Mixing Nature & Culture Vietnam In 30 Days

We start the trip by visiting Reunification Palace, whose former name was Norodom Palace. Ngo Viet Thu is exactly the architect who designed this stunning palace. Later, other next destinations consist of Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, and especially the War Remnants Museum, where exhibits on the Vietnam War and Indochina Wars are displayed. After enjoying lunch at the local restaurant, you will be taken to Cu Chi Tunnels. Before entering the allotted areas of Cu Chi Tunnels, watch an introductory video which is an overview of the tunnel system’s history and Vietnamese life during the hard time of war.  

Climb down small tunnels to get amazing experiences and blow your mind when specially constructed living areas and martial facilities of the Viet Cong appear in front of your eyes. It will be great to know the system of tunnels – a subterranean village where there are bedrooms, kitchens, field hospitals, command centers, weapons factories, and storage. Moreover, taste special tea and cassava – the common food of Vietnamese guerillas in the past. Take your break time to try the real shooting gun or just relax as you wish. 

Return to Saigon and end the trip. 

Please take notes: the Notre Dame Cathedral has been restored (UNTIL 2022), so the guests just visit outside.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch 

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Start from Ho Chi Minh City and depart for My Tho. After visiting Vinh Trang Pagoda, take a boat ride along the river viewing the stilt houses and the fruit plantations along the riverbank. Proceed to Tortoise Island and have lunch in the local restaurant. Enjoy a boat ride under the shadow of the water coconut trees to visit a family business which epitomizes the idyllic rural lifestyle. Then enjoy the seasonal delicious fruits & honey tea while listening to the traditional music. Take a rowboat ride along the creeks. After taking a delightful walk through the fruit plantation and village, proceed to Can Tho. Have dinner (own expense) and overnight at your proposed hotel in Can Tho.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Can Tho

Get up early and aboard a local boat to explore the famous Cai Rang floating market, where dozens of boats laden with fruit, vegetables and fish from around the Delta engage in trade. Note the long poles with the sample products for sale tied to the top so they can be seen from afar as well as the many small boats that offer boat-to-boat catering. Keep your camera ready, as this bustling wholesale market on the water offers excellent photo opportunities, especially from your boat's perspective. Relax and enjoy the cruise to the Mr.Human farmstay where we will freshen up before departure to Tan Son Nhat airport for an hour flight to Da Lat. Overnight in Da Lat. 

(Noted: Da lat and Mekong Delta Area have very different weather. It'll a little bit cold at night in Da Lat so make sure that you keep your body warm)

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Dalat

07h00: Breakfast at hotel. December is the flower season in Da Lat. There're many flowers bloom in this month so you'll be easy to see flowers bloomed around this city

In the morning of this day, you will visit the following places:

• Hydrangea Field: Where thousands of hydrangeas bloom and you can take amazing photos. 
• Van Thanh Flower Village: This is considered the most beautiful and famous flower village in Dalat. Here, there are not only flowers, but also strawberries and exotic imported vegetables.
• Cau Dat tea hill: The farm is covered with a green color of the tea hill running from one hillside to another. The tea hill gives visitors a feeling of comfort and peace when standing in the middle of a large blue sky.

14h00: In the afternoon of the first day in the tour program Dalat . In the afternoon you will visit the following places:

• Truc Lam Zen Monastery: This is one of the three largest monasteries in our country, you can find moments of serenity in your soul like in a pure, empty place. The special thing is that you can go to the Zen Monastery by cable car system.
• Tuyen Lam Lake: Dubbed "Nam Thien De Nhat Lake" because of its wild beauty and heart-stopping charm.

Evening: In the evening of the first day, you will be free to walk around at night, explore Da Lat night market. Coming to the night market, you can enjoy delicious dishes, have fun and buy souvenirs. (It is not require, you can choose to do or not, it's up to you)

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Dalat

Breakfast hotel. Transfer to Lien Khuong airport and by plane to Danang. Pick-up and transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon, you will have free time to relax or do an optional tour. Overnight in Hoi An

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel In Hoi An 

7:30 – 8:00: Breakfast at hotel

8:30: Take you to the first stop - Monkey Mountain. A giant statue of Lady Buddha with a beautiful background such as mountains and a huge garden of bonsai would draw your attention. 

You will definitely get lost in the garden of heaven with gripping stories when gently walking and enjoying a fresh breeze.

10:15: Arrive in the Marble Mountains and stop for a walk along the site to see local factories of stone sculptures - the most impressive handicrafts village in Da Nang.

