Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
Arrive at Noibai airport, meet and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 2: Hanoi – Halong Bay
Morning drive to Halong Bay. Arrive in Halong Bay and board a Vietnamese “junk” (boat) where you will have lunch. Then take a fantastic cruise in Halong Bay, where the cast limestone islands rise vertically out of the water and you will wonder if you are dreaming or sailing into a movie set. Visit Dinh Huong, Ga Choi, Dog, and Snail Islands before continuing to Sung Sot cave. Jump in for a swim at Titov beach. Enjoy dinner on the boat followed by optional fishing and drinking of Vietnamese wine before heading to your air-conditioned cabin. Overnight onboard. (B,L,D)
Day 3: Explore Halong Bay
After breakfast on the boat continue cruising this area known as one of the ‘Wonders of the World’ to Man’s Head and Tortoise Islands. A small bamboo boat will take you to Luon Cave, then off to Bai Tu Long Bay, Toal Island, Bai Tho Mountain. The boat will then make its way to Halong City as you enjoy your last lunch aboard. Return to Hanoi in a private car, stopping en-route at Dong Trieu Pottery. Attend a Water Puppet Show to experience a truly traditional Vietnamese evening. Dinner on your own. Overnight in Hanoi. (B,L)
Day 4: Hanoi – City Tour – Sapa
After breakfast, full day city tour of this charming capital city to visit Ho Chi Minh’s House and Mausoleum, the One Pillar Pagoda, Quan Thanh Temple, Tran Quoc Pagoda, and the Temple of Literature. Lunch at restaurant. Afternoon, visit to Fine Art Museum, Old Quarter and shopping. Then transfer from hotel 8:00 PM to train station for the night train to LaoCai at 9:00 PM. Overnight on train. (B,L)
Day 5: SaPa – Day at leisure
Arrive in LaoCai at 6:00 AM pick up and transfer to SaPa. Check in hotel and breakfast. Free time to explore the town on your own. (B)
Day 6: SaPa Town – Seo Trung Ho Village
Breakfast at the hotel, take a jeep ride along MuongHoa valley to visit the Rattan Bridge, silver waterfall, the first village of the Red Dzao people (GiangTa Chai village). Trek round 6 – 7 hours thru the forests up and down in Fansipan range then reach Seo Trung Ho village of the Red Dzao. This is an almost untouched village and there are very few tourists getting here. In here, there is a chance to enjoy a most beautiful waterfall in SaPa, which comes from a height of about 70 m. Overnight at Homestay of a Dzao family. (B,L,D)
Day 7: SeoTrung Ho – Ta Trung Ho – BanHo Village
Breakfast, start climbing up to the mountain for another untouched village: Ta Trung Ho village located at about 1450m above the sea level. Picnic lunch at the village and then descend BanHo village to visit a different minority: The Tay people who have houses on stilts. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at Ban Ho village. (B,L,D)
Day 8: Ban Ho Village – SaPa – LaoCai
After breakfast, go for a walk to a waterfall called Lavie which was discovered and named by the French in the past. Drive back to SaPa. Time at leisure until pick up to LaoCai Station for the night train to Hanoi. (B,L,D)
Day 9: Hanoi – Luang Prabang – City tour and Waterfall
Arrive in Hanoi . Transfer to NoiBai airport for flight to Luang Prabang. Transfer to hotel. Then take you on a tour of the city which will include visits to The National Museum, Wat Xieng Thong, and Wat Visun. Lunch at restaurant. Drive to visit the stunning Kuang Si Waterfall. Stop at a Khmu village for a glimpse of local life. Once you reach the falls, wind down with a relaxing afternoon dip in the serene pools. Overnight in Luang Prabang. (L)
Day 10: Luang Prabang – Monks + Market Village
