Best of Vietnam
15 days
From
$ 1699
Duration15 days
From the intensity of Ho Chi Minh City's streets to spectacular rice terraces, travel the length of Vietnam and savour its natural, cultural, and historical delights. Meet the Hmong people and other minority villagers on a hilltribe excursion and sail into the photographic possibilities of beautiful Halong Bay. With the services of a Chief Experience Officer (CEO) and your accommodation and transport taken care of, this trip offers great value as it introduces the region’s main sights, providing plenty of flexibility so you can experience an adventure you'll never forget.
This tour is operated by
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Duration: 15 daysService level: Standard
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Physical Grading: Light
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Ages: 12+
Tour Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi
Arrive in bustling Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. As passengers will be arriving at various times today, there are no planned activities. Take a walk through Hanoi's Old Quarter, visit Tran Quoc Pagoda, the Temple of Literature (Van Mieu) or Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and Museum.
Please note that most nationalities requires a visa to enter Vietnam, please double check this with your travel agent or local Vietnamese Embassy.
Please note that most nationalities requires a visa to enter Vietnam, please double check this with your travel agent or local Vietnamese Embassy.
Arrive at any time.
Day 2: Hanoi/Lào Cai
Explore the city during the day and in the evening attend a performance at the famous Water Puppet Theatre before boarding our overnight train to Lao Cai, en route to Sapa.
Enjoy the water puppets show. Opt to visit Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and stilt house, Hoa Lo Prison and the Temple of Literature. Overnight train to Lao Cai.
Meals: B
Day 3: Lào Cai/Sa Pá
After arriving in Lao Cai in the morning, we transfer to Sapa. An afternoon excursion takes us to the village of Ta Phin, before returning to Sapa in the early evening.
Arrive in Sapa. Hilltribe village visit at Ta Phin, trek and homestay. Traditional meals with a local family.
End place: San Sa Ho
Day 4: Sa Pá
Start place: San Sa Ho
Take a moderate trek through the Muong Hoa River valley. Stop at Lao Chai village for lunch and on to the Ta Vinh village for a homestay.
Hilltribe village visit, trek and homestay. Traditional meals with a local family.
Buffet
Picnic
End place: San Sa Ho
Meals: B, L, D
Day 5: Sa Pá/Hanoi
Start place: San Sa Ho
After breakfast, say goodbye to the host family and walk to a nearby village where we board a bus to take us back to Sapa and then onward to Hanoi for the night.
Return to Sapa after breakfast with host family. Transfer back to Hanoi.
Meals: B
Day 6: Hanoi/Ha Long
Our private bus takes us to Bai Chay harbour, our entry point to Halong Bay. Our sailing junk takes you to some islands and caves. You could enjoy an evening drink on the deck beneath the stars.
Drive to Halong Bay for an overnight cruise on a junk boat which includes a seafood meal. Visit caves or an island lookout.
Meals: L, D
Day 7: Ha Long/Huế
After an early lunch on board the boat we head back to Hanoi. You have enough time for shopping or further sightseeing until our overnight train to Hue.
Breakfast aboard our junk boat. Return to Hanoi for free time before an overnight train to Hue.
Meals: B, L
Day 8: Huế
We arrive early into Hue, once the imperial capital of Vietnam. After checking in to our hotel, we have a tour of Hue, visiting the wonderful seven storey high Tien Mu Pagoda and also an imperial tomb of one of Vietnam’s former emperors.
In the evening, you have the chance to try some local Hue specialties such as banh khoai (Hue savoury pancakes), and banh bot loc boc tom thit (thin rice paper filled with meat and shrimp). You might want to wash it all down with a Hue beer. Yum!
Opt to pre-book the "Hue Motorbike Tour" activity on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your tour.
In the evening, you have the chance to try some local Hue specialties such as banh khoai (Hue savoury pancakes), and banh bot loc boc tom thit (thin rice paper filled with meat and shrimp). You might want to wash it all down with a Hue beer. Yum!
