I went back to normal and I had to write to you.
Great time in Vietnam and Cambodia.
We travel the world and Vietnam is an interesting and beautiful land in particular.
I had to recommend you during the trip Israeli people that we met and friends in Israel and I am sure in season is the tour next turn to you first. Your organization and excellent service.
Aside from Hoi An Guide was more than ... everything else was just wonderful.
Detailed Program
(B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner)
Day 1: 8thth October 2016: Hanoi arrival – train to Lao Cai:
Upon arrival at National Airport at 17:45 pm by VN 614 (from Bangkok), you will be warmly welcomed by our guide and transferred to Hanoi station in the center. Free until the departure of the night train to Lao Cai SP1- 21:40-5:35. Overnight on train.
Day 2: 9th October 2016: Lao Cai- Bac Ha- Sapa: (B, L)
Arrive in Lao Cai 5:35am, you’ll take a shower and breakfast and drive to Bac Ha by car to visit Bac Ha market. This is the biggest local ethnic market of the region and takes place every Sunday. Tribal people from surrounding villages flock here to exchange their products. Most still use horses to carry their loads, which means an early departure to get to the market in time.
After lunch, you will leave the colorful market behind, to follow a zigzag road along the mountain to visit Ban Pho 1 and Ban Pho 2 villages, inhabited by Flower H'mong people. We will stop at a local house to see how corn wine is made - a special wine Bac Ha is renowned for. Taste some and you will truly feel its local flavor. Return to Sapa in the late afternoon. You’ll enjoy a foot massage and also Red Dzao Herbal Baths in Sapa. Overnight at hotel in Sapa
Day 3: 10th October 2016: Sapa- Lao Chai & Ta Van- train to Hanoi (B, L)
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before commencing your full day tour of Sapa. From Sapa, we trek via Y Linh Ho, village of the Black H’mong then you will reach the picturesque Lao Chai village home to the Black H'mong ethnic minority and Ta Van village inhabited by Dzay. Enjoy stunning views of rice terraces curving around the hillside, winding rivers and streams glistening in the sunshine. Enjoy a picnic for lunch. Transfer to Lao Cai station. In the road, You will then pass through the black Mong ethnic minority village of Ma Tra, a very small village hiding away from civilization. Then take an overnight train to Hanoi SP2 20:35- 4:45. Overnight in train.
Day 4: 11th October 2016: Hanoi arrival (B)
Morning, arrival to station at 5h00. Pick up by driver then transfer to your hotel in Hanoi. Early check in room is booked for you. Free time and Overnight in hotel in Hanoi
Day 5: 12th October 2016: Hanoi free time (B)/ no car no guide
Free time at your own leisure in Hanoi. Overnight in hotel in Hanoi
Day 6: 13th October 2016: Hanoi - Halong Bay by shuttle bus (B, L, D)
At 7h30-8h00, our shuttle bus will pick you at hotel then we depart to Halong Bay, passing beautiful scenery along the way full of lush rice paddies and winding rivers, typical of the Red River Delta. We will arrive at Halong’s tourist wharf around noon and embark a classic wooden junk. Lunch will be served as the boat gently cruises past numerous islands and limestone structures rising from the emerald waters of the bay. It is also an ideal opportunity to enjoy the sea breeze and refresh your soul. An experienced chef will prepare a fresh seafood dinner. Overnight on board in your private cabin
Note: Inclement weather, tide levels and operating conditions at sea may force changes in cruise itinerary and schedule at any time. Kayaking and swimming excursions, in particular, may be cancelled due to rough waves or bad weather.
Day 7: 14th October 2016: Halong Bay - Hanoi - Flight to Nha Trang (B, Brunch)
Enjoy breakfast and savor the incredible sunrise from the sundeck while the boat sails to Luon Cave and one of Halong’s floating villages then back to the harbor. You’ll take the shuttle bus (join-in) directly to airport of Hanoi for the flight to Nha Trang VN7569-18:15-20:00. Arrival to Nha Trang airport. Pick up by driver then transfer to your hotel in Nha Trang. Overnight in Nha Trang.
Day 8: 15th October 2016: Nha Trang – Da Lat (B)
At 6h30, pick up at your hotel in Nha Trang then transfer to Da Lat from Nha Trang. Arrival to Da lat, we will visit:
• Da Lat - Canyons Trip :
We drive along picturesque scenic roads to the trailhead, where we start our journey.
At the practice slope you’ll learn the basics of knot tying, harness wearing, hardware, and proper rappelling technique. After the guides are satisfied that you’ve got it down, you’ll head down your first rappel! It is an exciting 15 meters descent into the river below.
There is a beautiful waterfall right next to the area we descend into. From here we head further down the canyon to a spectacular Tyrolean Traverse that drops down and over a waterfall and the river. Natural water slides await us after this. We take our time having a couple of goes at it before continuing downriver.
The trail meanders over some gently rolling, jungle fringed hills along the side of the river, and at points we have to get down into the river itself to continue forward.
We have two more exhilarating rappels through waterfalls, including the infamous “Washing Machine” before we walk out of the canyon (45 minutes) and meet our vehicle for transport back to Dalat.
Then We continue to visit:
• Da Lat Cemetery
• Da Lat Train Station
Overnight at hotel in Da Lat.
