*Vietnam North to South - Classic
This trip will lead you through the lush landscapes and sleek cities of Vietnam and there’s really no time like the present to experience such an amazing trip. The beauty of the country consists of many interesting attractions, allowing us to show you the hidden charm of Vietnam.
Some highlights of the trip include trekking to visit the hill tribes in the Northwest regions, staying aboard a traditional Vietnamese Junk boat with deluxe accommodations, relaxing along the beaches, exploring the historical sites as well as Vietnamese culture. You’ll truly experience all the region has to offer by immersing yourself in the culture through dining, sight-seeing, and nightlife in each city, and you’ll have the added bonus of rest and relaxation at a few of Vietnam’s prime beach towns.
Details
Description
- Trip Length:
- 19 days / 18 nights
- Highlights:
- Get to know culture, history, do trekking, boat trips, DMZ zone, visit old towns, beach relaxing, easy rider….
- Locations Visited:
- Hanoi, Sapa, Halong Bay, Cat Ba, Dmz, Hue, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Dalat, Saigon
- Start City:
- Hanoi
- End City:
- Ho Chi Minh City
- Physical rating:
- Culture rating:
- Transportation:
- Car/Minibus, train, plane and boats
- Departure days:
- Every day
- Included in the price:
- Accommodation: 2, 3 and 4 star hotels, Meals: Meals are included in this trip according to itinerary, Excursions: All entrances fees are included in the trip, Transport: Train, car/minibus transfer, air-plane and boat trips, English speaking tour guide.
- Group size:
- min 2 pax, max 8 pax
This is not included
- Tipping – it is good manner to tip the guide and driver
- Visas, travel insurance (compulsory)
- Drinks and personal expenses
Note: The program is subject to change.
Day 1: Hanoi arrival
On arrival in Hanoi you'll be pick up and transported to Hanoi center. Overnight in Hanoi. Hotels: Thang Long Opera 3*** (or similar)
Day 2: Hanoi
Around 8:30am you'll be picked up from your hotel. We'll drive to visit Ho Chi Minh complex, including Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum – the final resting place of the Vietnamese great father or uncle Ho, President Ho Chi Minh’s stilt House – where he lived on and off from 1958 to 1969, One Pillar Pagoda – a group of structures consisting of a pagoda and a tower built in the middle of a square lake. We leave One Pillar Pagoda and drive to West Lake to visit Tran Quoc pagoda and have lunch. After lunch, you will visit the Temple of literature and the Museum of Ethnology – the most interesting museum in Hanoi, with many different things relating to the 54 Vietnamese ethnic groups. After that, you will visit Hoan Kiem Lake (Restore Sword Lake). The last place of the tour is the old quarters of Hanoi, where you can walk around. Tour ends at your hotel. Hotels: Thang Long Opera 3*** (or similar). (B, L)
Note:
- All museums are closed on Monday.
- Ho Chi Minh mausoleum is closed on Monday, Friday, the whole month of October and November!
- Long dresses are requested when visiting the mausoleum, temple and pagoda
Day 3: Hanoi/ Night train to Sapa
Free until transfer to train station for night train to Sapa. Night train (soft sleeper) to Lao Cai. The night trains leave at around 21:10. Overnight on train. (Soft sleeper with A/C, 4 pax in a cabin). (B)
Day 4: Sapa minority trek
You arrive at Lao Cai Railway station early in the morning, from where you will be picked up and have a shared bus transfer to Sapa (35 km - about 1 hour drive). Check-in hotel (if the room is available). In the morning you will have time on your own to enjoy the view of Fansipan (3.143 m) on the other side of the Sapa valley and to explore the market where some of the different ethnic minority groups come into town to sell their products. In the afternoon you will walk down to Cat Cat Village and the beautiful valley, which is home of the Black H’mong people. Black H’mong is one of the biggest and poorest minority groups in the Sapa area. But they are proud of their culture and stick to their traditions and way of living. They have their own language and wear traditional indigo blue clothing. Stay overnight at hotel in Sapa. Hotels: Holiday Sapa 3*** (or similar).
