Vietnam Authentic Experience 18 days

Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi (D)
You will be warmly welcomed upon arrival Hanoi airport and transferred to your hotel.

Dinner at local restaurant and an overnight stay in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi city tour (B/L)
This full day tour will take you around Hanoi's most interesting sights, including the Ho Chi Minh Complex, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and his Stilts House, the Presidential Palace, the One Pillar Pagoda nearby and the Old Quarter, known for its maze of 36 streets and former craft guilds.

Also on the tour, you'll visit the Temple of Literature, find the Lake of the Restored Sword, Ngoc Son Temple and Ethnology Museum and enjoy a water puppet performance. Ovenright in Hanoi.

Day 3: Hanoi – Mai Chau Village (B/L/D)
8:00 AM – pick up from your hotel. On the morning drive to Mai Chau, we'll leave the city behind and pass through craggy, mountainous landscape. We drive up a massive pass and end in the mountainous circus of Mai Chau around noon time. Lunch will be served in Mai Chau Ecolodge.

In the afternoon, we’ll have a small walk around Mai Chau valley before getting a quick transfer to a small remote village of Mai Hich. Weather permits there’s a chance for a small cycling around the green village. Afterwards, we return for dinner and overnight in Mai Chau Ecolodge.

Day 4: Pom Coong Village – Pu Luong nature Reserve (B/L/D)
Following breakfast you begin a soft trek in this beautiful valley, going from one village to another and have a chance to get in touch with local villagers going about their daily business tilling the fields, logging or herding the buffalo. Driver will meet you at Lac village for transfer to Pu Luong Nature Reserve.

You enter Pu Luong Nature Reserve by road via a breathtaking mountain pass giving you a panoramic view of the whole valley. You arrive at your accommodation in time for a delicious lunch, followed by free time to explore the beautiful retreat, with its captivating panoramic views and tranquil setting.

PM: You will be transffed to a suspension bridge over the Cham River, where you begin your walk in search of stunning water wheels. Get up close to each wheel and discover how water is moved from river to handmade bamboo aqueducts via simple constructions of all sizes.

Arriving at a local fisherman’s house, you have a short rest to gear up for the bamboo river rafting with Dinh and his team. Float along the calm river and enjoy the views, in between learning how to paddle and steer your handcrafted rafts.

Arriving at scenic Tan Lap bridge, you disembark to be transferred back to Pu Luong Retreat for dinner.

Day 5: Pu Luong Nature Reserve Trekking (B/L/D)
Enthralling trekking routes | 19 km easy walking – 6 hours

AM: Start early to descend into the beautiful valley facing the Retreat where you walk around tumbling rice terraces. Trek through small paths shrouded in vegetation to slowly reveal a picturesque village sitting at the base of a towering mountain.Your camera will not be able to sit still!

Continuing to the base of the valley, you weave between roads and farmland, villages and wild fields, ponds and rivers, mountains and open land. Savour the ever-changing scenery as you trek to a beautiful spot to enjoy a simple picnic lunch.

PM: After enjoying delicious food, you have free time to explore the refreshing water to the nearby river, before moving to our pick up point to be transferred back to the Retreat. Overnight in Pu Luong Retreat.

Day 6: Puluong - Tam Coc & Hoa Lu (B/L/D)
After breakfast at Pu Luong Retreat, you will leave Pu Luong for Ninh Binh to continue on your journey to visit the ancient capital of Hoa Lu – the capital of Vietnam in the 10th century, admire the architecture of the two temples dedicated to the kings of the Dinh and Le dynasties. Then, hop aboard a sampan boat to explore Tam Coc grottoes (Halong bay on land), enjoy the spectacular scenery whilst gliding along the river amongst rice paddies and ranges of the limestone mountains that tower above (2 hrs). You can cycling around paddie field and Tam Coc area. Overnight in Ninh Binh.

Day 7: Ninh Binh – Halong Bay (B/L/D)
After breakfast Tam Coc Garden. You will be transferred to Halong and arrive the jetty around 12:15 p.m.

Upon arrival, you will set out on a junk cruise on the bay while lunch is served. You will pass through the magical bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waves like dragons' teeth. After lunch, you will take a short trek to a nearby summit for a panoramic view of the bay, swimming on a quiet beach or sunbathing on the sundeck.

In the late afternoon, you will visit an interesting fishing village with an opportunity to interact with fishermen who have been living in the bay for almost three generations. At sunset, you can kayak or simply take a bamboo row boat to discover a water tunnel with many coral reefs in a scenic lagoon. Back on board, you can enjoy watching the peaceful sunset and later unwind at a restaurant. You will stay overnight onboard.

Day 8: Halong Bay - Hanoi and Hanoi Foodies Tour (B/Brunch/D)
You’ll wake up on the bay to the sounds of waves and birds welcoming the new day. You will have an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay and after breakfast, visit a beautiful limestone grotto.  You will have a walk back to the boat for a final glimpse of Halong Bay while cruising back to the dock. Then you will drive back to Hanoi and stay overnight.

