Magnificent Vietnam

Your holiday to Vietnam begins now! Upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, you will be met by your local guide and transferred to your hotel. You can spend the rest of the day exploring your local surroundings and settling into your beautiful hotel. Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam bursting with energy and culture, with something to offer wherever you look. Take in all the new sights, sounds and smells but be sure to look both ways when crossing the road! We recommend an early night at the hotel in preparation for your trip across Vietnam.

After breakfast you will set off on a guided tour of Hanoi and visit some of Vietnam’s most famous landmarks. You start your city tour with a visit to Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum before proceeding to the Tran Quoc Pagoda located on the shores of West Lake. Next, visit the Temple of Literature, a temple dedicated to Confucius, which also became Vietnam's first university. In the early afternoon, visit the renowned Museum of Ethnology to learn more about Vietnam's ethnic groups before hopping on a cyclo (traditional rickshaw) for a tour around Hanoi's beautiful Old Quarter. To end your day, visit the Temple of the Jade Mountain located at Hoan Kiem Lake, before attending a traditional Water Puppet Show. Overnight at the hotel.

Please note that Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum is closed on Mondays and Fridays.

Today, wake up early to experience a traditional Vietnamese day - a highlight of your holiday to Vietnam! Your driver will pick you up from your hotel to bring you to the local market where your guide will show you around the local market. You then continue to a small village near Hanoi where you meet a Vietnamese family with whom you will spend the day. You are invited to plant rice with them and join a small cooking class where you will learn how to prepare a traditional meal. After lunch, you cycle through the village to meet its inhabitants. Depending on the season, participate in some daily activities with the local family and discover their way of life. In the evening, your driver will bring you back to the hotel where you can enjoy a leisurely evening.
 

Spend the morning and early afternoon at leisure exploring the bustling city of Hanoi or simply relaxing at your hotel, enjoying the facilities. In the afternoon you will take the overnight train to Lao Cai. The overnight train to Lao Cai is a unique experience in itself, offering a luxurious insight into Vietnamese life. The trains are fitted with soft sleepers and air conditioning to guarantee a comfortable overnight journey to the mountain town of Lao Cai.

You will arrive early at Lao Cai Train Station, where your guide and driver will be waiting to welcome you and bring you to Sapa, a little over an hour away. This small mountainous village is charming in every sense of the word and you will feel a world away from bustling Hanoi. The quaint buildings and colorful markets are a must-see. After checking into your hotel and enjoying a delicious breakfast you will start the trip to Giang Ta Chai village, where you set off on a leisurely trek through rice fields and the countryside. In the evening, return to the hotel where you have a free evening to explore the village. Overnight in Sapa.

After breakfast, begin the day with a 3km trek thorugh the breathaking countryside to the village of Suoi Ho, home to the H'mong minority. From here, you can enjoy views over endless rice terraces and watch the locals doing their daily routine. Continue on to Matra Village, where you will come across the impressive ruins of a church dating back to the French occupation in the early 1900s. Take a moment to explore this intriguing site and take some photos. Continue your trek to the village of Ta Phin, where you can meet both the Black H'mong and Red Dzao miniorities. The Red Dzao are known for their expertise in herbal medicine, using native plants to treat many illnesses. From Ta Phin, your driver will take you back to Sapa. In the evening, head to Lao Cai to catch the overnight train to Hanoi.
 

You will arrive at Hanoi Train Station in the early morning, where your driver will be waiting to bring you to a hotel to freshen up and have breakfast. Later on, he will meet you to bring you to Hon Gai Pier, the departure point for your cruise through Bai Tu Long Bay. Once on board, enjoy a welcome drink while the captain briefs you about safety on board before settling in to your cabin. As you cruise further into Bai Tu Long Bay, enjoy a delicious Vietnamese set menu lunch, while taking in the impressive limestone formations. At around 3pm you will arrive at Cap La Island, a great place to set off on your kayak and explore the breathtaking nature, or just hop in for a swim or relax on the boat. Admire a beautiful sunset from the deck before enjoying a sumptuous dinner on board. In the evening, you have free time to play board games or try your luck at squid fishing. Overnight on board.

