Authentic Vietnam 12 Days
Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi (D)
At the airport, your guide will welcome you and take you to your hotel to drop off your luggage. Check in to your room at 2pm (earlier depending on availability). To begin your visits to Hanoi, you will visit the Temple of Literature, the site of the oldest university in Hanoi. You will have an hour to make a cyclo-ride in the old city of Hanoi, then you will discover on foot the old quarters of the city with its many streets organized by trades and each bearing the name of a corporation, the surroundings of the lake HoanKiem, where you will visit some markets. Welcome diner at restaurant colonial. Overnight in Hanoi
Day 2: Hanoi - Mai Chau (B,L)
Breakfast at your hotel, welcome by guide at the hotel, you will be taken to the Ho Chi Minh complex which includes the Pillar Unique (dating from the 11th century) and the Mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh (visit outside ). You can also visit the house on stilts built next to the Presidential Palace by Ho Chi Minh. Mai Chau offers a splendid view of the valley which is surrounded by lush greenery and houses on stilts inhabited mainly by the ethnic group of the White Thais.
Arrival at Mai Chau Ecolodge. Welcome drink and hot / cold towel will be served.
Start your trek in Mai Chau around 15:00. Ballade to discover the villages of ethnic minorities like the village of PoomCoong and Lake. Bicycle rental is free of charge. A bicycle ride through country tracks through rice fields will bring you pleasant moments. You can also relax at the large pool at the lodge
Day 3: Mai Chau - Ninh Binh (B,L)
Enjoy the international buffet breakfast at the restaurant.
Start the bike tour to discover the Mai Chau Valley. The tour passes through many villages, through lush rice paddies and into the Vietnam countryside where you can learn more about the life of local tribes and their culture.
In the afternoon transfer to Ninh Binh. Overnight in Ninh Binh.
Day 4: Ninh Binh (B, L)
Begin your visit to Ninh Binh of the itinerary to visit 2 temples of Hoa Lu, dating from the 11th century, and dedicated to the ancient kings Dinh and Le. These temples are surrounded by beautiful hibiscus gardens, basins with lotus flowers and frangipani flowers spreading a delicate perfume. Continuation by Tam Coc.!A boat awaits you for an unforgettable walk through a beautiful natural landscape. The whole of Trang An caves blends into a primary forest of great diversity in flora and fauna, And which shelters rare animals such as the primate with branch panties, inscribed in the Red Book of Vietnam, or even the phoenix of earth.
Finally, a rowboat will take you to visit the bird garden in the center of the eco-tourism area of ThungNham. ThungNham extends over an area of more than 300ha, a wonderful destination by the harmony between the beauty of the karstic rocks on the transparent waters, that of the caves and especially of several kinds of birds that gather there. At sunset, you will see thousands of birds returning to their nests after a day of searching for food. Here, there are also two kinds of birds that appear in the Red Book of Vietnam. Overnight in Ninh Binh.
Day 5: Ninh Binh - Halong Bay - Bay of Bai Tu Long (B,L,D)
7h30-08h00: Road for Halong Bay - one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.
10:00: Stop on the way for a refreshing break.
12:00: Embark at the Hon Gai wharf.
12:30 pm: Boat cruise on Halong, enjoy a drink and welcome cruise briefing.
13:30: Lunch cruise to Bai Tu Long, admired the fascinating rock formations in the bay.
15:30: Anchor at Cong Do for an hour kayak.
Then for a cruise for your leisure or joining the sunbathing, enjoy swimming in the crystal clear waters.
19:00: Supper dinner is served on board.
21:00: Take time to enjoy chatting at the bar or enjoying the night fishing.
Night on the boat.
Day 6: Bai Tu Long &VungVieng floating village - Hue (B, L)
06h15: Start your day with Tai Chi on the terrace while tea and coffee are served.
07:30: Breakfast and enjoy sunrise over the bay.
09:00: Visit VungVieng village floating in a bamboo boat for an hour or kayak in the village then return to the cruise for your leisure or join sunbathing, playing chess, holding.
10:00 am: Departure and enjoy a fantastic cruise on the bay.
10:30: Lunch during the cruise through Halong Bay at the pier.
11:30 am: Landing at the Hon Gai wharf, time to say goodbye to the crew.
16h00: Arrival in Hanoi. In the evening transfer to the airport for Hanoi-Hue flight. Check-in at the hotel. Free dinner.Overnight at your hotel.
Day 7: Hue - Village Thanh Thuy - group visit (B, L)
At 8 kilometers from the ancient imperial city Hue, there is a small village which still preserves all the charms of the countryside. It is Thanh Thuy, also known for its atypical covered bridge called Thanh Toàn ... and more than 200 years old.
8:00: Pick up at your hotel to downtown Hue- Toa Kham.
8:30 am: Start biking with your guide to Thanh Thuy Village where Thanh Toan Bridge, one of the famous ancient bridges in Vietnam. On the way you will see the rice fields and visit some great temples like Ngo Tran and the Temples.
9h15: Relax and enjoy our welcome drink. Walking / mountain biking around the village, visit the local market for the good - understand the daily life of the people here, Thanh Toan Bridge Roof tile and tools Agricultural museum with many types of tools in the old day when farmers Have used on rice fields.
