Itinerary
- Intro
Introduction
- Day 1
Hanoi
Hanoi- Start point
- Noi Bai International Airport, Sóc Sơn, Huyện Sóc Sơn, Hanoi 140800, Vietnam (LVP Travel will offer pick up at time of arrival in noibai airport - transfer to Hotel in Hanoi center)
- Day 2
Hanoi
Hanoi- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch (Vietnamese cuisine with 8 delicious dishes at restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda - the oldest pagoda in Hanoi built in the 6th century
- Visit Ho Chi Minh complex - see embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh, walk around garden to see 2 houses where he lived and worked from 1954 to 1969
- Visit One Pillar Pagoda - unique pagoda worshipping the Goddess of Mercy
- Visit Vietnam Museum of Ethnology to learn about the culture of 54 ethnic groups living in Vietnam (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays & Sundays) OR Bat Trang ceramic village to explore daily life and learn about ceramic-making process (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays)
- Visit Temple of Literature - the first university of Vietnam, established in the 11th century
- Visit Ngoc Son Temple - honors General Tran Hung Dao from 13th century
- Lunch with Vietnamese cuisine featuring 8 delicious dishes
Landmarks Tran Quoc Pagoda Ho Chi Minh Complex One Pillar Pagoda Vietnam Museum of Ethnology Temple of Literature Ngoc Son Temple Hoan Kiem Lake Bat Trang Ceramic Village - Day 3
Hanoi to Sapa
Hanoi to Sapa- Meals
- Lunch (Local Vietnamese dishes)
Included Activities
- 12 km trek on small trails down Muong Hoa Valley
- Visit Lao Chai village of Black H'Mong ethnic people to discover daily life and traditional clothes/handicraft/indigo production
- Visit Ta Van village of Giay people located on rice paddy fields
- Welcome drink and itinerary briefing upon arrival in Sapa
- Lunch with local Vietnamese dishes
Landmarks Sapa Town Muong Hoa Valley Lao Chai Village Ta Van Village - Day 4
Sapa to Hanoi
Sapa to Hanoi- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Car/jeep transfer from hotel to Ma Tra village (5 km)
- Trek through local paths and rice fields to Black H'Mong village of Ma Tra
- Visit local school
- Walk through beautiful scenery to Red Dao village of Ta Phin
- Visit local houses and caves in Ta Phin
- Lunch (location not specified)
Optional Activities
- Medicine bath complex at Ta Phin village
- Long walk through rice paddies and mountain views
Landmarks Ma Tra Village Ta Phin Village - Day 5
Hanoi to Halong Bay
Hanoi to Halong Bay- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch (Excellent fresh seafood lunch on the boat), Dinner (Excellent fresh seafood dinner on the boat)
Included Activities
- Exploration of Halong Bay aboard traditional wooden junk
- Observe fishing villages
- Sea bathing
- Watch sunset and sunrise
- Excellent fresh seafood lunch and dinner
Landmarks Halong Bay - Day 6
Halong Bay to Hue
Halong Bay to Hue- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast served in Western style on boat), Lunch (Traditional Vietnamese lunch on boat)
Included Activities
- Tai Chi routine on sundeck or morning view of Halong Bay landscape
- Breakfast in Western style
- Explore Thien Canh Son Cave
- Vietnamese cooking demonstration - learn to make Nem Cuon or fruit/vegetable carving
- Traditional Vietnamese lunch on boat
- Disembark at Hon Gai pier
Landmarks Thien Canh Son Cave Hon Gai Pier - Day 7
Hue
Hue- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch (Lunch at local food restaurant)
Included Activities
- Dragon boat transfer along Perfume River
- Visit Thien Mu Pagoda - 400-year-old pagoda built in 1601, UNESCO World Heritage site
- Visit Hue Imperial Citadel - complex of Citadel, Royal city and Forbidden city, working and residence of 13 emperors
- Visit tomb of Emperor Minh Mang - second emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty
- Visit Khai Dinh Tomb - the most expensive and beautiful tomb in the Nguyen dynasty tomb system
- Lunch at local food restaurant
Landmarks Thien Mu Pagoda Hue Imperial Citadel Minh Mang Tomb Khai Dinh Tomb Perfume River - Day 8
Hue to Hoi An
Hue to Hoi An- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
Included Activities
- Stop at Hai Van Pass
- Stop at Lang Co Beach
- Stop at Lap An Lagoon
Landmarks Hai Van Pass Lang Co Beach Lap An Lagoon - Day 9
Hoi An
Hoi AnIncluded Activities
- Fishing with local fishermen on the river
- Learn traditional fishing techniques
- Paddle Vietnamese bamboo basket boats
- Fish caught will be cooked for you
- Explore coconut-palm flanked waterways
Landmarks Hoi An Waterways - Day 10
Hoi An
Hoi An- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch (Lunch in Hoi An)
Included Activities
- Visit My Son - UNESCO World Heritage site, former capital and religious centre of Champa Kingdom
- Explore red brick towers and sanctuaries dating from 7th-13th centuries
- Walking tour of Hoi An historic town
- Visit Hoi An colorful local market
- Visit Tan Ky old house
- Visit Fukien Assembly Hall
- Visit 400-year-old Japanese covered bridge
- See local residents raise silkworms and produce silk for Hoi An's textile industry
- Lunch in Hoi An
Landmarks My Son Hoi An Old Town Hoi An Local Market Tan Ky Old House Fukien Assembly Hall Japanese Covered Bridge - Day 11
