Grand Vietnam Odyssey 15 days 14 nights

The brief Itinerary:

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival - Welcome Dinner
Day 2: Hanoi - City tour & Food tour 
Day 3: Hanoi - Limousine bus to Sapa - Fansifan roof of Indochina
Day 4: Sapa - Medium trekking to villages 
Day 5: Sapa – Cloud Glass Dragon Bridge - Limousine back Hanoi 
Day 6: Hanoi - Halong Bay, overnight on cruise 
Day 7: Ha long - Fly to Hue 
Day 8: Hue - Imperial Citaldel & Royal Tombs
Day 9: Hue - Danang - Hoi An - Leisure 
Day 10: Hoi An - BaNa Hill with Golden Hand Bridge 
Day 11: Hoi An - Leisure beach 
Day 12: Hoi An - Leisure beach - Fly to Ho Chi Minh city
Day 13: Ho Chi Minh - Mekong delta 
Day 14: Ho Chi Minh – Cu Chi tunnel & City tour  
Day 15: Ho Chi Minh - Leisure – Depart

The detailed Itinerary: 

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival - Welcome Dinner (Dinner) 
Xin chao! 
Welcome up on arrival by local tour guide and driver then we transfer to hotel. Relax in the rest of the day and enjoy welcome dinner at a fine local restaurant in town.  

 
  
Day 2:  Hanoi - City tour & Food tour (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) 
Today with the help of your private guide and driver, you will get to explore the city’s top attractions, sample Hanoi’s authentic local dishes away from the tourist trails, hunkering down with the locals on the street at a variety of atmospheric food stalls.
Begin with a tour of Ho Chi Minh Memorial Complex where the Vietnamese people honour the country’s ‘Great Father’. Here you’ll visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum which contains the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh and his House on Stilts to observe how he lived and how his life unfolded to become one of modern history’s greatest names. Nearside his house is the miniature 11th-century One Pillar Pagoda, a Buddhist temple of historical and cultural significance.
From HCM Complex, you will take a leisurely walk through the small laneways toward Huu Tiep Lake. Explore the grounds of a 400-year-old temple, followed by a stroll through traditional local market streets to see the B52 crash site at the lake. This US bomber was shot down during the 1972 bombing raids of Ha Noi, a poignant reminder of Vietnam’s recent history.
Take a short drive to the outskirt of Hanoi to visit the fascinating Museum of Ethnology which is both a research centre and a public museum exhibiting the 54 recognized ethnic groups of Vietnam. Some of them you will meet during your trip to Sapa.
Have lunch at KoTo restaurant, a social enterprise that trains and employs underprivileged youth to provide a step up in life.
After lunch, continue to visit the millennia-old Temple of Literature and explore its role in the country’s past, as both a university and a Confucius temple. Next is Hoa Lo (so-called Hanoi Hilton), a prison used by the French colonists in Vietnam for political prisoners, and later by North Vietnam for U.S. Prisoners of War.
Embark on a fun cyclo (a three-wheeled bicycle taxi) ride through the French colonial architecture of the precinct known as the French Quater, past the French-style villas, the Vietnam History Museum, the heritage Metropole Legend Hotel and the Opera House, name to a few.
We already have a full day for sightseeing. Tonight we will enjoy dinner by authentic way – Street food tour.  Street food tour can be tailored for the vegetarian, just advise us before. 
Now it’s time to embark on a walking tour through Hanoi’s Old Quarter (in contrast to the French Quarter) to discover the street food scene in Hanoi where it feels like you are never further than a few metres from a street food stall. Your guide will talk you through the ingredients and the different herbs of each dish, while you are crouching on tiny plastic stools in a back alley. Sample delicious dishes like Nom Du Du (green papaya salad), Banh Mi Pa Te (a sandwich that reflects Vietnam’s culinary heritage), and the famous Hanoi dish Bun Cha (grilled pork and noodles). Finish your day walking down the city’s railway tracks and choose one of them: Bia Hoi – Egg coffee. Overnight in Hanoi. 

