This comprehensive Vietnam tour will impress you with the best of Vietnam. Visit Ha Noi, the Paris of the orient. Take a leisurely cyclo ride though the classic streets of Ha Noi’s Old Quarter. Experience local life up close as we explore the hill tribe’s village at Mai Chau valley. Visit Tam Coc, also known as “Ha Long bay on land”. Sail amongst the beauty of Ha Long bay with 3000 stunning limestone islets. Fly to Hue and visit the crumbling ruins of the Purple Forbidden city and explore the elaborate emperors tomb. Take a step back in time as you walk through the narrow streets of Hoi An ancient town and see the exquisite spiritual architecture of My Son with its World Heritage listed Hindu temples that pre-date Angkor Wat. Journey south to dynamic Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) with a Cu Chi tunnels excursion traveling deep into the Mekong delta to discover the local lifestyle. Travel to Ban Me Thuot, the largest city in the Central Highlands of Vietnam to enjoy the Gong music and taste “Can” wine, a traditional drink. Take a 1-hour elephant ride to M’lieng village, take a canoe on Lak Lake to visit the M’nong hill tribe village. Relax on the tropical beaches of Nha Trang - Nha Trang Bay is considered among the world's most beautiful bays and one of Vietnam's best beaches.

• Brief Itinerary

Day 01: Ha Noi Arrival.

Day 02: Ha Noi City.

Day 03: Ha Noi - Mai Chau.

Day 04: Mai Chau - Ninh Binh - Tam Coc.

Day 05: Ninh Binh - Ha Long Bay.

Day 06: Ha Long Bay – Hue (by air).

Day 07: Hue - Hoi An.

Day 08: Hoi An - My Son.

Day 09: Hoi An – Da Nang - Ho Chi Minh City (by air).

Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta - Cai Be.

Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnels - Buon Me Thuot (by air).

Day 12: Buon Me Thuot - Lak Lake.

Day 13: Lak Lake - Buon Me Thuot - Nha Trang.

Day 14: Nha Trang Half-day City Tour.

Day 15: Nha Trang Beach.

Day 16: Nha Trang - Ho Chi Minh (by air) Departure.

• Trip Grade:

Moderate - Suitable for travellers with an average level of fitness and mobility. However, some walking and hiking is required.

• Weather:

Undoubtedly, weather is one of the determining factors for your traveling decisions. If you are heading to Vietnam, then, take it easy to make up your mind. Vietnam’s climate is not just steamy hot as what you are frequently exposed to on movies. All year round here, there is always a perfect place where it is pleasant to stay. Basically, the whole country falls into the tropic and subtropics but its stretching length and diverse topography allow it to span several different climate zones. The weather thus, tends to vary considerably from season to season and also from region to region.

Northern Part The North of Vietnam is generally cooler than other South East Asian regions in the same longitude. It experiences two main distinct seasons. In winter months, the weather gets colder and colder fromNovember to March and considerably warmer in April (a leap into summer). This is also time to observe much cloud and frequent drizzle. The average winter temperature is 17.2°C (62.9°F). Particularly, the mountainous areas (Northwest) are often much colder, temperature may keep below 10°C (50°F) for long period. Ice and snow even cover Hoang Lien Son Mountains and nearby Sapa town for some times with the lowest record of -3°C (26.6°F) in Feb 2008.

In the summer (from May to October), the whole region is quite hot. Temperature may rise to 37°C (98.6 °F) in the peaks of June and July. Hanoi and coastal provinces around the Red River Delta generally enjoy equitable weather with high average humidity (80%) all year round though they may occasionally be subjected to typhoons and heavy rain in late summers (September to November). Vietnamese people even identify four seasons in the Northern provinces (from Hai Van Pass toward the north) with their distinct features: pleasant spring (typically March-April) and autumn (October-December), a chilly winter (December- February) and a hot summer (June – July). Central Part

