I would like to thanks all Asiatica team for the unforgettable holidays we had in Vietnam.
The guides were fantastic, specially Huyen who was so nice with my kids, I love her energy and her smile.
Our favorite part of our trip was Sapa and Hue and our night on the boat at Halong Bay.
We lived already in so many city in Asia so we were not impressed by Hanoi and Ho chi min, we have seen markets, Asian’s life... but I am pretty sure that if you are from Europe is really nice to discover the life in a city.
My kids loved the Lounge and the activities we did in Hue and so do I.
The man who was teaching us making kite was just fantastic.
The people at the lounge were so nice.
We loved this small city where we met Vietnamese people in the evening.
Sapa is just amazing beautiful and I hope Vietnam government will encourage to keep all this ethnies to survived at all the tourism development.
We enjoyed The laguna closed to Danang but I must say I didn’t like Hoi An, too many tourists and too crowded and too noisy.
We loved our excursion on the Mekong too.
If I had to make some suggestion,I will say
- upgraded your mini van for long distance, better seat
- add more information about history of Vietnam ( it should be nice to see a museum or the tunnel in Ho Chi Minh to explain more about the colonisation and the Indochine war)
- the hotel in Hanoi was not very nice ( room with a window open on the wall)
Thanks for this lovely trip.
Cathy
Ps: we planned to go to Vietnam for beach holidays and golf soon
Any suggestion ?
PROGRAM DETAIL
Day 01 . Thu 29 March 2018 : Hanoi arrival (Cathay Pacific 5295 @ 18:45) (-) | Guide and driver
Arrival in Noi Bai airport , you will be picked up then transferred to the hotel in city center. The check-in is available at 2 pm. The day is free for your own exploration and shopping. Overnight at hotel.
Tour guide contact: Mr Dzung (+84) 912 550 212
Accommodation: Hong Ngoc Dynastie Hotel*** - Deluxe
Day 02 . Fri 30 March 2018 : Hanoi city & street food tour (B, L) | Guide and driver
You will be picked up at the hotel at 8:00am. Starting the day trip will be a visit of the Ho Chi Minh Complex, which compromises Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum (closed on Mondays & Fridays), his former stilt-house residence, the Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh Museum. We will then visit the Museum of Ethnology (closed on Mondays, the alternative being the History Museum), which offers informative and well-documented displays of the country’s 54 ethnic groups, including elaborate and colorful hill tribe costumes. The display continues in the museum’s garden with fascinating examples of traditional houses of numerous minority groups, from the Kinhs to the ethnic groups of the Central Highlands. . Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, discover the Old Quarter, also known as the “36 Streets & Corporations”. It is a veritable labyrinth of lanes where each of them is specialized in a trade or art. The best way to explore and discover this district full of life is by foot. Designed to capture all aspects of local life, the course will cover all the elements of the daily life of the inhabitants in an original way: crafts, Buddhism, temple, gastronomy, local market, visit of traditional house-tube (Vietnamese particularity), medicine…
Discover the capital through food, as a local, a real experience and a highlight of the journey.
The tour ends with a stroll around the HoanKiem Lake (Lake of the Restored Sword). Overnight at hotel in Hanoi
Day 03 . Sat 31 March 2018 : Hanoi - bus to Sapa - Heaven Gate - Silver Waterfall (B) | Guide and driver
In the morning (6:45AM), you will take 6-hour drive by bus to Sapa. On arrival, check in hotel.
