10 DAYS - BELOVED VIETNAM PACKAGE TOUR
WE know you would like to have a long vacation and no worries of anything. But what if you only have 10 days? Vietnam is a diverse country in all senses: terrain, climate, culture, ethnic minorities, and regions. To discover all, you really need more time. And if you only have 10 days of vacation then this is exactly the best choice for you. It combines diversity in a short period of time.
The differences in geography, beauty, climate, people and culture will give you a lot of emotions. We wish you would have an unforgettable time in your life.
BRIEF SCHEDULE
Day 1: Welcome to Vietnam - Hanoi arrival
Day 2: Hanoi full day city tour: signseeing, Rickshaw, water puppet show (B/L)
Day 3: Hanoi suburbs: Bavi Eco tour (B/L)
Day 4: Hanoi – Puluong Natural Reserve (B/L)
Day 5: Puluong Natural Reserve – Exploration (B)
Day 6: Puluong Natural Reserve – Ninh Binh: Paddy field cycling (B/L)
Day 7: Ninh Binh beauty: Hoa Lu (ancient capital) - Trang An (B/L)
Day 8: Ninh Binh – Halong bay: Natural Wonder (B/L/D)
Day 9: Halong bay - Lan Ha bay - Exploration (B/L/D)
Day 10: Halong bay – Hanoi (or Noi Bai airport) (B/L
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DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1: Welcome to Vietnam - Hanoi arrival - Street food tour (D)
Welcome to Hanoi, the oldest city in Vietnam. Hanoi is the capital as well as the economic, political, cultural center of Vietnam in more than 1000 years where most of dynasties left their marks. Therefore, Hanoi is very rich in historical sites and beautiful landscapes. Hanoi is leading the country in the number of relics and so many traditional trade villages, architecture heritage and a system of museums. Each region is a cultural layer with different origins. What you will see in Hanoi will truly amaze you.
Your driver and tour guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Check into the hotel and have free time to explore the city at your own pace, or rest after the flight.
* Self - Guided time in Hanoi: It would be very interesting to take a walk around Hanoi old quarter, specially Hoan Kiem lake and to observe the differences in architecture colors and the local daily busy life.
- Welcome Board
- Private transfer: 45 minutes from Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) to Hanoi
- Overnight in Hanoi
*Hanoi Street food tour
Around 2.5 hours of walking street food tour, you’ll explore the cuisine culture of Hanoi with a full world of street food vendors. We offer an opportunity to try out 5-6 different dishes at the local food inns or eateries. A rotating menu from day to day to represent the variety of delicious options, but tastings might include.
Don’t worry if you are vegetarian or vegan. They have all the food for you to choose from. Don’t worry about hygiene either. This is also a big concern in Hanoi.
But the interesting thing is that it's not just about going out and trying some food. It's more like a short tour where what you see behind the scenes is a whole culture.
Day 2: Hanoi - City tour full day – water puppet shows (B/L)
Hanoi is a very interesting city with a lot of value. Exploring the charming city of Hanoi, often referred to as the ‘Paris of the East’, with its yellow ochre colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards and scenic lakes.
The first place is Tran Quoc Pagoda located in West Lake. It is the oldest pagoda in Hanoi built in the 6th century. Then visiting the historic Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum built to house the preserved body of beloved revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh. Visiting the One Pillar Pagoda, a Buddhist temple built in 1049 of wood in the shape of a lotus flower and set on a single stone pillar. Continue to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first national university built in the late 11th century. The picturesque temple is an example of well-preserved traditional Vietnamese architecture.
In the afternoon, visiting the fascinating Museum of Ethnology (closed on Mondays) which houses an extensive collection of traditional costumes and artefacts from Vietnam’s 54 ethnic minority groups.
Finishing your day by watching an entertaining water puppet performance, a uniquely northern Vietnamese art form said to have originated in the flooded rice fields of the Red River Delta where villagers entertained themselves by manipulating puppets over the water. The show uses colorful wooden puppets to depict scenes of rural life and episodes of national history set to music.
- Overnight in Hanoi
- Private group: 7 hour
Day 3: Hanoi suburbs: Ba Vi Eco tour (B/L)
This is a tour quite different from usual. We won't go to places with beautiful scenery. Instead, we will go outside Hanoi to learn about the lives of Vietnamese farmers. Listen to stories about their lives. There are many things to ponder. And not only stories, we have the opportunity to participate in producing environmental protection products with them. We have time to learn some traditional Vietnamese dishes and eat them for lunch.
