VIETNAM CULTURE TOUR - 16 DAYS (16+ Days)

• Hanoi Arrival
• Pick up from Noi Bai airport and transfer to your Hotel in Hanoi
• Free to relax and discover Hanoi
• Overnight in Hanoi

8:00am: Pick up at your hotel and depart to visit traditional villages around Hanoi
9:30am: You will visit Ha Thai village, which has been producing lacquerware since the 17th century. We will learn more about the traditional artwork as we are going to meet a lacquer painting artisan who is going to host us at his creative space. Immerse yourself into the space by crafting your own lacquer product following his guidance.
10:50am: Visit Chuong village which has been well-known for the craft of conical hat for over 300 years.  We wander around the village, visit an old veteran to listen to him telling his own story joining the Vietnam war, OR visit some other artisans and learn more about their everyday life (All visit depend on if they are at home or not, and only visit 01 family).
Lunch at a family in the village
After having lunch, we are going to express our creativity and artistic talent by painting on our own conical hat Nón Lá, or join/observe the artisan crafting the conical hat.
13:30: Continue visiting Quang Phu Cau village. We are going to walk to the center of the village, visit several ancient houses, interact with local artisans and take a lot of awesome photos at the dyeing yard.
15:00: Have a factory tour at the biggest incense factory in the town. You will have a chance to see how incense is made from scratch by visiting every production section of the factory, as well as learn more about life of manual worker in the countryside. It is also a chance for you to shop some incense for souvenir. We buy something at the place it is produced!
17:00: Get drop off at your hotel.
20:30: Going to Hanoi railway Station to take the night train to Lao Cai
Overnight on the train (solf sleeper shared cabin)

5:30am: Arrive at Lao Cai Station. Pick up from Lao Cai Station to Sa Pa
After having breakfast at hotel, you will start trekking through the rice terraces along Muong Hoa River to visit Y Ling Ho and Lao Chai village to to see the spectacular landscape of Hoang Lien Son Mountain and experience the daily life of black H’,mong minority. Have lunch in a restaurant in Lao Chai.

After lunch, continue trekking to Ta Van Village where ZDay minority lives

Back to Sapa in the afternoon.

Have dinner in a local restaurant and overnight in Sapa.

• Morning: After having breakfast at the hotel, our local guide will pick you up and take you to visit Cat Cat Village, where a Black H’mong minority lives to learn about their culture and daily life. On the way back to Sapa, you will visit the Sapa Market.
• Lunch in a local restaurant in Sapa
• 13:30: Leave Sapa to go back to Hanoi by car or limousine
• 18:30: Arrive in Hanoi

08:00 – 08:30: Our driver will pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi old quarter
09:00: Departure to Halong Bay for around 2.5 Hours with 20 minutes short break.
11:30 – 12.00: Arrive Tuan Chau harbor
12:15 – 13:00 From Tuan Chau wharf, Tuan Chau island of Ha Long city, we go to Calypso Cruise by small boat. A warmly welcome drinks will be served upon arrival the cruise then has a short time for check in proceeds: get a brief introduction and safety guidelines then check in
Have lunch while cruising in the magnificent Ha Long Bay, admiring the fascinating nature, then anchor at Lan Ha Bay area.
15:00 Join a guide to explore hidden parts of the bay, the area of Dark and Bright cave where to goes through the cave, under the mountain to a lake which is formed by a Karst – well like a dragon eye inside the mountain. This is a very beautiful sight that visitors like the most.  You share a sampan with other tourists with a local rower OR taking a kayak on your own.
 Return to Calypso Cruises for changing swimming suits then join swimming time in the sea or at the swimming pool on sundeck.
17:30 Enjoy happy hours with various drinks on discounts, try swimming pool and charming the bay with our handsome bartenders. Sun set can be seen from the sundeck if it is a lucky day.
18:00 Take part in a cooking demonstration and food décor with our Chef.
19:00 Join dinner at Calypso Cruises restaurant.
20:30 – 22:00 Time of relaxation after a day on sundeck, leisure in room for watching films, sing karaoke in restaurant or go to tender for squid fishing with cruise staffs.
 
Overnight on Calypso Cruise in Lan Ha Bay.

