Color of Vietnam ( Trip from north to south 10 days/ 9 nights)

Full description:
Xin chao travel lovers! Welcome to Vietnam – The land of miracle!

Day 1:Hanoi(40km/1h)                                                          (-/L/D)

On the arrival, you will received a warm welcome & picked up at the airport by our local guide and driver ; then our driver take you to center of capital Hanoi .
You will visit the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, the eternal resting place of the greatest leader of the Vietnamese people, every day, a large number of Vietnamese as well foreign tourists come to honor him. You walk in the botanical garden in front of the presidential palace, then you visit his stilt house where Ho Chi Minh lived until his death (1969). You continue to visit the one pilar pagoda which is famous for original contruction emerging from a body of water. You have lunch in local restaurant, in afternoon, you will visit to Temple of literature which is often cited as one of Hanoi’s most picturesque tourist attractions. Originally built as a university in 1070 dedicated to Confucius, scholars and sages, the building is extremely well preserved and is a superb example of traditional-style Vietnamese architecture. you will discover the Restored Sword Lake and his Ngoc Son Temple via the cute red brigde. You will enjoy in evening water puppet show before the dinner at local restaurant. Check in at hotel and overnight.

Day 2: Ha Noi - Tam Coc – overnight in Tam Coc                             (B/L/D)

Picked up by our tour guide at the hotel in The Old Quarter then depart for Ninh Binh. After 2 hours traveling by car, you will visit Hoa Lu – The Acient Capital and the remaining two temples dedicated to King Dinh and King Le. Then the bus will take you to Tam Coc grottoes. Have lunch at a local restaurant where you can enjoy some of special food such as rice husk goat meat, steamed goat meat, stewed goat foot, rice crust, steamed mountain snail…  In the afternoon, you will take an exciting sampan boat ride in Tam Coc grottoes – Halong on land, proceed a cycling along country land to enjoy the beautiful scenery of lush paddy field and discover real countryside of the North Vietnam. After dinner, you have free time to relax and expedient a peaceful rural night.


 

Day 3: Tam Coc - Halong Bay (Natural wonder) overnight on boat              (B/L/D)

 You will leave Tam Coc to Halong Bay and stop for a coffee break at a local arts and crafts center. On the arrival to Halong Bay, board a junk boat for a cruise in this natural wonder, Welcome drink - receive cruise briefing, safety instructions and check in. Start cruising and explore Halong Bay - one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. Enjoy buffet lunch with Vietnamese dishes served while cruising through the bay, passing the most beautiful and quiet areas, such as Incense Burner, Dog Stone Islet, Fighting Cock, Soi Sim beach, Coconut Three Island Visiting Tung Sau area, is covered by the leaping rocks, cultured pearl fishery. You can wit yourself the process of the jewel, from culturing to harvesting and sculpting, moreover, you have a chance to do kayaking based on your preference. Enjoy busy space with pearl maker; you can experience the completion of pearl. Visiting the beautiful Ti Top beach for swimming (if the weather permits), Ti Top Beach is especially famous for its fresh atmosphere, clean water, and smooth white sand that create a great ambiance for tourists to relax or passengers can take steps to reach on the top of  Ti Top beach to have a whole panorama view of Halong Bay. Back to the boat and free time while sailing to Luon Bo area, and anchor overnight.
Dinner – Deluxe Vietnamese Set Menu Dinner

Day 4: Halong Bay – Ha Noi – Hue (Flight)                                     (B/L/D)

The day starts early onboard with Tai Chi session on the sundeck. Tai chi also called Tai chi chuan, combines deep breathing and relaxation with slow and gentle movements. Coffee, tea and pastries for breakfast are served in the dining room with morning view of bay’s landscape.
Transfer by tender to Sung Sot Cave. Walk up about 100 steps to the cave entrance. It takes approximately 45 minutes for cave visiting. Visit Sung Sot Cave, one of the biggest cave in Halong Bay with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. Return to the boat by tender.
 
Have a buffet brunch while cruising back to the Tuan Chau Wharf. Relaxing on the sundeck or in the dining room enjoying the bay scenery while approaching the wharf. Direct transfer to airport to fly to Hue. Pick up at airport then transfer to hotel.  Dinner at local restaurant and overnight at hotel.

