13 DAY HIGHLIGHTS OF VIETNAM TOUR ITINERARY

DAY 1: ARRIVE IN HANOI

Meals included: N/A I Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Arrive in Hanoi (Noi Bai airport), you will be welcomed and transferred to your hotel in downtown Hanoi for check-in (hotel rooms are available for mid-afternoon check-in). The rest of the day is at your leisure to explore the tree-lined boulevards, French Indochinese architecture and tranquil lakes of this unique city.
Stay overnight in Hanoi.
 

DAY 2: HANOI CITY TOUR  – NIGHT TRAIN TO LAO CAI (40KM FROM SAPA) (B, L)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch I Accommodation: Overnight on train

Our guide & driver will pick you up at your hotel around 08h00 for a full day tour of Hanoi. 

08h30: Visit the sixth century Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda (one of the oldest in Vietnam) located on the picturesque West Lake.
09h00: Continue to visit the One Pillar Pagoda, founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049. This structure is one of Vietnam’s most iconic temples.
Close by is the mausoleum of the historic figure and father of modern Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (viewed from outside; closed on Monday, Friday and during the months of September and October) and the former presidents house on stilts where he lived from 1958 to 1969, his former home illustrates the modesty of this Vietnamese revolutionary.
10h15: Visit the Literature Temple and Quoc Tu Giam – Vietnam’s first university constructed in 1070, it’s gardens and well-preserved architecture offers a relaxing glimpse into Vietnam’s past.
11h15: Visit the Hoa Lo Prison also known as the Hanoi Hilton. Built by the French colonial government in the late 19th century, Hoa Lo Prison Museum was originally used to harbor Vietnamese revolutionaries and any dissidents of the French rule.
 
12h15: Lunch will be had in one of the city’s finest restaurants with local Vietnamese traditional cuisines.
14h00: After lunch and break continue the city tour to Museum of Ethnology, a must for museum fans and history lovers. Hanoi's Vietnam Museum of Ethnology houses the extensive national collection and tells the story of Vietnam's diverse cultures in a series of excellently well-curated exhibits. Alternative you can visit the Fine Art Museum or Women’s Museum instead.
15h00: Head to Hoan Kiem Lake (Restored Sword Lake) and visit Ngoc Son Temple or Jade Mountain Temple, one of the most beautiful and religious site in the capital then a walking tour into the hidden alleys of Hanoi Old Quarter.

Your leisure time until transfer to Hanoi station for a night train to Lao Cai (40km from Sapa town) scheduled to leave at 21h30 (9 hour duration).
Stay overnight in air-conditioned soft sleeper wooden cabin (4 berth compartment or 2 berth compartment on request).
 

DAY 3: LAO CAI – SAPA – TRIBE VILLAGE EXCURSIONS (B, L)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch I Accommodation: Hotel in Sapa town

05h35: Arrive in Lao Cai train station. Welcome by your local guide and driver then take a drive of 40km for over an hour drive uphill to Sapa. This town is a former French hill resort and home to some of Vietnam’s most colorful ethnic groups.
07h00: Arrive at your hotel (hotel rooms are available for mid-afternoon check-in only. Early check-in can be arranged subject to availability on your arrival. Otherwise we will provide you a basic hotel room where you can have shower).

Freshen up and have breakfast. Relax for awhile to get ready for our full day tour. Today requires comfortable walking shoes while the trek is easy.

09h00: Start trekking south towards Muong Hoa Valley, then descend by foot through the largest terraced rice paddy area in the Sapa region. Our walk takes us through the village of Lao Chai, home to the Black Hmong minority, then on to Ta Van village, inhabited by the Giay minority. We have a great opportunity to observe the daily life and traditional hospitality of these people.
12h00: Stop for a rest and have lunch in a local village with local delights. It gives you a worth chance to learn about the local house architecture which is full of their daily life styles and exclusive custom.
After lunch and a relaxing break, gear up for another trek through a bamboo forest to Giang Ta Chai village, a Red Dao ethnic minority village. Take a rest nearby a waterfall to refresh, climb uphill to meet up your driver for your journey back to Sapa town. 
15h00: Arrive at your hotel and check in. Time to relax or wander around the town and visit Sapa ethnic market on your own.

