Explore Vietnam - 16 days
Hanoi, Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam 
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Duration: 16 days
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Destinations: Vietnam
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Start: Hanoi, Vietnam
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Finish: Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam
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Tour type: Private tour
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Meals: 16 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 3 dinners
Discover the true essence of Vietnam on this 16-day journey from North to South. Admire the breathtaking landscapes of the northern mountains, unwind on the stunning beaches of Central and Southern Vietnam, and explore several UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the majestic Halong Bay, the imperial city of Hue, and the charming ancient town of Hoi An. You’ll also experience local daily life in vibrant Hanoi, dynamic Saigon, and the peaceful Mekong Delta.
Tour Highlights
- Enjoy real local values and identities.
- Start the tour at the capital of Hanoi.
- Experience a interesting homestay in Mai Chau.
- Have exotic experience Visit the World Heritage Sites (Halong bay - Hue, Hoi An).
- Spend time on relaxing on the golden sand beach in Nha Trang.
- Continue the trip with the biggest city (Ho Chi Minh city).
- Visit one of the most famous battlegrounds in the world: Cu Chi Tunnel.
- Discover the farming life, and fruit gardens in the immense Mekong Delta.
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Travel style:
Cultural & Classic
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Your guide:
English speaking
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Meals:
16 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 3 dinners
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Tour type:
Private tour
You will visit
Explore Vietnam 16 days - Route Map
Explore Vietnam 16 days Itinerary
B(breakfast), L(lunch), D(dinner)
Warmly welcome at Noi Bai airport - Hanoi. Pick up and transfer to your hotel. If time permits, enjoy a walking tour around Hoan Kiem lake and attend water puppet show. In the evening, enjoy welcomed dinner at your local restaurant.
Having breakfast at hotel then start a full day city tour in Hanoi. Start with Ho Chi Minh complex (including Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum and stilt house); the Presidential Palace, the nearby One Pillar Pagoda and Tran Quoc pagoda on West lake.
After lunch, continue the trip to explore some interesting places in Hanoi such as the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university and the Ethnology Museum to learn more about the diversity in ethnic communities of Vietnam.
Late afternoon, experience the bustling Hanoi Old quarter by electric car before coming back your hotel.
Depart Hanoi early morning for 3.5 hour journey to Mai Chau. The region is home to White Thai, H’mong, Zao, Muong, Tay and Hoa ethnic minorities who live in charming stilt homes. On arrival, you will immerse in spectacular picturesque surrounded by karst rock formations and rice paddies. After lunch, spend the afternoon exploring the idyllic natural surroundings and visit the extraordinary Mo Luong (Soldier) Cave.
This evening, you can enjoy the warm hospitality of the locals with an extensive home cooked meal and a traditional Thai performance of music and dance.
Flowing breakfast at your home stay, you take an easy trek for 3 hours around the beautiful Mai Chau valley to visit more Muong and Thai Minority villages. Going from one village to another and have a chance to get in touch with local villagers going about their daily business tilling the fields, logging or herding the buffalo. Go back to Lac Village for lunch before transferring to Hanoi.
At around 8 am, your driver will pick you up for the journey to Halong Bay and arrive at around midday to board a traditional junk for an overnight cruise. Halong Bay is widely considered to be one of the natural wonders of the world. Thousands of towering pillars of sea and wind-carved limestone karst make the bay an unforgettable sight. After lunch, explore some of the huge limestone caves dotted around the bay and visit a floating fishing village. Then the captain will find a secluded spot where you can swim, soak up the sun on the top deck, or try your hand at kayaking. In the evening enjoy a seafood feast for dinner.
Enjoy an early morning swim (during the summer), followed by breakfast as you cruise through more spectacular scenery. The cruise arrives at the harbor by noon. The driver will pick you up and then transfer directly to the airport for flight to Hue. Upon arrival in Hue, you will be transferred to your hotel. Check in and free time.
Being the ancient capital, Hue is surrounded with ancient tombs of the past emperors, and with Orient style - those tombs almost located near the bank of Hue’s river - Perfume river. In the morning, take boat trip along the scenic Perfume River for sightseeing and next stop will be the famous Thien Mu pagoda and Ming Mang Emperor’s mausoleum.
Afternoon, continue to visit the Citadel, containing the Imperial City, the Forbidden Purple City and the Emperor's private residence. The Imperial City, created in the 19th century and modeled on the Forbidden City in Beijing. You also visit the vibrant Dong Ba market.
After breakfast, leave Hue for Hoi An, crossing Hai Van Pass where you will have magnificent view of the sea. Stop at Lang Co to have break. Visit the fascinating Cham Museum and Marble Mountain en route to charming Hoi An. Upon arrival, you walk around this ancient town of 600-year old visiting the 200 year-old Tan Ky house, Phuc Kien Pagoda, the Assembly Hall, the former merchants’ houses, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the colorful riverside market.
Today, you will have the experience of working and living with the local farmer in Tra Que village - one of famous vegetable village in Hoi An. You will cycle to the village with your guide.
