Magnificent Terrace Fields of Vietnam - 15 days

Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi

Good morning Hanoi Chao Ban! Welcome to Hanoi, we will meet and take you to your hotel, check-in and today is free at your leisure to rest or explore, discovering your own first impressions of Vietnam. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi city tour, night train to Lao Cai.

Depart at 8:00 am from your hotel by van. We will begin our day by visiting Uncle Ho, learning about his great life at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Presidential Palace, and his residential place. Next stop is the nearby Temple of Literature. The site of Vietnam´s first University, built in twelfth century, to teach Confucius’s theory to royals. Here we will also have a chance to see a traditional music performance. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant for a taste of authentic Hanoi Pho (noodle soup). In the afternoon, choose one from the numerous museums or temples around Hanoi (Museum of Ethnology, Women´s Museum, History Museum or Quan Thanh Temple). In the late afternoon walk around Hoan Kiem lake and Hanoi´s fascinating Old Quarter for some great fun, shopping, and street side traditional food, maybe to try one “hanoi bia”. This is your chance to be part of typical Hanoian style and its traditional Vietnamese culture. We finish our relaxing but informative day by attending a Water Puppet Show, a favorite experience for all visitors to Vietnam. We can help you to get back to your hotel if you wish, but often our guests would rather just spend the evening enjoying a drink with a view of the city.

8:15 pm: Transfer from an prearranged meeting spot to the station for your night train to Sapa boarding at around 9: 15 pm. You will be in shared AC soft sleeper cabins to travel North to Lao Cai town. (Our tour guide will show you a mini hotel which you will have shower and basic breakfast before going on Halong bay).

Day 3: Hanoi - Lao Cai - Sapa, trek to Ta Phin (~ 14km)

Today’s morning: The train arrives at about 6:00 am; meet your  guide at the train station and drive through the clouds by car / van to Sapa (~ 1.5 hours). When you arrive in Sapa you will be taken to a local restaurant for a morning shower & breakfast. We will then take short ride from Sapa to our trekking base where we start our trek up and down hills (~ 5- 6 hrs) through terraced rice fields, bamboo ranges and many minority villages. Lunch break before we keep hitting the road to Ta Phin village. Our Dao host family will welcome you to their traditional home where we will share in an ethnic style dinner and stay the night. Inclusion:

Day 4: More in Ta Phin and back to Sapa

At the first gleam of daylight, you will see and hear the sounds of morning village life. You can join your host family in some of their activities like feeding the animals, cleaning the houses, gardening or preparing breakfast. After breakfast, we could take a short morning wander around the village or resulting in more time spent with the host family. You will be then supported by our car / van back to Sapa (30 minutes). When we arrive back in Sapa, check in to the hotel, shower, and pause for lunch on your own. At 2:30 pm we will take an easy walk (~ 5km) to Cat Cat village, homeland of Black H’mong hill tribe and to take part in a traditional ethnic music performance put on by the ethnic minority people. Your own dinner and evening, sleep in the hotel in Sapa. Note: The music show in CatCat is closed on Wed afternoon, an alternative will be arranged. 

Day 5: A wonderful trek to Hmong village (~ 6km), - Lao Cai

A wonderful trek to Hmong village then Lao Cai for night train to Hanoi Wake up in Sapa town, breakfast at the hotel then enjoy the morning with some of your new friends that you may have met the afternoon before. You have the entire morning and lunch for free time and visiting the lively markets. At around 2:00 pm, travel by car/van down to the south of Sapa town then we will do a mix of wonderful trek & hike along the terraced paddy fields, streams and villages (2- 3 hrs) to visit the peaceful Hmong village of Y Linh Ho to learn more about the Black Hmong. You will return to Sapa by van. A refreshing shower will be arranged before your train in Sapa or Lao Cai. Dinner on your own well before the train leaves for Hanoi and arrives to Hanoi at about 5:00 am.

Day 6: Hanoi – Ha Long,

 Arrival in Hanoi in the early morning at round 5:00 am. Walk to mini hotel near the Tran Quy Cap station gate to have shower and basic set menu breakfast. Depart, 8:00 – 8: 30 am on a shared van from your hotel to Halong city. After 3.5 hours driving and viewing simple, country side, rice paddy life, we arrive at the at port. At 12.00, the junk crews welcome guests on board at Hon Gai Wharf. Check- in, enjoy welcome drink & cruise briefing. Lunch with fresh local seafood while cruising to Bai Tu Long bay via Indochina film studio, Teapot islet, Blockhouse islet, Goat Head islet. Stop for swimming, visit mysterious Thien Canh cave. Relax at a wild beach, swim & kayak to explore the bay. Back to junk to enjoy relaxing or the sunset. Dinner and overnight on board nearby Vong Vieng village or Trinh Nu cave.

Day 7: Explore the tranquil scenery in Bai Tu Long bay, back to Hanoi- Night train to Hue

Early risers can enjoy the sunrise and the quiet breath-taking beauty of Bay’s landscape. From 7.30 to 8:00 am have breakfast in the fresh air then visit Vong Vieng fishing village by a rustic row-boat. Meet the locals, visit floating school & fish farms. More time to swim in the middle of the bay. From 10: 15, we serve on a La-Carte-Menu, you can order any dishes in the menu whenever you want for breakfast and lunch. Continue cruising through the bay, along the way seeing more of the fascinating formations. 11: 45 check out cabin while cruising back. By noon at 12:00, we will be ashore then hit the road back to Hanoi at around 4: 00 pm. 6:00 pm, we pick up from our office or your hotel for night train to Hue. Boarding at 7: 00 pm. You will be in shared AC soft sleeper cabin (s).

