VISIT VIETNAM 14DAY 13NIGHT

Day 1: Arrival in Saigon. Visit of the city.

Speaking of Saigon, we immediately think of a big city, bustling with shopping malls, tall buildings, which never sleeps. But in depth, the city reveals its “precious pearls” – historical, cultural testimonies expressing the life and spirit of the local people. Arrival in Saigon. You will be welcomed by your guide and your driver. Then you will start to discover the city. Cho Lon is very well known by visitors. It was founded in the 17th century by Chinese migrants, it has attracted many traders from other countries. Until now, Cho Lon and its surroundings are the cohabitation of space and trade of Chinese, Indian and Vietnamese. By visiting the region of Cho Lon (market), you’ll discover another face of the city of Sai Gon, a multicultural place. Visit : the old Catinat street, The temple of The Jade emperor. Lunch in a local restaurant. Visit the Hindu Temple Mariaman : the temple is located in the middle of Saigon, we recognize it through its native architecture and mystical. It is appreciated as a famous heritage among three current Hindu monuments in Saigon. This is the place where we practised the Mariaman cult – Indian woman genius. By visiting this temple, visitors can watch the statutes, sculptures, antiques, listen to the story of the foundation, and discover the spirits of the temple. Then you will head to the mosque at number 66 Dong Du Street. The mosque is one of the Islamic centers, which was built as early as in Saigon in 1935. The mosque attracts many believers and tourists. Its architecture is simple, spacious and airy with arches, columns and long corridors that symbolize the typical Indian art. Outside the religious function, the mosque is still the place where public activities are organized and where children learn about the ideologies of the Koran. You will be able to go and watch believers pray every friday. A Muslim spectacle in the heart of Saigon. In the evening, we will take you on the Indochina junk for a romantic dinner. You will spend a romantic moment in a charming and intimate space. You will make a 2-hour cruise on the Saigon River and admire the city on the other side. While tasting wine and specialties, you will look at the buildings full of lights as bright as crystals. You’ll feel a romantic and poetic Saigon. Overnight at the hotel. Included meals: lunch and dinner.

Day 2: Saigon – My Tho – Mo Cay (118 km/ 2h40 journey)

In Vietnamese, the Mekong is called Song Cuu Long, which means the river of the Nine Dragons, referring to its nine major tributaries that flow into the South China Sea. In this region known as the “rice bowl” of Vietnam, Mother Nature delivers its benefits besides. Rich and fertile land, clear water and fish, dreamy landscapes, actually nothing is missing. Departure to the Mekong Delta, vast and fertile plain which is the rice bowl of Vietnam. On the way, stop to visit a Cao Dai temple. Arrival at the pier and crossing a major arm of the Mekong, arrival at Ben Tre where the river is divided into multiple channels, you will embark on a boat and go through the islands planted with tropical orchards, natural streams river of Ham Luong and get to Mo Cay. Installation at the homestay and bike ride around the village to discover the art of craftsmanship. By late afternoon, you will help the inhabitants of the house to cook, it will be a very good opportunity to understand the art of traditional cuisine in the South of Vietnam. Dinner and overnight at the homestay. Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 3: Mo Cay – Cai Be (75 km/ 1h40 journey) 7.30am : Departure for the bike ride into the village to discover the daily life of local… Boat trip to visit the Thom Market 20km away of Mo Cay – the largest coconut selling market. 10.30am : You will move out of the room and take the boat to return to Cuu Long port. Your driver will take you to Cai Be and you will board on the Bassac boat. The Bassac is a boat made of a wooden hull, “Go sao” hardware uses in the old time who showed a great quality. It is rare to see traditional boats as this one. It accommodates 24 passengers in 12 cabins including bathroom and toilet. It also has a large deck covered with a wooden roof and bamboo trellis to enjoy this space for meals and parties in greater numbers. It also allows, in combination with the Bassac I, group cruises up to 36 passengers. Moreover, it is possible to add a crib between the beds of a TWIN cabin on the Bassac II. Just be sure to specify when booking. All cabins are soundproofed and windows are double-glazed. In terms of environmental issues, the Bassac II is equipped with heat exchangers to warm water that are controlled by a controller that maintains constant pressure and temperature showers. It also has septic tanks. Indeed, it carries tap water in sufficient quantities for long cruises.

Boarding at noon near the floating market of Cai Be. Welcome cocktail and presentation of the boat and its crew then check into the cabins.  Departure towards Cho Lach river Tien Giang.  Lunch on board during the journey and rest on the upper deck or at the bar.

