Private Tour: Senses of Vietnam - 14 days / 13 nights
In 14 days and 13 nights Vietnam Tours will deliver to you a classic tour of heritage and culture of Vietnam from Saigon, Mekong Delta, Can Tho, Danang, Hoi An, Hue, Hanoi, Halong Bay and Sapa like no other you have seen before. Learn and be inspired by the magnificent hill tribe of the north culture and heritages through some of the most fantastic history the world has to offer.

Detail Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam’s bustling colonial capital. Our driver and guide will meet you outside the baggage claim of Noi Bai Airport and take you to your hotel in the city center. In the afternoon, enjoy an orientation walk, visiting some of Hanoi’s main attractions: the opera house, Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple. In the evening, savor a welcome dinner of authentic Vietnamese food at one of Hanoi’s finest restaurants. Accommodations: Hotel in Hanoi Meals: Dinner Day 2: Hanoi City tour—Night train to Lao Cai Today we have a full day to explore Vietnam’s charming capital. With its wide tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and ancient oriental pagodas; Hanoi is an eclectic mix that offers something for everyone. Our city tour will take you to Hanoi’s key sites: the Ho Chi Minh Complex (Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and stilt house); the Presidential Palace; the nearby One Pillar Pagoda; the Old Quarter; the Temple of Literature; West Lake; the sedate Tran Quoc Pagoda & Quan Thanh Temple; and one of the city's museums (a choice between the History Museum and the Ethnology Museum). In the evening enjoy a traditional Water Puppet Performance—a unique Vietnamese art form hailing from Southeast Asia’s wet-rice culture—before heading to the train station to catch your night train to Lao Cai. Accommodations: Night train Hanoi - Lao Cai (in 4 soft berths cabin with A/C) Meals: Breakfast Day 3: Lao Cai – Sapa Your train arrives at the Lao Cai station in the early morning. Our driver and guide will meet you at the train station and take you on the 38mile drive to Sapa—Northwest Vietnam’s premier travel destination. Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and catch a few hours of rest before beginning your adventure in this beautiful mountain landscape and home to many minority hill tribe peoples. In the late morning, your guide will take you on a two hour trek through the terraced rice fields to visit the villages Cat Cat and Sin Chai, where you will learn about local traditions and daily life. Return to Sapa in the afternoon. Accommodations: Hotel in Sapa Meals: Breakfast Day 4: Sapa –Visit hill tribe villages Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, before setting out on a full day’s trek to explore Sapa’s cultural diversity and haunting natural beauty. Take a guided hike through yawning valleys decorated with terraced rice fields and pass through remote hill tribe villages. We have three trekking options to choose from: Soft trek (~ 3 km), medium trek (~ 6km) and long trek (~12km). Trekking is an excellent way to explore the daily life and familiarize yourself with the cultures of the H’mong, Dzao and Dzay people who populate the region. Have lunch at a hill tribe village then drive back to Lao Cai to catch your return night train to Hanoi. Accommodations: Soft Sleeper Cabin with AC Meals: Breakfast & Lunch Day 5: Early arrival in Hanoi –Cruise Halong Bay Arrive in Hanoi in the early morning. Our driver and guide will meet you at the train station and take you to breakfast at a local restaurant, before setting out on a 3 to 4 hour drive to the UNESCO World Heritage site: Halong Bay. Spend 24 hours on a traditional Junk Cruise in the amazing bay: a natural wonderland composed of jutting limestone islands and sparkling turquoise waters. Arrive at the dock around noon and board your private junk. Savor a gourmet lunch of fresh seafood onboard as we sail out into the mystical bay. In the afternoon, cruise around some of Halong’s many islands, including Dinh Huong and Ga Choi. Along the way visit one of the bay’s 3 largest caves (Thien Cung, Dau Go or Sung Sot). Stop at an island cove with a sheltered white-sand beach and take a dip in the warm waters of the South China Sea (weather permitting). Pass the night on your private junk, lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking of calm waters. Accommodations: Cruise on Halong Bay Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Day 6: Halong – Hanoi - Hue Awake early and participate in Tai Chi on the top deck or simply relax and enjoy the sunrise over the bay’s towering islands. Enjoy a morning cup of coffee or tea, before setting out to explore nearby islands by rowboat. Return to the junk for breakfast then take advantage of the sundeck and admire the amazing rock formations of Bai Tu Long Bay as we navigate back to Halong City. Have lunch on board the boat before returning to Halong pier. Our driver will meet you at the dock and take you to Noi Bai airport for your flight to Hue. Upon arrival, our driver and guide will meet you and take you to your hotel. Accommodations: Hotel in Hue Meals: Breakfast Day 7: Hue –Visit ancient citadel Spend an entire day