17 Days Vietnam Grand Discovery

Day 1

Arrive at Noi Bai International airport by flight ... (Please kindly advise us the arrival flight). Pick up at airport and transfer to your hotel in Hanoi for check in (Check-in time is at 14:00 hrs; early check-in is at surcharge).

The rest of the day is at leisure.

Accommodation at your hotel in Hanoi.

Meals included:

None  

Day 2

Breakfast at hotel

Starting at 8:30 AM, our tour guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel. Begin by visiting the Tran Quoc Pagoda, a serene site nestled along the shores of West Lake. From there, transfer to the Ho Chi Minh complex, where you'll explore the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the revered final resting place of Uncle Ho (President Ho Chi Minh), and his stilt house, where he lived between 1958 and 1969. Move on to the distinctive One Pillar Pagoda, an architectural gem in the middle of a square lake. The journey continues to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first college dedicated to Confucian principles.

In the afternoon, choose one of the city's museums for further exploration, including options like the History Museum, Ethnology Museum, or the historically significant Hoa Lo Prison, once famously known as the "Hanoi Hilton." Return to the downtown area for a break by Hoan Kiem Lake, where you'll visit Ngoc Son Temple on the shores of Restored Sword Lake. Wrap up the day with a cyclo tour through the Old Quarter, renowned as the 36 streets. This lively district is home to countless small businesses and shops, providing ample opportunities for exploration and capturing memorable photographs.

Accommodation at your hotel in Hanoi.

Meals included:

Breakfast at hotel

Day 3

Breakfast at hotel and check out.

In the morning, around 8:00, our guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel for a picturesque journey to Mai Chau in Hoa Binh City. Traverse scenic routes that wind through endless green jungles, rice paddies, and meandering roads adorned with traditional stilt-houses. Around noon, you'll arrive in Mai Chau Valley, surrounded by rolling karst mountains and lush green rice fields.

Take some time to explore Pom Coong Village and its surroundings before relishing a delightful lunch at a local stilt house.

In the afternoon, embark on a trekking adventure around Lac and Van villages, inhabited by Muong and Thai people, offering you a glimpse into local life. Afterward, return to the local house to unwind. Following dinner, you have the opportunity to participate in a traditional music show performed by local artists.

Overnight accommodation will be at the local stilt house.

Accommodation at your hotel in Mai Chau.

Meals included:

Breakfast at hotel

Day 4

In the early morning, make an effort to rise and immerse yourself in the fresh tranquility of the region as the sun begins to rise over the rolling mountains. Witness a magical scene unfold before your eyes as fog and clouds gracefully flow over the mountains, resembling white ribbons embracing the gentle, beautiful landscape.

Following breakfast at the local house, embark on a biking tour around the valley. Cycle through numerous villages, traverse green rice paddies, and venture into the countryside, offering abundant opportunities to explore the lifestyle of the hill tribe people. You also have the option to climb the 1000-step cave and visit a local market.

After that, it is time to bid farewell to Mai Chau and its people as you begin your return journey to Hanoi. Anticipate arriving in Hanoi around 17:00.

Accommodation at your hotel in Hanoi.

Meals included:

Breakfast at hotel

Day 5

Breakfast at your hotel.

Morning departure for Ha Long Bay, we will go through the scenic countryside. The wondrous Ha Long Bay is truly one of Vietnam's most impressive scenic sights.

OPTION 1: INDOCHINE CRUISE LANHA BAY 

DAY 1: Tuan Chau – Dark and Bright Cave - Lan Ha Bay Anchorage

11:45 - 12:00 Guests are transferred by speedboat/tender from Indochina Sails’s Tuan Chau Pier to Indochine Cruise - enjoy welcome drink, listen cruise briefing and safety instructions.

13:15-14:00 Passengers enjoy Lunch.

15:30 The crew take passengers to visit the Dark and Bright (also known as Bat Cave) grotto is not only known for the stunning limestone structure at every turn but also for the interesting natural habitat. The best way to explore this cave is doing kayaking or bamboo sampan driven by local people through the tunnel so you will spend mostly your time relaxing and enjoy the quiet and natural place .

16:30 Return to cruise enjoy swimming in the bay

17:45 Depart and cruise for about 30 minutes to anchor overnight.