Day 5: Sapa minority trek
Today a car will take you to Taphin village where you will experience the customs and life of Red Dao people. The Red Dao women have very colorful red embroideries and coins on their clothing. On the head they wear a deep red scarf. Some of the women have shaved off their eyebrows because a hairless face is considered to be very beautiful by the Red Dao. Stay overnight at hotel in Sapa. Hotels: Holiday Sapa 3*** (or similar). (B)
Day 6: Sapa/ Night train back to Hanoi
Free and easy at Sapa town. Check out the hotel. You take the bus to Lao Cai and from here you take the night train (soft sleeper) to Hanoi. (Arrive in Hanoi around 5:00AM next day. The tour finishes at Hanoi train station. Take a taxi by yourself to our office for relaxing). (B)
Day 7: Hanoi/ Trip to Halong Bay
At around 08:00AM you'll be pick up from our office and join a group tour to Ha Long harbor. The trip takes approximately 4 hours with a short break on the way. Get to Halong city and then boarding around 12:00. Lunch will be served on the boat, while we cruise and enjoy the breathtaking view around the bay. We stop for a guided tour of the Sung Sot cave or the Thien Cung - Dau Go cave. After the tour we depart for the Titop area. If the weather permits it, you will be able to take a hike on the Titop Mountain, go kayaking or swim in the bay’s emerald waters. In the evening a Vietnamese dinner will be served on the boat. After the dinner you'll have different entertainment options such as karaoke, board games, movies or stargazing on the upper deck. Overnight stay on the boat in clean air-conditioned rooms, with private washrooms. (L, D)
Day 8: Halong Bay - Cat Ba Island
Rise early for another chance for kayaking and swimming in the Luon cave area or rise later and have breakfast at your leisure. The boat will drop guests off at Gia Luan pier on Cat Ba Island. In the morning: a bus will take you to Cat Ba National park for some hiking and cycling. After the excursion, guests will head towards Cat Ba town to check – in at the hotel on Cat Ba. Lunch will be served at the Hotel. Afternoon: guests can relax at the hotel, shop along the sea-side strip, visit Cat Co beaches or kayak to Monkey Island with the tour guide. Evening: free time. Hotels: Cat Ba Fantasea & Queen Hotel** (or similar). (B, L, D)
Day 9: Cat Ba Island - Hanoi. Night train to Hue
Rise early to enjoy the sunrise or sleep a little longer, but check out is at 8:45 AM. We will head back to Gia Luan pier by bus and board the boat to make our way back to Ha Long Harbor. Drive to Ha Noi: 3 hours with a short break on the way, you will be dropped off at your hotel around 4.00 PM.
Later in the evening you'll be pick up and transported to the train station to catch the night train from Hanoi to Hue at 23:00pm. Overnight on train. (Soft sleeper with A/C, 4 pax in a cabin). (B, L)
Day 10: Hue
Arrive in Hue at about 10:45am, where you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel. Afternoon, you will have free time to explore the town. Hotels: Festival Hue 3*** (or similar).
Day 11: Hue - Trip to DMZ
Pick-up at your hotel in Hue at 8:00 am, and drive to Quang Tri. We make our first stop at Hien Luong Bridge (Ben Hai River) - an important landmark in the partition of the country into Northern and Southern Vietnam along the 17th parallel by the Geneva Accords of 1954. Just another 30-minutes drive will take you to the Vinh Moc Tunnel - the shelter of 60 local families during the Vietnam War. The trip highlights should not be missed are the Ho Chi Minh Trails, Dong Ha town and Rock Pile. Drive back to your hotel in Hue late afternoon. Hotels: Festival Hue 3*** (or similar). (B, L)
Day 12: Hue - Transfer to Hoi An
After having breakfast in the hotel, we'll leave Hue and drive to Hoi An. The car (minibus) will arrive in Hoi An at noon. Check-in hotel. Free and easy.
