Welcome to Vietnam! Upon arrival at Hanoi's Noi Bai Airport, you will be greeted by a friendly local representative. From the airport, they will transfer you directly to your hotel, making for a smooth and comfortable start to your adventure. Check into your room, get settled, and enjoy your first evening in Vietnam as you desire! (This service is on a private basis.)

Hanoi

Vietnam's capital is rich in a culture touched by French and Chinese influences over its 1,000-year-long history. One can spend days in the Old Quarter, where fashion houses, art galleries and coffee shops make up the city's most charismatic district. Hanoi features hundreds of serene lakes, great for people watching and strolling an afternoon away. Take an evening to dine at a modern, cosmopolitan restaurant and enjoy a night on the town, but don't forget to take an evening to enjoy the thriving street food scene, one of the city's primary attractions.

Explore Hanoi Like a Local

Today, you are invited to enjoy a truly local experience in Hanoi. One of Vietnam's common cultural practices is to wake up early in the morning and start your day with some exercise. If you want, you may embrace this tradition and join the locals in their Tai Chi and aerobics practice. After warming up, your tour continues with a visit to Ngoc Son Temple, located in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake. From there, you will be taken to a traditional coffee shop, where you can try the classic iced coffee, or an egg coffee, for those feeling more adventurous! Of course, you will also have to try a local street food favorite, banh mi. This typical baguette sandwich is filled with a delicious variety of local ingredients.

After sampling some of the common cuisine, you will follow your guide deeper into Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Admire the impressive French architecture and unique Vietnamese buildings, en route to St. Josephs Cathedral, a French gothic building constructed in 1886. From there, you will continue to Hoa Lo Prison, where Vietnamese, American and French prisoners of war used to be imprisoned. Huu Tiep Lake will be your next stop, better known as "B-52 Lake", where US B-52 bomber wreckage can be seen.

This afternoon, you can enjoy another foodie adventure at Bun Cha Restaurant. Indulge in a variety of Hanoi’s best specialties for lunch, before visiting the famous Temple of Literature. Vietnam’s first University was established within this temple to educate Vietnam's royalty, mandarins and members of the elite. The University functioned for 700 years and its gardens and well preserved architecture offers a fascinating glimpse into the country’s past. The Hanoi railway tracks will be your final stop of the day. At certain parts, these unique tracks are located just meters away from the front doors of homes! Take a walk along the railway tracks, as you admire this unusual lifestyle. End your day as a true Vietnamese local, with a cold glass of draft beer at Bia Hoi! (This service is on a private basis.)

Ha Long Bay Arrival & Activities

This morning, you will leave for Ha Long Bay, one of the most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Areas and the world’s largest marine limestone ‘karst’ landscape. For your Ha Long Bay excursion, you will board the beautiful Athena Luxury Cruise boat. After a brief introduction and safety procedures overview, you'll be checked into your cabin and have some free time to relax and explore the craft.

On your cruise, you will have the opportunity to discover some of the most beautiful treasures scattered across the Bay, and of course, while you are on board, you can take advantage of the cruise’s facilities and services. Both lunch and dinner will be served on board for you today, utilizing an excellent menu of fresh seafood. Following a day full of activities on the water, the vessel anchors at a very quiet location for your overnight stay. Sleep soundly, as you are rocked to sleep by the waters. (This service is on a group basis.)

Ha Long Bay

Seemingly infinite, the towering islands of Ha Long Bay form a landscape that is other worldly. Named a World Heritage site in 1994, Ha Long Bay offers some of the most beautiful scenes in all of Asia, whether you are lounging on a beach, exploring the inside of a hidden cave or cruising along the water in your traditional Chinese junk style boat. Located just a few hours outside of Hanoi, you can easily trade in the crowded streets of the city, to sail between the striking karst formations instead. Ha Long Bay means "Bay of the Descending Dragons" and mythology says the islands were created from the jewels and jade dropped from the mouth of dragons sent by the Gods. No wonder it's so magical!

Ha Long Bay - Hanoi - Lao Cai

Wake up this morning among the crisp and fresh air of the bay and make the most of any time left for activities. After enjoying a tea break, the boat will continue to cruise quietly through spectacular limestone formations, in more isolated regions of the bay for spectacular viewpoints. You will return to the Ha Long Bay Harbor around 11:00 AM, from where you will be transferred back to Hanoi.

Upon arrival in Hanoi, you'll have the use of a day room at a comfortable three star hotel to freshen up before your overnight train journey. You'll be transferred to the station in good time to board your train to Sapa.(This service is on a group basis.)

Lao Cai - Coc Ly Market - Sapa

You’ll arrive in the early morning, where you’ll be met and taken by car to visit a market frequented by ethnic minority peoples. After a picnic lunch, you’ll return to Lao Cai and continue your journey into the mountains to Sapa, a small town perched on the mountainside opposite Mt. Fan Si Pan, Vietnam’s highest peak. You’ll arrive with time to relax and stroll around the town. You’ll spend the night in a Sapa hotel with good mountain views.

Although it’s quite a long drive, the landscape is attractive and the ethnic markets are a fascinating experience. Unlike those in the tourist areas, the markets that we choose are for not only for buying and selling, but are also meeting places for ethnic minority people to meet and exchange news. There will be plenty of color and authentic costumes, but very little to buy as souvenirs unless you want to barter for a water buffalo or a sack of fertilizer!

