vietnam minorities and paddy fields

Arrival in Hanoi. Airport transfer service is available through advanced booking. Check in at hotel and at leisure for the rest of the day. 

Note: Airport transfer to and from the hotel with supplement. Hotel check-in time is 14:00, early check-in is subject to availability. 

Destination Gallery

Explore Hanoi with a visit outside of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his house on stilts and the One Pillar Pagoda. Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda located at West Lake and continue the journey with a visit at the Temple of Literature. Enjoy lunch. 

In the afternoon, visit the Ethnographic Museum that has art works to present the culture of the 54 living ethnic groups in Vietnam. At the end of the day, take a Cyclo ride through the streets in the old quarter of Hanoi of 36 corporations. Night at the hotel.

Destination Gallery

Morning departure for Ha Long, one of the wonders of Vietnam that is classified as the World Heritage by UNESCO since 1994. Arrival and boarding the junk. A welcome drink will be served. Enjoy lunch on board. 

Start the cruise on Ha Long Bay and contemplate the breath-taking scene of an emerald bay. Dinner and overnight on board.

Cruise shared with other participants and cabins are private.

Destination Gallery

Get up at dawn to admire the sunrise over the bay. Brunch on board as the junk sails and enjoy the view. Disembark and head to Ninh Binh, the “Ha Long Bay on land”.

Ninh Binh has the famous “Bay of the Dragon” name because of its many limestone hills that are covered with lush vegetation. Overnight at hotel.

Destination Gallery

Travel to Van Long, one of the most popular tourist sites of Ninh Binh. Take a rowing boat cruise, enjoy a magnificent view of the amazing landscape and transparent water while on the boat. Lunch with the local goat specialty of Ninh Binh. 

After lunch, leave for Mai Chau. Installation at the room at the homestay. Dinner and overnight at the homestay.

Destination Gallery

Transfer to Mai Hich for a hike in the Thai and Muong villages. Learn more about the life of the local while you are there. Back to Mai Chau. Lunch at local family and then take a bicycle ride to explore the village, enjoy the fresh breeze of the rice fields. 

In the evening, enjoy the dance and folk musical show from the villagers. Have a taste of local special wine “Ruou Can” - which is made from fermented rice. Dinner and overnight at the Thai in a house on stilts

Destination Gallery

Departure for Moc Chau, a small valley that is surrounded by lush mountains and rivers and houses on wooden stilts. Discover the life of tea plantations in Moc Chau. Stop at different stops on the way to enjoy different magnificent scenes and take pictures. 

Head to Nghia Lo. Dinner and overnight at the homestay

Destination Gallery

Travel to Mu Cang Chai, the place that is considered as a paradise of rice terraces with many stops along the way to admire this beautiful region, enjoy the wonderful scene and take pictures. Go for a short hike (approximately 1h30) in a Thai village. 

Lunch along the way. After lunch, head towards Khau Pha Pass and visit Lim Mong Village, one of the most adventurous destinations in the North. Continue the journey to Mu Cang Chai. Dinner and overnight at a homestay.

Destination Gallery

Travel to Sapa via Than Uyen, a beautiful region that is famous for its peaceful atmosphere, green rice terraces and grandiose mountains. Be impressed with the culture and the colorful traditional costumes of the local ethnic people. Enjoy lunch then discover the city of Sapa

Visit to the local church, the busy market and Sapa’s, amazing Silver waterfall with an impregnable view of the surrounding mountains. Night at the hotel in Sapa.

Destination Gallery

Start your hike near Y Linh Ho village. Head to Muong Hoa Valley, one of the most beautiful valleys in the North with colorful rice terraces. On the way, cross Lao Chai village, where the Black Hmong live and Ta Van village, where the Giay live. 

Lunch and dinner at local family. (From 5h to 5h30 walk, easy level)

Destination Gallery

Visit Bac Ha, the market of the minority that is held every Sunday. Immerse in the buslting and colorful market of the Hmong, the Nung, the Phung La, the Tay as they all come to exchange their products and even look for potential romantic partners. This is the largest market in these mountainous regions that serves as a trading place but also as a meeting place for friends and relatives. Visit the old residence of Hoang A Tuong, the former King of Hmong. 

Enjoy lunch and return to Hanoi. Overnight at the hotel in Hanoi. 

