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About this tour

Saigon - Mekong Delta - Nam Cat Tien National Park - Danang - Hoi An - Bach Ma National Park - Hue - Hanoi - Cuc Phuong National Park - Ninh Binh - Halong Bay - Cat Ba National Park - Sapa (Hoang Lien Son National Park) - Hanoi.
20 days to explore beautiful nature and exotic culture of Vietnam
Grading: Introductory to Moderate
From US$ 1,369 per person

Vietnam is a land of rich natural and cultural beauty. From tall mountains and limestone formations to dense jungles, river deltas, and pristine beaches - Vietnam's ecological treasures alone make this a unique destination. This trip offers out door enthusiasts a great chance to discover Vietnam’s nature and culture from South to North. The highlights of this trip include jungle trek in national parks, cruise on Halong Bay and visit to villages of ethnic minority in Sapa.

Highlights

* National parks in different areas
* Halong Bay
* Charming ancient town of Hoian
* Homestay in Sapa

ITINERARY AT A GLANCE

Day 1: Arrival in Saigon
Day 2: City tour & Cu Chi Tunnel
Day 3: Excursion to Mekong Delta
Day 4: Saigon – Nam Cat Tien National Park
Day 5: Trek & Transfer back to Saigon
Day 6: Fly Danang – Transfer to Hoian
Day 7: Hoian – Bach Ma National Park
Day 8: Bach Ma National Park – Hue
Day 9: Sightseeing in Hue – Night train to Hanoi
Day 10: Transfer Hanoi to Cuc Phuong National Park
Day 11: Cuc Phuong – Hoa Lu – Tam Coc – Hanoi
Day 12: In Hanoi
Day 13: Cruise on Halong Bay
Day 14: Halong Bay – Cat Ba National Park
Day 15: Cat Ba – Hai Phong – Hanoi – Night train to Lao Cai
Day 16: Transfer to Sapa. Trek & Home stay
Day 17: Trek & Home stay
Day 18: Trek & Night train to Hanoi
Day 19: In Hanoi
Day 20: Departure

Inclusion:

* AC vehicle as indicated in the program
* Twin shared hotel room
* Twin shared AC cabin on junk
* Train ticket (overnight train) Hue-Hanoi
* Homestay permissions
* Boats in Mekong Delta
* English or French speaking guide
* Meals as indicated in the itinerary
* Water & Snacks
* Sightseeing & Entrance fees

Exclusion:

* Travel insurance
* Visa
* Air-tickets
* Tips
* Personal expenses

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Saigon

Arrival in Saigon. Meet our guide at the airport and transfer to hotel in Saigon. Welcome dinner and tour briefing in the evening. Overnight in Saigon

Summary
Hotel transfer: 20 mins
Meal: Welcome Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

Day 2: City tour & Cu Chi Tunnel

After breakfast in hotel we take a city tour to see the different faces of this bustling city on a full day tour with extensive visits to the Re-Unification Palace, the Central Post Office, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Jade Emperor Temple and the Ben Thanh market. Lunch in local restaurant. After lunch we drive to the famous Cu Chi underground tunnel system to experience how the Viet Cong lived and fought during the American War. Back to Saigon in the afternoon.

Summary:
Sightseeing: Half day city tour & half day tour to Cu Chi tunnel
Transportation: AC vehicle
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

Day 3: Mekong Delta

After breakfast we depart for Cai Be. Upon arrival in Cai Be we board a boat for a journey through the town’s floating market. See how river life goes on, trading between merchant ships and local farmers. Cruise through secluded canals and over the Mighty Mekong to an island where we stop to enjoy seasonal fruits. More cruise on small canals by rowing boat. Visit to local families and have lunch in local restaurant. Take motor boat to Vinh Long town. Bus transfer back to Saigon. Overnight in Saigon.

Summary:
Cruise & Culture exploration: Full day
Transfer Saigon – Cai Be: 1.5 hr
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

Day 4: Saigon – Nam Cat Tien National Park

Leave Saigon for Cat Tien National Park in the morning. The terrain rises up gradually via volcanic area. On arrival, we cross Dong Nai River to the park center. We meet the forest ranger and start trek 15km to Crocodile Lake Station where we have dinner and stay overnight.

From 20.00 to 22.00 we can spot animals from rangers watch tower.

*Note: check with your guide for using boat to discover the lake, there are crocodiles in the lake.

Summary
Transfer Saigon – Cat Tien: 3 hrs
Trekking: 15 km, Intermediate grade
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Forest station

Day 5: Nam Cat Tien – Saigon

Breakfast at the Crocodile Lake Station. Start our hard trek 15km through jungle to Dat Do Ranger Station. A great day for bird watching. Picnic lunch en route. Upon arrival at Dat Do Ranger Station we have a short rest.

Jeep 4wd pick up at the ranger station and transfer 20km back to the park center. This is route of buffer zone along Dong Nai River where Chau Ma and Stieng ethnic minority cultivate and settle their villages centuries ago.

