De la Cochinchine au Tonkin

Saigon arrival / Walks and rest (D) Flight and arrival schedule?

Arrival in Saigon, formerly known as the Pearl of the Far East. Welcome by the French-speaking guide and driver at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, then transfer to the City Center for the first city tour.

Rooms are only available from noon.

While waiting for the rooms, you can visit the Chinese Quarter "Cho Lon" with the Thien Hau Pagoda, the Binh Tay Market, the Western Quarter with the Central Post Office, or the Notre Dame Cathedral (Under restoration until the end of 2020).

Take photos in front of the Independence Palace.
Welcome dinner and overnight at the hotel in Saigon.

Note: The tour program may be modified depending on your arrival time.

Saigon – Cu Chi Tunnels / visits and discovery – Saigon / visits (B,L)

Breakfast
Meeting at 08:00 for the departure to the Cu Chi Tunnels. Known as the "Iron Triangle", then "Free-Fire Zone", these tunnels allowed Viet Cong controlled areas to communicate with each other, even when isolated in American or South Vietnamese areas. They also served as shelters for the population during air attacks. Viet Cong soldiers lived there in extremely difficult conditions, and are living witnesses to the patriotism of the Vietnamese.

Lunch at a local restaurant, then return to Saigon.
Arrival in Saigon,
You will visit the Chinese quarter (Cho Lon): the Thien Hau Pagoda, the Binh Tay wholesale market, the medicinal herb streets.
Dinner at leisure in the city and overnight at the hotel in Saigon.

Saigon – Mekong (Ben Tre) / excursion and visits (B,L,D)

Breakfast
Meeting at 08:00 for the departure to the Mekong Delta, in the Ben Tre region, the land of coconut trees.

A beautiful walk and photos in the endless rice fields. Photos and local activities.

Sampan ride in the small arroyos to take photos, in the shade of water palms. 

You will do many activities in this region to discover local life, and that night, you will sleep in a typical Southern house.
You will all be together in a room with single or double beds separated in the Vietnamese style.

The Mekong splits into nine large rivers in the very south of Vietnam, forming a delta of over 100 kilometers. The land, wet and flooded every year, produces lush and varied vegetation. The delta is vast and can be discovered by visiting several sites, walking on the rivers and canals, visiting the islands, discovering local life and especially… by visiting the floating markets.
Meals and overnight at homestay.

Ben Tre (Mekong) / excursion – Sadec / visits – Long Xuyen (B,L)

Breakfast
Meeting at 08:00 for the departure for walks and discovery of this region with activities at the local market to meet people.

Road to Cai Be,
visit of the Cao Dai temple. Walk and photos on the islands, then visit the Cai Be floating market. Continue the walk to the city of Vinh Long where you will take the car to go to Sadec, a beautiful city known thanks to the life of Marguerite Duras.

Lunch in Sadec. Visits and photos in Sadec, a city known for the life of Mrs. Marguerite Duras: local market, "The Lover" house, flower garden.
Continue the road to Long Xuyen. Dinner at leisure and overnight in Long Xuyen.

Long Xuyen / floating market – Chau Doc / visits (B,L)

Breakfast
Meeting at 08:00 for a visit to the typical Long Xuyen floating market on the Mekong. Visit this floating market which remains a small part, less touristy than the others.

Lunch at a local restaurant in Long Xuyen city before continuing the road to Chau Doc along the Mekong, with planned photo stops.

Arrival in Chau Doc
You will visit the Ba Chua Xu Pagoda and Sam Mountain to take photos.
And then a beautiful sampan ride to visit a floating village on the Mekong to better discover life on the water and the activities of the Mekong fishermen.
Dinner at leisure and overnight in Chau Doc.

Chau Doc - Tra Su Forest / excursion - Can Tho (B,L)

After breakfast,
Meeting at 08:00 with the guide and driver for the departure for a beautiful walk to the Tra Su forest, where you will take a sampan ride through the impressive mangroves.

Lunch at a local restaurant on site.
In the afternoon, the road to Can Tho taking the provincial road with photo stops along the way.

