Highlights of South & North Vietnam - 10 Days

Day 1: HCMC Arrival.
Day 2: Cu Chi Tunnels & HCMC Tour.
Day 3: HCMC – Cai Be – Can Tho.
Day 4: Can Tho – Hanoi.
Day 5: Hanoi City Tour.
Day 6: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Overnight on cruise.
Day 7: Halong Bay – Hanoi.
Day 8: Hanoi – Sapa.
Day 9: Sapa Trekking Tour.
Day 10: Sapa – Hanoi – Departure.

Day 1: HCMC Arrival.
Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City - the Vietnam’s financial hub. Upon arrival at Tan San Nhat Airport, you will be met and transferred to the hotel. Check in and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure to recover from jet lag or explore the city on your own.
Meals: N/A.
Accommodation: Hotel in HCMC.

Day 2: Cu Chi Tunnels & HCMC Tour.
After breakfast at hotel, you travel outside of Saigon to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels. The Cu Chi Tunnels are an underground labyrinth of passageways, used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War (or “American War” as it’s referred to here) as protection against American air raids. Those inclined are invited to crawl through selections of the tunnels to better understand what life was like for the Vietnamese soldiers during wartime.
In the afternoon you will visit such sites as the Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Post Office and Ben Thanh Market. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in HCMC.

Day 3: HCMC – Cai Be – Can Tho.
In Southern Vietnam, Mekong River unravels into nine sprawling rivers, forming the fertile Mekong Delta. It’s here the river rules. Daily life flows with the ever-changing waters, fisheries thrive during the annual flood and rice fields are quickly dug as the waters recede.
Depart Ho Chi Minh City after breakfast, driving two-hours to reach Cai Be in the heart of the Mekong Delta for one of the highlights of the tour – a cruise on the mighty Mekong River and the chance to witness life on and around the water of the "Nine Dragon River". Board a traditional wooden sampan boat around the Cai Be Floating Market, a commercial spectacle established in the 19th century. Marvel at boats replete with exotic produce and interact with locals in order to discover more about their stock. Next, disembark and stroll to the coconut candy factory to discover the manufacturing process of the sweet treats, as well as puffed rice – the local equivalent of popcorn.
A delicious home-cooked Vietnamese meal will be served for lunch in a local family. Then take a walk through their fruit orchard to see the fresh seasonal fruits on the trees and listen to melodious Vietnamese folk music known as "Don Ca Tai Tu".
Reboard the boat through the narrow canals around the island, appreciating the tranquility and lush landscapes of this part of the Delta, to Vinh Long. Drive to the largest city in the Mekong Delta: Can Tho, a buzzing town with a lively waterfront and a colorful mix of narrow back streets that make for some rewarding exploration. Rest of the day, you may like to walking along Ninh Kieu Park and on a pedestrian bridge of Can Tho City.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Can Tho.

Day 4: Can Tho – Hanoi.
Wake early and leave the hotel to visit the famous Cai Rang floating market by motorized boat. Continue the boat ride to visit the Mekong Delta’s famous fruit orchards and sample the fresh, exotic fruit. Then venture deeper into the country-side, passing traditional houses made of wood and palm leaves as you observe the activities of the local people. Return to Can Tho for lunch then drive to the airport to catch your flight to Hanoi. Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam’s bustling colonial capital. Your driver and guide will meet you outside the baggage claim of Noi Bai Airport and take you to your hotel in the city center. Enjoy the rest of day at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi.

Day 5: Hanoi City Tour.
Rise up early to join us on a guided tour to enjoy the morning glimpse of Hanoi. Head to Long Bien market, the biggest fruit and vegetable wholesale market in North Vietnam. Soak in the scene of local buyers crowding around open-back trucks, money counters holding court over their stalls, and motorbikes weaving down aisles… one of the most impressive markets in North Vietnam.
After the market visit, drive back to your hotel for breakfast and relaxing.
Later, your guide meets you again and start a full day to explore the most highlights of our capital. Your city tour will take you to Hanoi’s key sites: the Ho Chi Minh Complex (Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and stilt house), the nearby One Pillar Pagoda; the Presidential Palace; the Temple of Literature.
In the afternoon, visit the fascinating Ethnology Museum (closed Mondays), which is both a research centre and a public museum exhibiting the ethnic groups of Vietnam. At the end of the afternoon, visit Hanoi’s Old Quarter. This bustling area of narrow streets and alleys is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. It's a great place to explore with plenty of photo opportunities all around.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi.

