VB057: TRANSVIET TOUR (14 Days/ 13 Nights)

Day 1: Hanoi – Arrival

Your guide will meet you on arrival at Noi Bai Airport and transfer you to your hotel. The guide will pick you up later to visit the highlights of Hanoi: the Museum of Ethnology (the largest and most beautiful in Hanoi); the Temple of Literature, built in the 11th century as ‘s first university; Tran Quoc Pagoda; Hoan Kiem Lake; Ngoc Son Temple and a walk through the famous “36 streets” of the old city. After dinner at your own, you will have a golden chance to see Water Puppet performances in the evening. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi – Ha long (B,L,D)

After breakfast, your guide and car will pick you up from your hotel for the 3 hour drive to Halong Harbour.

08:00 Scenic three-hour drive from Hanoi to Halong Bay.

12:00 Check-in at Bhaya Café, Halong City.
Embark on Bhaya Classic for a Welcome drink followed by a cruise briefing.

13:00 Savor a delicious Vietnamese buffet lunch as Bhaya Classic heads to Bai Tu Long Bay passing the towns of Hon Gai and Cam Pha, Oan Lagoon, Mat Quy (Monster Head) and Am Tich (Teapot) Islets and Vung Vieng fishing village.

15:30 Visit the fishing village by local rowing boat (1 hour) then return to the vessel for free time at your leisure or join one of the following optional activities:
Kayak into the floating village or swim near the Bhaya;
Optional onboard activities: Sunbathing, traditional massage, etc.;

17:00 Bhaya Classic cruises through the Bay to its overnight anchorage near Ho Dong Tien.
Vietnamese cooking demonstration on the Sundeck.
19:30 Sumptuous set-menu seafood dinner onboard.

21:00 Take in the movie on the Lounge Deck or retire to your cabin. Overnight onboard Bhaya Classic.

 Day 3: Ha Long Bay – Lan Ha Bay – Cat Ba Island (B,L,D)

06:15 Start your day with Tai Chi on the Sundeck.

07:00 Bhaya Classic weighs anchor to cruise the Bay.
Have breakfast in the Dining Room.
08:30 Transfer to Bhaya Spirit for the Lan Ha Bay excursion.

10:00 Cycling on Cat Ba Island if weather permits or guided kayaking and swimming at Three Peach Beach, a pristine natural beach lapped by turquoise waters.
12:00 Fresh seafood lunch is served onboard.
13:30 Continue on to discover Ho Ba Ham Islet, the most remote point in Lan Ha Bay and bordering the Gulf of Tonkin. Visit its quaint fishing village and lagoon. Possibility of kayaking through an amazing tunnel under a karst mountain (time and tides permitting).

16:00 Return to Bhaya Classic.

17:00 The vessel cruises back through the Bay to its overnight anchorage near Ho Dong Tien. Happy Hour and Vietnamese cooking demonstration on the Sundeck.
19:30 Sumptuous Set-menu dinner onboard.

21:00 Take in the movie on the Lounge Deck or retire to your cabin.
Overnight onboard Bhaya Classic.

Day 4: Ha Long Bay – Hanoi – Lao Cai (B,L)

06:15 – 07:00 Start your day with Tai Chi on the Sundeck while complimentary tea and coffee are served.

07:00 Bhaya Classic weighs anchor to cruise through the Bay passing beautiful spots like Trong (Drum), Trinh Nu (Virgin) and Me Cung Caves, Coc Ngoi (Toad) Islet, etc.

8:30 Explore Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave.

09:30 Return to Bhaya Classic. Buffet brunch is served onboard.
The vessel cruises leisurely back to harbor.

11:00 Disembark at Bhaya Café, Halong City.

After lunch, return by bus to Hanoi, dinner at your own and join the overnight on train to Lao Cai.

Day 5: Sapa – Cat Cat – Y Linh Ho – Lao Chai – Tavan (B)

Breakfast at local restaurant, sneak through the market and leave the busy town behind. Follow the road downhill to Cat Cat village, stopping by a waterfall and a hydroelectric station for a break before a trek through rice paddy terraces. Enjoy spectacular scenery while walking along a narrow river, before arriving in the Black Hmong village Y Linh Ho minority, where you can take a rest while you are served lunch by the river. After lunch, head to Muong Hoa valley. You will pass through the Black Hmong village of Lao Chai and the Giay village of Tavan, following a very popular trekking route. Overnight at home stay.

Day 6: Tavan – Giang Ta Chai – Su Pan – Hanoi (B)

After breakfast, leave for the Red Dao village of Giang Ta Chai. You will trek through bamboo forests, part of Hoang Lien National Park. On the way you will pass by a waterfall where you will have time to take a rest and enjoy the surroundings. You will find a nice place to enjoy lunch.After lunch, continue toward Su Pan, a small village located by the road. Here you start your journey back to Sapa by car, and the overnight train back to Hanoi.

Day 7: Hanoi – Free time (B)

Breakfast at local restaurant. Pick up at railway station in the morning and transfer to the hotel. A free day to explore the fascinating city of Hanoi. Stroll the 36 streets of the Old City, or take a trishaw to visit the colonial districts. Lunch and dinner at your own expense. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 8: Hanoi – Danang – Hoi An (B) 

After breakfast, transfer to Noi Bai airport for your flight to Danang. On arrival at Danang, you will be greeted by our guide who will begin by escorting you on a tour of Danang City, including the Cham Museum and Marble Mountain, before leaving for Hoi An. Check in to your hotel, and enjoy some free time to explore this lovely city. Lunch & dinner at your own. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 9: Hoi An tour (B,L)

Today you’ll have a guided visit to the ancient town of Hoi An with its famous Japanese covered bridge, Quan Cong temple and Tan Ky House. Lunch at a local restaurant. Following the tour there is free time to discover the delights of Hoi An for yourself. Dinner at your own. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 10: Hoi An – Hue (B)

After breakfast, transfer to Danang. The views from top of Hai Van Pass are excellent – you’ll be able to see Lang Co beach. Then we continue to Hue, where a sightseeing tour will take you to visit the Imperial citadel and the Dong Ba market. Lunch & dinner at your own. Overnight at hotel in Hue.

Day 11: Hue tour (B,L)

After breakfast, take a boat ride on the Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda and Tu Duc Tomb. Lunch at a local restaurant. You will then have time to take a rest and enjoy the surroundings in Hue. Dinner at your own. Overnight in Hue.

Day 12: Hue – Ho Chi Minh (B) 

After breakfast, transfer to Phu Bai airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. After checking in to your hotel, tour the centre of the city: Notre Dame Cathedral, the History Museum, Visit Thong Nhat Conference Hall (former Independence Palace), Ben Thanh market, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, Grand Theatre, the Center Post Office and enjoy the busy Saigon city life. Lunch & Dinner at your own. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

Day 13: Ho Chi Minh – My Tho (B,L)

Take a coach trip to My Tho and a boat trip to the island to visit the famous tropical gardens and enjoy the luscious fruits grown there. After lunch at a local restaurant, it’s back to Ho Chi Minh City with free time for shopping. Dinner at your own. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

Day 14: Departure (B)

Free time in the morning for discovering Ho Chi Minh’s handicraft and lacquer ware workshops before transfer to the airport for departure.