The charming Vietnamese ethnic minorities

    

Duration: 18 days / 17 night
Itinerary: Hanoi - MaiChau - SonLa - DienBienPhu - LaiChau - Sap

BacHa - Cocly - Babe - CaoBang - LangSon

From : Vietnam luxury tour

Day 1: ARRIVE IN HA NOI

Upon arrival in Ha Noi, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel for check in. You have free time to visit 36 Old Quarter streets, Hang Be market- a typical Vietnamese day market and enjoy a traditional water puppet show in the evening. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: HA NOI – MAI CHAU (B, L, D)

After 2 hours of a beautiful bus ride to Hoa Binh, via Song Da Hydroelectric Power Plant. Visit Giang Mo Village (ethnic Muong). Continue with taking a boat trip on Da River to visit Muong Tru village. Enjoy the nice natural beauty, local daily life of minority people. Back to the wharf then transfer to Mai Chau. Overnight in home stay.

Day 3: MAI CHAU – SON LA (B)

Take a short trek through rice fields, banana plantations, visit local ethnic minority village en route in Mai Chau. Transfer to Son La, stop over at Hang Kia to visit village of Green H’mong ethnic people. Have lunch en route to Moc Chau. Arrive Son La, visit Son La Museum and Son La Prison. Check in hotel. Overnight in Son La.

Day 4: SON LA – DIEN BIEN PHU

Depart to Dien Bien Phu through the hill and valley, enjoy the beautiful landscapes and Thuan Chau market en route. Have lunch at Tuan Giao. Arrive in Dien Bien Phu, visit the famous A1 hill and cemeteries of Dien Bien. Overnight in Dien Bien Phu.

Day 5: DIEN BIEN PHU – LAI CHAU

Continue to visit Dien Bien: De Catrie’s trench, Him Lam hill, village of ethnic minorities. Depart to Lai Chau, stop over to visit Muong Lay and have lunch. Check in hotel. Overnight in Lai Chau.

Day 6: LAI CHAU – SAPA

Depart to Sapa by car, discover the daily life of local people with the stunning mountain scenery en route. Check in hotel and have lunch. In the afternoon, visit Cat Cat village (Black H’mong ethnic), Sapa market comprises of many ethnic people as: Red Dzao, Black H’mong, Kinh people and their products. Overnight in Sapa.

Day 7: SA PA – BAC HA – NA NO (Sunday) (L, D)

It takes a few hours to Bac Ha, visit local market (only on Sunday). In the afternoon, take 3 hours for trekking to visit to visit ethnic minorities in the region: ancient house of Meo King, Giang Pho village (Flower H’mong ethnic), Phu La village (Phu La ethnic), Na No village (Tay ethnic). Overnight in home stay.

Day 8: NA NO – NAM THANG (Monday) (B, L, D)

Full day to trek Na No and Nam Thang villages. Take a picnic lunch. Arrive in Nam Thang (H’mong ethnic) in the afternoon. Overnight in home stay.

Day 9: NAM THANG – COC LY – NGOI THA (Tuesday) (B, L, D)

From Nam Thang village drive to Coc Ly market to visit local market here (happen only on Tuesday). After that, take a cruise on Chay River to Bao Nhai, have lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon, car pick up and drive to Ngoi Tha, visit Dzao ethnic and Thac Ba lake. Overnight in home stay.

Day 10: NGOI THA – THAI NGUYEN (B)

Take a cruise on Thac Bac river. Then depart to Thai Nguyen to visit ethnic villages. Overnight in Thai Nguyen.

Day 11: THAI NGUYEN – BA BE (D)

Depart to Ba Be. In the afternoon, take a cruise on Ba Be lake – the most beautiful lake in Vietnam. Stop over to visit Nguom Ngao grotto, Dau Dang waterfall, Pac Ngoi village (Tay ethnic). Overnight in home stay.

Day 12: BA BE – CAO BANG (B)

Visit Ba Be national park. Depart to Cao Bang, visit market and village of Tay people. Overnight in Cao Bang.

Day 13: CAO BANG – BAN GIOC – CAO BANG

Depart to Ban Gioc waterfall, which is very near Chinese border. On the way, communicate with various ethnics. Take a small boat made in bamboo to cruise on the river to admire Ban Gioc waterfall. Return to Cao Bang. Overnight in Cao Bang.

Day 14: CAO BANG – LANG SON

Depart to Lang Son, one of 6 provinces have border with China. Visit Tam Thanh, Nhi Thanh grottoes and Ky Lua market. Overnight in Lang Son.

