TRAVEL SERVICE & RESERVATION – Benedicta Monteiro

Day 1 – 20 Dec: Hanoi (Arrival)

Arrival at the airport in Hanoi at 13:30 PM – VJ 094, our driver welcomes and transfers you to hotel.

Take a rest before walking around 10 minutes to Lotus water puppet theater (16 Le Thai To street) to enjoy the show at 17:15 PM. The show lasts 50 minutes.

After the show at 18:00 PM, our tour guide will pick up you from there to start street food tour in Hanoi.

We will take you inside Hanoi Old Quarter and discover some of the lesser-known dishes of locals. From Pho Bo (Vietnamese Beef Noodle), Banh Cuon (Steamed rice rolls), “Banh Mi” (Vietnamese Baguette), etc. Finish the tour with unique Ca Phe Trung (Egg Coffee), which will perfectly round off our Hanoi street food discovery.

Rest of the day is your leisure time.

• Overnight at Hanoi Calista Hotel in Hanoi.
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Day 2 – 21 Dec: Hanoi → Ninh Binh

Around 07:05 – 07:15 AM –  Our driver and tour guide pick you up at hotels in the Old Quarter Area, Hanoi. Head the south of Hanoi for 110 km. After 2 hours, you will arrive in Ninh Binh.  First stop at Hoa Lu, you will have quick visit two  temples built in honor of the emperors Dinh Le, their sons, and the Queen… to know why Hoa Lu was build as capital of Vietnam in ending of nine century.

12:00 – Enjoy lunch at our restaurant with the great local cuisine.

13:30 – Boarding a small sampan to visit Tam Coc which means literally “three caves” (1.5 hour boat trip). With Halong bay type views of majestic limestone cliffs and mysterious caves, as well as countryside landscape like peaceful streams, rice paddies and deserted green fields, Tam Coc really has it all. You will feel the fresh air and peaceful moments, very good opportunities for photo lovers, freezing the special moments and scenery.

15:30 – Arrive at Mua Cave and start an amazing trek up to the top of Ngoa Long Mountain for watching the spectacular rice valley with specious view of the nature.

17:15 – Return to our bus and then come back to Ha Noi

19:30 – Drop you off at your hotel/stay. Trip ends.

• Overnight at Hanoi Calista Hotel in Hanoi.
• B,L

Day 3 – 22 Dec: Hanoi → Sapa

Morning, you will check out and we will ask hotel to arrange breakfast boxes to take away for you. Please ask receptionist for the boxes. And you can leave your big luggage at your hotel (please ask staff there to keep in store for you), bring small bag for one night in Sapa as you will be back and stay more. 

At 06:30 AM: Pick up from the hotel, get on bus and depart for Sapa.

Have lunch at local restaurant.

Then, you will get transferred to the Sapa Cable Station for a very amazing trip to Indochina’s Rooftop – Mount Fanxipan by cable car. This is particularly interesting in these northern mountains of the country, where travelers seek the rice terraces and traditional arts of minority peoples. Cultivating the land to an altitude of around 2,200 meters are the ethnic minorities the lowland Vietnamese generically call ‘Meo’ – savages – and above them looms the bulk of Hua Xi Pan: “giant protruding rock”. Take the train to reach the rocky peak of The Roof of Indochina. Below you spread the foothills of the Himalayas, blanketed with rainforest and the first tendrils of fog. 

Back to Sapa town for night stay.

• Overnight at Bamboo Sapa Hotel in Sapa.
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Day 4 – 23 Dec: Sapa → Hanoi

Have breakfast at hotel. Please check out the hotel before 12:00 PM.

Your leisure time to explore the town on your own until 14:30 PM Get on bus to back to Hanoi.

• Overnight at Hanoi Calista Hotel in Hanoi.
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Day 5 – 24 Dec: Hanoi (City tour)

Breakfast at your hotel.

At 08:30 AM, Get picked up by our friendly guide and start to explore Hanoi City.

08.45: Arrive at Tran Quoc Pagoda located on Golden Fish IsLand in West Lake. It is the oldest pagoda in Ha Noi built in the 6th century.

09.30: Visit Ho Chi Minh complex, you have a chance to see the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh then walk around the garden to see 2 houses where he lived & worked from 1954 to 1969. Then visit One Pillar Pagoda where worships the Godess of Mercy – It is the most unique padoga in the world

• Should dress modestly by covering from shoulders to knees when visiting Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, temples, pagodas…

• Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum is closed on Mondays and Fridays.

• Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum is closed at least 2 months (15thJune -15thAugust) for the annual maintaining but still can take picture Mausoleum and visit around that area

11.15: Visit Vietnam Ethnology Museum to learn about the culture of 54 ethnic groups living in the whole country of Vietnam.