Hoi An
Hoi An- Meals
- Lunch (4 dishes prepared and cooked during hands-on cooking class at Kumquat BBQ Restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Hoi An colorful market with opportunity to interact with local sellers
- Purchase ingredients for cooking class
- 3-hour hands-on cooking class at Kumquat BBQ Restaurant
- Prepare and cook 4 dishes during class
- Chef demonstrations and explanations of recipes
- Enjoy meals prepared during class
- Receive recipes to recreate at home
- Complimentary pickup/drop-off from hotel in Hoi An by bicycle to explore countryside and everyday life of local people
Optional Activities
- Explore countryside by bicycle instead of taxi
Landmarks Hoi An Market Kumquat BBQ Restaurant - Day 12
Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh
Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh - Day 13
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch (Lunch en route)
Included Activities
- Visit Cu Chi Tunnels - underground tunnel complex used during Vietnam War (70 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh)
- Visit Reunification Palace
- Visit War Remnants Museum
- Photo stop at Notre Dame Cathedral
- Photo stop at General Post Office
- Lunch en route
Landmarks Cu Chi Tunnels Reunification Palace War Remnants Museum Notre Dame Cathedral General Post Office - Day 14
Ho Chi Minh to Mekong Delta
Ho Chi Minh to Mekong Delta- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at stilt restaurant on Turtle Island)
Included Activities
- Boat cruise on the Mekong River (Ben Tre)
- Visit local orchard to taste exotic seasonal fruit
- View coconut candy workshop
- Horse-cart riding
- Sampan cruise along My Tho canals
- Visit stilt restaurant on Turtle Island
- Lunch
Landmarks Mekong Delta My Tho Mekong River Turtle Island - Day 15
Ho Chi Minh to Siem Reap
Ho Chi Minh to Siem Reap - Day 16
Siem Reap
Siem Reap- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit South Gate of Angkor Thom - famous for colossal human faces carved in stone
- Visit Bayon Temple
- Visit Royal Enclosure
- Visit Phimeanakas
- Visit Elephant Terrace
- Visit Terrace of the Leper King
- Visit Angkor Wat - largest and most complete temple of Angkor, 12th century construction, covers approximately 210 hectares
- Explore galleries, columns, libraries, pavilions, courtyards and water ponds
- Visit Ta Prohm - jungle covered temple with fig trees and creepers
Landmarks South Gate of Angkor Thom Bayon Temple Angkor Wat Ta Prohm Angkor Thom Royal Enclosure Phimeanakas Elephant Terrace Terrace of the Leper King - Day 17
Siem Reap
Siem Reap- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Banteay Srei - constructed in late 10th century by Brahmin counselor, known for delicate carving beauty, loosely translated as citadel of the woman
- Stop at Preah Dark village
- Visit Banteay Samre Temple - adorned with impressive reliefs depicting Vishnu and Krishna legends
- Visit Preah Khan temple - huge monastic complex built by King Jayavarman VII, dedicated to his father, served as Buddhist monastery and school with over 1000 monks
- Visit Neak Pean - small island temple in the middle of the last Baray constructed by a Khmer king
- Lunch at local restaurant
Landmarks Banteay Srei Preah Dark Village Banteay Samre Temple Preah Khan Neak Pean - Day 18
Siem Reap to Luang Prabang
Siem Reap to Luang Prabang- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
- Day 19
Luang Prabang
Luang PrabangIncluded Activities
- Optional early morning participation in daily rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting alms of sticky rice
- Visit morning local market near Royal Palace
- Visit Traditional Art and Ethnology Center to learn about Laos' ethnic cultures
- Visit Wat Xiengthong with classical Laotian architecture
- Leisure cruise upstream on Mekong River
- Explore Pak Ou Caves with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues
- Stop at Ban Xanghai village where local rice wine is made
- Visit Royal Palace Museum
- Sunset visit at Wat Siphouthabaht
- Visit famous Night Market with handmade textiles made by local and hilltribe people
Optional Activities
- Early morning participation in daily morning rituals of monks
Landmarks Royal Palace Museum Wat Xiengthong Pak Ou Caves Ban Xanghai Village Wat Siphouthabaht Luang Prabang Night Market Mekong River - Day 20
Luang Prabang
Luang PrabangIncluded Activities
- Visit Elephant Village and befriend elephants
- Elephant riding to nearby jungle - approximately 30 minutes
- Visit Kuang Si Waterfalls - swim in pools or walk forest trails
- Visit tomb of 19th century French explorer Henri Mouhot
- Visit Kuang Si Falls Butterfly Park
- Visit Ban Ouay - Hmong village
- Visit Ban Ou - Laoloum village
- Visit Ban Thapene - Khmu village
- Sunset at Wat Siphouthabath
Landmarks Elephant Village Kuang Si Waterfalls Kuang Si Falls Butterfly Park Ban Ouay Ban Ou Ban Thapene Wat Siphouthabath - Day 21
Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang- End point
- Luang Prabang International Airport (LPQ), Phetsarat Rd., Ban Had Hian, Louangphrabang, Laos (we will see you off at the airport after the Saying Good Bye Party )
Included Activities
- Visit prominent Luang Prabang silversmith's workshop
- Visit Fine Arts School
- Visit Central Market
Landmarks Central Market
