Highlights Of Vietnam With Sapa 13 Days

After breakfast, drive to Ninh Binh (2 hour drive), the destination that is well known with the nick name “Halong Bay on land”. On the way, stop at Hoa Lu, the ancient royal capital of Vietnam to visit temples dedicated to the Dinh and Le Kings. Continue your trip to the World Heritage site Trang An and board a small sampan for a spectacular 3-hour trip through caves, waterways and beautiful rural landscape consisting of limestone cliffs and rice paddies. In the late afternoon, back to Hanoi.

In the morning, explore Hanoi by touring some major historic sites, including Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House, One Pillar Pagoda, Hoa Lo Prison and Temple of Literature. In the afternoon, you will visit the Museum of Ethnology and then cycle through the Old Quarter of Hanoi by rickshaw (about 1 h). The last stop is Hoan Kiem Lake, where you can visit Ngoc Son Temple and enjoy a water puppet show to learn more about Vietnamese traditional culture. Tonight you will get on a night train travel to Sapa. Overnight on train (4 berth cabin)

Arrival Lao Cai, you will be taken to Sapa, for breakfast. Depart from Sapa town by car to Lao Chai village, following the road down the hill. Views of the Muong Hoa valley and magnificent surroundings of mountains and rice terrace fields can be seen from this road. Along the road, people from many ethnic groups (H’mong, Zay, and Red Dao) are likely to be met, and there are stalls along the way that serve tea, fruits and sweets. Soon after turning off the main road and taking a local path, we will arrive in the Black H’mong village of Lao Chai, where you will experience the daily life of the villagers. After that, we walk from Lao Chai to Ta Van village, where the Zay hill tribes live. Here you take a rest and enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by your local guide in a local house. After lunch, trekking up and down the hill. Specially you will trek through bamboo forest then relax beside the waterfall. Explore the Red Dao village of Giang Ta Chai where you will also have the chance to see their daily activities. In the afternoon the car will pick you up for the return Sa Pa.

We leave Sa Pa town, trekking to Suoi Ho village to see tea plantations and cardamom gardens. Follow the buffalo trails to visit the hospitable villages of the Black Hmong minority people in Ma Tra. After passing a school and scenic views enroute, a picnic lunch will be served. After lunch we continue our trek to Ta Phin village to visit Red Dao people and handicraft shops. Then back to Sapa Limousine bus transfer back to Hanoi. Tour finish at your hotel around 21.00. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Today, you will start the Halong Bay cruise. It would take around 3 hours driving from Hanoi to the World Heritage Site of Halong Bay, where you can see nearly 2,000 limestone islands dot the sea and traditional sampans and junks sail the glinting water, grottos, thick forests, and hidden coves. It will be a real ocean adventure! A variety of optional activities like kayaking, swimming, diving will definitely add more fun to this trip. Overnight at Halong Bay.

Today, continue your unforgettable Halong Bay cruise which ends with a hearty brunch and then disembark the boat at around 10:45 am. Your local guide and driver is waiting for you at the pier. After picked up, you will head to the airport for your flight to Da Nang. Upon arrival, hotel check-in and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

This morning, you will have a half-day fisherman experience in a fishing village. You may have a chance to learn traditional fishing techniques and paddle the strange and unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boat. In the afternoon, explore the culture and history of the ancient town of Hoi An through the Japanese Bridge, renowned Chinese Temple, and former Vietnamese Merchant's House. After the tour, enjoy a peaceful yet vibrant night in Hoi An on your own.

Free time to explore Hoi An Old Town. Overnight in Hoi An

Pick you up and transfer to Hue. Drive through the Pass of Ocean Clouds for a stunning panoramic view of the mountains and sea. Arrive in Hue. Visit the Imperial City, which is located in the Citadel. Modeled after the Forbidden City in Beijing, the Imperial City was built in the early 19th century. Explore the Thai Hoa Palace, with its spacious hall and ornate roof of huge timbers supported by 80 carved and lacquered columns. See the Halls of the Mandarins, the Nine Dynastic Urns and the site where the Forbidden Purple City once stood. Also you will visit Dong Ba market. Afternoon, you will take a boat on Perfume river to visit Thien Mu pagoda and the Tomb of Emperor Minh Mang, built in 1840, which is known for its magnificent architecture and elaborate decorations and is considered one of Hue’s most beautiful pagodas. Overnight in Hue City.

This morning, pick you up and transfer you to airport for a flight to Ho Chi Minh city. Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City, visit the Ben Thanh Market, War Remnants Museum, and Reunification Palace, Old Saigon Post Office and Dong Khoi Street are nice choices for a free stroll.

Pick you up and transfer you to Ben Tre. Arrive at Ham Luong dock, you will take a boat and then cruise along Ham Luong River, a tributary to the Mekong River. The cool breeze from the river and lush tropical islands along its banks will immediately get you excited to explore all the great things ahead. Arrive and visit various local workplaces to find many wonderful examples of how local people use ageless techniques to create their crafts, including activated charcoal, dried coconut, handy coconut husk brooms, and many family businesses using coir, or coconut fiber, to create amazing art. Cruise around the village roads by “Xe Lôi”, the local vehicle, which is a kind of motorized rickshaw. Having lunch at a local host house. After lunch, you will have time for relaxing before take a car back to Ho Chi Minh City.