HTS Tour – Treasures of Vietnam ( 12days 11nights )
Day 1
On your arrival to Hanoi, we meet you at the airport, and transfer you to your hotel, check-in, then the rest of day 1 is free time, for your personal discoveries.
Day 2
Today we explore Hanoi at a pace and in a manner that bring us closer to the people and the way they live. We experience the charm, complexity and intensity of the many guilded streets that interlace with human activities.
We walk around the fruit market of Long Bien, which offers ample opportunities to savour some succulent fruits, such as dragonfruit, rambutan and durian.
Those who relish a glimpse of Vietnam’s ethnic diversity can visit the Museum of Ethnology.
In the evening, we enjoy some of Hanoi’s culinary delights, such as Cha Ca, Bun Cha or a bowl of traditional Pho (beef/hicken rice noodle soup) in a local restaurant in the Old Quarter.
This is one of the best ways to capture the spirit of both Hanoi’s landscape and its people. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included).
Day 3 Hanoi / Mai Chau
In the morning we leave Hanoi and drive to Mai Chau, situated in a scenic valley 160 km northwest of Hanoi, Mai Chau is home to White Thai and Muong ethnic minority people.
Known for their hospitality and resistance to assimilation, their indigenous and diverse cultures provide an insight into their individualism, customs and culture. The rolling hills coupled with the sculpted rice terraces make an ideal place for walking around with camera in hand. .
Here, we hike through open rice fields, pass tiny villages and meet the local farmers at work, as they plough their paddies behind water buffaloes, tend their seasonal crops or fish in the river.
Finally, we descend into a valley, home to White Thai people. We settle in with a hospitable local family in a traditional wooden house for the night. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included).
Day 4 Mai Chau / Tam Coc
The day begins with a morning hike along a footpath amid the splendid rice terraces and verdant small hills. We enjoy a hike through the rice terraces and several villages. It is very rewarding as we walk along the trail used by local people and the view on either side becomes more and more impressive. When we have finished our walk we will board our vehicle and drive to Tam Coc for an overnight stay in a comfortable hotel. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included).
Day 5 : Hoa Lu Temple- Tam Coc cave
HTS tour guide and driver will pick you up from homestay to Hoa Lu Ancient Capital. In Hoa Lu, there are now 2 temples have been built on the ground of the old royal palace, one is dedicated to King Dinh Tien Hoang, the other is to King Le Dai Hanh. This visit offers a chance to know more about part of feudal dynasties in Vietnamese history, as well as the old feudal architecture of Vietnam Temples.
11:30am Leave Hoa Lu to Tam Coc at around 12:00pm. Having lunch in Tam Coc in a local restaurant (served with goat meat which is famous as the local specialty).
1:30pm, You will take a 5 minute-walk to the boat station and start the 2hour-boat trip to visit Tam Coc (you will sit on a sampan boat with local rower). Known as “Halong Bay on land”, Tam Coc are three limestone caves stretching along Ngo Dong river. The boat trip is a nice journey along the river with peaceful scenery of limestone mountains, rice paddy and the site of some temples along the way from Hang Ca (first cave) to Hang Hai (second cave) and Hang Ba (third cave).
You will arrive back to our hotel at around 17:00pm
Day 6 : Ninh Binh / Halong Bay
Departing Ninh Binh province we journey to Ha Long City. We follow its fertile road through flatlands of the Red River Delta flanked by rice paddies and reach Halong City. Here we board a traditional junk, which cruises past the spectacular limestone peaks of Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Listed area. We have time to relax and see the sublime beauty of the bay, while enjoying lunch on the boat.After we visit one of the most magnificent cave, Then cung Cave, Das go Cave , then come back hotel in Halong for an overnight stay. (Breakfast, lunch are included).
Day 7 Halong Bay / Hanoi
We continue exploring some of the Bay’s truly beautiful scenery and unusual rock shapes and islets that emerge from the sea. Weather permitting; there is an opportunity to swim in the clear waters and visit some floating fishing villages. On completion of the cruise we enjoy lunch in a local restaurant in Halong City. Our road vehicle then transfers us back to Hanoi, where we will arrive around 6pm.
(Breakfast and lunch are included).
Day 8 Hanoi
Today we will visit the History Museum and the Temple of Literature, built 1000yrs ago. We also have plenty of free in the afternoon to explore some more Hanoi sites. In the evening we attend the performance of traditional water puppetry, unique to Vietnam. (Breakfast and lunch are included).
Day 9 Hanoi / Ho Chi Minh City
This morning we take a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City. During our stay in Ho Chi Minh City we visit Ben Thanh Market, the Reunification Palace. There will be plenty of time to relax and explore the city on our own. (Breakfast and lunch are included).
Day 10 Ho Chi Minh City / Mekong Delta
From Ho Chi Minh City we drive to Vinh Long where we board our boat to venture into the watery world of the Mekong Delta. Here we visit bonsai gardens, some cottage industries and fruit orchards. The night is spent in a comfortable Vinh Long hotel. (Breakfast, lunch are included).
Day 11 Mekong Delta / Ho Chi Minh City
This morning we continue boating to explore the tributaries of the Mekong River then Cai Be, where we observe the floating markets and learn about the way of life in the delta.
Following that we board our road vehicle and return to Ho Chi Minh City. Here, we have free time for some exploration of the city, relaxation or souvenir hunting before we conclude our trip with a farewell dinner in one of the city’s best restaurants. (Breakfast, lunch are included).
Day 12 Ho Chi Minh City
You can depart for your onward journey at any time today, until then enjoy some free time for your own personal discoveries. (Breakfast is included).
Our 12 day tour started in Hanoi and ended in HCM City, and although it was brilliant it left us with a thirst to see more of the country. The countryside we saw was green and full of life and the people we discovered were all happy and welcoming. We trekked in Mai Chau, stayed with ethnic tribal people, cycled and enjoyed a row boat through the Tam Coc caves, then we visited the amazing Halong bay on our junk cruise. Flying south to HCM City we went on to explore the Mekong Delta and the ex-capital itself. Then ‘bang’ it was all over… this time as we loved our stay and want to see more of Vietnam.