VN21

Hanoi - Sapa - Halong - Ninh Binh - Hue - Danang - Hoi An - Nha Trang - Saigon - Cu Chi - Mekong

Duration:

21

Travel in Vietnam is easy, but having the opportunity to explore the real unspoiled Vietnam is not. With this package tour your guide will show you Vietnam at a pace and style that compliments your way of travel. Visit charming Hanoi and bustling Saigon. Participate in the rich and colorful cultures of Sapa and become a part of daily Mekong River life. No

Chao Ban! Welcome to Hanoi, we will meet and take you to your hotel, check-in and today is free at your leisure to rest or explore, discovering your own first impressions of Vietnam. Overnight in Hanoi.

Inclusion :

transfer, guide, hotel,

Depart at 8:00 am from your hotel by van. We will begin our day by visiting Uncle Ho, learning about his great life at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Presidential Palace, and his residential place. Next stop is the nearby Temple of Literature. The site of Vietnam's first University, built in twelfth century, to teach Confucius's theory to royals. Here we will also have a chance to see a traditional music performance. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant for a taste of authentic Hanoi Pho (noodle soup). In the afternoon, choose one from the numerous museums or temples around Hanoi (Museum of Ethnology, Women's Museum, History Museum or Quan Thanh Temple). In the late afternoon walk around Hoan Kiem lake and Hanoi's fascinating Old Quarter for some great fun, shopping, and street side traditional food, maybe to try one "hanoi bia". This is your chance to be part of typical Hanoian style and its traditional Vietnamese culture. We finish our relaxing but informative day by attending a Water Puppet Show, a favorite experience for all visitors to Vietnam. We can help you to get back to your hotel if you wish, but often our guests would rather just spend the evening enjoying a drink with a view of the city. Have dinner on your own and stay overnight at your hotel.

Inclusion :

transfer, guide, hotel, entrances fee, breakfast, , puppet show ticket, 1 glass of local beer

8:00 am to leave your hotel for our day trip to Ninh Binh, we arrive to the Nature Reserve of Van Long after two hours drive (110km), we board the bamboo rowboat as soon as we arrive for our 2 hours row along this beautiful nature area, enjoying spectacular scenery surrounded by rice paddies and towering limestone mountain peaks. After lunch served at a local riverside restaurant we make a short transfer (4 km) down a peaceful country road to Hoa Lu, Vietnam's ancient capital eleven centuries ago. Here, there are two temples dedicated to King Dinh and King Le, the founders of the ancient capital during the 10th century. Return to Hanoi late in the afternoon. Dinner on your own. 8: 15 pm: Transfer from an prearranged meeting spot to the station for your night train to Sapa (Our tour guide will show you a mini hotel which you will have shower and basic breakfast before going on Halong bay- Day 6).

Inclusion :

transfer, guide, train ticket, entrances fee, breakfast, local boat,

Today's morning: The train arrives at about 6:00 am; look for the "Footprint Travel" sign when you exit the train station, as our guide will pick you up. Then take a morning drive through the clouds by car / van to Sapa (~ 1.5 hours). When you arrive in Sapa you will be taken to a local restaurant for a morning shower & breakfast. We will then take short ride from Sapa to our trekking base where we start our trek up and down hills (~ 5- 6 hrs) through terraced rice fields, bamboo ranges and many minority villages. Lunch break before we keep hitting the road to Ta Phin village. Our Dao host family will welcome you to their traditional home where we will share in an ethnic style dinner and stay the night.

Inclusion :

transfer, guide, homestay, train ticket, entrances fee, all meals, permit,

At the first gleam of daylight, you will see and hear the sounds of morning village life. You can join your host family in some of their activities like feeding the animals, cleaning the houses, gardening or preparing breakfast. After breakfast, we could take a short morning wander around the village or resulting in more time spent with the host family. You will be then supported by our car / van back to Sapa (30 minutes). When we arrive back in Sapa, check in to the hotel, shower, and pause for lunch on your own. At 2:30 pm we will take an easy walk (~ 5km) to Cat Cat village, homeland of Black H'mong hill tribe and to take part in a traditional ethnic music performance put on by the ethnic minority people. Your own dinner and evening, sleep in the hotel in Sapa. Note: The music show in CatCat is closed on Wed afternoon, an alternative will be arranged.

Inclusion :

guide, hotel, entrances fee, breakfast, music show ticket

Morning preparations, breakfast, check-out, then it is time to take a wonderful journey by car / van. We will go up and over Tram Ton pass and then descend, zigzagging to the valley below. The views on this trip are absolutely incredible! Our destination is Tam Duong (~ 90 km from Sapa), but before we get there we will visit Binh Lu and see hilltribe people carrying with them their hand crafted products or leading animals on the way to market. You will be free to wonder around but please be respectful to the people here as they are reluctant to have their picture taken without permission. This area has not seen many tourists. We will have lunch here, then continue through the untouched villages with frequent stops to visit and talk to the locals. Overnight in Lai Chau (Old - Tam Duong).

