Vietnam authentic

Itinerary in details

• DAY 01: ARRIVAL HANOI - NOI BAI AIRPORT - HANOI (38KM): 1 HOUR

  On arrival at Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport. Asia Hero Travel guide will greet you and transfer by private car through the city to your hotel. free time for discovery the city

  Overnight in Hanoi.

• DAY 02: HANOI - CITY (B,L)

  This tour starts at 08:30am.

  Drive past the historical Ba Dinh Square where Ho Chi Minh proclaimed the independence of Vietnam in 1945. Next up is the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, built in the 11th century and added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites in 2010. Venture inside and explore the underground war bunker that played an important role in the armed conflict with America.

  Continue the Hanoi landmarks tour with a stroll through areas where sewing shops have been in family hands for generations, and people still practice the old ways, or admire the daily life of local people in the alley of Hanoi. Proceed to the millenia-old Temple of Literature and explore its role in the country’s past, as both a university and a temple.

  Finally, if you feel interested, make a stop at the last courtyard where Vietnamese traditional instruments contribute to the oriental feel. For travelers who are musicians, opportunities to play some notes will present themselves, all under the guidance of the artists.

  In the afternoon, head to the highly-acclaimed Vietnam Women’s Museum, offering wonderful insight into the lives of Vietnamese women. Learn historic and modern-day traditions centred on birth, weddings, motherhood, spirituality and more. Towards the end of the tour, embark on a walk through Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Witness the ancient commercial street names, mirroring the crafts and businesses dating back over a thousand years.

  Visit a family living in a typical ‘tube house’ in Hanoi's Old Quarter, built during the 19th century. Learn just what makes these houses unique, and how old tax laws resulted in this typical architecture. Make it back to the hotel, rich with new experiences from Hanoi.

  The rest of the evening is at your leisure.

  Overnight in Hanoi

• DAY 03: HANOI - NGHIA LO(B,L,D), 180km, 5h driving
  

  From Hanoi, we follow road No. 32 from Hanoi along the Red River to  Yen Bai Province . The scenery along the way is simply beautiful with orchards of bananas, papayas and rice fields. Local farmers set up stalls all along the road to sell their seasonal produce to passenger. Crossing Yen Bai City, we enter the mountainous areas o hills covered with green tea terraces all along the way. Finally, we reach Muong Lo Valley , the town of Nghia Lo, the second largest rice field in the Northwest Vietnam and also the homeland of Thai ethnic people. Thai people first came here grew rice and built their traditional wooden house of iron and bamboo around 700 years ago.  Take a short walk of 2 hours around the village to discover Thai ethnic culture and daily life. Overnight at the guesthouse in Muong Lo

• DAY 04: NGHIA LO - TU LE - MU CANG CHAI (B,L,D) - 100 km, 3h driving
  

  Depart from Nghia Lo to Mu Cang Chai, the road winds its way through Hoang Lien Son mountain chain, which has the highest peak of Indochina, the Fansipan. Stop at Tu Le for an easy hike. You  walk through rice terraces to reach Thai and H'mong villages where people still dress in traditional costumes and H’mong women sit by their loom. Tu Le is a small hill tribe town surrounded by picturesque landscape and full of warmhearted people living in small wooden houses nestled at the foot of the mountains.

  Leaving Tu Le, you cross Khau Pha Pass  (1550m) to reach Mu Cang Chai (930m) where you will see the most beautiful terraced fields in Vietnam. It's time to go trekking at La Pan Tan village where you can see breath­taking rice terraces. Arrive in Mu Cang Chai in the late afternoon.

  Overnight at Mu Cang Chai Ecolodge

• DAY 05: MU CANG CHAI - SAPA (B,L) - 180 km, 4h driving
  

  After 2 hours driving, the road begins to climb up Tram Ton Pass, the highest pass in Vietnam at 2047 meters above sea level. Stop for photos opportunities and enjoy the fresh air. From here, you can see Fansipan Mountain, “the Roof of Indochina” with ist 3143m peak soaked in clouds.

  Arrive in Sapa at noon and  visit colorful ethnic markets and Sapa old town with its remnants of the French colonial era. After lunch, you will go on a light trek, long but easy, out of town to visit Ta Van village where the H’mong, Dao and Dzay ethnic people live peacefully together.

