Impressions of Vietnam

Upon arrival, our local guide will meet & greet at the airport then transfer to the hotel. After check in, free & relax on own. Overnight in Hanoi

Today's tour begins with the Ho Chi Minh President Mausoleum and Museum.
Afterwards we will visit One Pillar Pagoda, Tran Quoc Pogada and the Temple of Literature, the first university of Vietnam. The rest of the day will be yours to do some shopping or whatever at your preference. In the evening, you will enjoy the Water Puppet Show and very typical dinner in the Old Quarter. Stay overnight in Hanoi.
Please note: Uncle Ho has gone for his annual maintenance and the mausoleum isclosed on Monday, Friday and whole October-November, but we will see the outsideof the mausoleum then continue the program as listed.

Optional: Instead or visiting the Ho Chi Minh President Mausoleum and Museum,which is closed on Monday, you may choose to visit the Ethnology museum wherecontains more than 10,000 objects, 15,000 black and white photos and hundreds ofvideo tapes and cassettes which depict all aspects of life, activities, customs, andhabits of the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam. You will meet some of them one day later in Sapa, so it's a good chance to know them a little more of their customs.

08.00 Take a 3-hour scenic drive from Hanoi to Halong Bay.
11.30 -12.00: Arrival in HaLong Tourist Wharf. Transfer to junk by tender
12.00: Welcome cocktail on board. Check into your private cabin, while we start cruising towards Bai Tu Long Bay
13.15 -14.30: Vietnamese lunch served on board, against the stunning backdrop of limestone formations and islands such as: Coc Island, Cap De Island, Bo Cau Island, Vong Vieng fishing village.
16.00: Arrive in Vong Vieng; visit the life of local people by a sampan. Enjoy one of optional activities
18.00: Stop in Trong cave area /Ho Dong Tien cave area for overnight.
19.00: Have dinner with fresh seafood provided by Vong Vieng fishing villagers
20.00-24.00: Freely enjoying the beauty of Halong at night, join with one of optional activities: Release the wind lamp, fight up the fireworks, enjoy traditional music (on special occasions), enjoy barbecue (up on passenger's request)
Available activities as:
• Visiting the village by sampan
• Swimming in Cong Troi beach
• Kite flying, relaxing on sundeck
Or requested activities as:
• Kayaking
• Diving to discover Bai Tu Long bay
• Massage

6-6.30: Practice Tai Chi on the Sundeck
6.30-8.00: Start your day with an International Buffet Breakfast, then visit the cave by tender
8.00-8.45: Explore the Cave of Surprise (Sung Sot Cave) one of the most beautiful cave in Halong Bay.
9:00 – 9:25: Swimming/relax
9:30: Cruise back to the Tourist Wharf through Halong Bay
10:00: Check-out, clear bills
10.45: Depart to Halong Tourist Wharf, transferred to the restaurant by tender
11.30: Have lunch in a restaurant in Halong city.
12.30: Depart to Hanoi

Drive back to Hanoi at 16:00. In the evening, we will wave "goodbye" to Hanoi, take the night train to the border town, Lao Cai. Stay overnight at soft sleeper private cabin with four berths.

It'll probably be a bit of a shock when we rouse you at five in the morning, but
breakfast and the crisp fresh air of the mountains will soon wake you up.

The train arrives at the Lao Cai train station at approximately 06:00am. On your arrival, one of our representatives will be waiting for you with IOT Welcoming Board. The drive to Sapa is about 33km, but it takes around 1 hour. Once at Sapa, we will check into the Hotel, and have time to freshen up, and have breakfast at the hotel. Then you will enjoy a free morning to explore around the small & charming town. At 10:00am we will meet you again and start a walking tour from hotel to the hill tribe villages of Cat Cat, home to H'mong hill tribe minority people. As we walk to the villages nestled in the valley below Sapa, we will meet some of the local people minority people on their way to and from Sapa. Here we have the opportunity to share cultural experiences with the families that live in the area. Stay overnight in Sapa.

