VIETNAM INSPIRATION 14 DAYS

Day 1: Good morning Hanoi

Chao Ban! Welcome to Hanoi, we meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel for check-in. Today is free at your leisure to rest or explore, discovering your own first impressions of Vietnam (depending on what time you arrive). Overnight in Hanoi.

Inclusion: Transfer, guide, hotel

 

Day 2: Hanoi village with bike 

We pick you up at 8:30 AM for a short transfer outside of Hanoi, we have this morning to learn about Hanoi villages’ life, its traditions, customs.

We walk and cycle along the villages, visiting local markets, some old houses, their worshipping temples, communal houses… then we have a small food demonstration before our lunch at one of the local family here.

In the afternoon, we set out from Dong Ngac, cycling on mostly rural lanes through surrounding villages to Lien Mac, a beautiful area of immaculately tended vegetables and flowers. Here you get a close-up look at the colorful fields and have the chance to chat with some of the local people out caring for their crops.  After taking another route from Lien Mac back to Dong Ngac, you’ll have a short break for a drink at your host family’s home, bid your farewells, and catch the van back to your hotel in Hanoi at around 5:00 PM. Dinner on your own and overnight at the same hotel.

Inclusion: Transfer, guide, entrance fees, breakfast, lunch, local bike, community development fund, hotel

Day 3: Hanoi - Mai Chau – Pu Luong – Don village

Depart from your Hanoi hotel at 8:00 AM transferring to Mai Chau on our spectacular 4 hour drive. Upon arrival at PoomCoom village in Mai Chau, we take a short walk to visit the ethnic Thai people then lunch will be served.

At 1:00 PM, take a short car ride in about 1 hour before we set off for our hiking through the beauty of Pu Luong nature reserve, the trek is

intermediate level and requires some walking up hills but it’s worth your hike as we will see many spectacular views of villages and terraces. 

Arrival at the Thai stilt homestay in the late afternoon. Free time to rest and shower, then a traditional dinner with our host family. Overnight here.

Driving Distance: about 230 km

Trekking Distance: about 9 km (3 hours)

Trail Difficulty: 3/5

Note: There is beautiful and authentic lodge name Pu Luong Retreat, please contact us if you wish to upgrade to staying here.

Inclusion: Transfer, guide, entrance fee, lunch, dinner, drinking water, homestay with permit.

 

Day 4: Hidden trails of Pu Luong

Waking up early today is recommended as your chance to witness more local activities in the morning. After having our breakfast, we say good-bye to our host by around 8.00 AM for our good hike ahead.

More trek today through hidden gems of Pu Luong including beautiful view of valleys, nice terraces and peaceful villages. We stop for our picnic lunch then continue our trek through more villages to reach to Hieu village in the afternoon. Take rest as you wish then you are free to stroll around the village to interact with the locals and visit the beautiful waterfall nearby. Back to the homestay for dinner and overnight at homestay. Contact us if you wish to stay at an Eco lodge at Hieu village, instead of homestay. 

Trekking Distance: about 12 km (5 – 6 hours)

Trail Difficulty: 3/5

Inclusion: Guide, homestay, all meals

 

Day 5: Hieu village – Pho Doan – Hanoi

Your last day here at this beautiful nature reserve and friendly villagers so take the chance to explore around on your own or with our guide around the village. We will then take an easy walk in about 1,5 hours to the town-let of this nature reserve where you van is waiting for us.

Lunch at one of the local restaurants before having a scenic drive back to Hanoi. Finish our trip at your hotel around 5:00 PM.

Driving Distance: about 235 km

Trekking Distance: 8 km

Trail Difficulty: 2/5

Inclusion: Transfer, guide, entrance fee, breakfast, lunch, permit, hotel.

 

Day 6: Hanoi – Ha Long, welcome on the boat

Departure for Ha Long Bay is around 7:45 - 8:00 AM in a shared van (about 4 hours) from your hotel. Arrive at the port around noon. Welcomed on board, you are taken to your cabin before the trip briefing. You enjoy a fresh and local seafood lunch while cruising to explore the magic Bai Tu Long Bay. Stop for a swim and visit the mysterious cave. Relax at our secluded island-beach or explore by kayak. Later you return back to the boat just in time to watch the beautiful sunset from the top deck before enjoying the bay’s freshest seafood dinner.

