12-Day Colorful Vietnam Tour From Ho Chi Minh City to Mekong Delta, Halong Bay, Sapa & Hanoi

Our car will pick you up at the airport and take you to the hotel. After checking into the hotel, you'll free time for relax or you can go sightseeing on your own. We suggest visiting the Ben Thanh Market, Central Post Office, and Notre Dame Cathedral.

At 8:30am we'll depart from Ho Chi Minh City to Cu Chi Tunnels for 60km from Ho Chi Minh City. Cu Chi is now considered a heroic district for its role in the anti - American war in Vietnam. It is legendary for its tunnels system of over 220 km and is a popular spot for both Vietnamese and foreigner.

The peacefully rural rice paddy scenery contains ducks and water buffaloes swimming in the rivers along the side of road. You will find it hard to imagine the destruction, damage and defoliation all over the area, caused by bombing and mines, when Cu Chi was "A Free Target Zone ". The remnants you will see that Cu Chi still has her evidence to prove the fierce battleground that took place there. Ever wonder what it feels like to fire an AK-47? Visit Cu chi tunnels, you have a chance to find out!

By 3:00pm we'll return to Ho Chi Minh City and have free time.

At 6:00pm we'll tour Ho Chi Minh City by cycle. Afterwards we'll enjoy a Water Puppet Show.

Water Puppetry – part of Vietnam’s Cultural Heritage. A living portrait of Vietnam’s history and culture… Watching the Vietnamese Water Puppetry is also the best way to discover the history and traditional cultural life of Vietnamese people. This program has been presented in various international festival and carried our cultural exchanges activities with other countries.

After show, you will travel by cycle or car to Bach Dang riverside and board a small cruise ship along Saigon River. Dinner will be served on board while passing by colorful views of Saigon riverside by night. Enjoy live entertainment during the cruise.

We'll return to your hotel by 9:00pm.

At 7:45am we'll depart for the stunning Mekong Delta!

We'll drive along the provincial roads down to the Southern region of Vietnam, passing through paddy rice fields, pine-apple plantations, orchards and small hamlets (2 hours drive).

After arrival in My Tho, you will ride on a local motor boat along Dragon Island, Unicorn Island, Phoenix Island, Turtle Island and stop at the famous Unicorn Island. While at the Unicorn Island, you will take a short trek and go for a rowing boat trip. You will also enjoy tropical fruits in an orchard, natural pure honey at a bee farm and traditional music.

From there, you will continue your motor boat trip to Ben Tre province to visit Mekong people and enjoy handmade coconut candy. Then change to a small motor boat and travel along the lush, green canals, before stopping at Mien Tay restaurant to enjoy Vietnamese lunch and bike riding around the village.

At 3:00pm we'll transfer to Can Tho.

After breakfast, take a leisurely boat trip to explore the picturesque tributaries of the Lower Mekong river (Bassac River), then proceed to visit Cai Răng floating market (or Phong Dien is optional), which are the liveliest in the whole religion.

Have you ever tasted Vietnamese vermicelli soup? Well, now go and see how it is made. Then wander around the village and meet the friendly local people and see "Monkey bridge" which is built by only one stem of bamboo in the orchard garden. Back to riverside for lunch.

Drive back to Ho Chi Minh.

We'll depart your hotel at 8:00am for a halfday cyclo tour.

Explore Ho Chi Minh City’s historic Chinatown, named Cho Lon, or “Big Market,” by the locals, and experience the city as it was before the war. Chinatown was established as early as Saigon, and is where the Ming Dynasty Chinese first settled in Vietnam. They live their lives much as they did before 1975, doing business and continuing their traditions as the country develops around them.

Travel by cyclo which is the typical pedicabs of the city – experiences of local life up close, stopping to enjoy tasty food. Feel the hustle and bustle of street vendors selling a mixture of herbs for traditional medicine. Snake your way down tiny alleys on the agile vehicles, passing many small, family-run businesses.

Along the way, you will come across the 250-year-old Lady Thien Hau Temple (God of the Sea), as well as the historic South Saigon Cha Tam Church. Then you have time for shopping at Binh Tay Market before you come back to hotel. We let you try Vietnamese local food at our restaurant. After lunch, go back hotel, take a shower and relax.

At 3:00pm Our driver take you to Tan Son Nhat Airport for your 5:00pm flight to Hanoi.

You'll arrive by 7:00pm and we'll transfer you to the hotel.

7.45 – 08.20 approx
- Our guide will meet you at your hotel. The shuttle bus or private car pick up.
- Enjoy the peaceful scenery as we travel through the countryside, farmlands and Red River delta.
- You will have a chance to take photos. Comfort break. The time from Hanoi to Halong bay is approximately 3 ½ hours.

12 – 12.30 noon approx
- Arriving Tuan Chau Marina. Welcome aboard the cruise. Meet the captain, crew and join us for welcome cocktail as we tell you about life onboard.
- Check into your cabin. Time to refresh and unwind
- Set sail as lunch is prepared by our chef.
- Join us for a relaxing lunch in the restaurant or on the outdoor dining area. Enjoy the stunning views of the Bay, its dramatic limestone islands as we sail through the calm waters.

