Day 1: Hanoi arrival (D)
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On arrival at Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport, you are met and transferred to your hotel. The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi is a stylish and gracious city that retains a unique old world charm and some Asia’s most striking colonial architecture. The many lakes and parks make for relaxing atmosphere. If time permits you can stroll around and discover the delights that Vietnam has to offer. It’s also nice to have a short cyclo ride through the bustling old quarter streets named after the specific goods once offered for sale at these places. In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner at local restaurant, followed by the famous water puppet show with the spectacular techniques of performance.
Overnight at hotel in Hanoi
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Day 2: Hanoi & Duong Lam village (B, L)
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Breakfast at hotel, then embark on city tour with Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and “House on stilt” at the same area with the Presidential Palace and the famous One Pillar Pagoda. We also make a visit to the Temple of Literature – the first university of Vietnam, which is now dedicated to Confucian worship and the Ethnology Museum before lunch.
In the afternoon, continue our journey to the non –touristy ancient village of Duong Lam. Here, from the 16th century, the houses and walls are made of unprocessed Laterite blocks. The long-standing community has a dense population and houses nestle cozily next to one another. The stone of which they are built appears everywhere, both under and above ground. Tramping down quiet country lanes where to each side moss-grown Laterite walls and closed gates create a thoughtfully poetic atmosphere, we gradually recognize the value and the unique beauty of Duong Lam commune. After tea with a local family, we then continue our trip to Mia Pagoda, known as the Museum of Buddhist Statues, due to the 287 relics on display.
Return Hanoi in the late afternoon.
Overnight at hotel in Hanoi
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Day 3: Cuc Phuong National Park & Ninh Binh (B, L, D)
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At 7am, depart to Cuc Phuong with stop over on the way for photographs of Vietnam peaceful countryside. Arrive in Cuc Phuong, visit Centre of Endangered Rescue where still appears precious animals, such as white short monkeys, fruit eating ape, tree dwelling, monkeys etc. Then start trekking to discover the variety of fauna and flora of the forest in fresh atmosphere in the forest. Have picnic lunch on the way. In the afternoon, visit the ancient tree and the Cave of prehistoric man.
After that, get on car to Ninh Binh center for overnight.
Overnight at hotel in Ninh Binh
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Day 4: Ninh Binh –Hanoi (B, L)
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Breakfast at hotel. Road trip to visit Kenh Ga hot spring, found in 1940s by the French and became a health care center since then. Take the boat trip to admire beautiful scenery surrounded by mountains, fresh air and wet rice fields. The hot spring here is very special because it contains natriclorua, kaliclorua, canxi and temperature about 53C. Visit Van Trinh caves the most marvelous one in Ninh Binh province. Then get on car for Tam Coc. Have lunch in Tam Coc.
In the afternoon, boat trip to visit Tam Coc (Hang Ca, Hang Hai, Hang Ba) with a lot of sparkling hanging down stalactites made by miraculous hands of nature.
Return Hanoi and finish the day around 6pm.
Overnight at hotel in Hanoi
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Day 5: Hanoi –flight to Quy Nhon (B)
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Today, we get an early flight to Quy Nhon. Quy Nhon is a coastal city in the Binh Dinh Province of central Vietnam and has a diversified landscape with a big lagoon area and valuable culture.
This is a great time for relaxation at unspoiled beaches but non –touristy beside free time to explore the peaceful town such as Cham towers.
Overnight at hotel in Quy Nhon
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Day 6: Quy Nhon (B)
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Free at leisure. You can book a tour, or rent bicycle or motorbike to bike around Quy Nhon to visit its Binh Dinh Museum, many Thap Cham (Cham Towers), the precious traces of Cham nation, once inhabited on this land, or go further to Thap Thap (ten stupa) pagoda, a very beautiful pagoda in the city.
Overnight at hotel in Quy Nhon
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Day 7: Saigon (B)
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Early breakfast then transfer to the airport for flight to Saigon. Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) is the largest city in Vietnam and the nation's economic capital. Today is a free day to explore this vibrant and captivating city. Most places of interest in Saigon are located close to the centre of town - the Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral and Ben Thanh Market. Take time out to relax in one of the cafes on the tree-lined boulevards or enjoy a drink in the Continental Hotel, the meeting place for journalists during the Vietnam War.
Overnight at hotel in Saigon
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Day 8: Saigon –Cai Be –Vinh Long (B, L, D)
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At 8 hours, you will be picked up at the hotel and transferred to Cai Be floating market; from here we board our river boats for a cruise along the endless waterways of the mighty Mekong. You can interact with local people, visit local houses with unique structure specific to southern countryside and some hand – made family business products coconut caramels, noodle, rice –paper. One of our stops will be to a small restaurant serving the local delicacies on the river. We arrive on an island near Vinh Long, where you will stay overnight in a local homestay, a small house situated on the waterways and surrounded by fruit gardens. The facilities here are basic, with everyone sleeping in a large communal room, but the experience is unique in that it offers you a chance to live the way the local people do. All bedding is provided including mosquito nets. You can relax in a hammock and soak up the local way of life, or join to prepare dinner by catching shrimps and fish with the local family.
Homestay in Mekong Delta
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Day 9: Vinh Long –Saigon (B, L)
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After breakfast, we bid farewell to our hosts and cruise to big river. On the way, we will visit Vinh Long market, Tien Chau pagoda and fish- raft village.
Boat trip will end at around 11am in Vinh Long where our waiting vehicle will drive us back to Saigon.
Overnight at hotel in Saigon.
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Day 10: Saigon departure (B)
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A transfer to the airport for flight home. End of services by Indochina Travel Service.
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