Vietnam – In Fourteen Days from North to South

Allow INTOSOL to take you on a magical trip through beautiful Vietnam. Our fourteen day journey introduces you to the highly diverse Southeast Asian country’s most celebrated attractions. On the first day, you arrive in Ha Noi. Your guide is waiting for you at the airport, ready to take you to the first hotel, the luxurious Sofitel Legend Metropole. Day two, after a long and restful night, starts with a full day tour of lively Ha Noi. The intriguing Vietnamese capital boasts countless attractions. You will visit the Presidential Palace, the famous Ho Chi Mingh Mausoleum and the One-Pillar Pagoda. Next on the list are a visit to the charming West Lake, the Ethnological Museum and the Temple of Literature – first university of Vietnam and a national monument. The afternoon is dedicated to exploring Ha Noi’s colonial old town with its 36 alleyways, each one home to a different trade. Then, finally, as day fades to night, you visit the famous Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre before returning to your hotel for dinner, tired but filled with numerous impressions of an exciting first day! On the day three, you leave the city bounds for a trip to the Perfume Pagoda located at approximately 75 kilometres distance. The Perfume Pagoda is an impressively large complex of Buddhist temples and shrines. It is also the site for a large festival held annually in spring that attracts pilgrims from all over the country. Now it is time to lean back and take it easy, as you slowly cruise down a winding river with the option to explore Buddhist temples on foot. In the afternoon, it is time to turn back to Ha Noi, where you will board the comfortable night train leaving for Lao Cai. In the morning of day four you reach Lao Cai. You will be met at the train station and taken to your accommodation in Sapa: the first-class Victoria Sapa Hotel. First things first: Enjoy a sumptuous breakfast against the backdrop of the soaring mountains all around. Energies restored, you set off to visit the Ta Phin Village, which boasts a breathtakingly scenic setting amidst mountain peaks and terraced rice fields. Ta Phin is inhabited by two ethnic minorities, the Red Dao and the Black H’mong that share the village peacefully. Learn more about these ancient peoples’ culture and traditions on a stroll through the village. Afterwards, return to your welcoming home away from home, the Victoria Sapa. Day five starts with a visit to the Bac Ha Tribal Market. The market is a melting pot of different ethnic groups, who all bring forth their highly particular produce. In the afternoon it is time to say your goodbyes to the far north and board the night train taking you back to Ha Noi. The early morning of day six welcomes you back to Ha Noi. Stop by the charming Flower Market before settling down to a delicious breakfast in the Anise Hotel. Time to take to the road again en route to Ha Long! The drive past the fertile land along of the Red River Delta speckled with rice fields is highly scenic. Around midday, you board a first-class cruise ship on Tuan Chau Island headed for the celebrated Ha Long Bay. On board, you may look forward to gourmet cuisine and professional spa services. Give yourself up to caring hands and service with a smile, eyes resting on pristine sand beaches, bizarre rock formations and the picturesque floating villages of Ha Long Bay. On day seven, you wake up, pull open the curtains and may again rest your eyes on the beauty of the Ha Long Bay, one of earth’s greatest natural wonders! Around noon, your comfortable ship drops you off back at Tuan Chau Island, where transportation back to Ha Noi Airport is waiting already. A short flight later you touch down in Hue. The evening and night are at your free disposal. Experience the quiet magic of the city, treat yourself to a romantic gourmet dinner or just kick off your shoes at your top-notch hotel La Residence. Day eight starts with a boat trip on the romantic Perfume River to the Thien Mu Pagoda. The Thien Mu Pagoda is set on an elevation on the northern bank of the river. Its seven stories high tower makes it the tallest pagoda in all of Vietnam. Afterwards, you visit the Imperial City that served as the government’s seat from 1802 to 1945 in the time of the Nguyen Dynasty. Later, in the afternoon, you will visit the elaborate mausoleums built for the emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh. In addition to this, you will get to know the Incense and Conical Hat Village, the place where the traditional Vietnamese conical hats and incense sticks are produced. Last but not least, take a stroll across the vibrant Dong Ba Market – the perfect place to experience everyday Vietnamese culture and sample the local cuisine. On day nine you travel to Hoi An. The drive takes you across the Hai Van Pass that is well known for its numerous villages cultivating neatly kept orchards. Let your eyes roam freely from blue skies to infinite sea. Da Nang is perfect for a stop: Visit the Cham Museum, the Marble Mountains and Non Nuoc Beach. Having arrived in Hoi An, take a stroll through the vibrant city to explore the historic sites. Hoi An was a thriving harbour city from the 16th till the 18th century. Explore the local market, visit the Fujian Assembly Hall and the four hundred years old Japanese Bridge. Day ten’s program features a half-day excursion to the Champa Realm’s former capital and religious centre. The temple city My Son is located approximately forty kilometres south-west of Hoi An and was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1999. In the afternoon, your guide takes you on a walking city tour including Hoi An’s major attractions: the Japanese Bridge, the Tang Ky House, the local market and the French Quarter. Another long but wonderful day draws to an end with a leisurely cruise down the Thu Bon River, offering you a magnificent view of the city. The evening and night are at your free disposal. Day eleven is entirely yours! By now you have more than a general idea of the many marvels Vietnam offers. Set off exploring or take the day off. On day twelve you board a plane leaving Da Nang, headed for Ho Chi Minh City. Formerly known as Saigon, the city boasts numerous attractions. Today you will visit the Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum and the Central Post Office. Your visit would not be complete without a stop at the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral. There is no mistake here, you are not in Paris. Ho Chi Minh’s Notre Dame is a hallmark of French colonial architecture. Later, you arrive at the superb Park Hyatt Hotel. On day thirteen you leave Ho Chi Minh City in the morning by the southern road. The Ben Tre Province is famous for its coconut production and its charming waterways. Take your time strolling one of the picturesque villages before floating down the river towards the Mekong Delta. The boat frequently pulls in to the shore, for example, to visit a village that maintains the century old tradition of producing bricks or to stop by a rice noodle factory. Today you are in for a special treat: An exquisite five course gourmet lunch! Having feasted to your stomach’s full content and filled to the brim with wonderful impressions, you return to the city Ben Tre, where you continue your journey to Ho Chi Minh City for a second night at the fantastic Park Hyatt Hotel. Day fourteen, sadly the last day of your journey, is at your free disposal before boarding your flight back home. Allow yourself drift a little and soak up Vietnam’s charms, revisiting all the experiences of the past days in your mind. Time to say your goodbyes! Your flight leaves from the Ton San Nhat Airport. All good things come to an end but the memory of your journey around Vietnam will surely stay with you for the rest of your life! And who knows, it may not have been your last!