After breakfast, walk through town where you’ll see everything from a silversmith to locals shopping at the morning market for their daily produce. Take a short walk to the Traditional Arts & Ethnology Centre, a museum dedicated to the culture and customs of ethnic villages in Laos. Lunch at restaurant. Then taking a scenic drive to visit three hill tribe villages, each with a different handicraft skill. Return to Luang Prabang in the late afternoon and head back to your hotel to relax or take an optional stroll through the night market with guide. Overnight in Luang Prabang. (B,L)
Day 11: Luang Prabang – Chiang Mai
Transfer to Luang Prabang airport for flight to Chiang Mai Airport, meet and transfer to hotel. Attend a traditional Khantoke Show dinner and dance. Overnight in Chiang Mai. (B,D)
Day 12: Chiang Mai – Doi Suthep and City Tour
Morning drive to visit Doi Suthep – the most important Wat in Chiang Mai. Perched high above the city, it offers wonderful views of the city and countryside below. Lunch at restaurant. Then visiting some of the more famous Wats, within the city walls of Chiang Mai, Your guide will discuss Buddhism and the role it plays in everyday life as well as showing you the many details of each temple. Overnight in Chiang Mai. (B,L)
Day 13: Chiang Mai – Cooking Class
After breakfast, take a full day Thai cooking class. Then take to the market to learn about many of the fruits and spices. After getting your ingredients you will be taught to make several Thai dishes before enjoying a huge feast together to celebrate your newly acquired skills! Overnight in Chiang Mai. (B,L)
Day 14: Chiang Mai – Siem Reap
Transfer to Chiang Mai Airport for flight to Siem Reap, meet and transfer to hotel. Enjoy a traditional buffet dinner and dance show in the evening. Overnight in Siem Reap. (B,D)
Day 15: Siem Reap – Angkor Wat
Morning drive to Angkor Wat, or if you choose by bike, with guide. Explore this majestic temple throughout the morning while it is still cool and has fewer tourists. Have lunch and a nap or refresh with a swim. In the afternoon head to Angkor Thom, the famous walled city and see the many temples within its borders, including the fascinating Bayon temple with its many magnificent faces smiling out. There are several beautiful spots from which to watch the sunset. Overnight in Siem Reap. (B,L)
Day 16: Siem Reap – Banteay Srei and Tonle Sap
Morning depart to Banteay Srei, the intricately carved temple just 30 km beyond Angkor Wat. Then head back to the temples to visit Banteay Kdei and Ta Prohm, two of the prettiest temples in the complex. After a rest or swim, drive through rural Cambodia to the Tonle Sap Lake, take a boat ride to visit the floating village and a Cambodian fish farm. As the day ends choose to climb Phnom Krom and see the ancient ruins high on the hill and watch the sun set over the lake and rice fields below or relax and watch the sun disappear below the horizon from boat on the lake. Overnight in Siem Reap. (B,L)
Day 17: Siem Reap – Saigon
Transfer to the airport for flight to Saigon, meet and transfer to hotel. Then take a one-hour cyclo tour of Chinese quarter through Rice Market and Cho Lon market. Overnight in Saigon. (B)
Day 18: Saigon – Cu Chi – Tay Ninh
After breakfast, take a full day excursion to the Cu Chi Tunnels. On the way to the tunnels, visit a rice paper making village and market. Descend into the Cu Chi tunnels where the guerilla fighters constructed an amazing underground base! Enjoy lunch at a restaurant in Cu Chi. In the afternoon, continue to drive another half an hour to Tay Ninh to visit the Cao Dai Great Temple, a unique religion worshiping Jesus, Confucius and Buddha. Return to Saigon with an en-route visit to a country market. Overnight in Saigon. (B,L)
Day 19: Explore Saigon
Breakfast in hotel, half- day city tour to Saigon’s historic landmarks: former President Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Thien Hau Pagoda, Old Saigon Office and bustling Chinatown. Have lunch at restaurant. PM free go sightseeing and shopping. Have dinner on your own. Overnight in Saigon (B,L)
Day 20: Departure
Free until transfer to airport for departure. (B)