Day 15: LANG SON – HA LONG (L, D)

Depart from your hotel at 8:00AM to Ha Long. Enjoy the interesting 3-hour drive to Ha Long where along the way you will see rice fields and daily Vietnamese village life. You will then be transferred by tender to a luxury Junk and enjoy a welcome cocktail. A  Vietnamese set menu lunch with fresh local seafood will be served on board while you embark on a cruise into the bay to see the incredible karst formations. We arrive by boat at Bat Cave (Hang Doi) where you will choose from optional tour program: visit local fishing village by tender or visit cave by rowing sampan or relax with beauty services or board. A Vietnamese dinner is served on board. Overnight on the boat.

Day 16: HA LONG – HA NOI (B)

At leisure or enjoy Tai Chi instruction and sunrise on the sundeck. Depart by boat to Surprise Cave. A brunch will be served from 8:30AM to 10:00AM. We will then start cruising in Halong Bay while you relax and take pictures. The cruise returns to Hon Gai, arrive in Halong at about 11:30AM. Back to Ha Noi around 16:00PM. Overnight in Ha Noi.

Day 17: HA NOI CITY TOUR (B, L)

The day commences with a visit to Ho Chi Minh Complex (Mausoleum, Museum the late venerated leader private residence at House on Stilts, followed by the wooden One Pillar Pagoda).Then visit Temple of Literature. Lunch in a wonderful restaurant.

The afternoon is dedicated to the discovery of Ethnology Museum, After that, you will take a fascinating 1 hour tour of Ha Noi’s Old Quarter by Cyclo. The history of the Old Quarter dates back some 2000 years with it’s 36 narrow streets each named after the trade or merchandise made and sold there. Overnight in Ha Noi.

Day 18: DEPARTURE (B)

Free time to explore city or shopping around before transferring to airport and take flight back home. Trip ends.

The Heritage Route tour

Duration: 4 days / 3 night
Itinerary: Hue - Hoi An - My Son

From : Vietnam Cheap tour

Hue city, the area has variety of sites of outstanding nature beauty. This city is also notorious for its torrential rain, which can pour unabated for a week. The beauty of the area led it to be chosen as the capital by the kings of the Nguyen dynasty. It was recently recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site. Hue also features a unique cuisine, combining dishes associated with the former imperial court with everyday street food, much of fairly spicy. The city is also noted for the quality of its embroidery, particularly on the traditional ao dai-a favourite souvenir for visitors to take home.

Hoi An Ancient Town is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. Its buildings and its street plan reflect the influences, both indigenous and foreign, that have combined to produce this unique heritage site.

Day 1: ARRIVE IN HUE – CITY TOUR (L)

Upon arrival in Hue, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel. We will be visiting the Forbidden Purple City, where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. We then continue to take a morning boat trip on the romantic Perfume River to visit Thien Mu pagoda, Ming Mang and Tu Duc tombs. Overnight in Hue.

Day 2: HUE – HOI AN (B, L)

Following breakfast, enjoy the scenic ride from Hue to Hoi An, stop to visit Cham museum and Marble mountains on the way. Free time in the ancient Hoi An town for walking around to visit the former merchant’s houses, the 400-year-old Japanese Bridge, ancient pagodas, temples, the colourful market and shopping around. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 3: COOKING CLASS (B, L)

After breakfast at your hotel, depart by bicycle for a half-day cooking class at Tra Que, a charming village which supplies vegetables to kitchens all over the town. Spend the morning working with the villagers as they show you the ways to harvest and prepare fresh vegetables for meals. Cook a lunch of Vietnamese dishes with your hosts before enjoying the fruits of your labor. Return to Hoi An for free time on the beach or shopping around. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 4: MY SON – HOI AN (B, L)

Depart for My Son, it is the Vietnam most important site of the ancient kingdom of Champa, and as of 2000, a Unesco World Heritage site. My Son is considered to be Champa’s smaller counterpart to the grand cities of Southest Asia’s other Indian influenced civilizations: Angkor (Cambodia), Bagan (Malaysia)… Walking around this ancient kingdom to discover the Archaeologist of brick-stupas that was built from 4th to 10th century. Back to Hoi An for your leisure. Trip ends
 

Nha Trang - Azure sea

NHA TRANG

Duration: 3 days / 2 night 

From: Vietnam luxury tour

Thanks to its beautiful beaches with fine and clean sand, clear sea water with mild temperature all the year round, Nha Trang, a coastal city and capital of Khanh Hoa province, Viet Nam, is one of the most important tourism hubs of Viet Nam. The city cuisine is famous for its fresh seafood. Bird nest soup is one of the best in Viet Nam. Bird’s nests are collected naturally and in bird’s farms in the islands off the city coast and in some houses in the inner city. It is also well known for its pristine beaches and excellent scuba diving and is fast becoming a popular destination for international tourists, attracting large numbers of backpackers on the Southeast Asia circuit. Nha Trang Bay is amongst the world’s most beautiful bays.

