15 Day Vietnam Culture

Upon arrival at Noi Bai International airport, you will be met and picked up by our representative. Transfer to the city center. Then, discover Hanoi—the capital of Vietnam with the following highlights:

• Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (outside) and House-on-stilt, Hochiminh Museum
• One-Pillar pagoda
• The Temple of Literature, which is the first university in Vietnam since the 11th century

Overnight in Hanoi

In the morning, you will be transferred to Sapa by our private vehicle, with stunning scenery of mountain passes and valleys.

In the afternoon, after a refreshment, you are invited to choose one option below for sightseeing:

• Option 1: We take a short hike to Cat Cat village, which is home to the Black Hmong ethnic group. We can walk the whole way to the bottom of the village, where we can relax by a romantic river. Take photos before heading back to Sapa.
• Option 2: Drive down to the romantic valley of Lao Chai and Ta Van, where we take an easy walk across a suspension bridge to get to the village of Black Hmong and Tay minorities. Paying a visit to a family here is a great experience to learn about their real daily life as well as their traditions. The locals plant indigo to make the colour for their clothes and grow rice in the terraced fields on the sides of the mountains. We then take a light trek through their rice fields down to the river at the bottom of the valley before driving back to the main town of Sapa.

Overnight in Sapa

In the morning, take a cable car to Fansipan peak. Fansipan peak is 3.143m high, the highest mountain in the Indochinese peninsula. It is located in the center of the Hoang Lien Son range. It has always been a meeting point for many climbers, adventurers, and many visitors who love to conquer nature. But now, it's much easier to get to the top of this mountain by 15 minutes by car and a short climb of about 600 steps. Enjoy the heavenly scene and take in the breath-taking view from there.

In the afternoon, we drive to the Silver Waterfall, which is 15 km away from the town. We can take photos and enjoy the great scenery along the way, as well as at the top of Sapa Mountain Pass. Back to Sapa around 3.30PM, then free time to stroll around the town on your own.

Overnight in Sapa

Breakfast at the hotel and return to Hanoi (5-hour drive).

In the afternoon, take a cycle tour through the bustling old quarter streets named after the specific goods once offered for sale at these places. Stop to visit Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple. Enjoy the water puppet show—the most famous Vietnamese cultural show with folk songs.

Overnight in Hanoi

In the morning, transfer to Ninh Binh (2.5 hours). Upon arrival, visit Hoa Lu – the Ancient Royal Capital under the Dinh Dynasty and pre-Le Dynasty, which lasted 41 years (968–1009). Continue our drive to Trang An. Take a boat trip to visit cave complexes: Sang Cave, Toi Cave, Ba Giot Cave, and Nau Ruou in mystery and wildness; see the scenery of the mountains and river. After the boat trip, you will return to Hanoi.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Your morning departure from your hotel in Hanoi to Halong Bay takes you on a journey through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta.

Arrive in Halong and board a cruise. As the vessel sets sails, you will be greeted by the crew team who will aim throughout your stay at providing you with the highest standards of service for your pure pleasure and utmost comfort onboard. Discover some of the treasures disseminated across the Bay of the Descending Dragon during the afternoon. While onboard, you can take advantage at leisure of the cruise services. Surrounded by a stunning setting in motion, you could attend our chef's cooking demonstration and try your skills in the art of traditional Vietnamese cooking.

Lunch and dinner will be served in the elegant dining room, accompanied by a wide selection of wines and beverages (with an extra charge applied) for drinks.

In the evening, enjoy the entertainment activities such as movie night, squid fishing, or just relaxing with a cocktail surrounded by limestone rocks majestically springing out of the silent waters in the night.

Stay overnight on a cruise.

(The detailed program on each cruise will be different and will be updated once the selected cruise is finalized).

Early birds can attend a Tai Chi demonstration on the sundeck at the break of dawn. Start the day enjoying some delights with a light breakfast followed by a colorful brunch. Continue exploring Halong Bay by sailing across its 2000 islets and visiting some of its major highlights.

Check out the cruise, get back to the harbor, and return to Hanoi. Transfer directly to Noi Bai airport to take the flight to Hue. (The flight should depart at or after 16h00).

You will be picked up at Hue airport and transferred to your hotel for check-in.

Overnight in Hue.

After breakfast, the Hue ancient city tour includes the following stops:

Take a boat ride down the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda.
Former emperors Khai Dinh and Minh Mang's tombs were built exactly as the king planned and chose the location in the middle of a pine forest.
Then, as the day's main attraction, go to the magnificent Imperial Citadel of the King Nguyen Dynasty.

Depart for Danang from Hue. The picturesque route passes through Lang Co, a fishing village that is a photographer's dream.

Overnight in Danang.

After breakfast, transfer to Ba Na Hills.

Upon arrival, enjoy the first cable car. Sitting in the cabin, in mid-air, looking upon the endless tree line of the forests brings you spectacular views of the lush jungle and fairly waterfalls along the way. The experience of the pristine ecological systems of the Ba Na Mountains will leave you with a sense of unforeseeable discovery. Visit Le Jardin, old wineries, French villa ruins, and the Ling Ung Pagoda, with its 27-meter-high Buddha statue and Golden Bridge.

