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Highlights and the Northern National Parks of Vietnam 16 days

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Hanoi Voyages > Highlights and the Northern National Parks of Vietnam 16 days

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HIGHLIGHTS
  • Get up close to Hanoi‘s historic charm, including a cyclo ride through the Old Quarter’s maze of streets and a traditional water puppet show.
  • Trek Cuc Phuong National park.
  • Get lost in Pu Luong Nature Reserve with its truely natural beauty and original culture
  • Cruise the aquamarine paradise that is Halong Bay, with an overnight voyage on a traditional junk.
  • Encounter the Imperial majesty of Hue, the former capital, and a spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Amble through picturesque Hoi An and absorb the jovial atmosphere.                   
  • Spice things up and sample the nightlife in Saigon.
  • Immerse yourself in the colourful atmosphere of the lively floating markets of the Mekong Delta region, and stroll through exotic tropical plantations and tranquil villages.  
Northern Nature Reserves and Must-See Sites Vietnam 16 Days
DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1 Hanoi - Arrival

A Hanoi Voyages representative will welcome you when you arrive at the airport and transfer you to your arranged accommodation where check-in time is 14:00 pm.

  • A water-puppet show, a traditional and ancient art form, unique to Vietnam
  • As an introduction to Vietnamese cuisine and culture, a “welcome dinner” with a Hanoi Voyages representative will be used as an opportunity to clarify and review your itinerary. Let the excitement commence!

Day 2Hanoi - Highlights

Begin the journey by unraveling Vietnamese culture, history, and religion in the capital of Vietnam with Hanoi’s highlights:

  • Ho Chi Minh complex which includes the mausoleum for the nation’s hero-Ho Chi Minh, his modest former residence, the Presidential Palace, and the One Pillar Pagoda
  • The Temple of Literature, a fine example of traditional Vietnamese architecture founded in 1070 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong, and dedicated to Confucius to honor literary scholars. Vietnam’s first university was also established here in 1076
  • The museum of your choice either the National Fine Arts Museum, the Ethnology Museum, or the Vietnamese Women Museum
  • A ride of exploration through the lively ‘Old Quarter’ (over 1000 years old) by traditional cyclo

Day 3Hanoi - Pu Luong

Escape the hustle city to a greenery Pu Luong National Reserve    

Today’s trek will be through the stunningly beautiful Pu Luong Valley with its steep ascents and relaxing downhill trails, until we reach the scenic village of Kho Muong, nestled between steep limestone outcrops and lush verdant hillsides. If you have enough energy left we will take a short walk to a nearby cave for some exploring.

Today’s trek: 18kms, 6-8hrs.

Overnight in a home-stay at Kho Muong.

Day 4Pu Luong

This morning starts with a slightly challenging downhill trek to the only market in the Nature Reserve. The mountain people of the district converge here and bring their produce and goods to sell or exchange among themselves. After our visit here we continue walking to the Nua Village eco-lodge and its glorious surrounds.

Today’s trek: 18kms, 6-7hrs.

Overnight in Nua Village.

Day 5Pu Luong - Cuc Phuong national Park

The last morning of your journey will take you from mountains and paddy fields into the Tom village where you will be met and begin the transfer back to Hanoi. Arriving late in the afternoon for some time to relax and freshen up, before a goodbye dinner at a restaurant serving delightful Vietnamese cuisine.

Today’s trek 11km, 4-5hrs.

Overnight in Kho Muong

Day 6Cuc Phuong - “Halong Bay on land” - Tam Coc

Travel to the Tam Coc – a UNESCO World Heritage site of both cultural and natural significance.

  • Visit Hoa Lu, the site of the country’s first capital, which covered almost three sq km.
  • Board a sampan and navigate Ngo Dong River where limestone towers rise above rice fields.
  • Bike towards Bich Dong Pagoda where you may access the pagoda by climbing the stairs carved into rock walls.
  • If timing allows, continue biking through the countryside to the Thai Vi temple in Tam Coc.
  • Acquaint yourself with your homestay host and settle yourself into their daily routine.

Day 7 Tam Coc - Halong Bay - CRUISE and NIGHT on board

Transfer to go sail the spectacular UNESCO World Heritage site seascape: Halong Bay. Your cruise will navigate to Bai Tu Long Bay, a well-selected route beyond the main tourist circuit. Get ready to experience the bay’s treasures.

  • Admire the fascinating formations of the bay.
  • Adventure within the fantastically formed Thien Canh Son cave.
  • Retreat to the white-sand beach of Hon Co Island and participate in activities such as kayaking or swimming.
  • Relish the taste of skillfully prepared local seafood.
  • Settle into your cabin while the boat anchors for a night’s rest.