15.00 back to the park center. We leave Cat Tien National Park for Saigon. Trip completes in Saigon.

Summary
Transfer Cat Tien - Saigon: 3 hrs
Trekking: 15 km, Intermediate grade
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6: Flight to Danang – Hoian

Breakfast in hotel and free at leisure until we are transferred to airport to take a short flight to Danang. On arrival in Danang we take a bus ride to the ancient town of Hoian. We will check in a resort on the beach and spend the rest of the day relaxing on the beach. In the evening we take a walk in the illustrated ancient part of Hoian and have dinner with local delights. Overnight in Hoian.

Summary:
Flight Saigon – Danang: 1hr
Transfer Danang – Hoian: 1hr
Transportation: Airplane, AC vehicle
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoain

Day 7: Hoian – Bach Ma National Park

After breakfast in the hotel we drive north to Bach Ma National Park, which is located in the mid way from Hoian to Hue. Upon arrival at the park we visit the visitor centre take a jeep ride up to the centre of the park where we have lunch in the restaurant of the park. After lunch we embark on a beautiful jungle trek. We will walk on animal trails and listen to bird songs and see beautiful water falls. After the trek we take a great jeep ride to the summit of the mountain for watching sunset and panorama view of the park. Dinner and overnight in Bach Ma resort in the park.

Summary:
Trek: 3-hr, intermediate grade
Transfer Hoian – Bach Ma: 2hr
Transportation: AC vehicle, Jeep
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in the park

Day 8: Bach Ma – Hue

Short trek in the morning following jungle trails. If we are lucky we would see animals seeking food. Breakfast at the campsite. We leave Bach Ma National Park at 10 am driving to Hue. Upon arrival in Hue we check in hotel and have lunch in local restaurant. In the afternoon we visit to Imperial Citadel, which is a walled fortress and was intended to be a copy of Chinese Emperors’ Forbidden City in Beijing. After the trip we transfer back to hotel. Overnight in Hue

Summary
Transfer Bach Ma – Hue: 1,5 hrs
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

Day 9: Hue – Night train to Hanoi

Today we have a full day tour to see all the “must-see” in Hue. In the morning we will take a relaxing boat trip on Perfume River to reach Thien Mu Pagoda, a beautiful pagoda on a small hill looking over the river. After the pagoda we continue cruising on the river to reach the Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc, with its lotus-filled lake and central pavilion and the simple and serene Tomb of Khai Dinh. After that we drive back to Hue for lunch. Back to hotel for a short rest before we catch train to Hanoi. Overnight on train

Summary:
Sightseeing: Full day
Transportation: AC vehicle, Boat, Night train
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Soft sleeper AC cabin on train

Day 10: Hanoi – Cuc Phuong National Park

Arrive in Hanoi in early morning. Picked up at Hanoi Railway Station and transferred to Ninh Binh which is 100km south of Hanoi. Upon arrival in Ninh Binh we have breakfast in local restaurant and continue to Cuc Phuong National Park. We will visit to Primate Rescued Centre where we meet the park’s rangers and learn about different kinds of monkey, gibbon and langur in Vietnam. We continue to Bong, the centre of the park, where we start our jungle trek. We will have picnic lunch in the park under the shade of a giant tree. This jungle trek ends in the afternoon when we reach Khanh Village, home of Muong ethnic minority. Tonight we will have dinner and overnight in a traditional house-on-stilt of a Muong family.

Summary
Transfer Hanoi – Cuc Phuong: 2.5 hr
Trekking: 18 km, Intermediate to Challenging grade
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Home stay

Day 11: Cuc Phuong – Tam Coc – Hoa Lu – Hanoi

Breakfast in the village before we head to Tam Coc, also known as Halong Bay on the rice field thanks to its stunning rock formations emerging on river and rice field similer to Halong Bay. We will take a relaxing rowing boat trip on river to see caves and impressive scenery. Lunch in local restaurant in Tam Coc before we drive to Hoa Lu, the former capital of Vietnam, which dates from 9th century. Visit to temples and walk hundred steps up to top of a mountain for a panorama view of the old capital. Drive back to Hanoi. Check in hotel. Overnight in Hanoi.

Summary
Transfer Hoa Lu – Hanoi: 2 hrs
Boat trip: 2 hrs
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Day 12: City tour of Hanoi

After breakfast in the hotel you will take an interesting guided city tour of Hanoi including Ho Chi Minh complex (the mausoleum, the house & garden and the museum) and One Pillar Pagoda, a unique ancient architecture. After here we move to Temple of Literature, the site of Vietnam’s first university, dates back to 1070. Its peaceful gardens and pavilions offer a relaxing respite from Hanoi’s busy streets. Lunch in local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we enjoy a relaxing cyclo tour in the ancient part of Hanoi. Walking down some small and lively street to see busy local market then join locals for green tea or coffee in local café. Free time for shopping. Back to the hotel. Overnight in Hanoi.

