Vietnam Insight tour

Be welcomed at the airport by our Authentik Travel tour guide and transfer to your hotel in the city center.

Check-in at your hotel (after 12:00) or leave your luggage at the hotel and enjoy a walk in the old quarter. The city was built in the 10^th century by the villagers near the Red River Delta. You can see the special architecture in the houses with their narrow width and deep length. You will be able to discover some popular streets such as Ma May, Hang Ma, Hang Dong, Hang Bac and Hang Gai and for tourist sites stop at Dong Xuan market, the biggest market in the northern Vietnam, Bach Ma temple (White horse temple) and the traditional ancient house at 87 Ma May Street. Head back to your hotel.

 

At 8.00am, meet our Authentik Travel tour guide and driver, then depart to Mai Chau where the Muong people live.
On the way, we will visit a Muong village at Cau Trong. Continue to the Thung Khe pass which offers a splendid panoramic view of the valley before arriving in Mai Chau town. 

Mai Chau is a beautiful valley, located 150km away from Hanoi. It is great place with harmonious landscapes, green mountain ranges, rice terraces, villages, White Thai ethnic people and their houses on stilts.
Arrive at around 12:00pm and enjoy lunch with delicious traditional food from the village. Relax then discover the valley by bike or on foot to Na Phon, through the rice fields and villages. Discover the local culture and the locals daily life. On the way, see the rural work on rice fields, weaving craftsman, encounter the locals, and visit a Thai family. All of these make up the authentic life of the locals in this region.

Go back to the village for dinner and enjoy a homestay at the village (stay at the house on stilts for a comfortable authentic experience with basic equipment.
Included: clean mattress, pillow, mosquito net, blankets, outside WC)
Option: you could attend a traditional dancing show while tasting local alcohol (On request)
 

After breakfast, drive 25km to Mai Hich, then enjoy a bike ride (optional) or walk along the trails and concrete roads.
You will be seduced by the gorgeous landscapes as the villages, rice fields, mountains and streams are in perfect harmony with one another.

Do not miss the opportunity to communicate with the friendly local people who are always willing to welcome you into their house to enjoy a cup of tea. 
Lunch will be served in a local family.
In the afternoon, we drive back to Hanoi. On the way, visit Chua Thay (Master Pagoda). This is the place where the famous monk named Tu Dao Hanh spent his religious life while practicing the Buddhist movement named Tantrism (phật giáo Mật Tông) and the art of water puppetry.

Then, transfer to Tay Phuong Pagoda (Western Pagoda) which is located in a hill accessible by 230 laterite steps. This pagoda is well known by all Vietnamese for its magnificent statues and curly roofs which have entered into Vietnamese poetry.
Arrive at your hotel in the late afternoon.
 

Enjoy your breakfast at hotel.
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 a short flight to Danang city.
On arrival, pick up and transfer to Hoian ancient town.

Note: Cruise’s activities order will be depend on each cruises and tide. It is adjustable.
Overnight in Hoian town.

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.

At 8:00am, go on a bike ride (or by car) to Tra Que farming village. It is famous for its aromatic herbs, mint and basil. Their leaves are smaller than normal ones and have a special flavor.
Bike through the village and vegetable fields and meet the farmers who work all the seasons of the year. It is a good opportunity to observe the techniques of vegetable gardening.

Continue our trip to Cam Thanh. Along the way the landscapes of fishing farms and water palm trees will accompany you. Arrive in Cam Thanh and embark a small round bamboo sampan basket boat
Enjoy crab catching in the water palm trees forest. This is a relaxing moment after hours of biking.
Lunch is served in family restaurant Mr Day, a family fisherman working in tourism.

After lunch, enjoy a nice walk in the village to discover how they make nipa for roofs and their daily activities.
Transfer to Danang airport and take a short flight to Saigon.

On arrival, Meet our tour guide and driver and transfer to your hotel.
Overnight in Saigon.

Depart Saigon to discover one of the most striking places in the history of the Vietnam War, the Cu Chi Tunnels.

Cu Chi is a real underground city made up of a large network of tunnels covering an area of over 250km where the Viet Cong conducted the war of resistance against American troops. All of the tunnels were dug by the Viet Cong over a period of twenty years using only pickaxes and shovels. 

Return to Saigon in the afternoon.
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.

Overnight in Saigon.

Our tour guide and driver welcome you at your hotel for transfer to Ben Tre – a beautiful region in the Mekong Delta River, famous for making coconut candy.

Arrive at Hung Vuong pier, then take a boat trip on the Ben Tre River to discover the daily local life.
Stop to visit the brick kiln of Mr Tu Lo and discover the craft methods of making bricks.
Next, visit the coconut factory and meet Mr Vo Van Ba. He is a man passionate about traditional music and has spent all his life making a collection of fifty folk instruments. Here, you can attend a show to appreciate his passion.
Continue your boat trip on a canal to Nhon Thanh Village. This will be an opportunity to taste the fresh fruits.

Take a bike ride (or Tuk tuk) on a small path through the villages and enjoy views of the coconut ranges, rice fields and vegetable gardens. A lunch of Elephant fish ear is served in the village . A short walk will help you to discover the local life in depth. This is followed by a boat ride on the small canal shaded by the wild palm trees.
Transfer back to Saigon in the late afternoon.

Free till transfer to aiport for your flight home.

Tour ends.