Vietnam with Sapa & Ninh Binh 16 nights from £4,467 per person
ABOUT THIS ITINERARY
This itinerary really ticks all the highlights of Vietnam along with the added extra of Sapa and Ninh Binh.
From the bustling streets of Hanoi, Vietnam's capital known for its colonial buildings and culinary delights to the out of this world scenery of Halong Bay, Vietnam really is a country of complete contrast.
Commencing this trip in Hanoi, you will work your way North from Hanoi to Sapa and then back down South along the East Coast where you'll visit the ancient city of Hue and the incredible Four Seasons Nam Hai in Hoi An, one of Forbes best beaches, before ending up in Ho Chi Minh City.
Price Includes
International flights
Domestic flights
Private transfers
Activities and tours as mentioned
All accommodation
24/7 support while you're away
UK airport transfers (conditions apply)
DAY 1
HANOI
You will be greeted by a Tailored Journeys representative who will accompany you to your first hotel, the Sofitel Legend Metropole, one of our favourite hotels which is conveniently located for you to discover the nearby sites on foot.
Depending on arrival flight times, your guide will accompany you on a city tour of Hanoi. The sites visited will include House and Cottage, One Pillar pagoda, Temple of Literature.
Accommodation: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
DAY 2-4
SAPA
Before leaving Hanoi, spend the morning visiting the Old Quarter with a history that spans over 2,000 years. The Old Quarter started as an alligator-infested swamp but then transformed to be home to Vietnam’s craftsmen and is now a bustling square lovingly known as the eternal soul of Hanoi.
In the early evening, you will catch the night train from Hanoi train station to Lao Cai.
Once you have arrived in Lao Cai you will be picked up from the station and transferred to a local restaurant for breakfast. After that you will be transferred to your hotel in Sapa for check in.
Once settled in you will visit the most prominent attraction in the area around Sapa which is Fansipan Mountain by cable-car, which is the highest mountain in Vietnam.
Hike to the heart of the Hoang Lien Mountain range. En route, you will get to admire vast rice fields on the terraces with rivers that wind around. The path passes through Cat Cat village, populated by the black H'mong and then through Y Linh Ho village, giving you a great opportunity to observe the local people in their colourful clothing.
Accommodation: Hotel De La Coupole
DAY 5-6
HANOI
Today you will leave Sapa and will be transferred by your driver and guide back to Hanoi via the Hanoi-Lao Cai highway. Once you have arrived back in Hanoi you can check in to your hotel and spend the rest of the day at your leisure.
Visit Ba Dinh square, center of the Ho Chi Minh complex. You will cross from one side to another of a grand rectangular square that allows you a wide view of the impressive mausoleum. Located about 2 kilometers to the west of Sword Lake, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum holds special meaning for Vietnamese and inside the Soviet-inspired building, there lies the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh, who passed away in 1969, often acknowledged as “the father of the nation”.
You will visit the Taoist temple Quan Thanh, one of the four sacred temples which were built at every cardinal point of the city to protect it from evil spirits. Located near Truc Bach Lake, the temple was built under the reign of the King Ly Thai To (1010 – 1028) as homage to the genie Huyen Thien Tran Vo, the guardian of the North. It is accompanied by figures of the snake and turtle, symbols of cunning, strength, and longevity respectively.
Accommodation: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
DAY 7
HALONG BAY
In the morning, you will leave Hanoi and be transferred to Halong to arrive around 12 in the afternoon. There you will embark on a cruise around Halong Bay.
This world-famous bay is one of the most beautiful landscapes in Vietnam, with its giant rock islets covered in luxuriant vegetation overlooking the waters. Halong Bay includes some 1,900 islands and islets of rocky peaks, often uninhabited and unvisited. This scene creates a spectacular marine landscape, which earned it UNESCO World Heritage status in 1994.
You will be served lunch and dinner aboard with excellent and freshly caught seafood from the bay. At the end of the day, you will have the chance to enjoy a night fishing session on the boat if you wish.
Accommodation: Violet Heritage Line
DAY 8-9
NINH BINH
Travel south into the tranquil countryside of Ninh Binh, where dramatic limestone karsts rise above emerald rice fields and peaceful rivers wind through ancient caves and temples. Over two days, soak up rural Vietnamese life at a slower pace, cycle through village paths and lush paddies and meet friendly locals.
Take a traditional wooden sampan boat ride through the legendary Trang An or Tam Coc waterways, drifting gently past towering cliffs and lush jungle as you glide through cave tunnels.
Visit the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, explore atmospheric temples, and climb to the Mua Cave Viewpoint for sweeping views over the rice fields and karst mountains.
Accommodation: Emeralda Resort Ninh Bình
DAY 10-11
HUE
Today you will be transferred to Hanoi airport for your short flight down to Hue.
On arrival you will be met by your driver guide who will transfer you to your next hotel.
Visit the Imperial Citadel before continuing to explore a garden house typical of Hue city, which was built according to precise rules of geomancy. The peacefulness of this home will offer you a chance to experience the true serenity of such a place.
Continue your journey to discover Tu Duc mausoleum, a model of traditional Vietnamese art and one of the most beautiful sights in the city. Then, you will explore Tu Hieu pagoda nearby, nestled in a vast pine forest and home to a community of monks who remain very active in their day to day existence. In the garden, you will be able to see the tombs of some royal mandarins.
Accommodation: Azerai La Residence Hue
DAY 12-14
HOI AN
In the morning you will depart from Hue to Danang city, taking the spectacular "Hai Van Pass" route, featured on Top Gear! You have 3 nights here to unwind in the fantastic Four Seasons Resort Nam Hai.
Discover the old town of Hoi An, a World Heritage Site classified by UNESCO. Hoi An really is one of the most charming and pretty towns in Vietnam and is definitely worth a visit. Wander around the lantern lined streets filled with coffee shops and small markets. The originality of the place is a mixture of Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese and French architectural elements.
Along the small streets you will see Chinese houses dated more than two centuries old, the famous Japanese pagoda bridge, a Chinese temple and the house of Tan Ky (which belonged to a rich Vietnamese merchant 200 years ago and has been kept original ever since).
On one evening relax during a boat trip on Thu Bon River and enjoy the sunset.
Accommodation: Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai Hoi An
DAY 15-17
HO CHI MINH CITY
After breakfast, you will be met by your driver and transferred to Danang Airport to catch your short flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Once you have arrived in Ho Chi Minh you will be transferred to your hotel for check in.
Explore the Cu Chi Tunnels, located about 2 hours from Ho Chi Minh City. Originally dug by hand by the Viet Minh (Resistance Force) during the French-Indochina War, this network of underground tunnels was expanded during the Vietnam War. At its peak, it was 200 kilometers long, 3-to-4-meters deep, and was very well-equipped with meeting rooms, medical, and sanitary posts. Here you will have the chance to experience 20m worth of the tunnels!
Today, it is one of the most important historical sites of the Vietnam War. You will begin the visit by watching a documentary on the tunnels and the war in the 60s-70s, and then you can pass through various narrow underground ducts in order to discover the many rooms: offices, kitchens, bunk rooms, weapons stores, and even hospitals. At the end of the tour, you will have the chance to taste a culinary specialty of Cu Chi, khoai my luoc (boiled cassava), a Vietnamese dish eaten daily during the war. After your visit, you will return back to Ho Chi Minh City.
Accommodation: Park Hyatt Saigon
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