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Best of Vietnam
15 days, Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City
Itinerary
Day 1Hanoi
Arrive at any time.
Arrive in bustling Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. As passengers will be arriving at various times today, there are no planned activities. Take a walk through Hanoi's Old Quarter, visit Tran Quoc Pagoda, the Temple of Literature (Van Mieu) or Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and Museum.
Please note that most nationalities requires a visa to enter Vietnam, please double check this with your travel agent or local Vietnamese Embassy.
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Day 2Hanoi/Lào Cai
Enjoy the water puppets show. Opt to visit Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and stilt house, Hoa Lo Prison and the Temple of Literature. Overnight train to Lao Cai.
Explore the city during the day and in the evening attend a performance at the famous Water Puppet Theatre before boarding our overnight train to Lao Cai, en route to Sapa.
Free Time
Free time to visit local museums or tour Hoa Lo Prison.
Thăng Long Water Puppet Theatre Performance
Watch a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show with beautiful live music and intricate puppets dancing in a water stage. The price listed above is for a VIP seat.
Basic Overnight Train (beds)
Sit back, relax and get some sleep during this overnight train journey.
Optional Activities - Day 2 HideShow
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum Visit
Free-1USD per personTour the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum built in the square where Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence in 1945. Get in line to tour the grounds; queues of visitors come to pay their respects daily.
Vietnamese Women's Museum
1.50USD per personThe Vietnamese Women's Museum highlights the significant contributions made by women in Vietnam. Take in an independent tour of the museum to gain an in-depth knowledge of women's role in Vietnamese culture, with a key focus on family, history and fashion.
Museum of Ethnology Visit
2USD per personLearn about Vietnam’s various ethnic groups on this visit to the Museum of Ethnology – considered to be the finest modern museum in Vietnam.
Army Museum
2USD per personVisit Vietnam's famous Army Museum to learn more about the nation's struggle for independence. With exhibits featuring artifacts from China, France and the United States, this museum has a treasure trove of information to illustrate the country's spirit and determination.
Hoa Lo Prison Entry
1.50USD per personIndependently tour the museum of Hoa Lo Prison, referred to as Hanoi Hilton by American prisoners, to learn more about the Vietnam War.
Temple of Literature Entry
2USD per personVisit this sprawling temple built to honour Confucius, sages, and scholars. Dedicated to learning, it housed the country’s first university in 1076. Independently explore its five courtyards, containing various gates, altars, sanctuaries, shrines, the stelae of doctors, and the Well of Heavenly Clarity.
Fine Arts Museum
2USD per personWander through the Fine Arts Museum, where you’ll find over 20,000 works of art housed in a former French colonial boarding school. Stand before some of Vietnam’s National Treasures, immerse yourself in traditional folk art, find sculptures inspired by deities or admire intricate lacquer and silk paintings you won’t find anywhere else.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 3Lào Cai/Sa Pá
Arrive in Sapa. Hilltribe village visit at Ta Phin, trek and homestay. Traditional meals with a local family.
After arriving in Lao Cai in the morning, we transfer to Sapa. An afternoon excursion takes us to the village of Ta Phin, before returning to Sapa in the early evening.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Ta Phin Excursion
Interact with local ethnic minorities such as the H'mong, Dao, and Zai as well as explore the villages before returning to Sapa in the early evening.
Day 4Sa Pá
Hilltribe village visit, trek and homestay. Traditional meals with a local family.
Take a moderate trek through the Muong Hoa River valley. Stop at Lao Chai village for lunch and on to the Ta Vinh village for a homestay.
Muong Hoa River Valley Trek
Trek this scenic river valley that's home to minorities indigenous to this region, such as the Giay, Tay and Xa Pho who still maintain traditional rice paddy terraces along the river system.
Your Local Living Moment: Ta Vinh Homestay
Get an unforgettable experience at a local homestay. Help prepare home cooked meals and learn about culture and traditions. The accommodation is basic but bedding and mosquito nets will be provided.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 5Sa Pá/Hanoi
Return to Sapa after breakfast with host family. Transfer back to Hanoi.
After breakfast, say goodbye to the host family and walk to a nearby village where we board a bus to take us back to Sapa and then onward to Hanoi for the night.
Muong Hoa River Valley Trek
Trek this scenic river valley that's home to minorities indigenous to this region, such as the Giay, Tay and Xa Pho who still maintain traditional rice paddy terraces along the river system.
