Vietnam Panorama 17 Days / 16 Nights

Arriving at Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh city, you will be welcomed by the guide of Jasminecruises.com and transferred to hotel for check in. During the drive your guide will provide an introduction to Ho Chi Minh city, answer any questions you have, and make arrangements for the following day. Transfer to hotel in the city center to refresh. You will have free time in city

Tour Guide: Yes, Transportation: , Meal: N/A, Hotel: Ho Chi Minh Hotel

After a smooth one-and-a-half-hour bus ride through the green rice fields, you’ll arrive at the beautiful rural town of My Tho city. The morning trip continues on the motorized boat along the Tien river to the Qui (Tortoise islet). On the way, you’ll the fishing port, stilt houses, boat building workshops, the other Dragon, Phoenix and Unicorn islet. The cruise will lead you through Bao Dinh canal and then into the stunning Ben Tre province, also known as “the country of coconut”, to see a traditional agricultural method known as “Garden – Pond – Cage.” Afterwards, enjoy a trip to the coconut candy mill and have a relaxing honey tea. Then we’ll start the amazing row boat trip along a narrow canal, which winds beneath the shadow of the water coconut tree. Lunch will be served right in the heart of one of the island’s orchard garden. You can even have a few minutes to relax while riding a horse-drawn carriage After lunch, you will walk through village, visiting fruit gardens and enjoying the view while listening to the sound of “Southern Vietnamese folk music” performed by the islanders. We’ll continue our trip with a motorboat back to the boat station and minivan will arrive to pick you up and drive you toyour homestay in Can Tho city. You’ll enjoy a tea break with tropical fruits and a cup of green tea along the way. Once you arrive, take a scenic bicycle ride around the village to visit the monkey bridge, the rice fieldsor watch villagers catching fish in the nearby lake. You can even take a cooking class with one of the local families and enjoy dinner while watching a live performance by local people. Overnight at homestay or Hotel in Can Tho.

Tour Guide: Yes, Transportation: , Meal: B, L, Hotel: Can Tho Hotel

At about 6 a.m., we’ll hop into our car and drive about 15 km to Cai Rang district.Once there, we’ll board an arrow-boat and cruise to the stunning Cai Rang floating market. Just sit back and watch local villagers trade fruits and vegetables from boat to boat – the same way it has been happening for hundreds of years. As our boat edges through the market, you’ll think you stepped back in time after listening to the soundsof bargaining and rowing. We’ll continue along the Mekong River until arriving at another floating market, which is much bigger and is more of wholesaled market with many larger, motorized vessels. Then we’ll drive to Chau Doc (one of the towns located at the border between Viet Nam and Cambodia), have lunch and then take a short drive to the Tra Su Conservatory, aboard a rowing-boat (depending on water level) or take a short walk (4km) to see the breath-taking scenery and the wildlife of this sensational and unique area. It features 1,000-hectares of mangroves forest surrounded by paddy fields. This row-boat and motorboat journey takes about three hours. We’ll finish the boat trip with a short drive back to Chau Doc and then drive up to the Sam mountain to see the sunset over the rice fields. Check into your hotel and enjoy some free time.

Tour Guide: Yes, Transportation: , Meal: B, L, Hotel: Chau Doc Hotel

After breakfast, take a motorboat cruise through a village of floating houses, where fish are bred in their natural environment, and learn more about Cham culture.You’ll also visit a small village and its mosqueThen a minivan will pick you up for a drive to Long Xuyen to visit the crocodile farm. Have a lunch stop on the way then drive back to Ho Chi Minh city and transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport for flight to Da Nang airport. Our tour guide will pick up upon arrival and transfer to Hoi An. Hoi An Ancient Town is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. Its buildings and its street plan reflect the influences, both indigenous and foreign, that have combined to produce this unique heritage site. Overnight in Hoi An.

Tour Guide: Yes, Transportation: , Meal: B, L, Hotel: Hoi An Hotel

08:00: local guide will see you at your hotel with your bicycle. you will cycle to a local farm in Tra Que village. A short stroll will take you around the vegetable garden and then you can join the farmers in preparing the land and fertilizing it with seaweed from the local lake following steps are raking the ground, sowing, watering, picking vegetables and many other gardening activities. After all these activities, you will take a short rest and enjoy foot bath before getting to preparing lunch with a local family. Your lunch will consist of many local delicacies including ‘tam huu’ spring roll, Banh xeo or local pancake of people in Vietnam middle region. You can join the cooking with the chef on these meals. After your morning excurtions and your lunch, you will take a Vietnamese traditional post-prandial nap before learning how to harvest and wrap the vegetables. Around 14.00: bid farewell to your host family before riding back to Hoi An. We enjoy a half day walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, Assembly Hall, 200-year-old Tam Ky House and the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge constructed in 1593…Continue walking through the small alleys to soak up the atmosphere of a bygone age or back to your hotel for your beach relaxation.

