VATHCM14 (TRD)- 15 Day Ho Chi Minh - Phu Quoc – Ha Long – Sapa

Beaches in Vietnam are popular spots of tourists and locals looking to escape the bustling city life. With more than 2000 miles of coastline, Vietnam brims with secluded coves, white sands and waters fit for snorkeling. For days spent basking on sun-baked strands and evenings taking in the sunset.

Summary Of Itinerary
Day 1: Ho Chi Minh Arrival
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City
Day 3: Cu Chi Half Day
Day 4: Mekong Delta
Day 5: Cantho – Cai Rang Floating Market
Day 6: Phu Quoc – Eastern Island
Day 7: Sao Beach – Ham Ninh Village Or Snorkeling Tour
Day 8: Phu Quoc – Ha Noi
Day 9: Ha Noi – Ha Long
Day 10: Ha Long – Ha Noi
Day 11: Hoa Lu – Trang An – Mua Cave
Day 12: Limousine Hanoi – Sapa then short Trekking
Day 13: Sapa Treking In Lao Chai – Ta Van
Day 14: Sapa – Ha Noi
Day 15: Ha Noi Departure

• Day 1 Ho Chi Minh Arrival (No Meal)

  On arrival Ho Chi Minh City, we will see at the airport and transfer to center for check in hotel. You are free time for leisure.
  Overnight in Saigon.

• Day 2 Half Day Cyclo City Tour (Meal: B, L)

  Cyclo in SaiGon (Option 1)
  • 8.00am or 2.00pm Explore Ho Chi Minh City’s historic by the local transport, and experience the city as it was before the war. Visits the War Remnants Museum – it displays old military equipment and other related items from Vietnam War. The Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and General Post Office which are beautiful examples of architecture from the French colonial period. Enjoy Vietnamese food.
  • 12:00pm or 06:00pm go back hotel

  Cyclo in China Town (Option 2)
  • 8.00am or 2.00pm Explore Ho Chi Minh City’s historic Chinatown, named Cho Lon, by the local transport. Feel the hustle and bustle of street vendors selling a mixture of herbs for traditional medicine. Snake your way down tiny alleys on the agile vehicles, passing many small, family-run businesses. Come in the 250-year-old Lady Thien Hau Temple (God of the Sea). Then you have time for shopping at Binh Tay Market. Enjoy Vietnamses local food at our restaurant.
  • 12:00 or 18:00 go back your hotel

  You have freetime.
  Overnight in Saigon.

• Day 3 Cu Chi Half Day (Meal: B)

  08:30 We depart from Ho Chi Minh City to Cu Chi Tunnels for 60km from Ho Chi Minh City. Cu Chi is now considered a heroic district for its role in the anti – American war in Vietnam. It is legendary for its tunnels system of over 220 km and is a popular spot for both Vietnamese and foreigner.
  The peacefully rural rice paddy scenery contains ducks and water buffalos swimming in the rivers along the side of road. You will find it hard to imagine the destructions, damage and defoliation all over the area, caused by bombing and mines, when Cu Chi was “A Free Target Zone “. The remnants you will see that Cu Chi still has her evidence to prove the fierce battleground that took place there. Ever wonder what it feels like to fire an AK-47? Visit Cu chi tunnels, you have a chance to find out!
  14:30 Back to Saigon.
  Spend overnight in Saigon.

• Day 4 Mekong Delta (Meal: B, L)

  8:00 Am Begin the trip. It takes for one and half hours by bus to drive from Ho Chi Minh to My Tho City.
  • A smooth pass the rice fields to the beautiful rural. Start boat on the Tien River to islet. View the Dragon, Phoenix and Unicorn Islet. Walk into the village, visit fruit garden, enjoy the tropical fruit while folk music is performed by the local people.
  • The cruise will lead to Ben Tre province, “the country of coconut”, visit coconut candy workshop, bee house, enjoy honey tea and take a picture with snake.
  • The amazing rowing boat trip on the small canal – fully covered by the shadow of the water coconut’s tree.
  • After lunch, you have freetime for biking, walking.Next journey is Can Tho. Spend overnight in the hotel (or family home-stay with dinner can be arranged on request).
  Spend overnight in Can Tho.

• Day 5 Cantho – Cai Rang Floating Market (Meal: B, L)

  After having breakfast, you have chance to take a leisurely boat trip to explore the picturesque tributaries of the Lower Mekong river, visit Cai Răng floating market which are the liveliest in the whole Can Tho City. Your experience will be full fill when you go and see how vermicelli’s soup is made. Wander around the village and meet the friendly local people and see a “Monkey bridge” – A bridge was built by only one stem of bamboo. Visit the orchard garden. Make a stop for lunch. At there, our bus will take you to Rach Gia. It will take 2 hours to come Rach Gia from Can Tho City.
  Spend overnight in Rach Gia.