The best time was when we cycled around the quiet village. The countryside scene is very peaceful, beautiful and poetic. On the cycling route, we will also visit a few families making traditional crafts such as rice wine and cakes. Of course we have the opportunity to enjoy it. It will be a pretty relaxing day for you.
- Overnight in Hanoi
Day 4: Hanoi – Pu Luong Natural Reserve (B/L)
Around 7:00: Driver and tour guide will take you to Puluong Nature Reserve by road via a breath taking mountain pass giving you a panoramic view of the whole valley. You arrive at your accommodation in time for a delicious lunch, followed by free time to explore the beautiful retreat, with its captivating panoramic views and tranquil setting.
After check-in the resort, you head to the Cham River with a suspension bridge where you begin your walk in search of stunning water wheels. Get up close to each wheel and discover how water is moved from river to handmade bamboo aqueducts. Via simple constructions of all sizes. Arriving at a local fisherman's bamboo tent, you have a short rest to gear up for the rafting adventure with them. Float along the calm river and enjoy the views, in between learning how to paddle and steer your handcrafted rafts. Arriving at scenic Tan Lap bridge, you disembark to be transferred back to the hotel.
- Bamboo rafting will depend on the conditional weather
- Overnight in Puluong
Day 5: Pu Luong Natural Reserve - Exploration (B)
In the morning, we will hike 4km through fields and small villages. In particular, we will visit Muong Kho village and Muong Kho bat cave. This is one of the best points of Pu Luong. A village hidden behind mountains with poetic landscape. A giant cave that is 250 million years old is waiting for you to explore.
After a few hours of operation. A lunch filled with local flavors will await you. You will definitely love its taste because all the visitors love it.
After refueling with lunch and resting a bit. In the afternoon, we will explore one more wonderful hiking route. What awaits you is a majestic nature with only trees, grass, flowers, streams, and wind. A 6km long path is waiting for you to conquer. If you don't like this seemingly difficult challenge, you can choose another easier path. Halfway through, we will give you another experience. That is to sit on the motorbike and go to the meeting point.
End of a long day of activity. The resort's swimming pool and delicious dinner await you.
- Overnight in Pu Luong
Day 6: Pu Luong – Ninh Binh: Paddy field cycling (B/L)
Opening a new day with fresh air and majestic beauty of view from the resort. Then have a nice breakfast and coffee time.
8:00: driver and tour guide will take you to Pho Doan local market. We must say that it is another world: poor life but so interesting. All products are made and found by locals sold and displayed there.
Take time to feel it until you think it is enough for you then following the tour guide. He will take you along the villages, the fields, You'll have chance to engage with locals here and see their rural way of life. Sometimes, on your roads, there would be other spaces that open in your eyes. They are beautiful paddle fields or rice terraces. That moment, just stop and have your own best pics to keep something about that area. At the end of hiking tour, delicious lunch is waiting for you.
After lunch, Driver and tour guide will take you to Tam Coc – Ninh Binh, a center of tourism in Ninh Binh province. You will see the beauty of flat land with different paddle fields.
Just check in the hotel or resort before taking time to talk a walk around or riding on a bike to see around. You would never be upset. That area is so lovely and poetic.
Back to hotel to take a bath and have a great dinner.
- Overnight in Ninh Binh
Day 7: Ninh Binh beauty: Hoa Lu ancient capital – Trang An heritage site (B/L)
Embark on an exciting adventure with a visit to Hoa Lu, Vietnam's ancient capital and first centralized feudal state from the late 10th century. Though the old citadel is mostly in ruins, the temples of the Dinh and Le dynasties remain and are surrounded by picturesque rice paddies.
Savor a delightful lunch at a local restaurant, featuring a variety of local dishes such as goat meat and fried rice.
After lunch, take 3 hour of bamboo boat ride to Trang An. It all comes together to form a masterpiece that the Vietnamese refer to as "Ha Long Bay on land."
This is a world heritage site with two values: cultural and natural. I really don't want to say much about it before you enjoy it for yourself. Imagine a fairy tale and you are a part of it. You will have wonderful moments to rest. Close your eyes to feel the wind and the sounds of birds around you.
If time allows, challenge yourself with 470 stone steps to conquer the top of Mount Mua, one of the attractive spots in Ninh Binh before returning to the hotel. This will be an unforgettable experience for you.
- Overnight in Ninh Binh
Day 8: Ninh Binh to Ha Long bay: Natural wonder of the world (B/L/D)
The trip to Halong bay and staying overnight on a cruise is the highlight for most travelers, and you are probably no exception.
