Essential Vietnam 17 Days - Viet International Travel and Trade Co., Ltd

Welcome to Hanoi city, Vietnam!

Upon arrival in Hanoi, meet ViTravel’s guide and we will escort you to your hotel for check-in. Enjoy your free time at leisure. We can arrange an evening street food tour in which you will walk around Old Quarter and enjoy street foods (at your request).

Overnight in Hanoi.

Breakfast is served at your hotel.

8.00 AM: our tour expert picks you up at your hotel, and we travel to Hoa Lu. Along the way, we may take some stop-over for photos and refreshments while enjoying the rural stunning scenery on the way. Arrive in Hoa Lu which is the former capital of Vietnam (968 – 1009) under the Dinh and Le dynasties. Visit Dinh temple, Le temple and surroundings.

Have lunch at a local restaurant with local food.

After lunch, take the amazing boat trip to visit Trang An grottoes which is a gathering of 31 valleys, 50 cross-water caves, and home to 600 kinds of flora and over 200 kinds of fauna, many of them in the Red Book of Vietnam. While rowing through Trang An grotto in the quiet, fresh air of the highlands, with only the sound of birds and the oars stirring the clear water and surrounded by magnificent forested mountains upon which graze white goats, visitors enjoy a heaven on earth.

15:00: Leave Trang An and drive back to Hanoi city.

18:00: Arrive at your hotel in Hanoi. Free on your own.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Breakfast is served at your hotel.

After breakfast, check out hotel but leave your luggage, we will first take a visit to the outside of the Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum then stroll through the garden to the Ho Chi Minh Stilt House where Ho Chi Minh lived from 1958 until he passed away in 1969. This simple two-room dwelling has been preserved in the same condition as during his life and can be viewed through the windows. Continue to the special architecture 11th century One Pillar Pagoda which was rebuilt after being destroyed by the French in 1954.

Secondly, visit the Temple of Literature – The first royal academy in the country.

The Temple of Literature has a peaceful series of walled courtyards and graceful gateways, and this monument is one of the best-preserved examples of traditional Vietnamese architecture. Founded in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius, this was also the site of Vietnam’s first university. In one courtyard, giant stone tortoises bear steles on their backs, listing the accomplishments of graduating scholars.

Break for lunch at a local restaurant.

Thirdly, visit the Museum of Ethnology (Hoa Lo Prison if you visit on Monday) – one of the 25 most attractive museums in Asia. The museum was opened in 1997 to preserve and introduce most of the richest cultures, and traditions of 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam. It is a place which is combined with a very green and tranquil garden behind where you can see and learn more about some of the very popular architectures as King people’s traditional house, Ede tribe’s longhouse, Bana tribe’s communal house, Stilt house of Tay tribe…

Hanoi is a blend of long-established traditions and modern imprints of Western colonization. Tree-lined boulevards and colonial buildings give the city a touch of Western elegance, while crowded blocks of tiny old houses and narrow lanes full of daily life bear the charms of the past centuries. Take 45 minutes Cyclo Tour through the Old Quarter: Also known as the 36 streets, this bustling area of narrow streets is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. Originally each of the 36s names’ was related to the products being sold there. It’s a great place to explore on foot with numerous photo opportunities. Before coming back to your hotel, we will watch a water puppet show.

Dinner is on your own arrangement.

Then we transfer to Hanoi train station to board the overnight train to Sapa.

Early morning arrival in Lao Cai, our tour guide will welcome you at the exit platform and transfer you to Sapa for refreshing and breakfast before the trek.

After breakfast, departure for a mini trekking journey. There are many photo opportunities on the way. Travel downhill to Muong Hoa valley. Begin the trekking on a fairly rocky road through Lao Chai village, a Black Hmong ethnic village. Then continue to Ta Van village of Giay ethnic minority people. The terraced fields are great for photographing. Visit local people’s houses and schools en route. Return to Sapa by car. Check in at your hotel and enjoy your time at leisure.

Overnight in Sapa.

Breakfast is at your hotel.

This morning, by 8.30 am, take a car ride 5 km to the North East of Sapa. From here, take off the car to visit Matra village of the Hmong people. After this village, do a 4-hour trek through the mountain and reach Ta Phin village – a handy craft traditional village of 2 different minorities: the Red Dzao and the Black Hmong. The Ta Phin village is surrounded by mountains and the landscapes are beautiful.

