15 Days Best of Vietnam

Xin Chao! Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam.

Your private guide and driver will be waiting for you and your family at Hanoi International Airport with a sign bearing your name and will transport you directly to your Old Quarter hotel.

You will have time to unwind and acclimate to the speed of Hanoi following check-in.

Optional 1: Dinner with the Hanoian family.

We'll go over a program that will lead you to a genuine experience while you're in Hanoi. Dinner will be served in a home in Hanoi. You will be taken to a Hanoian family that has a long-standing custom as part of this trip.

Our guide will take you to a traditional household in Hanoi, where there are three generations living in the same house, and the trip will only take around 20 minutes after you leave the hotel. Everyone in the family will welcome you as though you were an old friend visiting from far away. The supper will center on you and the other people who live in the house as its main characters. You are welcome to ask any question you like regarding the way of life, culture, traditions, and so on in a traditional Vietnamese family in order for you to better understand the differences between Vietnam and your nation.

In Vietnam, a meal shared by family members has long served as an intangible tie that binds family members together and provides an opportunity for conversation that strengthens the link between generations. A vivid representation of the love that exists inside a family is a meal that is eaten together. Customs, table manners, and traditional values are imparted to the younger generation by the more experienced diners during the meal. The children demonstrate their concern for, and respect for, the elders by preparing meals for them and demonstrating appropriate table manners. Even though the dinner is straightforward, it conveys a great level of love. Vietnam is well-known for its lengthy history.

Optional 2: Welcome dinner

There will be a quick tour orientation followed by a welcome dinner at Cha Ca Thang Long restaurant, Cha Ca La Vong is a wonderful and classic Hanoi dish. On a bed of aromatic green scallions and dill, chunks of tasty fish are served, creating a unique dining experience.

Please note: Your travel documents contain a Visa-on-Arrival letter (unless otherwise arranged). Please bring this item in your carry-on baggage. You must produce your Visa-on-Arrival letter to Customs when entering the country.

Overnight in Hanoi

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Morning

following your hotel breakfast. Before we set off on our tour, our guide and driver will meet you in the lobby of your hotel and provide a safety briefing with you.

We're going to take you on a day-in-the-life adventure today to show you the REAL HANOI. This will include the lesser-known areas of the city, such as glimpses of everyday life in the labyrinth of backstreets, as well as neighborhood homes, schools, odd markets, and the black market. We not only draw attention to the appealing features of your travel destinations but also to their drawbacks and any peculiarities that might be there.

We pass by and stop at a number of locations while seeing our magnificent city, including the busy Old Quarter, the scenic Hoan Kiem and West Lakes, the Hanoi Opera House, and the well-known Long Bien Bridge. The flower market, the ancient train street, the charming French Quarter, B52 Lake, Visit flower market, and the 1,000-year-old Buddhist and Taoist temples of Tran Quoc are some of the additional locations we visit.

Aside from that, we also take you to the serene and alluring outlying villages near West Lake and Truc Bach Lake to deepen your understanding of the contrast in the harmony of life between the city center and her outlying areas. You will also get to experience both the quiet, hidden tranquility of Hanoi and the busy, new parts of the city, which are home to thousands of skyscrapers. We do this to help you understand the distinction between the city's core and its periphery. It is more than just a ride; it is a journey through which you can learn about Hanoi's past and present.

The driver will transport you through the alleys to the rural countryside area in the third part of today. You can visit rural communities with sizable banana, fruit, and vegetable fields as well as the magnificent Red River Island, also referred to as Banana Island. After that, you'll go visit a local family in one of the villages.

Visit the amazing, one-of-a-kind flower market, where you can see a wide variety of flowers for sale, after which our Jeep will continue driving around West Lake Point so you can get a panoramic view of the city, after which you will stop briefly at the dragon tail to take pictures and visit a pagoda that is more than a thousand years old, after which you will continue to B52 Lake.

Let's sample the egg coffee and soft lunch before the vehicle takes you back to the hotel.

Afternoon

You have the rest of the day at your leisure. Relax and enjoy the hotel's amenities, or take another stroll around the Old Quarter's hidden alleys.

