Vietnam Discovery

Our Authentik Travel’s tour guide and driver will welcome you at airport and transfer to Hotel in the city center.
Our tour guide will give some first briefing information about our country.
Overnight in Hanoi

Exploring the Temple of Literature or Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam, the outstanding Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, visiting the French Quarter, and discovering the Hanoi Old Quarter

9:00 AM: Get picked up by tour guide to the Temple of Literature which was built under the Ly dynasty in the 11th century for worshipping Confucius and teaching Royal children. Enjoy a walk in the garden to the city’s symbol Khue Van Cac. You will then visit the World Heritage "stone steles” which shows the names of outstanding students. Continue to explore the Quoc Tu Giam which is considered the first national university of Vietnam.

The next stop is the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (closed every Monday) which offers a deep insight into Vietnamese culture through traditional costumes, tools, musical instruments, and traditional houses of many ethnic groups. To fully explore this interesting museum, it takes you around two hours. 

In the afternoon, visit (outside) Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum before continuing the day with a walking tour in the Hanoi Old Quarter. Start with a small pagoda named Ba Da quietly located in a small alley - only a few steps from the Hanoi Great Cathedral, built by French colonialism in the 19th century. Your tour guide takes you to typical streets of Hanoi, such as Lan Ong Street, which sells traditional medicine, and Lo Ren Street, where metal items are produced. Stop to visit the Dong Xuan Central Market - the largest in Hanoi. Continue walking to the famous area for night activities and street food - Ta Hien Street, where you can see the vibrant streets with a lot of amazing local foods and drinks. Try to taste some for an unforgettable experience.

Return to the city center and take a break before attending the water puppet show, a unique performance that originated in the 11th century. These shows depict the daily life, culture, and beliefs of the Vietnamese people through puppets moving on water. The performance often includes traditional music as well.

Come back to the hotel. End of the day​

At 8.00am, meet our tour guide and driver for a transfer from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, driving through the picturesque countryside of the Red River Delta, painted by rice and vegetable fields.

After a 1.5 hour drive, you will arrive in Van Long (100km from Hanoi) where you will meet a typical rural family. Be welcomed to their home with a cup of tea and learn about their idyllic local lifestyles through intimate conversation.
Take a 15km bike ride ( or by car) and walk through the villages. A journey along the dyke will offer you gorgeous landscapes of rice fields, a river and limestone mountains. There are several stops for you to take beautiful photos or encounter the locals then walk to discover Thung La temple, dating back to the 11th century. Meet Mr Tuong, the temple guardian, and enjoy an authentic conversation as well as a 20 minute drum show. 

Later, take a sampan boat trip along the stream and among the limestone mountains to discover the beauty of Van Long Nature reserve. If lucky, you might get to see white monkeys and egrets on the cliffs.
After the boat trip, visit an embroidery village and take part in an embroidery course under the instruction of local craftswoman, Mrs Lam. She will proudly explain the techniques of her traditional craft. This will be a good opportunity for you to practice on fabric like a real craftsman.

Overnight at Hotel in Ninh Binh.

Enjoy breakfast at hotel and enjoy a trip toThung Nham, Ninh Binh through the luxuriant vegetation of the Red River Delta.

Arrive at Thien Ha Pier and embark a small, bamboo sampan boat to start a fantastic two hour boat trip with a local rower. The trip will lead you into the mystical limestone mountains as the picturesque rural countryside unfolds in front of your eyes: Buffaloes, ducks, and simple houses under the foot of the mountain all make this an idyllic rural picture.

Walk up to the Thien Ha cave (Celestial river Cave). This is a large cave that was only discovered in 2007. It is about 12,000 square meters in total and contains a lot of magnificent stalagmites and stalactites with different mystical shapes. Walk for the first 200m then take another boat trip inside the cave to discover its paradisaical beauty.
After visiting Thien Ha, travel to Thung Nham. Take a bike to ride through the rural villages, limestone mountains and impressive rice paddies to Tam Coc.
Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, transfer to Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam for 41 years under the Dinh and Le dynasty (968AD – 1009AD) and visit two temples that are dedicated to the Dinh and Le Kings.
Return to Hanoi in the late afternoon.
Enjoy your own dinner before night train to Lao Cai. ( share 4 berth AC cabin)

Arrive in Lao Cai in the early morning, our local guide will pick you up at the railway station and transfer to Sapa town. 

