Remnants Museum.

Explore colorful outdoor markets and Dong Khoi Street , the city's main shopping boulevard with shops selling clothes and accessories by new Vietnamese designers, hill tribe crafts, high quality linens and housewares. The urban modern Ho Chi Minh City with its numerous shopping malls, cinemas, discotheques and a bewildering number of bars.

Overnight in HCMC.

Day 3 HCMC – Cu Chi Tunnels and Cao Dai Temples (B/L/-)

This morning we drive to Cao Dai Temples in Tay Ninh to observe the midday service. Following lunch we will drive to the Cu Chi Tunnels and then return to HCMC at around 6 pm. Tay Ninh , near the Cambodian border, is home to the unique Cao Dai sect, whose patron saints include Joan of Arc, Victor Hugo and Winston Churchill to name a few.

The religion is a hybrid of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and Christianity. The Cao Dai Temple at Tay Ninh has been described as a Walt Disney fantasia of the East. The temple's exterior is decorated with multi-colored dragons of all shapes and sizes competing for space with a number of religious symbols. Above the main entrance is the all-seeing holy eye, the symbol of the Cao Dai sect. The interior is just as engaging as statues of Jesus Christ, Buddha and the Hindu god, Brahma, stand side by side. The trip to Tay Ninh is combined with a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels. At its height, the tunnel system stretched over 250km. from Saigon to the Cambodian border and was three levels deep. The network included innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens.

Today the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience and a feel of what underground life during the U.S.-Vietnam War must have been like.

Day 4 HCM City - Mekong Delta (B/L/-)

This morning we set off for a drive through the Mekong Delta to the town of Vinh Long , well-known for its floating market. Here. we will board our private boat Cai Be Princess Cruise for a cruise along the maze of waterways and canals to Vinh Long. We will stop at the home of a Bonsai gardener for a sumptuous Delta lunch, including the popular dish of 'Elephant ear fish, before continuing our exploration of the tributaries and canals of the delta. Toward the end of the day, we arrive in Can Tho city, heart of the Mekong Delta, for overnight.

Day 5 Mekong Delta - HCM City (B/L/-)

You wake up to the sounds of the Mekong River welcoming a new day. Enjoy breakfast on the "Lady Hau" while cruising to the floating market. When the "Lady Hau" arrives at Cai Rang floating market, guests are transferred to a local traditional boat to enter the market. Then, continue cruising with the hotel's guide along narrow creeks to visit a noodle factory and an orchard. After sampling local fruits, our guide will escort the guests back to the hotel by local boat throughmyriad canals. (Starting at 6:30 AM, the Lady Hau cruise and tour extension takes around 4 hours; minimum 4 persons) . Following this we will rendezvous with our vehicle for the drive to the town of My Tho , where we will visit the Vinh Trang Pagoda and the Dong Tam snake farm before our return to Ho Chi Minh City.

Overnight in HCMC.

Day 6 HCMC – Nha Trang (B)

Free until transfer to airport for flight to Nha Trang. Pick up and transfer to hotel. Free. At leisure. Overnight in Nha Trang.

Day 7 Nha Trang (B/L/-)

Full Day Cruise in Nha Trang Bay with some stop for snorkeling and swimming. Overnight in Nha Trang.

Day 8 Nha Trang (B)

Free time at the resort. Overnight in Nha Trang.

Day 9 Nha Trang – Danang - Hoi An (B)

Free until transfer to airport for flight to Danang. Pick up and transfer to Hoi An. At leisure. Overnight in Hoi An

Day 10 Hoi An (B)

Free at leisure. Overnight in Hoi An

Day 11 Hoi An – Danang - Hue (B/-/D)

Leave Hoi An for Hue . This afternoon we embark on a tour of Hue City including the Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City , the Imperial Museum and Dong Ba market. Tonight you enjoy the fine cuisine of Hue in the Tinh Gia Vien Restaurant. Overnight in Hue .

Day 12 Hue (B/L/-)

Rising up in the ancient land, breakfast in hotel, we board on a private boat for cruising on the romantic Perfume River . This time we head out for the countryside. Being the ancient capital, Hue is surrounded with ancient tombs of emperors past, and a visit to some of these tombs will be on the itinerary for today. The charming Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda) will be the first stop of the day. Setting in the converge of rivers, and gives you a great view on the Perfume River and surrounding area. From here we will cruise further to the ornate Minh Mang's tomb. We will enjoy lunch on boat before getting out the Dragon boat for driving to Khai dinh's stomb. Overnight in Hue.