Check in the Marble Mountains by climbing up to the top (elevator is optional). Here we will see beautiful pagodas which were made in the 19th century by the last dynasty of VietNam monarchy, and visit Huyền Không and Tàng Chơn caves.

11:30: Keep going to see the biggest fascinating cave named Âm Phủ cave. You will learn interesting philosophies of Buddhism and take photos of amazing natural creations.

12:00: Have lunch at a local restaurant with local and authentic Vietnamese cuisines. (not included)

13:00: Keep moving to Hoi An city and depart to My Son Sanctuary - The World Cultural Heritage.

14:30: Arrive at My Son Sanctuary and we'll have 2 hours to discover the site by walking throughout the landscape, learning histories with our local English-speaking guide, and enjoying the Champa's traditional performances.

16:30: Get back to the minivan then transfer to the wharf for taking a boat trip to Hoi An with a nice and cool breeze on boarding, beautiful sunset river scenery on the biggest river in Vietnam Central named Thu Bon River. Get your camera ready for the amazing moment of local people's activities along the river

18:00: Back to your hotel and relax

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel In Hoi An   

After breakfast at the hotel, you will transfer to Hoi An. On the way, you will stop for a visit at the Cham Museum and handicraft villages at the foot of Marble Mountain. From the 16th to 18th centuries, Hoi An was a thriving international commercial port for Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese and Arab traders. Today, Hoi An is a quaint riverside town, popular with tourists for its eclectic architecture, tailors shops, and numerous cafes. Some of the buildings in the narrow streets have remained unchanged for more than a century. You will enjoy a half-day walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, Chinese Assembly Halls, the 200- year old Tam Ky ancestral house, and the Japanese Bridge. Following the tour there will be free time to shop or relax. You will stay overnight at the Hotel Royal Hoi An in a Deluxe Room.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel In Hoi An   

From the 16th to 18th centuries, Hoi An was a thriving international commercial port for Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese and Arab traders. These people came primarily to trade in the high grade silk, which is still produced in the area, as well as ceramics. Today, Hoi An is a quaint riverside town, popular with tourists for its eclectic architecture, tailors shops, and numerous cafes. Some of the buildings in the narrow streets have remained unchanged for more than a century. 

Today, you will do cooking and walking tour as below:

Cooking Class program:

8:30 am: Walking to Hoi An market. Here you will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers and learn about the ingredients you will use in the cooking lesson . Make sure your camera is handy.

9h45am: take the basket boats and start your journey exploring the small channels , go deep into the forest of water coconut , hear about the history of the water coconut Forest in Vietnam- American wars .

Tourists will be taught rowing, fishing, catching crabs by the local fisherman, and experience amazing performances with basket boat dancing…

10:30 am: Learn the traditional ways of preparing and cooking Vietnamese food.

You can learn how to make the rice paper for the special fried spring- rolls. And learn how to make rice milk from the rice graining traditional way. After that you use the rice starch to make Vietnamese pancakes( Banh Xeo).

Enjoy what you have cooked after the instructions. 

14h00: Return to the hotel.

Menu:

+ Making rice milk

+ Making rice paper

+ Sweet and sour sauce

+ Vietnamese salad

+ Pho ( Noodle soup Vegetarian) or Grill fish in banana leaf

+ Steam rice

+ Desert: grill banana with sticky rice and coconut cream

Welcome drink: passion fruit

After finishing my cooking tour in Hoi An. In the afternoon, you can do a walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the ancient quarter, visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, Chinese Assembly Halls, the 200-year-old Tam Ky ancestral house, and the Japanese Bridge. Hoi An is now one of five UNESCO-designated World Heritage sites in Vietnam. 

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel In Hoi An

Cham Island with its cool climate, beautiful and clean beaches with white sand, transparent water and protected marine habitats has attracted many tourists recently.

You will be picked up at your hotel then transfer to Cua Dai harbor at 07:30 where you will depart for a 1.25 hour cruise. Be sure to bring along our camera to capture the spectacular monument views while cruising to Cham Island. You will arrive at Lang village and the tour guide will help you understand more about Cham Island and its history. You will pay a visit to the Marine Protected Area, the boat shelter, Hai Tang Pagoda, a traditional fishing village and the local market. Then you will trek for 20 minutes to Chong Village on a very nice sloping and winding road and have an amazing view of the sea, sand and even wild monkeys on the way if you are lucky enough. You can then go swimming, snorkeling and have a seafood lunch. You will then head back to your boat at 14:00 and cruise back to Cua Dai Beach, rejoin the car for transfer back to your hotel and another overnight stay at the Hotel Royal Hoi An.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel In Hoi An   