  Overnight at Sapa Charm Hotel

• DAY 06: SAPA - BAC HA - LAO CAI - HA NOI (B,L) - 450 km, 7h driving
  

  After breakfast, transfert to Bac Ha town. It take about 2h30, arrive and visit the famous Bac Ha Market with differents trading corners: horses, pigs, dogs, buffles, birds…

  Lunch in a local restaurent then walk to Ban Pho village where the Flower Hmong exposes their interesting life, witnessing the impressive architecture, experience the special of corn wine. Back to the main road and transfer to Lao Cai town. Relax and having dinner. Taking overnight train back to Ha Noi.

  Overnight on  4-berth cabin on air-conditioned sleeper train

• Day 07 : HANOI - Hai Phong - Lan Ha Bay ( B,L,D) - 160km/ 03 hours

  After breakfast leave Ninh Binh for an overnight boat trip on Lan Ha Bay. Journey there through the rich farmlands, observe everyday life of Vietnamese villagers as they work the rice fields, take pigs to the market on bicycles and plough the fields with their water buffaloes. Arrive in Hai Phong City late morning and board your traditional wooden junk for the overnight journey into the Bay. Lunch is served on board.

  Towards the end of the day set anchor for the night. As the sun sets over the bay dinner is served on board with fresh seafood, salads, and fruits.

  Overnight on board in Lan Ha Bay.

• DAY 08: HAI PHONG - HANOI - HUE (B,L) - 100km 2h driving

  On your return to Hanoi enjoy a wholesome brunch as your boat weaves through strange-shaped limestone rock formations. Upon disembarkation your driver will meet you for the transfer to Hanoi Airport for the flight to Hue . On arrival your guide will welcome you for the 40-minute drive to the hotel.

  Overnight in Hue

• DAY 09: HUE - CITY (B,L)

  In the morning discover the Imperial Citadel then make your way to the Hue Royal Antiques Museum to see a collection of ornaments. The main exhibition house of the present museum used to be a palace under Nguyen Dynasty, called Long An Palace. It was built in 1845 by Thieu Tri King, located on the north of Ngu Ha River. It was a type of “isolated palace” for the king.

  Continu the trip to visit the seven-storey Thien Mu Pagoda. Thien Mu pagoda is one of the most beautiful and ancient architectural structures of worshiping in Vietnam now, it has become one of the most famous tourist attractions in Hue City.

  Have lunch at the local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit Tu Duc tomb and the encense fabrication village the the Dong Ba market.

  Overnight in Hue

• DAY 10: HUE - HOI AN (B,L) - 150km/ 03h driving, only tranfer, no guide
  

  After breakfast, leave Hue for Hoi An, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. Stop en route and enjoy the Lang Co beach and lagoon before climbing over the ‘Pass of Ocean Clouds’. Arrive in Hoi An and transfer to hotel.

  Enjoy free time at leisure

• DAY 11: HOI AN - CITY TOUR ( B,L)

  After breakfast, start the tour to learn about efforts to preserve Hoi An’s unique historical heritage from a UNESCO expert. From the perspective of a local conservation expert, share in the knowledge of various UNESCO conservation projects taking place in this ancient trading port which dates back to the 15th century. 

  First, meet with the conservation expert at an ancient merchant house for a brief introduction to the current conservation projects that are taking place. Escorted by the specialist, walk through a protected neighbourhood and visit three antique buildings to see ongoing conservation efforts that are underway to preserve the historical heritage of Hoi An. Their unique architecture has influences from the various cultures that flourished here during Hoi An’s heyday as a bustling international trading port in the times of antiquity.

  Continue the tour with a wander around Hoi An’s charming flower lined streets and take in sights of some of the various historical attractions there, including highlights like the historical Japanese Covered Bridge, the Communal Hall and privately-run heritage photo galleries showcasing Hoi An Ancient Town and its people.  Conclude this tour with a walk through smaller streets for a look at the local life of the area, which still retains its unique cultural vibes. Following the day, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

  In the afternoon, experience a hands-on Vietnamese mask-making lesson. Begin with a walk through Hoi An Ancient Town to meet a paper mask artist at his workshop. His craft is steadily disappearing as newer forms of entertainment have gradually taken over. Learn how this artist contributes to the effort of preserving his craft for future generations.

