Explore Vietnam in Depth 19 Days

 Day 1: Arrival HCMC (D)

You will be met at the HCMC airport by your guide, who will take you to your hotel to check in. You'll have free time to relax or explore, then it's off to dinner and a renowned restaurant before your overnight stay in HCMC.

Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City Tour (B/L)

You will begin your urban experience in bustling HCMC (formerly Saigon), the country's commercial center and home to a growing number of upscale restaurants and shops. You will visit Chinatown, the Thien Hau Pagoda, the Reunification Palace, the Opera House and the Hotel de Ville. If you so desire, you can also visit the moving War Remnants Museum.

Next up, you will explore colorful outdoor markets and Dong Khoi Street, the city's main shopping boulevard with shops selling clothes and accessories by new Vietnamese designers, hill tribe crafts, high quality linens and housewares. You will surely be ready for another relaxing overnight stay in HCMC.

Day 3: HCMC - Cu Chi Tunnels and Cao Dai Temple (B/L)

In the morning you will drive to the Cao Dai temples in Tay Ninh. Cao Dai Holy See Temple is the cathedral of the Cao Dai religion, whose followers worship Jesus Christ, Confucius, Taoism, and Buddha. You will observe the midday service and then have lunch.

Following lunch, you will drive to visit the Cu Chi tunnels. The tunnels consist of more than 200 kilometers of underground systems. This main axis system has many branches connecting to underground hideouts, shelters, and entrances to other tunnels. The network included innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens. Today the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction, giving the visitor a unique experience and a feel of what underground life was like during the U.S.-Vietnam War. You will return to HCMC for an overnight stay.

Day 4: HCM City - Mekong Delta (B/L/-)

You will head to lush My Tho, where you will cruise on a private boat through the green vegetation of the canals to an orchard, where we you will be treated to a delicious lunch in a local restaurant in the heart of the Mekong, complete with tropical fruits.  You will also visit VinhTrang Pagoda, which exhibits a combination of Asian and European styles. You will then arrive in Can Tho for an overnight stay.

Day 5: Mekong Delta - HCM City (B/L/-)

You will wake up to the sounds of the Mekong River welcoming a new day and take a boat trip to join in the Cai Rang floating market. This is one of the most bustling floating markets in the Mekong Delta, with hundreds of small boats jostling for space to sell their goods. After sampling local fruits, your guide will escort you back to the hotel through the myriad canals. You will have lunch at a local restaurant before returning to Ho Chi Minh City for an overnight stay.

Alternative for early birds: Join the floating market on the "The Lady Hau" cruise.

Enjoy breakfast on the "Lady Hau" while cruising to the floating market. When the "Lady Hau" arrives at Cai Rang floating market, guests are transferred to a local traditional boat to enter the market. Then, continue cruising with the hotel's guide along narrow creeks to visit a noodle factory and an orchard. After sampling local fruits, our guide will escort you back to the hotel by local boat through the myriad canals. (Starting at 6:30 AM, the Lady Hau cruise and tour extension takes around 4 hours; minimum 4 persons).

Day 6: HCMC - Nha Trang (B)

You will be free until transfer to the airport for a flight to Nha Trang. You will be picked up and transferred to the hotel and have more free time before anovernight stay in Nha Trang.

Day 7: Nha Trang (B/L/-)

You will have a full day cruise on Nha Trang Bay, with some stops for snorkeling and swimming. You will stay overnight in Nha Trang.

Day 8: Nha Trang (B)

You will have free time at the resort and stay another night in Nha Trang.

Day 9: Nha Trang - Danang - Hoi An (B)

You will be free until transfer to the airport for a flight to Danang. You will be picked up and transferred to Hoi An for an overnight stay.

Day 10: Hoi An (B)

You are free to explore on your own and will stay another night in Hoi An.

Day 11: Hoi An - Danang - Hue (B/D)

You will leave Hoi An for Hue. In the afternoon you will embark on a tour of Hue City, including the Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City, the Imperial Museum and Dong Ba market. Tonight you will enjoy the fine cuisine of Hue in a local restaurant and have overnight stay in Hue.

Day 12: Hue (B/L)

After breakfast at the hotel, you will board a private boat and go cruising on the romantic Perfume River. Being the ancient capital, Hue is surrounded with many tombs of emperors past, and a visit to some of these tombs will be on the itinerary for today. The charming Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda) will be the first stop of the day, and from here you will cruise further to ornate Minh Mang's Tomb. You will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to visit Tu Duc's Tomb and Khai Dinh's Tomb. You will have an overnight stay in Hue.

Day 13: Hue - Hanoi (B/L)

You will transfer to the airport for a flight to Hanoi, the colonial capital city, famous for tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and classic pagodas and temples.

In the afternoon you will explore Hanoi, from the fascinating Old Quarter to hundreds of specialty shops selling silk clothing, lacquer-ware, embroidered linens, furniture, bamboo, cooking utensils, ceremonial objects and more. You can also shop for impressive modern art in the city's many galleries after visiting Hanoi's main cultural attractions, including the Fine Arts Museum and the Temple of Literature. You will stay overnight in Hanoi.

Day 14: Hanoi - Lao Cai (B)

You will have a full day of leisure to explore this charming city.

In the evening your guide will take you to the Hanoi Train station for the overnight train to Lao Cai, where you will begin your Sapa adventure.

