DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN HANOI

Meals: Not available

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

 

Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam!
Upon arrival at Noi Bai airport, you are welcomed and greeted by the Custom Asia Travel tour guide and taken to your hotel by private transfer. The remainder of the day is relaxing or be on your own discovery.
- Located on the banks of the Red River, Hanoi capital is one of the most ancient cities in the world. Here, visitors are able to find well-preserved colonial buildings, old Buddhist pagodas, and unique museums within the city. The best way to explore its Old Quarter is on foot. This French-colonial city is also known for its delicious cuisines, vibrant nightlife, and souvenir shopping…

DAY 2: HALF-DAY CITY TOUR

Meals: Food tour

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

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You have just arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam. In order to get acquaintance with this capital city and recover the jetlag, you take it easy this morning.
At 1:00 p.m. start your Vietnam trip by visiting some featured sites of Hanoi with your tour guide. The sites include Temple of Literature - Vietnam’s first university, the museum of ethnology and Hoan Kiem Lake.
Late in the afternoon, begin your food tour in the Old Quarter where you will experience many different types of Vietnamese traditional cuisines.
Getting back to your hotel once your tummy is "fulfilled". The evening is on your own discovery.

Hotel in Hanoi

DAY 3: HANOI - MAI HICH VALLEY

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

Accommodation: Homestay in Mai Hich

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The tour departs from Hanoi at 08:00 AM. The morning drive takes about 4 hours overland to Mai Hich valley, a stunning valley of White Thai ethnic minority in Hoa Binh province. You will have some stops on the way for taking photographs. Upon arrival around noon, check-in your accommodation and have Vietnamese lunch at a Thai family's stilt house. After lunch and rest, go for a scenic walking tour about 2 hours to explore the surroundings and visit some villages, rice paddies and gardens. This is the best time for you to experience the local life, their agriculture and enjoy the peaceful countryside environment. At the end of the walk, get picked up by car and get to the accommodation for the night.

DAY 4: MAI HICH - PU LUONG NATURE RESERVE

Included meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Pu Luong

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After breakfast, you pack up, say goodbye to the host family and start the day with a 1.5-hour morning walk on a pretty small country road. then transfer by car to Ban Hang village in Pu Luong. Lunch at a family in the village. In the afternoon, continue the rest of the day with a 2.5-hour walk along the ridge. The walk is very beautiful with a green color of mountains, forests, rice fields, and orchards in quiet villages. The strenuous level of the walk is average so you can take it easy to walk while sightseeing and resting. When returning to the main road, you will move to the hotel, check-in and have dinner here.

DAY 5: PU LUONG - NINH BINH

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Ninh Binh

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After breakfast, check-out and get transferred to Kho Muong where you will embark on the morning trek. The trek is quite gentle downhill as we descend a wide-open valley but still offers you great opportunities to enjoy the marvelous landscape of Mountains, dense forest and farms. Around noon, arrive at the little town of Pho Doan. Here, your private transport is waiting for you. Have lunch at a local restaurant and drive the whole afternoon to Ninh Binh. The afternoon drive is also very stunning. Arrive at your hotel today, check-in and stay overnight.

DAY 6: NINH BINH - HANOI

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

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Breakfast at the hotel as usual, move to the Trang An tourist area to spend 2.5 hours riding a sampan boat for sightseeing along the small river in between the sheer limestone cliffs. A local rower takes you through a few tunnel-like caves through the mountains. After the ride,  transfer to a local restaurant for lunch. After lunch, you will visit Am Tien Pagoda, also known as "Tuyet Tich Coc", a valley surrounded by vertical limestone cliffs, in which there are beautiful lake and a  Buddha temple located inside a small cave on the mountain side. Then return to the car and make your way back to Hanoi. Check in and rest

DAY 7: HANOI HALF-DAY CITY TOUR

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

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This morning, with your personal guide, you will visit Ba Dinh Square where you will see firsthand the remain of the great President of Vietnam who is kept solemnly in the mausoleum. Besides, you will walk into the presidential palace to see the presidential building and Uncle Ho's stilt house. This is where the great president of the nation took his last breath in 1969. Finally, you will visit the One Pillar Pagoda. Next is the Tran Quoc pagoda, located on a small island on the West Lake, the largest lake in the capital. Learn a little about Buddhism and local beliefs before moving to the Hoa Lo Prison. End the morning with plenty of historical information at your hotel door. For the rest of the day, you are free and take a break.

