If you have enough time and want to discover the real Vietnam in your holiday, then this 18-day panorama tour is your best choice. You will have a great chance to visit all the famous sites in Vietnam and trace the mystical eastern coastline.
Start from Ho Chi Minh City with an essential visit to the highlights in this city and witness the busy city life in Saigon, then have a full day unique Mekong River Cruise; then after a full day excursion in Dalat, move to Nha Trang to relax and soak up the rays on the beautiful white sand beach. And move to Hoian to discover the quaint streets, ancient shrines and hospitable ambiance of this old town, as well as the gorgeous beaches just out of the town. After that, take the overnight train to Sapa to experience the culturally diverse of ethnic minorities and fantastic mountain landscapes. At last, sit back & discover the amazing limestone formations of Halong Bay aboard a traditional junk boat as you indulge in Vietnam’s coolest spots.
Trip Highlights
Take a cyclo tour to explore the essential sites in Saigon.
Meet locals as you explore the villages and islands along the Mekong River.
Relax on the lovely beaches of Nha Trang with your family and friends.
Stroll through atmospheric streets in Hoi An Ancient Town and relax yourself totally.
Experience hilltribe culture and ancient customs, and discover stunning scenery and friendly people.
Enjoy Halong Bay and it's many limestone islands on this private full-day tour.
At a Glance
Ho Chi Minh City(2 nights)
Can Tho(1 night)
Dalat(2 nights)
Nhatrang(3 nights)
Hoian(2 nights)
Hue(1 night)
Hanoi(2 nights)
Train to Sapa(1 night)
Sapa(1 night)
Train to Hanoi(1 night)
Cruise on Halong Bay(1 night)
Day 1 Arrive in Saigon
Transfer via: International flight on your own arrangement or upon request.
Meals:Dinner
Welcome to Vietnam! The land of unique culture and stunning natural view! Upon your arrival, your local tour guide will welcome you at the airport then escort you to hotel by private car. Check in hotel and relax to refresh from the long international fly. In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner on the Saigon River Cruise which will give you the first impression of Saigon by enjoying the night scenery on the cruise boat.
Day 2 Full Day Saigon (Ho Chi Minh) City Tour
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
The tour today will start from a visit to Cu Chi Tunnels. The Vietnamese are proud of their resolve in their prolonged history of struggle against invading armies, and the story of the people of Cu Chi is indicative of that spirit. The residents of Cu Chi then took their war underground, literally, developing a network of tunnels that, at its height, stretched as far as Cambodia and included meeting rooms, kitchens, and triage areas. After lunch, take a visit to Reunification Palace (the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975), Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Sai Gon Post Office, Cho lon - the Chinatown of Ho Chi Minh City and the Emperor Jade Pagoda (Phuoc Hai), one of the most interesting pagodas in Vietnam. Rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 3 Transfer to Ving Long, Can Tho--the Mekong Delta
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Morning, pick up at your hotel and transfer about 136km to Vinh Long, a riverside town located in the Mekong Delta. Enjoy a boat cruise to the Cai Be floating market with sellers and buyers bargaining and exchanging goods from their boats, and then go to Binh Hoa Phuoc islet where the maze o shady creeks will surely fascinate you. You will have a chance to mighle with local peasants, learn the secrets of their bonsai gardening. Visit local homes where the famillies produce tiles and ceramics; drop into rice-paper kiln and coconut-candy kiln; and observe daily country life. A typical Vietnamese lunch at a local home will be arranged. Afternoon, drive to Can Tho and check in hotel. In the evening, wandering around the night market will be recommended for you to have some evening exercise after dinner.
Day 4 Can Tho, Drive back to Saigon, Flight to Dalat
Transfer via: Domestic flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat on INT's arrangement.