Day 5: Hue (Visit)                                                             (B/L/D)

 

Our car and your guide will pick you up at your hotel. Then you will discover the beautiful Hue city. You will visit Thanh Toan Bridge (Tile-roofed bridge) in the typical countryside - an arched wooden bridge, a rare and the most aesthetically valuable bridge among those of Vietnam. Here you get a chance to learn a local life when you visit local market in countryside. Then you will visit Minh Mang Tomb – considered as the most majestic of all of the Royal Tombs. Renowned for its architecture, which harmoniously blends into the nature surroundings.  Khai Dinh Tomb – which is a blend of Western and Eastern architecture. Lunch at local Restaurant
In the afternoon, You will discover the majestic imperial city and set of architectural complexes with hundreds of different monuments. Imperial city is the home of Vietnam’s last royal dynasty – the Nguyen Dynasty then Thien Mu Pagoda (Heaven Fairy Lady Pagoda) – the oldest pagoda in Hue city. Royal costumed dinner accompanied by folk musique and song (for group from 10pax). Overnight at hotel.
 

Day 6: Hue – Hoi An (150km/3h)                                                (B/L/D)

You will leave Hue for HoiAn via the Cloud Pass which offers a magnificent view of Lang Co lagoon. On the way, you will stop at Ngu Hanh Son marble scupture village to visit marble sculpture workshop and a Vietnamese specialty shop. Lunch at local restaurant, you discover this magnificent port city. Old Town Hoi An, the city's historic district, is recognized as an exceptionally well-preserved example of a Southeast Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century, its buildings and street plan reflecting a blend of indigenous and foreign influences. Prominent in the city's old town, is its covered "Japanese Bridge", dating to the 16th-17th century and transfer to Cam Thanh village for a round basket walk in the wet coconut water forest. Check in and overnight at hotel. Dinner at local restaurant.


 

Day 7: Hoi An – Enjoy ecotour                                                (B/L/D)

Start your tour with a bicycle ride to a local farm in Tra Que Village. Enjoy the surrounding scenery and breathe in the fresh air on the way. You will be given an introductory history of the village, interesting information about the cultivation of vegetables and their uses in traditional Vietnamese medicine. From here, go around the vegetable garden and join the farmers in preparing and fertilizing the land with seaweed from a local lake.
You have the chance to rake, sow, pick greens, and more. After your time with the farmers, you will enjoy cooking class to know Banh Xeo - the local pancakes of the central region of Vietnam made from rice flour, bean sprouts, shrimp, and slices of pork. In the afternoon, it is time for you to paddle through the water coconut forest on bamboo basket boats and you can see some water buffalos swamp on the canal, if yes, get try to ride them.

 

Day 8: Hoi An – Danang – Saigon (flight)                                       (B/L/D)

 In the morning, you will take flight to Saigon. Upon your arrival, welcome by our guide and drive and you will discover the Chinatown of Cholon (the big market) which exudes a particular atmosphere with its crowded streets, its signs in Chinese ideograms and its moving human masses. Discover the shops of the traditional herbalists' street, the Binh Tay market full of goods, Thien Hau's pagoda, built in honor of the Celestial Goddess of the Sea decorated with ceramic figurines.  Lunch at local restaurant and you will discover colonial Saigon and the main historical sites of the city:
Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica (view from the outside due to the restoration), made of red brick dating from 1880
The Central Post Office, which is an important example of French architecture in Vietnam
Stop to take some photos in front of the Reunification Palace, the Opera House and the City Hall.
Flannery at Ben Thanh Central Market before setting up at your hotel. Enjoy dinner in town and overnight at the hotel. 

Day 9: Saigon – Ben Tre – Saigon                                               (B/L/D)

You take the road to Ben Tre, you discover of the Vinh Trang pagoda at My Tho, you will arrive in this region in the heart of the Tien river. Boat trip in the arroyos through magnificent orchards and lush nature. Visit of the caramel candy factories, local products based on coconuts. Lunch with the elephant ear fish specialty. Bike ride through the typical countryside, green orchards and scenes of daily life. Rowing boat trip in the narrower canals. After these activities, you will come back to Saigon, enjoy your dinner cruise on Saigon river to admire Saigon by night. Overnight at your hotel.






 

Day 10: Saigon – departure                                                      (B/-/-)

Free time until transfer to airport

Note : B= Breakfeast, L= Lunch, D= Diner Inclusive :

• Modern private bus Huyndai 7, 16, 30, 35, 45s with A / C (depending on the number of the group)
• Accommodation in double or twin room (2 persons / room) in mentioned category, with breakfast
• English speaking local guides except free time
• Cruise on Halong Bay with Pelican boat 4*
• Entrance fee  
• The meals as mentioned in the program
• Two bottle of fresh water per day / 1 person

Exclusive :

• International air tickets
• Domestic flight ( Hanoi – Hue, Danang – Ho Chi Minh city)
• Personal insurance
• Tips for services, guides, drivers, drinks at meals, personal expenses and anything not clearly mentioned in the program

Full description:
Xin chao travel lovers! Welcome to Vietnam – The land of miracle!