Local Bus
Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Optional Activities - Day 5 HideShow
Hanoi Foodie Culture Tour
Indulge your inner foodie with a street food tour through bustling Hanoi. Follow your guide through the back streets and markets of the city’s old quarter, sampling local fare along the way. Mingle with city natives and experienced street food artists alike, as you taste a variety of Hanoi faves like “nem ran” and “banh goi.” Stop at a streetside bar to savour a draught beer like Hanoians do. Cap off the tour at the Hanoi Food Culture restaurant, a G Values Fund Project, and try the city’s signature specialty coffee.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 6Hanoi/Ha Long
Drive to Halong Bay for an overnight cruise on a junk boat which includes a seafood meal. Visit caves or an island lookout.
Our private bus takes us to Bai Chay harbour, our entry point to Halong Bay. Our sailing junk takes you to some islands and caves. You could enjoy an evening drink on the deck beneath the stars.
Shared Van
Climb aboard and make friends with your seatmate en route to the next stop.
Halong Bay Overnight Cruise
Cruise through majestic Ha Long Bay on a traditional wooden junk boat. Enjoy your time afloat eating fresh seafood, exploring Sung Sot cave or opting to kayak. Spend a peaceful night anchored in the bay under the stars.
On rare occasion Halong Bay is closed to tourist vessels by the government authorities due to extreme weather conditions. Should this occur, an alternate activity will be provided.
Optional Activities - Day 6 HideShow
Kayaking
10USD per personTransfer from boat to kayak in this guided water tour, giving you the chance to get even closer to the stunning natural surroundings.
Meals included:
Lunch | DinnerDay 7Ha Long/Huế
Breakfast aboard our junk boat. Return to Hanoi for free time before an overnight train to Hue.
After an early lunch on board the boat we head back to Hanoi. You have enough time for shopping or further sightseeing until our overnight train to Hue.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Free Time
Explore some of the sights of the city or pick up some souvenirs during free time.
Overnight Train (beds)
Stretch out and get some well-earned rest en route to the next stop.
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 8Huế
Included tour of Tien Mu Pagoda and the Royal Tombs.
We arrive early into Hue, once the imperial capital of Vietnam. After checking in to our hotel, we have a tour of Hue, visiting the wonderful seven storey high Tien Mu Pagoda and also an imperial tomb of one of Vietnam’s former emperors.
In the evening, you have the chance to try some local Hue specialties such as banh khoai (Hue savoury pancakes), and banh bot loc boc tom thit (thin rice paper filled with meat and shrimp). You might want to wash it all down with a Hue beer. Yum!
Opt to pre-book the "Hue Motorbike Tour" activity on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your tour.
Hue City Tour
Take a tour of this imperial city to see the Thiên Mụ Buddhist pagoda, the tallest religious building in the country, the Japanese bridge, and the tombs of the emperors. Visit the Dong Ba Markets for local specialties such as banh khoai (savoury pancakes) and banh bot loc boc tom thit (thin rice paper filled with meat and shrimp).
Thien Mu Pagoda Visit
Visit Tien Mu, one of the tallest and, perhaps, most elegant pagodas in Vietnam, at seven storeys high. Take a step back in time touring this historic temple - built more than 400 years ago along the north shore of the Perfume River, it has been the site of many political protests.
Free Time
Use your free time to sample some yummy food and explore the city.
Optional Activities - Day 8 HideShow
Hue Motorbike Tour
Grab a helmet, hop on a motorbike driven by your experienced local guide, and get ready for a crash course in authentic Viet culture. Spend the next four hours exploring the stalls of a local market, admiring the view of the Perfume River, learning to plough and make rice, creating your own incense sticks, and seeing the most iconic local sights. Don’t forget to bring your camera!
Day 9Huế/Hoi An
Travel the scenic Hai Van Pass (weather permitting) on the way to Hoi An.
This morning we’ll start our day touring the wonderful ruins of the Imperial Citadel, from where Vietnam was once ruled.
In the late morning we begin our drive to Hoi An. After crossing over the Hai Van Pass, with fantastic views in all directions, we will arrive in Hoi An in the afternoon for our three-night stay.
Imperial Citadel Tour
Tour this one-time capital city and UNESCO World Heritage site. See the walled fortress and former palace, which has many palaces, gateways, courtyards, and gardens to explore. The Forbidden Purple City (modelled on China's Forbidden City) inside the citadel was once home to the imperial family and was significantly damaged during the Vietnam War.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Free Time
Get started exploring Hoi An. Tour a museum, visit a tailor or wander through the town on foot.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 10Hoi An
Enjoy a noodle making demonstration and lunch at Oodles of Noodles, a G Adventures-supported project. Afterwards enjoy free time, options include a cooking class, shopping at the tailors, riverboat cruise, bike riding, beach time or My Son ruins.