touring the Vietnam’s former ancient capital. Start the day with a visit to the Imperial Citadel, home to the Imperial City and Forbidden Purple City—once the Emperor's private residence. The Imperial City was created in the 19th century and modeled on the Forbidden City in Beijing. The Imperial Enclosure houses many palaces and temples within its walls. In the afternoon, continue on your tour stopping at the Imperial Museum, Tu Hieu Pagoda and vibrant Dong Ba riverside market. Accommodations: Hotel in Hue Meals: Breakfast Day 8: Hue – Danang—Hoian Spend the morning on a private boat cruise down the romantic Perfume River to visit the Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda) and the ornate Minh Mang's tomb. Enjoy lunch at a riverside restaurant before starting on your drive to Hoian. Pass over the 500m-high Hai Van pass and stop en route in Danang for a visit to the Cham Museum and handicraft villages at the foot of Marble Mountain. Arrive in the sleepy riverside town, Hoian, in the late afternoon, check in at the hotel and then enjoy the rest of the evening free at your leisure. Accommodations: Hotel in Hoian Meals: Breakfast Day 9: Hoian –Myson Today we travel 40km outside of Hoian to the UNESCO World Heritage site: Myson. Shrowded by the Cat’s Tooth Mountains, Myson is home to the ancient Cham ruins and is often referred to as Vietnam’s Angkor Wat. Return to Hoian in time for lunch then enjoy a free afternoon, for shopping, exploring or beachside relaxation. Accommodations: Hotel in Hoian Meals: Breakfast Day 10: Hoian – Danang—Saigon Have breakfast at the hotel then drive to the airport to catch your flight to Vietnam’s modern metropolis: Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Arrive in the late morning and enjoy an orientation tour through Ho Chi Minh City’s bustling streets en route to the hotel. Have lunch at a downtown restaurant of your choosing then set out on a guided city tour. In the afternoon we will visit such sites as the Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Post Office and Ben Thanh Market. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. Accommodations: Hotel in Saigon Meals: Breakfast Day 11: Saigon— Mekong Delta –Cai Be—Vinh Long –Can Tho Today we leave Saigon and travel to the Mekong River Delta. Enjoy an early breakfast at the hotel before driving to the riverside town, Cai Bai. Along the way, stop at a candy factory and orchard garden, where you have an opportunity to listen to traditional music. Enjoy a relaxing lunch at a riverside restaurant, then cross the river by motorized boat to visit some fluvial islands and explore the countryside by bicycle. Our driver and guide will meet you at Vinh Long pier and take you to Can Tho city for the night. Accommodations: Hotel in Can Tho Meals: Breakfast & Lunch Day 12: Can Tho—Floating market –Saigon Wake early and leave the hotel to visit the famous Cai Rang floating market by motor boat. Continue the boat ride to visit the Mekong Delta’s famous orchards and sample the fresh, exotic fruit. Then venture deeper into the country side, passing traditional houses made of wood and palm leaves as you observe the activities of the local people. Return to Can Tho for lunch then drive back to Saigon, arriving in the late afternoon. Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon Meal: Breakfast Day 13: Saigon—Cu Chi tunnels—Tay Ninh Today we travel outside of Saigon to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels. The Cu Chi Tunnels are an underground labyrinth of passageways, used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War (or “American War” as it’s referred to here) as protection against American air raids. Those inclined are invited to crawl through selections of the tunnels to better understand what life was like for the Vietnamese soldiers during wartime. Next we will visit the beautiful Cao Dai Temple in Tay Ninh and partake in the noontime prayer service. This large and colorful compound is home to the hybrid religion founded in the 1920s: Caodaism, which combines elements of Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam in order to promote peace. Have lunch in Tay Ninh and return to Saigon in the late afternoon. Accommodations: Hotel in Saigon Meals: Breakfast Day 14 - Saigon – Transfer to International airport Have breakfast at the hotel then enjoy a free morning before driving to the airport to catch your departure flight home. Accommodations: N/A Meals: Breakfast.

Tour inclusions

* Private tours with English speaking guide for the entire trip except leisure time * Entrance fee to any applicable tourist sites * All transportation and transfers with air-conditioning vehicle * Domestic flight * Meals as stated per itinerary * Government tax and services charge * Could water and towel during the tour * Accommodation in twin/double share rooms with air-condition and private bath room

Tour Exclusions

* International airfare & airport taxes (Airport tax from Cambodia now is include in airfare) * Travel insurance * Visa and visa arrangement * Surcharges for compulsory gala dinners during festive seasons and * Peak season surcharges (which will be advised at time of booking) , * Personal expenses * Tips & gratuities