Description
Highlights of this safari:
- Learn about the rich culture and history in Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi
- Discover one of Vietnam’s most stunning places: Mai Chau Valley
- Enjoy a trekking in Pu Luong Nature Reserve
- Visit the Mo Luong cave
- Go on a boat trip in Halong Bay
- Learn to prepare Vietnamese traditional dishes Tra Que village
Short overview:
Day 1 – Hanoi
Day 2 – Hanoi
Day 3 – Mai Chau
Day 4 – Mai Chau
Day 5 – Ha Noi
Day 6 – Halong Bay
Day 7 – Hanoi
Day 8 – Hoi An
Day 9 – Hoi An
Day 10 – Ho Chi Minh
Day 11 – Ho Chi Minh
Day 12 – Cho Lach, Traditional house
Day 13 – Can Tho
Day 14 – Soc Trang
Day 15 – Departure
Program & Route:
Day 1 – Hanoi, Medaillon Hotel of Movenpick Hotel.
On arrival you will be welcomed by your driver and guide, followed by transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 2 – Hanoi, Medallion Hotel of Hotel De L’ Opera Hotel.
Your day starts early with a city tour along the highlights.
In the afternoon you will visit the old town of Hanoi.
Your day ends with a traditional show.
Day 3 – Mai Chau, Green Valley of Mai Chau Lodge
After breakfast you will visit Hoa Binh dam. En route to the Mai Chau valley, a visit is planned to the Muong Cultural Museum, where you will be in touch with the local arts and culture of the Muong tribe.
In the afternoon you will have time to discover the local villages in the valley.
Day 4 – Mai Chau, Green Valley of Mai Chau Lodge
After breakfast you will leave for the village of Hang in Pu Luong where you will walk through the villages, along rice fields and forests of the Pu Luong Nature Reserve.
After lunch depart to Pa Ban village after which you will return to Mai Chau.
Day 5 – Ha Noi, Medallion Hotel of Movenpick Hotel
After breakfast depart for Mo Luong Cave, a big cave that played a huge roll in the Vietnam war. You will listen to many stories and get to learn a lot about this historical place.
The second part of your visit will go through tunnels and you need to be fit to do this.
Day 6 – Halong Bay, Phoenix Cruise of Paradise Cruise
Departure to Ha Long Bay after breakfast, one of the most impressive spots where UNESCO has their spots and worlds biggest lime stone rocks landscapes.
Board a traditional boat and explore the landscape, a floating market or a village nearby.
Day 7 – Hanoi, Medallion Hotel of Movenpick Hotel
Today is all about enjoying the cruise and the landscape. At the end of the day you will return to Hanoi.
Day 8 – Hoi An, Phu Thinh Boutique resort and spa of Palm Garden resort
Morning at leisure until your flight to Da Nang.
On arrival you will be taken to your hotel in Hoi An.
En route visit to the Cham Sculpture Museum, which opened in 1915. Explore the villages around the Marble Mountains, where crafters work on their products of granite/marble. On arrival in Hoi An, a city tour on foot will follow. Visit the hightlights of Hoi An.
Day 9 – Hoi An, Phu Thinh Boutique resort and spa of Palm Garden resort
Visit the local colorful market this morning. There is room to interact with the locals and you can learn more about the art of cooking Vietnamese in the workshop later that day.
After that you can cycle to Tra Que village in search of locally grown produce. Farmers still farm in the traditional way here.
Here you will do the cooking workshop and (hopefully) enjoy your own food.
Rest of the afternoon at leisure.
Day 10 – Ho Chi Minh, Lavender Hotel of Pullman Saigon Hotel
Time at leisure in the morning until you fly out to Da Nang.
On arrival transfer to your hotel.
In the afternoon visit the impressive Museum of War Remnants. Afterwards you will be brought to the Ben Thanh Market where you can shop till you drop.
Day 11 – Ho Chi Minh, Lavender Hotel of Pullman Saigon Hotel
Visit the historical Cu Chi tunnels today. These tunnels played an important role in the Vietnam war.
After this visit you will return to Ho Chi Minh and explore Cho Lon, the Chinatown of the city and where you can also find and visit Cantonese Thien Hau Pagoda. On to the FITO Museum, Vietnam’s first traditional healing museum in which you can learn about the age old healing traditions.
Day 12 – Cho Lach, Traditional house
Depart by boat to Cái COI. Row to a small village where you can join in on the morning rituals with the locals.
In the afternoon cycle the jungle. Join a workshop where you can learn about making candy with local products such as coconut.
Enjoy dinner with the local family where you will spend the night.
Day 13 – Can Tho, Hau Giang Hotel of Victoria Can Tho Resort
Cycle the countryside and visit the local market of Cho Lach. Enjoy many local exotic fruits… Lunch is again in the traditional house where you are staying.
In the afternoon transfer to Can Tho, where you will have the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 14 – Soc Trang, Que Toi Hotel
Departure for Soc Trang after breakfast. Soc Trang is a melting pot of Vietnamese, Khmer and Chinese cultures living in one community. Visit the local market and Kh’leang pagoda.
In the afternoon you can explore the Bat pagoda.
Dinner will be in a local restaurant where you can enjoy a local speciality: mince meat on a tile.
Day 15 – Departure
A last visit to the floating market of Nga Nam by boat. Then transfer to the airport for your flight home.