Visit a village on the banks of the Mang Thit river, an opportunity to appreciate the local way of life and hospitality of the locals. Visit of the orchard or rice fields nearby. Boarding back, welcome back on board cocktail.  Have a rest at the bar or on the deck enjoying the sunset. The crew will serve dinner while the Bassac navigates to Mang Thit. The Bassac navigates a time in the upstream of the Co Chien River and dropped anchor for the night, not far from the large My Thuan Bridge. Dinner and overnight on board.

Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.                

Day 4: Cai Be – Can Tho

6.30am : Departure for Cai Be. Breakfast on board.The Bassac bypasses Binh Hoa Phuoc peninsula and go on a first river and into the arms of Cai Be, between the freshwater mangrove riverbanks.  Arrival in Cai Be. Transfer onto a local boat to visit the floating market of Cai Be.  Then landing and drive to Can Tho, arrived in town to the hotel. After lunch, you will visit Ong pagoda to discover the culture of an ethnic Chinese, and a Khmer pagoda Muniransay. Then you will visit the former home of over 135 years of Binh Thuy and the Museum of Can Tho. Dinner in town and overnight at hotel. Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 5: Can Tho – Chau Doc  (110 km/ 2h30 journey)

After breakfast at the hotel, departure by motor boat to visit one of the most lively floating markets of the Mekong Delta, Cai Rang, with its hundreds of boats jostling and colliding against each other, while their owners are trying to sell their wares. A cruise along this river provides the opportunity to see closely the daily life of the inhabitants of the delta and an authentic Vietnam. Here, the real roads are waterways, furrowed sampans and boats. The Mekong Delta is squared by a multitude of canals, rice fields, fruit gardens, islands and villages. Here we slide on the water with boats or canoes. The people of the delta have been shaped by the waters of the river that govern human life, from birth to death. Everything depends on the Mekong such as the work in the fields, orchards or paddy fields, fishing, transport, and traditions. Departure by road to Chau Doc. Quick stop in Long Xuyen for lunch. The road continues to Chau Doc, a pleasant small town near the Cambodian border which has significant Chinese communities, Cham and Khmer. Arriving in Chau Doc you will visit Mount Nui Sam, an important pilgrimage site in the region, the temple of the Queen of the country, and the Tay An Pagoda. Check-in at the hotel and dinner in town. Overnight at the hotel. Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 6: Chau Doc – Sai Gon. Flight to Da Nang – Hoi An (210 km/ 5h00 journey 859km/2h flight)

In the morning, you will visit the Vinh Te canal, created in 1814 under Minh Mang Dynasty and Preah Ang Chan, King of the Khmer. 80,000 Vietnamese workers and Khmers digs the 91 km long, 25 meters wide and 3 meters deep channel. It serves provinces of Cambodia Peam (Ha Tien) to the province of Moat Chrouk Vietnam (Chau Doc). You will stop at the port of Hotel Da Nui Sam for a walk to discover the pagoda Ba Chua Xu. Visit of the famous pilgrimage site of Nui Sam, of 230 meters high. It is a sacred mountain for the Vietnamese who come on pilgrimage. It brings together many temples of Chinese influence like the Cham and Khmer. Climb to the top of Night Sam and see the Cambodian border. At the Sam top, you will have a panoramic view of the Mekong Delta. On the way back, you will visit a floating fish farm where they breed thousands of fish for exporting. Then you will visit the village of Cham in the town of Tan Chau, discover embroidery and discover the mosque of the village. You will visit the floating market in Chau Doc before landing. Road to Saigon and direct transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport. Flight to Da Nang. Arriving at Da Nang, welcomed by the driver and transfer to your hotel in Hoi An. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 7: Hội An. Visit of the city