Overnight in Hanoi

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Morning

You will be picked up from your hotel by the guide, and then you will go to Ninh Binh, which is a world heritage site. The first destination is the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, which was established in 968 and continued to serve that function until the early 11th century when Emperor Ly Thai To transferred the capital to what is now the city of Hanoi. Upon reaching this breathtaking alpine setting, you will have to travel a distance of three hundred meters to reach the Dinh and Le Dynasty temples. In Tam Coc, you can sample some unique dishes at a restaurant in the area.

Afternoon

The journey will get underway in the Tam Coc region. Leaving from the Tam Coc wharf on one of the rowing Tam Coc Boat Tours. The boat tour is organized by local folks who are able to use both their hands and their legs. During your Tam Coc River Tour, you will get the opportunity to visit three different magical grottos: Hang Ca, Hang Hai, and Hang Ba. Then, let's spend thirty to forty-five minutes pedaling about Tam Coc. Discover the way of life of the locals and take in the scenery of the expansive green fields by pedaling about the community. If you take a trip during the harvest season, you will see several rice fields that have taken on a golden hue. The Mua Cave is the final stop on the journey. Some people have compared it to "the Great Wall of China." You will have to climb 500 stairs to reach the top of the Mua cave, where you will be rewarded with a breathtaking panorama of Ninh Binh. After that, take some time to unwind, and then head back to Hanoi.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.

Morning

After breakfast, you will be picked up at the hotel and taken to Sapa on a road trip that will take approximately 5.5 hours. Sapa was initially developed by the French in 1922 as a hill station; nevertheless, it has since developed into one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Northwest. From here, hikers can launch themselves into the surrounding countryside, which consists of cascading rice terraces and tiny hill-tribe communities that seem to be located in another world. This is the main trekking base in the north of Vietnam.

Arrival Sapa. Take some time to unwind and eat lunch at the local restaurant. Check-in hotel.

Afternoon

Take a short drive to the village of Y Linh Ho, and then hike through the rice terraces and along the Muong Hoa stream to the Black H'mong community of Lao Chai. On the way, you will get to witness the breathtaking scenery of Hoang Lien Son Mountain. The Black Hmong are one of the most numerous ethnic groups that live in the Sapa region. They are proud of their heritage and continue to adhere to the customs and practices that have been passed down to them. They speak a language all their own and are known for the indigo-blue attire they wear. The Hmong people have only very lately adopted a sedentary mode of life, transitioning from a nomadic way of life. Therefore, there are still many remnants of times gone by that may be observed, such as simple homes and stone walls that surround households... After that, proceed to Ta Van village to meet with folks of the Zay ethnic group. There are around 38,000 members of the Zay ethnic minority, most of whom make their home in the mountainous regions of Northwest Vietnam.

At the Ta Van bridge, a car or bus is waiting to transport you back to Sapa.

Overnight in Sapa

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Morning

After breakfast, you will once again meet your tour guide, and the first part of the day will consist of a three-kilometer journey through spectacular scenery to the village of Suoi Ho. Carry on your journey until you reach the breathtaking village of Matra. You will travel by the magnificent ruins of a French Catholic church that was constructed at the turn of the twentieth century. Spend some time investigating this fascinating location and snapping photographs in the manner that most appeals to you. Your climb will become more difficult until you reach Ta Phin Village, which is home to members of the Red Dzao ethnic minority tribe. Coming to Ta Phin at any time of year, you can easily see groups of women sitting together to embroider and chat happily, whether in front of the house, on the upland, or by the roadside.

Make a pit stop at the home of a Red Dzao family and have a cup of tea with them while you converse with them about their way of life. Savor is a delectable meal that has been prepared and is being served by the family.

Afternoon

After lunch, let's join The Batik Class. Batik's instructor is happy to have you visit her modest but well-kept home. We were able to communicate with one another using snippets of English, and Vietnamese, and a lot of hand gestures. Although she speaks very little English, all it takes is a ready and full-bodied smile to overcome any and all linguistic obstacles.

