Viet Nam for Nature Lovers
Fast Facts
  Duration: 12 DAYS/11 NIGHTS STYLE: Classic Travel

Viet Nam for Nature Lovers

Overview
Tour Program
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This 12 day trip takes you from the economic and trendsetting centre of Ho Chi Minh city of the south to the Capital City of Hanoi in the north and the ‘must see’ places in between. You will see the river life of the people of the Mekong Delta before travelling to the central region of Da Nang, Hue and the charming town of Hoi An. Then continue to the Chay Lap - a community-owned and operated ecotourism association in the Phuc Trach Commune which is adjacent to World Natural Heritage site Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park. Moving towards Hanoi, you will first take in the splendor of Ha Long Bay, where you will see mystical and breath taking mountains rising in spectacular fashion out of the sea. The beautiful pastoral sceneries, Vietnamese agriculture, serenity and sharing are all awaiting for you  when  visiting  Ky Son Village-  in the heart of the Vietnamese countryside, where you have opportunities to  experience old traditions in the Moon Garden Homestay. And finally to the beautiful city of Hanoi before taking your leave of this extraordinary country of variation, fascinating places and beautiful people.

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WHY YOU SHOULD BOOK THIS TOUR WITH US?
  • Personal attention to detail by all HGH from the time of your initial enquiry through to the end of your tour
  • 24 hour support available during the tour
  • Enjoy the degree of historical and cultural information throughout your tour from our local and knowledgeable tour hosts to the degree that you and your group are interested
  • We focus on sustainable tourism by creating the very best experience for you as the tourist while supporting our local environment and local people
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1 : Arrival Saigon (D)

Upon arrival, you will be picked up and brought to check into your hotel. The HCM tour starts with a visit to the imposing Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat). Next we will go to the Notre Dame Cathedral, the most famous landmark in Vietnam as the twin bell towers can be seen from a long distance. In the same square is the famous Saigon Post Office, the largest functioning post office in Vietnam. What makes this Post Office so extraordinary is that it was designed and built by Gustave Eiffel who also designed and built the Eiffel Tower and Statue of Liberty. It is a building not to be missed. After some history and culture, we will take you to do some shopping at the Ben Thanh Market. Welcome cruise dinner on Bonsai boat. The rest of the night is yours to venture out on your own or take it easy and relax in your hotel room.

Day 2 : Saigon – Cai Be – Mekong Lodge (B,L,D)

Depart from Ho Chi Minh City around 8.am, we head to Mekong Delta, the land of nine dragons. Getting out of the city, you will see the mighty delta with its quaint rural landscape and immense waterway.

Arrive at Cai Be River Wharf around 10.am, we will get on our charming shuttle boat to reach Mekong Lodge, the green pearl of Mekong Delta. The boat transfer is part of the trip experience itself as it is your first contact with the Mekong’s fertile alluvial water, which shapes the richness of the land.

Disembark and welcome you to Mekong Lodge, our smiling staffs in local traditional costume await you at Mekong Lodge iconic front bamboo-shaped gate. Check in your private bungalows and enjoy a delicious lunch in our Mekong Riverside Restaurant.

Take some rest and begin our private walking tour to discover the nearby village around Mekong Lodge. We will visit families making coconut candy  and brick to see the traditional production of goods in Mekong Delta. Meet and talk with local people, known for their friendliness, warmth and generosity.

In the evening, get some hands on culinary experience by joining our Vietnamese cooking class. Our chefs will instruct you to prepare the Mekong Lodge signature dishes. Have fun and some interesting recipes to take home with. Enjoy dinner in a cozy atmosphere.

Day 3 : Mekong Lodge – Saigon – Hoian (B,L)

Begin our second day with buffet breakfast, then getting on our rowed sampan to visit Cai Be floating market, a cultural feature of Mekong Delta. Try to visit it early and you will see the most vibrant scene on Tien River with hundred of boats gathering for fresh produce trade.

Come back to Mekong Lodge to continue the discovery of Mekong Delta with cycling on its tranquil winding lanes and crossing canals. Take in the fresh air, beautiful view and taste some freshly picked fruit in local orchards.

Around noon, cycle back to Mekong Lodge for check out (11.am) and our boat will transfer you back to Cai Be harbor for your coming back to Saigon where you take domestic flight to Danang.

Transfer to Hoian ( 40km from Danang).