DAY 8: HANOI - BAC HA

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

Accommodation: Homstay in Bac Ha

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Departing from Hanoi at 8am. You will travel to Bac Ha district, Lao Cai province on Noi Bai - Lao Cai highway. This is the longest highway in Vietnam. The scenic drive leading from the Red River Delta through the midlands to the northern hilly area will be a great start for the trip to explore the upland region of northern Vietnam. On the way, you will stop at a local restaurant for lunch. After lunch, you will continue to drive the remaining 20 km of the road to Bac Ha town. Upon arrival, you check in at a homestay. After a few minutes of rest, your guide will take you on a small concrete backroad  and walk visit Ban Pho village of the Flower H'mong ethnic group. This ethnic group has the most colorful costumes in Vietnam. After 1.5 hours of walking and visiting the villagers' lives, return to the homestay to rest and have dinner.

DAY 9: BAC HA - HOANG SU PHI

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

Accommodation: Homestay at a local house

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This morning, if it's Tuesday, Saturday or Sunday, there will be interesting mountain markets that you can attend. The tribal markets in Bac Ha are very colorful and impressive. Spend about 1.5 hours or 2 hours walking around and hunting some beautiful photos. The markets are lively with bright colors and colorful costumes of upland people, especially the Flower H'mong. Together with other minority groups, they come from different villages in the surrounding area to markets to buy and sell a variety of goods and cattle. Buffaloes, cows, horses and other domestic animals are often traded. After the market, you get in the car and go to Ha Giang province. Afternoon car ride with many scenery on the way that leads you to the town of Coc Pai where you will have lunch. After that, continue driving to Hoang Su Phi, a district of Ha Giang. Late afternoon, you will spend 1.5 hours to walk through the terraces that have become national heritage to Ban Luoc village, a village of stilt houses of the Tay people. Check in, dinner at a local family.

DAY 10: HOANG SU PHI TREK

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

Accommodation: Homestay at a local house

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This morning, after breakfast at the family, you will trek the scenic dirt trail up and down the terraced fields in Ban Luoc area. This area is one of the highlighted landscapes in Hoang Su Phi. The fields look best at the yellow season (in the early half of October). After 2.5 hours, you will get back to the bigger road where you will get the car transfer to the nearby town for lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, drive down to Thong Nguyen Commune for another up-hill trek to Nam Hong village. The trek takes almost 2 hours.
Check-in your accommodation, dinner and stay overnight.

DAY 11: HOANG SU PHI - DONG VAN GEOPARK

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Pho Bang ancient town

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After breakfast, check-out and heading to the Karst Geo-park. The drive up to the highland region of Ha Giang will offer you some good photo opportunities on the way.
Lunch is at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, the scenery is getting more stunning with high passes and august mountains. The typical photo opportunities are a stop at Quan Ba pass, a steep hike to a view-point for Quan Ba Fairy Mountains. Short walks at Pho Cao village of the Hmong, Pho Bang of the Han (Chinese). Check-in a hotel in this peaceful town for the night.

DAY 12: DONG VAN KARST GEOPARK

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Dong Van Town

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After breakfast, set off for the scenic morning trek in Karst Geopark. The trek in between the gray limestone mountains takes more than 3 hours (approx. 13km). This trek is a real discovery on which you have a chance to enjoy the beautiful scenery and learning the amazing daily life of the tribal H'mong people. At the end of the trek, you will reach an interesting historical and cultural site. It is the H'mong King Palace. Take your time to visit the construction. Lunch is prepared at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, take a drive to Lung Cu Flag Tower (The monument was built to mark the northernmost point in Vietnam). Walk to the tower for the view over the area. After that, your private vehicle will take you to Dong Van town. Check-in a hotel and stay for the night.

DAY 13: SUNDAY MARKET & SKY-WALK TREK

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Meo Vac Town

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There is a colorful market in town (If it is Sunday today), take the time of the morning to stroll around the market for hunting some photos of the locals while they are trading before hiking up to Dong Van Cannon Fort Mt. for the stunning panorama view over the valley and its town. ​ Back to the town for lunch. ​The afternoon transfer takes you to Meo Vac. On the way, stop for another trek which is above the Ma Pi Leng Pass. This scenic trek is amazing as it is on a small path but offers you marvelous views over the abyss and Nho Que River. Arrive at Meo Vac, check into your hotel and take easy for the remainder of the day.
(If it is not on Sunday, the morning will be spent for the sky path trek and the afternoon will be for a boat ride on Nho Que River through Tu San Canyon. This boat ride is a new experience in Ha Giang and this is considered one of the deepest and most unique canyons in Vietnam. Late afternoon, check-in a hotel in  Meo Vac and stay overnight.)

DAY 14: MEO VAC - BA BE LAKE

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

Accommodation: Homestay at a local house

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7:30 am check out at your hotel and your guide will take you to a breakfast shop to enjoy a typical local breakfast in this small town. Today, you will drive downhill to Bac Kan province, where Ba Be National Park located and it is famous for its large, green freshwater lake. Along the way, you will clearly see the change of terrain from the barren mountains with jagged limestone to the mountains covered with dense vegetation. A countryside of small rivers winding from one valley to the next, a lot of lush fields, and the villages looming at the foot of the mountains.
Lunch on the way.
In the late afternoon, you will arrive at a Tay ethnic minority village located in the national park. Check-in, dinner, and overnight.