Your G for Good Moment: Oodles of Noodles
Try some of the oodles of noodles (more than 26 types!) available in the city in this tasty cooking class. Run by our G for Good partners, STREETS International, this class was developed exclusively for G Adventures. Former street youth that are part of this hospitality training program, will help you prepare and cook a number of different types of noodles. This program helps these youth practice their English, increasing their skill-set and opportunities available to them in the tourism industry. Enjoy your yummy creations while learning more about the local cuisine and this initiative which empowers street youth through skills and employment training.
Free Time
Enjoy some free time in Hoi An any way you want. Check out the beach, take in some local culture or purchase some custom-made clothing from one of the talented tailors in town.
Optional Activities - Day 10 HideShow
Thu Bon River Boat Trip
12USD per personThe Thu Bon River plays an important part in Hoi An's history and culture. Take a trip down the Thu Bon by river boat for an alternative tour of the city.
Cua Dai Beach
Play in the surf at Cua Dai beach about 4km (2.5 mi) away from the Old Town. Make your own picnic of local food and rest under one of the palm trees lining the shore.
Hoi An Cooking Class
35USD per personTake a cooking class to learn more about Vietnamese food and its distinct flavours. Tour the local market to buy fresh ingredients before preparing some popular regional dishes. Enjoy your creations when you're done!
Mỹ Sơn Excursion
38USD per personTravel approximately one hour from Hoi An to arrive at My Son. Tour these Hindu temples built between the fourth and 14th centuries; the site is widely accepted as one of the most important Hindu temple complexes in Southeast Asia. Learn about the architectural style and history of a site that’s often compared to Angkor Wat in Cambodia and Bagan in Burma. Please note this optional activity is a half-day and includes a guide, transportation, and the entrance fee.
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 11Hoi An
Use a full free day to explore more of this charming town.
Free Time
Spend time exploring Hoi An.
Optional Activities - Day 11 HideShow
Mỹ Sơn Excursion
38USD per personTravel approximately one hour from Hoi An to arrive at My Son. Tour these Hindu temples built between the fourth and 14th centuries; the site is widely accepted as one of the most important Hindu temple complexes in Southeast Asia. Learn about the architectural style and history of a site that’s often compared to Angkor Wat in Cambodia and Bagan in Burma. Please note this optional activity is a half-day and includes a guide, transportation, and the entrance fee.
Thu Bon River Boat Trip
12USD per personThe Thu Bon River plays an important part in Hoi An's history and culture. Take a trip down the Thu Bon by river boat for an alternative tour of the city.
Hoi An Cooking Class
35USD per personTake a cooking class to learn more about Vietnamese food and its distinct flavours. Tour the local market to buy fresh ingredients before preparing some popular regional dishes. Enjoy your creations when you're done!
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 12Hoi An/Ho Chi Minh City
Fly to Ho Chi Minh City and opt to take a bike tour of the city, visit the Reunification Palace, Thien Hau, or the Giac Vien pagodas.
Drive to Danang for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City, the sprawling metropolis that was once the capital of South Vietnam and remains the country’s commercial center.
The afternoon is free to explore the city.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Plane
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
Free Time
Free time to visit the Thien Hau and Gliac Vien pagodas or stroll through Ben Than Market.
Optional Activities - Day 12 HideShow
Cholon Visit
Take in the busy rhythm of daily life in Cholon, the Chinatown of Ho Chi Minh City. Tour the area full of teahouses, pagodas, and people, and learn a little more about the unique culture within the city.
Dam Sen Water Park Visit
4USD per personGet away from the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City at this nearby water park. A lush setting and refreshing water make Dam Sen the perfect place for the whole family to cool off and have some fun—splash around or take a ride down one of the slides.
Ho Chi Minh City Cyclo Tour
10USD per personTake a city tour on a cyclo (cycle rickshaw) – a great way to absorb the sights, sounds, and smells of Ho Chi Minh City while keeping your hands free for that camera action.
Reunification Palace Visit
2USD per personWander the historic halls of the Reunification Palace (Independence Palace), a landmark in Ho Chi Minh City. This former home of the South Vietnamese president during the Vietnam War became the location of the end of the war when a North Vietnamese tank pushed through the palace gates on April 30, 1975.
