12-Day Vietnam Culture Tour from Hanoi with Sapa and Halong Bay

• Welcome to Hanoi, the starting point of your stunning Vietnam culture and history tour. As Vietnam's second-largest capital city, Hanoi is marked by prominent economic development and is the cradle of Red River Delta culture. The city is also characterised by French colonial buildings scattered throughout, roads lined with giant trees, delectable gastronomy, and a vibrant pace of life.
• Upon arrival, your driver and local tour guide will welcome you and transfer you from the airport to Hanoi city. Check in at the hotel and enjoy a relaxing rest of the day.

Meals included: None

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
Please note: Hotel standard check-in time is 14:00. Earlier check-in is available upon room availability.

• Embark on a full-day city tour of Hanoi featuring its cultural and historical attractions.
• You will begin with Trấn Quốc Pagoda, the oldest pagoda in Hanoi, constructed in the 6th century. Originally located on a dyke, it was later relocated after flooding to an ideal peninsula on West Lake, making Trấn Quốc a photogenic spot in Hanoi. It is optional to use a car or take a 15-minute walk from Trấn Quốc Pagoda to Ba Dinh Square, where you can see the iconic Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. This is the resting place of Vietnam's greatest president, Ho Chi Minh, housing his embalmed body. After viewing the mausoleum from the front, you will enjoy a pleasant stroll to visit the Presidential Palace, the former accommodation of President Ho Chi Minh, and One Pillar Pagoda.
• After lunch at a local restaurant, you will visit the Temple of Literature in Hanoi, renowned as the first university in Vietnam. This attraction showcases Vietnamese culture and beliefs and remains a crucial part of local culture today.
• Afterwards, you will enjoy a relaxing cyclo ride to glimpse Hanoi's corners and admire iconic colonial buildings such as the Legend Metropole Hanoi, Hanoi Opera House, the State Bank, Saint Joseph Church, and others. Bid farewell to your cyclo rider in Hanoi Old Quarter for your own exploration of this vibrant corner, a unique and busy commercial area where you can intermingle with the lively local lifestyle.
• Finish the walking tour at Hoan Kiem Lake, renowned as the heart of Hanoi, where you will enjoy the Water Puppet Show, invented over a thousand years ago. Originating as a hobby for peasants and later developing into royal entertainment, the show depicts the daily life and legends of Vietnamese farmers, accompanied by traditional and lively music.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Tour duration: 8 hours

• Today, you will leave for Hoa Lư, one of the most renowned sites in the country for its lush nature and breathtaking limestone peaks.
• At the so-called "land-based Halong Bay," you will discover the temples of Kings Đinh and Lê, built in the 10th century in the heart of the forest.
• In the afternoon, you will hop aboard a sampan for a boat excursion to the Tam Cốc caves, also known as the three lagoons, where you will be amazed by the aquatic landscape and the towering rock formations surrounding you.
• You will then return to your mini hotel in Hanoi, which takes about 3 hours.
• In the evening, you will take the night train from Hanoi Station to Lào Cai.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

Accommodation: Overnight stay on the train (air-conditioned cabins with four berths per cabin - 4 pax/cabin)

• In the early morning, you will arrive at Lào Cai Station and depart for Sapa, which lies placidly at the base of the Hoang Lien Son mountain range.
• After freshening up and having breakfast, you will visit Love Waterfall in Sapa.
• Love Waterfall is located at an altitude of 1,800 m above sea level within Hoang Lien Son National Park. To reach it, you have to cross a wild path. The waterfall is suitable for those who love nature and want to explore the mountains. It is one of Sapa's tourist attractions for travellers seeking grand natural views.
• Next, you will walk to Y Linh Ho village, where you will be lucky enough to admire the colourful traditional clothes of the inhabitants. Your adventure will continue along sinuous paths winding through the verdant rice fields of the Muong Hoa Valley.
• You will head towards Lao Chai and then end the excursion at Ta Van.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch in a local house or picnic