Meals: Breakfast
Rise early morning for a private boat trip to take part in the Cai Rong floating market. Your boat will start from Ninh Kieu and sail along the Can Tho River. You will enjoy watching bustling activities along Can Tho riverbanks. Particularly, you may know how local people go fishing with plenty of fish traps and how they transport passengers as well as products by waterway. Then take part in Cai Rang Floating Market to enjoy selling & buying activities with the traditional signal “offering pole” (exchanging goods hung on the pole to introduce people what the boat is selling). To understand more about lifestyle over here, keep on going into the small creeks called Rach Nho in which the Southern countryside can be seen clearly before cruising back to Ninh Kieu Wharf. After breakfast and a short rest in hotel, we will drive back to Saigon airport for onward flight to Dalat, the lovely town locates on Vietnam highland.
Day 5 Full Day Dalat Excursion
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Enjoy a full day excursion for highlights in Dalat. Firstly you will visit Datanla Falls by slider, Tuyen Lam Lake by Cable car and Truc Lam Zen Monastery, Prenn Falls, Chinese Pagoda, Linh Phuoc Pagoda, Bao Dai Summer Palace. Lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon, continue to visit Dalat Flower Garden, Minh Tam Flower Garden, Lam Dong Museum, Crazy house, Valley of love and Hill of Dreams Park. Return to your nice hotel.
Day 6 Drive to Nhatrang--Attractive coastal town
Transfer via: Transfer by private car.
Today we will drive from Dalat to Nhatrang, one of the most beautiful and developed beaches, is Vietnam's most attractive coastal town. It contains a harmonious combination of mountains, and white sand beaches, it has numerous cultural attractions and interesting sites which excellent for swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving. Upon arrival in Nhatrang, you will enjoy free time relax in hotel.
Day 7 Full Day Nhatrang--Enjoy the beach
Meals: Breakfast
Enjoy the beach and relax in Nhatrang.
Day 8 Full Day Nhatrang--Enjoy the beach
Meals: Breakfast
Enjoy the beach and relax in Nhatrang.
Day 9 Flight to Danang, Transfer to Hoian
Transfer via: Domestic flight from Nhatrang to Hoian on INT's arrangement.
Relalx in the hotel untill transfer to airport for onward flight to Danang. Upon arrive in Danang, you will be picked up and transfer to your hotel in Hoian.
Day 10 Full Day My Son, Hoian City Tour
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Morning, transfer to visit My Son - Vietnam's most important Cham’s site. Myson became a religious center in the late 4th century and lasted till 13th century – a longest period of development of any monument in Southeast Asia. Lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon, continue to visit Hoian ancient town - one of the major trading centers of Southeast Asia in the 16th century and was declared a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999. There are plenty to see in this delightful town, some of which are the famous Japanese Covered Bridges, the Pottery Museum, the 200 years old Tamky House, the Chua Ong Pagoda.
Day 11 Transfer to Hue, Royal Dinner
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Enjoy some relaxing time in the morning until transfer to Hue in the afternoon. Hue, the ancient capital of Vietnam, it is well known for its historic monuments which have earned it a place in UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. In the evening, enjoy a royal dinner in a royal residence with a descendant of the imperial family, it is a unique experience for you to experience the imperial life in ancient time.
Day 12 Half Day Hue City Tour, Flight to Hanoi
Enjoy a half-day city tour to visit Hue Citadel - Vietnam’s former imperial capital and recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. With an area of 500ha and a system of three circles of ramparts, namely from outside to inside: Kinh Thanh Hue (Hue Capital Citadel), Hoang Thanh (Royal Citadel) and Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden Citadel) and Khai Dinh Tomb, Hue Citadel is the result of the interminglement of many architectural trends: European and Asian, as well as ancient and modern. After that, visit Tu Duc Tomb and Dong Ba market for shopping In the afternoon, transfer to Danang airport for onward flight to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.
Day 13 Full Day Hanoi City Tour, Board the overnight train to Lao Cai
Transfer via: Overnight train on soft sleeper 4 berth cabin.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hanoi, modern capital of Vietnam, featured for its oriental style old buildings, luxuriant trees along street, local market, motor-bikes, etc, A city tour in Hanoi will give you the impression of oriental. In the city tour, you will visit the Hochiminh Mausoleum and his former, the One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature, Vietnam useum of Ethnology or Vietnam History Museum, Hoan Kiem Lake and a Cyclo tour to the old quarter of Hanoi. Finish your day off at the Thang Long Opera Theatre for a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show. In the evening, board the overnight train to Lao Cai to discover the mountain tribes in northern Vietnam. Overnight on the train.
