Vietnam Tet Tour - 16 days - From $USD

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DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1:     25 Jan         Saigon Arrival (D)
Upon arrival, get our warm welcome ceremony at Tan Son Nhat airport. Meet your tour guide and get transfer to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.  Dinner and overnight in Ho Chi Minh City. (Dinner included)

Day 2:    26 Jan        Ho Chi Minh City tour (B, L)
Today is the day of “the Kitchen God”. According to Vietnamese belief, today the God of the kitchen fly up to the Paradise to report to the Jade Emperor all the family affairs. Depends on what the Kitchen God report, the Jade Emperor will bless the family in the coming year or not. A nation-wide practice on this day is that the family would buy a live carp fish (or known as Koin) to offer to the Kitchen God in a ritual ceremony, so he could ride the fish to make his way up to the heaven.

In the morning we take our cyclo tour to District 5 with Binh Tay Market and Thien Hau pagoda. For the exciting atmosphere of Saigonese to prepare their Tet. The cyclo then take us to The Jade Emperor pagoda for its magnificent character and to witness the offering here on this day. We then visit the War Remnant Museum before lunch.

After lunch we visit the Notre Damn Cathedral and the general Post Office then enjoy our free time to explore Ben Thanh market and Le Loi Street, Nguyen Hue flower Boulevard to enjoy the spirit of the coming Tet. Dinner at your own arrangement and overnight Saigon.

Day 3:     27 Jan        Ho Chi Minh city – Cai Be and Vinh Long (B, L, D)
Depart for Mekong Delta on a 3 hour drive journey with picturesque scenery of Mekong Delta countryside. Upon arrival in Cai Be, we take our private cruise to visit some villages of handicraft that are located along the Mekong Upper River. Have your lunch with 'Elephant Ear Fish' at Mr. Sau Giao garden. After lunch we take a rowing boat to our homestay where we will spend our night. After dinner, sit back to enjoy a traditional music show that is performed by the band from the village. Overnight in Homestay of Vinh Long and learn about hơ the family prepare for their Tet.

Day 4:     28 Jan        Vinh Long – Saigon (B, L)
Farewell the local family then cruise to the other side of the Mekong River - Vinh Long. Visit Vinh Long markets and a few more different handicraft villages. Our waiting van will take us back to Saigon after docking at Vinh Long pier. Stop over in Trung Luong for lunch. Arrive in Saigon. Rest of the day is free for shopping or wandering around town. Dinner at your own arrangement and over night in Saigon.

Day 5:     29 Jan        Saigon – Hoi An (B, L)
After breakfast we transfer to the airport for our 1 hour flight to Da Nang then drive to Hoi An. Upon arrival we check in our hotel and start our walking tour to the old town to see some main attraction of the town such as Tan Ky old house, Japanese Bridge, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall. Lunch then free time for your own leisure and shopping.

Day 6:     30 Jan        Hoi An biking excursion, home hosted lunch (B, L)
This morning we rent our bycicles for our Hoi An countryside biking excursion. This trip will take us off the beaten spots of Hoi An to see the contrast tranquil countryside. After about 2 hour cycling, we will come to Tra Que vegetable village to see one family and enjoy a meal with them.
The after noon is free at your leisure. You can still use the bikes to get into town or to cycle to the beach for a swim. Dinner is on your own and overnight in Hoi An.

Day 7:     31 Jan        Hoi An – Hanoi (B, L, D)
We take our morning flight to Hanoi. Once arrive to the city, we will check in our hotel, go for lunch and take our one hour cyclo tour to the Old Quarter and French Quarter of Hanoi. Late in the afternoon we enjoy the water puppet show followed by dinner.    

Day 8:     1 Feb        Hanoi city tour (B, L)
We spend the morning visiting Ho Chi Minh Complex (which includes Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh house on Stilt, Presidential Palace – outside visit only - One Pilar Pagoda), Temple of Literature then lunch in one of the most bustling restaurant in Hanoi for most authentic Vietnamese food.
The afternoon visit will cover the Museum of Ethnology, Hanoi Hilton. Back to the hotel for our own leisure.
Tonight we join a Hanoi lady for a cooking demonstration to learn how Hanoians prepare their special meal for their new year.

Day 9:     2 Feb        Hanoi day at leisure (B)
Today is totally free for you to explore flower market, to wander the old quarter on foot to see how Vietnamese prepare their Tet and join the local for the New Year coundown and firework at the New Year moment.

Day 10:     3 Feb        Hanoi  - Halong Bay (B, L, D)
We depart Hanoi for Halong Bay, stopping at Hong Ngoc charity center. Upon arrival at Halong Bay we embark on a boat trip to cruise Halong Bay, visiting Ga Choi Islet, Dinh Huong and Sung Sot Cave. In the late afternoon, we anchor for the night on the bay and enjoy a delicious dinner on board. Overnight on a junk boat in Halong Bay.
    
Day 11:     4 Feb         Halong – Hanoi (B, L, D)
After breakfast we take a Sampan boat to explore Luon Cave. We may have a chance to see the wild monkeys that gather around waiting for food from the tourists. After that we continue to cruise around the bay. Lunch is served on the boat on our way back to the docks. We return to Hanoi by our private bus.
We check in our day use hotel room for shower and repack our lugguage, then go out for dinner before taking our overnight train to Sapa.