Day 8Halong Bay - Cruise - Hanoi - FLY - Hoian

For the final day in the bay, you will adventure through activities that become memories:

  • Delight in breakfast with an astonishingly enchanting view under the morning sun
  • Help the local people replace the soft float by plastic float to protect the environment in Halong Bay
  • Visit the Vung Vieng fishing and pearl farm via a rustic row-boat
  • Dive and dip into the refreshing bay
  • Indulge in lunch and appreciate the local ingredients used to craft the dish
  • Return to the port in the early afternoon to travel back to Hanoi

Settle into an evening flight from Hanoi to Hoian. Arrive and be welcomed by our guide and be transferred to your arranged accommodation.

Day 9 Hoian - Ancient town highlights

Take in the breath of fresh air that is the riverside port town of Hoian:

  • Stroll through the delightful trading port and see the remaining century-old buildings in Hoian
  • Appreciate Hoian’s narrow alleys, charming homes with wooden balconies, fascinating architectural features, beautiful temples, and the famous covered Japanese Bridge
  • Visit a lantern factory where you can make your own lantern
  • Discover the historic port of Hoian, that is lit up at dusk by hundreds of beautifully colored lanterns that create spectacular photo opportunities

Day 10 Hoian - FREE time

 

  • Enjoy free time to wander the Hoian ancient town or leisurely lounge on the An Bang beach

 

  • Relaxed and rejuvenated, you will fly to Saigon to experience the expanding cosmopolitan city

Day 11 Hoian - Hai Van Pass - Hue

Take a drive to Hoian via the Hai Van Pass, known as “the pass in the clouds”, which offers spectacular views.
The cultural and geographical center of Vietnam, Hue has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for the ancient relics, historical monuments, and fine continuation of imperial traditions. Discover Hue, Vietnam’s former capital, built by the Nguyen Dynasty:
Stroll through the Imperial Citadel
Visit Thanh Tien village – a village that has been crafting paper flowers for 400 years
Experience a conical hat and incense-making village
Have a look at the mausoleum of Khai Dinh, the final emperor’s resting place
Explore the Thien Mu pagoda – the symbol of Hue city
Admire the garden-style homes at An Hien

Day 12Hue - Thuy Bieu Cooking class - FLY - Saigon

After breakfast, a transfer from your hotel to Toa Kham wharf for a cruise on the legendary Perfume River.

  • Buy fresh ingredients for the cooking class at Dong Ba in the packed open-air market.
  • Embark on a traditional dragon boat heading for Thien Mu pagoda – the symbol of Hue city.

Continue cruising the picturesque Perfume River, surrounded by rural scenery, before reaching Thuy Bieu Village:

  • Go for an adventurous amble or bicycle ride to visit the garden-house styled homes, ancestral temple, and the village.
  • Prepare traditional Hue cuisine carefully with the chef and tuck into your “achievement” afterward.
  • Relax by dipping your feet in medicinal herb water – a traditional therapeutic practice – and unwind with an excellent massage by a visually-impaired masseuse.

Settle into an evening flight from Hanoi to Saigon. Arrive and be welcomed by our guide and be transferred to your arranged accommodation.

Day 13Saigon - Highlights

Saigon (currently Ho Chi Minh city) varies from the rest of Vietnam due to its modern flair. Various cultures mesh together to create a colorful city with foreign influences:

  • Built by the Cantonese congregation, Thien Hau Temple and the Binh Tay Market both reside in the Cholon district, which is presently the largest community of Chinese
  • The War Remnants Museum houses a history of locals’ perspectives of the American/Vietnam War
  • The old Presidential Palace is where victory was declared after years of fighting and is preserved as found with vehicles still in the garages
  • The Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Saigon Post Office are both magnificent displays of French architecture

Day 14Saigon – Mekong Delta

Move from Saigon and head for the rich, fertile lands of the Mekong Delta region and its extraordinarily busy inhabitants:

  • Wind along narrow waterways on a local sampan and observe productive rice fields, fruit orchards, and historic buildings
  • Visit a rice popcorn factory and an ancient colonial house in Vinh Long
  • Travel by road to Can Tho, the largest town and trading center in the Mekong Delta

Day 15 Mekong Delta - Saigon

Start the eventful final day in the Mekong Delta full of vibrant opportunities:

  • Journey to the colorful Cai Rang floating market and Ba Cong fruit orchard to taste their fresh products
  • Visit the 100-year-old Binh Thuy Ancient House to appreciate the historic workmanship and architecture
  • Admire the lush vegetation and active life of the local people along the riverbanks
  • Close the Mekong Delta trip by wandering Can Tho’s bright market.

On the return journey to Saigon visit either the Vinh Trang Pagoda or Cao Dai Temple.

Arrive in Saigon in the late afternoon.

Day 16 Saigon - Departure

Free time until your transfer to the airport for your departure flight

What makes our tailor-made holidays different?