18:15 Attend the Fruit and Vegetable Carving Lesson led by our Head Chef. During the lesson, the chef will conduct Fruit and Vegetable carving, showing the guests how we decorate and make some traditional Vietnamese food.

19:15 Set Menu Dinner is served.

20:30 Evening activities. Board games like cards or Parcheesi are available. Also, everyone can try their luck at Squid fishing on the boat with help from the crew. 22:30 End of Program for Day 1.

Overnight on cruise

Note: the itinerary of Halong will be changed based on which cruise you choose and depending on the weather without prior notice.

OPTION 2: THE LOTUS D’ORIENT CRUISES – LOTUS LUXURY

DAY 1: Ha Long Bay - Lan Ha Bay

08:00: Pick up from Hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter or Hanoi Opera House.

11:30 – 12:00: The crew members of  Lotus D’Orient cruise will welcome you at our waiting lough No.28 A, Tuan Chau Marina, Quang Ninh.

12:00 – 12:30: Get on Tender Boat to Lotus D’orient  Cruise and enjoy Welcome drink, meet the captain, crew to get a brief introduction about cruise and safety guidelines. Complete check-in procedure.

13:00 – 13:15: Enjoy Vietnamese seafood and vegetarian lunch, while cruising in the magnificent Halong bay - Lan Ha Bay, admiring the fascinating rock formations in the bay.

15:00 – 15:30: Visiting Tra Bau area where has known as an area famous for its unspoiled, poetic natural beauty and attractive seascape of Lan Ha Bay. This is the best time for kayaking to discover the truest beauty of the limestone islands.

Immerse yourself in the emerald, green water of the bay or enjoy the cool atmosphere on Lotus D’Orient sundeck.

17:30 –18:30: Joining us for Cooking demonstration to learn how to make one of the most famous Vietnamese cuisines, the spring rolls. Or reach the top deck of the cruise where the guests can admire the magnificent sunset over the Gulf of Tonkin.

Enjoy Happy Hour time – BUY ONE GET ONE FREE at the bar. It is an ideal time for photography enthusiasts to capture the greatest moment of sunset over Lan Ha Bay.

19:00: Dinner is served at the restaurant. After dinner, you can join the squid fishing program at the main deck or relax on the sundeck and sip the exotic cocktails and drinks at the sky bar (with surcharge)....

Overnight on cruise

Note: the itinerary of Halong will be changed based on which cruise you choose and depending on the weather without prior notice.

Meals included:

Breakfast at hotel

Lunch onboard

Dinner onboard

Day 6

OPTION 1: INDOCHINE CRUISE LANHA BAY

Day 2: Lan Ha Bay Anchorage - Trung Trang Cave - Tuan Chau

06:00 Coffee, tea and breakfast pastries served in the dining room.

06:15 Enjoy Tai Chi lesson on the sundeck.

07:15 Cruise crew takes guests to visit Trung Trang Cave on Cat Ba Island.

09:00 Guests will have 30 minutes to freshen up and  finish packing. Please collect all of your belongings from the cabins and leave heavy luggage outside the cabins.

09:30 Enjoy a Brunch in the restaurant. Bills are settled after Brunch. Relax on the sundeck or in the restaurant enjoying the bay scenery as we approach the pier.

11:00 Arrive at Indochina Sails’s Pier at Tuan Chau Port.

OPTION 2: THE LOTUS D’ORIENT CRUISES – LOTUS LUXURY

DAY 2: Lan Ha Bay - Trung Trang Cave On Cat Ba Island - Tuan Chau

6:00-6:30: Begin the day full of energy with the Tai Chi session and enjoy the sun just rising up beyond the horizon.

6:15 -7:00: Have breakfast. Morning view of bay’s landscape with a cup of tea or coffee.

7:00:  You will join the tour of Cat Ba World Biosphere Tender boat. It takes 30 minutes to transfer from Gia Luan to Trung Trang – one of the most impressive caves in Cat Ba island, Vietnam by car transfer. The limestone cave has thousands of stalactites in various shapes, offering geological values with a typical cave ecosystem.

9:30: Back to Gia Luan Habor by bus transfer, then our tender boat drops you off to the main boat, you can have a quick showing packing your luggages and check carefully all the belongings before checking out your cabin.

10:00: Check-out from the private cabin and enjoy a fantastic cruise on the bay for room service. Complete check-out procedure. Enjoy lunch at the restaurant while the cruise is returning to the harbour.

