Vietnam Hidden Charm 14 days 13 nights

Enjoy a full day city tour of Vietnam’s capital. Hanoi is a unique city with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and oriental temples. The city tour includes such sights as Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and his house on stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, the Quanh Thanh Temple and the Tran Quoc Pagoda on the edge of West Lake. After lunch in town continue to the Museum of Ethnology for your better understanding of Vietnamese nation and end the afternoon with a visit to the Lake of the Restored Sword and a cyclo ride of the Old Quarter. In the evening, enjoy dinner and take the overnight train to Lao Cai. Overnight on the train(B,L,D)

Early arrival at Laocai train station, chek in at Thien Hai hotel - a Standard hotel near Laocai train station for refreshment and breakfast before being transferred to Sapa at around 8:30 am (applicable for Standard class and Superior option) or transferred to Victoria Sapa hotel for refreshment at the indoor swimming pool and enjoy buffet breakfast (For Deluxe 2 & 1 options). On the way to Sapa, enjoy the view of terraced hills and mountains of Sapa. Take a full day treking tour of Sapa to visit some traditional hill tribe villages (Red Dao, Hmong hill tribe) with lunch at a local home or picnic lunch. Overnight in Sapa. (B,L)

Breakfast at your hotel. Free at leisure to explore Sapa on your own pace till late afternoon, transferred to Laocai, check in at Thien Hai hotel again for refreshment before catching the overnight train back to Hanoi. Overnight on the train. (B) (Short stay at Thien Hai applicable for all 4 options)Note : This day, you can visit the colourful market of the hill tribes in stead of having a free day if it is on Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat & Sun as the markets are open on those day weekly (Pls see optional market tour rates below)

Arrival in Hanoi at early morning. Met and transferred to Asean hotel - a Standard hotel near train station for refreshment and having breakfast, leave Hanoi by road for Halong Bay. Enjoy the journey through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta and the scenery of rice fields, water buffalo and everyday Vietnamese village life. Arrive in Halong and board the traditional sailing junk. Whilst cruising the exquisite waters sample the regions fresh seafood. Visit the recently discovered Surprise Grotto with its great views and on the next island see the yawning mouth of Bo Nau Cave. Alternatively journey to Dau Go Cave and nearby see the famous stalagmites and stalactites of Thien Cung Cave. Enjoy swimming in the emerald waters of Halong Bay or kayaking if you wish. Watch the sun set over the bay whilst enjoying a delicious dinner. Overnight on board junk. (B,L,D)

Wake up to fresh coffee and a wholesome breakfast before cruising back to Halong City. En route the junk weaves through strange-shaped rock formations that invite comparisons from fighting cocks to dragons and even General de Gaulle’s nose! After another wonderful brunch on board disembark at the dock at Halong City. Transfer back to Hanoi, arrival at Hanoi at mid-afternoon, free at leisure and overnight in Hanoi. (B,Br)

Breakfast at your hotel, transfer to Hanoi airport to take a short flight to Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. On arrival at Hue, met by our local guide then transferred to hotel for check in. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the Imperial Citadel from where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. Dinner with Hue cuisine and Hue royal court music. Overnight in Hue(B,L,D)

After brekfast, enjoy a boat trip on the romantically named Perfume River visits Hue’s best-known religious site, Thien Mu Pagoda, and the mausoleum of former emperor Minh Mang, in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes. In the afternoon visit the elaborate mausoleums of emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh then back to the city center to visit Dong Ba historic market. Overnight in Hue(B,L)

A half day trip to visit the capital and religious centre of the former Champa Kingdom, My Son. Here, 40km southwest of Hoi An, in a lush green valley, are dozens of red brick towers and sanctuaries dating from between the seventh and thirteenth centuries. Visit the museum and the holy site then head back to Hoi An for lunch.  In the afternoon enjoy a walking tour of the ancient town centre to visit the former merchants’ homes, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the colourful market Overnight in Hoi An. (B,L)

After breakfast, free at leisure till being transfered to Danang airport for the short flight to dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many locals. On arrival, met by our local guide then transferred to your hotel for check-in, free for the rest of day. Overnight in HCMC(B)

Depart Ho Chi Minh City at 08:00 in the morning for the drive to the Cu Chi Tunnels. Leaving the city behind, the scenery changes to views of rice paddies, villagers drying noodles by the side of the road and other everyday activities. On arrival start the visit with the Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc sections of the tunnel. Here you can imagine how a guerrilla lived and fought in such difficult, dark and narrow environment. Back to HCMC for lunchEnjoy city tour of dynamic Ho Chi Minh City after lunch, still called Saigon by many locals, visit the War Museum and the former Presidential Palace, from there on you will go on foot (the car will be available at all times) to visit the major sights of colonial Ho Chi Minh City: the Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Saigon Post Office, Opera House and City Hall. After this historical visit, enjoy funny shopping at Ben Thanh market if time permits. Enjoy dinner cruise on Saigon river and overnight in HCMC (B,L,D)

Depart for Cai Be, deep in the Mekong Delta, and embark on a cruise to explore the delta. The tour begins with a visit of the colourful Cai Be floating market, followed by a visit to some locale home factories that produce rice paste, rice popcorn and coconut candy. Proceed to evergreen islands among the Mekong River through a large network of meandering tributaries, crisscrossed with countless arroyos. Enjoy lunch at a fruit orchard before the cruise back to Cai Be pier where our vehicle is ready to transfer you back to Saigon. Arrival at late afternoon. Overnight in Saigon. (B,L)

Departure day. Free at leisure for shopping or visiting until transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for onward flight. (B)