Day 9: 16th October 2016: Da Lat – Lak – Buon Me Thuot (B, D):
At 8h00, pick up at your hotel in Da Lat then Transfer to Buon Me Thuot . we’ll visit:
• Tribes Jeray and Manong
• Silk Factory
• Coffee Farm
• Lak Lake
• Cross lake with Elephants
• Silk cocoon village
• Diner at restaurant
Overnight in hotel in Buon Me Thuot.
Day 10: 17th October 2016: Buon Me Thuot- Kontum (B):
Morning, drive to Kon tum. We will visit:
• Visit families
• Drums Makers
We start a 4 km trek from Kon Ko Tu village along the Dak Bla riverbank, where local villagers are hard at work tending buffalos, preparing crops for harvest, and transporting there produce to the village market.
Overnight in Kon Tum.
Day 11: 18th October 2016: Kon Tum- Pleiku- Danang- Hoi An visit (B) :
Transfer to airport Pleiku to take the flight to Hoi An VN1900- 14:10 – 14:55 . Arrival to Danang airport, Pick up by our guide and driver then transfer to hotel in Hoi An.
Then, we explore Hoi An ancient town and its major attractions: Japanese Pagoda Bridge, Chinese street, Phung Hung old house, Hoi An market and ancient port. Finally, we visit Phuc Thanh’s pagoda – the oldest pagoda. Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 12 : 19th October 2016: Hoi An- Danang- Saigon (B):
Our guide will pick you up at hotel, we start the day (8.15am) with a welcome drink at Hai Café (98 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Hoi An Ancient Town, Tel: 3863210). Visit Hoi An’s colorful market, and experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy market. We will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers and learn about all the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later. We board the Red Bridge boat for a leisurely cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoi An River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. This is a chance to view local river life, so make sure your camera is handy. On arrival, we explore the cooking school’s herb garden, before learning about some of Hoi An’s and Vietnam’s well-known dishes. The cooking lesson (join-in) runs for about 2 hours – the Red Bridge chefs first demonstrate each dish before we prepare the same dish ourselves. Included in the class is a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving (plate decoration). After the lesson, we sit down and eat what we have cooked.
Then transfer to Danang airport for flights to Ho Chi Minh City VN127-18:20-19:50, formerly known as Saigon or “Pearl of the Far East”. Upon arrival you will be welcomed by our guide and transferred to your hotel. Free time.
Day 13: 20th October 2016: Saigon- Ben Tre- Saigon (L, D)
At 8h00, pick up at your hotel then leaving the bustling city of Saigon behind, we will depart to the Mekong Delta considered Vietnam’s biggest rice basket. We will arrive at Hung Vuong Pier in Ben Tre and embark our boat to cruise along Ben Tre River, a tributary of the great Mekong, to explore the local lifestyle and the daily hustle and bustle. We will stop at the brickfield belonging to Mr. Tu Lo to see how bricks are made by hand in Vietnam and a coconut candy home factory located along the canal to witness the process of making this local candy and other souvenirs. You will then have the opportunity to taste bee honey tea at a local honey farm and a variety of tropical fruit that grow amply in the orchards of the Mekong Delta. You can then walk or cycle through the coconut groves and green rice paddies to soak up the atmosphere and relax in the tranquil countryside. The afternoon begins with a trip on small rowing boats through a maze of waterways shaded by two rows of palm trees. We then cruise back to the pier and disembark. Transfer back to Saigon for overnight. Tonight, you’ll enjoy a special dinner cruise in Saigon.
Day 14: 21th October 2016: Saigon- fly Siem Reap (B, L):
We will visit War Crime Museum and you then drive to the Cu Chi Tunnels, situated 70km from Saigon. The Cu Chi Tunnel system was created around 1948 to assist the Viet Minh in their combat against French occupiers. Construction and enlargement continued during American bombings and they were turned into an underground city with living areas, kitchens, storage, weapon factories and field hospitals. Then you will be taken to the airport for the flight to Siem Reap VN0815-19:35-20:35. Upon arrival in Siem Reap, you will be welcomed by our guide and transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 15: 22th October 2016: Siem Reap- Angkor wat (B)
Wake up early and head to Angkor Wat for sunrise and a morning tour of the temple before the crowds arrive. Mid-morning head back to your hotel for breakfast before relaxing in the garden, by the pool, or in your own room through the heat of the day. In the early afternoon, we will visit the South Gate of Angkor Thom also referred to as “Great City”, the famous Bayon Temple built in the late 12th century and the Baphoun Temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, the Terrace of Elephants, the Terrace of the Leper King and Phimean Akas known as “Heavenly PalaceOvernight in Siem Reap.
Day 16: 23th October 2016: Siem Reap- departure (B):
In the morning you will explore Tonle Sap Lake, the largest natural lake in Indochina. You will cruise for one to two hours and visit its floating villages and discover life on the water. After disembarking you will drive back to Siem Reap through the peaceful countryside passing quaint villages with lush rice paddies. En route you will visit the Artisans d’Angkor established in 1992 for the purpose of training young Cambodians in reestablishing the arts of their ancestral heritage and help increase job opportunities. You will drop by some workshops to learn about the process of stone and woodcarving. The afternoon will be spent visiting Siem Reap's market for some last minute shopping and then you will be brought to the airport for your flight to Bangkok: K6 0700-17:50- 19:05 . You room is available until noon only. Asiatica Travel services end at the airport.
***End of our service***