DAY01:

HANOI
Arrive in Hanoi. The city still has many buildings from the colonial era including south of Hoan Kiem Lake, in the embassy district and hotels such as the Sofitel Metropole. After lunch, take a scenic city tour of Hanoi starting at the Lake of the Restored Sword and walk through the colorful streets of the 36 Corporations Neighbourhood. In the late afternoon, take a bicycle tour through the old quarters of Hanoi. Enjoy a puppet show on the water in the evening. Spend the night in Hanoi.

DAY02:

HANOI - NINH BINH - HANOI - LAO CAI
The day is devoted to learning about the one thousand years of history of this ancient city by visiting Quan Thanh Temple, Tran Quoc Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, Museum of Ethnography and Ba Dinh Square. You can see the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh and his house on stilts plus the former Palace of the Governor of Indochina and the One Pillar Pagoda. Spend the night in Hanoi. Transfer to the train station to board the overnight train towards Lao Cai on the Chinese border. Spend the night in a four berth cabin on the train.

DAY03:

LAO CAI - SAPA
Drive up to Sapa Resort built by the French, offering panoramic views of the rice terraces. Arrive in Muong Hoa Valley and enjoy a walk in the heart of the rice fields. Have lunch with the locals in the village of Ta Van. In the afternoon, you have free time to explore the little town of Sapa. Spend the night in Sapa.

DAY04:

SAPA - BAC HA MARKET - LAO CAI - HANOI
Drive to Bac Ha and stroll through the busy market where ethnic Hmong mountain people are joined by other hill tribes such as the Zao, Tay, Phu La and Dao people. See many different types of ethnic costumes and choose a local eatery to enjoy lunch. Drive down the mountains to Lao Cai. Visit the Sino-Vietnamese border gate and Mau Temple on your way to dinner. Board the night train back to Hanoi. Spend the night on board.

DAY05:

HANOI - NINH BINH
Travel towards Ninh Binh. Visit the Dinh and Le Temples in Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam in the tenth century. Continue by road through limestone peaks to Tho Ha village where you can take a bike ride through the rice fields and villages of the Red River Delta. Have lunch with the locals near the pier. Then take a three-hour excursion by sampan boat on the Boi river. Spend the night in Ninh Binh.

DAY06:

NINH BINH - HALONG
Drive to Halong. Upon arrival in Halong, board a junk style boat. Relax and appreciate the extraordinary scenery of Halong Bay where you can see nearly 3,000 limestone islands and peaks of fantastic shapes. Enjoy a seafood dinner on the boat. Spend the night on board.

DAY07:

HALONG - HUE
Take a morning to cruise around the islands. After lunch, depart from the boat and transfer to airport for flight to Hue. Spend the night in Hue.

DAY08:

HUE
Take a morning boat trip on the Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda and the Mausoleum of Minh Mang. In the afternoon, visit the Imperial Citadel including Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace and the Royal Library. See a cultural performance in the restored Royal Theatre. Spend the night in Hue.

DAY09:

HUE - HOI AN
Drive towards Hoi An. Stop at Danang to visit the Museum of Cham Sculpture. Founded in 1915, it displays more than 300 pieces dating from the 5th to 15th centuries. Continue to Hoi An. After lunch, take a walking tour of the old town of Hoi An, Fujian sanctuary, Phuc Thanh Pagoda, the Japanese bridge and a silkworm breeding centre. Spend the night in Hoi An.

DAY10:

HOI AN - HO CHI MINH CITY
Visit the quaint village of Tra Que by bicycle. Be introduced to the history of the village, growing vegetables, as well as the discovery of the use of vegetables in traditional Vietnamese medicine. After lunch, drive to Danang with a stop in a village of stonecutters. Transfer to airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Spend a night in Ho Chi Minh City.

DAY11:

HO CHI MINH CITY - CAN THO
Travel to My Tho on the Mekong Delta. Take a relaxing boat ride on the Mekong River, the River of Nine Dragons. Pick tropical fruit in one of the many orchards along the way. In the afternoon, take a sampan boat ride. Visit a farm of beekeepers and a candy factory specialising in coconut products. Spend the night in Can Tho.

DAY12:

CAN THO - CAI RANG - HO CHI MINH CITY
After breakfast, we take a private boat to visit the floating market of Cai Rang. This is a typical market of the South Vietnam area. You navigate among hundreds of canoes, rowing boats and other small boats fishing that carry a wide variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, rice and handicrafts. In the afternoon, return to Ho Chi Minh City. Spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.

DAY13:

HO CHI MINH CITY
Discover the architecture of the colonial city of Ho Chi Minh City through sights such as Hotel Majestic, the Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral then visit Binh Tay Market, Thien Hau Pagoda and a lacquerware factory. Transfer to the airport to catch a flight to your next destination.

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