Inclusion: Transfer, guide on boat, morning shower, entrance fee, kayak, boat / junk, all meals, permits.

 

Day 7: Explore Bai Tu Long bay, back to Hanoi - Night train to Hue

Early risers can enjoy the sunrise and the quiet breath-taking beauty of Bay’s landscape with towering limestone. You have breakfast at around 8:00 AM before our short rowboat by the locals of the bay.

Lunch on the boat as we slowly cruise back to boat pier. Hit the road, stopping for a water puppet show at a traditional Vietnamese village before arriving back to Hanoi around 5:30 PM.

Hotel then pick up around 6:30 PM for the night train to Hue. Boarding is at 7:30 PM. You are in a shared AC soft sleeper cabin.

Inclusion: Transfers, guide on boat, entrance fee, boat/junk, breakfast, lunch, train ticket.

 

Day 8: See Hue heritage on boat & bike to rural villages

Arrival in Hue at around 09:00 AM. Station pick up then transfer to a prearranged hotel. Shower, short rest and breakfast.

Departure from your hotel for our morning explorations to visit the Imperial city to learn all about the royal kingdom here in the past. We then embark for our beautiful boat ride along the Perfume River, with stop at Thien Mu Pagoda. Continue our boat journey downstream with pleasant viewing along the sides of the river and lunch onboard while we are sailing down the Perfume River.

Our afternoon start with biking to visit the flower village of Tien Non, it’s just lovely to be among different types of flowers, then cycle a bit more to visit Thanh Tien paper flower making village, you can try to make one by yourself. After that, we will visit village where they make traditional folk painting, more ride through the beautiful and peaceful countryside of Hue before hitting the road back to your hotel for about 5:00 PM.

Cycling Distance: 14 km

Inclusion: Transfer, guide, entrance fee, morning shower, breakfast, lunch, local boat, bike & helmet, hotel.

 

Day 9: Hue – visit Royal tombs, Vietnam cyclo & market visit - transfer to Hoian

After breakfast at your hotel around 8:30 AM, we go on a relaxing 1 hour Vietnam cyclo ride to visit Dong Ba market then explore the Royal Tombs, choosing only to visit the best ones, as we have lots to do today. Visit Ming Mang and Khai Dinh Royal Tombs.

After it is time to begin our transfer to Hoian (about 4 hours). There is fabulous sightseeing en route and we may make stops at: Lang Co Beach, Hai Van Pass, Cham Museum, and the Marble Mountains depending on time. Hoian in the evening. Overnight here.

Tip: This is a very good chance for you to get great tailor-made clothes at reasonable prices. Hoian is well known for its tailoring.

Inclusion: Transfer, guide, entrance fee, breakfast, Vietnam cyclo, hotel.

Day 10: Countryside tour & visit ancient town of Hoian

At 8.00 AM, we meet at your hotel for a very short transfer to the boat docks, we boat to a fishing village where you see & experience the life of a fisherman here, activities from preparing the fishing tools to go fishing. Followed by a short basket boat row along the village of water coconut before our lunch. We then cycle along the country road through the paddy fields of rice, coconut or corn heading to the main town of Hoian.

Our afternoon is continued with sightseeing to the famous cultural sites around Hoian, we end our trip at around 5:00 PM at your hotel.

Inclusion: Transfer, guide, local bike, local boat & basket, breakfast, lunch, water & snack, hotel.

  

Day 11: Hoian – HCM City, City tour

Breakfast at the hotel then transfer to the airport in Da Nang for an early morning flight to HCM City. Touchdown then transfer and check-in to your hotel before our city tour of bustling HCM City. Visit the Binh Tay Market in Cho Lon; stopover at Thien Hau, a 150-year-old Chinese Temple; then visit a Lacquer-wares workshop as well as the Jade Emperor Pagoda. In the afternoon visit the War Remnants Museum, the Notre Dame Cathedral and the historic Central Post Office. We drop you off at your hotel around 5:30 PM.

Inclusion: Transfer, guide, entrance fee, breakfast, hotel.

