Vietnam Secret Revealed

• Immense yourself in the bustling Saigon, Retreat to the lush Mekong Delta “rice basket”.
• Soak up the sense of history in the ancient port town of Hoi An, Admire the beauty of old Imperial city of Hue.
• Homestay experience in Mai Chau & Sail across 3000 islands scattered like jewels in the emerald waters of Halong Bay.

⇒ Tour grade: Easy (customizable)
⇒ Trip code: VA02 (private tour/ what is it?)
⇒ Trip duration: 17 days/ 16 nites
⇒ Destinations: Saigon - Mekong Delta - Hoi An - Hue - Hanoi - Mai Chau - Halong.
⇒ Meals included: 16 breakfasts, 12 lunches, 5 dinners (Allow extra Meal budget minimum $20US/per day).
⇒ Transport: Private Car, Bus, Cyclo (rickshaw), Junk Cruise Halong Bay.
⇒ Accommodation: 14 night in hotels, 1 night on Junk Cruise (Halong), 1 night on local homestay in Mai Chau.
⇒ Tour guides: English speaking tour guides (other languages are available upon request with different service rates).

TOUR INCLUDES:

• Accommodation based on twin shared room at selected hotels with daily breakfast
       Check-in time at all hotels is 14:00 and check-out time at all hotels is 12.00.          
      Early check-in and late check-out is subject to availability with surcharge.
• Meals, drinks and other those mentioned in the itinerary (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner).
• Profestional English Speaking tour guide or other languages upon request.
• Tours and transfers as mentioned by private air-conditioned vehicle.
• Sightseeing fees and permits during guided time.
• Domestic flight from Saigon – Danang (economy class).
• Domestic train from Hue – Hanoi (economy class).

TOUR EXCLUDES:

• Travel Insurance (Compulsory).
• Other flight tickets.
• Visas and airport departure tax.
• Meals, drinks and other those mentioned in the itinerary.
• Laundry, telephone calls and expenditure of a personal nature.
• Tips and gratuities.

► Why Choose Indochina Pioneer

► What they say... (See more comments from some of our past travellers)

Julie Connaughton from Australia
The itinery allowed us to experience different facets of Vietnam and with the free time we had ,we could experiece a few adventures of our own. I like Hoi An, Hanoi, Mai Chau, Halong Bay, the Mekong Delta, every single places we have been too. Hung our tour guide was a very warm, intellegent, happy and knowledeable leader who was proud of his beautiful  country. His ability to understand the needs of the individual on tour was outstanding. An experience not to be missed. Vietnam is a smorgasboard of sights,smells, sounds, and tastes. WOW!!!
 

Contact Person: Steven Quinn E-Mail: sales@indochinapioneer.com Call Us: +84 43715 3627 | Fax: +84 43715 3626 Customize this tour | Hotline: +84 983 145 799

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BRIEF ITINERARY

Day 1   :   Saigon Arrival
Day 2   :   Saigon – Cu Chi Tunnels
Day 3   :   Saigon – Vinh Long – Can Tho
Day 4   :   Can Tho – Saigon
Day 5   :   Saigon – Cao Dai Temple & Cu Chi tunnels
Day 6   :   Saigon – Fly to Hoian
Day 7   :   In Hoian
Day 8   :   Hoian – Free day
Day 9   :   Hoian – Drive to Hue
Day 10 :   Hue City tour – Overnight train to Hanoi
Day 11 :   Arrive Hanoi
Day 12 :   Hanoi City tour
Day 13 :   Hanoi – Mai Chau home-stay
Day 14 :   Mai Chau – Hanoi
Day 15 :   Hanoi –  Halong
Day 16 :   Hanoi – Halong
Day 17 :   Departure Day
 

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrival Day (D)
Upon arrival at Saigon airport, you will be met by our tour guide and transferred to our Hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Tonight we will have our first dinner in a local restaurant and the chance to enjoy your first taste of Vietnamese cuisine. Overnight in Saigon.

Day 2:  Saigon City tour (B, L)
Waking up refreshed and begin the day with a visit to the moving War Remnants Museum followed by the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral with its French colonial architecture and Dong Khoi, one of the city’s main shopping boulevards. We take lunch in town. In the afternoon we have a cyclo tour, winding through Saigon’s vibrant streets to Chinatown and its bustling markets. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Overnight in Saigon.

Day 3: Saigon – Vinh Long – Can Tho (B, L, D)
Leaving Saigon this morning, we drive in to the Mekong Delta and the town of Vinh Long. En route, we board a boat and navigate through the intricate waterways and canals to visit some of the islands in this region stopping at some local cottage industries, tropical fruit orchards and rice paddies. We have lunch at a local restaurant on the island and then dock. From here we drive to Can Tho and check into our hotel.
Overnight in Can Tho.

