Impressive Vietnam 10 days

Relish Vietnam’s distinct and energetic character as you journey from Hanoi then north down to Saigon in the south. Explore the country’s turbulent past, meet the friendly, resilient locals, and get lost in spectacular panoramas on this one-week tour of discovery.

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival

In the morning, you’ll receive cordial welcome upon arrival at Noi Bai airport at and transfer to hotel for check-in and tour briefing. In the afternoon, we take a half day tour visiting the mystical Lake of Restored Sword and the Old Quarter of 36 guild streets from a rickshaw ride. The Old Quarter is a series of 36 ancient streets where peddlers still trade the way they have done for centuries. The rickshaw tour ends up at Ma May Old House, an example of dwellings in the 19^th century. Overnight at hotel.
Day 2: Hanoi city tour (B)

After breakfast at hotel, we will pay a visit to the memorial complex to Ho Chi Minh to know his amazing life. Continue to the Single Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature to gain understanding of the two driving forces in Vietnam culture. Afternoon we visit the Museum of Ethnology which exhibits a large collection of artifacts about the cultures of the 54 ethnic groups in the country. Later we enjoy a performance of the famed traditional art form created by village farmers around the Red River Delta region – the Water Puppet Show. In the evening, you’ll catch a night train to Sapa.
Day 3: Lao Cai – Sapa (B/L)

Arrive in Lao Cai railway station at about 6.00 AM. Transfer to Sapa by private vehicle (1hr drive) to hotel for breakfast. Late morning we travel by car to Lao Chai ethnic minority village of Black Hmong, visit the village and discover the local life. From Lao Chai, take a trekking tour towards Ta Van, the ethnic village of Day people. Return to Sapa and explore the town including its market, Ham Rong Mount and the stone church. Overnight in Sapa.
Day 4: Sapa – Silver Waterfall – Fansipan (B)

In the morning, you’ll be taken to Thac Bac on a 30 minutes’ drive. This is a chance to not only enjoy the pure natural beauty but also seeing the lives of the mixed groups of ethnicity. Thac Bac waterfall is a breathtaking scenery with white water cascading down from the top. The surrounding is filled with beautiful nature. This is also a very busy fair place on highlands, which sells souvenirs of ethnic minorities such as rings, hats, purses, embroidered towels, wine, precious medicinal plants derived from the Hoang Lien mountain, herbal tea ... diversity in the brocade products, dramatic color. In addition, visitors can taste the different flavor of food in this place. From Sapa town, about 18km to the North, the road to reach Heaven Gate is meandering around the mountains with vegetation growing on rocky soil. This road is called Tram Ton. When reaching the end of this road, you will be at the top of Hoang Lien Mountain, or the Heaven Gate. Standing at Heaven Gate, you can have a panoramic view of the vast valley below with lusciously green paddy fields, Phong Tho road, even the view of Silver Fall a far. The Silver Fall, standing at around 200m tall, is one of top 10 most beautiful water fall in Lao Cai. Afternoon, Visit Fansipan Mountain by the cable car. As you know the cable car in Sapa is the world’s longest and highest cable car, running up from sleepy Sapa Town in Lao Cai Province to the peak of 3,143-meter Fansipan Mountain, known as Indochina’s rooftop. Enjoy the view from the highest point of this incredible mountain. The lush green and subtropical vegetation makes this mountain really very beautiful. Take some pictures for unforgettable experience from the top. After taking scenery then get cable car back to Sapa. In the evening, you’ll driver back to Lao Cai for a night train to Hanoi
Day 5: Hanoi – Ninh Binh (B/L)

After breakfast we check out and journey east to Vietnam's greatest natural wonder, Ha Long Bay. Arriving in Halong by 12:30, we’ll board a beautiful traditional wooden junk and spend a full day and night cruising the bay's 3000 magnificent limestone islets. We also visit a floating village and a huge cave filled with eye-catching rock formations. In the evening when the boat is anchored in the middle of the stunning lagoon, we enjoy a wonderful seafood meal and later there is opportunity for fishing from the side of the boat. Overnight on board.
Day 6: Ninh Binh – Halong (B/L/D)

After breakfast we check out and journey east to Vietnam's greatest natural wonder, Ha Long Bay. Arriving in Halong by 12:30, we’ll board a beautiful traditional wooden junk and spend a full day and night cruising the bay's 3000 magnificent limestone islets. We also visit a floating village and a huge cave filled with eye-catching rock formations. In the evening when the boat is anchored in the middle of the stunning lagoon, we enjoy a wonderful seafood meal and later there is opportunity for fishing from the side of the boat. Overnight on board.
Day 7: Halong – Hanoi – Saigon (B/L)

Wake up to fresh coffee and take a small boat to a nearby sandy beach for relaxing & swimming & sightseeing. For a great photo opportunity, it is well worth walking up to the hill top pagoda which overlooks the entire bay. Afterwards we return for a wholesome breakfast before cruising back to the shore. En route the junk weaves through strange-shaped rock formations that invite comparisons from fighting cocks to mystical dragons! Disembark at 11:00 AM and transfer back to Hanoi for a flight to Saigon. Welcome at Tan Son Nhat Airport then transfer to hotel for checking-in. Overnight in Saigon.
Day 8: Saigon – Cu Chi Tunnels – Saigon (B)

In the morning, from Saigon we will head northwest to Cu Chi Tunnels, one of very few monuments remained from the Vietnam War. 200km of the tunnels, dug by hand and inhabited by the forces of the Vietnamese guerillas, are beneath the ground here and stretches from nearby the Cambodian border to the edge of Saigon, even covering a place that once was a US airbase. We can listen to our guides’ introduction about the traces, exhibits, old weapons here or crawl by ourselves several dozen meters inside the tunnel to get the real feeling of what the War had been in this land. Gradually we will find out the reason why Cu Chi is a symbol of the ingenuity, loyalty, hard work and determination of the Vietnamese. In the afternoon, a tour of the very centre of Saigon will includes the Unification Palace, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, the City Hall, the Opera House, and Ben Thanh Market. Enjoy coffee and watch the city in rush hour.
Day 9: Saigon – Mekong Delta – Saigon (B/L)

We leave the hustle and bustle of Saigon behind and journey to Mekong Delta, a world that lives and works on the waters. Arriving in My Tho, a prosperous town just 80 km from Saigon, we take a boat to an insular village to visit family workshops producing handicrafts and candy from coconut. Tasting seasonal tropical fruits in an exuberant orchard, we ride a horse cart to a typical Delta house and enjoy folk music by amateurs. Proceed by local sampan through the small canals and side arms of the river to further experience river life. For lunch we’ll sample regional specialties such as Elephant Ear Fish, Rice Ball, etc. After a pleasant break we travel back to Saigon for overnight.
Day 10: Saigon Departure (B)

Free time until transfer to airport for your departure flight.