20 Days – Vietnam Premium Discovery

Timeline

• Welcome to Hanoi, the heart of Vietnam which is considered as a blend of traditional and modern beauties.  At Noi Bai Airport, your local guide and driver will welcome then take you to your hotel to check-in. Overnight in Hanoi.

Inclusions

• Private transfer
• English-speaking guide
• Meal: No
• Hotel in Hanoi: Arranged by the guests.

Timeline

• 07:00 – 07:30: Our tour guide will pick you up at your hotel located in the Old Quarter, depart for Pu Luong. On the way, stop at some road passes for a bird-eyed view of landscapes of several Muong villages. Visit local market of the Muong Ethnic Minority to learn about their daily life and customs; enjoy the beautiful scenery of Thung Khe Pass, one of the 10 most beautiful passes in Vietnam.
• Around at 12:00: Arrival in Mai Chau, transfer to a van to go to Pu Luong Reserve nature. Check- in and enjoy lunch at Pu Luong Eco Garden- the Mountain Retreat.
• Starting the afternoon trip following the small road through the terrace rice and sugar cane fields, cross the Hanging Bridges to visit other remote rural villages of Thai Ethnic. Stop at the giant waterwheels, ducks farm to learn about the agriculture before getting on the Bamboo Raft for a relaxing cruise on Cham stream (cruise depending on weather conditions).  Take back to the Eco Garden. Free your time to relax or enjoy swimming at pool.
• 19:00: Your BQ Dinner is served, enjoy some local rice wine. Have a quiet night in the middle of the Reserve. Overnight in Pu Luong.

Inclusions

• Private transfer
• English-speaking guide
• Meal: Lunch, Dinner
• Entrance fees
• Homestay/ Hotel in Pu Luong – arranged by the guests

Timeline

• 7:30 – 08:30: Wake up with fresh pure air and enjoy breakfast. We start easy trekking following the small roads through the terrace rice fields and cross the stream to visit remote rural villages of Black Thai Minorities to learn about the local people in Pu Luong. Explore Doi Cave (Bat cave) of Kho Muong village, this is the largest cave in Pu Luong. (Depending on the weather condition). On the way, you will meet local people showing their welcome by smiling to you. Come back the Eco Garden and enjoy the rest of the morning at your own leisure. Lunch on your own.
• Transfer to Ninh Binh. Overnight in Ninh Binh

Inclusions

• Private transfer
• English-speaking guide
• Meal: Lunch
• Entrance fees
• Hotel in Ninh Binh – arranged by the guests

Timeline

• 08.00 AM: Our driver will pick you up at the hotel, departing 3.5 hours to Halong Bay – the World Natural Heritage recognized by UNESCO twice. Upon arrival, embark on the cruise and enjoy a welcome drink while having a tour briefing. A sumptuous lunch will be served on board while the ship sails further to the Bay, make your time to admire its dramatic limestone islands.
• You can rest at your leisure on the sundeck or relax in your cabin. In the afternoon, you will have time to swim in the warm and calm water or get on the kayaks of your choice. Kayaking is very easy for all levels and ages to do. Our expert and experienced guide surely instruct you on basic paddling steps before leading you to explore the extraordinary beauty of Halong Bay. After 01 hour of exploring the bay, we will return to the cruise for relaxation before attending a Cooking class in the late afternoon.
• Enjoy the superb dinner and stay overnight on board.

Note: Meals on boat with local/Asian food. Vegetarian food is available upon request

Inclusions

• Private transfer
• English-speaking guide
• Entrance fee
• Kayaking
• Meal: Lunch, Dinner
• Cabin on cruise 

Timeline

• 8:00 AM: After breakfast at your hotel, our tour guide will meet you with our friendly driver then they will transfer you into Phong Nha national park to get to Paradise cave. Hear the call of the wild and the sounds of primates bounce off the stunning limestone cliffs on waster Ho Chi Minh trails as the newly paved single-lane road snakes through one of Vietnam’s most important conservation areas.
• 8:30 – 11:30 AM: Start the journey to visit the Paradise Cave. Paradise Cave is first discovered in 2005 by the British Cave Research Association, It’s the largest and most beautiful cave in the Phong Nha – Ke Bang area by British spelunkers. It is said that the cave’s beauty is reminiscent of an imperial palace and is very well presented with easy access, great walkways, and excellent feature lighting which makes it extra special. You will take the buggy car from the parking to the foothills of the cave (2km). When entering the cave, admire countless stalactites with different shapes: Thach Thien Cung, waterfall Thien Ha, Quan Tien converging, Thap Lien flower…
  Leave the Paradise cave for lunch on your own and take a rest to restore your energy for an exciting adventure at Dark cave in the afternoon.
• Once in Dark Cave, you will receive some necessary safety equipment before continuing on. You will have chance to try some adventure activities including two different ziplining opportunities: one which is combined with swimming in the Chay River, and one which will transport you across the river to touch the entrance of the Dark cave. It will be a 700m exploration of the cave and enjoyment of a highly adventurous mineral-mud bath inside the cave (but please kindly don’t expect it as a spa)!
• At about 16:00 PM: Back to your hotel by car. Overnight in Phong Nha.