First comes the cloth, and next comes the batik process. Hemp is the preferred material among the Vietnamese H'mong, and this intricate-looking handloom is evidence of their exceptional weaving talents. It is difficult to think that hemp fibers, which resemble straw, can be spun into a fabric that is so robust, long-lasting, and has a texture similar to that of linen.

Patterns are created in the art of batik by employing a wax-resist technique. Beeswax is melted in a kettle by Dee, who places it over hot coals to do so. Because of the off-white tone of the hemp cloth, the beeswax has been dyed with indigo paste in order to make it more visible. In close proximity is a basket full of various instruments, including pens-like implements made of bamboo and topped with metal. In addition, there are metal stamps that come in a wide variety of shapes and patterns that are inspired by both the natural world and commonplace motifs. These stamps are a traditional method of recording the Hmong way of life.

you will be unable to contain excitement as the patterns gradually emerge through embroidery lines. Yes, it will be an interesting experience.

Overnight in Sapa

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Morning

You'll be picked up from the hotel in the morning after breakfast and driven for 3 hours to the vibrant Bac Ha Sunday Market. Every Sunday, the Bac Ha Market is held. It is the largest market for minority peoples in Northwest Vietnam. Flower Hmong (Red Hmong), Black Dao, Tay, Nung, La Chi, Phu La, and other minority groups come from far away to buy and sell a wide range of goods and livestock, share news, and catch up with old friends. The market starts around 7:30 a.m. and closes in the middle of the afternoon.

As soon as you arrive, you and your guide will head off to wander the market. Locals dressed in a wide variety of traditional garments bargain for cows and display intricately embroidered and adorned costumes, creating a vibrant tapestry of color, sound, and culture within the market itself. Take a stroll with your camera in hand and take in the vibrant scene while dodging the persistent vendors. The heavy stench of animals wafts down from the live market above the tents, mixing with the aroma of fresh herbs and pungent, powerful tobacco.

Afternoon

After refueling at a nearby eatery, you'll make the short descent to Trung Do Village, where the indigenous Tay people live. From here, you'll take a boat ride through the breathtaking scenery to Bao Nhai Village, where you'll visit a traditional Tay home. After your boat ride, you'll head to Lao Cai to catch a train back to Hanoi. You can leave your bags at a restaurant close to the train station and eat there before boarding the train. Train passengers will share an air-conditioned, four-berth soft sleeper compartment. The departure time of 20:00 and the arrival in Hanoi was about 5:30 the following morning.

Overnight on the train.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Morning

When you get off the train in Hanoi, your private guide will pick you up and transport you to a hotel so you can freshen up and relax before continuing on your journey.

After breakfast, the guide will then pick you up to take you to Quang Ninh Province and Halong Bay. Take 15 to 20 minutes to relax before getting ready for one of your life's greatest adventures.

At 12:30, we will arrive at the harbor, where you can board the boat and begin your voyage with our amiable, knowledgeable, and skilled crew.

Afternoon

The lunch will be served to you as the boat travels on to our destination, passing by an almost unlimited number of islands and islets. Unquestionably a genuinely wonderful encounter.

You can head to the upper deck after your excellent meal to take in Halong Bay's grandeur in all of its natural, pure, magical, and beautiful manifestations.

Are you all set to join the activity? Let's kayak for an hour around the region of the floating community. If you don't like kayaking, don't worry, you can also swim.

When the time is up, you'll head back to the boat for a fun sundown party on the sundeck. Here, you may mingle with other tourists while listening to relaxing music and taking in the breathtaking splendor of Halong Bay.

Yes, this day has been great. There is no better way to cap it off than by indulging in a sumptuous dinner prepared by our chef. After that, you are free to do whatever you wish with your time, such as sing or just unwind.

Overnight on Halong Bay

Meal: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Morning

With a light breakfast of crisp toast, flavorful eggs, and a cup of enticing coffee or tea, you can start your day off right. When you're finished, you'll be prepared to embark on the day's main adventure: exploring the Cave.