Afternoon
- While we make our way to the amazing Van Gia fishing village, relax on the sundeck and watch the world go by or take an afternoon nap in your cabin. Middle afternoon arrive at Van Gia floating fishing village.
- Drop anchor.
- Our guide will give you some information and interesting facts about this fascinating village and its local community.
- Disembark and you can choose which options when you visit the village by Kayak or local bamboo boat to visit the village. They will be your guides through their fishing village where you can meet the locals, see at first-hand what life is like living on the water, we are proud of our working partnership with, and support of this community.
- Our cruise will take you to the Soi Sim natural beach for swimming and snorkeling, you can enjoy our interesting games such as football, basketball. On the way cruising, you will enjoy with us the sunset party with fruits and wine as our complimentary
- Back on board the cruise, we head towards the sleeping area.

Early evening
- Take an opportunity to refresh and then join friends for a pre-dinner drink in the bar.
- Dinner is served in the restaurant or outdoor dining area if the weather is permitted, which is a gastronomic delight. After dinner, unwind in the bar where there is a selection of books, magazines and board games or watch a movie on our plasma TV; join some of our team to go cuttle fishing at night. Accommodation and overnight on boat

06:30 am
- For the early risers join us for a Tai Chi session on the sun deck. Tai chi helps focus the mind and condition the body and there is no better environment to practice this than amongst the limestone peaks and islands.
- Breakfast, coffee, tea served.
After breakfast, we sail through the waters and pass by a number of caves and we drop anchor at Surprising (Sung Sot) Cave.
- Disembark and visit Surprise Cave located on Bo Hon Island. It is one of the widest grottoes in Ha Long Bay with thousands of stalactites and stalagmites

09:30 am
We board the cruise again. Take time to refresh and relax before checking out. Bags can be left in the luggage store. You will join with our short class of Cooking demonstration, how to make spring rolls before an early lunch is served.

12 noon
Return to the shore and disembark from the cruise as our crew say farewell. Transfer to minibus or private car and return to Hanoi. Arrival back at your hotel approximately 16:30/17:00.

In the morning:
07:30 - 08:30: Our bus & tour guide will pick you up at the hotel in Ha Noi old quarter depart to Hanoi city tour full day.
09:00: Visiting first place named Tran Quoc pagoda on the West Lake the oldest pagoda in Vietnam.
09:30: Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum to explore the architectural and historical aspects of Uncle Ho’s final resting-place. Just next door is Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts and lying to one side of the Mausoleum is the One-Pillar Pagoda which was founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049 - the structure has become an important symbol for the people of Hanoi.
11:00: Visit the Bat Trang Pottery Village
In the afternoon:
13:00: Bus takes you to a local restaurant in Hanoi Old Quarter, have a rest and enjoy the lunch.
14:00: Visit Temple of Literature, the most famous temple situated in Hanoi, also functioned as Vietnam's first university. It was first constructed in 1070 under King Ly Nhan Tong and dedicated to Confucius, sages and scholars. A vast structure that has existed to present day.
15:30: Drive to legendary Hoan Kiem Lake, visit Ngoc Son Temple dedicated to Van Xuong saint and former general commander Tran Hung Dao for his struggle against Mongolians. You also see the beautiful Vietnamese and French architecture around the lake.
16:00: Arrive back to your hotel. Tour ends !
Notes:
• Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Ethnology Museum and close on Monday and Friday morning.
• The itinerary can be changed due to weather, tide levels and operating conditions.

By 4:00pm we'll return to your hotel.

Tonight you may add on a Water Puppet Show a 3:30pm to 4:15pm or an Electric Car or Cyclo around Hanoi's Old Quarter (return to your hotel at 5:00pm).

At 7:30pm we'll transfer you to the train station for your overnight train to Lao Cai.

5.00: We will arrive at Lao Cai Train station in the early morning. Your tour guide will pick you up and take for 01hr drive to Sapa.

6.00:
The luggage is put in your hotel. Then, you have a good time to enjoy breakfast and take a shower in a local restaurant nearby. Taking a leisurely walk down the town to enjoy fresh air and make friend with friendly locals.

9.30:
We start to make a tour to Lao Chai and Ta Van villages down in Muong Hoa valley. At there, we will be seen the fantastic scenes of the beautiful valleys towards Fansipan – the highest peak of Vietnam and Indochina. In addition, you also have a change to go through the villages of Black H’mong ethnic minority to learn the way of weaving and embroidering their clothes. Have a break in a local restaurant for lunch then keep going down to enjoy immeasurable rice paddy fields and continue going into the village where the Dzay ethnic people inhabited, named as Ta Chan village

3.30:
You will be picked up by car to return Sapa for checking-in. The rest of the day, you will be leisure to explore the town (Dragon Mount, Orchid garden, the market…). Spend overnight at hotel nearby.

9.30:
After having breakfast in the hotel, we will depart to visit Cat Cat and Sin Chai villages. At there, you surely enjoy comfortable feelings when trekking through lush rice terraces towards villages and learn the experiences of Black H’mong people for their daily life and traditional culture. Then, we will come back to Hotel.

14.00:
We continue taking a drive to Ta Phin village (12km from Sapa) where the Red Dzao people lived to get more helpful experiences about their culture, custom and even their daily life. Moreover, you also have a best choice of buying woven and textile brocades which are completely made by hand by local people. After that, you will have an interesting chance to come into one of the local family to experience the true life of the Red Dzao.

16.00:
You come back to Sapa for a shower then you will proceed forward to Lao Cai City. Your dinner will be served in a restaurant close by the railway station. Final is to go on the board a night train to come back to Ha Noi.

06:00am The train will arrive in Hanoi. Our driver pick you up at train station, transfer to hotel (early check in).

Enjoy the rest of the day to relax.

You will have breakfast at hotel. Relax time in Ha Noi until transfer to the airport for the flight back home.