10 Days - Amazing North and South Vietnam

“Xin chào - Welcome to Vietnam” - Upon arival, you will be greeted by VietSense Travel guide and driver at airport then transfer to hotel in city for check in. (Check in time: 14.00. Early check in at surcharge). Refresh yourself after a long-hault flight at hotel or explore Hanoi city on your own.

Overnight at hotel

Meals: None

Start your first day trip to visit Ho Chi Minh Complex with Ba Dinh Square, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (from outside), the Presidential Palace, the house on stilt, the botanical garden and the One-pillar pagoda. This used to be the residence of the Governor of Indochina until 1954, it became the place where President Ho Chi Minh lived and worked until his last day.

Continue the tour to Temple of Literature – the first university of Vietnam and have a talk deep with our guide about education history of Vietnam since a thousand year ago until now.

After lunch, a short transfer to Hoa Lo Prison to learn about the bitter sweet history of Vietnam before enjoying a Water Puppet Show at Water Puppet Theatre. 

Free at leisure until pick up time for transfer to Railway station for overnight train to Lao Cai. 

Overnight on train (sharing 4-berth cabin)

Note: There is no day use room before transfer to Hanoi Railway Station.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Early morning, meet your guide at Lao Cai train station and transfer to a local restaurant in Sapa for breakfast and refreshment.

After breakfast, you will have a brief introduce about your trip then transfer downhill to Mong Sen, where you start trekking uphill through mountainous area. Enjoy while walking the spectacular view over rice paddy terraces, corn fields. Your picnic lunch will be provided on the spot. 

After lunch, we continue our trek downhill towards Taphin village where you will meet Red Dao and Black Hmong minorities, two largest ethnic groups in Sapa area. Stop by a house to talk with local people to know a bit more about their daily life, their customs and tradition. Have dinner and overnight in the village. 

Approx: 1-hour driving/ 4 hours walking/ 1-hour lunch.

Overnight at homestay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, we start our trek towards Ma Tra Village inhabited by Black Hmong people. We will pass through several minority villages; rice paddy terraces along the way. We will stop for our lunch at the village before get on your car for transfer back to Sapa. Have a shower for refreshment and relax after the trekking trip. Free at leisure until pick up time for transfer to Lao Cai Station for overnight train to Hanoi.

Overnight on train (Sharing 4-berth cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Early arrival at Hanoi Railway Station, meet your guide and transfer to hotel for check in your day use room. Refresh and have breakfast before hop on your car and transfer to Halong. A short time to relax before embarking the cruise at around noon. Take your key from the crew and enjoy relaxing time in your own cabin or at sundeck before having lunch at the restaurant.

After lunch, continue your journey to discover Halong Bay – the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Northern Vietnam. Each cruise will have different schedule for your trip and you may visit a beautiful cave, have some swimming or other activities like sunset party, cooking demonstration etc before dinner.

After dinner is your free time. You may choose to enjoy fresh air on the sundeck or playing board games or try your luck with squid fishing.

Dinner and overnight on board

Note:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

If you don’t mind, please try to wake up early and join the Taichi class with the crew and enjoy watching sunrise on the bay. Take part in other activities of the 2nd day while the boat cruise back to the Habour.

Farewell with the crew and Halong. Meet your guide and driver again for transfer to Hanoi airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh City.

Upon arrival, meet your guide and transfer to hotel for check in. 

Overnight at hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Spending your morning to visit the famous Cu Chi tunnels. This network of tunnels, which stretched for over 200km, became legendary during the 1960s. The network, parts of which were several levels deep, included innumerable trap doors, specifically constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers 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. 

Back to Saigon for lunch and a city tour to The Reunification Palace, the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until April 30, 1975. Close to the palace some of the best examples of French colonial architecture are represented in the forms of Notre Dame Cathedral (outside) and the Central Post Office. Finish the day with a stop at Ben Thanh Market where you could try your ability in bargain to get unforgettable gifts to your family and friends at home.

Overnight at hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Leave your hotel at around 07.30am to Cai Be and start with a visit of Cai Be floating market. The boat will take you deeper into the countryside on smaller canals to enjoy the peaceful time. Back to our boat to go across one of the longest river in the world, Mekong River, to come to An Bình Island where you will enjoy lunch at a local house. 

After lunch, have a short walk around the orchard and enjoy a cup of tea while listening to the traditional music; visit the local workshop to see how to make rice paper, coconut candy, pop-rice...; discover on how the local people create beautiful potteries from clay at brick kilns. 

The cruise will end at VinhLong city where you will meet your driver again and continue your trip to Can Tho. Check in your hotel and have a relax evening at Can Tho city.

Overnight at hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

An early start to visit Cai Rang floating market by boat. Take in the daily activities of the locals who live along the Mekong canals and try to buy some local fruits at the market. Back to hotel for breakfast and check out.

Have a stop to visit Binh Thuy Ancient House - a characteristic Mekong Delta house. Here, you will find not only an ancient structure demonstrating a unique combination of French and Vietnamese design features, but also a lush garden with a wide range of plants. 

Continue your drive back to Saigon with an en-route visit to Vinh Trang Pagoda. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Free at leisure until pick up time for transfer to Saigon airport for flight to next destination.

Check out: 12.00. Late check out at surcharge.

Meals: Breakfast