Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi
Arrival in Hanoi airport, pick up by guide and driver. Transfer to hotel on the center of city. Afternoon: walking tour around Hoan Kiem Lake (Restored Sword) and visit to Ngoc Son pagoda (Jade mountain temple). A cyclo (pedaled rickshaw) ride thought the Old quarters for the first glimpses of the daily life of Hanoians. Enjoy the water puppet show in the evening. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 2: Hanoi (B)
Breakfast at hotel. West Lake round trip and some site round the West Lake (Quan Thanh Temple and Tran Quoc Pagoda) and Temple of Literature - the first college of Viet Nam and the place dedicating to Confucian. Afternoon: we visit the Ethnology Museum. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 3: Hanoi - Duong Lam - Hoa Binh (B,D)
Drive to Duong Lam old village where you can see traditional house made of laterite, rammed soiled. Most of the buildings are intact. Here you can enjoy great atmosphere our country life, and receive real life experience from friendly local people. Continue to the village of minorities Dao, Muong and Thai in Hoa Binh. Walk through this great mountain village to discover daily life. Home stay in the house on stilts.
Day 4: Hoa Binh - Hoa Lu - Trang An (B,D)
A cruise on the Da River a walking tour to visit villages inhabiting the the ethnic communities Muong and the Zao on the river banks and on the mountain slopes. Depart to Ninh Binh for visiting the Hoa Lu old citadel, the King Dinh and Tran temples. Take the amazing boat trip to visit Trang An grottoes. Small walk to visit the village, meet and talk with local people ... Dinner and overnight home stay in Trang An.
Day 5: Trang An - Halong (B,L,D)
Breakfast and departure to Halong bay, the World Natural Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO. On arrival in at noon, boarding a wooden junk to enjoy an enchanting cruise ship for 2 days 1ngiht. During this cruise, you can discover the immense chaos of karst mountains, of caves, of lagoons with all these ghostly forms. It is so nice to feel totally lost every when you discover the new forms of rock. In addition, the play of light, clouds and mist create an atmosphere unexpected. Discover life on the bay with all its fishing boat and its families live either in floating houses or on simple board. In late afternoon, the boat anchored for the night in the bay. You can then take a bath or go kayaking under the feet of extraordinary rocks. You'll also have chance to enjoy a wonderful sunset. Lunch and dinner seafood aboard. Pass the night on junk. (Possibility on private junk)
Day 6: Halong - Hanoi - Dong Hoi (B,L)
Breakfast. Continuation of the cruise in Halong Bay. Landing around 11:30 and resumed the road to Hanoi, visiting the pagoda original 300 years old But Thap and Dong Ho Village Craft. Arrival in Hanoi, transfer to railway station to catch the night train destination for Dong Hoi. Night on train,4 soft sleepers air-conditioned.
Day 7: Dong Hoi - National Park Phong Nha - Ke Bang (B,D)
Upon arrival at Dong Hoi Town, then continue to Phong Nha - Ke Bang. Getting on boat and cruise along the river to Phong Nha Cave. The deeper one penetrates, the more magical are the natural aspects of the caves. After on boat for 700m, a large dry passage is appear, then you can walk to discover the cave for 500m more. You will have a chance to explore remain of Cham Altars and Inscriptions inside. Afternoon bike ride to visit the village and the magnificent scenery, discover the daily life of local inhabitants and you will have the opportunity to participate in social activities such as fishing, gardening with the residents. ... Overnight at home stay local.
Day 8: Phong Nha - Hue (B)
Depart to Hue (about 3 hours), World Heritage by UNESCO in 1993. Afternoon boat trip on the Perfume River go up stream visit Thien Mu Pagoda, Then you visit the tombs of the emperors of the Nguyen dynasty: tomb of King Tu Duc (1865) and that of King Minh Mang (1843). Walking tour to visit the village handicrafts of Hue, meet and talk with local people ... Overnight at hotel in Hue
Day 9: Hue - Da Nang - Hoi An (B)
Breakfast. Visit Great Enclosure of Royal Citadel, the complex of Noon Gate, Royal Palace, and Temples build in 1802. Then walk to Dong Ba market, the economic center of Hue, where you will find the beautiful conical hats made of typically palm Vietnamese. Leave Hue for Da Nang through the Hai Van tunnel-the greatest tunnel in Asia, en route, photo stop at the top of Cloud - Ocean pass and Lang Co fishing village. Stop at the foot of the mountains of marble, marble carvers' village. Continuation of the road to Hoi An. Arrive Hoian, check in hotel and then free for shopping or going to the beach of Cua Dai. Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 10: Hoi An - Hoi An - his campaign by bicycle and on foot (B,L)
In the morning, bike ride to visit the village of vegetables, Tra Que, about a 20-minute cycle. Tra Que village has been known for its special aromatic herbs, mint and basil; though the leaves of those plants are smaller than usual, they have a very particular aroma. Working with local people, you will learn how to plant and water vegetables. Then learn to cook some local specialties, for example Tam Huu, composed of shrimp, pork and aromatic herbs, and then enjoy what you have cooked. Then relax and enjoy a foot massage with medicinal herbs. Visit the Hoi An ancient City, Chinese Temple, Bridge Pagoda and an ancient house with mixed styles from Viet Nam, China and Japan. Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 11: Hoi An - Da Nang - Cai Be (B,D)
Free time until transfer back to airport of Da Nang for flight to dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, and direct transfer to Cai Be town on the Mekong. Walking along the village paths, strolling through the orchards, tasting tropical fruits. Dinner. Chat with the local people. Overnight at the homestay.
Day 12: Cai Be - Vinh Long - Can Tho (B,D)
Taking local ferry to An Binh Island. ake a small boat to visit Cai Be floating market with local people being selling, buying and exchanging goods from their boats. Observation of the rural activities of the local. Visit an old house in typical Vietnamese architecture. Continuation of the cruise to An Binh Island. Stop to visit a bonsai garden or nursery. Discovery of a workshop of ceramic and tile. To Vinh Long, landing and continue to go to Can Tho by car. Overnight at the homestay.
Day 13: Can Tho - Ho Chi Minh City (B)
After breakfast, take the morning boat trip to visit the Cai Rang and Phong Dien floating market with the busy scene right at the time. Keep cruising through the small canals system- Mighty Mekong River. Walk or cycle to discover the daily life of local people in My Khanh vilage. Return to Hochiminh city. Overnight at hotel.
Day 14: Ho Chi Minh ville - Departure (BL)
Visit the Old colonial area around the Post Office designed by Gustave Eiffel, Notre Dame and the famous Rue Catinat (now Dong Khoi Street). Then start to the Cholon of Chinatown, great Binh Tay Market and Thien Hau pagoda known as the Lady of heaven. Rest of time free for the last shopping until transfer to Saigon airport for your departure flight.
