Vietnam Comprehensive

Meet your local guide upon arrival and transfer to the hotel. Take rest to recover travel fatigue.

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, your guide and driver will take you out for sightseeing of Hanoi. Hanoi is the modern-day capital of Vietnam, yet we can experience the mystery and charm of old days on its narrow lanes and traditional shophouses.

We first visit the vast Ho Chi Minh Memorial Complex. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum contains the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh (closed Mondays, Fridays, and during September and October). We will see also Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House, where the great leader lived from 1958 until his final days in 1969. The house is still in its original form.

Now, we continue to the miniature 11th century One Pillar Pagoda, which was rebuilt after being destroyed by the French in 1954. Next is the Temple of Literature with its walled courtyards and graceful gateways. Founded in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius, this was also the site of Vietnam's first university.

One more stop before the lunch break- the Museum of Ethnology (closed Mondays and during Vietnam New Year). This museum showcases art, traditional clothing, and reconstructions of traditional longhouses from 54 different ethnic groups.

The afternoon tour takes you to Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple that contains an islet with the tiny Tortoise Pagoda. Along the way, pass by other colonial landmarks such as the magnificent Opera House and St Joseph's Cathedral.

In the evening, enjoy the Water Puppet Show, a fantastic art form originating in northern Vietnam, best seen in Hanoi.

After dinner, now it's time to catch the train to Lao Cai, the gateway to Sapa in northern Vietnam. The train has privately run sleeping cars aimed for foreign travelers.  It's a comfortable 8-hour ride, arriving in Lao Chai around 6 a.m.

 Overnight train.

Meet your local crews upon arrival and proceed for an hour's drive to Sapa further north. Sapa is a lovely frontier town in northernmost Vietnam bordered with China.            

Have your breakfast in the hotel. You will have time to settle into your accommodation, and later we will proceed for the excursion and short trekking.

We take a short walk downhill through beautiful orchid gardens and pine forests. Reach the small village of Suoi Ho inhabited by H'mong ethnic minority then continue walking through rice paddy fields and spectacular scenery to Ma Tra- the Black Hmong tribal village of Matra, a minuscule village hiding way from the town. The Black H'mong survives 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 Sa Pa, many Hmong women make decorated cloth to sell on the town's main streets.

Next, we take an easy hike to the Ham Rong Mountain adjacent to the town. Ham Rong, which means 'Dragon's Jaw,' got its name due to its shape like a dragon's head. The mountain boasts orchard gardens, exotic flowers, and orchids. The peak of the mountain, called San May (which means the yard in the clouds) 5904 ft., offers a panoramic view of the Sapa town.

Overnight hotel in Sa Pa.

Today, we experience tribal life in the remote mountainous area. We see how the locals make their clothes and handicrafts, and enjoy the magnificent scenery that we will never forget. We will see the incredible golden rice terrace fields, the tropical bamboo forest, and a lovely waterfall in the famous valley "Muong Hoa."

On this hiking trip, we cover the distance of little more than 6 miles in about 4 hours.  We leave our hotel in Sapa, right after breakfast, and first drive to Lao Chai (5 miles)-a Black Hmong village where the hiking begins from. The people here make their living by making traditional clothes and handicrafts. Visit the valley with the golden rice terrace.

Our next destination is the Ta Van Village of Gjya people, a small group of ethnic people. Here, we will enjoy lunch with a family in a traditional village.

After lunch, we explore the amazingly terraced rice paddy fields and then continue through a tropical bamboo forest. The final destination is a lovely waterfall, which also serves as the viewpoint over Giang Ta Chai village. Now, we hike to the main road and catch transport to the hotel in Sapa.

Overnight hotel in Sapa

After breakfast, leave Sapa by a private van. The distance is 200 miles and covered in 5 or 6 hours. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Overnight hotel in Hanoi.

After breakfast, transfer to Hanoi airport for flight to Danang in central Vietnam. It's one hour 15-minute long flight. Upon arrival, meet your local guide and transfer to Hoi An (45 minutes, 20 miles).

Check into your accommodation and later proceed for a walking tour of the medieval town. Hoi An used to be Southeast Asia's major international port during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. We take a relaxed stroll down the street and stop to visit the major highlights.

Stop the Japanese Covered Bridge, constructed in the 16th century by the Japanese community to link the town with the Chinese quarters across the stream. Near the bridge is Sa Huynh Museum, which houses exhibitions from the earliest period of Hoi An's history.

The next stop will be at Tran Family Chapel, a 200-year-old house built for worshipping ancestors. Also, visit Phuoc Kien Assembly Hall, a Chinese pagoda built towards the end of the 17th century and enlarged in 1900. It is typical of the Chinese clans in the Hoi An area and is dedicated to Thien Hau Thanh Mau, the Goddess of the Sea and Protector of Sailors and Fishermen.

The final stop will be at Lantern Making Workshop to see how they make the frame and the silk cloth put onto the lantern.

Overnight in Hoi An.

(81 miles, 3 hours)

Drive from Hoi An to Hue along scenic mountain roads with spectacular views over the coastline. Highlights along the way include the dramatic Hai Van Pass, the high dividing line between the climate zones of North and South Vietnam; Lang Co, a lovely stretch of beach curving outwards between a clear blue lagoon and the East Vietnam Sea; and the large coastal city of Danang.

