Classic Vietnam: Sapa to Ho Chi Minh
Experience Overview
Two weeks is all you need for the adventure of a lifetime in Vietnam. Kick things off with an immersive hiking experience in Sapa, guided by your expert CEO and hosted by the welcoming local community. Trek from village to village, dive into hands-on traditions like crafting and cooking, and truly connect with the culture. Cruise Halong Bay aboard a traditional junk boat for an unforgettable overnight stay, then head south to explore historic Hue on foot and savor the charm (and cuisine!) of picturesque Hoi An. Wrap it all up with a few vibrant days soaking in the energy of bustling Ho Chi Minh City. This is Vietnam at its most unforgettable.
Highlights
- 2-day Sa Pa trekking
- Sin Chai Village and Red Dao ethnic village
- Bamboo Paper Making
- Sail on a junk boat through Halong Bay
- People-watch in hectic Ho Chi Minh City.
Trip Details
Product Code: 28666
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Budget
Transport: Train, air-conditioned bus, boat, plane, walking, overnight train.
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Budget
Tour Operator:
G Adventures
Supplier Code: AVSH
Starts: Hanoi, Vietnam
Finishes: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Duration: 14 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Average
Includes
Activities
- Your G for Good Moment: Oodles of Noodles, Hoi An Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group Your Foodie Moment: Sa Pa Cooking Demonstration, Sa Pá Your Discover Moment: Hoi An
- Sa Pa Cooking Demonstration
- Sa Pa trekking
- Lao Chai Village
- Supan Village
- Ta Van Village cultural visit
- Traditional Wax Technique workshop
- Sin Chai Village and Red Dao ethnic village
- Bamboo Paper Making
- Free time in Sa Pa town
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
- Halong Bay caves entrance
- Halong Bay boat cruise with seafood lunch and dinner
- Imperial Citadel and Tomb entrance (Huế)
- Cu Chi Tunnels entrance and tour
- Internal flight
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Accommodation
- Hotels (10 nts), sleeper train (2 nt), junk boat (1 nt).
- 12 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 4 dinners
Transport
- Train, air-conditioned bus, boat, plane, walking, overnight train.
Group Leader
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $2,299 ($164 /day)
Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi/Sa Pá
Welcome to Vietnam! Join your group this morning for a welcome meeting before driving to Sa Pa, the trekking capital of Southeast Asia! This evening, join your group for a cooking demonstration and dinner.
Day 2: Sa Pá
Today starts your epic trekking adventure through Sa Pa. Trek for about 10 km today with a chance to rest and eat lunch part way. We'll hike through rice terraces, through local communities and have a chance to understand the unique way of life in Sa Pa. In the afternoon, we'll learn traditional wax and dying techniques used by the local villagers at Muong Hoa Batik House.
Day 3: Sa Pá
Start today with a visit to the Red Dao community in Sin Chai Village. We'll have a moment to admire this beautiful and unique community before starting today's trek. Have your cameras ready as we trek through this seemingly untouched landscape. After the trek, we'll drive to Nam Than Village for a hands-on bamboo paper making experience with the local community.
Day 4: Sa Pá
After breakfast, drive to Sa Pa Town where you will have the whole day at leisure to explore. Opt to enjoy the hot springs, get a massage, shop for souvenirs or visit the famous Fansipan Peak. This evening, catch an overnight train back to Hanoi.
Day 5: Sa Pá/Hanoi
After breakfast, we'll drive back to Hanoi. Spend the afternoon at leisure in Hanoi. Meet up in the evening for an optional dinner with your CEO.
Day 6: Hanoi/Ha Long
Enjoy a Ha Long Bay cruise on a junk boat with visits to a cave and an island lookout. Savour a seafood lunch and dinner.
Drive to Bai Chay harbour, the jumping off point for Ha Long Bay. Thousands of islands with intricate cave systems rise dramatically from the waters. Sail past limestone karst mountains in the junk boat and stop to visit some of the islands and caves.
In the evening, devour a seafood dinner, then opt to enjoy a drink on deck under the stars.
Day 7: Ha Long/Huế
Enjoy breakfast and lunch on board before sailing back to the port and return to Hanoi. Enjoy some time in the city before an overnight train to Hue.
Interested in local cuisine? Opt to pre-book the "Hanoi Foodie Culture Tour" activity on the checkout page to include this optional on your tour.
Day 8: Huế
Guided tour of the Imperial Citadel, Royal Tomb and Tien Mu Pagoda.
Arrive early to Hue, once the imperial capital of Vietnam. Start the day with a visit to the Tien Mu Pagoda followed by a visit to the tomb of one of Vietnam's former emperors. After, opt for a vegetarian lunch at a local nunnery.
While in the city, try some local Hue specialties such as banh khoai (Hue savoury pancakes), and banh bot loc boc tom thit (thin rice paper filled with meat and shrimp). Wash it all down with a Hue beer.
Opt to pre-book the "Hue Motorbike Tour" activity on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your tour.
Day 9: Huế/Hoi An
Drive the Hai Van pass. Take advantage of Hoi An's many options over the 2.5 days in town. Opt for a cooking class, riverboat trip, bike ride, beach time, tailor visit or My Son ruins.
Cross the Hai Van Pass (weather permitting), with fantastic views in all directions, before arriving to Hoi An in the afternoon.
With three nights here, there's plenty of time to explore all this charming town has to offer.
Day 10: Hoi An
Explore all Hoi An has to offer. Dive into the culture, hang out on the beach or get clothes tailor-made in one of the many shops around town. Enjoy a noodle making demonstration and lunch at Oodles of Noodles, a G Adventures-supported project.
Day 11: Hoi An
Spend a free day exploring all Hoi An has to offer.
Day 12: Hoi An/Ho Chi Minh City
Fly from Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City with free time to explore this hectic city.
Drive to Da Nang for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City, once the capital of South Vietnam and the country's commercial centre. Start exploring the small alleys and busy streets, keeping an eye out for laquerware shops and delicious local food stalls.
Day 13: Ho Chi Minh City
Enjoy a guided tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels and learn more about the Vietnam War. Use free time in the afternoon to explore sprawling Ho Chi Minh City.
With some free time in the city, opt to visit the Thien Hau and Giac Vien pagodas and stroll through the immense Ben Thanh Market. Also well worth a visit are the Reunification Palace (the residence of South Vietnam presidents before 1975), the city's Chinese quarter of Cholon, and the War Remnants Museum.
Day 14: Ho Chi Minh City
Depart at any time.
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.
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Tour Operator
G Adventures
G Adventures is an operator of small-group escorted tours. It is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with 28 offices worldwide. It offers more than 700 itineraries in more than 100 countries, and carries 200,000 travelers from 160 countries each year.
In Business Since 1990
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