Essential Vietnam Tour

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The Best Essential Vietnam Tour Services

Duration: 16 Days
Trip Code: ORG_HAEO16

Best places to visit:

Overview

Essential Vietnam Tour 16 days is a perfect opportunity to discover the lengthens from North to South to get a lot of great experiences.  The trip takes you to conquer Fansipan Mountain on cable car plus the Bac Ha Sundays market with local minority people culture as well as in Sapa town.

Travel to Halong Bay on Hera Cruise to discover its amazing landscapes. Furthermore, enjoy the countryside and its special in Hoian and Hue city, especially the tranquil atmosphere at Mekong Delta. This trip promises to make you have the best time ever in stunning beautiful country.

Let’s take your time to visit the most impressive sights of Vietnam country with Origin Vietnam!

Highlights:

  • Discover famous landscapes in the North: Ha Noi, Trang An, Lao Cai, Sapa to get the stunning views of nature.
  • Stay overnight on Halong Bay luxury cruise with breathtaking view and magnificent limestone islands
  • Discover Hoian and surroundings and explore the waterways and lust orchards of the Mekong Delta then end at the fantastic markets of China Town in Saigon.

Notes:

  • This itinerary is a private tour. It shows you what is possible to travel and visiting with our guide and driver
  • We CAN also tailor made this trip as your requirement and budget such as its inclusions…

Essential Vietnam Tour 16 Days Travel Map

Essential Vietnam Tour 16 Days Travel Map

Itinerary Details

Origin Vietnam Pin Location

Day 1: Welcome To Ha Noi. O/n In Ha Noi

Welcome you by our driver and guide pick up you at Noi Bai International Airport and transfer to the hotel in Hanoi. You will take an hour Cyclo – tour viewing the charming French colonial architecture to the bustling Old Quarter. Savor free dinner will be reserved at local restaurant. Overnight in Hanoi.

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Day 2: Discover Trang An - Van Long - Night Train To Lao Cai - Sa Pa. O/n On Train (B/L)

Morning activities:

Have breakfast and then our guide and driver will pick up you at your hotel. Protected as UNESCO’s heritage, Trang An just has so much to offer. Spend at least two hours here before moving to any other place.

A sampan boat ride will take you through magnificent limestone islands and islet. This is the part hailed as the “Halong Bay on Land”. Along the river, you’ll see beautiful caves, grottoes, hidden temples, floating temple….

This place can be your favorite part in the whole Ninh Binh. Another boat ride in Van Long Nature Reserve will take you to the richest, most pristine wetlands in North Vietnam. As the home of more than 40 species of wild birds, this is the perfect place to watch the wildlife.

Afternoon activities:

Travel back Hanoi city after discover the countryside and its special beauties. You spend again 2 hours on car to reach back Hanoi city and free to have your own dinner.

Evening activities:

At 20.30pm that night you are transferred to Hanoi Railway for making a night train will depart from the capital to Lao Cai. Let try to rest a bit on AC soft sleeper coach 4 berths (can upgrade VIP cabin 2 berths with additional charge).

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Day 3: Lao Cai - Sapa - Lao Chai - Ta Van Village. O/N At Homestay In Ta Van Village (B/L/D)

Morning activities:

You’re going to arrive in Lao Cai train station and our guide and driver would be there to welcome you to travel to Sapa town and guess what? You will have full day trek through the village of H’Mong, Dao, Zay minority groups at Lao Chai & Ta Van. And it’s going to be incredible!

After having a morning shower at mini hotel for getting new fresh after a night train and have breakfast, you feel free to trek through awesome road along rice terrace fields and passing through the villages with soil and land roads to reach Lao Chai village and continue to Ta Van village.

Afternoon activities:

Have some fun while meeting and talking to local minority people en route. Then we trek deeper into the mountains, to Ta Van village where we can see the H’mong Zay, Dao, dressed in the traditional costume unique to the Northern region, and experience a simple and traditional way of life that has continued unchanged for centuries. We tour villages and traditional houses surrounded by unspoilt natural beauty, enjoying the hill tribes’ hospitality .

Home stay at stilt house of hill tribe family in Ta Van village, get more their culture and customs. Also, you will just love to enjoy their night life and share experience with them.

Finally, have some dinner with the family and taste their local foods. Overnight in Ta Van village.

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Day 4: Visit Love Waterfall - Tram Ton Pass - Cable Car Fansipan Mountain. O/n In Sa Pa (B/L)

Morning activities:

Have breakfast at Ta Van village and start to depart for the Silver Waterfall – is located about a half hour from Sapa town which offers stunning views over surrounding mountains and lush forests belonging to Hoang Lien National Park.

