Day 1: Hanoi arrival (-/-/D)

Hanoi - Airport: 30km, ~40min drive

Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, meet our guide and driver who then escort you to the city center. After making sure of your successful hotel check-in, they will be pleased to leave you free time for your own lunch and leisure to recover after the long flight.

In the late afternoon, we enjoy Water Puppet Show, the unique Vietnamese traditional art originated from rural festivals in Vietnam. The artists-men and women-stand waist-deep in the water to manipulate the puppets, making them move, talk and laugh and even dance on the surface of the water. Dinner is served at a local restaurant.

Meals Included: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Day 2: Hanoi City - Overnight train to Lao Cai (B/L/-)

Hanoi - Lao Cai: 270km, ~7-8h on train

After a wholesome breakfast at hotel, we start the day trip with a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Complex. This famous site compromises Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum (closed on Mondays & Fridays), his former stilt-house residence, the Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh Museum. Following this, we head to the Temple of Literature constructed in 1070 to worship Confucius. Otherwise known as the first university of Vietnam, the site also honours the eighty-two Vietnamese doctorates that each passed a number of rigid exams in the medieval ages. Their names, birthdays and birthplaces are each engraved in headstones perched on stone tortoises. It is widely believed that touching the heads of these tortoises will bring luck. Its peaceful green compound with its neatly maintained lawns, gardens and lotus ponds make it a tranquil hideaway from the city’s bustle and heat. Next stop, lunch!-which will be served at a popular local restaurant. 

In the afternoon, we visit Museum of Ethnology (closed on Mondays, the alternative is the History Museum) dedicated to Vietnam's 54 officially recognized ethnic groups with both indoor and outdoor sections. While the in-housed exhibition is particularly informative, the outdoor display continues in the museum’s garden with fascinating examples of traditional houses of numerous minority groups, from the Kinhs to the ethnic groups of the Central Highlands. We then enjoy a 45min-cyclo tour to the Old Quarter where you can see streets with century-aged trees and French Colonial buildings. We then head to Ngoc Son Temple set on a tiny islet in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake. Ngoc Son Temple dates back to the 13th century, and the lake itself is the picturesque heart of Hanoi, frequented by tourists and locals. 

Time is then free until transfer to Hanoi Railway Station for an overnight train to Lao Cai leaving at around 10p.m.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Overnight on train

Day 3: Lao Cai - Sapa - Cat Cat - Ma Tra Village (B/L/-)

Lao Cai - Sapa: 40km, ~1h drive

Arrival Lao Cai Train Station at around 6:00a.m, our guide and driver will meet and transfer you to Sapa, situated just 40km from Lao Cai. After breakfast, we will explore Sapa town, founded by the French as a holiday resort. 

In the afternoon, we will visit Cat Cat village, home to H’Mong people. They are excellent “tho cam” weavers, a kind of brocade fabric. The “tho cam” of Cat Cat village is of especially high quality, as it is dyed with natural colors, polished with beeswax and embroidered with unique designs. Cat Cat silver jewelry such as necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings are known for their sophisticated production techniques. A walk through this old village offers a glimpse into traditional customs and practices of the ethnic Black Hmong. We will stop at a beautiful waterfall and the remains of a hydroelectric plant built by the French during their colonisation of Vietnam.

If time permits, visit Ma Tra Village. Located only about 5km to the south-east of Sapa town, Ma Tra Village was added recently into Sapa’s growing list of stunning destinations. The village is a new must-see for visitors when coming to the mountain town of Sapa and preferring a less commercial track. The Village is home to H’mong ethnic people and only boasts around 50 homes. They survive using their craft such as weaving brocade, silk, forging farming tools and carving silver. They generally only make such items to meet their own needs, but since the growth of tourism in Sapa, many H’mong women make decorated cloth to sell on the town’s main streets.

• Morning : 3km, 2h30m walking
• Afternoon : 3km, 2h trekking      

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Sapa

Day 4: Lao Chai - Ta van - Train back to Hanoi (B/L/-)

After breakfast at hotel, we embark on a lovely walk that will take us along small paths and trails and through several hill tribe villages of Lao Chai and Ta Van, home to H'mong, and Dzay people. This is an absolutely spectacular walk through stunning scenery inhabited by some of the friendliest people will ever meet. We enjoy lunch at a family house in Ta Van village.  This is an excellent opportunity to meet with local people and study the art of making batik and local weaving villages, the textile tradition of craft women Black H'mong and Red Dzao. In the afternoon, we drive back to Sapa to prepare for overnight train to Hanoi.

• Distance : 8km
• Duration : 3h30m trekking
• Speed : Average 

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Overnight on train

Day 5: Hanoi - Halong Bay (B/L/D)

Hanoi - Halong: 180km, ~3h30m drive

We arrive in Hanoi around 5:00 am in the morning where your new guide will escort you to a hotel to freshen up. After breakfast, we will commence our three-hour journey along the Red River Delta to Halong City. 