Because it is the most stunning and alluring cave in Halong Bay, it is a remarkable destination. Your knowledgeable tour guide will talk you everything there is to know about it.

After then, the boat will continue crashing into numerous islands and islets, giving you a good perspective of Halong Bay's breathtaking splendor. Vietnam is the only country in the world where such a site exists!

Do you want to attend a cooking class? One of the regional specialties, delectable deep-fried spring rolls, will be one of the recipes you learn to make from our chef. You must do it to really appreciate it!

Later, as you have a delicious lunch, we'll cruise back to the pier. After that, it will be time to disembark and bid the boat crew farewell.

Afternoon

A private car will take you to the airport to get the flight to Hue. Another driver will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to the hotel in Hue.

Overnight in Hue.

Meal: Breakfast, lunch

Morning

The guide will come to your hotel to pick you up. You will go on a one-day tour of Hue to learn more about this beautiful city. Take a dragon boat to the first place, Thien Mu Pagoda (Heaven Fairy Lady Pagoda), which is the oldest pagoda in Hue City. The morning boat ride to the pagoda will be a great way to start the trip. The Perfume River's fresh air will make you feel very good. Visit The Citadel. The Nguyen Dynasty, Vietnam's last royal family, lived in Imperial City. After the Citadel, our car will take you to the Dong Ba market, which is Hue's busiest and has a lot of different foods and goods. You can see how people in the area buy and sell things here. This is also a chance to buy gifts for your family and friends. We ate lunch at a nearby restaurant that served food from Asia and Vietnam.

Afternoon

Visit Khai Dinh Tomb, which is a mix of Western and Eastern architecture. A quick trip to the Minh Mang Tomb, which is thought to be the most beautiful of all the Royal Tombs. It is known for its architecture, which fits in well with the natural environment. After a great day, the driver will take you back to your hotel.

Overnight in Hue

Meal: Breakfast, lunch

Morning

After breakfast at the hotel. Let’s check out of the room and get a private car to move to Hoi An Old Town. Check-in at your hotel.

Afternoon

Your tour guide will transport you to the Ancient Quarter of Hoi An, where you will go on a walking tour of the principal monuments, including Chua Ong Pagoda, Tan Ky Ancient House, Fujian Assembly Hall, and Japanese Covered Bridge.

Continue to see the Precious Heritage Museum, where Réhahn's Precious Heritage Collection is on permanent display. The collection will transport you to the most remote regions of Vietnam while revealing the rich cultural tapestry of the ethnic communities.

The highlight of the day is a visit to the Reaching Out Tea House, a delightful oasis of peace in the bustling, dynamic Old Town that is owned and maintained by deaf and mute individuals. Here, you will be served delectable Eastern-style pastries and tea of the highest quality.

Proceed to the home of the lantern maker. There, you may see the lantern craftsman's technique before engaging in hands-on labor through each stage of lantern-making under the direction of enthusiastic craftsmen: from bending the frame, cutting the fabric, and gluing the lanterns to completing them. Before the conclusion of this journey, you will have crafted your own lantern.

Now is the time for your discovery trip of Hoi An's street food. With your guide, you will navigate the narrow alleyways and dine with locals at stalls you would never find on your own. Every day at 4 p.m., the streets of Hoi An are flooded with food carts, kiosks, and sellers. The street food tour is an excellent opportunity to sample some of the Hoi An specialties prepared by locals, meet the people behind the stock pots, and see how Hoi An natives handle those condiment trays!

Overnight in Hoi An

Meal: Breakfast, street food tour

Morning

Let’s have a close-up and intimate exposure to both the local cooking and fishing communities. After picking you up at your hotel in Hoi An, you will start to visit the local market and shop for your ingredients for the day. Following the guide go to Cam Thanh village to get organic vegetables to prepare for cooking class later. But before this class begin, let’s board our boat for a river cruise to meet and engage with local fishermen and enjoy a hands-on experience of traditional net fishing. You will also experience paddling the unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boat while the waterways of coconut palm paradise. This tour provides you with a cultural window into the ways of life of both our farming and fishing communities.

