Discovery of Vietnam North and Central Tour

Once your flight lands at Hanoi International Airport, warmly greeted at the Airport Hall by Holidays Vietnam. After that, you will be transferred to your appointed hotel at Hanoi Old Quarter for check in (Early check-in is NOT included and subject to hotel’s availability). Now, your remaining leisure time can be used to take a rest or to explore the land of Hanoi. Whatever you do, remember to come back at 7 PM to savor the welcome dinner hosted by Holidays Vietnam Travel. At the end of the day, your night will be spent at your Hotel in Hanoi.
Accommodation: Sky Lark hotel 3*: www.skylarkhotel.com.vn , Superior or similar

From your hotel, you will be picked up by our guide and driver at around 8.00 to 8:30 AM. Now, take your time visiting Ho Chi Minh complex, an architect structure totally dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh, also known as Uncle Ho, the great father of Vietnam – namely Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum as the final resting place of the President. Ho Chi Minh Stilt House where Uncle spent his lifetime in the time period of 1958-1969, and Ho Chi Minh Museum giving visitors insight on the merits of this great figure towards Vietnam country. After getting to know Uncle Ho, head to One Pillar Pagoda, the iconic Buddhist temple representing Ly Dynasty’s architecture. Also in the commemoration of the Ly Dynasty, visit Temple of Literature, the first university of Vietnam. The last activity in the morning is having lunch at a local restaurant.
Unlike morning activities which are fixed within weeks, afternoon ones change through days. On Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays, a visitation to Bat Trang ceramic village is conducted, giving you access into a whole new world of ceramic masterpiece. Also, the entire production process, from clays preparation to items shaping, decorating and baking, is waiting for you to be a part of. You can take your works as well as other items home at reasonable prizes. On the other hand, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays or Sundays, you will be taken to Tran Quoc Pagoda, Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple.
After a complete day of exploration, at late afternoon, our guide and driver will drop you off at your hotel where you rest at night.
Accommodation: Sky Lark hotel 3*: www.skylarkhotel.com.vn , Superior or similar

08:00 – 08.30 AM, from your hotel, temporarily tell Hanoi goodbye and depart to Hoa Lu – Tam Coc. The two destinations belong to Ninh Binh province which is taken into account as ‘Halong Bay on land’, 95 kilometers away from Hanoi to the south. Upon Tam Coc arrival, visit the splendid karst landscape of three wondrous Tam Coc grottoes via a ride on sampan boat, taking you through beautiful shallow rice fields. Coming back for lunch at a local resturant. Next, you will have a stop at Hoa Lu, the country’s capital in the dynasties of Dinh and Early Le in the 10th and 11th century. However, its sanctuaries were not constructed until the 17th century. Nowadays, we still catch sight of a stone pedestal placing the royal throne, bronze bells as well as Emperors’ statues. At 6 PM, you will be taken back to Hanoi.
Accommodation: Sky Lark hotel 3*: www.skylarkhotel.com.vn , Superior or similar

08.00 – 08.30 AM, our guide and driver pick you up at your hotel and head to Halong Bay—the must-visit attraction on your Vietnam journey—through a drive of 3 and a half hours. We also provide you with a break of 30 minutes at the middle of this. Between 12 and 12:30 AM, embark on V’Spirit Classic Cruise which takes you through thousands of Islands. Prior to enjoy a delectable lunch as well as admire the heaven-sent scene of Halong Bay as the V’Spirit Classic Cruise makes its way among adorable limestone islands and stunning emerald green water, do not forget to pay attention to the cruise briefing.
When arriving at Bo Nau Cave at 3:30 PM, participate in kayaking at Halong Bay’s hidden areas around Bo Nau Cave for one hour. After that, get back to the V’Spirit Classic Cruise and then head to Soi Sim Island where you can go swimming and sunbathing at its beach or catch sight of Halong Bay from above, on top of the island. By 5:30 PM, return to the main boat to take a shower and entertain yourself by leisure activities of taking photos or sipping drinks on Sundeck, among the gorgeous colors of sunset and twilight.
Dinner is served at around 7 PM. While eating, catch a glimpse of how the delicious Vietnamese foods are made at a cooking demonstration. After the meal, you can join in chatting with other cruise partners, dancing, squish fishing, or simply lazing around. Among the soft and peaceful sound of the sea, overnight on boat.
Accommodation: V’ spirit cruise: http://www.vspiritcruises.com , Deluxe

