Rout	:	Hanoi-Mai Chau-Cuc Phuong-Tam Coc - Ha Long-Hue-Da Nang-Hoi An-Nha Trang-Da Lat-Sai Gon-Melkong Delta.
(US$)Price	:	0

Features:

This Vietnam tour is ideal for budget conscious travelers wishing to get "up close and personal" with the diversity of sights, sounds and experiences Vietnam has to offer. Stay in comfortable hotels, with one overnight train journey and one night on board a traditional luxury cruise vessel. This trip captures the color of Vietnam's destinations and attractions: the lively river-life of the people in the Mekong delta; the old world imperial atmosphere and charms of Hue and Hoi An; the amazing natural splendor of Halong bay; the bustling boulevards of Saigon and the historic Hanoi streets...

Itinerary in details:

Day 1: Hanoi arrival
On your day of arrival, we'll pick you up at Noi Bai International Airport and drive to your hotel in downtown of Hanoi centre, where you can rest up for your Vietnam adventure.

Day 2: Around Hanoi (B/L/D)

 

Your first full day begins with a morning visit to Ho Chi Minh’s complex (including: Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Presidential Palace, stilt house where Ho Chi Minh lived between 1954 and 1969, One-Pillar Pagoda) and the Temple of Literature or Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam, first university in Vietnam founded in 1076. In the afternoon, you will visit the marvelous Ethnology Museum and its life-size replicas of village houses, take relaxing stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake (the Lake of the Restored Sword). From Hoan Kiem Lake, you can take a cyclo tour of the Old Quarter or scout its unique crafts streets on foot. In the evening, enjoy the water puppet show.

Day 3: Hanoi - Mai Chau (B/L/D)
Drive to the mountainous region of Mai Chau, where you'll have lunch at the White Thai Long House. After a filling meal, you can set out on a hike through the surrounding hills and visit one of the villages of the "White Thai" highland tribe.

 

Day 4: Mai Chau - Cuc Phuong - Hoa Lu (B/L/D)
From Mai Chau, we'll take you to Cuc Phuong National Park, an unusual hybrid of tropical rain forest in the lower valley, and seasonal evergreen forest at higher elevation. Its luxurious vegetation includes orchids, climbing rattan palms, ferns, and spice trees, providing habitat for over 300 bird species, as well as wild boar, porcupine, macaques, and leopards. From Cuc Phuong, we'll proceed to Hoa Lu and stay there overnight.

Day 5: Hoa Lu - Ha Noi (B/L/D)
Spend the better part of the day exploring this region of dense karst formations, which formed a natural fortress for the first capital of independent Vietnam in the 10th Century. In the afternoon, return to Ha Noi.

Day 6: Ha Tay trip: Tay Phuong – Master Pagodas (B/L/D)
From Ha Noi, drive to Ha Tay and spend time to visit Thay(Master) and Tay Phuong Pagodas. This is a popular route for many Vietnamese making their pilgrimage to the famous pagodas of the mountain. Return to Ha Noi in the afternoon, where you'll stay overnight.

Day 7: Ha Noi - Ha Long Bay (B/L/D)
In the morning, pick you up at your hotel and drive to Ha Long Bay. En route, we have short break of 30 minutes to rest and visit Dong Trieu pottery village. In the afternoon, free time to relax and discover Ha Long city. Overnight at Ha Long City

Day 8: Ha Long Bay - Ha Noi (B/L/D)
Take a private sampan cruise amongst the limestone peaks and islands of Ha Long Bay such as stone dog island, incense burner, fighting cock…. And Thien Cung, Dau Go Caves, the most beautiful caves in Ha Long Bay,  which was named a World Heritage Site in 1991. Drive back to Ha Noi in the afternoon.

Day 9: Ha Noi – Hue (B/L/D)
Take the morning flight from Ha Noi to Hue. After stopping at the hotel to freshen up, visit the nearby Citadel and Forbidden City of the Nguyen emperors. At your option, visit the peaceful lake and pavilions of Emperor Tu Duc, who had the longest but perhaps the unhappiest reign of any of the Nguyen emperors, and the 20th-Century tomb of Khai Dinh.

Day 10: Hue Excursions(B/L/D)

 

Choose your period of history: ancient or modern. You can take a restful boat ride on the Perfume River to visit the Pagoda of the Holy Lady, the spiritual protector of the Nguyen lords, followed by a visit to the elegant tomb complex of Minh Mang. Or, you can choose to drive north to Dong Ha to visit Camp Carroll and “the Rockpile,” and other landmarks near the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) that separated north and south Vietnam from 1955 to 1975. Take a hike along part of the original Ho Chi Minh Trail to visit a minority village and Khe Sanh Army Base.