Note: “Cyclo is three wheeled rickshaws, operated by pedal-power, with a seat attached to the front.

Summary:
Sightseeing: full day
Transportation: AC vehicle, cyclo
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Day 13: Hanoi – Halong Bay

Leave Hanoi for Halong Bay at 8.30am. On the way we will have a short break for refreshment at a handicraft centre. Upon arrival in Halong City we board a junk for a fine seafood lunch and an amazing cruise on the bay. We will explore Thien Cung Cave after lunch. Dinner and overnight on junk

Summary:
Transfer Hanoi – Halong: 3.5 hrs
Transportation: AC vehicle, Junk
Activities: Cruising
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Twin shared AC cabin on Junk

Day 14: Halong – Cat Ba National Park

After breakfast we will move to another junk for a cruise to Lan Ha Bay, which is smaller than Ha Long Bay and near Cat Ba Island. We cruise around Lan Ha Bay and reach Cat Ba Island around noon. Transferred to Cat Ba Town we check in hotel and have a lunch break. In the afternoon we take a beautiful drive to Cat Ba National Park for a short hike to the summit of Trung Trang peak for panorama view of Halong Bay. Overnight in hotel on Cat Ba Island.

Summary:
Transfer Halong – Cat Ba: 3 hrs
Transportation: Boat, Bus
Activities: Cruising, Hiking, Introductory grade
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel on Cat Ba Island

Day 15: Cat Ba – Hai Phong – Hanoi – Night train to Lao Cai

Breakfast in hotel and free at leisure in the morning. In early afternoon we take a hydrofoil to Hai Phong City. We will be picked up and transferred back to Hanoi. Upon arrival in Hanoi we take shower, pack up and have dinner before taking night train to Lao Cai. Overnight on the train.

Summary:
Transfer Cat Ba – Hai Phong:1 hr
Transfer Hai Phong – Hanoi: 2 hrs
Transportation: Hydrofoil, AC vehicle, Night train
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: soft sleeper in AC cabin

Day 16: Lao Cai – Sapa (Hoang Lien Son National Park) Trek and Home stay

Arrive in Lao Cai around 6am. Bus transfer to Sapa. On arrival in Sapa we check in hotel and have breakfast in local restaurant. After breakfast we have free time to explore Sapa Town and its local market. In early afternoon we begin out trek down to Muong Hoa valley. We first descend the valley on tarmac then hit a beautiful dirt path which runs through rice terraces and minority villages. We will have a break in Lao Chai Village to visit the church and the school of this H'mong village. Continue to Ta Van village, home of Dzay people, where we spend our night in a local house. Dinner in the home stay.

Summary
Transfer Lao Cai – Sapa: 1 hr
Trekking: 15 km, Intermediate grade
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Home stay

Day 17: Sapa Trek & home stay

After breakfast at the home stay we leave Ta Van for Giang Ta Chai, a village of the Red Dzao ethnic minority. We will trek through bamboo forest and reach GIang Ta Chai around noon. Lunch in a Red Dzao family. After lunch, we cross a river and walk on the main road for 10 minutes before we trek down to Ban Ho, a village of the Tay ethnic minority. Dinner and overnight with a local family.

Summary
Trekking: 20 km, Intermediate grade
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Home stay

Day 18: Ban Ho – Sapa – Lao Cai

After breakfast stroll around Ban Ho villages, visiting to village school and then trek to Ban Den, where we meet our bus and take a beautiful drive back to Sapa. Upon arrive in Sapa we take shower and spend the rest of the day exploring Sapa town. At 5.30 pm we will be transferred to Lao Cai for the night train back to Hanoi.

Summary
Trekking: 5 km, Intermediate grade
Transfer Ben Den – Sapa: 20 mins
Transfer Sapa – railway station: 1-hr
Transportation: Jeep or bus, Night train
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Soft sleeper in AC cabin

Day 19: In Hanoi

Arrive in Hanoi early in the morning. Transferred to hotel, breakfast in the hotel and free at leisure for the rest of the day. Overnight in Hanoi.

Summary
Transfer to hotel in Hanoi: 10 mins
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Day 20: Departure

Breakfast in the hotel and free until we are transferred to airport for departure. Trip completes.

Summary
Transfer to airport: 50 mins
Meal: Breakfast

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About Activetravel Asia

ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA (ATA) offers a wide selection of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar adventure tours, including hiking and trekking, biking, motorcycling, overland touring and family travel packages. Our packages and custom itineraries will take you through exotic destinations to really experience the culture, history and nature of Asia. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy an unforgettable active vacation. We run the most adventure tours available in the area. Our active trips are designed for all levels of outdoor enthusiasts, real people seeking real fun and adventure.

* Prices do not include taxes and fees, may not include airfare and are based on double occupancy. Tour information including pricing may not be up to date.

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