Enjoy breakfast at local restaurant and start a full day of trekking from Cat Cat Village of the Black Hmong. Visit its beautiful waterfall then follow the path to Y Linh Ho village.
Arrive at Y Linh Ho bridge. Stop to relax a little bit then resume trekking along the buffalo path through the hills. You will have chance to enjoy the splendid view over the rice terrace valley considered one of the most fantastic of the world.
Lunch will be served on the way.
After lunch take a short break before trekking to the Lao Chai village of the black Hmong and Ta Van village of the Zay people.
At 16.00 meet our driver and transfer to Sapa
Overnight in Sapa.

Depart from your accommodation for the hike following the itinerary: Ma Tra – Ta Phin which is less touristic.

The journey will lead you to the superb rice terrace valley, meeting the local people of the Black Hmong and Red Zao ethnic groups. They were originally from southern China. They settled in Vietnam in the 11 century and still live at high altitude, far away from the modern world. This helps them to preserve their traditions, language and especially their ancestral way of life. Make a stop on the way to visit a Hmong family and school in Ma Tra Village. After a 3 hour trek, you will reach the Red Zao village for a transfer to the town.
Trekking distance: 12km – 3 hours.

In the afternoon, free to discover the town till meet our driver for a transfer to Lao Cai Railway station for train to Hanoi.
( Share 4 berth AC cabin).

Arrival in Hanoi in the early morning, check in a hotel by the railway station for your refreshment and breakfast.

08:00 - Meet our driver for a transfer to Halong via Bac Ninh and Sao Do. Extensive rice fields as far as your eyes can see will follow you along the way.
12:00 - Embarkation at Hon Gai port, relax with a welcome drink.
13:00 – Enjoy a seafood lunch on the boat while cruising in to the bay through the enchanting landscapes of Bai Tu Long Bay ( Small Dragon Bay).
15:30 - Take part in activities according to the boat such as: visit Thien Canh Son cave, go kayaking, take a bamboo sampan ride to the Vang Vieng fishing village or simply just relax on the boat.
18:00 - Return to the boat, shower and take a rest.
19:00 - Enjoy a delicious dinner on the boat.
Stay overnight in a private cabin (with air conditioner and shower)
 

You are advised to get up early to enjoy the fresh air and sunrise in the beautiful scenery of Bai Tu Long.
Breakfast on the boat.
08:30 - Enjoy activities. Either visit the cave or embark a small bamboo sampan to visit Vung Vieng Fishing village, one of the spectacular floating villages in Halong. Encounter the locals and fishermen’s farm as well as a floating school (depends on the boat’s activity schedule)
09:30 - Return to the boat and check out of the cabin.
10:00 - Cruise back to Hon Gai port. On the way back, we will enjoy lunch on the boat. Last look at the legendary bay where dragons once descended.
11:45 - Arrive at the pier and transfer back to Hanoi and directly to airport for flight to Hue. On arrival get a pick up to hotel

Overnight in Hue.
Note: The Cruise’s activity schedule will be dependent on each cruise and tide. It is adjustable.

A day of discovery in the poetic Hue city which was chosen as the capital of Vietnam from 1802 to 1945.
It is also the only city in Vietnam that has been able to preserve its citadel and hundreds of temples and pagodas. It has been recognized by Unesco as a world cultural heritage site since 1993.

At 8.00, transfer upstream of the Perfume river to visit the emperor, Minh Mang's tomb, an architectural masterpiece that harmoniously highlights the nature and imperial religious works.
After that, we will voyage along the Perfume River to Thuy Bieu Village taking in the picturesque landscapes on both sides. After 1 hour, we arrive in Thuy Bieu known for its divine grapefruit trees where you can take a bike around the village under the shade of the grapefruit trees and enjoy their pleasant perfume aroma and the harvested straw. The peaceful atmosphere is in every corner of the village.
Then, visit a temple dedicated to the village protector, a traditional garden house built several centuries ago. This is a wonderful opportunity to stop for great photos and interact with the villagers working in the gardens and vegetable fields which should not be missed. 

Lunch is served at Mrs. Loan in the village of Thuy Bieu.
In the afternoon, visit Thien Mu Pagoda,  one of the oldest pagodas in Hue, dating back to 1601. This is the spiritual highlight of the city and well known for its majestic octagon tower and beautiful view of the Perfume River.
Then, continue to the most anticipated site in Hue, Hue citadel, the only vestige symbol for what was once the imperial city of Vietnam. It is inspired by the fortification of Vauban. The city is composed of three parts: Kinh Thanh (the Capital city), Hoang Thanh (the Imperial city) and Cam Thanh (the Forbidden City). The most beautiful sites in Hue are concentrated in this area including the flag tower, the South gate, the palace of supreme Harmony, the Dynasty temple area and the settlement area.
Back to your hotel in the late afternoon.
 

