10-Day Vietnam Cultural Tour from Đà Nẵng with Sa Pa and Hạ Long Bay

• Upon arrival, you will visit the following sites.
• 14:30-14:45: Your driver and guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Linh Ung Pagoda, the most important pagoda in Đà Nẵng for Buddhist worshippers who come here to pray.
• On the way to Hội An, you will visit Ngũ Hành Sơn (Marble Mountain).
• Marble Mountain is a complex consisting of Kim (Iron Mountain), Mộc (Wood Mountain), Thủy (Water Mountain), Hỏa (Fire Mountain), and Thổ (Earth Mountain), symbolizing the five main elements of the universe in Asian culture. You will discover the mysterious beauty of its caves combined with the sacred atmosphere of Buddhism, and visit Tam Thai Pagoda and Linh Ung Pagoda.
• You will also admire the masterpieces of exquisite stone sculpture created by the skillful hands of artisans in Non Nước Village at the foot of the mountain.
• 18:00: Depart for Hội An Ancient Town. You will have dinner featuring unique local dishes such as Cao Lầu, Hoành Thánh, Bánh Bao, and Bánh Vạc.
• Visit Hội An Ancient Town, including the Japanese Bridge. This enduring symbol of Japanese culture is now considered a symbol of Hội An. Take a walk along the street by the Hoài River and enjoy the nightlife of Hội An. Colorful lanterns hang in front of the houses and across the streets and pathways throughout the town, creating a peaceful and serene atmosphere that will make you wish the walk could last forever.
• 21:00: Drop-off at your hotel.

• 8:00-8:30 a.m.: Our car and guide will meet you at your hotel in Đà Nẵng and begin the trip to Bà Nà Hills. If you start from Hội An, please be ready at 7:30 a.m.
• 9:30 a.m.: Upon arrival at Bà Nà Hills, you will board a cable car that holds four world records.
• Visit Debay Wine Cellar, built in 1923, and Le Jardin D'Amour Flower Garden. The highlight of this tour is the Golden Bridge (Hands of God), where you will have a chance to admire and photograph this beautiful structure.
• Continue to Linh Ung Pagoda, home to the highest Buddhist statue in the country at 27 m.
• 11:30 a.m.: Have lunch at a restaurant and take a short rest.
• 12:30 p.m.: Conquer the peak of Chua Mountain at a height of 1,487 m, the highest peak in Bà Nà, to visit Linh Chua Linh Tu Temple. Continue to discover the French Square, and enjoy some games in Fantasy Park, one of the largest indoor amusement parks in Vietnam with a wide range of interesting activities.
• 15:30: Return by cabin car down the mountain.
• Back to your hotel in Đà Nẵng or Hội An. Arrival is at about 17:00 in Đà Nẵng and about 17:30 in Hội An.

• 7:00-7:30 a.m.: Pick-up at your hotel. If you are in Đà Nẵng, the pick-up will be between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
• Begin the journey to Huế by crossing one of the best coastal roads in the world, the Hải Vân Pass. Stop for 5 minutes to take photos at Lăng Cô Beach.
• 11:00 a.m.: Visit Khải Định Tomb.
• 12:30 p.m.: Enjoy a delicious lunch at a local restaurant.
• 1:30 p.m.: Continue to Huế's main attraction, the Imperial Citadel.
• 3:00 p.m.: Explore Thiên Mụ Pagoda, the largest pagoda in Huế City.
• 4:00 p.m.: Cruise along the Perfume River by dragon boat.
• 4:30 p.m.: Our driver will drop you at your hotel in Huế City. Check in to your room and overnight in Huế City.

Note: Flight tickets are excluded.