Day 4 : Hoian Ecotour (B,L)

Our Farming & Fishing Life Tour provides you with a close-up and intimate exposure to both the local farming and fishing communities. Accompanied by your tour guide, you commence the day leisurely cycling along country roads witnessing local Vietnamese rural life first hand, discovering all manners of photo opportunities - coming and visiting a beautiful organic vegetable village, watering and planting vegetable, hoeing a soil with local farmer, riding a water buffalo in a rice paddy field; seeing ducks swimming along the rice farm or farmers tending their crops. The photo opportunities are endless….

Tour guide meets you at your hotel

Cycle to a local farming village traveling along picturesque country roads ( Bus or bike are option to choose to go ). Share in the daily work life of local farmers – hoeing and a soil, watering veggie at an organic herb garden, riding water buffalo in the field and enjoy the freshest air of the countryside beauty.

Board the Hoi An Eco-tour boat and cruise to the mouth of the river where it meets the Cua Dai Sea. Learn and try your hand at local traditional fishing techniques using round and cast nets

Learn to paddle the strange and unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boats.

Explore the now tranquil coconut-palm flanked waterways of a past war and hear of the extreme conditions endured by soldiers on both sides.

Have a relaxed fun with catching beautiful purple crabs on bamboo basket boat.

Visit a local water coconut palm village, take a walk around the village and have some tea and snack with local talks……………   

Back on-board our Hoi An Eco-tour boat, enjoy lunch and  cold beer or soft drink.

Return to hotel by coach.

This afternoon is free at leisure to visit the charming city on your own

Overnight in Hoian

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Day 5 : Hoian – Hue (B,L)

We will leave Hoi An and travel north to Hue City through the emerald-green paddy fields. Hue was the political, economic and cultural capital of Vietnam during the Nguyen Dynasty (1802–1945) and used to be the home of past emperors. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to stop en route to take pictures at the summit of Lang Co Beach, Hai Van Pass and visit the Cham Museum located in Da Nang City. The museum offers the most extensive collection of Cham art sculptures throughout the world. The sculptures date from the 7th to the 15th century.

We then take a boat trip down the romantic Perfume River to the Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the oldest and most beautiful pagodas in Hue. After that we move on to see the Minh Mang Tomb, who was emperor of Vietnam from 1820 to 184.

 You will spend the night in Hue.

Day 6: Hue – Quang Binh - Phong Nha National Park (B,L,D)

Our tour of Hue starts at the beautiful Imperial Citadel, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site since 1993. The Citadel includes the Imperial City and Forbidden City. Enjoy the various palaces, ornate halls, libraries, residences, colleges, Flag Tower and Noon Gate.

Heading out on a 5 hour car ride to Quang Binh to see the Phong Nha National Park and Chay Lap Village. On the way, we will stop at the Hien Luong Bridge which was a demilitarized zone during the Vietnam War.

Arrival Phong Nha and check in Phong Nha Lake house. Overnight in Phong Nha Lake house .

Day 7: Biking Into Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park (B,L,D)

In the morning , cruise in a wooden boat on the Son River for the visit to the World Natural Heritage Site of Phong Nha Cave. Here you get to discover the breathtaking beauty of the caves. If time permits, you may be able to get involved in some of the local field tasks.

Continue to Chay Lap, go cycling into Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park, and explore the wildlife in the Park. With luck, you will see animals such as Hatinh langur and Pygathrix nigripes as well as many birds.

Once you have checked into the homestay at Chap Lay, you have the opportunity to learn how to prepare your dinner steamed fish with beer, served along with local herbs.

Overnight in Chay Lap

Day 8: Chay Lap– Dong Hoi – Train To Hanoi (B,L)

This morning takes us to the Chay River to go kayaking to the Dark Caveand Nuoc Mooc Springs, where you can enjoy a refreshing swim. A local guide will then take you on a short trek through the Park to learn about the codes of a conservation environment.

The transfer back to Dong Hoi for night train to Hanoi. Overnight on train.

Day 9 : Hanoi – Halong (B,L,D)

Arrival Hanoi, transfer in centre for breakfast, continue to Halong.

12:00     Arrive at Bai Chay Wharf.

12:15     Transfer by tender to the Marguerite Junk boat – enjoy Welcome Drink. Receive Junk Facilities and Cruise Instruction as well as Cruise Briefing before check in to cabins and begin cruise Off the Beaten Track.