Note: Depending on the date of the departure, the trip can visit one of the following ethnic minority markets: Tuesday: Coc Ly Market (90kms from Sapa), Thursday: Lung Khau Nhin Market (100kms from Sapa), Saturday: Can Cau Market (135kms from Sapa), Sunday: Bac Ha Market (110kms from Sapa)

Destination Gallery

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Hue. Transfer to town. Lunch at local restaurant with Hue specialties. 

In the afternoon, discover the Imperial City of Hue that is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then visit An Hien, the Garden House. Take a stroll through the market of Dong Ba, the symbol of Hue City. Dong Ba market is also a selling place of many conical hats, the signature hat from Vietnam. Installation at the hotel room. Overnight in Hue.

Destination Gallery

Transfer to visit Thuy Bieu village, the village that is known for their specialty in planting quality grapefruits. Take a walk or bicycle ride along the village to explore the local’s lives. Board the boat and take a cruise on the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda. Have lunch.

Head to Hoi An. Arrive at the end of the afternoon. Night at the hotel

Destination Gallery

Take a bike ride to the Vegetable Village of Tra Que, a charming little village and join the agricultural and gardening activities, participate in a short cooking class. Enjoy lunch with your own dish from the class and specialties of Hoi An such as spring rolls, “Tam Huu” – an assortment of shrimps, pork and herbs, “Banh Xeo” – a traditional crepe from the Central of Vietnam. 

In the afternoon, visit the ancient town of Hoi An, an UNESCO World Heritage site with a historical story, a unique blend of architecture styles and plenty attractions such as the 400-years-old Japanese bridge, the Old House Tan Ky, the Chinese Congregation and many more. Overnight at the hotel.

Destination Gallery

Transfer to Danang, stop to visit Marble Mountain that represents 5 elements such as Water, Wood, Fire, Metal and Earth. Thuy Son, the mountain of water is the largest of the 5 (15 hectares of surface and 105 meters of height). Thuy Son also has several caves as well as pagodas, which date from the 17th century. Lunch at the restaurant 

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Saigon. Arrival and transfer to the hotel, at leisure to visit Saigon in the evening. Overnight at hotel in Saigon.

Destination Gallery

Go onto the journey of exploring the city with Cho Lon Market in the Chinatown, Thien Hau Temple with impressive carved wood architecture, Binh Tay Market, Giac Lam Pagoda and a lacquer factory. Have lunch. 

In the afternoon, walk in the colonial district in the heart of the city, visit the Central Post Office that is heavily embedded with the French architecture style in the late 19th century, Dong Khoi (Catinat) street, the Opera House, the City Hall and Ben Thanh Market. Leisure time to explore Saigon on your own. Overnight at the hotel in Saigon.

Destination Gallery

Head to the road to Cai Be. Boarding on boat for a trip to the Mekong Delta with stops at the coconut candy factory and rice cake factory. Lunch at the local house on an islet. 

Continue the cruise towards the cannals network around An Binh islet. Homestay installation. Leisure time to relax or stroll around and explore the village. Dinner preparation with members of the guest house. Dinner and overnight at local homestay

Destination Gallery

Take a bicycle ride around the village to discover the daily life of the local by immersing yourself into the quietness and peacefulness of the countryside. Visit a brick factory and the local market of Vinh Long. 

Road to Can Tho. Enjoy lunch. Leisure time for personal exploration. Overnight at the hotel in Can Tho.

Destination Gallery

Transfer to the pier to visit Cai Rang Floating Market early in the morning, Cai Rang is the largest floating wholesaling market in the Mekong Delta. The first boats arrive very early in the morning and hundreds of goods are being exchanged here. The locals transport their goods on medium sized junks while whole-traders use larger boats to transport goods to Cambodia, Thailand or China. 

Continue the journey with a visit to a family “Hu Tieu” factory (rice vermicelli), “Hu Tieu” is a thin and tasty type of noodles that is originated from Vietnam. Try and have a taste of pizza “Hu Tieu”. Return to Saigon. Enjoy lunch along the way. Night at the hotel

Destination Gallery

At leisure until time to transfer to airport for your flight back home or prolong your trip with a wonderful extension to discover the beauty of Vietnam or a seaside extension.

Option: Transfer from the hotel to the airport with supplement

Destination Gallery