Authentic Vietnam in 13 Days Tour

Upon your arrival at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, our driver will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel. This is a chic and graceful city that retains a unique old-world charm with some of Asia’s most striking colonial architecture. Numerous lakes and parks dot the capital, making the atmosphere gentle everywhere.

If time permits, take a short cycling tour of Hanoi Old Quarter, passing through streets named after the goods sold there.

Welcome dinner. Night at the hotel in Hanoi.

Included: Accommodation, transportation, English-speaking guide, Meals: dinner.

Breakfast at the hotel.

You will devote this day of Vietnam in 13 days tour to visiting the capital’s well-known monuments, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his house on stilts, One-Pillar Pagoda, etc. You will then discover Tran Quoc Pagoda – the oldest pagoda in Hanoi, located on the banks of West Lake. Your journey will be followed by a visit to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology – the most interesting museum in Hanoi. You will discover the culture and way of life of 54 ethnic groups living together in the country.

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

Lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, you will see Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam. Van Mieu (The Temple of Literature), built in 1070 during the reign of King Ly Thanh Tong, was intended to practice the cult of Confucius (Khong Tu). Quoc Tu Giam, built in 1076 by King Ly Nhan Tong, was the first university of Vietnam that initially welcomed princes and sons of mandarins only.

You will then ride a pedicab around the Old Quarter to discover the old architectural buildings. Then, stop at Ngoc Son Temple on Hoan Kiem Lake to learn its legend before attending a water puppet show.

Free dinner. Night at the hotel.

Included: Accommodation, transportation, English-speaking guide, entrance fees to scenic spots (if any), Meals: breakfast and lunch.

After breakfast at the hotel, you will take the road to Ninh Binh, where the site of Hoa Lu is located. Hoa Lu was the capital of Vietnam from the 10th to the 11th century under the Ding and Earlier Le dynasties.

Before lunch, you will reach Van Long Nature Reserve, which is considered as the Ha Long Bay on land of Vietnam. Take a boat for 1.5 hours to discover the magnificent landscape of this region.

Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve

If you wish, you can try goat meat – a specialty of Ninh Binh for lunch.

After lunch, head to Cuc Phuong National Park. Upon your arrival, you will settle into a room in the forest. Then, take a short hike for 2 hours through a dense tropical forest of century-old trees. Also, visit prehistoric caves in the park.

Return to the settlement in the heart of the park for dinner.

Night in the park.

Optionally observe the nocturnal activities of wild animals living in the park at night.

Included: Accommodation, transportation, English-speaking guide, entrance fees to scenic spots (if any), Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Cuc Phuong National Park is the best-preserved tropical forest in Vietnam. You will spend this morning in the jungle, which is home to many precious trees and animals. You will have the chance to see some of them during your trip.

Cuc Phuong National Park

Picnic lunch will be served during your trek.

When you arrive at Muong village, take a short break with a Muong minority family and then our driver will pick you up and take you to Ninh Binh.

You will settle into the hotel in Ninh Binh, then take a bike ride to enjoy the beauty and tranquility of Van Lam village. If time permits, you can visit Bich Dong Pagoda.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Ninh Binh.

Included: Accommodation, transportation, English-speaking guide, entrance fees to scenic spots (if any), Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Breakfast at the hotel and then drive to Ha Long Bay. On the way, you will listen to the legend of the descent dragon, which gives the bay its charm.

Arrive at Tuan Chau Port at around noon.

Embark on the cruise. You will be welcome with a cold drink while listening to some safety instructions. Then, check in your cabin.

The cruise itinerary will begin with a seafood lunch, composed of sought-after dishes.

The cruise sails towards Bai Tu Long Bay, which is a less busy part of Ha Long Bay. You will have a chance to contemplate the magnificent landscape in the open sea with islets of different shapes.

Bai Tu Long Bay

In the middle of the afternoon, you will stop at Vung Vieng fishing village or go kayaking to fully immerse yourself in the pristine clear water of the bay. Then, visit a pearl farm and discover some special techniques for creating this special product.

After returning to the cruise, you will have free time to swim around or rest at the sundeck.

Towards the end of the afternoon, you will participate in a cooking class, followed by a BBQ dinner and time for night squid fishing with the crew.

Night on the cruise.

Included: Accommodation, transportation, English-speaking guide, entrance fee and sightseeing fee, kayaking, Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.

You are advised to wake up early to watch the sunrise and join a Tai Chi session on the sundeck.

07:30 am: Breakfast

08:30 am – 10:30 am: Transfer to another boat and start the journey to Lan Ha Bay. After arriving at Viet Hai village – a village on the mountain of Cat Ba Island, enjoy a wonderful time riding through the rice paddies to feel the peace of the Vietnamese countryside. Meet local people and if time permits, take part in their fishing activity.

Cat Ba Island

10:30 am – 12:00 am: Hike Cat Ba National Park to Bat Cave. Then, return to Viet Hai village.

12:30 am – 1:30 pm: Return to the boat for lunch, while cruising to Sang – Toi Cave.

2:30 pm – 5:30 pm: Go kayaking to explore this cave and enjoy your time for swimming.

4:00 pm: Return to the junk and have free time to relax.

7:00 pm: Dinner time.

Night on the board.

