Highlight Vietnam Tour Package

Welcome to Vietnam! Upon your arrival at Hanoi International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your tour guide and driver & transferred to the city center for checking in your hotel or leaving your baggage. 

After taking a break, you will start your Vietnam 13 day tour by walking to the theatre with your tour guide and start our Highlight Vietnam Tour Package by enjoying the fascinating 45-minute Water Puppet Show which is the unique performance on the water surface telling the story of villagers’ daily life such as farming, fishing and romance or ancient legends, myths and historical stories. Then, enjoy a stunning welcome dinner at local restaurant before staying overnight in Hanoi. 

Today, you will embark on a city tour of bustling Hanoi, starting with Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (closed on Monday and Friday, every afternoon and from late September until late December). The long queue of the visitors from all around Vietnam and foreign tourists who come to pay their respect to Uncle Ho (Ho Chi Minh) will surely amaze you. From there, stroll through the beautiful surrounding gardens toward the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh's House on Stilts which he lived when working in Hanoi, and the One Pillar Pagoda. 

After having lunch at a local restaurant, proceed to explore the graceful Temple of Literature (Van Mieu- Quoc Tu Giam) which was the first University of Vietnam.  The 11th-century temple nowadays is not only the place students go to pray for good grades but also serves as an attractive background for student graduation photos. Continue to venture to the Museum of Ethnology and marvel at the stunning collection relating to Vietnam's ethnic minorities. 

Next, you will experience cyclo, one of the most typical vehicles in Hanoi, travelling through the Old Quarter. The unique drive is at a leisurely pace around the chaotic, ancient and bustling streets, giving you the chance to take many photos and experience the “real” Hanoi. We will finish the tour in late afternoon; then, enjoy your free time to go shopping and relax in Hanoi.  

This evening, your guide and driver will be waiting for you in the hotel lobby to transfer you to the overnight train from Hanoi to Lao Cai.

Today we will visit Sapa – one of the highlights of Northern Vietnam. 

In the early morning, the train arrives at Lao Cai Station where our driver and guide will be waiting for you with a board showing your name for a 1-hour scenic drive to the mountainous town of Sapa. Enjoy your breakfast in Sapa whilst observing local life. 

At approximately 08.30 am, start your adventure today by trekking southeast of Sapa along the side of Muong Hoa Valley to Y Linh Ho Village which is home to the Black H’mong minority people. Continue to trek to Lao Chai Village of the Black H’mong, then to Ta Van Village of the Dzay. The hike promises to be a scenic one as you have the chance to see rice paddy terraced fields and traditional minority houses. 

Stop at a local family home to have lunch, giving you the great opportunity to learn about the local house architecture which reflects daily lifestyles and unique customs of this particular ethnic group. Hop in the car to get back to Sapa whilst enjoying the stunning landscape on the way. Overnight stay in Sapa. 

Today, we will explore the busy village of Cat Cat. After breakfast, your tour guide will be waiting for you in the hotel lobby for a hike to the southwest of Sapa (approximately 4km) to the Black H’mong Village. Cat Cat Village offers the best panoramas of the large valley, emerald terraced fields and traditional H’mong houses. After walking around the ethnic village, stop at the enchanting waterfall and the vestige of a hydroelectric power station that was built by the French during Vietnam wars for a rest. Then, proceed to walk back to the town for hotel checkout.

The time in the afternoon is yours. You may explore the town which is full of the colorful local hill-tribe people, climb to the summit of Ham Rong Mountain for magnificent views over Sapa or take the cable car to the peak of Fanxipan Mountain (Fee is excluded). 

In the late afternoon, hop into the car for the transfer to Lao Cai Station and board the overnight train to Hanoi. 

Halong Bay will be one of the best destinations for your Vietnam 13 day tour. Upon arrival at the Hanoi Railway station in the early morning, you will take the short walk to the nearby day-use hotel (around 2 minutes) to freshen up and have breakfast before pick up by our guide and driver for taking a 4-hour drive to the legendary Halong Bay for the Halong Bay 1 night cruise.

Hop aboard a traditional wooden junk and admire the ravishing beauty of this UNESCO World Heritage Site as the boat cruises around the magnificent and magical limestone mountain islands. 

After a stunning lunch on board, start to discover the bay by kayak venturing into hidden caves and grottos. Then, continue to join in some other activities such as swimming in the emerald water or enjoying the beauty of the bay from the boat’s sundeck. Enjoy a delicious fresh seafood dinner in the dining room with a very social atmosphere before returning to your cabin for a good night’s sleep. 

Today is your second day in Halong Bay, early risers may start the day with a Tai Chi class on the top deck as the sun rises over the bay.

After breakfast, proceed to explore one of the most stunning caves in Halong Bay and then get back on board for a final glimpse of this UNESCO World Heritage Site while cruising back to the dock. Disembark and return to Hanoi Airport for the flight to Hue. 

Upon your arrival at Hue Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your tour guide and driver & transferred to the city center for hotel check-in. Stay overnight in Hue.

Day 7 of Vietnam 13 day tour is a day trip around Hue City.

After breakfast, you will embark on the Hue City Tour of charming Hue by floating down the tranquil Perfume River by a private boat, with endless greenery surrounding. Your first stop will be the iconic Thien Mu Pagoda. Considered to be an unofficial symbol of Hue, the famous pagoda is located in the converge of rivers, overlooking the romantic Perfume River. Then, you will take the transfer to the final resting places of emperors – The so-called King Minh Mang Tomb & King Tu Duc Tomb. 

