Itinerary prepared by Mr. Andrew Nguyen – for our January 21 day trip

O/N in HCMC

Overnight in Vung Tau.

After breakfast at your hotel. Visit the White Villa, the fishing village located behind the hills and the former area known as “Flags” then visit the back beach, although nothing remains of the Peter Badcoe Club or 1 ALSG you can visit the beach, now a Vietnamese favorite, and take a dip in the South China Sea. You will also visit the massive VC Memorial located where 1 ALSG once was

Lunch at a local restaurant and then transferred back to Saigon.

O/N in Saigon

Location: Dong Tam Snake-Breeding Farm is 12km from Mytho City, Tien Giang Province. Characteristics: The snake farm is a center for breeding snakes producing venom for exportation. Dong Tam is medicinal plant cultivation and the study and treatment of snake-bite. There is a snake-breeding zone with dozens of species to feed or even to play with. There are also crocodiles and other species of birds and animals on hand.

Stop at Binh Hoa Phuoc Island and see the delta's second most famous produce after rice, tropical fruits. Stroll through the orchids on the islands, which grow such fruits as Longan, Sapodilla, and Durian whilst also sampling these exotic fruits. Enjoy lunch on Binh Hoa Phuoc Island and sample the local delicacy Elephant Ear Fish. Take a look also at the local brick kilns and brick production which is popular in this area where more and more houses are now made of brick. Your car will be ready at Vinh Long, on the side of Mekong to take you to the Can Tho city where you will spend the night.

After breakfast take an early departure to see Cai Rang floating market, perhaps the most colorful, bustling and unique of all the markets in Vietnam. See the larger boats in the market, each selling mostly one produce to the local people, the sight makes a feast for the eyes. Depart the floating market by boat to Cai Rang Be canal. Stop at one of the local houses to visit their orchard and taste their delicious tropical fruit. Afterwards start your drive back to Ho Chi Minh City with lunch in route, arrival time around 1700.

Overnight in HCMC.

Breakfast at your hotel then free at leisure until 13:30, transferred to Saigon airport to take your flight to Nhatrang, VN 454 departing Saigon at 15 :00, arriving Nhatrang at 15 :55. On arrival at Nhatrang, met and transferred to your hotel. O/N in Nhatrang

Overnight in Nha Trang.

Breakfast at your hotel This day, you are free at leisure to visit the beach town or relax on the beach.

O/N in Nhatrang

Breakfast at your hotel, free at leisure until 10:00, transferred to Cam Ranh airport to take your flight to Danang, VN 336 11:55-13:10 On arrival at Danang airport, met and transferred a local restaurant for lunch. After lunch, visit Cham museum, marble mountain, China beach on the way to Hoian town.

O/N in Hoian town

Breakfast at your hotel. Hoi An was a major Asian trading port in the 17th and 18th centuries and its architecture and relaxed lifestyle has changed little over the years. Take a walking tour of the ancient town centre to visit former merchants’ houses, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, a Chinese communal hall and the colorful market. Lunch at local restaurant in Hoian In the afternoon take a 3-hour cruise on the Thu Bon River with stops at Thanh Ha pottery village, Kim Bong carpenters’ village and the shipbuilding yard. Overnight in Hoi An.

Breakfast at your hotel Leave for Hue by road Hue via the scenic fishing village of Lang Co and the Pass of Ocean Clouds – Hai Van pass. Arrival at Hue, check in at your hotel. Have lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the Imperial Citadel from where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. Board a cyclo and ride for an hour and thirty minutes and explore some of the least-known parts of the Hue Imperial Citadel. Along the way, you take a look at the royal lake and the citadel moat that surrounds the wall. Today, on top of this 27-meter large wall, the locals have created vegetable gardens where you may meet someone who will reveal to you some of the ingredients that make Hue cuisine so famous. In the premises of the citadel fortification, bunkers dating back from the Vietnam War time contrast with the peacefulness of the local houses sheltered away from the bustling city.

O/N in Hue

Breakfast at your hotel.

The morning involves a boat trip on the romantically named Perfume River for visits to Hue’s best-known religious site, Thien Mu Pagoda, and the mausoleum of former emperor Minh Mang, in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes. In the afternoon visit the elaborate mausoleums of emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh. In mid-afternoon leave the center of Hue and its historic buildings for a visit through the rice plantations and the bucolic Vietnamese countryside to the Thanh Toan Village, located eight kilometers away. The village shelters a covered bridge dating back more than two centuries; offered to the villagers by the wife of a high ranking Mandarin. Continue along the river with its banks dotted with temples. At the edge of the river banks the mothers wash their linen while their children are biking back home from school, many who will be astonished to see Westerners lost in this corner of countryside.