Day 8: Arrival Hue, city tour of Vietnam last feudal dynasty, boat trip

Arrival Hue at around 10:00 am. Station pick up then transfer to hotel to take a short rest, have late breakfast. In the afternoon, we will visit the former Imperial Citadel.After that we walk/transfer to the boat dock for our cruising on the Perfume River, viewing the city and the tranquil villages on the riverbank. We will walk up to visit the Thien Mu pagoda, a nicely located pagoda, overlooking the Perfume River and the beautiful scenery beyond, where you get to learn more about the Buddhism in Vietnam. Visit Dong Ba market if time permtis. Transfer back to your hotel. Check in hotel. Free time to relax, shower and stay overnight at your hotel.

Day 9: Hue – cycling – Transfer to Aluoi, hill tribe homestay

Breakfast at your hotel then we pick you up for cycling to visit Vong Canh Hill. Stop to visit Giao Heaven to learn more of Hue culture in worship. Arrive Vong Canh Hill - here is the best view for you to have pictures of Perfume River and Pine Trees. Cycling back and continue visiting incense–making village and hat–making village. The last site on your cycling day is Duc Ward where has bronze–casting village. On the road back hotel you can see more the hidden sites of Hue city. Lunch on your own account. In the afternoon, leave Hue city to A Luoi far (~ 60km from Hue city on 49 National Highway). Along the way you can see the life and daily activities of hill tribes such as Katu, Ta Oi. On arrival A luoi Town, you will visit Ashau village – one of the villages in A Luoi where took place the violent battlefield during Vietnam – America war in 19th century. It is also the place received the dioxin poison which is the biggest one of Vietnam in the war from America Army which its result affect local people until now. Next driver transfers you to A Roang village along Ho Chi Minh trail for more enjoyment of beauties of forest. On arrival A Roang you will spend time for relaxing and enjoying at A Roang Hot Spring. Check in at Aka Chi village to homestay. You can meet minority people to know more of weaving textile… of Ta oi people. Have dinner at stilthouse and enjoy traditional music show is performed by Ta Oi minority people to learn of cultural and daily activities of this ethnic people. Overnight in stilthouse.

Day 10: A luoi – Hoi An

Wake up early morning to enjoy the fresh air in the mountainous. Breakfast will be served at our homestay, check out then we take an easy walk inside the jungle (~ 3 hrs). After that we transfer to Hieu for lunch at a local restaurant then onto Hoi An, overnight here. This is also a very good chance for you to get get nice tailor-made clothes at a reasonable price.

Day 11: Hoi An - walking tour.

Visit Tra Que vegetable village The center of Vietnam is home to many of World Heritage Sites and Hoian is one of them. Here in this ancient town of Hoi An, 30 km south of Danang, lies on the banks of the Thu Bon River. Free time in the morning to relax then in the afternoon, we pick you up at your hotel for walking tou around the town to visit the old charming Hoi An. We will visit the old Tan Ky House, the famous Japanese Covered Bridge, the stylish Phuc Kien Assembly Hall. After that you will make a bicycle trip to countryside of Hoi An for more enjoyment at Tra que vegetables village – a famous one in Hoi An. Walk around for visitting and knowing more of the way local people plant variety of vegetables. Back to hotel before dark. Free time to relax, take shower after full day tour. Overnight at your hotel.

Day 12: Hoi An – Danang, fly to Saigon

Breakfast at the hotel then transfer to the airport in Danang for early morning flight to Saigon. Airport pick up upon arrival them transfer down to visit Cu Chi outdoor museum to learn about the infamous tunnel systems of the Viet Cong. Take this opportunity to get a unique understanding of the guerillas underground fight strategies during the war and crawl through 50 - 100 meters of the 200 km tunnel system. On the way back to Saigon, local rice paper workshops, and views of Vietnam countryside and paddy fields are pleasant sights. Arrival in Saigon, continue our trip to visit the War Remnants Museum, the Notre Dame Cathedral and the historic Central Post Office, we will drop you off at your hotel around 5:30 pm. overnight at your hotel.

Day 13: Saigon – Visit the fertile Mekong delta, cycling – Ben Tre

Departing Saigon at 8:00 am from your hotel and heading south of Saigon to Cai Be. Upon arrival, we board on boat for visit the floating market and cruise over the mighty mekong river (~ 1.5km wide) to DongPhu island. We start cycling one hour under the green canopy, explore the orchards and daily life of farmers. Lunch break on island. Then we cruise 1.5 hr down mekong river to ChoLach canals, cycling to discover the nursery gardens & fruit orchards around. Then we cruise again 1.5 hr to BenTre for dinner and stay overnight homestay in farmer house. 

Day 14: Ben Tre – Saigon

Breakfast will be served at local farmer house. Be already for our wonderful cyling to day with the total around 35km from morning until 3.00 pm with many stops and visit. We start cycling 4hrs back on small trail along the river, see daily life of the locals, feeling lost on winding road under the green coconut canopy. The coconut palms that make BenTre famous in Vietnam. Arrive in BenTre at noon time, we cruise down the busy branches of Mekong and into a peaceful canal. Visit an island orchard. Pau for lunch with traditional meal, see the daily life of farmers and try exotic seasonal fruits unique to the region. Hammock siesta, then we cycle to explore this quiet area, call on coconut-candy workshop and other handicraft workshop (if time permits) before coming back to our bus. Transfer back to Saigon. Check in hotel, relax on your own and stay overnight here. Inclusion: Transfer, guide, entrance fee, breakfast, lunch, ,Mt. bike or Hybrid bike, local boat, hotel.

Day 15: Departure Saigon, 

Breakfast at hotel. Depending on your flight you may have sometime for some more shopping. Then we will transfer you to the airport for your flight home.

***End of the trip***