In the evening, you’re free to do as you wish. You can explore the town of Sapa at night.
Stay overnight at hotel in Sapa town.
 

DAY 4: SAPA TREKKING – ROAD TRANSFER TO HANOI (B, L)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch I Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Have breakfast at hotel. 

08h00: Depart for a walk to Cat Cat village locating near the bottom of a deep valley at the foot of Fansipan Peak. Spectacular scenery of mountains and terraced rice paddies changes after every corner as you walk downhill. Getting through Cat Cat village of the Black H’mong, you will pay visiting to some local homes, witnessing their daily life activities and experiencing their hospitability. Continue walking down to the valley bottom, having a break at a stunning waterfall where the French built a hydraulic power station.

Back to Sapa town and have lunch at restaurant. You are free and easy to discover Sapa town on your own until 15h00.
You can enjoy a walk around this charming town, paying visit to Sapa market and the old cathedral where you can meet a lot of local ethnic minority peoples such as Black H’mong and Red Zao wearing their traditional colorful dresses selling their farming and gathering products and handicrafts for souvenir.

15h00 You will be picked up and return to Hanoi by road (approx. 5.5 hour drive) and arrive at your hotel in Hanoi around 21h30.

** You will join our Luxury Limousine - 9 seaters and share with other passengers if your group is less than 9 persons. 

Stay overnight in Hanoi.
 

DAY 5: HANOI  – HALONG BAY, THE WORLD HERITAGE – OVERNIGHT ON BOARD  (B, L, D)

DAY 7: HANOI – FLIGHT TO DA NANG – HOI AN (B, L)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch | Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Have breakfast at hotel and free at leisure until transfer to Hanoi airport for short flight to Danang (1h20min duration). Arrival and transfer to Hoi An charming historic town, a UNESCO World Heritage listed town. As an important trading route during the 15th to 19th centuries, Hoi An is now a unique blend of culture, cuisine and architecture. 

After lunch and break you will explore Hoi An on foot, visiting an old merchant’s home, Hoi An Market, a local Chinese temple and the Japanese Covered Bridge. The bridge was first constructed here in the 1590s by the Japanese community to link them with the Chinese quarters. Over the centuries, the ornamentation has remained relatively faithful to the original Japanese design. The French flattened out the roadway for cars, but the original arched shape was restored in 1986. 
Return to your hotel. Rest of the day is at your leisure to wander through the town or relax at one of the many cafés along the picturesque Thu Bon River. 
Stay overnight in Hoi An.
 

DAY 8: HOI AN FREE DAY (B)

Meals included: Breakfast | Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An
 
The day is left free to relax in this beautiful area. You could take a taxi or make the easy five-kilometre bicycle ride through the rice paddies and shrimp ponds to Cua Dai beach.
Alternatively Hoi An is one of the best places to shop for souvenirs, especially if you’re looking for t-shirts, paintings or ceramics. For those interested in getting clothes tailored, this is definitely the place to shop.
Another good idea is to take a boat trip out to a village specialising in ceramics and boat-building or visit the local farm in Tra Que Village and have a local home cooked meal including a “banh xeo” a specialty savoury (optional – please contact us directly for tour options).
Stay overnight in Hoi An.

Optional Tour: We would like to introdue some tour options to explore the beauty and charm of Hoi An. You can choose one of below options:

Option 1: Discover My Son Holly Land (Half day)
My Son Sanctuary - a collection of Champa ruins nestled amongst the mountains in a geological basin of the Quang Nam province.

Price from 44 USD/ person (for a group of 2 persons. The bigger the group, the bigger the saving)

Option 2: Hoi An Countryside by Jeep and Sunset Cruise on Thu Bon River (15h30-19h00)
Take a journey through picturesque countryside to reach lesser known parts of Hoi An city you will explore the local village and enjoy buffalo riding. Then cruise through the river, witness the river culture, local farming and the other daily activities of the local people. Enjoy our delicious freshly prepared foods on boat and it’s the time for paper lanterns with small lanterns inside twinkle.

