DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: Hanoi - Arrival
Meals: D
+Guide
Pick up  by our guide at the airport Noi bai airport, transfer  to your hotel in the center of the old quarter area which is convenient location for your visit. After you’re the rest, we would like to show you of Hanoian daily life with one hour Cyclo (trishaw) ride around the old streets, then stop at Thang Long Theatre for one hour Water Puppets show-the unique art form of Vietnam which tells you so interesting stories about Vietnamese history, culture... Enjoy welcome dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Ha Noi.

Day 2: Hanoi full day visits - Night train to Lao Cai
Meals: B, L
+Guide
Today we enjoy a full day city tour of this charming capital city including the mausoleum of the nation's founder Ho Chi Minh (close on Monday & Friday), the Presidential Palace, the Ho Chi Minh's house on stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, the impressive Ethnologic Museum, the beautiful West Lake, the Tran Vu Pagoda, the peaceful lake of the Restored Sword.. At 8.00 pm, we will transfer you to the train station for your night train to LaoCai.

Day 3: Lao Cai - Sapa - Hill Tribe villages
Meals: B
+Guide
Arrive in the early morning in the border town of Lao Cai where it's a short transfer to Sapa. In the terraced hills and mountains of this area, the monotony of the expansive green landscape is enlivened by the colours of its hill tribe population. It is here you will find hands stained with colour from fabric dyes and shades of blue, red and green intricately embroidered and stitched into jackets, waistcoats, pants, skirts, caps, purses and leggings.
Take a morning walking tour of Sapa for a visit to the busy market where Red Dao, Black & Flower H'Mong, Tay and other ethnic minority people converge from the surrounding countryside to sell their silverware and handicrafts, and to buy provisions. Afterwards, take a light trek to discover Sapa's quaint hill tribe villages. Overnight in Sapa.

Day 4: Lao Chai – Ta Van
Meals: B, L
+Guide
This morning, we drive to visit Lao Chai and Ta Van village of the Black H'mong and the Day people where you can enjoy fresh air, amazing scenery of the mountain, terraced ricefields learn unique culture and life of these ethnic groups. Back to Sapa, free for the rest of the day. Overnight in Sapa.

Day 5: Sapa – Lao Cai
Meals: B
+Guide
In the morning either visit one of the areas weekly markets (the market location rotates daily, contact your travel consultant for more information) or enjoy free time to discover Sapa at your own leisure.

Market days:

Can Cau - Saturdays

Bac Ha or Muong Hum or Muong Khuong - Sundays

Cao Son - Wednesdays.

Coc Ly - Tuesdays

In the late afternoon transfer back to Lao Cai to catch the night train back to Hanoi. Overnight on the train.

Day 6: Hanoi – Halong
Meals: B, L, D
+Guide
Picked up early at the train stattion, this morning, we will arrange a room at our hotel for you to have shower and breakfast before we drive to Halong most scenic sight, a recognized World Natural Heritage Site. Upon arrival, board your deluxe traditional wooden junk. Welcome drink on board. After a relaxing break, enjoy a delicious seafood lunch while cruising through the wonderful Ha Long bay visiting its amazing grottoes and caves. Opportunity to dive off the boat and have a pleasant swimming in the deep blue water of East Sea before relaxing on your sun deck to view a Halong sunset.  Dinner on board with excellent fresh seafood.
Overnight on board.

Day 7: Halong – Hanoi – Hue
Meals: B, L
+Guide
Get up early to catch the sunrise on the bay and relax with a cup of hot coffee or tea. We depart for a visit to the splendid grotto and a quick glimpse of a nearby fishing village. Enjoy another seafood lunch on board while cruising back through Halong bay to the pier. Transfer to Hanoi airport for your flight to Hue. Pick up and transfer to your hote. Overnight in Hue.

Day 8: Hue
Meals: B, L
+Guide
In the morning, we take a beautiful boat trip on “Perfume River” to visit the elegant Thien Mu Pagoda, Forbidden Purple City as well as two of the most impressive tombs of the Nguyen emperors, Minh Mang and Khai Dinh. Overnight in Hue.