DAY 15: BA BE LAKE - CAO BANG CITY

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Cao Bang city

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After breakfast, take a short walk to the boat dock and take the motor-boat ride through Ba Be Lake, which is considered as the biggest natural freshwater lake in Vietnam. The cruise is beautiful with the scenery of steep limestone mountains covered by dense rainforest. Onward to Nang River and downstream to visit Dau Dang Waterfall. After viewing the waterfall, we will get back to the boat and move on upstream for Puong Limestone Cave. The Nang River runs through a limestone mountain in this national park and created a big cave that is decorated with many beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. The cave is also the shelter of thousand bats. About 15 minutes after the cave, you will land at a little dock where your private vehicle awaiting, get back on and drive to Cho Ra Town for your lunch at a local restaurant. The afternoon drive will take you to Cao Bang province. On arrival in the city, check-in a centrally located hotel for the night.

DAY 16: BAN GIOC WATERFALL & NGUOM NGAO CAVE

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Cao Bang City

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Start the day with 3-hour drive to the remote Trung Khanh District which shares the border with China. There are stops on the way to take photographs and witness the ethnic Nung people making basic blacksmiths with their farming tools in Phuc Sen village. Upon arrival at the waterfall, we take a walk across paddy fields to reach the base of the falls. If the water is not so violent, we will take a raft to get closer to the falls and enjoy the cool temperature, due to the water mist in the air. The fall is located right on the border between China and Vietnam.
Enjoy your Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant nearby. Continue on visiting Nguom Ngao limestone Cave, which is about 2 km from Ban Gioc Fall. Thousands of colorful stalactites and stalagmites will amaze you. Back to the car for returning to Cao Bang city. Dinner and spend the second night here.

DAY 17: CAO BANG - BAC SON VALLEY

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

Accommodation: Homestay at a local house

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Check out of the hotel after your breakfast and get ready for the morning drive to Bac Son Valley in Lang Son province. The drive includes some stops on the way for you to take photographs whenever you want. Arrive at Quynh Son village of the ethnic Tay people and have lunch on a stilt house. This afternoon you will walk to visit the village and hike up to the top of the telephone-station mountain for a stunning scenery over the valley. This is a great point for those who love photographing. Dinner and chat chit with the host of our homestay tonight.

DAY 18: BAC SON VALLEY - BAC NINH

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

Accommodation: Homestay at a local house

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After the traditional breakfast, this morning we will embark on a 3,5-hour hike on a rural back road. Along the hike, you can have a close look at the local farming, enjoy the peaceful atmosphere in a good harmony of mountains, forests and local life. At the end of the hike, get picked up by our private transport back to the family. After lunch, make your way to the Red River Delta and pay a visit to a traditional pottery village where you will learn about the local techniques of making beautiful ceramic products. Transfer to a typical Vietnamese family for another homestay night. Dinner with the host family.

DAY 19: BAC NINH - HALONG BAY

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

Accommodation: Overnight on boat

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Halong Bay, in northeast Vietnam, is known for its emerald waters and thousands of towering limestone islands. Designated a World Heritage site in 1994, the bay is a "must-see" place for any visitor to Vietnam, especially an overnight trip on a traditional wooden junk. In the morning, enjoy the breakfast at the home-stay. At 9:00 am, bid farewell to the host family and set our for the morning transfer to Halong Bay pier. In the afternoon: ​Around noon - Board your boat and start the cruising itinerary with lunch and dinner aboard. Some interesting activities are available include kayaking, swimming, sunbathing on the sun deck depends on which boat you are booked for. Overnight at a en-suite cabin on boat.

DAY 20: HALONG BAY - FLY TO HUE

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

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In the morning: Wake up early in the morning for sunrise and a view of Bay’s landscape with a cup of tea or coffee. Join a taichi class (availability depends on the certain boat you take). Further scenic cruise to other parts of the bay with a limestone cave visit. An early lunch is served on the way back to the pier. Disembarkation by noon time In the afternoon: Take the car transfer to the airport for a short flight to Hue. Get picked up on arrival, transfer to the hotel, check-in and stay overnight at this last capital of Vietnam.

DAY 21:  HUE CITY TOUR

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

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Take a journey through Hue’s eventful past as you explore its ancient imperial architecture including; a boat trip along the Perfume River, the Emperor's Private Residence, Thien Mu Pagoda and a royal tomb. In the morning, breakfast in the hotel as usual. Drive to visit King Minh Mang's tomb & King Khai Dinh tomb. Return to the city for lunch at a restaurant. In the afternoon, discover the Ancient Citadel. The walk through the complex is very interesting and informative. Followed by a short transfer to visit the charming Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda). Setting on the bank of rivers, it gives you a great view of the Perfume River and the surrounding area. Ending the day by boarding on a private boat, cruising on the romantic Perfume River back to the city center.