Inclusion :

transfer, guide, hotel, entrances fee, breakfast, lunch,

Breakfast then back in the car / van for the uphill climb back to Sapa. Time for capture yesterday's missed photographs of this fabulous areas. If this day falls on Sunday then 2 beautiful markets can be visited on our way. You will return to Sapa in late afternoon and finally depart for the Lao Cai train station at 5:30 pm. The train leaves Lao Cai at 8: 15 pm and arrives after a pleasant sleep in your first class, shared AC soft berth to Hanoi at about 5:00 am.

Inclusion :

transfer, guide, hotel, entrances fee, breakfast,

Arrival in Hanoi in the early morning at round 5:00 am. Please find your way by foot back to a mini hotel near the Tran Quy Cap station gate to have shower and basic set menu breakfast. Depart, 8: 00 - 8:30 am on a shared van from your hotel to Halong city. After 3.5 hours driving and viewing simple, country side, rice paddy life, we arrive at the at port. At 12.00, the junk crews welcome guests on board at Hon Gai Wharf. Check- in, enjoy welcome drink & cruise briefing. Lunch with fresh local seafood while cruising to Bai Tu Long bay via Indochina film studio, Teapot islet, Blockhouse islet, Goat Head islet. Stop for swimming, visit mysterious Thien Canh cave. Relax at a wild beach, swim & kayak to explore the bay. Back to junk to enjoy relaxing or the sunset. Dinner and overnight on board nearby Vong Vieng village or Trinh Nu cave.

Inclusion :

transfer, guide, entrances fee, kayak, boat/junk, breakfast, lunch, permit, , fishing gears.

Early risers can enjoy the sunrise and the quiet breath-taking beauty of Bay's landscape. From 7.30 to 8:00 am have breakfast in the fresh air then visit Vong Vieng fishing village by a rustic row-boat. Meet the locals, visit floating school & fish farms. More time to swim in the middle of the bay. From 10: 15, we serve on a La-Carte-Menu, you can order any dishes in the menu whenever you want for breakfast and lunch. Continue cruising through the bay, along the way seeing more of the fascinating formations. 11: 45 check out cabin while cruising back. By noon at 12:00, we will be ashore then hit the road back to Hanoi at around 4:00 pm. Check in hotel in Hanoi and free time to relax and stay overnight at your hotel.

Inclusion :

transfer, guide, hotel, entrances fee, boat/junk, breakfast, lunch,

oday is your free day in the Hanoi capital and all of its fascinating historical charm. Spend your day relaxing or shopping. Some suggestions include waking up early (about 6:00 am) and joining in the some exercise around Hoan Kiem Lake; or taking a Vietnamese cyclo tour around the Old Quarter for a different point of view; or visiting the numerous markets, shopping, and trying all of the street side traditional foods. 6: 00 pm Hotel pick up for the evening train to Hue. Boarding at 7:00 pm.

Inclusion :

transfer, guide, hotel, train ticket,

Arrival Hu? at around 10:00 am. Station pick up then transfer to hotel to take a short rest, have late breakfast before visiting the former Imperial Citadel. Lunch is next at a local restaurant. Then in the afternoon is our visit to the splendid royal tombs, there are actually more than 6 tombs but we will choose to visit two of three tombs as below: Minh Mang, Tu Duc and Khai Dinh. After that we walk/transfer to the boat dock for our cruising on the Perfume River, viewing the city and the tranquil villages on the riverbank. We will walk up to visit the Thien Mu pagoda, a nicely located pagoda, overlooks the Perfume River and the beautiful scenery beyond, where you get to learn more about the Buddhism in Vietnam. Transfer back to your hotel. Check in hotel. Free time to relax, shower and stay overnight at your hotel.

Inclusion :

transfer, guide, hotel, entrances fee, breakfast, local boat,

After breakfast at your hotel. 9:00 am. We will go on a relaxing Vietnam cyclo to visit Dong Ba market around 1 hour then transfer to Hoi An. From here it will take us about 4 hours to get to Hoi An. There is fabulous sightseeing en route and we may make stops at: Lang Co beach, Hai Van pass, Cham Museum, and the Marble mountains. Then onto Hoi An, overnight in here. This is also a very good chance for you to get nice tailor - made clothes at a reasonable price.

Inclusion :

transfer, guide, entrances fee, breakfast, , Vietnam cyclo

The center of Vietnam is home to many of World Heritage Sites and Hoian is one of them. Here in this ancient town of Hoi An, 30 km south of Danang, lies on the banks of the Thu Bon River. 9:00. Hotel pick up then we walk around the town with your tour guide to visit the old charming Hoi An. We will visit the old Tan Ky House, the famous Japanese Covered Bridge, the stylish Phuc Kien Assembly Hall...Drive back to your hotel then free time to relax, go to Cua Dai Beach which is only 4km away from Hoi An. Stay overnight at your hotel.

Inclusion :

transfer, guide, hotel, entrances fee,

Breakfast at the hotel then transfer to the airport in Danang for noon-flight to Nha Trang. Airport pick up then transfer to your hotel, it is free to chill out on the beautiful white sand beach.