O/N in Hue

Breakfast at your hotel, free at leisure till 12:20 transferred to Hue airport to take the flight to Hanoi, VN 244 13:50-15:00 On arrival at Hanoi, met and transferred to your hotel.

O/N in Hanoi

08.00 departure. For the start of the tour journey to Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum. Enjoy the architectural and historical aspects of ‘ Uncle Ho’s’ final resting-place. Just next door is Ho Chi Minh’s ‘house on stilts’, his home from 1954 till 1969 the wooden ethnic minority style house is surrounded by quiet and peaceful gardens. Lying to one side of the Mausoleum is the One Pillar Pagoda, founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049 the structure has become an important symbol for the people of Hanoi. The National Fine Arts Museum, located in colonial France’s former Ministry of Information has an eclectic mix of contemporary Vietnamese art, religious pieces, lacquer-ware and sculptures. Journey to The Temple Of Literature. Vietnam’s first university constructed in 1070, it’s gardens and well preserved architecture offers a relaxing glimpse into Vietnam’s past. For lunch, enjoy traditional Vietnamese food in a converted colonial villa. Following lunch, visit the Buddhist Tran Quoc Pagoda on West Lake (one of the oldest in Vietnam) and Quan Thanh Temple (Taoist, dating form the Ly Dynasty). Visit Ethnology Museum for a closer view of Vietnam people. Journey back to the centre of town for a Cyclo ride around Hanoi’s old streets. Relax as you weave through the narrow alleys of Hanoi s ancient Old Quarter, glimpsing Hanoi s everyday life. We will take you past Hoan Kiem Lake, see the peaceful waters, at the northern end stop and visit Ngoc Son Temple, perfect for photo opportunities! Finish the day with Vietnam’s most famous and charming art form, Water Puppetry. Have dinner at local restaurant in Hanoi.

O/N in Hanoi

O/N on the train.

Overnight in Sapa town.

Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Free time to explore at your own pace Sapa Town and the surrounding area, take a look at the colorful mix of hill tribes in the towns Sunday market. At 19.00 your vehicle will be waiting for you at your hotel for the drive down to Lao Cai Town. The train back to Hanoi departs at 21.15.

Can Cau market is located in a very scenic valley, with no structures in sight other than the bamboo, thatch, and plastic tarp stalls, and many of the H’mong had walked a full day to reach the market with their goods. This is the local market which takes place only on Saturday every week, still retains the local quaint, and authentic being of the main tourist route. The areas is close to China border and in a hidden place, less visitors come here. - horses, dogs, cat, pigs and textiles .... all on sales! This is one of the most amazing markets you've ever seen

O/N on the train

On arrival at Hanoi railways station at early in the morning, met by our driver then the driver will take you to a local restaurant in Hanoi for your breakfast, “pho” (noodle) maybe your choice or have breakfast at a restaurant en-route to Halong Enjoy 3.5-hour drive to Halong City, along the way you will pass through the Red River Delta Region. Arrive in Halong City late morning and board your traditional junk for the overnight journey into the Bay. En route a seafood lunch will be served. Stop off and visit Hang Sung Sot, one of the largest and most beautiful caves in Ha Long Bay which is composed of three limestone karst chambers. Following cruise by rock formations with such names as Sail, Dog and Dinh Huong (incense pot). Towards the end of the afternoon journey onwards to Titov Beach where the boat will set anchor for the night, the stunning setting of this cove is the ideal spot to take a swim. Dinner will be served on board. Overnight on the junk.

Following breakfast the boat will depart for Man's Head Island, Tortoise Island and Bai Tho Mountain. After visit Hang Luon, a beautiful crater like lagoon encircled by towering cliffs which is only accessed via a half submerged 30m tunnel cave. Before noon start to cruise back to Halong City, en route enjoy another tasty seafood meal. Arrive back in Hanoi in the late afternoon.

O/N at your hotel in Hanoi.

Breakfast at your hotel.

08:00, transferred to Hanoi airport to take your departure flight, CX 790 departing Hanoi at 11:05.