A cooking class will be open after that, you will learn to make deep-fried spring rolls, papaya salad with shrimp crackers, pork or fish in a clay pot with steamed rice, and Banh Xeo (rice pancake with fresh salad) with seasonal fruit for dessert. And this is lunch.

Afternoon

After lunch, return to your hotel, where you have the remainder of the day at your leisure.

Overnight in Hoi An

Meal: Breakfast, lunch

Morning

Enjoy your time in Hoian Old Town. Let’s walk the ancient streets of Hoi An, lined with Chinese traders’ homes and wooden houses reincarnated as restaurants, cafés, and outlets for local artists, craftsmen, and tailors.

Afternoon

Transfer to the airport for a short flight to Ho Chi Minh previously known as Saigon. The driver will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to the hotel. And this is free time to explore Ho Chi Minh in your way.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh

Meal: Breakfast

Morning

After breakfast, you will be greeted by your guide and driven to Cu Chi, a small village located northwest of Ho Chi Minh City known for its network of subterranean tunnels that served as a safe haven and successful infiltration route for the Viet Cong during the closing stages of the Vietnam War.

Upon arrival, you will view a brief instructional movie before visiting the tunnels, the most renowned battlegrounds of the period. It is thought that the concealed network of Viet Cong tunnels spanned "hundreds of miles" in total length and contained living quarters, storage areas, temporary hospitals, kitchens, etc. Although the system was initially somewhat narrow, some sections have been enlarged for tourists, and you have the option to explore them.

Please note that these tunnels will be hot and claustrophobic, so if you want to watch from above ground, that is an option.

Cassava, the staple diet of the Viet Cong soldiers, is served alongside a tart tea. After exploring the Cu Chi Tunnels, return to the city with lunch at the local restaurant on way.

Afternoon

Spend the remainder of the day touring Ho Chi Minh City's major attractions. The Notre Dame Cathedral, the ornate City Hall (Hotel De Ville), the old Opera House, the historic Rex Hotel, the Central Post Office, renowned for its architecture, and Ben Thanh Market, where vendors display a vast array of goods and handicrafts, appealing to every taste, are particularly recommended.

Later, visit the Reunification Palace and the War Remnants Museum for a somber and enlightening look at Vietnam's military history and violent past.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Morning

After breakfast, your driver and guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Ben Tre Town, which is referred to as the "rice bowl" of Vietnam because of its extensive rice fields, intricate canal system, and picturesque surroundings.

To get to Ben Tre town, where you will board a motorized boat excursion around the picturesque River and see several local industries along the route, it takes around two hours of driving through the fertile farmland countryside. While on the boat, we'll make stops at the modest local factory housing the mat-weaving business and the coconut processing workshops. Visit a quiet village where you may take a little stroll to see how the inhabitants live their daily lives and sample fresh fruits and honey tea. Continue your tour by stopping at a workshop in a coconut mill where a variety of expertly handcrafted coconut husk and fiber goods are made, including the local delicacy of coconut candy.

After that, go for a motorcycle (Xe Loi) ride or a bicycle excursion to visit the village's coconut and vegetable orchard plantations. Then you've finished your tour, your guide will take you for lunch at a local restaurant beside a river.

Afternoon

Take a small sampan to row around the coconut canals after lunch for the stunning view. The canals are secret streams that are bordered by a huge variety of tropical vegetation. The peaceful, rural environment is a refreshing and healing retreat from the hectic, distant HCM City. When the boat returns, the bus will pick up passengers at the pier and depart for Ho Chi Minh City.

The night is all yours. Let's go on a nighttime tour of Ho Chi Minh by yourself.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh

Meal: Breakfast

Start your day with a tasty breakfast at your hotel.

Free time to do some shopping and explore around before departing to the airport, where you catch your flight home or to your next destination; we will assist you with the planning.

The tour may be over, but the beautiful memories you have collected during these last 15 days will stay in your mind for the rest of your life. This is what we want to offer you: a tour that brings you great local experiences and makes you smile each time you think of them!