Ultimate Vietnam Adventure Tour

Upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, you will be welcomed by our experienced guide and transferred to your hotel. Spend the remainder of the day relaxing after a long flight. Have dinner at the restaurant. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi

Morning, visit the Ho Chi Minh complex (included: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (closed on Monday & Friday morning, every afternoon), Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House and the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh Museum and the One Pillar Pagoda). Then continue on to visit the Literature Temple and Quoc Tu Giam, see Vietnam’s first university, constructed in 1070 – it’s gardens and well-preserved architecture will offer a relaxing glimpse into Vietnam’s past.

Afternoon, transfer to visit Hanoi’s Ethnology Museum (closed on Monday) and its fascinating exhibitions about the diverse hill tribes in Vietnam. Then join a cyclo trip to visit Hanoi Old Quarters. You will pass by Hoan Kiem Lake to see the peaceful waters and the beauty of Ngoc Son temple. Finish tour, we will enjoy dinner at the restaurant before boarding a night train from Hanoi to Lao Cai train station (to Sapa).

Overnight on the night train

Train information:
Name: Sapaly Express Train (or similar)
Schedule: SP3: Depart Hanoi – Lao Cai: (22:00 – 06:17)
Soft Berth Cabin: 4 pax on one cabin (4 berths), all are air-conditioned.
Note:
– For groups of 1 to 4 persons, there is no tour guide to escort you on the train.
– For groups of 5 persons and up, there is a tour guide to escort you on the train.

Morning, the train will arrive at Lao Cai train station at around 06:00 am. Our staff will pick you up and escort you to a nearby hotel (Sapaly hotel) for breakfast.

08:00 am: Our tour guide and a car will pick you up at the lobby and transfer you to Sapa Town (35km / 21.75 miles, 1-hour drive). Arrive at hotel in Sapa, we send our luggage to the hotel and prepare for our trekking to visit local villages. Trek up the hill and through the rice terrace fields of the Black Hmong villages of Lao Chai. Then we continue walking to Ta Van village of the Giay people. You will have a chance to find out the differences in culture and costumes between the Black Hmong and Giay minorities.

Back to Sapa town to check into your hotel. Enjoy free time for the remainder of the day.

Overnight at hotel in Sapa

After breakfast at the hotel in Sapa, we start the trek to Fansipan peak – the roof of Vietnam and Indochina. At about 9:30 AM, a bus will take you to the highest pass in Vietnam – TramTon Pass – located at 2100m / 6,889 ft above sea level. You will visit Silver waterfall before reaching the pass. Enjoy the beautiful surroundings and then begin the strenuous trek to the peak. After roughly 6 hours through the primitive rain jungles, many small streams and bamboo forests, you will reach an altitude of 2200m / 7,218 ft. At this point, we will set up our tents, prepare for dinner and spend the first night on the mountain.

Overnight at tent on Fansipan Moutain

We’ll eat Breakfast at the camp and then continue climbing to the summit by way of pine and yellow bamboo forests. After 4 hours, you will successfully reach the roof of Vietnam. Spend half or 1 hour enjoying the splendid landscapes from around the mountain, at this virginal roof of Vietnam and Indochina is a special chance for you to enjoy the surroundings: to the North-West are small village areas belonging to Laichau province, the splendid rolling mountains; to the North East is the overall picture of Sapa town which is only seen from here. Have lunch and then return down to the same point for 2nd night on the mountain. Dinner at the tents.

Overnight at tent on Fansipan Moutain

After the last breakfast on the mountain, you follow our guide to take another way to go down to the foot of Mount where you will visit and get understandings of the lifestyles, the traditional customs of the people in a village of the Black H mong called SinChai, then take bus back to Sapa.

After a hot shower and fresh clothing, we will travel back to Hanoi (315km / 195.73 miles, 6-hour transfer).

Morning, leave Hanoi and depart to Mai Chau (150km, 3.5-hour transfer). Check in to your hotel in time for lunch. 

In the afternoon, biking to visit beautiful ethnic villages such as Na Phon, Pom Coong, Lac and Chieng Chau villages. This is a chance to learn more about the local lifestyle and discover the culture of Thai locals.

Overnight at ecolodge in Mai Chau

After breakfast, we will travel by car to get to Mai Ha Village. We begin our biking adventure to Kha and Te Village. We will enjoy Lunch at  Buoc Village.  

After lunch, we continue on to Mai Hich Village to indulge in the daily life of the people there which has remained unchanged for many generations.

The route for biking around: 20km / 12.43 miles.

Overnight at ecolodge in Mai Chau

Have breakfast.  Then continue visiting Mai Chau by bike or visit Chieu Cave and do trekking with over 1000 steps or simply enjoy free time, fresh air, peaceful moments by walking around the town.

The route for biking around is 3 km / 1.6 miles.

11:30: Have lunch in town. Free time until the bus returns to pick us up and drive us to Ninh Binh province (135km / 83.39 miles, 3 hour transfer)

Arrival and check into the hotel in Ninh Binh, relax and enjoy some free time. Have dinner at restaurant.

Overnight in at resort in Ninh Binh

Have breakfast. Drive 17km / 10.56 miles to visit Hoa Lu – the historic capital of Vietnam and the famous ancient temples of Le and the Dinh Dynasties.  Then our car will transfer you from Hoa Lu to Tam Coc for lunch around 12:30 PM. After lunch, boat trip to visit Tam Coc to see the beauty of the karst formations as you pass along their base and row into one of the many caves carved through the limestone. Then, cycle for an hour around 5km/3.11 miles on quiet roads through villages, rice fields, rivers and rocky outcrops in Tam Coc – Bich Dong.   Drive back to resort for overnight.