The Central Vietnam with two sub-regions, coastal lowlands and central highlands, can be seen as an in-between climatic area of the North and the South. The coastal strip is usually dry and hotter than the rest in the summer, as the Truong Son Mountains do not allow it to enjoy most rainfall of south-western monsoon (from April to October). Unprotected coasts in their turn, however, make it wet and colder than the rest in winter-monsoon season (from November to March). Also, storms and typhoons strike this area more frequently than the northern coasts in summer months (from July to November). The Central Highlands in particular enjoys nearly double the average rainfall of the country. Two biggest towns in this plateau, Dalat and Pleiku, are ideally cool throughout the year. Near-the-south coastal cities, Quy Nhon, Nha Trang and Phan Thiet, on the contrary, experiences steamy hot weather (21°C-32°C / 70°F-90°F) all year round. Southern Part

The South of Vietnam, merely 8 degrees north of the Equator, is typical of humid tropical climate which is excellent for growing rice. The region’s temperatures experience little variations in a year (around 27-32°C/80-90°F). There are two main seasons: the rainy and the dry. During the rainy/monsoon season (from May to November), downpours are expected to happen nearly every afternoon, resulting in occasional street flooding in and around Saigon. In the dry season, it is hot from late February to April then slightly cooler when first downpours come. Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) enjoys rather equitable tropical climate with high humidity all year round. December to March is said to be the most pleasant time to hit this region’s center.

Note: In all, Vietnam climate is so diverse that there is almost no definition of an average temperature for the whole country. Thanks to these regional variations in weather, generally, you can drop in Vietnam at any time of year. Commonly, based on the duration of your stay, you should plan to catch the good weather and places by either dropping in Saigon in February or March then following the coast to north or hitting Hanoi in October-November then tracing southward.

Day 01: Ha Noi Arrival.

You are welcomed by our guide and driver at Noi Bai international airport and then transferred to your hotel for check in. Free time at your leisure.

Overnight in Ha Noi.

Day 02: Ha Noi City.

After breakfast at the hotel we start a full day city tour at the Ho Chi Minh Complex (Closed on Monday and Friday mornings and the whole of September and October for annual repairs). We visit the One Pillar Pagoda, founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049. This structure has become an important symbol for the people of Ha Noi. Our next stop will be the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university constructed in 1070. The temple is dedicated to one of the world’s most famous scholars, Confucius. Inside the temple grounds huge stone stele rest on the backs of even larger stone turtles (in Vietnamese culture the turtle represents longevity).

Travelloops would like to recommend lunch (cost not included) at Cha Ca street where we try “Cha Ca La Vong”, a favorite dish of the locals and listed in ‘1000 places to visit before you die’, we continue to visit the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. This museum has successfully recreated the daily life together with the religious rituals and the symbolic festivals of each ethnic group in Vietnam. Visitors have the opportunity to admire costumes, embroidery as well as outside stilt houses and habitats from the 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam.

Will enjoy having a short walk to visit the oldest bridge of Ha Noi, the “Long Bien Bridge” to take photos and see the local life of Ha Noi people before enjoying a cyclo ride through Ha Noi’s Old Quarter, also known as “36 streets.” This bustling area of narrow streets and alleys is home to thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. It’s a great place to explore with plenty of photo opportunities all around you. We will travel on the famous Hoan Kiem lake, (The Lake of the Restored Sword) in the heart of Ha Noi.

Start your evening with a traditional water puppet performance (Roi Nuoc). The stage is actually a large container of water where the characters (carved wooden puppets} “act” out the story. Most of the stories are whimsical and fun, and the puppeteers stand in waist deep water behind a screen controlling the puppets with rods that mostly are under the water. We recommend dinner (cost not included) at the Madam Hian Restuarant.

Overnight in Ha Noi.

Meals: Breakfast included

Day 03: Ha Noi - Mai Chau.

After breakfast at hotel we transfer to the Mai Chau valley, only 3 hours away from bustling Ha Noi but it feels like another world as your vehicle ascends into the lush mountains, home to several remote hill tribes. Mai Chau is the heart of a beautiful valley. The modern village is an unappealing sprawl, but as you emerge on the rice fields and rural living, it is transformed into a real paradise. It’s a stunning area, and most of the people here are ethnic White Thai, distantly related to tribes in Thailand, Laos and China. We recommend lunch (cost not included) at a local stilted-style house in Lac village.

