Essential Vietnam With Sapa Adventure

Welcome to Vietnam! Your private guide will meet you at Tan Son Nhat Airport and transport you to your hotel in the city center to check in. Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure. Depending on when you arrive, you can either relax in your hotel or venture out to capture your first impressions of Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, has a distinct culture shaped by a turbulent history. As a modern metropolis, the city now offers an enticing blend of old and new.

After breakfast, meet your knowledgeable guide and take an insider's tour to visit the maze-like Cu Chi Tunnels, War Remnants Museum, and Reunification Palace (the former Presidential Palace). In addition to the war sites, wander around the Old Saigon Post Office, Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, Dong Khoi Street, and Ben Thanh Market to learn more about Saigon's colonial past and new life.

In the morning, depart from bustling Ho Chi Minh City and drive about 1.5 hours to the rustic My Tho in the Mekong Delta. After visiting a wholesale fruit market, embark on a boat cruise to experience the incredibly lush beauty and the pastoral life of riverside fishing villages. Disembark and visit a traditional workshop and learn how to make local coconut candy. A local horse-drawn cart or tuk-tuk ride afterward will take you through rural villages and fruit orchards. Next, board a rowing long-tail boat to explore the palm tree-lined canals. At a riverside restaurant, sample some local specialties for lunch.

This afternoon, admire the distinctive Vinh Trang Pagoda combining Asian and European architectural styles, followed by a 2.5-hour road transfer to Can Tho. Settle into a local hotel and enjoy the remainder of today at leisure.

Wake up early today to visit Cai Rang Floating Market, the largest floating market in the Mekong Delta. The busiest time is generally between sunrise and 10 am. You'll see painted boats gathered side by side, mainly selling fresh produce and specialties from Cai Be Town. Hop into a small boat and drift among the vendors, surrounded by their lively calls as you immerse yourself in authentic local life. Afterward, you can also tour a fruit orchard and a traditional rice noodle workshop.

After that, drive about 3 hours back to Ho Chi Minh City for your flight to Da Nang, where your local guide will meet you and arrange a private transfer to your hotel in Hoi An. The rest of the day is yours to relax and recharge.

This morning, learn about Hoi An's fascinating past as a prosperous trading port by visiting the Japanese Bridge, the Chinese Temple, and Vietnamese former merchants' houses. Later, pay a visit to a local craftsman's home and seize the opportunity to make your fold-away lantern. Locals believe that lanterns, as a symbol of Hoi An, can bring happiness, luck, and wealth.

The rest of today is free to relax or explore on your own. You can join the crowds strolling through the laneways or find a great restaurant to eat at and enjoy the pleasant breeze.

This morning, explore the My Son Sanctuary and walk into the Cham Kingdom's spiritual world. You'll stroll among ancient brick towers, moss-covered temples, and the intricate carvings and peaceful forest surroundings bring a profound sense of tranquility.

After lunch, transfer back to Da Nang Airport for your flight to Hanoi. Your guide will meet you at the airport and accompany you to the hotel. The rest of today is on your own to relax in your room or stroll around the nearby Hoan Kiem Lake.

Start your morning with breakfast at the hotel or head out for a taste of traditional rice noodle - pho. After breakfast, your guide will take you to Hanoi's iconic landmarks in Ba Dinh Square area. First, pass by the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum for an exterior look, then visit Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House and the One Pillar Pagoda. Next, explore the Museum of Ethnology for a glimpse into Vietnam's culture, here you'll discover the vibrant costumes, crafts, and traditions of its 54 ethnic groups.

Later in the afternoon, join your guide for an Old Quarter Food Tour. Walk through the maze-like streets to sample local specialties like Cha Ca (grilled fish), try Hanoi's special egg coffee, and hear fascinating stories of Vietnamese food culture.

Sapa, surrounded by dramatic gorges and stepped rice terraces, is one of northern Vietnam's most unique destinations. In the morning, depart Hanoi for Sapa with a 5-hour private and scenic drive. En route, stop by Ta Giang Phinh village at the foot of Ngu Chi Son Mountain. The village sits in a wide valley of terraced rice fields and quiet streams. Take a walk around 2 hours here, you'll see lush rainforest, rolling valleys, and small hill-tribe settlements, and learn about the Black Hmong people's culture and way of life.

After the walk, continue the journey to Sapa. Upon arrival, check in your hotel and rest.

Sapa has many trekking options that take you through the region's scenic hillsides and small ethnic villages. Your guide will meet you at your hotel after breakfast and accompany you on a full-day trekking tour. You'll follow the scenic trails through tumbling rivers, magnificent waterfalls, and valleys, see stunning terraced rice fields, and learn about the ethnic cultures of the Hmong, Dao, Tay, Giay, and Yi minorities. After the trek, take a private transfer back to your hotel to relax.

This morning is free for you to explore nearby or just relax at hotel. If you're interested in outdoor activities, you can choose to visit the Silver Waterfall & Heaven Gate or take cable car to Fansipan Peak.

Around noon, leave Sapa for Hanoi by private car transfer.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before departing for your Halong Bay journey. The drive from Hanoi to the pier will take approximately 2.5 hours. This afternoon, cruise around Halong Bay's stunning limestone islets rising from emerald waters that formed thousands of years ago. Want to do something enjoyable? A variety of optional activities are available! You can kayak on the bay, take a cooking class, relax in a sauna, or even go squid fishing with others. Have a wonderful time!

Tips: Since you'll be boarding with all your luggage, keep anything you'll need on board easy to reach. This way, you won't have to repack everything when you disembark tomorrow.

Get up early to see the breathtaking sunrise and practice Tai Chi on the open deck. You will take an excursion to the Thien Canh Son Cave after a light breakfast. It would be a pleasant experience with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites inside. Return to your boat for brunch after the tour. Your Halong Bay cruise is coming to an end as your ship gets closer to the pier. Disembark and meet your guide before being driven back to Hanoi. Have a fantastic last night in Vietnam!

After breakfast, you will be taken back to Hanoi airport in time for your flight home. Best wishes!