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  • Unique Vietnam

    Duration: 15 Days
    Start: Vietnam | Finish: Vietnam
  • Looking for a second trip to Vietnam to explore the hidden beauties that you might have missed on your first trip? Then this two week itinerary will enable you participate in more special activities from the North to South. Still reaching famous cities namely Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An and Saigon, we have more time to explore things on our own and learn new skills such as cooking, farming, etc. Moreover, you will spend two nights in Mekong Delta, both in a rustic village and on a private sampan. It would be excellent if you are able to extend the trip to the beach like Mui Ne, Phu Quoc Island or Con Dao Island. Please contact our consultants for changes that you might need!

    Highlights:

    • Have more free time in must-see sites to explore their hidden beauties after guided tours
    • Learn about Vietnamese cuisine with a cooking class in Hanoi
    • Take local boat trips to explore Hoa Binh Reservoir and Van Long Reserve in Ninh Binh
    • Interact with friendly people, learn about the authentic farming life in Tra Que, La Chu and Vung Liem villages
    • Escape into the heart of Mekong Delta via a 2-day excursion on private Song Xanh Sampan
    • Charming hotels in excellent locations
    • Comfortable & spacious vehicle for transfers

    Itinerary in brief:

    Day 1: Hanoi arrival (-/-/-)
    Day 2: Hanoi - Countryside Cooking Class - Duong Lam Ancient Village (B/L/-)
    Day 3: Hanoi - Hoa Binh Reservoir - Mai Chau (B/L/D)
    Day 4: Mai Chau - Ninh Binh - Hoa Lu - Thung Chim  (B/L/-)
    Day 5: Van Long Reserve - Hanoi (B/-/-)
    Day 6: Hanoi - Flight to Hue  (B/-/-)
    Day 7: Hue - La Chu Village (B/-/-)
    Day 8: Hue - Morning Free - Afternoon drive to Hoi An (B/-/-)
    Day 9: Hue - Morning Free - Afternoon drive to Hoi An (B/-/-)
    Day 10: Hoi An - Cham Island / Group Tour (B/-/-)
    Day 11: Hoi An - Danang - Flight to Saigon (B/-/-)
    Day 12: Saigon - Vung Liem Village (B/L/D)
    Day 13: Vung Liem - Cai Be - Sa Dec - Can Tho (B/L/D)
    Day 14: Can Tho - Cai Rang - Saigon (B/-/-)
    Day 15: Saigon - Departure (B/-/-)

    • Ability to change the direction of the program
    • Possibility of an extension in Laos or Cambodia 

     

    RECOMMENDED ACCOMMODATION

    Destination

    3 Star Category

    4 Star Category

    5 Star Category

    Hanoi

    Quoc Hoa Hotel (Deluxe)

    Essence Hanoi Boutique Hotel & Spa (Deluxe Window)

    De L’Opera Hanoi Hotel (Deluxe)

    Mai Chau

    Mai Chau Sunrise Village (Bungalow)

    Mai Chau Ecolodge (Junior Deluxe)

    Mai Chau Ecolodge (Junior Deluxe)

    Hue

    Romance Hue Hotel (Deluxe Mountain)

    Eldora Hue Hotel (Deluxe City)

    Indochine Palace Hotel (Palace Studio)

    Hoi An

    Hoi An Emotion Villa (Deluxe Garden View)

    Belle Maison Hadana Hoi An (Deluxe with Balcony)

    Koi Hoi An Resort & Spa (Bungalow Garden)

    Saigon

    Silverland Min Hotel (Deluxe)

    Winsuites Sai Gon Hotel (Premier Deluxe)

    Majestic Sai Gon Hotel (Deluxe City)

    Vung Liem

    Coco Riverside Lodge

    Mekong Delta

    Private Song Xanh Sampan


    Notes:

    + If you come with a larger group of more than 10 persons, please contact our travel consultants for the exact price
    + Prices & services are subject to change based on availability upon reservation
    + Accommodation can be amended or exchanged amongst options to fit your needs
    + We specialize in “tailor-made” tours for groups of two or more. We carefully inspect each step of your journey from the accommodation to the perfect guide to suit your needs
    + The itinerary is open to modification to fit your personal travel needs
    + Modifications to the itinerary may increase the price of the package
    + For the price of this trip, just ask for a quote by clicking on "TOUR PRICE" 

    + If you are looking for a trip modified to your requirements, please send us your needs by filling out the form in Customize your trip” 
    + We will contact and send you a quote, excluding holiday period, within 48 hours of receiving your request 

  • Day 1: Hanoi arrival (-/-/-)

    Hanoi - Airport: 30km, ~40min drive

    Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, our driver will meet and escort you to the city centre to check into an elegant hotel. You will be left to relax and enjoy the hotel’s amenities after your long flight.