In the afternoon we visit some small villages and a local market. Then we can enjoy a short walk to visit the Lac villages, home of the White Thai people; then its on to visit the Xa Linh village, home to the H’mong ethnic people where we start a 2-hour soft trek to the village of Hang Kia.

Overnight in Mai Chau.

Meals: Breakfast included

Day 04: Mai Chau - Ninh Binh - Tam Coc “Ha Long bay on land”.

We depart from Mai Chau and head to Ninh Binh City (2.5 hours) to visit Tam Coc, also known as ‘Ha Long bay on the rice fields’, as it features the same limestone rocks as on Ha Long Bay but seen from a winding stream through paddy fields instead of the sea.

After lunch at a local restaurant (cost not included), we take a sampan ride through a karst landscape to visit Tam Coc Grottos. The sampan rower will drive the boat through shallow rice paddies and three splendid long grottos. From here we will visit a small temple, built in 13th century. Next stop is Hoa Lu ancient capital, which was the capital of the Dinh and Early Le dynasties in Vietnam in the 10th and 11th century. The sanctuaries were built in the 17th century. We will see the stone pedestal of a royal throne, bronze bells and statues of the Emperors. Free time at your leisure.

Overnight in Ninh Binh.

Meals: Breakfast included

Day 05: Ninh Binh - Ha Long Bay.

After breakfast at hotel we transfer to Ha Long city (4 hours) to visit the unforgettable Ha Long Bay (a World Natural Heritage site and a New World’s Wonder). Ha Long Bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes with 1969 islets. Several of the islands are hollow, with enormous caves, other support floating villages of fishermen. You have a chance to observe the scenic Vietnamese countryside, dominated by vast lush rice fields.

On arrival at Ha Long Bay we check in between 11:30 - 12:00 at the boat port. We enjoy a refreshing Welcome cocktail on the sun deck. We enjoy our lunch as the vessel sails to Ha Long Bay passing the Fighting Cocks islet, the Elephant Leg islet, the Castle islet, and the Soi Sim Island. On arrival at the Surprise Grotto, one of the most famous grottos in the entire Ha Long complex, we visit a cave by a small tender. After taking a lot of photos and admiring the beauty of the cave we visit a fishing village by local rowing boat (1 hour) with the opportunity to interact with fishermen who have been living in the bay for almost three generations: we then return to the boat for some free time. You can swim in the clear emerald waters, soak up the sun over a cool beer on the top deck sun lounge or try your hand at some kayaking (at additional cost) amongst the huge limestone outcrops that surround us. We retire to the junk and relax on the top deck and enjoy a refreshing drink from the bar. You will really enjoy the Vietnamese cooking demonstration on the sundeck. A delicious seafood dinner will be served at the restaurant. Stay overnight onboard for a more memorable experience.

(The itinerary above may be changed depending on the cruise we choose and may also be weather permitting).

Overnight onboard

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

Day 06: Ha Long Bay - Fly to Hue.

We start the day with some morning Tai Chi exercises and an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay. Sitting on the upper deck we can enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the rocky islands rising from the crystal-clear water of the bay. We can hear the birds singing, cicadas chirping ashore and the gentle lapping of the waves against our boat, the perfect soundtrack to accompany the fresh air and gentle breeze.

An international buffet brunch is served in the restaurant. We check out onboard and disembark at the port back in Ha Long City.

Our guide and driver will pick you up at the port and then transfer you to Noi Bai airport for a short domestic flight to Hue City (1 hour). On arrival, you are welcomed at Phu Bai airport and then transferred to your hotel. Free time at your leisure.

Overnight in Hue.

Meals: Breakfast and lunch included

Day 07: Hue - Hoi An Ancient Town.

