17 DAY EXPLORE VIETNAM-FAMILY TOUR

Welcome to Hanoi Noi Bai airport. Upon arrival, our guide will meet and greet you with a warm welcome. He will escort you to the vehicle and transfer you to the hotel for your first night. Take a stroll through the streets and immerse yourself in this vibrant city or simply spend time at leisure. An exciting day is ahead tomorrow, as you embark on a guided tour to explore this bustling city.

Accommodation: GM Premium Hotel - Upgraded 1 Family Connecting Room (4 star)

Total Transfer Time: 45 min

Total Time Spent on Attractions/Activities: N/A

After breakfast, visit Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and his House on Stilts with a lush garden. A short walk from the Mausoleum is one of the great symbols of Hanoi, the One Pillar Pagoda (An 11th-century wooden temple built on a single stone pillar in the water. It was designed to resemble a blooming lotus). Pass by the Presidential Palace to the West Lake where you will visit Tran Quoc Pagoda (meaning “protecting the country”), one of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam. In the afternoon, visit the venerable Temple of Literature built in 1077 – Vietnam’s first university. Late afternoon, take a rickshaw ride (cyclo) around the Old Streets which were named after the specific goods once offered for sale at these places. Stop at Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple to learn about legend of the lake. Leisurely browse through art galleries, handicraft shops and cafes. In the evening enjoy a cultural experience by watching a Water Puppet Show, a traditional performance created by the Vietnamese wet-rice farmers in Red River Delta in 10th century.

Accommodation: GM Premium Hotel - Upgraded 1 Family Connecting Room (4 star)

Total Transfer Time: 1 hour

Total Time Spent on Attractions/Activities: 5 hours

This morning, travel from Hanoi to the northern loop of Sapa where hill-tribe people fill the town with vibrant colours. A new highway links Hanoi and Sapa, making the drive breezy and comfortable. Upon arrival, check into your hotel and be free at leisure.

Accommodation: Hotel De Sapa - Upgraded 1 Connecting Room (4 star)

Total Transfer Time: 5.5 hours

Total Time Spent on Attractions/Activities: N/A

After breakfast, you will take a short drive from town to the trail leading to Y Linh Ho, hometown of Black Hmong hill tribe. From there, you will start your excursion with a walk along a dirt trail through vegetable gardens and rice paddy terraces. As you walk further, the spectacular scenery of the Muong Hoa valley will gradually appears within your eyesight. Keep hiking and you’ll reach Lao Chai village on the hillsides. Here, the view of the valley becomes more and more vast, extending and stretching to the horizon. Stop at Lao Chai village to visit a local home and enjoy a picnic lunch. After lunch, follow the dirt path linking the village with Ta Van village, the only one in the valley inhabited by the Giay minority. From Ta Van, you will have a transfer by car up the hill back to Sapa for overnight stay.

Accommodation: Hotel De Sapa - Upgraded 1 Connecting Room (4 star)

Total Transfer Time: 1 hour

Total Time Spent on Attractions/Activities: 7 hours

This morning take the highway and drive back to Hanoi. If time permits, we will visit the Hill Tribe Market (About 2 hours away from Lao Cai) before heading to Hanoi. Market is held only during Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday.

Accommodation: GM Premium Hotel - Upgraded 1 Family Connecting Room (4 star)

Total Transfer Time: 5.5 hours

Total Time Spent on Attractions/Activities: N/A

Today we depart by road to Bai Tu Long Bay to experience one of the most scenic icons Vietnam has to offer. Upon arrival, board the cruise and enjoy a delicious lunch. As you sail along, soak in the scenic beauty and the magical surroundings. The cruise may stop to visit one of the best caves on the bay for kayaking or bamboo boat rowing. Later on, the boat will anchor in a peaceful location for relaxing and overnight stay. Enjoy a cooking demonstration to learn about the delectable Vietnamese cuisine. Evening allows free time for relaxation, squid fishing or to experience a soothing massage (At extra cost). A scrumptious dinner will be served on board.

