HANOI – HA LONG – SAPA – DA NANG – HO CHI MINH

Useful information

10 Days 9 Nights journey takes you through Vietnam’s most iconic destinations: cruising Ha Long – Lan Ha Bay, exploring ancient capitals and limestone landscapes in Ninh Binh, conquering Fansipan in Sapa, strolling lantern-lit Hoi An, riding the cable car to Ba Na Hills, discovering Cu Chi Tunnels, and boating through the Mekong Delta.

You’ll enjoy a mix of SIC (join-in) tours and private services, comfortable hotels, and a special complimentary Vietnamese hair-wash experience or body massage in Hanoi.

TOUR ITINERARY

DAY 1: HANOI ARRIVAL – HA LONG BAY OVERNIGHT CRUISE

Meals: Lunch, Dinner – SIC Transfer, Shared Cruise

• Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport (Hanoi), our representative will meet and assist you, then transfer you to the meeting point.

• Board the SIC bus and depart straight to Ha Long Bay.

11:30 – 12:00

• Arrive at Tuan Chau Harbor, check in at the waiting lounge.

12:00 – 12:10

• Take a tender boat to the cruise.

• Welcome drink, meet the captain and crew, and listen to safety briefing.

• Check into your cabin.

13:00 – 13:15

• Enjoy a Vietnamese seafood & vegetarian lunch while cruising through the magnificent Ha Long – Lan Ha Bay, admiring fascinating rock formations.

15:00

• Relax on the sundeck or

• Explore Ba Trai Dao – Tra Bau area and the natural lagoon of Lan Ha Bay by kayak.

17:30 – 18:00

• Return to the cruise, join sunset party, take photos and relax.

19:00

• Dinner at the restaurant on board.

• After dinner: join squid fishing, relax on the sundeck, or enjoy a drink at the bar.

Overnight on the cruise.

DAY 2: HA LONG BAY – HANOI – HALF-DAY CITY TOUR

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch – SIC Transfer & Cruise / PRIVATE City Tour

06:00 – 06:15

• Join Tai Chi on the sundeck.

06:15 – 07:00

• Breakfast while enjoying the morning view of the bay with tea or coffee.

07:00

• Visit Dark & Light Cave:

  • Option 1: Take a bamboo boat to explore the karst and lagoon.

  • Option 2: Swim in the cool, clear blue water (if allowed by cruise & weather).

08:10

• Return to your cabin, pack your luggage.

10:00

• Check out of your cabin.

• Enjoy an easy cruise back through the bay and have an early lunch at the restaurant.

11:00

• Disembark, take speed boat back to Tuan Chau Port.

• SIC bus back to Hanoi.

• Check in at your Hanoi hotel.

Hanoi Half-Day City Tour (Private – ~4 hours)

You’ll visit:

• Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum (outside)
  Grey granite monument with the inscription “CHỦ TỊCH HỒ CHÍ MINH”, surrounded by lawns, trees, and flowers from all over Vietnam – a powerful national symbol.

• Tran Quoc Pagoda
  The oldest pagoda in Hanoi (nearly 1,500 years), on a small island in West Lake. A beautiful combination of solemn architecture, history, and tranquil lake scenery.

• Train Street
  A narrow residential street with a railway running right through it. When the train passes, it’s incredibly close – an exciting and unique Hanoi experience.
  (Train schedule is not fixed by day. We will check and arrange as best as possible, but cannot guarantee the train passes exactly during your visit. You can return by yourself later if desired.)

• Water Puppet Show
  A traditional Vietnamese art form performed on water. The show (45–60 minutes) combines wooden puppets, live music, and colorful lighting to recreate daily life and folk stories.

After the city tour, you’ll receive your complimentary Vietnamese hair-washing experience or body massage package.

Overnight in Hanoi.

DAY 3: HANOI – NINH BINH (HOA LU – TRANG AN – MUA CAVE) – NIGHT BUS TO SAPA

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch – SIC Tour

07:00

• Pick-up from Hanoi Old Quarter / Opera House.

10:00 – Hoa Lu Ancient Citadel

• Visit the former capital of Vietnam (10th–11th century).

• Explore the temples of Dinh and Le emperors, restored in the 17th century on the original palace foundations.

• The ruins and surrounding karst mountains create a mystical, historical atmosphere.

13:30 – Trang An Boat Trip

• After a local lunch, depart for Trang An – a world-famous eco-tourism complex.

• Take a sampan boat through:

  • Limestone mountains (250-million-year-old formations)

  • Flooded forests & river valleys

  • Multiple caves and grottoes

• Enjoy tranquil scenery, cliffs, forests, and emerald waterways.

15:30 – Mua Cave (Hang Múa)

• Climb nearly 500 steps to the summit.