After lunch, continue to explore the Imperial City of Hue, one of Vietnam’s seven UNESCO World Heritage Site, including The Citadel and The Forbidden City, giving you the great opportunity to learn more about the history and architecture of this fascinating historic landmark. 

Afterwards, the Hue City Tour concludes at your hotel. Spend the evening at your leisure before staying overnight in Hue. 

Today’s experience will give you a real insight into the local life whilst traveling by bicycle. Cycle out of town through the scenic rural countryside, passing rice paddy fields, Ba Le Market, a kindergarten, and so much more, towards Van Lang Fisherman Village and Bay Mau Water Coconut Forest which is around 7 hectares of mangrove forest, canals, and houses covered in water coconut leaves. This stunning area used to be a refuge for nearby residents and soldiers during the Vietnam War but nowadays, it is famous for producing huge amounts of seafood products.   

Reaching the village, you will be warmly greeted by a local man and his family where three generations live together in the same house. Sit down to enjoy some green tea with them. After, take a stroll around the village & make contact with the villagers. Next, take a cruise in a traditional basket boat, rowed by the skillful hands of local fishermen and learn their traditional fishing techniques within the water coconut forest.   

Upon your return, go back to the family to enjoy a foot massage in medicinal herb water – a traditional therapeutic practice which is the combination of local herbal remedy and Chinese traditional medicine in order to reduce your aches and pains, and rheumatism. If you are interested, you may join the host in preparing some local typical dishes. Lunch will comprise of many dishes, such as “Tam Huu” spring rolls, “Banh Xeo” or pancake, grilled fish in banana leaf, among many other Vietnamese delicacies.   

After lunch, enjoy free time and take a short break before cycling back to town. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure and stay overnight in Hoi An. 

Today’s experience will give you a real insight into the local life whilst travelling by bicycle. Cycle out of town through the scenic rural countryside, passing rice paddy fields, Ba Le market, a kindergarten, and so much more, towards Van Lang Fisherman Village and Bay Mau Water Coconut Forest which is around 7 hectares of mangrove forest, canals, and houses covered in water coconut leaf. This stunning area used to be a local people’ and soldiers’ refuge during the Vietnam War but nowadays, it is famous for producing huge amounts of seafood products.   

Reaching the village, you will be warmly greeted by a local man and his family where three generations of the family live together in the same house. Sit down to taste the green tea, then, you are free to walk around the village & make contact with locals. Next, you will take a cruise in a traditional basket boat, rowed by the skillful hands of the locals and learn their traditional fishing techniques within the water coconut forest.   

Afterwards, you return to the local family to enjoy a foot massage in medicinal herb water – a traditional therapeutic practice which is the combination of local herbal remedy and Chinese traditional medicine in order to reduce your aches and pains, rheumatism. If you are interested, you may join the host in preparing some local dishes. Lunch will comprise of many local dishes, such as “Tam Huu” spring rolls, “Banh Xeo” or local pancake, grilled fish in banana leaf, among many other Vietnamese delicacies.   

After lunch, enjoy free time and take a short break before cycling back to the town.Spend the rest of the day at your leisure and stay overnight in Hoi An. 

Enjoy free time in Hoi An before taking the transfer to Da Nang Airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City.

Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, you will be warmly greeted by your tour guide and driver & transferred to the city center for hotel check-in. Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

After breakfast, we depart from the city center and set off to the northwest of Ho Chi Minh City to explore the Cu Chi tunnels. The famous incredible underground tunnel network was constructed during the Vietnamese War and was used by the Viet Cong. Today, you have the chance to visit a part of the network as some of the existing tunnels have been opened to welcome tourists. After watching a short documentary film, you will follow your guide into the underground network and spend the next hours exploring the War Memorial Museum. You may try to fire an AK-47 or an MK16 rifle on a firing range (Fee is excluded).      

Hop into your car to drive back to the city center. Enjoy lunch, then, continue on to visit the War Remnants Museum where exhibition halls display imagery of Vietnam Wars. Next, proceed to the History Museum (closed on Mondays) or the Reunification Palace to witness the relics of the city’s tumultuous past before heading to the Old Post Office, as well as Notre Dame Cathedral which are 2 typical symbols of French buildings in Ho Chi Minh City. Overnight in this bustling city.

Mekong Delta Boat Trip is a must for your Vietnam 13 day tour. After breakfast, transfer to Cai Be where you will board the private long-tail boat and start the story of the fascinating Mekong Delta tour with the colorful Cai Be Floating Market. Cruise amongst local barges full of food, fruits as well as vegetables. You have the opportunity to learn about the unique marketing method, in which wholesalers hang samples of their goods from tall wooden poles so they do not have to cry out what they are selling in the vastness of the river & over the noise of boat engines. Following that, there is a short visit by foot to some nearby local workshops where you will be able to observe how rice paste, coconut candies, pop-rice and other specialties are traditionally made. 

Stop en route to explore a handicraft village nearby where you can see the process of producing rice sheets, fish sauce, soya sauce, cooking salt and sew coconut-leaves for cottage roofs. 

After lunch, we next take a rowboat and cruise along the river bank to see traditional houses made of wood and palm tree leaves, we may interact with local farmers when observing their working activities and learn the traditional working technique which locals catch fish or pick up fruits by ancestral ways in the Mekong Delta. Continue to visit nursery garden where the skillful growers of the Mekong Delta use their own way to cultivate young trees of different types of fruits to produce these fruits and vegetables which are globally known and enjoyed.

Your driver will transfer you back to Saigon, drop you off at your hotel. Stay overnight in HCM City.

Have free time for last minute shopping in Ho Chi Minh City, then transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your onward flight. Highlight Vietnam Tour Package ends.