Depart to Tu Duc Tomb. Certainly, it is the most beautiful and majestic architectural work among emperor's  tombs. Built between 1864 and1867, this tomb is composed of two parts: the temple and the tomb. There are 50 monuments in this tomb area. In perfect harmony with nature, it is surrounded by two lotus ponds on either side. The tomb is surrounded by statues of Lions, elephants and mandarins.
Discover the emperor's worship house and his royal family, the theater and the area of the tomb which contains a stelae built to relate his life.

Drive to Hoian via Mandarin Road and Sea Cloud pass (Hai Van Pass). Stop on top of the pass to enjoy the breathtaking view of the ocean and Da Nang city. Once you arrive in Da Nang, stop to visit the Cham Museum which preserves the most important Cham culture collections in the world.
Then, walk to My Khe beach where you can enjoy the view of giant Goodness of Mercy statues in the Linh Ung Pagoda. Take photos of fishermen by the beach then continue driving along the coastline to Hoian ancient town.
Overnight in Hoian.

Enjoy a city tour in Hoian ancient town which is listed in the Heritage of Humans.

Some real treasures that need to be discovered are Hoian Museum, Japanese bridge, China Town, Quan Thang ancient house, the local market and the old busy port of the 15th century for the international boats from China, Netherlands, Japan, and Poland.
Finally, visit the Thang Loi silk factory, known as a good establishment in Hoian to have tailor-made silk clothes.

In the evening, Embark on a small boat in Hoian town then depart to Thu Bon River which was once a very busy exchange place for a lot of international ships throughout the 15th century. The boat trip will take you along the river. This is a good chance for you to appreciate the landscape of the peaceful village by the river bank and admire the fishermen’s activities on the river. Enjoy the sunset in the late afternoon from April to November.
Overnight at Hoian.
 

Free till transfer to Danang airport for short flight to Nha Trang.
On arrival, get a pick up to hotel
Free on your own at the beach.
Overnight in Nha Trang.

Free day on the beach to relax.
Overnight in Nha Trang.

Free in the morning. Till get a transfer to airport for flight to Saigon in the afternoon.
Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel in the city center.
Overnight in Saigon.

After your breakfast, Enjoy a full day Saigon city tour.
Meet our tour guide and driver at your htoel to enjoy a full day city tour.

Visit the Reunification palace (or the war memorials Museum), Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office inspired by Orsay Station in Paris.
Then, transfer to Cho Lon District to discover its old quarter, Binh Tay Market and the colorful Quan Am pagoda, one of the oldest pagodas in the city. Its architecture and decorations have remained since its construction.

Return to Saigon city for a walk in the city center visiting sites like the former Catinat streets, the Opera house, City Hall as well as Ben Thanh market.
Overnight in Saigon.

Get picked up from your hotel and transfer to Cai Be ( 120km – 2.5 hour driving). Visit Cao Dai temple on route.

Upon arrival, embark on a boat trip on a branch of the Mekong River to Vinh Long. Experience the rhythm of life on the legendary Mekong River with a visit to Cai Be floating market and the orchid canals .
Visit crafts workshops of rice, popcorn, coconut caramel and rice cake.
Cycle or walk on the village paths to discover the ancient and beautiful Phu Chau pagoda where serenity reigns and meet the local people.

Enjoy  lunch in an open air restaurant where you can taste a famous local specialty, the Elephant ear fish. Then enjoy tasting delicious fruits while rowing a small rowboat in the canals shaded by the fruit trees.
Continue your boat trip to Vinh Long and meet our driver at the pier for a transfer to Can Tho. Arrive in Can Tho in the late afternoon.  Check in at your hotel and relax.

Enjoy free time on your own to discover the city located on the Mekong River.
Stay overnight in Can Tho.
 

Have breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the pier for a boat trip to visit Cai Rang floating market, the largest and most lively market in the Mekong Delta.

There are so many colors and smells in the bubbling atmosphere where hundreds of sampans are filled with goods such as rice, fruits, and craft products. Everything is shown to sell from the early morning.
Leave the market and continue the boat trip through the canals and visit a fruit garden (Option - replace the garden with the nursery field by the river)
Head back to An Binh Market which is full of fish, fruits and vegetables.

Stop at Binh Thuy ancient house which contains the orchid garden where “The Lover” was filmed.
Transfer back to Saigon and arrive in the late afternoon.
Overnight in Saigon
 

Free till meet our driver for a transfer to airport for your flight home.

Tour ends.