Free and Easy Vietnam Soft-adventure Tour

Brief Information

Tour type: Private tour

Hotel options: 2-star; 3-star; 4-star

Meals: B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner

Duration: 14 days

Departure/end: Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City or vice-versa

Highlights: Hanoi, trekking in mountain areas and homestay, Halong Bay cruise, caving tour in Phong Nha, DMZ and tunnels in Vinh Moc, Hoi An ancient town, Ho Chi Minh City.

Features:
- Various means of transportation: car, train, flight, boat, cyclo
- Different accommodation type: hotel, on train, on boat
- Combination of activities, landscape, life style, climate in different parts in Vietnam.

Brief itinerary and service:

Day	Route	Transfer	Accommodation	Excursion, services	Meals
1	Hanoi arrival	Car	Hotel in Hanoi	Guide meeting at Hanoi airport and private transfer
2	Hanoi - Lao Cai	Train	On train	Pickup and private transfer to train station	B
3	Lao Cai - Sapa	Car	Homestay	Trekking through terrace field and local village of H’Mong, Dzay, Dao hill tribe.	L, D
4	Sapa		Hotel in Sapa	Trekking.	B, L, D
5	Sapa - Bac Ha - Hanoi	Car, train	On train	Visit Bac Ha market, Ban Pho village, H’Mong King’s residence.	B, L, D
6	Hanoi - Halong Bay cruise	Bus	On board	Halong Bay cruise: Enjoy the beauty of Halong Bay, visit big and beautiful cave.	L, D
7	Halong - Hanoi - Dong Hoi	Bus, train	On train	Halong Bay cruise	Brunch
8	Dong Hoi - Phong Nha		Camping	Guide meeting at Dong Hoi station and private transfer. Join group of Phong Nha caving tour.	L, D
9	Phong Nha		Hotel in Phong Nha	Join group of Phong Nha caving tour.	L, D
10	Phong Nha - Hoi An	Car	Hotel in Hoi An	Explore DMZ, Vinh Moc tunnels, Hai Van pass, Lang Co beach, visit Cham Museum	B
11	Hoi An		Hotel in Hoi An	Free to explore Hoi An ancient town	B
12	Hoi An-HCMC	Flight	Hotel in HCMC	Guide meeting at HCMC airport and private transfer	B
13	HCMC		Hotel HCMC	Free to discover the city	B
14	HCMC departure	Car		Private airport transfer	B

 

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Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi arrival
Arrive Hanoi, our driver and tour guide will pick you up then transfer to your hotel in Hanoi. Depending on your arrival time, you may have time to explore a little of downtown and enjoy a stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake by yourself.
Overnight at Hotel, Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi – Lao Cai
Lying at the heart of Northern Red River Delta, Hanoi – the thousand year old capital city of Vietnam has so many charms to attract tourists both domestic and international. With numerous beautiful lakes, romantic shady boulevards, French colonial styled architectures, and hundreds of old temples and pagodas, the city brings to people an extremely peaceful feeling despite the certain busy life and chaotic traffic as a metropolis of a developing country. Apart from that, the traditional street foods also contribute to the attraction of Hanoi. Strolling around the Old quarter, tasting some delicious authentic Hanoi foods, drinking a local cold beer or enjoying Vietnamese local coffee are common things that visitors would love to do during their stay in Hanoi.
See our optional tours in Hanoi to have plan for your days in this city or select ones and put into your tour.
In the evening, our guide and driver will pick-up and transfer to Hanoi railways station for night train to Lao Cai.
Overnight on train to Lao Cai.

Day 3: Lao Cai arrival – Sapa – Y Linh Ho – Lao Chai – Ta Van
An early morning arrive Lao Cai station. Transfer to Sapa town. We start our trekking with a walk down to the South-west of Sapa (12 km of trekking), visit Y Linh Ho and Lao Chai villages of the H’mong minority. after lunch at a local family in Lao Chai or in a drinking shop nearby the river bank, we keep on hiking to Ta Van village of the Dzay where we stay overnight in a local family. Here you have opportunity to experience their daily life, work and original custom.
Home-stay at the Dzay local house

Day 4: Ta Van – Giang Ta Chai – Su Pan - Sapa
14 km walking to visit 2 villages of the red Dzao, the H’mong (Giang Ta Chai & Su Pan). Visit a beautiful waterfall and rattan bridge. Enjoy landscapes… through bamboo forest on the way to the main road to get the Car to return to Sapa.
Overnight in Hotel, Sapa.

