ITINERARY
Day 1 – Feb 28: Ho Chi Minh arrival
Arrival at the airport in Ho Chi Minh and transfer you to hotel for your stay.
- Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city
- N/A
Day 2 – Mar 1: Ho Chi Minh (Black Virgin mountain, Cao Dai & Cu Chi)
Morning, around 7AM, our guide takes you to visit Nui Ba Den (Black Virgin mountain), then move to Cao Dai temple.
In the afternoon, we leave the city and drive 60km to Cu Chi, where you can delve into the intricate system of tunnels and explore the Cu Chi Tunnel, an impressive feat of engineering that played a significant role in the Vietnam War. Afterwards, enjoy tea, cassava (guerrilla’s food during the war). Once the tour is complete, we will make our way back to the city.
In the evening, you can go to Bui Vien street and enjoy some drinks there by yourselves.
- Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city
- B,L
Day 3 – Mar 2: Ho Chi Minh (city) → Phnom Penh
After breakfast, you will visit War Remnant Museum (This museum tells the story of war from the Vietnamese perspective. Exhibits include photographs, machinery, and weapons that depict the harsh realities of war). Then visit Reunification Hall which was the residence of the President Ngo Dinh Diem of the former South Vietnam until 1975 (1960s – Apr 1975s). You will see many interesting things: formal meeting rooms, private bedrooms, war situation rooms 10 meter beneath earth’s level.
Enjoy lunch then our driver transfers you to the airport for flight to Phnom Penh.
- Overnight in Phnom Penh
- B,L
Day 4 – Mar 3: Phnom Penh (city tour)
Morning, visit the notorious Choeung Ek Killing Fields & Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21 prison) which serve as a testament to the crimes of the Khmer Rouge (From 1975–1979. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
After lunch, take some minutes at Independent Monument for photo taking. After that, visit the opulent Royal Place, home to Cambodia’s Royal family, and its Silver Pagoda. Continue your visit at The National Museum with its superb collection of Khmer art. The last place to visit today is Wat Phnome, the most famous buddhist temple in Phnom Penh.
- Overnight in Phnom Penh
- B,L
Day 5 – Mar 4: Phnom Penh → Siem Reap
After breakfast, we transfer you to the airport for flight to Siem Reap. Enjoy your leisure time in Siem Reap
- Overnight in Siem Reap
- B
Day 6 – Mar 5: Siem Reap (Angkor complex)
In the morning, you will visit Angkor Thom, the ancient capital of the Khmer empire. Then, you will continue your visit to Ta Prohm, a stunning temple complex with trees and vegetation growing around and through its structures. Lunch will be at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, you will visit Angkor Wat, the most famous of all the temples in Angkor. Angkor Wat is a massive temple complex and is one of the largest religious monuments in the world.
- Overnight in Siem Reap
- B,L
Day 7 – Mar 6: Siem Reap (Tonle Sap & Beng Mealea)
After breakfast, start the tour by visiting the National Museum. Here, you can explore a collection of Khmer art, artifacts, and historical exhibits that provide insights into the culture and history of Cambodia.
Then take a boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake, one of the largest lakes in Asia. This is an opportunity to enjoy stunning views of the lake and see some of the local fishing villages and floating communities that call it home.
After lunch, we visit Beng Mealea temple. Enjoy a short walk through the dense jungle and discover the wonders of an overgrown temple, Beng Mealea, which lay undiscovered for centuries.
- Overnight in Siem Reap
- B,L
Day 8 – Mar 7: Siem Reap (leisure time)
After breakfast, your leisure time in the city on your own.
- Overnight in Siem Reap
- B
Day 9 – Mar 8: Siem Reap → Hanoi
After breakfast, enjoy your leisure time till our driver transfer you to the airport for flight to Hanoi.
