18D Vietnam Journey and Cambodia Extension

Arrive at Noi Bai International Airport, meet your guide and transfer to the hotel in Hanoi, the thousand-year-old city.

Hanoi (literally “River-bound City”) is Vietnam’s capital with a thousand-year-old history dating back to 1010. The city’s fascinating beauty lies in the unique cultural relics, ancient streets of antique houses, elegant French colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards and romantic lakes, which makes it one of the most charming cities of Asia.

Check-in the hotel and freshen up before heading out and enjoy a one-hour cyclo trip around the old quarter, sightseeing around and watching Hanoian life goes by. Follow up with a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show.

Welcome dinner will be hosted at a local restaurant.

Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Meal: D

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel.

Today we visit Hanoi city. The destinations for the morning include Ho Chi Minh Complex (which consists of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the colonial Presidential Palace, and the rural style Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts), the 11th century-built One Pillar Pagoda, and Temple of Literature, the first university of Vietnam.

Lunch is served at a local restaurant in Hanoi.

In the afternoon, visit Vietnamese Women’s Museum, which was built to enhance public knowledge and understanding of history and cultural heritage of Vietnamese women. After that, drop by Hoa Lo, alternatively called Hanoi Hilton and was where US Senator John McCain was kept during the war.

Go on a stroll around the Old Quarter and do some light shopping as you please.

At about 8:00 in the evening, we gather at the train station for our overnight train to Sapa.

Overnight on train to Sapa.

Meal: B, L

The train arrives at Lao Cai Train Station at about 6:00 am. We will then board a bus and transfer to Sapa, a nice little town that gracefully nestle on the side of a mountain, at 1500 meters high.

Enjoy a hefty breakfast and stock up energy for today’s journey.

9:00 am, we start trekking from Laochai village. We pass through green valley and mountain to get to our destination – Tavan Village. Have lunch with a local family.

In the afternoon, we continue trekking through the bamboo forest and many villages where you can see breath-taking scenery, meeting humble and friendly people and discover their rich culture. Finish at Giang Ta Chai Village of Red Dzao people, board the bus and come back to Sapa town.

Overnight at hotel in Sapa.

Meal: B, L

Breakfast at the hotel.

This morning we transfer to Bac Ha Market, the biggest market held every Sunday for people from all over the region. Have fun watching the bustling event, interacting with and taking part in trading activities with local minority people. Lunch on your own with delicious mountain specialty.

In the afternoon, leave Bac Ha and drive to Trung Do Village, which is the residence of Tay people. Sightseeing around the village and make friends with the villagers. After that, step on a boat and sail along the Chay River, finishing at Bao Nhai, where the bus awaits to take you to the train station. On the way, drop by Lao Cai Border Gate for a quick sightseeing.

Overnight on night train to Hanoi.

Meal: B

We arrive at Hanoi early in the morning. Enjoy breakfast and get freshen up at a local restaurant.

This morning we transfer to Halong Bay, World Natural Heritage and arguably the most loved destination in Vietnam since 1994. This myriad of islands and rock mountains never fails to capture tourists’ attention.

Once arrived in Halong, we get on the boat and enjoy our welcome drink.

The boat will take you across the bay. Enjoy the breath-taking view and participating in different activities like swimming, sunbathing, kayaking, etc. Or you can relax on the sun-deck with a wine glass.

Lunch and dinner are served on board with fresh seafood.

Overnight on board in Halong Bay.

Meal: B, L, D

Tai Chi practice on deck while the sun rises. Have breakfast on board.

Today we will continue to cruise the bay and visit a cave which hasn’t had its beauty brushed by man’s hand.

Brunch is served while we come back to land. The cruise ends at 11:00 AM.

Good bye Halong, we drive to Dong Trieu village, a typical village of Northern Vietnam, where we will spend the night at a local homestay. Once there, experience the life of a Vietnamese farmer, go out to the field, planting rice, riding a buffalo, catching fish in the river, etc.

After dinner with the host family, sit down and have a chat with the head of the house, a Vietnam War veteran.

Overnight at homestay in Dong Trieu.

Meal: B, L, D

After breakfast, grab a bike and go around the village. We will visit a ceramic village, where you can witness with your own eyes the whole process of making pottery by hand from scratch. Finish the bike trip at the local market then coming back to the homestay.

Lunch with the family, then say goodbye and transfer to Noi Bai Airport to catch our flight to Hue, the former capital of Vietnam, which has seen the rise and fall of the last imperial dynasty.

Once arrived, we head to our hotel in Hue. Check-in and relax.

Overnight at hotel in Hue.

Meal: B, L

Enjoy a hefty breakfast at the hotel.

Morning visits start with your choice of either King Khai Dinh’s Tomb or King Minh Mang’s Tomb, each has its own very unique charm. After that, step on a boat and go upstream Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda, an impressive 7-storey tower and the oldest pagoda in the region.

Lunch will be at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we will tour Hue Citadel – the 520 ha fortress that once hold every important ceremonies of Nguyen dynasty and was the residence of kings and queens.

Lastly, we swing by Dong Ba market for a fun shopping time.