Day 1:Hanoi(40km/1h)                                                          (-/L/D)

On the arrival, you will received a warm welcome & picked up at the airport by our local guide and driver ; then our driver take you to center of capital Hanoi .
You will visit the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, the eternal resting place of the greatest leader of the Vietnamese people, every day, a large number of Vietnamese as well foreign tourists come to honor him. You walk in the botanical garden in front of the presidential palace, then you visit his stilt house where Ho Chi Minh lived until his death (1969). You continue to visit the one pilar pagoda which is famous for original contruction emerging from a body of water. You have lunch in local restaurant, in afternoon, you will visit to Temple of literature which is often cited as one of Hanoi’s most picturesque tourist attractions. Originally built as a university in 1070 dedicated to Confucius, scholars and sages, the building is extremely well preserved and is a superb example of traditional-style Vietnamese architecture. you will discover the Restored Sword Lake and his Ngoc Son Temple via the cute red brigde. You will enjoy in evening water puppet show before the dinner at local restaurant. Check in at hotel and overnight.

Day 2: Ha Noi - Tam Coc – overnight in Tam Coc                             (B/L/D)

Picked up by our tour guide at the hotel in The Old Quarter then depart for Ninh Binh. After 2 hours traveling by car, you will visit Hoa Lu – The Acient Capital and the remaining two temples dedicated to King Dinh and King Le. Then the bus will take you to Tam Coc grottoes. Have lunch at a local restaurant where you can enjoy some of special food such as rice husk goat meat, steamed goat meat, stewed goat foot, rice crust, steamed mountain snail…  In the afternoon, you will take an exciting sampan boat ride in Tam Coc grottoes – Halong on land, proceed a cycling along country land to enjoy the beautiful scenery of lush paddy field and discover real countryside of the North Vietnam. After dinner, you have free time to relax and expedient a peaceful rural night.


 

Day 3: Tam Coc - Halong Bay (Natural wonder) overnight on boat              (B/L/D)

 You will leave Tam Coc to Halong Bay and stop for a coffee break at a local arts and crafts center. On the arrival to Halong Bay, board a junk boat for a cruise in this natural wonder, Welcome drink - receive cruise briefing, safety instructions and check in. Start cruising and explore Halong Bay - one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. Enjoy buffet lunch with Vietnamese dishes served while cruising through the bay, passing the most beautiful and quiet areas, such as Incense Burner, Dog Stone Islet, Fighting Cock, Soi Sim beach, Coconut Three Island Visiting Tung Sau area, is covered by the leaping rocks, cultured pearl fishery. You can wit yourself the process of the jewel, from culturing to harvesting and sculpting, moreover, you have a chance to do kayaking based on your preference. Enjoy busy space with pearl maker; you can experience the completion of pearl. Visiting the beautiful Ti Top beach for swimming (if the weather permits), Ti Top Beach is especially famous for its fresh atmosphere, clean water, and smooth white sand that create a great ambiance for tourists to relax or passengers can take steps to reach on the top of  Ti Top beach to have a whole panorama view of Halong Bay. Back to the boat and free time while sailing to Luon Bo area, and anchor overnight.
Dinner – Deluxe Vietnamese Set Menu Dinner

Day 4: Halong Bay – Ha Noi – Hue (Flight)                                     (B/L/D)

The day starts early onboard with Tai Chi session on the sundeck. Tai chi also called Tai chi chuan, combines deep breathing and relaxation with slow and gentle movements. Coffee, tea and pastries for breakfast are served in the dining room with morning view of bay’s landscape.
Transfer by tender to Sung Sot Cave. Walk up about 100 steps to the cave entrance. It takes approximately 45 minutes for cave visiting. Visit Sung Sot Cave, one of the biggest cave in Halong Bay with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. Return to the boat by tender.
 
Have a buffet brunch while cruising back to the Tuan Chau Wharf. Relaxing on the sundeck or in the dining room enjoying the bay scenery while approaching the wharf. Direct transfer to airport to fly to Hue. Pick up at airport then transfer to hotel.  Dinner at local restaurant and overnight at hotel.

