You will be warmly welcome at the airport & take to hotel for checkin.

Overnight stay in Ho Chi Minh.

Free at leisure by your own way to relax after the long flight.

In the morning you will have an excursion to the famous Cu Chi tunnels. This network of tunnels, which stretched for over 200km, became legendary during the 1960s. The Cu Chi tunnels played a vital part in the U.S.-Vietnam War in that they allowed the Viet Cong to control a large rural area only 30 to 40 km from Saigon . At its height, the tunnel system stretched from Saigon to the Cambodian border. The network, parts of which were several levels deep, included innumerable trap doors, specifically constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centres and kitchens. Today the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience and feel of what underground life during the war must have been like. The tunnels have been widened for our benefit (otherwise we would not be able to enter them!). For those interested there’s even the opportunity to try an AK47 or MK16 at the nearby rifle range ( paid by your own account)

Back to Ho Chi Minh city for the afternoon tour.

In the afternoon, you visit:

• The Reunification Palace : This is one of the most important buildings in the city. Here on April 30, 1975, what the Vietnamese refer to as the ‘American War’ officially ended when tank number 843 of the North Vietnamese Army crashed through the gates of what was, at the time, the residence of the President of the Republic of Vietnam .
• War Remnants Museum : Formerly known as the Museum of American War Crimes , this is a poignant display of the futility of war. Some of the black and white photography in the ‘Requiem’ exhibit is particularly touching, dedicated to both foreign and Vietnamese journalists and photographers who perished during the conflict. The exhibit includes the last shots these photographers had taken before their deaths. The courtyard outside contains the spoils of war, namely rusting jets, tanks and cannons captured from the American military machine.
• Jade Emperor Pagoda: is a living and working shrine very much in use by the locals who come here to prayer or make votive offerings of flowers, and light candles and joss sticks. With worshippers coming and going, the temple can get busy and feel a little cramped. Its dimly lit, the narrow passageways filled with smoke lend an atmospheric feel to the place, adding to its charm.
• Ben Thanh Market: This bustling and well-organized market is very popular with tourists, primarily due to its central location. It has a wide selection of goods ranging from fake Nike shoes to beautiful silk Ao Dais.

Transfer to Coco Riverside Lodge, Trung Nghia – Vung Liem within 3 hour drive via Bentre and 4 hours through Vinh Long province . Upon arrival, you will meet a representative and you are led to the lodge along countryside path. After just a short walk you will be treated to a welcome drink. Check in and have lunch at lodge’s restaurant

After a chance to rest, you walk around village paths leading us to home of Mr. Cong where you watch how he makes pop rice, shows you the blend of traditional and modern agricultural method that sustains the local village. He will reveal the secret of making ‘rice pop’. This unique and nutritious foodstuff will become a gift for locals or children in school. Your guide explains how the animals are raised and shows you the way they collect ‘biogas’ to make free and sustainable cooking food.

Walk back to Lodge, select bicycles for a cycling tour in the afternoon on quiet village roads passing by a duck farm, green rice paddies, sedge field and small villages. Along the way, you visit one of the many dragon fruit plantations and taste it directly at the garden. This is a relaxing time with plenty of chances to capture the picturesque Asian sun set scenes. Enjoy the beautiful sunset before returning to the lodge on your bicycles.

After shower and refresh, you start to walk to neighbor home and enjoy a “poon” lights while traditional musical performance by war veteran artist. Then, experience of traditional torches made of dried coconut leaves to get back.

You are the chef! A traditional cooking class with Vietnamese pancake made. A great learning experience that means you can take a little of Vietnam home with you. Dinner is served at lodge’s restaurant

After breakfast, loaded boats are already heading to local market and transporting goods such as coconuts from one factory to the other, crossing local ferry to visit beautiful Cao Dai temple. We also had a chance to see these factories. Situated alongside the river, these are small coconut-processing operations. Once the coconut has been shelled, the coconut fibers are removed from the husk to make rope, which in turn is used to weave rugs. You can watch the whole manufacturing process in a short period of time. Most of the work is done by hand at very low cost. The buyers are mostly foreign companies.