Arrival in Hoi An – a city with the old quarters regarded as one of the 8 heritages of Vietnam by UNESCO. Passengers, travelers, merchants… there are lots of people but older homes are still hiding in a quiet space. Yellow walls and small shops represent the traditional face of Hoi An. After having lunch in a local restaurant, you will continue to discover the beauty of the city. The guide will take you to the pagoda Phuc Thanh – the oldest one in Hoi An which was built in 1454 by a Chinese monk, in addition with the Japanese bridge, the town hall Phuoc Kien, and the traditional house of Tan Ky. You’ll be able to taste the specialties of Hoi An over the lunch at a local restaurant. A small boat trip on the Thu Bon River will be ideal to contemplate the city in the most beautiful moment of the day. On arrival at the fishing village of Cua Dai Beach, you will board a boat to sail to the mouth of the river Thu Bon. You will see hundreds of boats leaving off for night fishing. You will have the opportunity to meet local fishermen and try fishing or conduct a round boat or a traditional boat in the shape of a basket. After returning to the big ship, it’s time to enjoy and admire the fabulous sunset on the river Thu Bon. At around 3.00pm : you will be picked up from your hotel and transfered to the meeting point. Then you will make a walk on the quay Bach Dang watching the landscape around. Take a sail boat cruise along the Thu Bon River and enjoy this beautiful tour on the water ! Cruise to the mouth Cua Dai, then you will go to the Coco river, towards the nipas forest Bay Mau. Back to Hoi An. Dinner in town and overnight at the hotel. Included meals: breakfast and lunch

Day 8: Hoi An. Free time.

Breakfast at your hotel. Free day in Hoi An for your personal discovery (without driver or guide). Lunch and dinner. Possibility to go to the beach (4 km away from the center) or walking in the surrounding countryside. Overnight at the hotel. Included meals: breakfast

Day 9: Hoi An – Da Nang – Hue (130 km/ 2h30 journey)

You will continue your tour to Hue. You will ascend the hill of Hai Van (hill clouds). From above, you can admire the magnificent coastal landscapes of the Centre. Stop at Da Nang, colonial Touran to visit the Cham Museum, which houses a large collection of sculptures typical of Champa Kingdoms. Arrival in Hue. Hue is the ancient capital of Vietnam under the Nguyen Dynasty. Hue has a simple beauty, quiet and taciturn. Perfume River increased the romance of the city every sunset.  Start your bike ride through the streets of the former capital and feel the rhythm of local life. Shops, homes and people are quiet and peaceful. When you reach the front door of the Royal Citadel, you will discover the world’s heritage of UNESCO in Vietnam. The citadel is considered as a real art museum, historical testimony, and as a place of the last kings of Vietnam. Under the roofs of the palace, watch the images, sculptures symbolizing the typical oriental Vietnamese art. After visiting the Dong Ba market, you will have lunch at a local restaurant.

Drive to the mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc, another royal monument. Before ending the day, you will learn how to make incense sticks and poetic hats in both professional villages. Stop to visit the pagoda “énuques- Tu Hieu” Back to Hue, free dinner in town. Overnight at the hotel. Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 10: Hue. Visit of the city. Flight to Hanoï

After breakfast at your hotel, you will start the day with a bike ride to the village of Thanh Toan, a small village located 8 km away from the city center. The road is beautiful and peaceful. There are neither tourist vendors nor luxury services. You will feel like home accompanied by birdsongs and simple landscapes.Arriving at the village of Thanh Toan. You will visit the old bridge Thanh Toan (tiled) that connects the two banks of a small river. A bridge 17 meters long, 4 meters wide and built more than two hundred years ago. It was restored several times because of wars and bad weather, but it currently retains its peculiar and original structure. Admire this monument and you will feel the life force and love of the people for the homeland. Leaving the village of Thanh Toan, you will continue your walk towards the 2 villages of trades, the flowers paper manufacture in Thanh Tien village and Sinh a paintings village. You will make a short cruise to reach the villages. You will be able to see the locals making the products in the traditional way. This will help you to understand better the life and the villagers concepts.

Around noon, you will go back to the pier for lunch. Then you will continue the ride on the Perfume River toward the Thien Mu Pagoda. From a distance you can see a tower looking like a writing brush in the sky. The pagoda is located on the hill. You will reach step by step the pagoda while listening to the legend of the heavenly Lady. The river is like a mirror embracing the pagoda.