Arrival in Can Tho,
A visit to an exotic fruit garden and tasting of these fruits on site.
Direct transfer to the hotel in the heart of nature. Dinner at leisure and overnight in Can Tho.

Can Tho / Cai Rang Floating Market – flight to Danang - Hoi An / Rest (B,L) Flight around 11:30 AM

Breakfast
Meet at 07:00 AM with the guide to take a private boat to visit the Cai Rang floating market where locals exchange their products. This is where the richness and great variety of products sold in the market can be measured: from the most famous fruits, mangoes and bananas, to the most exotic: from mangosteens to star apples, including sweet longans and fragrant durians.

Transfer to Can Tho airport for the flight to Danang.

Arrival in Danang,
Welcome by the dedicated driver for transfer to Hoi An. Dinner at leisure, free time and overnight in Hoi An

Hoi An / visits and walks (B,L)

After breakfast,
Meet at 08:30 AM with the guide for a basket boat and bicycle ride in the Hoi An suburbs where you can enjoy fun activities (our new product), then a rest stop and a cooking class with a local host family.

Relaxation with a 15-minute foot massage with family members.
Lunch at the homestay

Return to town around 1:00 PM and in the afternoon free time to relax at the beach or to stroll freely in the old town.
Dinner at leisure and overnight in Hoi An.

Hoi An - My Son archaeological site / visits - Hoi An (B,L)

Breakfast.
Meet at 08:00 AM in the morning en route to My Son, an archaeological site. Visit this site + possible viewing of an Apsara traditional dance show, presented by local artists.

Return to Hoi An town for lunch at a local restaurant and then transfer to your hotel to enjoy some free time to stroll on the beach or to discover the city on your own.

Dinner at leisure and overnight in Hoi An.

Hoi An - Danang & Hai Van Pass - Hue / visits (B,L)

After breakfast at your hotel,
Meet at 08:00 AM and en route to Hue via the city of Danang with a photo stop in front of the Dragon Bridge and then at the summit of the Famous Hai Van Pass.

Arrival in Hue, lunch at a local restaurant with Hue specialties.
In the afternoon, visit and stroll through the Imperial City, cruise on the Perfume River, visit the Thien Mu Pagoda and the Dong Ba market.
Transfer and check-in at the hotel in the late afternoon. Dinner at leisure and overnight in Hue.

Hue / visits and walks - Hanoi (B,L) flight to Hanoi

Breakfast.
Meet at 08:00 AM for a day of on-site visits and walks: a bicycle ride in the suburbs to visit the tomb of Minh Mang and Khai Dinh, the Tu Hieu pagoda and finally the Thuy Bieu village

Note that the tombs of the kings are almost similar in terms of architecture and meaning, so we suggest showing you the two typical ones (those of Minh Mang and Khai Dinh) to save time and visiting fees.

Lunch in Hue.
Free time in the afternoon for your personal discoveries.
In the evening, transfer to Hue airport for the flight to Hanoi.

Arrival in Hanoi, welcome by the driver and guide and then transfer and check-in at the hotel in Hanoi.
Dinner at leisure and overnight in Hanoi.

Hanoi / city tour and walks - Lao Cai (B,L) Night train to Lao Cai

Breakfast
Meet at 08:30 AM for a day of city visits in Hanoi with its essential sites: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex (exterior) with a photo of the changing of the guard, and the One Pillar Pagoda. Lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, visits to the Temple of Literature, the Tran Quoc Pagoda and the Quan Thanh Temple and then the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology to give you an overview of Vietnam's ethnic groups before heading to the mountains.

After dinner at leisure, transfer to Hanoi train station for the overnight train to Lao Cai.
Overnight on the sleeper train | 4-berth sleeper cabin | tourist comfort

Lao Cai arrival / ethnic market - Sapa (B,L)

Early arrival at Lao Cai station,
welcome by our local team on site and then breakfast at a local restaurant in front of the station before taking the road to the colorful ethnic market which takes place once a week every Tuesday morning.

Depending on the day of the week you arrive, we will visit the fair: either Bien Phiet on Monday morning, or Coc Ly on Tuesday morning, or Lung Khau Nhin on Wednesday morning, or Cao Son on Thursday morning, or Cho Dau on Friday morning, or Can Cau on Saturday morning or Bac Ha on Sunday morning.