Back to the Lodge, if time permitted, take some activities as to harvest some water coconut leaves and weave them up by you. These leaves are a key building material in the Mekong Delta as they are used to build the walls and roof of the houses. The local people will show you not only how they use these leaves but also how to make the ‘poon’ sticks that illuminated last night with musical performance.

Check out and transfer to your next destination.

You will be dropped off at the airport for your flight to Hoi An. Up on arrive in Da Nang, our driver & guide will pick you up & take you to hotel for check in.

Free at leisure by your own way to discover the Hoi An town.

 The assistance will pick you up & dropp off  at hotel lobby  by motorbike or taxi.

Meeting point at our location at 7:45am and departure at 8:00am.

This tour is a perfect combination of bicycle tour and discovery of the Vietnamese culture and way of life.

After a boat transfer, of approximately one hour on the Thu Bon river, you will arrive at a small village in the middle of the delta where you will begin your cycling tour.

The morning will be spent cycling 14km across the countryside and rice fields. You will cross from island to island taking the unusual bridges made from wood or bamboo.

A short boat crossing will bring you to a small island where you will enjoy lunch in the home at a local family.

In the afternoon you will continue the same route as the “Countryside Bicycle Tour” and discovering local crafts.

This tour includes crossing the river on a local ferry, visiting the crafts workshops, crossing a floating bridge, and a bamboo bridge, and several other stops along the way.

Back to Hoi An ancient town for an overnight stay.

Free at leisure by your own way to discover the town in Hoi An or get the tailor dressed or even go to the beach by shuttle bus of hotel.

Leave the UNESCO-designated World Heritage Hoi An for Hue. We will travel over the Hai Van pass. Arrive in Hue at noon, you have lunch by your own way. In the afternoon, you will embark on a tour of the city, including the Royal Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City, the Imperial Museum and Khai Dinh King’s tomb & Dong Ba market. You will stay overnight in Hue.

9:00 AM: depart from Toa Kham Wharf to Thien Mu Pagoda the first stop of the day. This historic temple in the city, located near Perfume River, is a symbol of Hue and wonderful place for you to relax and refresh.

10:30 AM: jump back to the boat for a scenic cruise to Hue Ecolodge where our local guide are ready to wait and welcome you to visit Thuy Bieu Eco-village, an authentically village representing the country side of Hue with the clear notion “garden -home”

11:00 AM: spend 1 hours to stroll or bike around quiet Thuy Bieu Eco-village

* Visit local garden, an old ancestral temple and meet local people.

* Visit handicraft families such as the incense making family, the joss paper making family and the paper painting family, to discover the daily life of local people. Be welcomed into their workplace and experience the joy and enthusiasm.

12:00 PM: enjoy time to relax by stepping your feet into medicinal herb water, a traditional therapeutic practice. Our excellent massages are performed by expert blind masseurs.

12:30 PM: have lunch in Ecolodge restaurant. End of services.

Back to hotel for check in.

Today, you fly to the capital city of Vietnam – Hanoi. Up on arrive in Hanoi, our driver & guide will pick you up & take you to hotel for check in.

Free at leisure by your own way in the afternoon.

Today, you will visit Ho Chi Minh’s complex ,including Uncle Ho’s wooden stilt house & One Pillar pagoda, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.The next stop is the Temple of Literature, the site of Vietnam’s oldest university and dedicated to one of the world’s most famous scholars, Confucius. Inside the temple grounds, huge steles rest on the backs of even larger stone turtles (in Vietnam’s culture, the turtle represents longevity). The steles recorded the names of the successful candidates who later became mandarins in the Emperor’s court.

You then move to  Long Bien bridge, was built in 1899-1902 by the architects Daydé & Pillé of Paris and has long been a symbol of the tenacity and strength of the people of Hanoi during the American War. After that you may enjoy the coffee at  Serein Cafe & Lounge to see the train  run accross Long Bien bridge at ( 11:00 a.M)  & see  overview of Long Bien bridge &  Red River.