- Overnight in Hanoi
- B
Day 10 – Mar 9: Hanoi city tour
Explore the Temple of Literature, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and discover the rich history of Vietnam’s first university. Walk around the picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake, and visit the Ngoc Son Temple, perched on an island in the lake. Continue your exploration at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, which showcases the diverse ethnic groups of Vietnam through fascinating exhibits and artifacts.
Enjoy your time at train street to watch the train passes.
- Overnight in Hanoi
- B,L
Day 11 – Mar 10: Hanoi → Quang Uyen
Are you ready to start a fabulous adventure tour Vietnam? Our tour guide will pick you up by car at your hotel in Hanoi old quarter around 7:30 – 8:00am, transferring you to Lang Son. We will start by driving in the direction of the Chinese border for about 3 hours, before
stopping at Chi Lang Pass a 20kmlong gorge created from a narrow valley between two mountains. This place occupies an important position in Vietnamese history, being the place of many victories against various Chinese invasions over the centuries and millennia, as
far back as 981AD. Here you will have roughly an hour to walk around and explore the area around the Quy Mon Quan Gate, named for the
many invasion forces that would spill through the pass over the course of history only to be beaten back by stalwart Vietnamese defenders.
After lunch at a local restaurant in Dong Dang, you will continue your trip into the pass, stopping to visit Mother’s Temple and Dong
Khe – an important historical site where The Battle of Dong Khe was fought during the First Indochina War. In fact, this was the very first
battle of the Indochina Wars, and the fighting here took place through September and October 1950, ending in a resounding victory for the Viet Minh.
In the evening you will get to enjoy dinner and overnight rest in a local homestay owned and operated by a local Nung family.
Highlights and activities: Chi Lang pass, Quy Mon Quan gate, Dong Khe battle site, ethnic villages, and a 3-5km walk.
- Overnight in Cao Bang
- B,L
Day 12 – Mar 11: Cao Bang – Ba Be lake
After enjoying breakfast at the homestay, you will depart for Trung Khanh which lies right on the border with China. Here you will have
another chance to meet and interact with the local Nung people living in the village of Phuoc Sen, a mountainous village famous for
its traditional blacksmithing. The farming tools made here are an integral part of the lifestyle which is evident in the surrounding rice paddies and fields.
Nestled amongst these amazing landscapes is the breathtaking Ban Gioc Waterfall which spans over 300 meters, split half and half
between Vietnam and China. You’ll get some time here to simply take in the amazing atmosphere surrounding the falls, which presents an excellent opportunity for some fantastic photography.
Once you’ve finished at the falls, it’s time to head over to Nguom Ngao Cave, for a very different, but no less impressive natural wonder. The cave stretches for 2,144 meters underground and is brimming with incredible stalactites and stalagmites.
You will then return to Cao Bang town and head down the “snake pass” to Ba Be Lake, where you will stay overnight in a homestay
constructed in traditional Tay fashion and owned and operated by a local Tay family.
Here you can relax and unwind from the day and enjoy a delicious and authentic home cooked meal.
Highlights and activities: Ban Gioc waterfall, Nguom Ngao cave, Ba Be National Park, ethnic villages.
- Overnight in Ba Be
- B,L
Day 13 – Mar 12: Ba Be lake → Hanoi
After breakfast, you will board a boat to cross the lake to the north shore. From here you will start a hike in the rainforest of the central area of the Ba Be National Park. Along the shores of the lake, you will reach a prehistoric cave dating back 500 million years, hidden in an
ancient forest composed of rare and hard wood trees, as strong as steel.
A little further, a fire station allows to observe the birds.
Resume your hiking to reach the An Ma temple (a sacred temple of the Tay people venerating the snake god and military general
of the Mac dynasty).
It is now time to choose how to spend your time on the boat: relax and admire the landscape or take a dip in the fresh waters of
the lake? Anyway, enjoy the scenery with its beautiful karst formations lined with jungle.
