With one week of delay, we had enough time to concentrate on our dearest friends after lot of works awaiting us.
As expected, you made us have another wonderful two weeks in Vietnam and everybody wants to return in any earliest occasion.
Your program was very successful, lot of landscapes, plenty of contact with locals and reasonable amount of visits.
For two things, which are totally beyond your control, I would like to inform you for seeking other options or improving the quality ;
Victoria Trains have a very bad management and downgrades your wonderful service; poor air conditioning design blows extremely cold air with a very high velocity and noise. The staff repeats memorized English sentences but don’t understand English at all. It is almost impossible to sleep properly. I recommend you to suggest your guests either this train or continue direct with the van to Sapa (5h), which will be more comfortable.
Mango Home should absolutely renew their both cold and hot water system. Existing heaters and water pump is very old fashioned and we hardly ever had hot water to take shower. At that temperature they don’t even need heaters, a metal bin painted black on top of each room will supply whatever is necessary.
Un feliz 2017, Un abrazo fuerte y besitos cordiales por Cathy, Linda and el equipo.
DETAILED PROGRAM
Day 1: 15 November 2016 : HANOI ARRIVAL (-/-/-)
Arrival at the Hanoi airport QR 834 //eta 16:05 Upon arrival in Hanoi, you will be welcomed by our guide and transferred to your hotel. Hanoi is one of Asia's most charming cities, with its romantic tree-lined boulevards and colonial houses. Overnight at hotel.
Day 2 : 16 November 2016: HANOI – MAI CHAU (B/L/D)
We will depart from Hanoi to Mai Chau, a picturesque valley, home to many hill tribes including the Dzao, Muong and Thai. We will arrive in Mai Chau around noon and check into the Mister Cuong’s ethnic homestay, a house on stilts in Van village. A village of the ‘White Thai’, who predominantly inhabit this area. A typical Thai meal will be served for lunch at the homestay. In the afternoon, you can take a short walk by electric car around the village where you will encounter friendly local people, and get the chance to communicate with them, get to know their traditional lifestyle and try your hand at weaving silk with a loom: Chieng Sại, Cha, Cha Long, Na Tang and Tong Dau. Enjoy a traditional dance show at night while tasting Ruou Can, the local rice wine. Overnight at Mai Chau Ecolodge.
Day 3 : 17 November 2016: MAI CHAU – NINH BINH – VAN LONG (B/L/-)
After breakfast, we take a walk at Poomkoong and Lac village. In the afternoon, we leave Mai Chau valley to go to Ninh Binh. Overnight in Van Long.
Day 4 : 18 November 2016: VAN LONG – HOA LU – HANOI – TRAIN TO LAO CAI (B/-/-)
Start our trip by visiting Van Long nature reserve, referred as “the Ha Long Bay on land”. This is a magnificent waterscape of rivers, mountains, evergreen forests, caves and submerged land. We will take ox-cart to the wharf (about 2km) crossing beautiful countryside and visit traditional house. Get into a small boat to cruise along the river surrounded by spectacular rice fields and explore several caves with beautiful stalactites. After that it is on to visit the ancient Dinh & Le king temples. Beautiful hibiscus gardens, lotus ponds and frangipani dispersing their delicate scent surround these temples. Return to Hanoi. In the evening we will head to Hanoi station for the night train to Lao Cai. Overnight on the train Victoria Express (2 pax/private cabin)
Day 5 : 19 November 2016: LAO CAI - SAPA (B/-/-)
Arrive at Lao Cai train station around 6:00 am. Breakfast at a local restaurant. Possibility to visit Can Cau market, the most authentic ethnic market in the region, taking place every Saturday. We drive to Sapa, “Town in the Cloud”. Arrive in Sapa around noon and check into the hotel. In the afternoon, we will walk along a steep path to Cat Cat village inhabited by the H’mong ethnic group. Here you have the chance to learn more about their unique customs and habits. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 6 : 20 November 2016: SAPA – LAO CAI – TRAIN TO HANOI (B/-/-)
We will spend the day exploring Sapa famous for its pleasant climate, picturesque scenery and vibrant ethnic markets. Descend into the Muong Hoa valley to visit Lao Chai village home to Black H’Mong and Ta Van village home to Dzay people. Free time until to transfer to Lao Cai station for the night train to Hanoi
Day 7 : 21 November 2016: HA NOI – HUE (B/-/-)
Arrival in Hanoi early morning. Check-in at the hotel in Hanoi. Free time until transfer to the airport for your flight VN1545 (17H30 – 18H40) to Hue city. Pick-up by the guide and driver, then transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Hue
Day 8 : 22 November 2016: HUE CITY TOUR (B/-/-)
Depart from the hotel in the morning to visit Hue Imperial City to visit the massive vestige of Vietnam's last royal town, including: Flag Tower, Ngo Mon Gate, Nine Dynastic Urns, Nine Holy Cannons, Thai Hoa Palace & Forbidden Purple City or “Tu Cam Thanh”. Then we continue to visit Tu Duc Royal Tomb, one of the most beautiful examples of royal architecture during the Nguyen dynasty. In the late afternoon, we take a short walk by cyclo to Dong Ba market. Overnight in Hue