Excursion by bicycle to the countryside of Hue.

We cycle through bamboo groves and villages to the Thanh Toan covered bridge. The cycling route continues along local paths and through villages and rice fields to Sam market and Thuong Lam Pagoda. (Total 14 miles cycling on a flat road).

Overnight in Hue.

Excursion to Thien Mu Pagoda and Tomb of Emperor Minh Mang with a boat trip

Enjoy a leisurely boat ride down the Perfume River. We first stop at the iconic Thien Mu Pagoda, an elegant seven-tiered octagonal tower which has become Hue's most widely recognizable monument. Continue cruising into the countryside to the Imperial Tomb of Minh Mang, a majestic complex of courtyards, pavilions, and temples in a beautiful natural setting.

The afternoon is for the Old Imperial City. Located in the heart of Hue is the Imperial Citadel, a vast complex built in the early 19th century and modeled after the Forbidden City of Peking. The original walls stretched for 10 km, and a wide moat surrounds them. The bombing during the Vietnam-American War has destroyed most of the buildings you see today, but the monuments that remain provide a fascinating glimpse into the court life of the Nguyen Dynasty.

The final stop of the day will be at Dong Ba Market near the imperial city, and we transfer back to the hotel.

Overnight in Hue.

After breakfast, transfer to Hue airport for a flight to Saigon. It's about 1 hour 20 minutes long flight.

Upon arrival, meet your local guide and transfer to the hotel.

In the afternoon, proceed for the sightseeing of Saigon or the Ho Chi Minh city.

A vibrant metropolis, Saigon teems with energy, activity, and motion. Everywhere you look, you see the meeting of traditional and modern life. Begin with a tour of the historic center, strolling along Dong Khoi Street, formerly known as the Rue Catinat, the main shopping thoroughfare, and heart of old colonial Saigon. Pass by classic European-style landmarks such as the ornate City Hall (Hotel De Ville), the old Opera House (you may view both from the outside), and pay a quick visit to the neo-Romanesque Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office.

Afterward, dive into modern history with a tour of the Reunification Palace. Formerly the Independence Palace of the South Vietnamese president, this 60s style was famously stormed by tanks on April 30, 1975, signifying the fall of South Vietnam. It is still in its original state, and the original tanks remain on display near the entrance gates. Continue to the harrowing War Remnants Museum, which comprehensively documents the travails of the long Vietnam- American War. Inside are detailed photographic exhibitions; outside is a collection of tanks, planes, and weapons. A powerful experience, this museum is guaranteed to provoke strong emotions. Finally, visit the Emperor of Jade Pagoda, one of Saigon's most interesting pagodas.

Overnight in Saigon.

From Saigon, drive to the Cu Chi Tunnels (32 miles, 1 hr. 30 minutes). Never discovered by American forces, these tunnels were a substantial Vietcong base during the American War. Stretching over 125 miles, this incredible underground network, dug by hand out of hard laterite, connected command posts, hospitals, shelter and weapon factories. Today, walk through the area and learn about the day-to-day life of the Vietcong guerrillas, see the cleverly disguised entrances and elaborate booby-traps, and even venture inside the tunnels, some of which have been modified to accommodate tourists.

From Cu Chi tunnels, we drive further 32 miles (1 hour, 30 minutes ) to  Tay Ninh, the birthplace of the unique Cao Dai religion, a fusion of Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Christianity, Islam, and native Vietnamese spiritual beliefs. Every day at noon, worshipers garbed in colorful robes flock to the Cao Dai Great Temple to participate in the daily prayer sessions. The visitors may respectfully observe this prayer session from the upper balconies. (Note: shortly before and during the annual TET festival (Vietnamese New Year) the daily ceremony of the priests in Tay Ninh may be canceled without prior notice).

Afternoon, we return to our hotel in Saigon (60 miles, 2.5 hours).

Overnight in Saigon.

First, we drive to Can Tho (112 miles, 3.5 hours) with a stop in a midway town of My Tho, a  bustling city in the rich agricultural region of the Mekong Delta. And visit the Vinh Trang Pagoda, which exhibits a harmonious fusion of Asian and European architectural styles. Afterward, board a local boat to explore the islands of the Mekong while stopping at a fruit orchard to enjoy fruit and tea while listening to local music. The trip also includes a brief sampan ride through the tiny waterways that thread the island.

From My Tho, we continue our drive further 32 miles (1 hr., 30 minutes) to Can Tho.

Overnight hotel in Can Tho.

We leave the hotel early morning and explore the Cai Rang Floating market by boat. We will have a chance to see the nature of the Mekong delta. At the Floating Market, you'll feel the excitement through sounds, water brandishing paddle, the laughter of the buyers and sellers to make up the bustling scene of Cai Rang floating market. There are many local products sold here and in particular a large variety of fruits, some of which you might have never seen before. You'll learn that boats identify what they are selling by hanging a sample off the top of a long pole. We will return to Ninh Kieu Wharf by 10 a.m.

 We retrace our drive back to Saigon.

Overnight in Saigon.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for a flight to the next destination.