Day 6: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Overnight on cruise.
(The itinerary is a sample, depends on weather and it will be different between cruises. Our travel consultants will provide the exact schedule and program if you book other cruise such as Hera Cruise, Halong President Cruise, Emperor Cruise, Halong Violet, Halong Jasmine, Paradise Luxury Cruises, Orchid Cruise, Indochina Sails, Au Co Cruise, Starlight Cruise etc.)
Halong Bay is one of the most loved spots in Vietnam for a reason - it's gorgeous. On this Halong Bay tour, we take you away from the hectic pace of life in Hanoi and introduce you to the tranquil, beautiful Halong Bay...
Following breakfast, journey east through the rich farmland of the Red River Delta to Halong Bay, truly one of Vietnam's most scenic impressive sights. On arrival you are welcomed onboard a traditional junk. Settle into a private comfortable cabin and unpack for a two day cruise around Halong Bay. Along the way, enjoy a huge lunch served on board and admire the picturesque scenery of islands. These limestone karst formations are littered with beaches, grottoes and beautiful caves. You will anchor for a leisurely swim in a secluded cove and an enjoyable visit to Sung Sot cave, one of the many hidden grottoes beneath towering cliffs. The remainder of day is for your own pleasure; observing the bay, lazing around the deck or simply soaking up the sunshine.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Accommodation: On Cruise.

Day 7: Halong Bay – Hanoi.
Awake early and participate in Tai Chi on the top deck or simply relax and enjoy the sunrise over the bay’s towering islands. Enjoy a morning cup of coffee or tea, before setting out to explore nearby islands by rowboat. Return to the junk for breakfast then take advantage of the sundeck and admire the amazing rock formations of Bai Tu Long Bay as you navigate back to Halong City. Have brunch on board the boat before returning to Halong pier. Your driver will meet you at the dock and take you back to your hotel in Hanoi.
Rest of the day, you are free to relax or explore the Hanoi Old Quarter yourselves.
Meals: Brunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi.

Day 8: Hanoi – Sapa.
Your driver and guide will meet you at hotel’s lobby in the early morning (around 7:00am) for 6-hour driving to Sapa, following Noi Bai - Lao Cai highway. Along the way, you will have chance to admire the beauty of northwest mountains with terraced fields. Have a short break for 30 minutes en route.
Arrival Sapa in the noon time, enjoy lunch at local restaurant then we embark on a lovely trek that will take us along buffalo paths and trails and through several hills tribe villages Lao Chai & Ta Van, home to Black H'mong, and Dzay people. This is an absolutely spectacular walk through stunning scenery inhabited by some of the friendliest people you can meet. Once on the valley floor you can really appreciate the wonderful scenery that surrounds you. The walls of the valley are covered with multi-layered rice terraced fields and scattered villages.
Overnight at homestay.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Accommodation: Homestay.

Day 9: Sapa Trekking Tour.
Once you get energy for your another day trek by having a delicious breakfast, you leave for Giang Ta Chai Village of Red Dao minority. You will trek through bamboo forest, which belongs to Hoang Lien National Park. On the way you will pass by a waterfall where you will have time to take a rest and enjoy the surroundings. You will find a nice place to enjoy lunch.
After lunch, you continue toward Su Pan, a small village located by the road. Here you start your journey back to Sapa by car.
Overnight at hotel in Sapa.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Sapa.

Day 10: Sapa – Hanoi – Departure.
Have breakfast at hotel, then explore the morning local market near to your hotel before we drive straightly (~5 hours) to Noi Bai Airport for your departure flight.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: N/A.

• Visit Cu Chi Tunnels.
• Experience the country side life in Mekong Delta.
• Learn history in Hanoi, Vietnam's capital.
• Discover Sapa, home to the H'mong, Zay, Red Zao, Tay and Xa Pho hill tribers.
• Cast away on a traditional junk boat set sail through hundreds of limestone karsts that rise dramatically from the emerald waters of Halong Bay. Join activities such as: visiting fishing village on a bamboo boat, visiting caves, kayaking, swimming…