  
Day 3: Hanoi - Limousine bus to Sapa Fansifan roof of Indochina (Breakfast, Lunch)
Today we have an early breakfast and then transfer to Limousine bus stop for Sapa journey. 
It takes 6 driving hours from Hanoi to Sapa on express road. There are 2 stopovers on the way for short rest. Noontime arrive in Sapa. Our Hmong English speaking guide. Have lunch at local restaurant. Check in hotel. 
In the afternoon, our guide assist you buy the cable car tickets (tickets by your own) – witness the panorama mountain view from the rooftop of indochina. Return hotel and relaxing at swimming pool. Have dinner by your own.

Day 4: Sapa - Medium trekking to villages (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Villages: Y Linh hồ - Lao Chải - Tả Van 
Have breakfast at hotel. 
Our driver and guide will come and start trekking. The first part is on the road but we soon turn to the right and walk on a small path down the valley to Y Linh Ho village settled down by the Muong Hoa River and from here to the Black H’mong village of Lao Chai. Black H’mong is one of the biggest minority groups in the Sapa area. They are proud of their culture and keep their traditions and way of living. They have their own language and wear traditional indigo blue clothing. The H’mong peoples have just recently changed their living way from sifting style into the sedentary one. So there are still a lot traces of the past time can be seen: rudimentary houses, stone wall around homes…After visiting Ta Van village, we transfer back to Sapa town for overnight. 

  
Day 5: Sapa - Dragon in Cloud Glass Bridge & Silver Waterfall - Limousine back to Hanoi (Breakfast, Lunch)
Have breakfast at hotel. 
Our guide and driver will pick up & transfer to visit Dragon in Cloud Glass Bridge -  the longest Glass Bridge in Indochina. With the special design of the bridge, when you come here for cloud hunting, you may find out yourself dive deep into the cloud sea.
Say good bye this bride, we are back to the town. On the way, we have a short visit at Silver Waterfall -  the best spot for those who want to escape the crowded tourist city to enjoy pure natural beauty. Arrive at hotel, check out and have lunch by your own account. After, we will move the bus station and get the limousine bus back to Hanoi. 
Arrive in hotel around 9h PM. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

  
Day 6: Hanoi - Halong Bay, overnight on cruise (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
After breakfast, our private van with driver (no guide, since we have guide on cruise already) will pick up us for Halong Bay. Today, we will travel the magic bay on Indochine Premium Sails – the cruise 5* very luxury and authentic one in Halong Bay. All of our customers are very impressed this cruise. So that I highly recommend this to you. 
Boarding our boat at Tuan Chau Port – enjoy welcome drink, receive cruise briefing and safety instructions. After the welcome onboard, be served with lunch while cruising towards the bay. 
Cruise through Halong Bay, passing the most beautiful and quiet areas including Incense Burner, Fighting Cock, Finger Islet.
Choose 1 of 2 options: Just inform this option once you are on cruise with the cruise manager. 
Visit Titov island for swimming or climb up to the top & enjoy Halong bay panorama view.
or
Visit Luon Cave, the cave is not only known for the stunning limestone structure at every turn but also for the interesting natural habitat. The best way to explore this cave is doing kayaking or bamboo sampan drive by local people through the tunnel so you will spend mostly your time relaxing and enjoy the quiet and natural place.
Depart and cruise for about 30 minutes to anchor overnight.
Attend the Fruit and Vegetable Carving Lesson led by our Head Chef. During the lesson, the chef will conduct Fruit and Vegetable carving, showing the guests how we decorate and make some traditional Vietnamese food.
Dinner is served.
Evening activities. Board games like cards or Parcheesi are available, as well as massage service (massage service is available throughout the cruise). Also, everyone can try their luck at squid fishing on the boat with help from the crew.

