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Splendours of Vietnam with Central Highlights 19 days

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Hanoi Voyages > Panorama > Splendours of Vietnam with Central Highlights 19 days

HIGHLIGHTS

 Get amazed by Mother Nature
Drop your jaw in Phong Nha National Park, where some of the largest caves in the world are found. Swim in stunning waterfalls in the jungle and see the sunrise from the Bach Ma Summit mountain.

 Dive into the history and culture
Experience the Vinh Moc Tunnels and how 400 Vietnamese hides there for 2.000 days. Watch a traditional Teh Dar show, where bamboo sticks and music is going to amaze you. See the besar City of Ghosts, large and colourful tombs for ancestors in An Bang Village.

 Yomp around in Central Vietnam
Be active and cycle around villages and paddies for a break from the cities. Cave jump in a national park, kayak in Hoi An and take a swim in Halong Bay.

Splendours of Vietnam with Central Highlights 19 days

ITINERARY

Day 1Hanoi - Arrival - Welcome Dinner

Your adventure in Vietnam has started.

  • You will be welcomed at the airport then transferred to your arranged hotel for relaxation.
  • Get ready for a welcome dinner, hosted by your local expert. Learn about Vietnamese culture while enjoying good quality Vietnamese coursing and let the excitement begin!

Highlight experience: Traditional Vietnamese food

Day 2Hanoi - Highlights - Water Puppet show

Begin your journey by unravelling Vietnamese culture and history in Hanoi – Vietnam’s capital.

  • Discover Vietnam’s history by visiting Ho Chi Minh Complex – the resting place for the Great father of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
  • Visit the Temple of Literature – Vietnam’s first university (1076) – to understand how the Vietnamese elite has been educated.
  • Visit the Ethnology Museum, a fabulous collection relating to the Vietnamese ethnic minorities and understand the original culture of Vietnam.
  • Grab a Vietnamese coffee while waiting for the train to pass by at the Train Street – where the train hurls through the narrow streets just a few steps away from local houses.
  • See the famous Water Puppet Show. Get ready to be amazed by the traditional music and authentic Vietnamese operatic songs telling folktales and legends.

Highlight experience: Grabbing a coffee at the Train Street

Day 3Hanoi - Halong Bay - CRUISE and NIGHT on board

Transfer to the spectacular UNESCO World Heritage site, Halong Bay.

  • Your cruise will navigate to Bai Tu Long Bay, a well-selected route away from the main tourist circuit. Get ready to experience the bay’s treasures and enjoy your time away from the crowd on a traditional wooden boat.
  • Adventure within the fantastically formed Thien Canh Son Cave and be fascinated by the formations of the bay.
  • Participate in kayaking, swimming or relax on the white sand beach of Hon Co Island.
  • Taste skillfully prepared local seafood and settle into your cabin while the boat anchors for the night.

Highlight experience: Escape the crowd and relax in the Bai Tu Long Bay

Day 4Halong Bay - CRUISE - Hanoi - (NIGHT TRAIN)

For the final day in the bay, you will have adventure activities that will stick to your memory.

  • Start the morning with a delightful breakfast with an astonishing view under the morning sun.
  • Sail in a rustic row-boat that the locals are using to Vung Vieng fishing and pearl farm.
  • Take a last dive, and dip into the refreshing bay before returning to Hanoi, where you will transfer to Dong Hoi by a night train. The only right way to experience the real Vietnam and how locals travel around the country.

Highlight experience: Breakfast in breathtaking surroundings

Day 5Hanoi - (FLY) - Dong Hoi - Phong Nha - Caving

 Get amazed by the stunning caves in Phong Nha and kayak in the river or lake of the national park.

  • Explore the longest river cave in the world, the famous caves Phong Nha cave and the Thien Duong cave (paradise cave), which is the largest complex of caves found in the world.
  • Visit animal rescue center and botanical garden in the Phong Nha National Park.
  • Enjoy the chocolate coffee made by the wife of M. Ho Khanh, who is known as the King of Cave Kingdom. He discovered the biggest cave in the world – Son Doong. If lucky you will have the chance to meet him.