7:30 am: Driver will meet you at the hotel lobby and take you along a scenic route to Halong Bay where you will board a cruise ship.
Today could be the biggest reward after long days of traveling to some northern Vietnam provinces. You will cross 4 delta provinces to reach Ha Long Bay, a natural heritage and wonder of the world. A beautiful yacht is waiting to welcome you, taking you out to the bay with a view beyond words. All fatigue will quickly disappear when you see with your own eyes the majestic scenery of limestone mountains that seem to open up to welcome you into another world. You can participate in on-board activities such as visiting caves, kayaking, swimming or simply stay on the ship to rest with a cocktail.
The end of the day awaits you with sunset. Night falls on Ha Long Bay with a shimmering scene of ships. You will never forget this moment. The manager of the cruise will convey to you the specific schedule when you board the cruise ship.
- Cruise itinerary and schedule are subject to change due to weather, tide levels and operating conditions
- Private transfer:3.5 hours from Ninh Binh to Ha Long Bay
- Overnight on cruise
Day 9: Ha Long bay - Lan Ha bay: Exploration (B/L/D)
Today you will explore more deeply about the Ha Long region. Ha Long is not only beautiful in appearance. Inside it contains many other interesting things for you to explore. Today activities include biking in Viet Hai Village & Relaxing at Ba Trai Dao Area 3D2N (Stellar Of The Seas)
- Time out: 7 hours
- Overnight on cruise
Day 10: Ha Long bay – Hanoi (or Noi Bai airport) (B/L)
Enjoy the last day in Ha Long bay. The feeling of waking up in the sea with so many islands and islets around make you relax and lazy. It is up to you. There will be some more activities before the cruise slowly returns to shore. As always, decide what's right for you.
Waking up for a Tai Chi class starts from 6.30 but if you want to rest in bed, just miss it. Then going out for bamboo boat or visiting the cave.
When the cruise returns to shore. A cup of coffee can make time pass more slowly. You will have a lunch or brunch before disembarking.
Around 11:00: The driver will be waiting for you and take you directly to the airport to return home. The places you go through are just a part of Northern Vietnam. There are many other beautiful places waiting for you to visit. See you again one day soon!
If you do not have the flight at the same day, just back to Hanoi one more night. What I have not done yet, just do it like visiting beer street, where people call the crossroad of the world.
- Private transfer: 3.5 hours from Ha Long bay to Hanoi (or Ha Long bay to Noi Bai airport)
The tour ends here!
Thank you and see you in other tours!
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WHAT'S INCLUDED
Accommodation
3-stars hotels:
Hanoi: Mina Hotel and Spa Hanoi or similar
Pu Luong: Pu Luong Retreat or similar
Ninh Binh: Le Clos Du Fil hotel
Halong Bay: Le Journey Cruise or similar
4-stars hotels:
Hanoi: Tirant Hotel or similar
Pu Luong: Pu Luong Retreat or similar
Ninh Binh: Hidden Charm Hotel & Resort
Halong Bay: La Pandora Cruise or similar
5-stars hotels:
Hanoi: Apricot Hotel or similar
Pu Luong: Pu Luong Retreat or similar
Ninh Binh: Emeralda Resort Tam Coc
Halong Bay: Doris Cruise or similar
Guide
Experienced English speaking guide
French/German/Spanish/Russian/Chinese speaking guides are available upon request. The surcharge will be applied
Meals
As per the tour program:
B = Breakfast
L = Lunch
D= Dinner
Transport
- Door-to-door pick-up & drop-off services by private car
- Air-conditioned bus or private cars for the excursions
Other included
– All sightseeing tickets according to the itinerary
– Tissues and water on coach
– Service charges and government tax
– 24/7 hotline support guaranteed
– Vietnam Visa letter approval
- Insurance
Other not included
X International flights and departure taxes
X Optional Tour
X Beverage, Personal expenses, tips, and gratuities
X Early check-in and late check-out (If not mentioned)
X Compulsory Gala Dinner on 24 Dec, 31 Dec and 21 Jan (Tet)
X Public holiday surcharge (Christmas and New Year, Tet holiday in Vietnam, Local New Year in Cambodia, Laos and Thailand) if applicable
X Surcharge for airport cabs from 12:00 am – 05:00 am
X Visa stamping fee on arrival at the airport (Vietnam: $25/person)
X Services not mentioned above