In the afternoon, you will visit  the Museum of Ethnology, is recommended for you to learn more about Vietnamese people, culture & custom.

Later, you  discover the capital by enjoying 45 minutes on cyclo to see Hanoian daily life, Hanoi Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple.

Overnight stay in Hanoi.

Take a breath of Hanoi’s countryside- Morning Group tour

(8:00 – 13:00)

We start off in the heart of the capital, taking in views of the spectacular Long Bien Bridge that spans the Red River. We then take a ride on our Vespas, almost being transported back in time as we arrive at the ancient city of Co Loa in Hanoi’s quiet countryside. We breeze down cool back roads to visit a local farm in the middle of lush green rice paddies where we meet farmers to learn about their rural lifestyle. After a breathtaking ride through the valley, we arrive at a hidden wood carving village to discover how traditional wooden Buddhist statues are made by craftsmen using ancient techniques. Finally, we visit to a bustling local market and enjoy a tasty snack with a local family. Let our guides show you the real Vietnam off the beaten path. *Hanoi Countryside Adventures Highlights* – Long Bien Bridge, Bamboo artisans, ancient capital of Co Loa, local farm, rice paddies, wood carving village snack with a local family.

Free at leisure in the afternoon & evening ( fresh shower at late check out room) then our driver & guide will pick you up & take you to train station for night train to Lao Cai.

Arrive in Lao Cai train station at around 5:00 A.m, then our driver & guide will pick you up & take you to Sapa. It is 1.5 hours by car to Sapa town.

After having breakfast & taking a rest, you will take a trekking tour to Laochai Tavan.

You will commence your short journey by driving south toward Muong Hoa valley. You will then start your walk by descending into the valley, which is the largest rice paddy terraced among Sapa area. The guide can provide you interesting information about rice. If you visit the valley sometime in between May and October, you will be able to observe and experience how the local do planting and harvesting, one of the most important activities in the daily life. The walk takes you from Lao Chai village of Black Hmong minority to Ta Van village of Giay minority.

Black H’mong is one of the biggest minority groups in the Sapa area. They are proud of their culture and keep their traditions and way of living. They have their own language and wear traditional indigo blue clothing.

Giay is a fairly small minority group of about 38.000 people who live mainly in the mountains in Northwest Vietnam. The development has meant that some of their old customs have been lost but many women still wear traditional shirts with a purple, blue or green color. The Giay’s houses are build of wood and bamboo with a clay floor.

Overnight stay at home stay in Tavan.

Once you get energy for your last day trek by having a delicious breakfast, you leave for Giang Ta Chai village of Red Dao minority. You will trek through bamboo forest, which belongs to Hoang Lien National Park. On the way you will pass by a waterfall where you will have time to take a rest and enjoy the surroundings. You will find a nice place to enjoy lunch.

After lunch, you continue toward Su Pan, a small village located by the road. Here you start your journey back to Sapa by car.

Free at leisure by your own way. You can discover the cloud town by your own way or take the cable car to Fansipan mountain by your own way.

(Late check out room is available). Early evening, you then will be dropped off at the train station for your night train to Hanoi.

Arrive in Hanoi at around 5:30 A.M, then our driver & guide will pick you up & take you to Peridot hotel for breakfast. (No room available in Hanoi on that day).

You then leave Ninh Binh at around 8:00- 8:30 A.M. On arrive in Ninh Binh, you will visit Trang An complex-landscape complex where cultural elements and nature converge in a perfect harmony is spectacularly situated in Ninh Binh province,Vietnam. There are many scenic and historic spots in that complex, which have listed as historical relics and special national cultural heritages by the Government of Vietnam. You will take the private sampan to discover the complex.

Then the guide will take you to visit Bai Dinh Pagoda, which is biggest pagoda in Southeast Asia. Overnight stay in Ninh Binh.

