Vietnam Riding Journey 16 Days

On arrival to Noi Bai International Airport, you'll be welcomed by our local guide then transfer to your hotel. Hotel rooms may not be ready until 14:00 but an early check-in would be guaranteed with a surcharge. The rest of the day is at leisure. Subject to your arrival time, you may want to venture out to explore the city on your own or join one of our wonderful optional excursions in and around Hanoi, such as a walking tour through Hanoi’s Old Quarter for you first impression of Vietnam’s capital city.

Optional: We introduce two one-of-a-kind traditional performances which are found nowhere else than in Vietnam. You can choose one of below options:

- Water Puppet Show where puppets are performed on water stage with folk music, presenting ancient tales, folklore and daily life in Vietnamese countryside.

- Tu Phu (Four Palaces) Show - a very unique show about ritual of spirit practiced in the Vietnamese indigenous religion with music, colors and lively dance performance. The Four Palaces Shows take place on Thursday and Saturday every week.

Meals: NA

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Activities: Welcome to Ha Noi. Just enjoy your free time.

Local Life Hanoi

7.30 Our guide will pick you up at your hotel then go together to the bike shop. A short briefing and instruction about biking skills and notes will be given to you before we start the full day cycling tour.

Hanoi Bike

Bike through crowded streets of Hanoi’s Old Quarters, then we’ll pass the Red River on Long Bien Bridge. Following the path along the dyke of the Red River, we’ll make our way to the first stop: Ancient House in Bat Trang Pottery Village.

After a short break, visit a local pottery workshop. The artisan will tell you the stories of Bat Trang Village as well as show you the process of making a ceramic product. Making your own pottery product is worth to try!

Afterwards, continue riding to the around areas, passing over small ancient-temples, pass through tiny alleys to a new urban area of Eco Park, then to local restaurant for lunch.

On the way riding back to Hanoi, we will visit an interesting and mysterious Bonsai Garden – the garden of sophisticate tree sculpting. Then we will make our way to the Red River’s, the farmlands of lots of bananas and vegetables. The last stop-over is at the Red River Pottery Market of Quang Ba, where ceramics are stacked waiting to be taken into Hanoi by bicycle. The route will also take you passing the Red River’s floating houses and fields of colorful flowers, waiting to be picked and taken to Hanoi.

Continue riding on the back road along the river to get back to bike shop. Our guide will help you to get a taxi and escort you to your hotel.

Free time till picked up at hotel for transferring to train station for night train to Lao Cai

Meet at your hotel in Hanoi at around 20:00 hrs and transfer to Hanoi train station. Overnight train trip to Lao Cai in shared sleeping compartments (sharing with other passengers in 2 lower & 2 upper berths per compartment). Train departs at approximately 21:15 hrs.

Notes:

- Our tour guide will not accompany during the train trip

- Train schedule is subject to change.

- Private compartments on request at surcharge.

- Train journeys are part of a great local experience. Cabins are shared with other local passengers (unless private cabin is requested and all berths paid for - with supplement). Restrooms at either end of the carriages complete the local experience.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Activities: Biking tour to Bat Trang Pottery Village, explore countryside and learn about making pottery products.

Take overnight train to Lao Cai

05:30 ~ 06:00 Arrive at Lao Cai Train Station. Pick up at the train station and transfer to Sapa by a tourist shared bus (1 hour to get to Sapa). Early check in upon arrival is possible upon room occupancy (Surcharge applicable). Relax for a while to get ready for our full day trekking.

Start the trip at around 9:30. First start of 6km of walking down to the south east of Sapa along the side of Muong Hoa valley to Y Linh Ho Village of the Black H’mong. Continue a 2km-trekking down to Lao Chai Village, through terraced rice fields to Ta Van Village of the Dzay minority people. Lunch at a local family, it gives you a worth chance for you to learn about the local house architecture which is full of their daily life styles and exclusive custom. Enjoy the landscapes…on the way. Last trek is about 2Km to the bus stop in Ta Van then get back to Sapa by jeep or minivan.

Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Sapa

Activities: Full day soft trekking, pass along dirt tracks as well as through several villages of ethnic minority groups. Experience the culture of the local daily life styles and exclusion custom in Sapa

Sapa Towm

A walk down to the South-west of Sapa (around 4 km) to visit Cat Cat Village of the Black H’mong. Relax at the food of the stunning waterfall and the vestige of a hydroelectric power station that was constructed by the French during the colonial time in Vietnam. Enjoy picnic lunch by the side of the river, and then next 3 km to Sin Chai Village, the village located at the foot of Fansipan, “the roof of Vietnam and Indochina”. From here you can enjoy huge stunning landscapes before climbing up on the way a jeep to return to Sapa.