Highlight experience: Caving in stunning caves in a national park.

Day 6Phong Nha - Ho Chi Minh Trail biking

Cycle around the area in the original Ho Chi Minh trail and soak in history.

  • Cycling along Son River to floating fishing farm, passing through the field of corn, rice, and peanut to learn more about local agriculture and their lifestyle.
  • Pedal to get through villages, a nice peanut field to reach to the Ho Chi Minh original trail, which facilitated the movement of soldiers and war supplies from North Vietnam to battlefields in South Vietnam.
  • Picnic and jump in for a refreshing swim in the Mooc Spring.
  • Stop at Ho Khanh’s house to learn about the caving passion of the King of the Cave Kingdom. Ho Khanh is the local jungle man who first found Hang Son Doong – the World’s Largest Cave in 1990. He is working as the porter leader for the trip to Hang Son Doong. With luck, you can get a picture with this World-famous man.
  • Keep cycling under the shades of the limestone to reach the Wine Cave – where the V.C made rice wine while they were hiding from the U.S aircraft bombings. The cave remains a symbol of peace.

Highlight experience: Exploring the floating fishing farm in Na village.

Day 7Phong Nha - Vinh Moc Tunnels - DMZ - Hue

Understand the Vietnam War and visit famous landmarks from the war.

  • Start the adventure of the day to Dong Hoi, which will take you to a sea view of the Cua Tung Beach. Have a coffee break and enjoy the nice breeze from the sea.
  • Reach the Vinh Moc Tunnel, where a whole village of 400 North Vietnamese lived during the bombing operation “Rolling Thunder”, which lasted for 2.000 days.
  • Continue to the North to the old DMZ, the old border between North and South Vietnam for 18 years. Take a walk on the Freedom Bridge and cross the Ben Hai River, the river that was the only true physical demarcation line between the two Vietnams.
  • Transfer to Hue by train and experience stunning views and arrive in Hue, which has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Highlight experience: Visiting the Vinh Moc Tunnel where a village lived for 2.000 days during the Vietnam War.

Day 8Hue - Highlights

Stroll through the Imperial Citadel and daydream about its former dynasty.

  • Visit Thanh Tien village – a village that has been crafting paper flowers for 400 years.
  • Explore the symbol of Hue city, the Thien Mu pagoda and admire the garden-style homes at An Hien.
  • Glance at, and be bewitched by the Mausoleum of Khai Dinh, the final emperor’s bedazzling eternal resting place.
  • After a tour around the city, experience a village which specialises in incense-making, and a true icon of Vietnam – conical hats!

Highlight experience: The village of conical hats.

Day 9 Hue - Thanh Toan village cycling

Experience the local life in villages and along the Nhu Y River to understand how Vietnamese live.

  • Get ready for some light exercise in the morning, by cycling to Thanh Toan village. Watch the outstanding architecture bridge in the city and visit the local market and the Agricultural Museum to get a good understanding of the local lifestyle.
  • Hop on a rowing boat and enjoy the spectacular view of the villages on the Nhu Y River. Explore fishing villages located along the river before heading back.
  • Join for a fun cooking class and learn how Vietnamese people prepare food. Get to know your host and join in the gardening activities of the farmers. Enjoy your “achievement” after the cooking class before cycling back to Hue!

Highlight experience: Boat Ride on the Nhu Y River and discover fishing villages.

Day 10Hue - An Bang Village - Bach Ma National Park - Jungle trekking

Get your trekking boots on and hike to the mountain area and swim in the jungle.

  • Transfer to Bach Ma National park and stop on on the way at An Bang Village, known as the City of Ghosts. A graveyard where villages compete to build increasingly lavish and elaborate tombs for their ancestors. Admire the colorful and stunning architecture before getting back on the road.
  • Visit Bach Ma’s Information Center to learn about the ecological system of the national park before driving up to the mountain and check inn at your hotel.
  • Trek along the trails to Ngu Ho (Five Lakes), relax and swim in the jungle.
  • Enjoy a picnic lunch in the jungle and trek through the forest to the stunning Rhododendron waterfalls.
  • In the evening, join the campfire and discover the sounds of Mother Nature by night.