Inclusions

• Private transfer
• English-speaking guide
• Entrance fee
• Meal: Blunch
• Hotel in Phong Nha – arranged by the guest

Timeline

• 07.30 am: Breakfast in the hotel then checks-out.
• Today you will explore Phong Nha Cave. At the boat station a traditional boat will be waiting and drive you and the guide on the Son river to the entrance of the Phong Nha Cave. The boat takes approx. 5km along the Son River to tour the Phong Nha Cave. The Son River is not a regular river; it is a river of which origin is located underground. On this boat ride participants get the chance to fully wake up and see what’s going on beyond the touristic center of Phong Nha. (river cave) Conquering the Phong Nha Cave: The longest cave in Southeast Asia, enjoy the scenery spectacular limestone, underground river system and unique stalactite in the world. Caving Fairy & Imperial admire the beautiful stalactites blocks are created by nature over thousands of millennia.
• Lunch at the local restaurant.
• In the afternoon, transfer from Phong Nha to Hue. On the way, we will stop to visit Vinh Moc Tunnels Complex, then visit some of the most famous battle-field in Vietnam War, Ben Hai River, Hien Luong Bridge, lying in the Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ, of the Vietnam war. This area still bears the scars of the massive bombardments that took place – the few remains of the many camps and combat bases, the barren ground pockmarked with craters, and the tens of thousands of graves in the National Cemetery, are solemn reminders of war.
• Arrival on Hue, hotel check-in then relax on your own.
• Overnight in Hue.

Inclusions

• Private transfer
• English-speaking guide
• Entrance fee
• Meal: lunch
• Hotel in Hue  – arranged by the guests

Timeline

• 08.30: Your tour guide will start you for the tour around to discover Hue. Waking up in the ancient land, you will board on a dragon boat for a cruise on the romantic Perfume River. Being the former capital of Vietnam from 1802 to 1945, Hue now is a great attraction for tourists with many old and interesting constructions left.
• Visiting some impressive royal tombs of Nguyen emperors can make you excited today. The charming Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda) will be the first stop. Setting in the convergence of rivers, you can have a great view of the Perfume River and surrounding areas. Drive to visit the tombs of King Minh Mang & King Khai Dinh.
• Lunch on your own.
• This afternoon is dedicated to a tour in Hue City to discover the Imperial Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City – an amazing historic landmark in Hue – a definite must-see sight to learn more about the history and architecture that visitors should not miss when traveling to this peaceful land.
• Drive back to your hotel, relax and stay overnight in Hue.

Inclusions

• Private transfer
• English-speaking guide
• Entrance fee, cruise
• Meal: Lunch
• Hotel in Hue – arranged by the guests

Timeline

• 08.30: Your guide will meet you in your hotel lobby, then he will hop you on a cycling ride around Hoi An, ride towards Tra Que vegetable village – A very famous place of the farmers cultivating about 20 types of vegetables and herbs such as mint, lettuce, basil, cilantro, broccoli….
• Walk around Tra Que vegetable village to see and interact with local people working in their gardens, cross vast rice fields in the countryside, which is far away from the tourist trails. You will also see many activities of the inhabitants through the villages out of Hoian. The local farmers will show you all about cultivation methods and help you learn how to protect vegetables from insects as well as join the farmers in preparing gardening activities such as raking the ground, sowing, watering, transplanting and tending the greens.
• Continue riding through paddy fields, Ba Le market, kindergarten…to reach Van Lang fisherman village and Bay Mau coconut water forest – about 7 hectares, surrounded by mangrove forests, canals and houses. This place used to be a refuge for local people and VC soldiers during the Vietnam War. Nowadays, it is a famous place for seafood products. You will be warmly welcomed by a local family, taste some green tea and start to stroll around the village. Experience a basket boat row with the skillful locals and discover their techniques of traditional fishery in water coconut forest.
• Back to the family for a foot massage with medicinal herbs, traditional therapeutic practice before getting ready to prepare your lunch with the local family
• Lunch will feature many local delicacies, such as Tam Huu spring rolls, BanhXeo local pancakes, grilled fish in banana leaf and others.
• After lunch, free time and take a short rest before returning to your hotel. Overnight in Hoi An.

Inclusions

• Bike cycle
• English-speaking guide
• Entrance fee
• Basket boat, foot massage
• Meal: Lunch
• Hotel in Hoi An – arranged by the guests

Timeline

• Have breakfast and do check-out, go for a walk along the village to enjoy the fresh air in the morning, arrive at the local workshop to learn how to make rice paper, coconut candy, pop- rice… Enjoy some local specialties with a cup of hot tea.
• Take a boat trip to visit the brick kilns where you can se how the local people create beautiful potteries from clay. Keep boating along the floating village, you will see how the fishermen farm catfish on the Mekong river. Also, we can visit Vinh Long market in the town. This is the best choice for you to take pictures of fish, shrimps, prawns, crabs, snakes, rice-field rats, tropical fruits, and vegetables….
• Transfer back to Ho Chi Minh city.
• Lunch at the local restaurant.
• Follow the schedule, your guide will take you back to Ho Chi Minh Airport for your departure flight.  With the sincere thanks for your travel to Vietnam and with us, hope that you have enjoyed your Vietnam trip and look forward to seeing you again!

Inclusions

• Private transfer
• English-speaking guide
• Entrance fee, boat
• Meal: Lunch