• 6:30 a.m.: Our guide will pick you up at your hotel in Huế City. Then, you will depart for Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, classified as a World Heritage Site.
• On the way, you will stop to visit La Vang Holy Land, a national shrine located in Hải Lăng District, Quảng Trị Province, and an important place of pilgrimage for Catholics in Vietnam.
• You will also have a chance to stop at Hiền Lương Bridge and Bến Hải River for photos.
• 12:00 p.m.: Have lunch at a restaurant and take a short rest.
• 1:00 p.m.: Visit Paradise Cave. Paradise Cave (Hang Thiên Đường) was discovered by scientists from the British Caving Research Association in 2005. It has a length of 31.4 km and is the longest dry cave in Asia. With its naturally pristine features, Paradise Cave looks like a landscape painting, making it a natural wonder that many visitors have enjoyed since its opening in 2010.
• 3:30 p.m.: Our driver will take you to the airport for your flight to Hà Nội.

Overnight in Hà Nội.

• 7:30-8:00: Our driver will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to the city center to join the group tour.
• We will begin the city tour with Uncle Ho's final resting place in Ba Đình Square, where major Vietnamese cultural and political events usually take place. Visit Ho Chi Minh's stilt house, where he lived intermittently during the Vietnam War, and One Pillar Pagoda, a Buddhist temple featuring distinctive architecture and a peaceful lotus lake outside. Continue to Trấn Quốc Pagoda and see the Bodhi tree that was presented as a gift by Indian Prime Minister Rajendra Prasad during his visit to Vietnam in 1959.
• 12:30: Have lunch at a restaurant in the Old Quarter. Continue to the ancient Ngọc Sơn Temple and Hoàn Kiếm Lake (Sword Lake). Then visit Vietnam's first university, the Temple of Literature (Quốc Tử Giám), founded in 1070 based on the teachings of Confucianism.
• 16:15: Enjoy a water puppet show, a well-known traditional Vietnamese art form preserved through generations for more than 800 years. (Water puppet show excluded.)
• Free time for dinner on your own.
• Stay overnight in Hà Nội.

Please note: The program will be adjusted to suit arrival flights. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed on Monday and Friday, and all museums are closed on Monday. Alternatives will be recommended accordingly.

• 6:30-7:00: The tour guide from Vietnam Travel Advisor will pick you up from your hotel or accommodation. Board a large bus and depart for Sa Pa Town.
• 9:30: Follow the highway to Lào Cai City with the first comfort break.
• 11:00: Second comfort break in Lào Cai City before approaching Sa Pa.
• 13:00: Arrive in Sa Pa Town, where you will see the colorful traditional costumes of the H'Mông, Dao, and Tày ethnic people.
  Enjoy a welcome drink and an itinerary briefing.
• Have lunch with local Vietnamese dishes and complete check-in procedures.
• 14:30: The bus will take you to the gate of Cat Cat Village, home to the Black H'Mông ethnic people, located near the bottom of a deep valley at the foot of Fansipan Peak. Our local guide will show you the daily life of the locals as you trek down to the valley bottom and the waterfall, where the French built a hydraulic power station. Stop for photos at the bridge and waterfall, then walk uphill to meet the bus for the return to Sa Pa in the afternoon.
  The trekking distance is about 2.5 km and lasts around 2 hours.
• 17:00: Return to Sa Pa Town. Have dinner and overnight at the hotel, with evening activities.

• 8:00: After breakfast at the hotel, the driver and tour guide will take you to the cable car station. Spend 20 minutes on the cable car enjoying the spectacular scenery.
• 9:00: Reach an altitude of 2,800 meters, where you will have time to admire the views, take photos, visit the pagoda and spiritual sites, and trek up 600 steps to reach the peak of Fansipan, the Roof of Indochina. Spend about 1.5 hours hiking and taking photos.
• 11:00: Return to the cable car station and head back to Sa Pa Town.
• 12:30: Have lunch at the hotel.
• 13:30-15:45: Relax and explore Sa Pa Town on your own, shop for souvenirs, and meet all group members at the hotel to prepare for the journey back to Hà Nội.
• 16:00: Board the bus back to Hà Nội with two comfort breaks.
• 20:45: We say goodbye to you at your hotel or accommodation.