Highlight experience: Trek along a pristine waterfall trail

Day 11Bach Ma - Sunrise hunting - Hai Van Pass - Hoi An

Watch the beautiful scenery in Central Vietnam counting sunrise and stunning nature at the Hai Van Pass.

  • Get up early to walk to Back Ma Summit, located 1.450m above sea level to enjoy a spectacular sunrise and panorama view of the Tam Giang Lagoon and Lang Co Beach.
  • Explore a tunnel constructed during the Vietnam War for hiding before attacking US helicopters at the peak of Bach Ma.
  • Stop at the top of the Hai Van Pass to get a breathtaking view of a mix between the jungle and ocean. The perfect place for a highlight picture of your tour around Vietnam.

Highlight experience: Stunning sunset and panorama over lagoons and beaches.

Day 12Hoi An - Highlights - Teh Dar show

Stroll through the delightful trading port and see the remaining century-old buildings in Hoi An.

  • Appreciate the narrow alleys, charming homes with wooden balconies, fascinating architectural features, beautiful temples, and the famous Japanese Bridge.
  • Try making your own lantern when visiting a lantern factory, which the city got famous for around the world.
  • Discovering the historic port, that is lit up at dusk by hundreds of beautifully colored lanterns creating spectacular photo opportunities.
  • Dress up in the evening and head to a tradition Teh Dar show, inviting you on a venture into the enchanting world of Vietnamese highlanders. Wild animal hunts, moonlit romance, jungle’s tales of death and reincarnation, are all recreated with stunning bamboo cirque, daring acrobatics, and hypnotizing melody from exotic tribal instruments certified cultural heritage by UNESCO.

Highlight experience: Get amazed by the Teh Dar Show.

Day 13Hoi An - Cycling - Kayak - Bamboo making - Home dinner

  • Cycle through paddy fields and lovely rivers to Duy Hai village where locals make the famous fish sauce.
  • Visit a family that makes all types of things out of bamboo, like chairs, tables, lamps, telephones and even bamboo bicycles!
  • Fresh up and kayak around the palm isæands while learning about the countryside life. Enjoying a special juice after paddling will help you recover a bit before you cycle back to Hoi An.
  • Have a delicious home dinner created by a local family, while listening to stories to understand how it is to live in Vietnam and in the past.

Highlight experience: Having a home dinner at a local family’s house.

Day 14Hoi An - Free time

Enjoy free time to wander the Hoi An ancient town or leisurely lounge on the An Bang beach.

Day 15Hoian - morning FLY - Saigon - Vespa

Experience Saigon (currently Ho Chi Minh city), the city that varies from the rest of Vietnam due to its modern flair from the back of a Vespa.

  • Wake up in Hoi An and enjoy some free time in the ancient city before settling into a short flight to the pulsing Saigon.
  • Freshen up and chill out at the hotel before getting into the pulsing night life of the city.
  • Jump on the back of a Vespa with a qualified driver and experience Saigon’s nightlife the way locals do. Try out the best authentic local food and listen to live music at a Vietnamese coffee shop.

Highlight experience: Experience Saigon’s nightlife from the back of a Vespa.

Day 16Hoi An - FLY - Saigon - Highlights

Wake up in Saigon (currently Ho Chi Minh city), the city that varies from the rest of Vietnam due to its modern flair.

  • Start the day by visiting Thien Hau Temple and the Binh Tay Market, built by the Cantonese congregation.
  • Visit the War Remnants Museum that is home to 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.
  • Visit the Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Saigon Post Office which are both magnificent displays of French architecture.

Highlight experience: The trip to the War Remnants Museum, to understand the American/Vietnam War and how people lived in Vietnam during the time.

Day 17 Saigon - Mekong - CRUISE and NIGHT on board

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

  • Board the private boat and sail down 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 to Can Tho, the largest town and trading center in Mekong Delta.