Today, you will leave Hoi An for Hue over the Hai Van Pass. Stop on the top of the mountain to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Central Vietnam combined with the deep blue of the East Sea. On arrival, you will check in to the hotel and have lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon you will embark on a tour of Hue City, a visit to Hue would not be complete without taking in attractions including a boat trip on the Perfume River. You will see Thien Mu Pagoda, the Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City, the Imperial Museum and Dong Ba market before an overnight stay in Hue.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel In Hue

After breakfast at the hotel you will take an excursion to Quang Binh and on the way you will pass by the lush countryside and witness the daily life of the Hue people surrounding the former imperial capital. You will visit the arched Thanh Toan Bridge, built 200 years ago over the Nhu Y River which flows around Thanh Toan Village, about 10 km from Hue. Then you will transfer to the ancient village, Phuoc Tich, on the bank of the O Lau River, 40 kilometers to the north of Hue. The ancient village is well-known for its traditional pottery crafts and ancient houses and temples that have been preserved for 500 years in the traditional style that makes them invaluable. After this, you will continue the trip to Quang Binh and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Then in the afternoon, you will take a boat on the Son River to visit Phong Nha (wet cave) and Tien Son (dry cave). After that you will drive to Sun Spa Resort overnight in a 1 bedroom bungalow.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel In Quang Binh

This morning you will drive to Chay Lap rustic and enjoy kayaking upstream on the Chay River. It is about 3 km to the meeting point, and you may have the chance to admire the birds, butterflies, dragonflies or endangered monkeys (Hatinh langurs) on the way. And you can also refresh yourselves at a delightful swimming area. After you finish kayaking on the Chay River, our car will pick you up at the meeting point and transfer you to Thien Duong (Paradise Cave). Paradise Cave was discovered by scientists of the British Caving Research Association in 2005 and has a length of 31km, making it the longest dry cave in Asia. With naturally primitive features Thien Duong Cave looks like a landscape painting, making it very attractive to visitors. You will then go back to Quang Binh for lunch en route. You will stay overnight at Sun Spa Resort Quang Binh in a 1 bedroom bungalow.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel In Quang Binh

In the early morning you will visit Nhat Le River and a fish market there. You will check out of your hotel and head back to Hue. You will drive on the heroic Ho Chi Minh trail and "Road No. 20", built by local Volunteer Youth Force during the Vietnam War, on your way back to Dong Hoi airport. Fly to Hanoi ! 

Arrival at Hanoi, pick up & transfer to Hanoi’s hotel

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel In Hanoi

Breakfast at the hotel. 

Then you will visit Hanoi for a half day tour. You will begin a tour visiting Hanoi's main cultural attractions, including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (closed on Monday and Friday), his house on stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda. 

In the afternoon, you will transfer to visit Bat Trang Village - Bat Trang, traditional porcelain and pottery village with a history of seven centuries, is an interesting attraction. There, you will experience making pottery by yourself. Visiting around and shopping.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel In Hanoi

Morning: have breakfast at hotel then be ready for the trip

10h30: Visit Phat Quang Pagoda

12h00: Have lunch 

13h30: Visit Trang An which was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2014. Trang An area has two main types of ecosystems: limestone mountains ecosystems and aquatic ecosystems. The biological diversity of the communities is a major factor that constitutes these two ecosystems. The natural environment is diverse and harmonious between creatures, mountains, caves, and water bodies exuding the beauty of the young blue water mixed together into a rare area rare in the world. 

Trang An has more than 310 types of rare and precious plants such as limestone, milk, slices, grind, orchid, nostalgia, honeysuckle, juniper, lettuce, etc. Trang An has many rare and precious bird species such as chamois, leopard, and phoenix. With 2 hours for the boat trip, you will be persuaded by the beauty here.

16h00: Go sightseeing and cycle around the village to discover the life of the local people

17h00: Back to hotel in Ninh Binh. Overnight in Ninh Bình 

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel In Ninh Binh

Wake up in the peace of Ninh Binh’s countryside. You’re free to walk, swim or cycle around. Have lunch and transfer to visit Bai Dinh Pagoda - Bai Dinh Pagoda is a famous spiritual scenic complex in the Bai Dinh – Trang An ecotourism spot with a history of more than 1000 years associated with the land of many feudal dynasties from the Dinh, the Early Le to the Ly. Nestled at the western of the ancient capital Hoa Lu, belonging to Gia Sinh Commune, Ninh Binh Province, about 95 kilometers from Hanoi, the complex covers a total area of 539 hectares, with both the ancient Bai Dinh Pagoda and the new Bai Dinh Pagoda. Considered as the largest complex of Buddhist pagodas in Vietnam as well as owner to many other records of the country, South East Asia and Asia, this is definitely an indispensable destination in your handbook.

