14-Day Vietnam Authentic Tour from Hanoi: Sapa, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh | Ta Van village | Overnight on Cruise

When arriving, welcome at the airport and transfer to your selected hotel.

Early in the evening, join a water puppet show, a distinct Vietnamese art in which a split-bamboo screen obscures puppets which stand in water and are manipulated using long poles hidden beneath the water.

Dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight in Hanoi.

After breakfast, spend your day taking a tour around the capital and visiting such sites as the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (outside), a large memorial in Hanoi, located in the centre of Ba Dinh Square, which is the place where Vietminh leader Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence on September 2, 1945.

His former residence, stilt house of Ho Chi Minh, the founder of modern Vietnam, fondly known as “Uncle Ho”.

One Pillar Pagoda, the emperor Lý Thái Tông constructed the temple in gratitude for this in 1049 by erecting a pillar in the middle of a lotus pond, similar to the one he saw in the dream that he met the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, who handed him a baby son while seated on a lotus flower.

Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first national university where offering ceremonies, study sessions and the strict exams of the Dai Viet took place. Built in 1070 at the time of King Lý Nhân Tông, it is one of several temples in Vietnam which are dedicated to Confucius, sages and scholars.

Lunch in a restaurant.

In the afternoon, continue to the Museum of Ethnology, which focuses on the 54 officially recognized ethnic groups in Vietnam.

Then, you will enjoy a very interesting walking tour around the old quarter within 1,5 hours. Firstly the trip start from head of Cao Thang street where local people sell all traditional cooking spices of Vietnam such as onions, garlic, mushrooms, black mushrooms, peppers, lemongrass, ginger, galangal ... Then moving to Dong Xuan market, the biggest market in Hanoi, originally built by the French administration and surrounded by different streets, you will go through the market and turn right to Hang Ma street, the road is shimmered by decorating stuff , Chinese toys, the colorful lanterns, paper goods and in particular paper votive offerings.

Passing by Luong Van Can, Lan Ong, you arrive Hang Buom street where located the oldest temple of Hanoi - Bach Ma Temple, you will take some rest to admire the temple before continue walking through Ta Hien, Dinh Liet street to the most peaceful small alley of Hanoi - Trung Yen. On the way you have chance to explore daily life of local people who live and sharing their life in the confined spaces. We continue to Hang Be street - used to be one of the best well-known outdoor markets in town dating from medieval, with famous food”Mam Tep Chung Thit”, some years ago, it was disintegrated. At the end of this road, there is a coffee shop named Cafe market, where we will invite you a cup of coffee or iced fruit smoothies.

We end of trip at Hoan Kiem Lake, in front of Water Puppet show theatre, from here you can continue your walking or back to your hotel.

Discover Hoan Kiem Lake, meaning "Lake of the Returned Sword" , where emperor Lê Lợi was boating on the lake when his magic sword, Heaven's Will, was grabbed by a turtle who quickly disappeared into the depths.

Take a beautiful picture on the The Huc red bridge to Ngoc Son Temple.

Come back to your hotel. Dinner on your own.

Overnight in Hanoi.

8:00am - 8:30am: The Swan shutter bus will pick you up from your hotel and heading to Northeast of Vietnam.

12:30am: Arrive at Swan office, transferred by tender to Swan Cruise.

12:45pm: Enjoy welcome drink, be briefing about safety on boat and activities included then check in cabin.

13:30pm: Delicious Vietnamese set menu while leisurely cruising to the core of Bai Tu Long Bay. 

15:00pm: Arrive to Cap La Island the beautiful area in Bai Tu Long bay. Enjoy kayaking through the karst and breathtaking nature, swimming and relaxing.

17:30pm: Get back to the boat and enjoys Sunset party while our cruise sailing to the overnight anchorage. 

19:00pm: Sumptuous set-dinner onboard.

20:30pm: Free time for joining Games, you may also try your luck with squid fishing. 

Overnight onboard with Swan Cruise.