From there, we embark an elegant wooden junk for a cruise through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters of Halong Bay. Here we enjoy the striking scenery of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Whilst on board, we will be served a fresh seafood lunch followed by swimming and the chance to explore some of the limestone caves in this area. Witness one of the world’s best the sunsets before you sit down for a lush dinner. The captain then will anchor for the night nearby a remote island where you’ll have the option for night fishing or just sit out on the deck and relax under the stars.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight on Junk

Day 6: Halong Bay - Hanoi - Flight to Hue (Br/-/-)

Hanoi - Hue: 770km, 1h flight

After waking up surrounded by the tranquil beauty of the bay, we have time for an early morning dip. Then it’s time for breakfast whilst you watch the sun rise over Ha Long bay. The cruise continues to move around the bay for in order for us to discover more secluded areas; we then go kayaking and continue swimming around the bay. The boat will be near us at all times for those who prefer to relax on board. Around midday, we will return to the main harbour before transferring to our awaiting vehicle for the three-hour journey to Noi Bai airport for the flight to Hue. Upon arrival at Hue, our driver will meet and transfer you to the hotel for check-in.

Meals Included: Brunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

Day 7: Hue Imperial City (B/L/-)

After breakfast at our hotel, we set out to explore Hue's famous highlights, starting with a boat trip along the Perfume River to reach the picturesque Thien Mu otherwise known as the Heavenly Lady Pagoda. One of the most poignant displays here is the car belonging to a former monk, who in 1963, drove to Saigon and set himself alight to protest against the South Vietnamese regime and its treatment of Buddhists. We then disembark the boat for a visit the elaborate tomb of former emperor Tu Duc, which was built between 1864 and 1867 by 3000 soldiers and workers. It includes fifty monuments surrounded by a 1500m long wall covering. We then head back to Hue for a well-deserved lunch!

In the afternoon, we visit Hue Imperial City, the last royal city of Vietnam with beautiful structures including the Flag Tower, Ngo Mon Gate and Nine Dynastic Urns to name a few. Built in the 19th century by the Nguyen dynasty, the City was home to the former Emperors of Vietnam from 1802 until 1945. We then do some shopping at the Dong Ba Market to enjoy the specialities of Hue city.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

Day 8: Hue - Danang - Hoi An (B/L/-)

Hue - Hoi An: 140km, ~2h30min drive

After breakfast at the hotel, we bid Hue farewell and continue our south bound journey to the old trading town of Hoi An via Danang. Along the way, we will stop at Lang Co beach for coffee and refreshments. From here we head up to the Hai Van pass, stopping at the top to take in the stunning views towards Da Nang city. Continuing on our way down the other side and into Da Nang, we will stop at the Museum of Cham Sculpture where the mix between French-colonial architecture and Cham elements are set in picturesque surroundings. Founded during the colonial French rule in 1915, this museum preserves sculpture items featuring the cultural, spiritual and ritual lives of the Cham people. Our next destination is the Marble Mountains - a cluster of five marble and limestone hills located in Ngu Hanh Son District, south of Danang City. All of the mountains have cave entrances and numerous tunnels, and it is possible to climb to the summit of Mt. Thuy. Several Buddhist sanctuaries can also be found within the mountains, making this a popular destination. Upon our arrival in Hoi An, we assist you with check-in and the rest of the day is free for your own exploration of this remarkable town.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Day 9: Hoi An Cooking Class (B/L/-)

After breakfast at hotel, we start the day at 8:45am with a drink at Hai Scout Cafe - our meeting point. Our guide will escort you to a colorful market where you can experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy market. We will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers and purchase some of the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson. From here, we board the Red Bridge boat for a leisurely cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoi An River and arrive our destination: Red Bridge Cooking School. Here you get a chance to view local river life, so, make sure your camera is handy. On arrival, we explore the cooking school’s herb and vegetable garden, before learning about some of Hoi An’s and Vietnam’s well-known dishes. The cooking lesson runs for about 2 hours - each dish is first demonstrated by the Red Bridge chef’s, before we prepare the same dish ourselves. Included in the class is a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving (plate decoration). After the lesson, we sit down and eat exactly what we have cooked. Delicious!

Recipes:

1. Making fresh Rice paper
2. Fresh Rice Paper Rolls of Shrimp
3. Crispy Hoi An Pancakes with Shrimp, Herbs & a Peanut Sauce
4. Marinated Beef on a Sizzling Plate
5. Vietnamese Eggplant in Clay Pot
6. Food Decoration - Pineapple Boat, 3 Colored Flowers & Vietnamese Hand Fan
   Back your hotel & free after

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Day 10: Hoi An - Danang - Flight to Saigon (B/-/-)

Danang - Saigon: ~850km, 2h flight

After breakfast at hotel, our driver will meet and transfer you to Airport for flight to Saigon. Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport, meet your new guide and driver who then escort you to the hotel for check-in. You will then have time for your own lunch and some well-deserved relaxation.