Hotels: Hoi An Pacific 4**** (or similar). (B)
Day 13: My Son Holyland + Hoi An traditional villages
We depart from the hotel at around 08:00am to Myson Holyland - the Hindu center of Champa Kingdom between the 4th and 14th centuries, located 55km West of Hoi An. There you can enjoy the Cham Dance for half an hour as soon as we get to the site. You'll then have some spare time to explore the holyland by yourself. After lunch, we take a private boat for a gentle cruise along the Thu Bon River to Thanh Ha Pottery Village & Kim Bong Carpentry Village. Hotels: Hoi An Pacific 4**** (or similar). (B, L)
Day 14: Hoi An
You can either walk around the town to see the daily life of the local people or go to relax on Cua Dai beach (4km from the hotel). Hotels: Hoi An Pacific 4**** (or similar). (B)
Day 15: Hoi An - Danang. Fly to Ho Chi Minh City
We leave Hoi An and drive to Da Nang airport, where you'll catch a flight from Da Nang to Saigon. From Tan Son Nhat airport you will be transported to your hotel. Hotels: Kingston 3*** (or similar). (B)
Day 16: Ho Chi Minh City
You have full day free to explore the city or go for shopping at Ben Thanh market. Hotels: Kingston 3*** (or similar). (B)
Day 17: Ho Chi Minh City - Trip to Mekong Delta
Pick up from your hotel around 08:00 by a private car/mini bus. A smooth one and half hour bus ride passing the green rice fields, leading to the beautiful rural My Tho city. The morning trip continues on a motorized boat on the Tien river to the Qui (Tortoise islet). On the way, view on the fishing port, stilt houses, boat building workshops, the other Dragon, Phoenix and Unicorn islet. The cruise is leading through Bao Dinh canal, where we enter the Ben Tre province, “the country of coconut”, and see a typical agricultural model call “Garden – Pond – Cage”. Afterwards a boat trip through the small canal – fully covered by the shadows of the coconut trees. Lunch will later be served right in the heart of the orchard garden. After lunch, taking a walk along the village and visiting a fruit garden. Enjoying the tropical fruit while listening to the sound of “Southern Vietnamese folk music” performed by the islanders. Possibility to join the daily activities of the local people and enjoy the atmosphere of this beautiful natural countryside. Hotels: Ninh Kieu 3*** (or similar). (B, L)
Day 18: Can Tho - Ho Chi Minh city
Starts from Ninh Kieu boat quay, where we cruise along the small and picturesque cannels and stop to see the Cai Rang floating market (the nicest one with heaps of rowing boats). We stop to enjoy the beautiful scenery and the daily activities of the locals who lives along the Mekong canals. Walking through the village to visit a rice husking mill and a rice/noodle shop, where we observe how it is made. Spare time to walk around the village and passing the “Monkey bridge” which is constructed by one bamboo. Later on driving back to Saigon via My Tho, where the tour ends. Hotels: Kingston 3*** (or similar). (B, L)
Day 19: Ho Chi Minh City departure
Check out hotel. Pick up and transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport for departure.
End of the trip! (B)
(B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner)
Index of notes:
Emergency Contact - Emergency Funds - Additional Expenditures - Tipping - Weather and Unpredictables - Meals - Group Leaders and Guides - Arrival - What to bring - Checklist - Visas - Laundry - Share Your Trip - Respectful Dress - Money, Dough, Loot & Booty - Departure Tax - Communications - Expect the Unexpected - Health & Fitness - Travel Insurance - Your Travel Buddies - Responsible Travel - The law and "the man"
Emergency Contact
In the event of a genuine crisis or emergency, Visit Beyond’s Vietnam Office can be reached on Tel: +84 985761122. For further contact details please use the following page: http://www.visitbeyond.com/top-menu/contact-us
Emergency Funds
We advise that you keep 300 USD for unforeseen incidents and circumstances beyond our control (eg. a natural disaster, civil unrest, etc.).
Additional Expenditures
Take into account your personal spending habits when deciding how much money to bring. How much will you drink and party? How many souvenirs to you intend to bring? How many gifts? Remember to include tips in your calculations. (See below.)
Tipping
Visit Beyond employs local guides who greatly appreciate recognition of services rendered. Tipping about 4 USD per day (if you are happy with the service) is appropriate, but not compulsory. We suggest 2 USD per day for porters (if applicable). For drivers who render services for several days in a row, 2 USD per day is appropriate. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
Weather and Unpredictables
Visit Beyond operates trips in Vietnam throughout the year—including the rainy season—and changes may result from inclement weather and other unforeseen circumstances. We reserve the right to change the itinerary according to such circumstances as we see fit to ensure the best experience for our customers.