11:00: You take the Tender boat back to Tuan Chau port.

Disembark from the cruise and transfer to Noi Bai International Airport for your departure flight to Hue. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel in Hue for check-in and relax.

Accommodation at your hotel in Hue.

Meals included:

Breakfast and Brunch onboard

Day 7

Breakfast at hotel

In the morning, our driver and guide will pick you up at your hotel in Hue city. Set off your beautiful day with a 45-minute cruise on the poetic Perfume River. Along the way, we will make a stop to visit Thien Mu Pagoda, which is famous for its beautiful and ancient architectural structures of worship. Built on a small hill overlooking the Perfume River, 4km southwest of the Citadel, this seven-storey pagoda is an icon of Vietnam and as potent a symbol of Hue as the Citadel.

Continue your sightseeing tour to visit the Imperial Citadel, the home of Vietnam's last royal dynasty, the Nguyen Dynasty (1802 - 1945). Take a walk in the Imperial city to explore its magnificent historical sites such as Noon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace, the Forbidden city, Nine Urns, etc.

Continue your city exploration with a visit to Minh Mang Tomb, a reflection of the Chinese architectural concepts, recommended sightseeing by its monuments, statues, gardens and especially the bridge over a Lake of lotus flowers which gives access to the Imperial Minh Mang tomb.

Then, wrap up your day with The Nguyen Emperor Khai Dinh's Royal Tomb, a unique tomb among the royal tombs in Hue, Vietnam. Where other royal tombs are expansive and invite respectful reflection, Khai Dinh built his final resting place to be monumental in style and bombastic in execution.

05:30PM: our car will pick us up and transfer back to your hotel in Hue.

Accommodation at your hotel in Hue.

Meals included:

Breakfast at hotel

Day 8

Breakfast at hotel

Check-out and transfer to Hoi An. Drive through the Hai Van Pass where you can enjoy one of the most beautiful coastline routes in the world. We start our walking tour to explore the ancient city of Hoi An highlights with Phuc Kien Communal House, Tan Ky Ancient Commercial House, Japanese covered Bridge, and Phung Hung Ancient Trading House.

You will also see a numerous art galleries and tailor shops, get some made-to-order clothes if you like.

Accommodation at your hotel in Hoi An.

Meals included:

Breakfast onboard

Lunch at cooking class

Day 9

Breakfast at hotel

We start the day (8am) with a welcome drink at Hai Café.

Travel by minivan (10 minutes) to Tra Que Organic Village and walk through the market gardens where local farmers work their fields using the traditional methods of hundreds of years ago - no electrical machinery here. We pick fresh saw-tooth coriander and Vietnamese mint for our cooking lesson later, before trying a special herbal drink at a local home.

To the local village market and with shopping list in hand we purchase a range of local ingredients, including star anise, cardamom, sesame rice paper, water spinach and banana flower.

Arriving at Red Bridge Cooking School we have a chance to freshen up before beginning our class. Working together with our Red Bridge Chef we learn the traditional ways of preparing and cooking Vietnamese food from scratch. Using the freshest ingredients and traditional Vietnamese utensils (still in use today) we cook 4 famous dishes, including the national dish ‘Pho’.

After the class we sit down and a chance to savour the dishes we have prepared.

Leisurely cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoi An River back to central Hoi An.

Bring your swimsuit and after the cooking tour has finished relax and enjoy free use of our 20 metre swimming pool.

Accommodation at your hotel in Hoi An.

Meals included:

Breakfast at hotel

Lunch at cooking class

Day 10

Breakfast at hotel

You can feel free to explore every corner of Ancient Town and relax to prepare for the journey tomorrow.

Accommodation at your hotel in Hoi An.

Meals included:

Breakfast at hotel

Day 11

Breakfast at hotel

Then transfer to the airport in Danang for the flight to Nha Trang. Upon arrival, move to your hotel in Nha Trang for check-in and take a rest.

We visit Ponaga Temple which has existed since the 8th century, the Xombong Bridge with its picturesque fishing fleet.

The next spot is the Truong Son Craft Village where you can have a glimpse of a wide variety of Khanh Hoa region products. Beautiful handicrafts made by Vietnamese women are on display here and you can buy these items as souvenirs.