Day 13 Hue - Hanoi (B/L/-)

Transfer to airport for flight to Hanoi . The colonial capital city Hanoi is a unique Asian city with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and oriental pagodas and temples.

In the afternoon visit Hanoi : Vietnam 's artistic and intellectual capital. Explore the fascinating Old Quarter and its hundreds of specialty shops selling silk clothing, lacquerware, embroidered linens, furniture, bamboo, cooking utensils, ceremonial objects and more. Enjoy people watching at stylish cafes. Shop for impressive modern art in the city's many galleries. Also visit Hanoi 's main cultural attractions, including the Fine Arts Museum and the Temple of Literature. Overnight in Hanoi .

Day 14 Hanoi - Lao Cai (B)

Full day of leisure and evening train to Lao Cai. Your adventure trip to Laocai / Sapa begins with an overnight train from Vietnam 's capital city to the border town of Lao Cai . Overnight on train.

Day 15 Lao Cai - Sapa (B/L/-)

The train arrives at Lao Cai train station at approximately 6:00 a.m. There will be a vehicle waiting to transfer us to Sapa. The drive to Sapa is only 33 km but it takes around 1.5 hours. Once at Sapa, we will check into the Victoria Hotel . We can freshen up, and have breakfast at TaVan Restaurant in the hotel and then enjoy a free morning to explore around town. At 10 a.m. from the hotel there will be a walking tour to the hill tribe villages of Cat Cat, home to the H'mong hill tribes minority peoples. As we walk to the villages nestled in the valley below Sapa, we will meet some of the local minority people on their way to and from Sapa. Here we have the opportunity to share cultural experiences with the families that live in the area. Overnight in Sapa.

Day 16 Sapa – Lao Cai - Train back to Hanoi (B/L/-)

Following breakfast, we explore the Sapa Sunday market and then set out on our 3-4 hour trek that will take us along buffalo paths and trails and through several hill tribe villages of Lao Chai and Ta Van, home to H'mong, and Dzay people. This is an absolutely spectacular walk through stunning scenery inhabited by some of the friendliest people you can meet. We will stop for a picnic lunch on the way to Ta Van village. We transfer back to Lao Cai for the Victoria Express train journey back to Hanoi . The train departs at 9:15 p.m. Overnight on train.

Day 17 Lao Cai - Hanoi - Halong Bay (B/L/D)

Arrive in Hanoi around 5 a.m. in. Pick up from here, transfer to Restaurant and Café Tara for breakfast and morning coffee. Leave Hanoi by private vehicle at 8:30 a.m. arriving at the jetty around 12:30 p.m. Our crew welcomes you on board the Deluxe Cruise. Enjoy a welcome drink, check-in to your cabin. A fresh seafood lunch will be served at 1 p.m. At that time, we will begin our 3.5 hours cruise through mystic Halong Bay to see the amazing karsts with different formations: Mat Qui (Monster's face) islet, But Moc islet, Cap De islet, Trong (Drum) cave, Trinh Nu cave, floating fishing village, with its unique way of life. Then head to Luon cave, enjoy swimming, sun bathing at Ti Top beach or climb the peak of the mountain for a breath-taking panorama view of Halong Bay . Enjoy another seafood feast for dinner and for the night owls, there is an option of night fishing. Overnight on cruise.

Day 18 Halong Bay - Hanoi (B)

Rising to the sound of lapping bay waters, we have time for an early morning dip followed by breakfast. Sitting on the upper deck, you can relax while taking in the breath-taking beauty of the rocky islands rising from the emeraude water of the bay. After breakfast, explore Sung Sot cave (8 a.m. to 9 a.m.), swim and relax at Soi Sim beach. At 9:30 a.m., our boat cruises back to the jetty while brunch is served from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. We continue cruising through the bay, along the way seeing more of the fascinating formations. Checkout is at 11:45 a.m.. Our boat arrives at the harbor by noon for our drive back to Hanoi .

Day 19 Departure Hanoi (B)

Free until transfer to airport for departure.

Tour price includes:

•  All private transfer and transportation
•  Accommodation in twin share basis with daily breakfast
•  French or English Speaking Guide
•  Domestic flights: Hanoi/Hue & Danang/Saigon and airport taxes
•  Boat trip in Halong Bay
•  Meals as stated in the itinerary
•  Sightseeing tickets
•  Visa and visa fees
•  Services charges and government taxes

Tour price excludes:

•  International flights
•  International departures taxes
•  Personal expenses, tips and gratuities
•  Travel insurance
•  Meals and beverage

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