WEATHER IN HALONG BAY

• Upon arrival at Hanoi airport, Vietnam. You will be welcomed in Vietnam by your private guide and private car, transferred to your hotel. Take time to check in and a little time to rest at the hotel.
• A first lunch in Vietnam, before you have a first impression for Hanoi old quarter. The experience is an afternoon cyclo visiting and exploring the old town “36 streets", which used to be the prosperous commercial center of Hanoi city. Each of the 36 streets used to specialize in a particular trade in which a group of merchants did business. This is reflected in the names of some streets: such as Silk Street, Gold Street, Fish Street, Votive Street, Silver Street. On the narrow ancient streets are attractive old houses and ancient temples, along with souvenir shops with many different items.

Hotel: Lasiesta Premium Hang Be / Deluxe room/ https://lasiestahotels.vn/hangbe/

Inclusion: English speaking tour guide, private car, cyclo, accommodation.

Meals: Lunch.

MORNING IN HANOI:

•  You will enjoy breakfast at the hotel with a cup of coffee.
• 8.00 Am: Car and guide will pick you up at the hotel and start the tour of Hanoi.
• The first impression of a visit is the ancient images of the 900-year-old Temple of Literature, which is Vietnam’s main Confucian sanctuary and Vietnam’s first university.
• Continue to Ba Dinh Square in Soviet style, where President Ho Chi Minh read the nation’s declaration of independence in 1945.
• Continue with a tour of the museum dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh. You will visit the simple and modest house where President Ho Chi Minh worked.
• Continue to the Old Quarter to visit the bustling streets before returning to the hotel to rest and freely explore Hanoi’s Old Quarter.

FREE AFTERNOON IN HANOI:

• Some suggestions for you: You have a free afternoon to freely explore the capital of Vietnam. Stroll around the picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake, watch a water puppet show, go shopping in the Old Quarter or sample some of Hanoi’s delicious dishes.
• Train journey to Lao Cai: You will be booked on the Vic Express. The train will depart from Hanoi this evening around 9.15pm.

Vic Express Night Train: Hanoi to Sapa, sleep on the soft berth of train.

Inclusion: English speaking tour guide, private car, entrance fee, train ticket.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch (Cha Ca)

• 6.00: Arrive at Lao Cai Train station in the early morning. Be picked up by our driver and taken a 01hr drive to Sapa
• 7.00: Leave the luggage and take a shower in hotel then enjoy breakfast in Aira restaurant. Strolling around the town to fresh up and make friend with friendly locals.
• 9.30: Start trekking to Lao Chai and Ta Van villages down in Muong Hoa valley. Enjoy the spectacular views of the beautiful valley towards Fansipan – the highest peak of Vietnam and Indochina. Trek through the villages of Black H’mong ethnic minority to learn the way people weaving and embroidering their clothes. Have a break in a local restaurant for lunch then keep going down to enjoy colourful rice paddy fields and reach Ta Van village where the Dzay ethnic people inhabited.
• 15.30: Be picked up by private car to get back to Sapa for checking-in. The rest of the day will be at your leisure to discover the town (Dragon Mount, Orchid garden, the market…)

Hotel: Hotel De Sapa with Deluxe Window room

Inclusion: English speaking tour guide, private car, entrance fee, accommodation in Sapa

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

• 9.30: After breakfast in the hotel, start visiting Cat Cat and Sin Chai villages. Trek through lush rice terraces towards villages, experience Black H’mong people’s daily life and traditional culture. Then back to Hotel.
• 14.00: Take a drive to Ta Phin village (12km from Sapa) where the Red Dzao people live to learn more about the culture, custom and their daily life. Have a good choice of buying woven and textile brocades which are locally hand-made. Pay a visit to one of the local family to experience the true life of the Red Dzao. 
• 17.00: Back to Sapa for a shower then be transferred to Lao Cai city. Enjoy dinner at a restaurant close by the railway station the board a night train back to Hanoi.
• Train journey to Hanoi: You will be booked on the Vic Express. The train will depart from Lao Cai this evening around 21:40 pm, and will arrive in Hanoi at around 5.30am the following morning.

Vic Express Night Train: Lao Cai to Hanoi, sleep on the soft berth of train.

Inclusion: English speaking tour guide, private car, entrance fee, train ticket.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Diner.