Tour Guide: Yes, Transportation: , Meal: B, L, Hotel: Hoi An Hotel

Free day at your own leisure at beach resort or make your own exploration to Hoi An town. Overnight at hotel in Hoi An.

Tour Guide: No, Transportation: , Meal: B, Hotel: Hoi An Hotel

This morning we drive to Hue, we will cross Hai Van Pass where you will have magnificent view of the Eastern Sea. Stop at Lang Co to have break. Check-in hotel in Hue City. Hue served as Vietnam's capital under the emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945 and the city’s regal past can still be seen inside the walls of the Citadel and the Imperial City. Both were heavily damaged during the Tet Offensive of 1968 when the Hue served as Vietnam's capital under the emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945 and the city’s regal past can still be seen inside the walls of the Citadel and the Imperial City. Touring the ancient Imperial Citadel. Back to Hotel and the rest of time at your own leisure. Overnight at hotel in Hue city.

Tour Guide: Yes, Transportation: , Meal: B, L, Hotel: Hue Hotel

Morning take a dragon boat downstream to visit Con Hen island, where we have chance to describe the life of boat people on the sampans by photo. Continue upstream toward the Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue’s most reserved religious monument standing on the riverbank with its seven-floored tower. Drive to visit the Imperial Citadel. Lunch is at the Thuong Tu pancake restaurant (specialties of Hue). Afternoon continue by vehicle to visit the elaborate Royal tombs of Emperor Tu Duc and Khai Dinh. Before returning to the hotel, we come up to the Vong Canh hill for a photo opportunity of the spectacular upper part of the Perfume River. Evening, royal dinner is at a local restaurant restaurant. Overnight at hotel in Hue.

Tour Guide: Yes, Transportation: , Meal: B, L, Hotel: Hue Hotel

Morning fly to Hanoi - the capital city of Vietnam is an elegant city located on the banks of the Red River with tranquil Restored Sword Lake at its heart. North of the lake are the bustling streets of the Old Quarter, each street named after the trade that used to take place there. Much of the city was transformed by the French when it became a French protectorate in the 1880s and there are wide boulevards and large colonial buildings which are now home to government departments and foreign embassies. You will be transferred to your hotel in the city center to refresh. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi City.

Tour Guide: Yes, Transportation: , Meal: B, Hotel: HaNoi Hotel

After breakfast at your hotel .The guide pick you up at your hotel and then visit the capital of Vietnam, a city that celebrated 1.000 years in 2010 has countless fascinating cultural and historic sites and our days' tour will visit the highlights. See the grand and solemn mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh (viewed from outside; closed Mon and Fri and from Oct-Nov), the 'icon of Hanoi' - The One Pillar Pagoda, West Lake's Tran Quoc temple. After lunch, visit the beautiful Temple of Literature, take a cycle for visiting the bustling Old Quarter and enjoy water – puppet show. Then free time and overnight in Hanoi.

Tour Guide: Yes, Transportation: , Meal: B, L, Hotel: HaNoi Hotel

08h00: our guide come to pick you up from your hotel, depart 2 hour driving along green fields and villages in the two side of the high way number 01. 09h30: come to Hoa Lu, used to be the capital of Vietnam in the 11st centuries, visit the temple of Dinh & Le dynasty, learn about history of Vietnam in the war with China and about the first Vietnamese government. Have a great view of rice paddy field, and lots of fresh air. After lunch, get on a small boat, glide along a long canal with rice paddy fields and mountains two sides, your boat will go through three cave called "Hang Ca", "Hang 2", "Hang 3". 15h00: You boat drive you back to the warft then get on bus back to Hanoi. 17h00: Bus arrive Hanoi and drop you off at your hotel.You will have free time until 19.00 – Jasminecruises’s tour guide will come to pick you up from your hotel in Hanoi old quarter then transfer to Ha Noi Railway station to catch the night train to Lao Cai (overnight on train, 4 berths sharing cabin, soft sleeper and air-conditioning).

Tour Guide: Yes, Transportation: , Meal: B, L, Hotel: Sleep on Train

Our local guide meets you at the Lao Cai train station, and you depart for Sa Pa by car. Arriving in Sa Pa mid-morning,after breakfast at the restaurant, you check in to the hotel and short rest.After lunch, our guide takes you to visit two Black H’mong villages (Cat Cat Village) and a waterfall. There, you will have a chance to see the hydroelectric power station built by the French. After that, it’s back to Sa Pa for dinner. In the evening, you’re free to do as you wish. You can explore the town of Sa Pa.Overnight in hotel.

Tour Guide: Yes, Transportation: , Meal: B, L, D, Hotel: Sapa Hotel

After breakfast, our guide takes you to villages populated by H’mong and Dzay peoples, respectively called Lao Chai and Ta Van. This popular trip from Sapa is a good chance to traipse around the rice terraces and experience a bit of rural village life. Travel down the valley from Sapa to the Hmong village of Lao Chai,it's a nice ride in itself, with great views of the lush terraces. From there, you'll just follow the valley for a few miles to the next town of Tavan . Along the way, you'll walk through terraced rice fields and among some picturesque villages, and experience a bit of rural life. You’ll have lunch either with an ethnic minority family or on the way back to Lao Cai to catch a night train back to Ha Noi, arriving the next early morning .

