Vietnam Overland

Trip's length:	19 days
Trip Themes:	Heritages, History&Culture, Local food, Explorer
Transport:	Car/Bus, Train, Boat
Places visited:	Hanoi - Mai Chau - Ninh Binh - Halong Bay -Sapa - Hue - Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnels - Tay Ninh - Mekong Delta
Tour operates:	All year round
Start / End cities:	Hanoi / Ho Chi Minh City
Accommodation:	Hotel: 13nites, Homestay: 2nites, Boat: 1nites, Train: 2nites

TRIP FACTS:

- Medium paced tour and it is ideal for those with interest in the insight into the entire Vietnam, includes hill tribe experiences at the Northern mountains

- The trip uses air, coach, train and overnight boat trip in Halong Bay plus other short boat trips in Tam Coc in Ninh Binh, Chay River at Bac Ha, Perfume River in Hue and Mekong River in the South

- The treks at mentioned places in the program are soft except the steeper one at Cat Ba National Park. It is open for alternative in bad weather.

- Order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions


INCLUSIVE:

• Accommodation with daily breakfasts
• Meals mentioned in the itinerary (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner)
• Expert tour guides
• Private air-conditioned vehicles
• Sightseeing fees and permits during guided time
• Boats in Halong Bay , Cat Ba Island, Tam Coc, Chay River, Perfume River in Hue and Mekong River in the South
• Two bottles of mineral water/person/day

EXCLUSIVE:

• Insurance of any kind (Compulsory)
• International flight tickets
• Visas and airport departure tax
• Tips and gratuities
• Meals, drinks and others that not mentioned clearly in the inclusion above

WHAT TO BRING:

• Good trekking shoes, Umbrella, Poncho, Sun glasses, Sun cream and mosquito spray
• School stationery for local kids if you wish
• For other please refer to the Ultimate packing list

Detailed Itinerary


Day 1: Hanoi [D]

Your arrival flight lands at Noi Bai Airport where your driver and tour guide are ready to pick you up and transfer you to the city centre for hotel check-in. The rest of the day is at leisure after the jet lag  Welcomed Vietnamese diner will be served at a local restaurant in town.
Over night in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi City Tour [B, L]

Start your day with breakfast in your hotel. Today, you will spend the whole day to explore the historic Hanoi with visits to Ho Chi Minh complex with Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, Presidential palace, Ho Chi Minh stilt house. Learn the local religious practices at One Pillar pagoda and Temple of Literature, Ethnology museum is also worth visiting, as you will get the overview of Vietnamese ethnic minorities with their colorful dresses and amazing cultures. Followed by one-hour rickshaw ride to see Hanoi daily life in the old quarter and end the day with traditional water puppet show. Dinner on your own. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 3: Mai Chau, ethnic Thai People [B, L, D]

After breakfast, you take the morning drive to Mai Chau valley in Hoa Binh province. There are stops available on the way for taking photographs. On arrival at the valley, we will get on a stilt house of White Thai people to have lunch, which is prepared by a local family. In the afternoon, trek around the villages in Mai Chau with your guide to experience locals’ daily life and enjoy the peaceful countryside. Diner at the family. Enjoy Thai traditional dance and music (Optional) and over night at the home stay.

Daya 4: Mai Chau - Cuc Phuong National Park B, L, D]

This morning, you would be awoken up by free-range roosters. Have breakfast at the family then set our for a drive to Cuc Phuong National Park. Upon arrival, you have lunch at the National Park’s restaurant and go to visit the primate rescue center where you can see different kinds of endangered langurs. Many of them are written in Vietnamese Red Book and can only be found in some parts of Vietnam. In the afternoon, embark a three-hour trek in the rain forest to visit a thousand-year-old. Overnight in Cuc Phuong guesthouse.

Day 5: Ninh Binh – Halong City [B, L, D]

After your breakfast, take an early drive to Tam Coc for two-hour boat row on a little river, which runs along the Limestone Mountain Ranges and between rice fields. This karst landscape is so breathtaking that it has been considered as ‘Halong bay in land’. Lunch at a restaurant, then drive overland to Halong City. Arrive at Halong City, check in a peaceful hotel, dinner and overnight in Halong City.

Day 6: Bai Tu Long Bay Cruise [B, L, D]

This morning, you have an easy morning with late breakfast and rest. At 11:30 AM, check out your room and transfer to the pier for the afternoon cruise to explore the bay of the World’s wonder. Halong Bay is one of the most beautiful locations in Vietnam and has been recognized as the world heritage by UNESCO. You embark your overnight cruise boat at 12:30 and have fresh seafood lunch while the boat is heading gently for the centre of the bay. In the afternoon, beside enjoying the beautiful scenery from the top deck, there is time for you to visit a limestone cave with plenty of stalactites and stalagmites of different formations, swimming on a sandy beach and having a short kayaking to the surroundings. Dinner and overnight on the boat.

Day 7: Halong Bay Cruise - Hanoi [B, L]

Wake up early in the morning for sunrise and a view of Bay’s landscape with a cup of tea or coffee. Have breakfast in the fresh air. Visit Vung Vieng fishing village by a rustic rowboat, meet the local people and pass through the floating school and fish farms. Back onto the boat and start cruising towards the harbor, while an A la cart brunch is served. Disembark at noontime, get back to your private vehicle and return to Hanoi. After dinner, jump on a night train to Lao Cai province. Overnight on train.

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