    Meals Included: None
    Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

    Day 2: Hanoi - Cooking Class - Duong Lam Village (B/L/-)

    Hanoi - Hoai Duc: 17km, 40 min drive

    Breakfast is served at your hotel. 08:30a.m we drive to the west of city. It is about 17 km from old quarter to my house and takes 40 minutes.

    09:15a.m Upon arrival, your local guide meet you at meeting point and show you a local market since Le King Dynasty. It is the most famous market in the region where many traditional items for sales. If on market days (two or three times per week, more crowded than others), people from all the surrounding villages would come to trade. People bring dogs, cats, pigs, chickens, ducks, and bamboo baskets to sell. Everyone is excited to meet each other on that day. You will be surprised about bustling and colorful market which is working under the canopy of old tree. You will see the old women chew betel and areca nut and blacksmiths work hard with his bright brazier.

    If not on market days, market still opens and sells vegetable, meat, fruits…and very lovely.  Right next to the market place is a beautiful farm.

    We take a tour around vegetable fields growing a variety of produce including: bitter melon, corn, cauliflower, cabbage, tomatoes, green peas, snake peas and corn, as well as fruit gardens with oranges, pomelo, papaya and more (depend on the season to grow different crops)., You will learn more about background of vegetable and you may have chance to help a farmer working on his field.

    10:15a.m we go to my house for cooking delicious dishes. I will teach you how to cook some Vietnamese dishes by simple and traditional recipes. Enjoy local fresh vegetable, fruit, traditional cake and talk about Vietnamese families custom together. I can serve vegetarian food upon on request. 

    In the afternoon, we say goodbye to the host and then we drive for a visit to Duong Lam ancient village, a purely agricultural village of the Northern Red River delta where still preserve many hundred-year-old houses.

    It will be your unique experience as you walk along tiny ancient alleys; visit Mong Phu temple in Mong Phu hamlet - the only hamlet whose original village entrance gate remains intact, dedicated to national heroes.

    Have some talks with the locals in their ancient houses by visiting the ancient houses of Mr Lam, Mr Ha and Mr Huyen. Then we drive back to Hanoi for your relaxation.

    Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
    Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

    Day 3: Hanoi - Hoa Binh Reservoir - Mai Chau (B/L/D)

    Hanoi - Mai Chau: 160km, ~4h drive

    8:30 a.m. Get picked up at your hotel in Hanoi and take 2.5 hour (approx.) drive to Hoa Binh province.

    11:00 a.m. Arrive at Giang Mo village of the Muong ethnic minority, stroll around to visit the village and learn the Muong culture.

    12:00 p.mA local lunch is served at a villager's family. This is a great time to have some local interactions.

    01:00 p.m Transfer to a boat wharf and get on a motorized boat for 2 hour cruise to visit one of the most beautiful part of the reservoir.

    Get picked up at Ben Sang and transferred to Mai Chau Valley by your private transport.

    Check in your hotel, rest and stay for the night.

    Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    Accommodation: Hotel in Mai Chau

    Day 4: Mai Chau - Ninh Binh - Thung Chim (B/L/-)

    8:30 a.m. With your tour guide, set off for a trek of about 3 hours to explore the surroundings and visit some villages, rice paddies and gardens. (Or you can choose to discover the area by bicycles with shorter time, let your me know at the booking time to arrange). Along the trek you will have chance to learn about the local life, their agriculture and beautiful handicrafts.

    After lunch, we drive to Ninh Binh also known as “Dry Halong Bay” in the Ninh Binh province. 

    Best time for the bird park in late afternoon, sit quietly on a boat and slowly paddle through Thung Chim (Thung Nham), discover the most features of this area with more than 4,000 birds of 40 species flying to inhabit every day. Your best chance to take nice photos and immerse yourself in the wild and nature

    Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
    Accommodation: Hotel in Ninh Binh

    Day 5: Van Long Nature Reserve - Hanoi (B/L/-)

    After breakfast, we drive to Nature Reserve of Van Long to embark on a bamboo rowboat for a boat trip rowing along this beautiful wetland of Van Long,  enjoying spectacular scenery surrounded by rice paddies, lotus pond and towering limestone mountain peaks.

    After lunch served at a local riverside restaurant we make a short transfer down a peaceful countryside road to Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s ancient capital eleven centuries ago. Here, spend one hour visiting the Dinh and Le temples of the Ancient Capital Hoa Lu which are dedicated to King Dinh and King Le, the founders of the ancient capital during the 10th century.