  
Day 7: Ha long - Fly to Hue (Breakfast, Lunch)
Contineltal breakfast: Coffee, tea and breakfast pastries served in the dining room.
Enjoy Tai Chi lesson on the sundeck (lasting for about 30 minutes).
Guests are transferred by tender to the Surprise Cave - one of the most spectacular and largest grottoes of Halong Bay. The mouth of the grotto is reached by ascending about a hundred stone steps. Upon returning to the boat, guests will have 30 minutes to freshen up and finish packing. Please collect all of your belongings from the cabins and leave heavy luggage outside the cabins (staff will transfer directly to the pier). 
Enjoy a Brunch in the dining room. Relax on the sundeck or in the dining room enjoying the bay scenery as we approach the pier.
Arrive at Tuan Chau port, our van will pick up & transfer direcly to airport for a flight to Hue. There are 02 flights at afternoon: one is 16h30 and other is 19h25 but 16h30 is quite rush. 
Welcome up on arrival by local tour guide and driver then we transfer to hotel. Overnight at hotel in Hue. 

  
Day 8: Hue - Imperial Citaldel & Royal Tombs (Breakfast, Lunch)
After breakfast at hotel, we will board the Dragon Boat on the romantic Perfume River heading out for the countryside. Being the ancient capital, Hue is surrounded with ancient tombs of emperors past, and a visit to the most beautiful tombs will be on the itinerary for today. The charming Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda) will be the first stop of the day. We will enjoy a great view on the Perfume River and surrounding area. Thien Mu Pagoda is considered the symbol of Hue, and of Buddhism in Vietnam. From here, we rejoin our van and go visit King Khai Dinh's Tomb and King Tu Duc's Tomb.
In the afternoon, we visit the Imperial Citadel where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945, after exploring the ruins of this wonderful monument. We will then depart to the Hue Royal Fine Art Museum, which is housed within the former Dien Long An Royal Palace. We will finish our day with the local Dong Ba Market to see the daily life of local people. Overnight in Hue.
  
Day 9: Hue - Danang - Hoi An - Leisure (Breakfast)
After breakfast at the hotel, we travel by vehicle to Hoi An along scenic highway 1A. Along the way, we will stop to contemplate the stunning views North, to Lang Co Beach and South to Danang city.
On arrival in Danang, we will have a brief visit at Cham Museum – the houses of the most complete collection if Cham Artifacts anywhere in the world; China Beach – where the American named and used to have their Rest and Relaxation; and the Marble Mountain – the five elements of the Universe (water, wood, air, fire and earth). We will arrive in Hoi An in the afternoon. The rest of the day will be free for strolling in the town, lazing on the beach, or whatever takes your fancy. We’ll spend the night in Hoi An.

Day 10: Hoi An - BaNa Hill with Golden Hand Bridge (Breakfast, Lunch)
After breakfast at hotel, we drive to Sun World Ba Na Hills and have full day entertain in Ba Na Hills. We first take the cable car up to the mountains, enjoy the specular of Truong Son Mountains and most specially, the Golden Bridge – the new symbol of Danang thanks to its unique design and magical settings.
Free time to wander through the Le Jardin Garden with hundred kinds of flowers or admire the architecture buildings at French village. Buffet lunch is included. In the afternoon, we take the cable car down and transfer to Hoi An. Check in your hotel and spend the night in Hoi An.

 
Day 11: Hoi An - Leisure beach (Breakfast)
The day will be free for shopping, strolling in the town, lazing on the beach, or whatever takes your fancy. We’ll spend the night in Hoi An.
Optional show: we highly recommend you enjoy the Memory of Hoi An show. https://kyuchoian.com/ . 
 
Day 12: Hoi An - Leisure beach - Fly to Ho Chi Minh city (Breakfast)
The day will be free for shopping, strolling in the town, lazing on the beach, or whatever takes your fancy until transfer to airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh city. The estimated flight is afternoon flight. 
On arrival at Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City, welcome up on arrival by local tour guide and driver then we transfer to hotel. Overnight at hotel.