Day 1: ARRIVE IN NHA TRANG

Upon arrival in Nha Trang-the sea city of blue ocean and long white sandy beaches, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel for check in. There are many activities for your choice: scuba diving, water sports, canoeing to the wild small islands around, mud bath, etc (under your own arrangement). Overnight in Nha Trang to watch twinkle star night on a breezily beautiful beach.

Day 2: FISHING AT MUN ISLAND (B, L)

After breakfast at your hotel, transfer to Cau Da port. Cruise to Mun & Tam islands where you stop for fishing & snorkeling at Mun Island. Back to Con se Tre restaurant for having seafood lunch on Bamboo Island. Enjoy the fish you catch. Relax & swim on your own time. On the way back to the shore, a short visit to fishing village to see the fresh shrimp, zoo groupers, sea crab raised in floating cages. Car & guide transfer you back to the around 4:00 PM. Another romantic night in Nha Trang.

Day 3: NHA TRANG DEPARTURE (B)

Free time on the beach or walking around. Trip ends.

Hoa Binh - Mai Chau tour

HANOI - HOA BINH - MAI CHAU

Duration: (02 Days/01 Night)
From: Vietnam tour

Mai Chau is located in Hoa Binh province, approximately 135 km from Ha Noi and 60 km from Hoa Binh. From the top of Cun Mountain, one can admire the superb panorama of Mai Chau surrounded by a green valley and stilt houses. Many minorities, including the Thai ethnic group, live in Mai Chau. Stilt houses border both sides of the roads. The houses are quite large with palm leaf roofs and polished bamboo-slat
floors. The kitchen is located in the center of the house; the cooking as well as the making of the colorful tho cam, the material used by Thai minority to make their clothes, takes place in the kitchen. The windows are large and decorated with patterns. Each house also has a pond to breed fish.

Day 1: HA NOI – HOA BINH – MAI CHAU (L, D)

Depart from your hotel at 7:00AM, after 2 hours beautiful bus ride to Hoa Binh, via Song Da Hydroelectric Power Plant. Visit Giang Mo Village (ethnic Muong). Continue with taking a boat trip on Da River to visit Muong Tru village. Enjoy the nice natural beauty, local daily life of minority people. Back to the wharf then transfer to Mai Chau. In the evening, join the traditional dance music of local (optional). Overnight in  homestay.

Day 2: MAI CHAU – HA NOI (B, L)

After breakfast, then head out for 2 hours of easy cycling through the verdant rice paddies and local villages to experience the daily life. Walk more along Pom Coong village and go shopping with local traditional handicraft products. After lunch, return to Ha Noi, drop off at your hotel around 4:00PM. Trip ends.

Phu Quoc - The Sunny heave

PHU QUOC ISLAND

Duration: (03 Days/02 Night)
From: Vietnam tour

In the early 17th century, Phu Quoc was a desolate area, where Vietnamese and Chinese immigrants earned their living from sea cucumbers. Phu Quoc is called the island of "99 mountains" because of its many sandstone chains gradually descending from the north to the south. Phu Quoc has a monsoon sub-equatorial climate. There are two seasons in the year: the rainy season (October only) and the dry season (November to September). Trips to Phu Quoc can be made all year round, but the best time is dry season when the sky is always sunny, clear and blue. Phu Quoc has worldwide been famous for its two traditional products: the pepper and fish sauce. Visitors to pepper gardens will be captivated by word of "itsy-bitsy teeny-weeny coins" of patient growers while at fish sauce workshops, they will be amazed at the sight of dozens of bulky barrels being lined up and waiting to be jammed with fresh fish. You will be tempted to try a few pungent green pepper coins and half a spoonful of the tasty salty sauce.

Day 1: ARRIVE IN PHU QUOC

Pick up at your hotel and transfer to airport for a domestic flight to Phu Quoc. Arrive in Phu Quoc, transfer to your hotel.  After lunch, free time at leisure for shopping at Ham Ninh fishing village. Back to resort for swimming, sunbathing, sleeping under green palm trees. Overnight  in Phu Quoc.

Day 2: SUN AND SEA  (B)

After breakfast at your hotel, you have spare time to visit Cau temple – the worship place of  people, especially fisherman on Phu Quoc island, exploring the vestiges of a historical jail system. After that, transfer for visiting An Thoi port, enjoy fishing for fun while cruising on boat at Ong Doi peak and visit Australian man-made pearl producing factory. Free for swimming, sunbathing at Sao beach (or the star beach). Back to the hotel. Overnight in Phu Quoc.

Day 3: DEPARTURE (B)

Free time for shopping at Coi Nguon shop, Duong Dong market until transferring to Phu Quoc airport for departure flight .Trip ends.

