Discover Vietnam
Day 1) Arrive Hanoi, transfer to hotel. Welcome and orientation. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 2) Hanoi city tour. Among the many highlights will be the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature, Hanoi Opera House and Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi Hilton). Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 3) Drive through the Red River Delta countryside to Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Culture Heritage site. Aboard the boat, the ever -changing scenery is spectacular as you cruise among the more than 2,000 limestone karsts. Visit beautiful limestone caves and grottos, then at a quiet anchorage, you'll have time for swimming and kayaking. Overnight on the boat.
Day 4) Continue cruising and stopping at points of interest. Return to harbor around noon and drive back to Hanoi. Afternoon free time. In the evening, you can
attend the famous Waterpuppet Show, unique to Vietnam. Performed for centuries, the techniques were once closely guarded secrets between villages, each striving to be the best. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 5) Drive south stopping at Hoa Lu, the 11th century capital of the Dinh. Although little remains from that time, the two existing temples were built in the 17th century. Continue driving to Tam Coc, called the "inland Halong Bay". You'll travel by rowboat along 3 km of peaceful river winding among the rice fields and towering karsts. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 6) Fly to Hue, the former capital of Vietnam. Walking tour of the "newer' city south of the Perfume River with its many colonial style buildings. Overnight in Hue.
Day 7) Today you'll visit the old city of Hue. Inside the massive walls of the Citadel, you'll find the walled Imperial City, and within that is found Forbidden Purple City all modeled after the larger originals in Beijing, China. Despite the destruction during the French departure, and later the Tet Offensive of 1968, this is still a beautiful and fascinating city. Overnight in Hue.
Day 8) A Dragon Boat tour on the Perfume River to see some of Vietnam's most famous and treasured temples and pagodas, like Thien Mu Pagoda and the Royal tombs of Nam Giao, Tu Duc, Khai Dinh, and Minh Mang. Overnight in Hue
Day 9) A step back to a different history with a tour of the DMZ. Travel the famous Highway 9 to Khe Sanh, the Rockpile, and Dakrong Bridge where you can still see a portion of the original Ho Chi Minh Trail. Cross the Ben Hai River, once the border between North and South and walk through the Vin Moc tunnels, unchanged since last used in the 1960's. Overnight in Hue.
quaint, bustling with Hmong and Red Dao vendors. There will be time for short treks if the weather allows, and wandering through the local markets and crafts shops. Overnight in Sapa.
Day 15) Morning drive to Lao Cai, the border crossing with China. From here you can either continue into
Day 14) Walking tour of Sapa. Set in steep hills, the scenery is beautiful, the town is
China with one of our
tours, or drive
back along the Red River to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 16) Transfer to airport for departures or continue
traveling.
Day 10) Fly back to Hanoi. Free time. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 11) You'll begin the Northwest experience today, to a region that is home to more than 50 ethnic minorities. The first stop will be in Mai Chau a collection of White Thai villages. You'll have time to stroll among the stilt houses typical of this area, bargain for crafts, and watch talented weavers. In the evening there are performances of traditional dance by the local people before you drift off to sleep in one of the stilt guesthouses. Overnight in Mai Chau
Day 12) There is major road construction in this area which will determine our actual itinerary here for a while.
We plan to continue to Dien Bien Phu, but may have to revise this to Son La. Overnight in Son La or Dien Bien Phu.
Day 13) Driving through White Thai and Black Thai regions, you'll enter the areas of the various Hmong peoples as you gain altitude, never far from the border with Laos. Continue through Lai Chau and deeper into the mountains toward the quaint town of Sapa. Weather permitting, you'll have spectacular views of Fan Si Pan, Vietnam's highest mountain, and the amazing terraced rice fields on the steep slopes surrounding Sapa. Overnight in Sapa.
A 16 day experience