The trips to ethnic minority markets must be on Tuesday (Coc Ly or Ban Cam market), Thursday (Lung Khau Nhin market), Saturday (Can Cau) or Sunday (Bac Ha, Muong Hum or Muong Khuong markets).

Sapa

There is something about Sapa that defines itself as undeniably Vietnamese. The rolling valleys, rice terraces, minority hill tribes, and stilted buildings are the image many people conjure when they think of this otherwise modern country. Sapa is where the countryside is still alive and thriving. Opportunities for trekking abound, and interacting with the fascinating locals is the main activity in this remote place.

Minority Villages Tour

After breakfast, you will head off into the beautiful Hoang Lien National Park by car, along the road you have the chance to see big rice terraces and a hopefully the high tops of the mountain range. Soon your guide will introduce you to the biggest group of minorities in this area, the Tay and Red Dao people. The walk is on a good path and will take few hours, plenty of time to learn about history and traditional customs. You will then continue the transfer deeper into the valley and cross the beautiful Muong Bo River before reaching Thanh Phu village of Tay minority. Here you will see the big difference in culture as the group wears lighter colors of silk clothing. Your picnic lunch will be served along the way, next to the rice fields. In the afternoon you will arrive in the remote and quiet Red Dao village of Nam Cang. Walking along the small roads you will soon understand that this is “off the beaten trail”, people are looking happily. Finally you will cross a private bridge and check into your private room in the comfortable Topas Riverside lodge. You can now explore the village or relax in the river or at the riverside veranda.

Minority Villages Tour

This morning you will drive to My Son village. Inhabited by one of the smallest ethnic groups in the mountains of northern Vietnam, the Xa Pho people, My Son village is a glimpse into the simple life of these rural people. You will notice women working on embroidery projects together, while men are hunting and collecting firewood. Continue on a trail following the river and cross a suspension bridge to Nam Toong village, a home to the Red Dao people. Take time to enjoy the magnificent mountain and rice terrace views along the way, as you walk to Ban Ho village. Enjoy a delicious local lunch with a family of Tay people in their stilted house. Spend some time exploring the village or take a swim at Lavie waterfall before you are returned to Lao Cai for your night train back to Hanoi.

Here you will board your overnight train back to Hanoi.

You will arrive in Hanoi in the early morning and be transferred directly to the airport for your morning flight to Hue. Breakfast will be on your own account (there are many restaurants at the airport).

When you arrive in Hue, you’ll be met by our guide and driven to your hotel to leave your luggage (note: check-in time after 2:00 PM, early check-in dependent upon availability).

City Tour

You will start your day visiting the Forbidden Purple City, constructed under the Emperor Gia Long's reign, in the early 19th century. It is located inside the Citadel of Hue, which was badly damaged during the Tet offensive in 1968. After the citadel, take a cyclo to "Hen Island" to enjoy local dishes and get a true sense of this peaceful, green countryside. Continue to Hanh, of the best local food spots, and try various rice flour dishes. Wander on Le Loi street along the Perfume River, pass over the Truong Tien Bridge to reach Dong Ba Market and then Dinh Tien Hoang street to try more local food. On the way, you'll see the Imperial Citadel in the sparkling night, before taking your cyclo to admire the romantic streets tonight, with opportunities to buy locally crafted items such as sesame candies, conical hats, and Minh Mang wines. At around 5:00 PM, you'll be returned to your hotel to relax. (This service is on a private basis.)

Hue

The heart of imperial Vietnam's history, Hue is Vietnam's cultural capital. It's architecture calls back to a time when the Nguyen Dynasty built temples, pagodas and palaces across its landscapes. A calm, noble city lives on today, showcasing beautiful buildings that survived bombings during the American War. The easy-going local crowd enjoys a night out, and routinely interacts with foreigners. With a tradition for maintaining authentic recipes, Hue's chefs might be the best example of pure Vietnamese food that dates back to the country's imperial years.

Rural LIfe Tour

This morning you will make your way to Thanh Toan - an ancient village founded in the 17th century, this peaceful countryside gives you a true sense of rural Vietnamese life. Observe traditional farming practices, explore the rural market and shrine houses. Hop on a sampan and go fishing using traditional techniques. Hang out like a local on the tile roofed bridge and listen to the locals chatting or chanting folklore verses on this delightful off the beaten track experience.

Hue - Hoi An

In the morning, your car will drive you to Danang. On the way, you'll cross the Hai Van mountain pass. The views from the top are excellent – you should be able to see Lang Co beach and village, and the lagoon far below, with Danang spread out before you to the south.

Arrive in Hoi An for overnight.

Hoi An

There is a reason we encourage first time travelers to Vietnam to visit Hoi An. Following the hustle and bustle of the bigger cities, travel in Hoi An feels effortless. There is little modern motor traffic, and the shops and restaurants are mainly tailored for tourists. A romantic cafe culture is featured in French colonial buildings, along with a thriving art scene, that can keep you busy shopping for days. Hoi An is also a great base from which to enjoy a couple of beach days, or to venture inland for a cultural experience with local farmers.

Hoi An: Cu Lao Cham Snorkeling & Diving

Cham Island is 15 kilometers away from Cua Dai, and is surrounded by nice beaches and beautiful water. Visit the hideout for local boats during big storms, and walk around the rice fields to discover the 100 year old temple. After, the boat will take you to a beach where you can swim and snorkel the great coral sea forest below. Enjoy lunch on the beach and relax before cruising back to Cua Dai in the afternoon. (This service is on a group basis.)

This morning, you will be transferred to the airport in good time to board your flight home.