• Day 6 Phu Quoc – Eastern Island (Meal: B, L, D)

  8:00 AM: We will take a boat to Phu Quoc
  10:00 am: Arrive in Phu Quoc. After chek in hotel
  11:30: Have lunch at local restaurant. Make a Phu Quoc Tour.
  14:30 Start for Eastern island:
  -Pepper garden, be captivated by word of “itsy-bitsy teeny weeny peppercorns” of patient growers
  -Ham Ninh ancient village, enjoy fresh seafood (personal charge)
  -Tranh Stream: waterfall is beautiful in Phú Quốc.
  -Hung Long/ Phap Quang Pogoda located on high hill, overlook to town
  -Back to Duong Dong town, stop at a Sim wine distillery, taste the local wine
  -Dinh Cau Temple, the savior of local fishermen
  -Have dinner at local restarant
  Back to hotel. Spend overnight in Phu Quoc.

• Day 7 Sao Beach – Ham Ninh Village Or Knorkeling Tour (Meal: B, L, D)

  After breakfast, start to explore:

  Option 1: excursion tour
  8g00: transfer to the South of island and visit:
  – Fish sauce workshop: learn about the fish sauce production and enjoy the unique aromatic flavor of Phu Quoc fish sauce
  – Have lunch
  – Pearl Farm. You may be able to witness how oyster shells are cut open to retrieve pearls and how these pearls are bored, strung or placed on silver or gold ornaments.
  – Coconut prision: which was built in 1949-1950 by the French colonists to jail those considered specially dangerous to the colonist government
  – Sao beach – one of the most beautiful beach in the South East of Phuquoc island. Relax and swimming, have lunch here
  – Have dinner at local restarant

  Option 2: snorkeling tour
  8g00: transfer to the South of island and visit:
  – Pearl Farm. You may be able to witness how oyster shells are cut open to retrieve pearls and how these pearls are bored, strung or placed on silver or gold ornaments.
  – Then, go to pier, get on board for snorkeling and fishing. The snorkeling set is ready for you to enjoy the colorful life of coral reef and of the fish under water. Have lunch on board
  – Go back to pier and transfer to Sao beach – one of the most beautiful beach in the South East of Phuquoc island
  – Back to hotel
  – Have dinner at local restaurant.

  Spend overnight in Phu Quoc.

• Day 8 Flight Phu Quoc - Hanoi (Meal: B)

  Have breakfast at hotel, free at leisure, check out and then transfer to Phuquoc airport to take a flight to Hanoi.
  When arrive in Hanoi. You have more freedom to sightseeing the landscapes nearby such as visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum, One Pillar Pagoda, Ethnology museum..
  Spend overnight in Hanoi.

• Day 9 Hanoi - Halong (Meal: B, L, D)

  (Your hotel – Tuan Chau marina – Halong bay – Lunch– Surprising Cave – Titop Island – Sunset party – Dinner – Onboard night activities)
  07.45 – 08.15 approx
  – Our guide will meet you at your hotel. The shuttle bus or private car pick up
  – Enjoy the peaceful scenery as we travel through the countryside, farmlands and Red River delta
  – Get your camera ready to take photos. Comfort break. The time from Hanoi to Halong bay is approximately 3 ½ hours.
  12 – 12.30 approx
  – Arriving Tuan Chau marina. Welcome aboard the cruise. Refresh with our welcome drink. Meet the captain, crew in the cruise briefing.
  – Check into your cabin. Time to refresh and unwind
  – Set sail as lunch is served
  – Join us for a typical local lunch in the dining room or at the outdoor dining area.
  Afternoon
  – Arrive at Surprising Cave (Hang Sửng Sốt), explore the cave and find out how the cave was named a Surprising.
  – Heading to Titop island area. Drop anchor in the calm water surrounded by beautiful islets. Visit Titop island for swimming and snorkeling or do the short trek to the top of island to have the overview of Halong bay from here
  – Heading back toward the sleeping area
  Early evening
  – Summit on the sundeck watching the sunset, enjoy Sunset party. It’s ideal time to make acquaintance with new friends, sharing your traveling experience or simply watching the sunset
  – An authentic Vietnamese menu is served
  – After dinner, reward yourself with a large selection of cocktails at our bar, or take for you one of our onboard activities: book reading, games, movies, and squid fishing…