Accommodation: Calypso Cruise - 2 Deluxe Cabins (4 star)

Total Transfer Time: 2.5 hours

Total Time Spent on Attractions/Activities: Overnight

Wake up to another amazing day and enjoy a relaxing breakfast while you continue to sail along the bay. Cruise may visit the Cat Ba Island or stop at a lagoon for kayaking. As the morning passes by, you will head back to the wharf and disembark. Our guide will meet you at the Wharf and take you to Ninh Binh Province, one of the most picturesque country sides just outside Hanoi. Upon arrival, visit Dinh & Le Kings’ Temples in Hoa Lu - Vietnam’s first capital in the 10th century before it was moved to Thang Long (Hanoi today) in 1010. Spend rest of evening at leisure

Accommodation: Ninh Binh Hidden Charm - 1 upgraded Family Room (4 star)

Total Transfer Time: 4 hours

Total Time Spent on Attractions/Activities: 30 min

Board a small rowing boat to travel along the canals amidst local villages and green fields. Enjoy the beauty of Tam Coc (meaning 3 caves). Explore the caves and then row back to the boat quay. Ride a cow cart or a bike to Bich Dong temple, 2 km from Tam Coc, which was conferred the title “Vietnam’s second most beautiful grotto” by a King. Climb up Ngu Nhac Son (Buddha’s Palm Mountain), and take in the marvellous scenery offered by the mountains, rivers and pagodas.

Accommodation: Ninh Binh Hidden Charm - 1 upgraded Family Room (4 star)

Total Transfer Time: 1 hour

Total Time Spent on Attractions/Activities: 2.5 hours

After a leisurely breakfast, we will travel to Noi Bai airport to catch a flight to Hue. Upon arrival in Hue, you will be welcomed by another guide who will take you to the hotel for check-in. Spend the evening at leisure.

Accommodation: Romance Hotel - 2 Upgraded Deluxe City View Rooms (4 star)

Total Transfer Time: 4.5 hours

Total Time Spent on Attractions/Activities: N/A

After an early breakfast, visit the Imperial Citadel where Kings of Vietnam’s last feudal dynasty ruled from 1802 to 1945, including Flag Tower, Nine Holy Cannons, Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace, Nine Dynastic Urns, Forbidden Purple City. Around noon time, lunch will be served at a garden house restaurant with Hue cuisine, a well-known regional cuisine unique to this area. After lunch, drive 12km South of Hue city to King Minh Mang’s tomb. This tomb was built in 1840 under the order of King Minh Mang himself. It’s a perfect combination of manmade and natural beauty, where architecture fits harmoniously into the surrounding landscape. Continue to the tomb of King Khai Dinh, the twelfth Emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty. The tomb is a mixture of the Western and Eastern architecture. Late in the afternoon, take a Dragon boat Cruise upstream the peaceful Perfume River (Huong River) to Thien Mu Pagoda.

Accommodation: Romance Hotel - 2 Upgraded Deluxe City View Rooms (4 star)

Total Transfer Time: 2 hours

Total Time Spent on Attractions/Activities: 6 hours

Another exciting day is ahead as you will drive along the most scenic coast of Vietnam from Hue to Hoi An. Stop at Hai Van Pass for a panoramic view of white sandy beach, blue seas and ever-green lush mountains. Reach Hoi An mid-afternoon, check into your hotel and follow your guide to explore the fascinating town of Hoi An including a 400 year old Japanese Bridge, a 300 year old Chinese temple, a 200 year old former Vietnamese merchant's house, a local market, Quan Cong Temple, Reaching Out Tea House and Reaching out arts and crafts. There are numerous art galleries, souvenir and tailor shops where you can get some express made-to-order clothes if you like!

Accommodation: Hoi An Silkotel - 2 Upgraded Deluxe Rooms (4 star)

Total Transfer Time: 3 hours

Total Time Spent on Attractions/Activities: 3 hours

Today we have planned a fun filled activity as you learn the art of Vietnamese cooking. Head to Hoi An’s old streets to meet the chef and rest of the group in the class. Next visit a local market to learn about the authentic ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson. You will board a boat and cruise along the Thu Bon River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. On arrival, explore the school’s herb and vegetable garden, before learning about some of Hoi An and Vietnam’s well-known dishes, which are a mix of Vietnamese and Chinese cuisines. The cooking lesson lasts approx. 2 hours– each dish is first demonstrated by the chef before you prepare the same dish yourself. The class also contains a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carvings (plate decoration). After the lesson and cooking, sit back and enjoy the delicious food prepared by you.