Special Note: we will visit Women Museum instead of Ethnology Museum closed on Mondays

12.45: Have lunch at our restaurant. You have an opportunity to enjoy Vietnamese cuisine with 8 delicious dishes.

14.00 – 14.15 : Continue to visit Temple of Literature – the first university of Vietnam, established in the 11 century.

15.15: Leave for Hoa Lo Prison Museum which originally used by the French colonists in Indochina for political prisoners, and later by North Vietnam for U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. During this later period, it was known to American POWs as the “Hanoi Hilton”

After the tour, drop you off at hotel.

• Overnight at Hanoi Calista Hotel in Hanoi.
• B,L

Day 6 – 25 Dec: Hanoi → Halong bay

Breakfast at your hotel then check out your hotel, you can leave big luggage at hotel (please note to hotel staff to keep for you) and bring small bag for Halong bay trip as you will be back to this hotel to stay more.

Around 08:00 – 08:10 AM – our guide picks you up at your hotel and go to Halong bay on a shuttle bus.

• 11: 45- 12:00 – Welcome at waiting room 26 Tuan Chau harbour in Halong Bay
• 12:00 . You will be taken on our tender from the wharf and make your way out onto the bay to board our luxurious craft, Sapphire Cruise. You will be welcome aboard and greeted with a complimentary drink. Our Crew will conduct a compulsory safety procedures session and then you are free to check into your cabin and freshen up. Take some time to have a look around the vessel or watch the magical landscape go by.
• 13: 15  While our boat starts to cruise ,  enjoy the special lunch of fresh  seafood and vietnamese food  cooked by one of the best Chef in halong bay . 
• 15:00  After cruising for nearly 2 hours to explore the tranquil Bay , passing by thousands of islands and islets , the boat reaches the best area to do kayaking to see a lot of amazing limestone karst landscapes . Our boat will not bring you to the crowded and tiny beach for swimming . Our boat will stop in the middle of the Bay so that you can have chance to jump into water , take a backflip or somersault ..
• 16:30  Keep cruising to admire the stunning beauty of the Bay from our Sundeck where you can capture great  photos
• 17:00  Attend the cooking class opened right on the Sundeck , our guide will show you how to prepare and make our vietnamese traditional dish that is spring roll
• 17: 45  Join the Sunset party , enjoy fresh fruit , making friends with other members in the group , listening to soft and light music.
• 19 :00  Enjoy the special Dinner with fusion food prepared by the excellent skills of decoration of our Chef .
• 20: 30  Your free time

• Stay overnight on Sapphire Cruise in Ha Long bay.
• B,L,D

Day 7 – 26 Dec: Halong bay

06:30 Early birds are welcome to attend sunrise Tai Chi on our upper deck and it’s an excellent way to get your energy levels up for today’s adventures. You will be fascinated by the exquisiteness in the early hours as you enjoy a coffee or tea.

07:00 Enjoy a Light breakfast  with the best local coffee brand and fresh fruit juices.

8:00 – 8:30: Get picked up at the Tra Bau area

8:30 – 9:00 Boat cruises through Lan Ha Bay before disembarking at Viet Hai dock

10:00: Go cycling a short trip of 5km to Viet Hai village – a small village amid the jungle, surrounded by the high mountain ranges of Cat Ba National Park. The area has become popular with foreign tourists, without attracting mass tourism so it is still very rustic. For those who are not fancy cycling will be arranged by electric car.

11:30: Return to the dock and board our day boat again to sail further to the other side of Lan Ha Bay

12:00: The dayboat anchors for a peaceful lunch.

14h00 – 14:30: We are free to swim in this beautiful & clean area.

14h30 – 15h30: We are free to swim in this beautiful & clean area. Enjoy finger fruits dishes while cruising back toward Tuan Chau island

16:00 – 16:30: Arriving Tra Bau area

17:30 – 18:00: The moment you choose your way to relax after dinner

• Overnight on Sapphire Cruise on Halong bay.
• B,L,D

Day 8 – 27 Dec: Halong bay → Hanoi

05:45 – The nicest time of the day on Lan Ha Bay is the morning. Head to the upper deck to participate in our daily Tai Chi sessions. Relax with an early morning cup of tea, coffee or juice anywhere you wish on the boat and watch the never-ending miraculous scenery unfold before you.

06:30 – Light breakfast will be served in our restaurant (pastries, tea, coffee)

7:00 – 8:15 – Enjoy the last stage of your trip to Dark & Bright cave and islets by local rowing boats which is a wild and mysterious beauty in the middle of the World Heritage. Back to our main board afterward.