DAY 22: HUE - HOI AN

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

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Ancient and peaceful, Hoi An has to these days well preserved its most sacred treasure, the centuries-old architecture. The town used to harbor foreign traders back in the 17-18th, and once is an important heavily-frequented trading port in Southeast Asia.

The morning drive to Hoi An via Hai Van Pass will occupy half of your day. There are a few stops for photo opportunities such as at Lang Co Beach, Hai Van Pass you may want to take. Arrive at Hoi An ancient town. Check into your hotel. The remainder of the day is on your own discovery.

DAY 23: COOKING CLASS & CITY TOUR

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

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After breakfast, get picked up and make the way to the cooking class. Start the day (8.15 a.m.) Start with a visit Hoi An’s colorful market, and experience the amazing sights, sounds, and aromas of this busy market. You will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers and purchase some of the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later. Boarding the Red Bridge boat for a leisurely cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoi An River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. This is a chance to view the local river life. On arrival, explore the cooking school’s herb and vegetable garden, before learning about some of Hoi An’s and Vietnam’s well-known dishes. The cooking lesson runs for about 2 hours – each dish is first demonstrated by the Red Bridge chefs before you prepare the same dish yourself. After the lesson, you will enjoy your excellent work. In the afternoon, the tour guide will join with you on a walking tour which offers you a chance to see how charming the Old Quarter area is. The sites include the Japanese Covered Bridge; Phuoc Kien Assembly; Tan Ky ancient house; Hoi An Culture and History Museum and Quan Cong temple. Back to your hotel to end the day.

DAY 24: HOI AN - HO CHI MINH CITY (HCMC)

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in HCMC

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This morning, it is easy for you to relax on the beach or to do some shopping in the Old Quarter. Check-out your hotel by noon. In the afternoon, get transferred to Da Nang airport for a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City.
Get picked up on arrival and rest for the remainder of the day.

DAY 25: TOUR OF SAIGON & CU CHI TUNNELS

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in HCMC

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After the first night relaxing, today you will be ready for your Vietnam Tour with a full day to visit the featured sites of Saigon and the famous underground tunnel network in Cu Chi. In the morning, 8:00 Start with a 1.5hour drive to Cu Chi tunnels. Get an overview of Cu Chi by watching a documentary. Your guide walks you around to witness the traps, bunkers, trenches, and experience crawling a piece of the underground tunnels. Drive back to the city for a set menu lunch at a restaurant In the afternoon, Continue on visiting the War Remnants Museum; The former Presidential Palace; The Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Old Post Office

DAY 26: MEKONG DELTA EXCURSION

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in HCMC

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You will have a full day to visit the lush Mekong Delta today. After 2.5-hour transfer by car, you will arrive at Ben Tre. Get on your private motorized boat and cruise on Ben Tre River (a branch of the Mekong). Have stops at various local workplaces such as coconut candy, coconut shell workshop. You also have time to take a gentle walk along a rural road, enjoying the peaceful countryside. The walk includes a visit to a local temple. After that, get back on your boat for a further cruise before taking an interesting experience of riding a local motor cart (Xe Loi) on green roads through the orchards, coconut, and banana
plantations (You can ride bicycles on the same roads instead).
Lunch is served at a local restaurant, then you take a rest or spend time in the orchard, enjoy many kinds of tropical fruits. In the afternoon, embark on a sampan boat ride, rowing along a narrow creek under the shade of water palm trees. Return to the pier and drive back to HCMC to end the excursion.

DAY 27: HCMC - FLY TO PHU QUOC ISLAND

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Phu Quoc Island

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This morning, take your time to enjoy the breakfast at the hotel. Check-out of your hotel and transfer to the airport to catch the noon flight to Phu Quoc Island. The flight takes about 1 hour. On arrival, get picked up by the hotel bus, check-in your beach resort and start your beach relaxation before going home.

DAY 28, 29: PHU QUOC ISLAND

Meals: Breakfasts

Accommodation: Hotel in Phu Quoc Island

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Besides the beach, there are some interesting activities on this beautiful island that you may want to do if you would like to keep yourself busy some time. Some available tours could be for snorkeling, diving, Vinpearl safari... The optional day tours are available at the hotel reception where you can get the information and book directly.

DAY 30: FLY BACK TO HCMC - DEPARTURE

Meals: Breakfast

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Today is your last day, it is up to your departure flight time, you may have the whole morning enjoying the last swim and sunbath. Catch a domestic flight back to the airport in Ho Chi Minh City where you will take the departure flight home or onward to the next destinations of Custom Asia Travel. End of service and goodbye Vietnam!