Included: Accommodation, transportation, English-speaking guide, kayaking, Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.

7:30 am: Breakfast

8:30 am: Discover the most beautiful cave in Ha Long Bay – Sung Sot Cave. You will have the chance to admire thousands of images through stalagmites and stalactites.

Sung Sot Cave

9:30 am: Return to the cruise and check out of your cabin.

10 am: Enjoy your brunch while the cruise return to land.

Disembark from the cruise at around 11:45 am.

Return to Hanoi. On the way, stop for a moment at Phu Lang Pottery Village. Upon arrival in Hanoi, you will enjoy free time to go shopping with our tour guide before transferring to the railway station for a night train to Lao Cai.

Night on the train.

Included: Transportation, English-speaking guide, Hanoi – Lao Cai train ticket (cabin with 4 soft berths, air-conditioned), Meals: breakfast, brunch.

Upon your early arrival at Lao Cai Station, you can rest a little in a courtesy room in a small hotel. You will have time to freshen up and have breakfast before starting your journey. The room is available until 8:00 am.

After your breakfast, visit an ethnic market in the region. The ethnic market is an attractive feature that cannot be ignored. It is a good opportunity for you to meet and explore the culture and lifestyle of ethnic groups in Vietnam. You can visit Coc Ly Market and take a cruise on the Chay River on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the Cao Son or Sin Cheng Market will await you. Visit Lung Khau Nhin, Can Cau, or Bac Ha market if it is Thursday, Saturday, or Sunday.

Ethnic women go to the Bac Ha market

Then, take a short walk around a village near the market to admire the daily life of the locals.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

Then, go to Sapa town. Upon your arrival, you will settle into your hotel and have free time to discover this destination yourself.

Free dinner. Night in Sapa.

Included: Transportation, accommodation, English-speaking guide, entrance fees to scenic spots (if any), Meals: breakfast, lunch.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Have a full day of trekking in Sapa. Start your journey from Cat Cat village, trek off the beaten paths to Y Linh Ho. It is your chance to admire the terraced rice fields, steep valleys, and wooded mountains. On the outskirts of this village, you will see local people working in the fields and children having fun together.

Reach and have lunch at Y Linh Ho, a village of Black Hmong, which is characterized by the indigo color of the hand-dyed clothes. After this break, continue your discovery through Muong Hoa Valley, meeting other ethnic groups in the villages of Lao Chai and Ta Van.

Ta Van Village

You will stay with a local resident in the village of Ta Van, where you will join hands in preparing dinner.

Dinner and overnight at a local home.

Included: Accommodation, transportation, English-speaking guide, entrance fees to scenic spots (if any), Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. 

After breakfast, say goodbye to the host family and take the road to the village of Giang Ta Chai of the Red Dao minority. The trek crosses bamboo groves, forests, and magnificent waterfalls.

Then, continue your journey to Ban Ho Village, the habitat of several ethnic groups. Here, contemplate the gorgeous landscapes surrounded by hills and mountains, and witness local people’s houses, which are scattered along the banks of Muong Hoa and La Ve streams. You will also learn a beautiful but sad love story about Muong Hoa stream, between a boy from Tay and a young girl from Day.

Ban Ho Village in Sapa

In the late afternoon, our driver will pick you up and transfer you to Lao Cai station for a night train to Hanoi.

Night on the train.

Included: Transportation, English-speaking guide, entrance fees to scenic spots (if any), Lao Cai – Hanoi train ticket (cabin with 4 soft berths, air-conditioned), Meals: breakfast, lunch.

Upon your arrival at Hanoi train station, our driver will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel. Rest time (the room is available until 8:00 am).

After breakfast, you will leave for a flight to Quang Binh (Dong Hoi Airport).

In the afternoon, you will discover some tourist destinations of Dong Hoi City like Quang Binh Quan, Luy Thay, Tam Loa temple, etc.

Night at the hotel in Quang Binh.

Included: Accommodation, transportation, Hanoi – Dong Hoi flight ticket, English-speaking guide, entrance fees to scenic spots (if any), Meals: breakfast. 

After breakfast, transfer to a port on Son River and take a boat to the famous Phong Nha Caves.

Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its wild nature and biodiversity. It has also been recognized for being home to a vast system of fauna and flora, the most important on the planet.

Phong Nha Ke Bang Cave

The park is blessed with beautiful limestone formations, caves, and spectacular forests. It also contains the largest primary forest in Vietnam, as well as the largest limestone mountain range in the world. Most importantly, this is the only residence of the Rem tribe, which was once thought to be extinct (with only 18 people in 1956).

Lunch at a local restaurant in Phong Nha.

Then, enjoy your free time swimming at Nhat Le Beach if the weather permits.

Return to the hotel in the late afternoon.

Included: Accommodation, transportation, English-speaking guide, entrance fees to scenic spots (if any), Meals: breakfast, lunch.

After breakfast, our driver will take you to Bai Da Nhay – a beautiful beach, bordered by gorgeous mountains in Quang Binh.

Free lunch. Then, take the road to Dong Hoi Airport for a flight to Hanoi. From Hanoi, take your departure flight.

End of 13 days in Vietnam with unforgettable memories.

Included: Transportation, Dong Hoi – Hanoi flight ticket, Meals: breakfast.