Exploring Vietnam: Sapa to Mekong in 13 Days

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival – Hanoi City Tour

Welcome to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam!

Our driver will pick you up at the airport for a full-day city tour around Hanoi to the Temple of Literature – the first university of Vietnam and 2-hour walking tour to the Opera House, Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi Old Quarter with the highlight of Dong Xuan Market. Return to your hotel. Meals are on your own. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi – Sapa (B)

Today, you will take an early and long drive to Sapa which has magnificent mountain landscape and is homeland to many ethnic groups including H’mong, Dzao and Tay. Arrive in Sapa at noon. Free at the rest of the day. Meals are on your own and overnight in Sapa.

Day 3: Sapa – Lao Chai – Ta Van – Sapa (B, L)

After breakfast, you will join a full morning trek to explore Sapa’s cultural diversity and natural beauty with destinations include Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai Village (where Black H’mong people inhabit), and Ta Van Village, home to Dzay people, which you need to trek about 9km for 4 hours to reach. You will be picked up at Ta Van Bridge to back to the town for lunch. The rest of the day is free. Dinner on your own and overnight in Sapa.

Day 4: Sapa – Local Market (Depending On The Day Of The Week) – Lao Cai – Hanoi (B, L)

Today, you have a chance to discover an enticing local market which happens weekly and gathers many ethnic groups. A wide range of hand-crafted products can be found there and you can buy them as souvenirs. Lunch included. Afterward, take a night train back to Hanoi. Dinner is on your own and overnight on train.

Day 5: Hanoi Arrival – Halong (B, L, D)

Arrive in Hanoi in the early morning, after breakfast at your hotel, you will be transferred to Halong Bay. Get on cruise, enjoy refreshing drinks and check in your cabin. Lunch included on board while the cruise passes through hundreds of islands, limestone bedrocks and sheer cliffs, especially the Duck and Thumb islet then Coconut Island – the only soil island in the World Heritage Site. You can also enjoy kayaking or simply relax there. Dinner and overnight on board.

Day 6: Halong – Hanoi Flight to Nha Trang (B, L)

This morning, take time to visit Surprising Cave – one of the most beautiful grottoes in Halong Bay and join a cooking class on the way back. Lunch will be served on board. The cruise continues passing many bay’s highlights namely Fighting Cocks, Incense Burner, and Stone Dogs. Reach the pier at around noon. You will then transfer directly to Hanoi airport by private car for your flight to Nha Trang. Upon arrival, pick up and transfer to your hotel by our driver. Overnight in Nha Trang.

Day 7: Nha Trang – Snorkeling And Fishing (B, L)

Get on a speedboat to reach Mun Island where you can dive or take the glass-bottom boat to admire colorful corals and sea creatures (on own expenses). Next, continue to cruise around Nha Trang Bay, one of the 29 most beautiful bays in the world and try your hand at fishing in a fishing spot nearby Hon Tre Island. Enjoy a delicious seafood lunch at Con Se Tre restaurant. After 6 hours on the bay, return to your hotel in Nha Trang. Dinner on your own and overnight in Nha Trang.

Day 8: Nha Trang – Free At Leisure (B)
Enjoy your free time on the beach! Meals are on your own. Overnight in NhaTrang

Day 9: Nha Trang – Fly to Ho Chi Minh City – City Tour (B)

This morning, you will take a flight to Saigon for a city tour. Sites include the Reunification Palace which marked the end of Vietnam War and the War Remnants Museum where house a large comprehensive collection of war machinery, weapons, artifacts and documentation. Return to your hotel. Meals are on your own and overnight in Saigon.

Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnel – Tay Ninh (B, L)

Morning pick up and transfer to Cu Chi Tunnel (60km ~ 1.5 hour). There will have a short documentary film displayed before exploring the Ben Dinh section of tunnel for the next couple of hours. You will also have chance to taste typical boiled tapioca and hot tea. After that, continue to drive to Cao Dai to explore the Great Cao Dai temple and assist one of the four daily ceremonies. Lunch included. Back to Saigon. Dinner is on your own. Overnight in Saigon.

Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta – Can Tho (B, L)

After a 2.5-hour drive, you will reach Ben Tre and start your visit on a small boat to typical workplaces including a small brickwork atelier, a coconut processing workshop and a local mat-weaving house. Lunch included in a nice riverside restaurant. Relax on a sampan riding along the picturesque canals before driving to Can Tho. Dinner is on your own. Overnight in Can Tho.

Day 12: Can Tho – Cai Rang Floating Market – Ho Chi Minh City (B, L)

In the early morning, check out your hotel and get on a motor-boat for a cruise to Cai Rang floating market along the Mekong River. You will also have chance to see the famous Binh Thuy ancient house, a site for the romantic film ‘The Lover’. Back to Saigon and enjoy lunch on the way. Dinner on your own and overnight in Saigon.

Day 13: Ho Chi Minh City Departure (B)

Free day to go shopping or sightseeing on your own before driving to the airport for your flight home by our driver.

Bon Voyage!