After breakfast we are very pleased to drive you to the beautiful village Ta Phin, which is about 10 km away from Sapa Town, home to Red Dzao Minority people. Also we can arrange Xe-om (the most popular means of transportation in Vietnam, means "bike hug") for you to get there. Once arrived there, you will see and hear the sounds of morning village life. You can join them in some of their activities, like feeding the animals, cleaning the houses, gardening or preparing lunch. Afterwards you can take a short wander around the village. In the afternoon, we will transfer back to Sapa. Stay overnight in Sapa.

Get up early for breakfast, check out of the hotel, and then drive to Bac Ha market (106 km). Just before reaching the market we will see colorful activity, beautiful flower Hmong people carrying hand-crafted products or pulling dogs or buffalos, all on their way to the market. You are free to wonder around the market and become a part of the trading activities. Please be respectful to the locals as they are reluctant to have their photo taken without permission. In the afternoon, we transfer to Lao Cai town. Dinner here on your own before boarding the train at 21:00 pm back to Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi at about 5:00 am.

On your arrival at the train station of Hanoi, we will meet you with IOT Welcoming Board. After breakfast and some rest, we will escort you to the airport to take theflight to Hue, on your arrival at the airport of Hue, we will meet you with IOT Welcoming Board and then escort you to your hotel. The rest ofthe day will be yours to soak up the unique atmosphere of the city steeped in Imperial Heritage. Overnight in Hue.

We start the tour with a visit to the Imperial Citadel; afterwards take a boat cruise on the Perfume Rive to the King Minh Mang Tomb, King Tu Duc Tomb and Thien Mu Pagoda. Stay overnight in Hue.

After breakfast at hotel, transfer to Hoi An with a stop-over in Da Nang to visit the Cham Museum of Sculpture and Marble Mountains. Lunch at a local restaurant. Continue your route to Hoi An. Check in. Dinner on your own. Overnight in Hoian.

Hoi An, a major Asian trading port in the 17th and 18th centuries whose architecture and relaxed lifestyle has changed little over the years. Morning take a walking tour of the old town center to visit the former merchants' homes, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, and the colorful market. Free time in the afternoon. Overnight in Hoian.

Transfer to Da Nang Airport to fly to Nha Trang around noon. Relax on the beach of Nha Trang. Overnight in Nha Trang.

In the morning, boat trip to Mun Island, Lunch on boat or Tam Island. Then visit Tri Nguyen Aquarium on Mieu Island. In the afternoon take half day city visit to Long Son Pagoda and Cham Po Nagar temples. Thap Ba Hot Spring center. Enjoy fun with Mud bathing and Mineral springs swimming. Overnight in Nha Trang.

Free time for beach relaxation till noon flight to Ho Chi Minh city.
Welcomed by guide then transfer or your hotel in city for fresh-up. Overnight at Ho Chi Minh City.

After breakfast, we venture beyond the city limits to the former Viet Cong stronghold at Cu Chi, where we explore this remarkable tunnel network. Return to Ho Chi Minh city at noon. In the afternoon, visit to the Reunification Palace which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975. Then take a photo stop at some striking French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Sai Gon Post Office. Continue to visit the War Museum, Ben Thanh market for shopping. Lunch and dinner on your own. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

In the morning you will depart for My Tho Town in Mekong Delta, the "rice basket" of Vietnam. Stop at Go Den Winery to see how they make & taste sticky rice wine and to interact with local people. After arrival in My Tho, you will take the boat ride across the Mekong River. Transfer to a sampan row boat along the natural canal. Visit a local house, orchard garden, bee farm, sampling honey tea, taking horse-cart ride, coconut candy factory. Lunch at a local house on the island with local specialties. Drive back to Ho Chi Minh City in the late afternoon. Dinner on your own. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Have breakfast at hotel. You will be free until your transfer to the airport for your departure flight. End of the service.