Overnight at hotel in Hue.

Meal: B

After lunch with Hue specialty, transfer to Hoi An old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site loved for the graceful and delightful charm from years in the past.

On the way there, drop by Lang Co Beach (impressive 15 km stretch of white sand and blue water) and Marble Mountain (named after the five elements in Eastern philosophy).

After lunch in Hoi An, we take a tour around this ancient town. Start off with the iconic 400-year-old Covered Bridge, a prominent example of Japanese architecture influence. Move to Museum of Trade Ceramics which is an elegant Vietnamese style wooden house showcasing antique ceramic artifacts. Our next stops will be the 200-year-old Tan Ky House, and Ong Temple, which was by Chinese settlers to worship Guan Yu and the local market vibrant with colors and activities.

Overnight at hotel in Hoi An.

Meal: B, L

This morning we will enjoy a cycling trip to Kim Bong Village, witnessing local river life along the way.  Visit Tra Que Village, where fresh vegetables, some vital to Hoi An Cuisine, are grown. Turn to a farmer for one day and enjoy activities such as bamboo boat rowing and crab fishing here.

In the afternoon, enjoy your time sightseeing around and shopping. Later, we take part in a cooking class. The cooking lesion will include a trip to the market, learning how to choose fresh, tasty ingredients and a hand-on practice of traditional Hoi An dishes. After the lesson we will sit down and enjoy what we have just prepared for dinner.

Overnight at hotel in Hoi An.

Meal: B, D

Today is for your own exploration of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, whose charm oozes out of exceptionally well-preserved architecture, lifestyles and traditions, as well as the fascinating fusion of cultures between Vietnam and the outside world.

Relax at the hotel or go round and hunt down gifts and souvenirs. One tip for you: the tailor shops here are top-notch.

Overnight at hotel in Hoi An.

Meal: B

Breakfast at the hotel.

Free at leisure until transfer to Da Nang airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh City, the largest, busiest, most dynamic in the whole country. Our driver will greet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel. Check-in and rest.

In the afternoon, the tour will cover War Remnants Museum – whose artifacts powerfully convey the brutal effects of war on civilian, the Reunification Palace – a French style building which is deeply associated with the fall of the city in 1975. Move on to the Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office - both showcasing the heavy influence of French architecture in the city.

Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meal: B, L

Breakfast at the hotel. Stuff yourself cause it’s gonna be an exciting day.

Today we visit Mekong Delta, Vietnam's largest rice bowl. Enjoy the scenic journey along the National Highway bordered by green rice fields.

Arrive in My Tho City, board a motorboat and observe the local daily life up close while navigating through intricate canals. You can see from the boat the view of stilt houses, fruit plantations and fishing villages along the river banks. Other activities includes cycling around the village and visiting workshops making coconut candies and rice wine, bee farms and orchards, tasting the sweetness of fruits fresh off the trees.

Late in the afternoon, return to Ho Chi Minh City and rest.

Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meal: B, L

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel.

Today we head North-west to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, once a major underground hideout and resistance base of Viet Cong forces during the war. Upon arrival and before entering the tunnels, we will see a short introductory video showing how the tunnels were constructed. Following this we will begin our exploration of the maze of tunnels, some of which have been widened to allow tourist access.

Activities include exploring the tunnel systems, and firing guns with real bullets (not included in tour price).

Return to Ho Chi Minh City. We drop by Ben Thanh Market, arguably the largest of its kind in the city, for a shopping spree.

Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meal: B, L

Breakfast at the hotel.

Free at leisure until transfer to the airport for our flight to Siem Reap.

Arrive in Siem Reap, we transfer to the hotel and rest.

Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.

Meal: B

Breakfast at the hotel.

Today we visit Angkor Thom, the capital of Jayavarman VII's empire back in 12th century.

The tour will cover the South Gate of Angkor Thom, the 800 year old Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure – where kings and queens lived – and its inner Phimeanakas – a Hindu temple in the shape of a four-sided pyramid. Move on to the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King, both containing extensive sculptings of mythological animals and demons. The next visit will be Ta Prohm, an old temple surrounded by jungle.

We will then transfer to Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world.

Later, you will be taken by Tuk Tuk, a small open-sided taxi common in Cambodia, to tour around the suburb of Siem Reap town and for a blessing ceremony by Buddhist monks for happiness, prosperity and safety for your journey.

Overnight at the hotel in Siem Reap.

Meal: B, L

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel.

This morning, we will be out for a visit to the great lake called "Tonle Sap”. We will board a boat and discover this miniature ocean which has fed the Khmer since the beginning of civilization.

We will also have a chance to meet and talk with the fishermen and villagers in the region. A special visit today is a fish and crocodile farm.

Lunch at local restaurant.

In the afternoon, pay a visit to "les Artisants d'Angkor", a showroom cum cultural organization striving to preserve the art of traditional Cambodian handicraft.  Then swing by the central market (old market) for a quick shopping time.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Meal: B, L

Have breakfast at the hotel.

Enjoy free time at leisure until the car comes pick you up and transfers you to the airport for your flight home.

Tour ends.

Meal: B