Meals
Visit Beyond gives you the opportunity to try authentic Vietnamese food. When meals are not already provided, your guide will be able to suggest restaurants and the best dishes during your trip. The tour leader will normally order a variety of dishes to sample. Notify your tour leader of allergies or dietary restrictions.
Group Leaders and Guides
Visit Beyond will often provide experienced, local, English-speaking guides who know the destination and region well. Kindly note that it is sometimes necessary to change the guide at the last minute due to unforeseen circumstances. Your guide is there for you. He will offer recommendations, history, useful phrases and more. We encourage you to ask questions. At Visit Beyond we aim to support local guides who have specialized knowledge of the regions we visit.
Arrival
If you have booked an arrival package then you can expect a Visit Beyond representative waiting for you at the airport. If you cannot locate your tour leader at the airport, please contact Visit Beyond at vietnam@visitbeyond.com. If you cannot get in contact, please call to +84 985761122. Visit Beyond does not offer refunds for missed transfers due to a change in flight or delays. Any additional cost you may incur to meet with your group is at your own expense.
What to bring
Pack according to the tour you have chosen. If you’re going trekking, bring appropriate shoes; if you’re going diving, bring your suit, etc. Visit Beyond encourages you to pack only necessities. Although there are some tours and trips in which you can leave your luggage behind for a day’s excursion, we generally require you to carry your own gear. For this reason, we strongly encourage you to pack using a backpack with straps and back support in addition to a smaller daypack. We strongly discourage traditional luggage!
Responsible travel (see below) dictates that we respect local cultures. Bring a camera and take pictures and video, but never intrude on people’s lives.
See our checklist below for more specifics.
Checklist
This checklist is intended as a reference guide; it is not a complete packing list. Always keep in mind weight restrictions according to your airline of choice.
Travel documents: Passport and visas, travel insurance documents, tickets, Visit Beyond vouchers (if any).
Money: Cash, credit card, money pouch.
Day pack: First-aid kit, medication/prescriptions (consider carrying a doctor’s letter if you require a large amount of medication), sunscreen, refillable water bottle and purification tablets, flashlight, insect repellent, hat and sunglasses, traveler’s diarrhea tablets, prescription glasses, contact lenses and solution, earplugs, playing cards, phrasebook.
Large pack: Alarm clock, international outlet adapter, swimsuit, lightweight towel, eye mask, comfortable walking shoes, raincoat, umbrella, waterproof jacket, outdoor sandals with good grip, waterproof bags for the rainy season, appropriate clothes for temples and religious sites.
And, of course, your camera, film or memory cards and spare batteries!
Please also check our online checklist for this tour.
Visas
You are responsible for obtaining visas. Consult your embassy’s website in Vietnam or Vietnam’s embassy website in your country for the latest visa requirements. Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your return date. We endeavor to keep visa information updated, but rules can change suddenly.
Citizens of Australia DK, SE, NO and FI do not need visas to visit Vietnam as a tourist. If entering by air or by land you will be granted a 15-day entry stamp and you are required to have an onward ticket.
Laundry
Some hotels offer laundry services for an additional charge. You can find additional laundry services in all major cities. If you choose to do your own laundry, kindly use non-polluting and biodegradable soap.
Share Your Trip
Go on, show off a little! Share your pictures on our Facebook page. We occasionally hold contests for those who provide the best shots, so stay on the lookout and you could win a free trip!
Respectful Dress
Remember that styles of dress are generally conservative throughout Asia. This is especially true outside major cities. Visit Beyond therefore strongly recommends modest clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. Loose, lightweight, long clothing is both respectful and cool in the predominantly hot Asian climate. Avoid tank tops on the beach and never sunbathe topless. Men and women alike are often required to wear pants that cover the legs in temples and religious sites.
Money, Dough, Loot & Booty
We recommend withdrawing money from ATMs, which are widely available throughout Vietnam. This has the advantage of keeping your money safe in the bank; not vulnerable in your back pocket. Remember to bring your bank’s emergency contact details in the event that your card is stolen. In addition, notify your bank of your travels before you depart, as banks often place a temporary hold on cards due to transactions in foreign countries or other suspicious activities.