A boat trip along the Chay River if the water level allows (to be seen on site on the day). Lunch at a local restaurant on the way.

In the afternoon, departure for Sapa with stop-visits along the road: tea hill, border gate with China.

Arrival in Sapa, direct transfer to the hotel and then visit the central market of Sapa.
Dinner at leisure and overnight in Sapa.

Sapa / walks in ethnic villages and local encounters - Sapa (B,L)

A day of walks towards the Lao Chai, Ta Van and Giang Ta Chai valley to see the beautiful terraced rice fields and the typical houses of the H'mong, Dzao, Zay ethnic groups etc.
Lunch in the village.

Afternoon return to Sapa by car. Then you can enjoy your free time to discover the village or relax. Dinner at leisure and overnight in Sapa.

Sapa - Fansipan Mountain / visits - Lao Cai - Hanoi (B) Night train

Breakfast
Meet at 09:00 for departure to discover Fansipan mountain – the roof of Indochina, at 3143m.
Visit and walk to the summit of Fansipan mountain at 3,143m altitude.
Round trip cable car tickets: 43 USD / person, already included.
It takes at least 05 hours to do Fansipan mountain with the help of the cable car, tickets are included: 43 USD / person.
Lunch at leisure on site and then return and drive to Bac Ha via the city of Lao Cai, where you make a stop-visit to the Chinese border gate.

Return to your hotel in Sapa for a short walk to Cat Cat or Ma Tra village to meet ethnic groups.
Late afternoon, transfer to Lao Cai station for the night train to Hanoi.

Dinner at leisure in front of the station and overnight on board the train to Hanoi.
Sleeper train / 4-bed cabin, tourist comfort.

Hanoi arrival - Ha Long / cruise with one night on board Junk (B,L,D)

Early morning arrival at Hanoi station, welcome by the French-speaking guide and driver, then departure for Halong Bay with a stop en route for breakfast.

Arrival in Halong around noon, boarding the Shared Junk, depending on the number of participants, for the 24-hour cruise on Ha Long Bay, for a magical discovery of this world natural wonder.
Seafood lunch on board, activities and visits according to the program displayed on the boat. Seafood dinner and overnight on board.

Ha Long / cruise continues - Ninh Binh (Tam Coc) (B,L)

In the morning, light breakfast and then continuation of the cruise in the bay via Lan Ha Bay and lunch: Brunch around 11:00 before disembarking.


Return to dry land and drive to Ninh Binh via the Red River Delta.
Arrival in Ninh Binh
Transfer and check-in at the hotel. Dinner at leisure and overnight in Tam Coc (Ninh Binh).

Ninh Binh / walks and visits on site (B,L)

Breakfast
Meet at 08:30 with the guide and driver for a day of visits and walks on site:
You will have a very nice day of discovery and visit on site, by bike, to see and discover this beautiful region surrounded by karstic peaks, dotted with authentic villages.
Visit of Bich Dong pagoda and Thai Vi temple.
Continuation of the walk to Hang Mua for the panoramic view of the limestone peaks.

Lunch at a local restaurant with local specialties.
Afternoon, a beautiful sampan ride at the Tam Coc site "terrestrial Halong Bay" - the most beautiful corner of Ninh Binh.

Dinner at leisure and overnight at the hotel on site

Ninh Binh / walks - Hanoi / Visits (B,L)

After breakfast
Meet with the local guide for the 2nd day of visits / walks and discoveries with off-the-beaten-path sites:
Departure to visit the closed lake of Tuyet Tinh Coc surrounded by limestone peaks.
En route to Hanoi for lunch at a local restaurant.
Afternoon, you visit the city of Hanoi
Photos in front of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum which dominates Ba Dinh square, for the changing of the guard – the essence of political life.
Towards the end of the day, you take a nice walk and a look around the "Train Street" area.
Dinner at leisure and overnight in Hanoi

Hanoi / free - Departure (B) Flight and return schedule?

After breakfast
Free day and check out around noon.
Meet with simple driver (without guide) for transfer to the airport for your international return flight.