Day 4: Can Tho - Saigon (B, L)
After breakfast we take to the water to witness Vietnam’s largest floating market – Cai Rang where literally hundreds of boats laden with locally grown fruit and vegetables come to trade. Our boat arrives at the dock where we return to Saigon by road. Stop en route for lunch before getting back to Saigon. The reminder of the day is at leisure.
Overnight in Saigon.

Day 5: Saigon – Cu Chi tunnels – Cao Dai Temple (B)
In the morning, we dive heading northwest of Ho Chi Minh to visit the Cu Chi tunnels. The tunnels were mainly constructed in the American war and used by the Viet Cong. Upon arrival at the historical relics of Cu Chi, we watch a brief introductory documentary and then enjoy a sightseeing consisting of 2 walking on uneven mud paths through the bush. We also have a chance to crawl through some of the tunnels. Quickly after that we are transferred 1hr (60km) to Tay Ninh to the Cao Dai Temple and watch most of the Cao Dai service. This will tell us of a strangest religion in the world. We drive for lunch in a simple local restaurant. In the afternoon, we drive 3hrs (100km) back to Saigon.
Overnight in Saigon.

Day 6: Saigon – Fly to Da Nang/ Hoian (B, L)
After an early breakfast we leave Saigon and take the short flight to Da Nang. From her we drive the short distance to the old merchant town of Hoian. This former colorful trading port used to attract merchants from as far afield as China, Japan and Europe as far back as the sixteenth century. After checking in we visit old Chinese temples, wooden merchant’s homes and the symbol of Hoian - the Japanese Covered Bridge. We also pay a visit to one of the many tailors for the chance to have some made-to-measure clothes, or shop for antiques and ceramics in the heart of Old Hoian all of which give Hoian its unique and charming character.
Overnight in Hoian.

Day 7: In Hoian (B, L)
Today you are free to stroll around town. You can visit the local markets and choose one of the many local restaurants for lunch. Hoian is famed for its unique dishes such as Cao Lau noodle and White Rose. There is the opportunity to try your hand at cooking some Vietnamese dishes with a fun cooking class.
Overnight in Hoian.

Day 8: In Hoian (B)
Free day for your further exploration of Hoian. You also can hire a bicycle to see Hoian and its surrounding countryside or nearby Cau Dai beach. Or you could just do some more shopping!
Overnight in Hoian

Day 9: Hoian – Hue (B, L)
We depart Hoian and drive to Hue, stop en route at the Marble Mountains before we ascend the Hai Van (Cloudy) Pass stopping at the top for spectacular views of the coastline below. We stop for coffee at the unspoiled Lang Co beach before arriving at the former Imperial City of Hue. In the afternoon there will be a guided tour of the Royal Citadel and Forbidden City which was modeled on the Forbidden City in Beijing. Tonight there’s the chance to be kings and queens for the night with an optional Royal Banquet (Optional).
Overnight in Hue

Day 10: Hue City tour – Overnight train to Hanoi (B, L)
Today we have a full day tour of Hue. We begin with a dragon boat trip along the Perfume River to visit the Thien Mu Pagoda. Here we can offer prayers to Buddha and also to the pagoda’s most famous monk - Thich Quang Duc who set fire to himself at a busy Saigon intersection in 1963 as a protest against the persecution of Buddhists by South Vietnam's regime. We continue on to the tomb of emperor Minh Mang and the old Coliseum, stop en route at a local workshop to witness the process of incent stick and conical hat making. We arrive at a local Buddhist monastery where we will be treated a delicious vegetarian lunch.

This afternoon we are transferred to Hue station to board the overnight Reunification Express train to Hanoi. We can go and order some take-away food for our dinner. The overnight accommodation aboard the train is a four berth sleeper carriage.
Overnight on A/C train

Day 11: Hanoi (B)
We arrive in Hanoi in the early morning and transfer to our hotel. Check into our day-use room, then free at leisure.