Day 14 Transfer to Sapa, Half Day Walking Tour in Sapa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Arrive in Lao Cai railway station in early morning around 6:30 am. You guide will pick you up from the train and then escort you to your hotel in the highland town Sapa. Enjoy breakfast in hotel and have a short rest. In the afternoon, enjoy a relaxing walking tour through the beautiful rice terrace fields, visit the Ta Van Village and Red Dao Village to discover the local ethnic tribe Back H’mong and Giang Ta Chai. Overnight in Sapa.
Day 15 Full Day Sapa tribe tour, Overnight train to Hanoi
Transfer via: Overnight train on soft sleeper 4 berth cabin.
Bac Ha market—impress by the color of the ethnic costume and authentic tribes.
Leave Sapa in the morning and drive to Bac Ha Market (approximately 2.5 hours drive). Be impressed by the colorful costume of the local Flower H’mong people, and experience the local market and discover the local life of the ethnic people. In the afternoon, visit the Trung Do village to enjoy a water buffalo cart ride through the beautiful rice fields and the village to the riverside, then take a boat ride along the Chay River for about 30 minutes. Tonight, you will board the overnight train for heading back to Hanoi. Overnight on train.
Day 16 Full Day Halong Bay Cruise
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Arrive in Hanoi in early morning, a visit to the morning flower market to the flower market where you will find how the Vietnamese like flowers. After a light breakfast, we will drive Halong City for the Halong Bay Cruise. Upon arrival, you will board the cruise ship for a relaxing Halong Bay Cruise through the stunning Halong Bay. You could be absolute relax by lying down on the sun deck to enjoy the beautiful scenery and sun shine. A shore excursion will bring you to discover a beautiful cave, visit a local fishing village with opportunity to interact with local people. When the sun become a drop of burning gold that slid nearer the sea horizon, enjoy your dinner while enjoying a charming sun set.
Sample itinerary of 2 days Paradise Halong Bay Cruise FIRST DAY
Your heavenly journey across Halong Bay starts around noon on Tuan Chau Island at the doorstep of Vietnam's most fascinating wonder. As the vessel sets sails, you will be greeted by Paradise Crew and Cruise Manager who will aim throughout your stay at providing you with the highest standards of service for a pure pleasure and utmost comfort onboard our luxury facilities in the stunning surroundings. Discover some of the treasures disseminated across the Bay of the Descending Dragon during the afternoon: fascinating caves, pristine beaches, picturesque floating villages, fantastic rock formations rising up out of emerald water. While onboard, you can take advantage at leisure of our Spa, Beauty & Massage services; surrounded by a stunning setting in motion, you will attend our chef's cooking demonstration and try your skills in the art of traditional Vietnamese cooking. Defined to be one of the highlights of your Paradise stay, a highly refined, innovative and varied cuisine will be presented for Lunch and Dinner in the elegant dining-room, accompanied by a wide selection of wines and beverages from around the world.
Day 17 Half Day Halong Bay Cruise
Meals: Breakfast
Greeting by the morning sun rise from the sea horizon, you can join a Thai Chi lesson for some morning exercise before breakfast. Visit a limestone grotto in the morning and disembark around 11:00 am then transfer to Hanoi. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight in Hanoi.
Sample itinerary of 2 days Paradise Halong Bay Cruise
SECOND DAY Early birds can attend a Tai Chi demonstration on the sundeck at the break of dawn. Start the day enjoying some Paradise delights with a colourful buffet breakfast. Continue exploring Halong Bay sailing across its 2000 islets and visiting some of its major highlights. Your Paradise Cruise will come to an end on Tuan Chau Island between 10.30am and 11.00am.
Day 18 Departure from Hanoi
Enjoy free time in the morning until transfer to airport for homeward flight.
Service ends.