After breakfast at the hotel we take a boat trip along the romantically named Perfume River carrying us through a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes, where Hue’s best-known religious sites are located. We will visit Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the oldest ancient architectural structures for religious worship in Hue. We include this in a half day cruise on the Perfume river which also gives us a taste of the scenic countryside and an enjoyable visit to the Mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes. This impressive landmark reflects the beautiful architecture, intricate decor and mysterious statues. We recommend lunch (cost not included) at the Tinh Gia Vien Restaurant.

Continuing overland we visit the former Imperial Citadel. (A World Cultural Heritage site), located in the centre of the Citadel we find the high offices of Vietnam's feudalism period and sanctums honouring the cult of the deceased Emperors. The Royal Citadel consists of more than 100 beautifully constructed works divided into many sectors. We visit Flag Tower, Ngo Mon Gate, Nine Dynastic Urns, Nine Holy Cannons, Thai Hoa Palace, and the Forbidden Purple City.

We continue our trip to Da Nang (110 km) via Lang Co beach and over the Hai Van Pass; you’ll have a brief look at the remarkable Hindu statues in the Cham museum, one of the largest collections of Cham sculpture and artwork in the world. The museum is officially known as the Museum of Champa Sculpture. We continue to visit a nearby stone-cutting craft village before leaving for Hoi An Ancient Town (35km), an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. Hoi An has 1,068 ancient houses, 19 pagodas, 43 temples, 23 communal houses, 38 family temples, 5 assembly halls, 11 old wells, one bridge, and 44 ancient tombs. In the Old Quarter, there are more than 1000 relic sites. We recommend dinner (cost not included) at Brother Café Hoi An.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Meals: Breakfast included

Day 08: Hoi An Ancient Town - My Son Holy Land.

After breakfast at the hotel we transfer to My Son Holy Land (40 km), which was an imperial city during the Cham dynasty. Here you can see a large complex of religious relics that comprises more than 65 architectural works. In 1999, UNESCO labeled the Cham architecture in My Son as a World Cultural Heritage site. We recommend lunch (cost not included) at The Cargo Club Restaurant.

In the afternoon we walk around the historic town soaking up the atmosphere, exploring the many Chinese assembly halls and fascinating ancestral homes, some of which have been occupied by the same family for fifteen generations.

One of the most spectacular Assembly Halls is the Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, built in 1690. The pagoda inside contains intricate statues and artwork, in part dedicated to Thien Hau Than Mau, the Goddess of the Sea and protector of fishermen.

A walking tour of the ancient town centre takes us to the sites of former merchants’ homes, and the 400-year old Japanese Covered bridge - The symbol of Hoi An. The Japanese Covered bridge was the first bridge in Hoi An and was constructed in 1593. It was built by the Japanese community of Hoi An to link them with the Chinese quarters across the stream.

The town is also famous for its shops in particular its large number of tailors. If you wanted, you could have a whole new wardrobe made for you here. You can enjoy browsing and shopping in one of the most colorful local marketplaces in all of Southeast Asia.

Free time to relax or explore the hidden charms of Hoi An town.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Meals: Breakfast included

Day 09: Hoi An – Da Nang - Fly to Ho Chi Minh City.

After breakfast at the hotel you have free time until your guide and driver picks you up and transfers you to Da Nang airport for a short domestic flight to Ho Chi Minh City (1 hour). You are welcomed by our guide and driver at Tan Son Nhat airport and then transferred to the center of Ho Chi Minh City. This is the largest and busiest city in Vietnam with a population of 6 million people. Much of the daily life takes place on the streets, which are lined with shops, stalls and vendors with their wares spread out on the footpath.

We will visit some interesting sites and landmarks in Ho Chi Minh City. The first stop is Notre Dame Catholic cathedral and short visit to the nearby French-built Post Office; next we will visit the War Remnants museum, which primarily contains exhibits relating to the American phase of the Vietnam war. Discover the history and fascinating street life of Ho Chi Minh City on a walking tour along Dong Khoi Street, known as Rue Catinat in French-colonial times.