The mausoleum of Minh Mang is the last site you’ll visit before returning to town. The sculptures, oriental structures will make you discovering a part of Vietnam’s culture. The bus will take you into town. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 11: Hanoï. Visit of the city

Hanoi also known as “Thang Long“, its historical name meaning “flying dragon”, was the main feudal capital of the country for hundreds of years – from the Ly Dynasty (11th century) to the dynasty of Le postérieur (late 17th century), so far the city of Hanoi still preserves the historical, traditional and typical monuments of Vietnamese culture and values of the immortal spirits of Hanoians. After breakfast you will start the visit of the city. You will go to the Literature Temple. This is an important monument since it is regarded as the first university of Vietnam. By visiting the temple, you can watch the old objects that reflect the past kingdoms of Thang Long. Lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon, you will visit the Ethnographic museum in which is retraced the ethnic minorities life in Vietnam. The objects, houses, clothes, documents are gathered among the museum. You will have the opportunity to enter in the long house of Ede, Jarai the Rong house or the earthen house of Ha Nhi. You will arrive at the Tran Quoc Pagoda (the pagoda of the defense of the Fatherland), which was built in the 6th century under the Ly Antérieur Dynasty. It was the Buddhist center of the Thang Long Citadel during the dynasties of Ly, Tran (for about 250 years). Currently, it still preserves many ancient artifacts : the Buddhist canonical books, statutes, bells and drums… You will hear the story of the founding and development of Buddhism in Vietnam, a religion with a national character. In addition, you will have the opportunity to explore the charm of the West Lake Pagoda which is located on the side of the lake.

You will feel the rhythm of the daily Hanoian life entering the old quarters. Although the city is becoming more and more dynamic, active and modern, we can still feel past vibrations in the neighborhood of the 36 streets : the Kim Ngan Dinh (communal house jewelry), the old house at 87 Ma May, Hoan Kiem Lake, temple of Jade, the Brush tower.  By late afternoon, you will attend a water puppet show. This is a traditional Vietnamese art which mies both folk music and actions of wooden puppets. Dinner in a local restaurant and overnight at the hotel. Dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel. Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 12: Hanoï – Hoa Lu – Tam Coc

At 95 km away from Hanoi in Ninh Binh province, there is a large number of rich historical heritages of Vietnam, as it was the ancient capital of the country according to the 11th century. Ninh Binh attracts visitors with its historic highness, and culturally rich destination. At Ninh Binh, visit the most authentic sights of this beautiful province Kenh Ga (natural hot springs), Thung Nang (Sun Valley) with a portion of the inland Halong Bay, Tam Coc (three caves also named the HaLong Bay inland), Thai Vi temple, Pagoda Bich Dong.

After breakfast you will go to Ninh Binh. Arrive in Hoa Lu, visit the ancient capital of Vietnam under the Ly Dynasty and Le antérieur. Discovery of two temples dedicated to the Dinh and Le Kings. Then you will go on an excursion in a rowing boat on the River Tam Coc (three caves). The cruise will last approximately 2 hours. Tam Coc is a small village whose inhabitants organize walks on the Ngo Dong River. You will see the rocks having the same appearance as Phoenix in mandarin hat, turtle. It will be beautiful. Sometimes the river will merge with rice fields and give you the impression of riding a real sea. Such a nice cruise !  By late afternoon bike ride to visit Bich Dong Pagoda and the Temple of Thai Vy. Dinner in town and overnight at the hotel. Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 13: Tam Coc – Ha Long

The Halong Bay is known as the 8th wonder of the world for its beautiful scenery, magnificent caves, rich and pure air of biodiversity. Having a 1500km2 area, more than 3,000 limestone islands, Ha Long Bay is truly a surprising destination.

12 :30 : Embark at Hon Gai International harbor. Transfer on your boat.

12 :45 : Check-in, enjoy welcome drink & cruise briefing.

13 :30 : Have lunch while cruising to magnificent Bai Tu Long Bay; admire the fascinating formations of the bay.

15 :30 : Visit of the floating market of  Vung Vieng. You will have 2 options: discovery of thelocal daily life in rowing bamboo boat (1h) or kaying around the bay (1h).

16 :30 : Swimming and relaxing time on Ban Chan beach.

17 :30 : Go back on board. Watch the beautiful susnset while going to  Cong Dong-Cong Do. Cocktail availbale.

19 :30 : Dinner BBQ

21 :00 : Free time. You will be able to : fish squid or fish, karaoke, have cocktail…

Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 14: Ha Long – Hanoï

(170 km/ 3h30 journey)

06:30: Admire the sun rise. Tai Chi class.

07 :30 : Morning view of Bay’s landscape with a cup of tea or coffee. Have breakfast in the fresh air.

08 :00 : Visit of Thien Canh Son cave.

10 :30 : Back on board. Check out. Lunch.

12 :00 : Disembark. Go back to Hanoï.

16 :30 : Back to Hanoi. Direct transfer to Noi Bai airport. Return flight.

END OF THE TRIP