Opt to pre-book the "Hue Motorbike Tour" activity on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your tour.
Included tour of Tien Mu Pagoda and the Royal Tombs.
Day 9: Huế/Hoi An
This morning we’ll start our day touring the wonderful ruins of the Imperial Citadel, from where Vietnam was once ruled.
In the late morning we begin our drive to Hoi An. After crossing over the Hai Van Pass, with fantastic views in all directions, we will arrive in Hoi An in the afternoon for our three-night stay.
In the late morning we begin our drive to Hoi An. After crossing over the Hai Van Pass, with fantastic views in all directions, we will arrive in Hoi An in the afternoon for our three-night stay.
Travel the scenic Hai Van Pass (weather permitting) on the way to Hoi An.
Meals: B
Day 10: Hoi An
Enjoy a noodle making demonstration and lunch at Oodles of Noodles, a G Adventures-supported project. Afterwards enjoy free time, options include a cooking class, shopping at the tailors, riverboat cruise, bike riding, beach time or My Son ruins.
Meals: B, L
Day 11: Hoi An
Use a full free day to explore more of this charming town.
Meals: B
Day 12: Hoi An/Ho Chi Minh City
Drive to Danang for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City, the sprawling metropolis that was once the capital of South Vietnam and remains the country’s commercial center.
The afternoon is free to explore the city.
The afternoon is free to explore the city.
Fly to Ho Chi Minh City and opt to take a bike tour of the city, visit the Reunification Palace, Thien Hau, or the Giac Vien pagodas.
Meals: B
Day 13: Ho Chi Minh City/Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta visit, boat ride and visit to traditional candy factories. Enjoy a local homestay and dinner with a Vietnamese family.
End place: Mekong Delta
Meals: B, D
Day 14: Mekong Delta/Ho Chi Minh City
Start place: Mekong Delta
This morning we enjoy an included breakfast before taking a boat and bus to return to Ho Chi Minh City. We will arrive in this sprawling city by midday for your chance to explore the many sites you did not get to see earlier.
Spend our final night as a group reminiscing over our journey through Vietnam over an optional dinner at a local restaurant. After dinner you may want to enjoy a cocktail while viewing the city traffic from above at the iconic Rex Hotel.
Spend our final night as a group reminiscing over our journey through Vietnam over an optional dinner at a local restaurant. After dinner you may want to enjoy a cocktail while viewing the city traffic from above at the iconic Rex Hotel.
Option to visit War Remnants Museum, Colonial Quarter, or Ben Thanh Market.
Meals: B
Day 15: Ho Chi Minh City
After breakfast on Day 15, the tour ends and you are free to depart at any time.
Some may continue traveling west through Cambodia with G Adventures. If you are interested in ongoing travel in Cambodia and Thailand have a look at the following trip on our website:
Cambodia Experience
http://www.gadventures.com/trips/cambodia-experience/AVCW/2012/
Some may continue traveling west through Cambodia with G Adventures. If you are interested in ongoing travel in Cambodia and Thailand have a look at the following trip on our website:
Cambodia Experience
http://www.gadventures.com/trips/cambodia-experience/AVCW/2012/
Depart at any time.
Meals: B
Inclusions
Included
- Your G for Good Moment: Oodles of Noodles Demonstration and Lunch, Hoi An Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group Your Local Living Moment: Ta Vinh Homestay, Sa Pá Your Discover Moment: Hoi An Your Local Living Moment: Mekong Homestay, Mekong Delta
- Water puppet show (Hanoi)
- Sapa excursion to hilltribe villages
- Halong Bay entrance
- Halong Bay boat cruise with seafood lunch and dinner
- Imperial Citadel and Tomb guide and entrance
- Internal flight
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
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Transport
Train, Local bus, Air-conditioned bus, Boat, Cyclo, Plane, Walking -
Accommodation
Hotels (9 nts), Sleeper trains (2 nts), Junk boat (1 nt), Basic family homestays (2 nts)