Tour Guide: Yes, Transportation: , Meal: B, L, D, Hotel: Sleep on Train

Early this morning, you will pick up at station and then transfer to hotel for day use and have breakfast (You can send your luggage at this hotel). Following with breakfast at hotel or private address in Hanoi Old Quarter , Jasminecruises.com will come to pick you up around 0800 AM with our shuttle bus to start the 3 hour-and-a-half drive to Halong Bay through the paddy fields in the Red River Delta. 10.00 Stopover on the way for refreshments 12.00-12.30 Arrive at Tuan Chau Wharf – Break and photo opportunities 12.30 Transfer by tender to the boat – enjoy Welcome Drink, receive cruise briefing and safety instructions. 13.00-13.30 Check in and begin cruise. Enjoy deluxe Vietnamese and International Set Menu Lunch is served while the cruising through the bay 15.00 Visit exciting Ba Hang fishing village, the village is free from busy roads and streets, electric lights, houses and high rise buildings. Instead, there are only herds of little boats and rafts. You will have the chance to discover the traditional culture and customs of the fishermen. Enjoy kayaking, swimming, relaxing on the cruise (if the weather permits). 16.00 Return to the boat and join cooking class by Glory Cruise’s Chef. 19.00 Dinner - Deluxe Vietnamese and International Set Menu Dinner 21.00 Evening activities include: Leisure time to enjoy a chat around the bar. Watching movies and many sort of Vietnam cultural films. Relaxing and spending a romantic night on Glory Cruise’s music. Playing cards, chess are available, reading magazines in room and dining room. Passengers may also try their luck at squid fishing & fishing from the boat. 21.00 – 23.00 Happy Hour! Buy two drinks - get one free (wine by the bottle excluded) 23.00 End of Program for Day One.

Tour Guide: No, Transportation: , Meal: B, L, D, Hotel: Cruise in Ha Long Bay

06.30 Coffee, tea and breakfast pastries is served in the dining room 07.00 Enjoy Tai Chi instruction on the sundeck (duration about 30 minutes). 08.15 Transfer to another boat for Lan Ha Bay excursion. 10.00 Guided kayaking, swimming & snorkeling at Three Peach Beach, a pristine natural beach lapped by turquoise water. 12.00 Vietnamese Lunch is served or Barbeque on beach (if the weather permitted) 13.30 Continue on to discover Ho Ba Ham Islet, the most remote point in Lan Ha Bay and bordering the Gulf of Tonkin 14.30 Visit its quaint fishing village and lagoon. Possibility of kayaking through an amazing tunnel carved under a limestone mountain (time and weather permitting). 16.00 Cruise back to Glory Cruises 19.00 Dinner - Deluxe Vietnamese and International Set Menu Dinner 21.00 Evening activities include: Leisure time to enjoy a chat around the bar. Watching movies and many sort of Vietnam cultural films. Relaxing and spending a romantic night on Glory Cruise’s music. Playing cards, chess are available, reading magazines in room and dining room. Passengers may also try their luck at squid fishing & fishing from the boat. 21.00 – 23.00 Happy Hour! Buy two drinks - get one free (wine by the bottle excluded) 23.00 End of Program for Day Two.

Tour Guide: Yes, Transportation: , Meal: B, L, D, Hotel: Cruise in Ha Long Bay

06.30: Coffee, tea and breakfast pastries served in the dining room. 07.00: Enjoy Tai Chi instruction on the sundeck (duration about 30 minutes). 08.15 Transfer by tender to the Sung Sot Cave. Walk up about 100 steps to the cave entrance and tour the cave for approximately 45 minutes. Walk down about 100 steps and return to the boat. Proper shoes are highly recommended 09.00 Back to the cruise by tender, then check-out and enjoy a fantastic cruise on the bay 09.45 Buffet brunch (breakfast/lunch) or A la carte Menu while cruising back through Halong Bay to the pier. We will settle bills after breakfast. Relax on the sundeck or in the dining room enjoying the bay scenery as we approach the pier. 11.45 Transfer by tender to the pier. Time to say goodbye to the crew 12.00-12.30 Return from Halong to Hanoi by shuttle bus. 14.00 Stop over in Dong Trieu town to visit a ceramics workshop 16.00–17.00:Arrive in Hanoi.You will have free time in Hanoi.

Tour Guide: Yes, Transportation: , Meal: B, L, Hotel: HaNoi Hotel

Your time will be your own until your private car and driver arrives to take you to the airport for your flight to next destination. Finish unforgettable Signtaure Vietnam Tour with Jasminecruises.com. Good bye & see you in the next time! Jasminecruises.com can arrange additional customized trips for you if the above itinerary does not match your expectations.

Tour Guide: Yes, Transportation: , Meal: B, Hotel: None