Accommodation: Hotel in Sapa

• In the morning, you will travel to Ta Phin Village, a famous hill-tribe village approximately six miles north of Sapa. Ta Phin Village regularly welcomes trekkers who come to experience a more traditional lifestyle in Vietnam's mountainous northwest. Here, the Red Dao, Black Hmong, and Kinh ethnic groups live side by side and continue to follow their distinct cultures, offering a unique opportunity to learn about their differences and spend time interacting with members of each ethnic group. The Hmong have unique marriage traditions, while the Red Dao are known for their expertise in herbal medicine and their use of earthly plants to cure many diseases. You will also see Ta Phin Cave, which extends deep into the mountains, and observe women making brocade products to sell.
• This afternoon, return to Hanoi by a comfortable 10-seater limousine. Arrive at your hotel in Hanoi around 7:30 pm to 8:00 pm. You will then have free time to relax.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

• Today, you'll travel 2.5 hours from Hanoi to Halong Bay for an overnight boat cruise on the stunning bay, which includes 1,969 islands and islets of giant rock formations.
• You will have lunch at the boat's restaurant while the boat sets sail toward the core area of Halong Bay.
• In the afternoon, you will reach the islands of Halong Bay to hike, visit a Halong Bay cave, kayak in a calm area, or take a local wooden boat if you cannot ride a kayak.
• Return to the boat at sunset, where you shall enjoy a tea break and relax on board before dinner.

Remarks: The order of activities might differ slightly depending on the crew's schedule.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Overnight cruise on Halong Bay

Driving distance: 170 km (105 miles) - 2.5 hours

• In the morning, a Tai Chi lesson is available on the top deck for you to join and enjoy the freshness of Halong Bay.
• After breakfast, you will stop at other islands in Halong Bay for further exploration and to enjoy the natural scenery. The boat then sails toward the mainland along a different route, allowing you to admire more of Halong Bay's landscapes.
• Leaving the boat at noon, you will meet your driver and head to the airport for your flight to Hue, the former capital of central Vietnam.
• Upon arriving in Hue, you will meet your local tour guide and transfer from Da Nang Airport to your hotel in Hoi An for check-in.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch or brunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Driving distance: 170 km (105 miles) - 2.5 hours

• This morning, you will hop on your bicycle and travel through the lush countryside of Hoi An toward Tra Que Village.
• Participate with local people and learn how villagers plant vegetables and herbs.
• Afterwards, try making one of Vietnam's best dishes, Bánh Xèo, or sizzling cake, followed by lunch.
• After lunch, you can rest before cycling to Cam Thanh Village, crossing the floodplain and rice fields while enjoying the scenic countryside and village life.
• From here, board a local boat at the mouth of the Thu Bon River and experience local fishing styles and fish-catching techniques. The bamboo basket boat will then take you into the mangrove forest.
• Have a break before returning to Hoi An town by land transfer.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

• Enjoy some pleasant free time on your own until the appropriate time for your transfer from Hoi An to Da Nang Airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City, the next stop on your journey through Vietnamese culture and history.
• Upon arrival, you will meet your local tour guide and travel to the city centre.

Meals included: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

• Ho Chi Minh City is undeniably the most modern and vibrant city in Vietnam, making it one of the country's best places to see and experience. It is also a city that deepens your understanding of Vietnam's history.
• This morning, you will head to the Cu Chi Tunnels, a must-visit on historical tours in Vietnam. The Vietnamese Resistance forces dug this underground system during the war against the French and later extended it during the Vietnam War. As you explore the tunnels, located 3 to 4 metres (9 to 13 feet) underground, you can imagine how the war unfolded at that time.
• Afterwards, you can return to Ho Chi Minh City centre for lunch.
• In the afternoon, you will explore the historical sites of Ho Chi Minh City.
• Visit the War Remnants Museum and learn more about the Vietnam War through exhibitions of US weapons, photographs showing the consequences of the war, details about chemical weapons, and more.
• Then, admire French colonial buildings such as the old Post Office, located close to Notre Dame Cathedral, as well as the walking street of Đồng Khởi.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

• This morning, you will travel to the Mekong Delta region in southern Vietnam and enjoy a pleasant day in the countryside. The Mekong Delta is the final piece completing your best Vietnam itinerary.
• Arriving at Cai Be pier, you will board a local boat and cruise toward Vinh Long for a tropical hideaway.
• Make stops to taste fruits from local villagers' orchards and learn about some handicraft work.
• Have lunch at a local house. Afterwards, you will head back to Cai Be by boat and return to Ho Chi Minh City in the late afternoon.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

• Enjoy free time on your own until your transfer to the airport for your flight to your next destination.

Meals included: Breakfast

Accommodation: None

Please note: Hotel standard check-out time is 12:00 pm