Day 1: Hanoi arrival
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Welcome at the airport and transfer to Hanoi hotel for check –in. Rest of the day free to explore the city. In Hanoi, exploring on your own is relatively easy on foot or by bike. Many travellers believe the true appeal and essence of Hanoi is discovered wandering the streets, tasting local market food, observing the local way of life, and taking in the architecture and surroundings.
Overnight at hotel in Hanoi
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Day 2: Cooking class & Hanoi highlights (B, L)
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After breakfast, we depart for the heart of the Old Quarter. Enjoy a welcome at the restaurant, then head to the local market to buy ingredients. Once in the market, enjoy the daily activities and see the variety of goods on offer. Learn and buy some main ingredients and herbs used in the cooking class. Once food shopping is done, head back to the restaurant to start the hands-on cooking lesson and preparation of lunch. Once all is ready, lunch is served!
Then, continue our day with most highlighted spots of Hanoi including firstly the outside of Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, his “House on stilt” and the famous One Pillar Pagoda. Then a visit to the Temple of Literature – the first university of Vietnam, which is now dedicated to Confucian worship and History Museum. In the evening we will attend a performance at the famous Water Puppet Theatre.
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Day 3: Hanoi – Ninh Binh – overnight train to Lao Cai (B, L, D)
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At 8.30 am, we take the 2 and half-hour drive through rural northern Vietnam to the site of Vietnam’s first capital, Hoa Lu. Visit the temples dedicated to Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang of the Dinh Dynasty (968-80), and Emperor Le Dai Hanh of the Le Dynasty (980-1009). The ancient Hoa Lu Citadel (most of which has since been destroyed) once covered an area of three square kilometres. Depart for Tam Coc Town for a Vietnamese lunch.
After lunch board your private sampan to discover Trang An, a nature reserve similar to Tam Coc however less visited. Limestone hills surround a peaceful river which passes through a series of caves (one which takes 15-minutes to pass through in darkness). An ‘eco tourism’ area, the only interruptions here are the sound of birds and the gentle paddle of the oar upon the crystal clear river. Return Hanoi in the early evening, dinner and take an overnight train to Lao Cai. The train is very basic; we travel in 'soft sleeper' class, which is a compartment for up to four people - a communal environment! Blankets and pillows are provided. This journey is in keeping with the adventurous nature of our trips and allows you to experience a taste of travelling local-style in Vietnam.
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Day 4: Lao Cai –Sapa –Lao Chai & Ta Van (B)
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Arrive Lao Cai around 6am, you will take a 45 –minute drive to Sapa, a remote land littered by a patchwork of diversely rich cultures of ethic groups. Transfer to your hotel in Sapa for some refreshment and breakfast. Visit Sapa market to see traders selling their wares, journey to the top of Ham Rong Mountain and marvel at the scenic panorama from this hilltop location.
In the afternoon, commence the trip again with transfer to Lao Chai village, home to the Black H’mong Tribe and then trek on to Ta Van, the only village of the Giay minority. Return to your hotel for your relaxation.
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Day 5: Sapa – Lao Cai (B)
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Free time for bars, photos or trek independantly to nearby Cat Cat village. Depending on the day of week, there optional tour to market before transfer to Lao Cai for your overnight train journey back to Hanoi.
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Day 6: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B, L, D)
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Breakfast at hotel, then we depart Hanoi and drive to Halong Bay. The area is surrounded by spectacular beaches and is, naturally, renowned for its delicious seafood! We will arrive around midday and we will board a junk boat for our overnight cruise. The cruise will visit the famous cave and then find a secluded spot for swimming, kayaking and sunbathing. Dinner will be followed by the option of a spot of night fishing if you're still awake!
Overnight on junk
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Day 7: Halong Bay -Hanoi & flight to Hue (B, L)
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This day you will have further cruise on the bay, visit rock piles and sun bathing before getting back to the wharf in the early afternoon. Our waiting vehicle will transfer you straight to the airport for the flight to Hue.
On arrival, you are greeted by our guide and driven to hotel for relaxation.
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Day 8: Hue (B)
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We meet our local guide and take a tour of the ancient walled Citadel containing the former Imperial Palace. The Citadel was closely modeled on the Forbidden City in Beijing and was almost totally destroyed during the Tet Offensive of the Vietnam War. It is now being faithfully restored thanks to the generous funding by UNESCO. We follow this with a trip into the surrounding countryside to see the final resting place of former Emperors by visiting one of the most impressive Royal Tombs.
This afternoon is at leisure while in the evening there is an optional royal dinner which recreates the magnificence and splendour of a long-lost era.
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Day 9: Hue – Danang –Hoi An (B)
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Breakfast at hotel, road transfer to Danang, watch over Lang Co fishing village and white sand beach. Continued to Danang. Take the panoramic view of Danang city from afar. Proceed to Hoian. On the way, visit China Beach, stone sculpturing village on the foot of Marble Mountain. Visit the Hoian Ancient Town. Visit Phuoc Kien Temple, Tan Ky old house, where keep many ceramic antiques. Explore the special architectural style of Bridge pagoda.
Overnight at hotel in Hoi An
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Day 10: Hoi An (B)
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We have free time in Hoi An to explore the handicrafts, ceramics and fabrics that are sold at an abundance of markets. Hoi An is renowned for tailoring; pack your favourite item of clothing and get it copied here! If you're all shopped-out, you might enjoy relaxing on the serene coastal beaches with some local cuisine.
Overnight at hotel in Hoi An
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Day 11: Hoi An – Nha Trang (B)
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Nha Trang is a popular beach side destination for many travelers and is brimming with restaurants, bars and nightlife. You can choose to relax and swim in the surrounding crystal clear waters - try your hand at kite surfing, scuba diving or maybe hit the seas on a catamaran. To really chill out on the seas you could maybe take a cruise around the islands with a seafood lunch.
Overnight at hotel in Nha Trang
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Day 12: Nha Trang (B)
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We have a final day in Nha Trang for some sightseeing in and around Nha Trang
Overnight at hotel in Nha Trang
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Day 13: Nha Trang – flight to Saigon (B)
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Today we catch our flight to Ho Chi Minh City, discover the infectious energy of Vietnam’s biggest city that when known as Saigon, was once the capital of South Vietnam and remains the country’s commercial center.
During your free time you can take a tour by cyclo (rickshaw) to various sights around town. See Notre Dame Cathedral, Gustav Eiffel's Post Office, the Opera House, Rex Hotel, and town hall or you may wish to visit the War Remnants Museum or the Reunification Palace.
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Day 14: Mekong Delta exploration (B, L, D)
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Continue to Can Tho for a Bassac cruise through the Mekong Delta. Depart downstream on the Hau river, with time to relax as you float along the Cho Lach canal past bustling markets, churches, paddy fields, sugar cane plantations and forests. Stop off at a local village on the banks of the river Mang Thit to appreciate the local way of life before visiting an orchard or rice field. Enjoy the sunset (conditions permitting) and anchor for the night near the Tra On floating market.
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Day 15: Mekong Delta - Saigon (B)
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Continue the cruise, visiting the Cai Rang floating market before arriving back at Can Tho, where you will disembark for your return journey to. The rest of the day is at spent at leisure.
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Day 16: Saigon departure (B)
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Transfer to the airport for your onward flight. Alternatively you may choose to extend your holiday with one of our beach extensions.
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