Breakfast is served from 7:30 AM to 8:30 AM, among the romantic atmosphere of sunrise. Before that, you can be an early bird and spend time exercising Tai Chi or hunting photos. Once your stomach is pleasantly fulfilled, in order to satisfy your eyes, the V’Spirit Classic Cruise directs to Sung Sot (Amazing) Cave, one of the largest and most attractive caves of Halong Bay. After one hour of Sung Sot Cave exploration, return to the boat at 9:30 AM – you are about to check out of your cabin now. From 9:30 to 10:30 AM, continue your Halong Bay Cruise, passing by Dog Islet, Ba Hang fishing village, and so on. While the boat head back to the harbor at between 10:30 and 11:30 AM, enjoy a traditional Vietnamese lunch. As you leave the V’Spirit Classic at around 12 or 12:30 AM, back to Hanoi by our bus, which includes a break half way. After another 3.5 hour drive, back to hotel in Hanoi. Enjoy your time before moving to the railway station for a departure to Lao Cai by train.
Accommodation: King Express Train: www.kingexpresstrain.com, Deluxe 4 soft sleeper sharing cabin

Around 5:30 AM in the early morning, arrive in Lao Cai Station . Picked up to Sapa where breakfast is served. From 10 AM, trek to Muong Hoa valley and visit three villages Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai, Tavan – the habitats of H’mong and Dzay minority groups. Along the way, enjoy local lunch. After a day full of ethnic lifestyle exposure, your night will be spent at hotel or villager’s house in Ta Van.
Accommodation: Bamboo Sapa Hotel 3*: http://www.bamboosapahotel.com.vn/ , Superior or home stay in Ta Van

Observe Vietnamese traditional farming techniques and visit the Silver Waterfall and a hydro electric station constructed by the French at Cat Cat village during a two hour period – from 9 AM to 11 AM. Trekking back to Sapa, now you are free to discover the beautiful town. At 5 PM, our driver will take you back to Laocai station where you take a night train to Hanoi.
Accommodation: King Express Train: www.kingexpresstrain.com, Deluxe 4 soft sleeper sharing cabin

On your Hanoi arrival at 5:30 AM, our driver will pick you up and drive you to your hotel in Hanoi for an early check in. You are free to do anything at your wish till the departure for Hue. After picking you up from Hue Airport, our driver will take you to Hue city situated on the banks of Huong River. Your night will be spent there.
Accommodation: Sky Lark hotel 3*: www.skylarkhotel.com.vn , Superior or similar
Accommodation: Romance Hue Hotel 4*: http://www.romancehotel.com.vn, Superior

At around 7:30 and 8:00 AM, our driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to some of Hue’s prides: three imperial tombs of Emperor Minh Mang, Khai Dinh, Tu Duc, as well as the Incense and Conical Hat Making Village. Also, you will have time to observe the splendid performance of Van An, a Vietnam’s traditional type of martial arts. Next, enjoy a buffet lunch including traditional foods of Hue as well as other Asian and Western foods – no drinks included. At noon, our bus continues to take you to Hue Citadel and Thien Mu Pagoda. On the way back, get on the boat to cruise along the Huong River, enjoying the sunset. At around 5 PM, you will be taken back to your hotel, relax at remaining time of the day. Overnight at the hotel in Hue.
Accommodation: Romance Hue Hotel 4*: http://www.romancehotel.com.vn, Superior

In the morning, from your hotel, you will be picked up by an air-conditioned minivan, transferring you to Hoi An. Along the way, we stop sometimes for visiting Lang Co Beach, Fishing Village, Hai Van Pass and Stone Village. Your lunch will be served with Vietnamese foods at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, you will have an interesting encounter with Cham culture inside My Son Sanctuary by visiting the Cham Museum and My Son Ruined Temple as well as enjoying a Cham music show. When these activities are done, our driver will bring you to Hoi An and drop you off at your hotel.
Accommodation: Vinh Hung Emeral Resort Hoi An 3*: www.vinhhungemeraldresort.com, Superior or similar

This day is all about exploring Hoi An through the acts of cooking and walking tour. Our guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you straight to the Old Town of Hoi An where we will join in a cooking class at a famous Lantern Town restaurant. This is a valuable chance for you to make a wide range of delectable dishes with the help of the chef. In order to create the feast, drop by local markets for the best ingredients, fresh and sometimes a little exotic. Tasting the foods you have made, you may be amazed by your own cooking talents. Hopefully, when you get home, you can surprise your family and friends by the dishes you have learned today – Some of them might be legendary. After the lunch, leisurely wander around those ancient streets with an irresistible charm made of delightful architectures. Overnight in Hoi An.
Accommodation: Vinh Hung Emeral Resort Hoi An 3*: www.vinhhungemeraldresort.com, Superior or similar

This is the last day of your Vietnam journey. Before transferring to Danang for your departure flight, enjoy your own free time in Hoi An. Also, this is the end of our services.
Accommodation: N/A