Visit Beyond does not recommend traveler’s cheques. Exchanging them can be a lengthy process and can pose difficulties due to banking hours and holidays. In addition to a commission, unfavorable exchange rates often apply to traveler’s cheques. If you insist on bringing traveler’s cheques then purchase them with a major brand and strong currency. Old cheques are rarely, if ever, accepted.
Departure Tax
There is no departure tax at Noi Bai Airport or Tan Son Nhat airport at the present time. This is subject to change without notice and Visit Beyond is not liable for unexpected charges levied on departing tourists.
Communications
The most reliable method of communication during your travels will be email. Although internet access is widely available in Vietnam, we do visit areas of the country for several days at a time in which internet access is limited or unavailable. Please take this into account when planning your trip.
It is a good idea to leave your booking agent’s contact details or Visit Beyond’s contact information with friends or family in your home country in case of emergencies. We do not recommend that you leave friends and family with your hotel details because there is no guarantee that hotel staff speaks English. Facebook is another handy tool to keep in touch.
Always register with your country’s embassy in Vietnam and provide details of your itinerary in order to make yourself available in the event of an emergency.
Expect the Unexpected
Visit Beyond, as the name implies, brings you places that are beyond the well-worn tourist path. Out here, things sometimes go wrong and if they do, it is imperative that you tell your guide or tour leader immediately. They are best suited to help however they can. If this does not suffice, your guide will contact our manager.
Health & Fitness
There are no health requirements for this trip. However, to get the most out of your trip, all travelers should be in good physical health. You should consult your doctor or physician before leaving your home country and you should honestly assess your ability to complete your vacation based on the detailed Visit Beyond trip itinerary. In general, the more you physically prepare for the trip, the more you will enjoy it. We do not walk at altitude nor set distance records, but some treks can still be demanding. Expect hilly terrain and high temperatures. Visit Beyond and its guides reserve the right to exclude a participant without refund if said traveler is unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to him/herself or to the group.
Small and very handy first aid kits should be readily available in your home country. We recommend you purchase a kit before departure along with any personal medication you may require. Read the trip itinerary closely and bring medicine accordingly, as many trips entail travel on long, windy roads and require that you eat authentic Vietnamese food. Do not rely on trip leaders or guides, as they are legally prohibited from administering any type of drug including headache medicine and antibiotics.
Visit Beyond is well aware of the health risks of bird flu and SARS. Therefore, Visit Beyond reserves the right to make unannounced changes to all itineraries in the very unlikely occurrence of an outbreak of bird flu, SARS or other disease. Please contact us at vietnam@visitbeyond.com should you require any clarification.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is obligatory to join a Visit Beyond trip. We recommend Gouda Travel Insurance for our European customers.
Your Travel Buddies
Traveling in a group can be a very positive experience. You are likely to find that your travel buddies hail from all over the world. Therefore, you will get the double pleasure of experiencing a new part of the world and new friends to enjoy it with. In order to get the most out of your trip, each traveler must respect every member of the group, arrive on time according to the trip itinerary, and practice patience with one another. These are your responsibilities as a member of a group and we expect each member to follow them. For reasons of privacy, Visit Beyond will not provide personal information or contact details of your fellow travelers prior to departure.
soloTravelers
Visit Beyond trips most often provide double room accommodation. A single supplement charge is levied for solo travelers. This applies only to accommodation during the tour. On this tour there is no single supplement.
Responsible Travel
Traveling responsibly is a pillar of the Visit Beyond philosophy. To us, it means two things: respect for the environment and respect for local cultures. We practice low-impact tourism and make every effort to preserve the environment. We refuse to treat local people as mere photo-ops and insist that you engage with locals as human beings. You will have a better trip for it. Please refer to our Responsible Travel page for further details and suggestions for responsible travel.
The law and "the man"
Visit Beyond does not tolerate illegal drugs nor do we tolerate visiting prostitutes. Both of these may be common among certain communities we visit but they are illegal nonetheless. Engaging in such activities puts you and your group at serious risk. Possession of illegal drugs is a crime punishable by death in Vietnam. Visit Beyond and group leaders reserve the right to immediately expel from the group anyone engaging in these activities.
Gallery
Age’s Policy
Any person aged from 0-2 years old shall be apply as free rate
Any person aged from 3-9 years old shall be apply as child rate
Any person aged from 10 years old and more shall be apply as adult rate
