VIETNAM – A LIFETIME ADVENTURE 20 DAYS

Welcome to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, originally named Thang Long, meaning "the rising dragon." Over thousands of years, Hanoi has become the cradle of culture and history in the country. These days, in addition to being a leading developed city in Vietnam with vibrant centers, this city offers stunning gastronomy, diverse architecture in colonial and feudal styles, iconic historical landmarks, and a great local lifestyle.

Upon your arrival at Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi, you will meet your tour guide and travel to the hotel in the city center for check-in. Stay at leisure till the rest of the day for refreshment.

Today, you will embark on a marvelous city tour of Hanoi. Begin with the Tran Quoc Pagoda on the peninsula to the East of West Lake – the biggest lake in Hanoi. Apart from its remarkable location, Tran Quoc Pagoda is the oldest pagoda in Vietnam, dating back to the 6th century, offering a serene ambiance. Next, have a 15-minute leisure walk from Tran Quoc Pagoda to Ba Dinh Square to contemplate Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum from the front. You then come to see the President's Palace and the old houses of Ho Chi Minh, which show his respectful simplicity and plain lifestyle. 

After the lunch, you will visit Temple of Literature in Hanoi a construction of 11th century since Le Dynasty where was the first university of Vietnam also the temple of Confucious. Passing the gate, you will leave behind the heavy traffic of a modern city to enter the holy monastery of Vietnamese education to learn meaningful cultural stories. Then, move on to Hanoi's Old Quarter with its busy narrow streets and alleys. Since the Feudal era, Hanoi Old Quarter has played a crucial role in trade between the Vietnamese and the Chinese. Following the long-time practiced business custom of "you need to cooperate with friends to develop together", all traders in the same business gathered in the same street, which made each street named after the main business operated there; then each street name begins with "Hang," which means store.

Depart toward Ninh Binh Province, about 90km (56 miles) south of Hanoi. After roughly 2 hours of driving, you will stop at Hoa Lu Temples to pay a visit to Dinh Kinh and Le King. After lunch, you will get on a small wooden boat rowed by a villager on the Ngo Dong River in Tam Coc. The pleasant boat trip in Tam Coc offers picturesque views of limestone mountains, three water caves, and green paddy fields. After the boat ride, take a cycling tour around the villages in Tam Coc to see more details of rural life, culture, and landscape in Vietnam. Afterward, travel back to Hanoi. You will have a relaxing time at a mini hotel near the railway station, where you can shower and rest before the overnight train to Lao Cai City, escorted by your tour guide. Your adventure travel in Vietnam is about to kick off!

Upon your arrival at Lao Cai train station early this morning, you will travel to your hotel in Sapa for breakfast and check-in, and have some leisure time to freshen up. At a good time, you will have a short trek to Y Linh Ho Hamlet, where Black Hmong people reside. Then get along the river and reach Lao Chai Village, where you will learn more about the cultures of the ethnic groups of this region. Have a picnic lunch and some rest.

In the afternoon, carry on to Ta Van Village of the Giay minority group. While hiking, you can admire the marvelous landscape of terraced rice fields and the mountainous geography, and spend some time sipping tea with the locals and learning more about each ethnic group's typical identities. You will meet your driver in Ta Van Village and then drive back to the hotel to relax.

After checking out, travel about 12km from Sapa town to Ta Phin Village to immerse yourself in the green valley of the H’Mong and Red Dao minorities. The Red Dao people in Sapa own a very special herbal medicine formed of surrounding faunas which could cure many ill or simply provide relaxation to the user. This late afternoon, you will travel to the Lao Cai Train Station and board the night train back to Hanoi.

Upon arrival in Hanoi early this morning, you will have breakfast and relax at the mini hotel. At around 9:00 am, you will travel to Ha Long Bay, passing the Red River Delta. After around 2.5 hours, you will reach the marina harbor, embark on the cruise, and set the sails toward captivating Ha Long Bay with thousands of karst islands rising from the ocean. The sails will take a couple of hours till you reach the center for activities like kayaking in the lagoon and visiting the cave. In the evening, the boat will anchor down for the night. You are free on board at night.

Morning risers can practice Tai Chi on the top deck with the master. After your breakfast, you will have time to go swimming on Titop Island and walk up to the peak for the panoramic view of Ha Long Bay. Spend your last time enjoying the fantastic views of Ha Long Bay before check-out, and have lunch or brunch.

At noon, disembark the boat and drive to Noi Bai Airport for a domestic flight to Dong Hoi. Upon your arrival at Dong Hoi Airport, you will meet your local tour guide and travel to your hotel near Phong Nha National Park.

This morning, you will travel for about 40 minutes through the pristine countryside, with maize fields and ancient karst mountains, to Thien Duong Cave, 31km (19.2 miles) long, discovered in 2005 and officially opened for visitors since 2010. With only about 900m (0.6 miles) open to the public, the cave reveals the magnificent beauty of its huge stalactites and stalagmites.

After lunch, you will have an active time on the Chay River and at the Dark Cave, with a short zipline ride across the Chay River, then continue by kayak into the dark cave, where the humidity is high, and the temperature is pretty cool. This cave is also home to wild animals such as bats, swallows, and voles, which characterize the ecological diversity. You can also swim in the turquoise water. Return to the hotel in the afternoon to relax for the rest of the day.