06:30 Welcome a new day with amazing dawn on the Legendary Gulf of Tonkin. Refresh your body & soul by a Tai-chi lesson on sundeck.
07:00 – 7:45 Have a breakfast in the restaurant.
08:00 Then you take a bus route for about 20 minutes on Cat Ba Island from Gia Luan Pier to visit Trung Trang Grotto, a special place to save the significant of Karst in millions years. During the travel, you will be immersed in the wild fresh natural scenery of Cat Ba National Park..
08:30 – 9:30 Return to Calypso Cruises for shower. Check out of your room.
09:30 – 10:30 An early lunch will be severed.
10:45 – 11:00 After paid the bills, a small boat will take all of us to Tuan Chau wharf.
11:00 – 11:45  Calypso cruises end at Tuan Chau wharf.
12:00 – 12:30: Return to Hanoi
15:00 – 15:15: Arrive in Hanoi and transfer to Noi Bai airport to take the flight Hanoi - Hue
Evening: Arrive in Hue. Pick up from Hue airport to your Hotel in Hue city
Overnight in Hue city

After having breakfast at your hotel, our guide will take you to visit the Ancient Imperial Citadel, a complex of palaces and temples built by the Nguyen from early 19th Century for which Hue was recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage and the Hue Royal Antiquities Museum which is dedicated to Vietnam's imperial past and arts of that era
Then, you will embark on a drive to Hue’s countryside to reach the Emperor Tu Duc’s tomb, one of the most beautiful royal architectures of Nguyen dynasty
Explore more of Vietnam life with the effected of Royal life, garden house in Hue is one of them. "Garden house" is a typical and unique characteristic of Hue city. You will visit the traditional handicraft village: Thuy Xuan Hat - Incense making village, you will see how Hue Hat (non Hue) - a symbolized for the beauty of Hue lady.
Late afternoon, visit Thien Mu pagoda and enjoy the leisure boat trip on the scenic Perfume River.
Overnight at hotel in Hue.

After breakfast in the hotel, you will have a nice drive over the scenic Hai Van pass along the coast to the ancient town of Hoian. You will have a short stop in spectacular Lang Co beach for a view. Arrive in Danang, stops to visit Cham Sculpture museum - one of the most fascinating museums in Vietnam. It’s home to several cultural artifacts in the Central and Central Highlands of Vietnam, preserving the spirit of the ancient Champa kingdom; Dragon Bridge - the symbol of Danang City; and Marble Mountain (Ngu Hanh Son), discover the stunning natural caves of the mountain and enjoy the beautiful view from the top of the Marble Mountain. Then continue our trip to Hoi An.
Overnight in Hoi An.   

• 7:30AM – Tour guide and car Pick up from your Hotel in Hoi An town to visit My Son Sanctuary.
• 8:30-9:00AM – Arrive at My Son Sanctuary which has now been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This historical tourist attraction is located in a lush green valley, filled with dozens of red brick tours and structures dating between the 4th and 13th centuries.
• Back to Hoi An town for lunch
• 1:30PM – We continue discovering the various Ancient Houses of Hoi An, Fu Jian Meeting Hall and perhaps the most famous attraction of Hoi An; the 400 year old Japanese Covered Bridge. You’ll finish by seeing how the locals produce the silk for Hoi Ans famous silk and textile trade!
• Back to Hotel around 4:00PM
• Overnight in Hoi An

• 8:00am: Our guide will pick you up at your hotel to visit Tra Que Vegetable village which is 3km from Hoi an town. You will ride bicycle to there.
• Arrive in Tra Que Village, it’s time for you to join the farmers! You will take a trip around the vegetable garden and assist in fertilising and preparing the land using seaweed from the local lake. Other farming activities include raking, sowing, picking greens and others depending on the day! After enjoying your time to experience how the farming at Tra Que is, you will prepare some authentic meals with a local family. You’ll get to enjoy local specialities like Tam Huu (spring rolls) and Banh Xeo (central Vietnams traditional pancake). Finally, after enjoying your food we will return to Hoi An.
• Afternoon: You will leave Hoi and to go to Da Nang airport to take the flight Da Nang - Ho Chi Minh city
• When you arrive in HCM city, our driver will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to your hotel in HCM

8:00AM: Pick up from your hotel.
We will visit the following places of interest in the morning:

