Vietnam Discovery Tour - 15 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi, Optional Activities

Welcome to Vietnam! You'll arrive in Hanoi, one of the world's ancient capitals. The rich history here dates back to Hanoi's first permanent settlements around 200 BCE. And while today, Hanoi is a modern, dynamic city, you can still see remnants of its thousands of years of history in the historic center. You'll experience all this culture and heritage on tours of Hanoi.

 

Upon arrival at the airport, a driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel in the city. After settling in, you can head out and have some fun. Spend the rest of the day exploring the labyrinthine streets of Hanoi's Old Quarter by foot or on a traditional three-wheeled cyclo as you pass temples, French colonial buildings, and Vietnamese "tube houses." These space-saving buildings can be as narrow as 6 feet (2 m) wide and 12 stories high. Later, perhaps head to a rooftop bar and sip cocktails amid spectacular sunset views over Tày Ho (West Lake).

Day 2: Hanoi Sightseeing & Street Food Tour

Get ready for a full-day walking tour to experience the sights and flavors of Hanoi. Your guide will meet you early in the morning, and the two of you'll promptly head over to the Hang Be Market. One of the oldest markets in the city, Hang Be has been a central hub for purveyors of fresh produce, meat, and fish for hundreds of years. It's a great place to mingle with locals doing their morning shopping

 

Then you'll visit Tran Quoc Pagoda. Dating to the Ly Nam De Dynasty of the sixth century, this is the oldest Buddhist shrine in Hanoi. It's on to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum next, which houses the embalmed body of revolutionary leader "Uncle Ho," who died in 1969. Continue to the 11th-century One Pillar Pagoda, a Buddhist temple regarded as the most unique pagoda in Asia due to its lotus-flower design perched on a stone pillar rising out of a pond. Afterward, stroll over to the Dong Xuan Market for another lively shopping experience.

 

In the evening, you'll embark on another guided city tour, this time to experience Vietnam's famous street food. Dishes you'll try include bun cha (a grilled pork and noodle dish) and banh cuon (ground pork rice rolls). After stopping at a couple of outdoor barbecue stalls where chefs flame-grill meats and vegetables over fiery coals, you'll enjoy dessert. Perhaps try a famous egg coffee. This drink was innovated when, during shortages of fresh milk, egg yolks were used as a substitute. It eventually became a staple drink of Hanoi.

Day 3: Day Trip to Ba Vi Countryside & Cooking Class

In the morning, you'll head west out of Hanoi on a full-day guided eco-tour of the beautiful Ba Vi countryside. Your first stop is Ri Village, where you'll enjoy welcome drinks and snacks with Mr. Duoc, a war veteran and tea plantation owner. Listen to Mr. Duoc's stories about life during the war and visit his workshop and tea fields, where you'll learn the process of selecting the very best tea leaves.

 

Next, take a short drive to Moc Village, where Mrs. Chin will teach you how to cook Vietnamese dishes you'll enjoy for lunch in her tropical garden. Join Mrs. Chin for a walk around the village to visit families and learn how to make tofu, conical hats, and other regional products. Finish with an easy cycle through Vietnam's iconic rice paddies, followed by a Muong herbal foot bath, before returning to Hanoi.

Day 4: Transfer to Sapa, Explore

After breakfast at the hotel, a driver will pick you up for the six-hour transfer north to Sapa. This highland area is known for its soaring mountains and endless terraces of green rice paddies. The drive takes around six hours, and you'll check into your hotel on arrival. Then, you can unwind after your long journey with a walk around town, which was once a French colonial outpost. Breathe in the cool alpine air, stop for a cup of Vietnamese coffee, and browse the handicrafts on offer from ethnic Hmong women in colorful, traditional dress.

Day 5: Sapa Trekking & Sightseeing

Today, you'll embark on a 4-mile (6 km) hike through the Sapa Valley, visiting villages home to Vietnam's ethnic communities along the way. Watch the sun burn through the morning mist as you set off, revealing jagged mountain peaks in the distance. Follow a small track and cross the Muong Hoa River, surrounded by epic rice terraces, on your way to the Black Hmong village of Lao Chai.