You will stop by a farm for a cup of tea and talk with people to understand their local life. Afterwards, we are driven to Tram Ton Pass where we will spend 30 minutes for view beautiful sceneries. Along the way, you have chances to see wild flowers. Continue to visit the Heavens Gate, the highest stretch of road in Vietnam as well as the provincial border of Lao Cai and Lai Chau provinces. Enjoy fantastic view over the valley! Savor lunch at the local restaurant

Afternoon activities:

And then you will be transferred to cable car station where we will have 25 minutes travelling to Fansipan Mountain where is considered to be the most beautiful landscape of Vietnam now. Return to Sapa Town to have free time in the afternoon and evening as well as free dinner as your own to taste local Sapa foods. Overnight in Sapa.

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Day 5: Sapa - Bac Ha Sundays Market - Lao Cai & Night Train Back Ha Noi. O/n On Train (B/L)

Morning activities:

Have breakfast and start to explore the spectacular Muong Hoa. Our car will take us out of the town, following the only road built on the side of a mountain range, looking down the valley, over viewing magnificent landscapes composed of high mountains, deep valleys, and stream of water winding, waterfalls and terraced rice paddies…walking trail can be seen clearly from the road winding up and down hills on the other side of Muong Hoa River to connect village to villages.

Continuing on, we visit Bac Ha Market – the largest market open on Sunday in the centre of Bac Ha town. It has very beautiful colored minorities’ costumes. The market offers a variety of local products, which can not be found in the other areas. The corner of animals is very interesting and it’s also a good chance for you to visit Tay village.

Afternoon & evening activities:

Leave Bac Ha Town for return Lao Cai and free time wandering around the border between Vietnam and China for more experience.

Transferring to the station for the overnight train to Hanoi.

Evening activities:

Evening is your free time to have dinner at restaurant close Lao Cai as your own account. And then get on train for return Hanoi city on AC soft sleeper coach 4 berths (can upgrade round way VIP cabin 2 berths). Overnight on train.

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Day 6: Ha Noi Arrive Back - Discover Ha Long Bay. O/n On Hera Luxury Cruise (B/L/D)

Morning activities:

Arrive back Hanoi Railway at 5.30 am you are welcomed by guide and driver to a massage restaurant for having 75 minutes massage for refresh yourself after a night on train. Have breakfast at massage restaurant

Travel out Hanoi’s Old Quarter area around 9:00 am on a private car to Halong Bay. You will spend 2.5 hours on car travel on highway to reach Halong city at noon time.

Afternoon activities:

Arrive at Tuan Chau port for welcome drink in private lounge (transfer from Hanoi & return is optional). On Board and check in, followed by safety orientation. Lunch featuring cuisine enjoyed by Hanoi intellectuals in the period of 1910-1930. After that you could choose one out of two options as bellow

Optional choices:

  • Option 1: Visit Tung Sau Pearl Farm area by kayaking
  • Option 2: Visit Me Cung cave. Then have an enjoyment Hera Kisses Afternoon Tea Set at Lotus lounge

Have a Happy Hour promotion with Buy One Get One Free (applied for House wine, Long drinks, beers, Soft drinks and cocktails)

Evening activities:

Around 19.00pm Dinner with A La Carte menu menu followed personalized care – Floating village theme. Exclusive services: Concierge Level Guests on upper deck: Personalized meals, personal butler, personal chef and served whenever/wherever is convenient

Participate in night activities, including squid fishing, board games, or socializing. Overnight on Hera Cruise

Origin Vietnam Pin Location

Day 7: Ha Long Bay - Back Hanoi. O/n In Ha Noi (B/L)

Morning activities:

Start your new day with Tai Chi class on the sundeck (Wake –up Call request is also available at the reception). Have a healthful breakfast with beneficial juices and detox drinks served by organic and local ingredients at Iris restaurant. Continue the bay journey discovery as options for choice:

Option1: Visit Sung Sot cave, the biggest and the most beautiful cave in Ha Long bay with 720 steps for enjoyment and discover the cave (hiking shoes or sandals are highly recommended)

Option 2: Visit Ti Top Island for hiking up 427 steps to the summit and swimming on the bay, towels are available for your use.