Inclusion :

transfer, guide, hotel, entrances fee, , domestic flight ticket

Morning pick up from hotel and transfer to the boat station (45 minutes). Hop on the boat and begin a day on the water. The first stop will be at Mum Island. This is one of the best places for snorkeling in Nha Trang. Hold your breath for as long as you can and dive deep into this colorful world of fish and coral. Next stop, Tam Island, for sun bathing and relaxing on the off shore beach. Lunch will be served at a nearby fishing village with a selection of fresh seafood. After lunch we will visit Tri Nguyen Aquarium then take the boat back to Nha Trang city. Free time in the evening and overnight at your hotel. Note: We may need to fly to Saigon this afternoon (4:45 pm) if our next morning flight is not available. Note: We may need to fly to Saigon this afternoon (4:45 pm) if our next morning flight is not available.

Inclusion :

transfer, guide, hotel, entrances fee, breakfast, local boat,

We take an early flight this morning at 7:45 am, arriving to Saigon at 8:40 am, transfer down town and check-in at our hotel before our city tour of this bustling Saigon started. Visit the Binh Tay Market in Cho Lon; stopover at Thien Hau, a 150 year old Chinese Temple; then to a Lacquer wares workshop and the Jade Emperor pagoda. In the afternoon visit the War Remnants Museum, the Notre Dame Cathedral and the historic Central Post Office, we'll drop you off at your hotel around 5:30 pm.

Inclusion :

transfer, guide, hotel, entrances fee, breakfast, , domestic flight ticket ,

Departing Saigon at 8:00 am from your hotel for a morning excursion to Tay Ninh to the Great Cao Dai Temple (a place to worship a mixture of Buddhism, Confucius, Taoism, Hinduism and Christianity). We see the noon mass at the temple (1 hour). Lunch in Tay Ninh. In the afternoon we visit the Cu Chi outdoor museum to learn about the infamous tunnel systems of the Viet Cong. Take this opportunity to get a unique understanding of the guerillas underground fight strategies during the war and crawl through 50 - 100 meters of the 200 km tunnel system. On the way back to Saigon, local rice paper workshops, and views of Vietnam countryside and paddy fields are pleasant sights. We'll drop you off at your hotel around 5:30 pm.

Inclusion :

transfer, guide, hotel, entrances fee, breakfast,

Depart Saigon at 8:00 am from your hotel. Head south to Cai Be. Upon arrival at 10:30 am, board a boat for a journey through the Mekong's floating market. See how river life goes on here, watch the trading between merchant ships and local farmers. Alive and exciting. Cruise through the secluded canals and cross the Mighty Mekong to an island where we will stop to enjoy fresh seasonal fruit before boating to Vinh Long. Back on the bus for our trip to Can Tho to overnight.

Inclusion :

transfer, guide, hotel, entrances fee, breakfast,

An early start for a boat trip to Cai Rang floating market, then we have some distance to cover. First a cruise, then a walk on a quiet country road taking in the magnificent scenery and getting a little bit closer to the locals as they go about their daily routine. In the afternoon, we head back to Saigon. At your same Saigon hotel by 6:00 pm.

Inclusion :

transfer, guide, hotel, entrances fee, breakfast, local boat,

Breakfast at the hotel then a day at your leisure in Saigon. Today is a great day for you to relax, shop and finish any last preparations before you take your flight home the next day.

Inclusion :

transfer, breakfast,

Breakfast at hotel. Depending on your flight you may have sometime for some more shopping. Then we will transfer you to the airport for your flight home. Goodbye and hope to see you again soon!

Inclusion :

transfer, guide, hotel, entrances fee, breakfast,

2 persons: $US 1852 /person
4 persons: $US 1538/person
S.S: $US 600.00

insurance, drinks & personal expense, tips, others not mentioned in details

passport, change of clothes, sun-glasses & hat, toiletries, sun-block, insect repel, flashlights, good shoes, sleeping bags, cable locks, firstaid kit

-	Hotel: We use 3 starstandard hotel (s), twin shared room (s). Upgrade is available on request.

-	Sites: Ho Chi Minh mausoleum and almost all museums are closed on Monday and Friday weekly, you can choose to visit another site instead, No short or informal wear is allowed into the Mausoleum,

-	Sleeper Train to Sapa/Hue: Please click here for more information.

-	Homestay condition: Very basic, please visit our website for FAQs on www.Footprint.vn

-	Meals: Vietnam food

-	Halong Bay tour: We share mini

-	van, deluxe Red Dragon or Lagoon Explore Junk with maximum 10 people and twin shared cabin aboard.

-	Car / Van Quality: Using new AC car or van depending on your group size

-	Tour guide: English speaking guides (on site).

-	Please be aware that flight times, trains, hotels and other services are subject to availability. Where flights/trains are cancelled or delayed Footprint will endeavor to secure alternative arrangements of similar value,

-	Hotels, flights, train's details

-	The trek time is just approximate and depending on speed and weather.