    We then return to Hanoi.

    Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
    Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

    Day 6: Hanoi - Flight to Hue (B/-/-)

    Hanoi - Hue: 668km, ~1h10min flight

    After breakfast, you have the morning free on your own exploration of this charming capital. This afternoon, time free until our driver meets and transfers you to airport in Hanoi for flight to Hue. Upon arrival, another driver will wait and transfer you to hotel.

    Meals Included: Breakfast
    Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

    Day 7: Hue - La Chu Village (B/L/-)

    After breakfast at the hotel, we depart from the hotel by private car to the village of La Chu located 9 km north of downtown Hue. This village is known for its market gardening of vegetables and aromatic herbs (onions, chives, coriander, basil, etc ...). We can also see buffaloes eating herbs to their hunger. Plowing the land, the peasants wearing their conical hats curl themselves in the rice fields. Despite the difficulty of the work, they are always smiling and very hospitable.

    See you at the entrance of the village, for a bike ride through the charming countryside of Hue. First stop to discover a family factory of votive offerings paper (a very popular and strong belief among Vietnamese). Pursuit to a small local daily market. Visit the market through the stalls of meat, spices and vegetables and fresh fruits, under the look benevolent and intrigued women unaccustomed to cross tourists. Then discover vegetable fields, where you can meet the villagers, and chat with them. They will be very happy to pose for a photo with you, what a memory! A very pleasant immersion in the Vietnamese countryside! Typical countryside landscapes between fields, rice paddies, banana plants, rivers, lotus ponds and in the background the mountains where we can still see the effects of orange agent shed by the US military more than forty years ago.

    Of course, you can not leave this bucolic setting without greeting the family specializing in the production of "Banh Loc" - a small cake made from rice flour mixed with shrimp. Exchanges with the family and possibility to try to create these different dishes. Arrival in a family restaurant in the middle of the rice fields to enjoy a delicious fresh and typical lunch.

    After lunch, a little relaxation in the beauty of the Vietnamese rice fields, you can relax your feet in a hot bath scented with medicinal plants. Zen attitude guaranteed! Return to the hotel

    Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
    Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

    Day 8: Hue - Morning free - Afternoon drive to Hoi An (B/-/-)

    Hue - Hoi An: 140km, ~2h30m drive

    After breakfast at the hotel, you have the morning free on your own.

    This afternoon, we bid Hue farewell and continue our south bound journey to the old trading town of Hoi An via Danang. Upon arrival, check-in hotel and relax.

    Meals Included: Breakfast
    Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

    Day 9: Hoi An - Farming & Fishing Tour (B/L/-)

    You will be  picked up at your hotel' lobby  around 08:00a.m by Bike, then escape the bustling city just about 20 minutes by cycling from Hoi An old quarter, you will enjoy a vegetable farming area with nice weather and lovely people, a green area called Tra Que vegetable village.

    Upon arrival, you’ll take a stroll around the vegetable farm and then join the farmers in preparing the land and fertilizing it with seaweed from the river near by - as organic fertilizers. You’ll learn how to  raking the ground, sowing seed, watering, and planting vegetables, as well as many other gardening activities will make you have lots of fun and interesting moments when being in this village. This is a great way to see how locals here live and how they love their job.

    After working in the vegetable farm we continue biking to Fishing village (it takes 20 minutes of biking)

    When we arrive at Fishing Village, meet a local fishing family, Learn about daily life of Vietnamese fishermen, their custom and community

    Leaving the village behind, you will board our boat and cruise to the mouth of the river where it meets the Cua Dai Sea. Then meeting and engage with local fishermen and enjoy a hands-on experience of traditional net fishing. The local fisherman will show you the method of catching fish that is to throw a round net into the river from a small boat. After being taught how it is done it will be your turn.

    The next part of our adventure is to fish by using a huge square net that is set on the river bed which is then winch up. With helps of another couple of local fisherman you will collect the fish inside that net through a hole at the bottom.

    Following, you will learn to paddle the unique Vietnamese bamboo basket round boat through small and beautiful channel and join in a basket boat race. Then  head into the nipa palm forest where tourist have opportunities to catch small crabs by fishing rod for fun as well as some products from this tree was make by our staff for souvenir.

    Then continue biking to my house in rice village (it takes 10 minutes of biking). Reach my house, be welcome with a glass of passion fruit juice and wet tissues.

    You will join a short rice pancake cooking class from rice flour - Last  step is: Enjoy the Lunch  with some specialties of our village: Tam Huu (three friends ), Deep Fried Spring Rolls(vegetarian style), Local rice pancake serve with fresh organic vegetable and fish sauce, Steamed rice, chicken' meat, shrimp, pork, Season fruits

    The whole tour will be finished around 2 -2:30 P.M.

    Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
    Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

    Day 10: Hoi An - Cham Island / Group Tour (B/L/-)

    07:30a.m: Pick up at your hotel (in Hoi An city) to Cua Dai  harbour.

    08:30a.m: Relaxing in fresh cool wind and enjoy the beautiful landscape on a Hoi An Green speedboat to Cham Island.

    09:0a.m: Arriving at Lang Beach. Visiting the Protected Marine Area, The Boat Shelter, Hai Tang pagoda and Traditional fishing Village

    10:3a.m: Swimming and snorkeling

    11:3a.m: Staying at Chong beach or Ong Beach ecological zone, swimming, enjoying your sea food lunch.

    14:00: Packing luggage for return trip to Hoi An

    14:30: See off at your hotel and finish your trip

    Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
    Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

    Day 11: Hoi An - Danang - Flight to Saigon (B/-/-)

    Danang - Saigon: ~850km, 1h25min flight

    After breakfast, time free until our driver meets and transfers you to airport for flight to Saigon. Upon arrival, you will be picked-up and transfered to hotel.

    Meals Included: Breakfast
    Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

    Day 12: Saigon - Vung Liem (B/L/D)

    Saigon - Vung Liem: 150km, ~3h20m drive

    After breakfast at the hotel, depart for Vung Liem, crossing the local ferry to your homestay. Upon arrival, visit the orchards or try some cooking and enjoy banh xeo - rice pancake, local specialty while learning about the area’s history and customs. After lunch, we start our biking trip for an interesting exploration on the island through the narrow lanes but should be lots of fun awaiting. Visit the neighbor families who are busy on sedge fields, study about their mat production from this special grass, from cutting, drying to slicing and weaving. Many fascinating stops for photo shoots around this non-touristy landscape. Afterward visit the local school, market, community house and tomb of the land’s ancestor before driving to the hotel for overnight.

    Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    Accommodation: Hotel in Vung Liem

    Day 13: Vung Liem - Cai Be - Sa Dec - Can Tho (B/L/D)

    After having home-cooked breakfast, we leave for Cai Be to embark on Song Xanh Sampan and begin cruising from Phu An Jetty at 10 :00am. From the sampan, observe life as it plays out on shore - people going about their daily activities against picturesque landscapes – while your attentive crew serves tea and seasonal fruit. Before arriving at Sa Dec, stop at various points along the river for a look into some of the cottage industries of the region including a brick factory where everything is made by hand, pass monkey bridges and tiny villages to visit Cao Dai temple.

    Arrive in Sa Dec and stroll to the outdoor market. Visit one of the highlights of the charming town, the ancient house of Huynh Thuy Le, a real-life character in the celebrated novel and film « The Lover » by Marguerite Duras.

    Lunch is served on board while cruising towards Can Tho along a narrow canal teeming with life. Explore the countryside surroundings by local rowboat.

    Your last stopover before sunset is an ancient house (a « Nha Co » in Vietnamese), dating back to the 19th century. The owner will welcome you and a candlelit dinner is served in this authentic countryside setting. After dinner, return on board while the Song Xanh continues its cruise towards Hau River.

    Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    Accommodation: Overnight on Song Xanh Sampan

    Day 14: Can Tho - Cai Rang - Saigon (B/-/-)

    Can Tho - Saigon: 180km, ~4h drive

    The journey starts at 6.00 AM with breakfast being served at 7.00 PM, while approaching Cai Rang floating market, the largest market in the whole Mekong Delta Region. Cruise Among local barges full of fruits and vegetables and enjoy the hustle and bustle of morning market. The excursion ends at around 10.00a.m at Ninh Kieu after-visiting Can Tho's local market. We then head back to the hotel in Saigon.

    Meals Included: Breakfast
    Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

    Day 15: Saigon - Departure (B/-/-)

    After breakfast at hotel, time is free until you are met and transferred by our driver to Tan Son Nhat airport in Saigon for your flight to your next destination or back home. See you again in another trip to SE Asia!

    Meals Included: Breakfast

  • Prices

    This trip is private and therefore can be altered to suit your needs, date of commencement and budget requirements.

    Prices vary due to a number of specifics:

    • Seasonal: during high season (October-April), the prices of services are generally higher when compared to the low season (May-September).
    • The number of participants: the more of you that travel together the less you will pay!
    • The choice of hotels: Fairly obvious one here; a 5-star hotel can cost ten times as much as a 2 star hotel.
    • The activities during the trip: Two trips on the same itinerary and of the same length can have two different prices depending on the number and nature of activities included.
    • The booking date: In some cases, booking your trip late can drastically affect prices due to their low availability.