Highlight experience: Experience the local life on the Mekong Delta and spend overnight on Song Xanh Sampan

Day 18Mekong - CRUISE - Saigon

Start the final day in the Mekong Delta with vibrant opportunities.

  • Your journey will continue to the colorful Cai Rang floating market and Ba Cong fruit orchard, where you can taste their fresh products.
  • Visit the 100-year-old Binh Thuy Ancient House to appreciate the historic workmanship and architecture and admire the lush vegetation and active life of the local people along the riverbanks.

Highlight experience: Learn about the local life on the Mekong Delta.

Day 19Saigon - Departure

Free time to explore the last parts of Saigon 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

Entrust us with your dream

Together we will create it

  info@hanoivoyage.com
  + 84 98 30 33 966 

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EXTENSION

BEACH BREAK - 4 DAYS - VIETNAM
SIEM REAP - ANGKOR WAT - 4 DAYS - CAMBODIA
LUANG PRABANG ANCIENT TOWN - 4 DAYS - LAOS

 

Lounge on the beach and let the sand kiss your toes!

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 in 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. This island is the perfect tropical paradise for your getaway.

NHA TRANG Wide boulevards and white sandy beaches signal relaxation and happiness, the Nha Trang Bay is an attractive seaside stopover.

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.

MUINE 4 hours’ drive from HCM, with coconut trees, white sand, and ochre sand dunes, all on a canvas of deep blue sky. Just divine! You will have fun sliding on the sand dunes and love the charming images of the animated port. Muine is 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.

 

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

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 hide 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, encounter stunning Cambodian countryside and discover more temples. Visit Banteay Srei, called the citadel of women and come face to face with the meticulously restored yet 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.

 

 

A natural wild and mysterious! /2 days 1 night

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

Day 1 – Luang Prabang – Highlights – Dinner on Cruise
Discover this serene town, a designated UNESCO Heritage Site on Tuk Tuk. 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, visit 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.

 

TRAVEL NOTE

TIME TO VISIT VIETNAM

Northern Vietnam

January
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
The weather is foggy and much colder in Sapa
10°C–15°C (50-60°F)
The weather is foggy and much colder in Sapa
10°C–15°C (50-60°F)
Cloudy skies and little rain
17°C-25°C (63°-77°F)
Cloudy skies and little rain
17°C-25°C (63°-77°F)
Temperatures are getting higher and the rain start to fall
25°-35°C (77°-95°F)
The amount of rain rises with the temperature
25°-35°C (77°-95°F)
The amount of rain rises with the temperature
25°-35°C (77°-95°F)
The amount of rain rises with the temperature
25°-35°C (77°-95°F)
Less rain and temperature comes back to warmer weather
20°-24°C (68°-75°F)
Less rain and temperature comes back to warmer weather
20°-24°C (68°-75°F)
Less rain and temperature comes back to warmer weather
20°-24°C (68°-75°F)
The weather is foggy and much colder in Sapa
10°C–15°C (50-60°F)

Central Vietnam

January
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Dry season with high temperatures, but rain is still common
20°C-35°C (68°F-95°F)
Dry season with high temperatures, but rain is still common
20°C-35°C (68°F-95°F)
Dry season with high temperatures, but rain is still common
20°C-35°C (68°F-95°F)
Dry season with high temperatures, but rain is still common
20°C-35°C (68°F-95°F)
Dry season with high temperatures, but rain is still common
20°C-35°C (68°F-95°F)
Dry season with high temperatures, but rain is still common
20°C-35°C (68°F-95°F)
Dry season with high temperatures, but rain is still common
20°C-35°C (68°F-95°F)
This region is the most affected by the monsoons during
the hot season 20°C-25°C (68°F-77°F)
This region is the most affected by the monsoons during
the hot season 20°C-25°C (68°F-77°F)
This region is the most affected by the monsoons during
the hot season 20°C-25°C (68°F-77°F)
This region is the most affected by the monsoons during
the hot season 20°C-25°C (68°F-77°F)
This region is the most affected by the monsoons during
the hot season 20°C-25°C (68°F-77°F)