At 06 pm: you will Foodies Tour in the evening, you will have a great chance to enjoy special food on street of Hanoi old quarter, you have time to drink local Hanoi beer and wine.

Ovenight in Hanoi.

Day 9: Hanoi – Hue (B)
Enjoy breakfast at hotel. You will transfer to the airport for your noon flight to Hue. Upon arrival at Phu Bai Airport you will be transferred directly to your hotel. In the afternoon you will embark on a tour of the city, including the Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City, the Imperial Museum and Phu Cam conical hat village .You will stay overnight in Hue.

Day 10:Hue - Danang - Hoi An (B/L)
After breakfast at hotel, you will board a private traditional boat for a cruise on the romantic Perfume River. Being the ancient capital, Hue is surrounded by ancient tombs of past emperors, some of which will be on the itinerary for the day. The charming Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda) will be the first stop of the day and is located at the convergence of rivers, which makes it an ideal place for a great view of the Perfume River and surrounding area. And visit Minh Mang & King Tu Duc's tomb.

After lunch at local restaurant. you will leave the UNESCO-designated World Heritage Hue for Hoi An. You will travel over the Hai Van pass to have a overlook Lang Co Beach, stop in Danang for a visit to the Cham Museum and handicraft villages on the foot of Marble Mountain before arriving in Hoi An. Once in Hoi An, you will check into our hotel. Free at leisure in Hoi An.

Day 11: Hoi An Green bamboo cooking Class & Ancient City Tour (B/L)
Have breakfast at your hotel,   you will have chance to discover Hoi An Cuisine and pratice to cook. Start the tour at 8:00 A.m , you first go to the market to choose fresh ingredients. You

are guided by chef to cook. You enjoy a delicious feast of the dishes you created, and

get to take a copy of the recipes home with you. The tour will ends at 3:30 P.M.

In the afternoon, you will enjoy a half day walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter, visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, the Chinese Assembly Halls, the 200 year old Tam Ky ancestral house, and the Japanese Bridge. And overnight in Hoi An.

Day 12:Hoi An – Danang – Saigon & Half Day City (B/L)
After breakfast at hotel, you are free to enjoy your free time until transfer to the airport for your onward flight to Ho Chi Minh Ciyt. Upon arrival HCMC, you will be transferred to hotel for check in.

After lunch. you will embark on a city tour of Saigon, including the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Post Office, the War Remnants Museum and bustling Ben Thanh Market. And overnight in HCMC.

Day 13: HCMC – Mekong Delta Excursion (B/L)
Ben Tre is the best option for a day trip to the Mekong Delta from Saigon, since it is only around 2 hours away, and 15 minutes from My Tho. However, this wonderful destination retains an authenticity which has been somewhat lessened in nearby My Tho.

This picturesque and friendly Mekong Delta town has historically seen very few travelers, but the recent opening of a bridge connecting Ben Tre and My Tho has made it far easier for day trippers to visit from Saigon.

Our one day cruise excursion starts at 8:00 am from the lobby of your hotel in Saigon with a drive to Ben Tre. While there, you can take a walk along the waterfront, lined with French era shops and houses, and you'll see plenty of coconuts being unloaded from boats for dispatch around the country. Then, jump on a boat for a couple of hours of cruising on the Mekong River. You will enjoy your delicious lunch at a local restaurant or on board. The excursion will end at around 4:00pm where the vehicle will await you for your transfer back to Saigon.

Day 14:Saigon – Cu Chi Tunnel – Phu Quoc Island (B)
After breakfast at hotel, you will drive to the Cu Chi Tunnels, which consist of more than 200 km of underground tunnels. This main axis system has many branches connecting to underground hideouts, shelters, and entrances to other tunnels. The network included innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens. Today the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience and a feel of what underground life was like during the U.S.-Vietnam War.

In the afternoon, you will be transferred to airport for flight to Phu Quoc. Upon arrival Phu Quoc, you will be greeted and transfer to hotel for check in and you are free at leisure. Overnight in Phu Quoc.

Day 15:Phu Quoc Island & Free at leisure (B)
Breakfast at hotel

Free at leisure. And Ovenright in Phu Quoc

Day 16:Phu Quoc Island & Free at leisure (B)
Breakfast at hotel

Free at leisure. And Ovenright in Phu Quoc

Day 17:Phu Quoc Island - HCMC & Dinner Cruises (B/D)
Breakfast at hotel then you will be dropped off at the airport for your flight back to Ho Chi Minh.

Up on arrive in Ho Chi Minh, our driver will pick you up and take you to hotel for check in.

At 6:30 P.M, our guide and driver will pick you up for your dinner on Sai Gon river cruise.

Day 18: Ho Chi Minh - Departure (B)
There is no activity planned for today so you are free to enjoy your free time souvenir shopping until transfer to the airport for your onward flight.