Then take the second cable car to visit the top of the mountain and see the remains of old villas. Conquer the peak of Chua Mountain at a height of 1,487m. View the whole Danang city under the cluster of white clouds. Buffet lunch in Bana Hills.

Play plenty of games at Fantasy Park. (At Fantasy Park, admission does not include the Wax Museum, cotton animal games, or carnival skills.)

Return to the cable car station at the foot of Ba Na Mountain, then transfer to Hoi An ancient town.

Overnight in Hoi An.

We spend the morning on a walking tour around this enchanting port town, a thriving international commercial port for Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, and Arab traders. Follow the narrow lanes lined with centuries-old houses influenced by Chinese, Japanese, French, and European architecture and visit its numerous places of interest: the 400-year old Japanese Covered Bridge, the Phuc Kien Assembly Halls, the local fish market, etc. Around the town, we can see numerous art galleries and tailor shops; get some made-to-order clothes if you like.

In the afternoon, transfer to Danang airport to take the internal flight to Ho Chi Minh City. On the way to the airport, you will pass by Marble Mountain, a large garden mountain complex, a precious gift of Mother Nature acknowledged as a national heritage. Visit a stone carving village at the foot of Marble Mountain.

Upon your arrival at Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel for check-in.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Today, we have an excursion to the Cu Chi Underground Tunnel, the famous battle field in the Vietnam War. Now it is a favorite tourist site with its 200 km of long tunnels and its brave guerrillas. These tunnels and underground villages were built to provide a safe haven for the people of Cu Chi in the war.

In the afternoon, we embark on a city tour of Ho Chi Minh City, including the War Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Post Office, and City Hall.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

After breakfast, drive to My Tho, the homeland of coconut.

• Upon arrival, embark on the boat cruising along the Mekong River, viewing the lives of the local people living along the banks.
• Stop at one of four islands in the area for sightseeing. Enjoy the fresh tropical fruits served in the heart of the garden, accompanied by traditional southern Vietnamese folk music at the plantation.
• Embark on the small boats rowed by the locals through small cannels with water coconut trees to visit local factories. There you will taste the honey tea and see the local people produce the coconut candy milk. You can also try it or stroll in the garden where the locals feed the honeybees. Enjoy the horse-cart trip through the tranquil roads of the village.
• Get on the big boat to visit the vast area.

Enjoy your Elephant Ear fish lunch at a local restaurant near the Mekong River.

We also visit Vinh Trang pagoda, a combination of Asian and European pagodas, before heading to Can Tho city, the heart of the Mekong Delta.

Overnight in Can Tho

The watery world of the Mekong Delta is home to many bustling floating markets. This day we take a boat trip exploring the vibrant floating markets of Cai Rang and Phong Dien, where the trading system is unique; each boat usually sells one particular item, whether it be pumpkins, pineapples, or sugar cane. After sampling local fruits, our guide will escort you back to the hotel through myriad canals.

In the afternoon, return to Ho Chi Minh City and drop off at Tan Son Nhat airport for your flight to Phu Quoc Island.

You will be picked up at Phu Quoc airport and transferred to your hotel or resort for check-in.

Overnight in Phu Quoc Island.

Option 1: Vinpearl Land and Safari (no lunch). Vinpearl Land features the following highlights:

• Daily street performances include mermaid shows, water musical shows, and traditional dancers Thrilling rides include roller coasters, Disk’O Coaster, Condor, and Swing Carousel. A water park, an aquarium, an amphitheater, a food village, souvenir shops, and fast food kiosks are all available.
• The Safari zoo and park are the largest zoos in Southeast Asia at 380 hectares. Vinpearl Safari gathers around 3,000 individuals, representing 150 species of rare animals from around the world. In the Safari area, open living spaces allow the species to freely express their instinctive behaviors and give visitors a chance to experience the genuine wildlife.

Option 2: Phu Quoc’s cable car to Pineapple Island (Buffet Lunch). 

• Phu Quoc’s cable car is the longest overseas cable car in the world: A 360 degree aerial view of the An Thoi Archipelago. You will be flying over green islands, turquoise coral reefs, and charming fishing boats. By looking down at the harbor, the water is so clear that you can see the shadows of the boats on the sea bed and watch fishermen wearing cone-shaped hats sail their boats out to sea.
• On Pineapple Island, you can enjoy Aquatopia water park with more than 20 modern games from the world’s leading manufacturers or simply relax, swim, or join activities on the beach.

Overnight in Phu Quoc Island

After breakfast, take a 3-island trip (Mong Tay Island–Gam Ghi Island–May Rut Trong Island).

• We'll pick you up from your hotel lobby at 8:00 a.m.
• Arrive at the harbor; board our boat.
• Visit three different islands:

• Snorkeling at a coral reef
• Buom Island (or Mong Tay Island): Snorkeling at a coral reef
• Enjoy lunch on board.
• May Rut Trong Island: white sand lagoon-unique island chillout & activities

17:30  Transfer to Phu Quoc Airport for your departure flight back home. The tour is over!