Day 5: Hue (Visit)                                                             (B/L/D)

 

Our car and your guide will pick you up at your hotel. Then you will discover the beautiful Hue city. You will visit Thanh Toan Bridge (Tile-roofed bridge) in the typical countryside - an arched wooden bridge, a rare and the most aesthetically valuable bridge among those of Vietnam. Here you get a chance to learn a local life when you visit local market in countryside. Then you will visit Minh Mang Tomb – considered as the most majestic of all of the Royal Tombs. Renowned for its architecture, which harmoniously blends into the nature surroundings.  Khai Dinh Tomb – which is a blend of Western and Eastern architecture. Lunch at local Restaurant
In the afternoon, You will discover the majestic imperial city and set of architectural complexes with hundreds of different monuments. Imperial city is the home of Vietnam’s last royal dynasty – the Nguyen Dynasty then Thien Mu Pagoda (Heaven Fairy Lady Pagoda) – the oldest pagoda in Hue city. Royal costumed dinner accompanied by folk musique and song (for group from 10pax). Overnight at hotel.
 

Day 6: Hue – Hoi An (150km/3h)                                                (B/L/D)

You will leave Hue for HoiAn via the Cloud Pass which offers a magnificent view of Lang Co lagoon. On the way, you will stop at Ngu Hanh Son marble scupture village to visit marble sculpture workshop and a Vietnamese specialty shop. Lunch at local restaurant, you discover this magnificent port city. Old Town Hoi An, the city's historic district, is recognized as an exceptionally well-preserved example of a Southeast Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century, its buildings and street plan reflecting a blend of indigenous and foreign influences. Prominent in the city's old town, is its covered "Japanese Bridge", dating to the 16th-17th century and transfer to Cam Thanh village for a round basket walk in the wet coconut water forest. Check in and overnight at hotel. Dinner at local restaurant.


 

Day 7: Hoi An – Enjoy ecotour                                                (B/L/D)

Start your tour with a bicycle ride to a local farm in Tra Que Village. Enjoy the surrounding scenery and breathe in the fresh air on the way. You will be given an introductory history of the village, interesting information about the cultivation of vegetables and their uses in traditional Vietnamese medicine. From here, go around the vegetable garden and join the farmers in preparing and fertilizing the land with seaweed from a local lake.
You have the chance to rake, sow, pick greens, and more. After your time with the farmers, you will enjoy cooking class to know Banh Xeo - the local pancakes of the central region of Vietnam made from rice flour, bean sprouts, shrimp, and slices of pork. In the afternoon, it is time for you to paddle through the water coconut forest on bamboo basket boats and you can see some water buffalos swamp on the canal, if yes, get try to ride them.

 

Day 8: Hoi An – Danang – Saigon (flight)                                       (B/L/D)

 In the morning, you will take flight to Saigon. Upon your arrival, welcome by our guide and drive and you will discover the Chinatown of Cholon (the big market) which exudes a particular atmosphere with its crowded streets, its signs in Chinese ideograms and its moving human masses. Discover the shops of the traditional herbalists' street, the Binh Tay market full of goods, Thien Hau's pagoda, built in honor of the Celestial Goddess of the Sea decorated with ceramic figurines.  Lunch at local restaurant and you will discover colonial Saigon and the main historical sites of the city:
Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica (view from the outside due to the restoration), made of red brick dating from 1880
The Central Post Office, which is an important example of French architecture in Vietnam
Stop to take some photos in front of the Reunification Palace, the Opera House and the City Hall.
Flannery at Ben Thanh Central Market before setting up at your hotel. Enjoy dinner in town and overnight at the hotel. 

Day 9: Saigon – Ben Tre – Saigon                                               (B/L/D)

You take the road to Ben Tre, you discover of the Vinh Trang pagoda at My Tho, you will arrive in this region in the heart of the Tien river. Boat trip in the arroyos through magnificent orchards and lush nature. Visit of the caramel candy factories, local products based on coconuts. Lunch with the elephant ear fish specialty. Bike ride through the typical countryside, green orchards and scenes of daily life. Rowing boat trip in the narrower canals. After these activities, you will come back to Saigon, enjoy your dinner cruise on Saigon river to admire Saigon by night. Overnight at your hotel.






 

Day 10: Saigon – departure                                                      (B/-/-)

Free time until transfer to airport

Note : B= Breakfeast, L= Lunch, D= Diner Inclusive :

• Modern private bus Huyndai 7, 16, 30, 35, 45s with A / C (depending on the number of the group)
• Accommodation in double or twin room (2 persons / room) in mentioned category, with breakfast
• English speaking local guides except free time
• Cruise on Halong Bay with Pelican boat 4*
• Entrance fee  
• The meals as mentioned in the program
• Two bottle of fresh water per day / 1 person

Exclusive :

• International air tickets
• Domestic flight ( Hanoi – Hue, Danang – Ho Chi Minh city)
• Personal insurance
• Tips for services, guides, drivers, drinks at meals, personal expenses and anything not clearly mentioned in the program