6:30am: Starting your day with Tai Chi on the Sundeck.

7:00am: Breakfast will be served in Western style and furthermore with Vietnamese traditional food.

8:00: Explore the Thien Canh Son. Guide will explain the history of Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay and this Cave, made by Mother Nature.

9:30am: Upon return to the boat you will have 30 minutes to freshen up and finish packing.   

Please remove all of your belongings from your cabin, you may leave heavy luggage outside of the cabin (staff will transfer directly to the pier). 

10:30am: Vietnamese cooking demonstration on boat.

11:00am: Enjoy a traditional Vietnamese lunch.

12:00pm: Disembark in Hon Gai pier.

12:30pm: Farewell Halong Bay then returns to Hanoi.

17:30pm: Drop off your hotel. Free time for relax, shopping or eating some thing by yourself.

19:30pm -20:00:pm Our driver pick you up at your hotel then transfer to  railway station catch train to Lao cai/Sapa. Overnight on train.

Arrive at Lao Cai railway station at about 6:00am then transfer to Sapa, which is home for more than 30 minority tribes (Black H’mong, Flower H’mong, Red Dzao) and of Vietnam’s highest peak - Fansipan Mount.

Have breakfast in the hotel or restaurant (optional) before the trip starts.

Private car  take you to Lao Chai village of the Black H’Mong tribe and trekking.

Lunch en route.

After lunch, continue to Ta Van village to visit the Dzay tribe, which is supposed to be the most beautiful one in the area and then stay at local house (total trekking at the average level: 11km - 5hours).

Dinner at the home-stay.

Overnight in Ta Van village at a Dzay family.

After breakfast, come back to Sapa by a private car.

Trekking to the Ma Tra village for the discovery of Black H’mong (trekking at the easy level: 4km - 2,5 hours).

Lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, at about 16h00, transfer to the railway station to take the night train to Hanoi 

Dinner on your own. Explore Sapa at night and enjoy local street food by yourself. Overnight in Sapa.

8:00am: After breakfast in hotel, driver & tour guide take you to Cable Car Station and spend 20 minutes with cable car to enjoy the spectacular scenery.

9:00am: Reach the altitute of 2800 meters, you have a good time to see the view and take photos, visit pagoda the spiritual destinations and trek up to 600 steps you will reach the peak of Fansipan - the Roof of Indochina. ( Spend about 1,5 hours for hiking and taking photos).

11:00:am Come back to Cable Car Station and return to Sapa town.

12:30pm: Have lunch in the hotel.

13:30pm - 15:45pm: Relax and discover Sapa town by yourself with some souvenirs, meet all group members at hotel to get ready for Hanoi.

16:00pm: Get on bus to go back to Hanoi with two comfort breaks.

20:45pm: We say goodbye to you at your hotel.Overnight in Hanoi.

Suggest flight: HAN-HUI ( 8:40am - 9:55am) by VN airline - Charge from $90/pax/ticket (Airfare is not included)

Following breakfast, you will be free until transfer to the airport for a flight to the ancient imperial capital of Hue.

In Hue, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel.

Afternoon. Enjoy 1 hour cyclo to visit hue city. Enjoy Dinner on Boat in River perfumer to see the Sunset. Overnight in Hue.

After breakfast at hotel, pick up at your hotel, take a boat for a cruise on the gentle Huong River.

Visit Thien Mu pagoda, built in 1601 on the order of the first Nguyen lords, Nguyen Hoang, who at that time was the governor of Hue.

Continue to a quiet Thuy Bieu village – 6.5 km from the city centre – a laidback village famous for growing the Thanh Tra fruit (a kind of small pomelo), visit many garden houses, a unique feature of Hue countryside, and enjoy a nice walking and biking around the village.

Visit an old communal house, pass by several ancient ancestral temples and communicate with local people.

Visit an incense making family and discover the daily life of local people while they are working strenuously with joy and enthusiasm. You may also join their activities: gardening, talking and drinking tea with them. 