Day 5: Bac Ha market – Hanoi
Located at 110km from Sapa, Bac Ha mountain town is well-known by travelers with the most colorful market of the hill tribes in the North of Vietnam. This every-Sunday-market attended by at least 8 ethnic groups and last from 9:00 AM until 2:00 PM. It is also chance for tourists to discover the H’mong King’s palace (old building built with the French & Chinese style).
In the afternoon, we go for a light trek to visit Ban Pho, the village is home to flower H’mong minority. We are invited to enter several local houses to have some green tea, corn wine, listen to the host talking about their family, talk to them… and then enjoy landscapes on a roundabout way to Bac Ha for get back to Lao Cai to catch the train to Hanoi.
Overnight on train to Hanoi.

Day 6: Hanoi – Halong Bay
Meet with local tour guide upon arrival at Hanoi train station in the early morning. Check in a small standard hotel nearby the station to get a bath and breakfast (local dish). Then get on bus to Halong Bay. Arrive Halong Bay around 12:00, get on board. Cruise to contemplate the beauty of the Bay while having lunch. Keep cruising and other activities like kayaking, swimming, taking photo. Having dinner and overnight a romantic night on board.

Day 7: Halong Bay – Hanoi
Keep cruising the bay, visit cave, fishing village until having lunch, checkout and get bus back to Hanoi
Drop at Hanoi railways station to get night train to Dong Hoi.

Day 8: Dong Hoi – Phong Nha
You’ll be picked up at your hotel in Phong Nha between 8:00 am and 8:30 am, it’s then off to travel back in time to the tiny village of Tan Hoa. A thorough safety briefing starts the tour, and then it’s a 2.5 km stroll across fields of peanuts, corn, and muddy water buffaloes. 
A rocky climb leads up to the first cave, Hang Chuot (Rat Cave), and there is a picnic lunch, followed by some steep climbing and then a relaxing break at a scenic outlook on the jungle path. Afternoon keep trekking across valley, cave, relaxing and swimming at the To Mo campsite waterfall. Enjoy dinner together, stories around the campsite, and a good night’s sleep in hammocks strung up beside the beautiful waterfall.

Day 9: Phong Nha
After breakfast, a 450 m swim inside Kim Cave awaits, complete with small waterfalls inside. Return to camp for more swimming in the lagoon or a rest, while lunch is prepared. After lunch take a hike into valley. Follow the river through the valley and climb the mountain to Secret Cave. Squeeze through the entrance to explore what lies ahead in this mysterious cave. The adventure winds down with the climb down from Secret Cave, and the walk back to cross the Rao Nan river and buffalo fields to reach the Tan Hoa headquarters.
Arrival in Tan Hoa is followed by a chance to take in the scenery and relax with a cold drink in hand. Showers are available for those who would like to clean up and change, and then departure back to Phong Nha, arrival in Phong Nha by 5:30 pm

Day 10: Phong Nha – Hoi An
After breakfast, 8:00AM our driver will pick you up for heading to Hoi An. 
Vinh Moc is a tunnel complex in Quang Tri, Vietnam. During the Vietnam War it was strategically located on the border of North Vietnam and South Vietnam. The tunnels were built to shelter people from the intense bombing in Vinh Linh county of Quang Tri Province in the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone.
Khe Sanh Combat Base, a large Marines combat base attacked by a massive forces of the North Vietnamese Army in early 1968
We will visit Dakrong Bridge, Rock Pile, Khe Sanh Combat Base, ethnic minority villages, Hien Luong bridge and Vinh Moc tunnels.
Passing Hai Van Pass we have more time to taking nice pictures from the pass. Seeing Non Nuoc stone carving village, where the local skillful sculptors create many marble products which are exported to many countries worldwide.
Overnight at Hotel, Hoi An.

Day 11: Hoi An
The charming Hoi An town belongs to Quang Nam province, located in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam. With its very favorable position right on the north bank near the mouth of Thu Bon River, this ancient town was once an important trading port which traded widely both with the countries of Southeast and East Asia and with the rest of the world. The cultural interference has much influence on the local architectures making this World Heritage Site a charming unique destination.
See our optional tours in Hoi An to have plan for your days in this town or select ones and put into your tour.

