We start our one day city tour from the lobby of the hotel at 8:30am with our tour guide & driver pick -up. We will drive to Ho Chi Minh Complex, where we will spend a couple of hour to visit: Ho Chi Minh's Mausolem, his Former Stilt-house Residence, the Presidential Palace and One Pillar Pagoda. Keep going to see the Temple of Literature: Originally built as a temple to Confucius, this is the site of Vietnam's first university dating back to 1070. The temple highlights the importance that Vietnamese society placed then and now on education. Lunch will be at a fine local restaurant in Hanoi.

In the afternoon, we will visit one of the most interesting museums in Vietnam, Museum of Ethnology, which is widely acknowledged as the best in the country and has an extensive display dedicated to Vietnam's 54 Ethnic minority people. Following by that we will wander around the city by car to see the real life of Hanoi as well as the difference parts the city.

After that we will have chance to enjoy the unique Water Puppet show to hear to know Vietnamese traditional instruments and singing from the live musicians who play throughout the show. Finally we have dinner before the tour guide will transfer us to railway station for the train to Sapa at 09.10pm and arrive at Lao Cai at 06.30am on the following day. Overnight on the train to Sapa

Notes:

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum opening time: Open from Tuesday to Thursday and weekends from 8am to 11pm. Closed on Mondays and Fridays. The mausoleum is closed for two months of the year, usually October and November, when Ho Chi Minh’s body is maintenance. Ethnology Museum is closed on Mondays

The tour guide will meet and transfer us to have breakfast at a local restaurant. After having breakfast we are ready to explore Sapa town. We embark on a lovely walking tour to the hill tribe village of Cat Cat, home of the H'Mong hill tribe minority people. As we walk to the villages nestled in the valley below Sapa we will meet some of the local minority people on their way to and from Sapa. Here we have the opportunity to share cultural experiences with families that live in the area. Overnight at hotel in Sapa

After breakfast at hotel, we will driver to visit Can Cau market. After crossing the bridge, we begin our journey uphill offering beautiful views over the valleys. Situated 20 km from Bac Ha, Can Cau is a small, but very colorful market. Opening only on Saturdays, it always delivers a very photogenic display of Flower Hmong, Black Zao, Phu La ethnic costumes. After spending the whole morning exploring the market, you will leave the market for Bac Ha town for lunch.

In the afternoon, we drive downhill towards Lao Cai for about half an hour. We stop on the way (before reaching Lao Cai) to take a short walk to Trung Do village inhabited by Tay people. Tay villages are always set up at the foot of a mountain or along a stream and are named after a mountain, a field, or a river. Each village contains about 15-20 households. A large village is divided into many small hamlets. The houses are built on stilts or level with the ground. Stop by a traditional Tay house for a cup of tea before taking a boat cruise upstream the Chay River. The scenery is very beautiful on both sides of the river. The boat trip will end at Coc Ly where your vehicle will be waiting for you for the journey back to Lao Cai. We are free time before the tour guide will transfer us to railway station for the train to Hanoi at 07.35pm and arrive at Hanoi at 05.15am. Overnight on the train to Hanoi

Approx: 6 hours driving/ 1.5 hours boat cruise/ 0.5-hour walking/ 1-hour lunch

The tour guide will meet and transfer you to hotel to relax and have breakfast before transfering to Halong Bay.

08h00: Pick up from your hotel in Hanoi. Drive to Halong City through the paddy fields in the Red River Delta.

10H00: Stopover on the way for refreshments

12h00: Arrive at Tuan Chau Wharf – Break and photo opportunities

12h30: Board Glory Cruises for departure. A welcome drink will be served

13h00: Lunch is served while cruising through the bay

15h30: Visit exciting Cua Van fishing village, the village is free from busy roads and streets, electric lights, houses and high rise buildings. Instead, there are only herds of little boats and rafts. You will have the chance to discover the traditional culture and customs of the fishermen.

Enjoy kayaking or swimming (if the weather permits).

16h30-17h00: Return to the boat and join cooking class by Glory Cruise’s Chef.

19h00: Dinner is served.

21h00: Leisure time to enjoy a chat around the bar or enjoy night fishing.

Relax and spend a romantic night on Glory Cruise

06h30: Coffee, tea and breakfast pastries served in the dining room.

7h00: Enjoy Tai Chi instruction on the sundeck (duration about 30 minutes).

08h15: Visit splendid Sung Sot Cave

09h00: Check out and enjoy a fantastic cruise on the bay, passing Dinh Huong Island, fishing villages, Ga Choi Island, Dog Island and Sail Island.

09.30: Buffet brunch (breakfast/lunch) while cruising back through Halong Bay to the pier

11h30: Arrive at the pier. Time to say goodbye to the crew

12h00: Drive from Halong to Hanoi.