In the late afternoon we enjoy one hour cyclo (cycle rickshaw) tour through the Old Quarter: Also known as the 36 streets, this bustling area of narrow streets is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. We then enjoy the unique performance of the famous Water Puppet Theatre.
Overnight in Hanoi

Day 12: Hanoi City tour (B, L)
Morning Hanoi city tour to visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex. Ho Chi Minh was the founding father of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and is much revered in Vietnam to this day. The complex consists of his Mausoleum, the presidential residence and the One Pillar Pagoda. Our next stop is the Temple of Literature – Vietnam’s first university and now a temple dedicated to Confucius. We follow this with Hoa Lo Prison, better known by US POWs as the "Hanoi Hilton". We enjoy lunch in a local Vietnamese restaurant to sample Hanoi’s exotic cuisine. In the afternoon we drive to the Museum of Ethnology: This museum is widely acknowledged as the best in the country and has an extensive display dedicated to Vietnam's 54 Ethnic minority peoples.  Enjoy a cyclo (rickshaw) ride of Hanoi's Old Quarter. Return to our hotel.
Overnight in Hanoi

Day 13: Hanoi – Mai Chau homestay (B, L, D)
We leave the capital and head northwest to Mai Chau set in spectacular highland countryside. The area is 160km from Hanoi and home to several ethnic minorities including the White Thai. We arrive at Lac Village where we spend the night as guests of a local family. We have lunch cooked and serve by the host and then explore the surrounding local villages on foot, visiting some of the local handicraft shops where you can purchase such products as brocade accessories and clothes. In the evening our hosts supply us with mattresses and mosquito nets before cooking dinner. There is also the chance to join with them in a traditional dance show.
Overnight in Mai Chau homestay

Day 14: Mai Chau – Hanoi  (B, L)
After breakfast we bid farewell to our hosts and drive to visit Xa Linh village, home of the Hmong people, one of the largest hill tribes in northern Vietnam. Enjoy a walk, meet and visit some local households where we can learn about the daily life and lifestyle. We then wind our way back to Hanoi. On the way back we have a quick stop at a Muong village, another minority group to discover their style of housing and culture. We have lunch in Hoa Binh before returning to Hanoi in the afternoon. The reminder of the day is free. Overnight in Hanoi

 Day 15: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B, L, D)
In the morning we depart by bus for Halong Bay. The 4 hour ride takes us through the lush paddy fields of the Red River Delta. On the way we stop for refreshments and a chance to buy some hand made souvenirs at Hong Ngoc Charity centre which raises money for the disabled. Upon arrival at the quayside we board our private junk boat and enjoy a delicious seafood lunch as we cruise through the bay with its vast and imposing limestone formations. We visit Sung Sot Cave and a floating village where the locals have their own fish farms. Relax on the sundeck and admire the ever changing vista of Halong Bay with a glass of wine. Our night is spent on board the junk where dinner and cabins are provided.
Overnight in Halong Bay on board junk

Day 16: Halong Bay – Hanoi (B, L, D)
Rise early to see the sunrise on the bay followed by a simple breakfast. Enjoy a bamboo boat ride through Luon Cave. We return to the junk and explore Bai Tu Long before brunch. We arrive back at the harbour and then drive back to Hanoi in the late afternoon. Tonight we have a farewell dinner in a Vietnamese restaurant.
Overnight in Hanoi

Day 17: Hanoi - Departure day (B)
Free till transfer to Hanoi’s Noi Bai airport for your flight home. 

                                 Wishing you an Unforgetable Holiday with Indochina Pioneer!

This tour is private and can be well tailor-made to suite your travel needs. As a result the price is quoted in US dollars and per person basis. The final price will be privately quoted upon your own number of participants, time of travel, grade of hotel rooms and other detailed services. Please click on BOOK button and fill in the requested information then our travel consultant will customize the best value holiday for you. Thank you!
 

♦ REMARKS:
1. We are aware that a good tour must have good hotels. In Indochina particularly, hotel price makes up most of the cost of your holiday in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. All of our prices are calculated upon twin-shared basis. To Indochina Pioneer standard, here is basically how we define our service:

+ Superior Level (3 star hotels in good locations): > 60USD/room/night
+ Deluxe Level (4 star hotels): > 110 USD/room/night
+ Luxury Level (5 star hotels): > 180USD/room/nigh

2. Price base in twin share basis accomodation.
3. Tour price is indicative only, please enquire for a detailed quotation.
4. More people more discounts. Please enquire for more details.

Note: We are aware that a good tour must have good hotels. Particularly, hotel price makes up most of the cost of your holiday in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. All of our prices are calculated upon twin-shared basis. To Indochina Pioneer standard, here is basically how we define our service:

+ Superior Level (3 star hotels ): > 60USD/room/night
+ Deluxe Level (4 star hotels): > 110 USD/room/night
+ Luxury Level (5 star hotels): > 180USD/room/night

Contact Person: Steven Quinn
E-Mail: sales@indochinapioneer.com
Call Us: +84 43715 3627 | Fax: +84 43715 3626
Make an enquiry | Hotline: +84 983 145 799