• Day 10 Halong - Hanoi (Meal: B, L)

  (Tai Chi – Breakfast – Luon Cave – Cooking Demonstration – Lunch – Farewell at your hotel)
  06:30
  For the early risers join us for a Tai Chi session on the sundeck. Tai chi helps focus the mind and condition the body, joining Tai Chi session to full charge your energy for the day.
  07:00 – 08:00
  Local breakfast is served
  08:00
  – Mingling yourself in the stunning views of the Bay and it’s dramatic limestone islets as we sail through the calm emerald waters heading to Luon Cave (Hang Luồn)
  – Take your option either exploring the cave yourself on kayak or comfortably on bamboo boat rowed by the locals.
  09:00
  Check out the cabins, at your leisure while our cruise taking you pass by other beautiful highlights in the bay.
  10:00
  You will join with our short class of Cooking demonstration, how to make spring rolls before an early lunch is served.
  12:00
  Return to the shore and disembark from the cruise as our crew say farewell.
  Transfer to minibus or private and return to Hanoi.
  Arrival back at your hotel approximately 16:30
  Overnigth in Hanoi.

• Day 11 Hoa Lu - Trang An - Mua Cave (Meal: B, L)

  07:00 – 07:30 – Our guide will meet you at your hotel/stay and start 110km modern Bus-journey through verdant landscape of countryside. Short-brake en route.
  10:45 – Visiting Hoa Lu Ancient Citadel with Dinh King Temple and Le King Temple dating back to the 17th Century.
  12:00 – Enjoying the lunch at our restaurant with the great local cuisines.
  13:30 – Leaving for the Trang An Grottoes, an out-standing natural beauty of majestic limestone massif at 20 square kilometer rise dramatically out from rice paddy fields. Deep into the linked chains of towering mountain are pristine places of mystical valleys, numerous fresh water ponds, and jungle.
  Embarking on a traditional sampan gently roweddown the exquisite river through numerous caves: Lam Cave, Vang Cave, Dai Cave, Thanh Truot Cave,…and Cao Sơn Temple, Suoi Tien Temple, Vu Lam Temple…
  15:30 – Arriving Mua Cave and start an amazing trek up to the top of Ngoa Long mountain for watching the spectacular rice valley with specious view of the nature.
  17:15 – Returning to our bus and then come back to Ha Noi
  19:30 – Dropping you off at your hotel/stay. Trip ends.
  Overnight in Hanoi.

• Day 12 Sapa By Bus – Trek To Cat Cat (Meal: B, L, D)

  6:30 am : Our bus picks up at the meeting point and depart to LaoCai, on the highway running from Noi Bai – Lao Cai 245Km with less than 5 hours.
  You have the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful scenery on the both sides of this road.
  12:00 : Arrival Sapa, Enjoy lunch at local restaurant then Trekking to Catcat village, the village of H‘mong tribe in the valley, which remains very generally uncorrupted outside forces. Excellent views of the valley, the magnificent limestone and paddy fields of H‘mong village.and panorama of the village. Enjoy some visits to local families and reach their customs. After the village down into the valley, The village is surrounded by flowery valley and deep-green pines. The rocks near the river and waterfall provide a marvelous place for picturesque photos and sunbathing during good weather. Walking back Sapa for Dinner and free time in the evening for discovering beautiful town, see ethnic people activities and life in Sapa.
  Overnight in sapa.

• Day 13 Sapa Trek To Lao Chai – Ta Van (Meal: B, L, D)

  After Breakfast in the hotel, we take a bus to Lao Chai village, a village of Black H‘mong. Short trek down to river to visit hill tribe house to see their living style and the local woman made their handicraft clothes. Further on along the trail, the Tavan village where Dzay people staying can be seen. Visit the village and reach their customs and colorful from black Hmong and red DZAO people. Lunh in local restaurant, after that we continue up and down to rice paddy field , it is one of best view place in sapa and walk through bamboo forest, relaxing in waterfall to have a swimming and a panorama of Giang Ta Chai village.
  15.00: Time at leisure on your own.
  Overnight in Sapa.

• Day 14 Sapa – Ha Noi By Bus (Meal: B)

  07:00am after breakfast, transfer to bus station and go back to Ha Noi city. Arrive in Ha Noi at 12:30pm. Check in hotel and free time to relax in the old quarter.
  Overnight in Hanoi.

• Day 15 Ha Noi Departure (Meal: B)

  Relax in hanoi until your flight back home. The car transfer you to the airport 3,5 hours before your flight. See you again!