• Take a shower and rest: The train will arrive in Hanoi early in the morning around 5:30 AM. The tour guide will pick you up at the train station and take you to a small hotel to shower and have breakfast before going to Ha Long Bay.
• 08:20 – 08:45: Tour guide & driver will pick up you for transferring to Halong Bay.
• 11:30: Arrive to Waiting Lounge at Indochina Junk office, take rest at the Waiting Lounge before transferring to Cruise.
• 11:50 – 12:15: Go to the harbor by a Electric Cart
• 12:30 – 13:00: Welcome to Dragon Legend Cruise. Cruise begins with welcome drink and safety briefing.
• 13:15 : Have lunch while cruising to magnificent Bai Tu Long Bay; admire the fascinating formations on the way.
• 14:30: Explore the well- hidden Thien Canh Son Cave.
• 15:00: Enjoy relaxing on a white sandy beach at Hon Co Island and kayaking.
• 16:15: Back to the boat for refreshing and watch the sunset on board. 
• 17:15: Join a Vietnamese cuisine cooking class (Banh Xeo). 
• 19:00: Take a rest and enjoy dinner in a peaceful and romantic atmosphere on the bay. 
• 20:00 – 21:00: Leisure time, guests can experience squid fishing, and have a good night on Dragon Legend Cruise. 

Cruise: Dragon Legend Cruise / Cabin Deluxe/ Website:www.dragonlegendcruise.com

Inclusion: English speaking tour guide, private car, entrance fee, Dragon Legend cruise, kayaking, mini hotel for early morning train arrival from Lao Cai to Hanoi.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner on cruise.

• 06:00: Start a new day with a Tai Chi demonstration on the sundeck.
• 07:00 – 07:15: Breakfast is served on the cruise.
• 07:45: Visit Vung Vieng fishing village by a rustic rowboat, meet the local people and pass through the floating school and fish farms.
• 08:45: Return to the cruise for relaxation and leisure.
• 09:45 – 10:00:Check out and enjoy some free time to relax, capture memorable photos as the cruise passes through a stunning limestone island area.
• 10:15: Enjoy a buffet while the cruise continues its journey on the bay.
• 11:30 – 12:00: The cruise returns to the International Port of Ha Long. Drive to Yen Duc village in Dong Trieu province for a short break in this typical Vietnamese agricultural village which is rich in culture and traditions.
• Transferring to the airport for your onward flight to Hue.
• Flight: VN1545 Hanoi – Hue 4:30 PM – 5: 50 PM.
• Private transfer: On arrival in Hue, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel to check in.

Cruise: Emm Hotel / Deluxe / Website: https://www.emmhotels.com/en/hotels/emm-hotel-hue/

Inclusion: English speaking tour guide, private car, entrance fee, flight tickets.

Meals: Breakfast, buffet brunch on cruise.

MORNING IMPERIAL CITY:

• 08:00: Our private car and tour guide will pick you up at hotel in Hue City. You will join the 1-day Hue city tour to explore the beautiful ancient city of Hue.
• The first experience is that we will take a dragon boat to visit the first place, Thien Mu Pagoda that the oldest pagoda in Hue city. When you move on the river, the beautiful, peaceful scenery on both sides of the river dissolves in the fresh air, making you feel very comfortable and have rare moments of relaxation.
• 9:30 am: Visit the Imperial Citadel – The ancient capital was the residence of the last royal dynasty of Vietnam  – Nguyen Dynasty.
• After the visit to the Citadel, we will move to Dong Ba market – the most famous and busiest market in Hue with many types of food and goods. You will understand a bit about how small traders in Central Vietnam do business?
• 12:00: Enjoy a meal at a local restaurant with Hue porcelain dishes

IN THE AFTERNOON:

• 1:30 PM: Visit Khai Dinh Tomb – a place that combines Western and Eastern architecture
• 15:00 PM: Visit Minh Mang Tomb – considered the most majestic of the Royal tombs. Famous for its architecture that blends harmoniously with the surrounding nature.
• 04:30 PM: Return the hotel to rest and freely explore Hue city.

Hotel: Emm Hotel with Deluxe Window room

Inclusion: English speaking tour guide, private car, entrance fee, boat trip.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

• You have breakfast at the hotel, then you have time to rest and explore Hue city on your own in the morning.
• Private car and guide will pick you up at the hotel and start moving to Hoi An.
• You will drive south of Hue, along National Highway 1, to Hoi An, a journey of about three hours.
• You will pass through Hai Van Pass (which means May Duong Pass). There are some spectacular viewpoints and photo opportunities along the way as the Truong Son range cuts across the narrow center of the country.
• On the way through the port city of Da Nang with the option to stop to see the famous ‘Da Nang Beach’ and Marble Mountain before continuing south to Hoi An.
• You arrive in Hoi An, a small, peaceful ancient city. You will check in to the hotel and rest.

Hotel: La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa – Deluxe Balcony.

Inclusion: English speaking tour guide, private car, entrance fee,

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

• You will be picked up by local tour guides at the hotel.
• You will be driven to Hoi An Market (around half an hour), you can feel the bustle of the morning market, have an opportunity to have a direct contact with sellers. You might also learn some tips of “bargaining” when going shopping. Our tour guides will introduce to you the necessary ingredients for cooking classes.

