Northern Vietnam & Myanmar

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN YANGON

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon

Welcome to Yangon, Myanmar!
Upon your arrival, get picked up and transferred to the hotel in Yangon city for check-in.
In the evening, you will enjoy the welcoming dinner in Karaweik Palace overlooking the Royal Lake and Shwedagon Tower. The dinner of fine Burmese food will be served followed by an amazing cultural show.

DAY 2: YANGON - FLY TO BAGAN

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan

After breakfast, catch the morning flight to Bagan, Myanmar’s archeological wonderland, where over 3,000 ancient temples blossom from the countryside. Upon arrival in Bagan, meet your local guide and start the sightseeing with a trip to the bustling Nyang U Market in Old Bagan then explore the beautiful, gold leaf Shwezigon Pagoda and learn about the Burmese Buddhist tradition. Followed by a visit to Ananda Temple, stopping along the way on the Bagan plain to admire some of the surrounding temples.
In the afternoon, pay a visit to a local lacquer wear workshop and learn about this traditional craft. End the day with the panoramic sunset view from a hill or a pagoda in Bagan.

DAY 3: BAGAN SIGHTSEEING

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan

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After breakfast, kick off the day with an exotic horse cart ride to one of the biggest temples in Bagan: Nan Paya Pagoda and also view many other interesting sites nearby. Carry on the sightseeing to Minkaba Gubyaukyi Temple, take note of the architectural difference in MyaZedi Pagoda before heading to Manuha Temple.
In the afternoon, have a boat trip along Irrawaddy River to the Kyauk Gu U Min Temple. The Temple was built into the riverbank of sandstone. In the lower section were skillfully laid stone bricks and the two stories above were built of earth bricks. A maze of about 500 feet long was dug into the sandstone wall, with many twists and turns, tunnels and cellars for meditation. Enjoy the sunset on the Irrawaddy River.

DAY 4: BAGAN - FLY TO HEHO - INLE LAKE

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Inle Lake

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Breakfast at hotel as usual. This morning, you take another local flight for today's destination - Inle Lake. The lake is the second largest one in Myanmar. It is located 900 meters above sea level and is home to the Intha people, famous for their one leg rowing technique.
Upon arrival, board a motorboat for a sightseeing tour to Phaungdawoo Pagoda, famed for its richly gilded five small Buddha images. This pagoda is also believed to be the holiest in Inle Lake. The next visit is Ngaphechaung Monastery. As you travel further toward Nam Pan village the cotton and lotus weaving factories and cigar making houses will impress you with true traditional Intha life.

DAY 5: INLE - INDEIN - HEHO - FLY TO YANGON

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon

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This morning, you will visit the “5 Days Market” which is held in different villages surrounding the lake. The market is definitely a fascinating place to enjoy the scene of local tribes in their colorful clothes and exotic market atmosphere.
The boat will then take you to a beautiful temple of Indein, located on the hill overlooking the lake. It will be relaxing to walk along the corridor and enjoy the giant columns that have been left to nature for centuries. Later on, get back to the airport for catching the afternoon flight to Yangon. Check-in your hotel on arrival to end the day.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Hotel in Yangon

DAY 6: YANGON CITY TOUR - FLY TO HANOI

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

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Today, you will spend most of the day to visit the featured sites of Yangon. The highlights are Sule Pagoda, the heart of Yangon city; Chaukhtayi Pagoda and Kandawgyi Lake. You also visit the most outstanding pagoda in the capital city: Shwedagon Pagoda. This golden pagoda is really a must-see while you are in Myanmar. Late in the afternoon, make your way to the airport to take an early-evening flight to Hanoi, Vietnam. After clearing the custom, get picked up and transferred to the city for hotel check-in.

DAY 7: HANOI CITY TOUR​

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

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This day tour to learn about the capital city of Vietnam occupies your whole day with featured sites, including Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his house-on-stilts, One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature - Vietnam’s first university for the morning.
Your lunch today is served at a restaurant in town with local tastes.
In the afternoon, the tour continues with a visit to one of the following museums (you can pick the one you like): the Ethnology Museum, Army Museum, National Fine Arts Museum, Hanoi Hilton prison or Vietnam Women Museum).
Followed by a short walk or a cyclo ride in the Old Quarter.
End the day tour with a traditional Water Puppet show.

DAY 8: HANOI - BAC HA

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

Accommodation: Homestay

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Depart from Hanoi at 8:00 a.m. you will travel to Bac Ha District, Lao Cai Province on the HW Noi Bai – Lao Cai. This is the longest highway in Vietnam. The scenic drive from the Red River Delta, through the midland to Lao Cai province, will be a good start for your trip.
Lunch at a local restaurant in Bao Nhai.
The afternoon drive takes you about 20 km uphill to Bac Ha town. On arrival, check-in a local house for the home-stay tonight. After refreshment, set off with your private tour guide to embark on a 1,5-hour trek to a Flower H' mong village nearby (Ban Pho Village).

DAY 9: BAC HA MARKET - HOANG SU PHI

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

Accommodation: Homestay

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This morning, if it is on Tuesday, Saturday or Sunday. There are interesting hill tribe markets that you are able to attend. The hill tribe markets in Bac Ha region are very colorful. Spend about 1.5 hours or 2 hours to stroll around and hunt some good photographs. The markets are alive with the bright colors and extravagant costumes of the highlanders, especially the Flower H' mong. Together with other minorities, they come from different villages at the surroundings to the markets to buy and sell a wide variety of goods and livestock. It is more common to see buffalo, cows, horses and other livestock being traded. After the market, make your way to Coc Pai town for lunch. Thence keep driving to Hoang Su Phi for the late afternoon scenic terraced field trek to Ban Luoc stilt-house village of the Tay ethnic people - Another home-stay for tonight.

DAY 10: HOANG SU PHI RICE TERRACES TREK

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

Accommodation: Bungalow

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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 to end the day.

DAY 11: HOANG SU PHI - HANOI

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

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Take your time to enjoy breakfast and chill out a bit this morning.
At 9:00 a.m. pack up and bid farewell to the host family and spend most of the day drive back to Hanoi. Lunch is on the way.
Check-in your hotel on arrival.

DAY 12: HANOI - HALONG BAY

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

Accommodation: Overnight on boat

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.
Take the morning transfer to Halong Bay pier.
Around noon - Board your boat and start the cruising itinerary with lunch and dinner aboard.
Some interesting activities are available to include kayaking, swimming, sunbathing on the sun deck.
Overnight at an en-suite cabin on the boat.

Included Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

Overnight on a boat

DAY 13: HALONG BAY - HANOI

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

This morning get up early this morning for some fresh air on the open deck and join the Tai-chi class for some gentle moves if you wish. Otherwise, you are able to remain in your cabin until breakfast time. After breakfast, the crew will pull up the anchor, start the engine again for more cruising to other parts of the bay. After visiting a big limestone cave, the boat is gently heading back to the pier. The early lunch (Brunch) will be served aboard. Around noon, you are ferried in and take the afternoon drive back to Hanoi. Arrive at your hotel in the afternoon. The remainder of the day is yours to relax or doing your last shopping in Hanoi's Old Quarter.

DAY 14: DEPARTURE FROM HANOI

Meals: Breakfast

No accommodation

Today is the last day of your Vietnam trip.
It depends on your flight itinerary. You may have the whole morning to chill out or go to do some last shopping in the Old Quarter.
Get picked up at the appropriate time, then transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
End of service & Goodbye Vietnam