Back to Thuy Bieu restaurant, relax by steeping your foot in medicinal herb water – a traditional therapeutic practice and enjoy excellent massage by blind people.

Lunch at Thuy Bieu restaurant.

In the afternoon, discovery of Emperor Minh Mang’s tomb, ponds and gardens is known for its perfect harmony between architecture and its natural environment. It began to be built during his reign (1820-1841) and was completed only in 1843, two years after his death by his successor Thieu Tri.

Dinner on your own.

Overnight in Hue.

After breakfast, transfer to Da Nang through Hai Van Pass and through the picturesque fishing village of Lang Co.

When arriving in Da Nang, visit the Cham Museum and Marble Mountain,  (Ngu Hanh Son) is about 8km southeast of Da Nang City. This is a cluster of five marble mountains lying close to the sea. That is why, it is dubbed Hon Non Nuoc, which means Mountain and Water in Vietnamese.

Continue to the riverside town of Hoi An, an important trading port during the 17th and 18th centuries and officially listed as a World Heritage Site.

Lunch in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, walk around Hoi An ancient town and exploring its treasures :

Quan Cong temple - the brave and loyal Chinese General.

Phuc Kien pagoda, This is the most well-known assembly hall in the ancient town.Fukjianese were Chinese traders who first came to Hoi An in great number, at least in the XVII century. That was the reason why all above mentioned gods were worshipped in this pagoda after the collapse of the old pagoda.

The Japanese Bridge, Hoi An’s signature landmark used widely as an emblem of the town. It was built by Japanese merchants in the 16the century

Tan Ky ancient house, the most popular of Hoi An’s old houses.

Hoi An port, the World Heritage listed by Unesco.

Dinner on your own.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Suggest flight : DAD - SGN ( 8:50am - 10:15am) by Vietnam airline or Similar - Charge from $82/pax/ticket (Airfare is not included)

After an early breakfast, transfer to the airport for your morning flight to Ho Chi Minh, under the name Saigon, it was the capital of the French colony of Cochin-china and later of the independent republic of South Vietnam from 1955–75. On 2 July 1976, Saigon was officially renamed Ho Chi Minh City, name of Vietnamese communist revolutionary leader who was prime minister (1945–1955) and president (1945–1969) of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam).

When arriving in Ho Chi Minh, transfer to your selected hotel.

In the same morning, discover a busy Saigon, enjoy a tour in the Old Colonial Residential Quarte and visit:

The City’s old Hotel, a palace built by the French architect Paul Gardès of 1902-19081 in the center of Saigon in Indochina at the time.

The Opera House, inspired by the architecture of the Opera Garnier in Paris, which was built in 1900. The facade of the opera is a replica of the Petit Palais in Paris

Notre-Dame Cathedral, The famous central Saigon Cathedral, built in 1877, is one of HCMC's architectural marvels, built with materials imported from France.

Post Office signed by Gustave Eiffel.

Lunch in a restaurant.

In the afternoon, discover the Chinese quarter “Cho Lon” and its impressive Binh Tay market.

End of the day with a visit to a lacquerware factory.

Dinner on your own.

Overnight in Saigon.

In the morning, depart from Ho Chi Minh City and drive to My Tho, located in the heart of the Mekong  Delta.

When arriving in My Tho, take a boat for a cruise on the Mekong River and its multiple canals to Ben Tre.

Visit a coco candy factory where you can taste local specialties.

Take a coach to visit a garden house and enjoy tea with honey and fresh tropical fruits.

Lunch in M.Hai’s house.

In the afternoon, walk around the Hai’s village.

Dinner and overnight in homestay.

After breakfast, transfer to Cai Be, take a sampan to visit Cai Be floating market, “floating halls” where focus each day boats filled with fruits and vegetables.

On the way, lunch at Mekong Restop restaurant– a romantic place.

Arrive in Saigon late in the afternoon.

Dinner on your own.

Overnight in Saigon.

After breakfast, free time before your transfer to the airport. End of service.