09:15-9:30 – Check out of your cabin as we draw closer to the mainland.

09:45 Enjoy your brunch on the boat.

11:00 you will board our tender and head back to the wharf where you will be met by your return trip vehicle to transfer you to Hanoi.

11:45 Tour ends at TuanChau habour in Halong

15:00 – 15:30 PM – drop off your hotel.

• Overnight at Hanoi Calista Hotel in Hanoi.
• B,L

Day 9 – 28 Dec: Hanoi → Ho Chi Minh

Breakfast at your hotel.

Your leisure time to explore Hanoi Old Quarter until get transfered to airport by our driver for flight to Ho Chi Minh.

Arrival airport in Ho Chi Minh, you will be taken to hotel for check-in. Rest of the day is your leisure time to explore the city on your own.

• Overnight at Nesta Saigon Hotel in Ho Chi Minh city.
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Day 10 – 29 Dec: Ho Chi Minh (Explore city tour & Cu Chi tunnels)

Breakfast at hotel.

Around 07:30 – 07:45 AM, Depart for Cu Chi tunnel, the trip will take approximately one and a half hours bus driving. Upon arrival, before exploring the tunnels, you will have some short introduction followed by introductory video about how the tunnels were constructed and how the people survived in the harsh conditions of the war time. Then, spend your time to explore the remaining area and tunnel systems which included the special constructed living areas with kitchens, bedrooms side by side with other martial facilities like storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, and command centers helping whoever lives inside the tunnels meet their basic needs. Besides, there are also many hidden trap doors and dangerous traps within the maze-like tunnels for security purpose during the war. Afterward, special tea and cassava (guerilla’s food during the war) will be served. 

Break time for relax or time for those who want to try the real shooting gun.

Have lunch at restaurant in HCM city. 

In the afternoon, visit Independence Palace, also known at the Reunification palace, was built on the sight of the former Norodom palace. The Independence palace is a widely known Landmark of Ho Chi Minh City and was designed by the architect Ngo Viet Thu. Continue seeing the beautiful structures from the French Colonial times such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, the historic Central Post Office. Followed by the remarkable site of the War Remnants Museum the museum has a vast display of the both the Indochina wars. 

Back to the hotel. End trip.

• Overnight at Nesta Saigon Hotel in Ho Chi Minh city.
• B,L

Day 11 – 30 Dec: Ho Chi Minh → Mekong Delta

Breakfast at your hotel then check out your hotel, you can leave big luggage at hotel (please note to hotel staff to keep for you) and bring small bag for Mekong trip as you will be back to this hotel to stay more.

Around 07:00 – 07:45 AM – Pick up guests at the hotel in Ho Chi Minh City and depart for My Tho Port. Boat cruise on the Tien River to view the four islets: Long, Lan, Quy, Phung. The boat passes by floating fish farms along the Tien River, offering a view of Rach Mieu Bridge. 

Arrive at Thoi Son islet: Stroll through village paths, visit fruit orchards, enjoy seasonal fruits, and listen to traditional Southern Vietnamese music. 

Rowing boat through small canals: Enjoy the peaceful riverine scenery, visit a honey bee farm, and taste honey tea and banana wine. 

Continue down the Tien River to Tan Thach Canal (Ben Tre): Visit a coconut candy workshop, and explore traditional handicrafts. 

Motorboat excursion on Tan Thach canal: Discover the daily life of local people, have lunch at a local restaurant. The eco-restaurant features crocodile, porcupine farms, frog, and snake farming models, hammocks for relaxing, and bicycles for exploring fruit orchards, coconut groves, and rice fields. 

Horse-drawn carriage tour through village paths: Learn about the everyday life of local residents. 

Return to My Tho Port to continue to Can Tho.

• Overnight at TTC Can Tho Hotel in Can Tho.
• B,L

Day 12 – 31 Dec: Mekong Delta → Ho Chi Minh

Breakfast at the hotel.

Relaxing boat ride to explore the picturesque tributaries of the Hau River, followed by a visit to the bustling Cai Rang Floating Market. 

Visit a local noodle-making factory. Explore Munir Ansay Pagoda, a renowned Khmer pagoda with unique architecture. 

Then, proceed to Son Islet, visit fish farms, fruit orchards, and enjoy seasonal fruits. Lunch and return to Ho Chi Minh City, ending the tour.

• Overnight at Nesta Saigon Hotel in Ho Chi Minh city.
• B,L

Day 13 – 01 Jan: Ho Chi Minh (Departure)

Morning, enjoy breakfast at hotel.

At 07:30 AM our driver transfer you to airport for departure flight (depart at 11:05 AM – VJ 081).

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• B

End of service!