• At the top, see the iconic stone tower and enjoy a panoramic view of Tam Coc, mountains, and rice fields – one of the best viewpoints in Ninh Binh.

• Finish the tour and drive back to Hanoi.

• Drop-off in Old Quarter – free time for dinner and walking around on your own.

~21:00

• Pick-up for Sapa by sleeper bus.

Overnight on the bus.

DAY 4: SAPA – MUONG HOA MOUNTAIN RAILWAY – FANSIPAN

Meals: Breakfast – PRIVATE TOUR

~05:30

• Early arrival in Sapa. Early check-in at pre-booked hotel & rest.

10:00 – Muong Hoa Mountain Railway & Fansipan

• Take the Muong Hoa Mountain Railway, with a stylish classic–modern design and panoramic views of the Sapa valley.

• Enjoy the feeling of the train winding along the mountainside, looking through large glass windows at the Northwest mountains.

Then transfer to Fansipan Cable Car Station:

• 20-minute cable car ride through spectacular scenery to 2,800 m altitude.

• Free time to:

  • Take photos

  • Visit pagodas and spiritual sites

  • Climb about 600 steps to the summit of Fansipan – “The Roof of Indochina” (3,143 m).

• Spend about 1.5 hours for sightseeing and photos.

Overnight in Sapa.

DAY 5: CAT CAT VILLAGE – HANOI

Meals: Breakfast – PRIVATE TOUR + SIC BUS

• Breakfast at hotel.

Cat Cat Village Tour

• Short walk to Cat Cat Village, home of the Black H’Mong.

• Located in a deep valley at the foot of Fansipan Peak.

• Visit local houses, see daily activities and traditional crafts.

• Trek down to the waterfall and French-built hydraulic power station.

• Photo stops at the bridge and waterfall.

• Trek uphill back towards Sapa (approx. 2.5 km, about 2 hours).

• After the tour, free time in Sapa until transfer.

• Return to Hanoi by sleeper bus (SIC).

• Upon arrival in Hanoi, you’ll be dropped at a hotel near the airport.

Overnight in / near Hanoi.

DAY 6: HANOI – DA NANG – MARBLE MOUNTAIN – COCONUT FOREST – HOI AN NIGHT MARKET

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner – SIC TOUR

• Breakfast at hotel.

• Driver transfers you to Noi Bai Airport for flight to Da Nang.

• Upon arrival in Da Nang: pick-up and drop-off at your hotel to leave luggage and relax.

13:50 – 14:00 – Marble Mountains

• Visit the Marble Mountains (Ngu Hanh Son) – five limestone hills named after the five elements: Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, and Earth.

• Explore caves, pagodas, and viewpoints. This area has been a spiritual site for Cham people, Vietnamese emperors, and generals for centuries.

Coconut Forest (Bay Mau)

• Transfer to the Coconut Forest, located along the Hoai, Thu Bon, and De Vong Rivers.

• Take a basket boat ride through mangrove waterways lined with nipa palms.

• Watch locals cast fishing nets and enjoy boat-spinning performances and fun “dancing” basket boats.

Hoi An Ancient Town & Night Market

• Head to Hoi An Ancient Town – charming streets, old houses, temples, and colorful lanterns.

• Walk through narrow alleys, take photos, shop local handicrafts.

• Experience lantern releasing or small candle-lit boats on the river (optional).

• Enjoy local dinner with famous Hoi An dishes.

Overnight in Da Nang.

DAY 7: BA NA HILLS & GOLDEN BRIDGE

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch – SIC TOUR

08:30

• Depart along Nguyen Tat Thanh coastal road, see Thuan Phuoc Suspension Bridge, Thanh Beach, and Red Beach.

09:00

• Arrive at Ba Na – Suoi Mo Cable Car Station.

• Take cable car to De Bay Station, enjoy views of waterfalls, forests, and hills.

09:30 – Golden Bridge & Le Jardin d’Amour

• Visit the famous Golden Bridge held by giant stone hands.

• Explore Le Jardin area:

  • Tinh Tam Garden

  • Ancient French wine cellar & horse-binding area

  • Nearly 100-year-old pomelo tree

  • Ruins of French villas

• Visit Linh Ung Ba Na Pagoda with a 27 m Shakyamuni Buddha statue, Loc Uyen Garden, and Quan Am Pavilion.

• Take 2nd cable line up to the top of Ba Na (Nui Chua).

11:30

• Buffet lunch at restaurant.

12:30 – 14:00

• Conquer Nui Chua Peak (1,487 m) – the “roof” of Da Nang.

• Enjoy panoramic views of Da Nang City and Da Nang Bay (sometimes under clouds).

• Walk to ruins of old villas, outdoor opera house, and Debay Suspension Bridge.