In the morning you can join a Tai Chi class on the deck or spend a peaceful morning admiring the stunning surroundings. After breakfast you continue the cruise to explore the well-hidden Thien Canh Son Cave. Once back on the boat, freshen up and finish packing before attending a Vietnamese cooking demonstration and enjoying a traditional Vietnamese lunch on board. Enjoy your last moments in this beautiful bay as you head back to Hon Gai Pier where your driver will be waiting to bring you to Hanoi airport for your flight to Hue. Upon arrival in Hue, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel, where you have a free evening to explore the picturesque town. Overnight in Hue.
 

After breakfast at the hotel, you set off on a city tour to discover Hue, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the former capital of Vietnam from 1802 to 1945. Start your tour with a cruise on a traditional sampan boat along the Perfume River to reach the Thien Mu Pagoda, a Buddhist shrine from the mid-seventeenth century. Next, visit the Citadel, the seat of the Nguyen Dynasty emperors, composed of three sections: the Capital City, the Imperial City and the Forbidden City. In the afternoon, visit the Tu Duc Royal Tomb, one of the most impressive of the royal mausoleums before continuing to Minh Mang's tomb, located on the banks of the Perfume River. To end your tour, attend a kite-making workshop where you will learn to make a kite in the traditional fashion with a local artist. Overnight in Hue.
 

After breakfast at the hotel, your driver will pick you up to bring you to Hoi An. On the way, you will pass some beautiful attractions such as the Hai Van Pass, a 21km long mountain pass that is one of the most scenic roads in Vietnam. Make a quick stop at Lang Co Beach, a beautiful white-sand beach that stretches over 10km long - an ideal place for relaxing, swimming and taking photos. Continue on to visit the Marble Mountains, a cluster of 5 mountains which are said to symbolise the five elements, before continuing to the nearby Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village. Spend your afternoon strolling the narrow streets of Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, visiting the Japanese Bridge, Quan Cong Temple, Fujian Temple and the local market. Later, enjoy a boat trip on the Thu Bon River to observe Hoi An from another angle. Overnight in Hoi An.

Today, enjoy a leisurely morning relaxing at the hotel before being picked up and transferred to Danang airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, your driver will bring you to your hotel for check-in. In the evening, get ready for a night tour of Ho Chi Minh City in a colourful vintage Citroen (2 CV or La Dalat). The open roof offers a new perspective on the city and many opportunities to take photographs. Your first stop is to try a local favourite: Nước mía, fresh sugarcane juice. You then continue through small alleys and hidden streets, discovering another, unknown, side of Ho Chi Minh City before reaching a night market where you can taste some delicious local dishes. Around 9pm, you hit the road again to reach the illuminated city centre and its most beautiful landmarks (Notre Dame Church, the Post Office, Saigon Opera House, etc..) to admire the lights of the city at night. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Today, get ready for an exciting day on the river! After breakfast your guide and driver will pick you up and bring you to Ben Tre. At Ham Luong Pier, embark on a boat ride along the Ben Tre River, observing the lively activities such as brick-making in the traditional style. Stop and visit one of the numerous coconut processing workshops located along the canal. Continue along the canal as it gets smaller, watching fishermen bringing in their daily catch. Take a walk to a family workshop making sleeping mats and enjoy some refreshing fruits and tea. Then, swap your boat for a traditional motor cart (xe loi) or a bicycle and ride along the shady paths, passing rice fields and vegetable gardens. In the afternoon, take a sampan back to the pier where your driver will be waiting to bring you to Can Tho City. Enjoy the evening discovering Can Tho on your own. Overnight in Can Tho.

Wake up early today and head to the Cai Rang Floating Market, the biggest wholesale floating market in the Mekong Delta. Known for its variety of fresh fruits and other local products, the Cai Rang Floating Market attracts hundreds of boats which gather there to trade each morning. Take a walk to visit a nearby fruit orchard and a local noodle factory before continuing to visit the Ba Cong fruit orchard. In the afternoon, your driver will bring you back to Ho Chi Minh City, where you have a free afternoon to explore or rest and you please. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Your holiday to Vietnam with Shanti Travel is coming to an end. Depending on your flight schedule, you may have time in the morning to wander round Ho Chi Minh City and buy some last-minute souvenirs and gifts for friends and family. Your driver will be ready at your hotel several hours before your departure to transfer you to the international airport in Ho Chi Minh City. We bid you farewell and we look forward to welcoming you to Asia next time!