Southern Vietnam

January
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Warm and dry weather that is perfect for a beach holiday
30°C-35°C (86°F-95°F)
Warm and dry weather that is perfect for a beach holiday
30°C-35°C (86°F-95°F)
Warm and dry weather that is perfect for a beach holiday
30°C-35°C (86°F-95°F)
Warm and dry weather that is perfect for a beach holiday
30°C-35°C (86°F-95°F)
Short violent rainfalls in the late afternoons but still high temp-
-eratures 30°C (86°F)
Short violent rainfalls in the late afternoons but still high temp-
-eratures 30°C (86°F)
Short violent rainfalls in the late afternoons but still high temp-
-eratures 30°C (86°F)
Short violent rainfalls in the late afternoons but still high temp-
-eratures 30°C (86°F)
Short violent rainfalls in the late afternoons but still high temp-
-eratures 30°C (86°F)
Short violent rainfalls in the late afternoons but still high temp-
-eratures 30°C (86°F)
Short violent rainfalls in the late afternoons but still high temp-
-eratures 30°C (86°F)
Warm and dry weather that is perfect for a beach holiday
30°C-35°C (86°F-95°F)

PHYSICAL LEVEL

Cycling :
Level:
This is a middle-level activity, appropriate for kids over 6 years old
Jungle Trekking:
Level:
This is a middle-level activity, appropriate for kids over 6 years old
Kayaking:

Level:
This is a low-level activity, appropriate for kids over 6 years old

PASSPORT AND VISA

Your passport must be valid 6 months after the expected date of your departure from the country.
For Vietnam, we will take care of the whole process for your VISA on arrival.
Cost: $25 US dollars.

  1. After receiving your scanned passport information, Hanoi Voyages will process and obtain an entry permit-Invitation Letter, which is an official document of the Vietnamese government that allows you to enter the Vietnamese soil and guarantees that the visa will be issued at the airport on arrival.
  2. Once Hanoi Voyages receives the Invitation Letter, we will send the document directly to you by email.

WHAT TO PACK

To make sure you will enjoy all of the activities included in this trip without missing of anything, here is a short list of what you should bring with you:
– Trekking shoes (or running shoes)
– Sunscreen
– Sunglasses
– A Raincoat


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Handpicking tea in Vietnam

In the words of our customers...

Amazing experience! Thanks to this company we were able to explore the beauties of Viet Nam. Personnel of the company, who we met in person in their office, was very kind and polite. We didn’t have any problems during our trip. Thank you for everything.

Trip to Viet Nam
Katarina B

Everything ran smoothly. Hanoi Voyages treated us to a meal in a lovely restaurant in Hanoi and presented us with gifts to each one of us. I cannot understand why they do not appear at the top of the TripAdvisor list of agents in Vietnam.

Personalised trip for 4
DenisDesollies

Our two weeks in North and Central Vietnam ran like clockwork. The customer service and the level of engagement that the team offered was 5 star. So much so that there is no doubt we will use Hanoi Voyages again for our next trip.

Highly recommended
Avixlee

Thanks to Hanoi Voyages and especially to Mrs Thuy who was so kind with my group of 10 people. I organized the route and they prepared and contracted everything for us. If I ever come back to Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar or Thailand I’ll deal with them again.

A very professional agency
Andreu R

What makes Hanoi Voyages so different?

Authentic

Being born and raised across this continent, we are seasoned local experts with more than a decade of experience, who know how to capture and show you the real Southeast Asia.

Inspiring

With our unique tailor-made tours, our desire is to capture you by our passion for each destination, so together we can create your dream holiday.

Flexible

We listen to you and keep altering the proposal until it fits your idea and we adapt your trip depending on your desires and any circumstances to ensure your smooth and memorable journey.

Attentive

Being responsive and permanently available is what we commit to. From making a perfect plan to ensuring everything goes smoothly throughout your holiday to listening to your feedback, we are here for you.

Dedicated

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