Day 11: Hue - Da Nang - Hoi An(B/L/D)
In the morning, you'll take a short drive from Hue to Da Nang, stopping on the top of Hai Van Pass (Pass of Clouds ) for a dramatic view of the mountains and the East Sea. In Da Nang, you can visit the marvelous Museum of Cham Sculpture, which preserves an extensive collection of beautiful stone carvings from the 9th to the 14th Century. After lunch in Da Nang, you'll continue to Hoi An, with stops at the Marble Mountain and China Beach. Hoi An was an important trading port in central Vietnam for many centuries and was named a World Heritage Site in 1999. Many visitors take to the beautiful nearby beaches in the evening or the next morning, but be sure to save an hour or two to browse the town's many crafts and clothing shops and take a walking tour of the Japanese Bridge, Old House, Chinese Temple, and Cultural Museum.

Day 12: Hoi An (B/L/D)
Hoi An has always welcomed travelers from far away, and it's a great place to just rest for a day, write some postcards, buy some tailor-made clothes, and sip absinthe in the evening. There's plenty of time to ride over to My Son in the afternoon to see the remarkable temples of the Cham kingdom.

Day 13: Hoi An - Nha Trang (B/L/D)
Drive to Da Nang for the morning flight to Nha Trang, the most beautiful seashore city of the central Vietnam. In the afternoon, you have the option of visiting Long Son Pagoda, the tomb of Doctor Alexander Yersin, and the unique Cham towers dedicated to the goddess Po Nagar.

Day 14: Nha Trang (B/L/D)

Take a day off for a leisurely boat ride to visit Hon Mun Island, with the opportunity for snorkeling and swimming in the beautiful turquoise waters of the East Sea. Or, you can just enjoy the view from the boat, where you'll be treated to a seafood meal accompanied with your choice of beverage.

Day 15: Nha Trang – Dalat (B/L/D)
Heading south, you'll have a chance to stop at the Cham towers dedicated to the god-king Po Klong Gerai, which make a striking silhouette on the hill above Phan Rang. Then our route takes us inland, through the Ngoan Muc Pass and up to the Central Highlands. Continue to Da Lat, the most beautiful highland city of Vietnam.

Day 16: Da Lat (B/L/D)
Dalat was founded as a colonial hill station by the French, but has become a favorite vacation and honeymoon resort for the Vietnamese. Tour options include the City’s flower garden, the villa of Emperor Bao Dai, the "Lake of Sorrow," and the "Valley of Love." We particularly recommended a visit to the Koho minority village and to the Datanla Falls and Truc Lam Monastery on Tuyen Lam Lake. (The Truc Lam sect was founded by the Vietnamese king Tran Nhan Tong, as described in our trip to Ha Long Bay & Yen Tu.)

Day 17: Da Lat – Saigon (B/L/D)
Before leaving in the morning, you can drop by the bustling Hoa Binh Market and shop the way a Vietnamese tourist would. From you'll drive to the Pongour Waterfall and then proceed to Saigon, where you'll enjoy dinner with a performance of traditional Vietnamese music.

Day 18: Saigon (B/L/D)
Tour the downtown area, known for its own Notre Dame Cathedral, post office building, and the Reunification Palace. If you're interested in history, the national museum has many unique statues and artifacts from the ancient cultures in the Mekong Delta. Other options include a boat ride on the Saigon River, a tour of a lacquerware factory, and a visit to the Cholon District, known for its Chinese heritage and distinctive temples.

Day 19: Tay Ninh/Cu Chi Excursion (B/L/D)

Heading west to Tay Ninh Province, we'll enter the homeland of the Cao Dai religion, which which combines elements of Christianity, Buddhism, and Taoism. Our goal is to arrive at the Cao Dai Temple in time for the colorful ceremonial prayer service at noon. From Tay Ninh, you have the option to visit the temple on Black Lady Mountain (Nui Ba Den) or the wartime tunnel complex dug by Vietnamese guerillas at Cu Chi.

Day 20: Mekong Delta Excursion (B/L/D)

 

Head south to Vinh Long in the Mekong Delta, the largest rice-producing area of Vietnam, visiting the famous Giac Lam Pagoda along the way. Take a boat ride on the Mekong River to visit a local craft village and a bonsai farm. The day's journey ends at the House on Stilts, where you have the option to participate in a cooking lesson as a preliminary to dinner. Overnight in the House on Stilts.

Day 21: Mekong to Saigon (B/L)
In the morning, we'll take a boat ride to visit Cai Be floating market and riverside village. Lunch will be in My Tho Town, returning to Saigon in the afternoon. Back the home and the service ends.

Price List on Request

Tour Price Included:

• Domestic airplane: Hanoi-Hue; Da Nang-NhaTrang;

• Accommodation

• Entrance Fee

• English speaking tour guide

• Meals as itinerary

• Transportation

Tour Price Excluded:

• Drinks

• Tips & other personal expenses

• Travel insurance