Note: visitors who do not wish to participate in the walk can ask to stay on the boat to join Widow Island or do some shopping
Return to Ba Be Jungle Houses restaurant for lunch before ending the tour, you will be taken about 230 km back to Hanoi and stop at a tea
plantation located among rolling hills. When we arrived in Hanoi, it was time to say goodbye, creating lifelong memories and bonds.
- Overnight in Hanoi
- B,L
Day 14 – Mar 13: Hanoi → Ninh Binh (Hoa Lu & Tam Coc)
After breakfast at hotel, we transfer you to Hoa Lu (in Ninh Binh), the ancient royal capital of Vietnam. Take a sightseeing tour and take a bike to reach Tam Coc. Enjoy lunch and start exploring the famous 3 caves. Climb to Hang Mua and enjoy the panoramic view from the top.
Return to Hanoi.
- Overnight in Hanoi
- B,L
Day 15 – Mar 14: Hanoi → Sapa
After breakfast, pick you up at hotel and transfer to Sapa. Arrival in Sapa around 13:00, take a little time for refreshment. Enjoy a tasty lunch of local Vietnamese dishes.
Then, we embark on a short trek to Cat Cat village. This village, home to the Black H’mong ethnic group, is nestled in a deep valley near the base of Fansipan Peak. With a knowledgeable guide, we explore the village, witness daily life, and visit the picturesque waterfall that once powered a French-built Hydraulic Power Station. We capture memorable photos before hiking uphill to meet our return bus to Sapa town. The trek covers 3.5 km and lasts about 2 hours. We return to Sapa Town by 17:00.
- Overnight in Sapa
- B,L
Day 16 – Mar 15: Sapa
After breakfast, start 12 km of trekking, visit Y Linh Ho and Lao Chai villages of the H’mong minority. after lunch at a local family in Lao Chai or in a drinking shop nearby the river bank, we keep on hiking to Ta Van village of the Dzay where we stay overnight in a local family. Here you have opportunity to experience their daily life, work and original custom.
- Overnight at local house
- B,L
Day 17 – Mar 16: Sapa → Hanoi
Breakfast will be serving at the homestay.
Start trekking at 9:30 AM
8 km walking to visit 2 villages of the red Dzao, the H’mong (Giang Ta Chai & Su Pan). Visit a beautiful waterfall and rattan bridge. Enjoy landscapes… through bamboo forest on the way to the main road to get the jeep to return to Sapa. Tour finish in Sapa by 3PM.
Take a bus back to Hanoi.
- Overnight in Hanoi
- B,L
Day 18 – Mar 17: Hanoi → Cat Ba
Morning, enjoy breakfast at hotel and our driver pick up you then transfer you to Cat Ba
- Overnight at hotel in Cat Ba
- B
Day 19 – Mar 18: Cat Ba → Lan Ha bay
After breakfast, you will visit Lan Ha bay for a few hours on boat. Boat cruises off Lan Ha bay, passing by Cai Beo Fishing Village and thousands of karst towers with many unique shapes (chopstick, seals,..).
Boat drops the anchor at Ong Cam islet for sumptuous traditional Vietnamese lunch. Free time to relax, swim, jump off the boat, lounge on the deck, socials, etc.
Afterwards, boat continues to sail off Southern Ha Long bay, passing by Dau Be Island, Vung Vieng fishing village, Le Virgin arch and The Kite arch.
Relax, Swim at Ba Trai Dao Beach which is very natural, remote, quiet and less-touristy; discover the temple beach, more lagoons and arches.
Enjoy the magical sunset as the boat travels back to the harbor.
- Overnight at hotel in Cat Ba
- B,L
Day 20 – Mar 19: Cat Ba → Hanoi
After breakfast, enjoy your leisure time at hotel or on the beach on your own till our driver pick up and transfer you back to Hanoi.
- Overnight in Hanoi
- B
Day 21 – Mar 20: Hanoi (leisure time)
After breakfast, your leisure time in the city or at your hotel on your own and check out at 12:00.
- N/A
- B
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