  Next, create a traditional folk mask under his guidance. Using specific patterns and colours, these masks communicate a vast array of character emotions in ‘tuong’- a form of classic Vietnamese theatre which has been performed for more than eight centuries.

  After creating a mask, get ready to enjoy a private 30-minute tuong performance at a simple traditional theatre. Enjoy this ‘behind-the-scene’ experience, watching characters from the play wear different masks to convey various emotions that are portrayed in the telling of a Vietnamese legend. All the while, enjoy the privilege of superior access to both the performance itself and the performers for an unforgettably intimate cultural experience.

  Overnight in Hoian.

• DAY 12: HOI AN - SAIGON (B,L)

  Transfer to Da Nang airport domestic airport for the 40-minute flight to Saigon. Upon arrival in the afternoon, start with a visit to the iconic Saigon Central Post Office built between 1886 and 1891. Based on the design of famous French architect Gustave Eiffel, it is now considered a symbol of Saigon and one of its most famous landmarks.

  If he is available, stop for a chat with Mr. Duong, who enjoys local notoriety for his professional love-letter skills.

  Walk along Dong Khoi street, formerly la rue Catinat and pay a visit to Gialong Palace – Ho Chi Minh City Museum for its beautiful architecture and listen to its history through times. Continue to ‘Le Loi Street’ to meet a local artisan who specialises in traditional engravings.

  Next, stroll through the old central market (your vehicle will be available)  before arriving at the city’s oldest colonial-era apartment, built in 1886, and see what the young creative Vietnamese are up to from their funky boutiques and coffee shops. Sit down at one of the stylish coffee shops and interact with a local resident who moved here in 1975.

  Leave the compound and have a look at the building on the other side, which used to be "Banque de l’Indochine" (Indochina Bank) during the 1920s. It’s a stunning example of the ‘Indochinois’ east/west fusion style of architecture that this area is known for. After this last stop, head back to the hotel.

  Overnight in Saigon.

• DAY 13: SAI GON - BEN TRE (B,L,D) - 150km 3h driving
  

  Leave the bustling city of Saigon behind and depart to the Mekong Delta considered Vietnam’s biggest «rice basket». Upon arrival at Hung Vuong Pier in Ben Tre town, you start your cruise along Bến Tre River, a tributary of the mighty Mekong to explore the local lifestyle and daily activities. Stop at Mr. Tu Lo’s brickfield to  see how Vietnamese workers make bricks by hand . This is followed by a visit to a coconut candy factory located along the canal to witness the process of making coconut candy.

  You will continue your rowing trip through the canals to visit Nhon Thanh village. Here you get a chance to stroll around the village to discover the local lifestyle and taste fresh fruit. A cycle excursion along the small roads passing lush rice paddies and vegetable gardens will leave you ready for lunch at a riverside homestay, where you will spend the night. Prepare and enjoy your dinner at the homestay.

  Overnight at the homestay

• DAY 14: BEN TRE - LONG XUYEN (B,L) - 120 km, 3h driving
  

  Begin your morning with a visit to the local market and Phu Nhuan Temple whith its old cycad that dates back a hundred years. Take a rowing boat trip on Cai Coi canal towards Hung Vuong pier and disembark.

  Transfer to Long Xuyen passing Sadec where you will visit Kien An Cung Pagoda built by Huynh Thuy Le’s family, the main character of the novel “L’amant” by French novelist Marguerite Duras and Trung Vuong primary school where her mother taught. Continue your drive to Long Xuyen. Arrive in Long Xuyen in the late afternoon.

  Overnight at hotel

• DAY 15: LONG XUYEN - HO CHI MINH CITY (B,L) - 170 km, 4h driving

  In the early morning, embark a sampan and cruise to Long Xuyen floating market. A crowded and vibrant market on the river. It is the busiest floating market in the Mekong Delta with thousands of colorful boats gathering for trade. This is an amazing opportunity to take unique photos. Our last stop in Long Xuyen is Cu Lao Ong Ho, also known as Tiger Island. Return to Saigon.

  Overnight at hotel

• DAY 16: SAI GON - DEPARTURE (B)

  Your private car and guide will be at your disposal until your transfer by private car to Tan Son Nhat Airport for international flights or a domestic extension.

  End of services!