VIETNAM IMPRESSIONS IN 14 DAYS
Grading
Moderate
Traveller rating
Activities
- Cultural
- History
- People
- Landscapes
Accommodation
- 13 nights at highly rated hotels
Meals
- Daily buffet breakfast at hotel
- 13 dinners at local restaurants
Duration
14 Days
Double
from
USD
Single
from
USD
Tour highlights:
Explore Vietnam from north to south, getting a taste of the country’s spectacular landscapes, gripping history, exotic culture, epic food and genuine hospitality. From the elegant Hanoi with ancient shopping Old Quarter, the natural beauty of Halong Bay and Ninh Binh, through quiet farming villages and along mountainsides with beautiful views of rice terraces, pine forests and flourishing valleys of Sapa to the buzzing streets of Ho Chi Minh City, or cruise down the lush waterways of the Mekong River. Enjoy immersive tours to truly connect with the remarkable wonders of Vietnam.
- Graceful Hanoi and the colorful Old Quarter.
- Serene emerald waters and islets of Halong Bay
- Picturesque Tam Coc dn Bich Dong
- Colorful Sapa
- The treasure town of HoiAn
- Stunning Cu Chi Tunnels
- The Mekong Delta water life
Itinerary:
Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport. An Aiitours host will meet and take you to hotel.
You will have time to relax at your hotel and adjust to the pace of Hanoi Capital – one of Asia’s most enchanting cities, full of culture, history and the engaging contrast of a rapidly developing and deeply traditional society.
Travel to Hoa Lu, Vietnam’s first capital, is located on the edge of the Red River Delta in a narrow valley surrounded by limestone mountains. We take a relaxing ride on the river on small sampans rowing through winding waterways cutting through the rice paddies to the grottoes of the sacred Tam Coc Caves. This area is characterized by enormous limestone karsts jutting out from the green rice fields, giving the area its nickname as Halong Bay in land. Return to Hanoi for the night.
The journey goes on with a 5 hour ride to Sapa, the town surrounded by breathtaking mountain ranges, is the home of many ethnic minorities and possesses a traditional hill station atmosphere. This afternoon we walk through terraced rice fields to one of the surrounding Hmong villages and enjoy their traditional hospitality. The Hmong people number over 1 million in Vietnam and are famous for their colorful clothing and beautiful embroidery. The rest of the day you will have free time to explore this old French hill station on your own.
This morning we take a cable car to see Mount Fansipan, Vietnam’s highest peak at 3,143 metres before returning to Sapa, exploring more of the town and its surrounds.
Today we travel back to Noi Bai Airport before boarding our Vietnam Airlines flight to Danang and transfer via Marble Mountains and China Beach to the UNESCO listed town of Hoi An.
These two days are reserved for relaxing and exploring HoiAn, a former merchant trading port, is a mixture of Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese and French architecture and is a real treasure of Vietnam. We visit old homes still lived in by descendants of the original merchants, the Japanese Bridge, Hoi An market and the local Chinese pagoda, yet still have time to soak up the charming atmosphere of the Hoi An and the Thu Bon River. We also visit the Cham ruins at My Son, a Holy See of Champa Kingdom dating from 4th to 13th centuries.
Leaving Hoi An by coach the ancient capital of Hue. This afternoon We take a cruise on the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda before visiting the UNESCO listed Citadel, home to the former Vietnamese Emperors in the 19th and 20th Centuries.
This morning we visit Tu Duc and Khai Dinh Tomb. In the afternoon we board our flight to Ho Chi Minh City.
This morning we have an in depth look at the determination and ingenuity of the Vietnamese and explore the famous Cu Chi tunnels. In the afternoon we tour around Saigon by visiting the Presidential Palace, War Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Post Office, Ben Thanh Market.
We start our day trip into the Mekong Delta stopping at My Tho to board a covered motorized boat to visit a family run coconut candy factory, walking through local farmers houses to enjoy authentic Vietnamese hospitality. Enjoy a local music show and a visit to a fruit plantation where we can sample the many varieties of fruit grown in the Mekong. In the afternoon we return to Saigon.
Enjoy a last minute shopping spree before bidding farewell to Saigon and board your onwards flight. Tour ends.
Map:
Inclusions:
Daily breakfast at hotels and 13 diners at local restaurants
13 nights at 4 and 5 star on a twin share basis
All transfers and transportation in private vehicle
Two domestic flights Hanoi – Danang and Hue – Saigon
Sightseeing and admission fees
Boat fees in Halong and the Mekong Delta
English speaking guide
Two drinking water bottles per day
- International airfares
- Travel Insurance (compulsory)
- Visa fees
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
- Items of a personal nature such as laundry, phone calls, alcohol etc
- Tips and gratuities
Accommodation:
HANOI: Melia Hotel Hanoi (3 nights)
SAPA: Cao Nguyen Hotel (2 nights)
HOI AN: Vinh Hung Resort & Spa (2 nights)
HUE: Saigon Morin Hotel
SAIGON: Pullman Saigon (2 nights)
Essential Information:
Yes, this tour can run 365 days a year, spring, summer, autumn and winter.
– Due to Vietnam’s extreme latitudinal span, its climate may vary noticeably from region to region. However, the tour can be enjoyed at any time of the year. In south Vietnam, the dry season runs from November to May. Temperatures average between 20 and 33 degrees. The wet season is characterized by a brief shower late in the afternoon with temperatures from 25 to 33 degrees.
– Central Vietnam wet season, sometimes called cool winter, usually starts in October and ends in March. From April to end of September are the best months for swimming in this region’s beautiful beaches.
– Hanoi and north Vietnam experience two seasons – summer and winter. Summers are dry and warm, averaging 25 to 33 degrees. Winters (October to March) can be cool with temperatures in Hanoi averaging 10 to 20 degrees in January. Some winter months experience a light, drizzling rain.
It’s approximately 7-8 hours in total per day. The longest travel time is to Sapa, about 5 hours each way.
VISA EXEMPT
Visitors from the following countries may enter visa free, and stay for the indicated number of days.
ASIA:
Brunei, Myanmar – 14 days.
Japan, South Korea (ROK) – 15 days.
The Philippines – 21 days.
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand – 30 days.
EUROPE:
Belarus, Denmark, Italy, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, The United Kingdom – 15 days.
To stay beyond this number of days, you may apply for a visa extension upon your arrival in Vietnam.
Others not in the above lists must require a visa before coming to Vietnam.
Before traveling to Vietnam, be sure to purchase insurance for your trip. Two months before you leave, you should also consult your doctor or local travel clinic for the latest information on health risks in Vietnam and to receive any vaccinations you may need.
Pregnant women should consult their doctors for specialized advice. Anti-malarial drugs and many diarrhea treatments are not completely safe during pregnancy.
If you have a medical condition or allergy of which requires particular attention, carry a doctor’s letter with you that describes the nature of the condition and treatment needed. We also recommend you pack a medical kit with:
• DEET-based insect repellent
• Paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain relief
• Anti-itch ointment, such as hydrocortisone
• Sunscreen
• Antihistamine for allergy treatment, such as zyrtec, Benadryl
• Bacitracin for wound care, such as Neosporin
• Diarrhea treatment, such as Imodium
Some medications may be difficult to find in Vietnam: be sure you travel with a full supply of any prescribed medicine you need.
If you forget your medications, don’t panic! Somewhere somehow you can find an alternative for your treatment in Vietnam.