• The Reunification Palace: Here on April 30th, 1975 the Vietnam War officially ended when tank number 843 of the North Vietnamese Army crashed through the gates of what was, at the time the residence of the President of the Republic of Vietnam.
• War Remnants Museum: Formerly known as the Museum of American War Crimes, this is a poignant display of the futility of war. Some of the black and white photography in the ‘Requiem’ exhibit is particularly touching, dedicated to both foreign and Vietnamese journalists and photographers who perished during the conflict. The courtyard outside contains the spoils of war, namely rusting jets, tanks and cannons captured from the American military machine.
• Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post Office: Built between 1877 and 1883 this is one of the best examples of classical French colonial architecture. Remarkably every stone used in its creation was shipped from France to Vietnam. Her two 40m towers, topped with iron spires dominate the city’s skyline. The Old Post Office is another example of French colonial architecture and is also the country’s largest post office. 
• Jade Emperor Pagoda: Built in 1909 in honor of the supreme Taoist god, this is one of the most spectacularly atmospheric temples in HCMC, stuffed with statues of phantasmal divinities and grotesque heroes. The pungent smoke of incense fills the air, obscuring the exquisite woodcarvings.
• After lunch at a local restaurant; we’ll take a cyclo to some of the bustling markets where Sài Gòn life thrives: Flower market, pet market, and second-hand market, even the market where accessories and parts for motorcycles are sold… and Bình Tây wholesale market, one of the biggest markets in Hồ Chí Minh city. 
• Your visit to Thiên-hậu temple, to gain insights into Vietnamese spiritual practices, will be the perfect finale for this enlightening and entertaining tour! 
• Back to your hotel at about 4.30pm

• 8:30AM: Our guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel and drive around 2 hours to Bến Tre province by the Mekong River. We will stop on the way for refreshments and toilet. Upon arrival, we board a motor-boat and cruise along a vast network of canals and channels to enjoy wonderful views of life along the Mekong River. Stop at a brick kiln, where the locals work among clusters of beehive-shaped structures that churn out millions of bricks each year in handy traditional style. They offer a fascinating glimpse at a local industry. Crossing the River to the other side, we will stop at a traditional workshop to witness a step-by-step process on how to make coconut candy while trying some yourself.
• Visit a local family to see where they make traditional mats and enjoy some fruits and tea. It is a chance to interact with local people to know more about rural life.
• Enjoy what local people offer by hand-rowing a sampan along the shady, breezy canal.
• Take a motor cart or cycle ride on shady roads, pass by green fields and vegetable plantations, and find out about tropical culture from the villagers.
• Lunch will be served at a riverside restaurant with a Vietnamese 5-course set menu. Please request in advance if you have a food allergy, you are a vegetarian, or you observe Halal.
• Drive to Cần Thơ, the capital city of Mekong Delta. Upon arrival, we check in to a rustic homestay. Take a rest and enjoy a peaceful time within the authentic village. Tonight, you will join a cooking class guided by your local host and enjoy your wonderful dinner.
• Overnight in Cần Thơ.

Get up early; then have breakfast before taking a motor-boat along the river to Cái Răng floating market, the largest of its kind, where colorful boats carrying juicy fruits and vegetables gather for daily exchanging.

We continue the cruise and walk on a quiet country road to take in the magnificent scenery and get close to the residents as they go about their daily routines. Visit a flea market, a noodle factory, and tropical fruit gardens like papaya, mango, pineapple…

After that, we say goodbye to your host and continue our trip to Cái Bè village where you can have lunch at a local family house. Drive back to Hồ Chí Minh City and complete the tour excursion by taking you back to your hotel.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh

8h00am: Pick up at your hotek and drive to Tây Ninh province to visit Cao-Đài temple, we can walk around for having an overview of the temple and admire its beautiful architecture. After that to gain insight and information about this religion, we can go inside the building and watch the Caodaists pray.
 
Lunch will be served on the way from the temple to Củ Chi Tunnels.  Upon arrival:

• You’ll watch a brief of propaganda video, which explains how the tunnels were used to successfully defeat American military forces in combat.
• The tour continues and the guide explains some traps that were placed in the jungles of Việt Nam to either maim American soldiers or create panic amongst the ranks.
• From here, you can enter one of the tunnel entrances and crawl through the tunnels is a real experience to imagine how people could live there for an extended period!
• There is a shooting range where you can try to fire an automatic or semi-automatic weapons for a fee (this fee is not included)
• Take some rest at the end for a taste of Củ Chi boiled tapioca and thinking what humans are capable of when having to defend their home.

Free and Departure.

Free this day to explore more Ho Chi Minh city and depart back to your home