We enjoy a special dinner aboard Indochina junk, cruising along the Saigon River, enjoying your food while listening to traditional folk music, singing and dancing. You will have time to relax while watching the view of the city and people working at the port of Saigon. Along both sides of the river you can see mansions and take in the lifestyle of those who spend their lives by the river. Later you have free time to to relax or explore the Ho Chi Minh City nightlife.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included

Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta - Cai Be floating market.

After breakfast at the hotel we’ll take a scenic early morning drive to Vinh Long City (140 km), stopping for photos at Tan An town, looking over the flat rice fields. The program will start with a visit to Cai Be colorful floating market cruising among local barges full of fruit and vegetables. Then, an optional stop can be made at local workshops where you can see how rice paste, coconut candy, pop-rice, and popcorn are made. It’s also very interesting to visit the handicraft village where you can see how they make various products: making rice paper for spring-rolls, fish sauce & soya sauce, cooking salt, sewing coconut-leaves for house roofing. A Mekong Delta lunch will be served (cost not included) under the shade of local orchards on An Binh Island along with the famous dish “Fried Mekong Elephant Ear Fish”.

After lunch, the rowing boat will take you deeper into the countryside along smaller canals. It’s fascinating to see traditional houses made of wood and palm tree leaves and see some activities of the local farmers with some opportunities to interact with them and see how they catch fish or harvest fruit using traditional methods in the Mekong Delta.

One more stop can be made at the nursery garden where you can learn how to grow some high quality fruit trees. There are some real characters amongst the farmers here, like Mr. Tiger & his son who have been very successful in Vietnamese agriculture. We will enjoy many kinds of fruit from his garden and home made rice wine when listening to the traditional music.

This trip can also include a cycling option. It’s very peaceful to bike on village paths to see the local farms, houses, real life and the ancestral ways to pick up fruits in Mekong delta. We drive back to Ho Chi Minh City for some free time at your leisure and

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meals: Breakfast included

Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnels - Fly to Buon Me Thuot.

After breakfast at the hotel we drive to Cu Chi district, 50 km to the northwest of Ho Chi Minh City. The incredible underground network in Cu Chi stretched over 200 kilometers and became legendary during the American war. The extensive tunnels were specially constructed with living areas, storage facilities, weapon factories, field hospitals, command centres, plus accommodation.

On arrival at the Cu Chi tunnels, we watch a short introductory video showing how they were constructed, then spend the next hour exploring the maze of tunnels; you will even have a chance to crawl through the tunnels. Also on display are various mantraps, the remains of an American tank and numerous bomb craters made by 500-pound bombs dropped by B52 bombers. We recommend lunch (cost not included) at the Vietnam House Restaurant.

You have some free time until you are picked up and transferred to Tan Son Nhat airport to take a domestic flight (1 hour) to Buon Me Thuot. This is the largest city in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. On arrival, you are welcomed by our driver and taken to check into your hotel.

Overnight in Buon Me Thuot.

Meals: Breakfast included

Day 12: Buon Me Thuot - Lak Lake.

After breakfast we drive to Lak Lake, 50km away from the capital Buon Ma Thuot. This is an ideal destination for all travelers with its natural sightseeing, native cultures and highlights. On the way, you will see a huge stone that looks like a sleeping elephant. On arrival at Lak lake, you can explore Jun village, home of the M’Nong hill tribe and take a ride on a dugout canoe on the lake. We will drive up to the hilltop to visit the Bao Dai residence, a historic relic of the former Emperor Bao Dai. From here, you have a spectacular view looking over the lake, the town and fishing village.

In the evening you are free to enjoy the tranquility of this place or enjoy the “Gong Show” - a quirky cultural heritage of Vietnam listed by UNESCO. The show is accompanied by local wine.

Overnight in Lak Lake

Meals: Breakfast and lunch included

Day 13: Lak Lake - Buon Me Thuot - Nha Trang.