 

Day 12: Tay Ninh and the Cu Chi tunnels

Departing HCM City at 8:00 AM from your hotel for a morning excursion to Tay Ninh and the Great Cao Dai Temple (a place to worship a mixture of Buddhism, Confucius, Taoism, Hinduism and Christianity). Take part in the noon mass at the temple (1 hour). Lunch in Tay Ninh.

In the afternoon we visit the Cu Chi outdoor museum to learn about the infamous tunnel systems of the Viet Cong. Take this opportunity to get a unique understanding of the guerillas underground fighting strategies during the war. Crawl through 50 to 100 meters of the 200 km tunnel system if you dare. On the way back to HCM City visit a local rice paper workshops and take in views of the Vietnam countryside. We drop you off at your hotel around 5:30 PM. Overnight at your hotel.

Inclusion: Transfer, guide, entrance fee, breakfast, hotel.

 

Day 13: HCM City – Visit the fertile Mekong delta

Getting started at 8:00 AM from your hotel, then a drive about 70 km out of HCM City to see Mekong Delta life around My Tho. Upon arrival Ben Tre, drift down the busy branches of the Mekong and into its peaceful canals. We visit a brick kiln and a coconut shell husking workshop. See the daily life of farmers and try the hard work taking shell of the coconut that is unique to the region.

More boat cruise inner the natural waterways, we visit a coconut-candy workshop, a main product that made Ben Tre famous then visit a local market and farmer workshop making sleeping mats, an old tradition hand weaving sedge mat or rush mat.  And now, the Mekong adventure is on, see what life is really like for locals by explore this quiet island by bicycle or more relaxing way by hop on a Lambretta triporteur an old 1960 traditional tricycle in south Vietnam which is winding around the coconut palms, bitter melon or cucumber farms to a farmer house that we break for lunch and relax.

In the afternoon, we walk a bit more of coconut farms and fruit orchards of this village then enjoy the local hand – rowing sampan slowly cruise under the canopy of water coconut palms along the canals. Our boat picks us again and cruises back to the boat landing in Ben Tre town. Head back to HCM City. Tour ends around 5:00 PM.

Inclusion: Transfer, guide, entrance fee, local boat trip, breakfast, lunch, hotel.

 

Day 14: Departure HCM City, Goodbye Vietnam

Breakfast at hotel. Depending on your flight you may have some more time for shopping. Then we transfer you to the airport for your flight home. Goodbye, and hope to see you again soon!

Inclusion: Transfer, breakfast.

 

COSTS from: $US1140/person 

Costs are $US NET, 3% surcharge if pay by credit card. Other surcharges might be applied such as Tet holidays.

Exclusion: Visa, Insurance, drinks, personal expenses, others not mentioned in details, tips are welcome!

 

NOTES FOR YOUR TRIP:

Tour guide: English speaking guides (on sites)

Closed sites: Some sites might be closed during the time you visit Vietnam (e.g. the HCM mausoleum in Hanoi is closed on Mondays and Fridays). Please consult with your travel agent if you want to have further information concerning this issue.

Hotel: We use 3star standard hotels, twin shared room (s). Upgrade is available on request. Check – in: 14:00; out: 12:00 noon. Early check in if it is subject to availability.

Ha Long Bay trip: Shared minivan and deluxe junk.  Twin/double shared cabin aboard the boat. Upgrade is available at your request.

Car/Van Quality: Using new AC car or van depending on your group size.

Meals: Vietnam foods and seafoods. If you have any allergies, special requests or if you are on a special diet please let us know. We will arrange it for you in advance.

What to Bring: Passport, change of clothes, sunglasses and hat, toiletries, sunblock, insect repellent, flashlights, good sport shoes, personal first aid kit and medicines, small VND notes for buying drinks. If you feel the need then sleeping bags and a cable lock for your bags is recommended.

Trekking & Cycling times are just estimated and may change depending on your personal fitness and weather.

Experience: The trek demands some experience in co-ordination, fitness and stamina. The great effort will be rewarded with fantastic views. Clients should have previous trekking experience. Nevertheless, our guide will be flexible to suggest you the most proper trekking route adapted to your physical fitness

Tour Gallery