1, Weather
Vietnam has a tropical climate, which is characterized by strong sunshine, relatively high temperatures throughout the year and significant rainfall. In general, the country experiences two distinct seasons: a dry and cold season (from November to April) a hot and rainy season (from May to October). But the country stretching over more than 1600km, there are notable differences between the northern and southern provinces. Temperature changes are therefore more noticeable in the more temperate regions of Tonkin (north), while they are barely perceptible in HoChiMinh Ville and in the Mekong Delta. You can visit Vietnam in any season
 

Bring light everyday clothes, preferably cotton, but woolen fabric is recommended for air-conditioned places (Bus for long distances or restaurants) and the mountainous regions of Upper Tonkin or the Highlands where the thermal amplitude can be important between day and night. A jacket or sweater is  obligatory if you are traveling in winter (September to April). Also bring raincost , as the rains are frequent, brief but often torrential, as well as long clothes and socks to protect you from mosquitoes. When you visit the temples, avoid shorts and sleeveless tops. Bring a hat to protect yourself from the sun, don't forget the sunscreen for the beach and mosquito repellents. Also make sure you have decent attire for visiting places of worship. When visiting a pagoda, men should preferably wear pants, because the shorts would shock the monks, women should have their shoulders covered. It is advisable to have comfortable and easy to remove shoes because you will have to take off your shoes at the entrance of these. Finally, closed high shoes are recommended if you are trekking.
 

To obtain the visa, you have two possibilities of doing it, either you can directly ask for the visa near the Vietnamese embassy or consullate in your country, for that, bring your passport, two photos and 70 euros or 80 euros for a request by correspondence. We can provide you with the forms to complete for your departure.
Less expensive and faster for you, you can get the visa on arrival (VOA Visa Upon, Visa on arrival). This visa will be delivered on site upon arrival at the airport provided that you have a letter of approval. Asiatik Travel will arrange everything and deliver this letter to you, along with your passport details. This letter with the forms will be delivered to you before your departure. When you arrive at the airport, go to the "Landing visa" counter located before passport control, with this invitation letter and a 4x6 photo. With the form, you will pay 25 USD in cash and exclusively in US dollars to obtain a month's visa.
4, Vaccinations and health
Vietnam poses no particular health or safety problems, but it is advisable to consult the "Advice for Travelers" sheets on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website before leaving: www.diplomatie.gouv.fr
No vaccine is required, except for yellow fever if you are coming from an African or Latin American country where it is endemic. However, it is strongly recommended to be up to date with your vaccinations against polio, diphtheria, tetanus, typhoid and hepatitis A and B, as well as meningitis A and C and Japanese encephalitis for long stays
a, Recommandations:
Veillez à vous protéger du soleil et de la chaleur de manière à prévenir tout risque d'insolation et de déshydradation. Exposez-vous progressivement et pensez toujours à porter chapeau, lunettes de soleil et protection solaire, même par temps couvert. il est également important de boire abondamment et fréquemment.
Ne buvez jamais de l'eau du robinet qui ne serait pas préalablement bouillie ou purifiée avec des pastilles, lavez-vous les mains avant et après chaque repas. 
b, Pharmacy kit
If you are following a particular treatment, take your medication in sufficient quantity, with the doctor's prescription
Also think of everyday products such as foam earplugs, razor, shaving cream, tampons and sanitary napkins. But do not worry there either in case of forgetting: all this is on site without difficulty.

5, Telephone and electricity
a, Telephone: 
To call Vietnam from abroad, dial the international access number (00 from Europe) then 84 (for the Vietnam), the regional prefix without the 0 and the number of your correspondent. To call abroad from Vietnam, dial 00, followed by the country code (33 for France and 32 for Belgium, 41 for Switzerland and 1 for Canada...) followed by the regional prefix without the 0 and number
b, Electricity:
The current is in 220volts. In most hotels, the sockets are also designed to work with flat plug devices like those found in the United States (But in this case, you will also need an adapter if your device works in 110volts)
The national network is very reliable in the big cities as generally in the rest of the country.

In luxury hotels and restaurants, the service is generally included (from 10 to 15%), but elsewhere it is left to your discretion and is not systematic. On the other hand, it is traditional to thank the services rendered by the staff such as: luggage port, boat rowers, drivers of the cylos drivers. Our advice for these cases is often 1-2 euros / 1 person if you appreciate the services rendered. For guides and drivers, if you are in a large group (from 10 people), the tip is often at least 2-3 euros / 1 day / 1 person for the guide and half for the driver. If you are in a small group or two, it depends on your sastifaction to leave, the minimum is 3-4 euros / 1 person / 1 day and half for the driver.