14h00: Stopover in Dong Trieu town to visit a Ceramics workshop.

16.00: Arrive in Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi

Flight to Hue at 1330/1440 by Vietnam Airlines

Today we will take the flight to Hue. Arrival at Phu Bai airport, the tour guide will meet and take us to visit Hue Citadel & Dong Ba market. Overnight in Hue

Today we will take the boat on Perfume River to visit Thien Mu pagoda then we will visit Tomb of Tu Duc King. In the afternoon, we will visit Thanh Toan Bridge & Tomb of Khai Dinh King then come back to hotel. Overnight in Hue

After breakfast at the hotel, we travel by vehicle to Hoian along scenic highway 1A. Along the way we will stop to visit Hai Van Pass, My Khe Beach and Marble Mountain – the five elements of the Universe (water, wood, air, fire and earth). We will arrive in Hoian in the afternoon and relax. At 3pm, with the tour guide picks up, we will start walking tour around the ancient town to visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, the Pottery Museum, Tan Ky old house, the Cantonese congregation, the silk street of Hoi An, the temples and pagodas of Chinese appearance. Overnight at hotel in Hoian

In the morning, we visit My Son.

My Son, located 69 km southwest of Danang, was an imperial city during the Cham dynasty, and 75km far from Hoian. My Son is the former capital of the ancient Cham civilization that ruled Central Vietnam from the second to the thirteenth century. Their religion was primarily derived from Indian Hinduism. My Son is considered to be one of the best-preserved Cham structures in Vietnam. The complex is comprised of seventy Hindu-like towers and temples dating from the second century. My Son Sanctuary is a large complex of religious relics that comprises more than 70 architectural works. They include temples and towers that connect to each other with complicated red brick designs. The main component of the Cham architectural design is the tower, built to reflect the divinity of the king. In the afternoon, we are free time to relax. Overnight in Hoian

Flight to Ho Chi Minh at 1420/1535 by Vietnam Airlines

Today we will take the flight to Ho Chi Minh. Arrival at Tan Son Nhat airport, the tour guide will meet and transfer us to hotel then we are free. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

After breakfast we depart our hotel for the Reunification Palace, the former Presidential Palace for the president of the South of Vietnam. After that, we will visit War Remnant Museum, where we can see countless artifacts, photographs and pictures documenting about the second Indochina war. Before our lunch, we stop at Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post Office. Our delicious lunch will be served at a local noodle soup restaurant called “Presidential Pho 2000”, named due to a surprise visit by former US president Bill Clinton during his visit that year.

In the afternoon, we will leave Saigon for the Cu Chi tunnels, otherwise known as the "Iron Triangle" or "Iron Land". On our way there we will drive through pleasant countryside; rubber plantations and rice paddies. Before entering the tunnels, we will see a short introductory video showing how they were constructed, followed by an exploration of the maze of tunnels, some of which have been widened to allow tourist access. Also on display are various mantraps and the remains of an American tank as well as numerous bomb craters made by 500lb bombs dropped by B52 bombers. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

The program will start with a visit of Vinhlong market in the town. This is the best choice for you to take pictures of fish, shrimps, prawns, crabs, snakes, rice-field rats, tropical fruits, vegetable...

The boat of Mekong Travel will take you to visit the brick kilns where you can see how the local people create beautiful potteries from clay. Then, we visit nursery garden for you to contact the real famous farmers – Mr Tiger or his son who is very successful in Vietnam agriculture. We will enjoy some kinds of fruits from his garden & homemade rice wine when listening to the traditional music

The rowing boat will take you deeper into the countryside on smaller canals and to enjoy the peaceful time. 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 make contacts with them and see how they catch fish...

Have some fruits and tea when enjoying the traditional music at homestay. Check in home-stay.

One more thing to do in this trip is biking! It will be so amazing to bike on village paths to see the local farms, houses, real life and the ancestral ways to pick up fruits in Mekong Delta.

We cook some dishes with the owners. We enjoy diner and have cup of tea or rice wine when enjoying the traditional music. Also, you can ask the locals about the culture, people and history of this Island. They do not mind to answer some personal questions.

Overnight in a private room of local house

Have early breakfast and have a boat trip to Cai Be colorful floating market cruising among local barges full of fruits and vegetables.

Then, an optional stop can be made at local workshops where you can see how to make rice paper, coconut candy and pop-rice, pop-corn.

It is so interesting to visit the handicraft village where you can see how they make some special products: making rice-net for spring-rolls, fish sauce & Soya sauce, cooking salt, sewing coconut-leaves for cottage roof...The cruise will end at Cai Be town. Our tour guide will meet us and have lunch then transfer you to Ho Chi Minh City. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh

Today we are free time to relax before the tour guide will meet and transfer us to airport for departure flight.