In the afternoon, we take a half day to visit all famous sites of this bustling city. The first destination is the Reunification Palace, the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until April 30, 1975 when the North Vietnamese tanks came crashing through the front gates, bringing the U.S.-Vietnam War to a dramatic end. This will be followed by some French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral. Notre Dame Cathedral was built between 1877 and 1883 where the stones used to create it were exported entirely from France. Apart from the religious meaning, the most captivating point of this Cathedral is its special neo-Romanesque style of architecture. Adjacent to the cathedral stands the Central Post Office, finished in 1891. It is another fine example of French architecture and is Vietnam's largest post office. After that, we continue our trip to the bustling Ben Thanh Market, which is a fantastic place for bargains of all kinds. There are a number of vendors and food stalls in the market food section that offers fresh local dishes. You also can find many goods for daily use as well as a variety of eye-catching souvenirs. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

Day 11: Saigon - Tay Ninh - Cu Chi (B/L/-)

Saigon - Tay Ninh: 90km, ~2h10m drive; Tay Ninh - Cu Chi: 70km, ~1h40m drive

After breakfast, you will be picked up at 8:00 am to drive through archetypal southern Vietnamese countryside heading towards the Tay Ninh Province. Upon arrival, we visit the Cao Dai Holy See temple where the followers of this religion practice a unique religious blend of all the major faiths of the world. The temple is dominated by the all-seeing eye and is an architectural wonder due to its influence from contributing religions. The daily service is impressive where worshippers wear robes of different colours denoting their function and status and kneel in blocks whilst they pray and perform complex rituals. Moving on, we have scheduled a special lunch of the local cuisines in a popular local eatery for your taste of Tay Ninh.

After lunch, we drive to the incredible Cu Chi tunnel, a 250 km underground tunnel system which was created manually by Vietnamese resistance fighters often known as Viet Cong during their long struggle for independence. Also on display are various mantraps and the remains of an American tank, as well as numerous bomb craters made by 500-pound bombs, dropped by B52 bombers. After this fascinating visit, we drive back to Saigon for your last night.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

Day 12: Saigon - Ben Tre - Can Tho (B/L/-)

Saigon - Ben Tre: 107 km, ~2h drive

After breakfast at the hotel, we leave the bustling city of Saigon behind us and depart for the Mekong Delta known to local as ‘Vietnam’s biggest rice basket’. Upon arrival at Hung Vuong pier in Ben Tre, we embark a boat to cruise along Ben Tre River, a tribute to the Mekong. With stops at the brickfield to see how bricks are made by hand and a coconut candy home factory located along the canal where we witness how to make these local delicacy. You will then have the opportunity to taste bee honey tea at a local honey farm and a variety of tropical fruit that grow abundantly in the orchards of the Mekong Delta. You can then walk or cycle through the coconut groves and green rice paddies to soak up and relax in the tranquil countryside atmosphere.

After lunch at a local restaurant, we will take a trip on small rowing boats through a maze of waterways lined by two rows of palm trees. We cruise back to the pier and disembark for a drive to Can Tho where we will spend the night.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Can Tho

Day 13: Can Tho - Cai Rang Floating Market - Drive to Rach Gia - Speed boat to Phu Quoc Island (B/-/-)

Rising early to the sounds of the Delta coming to life for another day, we have breakfast and start our day with a boat cruise along the seemingly endless waterway of Mighty Mekong River. We arrive amongst Cai Rang floating market, the biggest and most famous floating market in the Mekong Delta. View hundreds of boats which are packed with mango, bananas, papaya and pineapple…  all for selling, buying and exchanging. We visit the lush orchards and are treated to a delicious tropical fruits. Then we will drive to Rach Gia to take a speed boat to Phu Quoc.
Upon arrival, resort shuttle bus will pick you up and transfer to resort to checking in.
The rest of the day is free at leisure

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Phu Quoc

Day 14: Phu Quoc - Free

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Phu Quoc

Day 15: Phu Quoc - Free (B/-/-)

Relax and enjoy your Phu Quoc sandy beach: swim, sunbathe and take in the delights of this beautiful holiday resort. Optional sightseeing is available, go scuba diving and enjoy water sports. Or, just relax and enjoy the resort.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Phu Quoc

Day 16: Phu Quoc - Flight to Saigon - Departure (B/-/-)

After breakfast at hotel, time free until your driver meets you and transfers you to the airport for your flight to Saigon. Enjoy the rest of your trip whether you be heading home or flying to another destination. We thank you for choosing Tonkin Voyage Travel!

Meals Included: Breakfast