 
Day 13: Ho Chi Minh - Mekong delta (Breakfast, Lunch)
After breakfast at hotel, we transfer to Cai Be for our visit to floating market and island. The program will start with the visit of Cai Be colourful floating market cruising among local barges full of fruits and vegetables. Then, an optional stop can be made at local workshops where we can see how rice paste, coconut candy and pop-rice, popcorn is made. The rowing boat will take us deeper into the countryside on smaller canals and to enjoy the peaceful time. It is so interesting to see traditional houses made of wood and palm tree leaves and see some activities of the local farmers with an opportunity to make contacts with them and see how they catch fish...
Lunch will be served at a local homestay. After lunch, we can walk around and then we will enjoy some kinds of fruits when listening to the traditional music. One more thing to do in this trip is biking! It will be so amazing to bike on village paths to see the local farms, houses, real life and the ancestral ways to pick up fruits in Mekong Delta... The cruise will end at Vinh Long city where we take our own vehicle back to Ho Chi Minh City. Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh city. 
  
Day 14: Ho Chi Minh – Cu Chi tunnel & City tour (Breakfast, Lunch)
Ho Chi Minh city, formerly named Saigon is a largest city of Vietnam. One-day tour around today covers almost the major attractions. Understanding more about history in the War Remnants Museum and the Reunification Palace, admire French-colonial architecture at the General Post Office, Opera House and Notre Dame Cathedral, and explore the longest tunnels made of Vietnamese people during the war….
Depends the weather and season, we can visit Cu Chi tunnel in the morning or afternoon. 
Morning, we head to the Cu Chi tunnels, otherwise known as the "Iron Triangle" or "Iron Land". Before entering the tunnels, we will see a short introductory video showing how they were constructed, followed by an exploration of the maze of tunnels, some of which have been widened to allow tourist access. Also on display are various mantraps and the remains of an American tank as well as numerous bomb craters made by 500lb bombs dropped by B52 bombers. After that we transfer back to Ho Chi Minh city for lunch. 
After lunch, we visit the Reunification Palace, the former Presidential Palace for the president of the South of Vietnam. After that we will visit War Remnant Museum, where we can see countless artifacts, photographs and pictures documenting about the second Indochina war. We also stop at Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post office to get good shots for our memory of the big, modern city of Vietnam. 
In the rest of the day, we will visit: Ben Thanh market, and then we will be back to hotel at around 18:00. 

   
Day 15: Ho Chi Minh - Leisure - Depart 23h50 (Breakfast)
Time will be free until our car arrives at the hotel to take us to the airport in good time to board our departure flight. Trip ends. See you next trip. 

Inclusion:

1. Private van 15 seats (new, good aircondition) during the trip
2. Local stationed English speaking guide  
3. Top 4* &5* - well handpicked accommodation: 2 persons a room, if odd number will share a triple room.
4. Street food in Hanoi & Trishaw in Hanoi
5. Limousine Bus (28 soft seaters) for Hanoi – Sapa – Hanoi
6. Elevator ticket to Cloudy Glass Dragon Bridge in Sapa
7. Kayak in Halong Bay & Boat trip in Hue perfume river and in Mekong delta
8. Entrance fee as the program
9. Cable car in Ba Na Hills
10. Ho Chi Minh city tour & Cu Chi tunnel
11. Meals are indicated clearly on the program: 14 daily breakfast at hotels, 10 lunches, 04 dinners. Each meal is quoted is $10/person/meal without drink. You will have 2 buffets in Halong Bay and Ba Na Hill, $15/person/meal
12. Airfare: Hanoi – Hue, Danang – Ho Chi Minh city, economy class by Vietnam airlines
13. Water on van  

Exclusion

1. The Memory Hoi An Show
2. Vietnam Entry Visa Fees. To proceed Vietnam visa by yourself, you can refer the official link of Vietnam goverment https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/en_US/web/guest/trang-chu-ttdt
3. Personal expenses
4.  International Airfare
5. Tips to your tour guide and driver.
6. Tourist sites which are not listed in the itinerary
7. Any meals which are not specified in the tour itinerary
8.  Excess Baggage Charges