Overnight at resort in Ninh Binh

Leave Ninh Binh and travel by road (200km / 124.27 miles, 4.5 hour transfer) to beautiful Halong Bay. The scenic drive will pass through rural landscapes before arriving at this World Heritage site. Upon arrival board the Boat where you will enjoy a welcome drink and a delicious freshly caught seafood lunch whilst sailing out of the bay passing amazing shaped mountains. Visit the Vung Vieng floating fishing village by kayaking. If you want to relax on the boat instead of participating in other activities feel free to enjoy. 

Overnight on cruise at Halong Bay

Note: The itinerary of Halong tour may be changed depending on weather without prior notice.

Practice one of the oldest traditions of East Asia: Tai Chi – A beautiful and relaxing experience on the open deck.  Light breakfast is served.  Walking to explore Thien Canh Son cave in Ha Long Bay. Witness its beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. Back to the boat to check out of your cabin. Brunch is served on the cruise while the boat is cruising to the pier.

Finish Halong tour and head to Hanoi airport (150km / 93.21 miles, 3.5 hours transfer) to get the flight from Hanoi to Quang Binh. Arrival to Dong Hoi airport, pick up and transfer to the city for dinner and then to the hotel for check in hotel and relax.

Overnight at hotel in Dong Hoi.

Suggested flight from Hanoi to Quang Binh: VN8593  HAN (18:00) – VDH (19:30) – this airfare is excluded from the tour price and should be purchased with the group. An A.T. Adventures International representative will provide you and the other team members with assistance when you purchase this ticket.

Morning, have breakfast at the hotel and then leave for Dong Hoi to visit Paradise cave – the longest dry cave in Asia (located in Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park’s core zone, 75 km / 46.60 miles to Dong Hoi and 1:20 driving).

Then you will explore the most impressive Phong Nha caves. After a 25-minute boat ride, you will arrive at Phong Nha cave, we will take a couple hours to see the cave. This cave is called the water cave and is famous for its rock formation which has been given names such as the “Lion”, the “Fairy Caves”, the “Royal Court”, and the “Buddha”.

Then drive to your resort in Phong Nha for check-in. Free time to enjoy the fresh air at night.

Overnight at resort in Phong Nha

08:00: Pick up and transfer to the meeting point of trekking.

8:30: Team meeting to plan the trip, clarify rules and regulations in the National Park.

8:45 – 9:00: Depart for Elephant Cave by van

10:00 – 10:30: Arrive at the trek departure point and start trekking through the jungle to the Elephant Cave

10:30 – 12:00: Explore the Elephant Cave

13:00: Reach to Ma Da Lake

13:30 – Enjoy BBQ lunch

Swim into Ma Da crystal lake

Enjoy the wildlife in the jungle

17:00 – Set up camp

18:15 – Enjoy dinner with Vietnamese traditional food.

Overnight at tent on cave

07:30: Pick up and transfer to the meeting point of trekking.

8:45: Trek through the jungle after the breakfast

10:00: Reach to Tra Ang cave

10:30 – 11:30: Swim into and explore 600m / 1,968 ft Tra Ang Cave

12:00: Lunchtime

13:00: Start trekking to reach the Ho Chi Minh Trail/Road.

14:30: Arrive at Ho Chi Minh Trail/Road, enjoy a cold drink on the trail/road.

16:00: Drive back Dong Hoi. Trekking & Camping tour ends.

After refresh time at the hotel, our guide & driver will take you to a restaurant for dinner.

Overnight at hotel in Dong Hoi

In the morning, you’ll have breakfast at the hotel and check outhe t of hotel. Transfer to Dong Hoi airport for flight to Saigon. Upon arrival in Saigon, the tour guide will pick you up and escort you to the hotel (time for check in at 14:00 pm). Afternoon, free time at leisure.

Overnight at hotel in Saigon

Suggest flight: VN1401  VDH (09:35) – SGN (11:15) – This airfare is excluded from the tour price and should be purchased with the group. An A.T. Adventures International representative will provide you and the other team members with assistance when you purchase this ticket.

Leave Saigon city and drive 70 km / 43.50 miles to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels which consist of an incredible underground tunnel network stretching nearly 200km / 124.27 miles, constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters (Viet Cong) during both the French and American wars. During this tour, you will explore the Ben Dinh sections of the tunnel where you can begin to appreciate what life might have been like for a Viet Cong soldier living and fighting from deep underneath the Vietnamese ground.

Back to Saigon, visit the War Remnants Museum where exhibition halls display imagery of both the French and ‘American’ wars, Notre Dame Cathedral,  Old Post Office and Thien Hau Pagoda.

Overnight at hotel in Saigon

The tour will be by boat to visit Cai Be colorful floating market and cruising among local barges full of fruits and vegetables. Then stop at local workshops where you can learn how to make rice paper, coconut candy and pop-rice, pop-corn…you can try and taste all kinds of candies with their family. We will take the rowing boat deeper into the countryside on smaller canals and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. It is so interesting to see traditional houses made of wood and palm tree leaves and see some activities of the local farmers with an opportunity to interact with them and see how they catch fish… You can bike around the local villages to enjoy nature.

Lunch can be served at the local home. After lunch, we can walk around and then we will enjoy some kinds of fruits when listening to the traditional music

The cruise will end at Vinh Long city.  Transfer back to Saigon.

Overnight at hotel in Saigon

After breakfast, you will be free in Ho Chi Minh City until transferring to the airport for your departure flight. 

End of tour – Farewell to our New Friends!