SET – The Best of Vietnam 14 days

Day 1 : Ho Chi Minh city arrival

On arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport , our guide will meet and transfer you to your hotel. Free time to discover the city & have dinner on your own. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Cu Chi Tunnel – Ho Chi Minh City (B)

In the morning, transfer to Cu Chi to explore the remarkable underground tunnel network and former Viet Cong stronghold, 30 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City. Cu Chi Tunnels consist of a network of more than 200 km of underground tunnels used by resistance fighters during the U.S./Vietnam War. Drive back to HCMC.

In the afternoon, free to visit Ho Chi Minh City with Reunification Palace , Notre Dame Cathedral and the former US Embassy. Shopping at Ben Thanh market. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City .

Day 3: Ho Chi Minh city- My Tho – Can Tho (B, L)

8:00 AM Pick up at your hotel in HCMC. Depart for My tho. Take the boat ride through the Bao Dinh natural canal; view the stilt houses and the fruit plantation along the river sides. Visit the My Tho wholesale fruit market. Proceed to the Tortoise island. Lunch served in the heart of the orchard. Enjoy the nice boat ride through the Tan Thach natural canal in Ben Tre, cruise under the shadow of the water coconut trees. Visit the family where you can experience the agricultural lifestyle. Trekking through the fruit plantation in Thoi Son Island , enjoy the rowing boat ride along the creeks before returning to My Tho by motorized boat.

Proceed to Can Tho. Have dinner on your own and overnight at hotel in Can Tho. (Local home stay will be arranged on request).

Day 4: Cai Rang – Ho Chi Minh City (B, L)

7:00 AM After breakfast, take the morning boat trip to visit the Cai Rang floating market with the busy scene right at the time. Keep cruising through the small channels system; visit the rice noodles making village. Experience the ” Monkey Bridge ” in the Delta. Break time for lunch. Return to Ho Chi Minh city via Vinh Long to visit the local snake market.

Day 5: Ho Chi Minh City – Da Nang – Hoi An (B)

Free at your leisure before transferring to the airport for the flight at noon to Da Nang, the third biggest city. Stop in Da Nang to visit the Cham Museum containing the most extensive collection of Cham art worldwide.

You explore the old merchant town on your own -  the colorful blend of Chinese Assembly Halls, beautiful Japanese-covered Bridge, narrow winding streets and ancestral family homes. Be tempted by its art galleries, handcrafted woodwork, ceramics, lanterns, embroidery and tailor shops where an entire wardrobe can be made overnight

Day 6: Hoi An – My Son – Hoi An (B, L)

We will start a full day tour to My Son, 40km southwest of Hoi An, which flourished from the late 400s to the mid 1200s, and which was an important Holy Land of the Champa people. The My Son Sanctuary is an exceptional example of cultural interchange, with the introduction the Hindu architecture of the Indian sub-continent into South-East Asia . Back to Hoi An in the afternoon. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 7: Hoi An – Hue (B)

Drive from Hoi An to Hue . Stop en route at the Marble Mountains , famed for its stonecutters and for being a “Viet Cong” guerilla hideout during the Vietnam War. Keep driving to Hue , passing over a spectacular mountain pass and by a seaside fishing village. Upon arrival in Hue visit the Imperial Citadel. Drive to the outskirts of Hue to visit the elaborate tomb of Emperor Tu Duc.

Day 8: Hue – Boat Cruise – Hanoi (B)

Morning boat cruise through the centre of Hue on the romantic Perfume River . Visit the seven-storey Thien Mu Pagoda along the riverbank. Check out and transfer to airport for the flight to Hanoi. Arrive Hanoi and take a rest. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 9: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B, L, D)

In the morning, we travel to the World Heritage site of Halong Bay where our boat and sumptuous seafood feast awaits us. Cruising amongst the limestone islets, you will have a chance to explore various caves including Dinh Huong Island , Fighting Cock Island , Dog Island , Sail Island , Cave of Surprise – the natural cave of beautiful stalactites and stalagmites.
Enjoy swimming at Titov Beach . Passing across a fishing-floating house and bargain some fresh shrimps, crabs and fishes. Overnight on board.

Day 10: Halong Bay – Hanoi – Lao Cai (B, L)

After a night on board our deluxe junk, you will awake to see daylight filtering through the early morning mist and the towering rock formations, leaving you with unforgettable memory of your visit. Lunch on board.

Transfer to Hanoi in the afternoon. After dinner, you will be picked up to transfer to the railway station for the train to Lao Cai province. Overnight on train.

Day 11: Lao Cai – Sapa (L)

Arrive in Lao Cai in early morning. Have breakfast in Lao Cai. Meet and transfer to “the town of fog” of Sapa by van. Check in and free time to visit Ham Rong Mountain with scenic spots: Gate of Heaven, Garden of Orchid, and the Silver Waterfall. In the afternoon, trekking tour to Cat Cat village, 3km south of Sapa which is a steep and very beautiful hike down like everywhere in this area. After dinner on your own, free time to discover typical “Love Market” and taste grilled eggs, sugarcanes, sweet potatoes … Overnight in Sapa.

Day 12: Sapa – Lao Cai – Hanoi (B, L, D)

After breakfast, we drive to Lao Chai. It’s home to black H’mong and Dzay (or Nhang). Continue to visit Ta Van village, where Black H’mong lives. Have picnic lunch. Then the van picks you up and transfers to Lao Cai station for the night train to Hanoi. Have dinner at a local restaurant in Lao Cai. Overnight on train.

Day 13: Hanoi city (B)

Pick up at Hanoi station and have breakfast before visiting the rich cultural and historical city with Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple Of Literature , the Museum of Fine Arts …and shopping in the old quarter. Have lunch and dinner on your own. Overnight in Hanoi.

Please note that Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum is closed annually in September and October, during which, you’ll not be able to visit the inside. The surounding attractions include Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh’s houses, Ho Chi Minh’s museum, and One Pillar Pagoda are still opened.

Day 14: Hanoi departure (B)

Free for your leisure until transfer to airport for your departure flight home. Trip ends.