  • Unique activities and places
  • Itinerary crafted by you, and us, local experts
  • Hand-picked authentic experiences
  • Well-selected accommodation with spirit
  • Adjusted to your budget and your time
  • Private assistant and English speaking guides

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Extension

THE CULTURAL SIEM REAP – ANGKOR WAT 4 days/3 nights

The spirit

Be enchanted by the awesome Temples of Angkor and the history of Khmer Kings discovered at the magnificent UNESCO Heritage site.

Day 1 – SAIGON – FLY – SIEM REAP   Settle into a flight from Saigon to Siem Reap. Arrive and be welcomed by our guide and be transferred to your arranged accommodation. Overnight in a hotel with breakfast.

Day 2 – SIEM REAP – ANGKOR THOM – TA PHROM – ANGKOR WAT   Arriving in Angkor Wat, you will rove among the ruins of the world’s most famous Hindu temple complexes, built for gods, and fit for kings: Baphuon (a temple in honour of another Hindu deity, Shiva) with its spectacular layered structure, the Terrace of the Leper King with its beautiful carvings of gods, nagas, and dancers; the Royal Enclosure and its small and particularly significant temple, Phimeanakas. Overnight in a hotel with breakfast.

 

Day 3 – SIEM REAP – BANTEAY SREI – BANTEAY SAMRE Advance to an off-the-beaten-track site, an hour away from Angkor Wat, encountering stunning Cambodian countryside and uncovering more temples: visit Banteay Srei, called the citadel of women and come face to face with the meticulously restored enclosed temple of Banteay Samre, complete with carvings of lions and nagas. Overnight in a hotel with breakfast.

Day 4 – SIEM REAP – TONLE SAP – Departure Travel to Tonle Sap and find yourself surrounded by a completely aquatic landscape, see how everyday life is transformed by its proximity to and dependence on water. Free time until your transfer to the airport for your departure flight

 

BEACH BREAK – Lounge on the beach and let the sand kiss your toes!

The spirit

Vietnam’s 3,444 km (2,140 miles) long coastline and tropical/ subtropical climate make it the perfect place for those who wish to spend their holidays swimming warm turquoise water and sunbathing on a white-sand beach, at all times of the year!

PHU QUOC – FLY from SAIGON Ready your senses for something truly exceptional, Phu Quoc is worth the wait. Extruding an atmosphere of elegant nonchalance, this island paradise celebrates the benefits of returning to nature…(Read more)

NHA TRANG Wide Boulevards, white sandy beaches signal relaxation and happiness, the Nha Trang Bay is an attractive seaside stopover...(Read more)

CON DAO – FLY from SAIGON An hour flight from Saigon to the white-sand beaches, translucent water, well-preserved scenery. On the program: idleness, diving, trekking in the jungle and visiting the National Park to meet sea turtles…(Read more)

MUINE 4 hours’ drive from HCM, coconut trees, white sand, and ochre sand dunes, all on a canvas of deep blue sky. Just divine! You will have fun sledding on the sand dunes, and love the charming images of the animated port; A beach with a small market in that open fresh shellfish; and small round fishermen’s boats that are so special. Nature also offers you the sight of beautiful red canyons, the result of erosion in the rainy season….(Read more)

 LAOS – Luang Prabang – A natural wild and mysterious! /2 days 1 night

The Spirit

« History, Nature and Spirituality » are the word that resonates with travelers of this divine, landlocked country“The ancient kingdom of a million elephants” reflects its rich historical heritage by the splendor of its many temples dedicated to Buddha.

 1 – Luang Prabang – Highlights – Dinner on Cruise
Discover this serenity town, a designated UNESCO Heritage Site on Tuk Tuk to visit: The National Museum (Ancient Royal Palace), the Wat Xieng Thong, Wat Ahman, Wat Mai the richly decorated temple. See the Ock Pop Tok textile gallery. In the afternoon, embark on a traditional boat to cruise long Nava Mekong river. Enjoy dinner with Baci ceremony and traditional dance show. Overnight in a hotel with breakfast.

Day 2 – Luang Prabang – Khuang Sy Waterfall – Ethnic Minority Villages

Departure to the beautiful waterfalls Khuang Sy about 30km from Luang Prabang. En route, visiting min0rity villages such as H’mong village of Ban Thinkeo, Khmu village of Ban Thapaene and weaving village of Ban Xang Khong where traditional product also called Saa paper made from mulberry leaves.  Get to the waterfall, nestled in the lush tropical vegetation, a beautiful clear pool for swimming. Back to Luang Prabang for your departure flight.

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Travel Notes
  • Spend the night in

    a STANDARD hotel, CHIC and CHARM hotel or a hotel REFINE and LUXURIOUS 

  • BEST TIME TO VISIT VIETNAM

    Every single one of our clients is asking this question! 

    Every traveler’s dream is to see the greenest ricefields, not being overwhelmed by the heat, avoid torrential rains, not feeling cold while visiting the north, or just enjoy Halong Bay with a clear weather, etc…

    Get more information

 


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A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which i enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy

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