Day 12: Hoi An- HCMC
Today, you will take flight from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh city, also called Saigon. This is the largest city in Vietnam and the nation's economic capital. The metropolitan area Ho Chi Minh City and surrounding towns, is populated by more than 9 million.
Free to relax or take a short walk to explore the city: the Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum and Notre Dame Cathedral. You will also admire the many beautiful French colonial buildings such as the main post office and the former Hotel de Ville (city hall), Cho Lon Market (Chinatown) or Be Thanh market. This trip helps you view the city from another perspective and to see the abundance of fresh local produce that is such an important feature of Vietnamese cuisine.
Overnight at Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 13: HCMC
Although just over 300 years old, Ho Chi Minh City, once considered the Pearl of the Far-East, has always been one of the most well-known destinations in Vietnam with millions of tourists to visit each year. The city offers a wide array of traditional attractions such as Reunification Palace, City Hall, Notre Dame Cathedral, Centre Post Office, Cu Chi Tunnels, and various museums and theatres. In recent years, many new tourists attractions have been developed such as Dam Sen Park, Suoi Ten, Thanh Da, Ky Hoa and Binh Quoi Village, which have become must see places for foreign tourists.
See our optional tours in Ho Chi Minh City to have plan for your days in this city or select ones and put into your tour.
Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 14: HCMC Departure
You are free for personal activity till transfer to airport for departure to next destination.
Tour ends.

2020 Quotation

Hotel categories	Net rate in US$/person in group of						Single supplement
	1 prs	2-3 prs	4-5 prs	6-7 prs	8-9 prs	10 prs up
Tourist	1.964	1.204	1.069	1.011	986	On request	205
Superior	2.110	1.270	1.141	1.081	1.052	On request	255
First Class	2.465	1.450	1.318	1.262	1.233	On request	393

Note:

- Single supplement not apply on train, boat.
- The price is not applicable on National Holidays, Christmas and New Year.

Includes:
Accommodation:
- 7 nights twin/double sharing at hotels with daily breakfast.
- 3 nights on train (4 berths, AC cabin)
- 1 night on boat (private cabin for 2 people with bathroom).
- 1 night homestay with hill tribe people.
- 1 night camping.
Transportation:
- Land transfer by private vehicle for whole trip (except Hanoi – Halong Bay and vice-versa).
- Sharing boat cruise in Halong Bay (private cabin for 2 people with bathroom)
- Train tickets Hanoi – Lao Cai and vice-verse; Hanoi - Dong Hoi (4 berths, AC cabin)
- Air tickets and all taxes: DAD-SGN
Others:
- Meals as mentioned. B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: dinner
- English speaking guides onboard Halong Bay and Mekong River.
- Admission fees for cruise trips in Halong Bay and Mekong River.
- 1 bottle of mineral water and wet tissue per person on touring day.
- Free Vietnam visa approval letter.
- Service charge and Government taxes
Excludes:
- International air tickets.
- Visa stamping fee.
- Personal expenses.
- Drinks.
- Tips and gratuities.
- Services not clearly mentioned above.

LIST OF HOTELS ON TOUR

City	Hotel Name	Rating
Hanoi	Golden Spring Hotel	2*
	Golden Cyclo Hotel	3*
	Boss Legend Hotel	4*
Sapa	Fansipan View Hotel	2*
	Sapa Panorama Hotel	3*
	Sapa Legend Hotel	4*
Halong Bay	Oriental Sails	3*
	Calypso Cruise	3*
	Starlight Cruise	4*
Phong Nha	Heritage by Night Hotel	2*
	Heritage by Night Hotel	2*
	Saigon Phong Nha Hotel	3*
Hoi An	Vinh Hung 2 Hotel	2*
	Kim An Hotel	3*
	Hoi An Hotel	4*
HCMC	Elegant Inn Saigon	2*
	Elios Hotel	3*
	Eden Saigon Hotel	4*

Stay extension

 You can extend your stay in each destination to have more time to relax or further discover the area with below price (applicable for this package only and subject to availability).

City	Hotel Name	US$/Room/Night	Rating
Hanoi	Hanoi Sky Hotel	33	2*
	Bella Rosa Suite Hotel	52	3*
	The Light Hotel	75	4*
Sapa	Fansipan View Hotel	32	2*
	Sapa Panorama Hotel	43	3*
	BB Hotel	81	4*
Dong Hoi	Heritage by Night Hotel	25	2*
	Phong Nha Lake House	40	2*
	Saigon Phong Nha Hotel	50	4*
Hoi An	Vinh Hung 2 Hotel	35	2*
	Kim An Hotel	43	3*
	Hoi An Historic Hotel	77	4*
HCMC	TTC Deluxe Saigon	33	2*
	Elios Hotel	50	3*
	Eden Saigon Hotel	85	4*