• Then you will have a sightseeing tour along the Thu Bon River and Cua Dai beach by boat. On the river, you have a chance to contemplate the river beauty in the countryside of Vietnam, the traditional way of catching fish as well as the lives of the hospitable fishermen here.
• Next, you will be switched to a coracle and paddle on the canals of the Bay Mau nipa forest. You will be immersed in the natural beauty of the nipa palm forest. Then, you can try your luck at catching mangrove purple crabs.
• After such eco-tour activities, you will be welcomed in the restaurant and participate in cooking classes with our chefs. Cooking classes will take place within 2 hours, the chefs will teach you how to cook Vietnamese food and share valuable information in Vietnamese cultural cuisine. Then can enjoy Vietnamese food made by yourself.

Hotel: La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa – Deluxe Balcony.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Inclusion: English speaking tour guide, private car, entrance fee, meals, resort, basket boat, cooking class.

• You have  full day at leisure: You have time to relax. You can spend time to the beach or the Old Town is only a 10-15 minute drive away.
• Suggestions for your own discovery: You can have the opportunity to cycle in some beautiful countryside, visit My Son ruins, discover Hoi An artists or see a tailor making pants shirt.

Hotel: La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa – Deluxe Balcony.

Meals: Breakfast

Inclusion: Resort & breakfast.

• You have your morning coffee at the hotel before our guide and driver come to pick you up for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City in the morning.
• Flight: VN1309 Da Nang – Ho Chi Minh City 09.30 – 10.40. You will be taken to lunch at a restaurant and then have a tour of Ho Chi Minh City.
• Afternoon tour of Saigon: This afternoon visit some historical landmarks of Saigon including the General Post Office in the 1880s and the Presidential Palace, which was formerly the headquarters of the Saigon Government during the “Anti-American War". . Next visit the 19th Notre Dame Cathedral, located in a peaceful turn-of-the-century part of the city, and the War Remnants Museum.

Hotel: La Siesta Premium Saigon – Deluxe Window room

Inclusion: English speaking tour guide, private car, entrance fee, flight tickets

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

• Private car and tour guide will pick you up at your hotel and take you to visit the Mekong Delta: We will take a two-hour scenic drive to a lush green area in the middle of the Mekong Delta called is Ben Tre.
• On the way we will stop to visit Vinh Trang Pagoda, an ancient architectural gem of the South. Built in 1849, the structure is a fusion of Asian and European architecture that includes elements from the Renaissance, Romanesque styles, French floral decorations, and Japanese tiles.
• The car will take us to My Tho port. Here, you will board a motorized boat to travel to Ben Tre, where you will visit a small coconut candy factory to get a glimpse of a typical family business in this area. 30 minutes of floating on the waves will take you deeper into the Delta.
• Hop off the boat and stroll around peaceful villages and picturesque orchards until reaching the Fruite Garden to rest. Here you can taste freshly picked fruit at the invitation of friendly local farmers.
• Then enjoy a simple but delicious lunch including Mekong Delta specialties. Then, enjoy an exciting boating trip under the shade of nipa palm trees along idyllic small canals. In the middle of the afternoon, we said goodbye to the crew and continued on our way to Can Tho, a journey of about two hours.

Hotel: Victoria Can Tho Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Inclusion: English speaking tour guide, private car, entrance fee, boat trip & activities in Mekong, hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

• Morning visit to Cai Rang Floating Market: After an early breakfast this morning depart by road to a nearby dock, and board a sampan boat to explore Cai Rang, the largest floating market on the Mekong. The seemingly chaotic gathering is mostly large boats wholesaling vegetables and fruit, but there are also local traders selling groceries to the larger boats. Weave around the vessels and observe the frenzied trading. The morning tour continues with a trip along the small canals, through local villages, to a fruit orchard garden. Then return to hotel for lunch.
• Private transfer: This afternoon you will return to Ho Chi Minh City. This is a journey of around three hours, and on arrival you will check in to your hotel then evening time to discover Saigon (HCM) at night by yourself.

Hotel: La Siesta Premium Saigon – Deluxe Window room

Inclusion: English speaking tour guide, private car, entrance fee, meals, boat trip.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

• Morning tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels: After breakfast travel out of the city to the Cu Chi Tunnels. This vast network of tunnels, stretching for over 150 kilometres, was built by the Viet Cong in the battles for the South. The tunnels are a sobering insight into the dedication of the Viet Cong who virtually lived in the narrow and claustrophobic tunnels whilst the war raged. Nearby, a chilling demonstration of the traps and weapons that were used against the Americans is given. The Cu Chi tunnels have been widened in places for visitors, however they can still be dark, hot and claustrophobic inside so please bear this in mind if you do not like enclosed spaces.
• Afternoon tour of Saigon: This afternoon is free time at your leisure or going arounf Ho Chi Minh City for shopping and buy sourvernirs for your family & friends.
• Private transfer: This evening your guide and driver will transfer you to the airport for your return flight.

Hotel: La Siesta Premium Saigon – Deluxe Window room

Inclusion: English speaking tour guide, private car, entrance fee

Meals: Breakfast.