Back to Sapa town to check out the hotel and enjoy lunch.

15.00- 15.30: say goodbye Sapa. You get back to Hanoi by limousine van. Arrival at the hotel in Hanoi at around 20.30 - 21.00 pm. You check in at the hotel and have time at your leisure. Dinner today is on your own arrangement.

**If today is on Tuesday, Thursday, Sat or Sunday, we will recommend visiting some of the most beautiful markets in North West Vietnam.

Breakfast is served at your hotel.

Morning, our driver will pick you up at your hotel lobby and depart for Halong Bay. Sit back and enjoy the peaceful countryside symbolic of the Red River Delta. We will arrive at Halong Bay’s wharf around noon and board a cruise through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters of Halong Bay. Here we enjoy the striking scenery of this World Heritage Site. While on board, we will be served fresh local seafood lunch followed by swimming and exploring some of the limestone caves in this area. Witness one of the world’s best 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 of night fishing or just sitting out on the deck and relaxing under the stars.

Waking up surrounded by the tranquil beauty of the bay, we have time for an early morning dip with joys and emotions for watching the sunrise on the sea followed by breakfast. The cruise continues to move around the bay for us to discover more secluded areas, we then take kayaking and swimming in the stunning bay. The junk will be near us at all times serving as a backup vessel for those that require it. At around midday, we will return to the main harbour before transferring to our awaiting vehicle for a 3-hour journey to Noi Bai airport for a flight to Hue.

Upon arrival at Hue airport, our driver will meet and transfer you to hotel for check-in.

Breakfast is served at your hotel.

After breakfast at hotel, we set out for the exploration of Hue's famous highlights, starting with a boat trip on the Perfume River to reach the picturesque Thien Mu otherwise known as 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 to 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 your lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we visit Hue Imperial City, the last royal city of Vietnam with various beautiful structures including the Flag Tower, Ngo Mon Gate, Nine Dynastic Urns, Nine Holy Cannons, Thai Hoa Palace and the Forbidden City or Tu Cam Thanh. 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 the walking and shopping in Dong Ba Market to enjoy the speciality of Hue city.

Overnight in Hue.

After breakfast at hotel, we bid Hue farewell and continue our southbound journey to the old trading town of Hoian via Danang. Along the way, we will stop at Lang Co beach for refreshments. From here we head up to the Hai Van pass, stopping at the top to take in the stunning views north over Lang Co beach and south over Danang city.

Upon arrival in Hoian, we take a walking tour to Hoi An Ancient Town – an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. We start our day with the Japanese Covered Bridge – one of Vietnam’s most iconic attractions. Created by the Japanese living in Hoian in the 1590s as a way to reach the Chinese quarter across the water, the bridge is a beautiful historical piece of Japanese architecture. It would be a shortcoming without a visit to Tan Ky House - one of the many ancient houses that make up Hoian Ancient Town. Built two centuries ago with both Japanese and Chinese influences on architecture, this house has been preserved through seven generations. While walking, we will encounter pretty houses of Chinese merchants. Another must-see destination is Phuc Kiem Assembly Hall - an excellent work of architecture considered as a heritage of historical significance. Built-in 1690, this Assembly Hall is in fact a temple dedicated to the sea goddess Thien Hau. Back to your hotel late afternoon.

Overnight in Hoian.

Breakfast is served at your hotel.

08.00 AM: Our local guide picks up you at the hotel lobby, you enjoy a cycling trip along country lanes at a peaceful pace viewing local life and pausing to see farmers toiling in their rice fields using centuries of farming practices. Peddle your way through palm forests, across bridges, and fields of water buffalo. Riding along country lanes at a peaceful pace viewing local life and stopping over to see farmers (If you can't cycle, we will arrange a car or minivan as an alternative)

9:00 AM: Take a short break with a local family at Cam Thanh Village before enjoying a 1.5-hour ride on Traditional Basket Boat (round boat) in the Water Coconut Palm Forest. Learn how to sail the basket boat and spend your time catching fish and “purple crabs” in the Canal.

10:30 AM: Continue to drive to Tra Que Organic Vegetable Village where a large variety of vegetables are produced for the local community. At the village, you will be shown the environmentally sustainable practices which the local villagers have used for centuries and are still being used extensively today.