Check-out time around 9.00 am (Special remark: If you have any heavy luggage just put outside of your cabins & settles your bills at the reception counter). Full brunch buffet followed Vietnamese typical countryside markets theme while cruising back to Tuan Chau Marine. Disembark Hera vessel at 11.00 am

Afternoon & evening activities

Transfer back to Hanoi on private car on highway and spend again 2.5 hours for back Hanoi city. Experience Luxury cruise service in Halong Bay with Hera Cruise. Beside varied islands, caves, site and also some exciting sea activities. Hope you enjoy the cruise trip very much.

Evening is your free time to experience around Hanoi as your own enjoyment wth local street foods to be a local people tasting. Overnight in Hanoi.

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Day 8: Hanoi City Tour - Flight To Da Nang. O/n In Danang (B/L)

Morning activities:

Discover Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum. Closed by, the famous One Pillar Pagoda which is built of wood on a single stone pillar 1.25 m in diameter. It is designed to resemble a lotus blossom, which is a Buddhist symbol of purity, since a lotus blossoms in a muddy pond.

The mausoleum is the last resting place of Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam’s great revolutionist. It is a symbol of gratitude and respect of Vietnamese people for president Ho Chi Minh. The Ho Chi Minh Museum is the preserver of everything memorable related to Ho Chi Minh.

Continue to visit West Lake, the largest lake of the capital, once was named as “Foggy Lake” from its misty condition. Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda the oldest pagoda in the city, originally constructed in the sixth century during the reign of Emperor Ly Nam De, thus giving it an age of 1,400 years.

Afternoon & evening activities:

Enjoy a set menu lunch at a local restaurant. We visit Ngoc Son Temple which is located at the northern end of Sword Lake From the shore, walking on the Welcoming Morning Sunlight Bridge leads to the island.

Take your time for wandering and exploring the Hanoi 36 Old Quarter Streets .It is an area well-known for the history, the architecture, the enormous amount and diversity of products and even the everyday life of its residents.

Then take a flight to Danang.

On arrival Danang airport, our guide and driver welcome you and transfer you to a resort right on beach for fresh.

Evening is your free time to enjoy the fresh air at resort. Overnight in Danang.

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Day 9: Visit Ba Na Hill With Golden Bridge & Son Tra Peninsular - Hoi An. O/n In Hoi An (B/L)

Morning activities:

Our guide and driver will pick up you at the hotel in Danang. Ba Na Hills is the name you should not leave out from your wish list. With an ideal climate and a diverse set of festive surrounded by European architecture and dotted with beautiful pagodas, Ba Na Hills is one of the most attractive park in the area.

You will be transferred by cable car system which is attraction itself. Looking through the glass door of cable car, the whole Ba Na is covered with a white color like a fancy hidden kingdom.

First we visit the world renowned Golden Bridge, a giant hand shaped bridge which has become the hot tourist trend shown in worldwide channel like BBC or CNN recently. We explore King Peak at an altitude 1,487 m where you can see panorama view of the Bana Hills and Quang Nam – Da Nang on high.

Afternoon activities:

Leave Hoian and travel along beach road, pass by Thuan Phuoc Bridge to explore Son Tra Penninsula , is known as “Monkey Mountain”. Moving around Penninsula to enjoy the scene of whole city. And then visit Linh Ung pagoda. Then transfer to Hoian. In the rest of the day, you have chance to relax in sandy beaches, just chill on the sand and listen to the wave of ocean.

Evening activities:

Evening is the free time for wandering the ancient town to discover its hidden at night with colorful lantern streets, shopping, tailor, narrow paths through the town. Overnight at luxury hotel in Hoian.

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Day 10: Learning Fishing, Farming & Cooking. O/n In Hoi An (B/L)

Morning activities:

Our guide will welcome you at your hotel in Hoi An and take a cyling route to visit Tra Que Vegetable Village which is 3 kms far from the ancient town and enjoy the peaceful beauty of villages in the countryside.

On arrival, you are warmly welcomed with friendly smiles and special drink “E” water or local tea at a local family. Take part in a cooking class with the family, you will be instructed to prepare ingredients and cook Hoi An special dishes and enjoy the lunch.

You will dress in Vietnamese farming clothes, take a short walk visiting organic vegetable gardens and learn to use the traditional gardening tools and methods.

Under the demonstration of the local farmers, you will learn to prepare garden soil, fertilize green manure, plant vegetables and lastly water the vegetables to finish the planting procedure. Back to the family’s house and soak your feet in Vietnamese herbs to relax after the interesting experience of gardening. Have lunch with the dishes you cooked and some prepared from the family

Afternoon & evening activities:

This afternoon our guide takes you to Bay Mau water coconut forest which was an revolutionary base area of Hoi An in the past, take a row of basket boat to enjoy the tranquil atmosphere and use special fishing tools to fish field crab.