Price from 67 USD/person (for a group of 2 persons. The bigger the group, the bigger the saving)

Option 3: Countryside And Cooking – Hoi An Bike Tour (8h15-16h00)
Your gentle cycle tour takes you on the short but beautiful ride through lush farm land, rice fields and small villages to Tra Que  Village. Visit local villagers and see how they use their surrounding resources to craft a living using age old methods. Get on Coracle boat for a journey through the untouched waterways, fringed by river coconut palms.
At Tra Que you will enjoy the village tour to nurseries and herb gardens. Get to know the villagers’ daily working routines, like raking the ground, sowing, watering and picking greens and many more gardening activities. Relax and enjoy a traditional herbal foot massage in the garden before joining a cookery class hosted by the local family.

Price from 67 USD/person (for a group of 2 persons. The bigger the group, the bigger the saving)

Option 4: My Son Sanctuary - Countryside Vespa Tour (07h30-14h30)

Riding pillion on a classic vintage Vespa motorbike to the UNESCO site of My Son. Taking back roads and country laneways passing small villages this tour brings you closer to rural Vietnam on this journey to the ancient site of My Son.

Price from 85 USD/person (for a group of 2 persons. The bigger the group, the bigger the saving)
 

DAY 9: HOI AN FREE DAY (B)

Meals included: Breakfast | Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Free day at leisure – continue exploring the Ancient Quarter or head to the beach/swimming pool for relaxing.

Stay overnight in Hoi An.
 

DAY 10: HOI AN – DANANG – FLIGHT TO HO CHI MINH CITY – HALF DAY CITY TOUR (B)

Meals included: Breakfast | Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

This morning, transfer to Danang airport (30km from Hoi An) for the short flight to dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by the locals (1h20min duration). Upon arrival you will be picked up and transferred through the city to your hotel for check-in. The busy city of Saigon, used to be the capital of South Vietnam, is the biggest commercial and cultural centre of Vietnam. 

In the afternoon embark on a half day tour of Ho Chi Minh City with the first visit to the Reunification Palace; this beautifully preserved palace was the residence of the President of the Republic of Vietnam. On April 30th 1975 the American War officially came to an end here. Afterward, we visit Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, which was built in 1880, and the Old Post Office, which was built sometime between 1886 and 1891. It is one of the best examples of classical French colonial architecture. Continue to the War Remnants Museum where exhibition halls display imagery of both the French and ‘American’ wars.
Our last stop would be at Ben Thanh Market where an incredible display of fresh produce is offered. Simply stroll through the market seeing and enjoying the variety of goods for sale.
Return your hotel. Evening is at leisure.
Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
 

DAY 11: HALF DAY TOUR TO CU CHI TUNNELS – HO CHI MINH CITY (B)

Meals included: Breakfast | Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Morning or afternoon departure depend on your request.

You will be picked up from your hotel and depart Ho Chi Minh City for the drive to Cu Chi district. Leaving the city behind, the scenery changes to views of rice paddies, villagers drying noodles by the side of the road and other scenes typical to southern Vietnam.
Arrive and start the visit of the famous Cu Chi Tunnels which consist of an incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters (Viet Cong) during both the French and American wars. Start the visit with the Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc sections of the tunnel. Here you can imagine what it was like to be a guerrilla complete with Russian Carbine rifles and AK 47’s on display.

Break time for relax or time for those who want to try the real shooting gun (your own expense).
Journey back to Ho Chi Minh City. Rest of the day is at your leisure.
Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Optional Tour: You can join our group tour to Cu Chi Tunnels by boat. Deprture time at 8:00 AM or 12:00 PM (Approximately 5-6 hours). Lunch is included (for afternoon tour lunch will be served before cruising to Cu Chi tunnels). Surcharge 46 USD/person will be applied.
 

DAY 12: HO CHI MINH CITY – MEKONG DELTA (BEN TRE) – HO CHI MINH CITY (B, L)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch | Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh

Escape the city for a tour of the Mekong Delta, where you'll see what life is like beyond the urban centre of the south. 
Travel to Ben Tre to discover the unique lifestyle of inhabitants living along the Mekong Delta. Board your cruise on Ben Tre River (one of the tributaries of Mekong River) before stopping at brickworks to see how bricks are made in traditional style by printing and baking. Next, visit a coconut processing workshop located along the canal. Turn on natural scissors creeks where they look smaller and smaller which will lead to a local village. Walk to a family workshop to observe sleep mats being made while enjoying some fruits and tea. Then you’ll take a motor cart or cycle under shady trees, pass by green rice fields and vegetable plains all while getting a feel for the life and tropical culture from Peasants.
Lunch is served at a riverside restaurant.