Day 12:     5 Feb        Arrive in Lao Cai - Sapa (B, L, D)
Early this morning arrive in Lao Cai and transfer along the picturesque terraced hillsides to Sapa, home to some of Vietnam's most colourful ethnic groups. After breakfast, commence with a short hike down to the Black H'mong ethnic minority village of Cat Cat, nestled in a beautiful valley and surrounded by rice paddy fields and spectacular scenery, returning to Sapa for lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we take a short drive (45 minutes) to the Red Dao minority village of Ta Phin where we can mingle with the Red Zao minority group. Beside the Tet atmosphere around, you can easily find that this is a unique opportunity to chat with them and purchase some of their wonderful handicrafts. Drive back to Sapa to spend the night.
Overnight in Sapa

Day 13:     6 Feb         Sapa – Lao Chai – Ta Van (B, L, D)
Morning we bid a farewell to Sapa and commence our walk to Lao Chai in a festive time and escorted with mumber of H’mong ladies. After 45 minutes walking on the main road we take a turning to a buffalo dirt trail and continue to trek until we reach the Village of Lao Chai – home to Black H’Mong minority, arriving around midday. We make a stop in a local restaurant on the riverside to enjoy our picnic lunch. In the afternoon, we proceed for a further hour and a half, through local villages, and eventually arrive at the charming village of Tavan, home to the hill tribe group, the Zay where we'll enjoy a home cooked dinner. We will learn more about Tet of the Minorties up on the mountain, of Day people via our conversations with the family during the meal and in the kitchen after dinner. (Today is about 5 hours of trekking).
Overnight in local home.

Day 14:     7 Feb        Ta Van – Giang Ta Chai – Sapa (B, L, D)
Morning we rise and say goodbye to our gracious host family and trek to the village of Giang Ta Chai passing through lush green bamboo forest along dirt trails to the picturesque terraces of rice paddy fields. Stop at a waterfall to meet the Red Zao people who gather here to sell their wonderful handicrafts. After a final haul uphill out of the valley we will arrive at the large concrete road to meet awaiting jeeps for transfer back to Sapa. Check into hotel day-use rooms for shower and refreshment. The rest of the day is free to explore the diversity and colour of Sapa and take advantage of the amazing shopping of local handicrafts. Late afternoon, we return to Lao Cai to board the overnight train back to Hanoi.
Overnight on A/C train

Day 15:     8 Feb:         Hanoi free day (B)
Today is at your leisure for your final shopping and rest.

Day 16:     9 Feb:         Departure day (B)
Today is free until transfer to the airport for your flight home or to take another adventure!

Bon Voyage!

Tam biet va Hen gap lai – Good bye and see you again.

                               Wishing you an Unforgetable Holiday with Indochina Pioneer!

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The hotels listed below are just suggestive for the best valued of this Vietnam Tet Tour 16 day trip, yet Indochina Pioneer also offers more options of our own hand-picked hotels with different levels or to customize your hotel requests to match your own taste and budget. Please kindly Contact us for more favourable deals.
 

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♦ 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.
 

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BRIEF ITINERARY

Day 1   :   Saigon Arrival
Day 2   :   Saigon City tour
Day 3   :   Saigon – Cai Be & Vinh Long homestay.
Day 4   :   Vinh Long - Saigon.
Day 5   :   Saigon – Hoi An.
Day 6   :   Hoi An Biking Excursion, home-hosted lunch.
Day 7   :   Hoi An – Hanoi, cyclo tour.
Day 8   :   Hanoi city tour - Cooking class
Day 9   :   Hanoi free day. New Year eve
Day 10 :   Hanoi - Halong Bay
Day 11 :   Halong Bay – Hanoi – Night train to Sapa
Day 12 :   Sapa – Ta Phin village
Day 13 :   Sapa – Lao Chai – Ta Van
Day 14 :   Ta Van – Sapa – Hanoi
Day 15 :   Hanoi at leisurer
Day 16 :   Departure day

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS:

• Enjoy a true spirit of Vietnamese New Year, share a local practice to celebrate a new year.
• Learn about food and ritual life of Vietnamese in the new year festival.
• See the most charming destinations in Vietnam.
• Enjoy the comfort of hotels and authentic taste of homestay and home hosted meals.

TOUR INCLUDES:

• Hanoi 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..
• Village homestay in local families with dinner.
• Meals and other those mentioned in the itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner). Normally for this trip B and D are served at the homestay at trekking portion. Lunch is packed picnic lunch at random location en-route. Full board meals are servie aboard Halong bay kayak adventure.
• 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.
• 1 bottle of 1.5 liter per person on each day of trekking and kayaking.

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 Robert from Scotland
Our trip to Vietnam was a last minute affair in the spring of 2009 We found Indochina Pioneer on Internet, and as soon as we received a rapid and detailed response from Ryan Chen, we knew we were dealing with a professional travel agency based in Hanoi, Vietnam. As soon as we arrived in the first city where we had their local guide and driver, we knew that we were right! We had only the guides, drivers, cars, meals and entrance fees to museum, shows, etc, with Indochina Pioneer. We highly recommend not only these services, but travelers should book the entire trip with Indochina Pioneer, that is all domestic flights, tour excursions such as Halong Bay, hotels, meals, as well as the local guides and transportation. We are a couple, but this agency will do wonders for couples, small groups of friends or larger groups as well. They can customize anything. Not only that, once you are in Vietnam, their guides and drivers are always ready and capable to improvise and add visits and excursions, modify what has been agreed upon. An excellent combination of rigorously following the itinerary and flexibility when this is called for or the opportunity arises. The only surprises are good ones, great suggestions for visits, spontaneous stops along the road, concerts in the city with seats right up front even if you decide on the last minute to attend. The guides were all very professional, knowledgeable, polite and proud to show you their people and country. You will feel in security with the excellent drivers and first class cars or vans, whether you are in the very hectic traffic of Hanoi or on small countryside roads.
 

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