And then you will be on a boat to learn fishing under the instruction of the local fisherman. Especially, you will practice by yourselves how to throw net into the river and catch fish.

Transfer back to your hotel .

Evening is more time for free wander, enjoy local street foods to experience as well as taste as much as possible. Overnight in Hoian

Origin Vietnam Pin Location

Day 11: Visit Marble Mountain - Cham Museum - Transfer To Hue. O/n In Hue (B/L)

Morning activities:

Our guide and driver will pick up you at the hotel in Hoian and travel to Danang city. Explore Marble Mountain is a cluster of five marble and limestone hills, representing the five elements: Kim (metal), Thuy (water), Moc (wood), Hoa (fire) and Tho (earth). During the road trip, you could explore the Water mountain by elevator or staircase and find yourself lost in the mysterious air of Huyen Khong Cave.

A must-see stop for you in Danang, not only for sightseeing, but also for stone craft and sculpture! Visit Cham Museum – The creativeness which base on Champa ancient art.

Afternoon activities:

Have lunch at the restaurant. Transfer to Hue through Hai Van Pass – with the breathtaking pass in Central Vietnam will put you on one of the most memorable and adventurous winding rides.

On the road, you will be admired Lang Co beach and Lap An Lagoon- famous landscapes in Hue. Arrive in Hue. Check in hotel.

Evening activities:

Evening is your own free time to wander around streets to enjoy nightlife as well as for street foods dinner. Have travel to Truong Tien Bridge and enjoy its beauties with Perfume River. Free have your own time and overnight in Hue.

Optional: Hue folk music on boat on Perfume River or Hue Royal Dinner to get more knowledge of royal dishes

Origin Vietnam Pin Location

Day 12: Cycling Hue City Tour. O/n In Hue (B/L)

Morning activities:

After breakfast, our guide and driver will pick up you at your hotel. And then start cycling to Hue citadel and Imperial city. It will give you a different feeling in North bank of Hue city where mainly have house with garden inside the Imperial City.

Ride bicycle along small road to reach Bach Yen River and along this road river side to reach tranquil villages to get daily life, rice fields in Truc Lam village. Visit small Luu Bao village where has traditional Luu Bao craft village of steamed rice pancakes and griddle. The village lies along Bach Yen Stream, a branch of Huong River. Have lunch at a local family to taste the real life

Afternoon activities:

Continue to visit Huyen Khong Pagoda for learn more of religion in Hue city. Cycle back along Perfumed river to return city centre and view the nice scenery of sunset over the river and Truong Tien Bridge.

Evening activities:

Have more free time in the evening to enjoy as your own way in Hue city. Free have your own dinner. Overnight in Hue.

Origin Vietnam Pin Location

Day 13: Hue - Take Flight To Ho Chi Minh City & Visit Cu Chi Tunnel. O/n In Ho Chi Minh City (B/L)

Morning activities:

Have breakfast at hotel. Then our driver will pick up you at hotel in Hue and transfer to Phu Bai Airport for taking flight to Ho Chi Minh City.

On arrival Tan Son Nhat Domestic Airport, our guide and driver pick up and tranfer you to downtown. You will have first enjoyment of the busiest Ho Chi Minh city by visting The Independent Palace and Ben Thanh market for experience the trading of local people.

Free to have your own lunch

Afternoon & evening activities:

After lunch, our guide and driver transfer you to visit Cu Chi Tunnels – far 70kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City.

Our guide will show you the structure of Cu Chi Tunnels system with 200 km-long network that was built over 2 decades and used as an army base during the Vietnamese-American War.

You will be amazed at the tunnels with their underground story including trap-door, living areas, storage, weapon factories, clinics, kitchen, command centre, etc. Cu Chi Tunnel is worthy with the name of “Land of the steel.”

The driver takes you back Ho Chi Minh City to check in hotel. Here you will see the hustle and bustle of Vietnamese life everywhere – in the street markets, sidewalk cafes and sleek new restaurants and pubs. Yet within this teeming metropolis are 300 years of timeless traditions and the beauty of an ancient culture.

Free to enjoy your own dinner and wander around District 1 to enjoy night life. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

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Day 14: Ho Chi Minh - Mekong Delta - Ben Tre & Can Tho. O/n In Can Tho (B/L)

Morning activities:

Our guide and driver will pick up you at hotel in Ho Chi Minh and start the trip to Ben Tre – the part of Mekog Delta area.