9.45am: row with the villager on the Nhu Y River to enjoy spectacular scenery and explore how they catch fish using some old tools like fishing trap, net casting ... After observing, you will be experienced With them to catch the fish.
11:00 am: Discover the procedure of duck duck egg hatching. After that, see the activities of the farm.
11:30: Join cooking class with our chef. Learn the traditional methods of preparation and cooking of Vietnamese specialty foods. After the lesson, enjoy what you cooked.
13h30: Return Toa Kham by bike. Then visit the Thiên M p pagoda (Celestial Lady), Free Dinner. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 8: Hue - Hoian (B)
This morning you will discover the ancient imperial capital: the Citadel, the Purple Forbidden City, and the Royal Museum. The Forbidden Purple City testifies to the opulence and grandeur of Hue in the time of the emperors. Thanks to the participation of UNESCO, this site has been faithfully restored to the delight of all. This site was built on the model of the Forbidden City of Beijing and includes many temples and palaces. You will enter the immense gate of the South, then cross the room of the Throne before you find yourself in the enclosure of the City. One of the most interesting parts of this city is the Ancestral Temple, dedicated to deceased Emperors. As is customary in Vietnam, altars are built where each deceased person will be venerated regularly by his family.
Then drive to Hoian on the charming pass of the Cloud Pass, which offers a magnificent panorama of the coastline of the Center, stopping at Langco Beach, one of the most beautiful peninsulas in Vietnam where you can take great pictures On the fishing village. Arrival in Hoian. Check-in at the hotel.
Free dinner.Overnight at your hotel.
Day 9: Hoian (B)
Hoian is a small, quiet town, popular for its eclectic architecture, souvenir shops, numerous tailors and tailors and cafes. In the morning you can do activities at your homestay like cycling, cooking classes, kites ... (everything is included)
In the early afternoon, you will leave with your guide to take a private tour of the city. Visit the streets of the old quarter, Chua Ong Pagoda, Assembly Hall, 200-year-old Tam Ky House, Chinese merchants' houses, and the Japanese covered bridge. The Hall of Assembly PhuocKien, built in 1690, is a site not to be missed. The pagoda which it shelters is dedicated to ThienHau Thanh Mau, goddess of the sea and protector of the sailors. The unofficial emblem of the city is the Japanese covered bridge, 400 years old, which you will see on the road.
Hoian is known as a city of multicolored lanterns, you will learn about the history, meaning and manufacture of different types of lanterns. You will realize it by yourself as a nice souvenir to bring home, this is also a good way to test your skills for manual work and your sense of aestheticism.
Free dinner.Overnight at the hotel.
Day 10: Hoian - Ho Chi Minh City (B)
Depart from Hoian, we take about 60 minutes en route from Hoian to Danang airport. We take the flight in 1 hour to HCMV where you will be directly transferred to your hotel.
We begin to discover the city of Saigon as the Reunification Palace, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Post Office, the War Museum which houses an impressive collection of photographs taken by foreign journalists during the war against the Americans, the pagoda Jade Emperor pagoda, the Ben Thanh Market.
Free dinner.Overnight at the hotel.
Day 11: Mekong - Experiences of the life of the premises (B,L,D)
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the Hiep Duc pier and then driven across Tan Phong Island to Mekong Ecolodge. You will be warmly welcomed by the hospitality and friendliness of the staff. After enjoying a short rest and fresh fruit here, you will take a bike and begin your journey by exploring and participating in activities with local residents on Tan Phong Island.
You will participate in the "ditch fishing" in a small canal and pick vegetables in the garden. After that, you will also join a cooking class, then taste your dinner.
Overnight in Mekong Ecolodge.
Day 12: Tan Phong Island - Ho Chi Minh City (B, L)
After breakfast, first, you will go directly to Mrs. Ut Van to have breakfast with the host. You will be free to lie down on the hammocks under the shadow of starry apple in order to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere there. You will also have experience of going over the monkey bridge which is popular in southwestern Vietnam. Surely, you will have unforgettable memories here. Say goodbye to Mrs. Ut Van, you will continue to visit Ms. Thao to learn to knit the water hyacinth. You can use water hyacinth to knit a beautiful hat for yourself under Ms. Thao's guide.
Finally, you take the bike to Mr. Hai'shome, he is one of the most talented gardeners on Tan Phong Island. When you come there you will have the opportunity to learn to do gardening, such as making the earth softer, watering the trees, feeding fish and also picking fruits. You will savor the fresh fruits that are chosen by yourself, enjoy green tea and talk to Mr. Hai to learn more about the lifestyle of the people on the island. You may have the chance to listen to the traditional song that is sung by Mr. Hai.
Say goodbye to Mr. Hai you go to the Cai Be Market to see some activities to exchange products and understand more about their livelihood. After that, you will be directly transferred to the Cao Dai temple to discover the new religion in Vietnam.
Continue a bike ride to the old house of Mr. Kiet, meet Mr. Thuy to learn how to make leaf cakes I scrape that is known as the specialty on this island. Visit the garden trees, sugar factory and wood factory. Then you will return to Mekong Ecolodge for lunch and departure.
15:00: The staff will take you to the pier, say goodbye and see you next time. Finish the tour.
You will be transferred to Ho Chi Minh, heading for Tan Son Nhat Airport for your departure flight. End of services.
Cam On & Chao Tam Biet.