Transfer back to Hanoi by shuttle bus. Arrive in Hanoi in the evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Activities: Join on a soft trekking tour to discover the untouched beauty of the villages in Sapa before heading back to Hanoi by bus

With homestay overnight, you will trek in Giang Ta Chai, Su Pan instead of Cat Cat , Sin Chai

Sapa

Leave Hanoi this morning from 7:30 - 8:00 and head straight to Halong bay a stunning UNESCO World Heritage site with its 3,000 islands of towering limestone dotting the bay and Gulf of Tonkin (180km – 3.5 - 4 hour driving). After arriving at noon, you will board a beautiful boat for an overnight cruise on Halong Bay with an excellent menu of fresh seafood. Lunch and dinner are served on boat. Overnight on board.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Cruise in Halong Bay

Activities: Depart for an overnight cruise in Halong Bay.

After breakfast on board, visit the Sung Sot Cave (Surprising Cave) – the most beautiful one in Ha Long Bay. Then transfer to a smaller boat, sailing through Lan Ha bay for 2 hours toward Nam Cat Island. Arrive at bungalow and check in. Have lunch in the restaurant at the bungalow - Cat Ba Sandy Beach.

In the afternoon, spend your free time at leisure, relaxing, sunbathing on the beach or using some services available in the bungalow like playing football, volleyball, kayaking to explore untouched area near by bungalow. (Optional trip (biking trip to Viet Hai village 13:30-17:00) must be booked in advance, extra U.S. $5/ person.)

Late afternoon, have BBQ dinner in bungalow Cat Ba Sandy Beach. Free time in the evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Bungalow on Nam Cat Island

Activities: Visit Sung Sot Cave then transfer to Nam Cat Island in Cat Ba and enjoy relaxing time at bungalow and the beach.

Cat Ba Sandy Beach Resort

Wake up to the sound of ocean. Continue explore and enjoy the majestic Halong Bay.

Breakfast is served at bungalow. Check out after breakfast.

08:15 Pick-up at Bungalow by boat (in case you stay at the hotel in Cat Ba Town, you will be picked up at the hotel at 7:30 by bus and transferred to the boat). Get on the cruise to attend the cooking class while cruising back to harbor in Halong. Farewell lunch served on the cruise before you arrive at harbor around mid-day and get on the bus back to Hanoi

Arrive in Hanoi at around 16.00. Free time until being transferred to overnight train to Hue.

Meet at your hotel in Hanoi at around 20:00 hrs and transfer to Hanoi train station. Overnight train trip to Lao Cai in shared sleeping compartments (sharing with other passengers in 2 lower & 2 upper berths per compartment). Train departs at approximately 21:15 hrs.

Notes:

- Our tour guide will not accompany during the train trip

- Train schedule is subject to change.

- Private compartments on request at surcharge.

- Train journeys are part of a great local experience. Cabins are shared with other local passengers (unless private cabin is requested and all berths paid for - with supplement). Restrooms at either end of the carriages complete the local experience.

Meals: Breakfast, Brunch

Accommodation: Overnight on train (sharing 4 soft berth sleeping cabin with air condition)

Activities: Spend the morning exploring Halong Bay then transfer back to Hanoi. Take overnight train to Hue.

Kayaking in Halong Bay

Transfer from your hotel to Thanh Tan hotspring resort which has now been an incredible place not only with their natural hot stream come directly from underground but also with adventurous feeling from Zipline &Highwire.

You will be sliding down from the height of 45,5 m on Ma Yen hill to the ground. With the total length of 560m, this Zipline broke the Vietnam Record for the longest free hanging uninterrupted

Highwire requires high attention from player to overcome obstacles such walking on the wooden planks, swinging on the rope, crossing the net bridge, keeping balance on small wooden blocks and passing the one-wire -rope bridge. It is designed rather easy for your whole family to join with 3 different levels. So gear yourself up for an amazing adventure.

Games limited to people who don’t have any issue with cardiovascular diseases, blood pressure, or any other serious illness which might cause danger during the game.

Departure to head back to Hue city in the afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

Activities: Enjoy a full day adventure with this zipline and highwire package. Experience treetop walking and an amazing 650m zipline. Don't forget your camera to immortalize this unique adventure !