Thien Hau Pagoda Visit
Visit the Thien Hau Pagoda, a beautiful temple in the Chinatown district of Ho Chi Minh City. Learn more about the customs associated with this 19th-century monument – it is dedicated to the goddess Thien Hau (the 'Lady of the Sea') who is worshipped in Chinese communities throughout Asia by those who depend on the sea for their livelihoods.
Giac Vien Pagoda Visit
Find this hidden pagoda behind some small alleyways – it’s a rare treat of a monument that has been spared the over-restoration that has been done to so many temples. Tour the inside of this 18th-century pagoda to see nearly 100 carvings of divine beings.
War Remnants Museum Visit
2USD per personVisit the War Remnants Museum, a gut-wrenching but worthwhile experience that includes three storeys of exhibits and military hardware. Learn about the devastation that occurred in Saigon during the Vietnam War, a period that greatly contrasts the joy and liveliness of the Vietnamese people today.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 13Ho Chi Minh City/Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta visit, boat ride and visit to traditional candy factories. Enjoy a local homestay and dinner with a Vietnamese family.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Your Local Living Moment: Mekong Homestay
Get ready for a change of pace in Vietnam’s “rice basket”. Explore the complex waterways of the Mekong Delta on a boat tour. Afterwards, take a short xe lam (tuk-tuk) ride to a nearby community for a homestay. Relax in a hammock, explore the area by bike, and get to know the local way of life. This evening savour a traditional southern Vietnamese dinner.
Meals included:
Breakfast | DinnerDay 14Mekong Delta/Ho Chi Minh City
Option to visit War Remnants Museum, Colonial Quarter, or Ben Thanh Market.
This morning we enjoy an included breakfast before taking a boat and bus to return to Ho Chi Minh City. We will arrive in this sprawling city by midday for your chance to explore the many sites you did not get to see earlier.
Spend our final night as a group reminiscing over our journey through Vietnam over an optional dinner at a local restaurant. After dinner you may want to enjoy a cocktail while viewing the city traffic from above at the iconic Rex Hotel.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Free Time
Get any must-sees you missed the first time in Ho Chi Minh crossed off your list, there's plenty of time this afternoon.
Optional Activities - Day 14 HideShow
Ben Thanh Market
Wander this bustling market for more insight into Ho Chi Minh City. Pick up souvenirs, sample local cuisine, and experience local living. Learn a little history along the way; Ben Thanh started as a cluster of street vendors selling wares by the Saigon River, and was formalized into a true market in 1859.
Cholon Visit
Take in the busy rhythm of daily life in Cholon, the Chinatown of Ho Chi Minh City. Tour the area full of teahouses, pagodas, and people, and learn a little more about the unique culture within the city.
Thien Hau Pagoda Visit
Visit the Thien Hau Pagoda, a beautiful temple in the Chinatown district of Ho Chi Minh City. Learn more about the customs associated with this 19th-century monument – it is dedicated to the goddess Thien Hau (the 'Lady of the Sea') who is worshipped in Chinese communities throughout Asia by those who depend on the sea for their livelihoods.
Giac Vien Pagoda Visit
Find this hidden pagoda behind some small alleyways – it’s a rare treat of a monument that has been spared the over-restoration that has been done to so many temples. Tour the inside of this 18th-century pagoda to see nearly 100 carvings of divine beings.
Reunification Palace Visit
2USD per personWander the historic halls of the Reunification Palace (Independence Palace), a landmark in Ho Chi Minh City. This former home of the South Vietnamese president during the Vietnam War became the location of the end of the war when a North Vietnamese tank pushed through the palace gates on April 30, 1975.
War Remnants Museum Visit
2USD per personVisit the War Remnants Museum, a gut-wrenching but worthwhile experience that includes three storeys of exhibits and military hardware. Learn about the devastation that occurred in Saigon during the Vietnam War, a period that greatly contrasts the joy and liveliness of the Vietnamese people today.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 15Ho Chi Minh City
Depart at any time.
After breakfast on Day 15, the tour ends and you are free to depart at any time.
Some may continue traveling west through Cambodia with G Adventures. If you are interested in ongoing travel in Cambodia and Thailand have a look at the following trip on our website:
Cambodia Experience
http://www.gadventures.com/trips/cambodia-experience/AVCW/2012/
Departure Day
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.