Back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi

Optional Tour: You will begin in charming Hanoi, Vietnam's artistic and intellectual capital. You will visit Hanoi's main cultural attractions, including the Fine Arts Museum and the Temple of Literature. And then you will visit "Maison Centre" - a prison when Vietnam was a French colony, where the images of political prisoners at that time were marked. Then you will have dinner on your own and be driven to the station for a night by train. 

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Livitrains

The train will arrive at the Lao Cai train station at approximately 06:00. There will be a vehicle waiting to transfer you to Bac Ha Market. 

The Bac Ha market is one of the largest markets in the northwest region of VietNam and is only open on Sunday. It is situated about 110 km from Sapa or about 2.5 hours away by car, 1.5 hours from Lao Cai Station and is worth every second of the ride.

The market itself is a gathering place for the many ethnic minority tribes such as the Flower H’Mong, Dzao, Tay, Nung and Phu La to trade and sell their wares and it is always full of life. It is most well-known for providing handmade goods, many different types of local wines, local food as Thang Co Ngua ( Horse stew), and for trading animals including horses, dogs, brids, snakes, goats, and especially water buffalo. 

After shopping in the market, you will return to the car to visit a Black H’Mong village near the market. You will spend over a half-hour in the village where you can learn more about the culture and ways of life of the ethnic minority tribes unique to  this region.

On the return towards Sapa you will see the border of China from the city of Lao Cai where large amounts of industry and shipping take place. You will visit a small pagoda in Lao Cai where the locals go to pray for their ancestors and families. Arrival in Sapa, free to walk around. Overnight in Sapa

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel In Sapa

Breakfast at a hotel. Then transfer to Hotel De La Coupole for a train trip through Muong Hoa Valley. Finish a short train trip, you will take a long cable car tour to go to Fansipan Peak - it is the highest mountain in the Indochinese Peninsula (comprising Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia), hence its nickname "the Roof of Indochina". Before reaching the summit of Mt. Fansipan, you’ll arrive at a peaceful garden complex, with stone paths, ancient Azalea trees and 18 skillfully sculpted bronze statues. These sculptures lead the way to a 20-meter celestial Buddha statue perched on the mountainside - the largest in the country. The gardens and pagodas all around provide a tranquil setting to pause and breathe in the fresh air. Long cable car will stop at 3.143m and you will choose to take ~600 steps to the top of Sapa or stay there and enjoy. Overnight in Sapa 

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel In Sapa

Today we’ll leave Sapa in favor of Vietnam’s final frontier, Ha Giang. On the way we’ll make a stop at Pho Rang for lunch before we have a walking tour to Vinh Yen inhabited by Tay communities. 

We continue our drive deeper into Ha Giang, enjoying the spectacular scenery along the way, before finally reaching the Tay village for another walk where we will spend the night around 6pm, just in time for a home-cooked dinner. You'll stay overnight in this traditional Tay stilt house.

- A 6-8 km walk.

Once we have purchased the mandatory permit at the Immigration Office, you will begin the journey to Dong Van following a spectacular series of passes which wind through the mountains and valleys. En route you enjoy exceptional views of the rolling landscape and interesting flora and fauna. After that, we will have Lunch in the small mountain town of Tam Son visiting the villages of the H’mong Lung Cam B. You will have the chance to see the former palace of the H’mong King, Vuong Chinh Duc who was an ally of the French. You will arrive in Dong Van around 18:00 where you will have dinner at a local restaurant and spend the night in a hotel. 

You’ll start the day off with breakfast and a visit to the Dong Van Market, where locals come from all the surrounding villages to purchase and trade for essentials they cannot produce themselves. 

Then you will be making the trek up to Pu Lo fortress which was built in 1890 and evacuated in 1945. From here you can enjoy spectacular views of the entire region, before climbing 8 km to the top of Ma Pi Leng Pass, through a gigantic maze of limestone peaks, stone forests, and canyons (the Sky Path at the Nho Qué River Viewpoint) before descending into the valley of Meo Vac. Winding our way through the valley, we’ll eventually reach Bao Lac village, where we’ll rest for a bit and have lunch before being driven to Cao Bang where you’ll spend the night in a hotel.