In the afternoon, you’ll take a row-boat along water palm creek and then boat back to Hung Vuong Pier, where your transport is waiting back to Ho Chi Minh City. Arrive at your hotel around 17h00. Evening is at leisure.
Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
 

DAY 13: HO CHI MINH CITY – DEPARTURE (B)

Meals included: Breakfast | Accommodation: N/A

The day is at your leisure for last minute sight-seeing or shopping until your transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for your onward flight.

If hotel and other travel arrangements are required, please contact us.

TOUR PRICES: Available upon Request
Rates vary frequently. Please contact us to get the best possible price based upon your travel period, your group size and specific touring needs.

*** Price shown is "from" price and is on a shared basis of 3 star accommodation for a group of 2 people. 

Our services include:
– Full transportation by private air conditioned vehicle as tour program indicated (shared bus of 2 day Halong tour, shared Luxury Limousine from Sapa to Hanoi).
– All entrance fees as mentioned in the program.
– Boat trips as stated in above sights (shared boat of 2 day Halong tour).
– All excursion trips and activities as tour program indicated.
– Local English-speaking guides (for other languages supplements apply).
– Meals as stated in the program (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner).
– Train ticket Hanoi-Lao Cai in air conditioned soft sleeper wooden cabin (shared 4 berth compartment).
– Accommodation in shared twin or double bedded room with air-condition and private bathroom.
– Mineral water served on trip (2 bottles of 500ml/person/day).

Our services exclude:
– Visa for Vietnam.
– All air tickets not mentioned in the program and above quotation.
– Optional tours.
– Surcharges for other language guides.
– Personal travel insurance.
– Personal expenditure, such as drinks, souvenirs, laundry, camera fees, communications, postage, gratuities etc…
– Meals and services other than mentioned in the program.
– Drinks with meals.
– Early check-in and late check-out at hotels, if not mentioned in the program.

NOTES ON OUR PRICES:
– Price shown is based on private tour and two people travelling together and sharing a room at 3 star accommodation. Single supplement applies to solo travellers who occupy a single room.

List of 3 star accommodation included in the price:
– Hanoi: Imperial Hanoi Hotel, Deluxe room with City View;
– Sapa: Sapa Diamond Hotel, Deluxe room with City View;
– Halong Bay: Calypso Cruiser (12 cabins), Deluxe cabin with Sea View;
– Hoi An: Eem Hotel Hoi An, Deluxe room with City View or Hoian Central Hotel, Deluxe room with City View;
– Ho Chi Minh City: Cititel Central Saigon, Deluxe room with City View.

– Prices may vary according to your travel time and are higher in the high season, e.g. Christmas period (Dec 24-26), New Year period (Dec 31-Jan 02).
– For additional hotel night cost to the packages, please contact us for the rates.
– Listed hotels/cruise subject to change to others of similar standard if fully booked.
– Upgrades available to stay at 4 or 5-star hotels, please contact us for more details. Additional costs will be applied.
– Domestic flight of Hanoi-Danang and Danang-Saigon can be arranged upon request (subject to availability at the time of final confirmation).
– This private escorted tour is customized for you, your family or your friends exclusively. No other travelers will join in your group.
– This tour package can be fully customizable to fit your travel plan. You can also disregard full package tours and choose whatever travel items you need or a mix of private and group tours to minimize the cost. We can quote the tours you really want. Usually travel insurance is not covered in our quotations.
– Child definition: from age of 3 to 9 Years (usually enjoying 10%-20% discount. Contact us for the actual discount for your case). 10 Years old and above will be charged as Adult Price.
– All tours & transfers are all based in English Speaking local guides. For other languages, please contact us for new quotations.
– Itinerary Change to the confirmed itinerary may happen because of traffic, weather, or any other conditions not under our control such as war, strike, fire, acts of government, riot, etc. We will do our best to make sure that all the travel will be similar. Go Viet Travel can substitute the itinerary upon your agreement.
– Transportation and Restaurants: The cars, vans or coaches for the land transportation should be in good shape with air conditioner. All restaurants should be tidy and clean.