• Visit Fantasy Park – one of the biggest indoor amusement parks in the world, with:
  Love Wheel, Skiver Pilot, Fire Racing Track, Bumper Cars, Haunted House, Spider-Man games, Free-fall Tower, etc.

16:30

• Take cable car down.

Overnight in Da Nang.

DAY 8: DA NANG – HO CHI MINH CITY

Meals: Breakfast – PRIVATE CAR

• Breakfast at hotel.

• Driver transfers you to Da Nang Airport, fly to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

• Upon arrival, our representative will pick you up and drop you at your hotel.

• Free time to rest and explore the city.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

DAY 9: CU CHI TUNNEL – MEKONG DELTA

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch – SIC TOUR

Morning – Cu Chi Tunnels

• After breakfast, pick-up to Cu Chi Tunnels (~60 km from Saigon).

• Explore over 200 km of underground tunnels – a symbol of Vietnamese resilience and ingenuity.

• Watch a documentary, see self-made weapons, bamboo traps, hidden entrances.

• Experience crawling inside the tunnels (optional).

• See how locals make rice paper and rice wine.

• Optional shooting range experience with AK-47 and other rifles (extra cost).

Afternoon – Mekong Delta (My Tho – Ben Tre)

• Arrive in My Tho city.

• Take a motorboat along the Mekong, passing Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix, and Turtle Islands.

• See fishing ports, Rach Mieu Bridge, stilt houses, and boat workshops.

• Stop at Unicorn Island:

  • Walk to fruit gardens

  • Enjoy tropical fruits

  • Taste natural honey tea/wine at a bee farm

  • Listen to traditional Vietnamese music performed by locals

• Take a rowing boat through small canals shaded by water coconut trees.

• Continue by motorboat to Ben Tre Province, cruise through lush green canals before returning to the mainland.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

DAY 10: HO CHI MINH HALF DAY CITY TOUR – DEPARTURE

Meals: Breakfast – SIC TOUR + PRIVATE AIRPORT TRANSFER

• Breakfast at hotel.

• Join a half-day city tour (SIC):

You’ll visit:

• Independence Palace (Reunification Palace)
  Historic site and former presidential palace of South Vietnam.

• Notre Dame Cathedral
  Built from 1877 to 1880, this red-brick cathedral is a symbol of Catholicism and French colonial architecture in Saigon.

• Saigon Central Post Office
  Built from 1886–1891, designed by French architect Gustave Eiffel.
  Famous for its classical European architecture, arched windows, decorative details, and yellow façade.

• After the tour, the SIC transfer drops you at the meeting point.

• A private car will then take you to Tan Son Nhat Airport for your departure flight.

End of services.

NETT RATES PER PERSON (USD)

(Based on twin/double/triple sharing)

TRAVEL PERIOD: 01/04 – 31/08

3★ Hotels
First Eden / Verle Lotus Classic Cruise / Arcady Cruise / Chapa Dew / Sekong / Beachfront / Liberty Green View

4★ Hotels (Full Ocean View)
Army / Verle Lotus Classic Cruise / Arcady Cruise / Charm / Nesta / Serena / Cicilia (Full Ocean View)

4★ Hotels (Partial Seaview)
Army / Nesta / Serena / Cicilia (Partial Seaview)

5★ Hotels
Docel / Lacasat Cruise / Aqua Elegant Cruise / Awaken / Windsor

TRAVEL PERIOD: 01/09 – 31/03

3★ Hotels
First Eden / Verle Lotus Classic Cruise / Arcady Cruise / Chapa Dew / Sekong / Beachfront / Liberty Green View

4★ Hotels (Full Ocean View)
Army / Verle Lotus Classic Cruise / Arcady Cruise / Charm / Nesta / Serena / Cicilia (Full Ocean View)

4★ Hotels (Partial Seaview)
Army / Verle Lotus Classic Cruise / Arcady Cruise / Charm / Nesta / Serena / Cicilia (Partial Seaview)

5★ Hotels
Docel / Lacasat Cruise / Aqua Elegant Cruise / Awaken / Windsor

INCLUSION

• 09 nights accommodation with daily breakfast

• Meals as mentioned in program

• All entrance fees as per itinerary

• Trang An boat trip / Ha Long Bay kayaking (or as per cruise program)

• Professional & friendly English-speaking guides

• Private ground transfers & SIC/shared tours as indicated

• 1–2 bottles of mineral water per person per day

• Complimentary Vietnamese hair-wash or body massage in Hanoi

EXCLUSION

• Tips for guides and drivers

• Vietnam visa (if required)

• International & domestic air tickets

• Bank transfer fee on your side

• Personal travel insurance

• Personal expenses and any services not clearly mentioned in “Inclusion”