Your journey continues to Ta Van Giay Village and along the sparkling Muong Hoa River, where you'll cross a suspension bridge and discover fascinating rock engravings. Have lunch in a local home and then continue trekking through a bamboo forest to the Red Dao village of Giang Ta Chai. There's time to rest near a waterfall before your transfer back to Sapa for a relaxed evening.

Day 6: Ethnic Villages Tour, Transfer to Hanoi

After breakfast, you'll travel 8 miles (14 km) outside of Sapa to Ta Phin. Located in a large valley surrounded by pine-forested mountains, this region is home to the Red Dzao and Black Hmong hill tribes. Despite having lived in the same region for generations, these two ethnic groups are distinct from one another, with their own culture and traditions. On a three-hour tour, you'll take a scenic walk along rural paths and stop at small Hmong villages dotted throughout the valley. Continue to a Red Dzao village, where you'll meet local women specializing in making handicrafts and embroidered clothing.

 

Afterward, you'll return to Sapa and hop in a car for the six-hour ride back to Hanoi. Once in the city, you'll check in to your hotel and will have the evening free. 

Day 7: Transfer to Ha Long Bay, Cruise Lan Ha Bay

Switch gears this morning as you board a shuttle bus for the 2.5-hour drive to the coast and Ha Long Bay. Located on the Gulf of Tonkin, over 1,500 karst islets rise above jade waters and resemble the spine of some mythological creature ("ha long" actually translates to "descending dragon"). The unique beauty of this region is unlike anywhere else and thus has been bestowed with UNESCO World Heritage status.

Upon arrival at the marina, you'll board a multi-level cruise ship for an overnight tour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. After settling into your cabin, head up to the deck, where a delicious seafood lunch awaits. Then, spend hours relaxing on the sun deck as the ship sails across glassy emerald waters south into adjacent Lan Ha Bay. Later that afternoon, you'll stop at a secret cove for a swim and a kayak trip to explore hidden beaches and grottoes.

Return to the ship just in time to participate in a cooking masterclass offered by the onboard expert chef. During the workshop, you'll learn to make traditional specialties like nem (Vietnamese fried spring rolls) and enjoy them for dinner. Spend the remainder of the evening relaxing, or head out on a small boat for a bit of night fishing with the locals.

Day 8: Dark & Bright Cave, Fly to Hoi An via Da Nang

Wake up early and get the blood pumping with a tai chi session on the sun deck. After a light breakfast, the ship will cruise to the Dark and Light Cave. You'll then board a traditional bamboo boat and enter this system of two sea caverns. The "dark" cave stretches over 328 feet (100 m), and you'll explore the interior with a flashlight. The "light" cave is shorter and is filled with natural light, illuminating the white limestone karst walls and emerald waters of the grotto. Its cathedral-like interior is a great place to snap photos.

Afterward, you'll return to the ship, which will head back to the pier in Ha Long Bay. From there, you'll hop in a vehicle for the 3.5-hour ride back to Hanoi and the airport, where you'll catch a 1.5-hour flight to the city of Da Nang, located on the central coast. Upon arrival at the airport in Da Nang, another driver will meet you for the one-hour drive south to Hoi An. Sitting on the Thu Bon River, this historic city was a major trading port with the West from the 15th through the 19th centuries, attracting merchants from around the globe. Upon arrival, you'll transfer to your hotel and will have the rest of the night free.

Day 9: Countryside Tour & Cooking Class

Your guide will meet you at your hotel this morning, and the two of you'll set out on a half-day culinary adventure. First, you'll head over to a local market where you'll browse fresh produce as your guide explains the various ingredients and spices that define the cuisine of Hoi An.

 

Then you'll head outside of the city to a countryside village on the Thu Bon River. Upon arrival, hop in a traditional basket boat (called a thung chai) for a fun ride on the water. Afterward, you'll arrive at the home of a local family for a cooking class. During the experience, your friendly hosts will teach you the secrets to regional cuisine as you prepare staples like green papaya salad, spring rolls, crispy pancakes, and clay pot chicken with lemon grass. At the end of the class, everyone will sit down for lunch and enjoy their creations. Afterward, you'll return to Hoi An and have the rest of the day free.