    Inclusion:

    • Accommodation as recommended or similar category according to availability.
    • Transfers according to program by private air-conditioned vehicle with driver except free day
    • English-speaking guide’s assistance at every stage
    • Meals as indicated in program (B: Breakfast /L: Lunch / D: Dinner)
    • Entrance fees for attractions included in the program
    • All activities and cruises clearly mentioned in the program
    • Mekong Delta overnight on boat (private sampan)
    • Flights: Hanoi - Hue; Danang - Saigon (E-Class on Vietnam Airlines)
    • Private boat excursion in Hue, Mekong Delta
    • Water and cool tissues
    • Government taxes & service charge

    Exclusion:

    • Surcharge for Peak season (20 Dec-10 Jan), Christmas, New Year, Lunar New Year, Hung’s King Festival, International Labour Day (30/4;1/5), Vietnam Independence Day (2/9)
    • Other drinks and meals not clearly mentioned
    • Early check-in, late check-out
    • Personal expenditures, tips
    • Personal insurance (compulsory)
    • Any service not clearly mentioned in the program
    • International air transfers associated with airport taxes
    • Visa and visa arrangement (available upon request)

    Booking

    Here are 2 steps to book your trip with Tonkin-Travel:

    Step 1. Focus on your travel program:

    You can choose this trip as is or customize it to your specific desires. Just click on the “Customize this trip” tab and fill in the form. One of our travel consultants will contact you within 48 hours to develop the travel program based on your specifications.

    Step 2. Booking:

    • Following the first step, tour program is selected and we access the rates.
    • Upon confirmation of the trip, the registration must be accompanied by a deposit up to 25% of the total estimate.
    • For programs with private junk (cruise) and/or 5 star hotels, the deposit is represented by 30% of the total estimate.
    • Tonkin-Travel carries out the booking process upon receipt of the deposit. Confirmation of these reservations is sent to customer within 10 days via email

    Nature of travel

    This trip is private. That implies:

    • You will be escorted by a private guide and driver. This approach guarantees a smooth trip with fewer organizational constraints.
    • You will be the master of your trip. We guarantee flexibility in organizing visits at your request.
    • Our services will be personalized according to your desires. Thus the proposals in this package are not fixed and you can bring suggest all the desired changes.
    • You receive individualized care: ample food, organizing small events (anniversary, honeymoon, etc.), targeted information, followed necessary modifications, etc.

    Accommodation

    • Accommodation is an important expenditure of your trip. When you choose a luxury trip for example, the accommodation can represent three quarters of the price. Thus, your choice of hotels is closely related to your budget.
    • Tonkin-Travel has negotiated rates with a wide range of hotels from 2 to 5 stars.
    • In some places you will have the option to choose ‘home-stay’. Although this provides less comfort that a hotel it is a truly authentic experience and highly recommended for at least one night of your journey.

    Transport

    All transfers during your trip are covered by private vehicle with driver, unless otherwise indicated in our offer. We ensure that our vehicles are new and comfortable. Fuel, tolls, accommodation, compensation and the driver are included in our offer. Only gratuities are not included and are at your discretion.

    The size of the selected vehicle is based on the number of tour participants according to the following quality standards:

    No. of participants

    2 pax

    3 pax

    From 4 to 7 pax

    From 8 to 14 pax

    From 15 to 20 pax

    Vehicle size

    Car 4-7 seats

    Car 7 or minivan 
    16 seats

    Minivan 16 seats

    Bus 24 seats

    Bus 35 or 45 seats

    Domestic flights

    If your trip includes domestic flights if any, they will be operated by Vietnam Airlines, the largest airline in Vietnam. The fleet consists mainly of Airbus and Boeing. On some short trips, the company operates 72 ATR and some Fokker.

    Rail transport

    Train travel can be offered (particularly between Hanoi-Lao Cai and Hanoi-Hue). Travelling at a speed of 60km/h on average it is not necessarily the fastest but an interesting experience nonetheless.

  • This form allows us to establish a tour proposal suitable for your needs. It is free and without obligation

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      the health condition of the participants, your questions on this trip...)

    • This form allows us to establish a tour proposal suitable for your needs. It is free and without obligation

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        • Your desire to travel (culture, adventure, beach extension, local meetings, nature, etc.)
        • The desired pace of your trip (moderate, free and easy, etc.)
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        • The opportunity of your trip (vacation, wedding anniversary, cultural group, etc.)
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