Today, your active travel itinerary in Vietnam will include an exploration of the exotic and pristine places of Quang Binh, where the blockbuster “Kong: Skull Island” was filmed in 2017 and was later nominated as the best war movie of the year by ABC News. From the starting point, you will walk about 2km (1.24 miles), passing the peanut field with water buffalo wandering nearby, and arrive at the Rao Nan River. Let’s cross the river and admire the Chuot Cave (Rat Cave), then trek through the Hung Ton Valley for the Hung Ton dry Cave. Here, you will swim up to 100m (328 feet) through the underground river and relax at the To Mo Valley. Have a delicious lunch and relax by the To Mo Waterfall. After your lunch, you will make your way back. 

After checking out of the hotel, you will travel by land via the Ho Chi Minh Trail to Hue. En route, stop at the 17th Parallel, with the Hien Luong Bridge and the Ben Hai River, where the border dividing the country stood for 21 years. After a 3.5-hour drive, you will reach Hue City. Check into the hotel and have free time at leisure.

Break the dawn in a peaceful yet historic, rich in culinary delights city; you will jump on a bicycle and explore Hue. Begin with the Imperial Citadel. You will then continue by bike to Thuy Bieu Village, which offers an authentic local ambiance. Stop at a garden house that describes typical ancient architecture. Sip a cup of tea with the host, and you will hear interesting stories. Then move on to the Thien Mu Pagoda, with its eleven-storied tower, a significant pagoda in the Buddhist religion.

After lunch at a local restaurant, you will board a boat to sail along the scenic Perfume River, reaching Minh Mang King’s tomb, which was designed by the King himself. This tomb preparation wasn’t completed before he passed away. The work was then finished by his son. Harmoniously, the place nestles between water and mountains – two elements that were once considered the primary materials of a country. You will then drive by land back to the city center. Enjoy an Imperial-style dinner at a restaurant.

After check-out, you will travel to Hoi An via the Hai Van Pass, which stretches along the ocean offering breathtaking views and a breeze. In Da Nang City, visit the Cham Museum to learn about Champa culture, which once flourished in central Vietnam. Sited right at the foot of the Golden Dragon Bridge, it’s a wonderful chance to glimpse at Da Nang, the city of the bridges. You then move on to Hoi An Ancient Town for hotel check-in.

This morning, you will travel to Cua Dai Pier and embark on a local boat to the Cam Thanh Fishing Village. Delve into the region of coconut palms and the thick mangrove forest of pristine nature. You will then see the villagers excitedly go about their fishing, casting a traditional round net and catching small river fish. A friendly host will share with you a very simple yet not easy technique for catching fish.

Afterward, keep the life vest on as you transfer to the rounded basket boat, expertly controlled by its owner, who will help you reach narrow paths. After lunch, you will return to the city center to explore the ancient town of Hoi An, an atmospheric, unique place blending Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese cultures.

Have a free and easy day on your own to relax. It's optional for you to get around Hoi An and try local tasty dishes, chilling out at a local cafe, or getting to the beach in Hoi An. 

After checking out of the hotel, you will travel to Da Nang and board a flight to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's most vibrant and populated city. Upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh City, you will meet your local guide, travel to the city center, and then check in at your hotel.

This evening, you will experience a stunning, adventurous activity in Vietnam: a Vespa ride through the busy streets of Ho Chi Minh City. Your Vespa driver will welcome you at the hotel for an amazing Saigon after-dark ride. You will ride past unique local places, which show that Ho Chi Minh is not only a bustling city of buildings and cars but also a very interesting place with a rich local lifestyle. You will mingle with the locals, stop at a café, and drink as they do every day.

This morning, you will visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, a significant historical site from the Vietnam War. After watching a documentary, you will have the opportunity to explore the tunnel and bunker systems. Following this exploration, you will return to the city. After lunch, you will visit some of the main symbolic sites in Ho Chi Minh City, including the War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, and Nguyen Hue Street. The evening is free for you to enjoy at your leisure.

Today, embark on an amazing Mekong trip to experience the countryside, fruit orchards, and local lifestyle in the Mekong Delta region. You will travel to Ben Tre – a famous hometown of coconuts - and reach the Phong Nam Pier to board a boat along the An Hoa River for further exploration, with stops to visit a brick kiln, handicrafts, and a coconut candy-making workshop.

Next, have a Vietnamese tuk-tuk ride passing coconut and fruit plantations. You will then stop for lunch at a local house. After lunch, have some time relaxing on the hammock or walk around and see the fruit orchids. Thereupon, get on the sampan and row, then motor-boat back to the mainland, where your driver awaits. Travel to Can Tho for an overnight.

This morning, you will board a mystic cruise to explore the Mekong's tranquil landscape, see the floating market, and have breakfast on the boat. Returning to the hotel, you will have a free and easy time.

After checking out of the hotel, drive to Chau Doc province in 2.5 hours. If time permits, you will visit a fishing village and a local fish farm.

This morning, you will visit Tra Su Cajuput Forest, located 20km (12.4 miles) from Chau Doc city center and only around 10km (6.2 miles) from the border with Cambodia. Spanning 845ha, the forest preserves an impressive ecology, with a variety of species and wildlife. The boat ride will reveal the picturesque landscape and incredible wildlife. Afterward, you will have lunch and travel back to Ho Chi Minh City for an overnight stay. 

Have leisure time on your own to shop or explore the city. After check-out, your tour guide and driver will greet you in the hotel lobby and transfer you to Tan Son Nhat Airport for your departure to your next destination.