Vietnam Discovery - 14 Days

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival.
Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam's bustling colonial capital. Your guide will meet you when you touch down at Noi Bai International Airport and you’ll be taken to your hotel. Check in and spend the rest of time at your leisure.
Meals: N/A.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi City Tour.
In the morning, you will leave the hustle and bustle and take to the countryside by bicycle. You’ll pedal through quaint villages and along the river banks, stopping to take tea with a local family to learn about Vietnamese life. In the afternoon, enjoy a visit to the Temple of Literature – Vietnam’s first university – before walking through Hanoi’s Old Quarter where you can chat with locals and bag a bargain at the market.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi.

Day 3: Hanoi – Drive to Sapa.
Leave Hanoi for around 6-hour scenic drive to Sapa, home for the ethnic minority people and famous for its breathtaking views of cloud-woven mountaintops and gaping valleys. On arrival, keep driving to Sau Chau Village, which is located on the highest point of the mountain from where you will interact with the ethnic Hmong people, and enjoy the stunning panorama view of Sapa at sunset. Transfer to Sapa town and spend rest of the day at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Sapa.

Day 4: Sapa Trekking Tour.
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. You 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. Drive back to Sapa in the afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Sapa.

Day 5: Sapa – Hanoi.
You are free to explore the town yourselves or take part in some optional tours of Sapa.
In the afternoon, your driver will transfer you back to Hanoi. On arrival, check in to the hotel and relax.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi.

Day 6: Hanoi – Ninh Binh (Hoa Lu & Tam Coc).
After breakfast, your driver will transfer you to Ninh Binh. Hoa Lu, situated 100 km south of Hanoi, was the capital city of Vietnam under the Dinh Dynasty between 968 and 1009 AD. Some of the sanctuaries and tombs have survived the years and can still be seen today. Start cycling on countryside roads onto Hoa Lu and the ancient 10th century citadel. Apart from the historical interest, the area is also one of astounding natural beauty with limestone peaks whose splendor is often said to surpass that of Halong Bay. Continue your ride through the limestone peaks to Tam Coc, passing rice paddies and rural villages. In Tam Coc lunch is served at a local restaurant with a view over the boat pier. The tour includes being rowed along the Ngo Dong River, which makes for a truly unforgettable experience, passing between towering limestone peaks. You conclude an excursion day with a visit to Bich Dong Pagoda.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Ninh Binh.

Day 7: Ninh Binh – Halong Bay – Overnight on cruise.
(The itinerary is a sample, depends on weather and it will be different between cruises. Our travel consultants will provide the exact schedule and program if you book other cruise such as Hera Cruise, Halong President Cruise, Emperor Cruise, Halong Violet, Halong Jasmine, Paradise Luxury Cruises, Ginger Cruise, Orchid Cruise, Indochina Sails, Au Co Cruise, Starlight Cruise, Sealife Cruise, Oriental Sails etc.)
Halong Bay is one of the most loved spots in Vietnam for a reason - it's gorgeous. On this Halong Bay tour, we take you away from the hectic pace of life in Hanoi and introduce you to the tranquil, beautiful Halong Bay... Following breakfast, journey northeast through the rich farmland of the Red River Delta (Nam Dinh, Thai Binh & Hai Phong) to Halong Bay, truly one of Vietnam's most scenic impressive sights. On arrival you are welcomed onboard a traditional junk. Settle into a private comfortable cabin and unpack for a two-day cruise around Halong Bay. Along the way, enjoy a huge lunch served on board and admire the picturesque scenery of islands. These limestone karst formations are littered with beaches, grottoes and beautiful caves. You will anchor for a leisurely swim in a secluded cove and an enjoyable visit to Sung Sot Cave, one of the many hidden grottoes beneath towering cliffs. The remainder of day is for your own pleasure; observing the bay, lazing around the deck or simply soaking up the sunshine.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Accommodation: on cruise on Halong Bay.

Day 8: Halong Bay – Hanoi – Fly to Danang – Hoian.
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 the bay as you navigate back to harbour. Savor a fresh seafood lunch, served on board before sailing back to Halong City, where your car will be waiting to take you to Hanoi's airport for your flight to Danang. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel in Hoian, a peaceful riverside town in the centre of Vietnam.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian.

Day 9: Hoian Walking Tour.
Immerse yourself in the tranquility and charm of this sleepy riverside town. From the 16th to 18th centuries Hoian was a thriving international port frequented by Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese and Arab traders, who came to trade in the high quality silk still produced in the region. Today, Hoian is a relaxing resort popular with tourists for its eclectic architecture, skilled tailors and numerous cafes. Take a half-day walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the ancient town centre, visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, the Chinese Assembly Hall, the 200-year old Tan Ky ancestral house and the famous Japanese Bridge.
You are free in the afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian.

Day 10: Hoian – Free at leisure.
Spend your day to kick back at the beach or exploring the city sights yourselves.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian.

Day 11: Hoian – Danang – Fly to Saigon – Cu Chi Tunnels.
Today you’ll fly to Saigon with a trip to the historical Cu Chi Tunnels along the way. 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. Transfer to the hotel in the downtown to check in. Spend rest of the day at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon.

Day 12: Saigon – Mekong Delta – Can Tho.
Depart Saigon after breakfast, driving two-hours to reach Cai Be in the heart of the Mekong Delta for one of the highlights of the tour – a cruise on the mighty Mekong River and the chance to witness life on and around the water of the "Nine Dragon River". Board a traditional wooden sampan boat around the Cai Be riverside town, a commercial spectacle established in the 19th century. Marvel at boats replete with exotic produce and interact with locals in order to discover more about their stock. Next, disembark and stroll to the coconut candy factory to discover the manufacturing process of the sweet treats, as well as puffed rice – the local equivalent of popcorn.
After lunch, take a walk through their fruit orchard to see the fresh seasonal fruits on the trees and listen to melodious Vietnamese folk music known as "Don Ca Tai Tu".
Reboard the boat through the narrow canals around the island, appreciating the tranquility and lush landscapes of this part of the Delta, to Vinh Long. Drive to the largest city in the Mekong Delta: Can Tho, a buzzing town with a lively waterfront and a colorful mix of narrow back streets that make for some rewarding exploration. Rest of the day, you may like to walking along Ninh Kieu Park and on a pedestrian bridge of Can Tho City.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Can Tho.

Day 13: Can Tho – Saigon.
Wake early and leave the hotel to visit the famous Cai Rang floating market by motorized boat. This is a great opportunity to get fantastic photos of colourful boats laden with fruit and vegetables. Boats are filled with teetering piles of fruit and vegetables, from carefully balanced watermelons, to bright flowers. Then venture deeper into the countryside, passing traditional houses made of wood and palm leaves as you observe the activities of the local people, and sample the fresh, exotic fruit. Return to Ninh Kieu quay in Can Tho around 10 A.M. Check out the hotel then drive back to Saigon.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon.

Day 14: Saigon Departure.
Today is free at your leisure for last minute shopping or sightseeing before driving to the airport to catch your departure flight.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: N/A.