After the breakfast, you visit Van Long, is an area of astounding natural beauty with limestone peaks whose splendor is often said to surpass that of Ha Long Bay. It is true that this area is often referred to as the new Ha Long Bay on land. The tour includes being rowed along the Van Long River, which makes for a truly unforgettable experience, passing between towering limestone peaks.

Pick-up at 8:30 am at your hotel lobby. You spend one hour visiting the Dinh and Le temples of the Ancient Capital Hoa Lu and then you move to Van Long for lunch. You may enjoy an oxcart ride to Van Long Wharf for a 2-hour boat trip along the Van Long River. Along the way you will see caves, green rice fields, limestone mountains and the rural life of the locals.

Back to hotel for relax.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Hai Phong.

12:00 – 12:30: Tender will transfer you to embark Calypso Cruises. You will be served with a welcome drink and a towel. Followed by our cruise briefing where you will also be given safety instructions before checking into your cabins. While the cruise sailing, you enjoy a bon-appetite lunch and being impressed by the beauty of hundreds of karst islands on your way passing Halong Bay to Lan Ha Bay.

15:00: Visit Light and Dark Water Cave, where you can do kayaking or bamboo boat rowed by local people.

17:30: Return to Calypso Cruise. It’s time to admire the magnificent sunset over the Gulf of Tonkin and enjoy happy hour (buy 2, get 1 more free).

You take part in cooking demonstration to learn our Vietnamese cuisine.

19:00: A great dinner awaits you.

20:30 – 22:00: Your free time to enjoy the landscapes of the Bay on the top deck, sing karaoke, enjoy ordered drinks from the bar, try your luck at squid fishing or just relax in your cabins, etc.

Overnight on board.

Today we shall have a deeper exploration of Lan Ha Bay using our small day-boat cruising through the multiple islands & islets, hidden beaches… also a short visit on bicycles to Viet Hai village, an isolated village in the very heart of Cat Ba National Park.

6:30: Wake up early to enjoy the dawn and start a perfect new day with Tai Chi exercise on the sundeck.

7:00 – 8:30: Have a light breakfast in the restaurant.

8:30: You get picked up by a small day boat and cruise through Lan Ha Bay before disembarking at Viet Hai dock..

9:30: Go cycling a short trip of 5km to Viet Hai – a small village in the midst of the jungle, surrounded by the high mountain range of Cat Ba National Park. The area has become popular with foreign tourists, without attracting the mass tourism.

11:00 : Return by bicycle to the dock and board our dayboat again to sail further to the other side of Lan Ha Bay.

12:00 : Arrival at Van Boi area. The day boat anchors for a peaceful lunch.

13:00-15:40: Kayaking around Van Boi area. Then we move on to Ba Trai Dao (Three Peaches) Beach. You are free to swim in this beautiful & clean area.

16:00: Return to Calypso Cruise. Enjoy the happy hours on Sundeck or relaxing in your cabins.

19:00: Dinner in the Dining Hall and enjoy the activities on board.

Overnight on board.

09:30 – 11:00 Head back to the Harbor. Have early lunch on board.

– Disembark Oriental Sails at around 12h00.

12:00 – 16:30 Transfer back to Hanoi and trip finishes at the hotel around 16h30

06:30: Wake up early to enjoy the dawn and start a perfect new day with Tai Chi exercise on the sundeck.

7:00 – 9:00:Have a light breakfast in the restaurant.

9:00: Check out your cabin. Then you take a bus route for about 20 minutes on Cat Ba Island from Gia Luan Pier to visit Army Hospital Cave, a special place to save the significant Vietnamese history during the resistance war. During the travel, you will be immersed in the wild fresh natural scenery of Cat Ba National Park.

10:00: Back to Calypso Cruise. You have lunch while the Calypso Cruise back to the harbor.

12:00: Disembark Calypso Cruise and return to Hanoi.

14:30 – 15:00: Arrive at Hanoi. End of the trip.

Special note: Cruise itineraries and schedules are subject to change without pre-notice depending on the weather and operating conditions.

Free at leisure & you will be dropped off at the airport for your flight to home.