11:30 AM: Visit a local family and after a short, informative and fun cooking lesson, we sit down for a delicious lunch. Be back in town central your hotel for relaxing.

Overnight in Hoian.

Breakfast is served at your hotel.

Today, you are free at leisure until being picked up and transferred to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh city.

Upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh, meet our driver and we transfer to the hotel. Check-in and relax (We can arrange a Saigon jeep tour by night or a scooter evening tour… on your request).

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

Breakfast is served at your hotel.

8:00 AM: Our guide & driver pick you up at the hotel.

A half-day tour to Cu Chi, located about 70 km from Saigon, where you will visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, the former stronghold of the Viet Cong with a network of tunnels three levels deep stretching over 200 km.

Cu Chi tunnels played a vital part in the U.S.-Vietnam War in that they allowed the Viet Cong to control a large rural area only 30 to 40 km from former Saigon.

At its height, the tunnel system stretched from Saigon to the Cambodian border. The network, parts of which were several levels deep, included innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centres and kitchens.

Today the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience and feel of what underground life during the war must have been like.

The tunnels have been widened for our benefit (otherwise we would not be able to enter them!) For those interested, there's even the opportunity to try an AK47 or MK16 at the nearby rifle range. (At your own cost)

Your lunch will be served at a local restaurant en route.

Your afternoon begins with the exploration of Ho Chi Minh City, including the Reunification Palace which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until April 30, 1975. Then, continuing our trip to the War Remnants Museum that is formerly known as the Museum of American War Crimes. This is a poignant display of the futility of war. Close to the museum, we go to visit the Central Post Office which is the country’s largest post office built in 1891. It is a fine example of French architecture and is Vietnam's largest post office. Back to your hotel and free on your own. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

Breakfast is served at your hotel.

08:00 AM: our guide and driver pick you up from your hotel and bring you to the “Capital” of Coconut – Ben Tre. It takes about 2-2.5 hours to transfer on the way to Ben Tre.

On arrival in Hung Vuong Pier (Ben Tre town). Take a boat on the Ben Tre river – one of the tributaries of the Mekong river, Sightseeing lively activities along the river as fishing, and water transferring... Stop at brickwork to see how to make bricks in handy traditional style by printing and baking. Visit one of plenty of coconut processing workshops located along the Cái sơn canal. Turn on natural scissors creeks where they look smaller and smaller to go to Nhon Thanh village. Take a walk to the family workshop making sleep mats and enjoy some fruits.

Take a tuk-tuk or ride on shady paths, pass by green rice fields and vegetable plains to be able to touch on real life and find out about tropical culture from Peasants. Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon -  Take a rowing boat along water palm creek and a boat along Cai Coi creek back to Hung Vuong Pier where our driver awaits for you to transfer back to Ho Chi Minh.

You are free in the evening and overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

Breakfast is served at your hotel.

You are free at leisure until being picked up and transferred to the airport for your flight to Phu Quoc Island. Phu Quoc is a paradise for sun and sea lovers. Here, you can spend a whole day swinging away in a hammock on a deserted beach, listening to the sound of the surf and then witnessing a mesmerising sunset. Those members of the family who love being active can keep themselves busy with cycling, trekking, snorkelling, scuba diving and fishing.

Upon arrival, the resort’s shuttle bus will pick you up and transfer you to your resort for checking in. You will have free time to relax and explore the island on your own.

Relax and enjoy your Phu Quoc sandy beach: swim, sunbathe and take in the delights of this beautiful holiday resort.

Optional sightseeing or a visit to offshore islands, scuba diving and other water sports are available. Or, just relax and enjoy the resort facilities.

Overnight in Phu Quoc.

Relax and enjoy your Phu Quoc sandy beach: swim, sunbathe and take in the delights of this beautiful holiday resort.

Optional sightseeing or a visit to offshore islands, scuba diving and other water sports are available. Or, just relax and enjoy the resort facilities.

Overnight in Phu Quoc.

Breakfast is served at your hotel.

Free morning at your own leisure until the transfer to the airport for your flight departure. It’s up to your flight departure, we will assist you to book a domestic flight to Ho Chi Minh (or Hanoi city on your request).

Thank you for choosing our services!

ViTravel goodbye and see you again.