In the afternoon, met up at by local guide and driver then depart for the Silver Waterfall. The Silver Waterfall is located about a half hour from Sapa town which offers stunning views over surrounding mountains and lush forests belonging to Hoang Lien National Park. You are advised to stop by a farm for a cup of tea and talk with people to understand their local life. Then we continue our drive uphill to the Heavens Gate, the highest stretch of road in Vietnam as well as the provincial border of Lao Cai and Lai Chau provinces. Enjoy fantastic view over the valley! Overnight in Sapa
Approx: 2 hours driving
Note: You should not bring too much luggage if travelling by bus to Sapa. You can leave some at hotel in Hanoi
Accommodation: Sapa Centre Hotel*** - Superior
Day 04 . Sun 01 April 2018 : Sapa - Lao Chai - Ta Van - Giang Ta Chai - night train to Hanoi (B, L) | Guide and driver
The day is devoted to a beautiful hike through the breathtaking scenery of Sa Pa valley. Start by road that descends in the wake of the street Cau May (6 km) En route, admire the rice terraces hidden behind mist of the morning, a truly awe-inspiring sight.
Follow a small track and cross Muong Hoa River and pass well tended rice terraces on your way to the Black Hmong village of Lao Chai. Continuing through the colorful rice terraces you will reach the village of Ta Van Giay. As you continue your trek along the Muong Hoa River you will cross a small suspension bridge, roughly 2km from the settlement. Here you can discover a fascinating collection of rock carvings. These engravings depict some beautiful images of man, stilt houses and some beautiful decorative patterns. We lunch in a home in the village. After lunch the walk continues through a bamboo forest to Giang Ta Chai, a Red Dao ethnic minority village. After taking a rest nearby a waterfall to refresh, you start climbing uphill to a road where the car is ready for your journey back to Lao Cai station for night train to Hanoi. Overnight on the train (private 4 berth cabin)
Approx: 1-hour driving/ 4 hours walking/ 1-hour lunch.
Accommodation: Et Pumkin - Lao Cai - Ha Noi
Day 05 . Mon 02 April 2018 : Hanoi arrival - Halong Bay (B, L, D) | Guide and driver
You will arrive at Hanoi train station early in the morning at 5.30am. You will be picked up from the station and brought to a 2 star hotel to freshen up and have breakfast. After breakfast depart to Halong Bay, passing a peaceful countryside typical of Red River Delta with endless rice fields and winding rivers.
12.30: Arrive at Swan office, transferred by tender to Swan Cruise.
12.45: Enjoy welcome drink, be briefing about safety on boat and activities included then check in cabin.
13.30: Delicious Vietnamese set menu while leisurely cruising to the core of Bai Tu Long Bay.
15.00: Arrive to Cap La Island the beautiful area in Bai Tu Long bay. Enjoy kayaking through the karst and breathtaking nature, swimming and relaxing.
17.30: Get back to the boat and enjoys Sunset party while our cruise sailing to the overnight anchorage.
19.00: Sumptuous set-dinner onboard.
20.30: Free time for joining Games, you may also try your luck with squid fishing.
Overnight onboard with Swan Cruise.
Tour guide contact: Ms Van (+84) 1666304461
Accommodation: Cosiana Hotel*** - Day - Use Room
Swan Cruise - Deluxe
Day 06 . Tue 03 April 2018 : Halong - Hanoi - flight to Hue (VN1545 HAN HUI 1800 1910 by Asiatica) (B, L) | Guide and driver
06.30: Starting your day with Tai Chi on the Sundeck.
07.00: Breakfast will be served in Western style and furthermore with Vietnamese traditional food
08.00: Explore the Thien Canh Son. Guide will explain the history of Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay and this Cave, made by Mother Nature
09.30: Upon return to the boat you will have 30 minutes to freshen up and finish packing. Please remove all of your belongings from your cabin, you may leave heavy luggage outside of the cabin (staff will transfer directly to the pier).
10.30: Vietnamese cooking demonstration on boat.
11.00: Enjoy a traditional Vietnamese lunch.
12.00: Disembark in Hon Gai pier
12.30: Farewell Halong Bay then returns to Hanoi A 3-hour drive will take you back to Noi Bai airport for your flight to Hue where you check into your hotel. Overnight at hotel in Hue.