A short stroll will take you around the vegetable garden and then you can join the farmers in preparing the land and fertilizing it with seaweed from the local lake. Following steps are raking the ground, sowing, watering, picking vegetables and many other gardening activities. After all these activities, you will take a short rest and enjoy foot bath before getting to preparing lunch with a local family.
Your lunch will consist of many local delicacies including ‘Tam Huu” spring roll, Banh xeo or local pancake of people in Vietnam middle region. You can join the cooking with the chef on these meals. After your morning excursions and your lunch, you will take a Vietnamese traditional post-prandial nap before learning how to harvest and wrap the vegetables.
Around 14.00: bid farewell to your host family before riding back to your hotel.
Today is your free time in Hoi An for shopping or tailor made suites.
Today you leave Hoi An for the short flight to Nha Trang. Pick up and transfer to your resort. Check in and free time at leisure.
You have a free day at leisure in Nha Trang for relaxing and unwinding at the resort overlooking beautiful Bay. Snorkel or dive among the coral reefs in crystal blue waters, hike nature trails, cool off in the swimming pool, indulge in spa treatments or just relax on the white sand beach and admire the unspoiled mountain and sea views.
Leave Nha Trang, you will catch morning flight to Ho Chi Minh city (Saigon), Vietnam’s largest city has an exciting buzz as millions of people rush around on their daily business. The tour guide will pick you up at the airport and transfer to hotel. After a short rest, you will have a half day tour Saigon including The Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post Office, Remnant War Museum and Ben Thanh market.
This morning, you will visit the famous Cu Chi tunnels, an incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the long struggle for independence.
The network included innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens.
After that, drive to Tay Ninh province to visit Cao Dai great temple - one of the most striking structures in Asia. This temple is the holy land of Cai Dai religion - a mixture of Buddhism, Confucius, Taoism, Hinduism, Christianity…). You will have chance to attend the daily noon prayer. Come back Saigon in the late afternoon.
Today, you will discover Mekong delta and visit the colorful floating market - Cai Be. Leave bustling Saigon for the 3 hour drive to the delta town of Cai Be. On arrival, board your boat for cruise in the Delta’s waterways.
Start your journey by passing by Cai Be’s floating market, cruising among local barges with full of fruits and vegetables… The cruise will then bring you to some local home factories to discover traditional rice paste making, rice pop corn, coco candies…
After a delicious lunch at the local ancient house, you will have chance admire the scenery and the daily life of the local villagers by rowboat passing through small sampan. Stops on the way can be made upon request for particular visits or photos marking. The excursion will end at around 3.00 pm. You will return to Saigon in the later afternoon.
Free time at leisure until be transferred to the airport for your departure flight. End of the tour. Thank you for using our service.
Your tour package includes
- Accommodation based on twin/double sharing with daily breakfast.
- Experienced English-speaking guides as indicated in the itinerary.
- Private transportation with AC.
- Flight tickets Hanoi - Hue, Da Nang - Nha Trang, Nha Trang - Saigon with Vietnam Airlines.
- All sightseeing tickets.
- Lunches and dinners as indicated in the itinerary.
- Taxes and services charges.
Exclusions
- International flight tickets and airport tax.
- Visa stamping fee.
- Early check in and late check out.
- Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses.
- Insurance.
Important travel information
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Tour Price
The tour rate is based on twin/double sharing rooms at 3* hotel category, quoted for a private group of 6 guests. The price will vary slightly depending on the number of people in your group. For an accurate tour price, please click the "INQUIRE NOW" button to discuss with our sales consultant.
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Deposit & Payment
After you have agreed on the tour itinerary and pricing, we will send you an email to confirm and provide information on our payment policy. You can choose your preferred payment method and make payment to us according to the following regulations:
- With tour bookings, you do not need to pay total in advance, we just need 30% for deposit. The balance will be settled before your trip or upon arrival.
- With flight, hotel or train ticket bookings, we require 100% total payment in advance.
The balance will be settled before or upon arrival by cash, credit card or bank transfer. We accept major credit cards such as Visa, Master, JCB and Amex. If you pay by credit card, please add 3% of bank commission.
After receiving your deposit, our team will process your booking and send you the confirmation by email within 1 - 2 working days.
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Food Requirement
If you have any specific food requirement (vegetarian, vegan, food allergies, etc.) please inform us in advance, we will provide notices to our restaurants, tour guides and partners so they would be able to serve you the best.
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Cancellation
We apply non refundable deposit of 10 USD for hotel, air ticket booking, 100 USD/per person for tour package upon service confirmation. Cancellations will be charged as following:
- 30 days before arrival: No cancellation charge.
- 29 - 14 days before arrival: 10% of the tour cost is forfeited.
- 13 - 7 days before arrival: 40% of the tour cost is forfeited.
- 6 days before arrival: 100 % of the tour cost is forfeited.
- No show: 100% of the tour cost is forfeited.
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Child Policy
- Infant under 2-years-old free of charge land tour and 25% of airfare.
- Child under 12-years-old sharing room with adult without extra bed charge 50% of adult land tour and 75% of airfare.
- Child under 12-years-old sharing room with adult with bed charge 80% of adult land tour and 75% of airfare.
- Upon 12-years-old - 100% charge of tour cost.