- A 8-10 km trek.

This day is likely to be your highlight of the tour, as we take you to one of the most incredible natural wonders in Northern Vietnam; Ban Gioc Waterfall. The drive here from Cao Bang is roughly two hours, and this breath-taking 300-meter wide cascade sits right on the border between China and Vietnam, amidst a beautiful mountainous landscape. 

While you’re here you can spend your time relaxing in the glow of the natural beauty, take some amazing photos, and board a bamboo boat that will take you so close to the falls you’ll feel the spray on your face, practically sitting at the very edge of Vietnam, so close to China that you can actually touch it.

After enjoying the waterfall, you will venture deep underground into the magical Nguom Ngao Cave to discover the rock formations which have been carved by erosion over millennia.

After visiting the waterfall and cave, you will travel down a beautiful road which is unknown to many, which winds through the mountains before reaching the Nung village of Quang Uyen.

You will be welcomed by Mr. Hung Dao, an amazingly friendly blacksmith, before having dinner at his house and settling in for the night in this cozy traditional Nung house.

Today we leave Quang Yen behind and drive through Ma Phuc pass on our way to Ba Be National Park. Once in the park, you’ll have time to explore the many wonders located here, such as the lake itself, the caves of Puong Grotto, the rapids of Dau Dang Waterfall and finally the tiny Widow Island located on the lake.

We’ll be staying in a traditional Tay stilt house overnight, staying with a local host family.

After breakfast, we’ll take you on a stroll along the riverfront to visit some surrounding villages, followed by a hike up one of the higher points around the lake, providing you with some impressive views surrounded by limestone formations and mountain peaks.

Following this we enter Hua Ma Cave, famous for its thousands of stalactites and stalagmites, and also known for being the biggest dry cave in Northeastern Vietnam. After lunch in a local restaurant, it’s sadly time to head back to Hanoi and say our goodbyes, arriving at your hotel around 5 pm. 

08:30 – 09:00: Our driver picks you up at your hotel 

12:00: The crew members of Peony Cruise will welcome you at Tuan Chau International Marina Station, lot 16 . 

12:30: You will be taken aboard our support vessel and travel from the wharf via the bay to board our luxurious craft, Peony Cruises. Welcome fresh drinks, cold towels and a special lunch of fresh food and an assortment of appetizing delicacies will be served. You will be enchanted when decadently dining on our junk. Life just doesn't get better than this! We then set sail for Lan Ha Bay - A member of the World’s Most Beautiful Bays.

15:30: We will visit the Dark and Bright Cave - famous for the pristine natural beauty and poetic, attractive seascape of Lan Ha Bay. Here you will take some photos of the romantic, lyrical local see-sights. This is also the best time for tourists to enjoy bamboo boats and swimming - which is an interesting activity to discover the truest beauty of the limestone mountains and the blue sky of LanHa Bay. Afterwards, visitors immerse in the emerald green water of LanHa Bay with exciting swimming activities or enjoy a mini pool with a jacuzzi on Peony Cruise.

17:30: Return to Peony Cruise. Enjoy a sunset party on Lan Ha Bay. It is an ideal time for photography enthusiasts to capture the stunning moment of sunset at Lan Ha Bay.

19:30: Enjoy a romantic dinner at the restaurant on Peony Cruise.

21:00-00:00: Enjoy the nightlife of the bay from the top deck. Immerse yourself in music, enjoy a glass of cocktail from the bar, watch famous films and relax on the cruise. Otherwise, you can fish squid with the sailors or simply relax in the room and watch the bay from the balcony.

Overnight on the cruise.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Cruise

6:30-7:30: Breakfast is served at Peony Cruise Cruise restaurant.

8:00: Cruise will arrival Frog Pond area, in here you have kayaking and free to relax in the four-season mini pool on Lan Ha Bay - A silk ribbon made from green mountains, blue seas and diverse fauna and flora.

9:30: Checking out of the room. 

11:15 - 11:30: Disembark and move back to the port.

11h30 – 11h45: You are at Tuan Chau International Marina Station

You will be driven back to Hanoi by private car.

Note: The itinerary is subject to change without notice, in accordance with the weather and other operating conditions. 

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

As today is the last day of your memorable voyage in Vietnam, at Hoan Kiem Lake you can have a walking street tour. You can go there and visit Hoan Kiem Lake, O Quan Chuong, Dong Xuan Market,... all these sites can be visited by walking. Upon your flights, you will be transferred to the airport and fly back to your home. End of our services!  

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: N/A