Accommodation: Emm Hue*** - Deluxe
Day 07 . Wed 04 April 2018 : Hue- Thuy Bieu village - kite crafting (B, L) | Guide and driver
Start the day with a boat trip on poetic Perfume River. Stop to visit Thien Mu Pagoda (Celestial Lady Pagoda) built in 1601 - the symbol of Hue city. Cruise toward Thuy Bieu eco-village, an old laid back village situated on the bank of Perfume River known for its green tea fruit orchards. Arrive in the village, and join our cooking class to prepare Hue’s signature dishes with our chef’s instruction, then enjoy your creations in the open air riverside restaurant surrounded by lush trees. The afternoon is reserved for cycling through the peaceful village, visiting several communal houses, ancient temples and the garden-house, a typical and unique feature of Hue. Soaking your feet in medicinal herb water followed by an excellent blind massage will refresh them after a day of sightseeing.
Then, stop in an artisan’s house, in the center of the city. Your host will teach you how to make a kite typical of Hue city. He has won several competitions in Europe & Asia. After that having fun together by flying kite along the river bank.
Back to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Hue.
Day 08 . Thu 05 April 2018 : Hue - Danang- Hoian (B, L) | Guide and driver
After breakfast, drive on the Mandarin road, a scenic journey from Hue to Hoi An, which allows you to see a picturesque Vietnam with stunning beaches and lush tropical forest. Take some photos en route of Danang Beach and visit Marble Mountain, Cham Museam before arriving in Hoi An’s ancient town. Check-in hotel then have lunch at a restaurant.
In the afternoon, explore Hoi An ancient town, when visiting the Japanese Pagoda Bridge, Chinese streets, old Phung Hung houses, Hoi An’s market and ancient port. On the 1st and 15th of every lunar month, Hoi An’s ancient town is lit up by hundreds of colorful lanterns, giving it an extra portion of sparkle. Following the tour you will stop over at Reaching Out tea house, a tranquil oasis in the center of bustling Hoi An. Overnight in Hoi An.
Accommodation: Hoi An Silk Luxury Hotel & Spa*** - Superior Balcony
Day 09 . Fri 06 April 2018 : Hoi An - Danang - fly to Saigon - city tour (VN117 DAD SGN 1015 1145 by Asiatica) (B) | Guide and driver
After breakfast, at 8AM, you will be taken to the airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City.
Upon arrival, check into hotel. In the afternoon you will visit the Notre Dame Cathedral and the General Post Office. The Saigon city tour then continues along Dong Khoi Street, where the Opera House and the Peoples’ Committee building, built in 1897 by French architect Ferret Eugene, are situated. The 800 seat Opera House served as the home of the Lower House Assembly of South Vietnam after 1956. You will then visit The Reunification Palace, formerly known as Presidential Palace, which was the residence of the president of South Vietnam until the end of April 1975. Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
Tour guide contact: Mr Dan (+84) 909 948 887
Accommodation: Cititel Central Sai Gon Hotel*** - Deluxe City View
Cititel Central Sai Gon Hotel*** - Family Suite City View
Day 10 . Sat 07 April 2018 : Saigon - Ben Tre - Saigon (B, L) | Guide and driver
You will be picked up at your hotel at 8:30am and driven to Ben Tre. Upon arrival at Hung Vuong pier you will embark a boat to cruise on Ben Tre River, one of the tributaries of the Mekong River. Enjoy the lively activities on the river like fishing and water transferring. You will stop at a brick-factory, to see how bricks are made by hand in a traditional way. Your next stop is one of numerous coconut processing workshops located along the canal.
Take a bicycle-cart along a village path and stop at a farmer’s house for lunch. You then talk a walk to a mat-weaving village before embarking small rowing-boats to travel along palm tree lined waterways back to Hung Vuong pier. You return to Ho Chi Minh City, stopping along the way to visit the beautiful Vinh Trang Pagoda. Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 11 . Sun 08 April 2018 : Saigon departure (Cathay Pacific 766 @ 11:15) (B) | Guide and driver
After breakfast, at 8AM, transfer to the airport to take your departure flight from Saigon.