Day 9 : 23 November 2016: HUE - THUY BIEU VILLAGE - HOI AN (B/L/-)
Cruise along Perfume River, en route visit the Thien Mu Pagoda also known as “Heavenly Lady Pagoda”, and then drop by Thuy Bieu eco- village, an ancient village situated on the bank of the Perfume River. After that, we will spend time cycling (Cycles for three and moto-taxi for Mrs Sevuk) through the village’s tranquil setting, passing several communal houses, ancient temples and most importantly the garden house, a unique feature of Hue countryside. Cooking class and lunch at the village. After a halfday of walking and cycling, relax with a medical herb water treatment for your feet and an excellent blind massage. In the afternoon, drive along the Mandarin road. A scenic journey from Hue to Hoi An, which showcases a picturesque Vietnam with stunning beaches and lush tropical forest. Take some photos en route before visiting the Museum of Cham Sculpture, with its many precious antique artifacts of the former Cham Kingdom on display. Then stop to visit Marble Mountain. You can also discover stunning caves and enjoy the beautiful view from the top of the mountain. Marble Mountain is also home to Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village, which is a unique craft village to the south of the city. Situated at the foot of the Marble Mountains, this craft village has a proud history. Overnight in Hoi An
Day 10 :24 November 2016 HOI AN CITY TOUR - DANANG – HO CHI MINH (B/-/-)
In the morning, explore Hoi An’s ancient town and its major attractions: Japanese Pagoda Bridge, Chinese street, Phung Hung old house, Hoi An market and the ancient port. In the afternoon, we head to Kim Bong carpentry village, well-known for its intricate wood carvings and traditional sophisticated products, including wooden cabinets and ships. The village was established in the 15th century and reached its commercial peak during the 18th century. Free time until transfer to DaNang airport for flight VN135 (18h50-20h15) to Ho Chi Minh city. Pick-up by your guide and driver then transfer to your hotel. Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh city.
Day 11 : 25 November 2016 HO CHI MINH – BEN TRE (B/L/D)
Depart from Saigon around 8am and head south to Ben Tre province, famous for its coconut production and quiet, peaceful waterways. On arrival, take a “xe loi” (tuk tuk) ride through the local village of Huu Dinh to enjoy the green fields and gardens. Continue with a short walk to Huu Phuoc Bridge where you will board your boat and begin your trip through small canals with beautiful tropical scenery. On board the boat, enjoy a welcome drink (mango cocktail) and tropical fruits while cruising.
The cruise will stop first at a brick making shop, where the locals still use centuries-old traditional methods to make the bricks by hand. Then go back to your boat to cross the An Hoa River, where you will take a sampan trip through narrow canals and enjoy the peacefulness of the region. The sampan will take you to visit one of our friends, Mrs Huong, who lives with her 3 children and grandson – they live on fishing, shrimp and fruit orchards. Enjoy fresh fruits and tea before heading to visit a rice noodles factory which produces Hu Tieu noodles, one of most popular breakfast dishes in the region. Then we continue on village roads past green gardens and local houses, and stop at another local house where they live on their traditional family business, sampan boat building. Then visit Mr Sau Tuong, a former Vietcong soldier who survived two years fighting the Khmer Rouge in Phnom Penh. Now he and his wife live on making rice paper, which is the most famous specialty of My Long village. Have a chat with him and enjoy the crispy rice paper made by his wife, and observe the process of how it is made. Then return to the village road to carry on the xe loi ride to a local restaurant by the river side. It is time for you to relax and enjoy a 5-course lunch of local specialties. Relax and walk around the garden after lunch, and then visit the nearby house of Mr Hung, who is a famous sticky rice maker in the village. You can also feed his stock of catfish and walk through his fruit garden. Overnight at Mango Home Riverside.
Day 12 : 26 November 2016 BEN TRE – HO CHI MINH (B/L/-)
Breakfast will be served at Mango Home, then take a boat trip to Tai Phu canal and stop to visit a coconut processing workshop before taking “xe loi” to the busy local market of My Long. After that, we continue to Cau Hoa to visit the local Phuoc Long Tu temple and war memorials, then go to Phong Nam village and your boat will take you to back to Mango Home. Enjoy Lunch; take some time to relax before checking out and enjoying a final cruise down the River before returning to Ho Chi Minh city. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.
Day 13 : 27 November 2016: HO CHI MINH FREE TIME (B/-/-)
Free time for your personal discovery without guide and driver. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 14 :28 November 2016: HO CHI MINH FREE TIME (B/-/-)
Free time for your personal discovery without guide and driver. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 15 : 29 November 2016: HO CHI MINH – DEPARTURE (B/-/-)
08h00 the transfer without guide to the airport for your departure flight MH 751//etd 11h00
END OF OUR SERVICES