Accommodation: Hoi An Silkotel - 2 Upgraded Deluxe Rooms (4 star)

Total Transfer Time: 30 min

Total Time Spent on Attractions/Activities: 5.5 hours

In the morning, embark on a little adventure as you ride a bicycle to the Tra Que Vegetable Village. Walk around vegetable gardens and join the farmers in preparing the land, fertilizing it with seaweeds from the local lake, raking, sowing, watering greens, picking greens and many other gardening activities. Enjoy a complimentary foot massage and learn how to cook ‘Tam Huu' spring rolls & rice pancake with your host. Ride back to your hotel by bicycle.

Accommodation: Hoi An Silkotel - 2 Upgraded Deluxe Rooms (4 star)

Total Transfer Time: 1 hour

Total Time Spent on Attractions/Activities: 4 hours

Today you will leave this beautiful city Hoi An and travel to the Da Nang airport for a flight to Ho Chi Minh City commonly referred to as Saigon. Upon landing, you will be met by our guide and visit the moving War Remnants Museum which presents a partial, but riveting view of the American War, as it is known in Vietnam.  Continue to the Reunification Palace, former residence of the Indochina Governor General and later President of the Republic of Southern Vietnam until the fall of Saigon in April 30, 1975. The day ends with visits to the charming Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Post Office (one of the oldest buildings Ho Chi Minh City built around 1886-1891) and the elegant Saigon Opera House.

Accommodation: Eden Star Hotel - 2 Upgraded Premium Deluxe Rooms (4 star)

Total Transfer Time: 2.5 hours

Total Time Spent on Attractions/Activities: 4 hours

After breakfast, visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, 70km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City. It was created in 1948 to assist the Viet Minh to combat the French. This was a sophisticated underground city with living areas, kitchens, storage, weapon shops, field hospitals and command centres. During the Vietnam War the entire area of Cu Chi was designated a fire free zone and was heavily bombarded. Since 1988, two sections of the tunnels have been opened for visitors. At the completion of the tour, head back to the city in the afternoon and visit the famous Ben Thanh Market where you can find handicrafts, local tropical fruits, nuts and many other items.

Accommodation: Eden Star Hotel - 2 Upgraded Premium Deluxe Rooms (4 star)

Total Transfer Time: 3 hours

Total Time Spent on Attractions/Activities: 1.5 hours

After breakfast, it is a 2-hour pleasant drive to Ben Tre province crossing the cable-stayed Rach Mieu bridge. As you cross the bridge and have a spectacular panoramic view towards the South Sea, you may see the four islets of Ben Tre: Long (Dragon), Lan (Unicorn), Quy (Turtle), Phung (Phoenix) gathering together, known as “Tu linh” or The Four Holy Beasts of Vietnam.  Upon arrival at Hung Vuong Pier, hop on a motorized boat on the Ben Tre River – one of the tributaries of the mighty Mekong river - while sight-seeing lively activities along the river such as fishing and boats transferring fruits, flowers and rice to local markets. Our first stop is at a brick kiln to see how to make bricks traditionally by printing and baking. Those brick kilns are open in summer time only when there is enough sunshine to dry the bricks. Continuing on, we’ll visit a coconut processing workshop located along the canals. When we return to the boat, we’ll motor through natural scissors creeks to a village and see some local houses, sleeping mat making, and enjoy some local fruits. Take a Tuk-Tuk (motorized cart) or bicycle along shady paths, pass by green rice fields and vegetable plains to be able to touch on real life in the delta, and find out about tropical culture from peasants.  A delicious lunch will be served at a local riverside restaurant. After lunch, we’ll take a rowing-boat along a beautiful water palm creek before meeting the motorized boat and transferring you back to the pier, where you will be taken back to Ho Chi Minh City for overnight stay.

Accommodation: Eden Star Hotel - 2 Upgraded Premium Deluxe Rooms (4 star)

Total Transfer Time: 4 hours

Total Time Spent on Attractions/Activities: 5 hours

We hope you have enjoyed the time in this vibrant and beautiful country, taking home some wonderful memories. Our guide will escort you back to the airport where you will leave us with a warm good bye.

Total Transfer Time: 30 min

Total Time Spent on Attractions/Activities: N/A