Cuc Phuong nation park

CÚC PHƯƠNG NATION PARK

Duration: (03 Days/02 Night)
From: Vietnam tour

Cuc Phuong National Park is the centre-piece of Vietnam’s conservation efforts and one of the most accessible parks in the country. Located on two limestone mountain ranges, Cuc Phuong is a wonderfully rich ecosystem. Apart from verdant karsts mountains and the lush valleys, the limestone formations produced numerous caves, many of which are accessible for exploration.­­­­ You will get to see the two new discovered ancient tombs along with Neolithic remains and evidence of stone implements. As the oldest national park of Vietnam, Cuc Phuong is attached to a long-lasting history. Cuc Phuong is also popular for being home to a huge diversity of flora and fauna. The botanical richness of the forest is impressive since it supports a wide variety of flora species and patches of primeval forest. Please relax and enjoy clusters of growing orchards as well as vanilla, snow-white and butterfly orchids.

Day 1: HANOI – CUC PHUONG
Depart for Cuc Phuong National Park, the first national park established in Vietnam with a stop to visit Hoa Lu ancient capital and a rowing boat trip in Tam Coc to visit the “inland Halong Bay”. Arrive at Cuc Phuong National Park. Visit Cuc Phuong museum, the Animal Protection Centre, and the Flora Researching Centre. Overnight in Cuc Phuong National Park.

Day 2: TREKKING AT NATIONAL PARK
Trekking over 16km in the National Park to discover the various fauna and flora in Cuc Phuong National Park: over 300 bird species and 65 mammal species can be found here  including: Indochinese tigers, clouded leopards, the endangered delacour langurs, grey peacock pheasants, brown hornbills, blue rumpled pitta, white-winged magpies and narcissus flycatchers. Picnic lunch in the forest. Arrive at a Muong ethnic minority village within the National Park. Dinner at house-on-stilts. Overnight at homestay in Muong  village.

Day 3: CUC PHUONG – HANOI
After a local breakfast, leave Muong ethnic minority village for bird watching in Cuc Phuong National Park. In the afternoon, transfer back to Hanoi at around 4:00 PM. Trip ends.

Countryside Tour Package with Homestay

HANOI - KY SON VILLAGE - DUONG LAM VILLAGE - HANOI

Duration: (02 Days/01 Night)
From: Vietnam tour

DAY 1: HANOI / KYSON (B,L,D)
- 10:00: Arrive at Moon Garden Homestay at Ky Son village. Welcome drink with local fresh
green tea. Free time for discoving Moon garden Homestay and Ky Son village by yourself (local market, kinder garden)
- 11:00: Cooking class (Menu: Fresh and fried spring rolls, traditional dessert and food decor).
- 12:30: Lunch. After lunch, enjoy having your fingers dipped in a fragrant lime bowl. Then
further discussion with owner over local snacks
- 13:30: Interact with locals to share our culture and learn about traditional customs especially
traditional marriages. If you want to learn Vietnamese, you can always ask the locals to teach
you.
- 15:00: Take a bicycle ride to discover the Ky Son, Tam Son and Van Minh farming
communities and stop at any home you like for a cup of tea. Chat with local people about their daily life and farming. You can help with plowing or making rice beds, transplanting seedlings, harvesting rice (or cassava, corn, sweet potatoes...) depending on the harvest season, collecting tea and all medicinal herbs needed for your steam bath late this afternoon and foot “spa” late evening.
- 17:30: Return to the Homestay for happy hour (you will be offered some kind of local tisane) .
While waiting bathroom, you can drink and enjoy an investigation of the local products such as maize, sweet potato, cassava, peanuts, though seasonal... offered by the owner.
- 18:30: Traditional, refreshing steam bath with fragrant herbs (Lemon grass, pomelo leaves,
holy basil leaves).
- 19:30: Dinner. .
- 20:30: Foot bath of warm water with ginger, salt and mugwort medicinal herbs before bedtime.

DAY 2: KY SON / DUONG LAM / NEXT DESTINATION (B,L)
- 7:00: Coffee and joining Yijinjing traditional exercises, praying Buddha, observe the morning
worship and participate in burning false money and gold for the deceased.
- 7:45: Breakfast
- 8:30: Bike ride through ritual paths with local guide to discover the Cam Cao village, Mia
pagoda, Duong Lam ancient village and Ngo Quyen tomb.
- 11:00: Return to the house and relax
- 12:30: Lunch
- 13:30: Free time: You can make yourself at home relaxing on the hammock in our garden,
taking pictures with Vietnamese traditional cloths, fishing and chatting with people or further
discovery of the Ky Son village and around until your departure time for the next destination.