We finally visit the I resort hot spa, which is a great location for healing from illness. Treat yourself by soaking in the mineral mud and warm spring water, and you'll feel refreshed.   

Accommodation at your hotel in Nha Trang.

Meals included:

Breakfast at hotel

Day 12

Breakfast at hotel

Explore the beautiful countryside of Dalat, a place known for its natural beauty and farming. This tour is perfect for nature lovers and those curious about local culture.

Start your day with breakfast at your hotel, then we travel from Da Lat to Nam Ban townlet along a scenic route. Once there, discover Dalat's rural charm, visiting unique farms like the cricket farm (availability varies by season). You'll have the chance to taste two local specialties—crispy fried crickets and a unique wine made from crickets.

The tour continues with visits to a busy silkworm factory and a peaceful coffee plantation.

Then explore Dalat's green countryside. For flower enthusiasts, there's a special stop at an organic flower farm. The day concludes with a visit to the magnificent Elephant Waterfall before heading back to your hotel.

Accommodation at your hotel in Da Lat.

Meals included:

Breakfast at hotel

Day 13

Breakfast at hotel

Then transfer to the airport in Da Lat for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, move to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City for check-in and relax.

Accommodation at your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meals included:

Breakfast at hotel

Day 14

In the morning, we'll pick you up from your hotel.

We'll head northwest of Ho Chi Minh City to visit the Cu Chi tunnels. These tunnels were a Vietcong base during the American war, a massive network that stretched over 200 kilometers. They had trapdoors, living spaces, storage areas, factories for weapons, hospitals, command centers, and kitchens.

You'll watch a short video showing how the tunnels were built. There are also displays of traps and the remains of an American tank, plus many craters made by big bombs. Then, we'll spend about an hour exploring the maze of tunnels to see firsthand how the Vietcong lived underground.

Next, we'll head to the Reunification Palace, which saw the end of the tough Vietnam War in 1975. Now, it's a museum and a place where important meetings happen. Nearby, you'll see the Notre Dame Cathedral (just from the outside) and the Central Post Office, both well-known places in the city.

Finally, late afternoon, we'll visit the lively Ben Thanh Market in District 1Accommodation at your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meals included:

Breakfast at hotel

Day 15

Breakfast at hotel

Meet us at your hotel at 8:00 am and transfer to Cai Be by road. Begin cruising from Phu An Jetty at 10:00 am.

From the sampan, observe life as it plays out on shore – people going about their daily activities set against mesmerising backdrops. En route to Binh Minh, we will stop at various points along the river for a look into some of the cottage industries of the region including the making of coconut candy and puffed rice (the local equivalent of popcorn) including a visit to an ancient house in Dong Hoa Hiep village.

Continue by sampan and observe the life on the shore, the people, and the stunning landscapes from your boat. We will then cross the Co Chien River passing by quaint villages to visit a clay pot factory.

Lunch is served on board while cruising towards Binh Minh along a narrow canal teeming with life. Observe the endless boat traffic and the quiet but constant activity along the banks. Enjoy shore excursions to gain insight into how the local people make a living, and stop for a visit to a Cao Dai temple.

Back to your sampan and enjoy the sunset boat while Song Xanh continues its way towards the Hau River.

Dinner and overnight on board.

Meals included:

Breakfast at hotel

Lunch onboard

Dinner onboard

Day 16

Wake up early at 6:00 am for a visit to the famous Cai Rang Floating Market. Witness the hustle and bustle of the morning market as traders offer their wares on the waterway vying for attention from potential punters. Breakfast is served on board while the Song Xanh navigates towards the market among local barges loaded down with fruits and vegetables from the Delta, making for some stunning photos.

Continue cruising towards Victoria Can Tho and disembark at the hotel’s private jetty.

*Note: Actual itinerary may vary depending upon river tides, arrival time or other conditions.

Drive back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Accommodation at your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meals included:

Breakfast at hotel

Day 17

Enjoy your leisure time until pick up the airport for flight home.

Note: check-out time is at 12:00 hrs; late check-out is at surcharge and upon availability.

Meals included:

Breakfast at hotel

17 DAYS 16 NIGHTS VIETNAM GRAND DISCOVERY

1

2-3

4-5

6-9

10-14

15-19

20 up

Single Supp

Package price for 3-star option

$3,395

 $1,987

 $1,523

 $1,262

 $1,253

 $1,237

 $1,231

$532