En route you will visit Vinh Trang pagoda to get more beauties of this special pagoda and architecture

Welcome at Hung Vuong boat station where you take the boat on the Ben Tre river to visit the coconut candy workshop – specialty of native coconut and can enjoy the delicious coconut candies.

Afterward you continue your walk to visit the bricks – kiln to see how to make bricks by local people’s handy methods

And then you go on the cruising on the river and have a relaxing on boat as well as have a sightseeing at local people’s daily activities on the river. This is the great time for you to enjoy and feel the daily life of the people at riverside.

Stopover at the coconut’s gardens where you can pick up and enjoy coconut water and tropical fruit.

Next you take crowing-boat along palm creek. Get on the Lambro or motor-card on the village road with the vast garden of coconuts, grapefruit and coca. Have the lunch with featured dishes of Mekong River region at the garden restaurant.

Afternoon & evening activities:

You walk back the boat station and take boat trip along Ba Lai legend river with the coconut’s stretches to see how local people fishing on the river.

Continue on the boat to return Hung Vuong boat station where the driver is waiting you to transfer back Ho Chi Minh City.

Get on the car and travel ahead to Can Tho and you have more chance to pass through the beautiful Mekong Delta area with different provinces and see fruit gardens, rivers, etc

Check in hotel on arrival Can Tho.

Evening is your free time to have dinner as well as enjoyment night life of Can Tho City. Overnight in Can Tho.

Origin Vietnam Pin Location

Day 15: Visit Cai Rang Floating Market & Back To Ho Chi Minh. O/n In Ho Chi Minh City (B/L)

Morning activities:

After breakfast, you will board on boat and travel for about 40 minutes to get to Cai Rang Floating Market. In here you will have chance to board a merchant boat that sells pineapple which comes from Can Tho city. Afer that, we continue to visit noodle and a rice paper factories or Ca Cao Muoi Cuong Garden for more experience

Afternoon & evening activities:

Have lunch at the restaurant and get back to Can Tho. End the tour at downtown Can Tho. You can take some beautiful picture at an interesting point to rest on the way back Ho Chi Minh City.

Free wander in the evening for more experience or can have Saigon River cruise for dinner to enjoy the beauties of city at night from the river boat. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Origin Vietnam Pin Location

Day 16: Ho Chi Minh City Tour & Departure (B)

Morning activities:

Have breakfast at hotel. This morning, you will take a half-day city tour our guide and driver will transfer to you go on visiting Bitexco Tower and view the whole panorama of Ho Chi Minh city, Notre Dame Catholic and The Old Post Office to learn more about a part of Vietnam history in the war between Vietnam and America. And then go for shopping at Tan Binh Market – the central market for the city and one of the liveliest areas. Have lunch at the restaurant

Afternoon activities:

Depend on your flight time, our guide and driver drops you off the Tan Son Nhat International Airport for taking Flight back home. End the tour. Thank you for using our service tour and hope you have wonderful memories with Origin Vietnam.

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Inclusions

  • PRIVATE door to door transport (new vehicle) with air-conditioned
  • Experience English speaking guide
  • Meals as mentioned above (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D = Dinner)
  • Homestay (Note: Stilt house for homestay is standard, it is a share with has the curtain to separate each mattress, share bathroom together. However, it is clean and safe for stay)
  • Great Hotel 5 star (2 people share 1 room) with breakfast at hotel
  • Morning room for shower after a night on train in Lao Cai and Hanoi
  • Luxury Round way train ticket Hanoi – Lao Cai – Hanoi
  • Hera Cruise luxury 5 star and overnight on cruise
  • Entrance fees, Permission
  • Local rowing boat in Trang An, Van Long, Mekong Delta
  • Bicycle in Hue city
  • Domestic flight Hanoi – Danang and Hue – Ho Chi Minh
  • Mineral water daily 2 bottle 500ml/per day
  • 24/7 hotline support guaranteed
  • Bank fees if payment by credit card
  • Gov tax and service charge
  • No extra charge after final confirmation

Exclusions

  • International Air Fare in & out Vietnam if any
  • Additional sightseeing or extra usage of vehicle
  • Other than mentioned in the itinerary
  • Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, soft & hard drinks
  • Meals not mentioned in the program
  • Tips are welcomed!
  • Travel Insurance
Ms Angela

Ms Angela

Ms Lucy

Ms Lucy

Ms. Angela & Ms. Lucy is our experts for this itinerary and as seasoned travellers she has the inside track on the most memorable adventures.

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