Day 15: Lao Cai - Sapa (B/L)

Once at the Lao Cai station (around 6 a.m.), there will be a vehicle waiting to transfer you to Sapa. The drive to Sapa is only 33 km, but it takes around 1.5 hours. Once at Sapa, you will check in to the hotel (early check in subject to availability). You can freshen up and have breakfast at the restaurant in the hotel and then enjoy a free morning to explore town. In the afternoon you will take a walking tour to the hill tribe villages of Cat Cat, home to the H'mong hill tribe minority people. As you walk to the villages nestled in the valley below Sapa, you will meet some of the local minority people on their way to and from Sapa. Here you will have the opportunity to share cultural experiences with the families that live in the area. You will have an overnight stay in Sapa.

Day 16: Sapa - Lao Cai (B/L)

Following breakfast, you will explore the Sapa Sunday market and then set out on a 3-4 hour trek that will take you along buffalo paths and trails and through the hill tribe villages of Lao Chai and Ta Van, home to the H'mong, and Dzay people. This is an absolutely spectacular walk through stunning scenery, and is an area inhabited by some of the friendliest people you will ever meet. You will stop for a picnic lunch on the way to Ta Van village and then transfer back to Lao Cai for the Express train and an overnight journey back to Hanoi.

Day 17: Lao Cai - Hanoi - Halong Bay (B/L/D)

Arriving in Hanoi at around 5 a.m., you will be picked up and taken to a restaurant for breakfast and morning coffee. You will then leave Hanoi by private vehicle at 8:30 a.m., arriving at the jetty around 12:30 p.m. You will set off on a deluxe cruise and enjoy a welcome drink after check in.

A fresh seafood lunch will be served at 1 p.m. At that time, you will begin a 3.5 hour cruise through mystic Halong Bay, to see the amazing karsts and their many different formations. You will also see Mat Quy (Monster's face) Islet, But Moc Islet, Cap De Islet, Trong (Drum) Cave, Trinh Nu Cave, and a floating fishing village, with its unique way of life. Then, you will head to Luon Cave and enjoy swimming, sun bathing at Ti Top beach or climbing the peak of the mountain for a breath-taking panoramic view of Halong Bay. You will enjoy another seafood feast for dinner, and for the night owls, there is an option of night fishing before an overnight stay aboard.

Day 18: Halong Bay - Hanoi (B)

Rising to the sound of the bay waters, you will have time for an early morning dip, followed by breakfast. Sitting on the upper deck, you can relax while taking in the breathtaking beauty of the rocky islands rising from the emerald water of the bay.

After breakfast, you can explore Sung Sot Cave, swim and relax. You will cruise back to the jetty while brunch is served as you are cruising through the bay and observing more fascinating rock formations. You will then rejoin your car and drive back to Hanoi for an overnight stay.

Day 19: Departure Hanoi (B)

There is no activity planned for today, so you are free to enjoy yourself souvenir shopping until transfer to the airport for your onward flight.

Services Included

• Eighteen nights of hotel, cruise and overnight travel services.
• Premium 4-star or luxury 5-star hotels according to the selected package.
• Double or twin sharing, with one single room allowed for the fifth traveller.
• Two overnight air-conditioned soft-sleeper train journeys.
• One overnight Ha Long Bay cruise in a twin or double balcony cabin.
• Three scheduled domestic travel sectors in economy class where flights are used.
• Standard checked baggage on the included domestic flights.
• Daily breakfast at hotels, resorts and aboard the cruise.
• Lunches, brunches and dinners stated in the confirmed itinerary.
• Private airport and railway-station transfers.
• Private air-conditioned transportation during scheduled touring.
• Professional drivers, fuel, tolls, parking fees and driver expenses.
• Experienced English-speaking local guides during scheduled sightseeing.
• Private Mekong Delta boat services.
• Early-morning Cai Rang waterways excursion.
• Nha Trang Bay cruise with lunch and standard snorkelling equipment.
• Private Perfume River boat trip in Hue.
• Scheduled Ha Long Bay cruise activities.
• Hoi An Ancient Town guided experience.
• Scheduled sightseeing entrance fees.
• Bottled drinking water and tissues during private touring.
• Local taxes and service charges for included arrangements.
• Twenty-four-hour local assistance during the journey.

Services Not Included

• International flights to Ho Chi Minh City and from Hanoi.
• Vietnam visa or electronic visa fees.
• Travel, medical, cancellation and emergency-evacuation insurance.
• Domestic business-class flight upgrades.
• Excess baggage, sports equipment and special baggage charges.
• Meals not clearly stated in the confirmed itinerary.
• Alcoholic beverages, soft drinks and minibar consumption.
• Optional diving, private speedboats and motorised water sports.
• Private train-cabin upgrade unless confirmed.
• Single-room supplement beyond the confirmed room arrangement.
• Guaranteed hotel rooms for early arrival unless confirmed.
• Early hotel check-in and late hotel check-out.
• Room, suite, villa and premium-view upgrades.
• Laundry, spa treatments, telephone calls and personal expenses.
• Tips for guides, drivers, cruise crews and hotel staff.
• Peak-season and public-holiday supplements.
• Christmas, New Year and Vietnamese Lunar New Year supplements.
• Compulsory hotel, resort or cruise gala dinners.
• Additional costs caused by weather, airline or transport disruption.
• Any service not clearly listed under “Services Included”.