13:00     Lunch - deluxe Vietnamese Set Menu.

15:00     Arrive at the Surprise Cave area. Transfer by tender to the Surprise Cave. Walk up the 100 steps to the entrance of the cave and tour on foot for approximately 45 minutes.

16:00     Return to the boat. Enjoy kayaking program to the nearby Cave, lagoon and surrounding waters as well as exploring the daily life of the local people in floating village

17:00     Enjoy swimming or relaxing on board.

18:30     Take part in our cooking class with crispy spring rolls

19:30     Dinner - deluxe Vietnamese Set Menu Dinner.

20:30     Evening activities include: film entertainment in the dining room, board games and playing cards are available, squid fishing from the boat with our crew.

23:00     End of program for Day One.

Day 10: Halong – Ky Son (B,L,D)

07:00     Coffee, tea and light breakfast pastries served in the dining room.

8:00        Enjoy riding on the rowing boat to the tunnel cave

9:00        Check-out of cabins. Enjoy relaxing, sunbathing on sundeck while our boat cruise back on different route.

10:45     Enjoy lunch Set Menu served in the dining room while enjoy the bay scenery as we approach the pier (passing Fight Cocks, Incense Burner, Stone Dog).

12:00     Transfer by tender to the pier, relax inside the pier building while waiting for return transportation.

12:20     Transfer to Ky Son.

Arrive at Moon Garden Home stay in Ky Son village in the afternoon. Welcome drink, you will be offered some kind of local tisane. Then, it is all your free time to discover Moon garden home stay and Ky Son village by yourself. While waiting for your steam bath to be prepared, you can enjoy your drink and taste some of the local products such as maize, sweet potato, cassava or peanuts, depending on season.

18:00 Traditional, refreshing steam bath with fragrant herbs (Lemon grass, pomelo leaves, holy basil leaves).

19:30 Observe the evening Buddha worship.

20:30 Dinner; Then, enjoy your foot bath in warm water with ginger, salt and mugwort medicinal herbs before

bedtime, which brings you a deeper sleep.

Arrivée au gîte « Jardin de Lune » au village Ky Son dans l’apres-midi. Une tisane locale vous sera offert en bienvenue. Rencontre avec les membres de la famille pour présentation de la maison et du village Ky Son. Temps libre pour découvrir le Gîte et le village Ky Son.

En attendant l’eau parfumée pour la douche, vous pouvez boire et déguster des produits locaux comme patates douces ou maïs, cacahouète, manioc... offerts par le propriétaire de la maison selon la saison. Bain traditionnel aux herbes odorantes (citronnelle, feuilles de pamplemousse et de Huong Nhu).  

En soirée: Observation du culte spécial du Bouddha  et « Spa » du pied (les pieds trempés dans l'eau chaude avec du gingembre, du sel et des herbes médicinales Ngai Cuu)  avant le coucher.

Dîner aux bougies. 

Avant le coucher, profitez d’un « spa » de pieds dans l'eau chaude avec du gingembre, du sel et des herbes médicinales, ce qui vous apporte un sommeil plus profond.

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Day 11 : Ky Son – Hanoi (B,L)

7:00 Joining Yijinjing traditional exercises.

7:30 Breakfast.

8:30 Bike ride along the ritual paths of Thang thac village with local guide to discover the Ngo Quyen tomb, Phung Hung temple, Duong Lam ancient village, and Mia pagoda. Then return to the house.

11:00 Cooking class.

12:30 Lunch.

13:30 Hand Spa- Enjoy having your fingers dipped in a fragrant lime bowl and the traditional herbal hand massage.

Then in the free time, you can make yourself at home relaxing on the hammock in our garden, taking pictures with Vietnamese traditional cloths, chatting with people or further discovery of the Ky Son village and around until your departure time for Hanoi

Arrival & overnight in Hanoi.

Day 12 : Hanoi – depart (B,L)

A city tour of Hanoi starts with a visit to the One-Pillar Pagoda. We will then take a drive to visit the Temple of Literature. The temple was built in October 1073 to worship Confucius and is considered to be the first university in Vietnam. We will then drive to Hoan Kiem Lake, where you will see Ngoc Son Temple which worships Van Xuong saint and Tran Hung Dao- a former general commander. You will get a chance to enjoy a 1-hour cyclo ride around the 36 streets in the Old Quarter of Hanoi

Transfer to airport for departure flight. End of our services.

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