• 7:30-8:00 a.m.: Depart from Hà Nội.
• Your tour guide will pick you up from your hotel in Hà Nội and begin the journey to Ninh Bình Province. It takes approximately two hours to reach the first destination of the day, Hoa Lư Ancient Capital.
• 10:00-10:30 a.m.: Visit Hoa Lư Ancient Capital.
• Hoa Lư was the capital of Vietnam during the Đinh and Lê dynasties in the 10th and 11th centuries. Here, you will visit the temples of the two kings, Đinh Tiên Hoàng and Lê Đại Hành. The temples are located in a scenic area surrounded by limestone mountains and green rice fields.
• 11:30 a.m.: Explore Mua Cave.
• After visiting Hoa Lư, the tour continues to Mua Cave, located nearby. Mua Cave is a popular tourist spot because of its stunning panoramic views over the Tam Cốc area. To reach the top of the mountain, you need to climb 500 steps, but the effort is worth it.
• 1:00 p.m.: Lunch break.
• You will have lunch at a local restaurant in Ninh Bình, where you can try traditional Vietnamese cuisine.
• 2:00 p.m.: Boat tour in Tràng An.
• After lunch, it is time for a boat tour in Tràng An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tràng An is known for its scenic landscapes of karst mountains, caves, and rivers. During the boat tour, you will explore the caves and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
• 4:30 p.m.: Return to Hà Nội.
• After the boat tour, you will be driven back to your hotel in Hà Nội, arriving around 6:30 p.m., depending on traffic.

• 07:45-08:30: You will be picked up from your hotel in Hà Nội Old Quarter. Then, head to Hạ Long Bay and enjoy the landscape of the Red River Delta along the way.
• 11:30: Upon arriving at the lobby in Tuần Châu Marina, you may take a short break while our staff arranges all registration with the local government.
• 12:00-12:30: The cruise captain and staff will welcome you on board after a short tender transfer. While enjoying a refreshing welcome drink, you will receive a short cruise briefing and safety instructions.
• 12:30-13:00: The cruise sails through Hạ Long Bay, one of the New Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Lunch is served on board while the cruise passes amazing limestone karst formations rising impressively from the sea.
• 14:00-14:30: Leave the cruise to explore Sung Sot Cave, also known as Surprise Cave or Amazing Cave, one of the biggest and most beautiful caves in Hạ Long Bay.
• 15:00: Return to the cruise and continue to Ti Top Island. Here, you can admire magnificent views over the Gulf of Tonkin or swim in the emerald-green, cool water.
• 17:00: After a long day, this is the ideal time to enjoy energizing drinks and snacks by joining Happy Hour or a cooking class on the sundeck.
• 19:30: A sumptuous dinner is served. Enjoy delicious local food prepared and served by the onboard catering staff.
• 20:30: After dinner, various activities such as karaoke and squid fishing are available. Or you can simply relax with drinks from the bar. The rest of the evening is at your leisure.

• 06:15-07:00: Breakfast is served. It can be a great idea to enjoy your meal with the magnificent sunrise view over Hạ Long Bay.
• 8:00-9:30: The cruise moves closer to the center of the natural preservation area. Join our guide on a short trip to Luon Cave. This magical work of nature reveals the formation of karst mountains. You can discover this masterpiece by kayaking on your own. If you are lucky, you may capture great photos of mischievous monkeys jumping around the cliffs.
• 9:30: The cruise welcomes you back on board, and it is time to check out.
• 10:00: While cruising back, a delightful lunch will be served.
• 11:35: Return to the quayside in the south of the bay, where guests disembark at Tuần Châu Marina and leave for Hà Nội by shuttle.
• 15:30-16:00: You will arrive back at your hotel in Hà Nội Old Quarter. Our driver will transfer you to the airport for departure.