This morning we drive back to Buon Me Thuot city. We will visit the Highland Coffee Museum, the only coffee museum in Vietnam with more than 10,000 coffee-related cultural relics from the renowned Jens Burg Museum in Germany, which were handed over to the Trung Nguyen Corporation. We continue with a visit to the Akodhong village of the Ede with traditional weaving of brocade, long houses with many beautiful flower gardens and coffee plantations further downstream. We will visit the Ethnographic Museum, which exhibits objects and artifacts from the local hill tribe groups. We stop for lunch at a local restaurant (cost not included).

In the afternoon we drive to Buon Me Thuot town and depart for Nha Trang city (205 km). Nha Trang, the country’s premier traditional seaside resort is situated in Nha Trang bay, and is surrounded on all three sides by mountains; it is widely considered to be amongst the world's most beautiful bays, and is well known for its pristine beaches as well as its variety of activities. With hot water springs, colorful fish and coral reefs, the city is considered to be one of the best spots for scuba diving and snorkeling. On arrival, we check in the hotel and have some free time.

Overnight in Nha Trang.

Meals: Breakfast included

Day 14: Nha Trang Half-day City Tour.

After breakfast at hotel we enjoy a half-day city tour, visiting a Cham settlement represented by the Po Nagar tower, a sacred Hindu site dating back to the 7th century; we visit Stone church built in French colonial time then continue on to visit Long Son pagoda and then take a tour around Dam market. We recommend lunch (cost not included) at the Truc Linh Restaurant. Later you have free time to relax or explore further.

Overnight in Nha Trang.

Meals: Breakfast included

Day 15: Nha Trang Beach.

After breakfast at the hotel we have some free time to relax or explore. Water sports abound including parasailing, jet skiing, water skiing and relaxing boat trips to the outlying islands. There are opportunities to swim and snorkel in the clear warm waters.

Overnight in Nha Trang.

Meals: Breakfast included

Day 16: Nha Trang - Ho Chi Minh Departure.

After breakfast at the hotel you will have some free time to relax or go shopping till your transfer to the airport to catch a domestic flight to Tan Son Nhat airport (Ho Chi Minh City).

Meals: breakfast

End of your trip with an unforgetable holiday! 

This tour is private and can be tailor-made to suit your travel needs. As a result the price is quoted in US dollars and shown on a per-person basis. The 'Price From' quoted above is for parties of 2, 4 and 6 people and for accommodation in 3 star hotels. The final price will be privately quoted, based on the number in your party, your preferred time of travel, grade of hotel and any additional services requested. Please click on the BOOK NOW button and fill in the booking form, after which one of our travel consultants will customize the best value holiday for you.

• REMARKS:

We are aware that a good tour must have good hotels. In Indochina particularly, hotel price makes up most of the cost of your Cambodia cycling, Vietnam cycling, Laos cycling, Myanmar cycling or Thailand cycling. All of our prices are calculated on a twin-shared basis. As a guide, Travel Loops defines hotel grades as follows:

>>Superior Level (3 star hotels in good locations): > 40 USD/room/night
>>Deluxe Level (4 star hotels): > 80 USD/room/night
>>Luxury Level (5 star hotels): > 180 USD/room/night

Price based on twin shared accommodation.
Tour price is indicative only, please enquire for a detailed quotation.
More people means more discount. Please enquire for more details

If, after reviewing the details of this tour, you would like to receive a "Special Offer" tour price, just click on the "INQUIRY" button below. If you wish to “Tailor Make" your trip, simply click on the "CUSTOMIZE TRIP" and enter your contact details.

COST INCLUDED:

• Experienced English speaking guide
• Private transportation by air-conditioned vehicle
• Accommodation in double/twin sharing rooms with daily breakfast
• Meals as mentioned in the itinerary
• Bottled drinking water for sightseeing
• All sightseeing entrance fee where required in the itinerary.

COST EXCLUDED:

• International/domestic airfares & tax
• Visa fees
• Travel Insurance. (We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance from home)
• Personal expenditure (telephone, laundry, shopping and so on…)
• Tips for guide, driver, porters and project cost
• Beverage and alcoholic drinks
• Any other services not clearly mentioned on itinerary and trip inclusive portion.