Day 9: Hue – Hoi An
Meals: B
+Guide
In the morning, we transfer you to Hoian, Visit Marble mountain and Cham Museum on the way. Overnight in Hoi An

Day 10: Hoi An Cooking class
Meals: B, L
We start the day (8.15am) with a welcome drink at Hai Café
(98 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Hoi An Ancient Town, Tel: 863210) – our meeting point.
Visit Hoi An’s colourful market, and experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy market. We will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers and learn about all the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later.
We board the Red Bridge boat for a leisurely cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoi An River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. This is a chance to view local river life, so make sure your camera is handy.
On arrival, we explore the cooking school’s herb garden, before learning about some of Hoi An’s and Vietnam’s well-known dishes. The cooking lesson runs for about 2 hours – the Red Bridge chefs first demonstrate each dish before we prepare the same dish ourselves. Included in the class is a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving (plate decoration). After the lesson, we sit down and eat what we have cooked.
Bring your swimsuit and after the cooking tour has finished relax and enjoy free use of our new 20 metre swimming pool.
Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 11: Hoi An – My Son – Hoi An
Meals: B
Transfer from Hoi An to My Son Holy land, once the spiritual capital of Champa Kingdom that dominated South East Asia for nearly a thousand years and occupied most of the central parts of Vietnam from 2nd century to 16th century with very rich in history and culture. Contemplate its remarkable red brick towers and sanctuaries dating from between the 7th and 13th centuries.
Drive back to Hoi An, visit the former merchants' homes, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, Phuc Kien pagoda and the colourful riverside market.
Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 12: Hoi An – Danang – Ho Chi Minh City
Meals: B
+Guide
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh city. Met upon your arrival and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon, we will do the city tour of Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, visiting to Reunification Palace, the Thien Hau pagoda and the environment of Ben Thanh market. Tour ended at about 5 pm, we come back to our hotel for two nights in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 13: Ho Chi Minh – Tay Ninh – Cu Chi Tunnels – Ho Chi Minh
Meals: B
+Guide
Excursion to Tay Ninh, the head quarter of Cao Dai sect founded in 1923. Visit the ornate temple of Cao Dai and attend the fantastic Midday Mass ceremony when the followers fill the hall wearing colored robes, a symbol of the curious combination of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism, Christianism and Islamism. Continue to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels an incredible underground network constructed by Vietnamese guerillas. The tunnels, virtually beneath the US bases for surprise attacks, contained hospitals, accommodation, schools and were used as a military base for Vietnam Communist Army in the US-Vietnam war.
Return to Ho Chi Minh city. Afternoon free at leisure.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

Day 14: Ho Chi Minh – Mekong Delta & My Tho – Ho Chi Minh
Meals: B
+Guide
Drive to My Tho (65km). On arrival we take a private boat trip along the small canals of Mekong River seeing the daily life of the Mekong River people in both sides of the river. Then take a short tour by “xe loi” (motorized rickshaw) on the rural lane to the bank of Mekong River visiting a rice farm, coconut candy factory and honey bee farm. Continue our journey by sampan through the canals and mangrove forests to reach an island. Stroll on a fruit garden, taste diverse types of seasonal fruits, tea mixed with bee’s honey and enjoy a special folk show of traditional Mekong Delta music.
Afternoon back to Ho Chi Minh, stop en route visiting the beautiful Vinh Trang pagoda, the most famous pagoda in the south of Vietnam whose architecture is a mixture of Vietnamese, Kh’mer and Chinese.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

Day 15: Ho Chi Minh City - Departure
Meals: B
Free time for shopping or optional visit before transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport for departure.

REMARK

• Confirmation of room & price are subject to space availability at the time of booking only
• Compulsory meals & peak days surcharge to be advised at the time of booking
• All above itinerary is flexible, depending on arrival or departure flights of passengers
• Ground operator reserved the right to amend or adjust itinerary to match with real situation

INCLUSION

• Accommodation in twin/double share at hotels selected including breakfast
• Transfer by private air-conditioned car (van, bus...) as per program
• English speaking guide for each area as being requested
• Entry fees for all sightseeing as mentioned on the program
• Breakfast (B); Lunches (L) & Dinner (D) as being mentioned
• Vietnam domestic flights/economy class as program including all tax
• Government taxes (VAT…)

EXCLUSION

• International arrival & departure flight & airport tax
• Insurance, drinks, tips, personal expenses and all services not clearly mentioned

COMPANY

Lechan Travel
#5/56 Tuong Mai, Hoang Mai
Hanoi, Vietnam
T: +84 (4) 366 288 70 / 71 | F: +84 (4) 366 288 72
M: +84 165 390 82 96
W: http://lechan.info | E: travel@lechan.info