In the morning we will pick up you at your hotel to go to Hoi an. We drive on highway 1A. From Hue to Hoi an we will stop at the fishing village and paddies fields along the lagoon. After that we go to Elephant Waterfall where you can swim and relaxation. Next, we stop for photos at Lang Co Beach and have lunch there before traveling over the Hai Van Pass, Thousand-metre-high barrier forms a climatic frontier blocking the southward penetration of cold, damp winter airstreams which often bury the tops under thick cloudbank and earn it the title Hai Van, and when crossing the top of the Pass you are literally surrounded by clouds on one side with stunning ocean views on the other. On the Top of Hai Van pass also the border line between Hue and Danang city.

Arrive at Hoi An in early evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Activities: The 24km scenic and zigzagging road of the Hai Van Pass is always a favourite of motorbike adventurers. This one day trip over Hai Van pass is so jam-packed with adventure it certainly ranks among the top rides in Vietnam

Hai Van Pass

Along the coast line in warm and fresh air, you will be passing the Marble Mountains Airbase that was once a US Marine base. Visit the Military Museum in the centre of Danang City with many different US weapons and military equipment captured during the war. Drive along the Han River and pass over Thuan Phuoc suspension bridge, crossing the estuary with scenic views of the fishing villages, Danang Bay, Son Tra Peninsula, etc.

Enjoy a photo stop at the fishing village, and then drive up Son Tra Peninsular called the Monkey Mountain by the American GIs. The steep ride along zig zag paths culminates in breathtaking views of jungles, waterfalls, mountains and beaches.

After a break with photo opportunities on the summit and at a former US helicopter landing zone, drive downhill back to the hotel along coconut-palm flanked waterways.

Afternoon is free time to discover Hoi An town by your own way

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Activities: Inspired by the interesting contrasts around Danang, the trip is designed to offer you the most stunning views by driving along the coast to the different peaks of Danang City.

Full day at leisure for your own discovery or relax by the beach

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Hoi An

Full day at leisure for your own discovery or relax by the beach

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Hoi An

Morning: The Cu Chi Tunnels Experience

7:00 Tour guide meet you in the hotel lobby. Transfer to Bach Dang Pier in District 1.

7:20 Depart Saigon by boat. Within 15 minutes, the banks of the river change from city sprawl to lush jungle. A light breakfast of sandwiches or pastries, fresh tropical fruits and Vietnamese iced coffee (Ca phe sua da) is served, as your guide explains rural traditions and aspects of riverbank life.

8:50 Arrive at the Cu Chi Tunnels site, before the majority of larger bus tours arrive. Watch a brief introductory ‘propaganda’ video to the Cu Chi area.

9:00 Explore the Cu Chi, which includes weapon and booby trap exhibitions, navigating authentic Viet Cong tunnel, visiting different underground bunkers (kitchens, meeting rooms, ammunition etc.), a firing range and much more. Try the local cassava root that sustained Viet Cong fighters for years.

11:00 Enjoy a delicious traditional Vietnamese lunch by the river, consisting of authentic fried spring rolls, chicken and beef dishes and soup.

11:30 Depart Cu Chi and return to Ho Chi Minh City.

Rest of the day at leisure

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Activities: Morning: Cu Chi Tunnels by speedboat.

Cu Chi Tunnel

8:00 Pick up from your hotel. Drive to Cai Be.

On arrival, embark on boat to visit Cai Be Floating Market and traditional handicraft villages.

The boat will then lead you to the home-stay on Tan Phong Island. Check-in and relax for awhile before lunch.

Follow your local host to visit his garden and enjoy delicious seasonal fruits. This is a good chance to learn about gardening techniques.

In the late afternoon, go to the vegetables garden and pick some for your dinner. You yourself will prepare your own dinner with the help of local host.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Homestay on Tan Phong Island

Activities: Experience Mekong Delta. Visit famous Cai Be Floating Market. Stay home-stay on Tan Phong Island.

Mekong Delta Homestay

Your host will prepare hearty breakfast for you.

After breakfast, follow your guide biking around Tan Phong Island. Stop to visit the traditional handicraft workshops of handbags, rice papers along with wooden tables and chairs.

Afterwards, we will return to the home-stay for check-out.

11:00 Embark on boat. Transfer back to the Cai Be wharf. Then drive to Ho Chi Minh City.

Free time for rest of the day. Dinner on your own. Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh

Activities: Morning: cycle around Tan Phong Island. Afternoon: return Ho Chi Minh City, enjoy free time.

Cycling in Mekong Delta

Free at leisure until transferring to airport for flight back home.

Tour ends at the airport. See you next time!

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: NA

Activities: Transfer to the airport in Hochiminh City for your onward flight.

Saigon Street Food