Day 10: Cycling in Cam Thanh & Thanh Dong Organic Farm Visit

Spend the day exploring the countryside by bike. A guide will pick you up in the morning and drive you just outside Hoi An to a riverfront village where you'll pick up the bicycle. Then, embark on a roughly 4-mile (6 km) journey through unspoiled countryside dotted with coconut forests, rice paddies, and fish farms.

Your first stop will be at Thanh Dong, a 107,640-square-foot (10,000 sq m) organic farm tended to by 10 or so local families. Take a stroll around the vegetable garden and learn how the farmers here have been cultivating produce and herbs organically using the same traditional methods they have for centuries. You'll even join in gardening activities like sowing seeds and picking vegetables.

Next, take a boat ride along the river to a popular waterfront restaurant, where you'll have lunch. As you float down the water, you'll spot farmers in conical hats picking rice in green paddies as fishermen cast nets out on the water. After eating, head back toward Hoi An and stop at one last local village. Here, you'll spend time with a local family and participate in a short cooking class. Everyone will sit down to feast on a family-style Vietnamese dinner when it's done. Then you'll return to your hotel.

Day 11: Transfer to Ho Chi Minh City

In the morning, your driver will pick you up at the hotel for the one-hour ride north to the airport in Da Nang. Catch a 1.5-hour flight south to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, another driver will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel. Ho Chi Minh City is fascinating in that it has managed to preserve its cultural roots and traditions in the face of a communist revolution, a devastating war, and ever-encroaching modernity. After getting settled, you can venture out and explore the city on your own.

Day 12: Cu Chi Tunnels & Ho Chi Minh City Tour

After breakfast, transfer two hours from the city to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. This immense network of underground passages was constructed in 1948 to protect the Viet Cong guerrillas from French attacks. They also served as living quarters, communications hubs, and supply routes, complete with storage areas and even hospitals. A visit here will give you a better understanding of Vietnam's wartime history and the hardships faced by the thousands of soldiers who survived the French and American wars. You'll even get to crawl through a section of the tunnels to experience their narrow dimensions.

Following Cu Chi, you'll have lunch at the local restaurant before returning to Ho Chi Minh City. Then, it will be time to tour the highlights. Your guide will take you to historic 19th-century landmarks like Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office. You'll also visit the Reunification Palace, which was the headquarters of the Saigon government during the American War. Continue to the War Remnants Museum for a vivid look at the war through the eyes of the Vietnamese. At the end of the tour, you'll dabble in the city's street coffee culture before returning to your hotel.

Day 13: Transfer to Can Tho, Explore the Mekong Delta

This morning, you'll transfer south for a four-hour trip around the lush Mekong Delta. Known as Vietnam's rice bowl, this region is full of coconut groves, fruit orchards, and vast green rice paddies. Once at the delta, you'll board a boat for a ride on the Ben Tre River, one of the tributaries of the mighty Mekong. You'll travel to the waterfront city of Can Tho, and along the way, you'll pass waterfront villages. You'll also stop at local businesses that produce coconut items like candies and even brooms made from husks.

 

Then hop on a bicycle or xe loi (moto cart) for a ride around local villages. It's a scenic trip during which you'll pass fertile rice fields, vegetable farms, and orchards. After lunch at a riverside restaurant, you'll get to kayak down a Mekong canal before continuing to Can Tho and checking in to your hotel.

Day 14: Visit the Floating Market, Transfer to Ho Chi Minh City

Wake early in the morning for a boat ride to the Cai Rang Floating Market, one of the largest and liveliest in the region. While it's open all day, it's best to get an early start as the market is busiest before 9 am. During these hours, your guide will lead you through the throng of tiny wooden boats piled high with flowers, coconuts, and fresh produce. You'll also learn how to barter with traders as you mingle with locals and experience the infectious energy of market life. Later, you'll have breakfast on the waterfront, during which you can try hu tieu (a pork noodle dish). Afterward, you'll transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 15: Depart Ho Chi Minh City

Take the morning to savor your last few hours in Vietnam. After a leisurely breakfast, perhaps take a stroll around the city for some last-minute souvenir shopping. At the appropriate time, your driver will pick you up for the ride to the airport, where you'll catch your flight home. Until next time!

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