Vietnam Tour 17 days: A Green Trip
Overview
This "Vietnam Tour 17 days: A Green Trip" takes you off the beaten path to explore the unspoiled beauty of Vietnam's national parks, rural villages, and the lush Mekong Delta. The tour is perfect for nature lovers and those seeking authentic cultural experiences.
Highlights include visiting Cuc Phuong and Nam Cat Tien national parks, where you can hike through the forest to discover the wildlife and stay in homestays to learn about the local culture. You will also get a chance to experience a relaxing rowing boat trip in Trang An, known as Ha Long Bay on land.
The itinerary includes a visit to Giao Xuan commune to live like a local, a hydrofoil ride from Hai Phong to Cat Ba Island for swimming in the pure water and half-day tour of Cat Ba National Park, and a glimpse of stunning Ha Long Bay. You will also escape the bustling city of Saigon to explore the Mekong Delta by speed boat and have the opportunity to experience unforgettable activities such as feeding crocodiles, crab fishing, and bird-watching.
Overall, this tour promises to be an exciting journey through the unspoiled beauty of Vietnam, allowing you to experience the country's authentic culture and incredible natural wonders.
Highlights
- Escape from the mass tourist and contemplate the wild beautiful nature of Cuc Phuong and Nam Cat Tien Pak.
- Walking in the forest of Cuc Phuong and Nam Cat Tien national park to discover the wildlife.
- Discovery the villages and stay in homestay of ethnic people and learn about their culture.
- Enjoy a relaxing rowing boat trip in Trang An, known as Ha Long Bay on land
- Deep into the countryside and live like a local in Giao Xuan commune
- Get a ride to Xuan Thuy National Park for bird watching and nice bicycle road with beautiful countryside journey and amazing landscape of Nam Dinh
- Unique experience with a hydrofoil from Hai Phong to Cat Ba
- Swimming in the pure water of Cat Ba island
- A glimpse of stunning Ha Long Bay just by a daily boat trip
- Escape from bustle Saigon for the lush, green tributaries of the Mekong Delta by a speed boat to Can Gio Forest. Here you have an opportunity to experience the most exciting and unforgettable activities such as feeding the crocodiles, crab fishing, bird-watching, rowing boat on Giant Bat lagoon,
Itinerary
Our first stop is to visit the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh. Located in the center of Ba Dinh Square, this is the most important monument of Vietnam in which Ho Chi Minh’s body is preserved. This site only opens on Tuesday to Thursday and weekends from 08:00 – 11:00.
The next destination is the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. The Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house was completed on May 19th, 1958 as a birthday present for uncle Ho and becomes a symbol of his simple life.
Close to this complex is the One Pillar Pagoda. The pagoda looks like a lotus blossoming from the square pond. It was constructed in 1049 by King Ly Thai Tong based on his dream of Goddess of Mercy seating on a lotus flower and giving him a boy. In 1954, it was destroyed by the French and then restored in 1955.
We follow this with the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam. This temple provides an opportunity to learn more about education in Vietnam since 1000 years ago until recent history.
Afternoon, have a little leisure time to back your hotel, then tour around the city's Old Quarter by a bicycle rickshaw, called a cyclo. In this part of town, each colorful street is devoted to a particular craft or ware. You will be pedaled amongst the quaint French buildings along Shoe Street, Silk Street and Banner Street (to name just a few), ending at the historic Hoan Kiem Lake - the social center of Hanoi.
In the late afternoon, you will enjoy the Water Puppet Performance, a unique Vietnamese traditional art.
Overnight at the hotel in Hanoi
We then take an amazing boat trip to visit the Trang An grottoes
Trang An has an area of 1500 hectares and is a gathering of 31 valleys, 50 cross-water caves, and home to 600 kinds of flora and over 200 kinds of fauna surrounded by magnificent forested mountains, which makes it become a fascinating destination.
Transfer you back to your hotel in Ninh Binh for your overnight.
Cat Ba is the largest island in Ha Long Bay and has a wide variety of natural ecosystems. It also offers visitors the added options of relaxation and adventure, which brings them an unforgettable experience.
Here our vehicle is waiting for us to transfer you to your hotel in Cat Ba. Upon arrival have free time for beach relaxing or wandering around the island. Overnight at the hotel in Cat Ba Island
Declared as a World Heritage site by the UNESCO in 1994, Ha Long Bay is one of Vietnam’s most spectacular natural attractions. Nearly 200 km far from Hanoi, the bay is dotted with 1600 limestone islands, capturing visitors’ attention.
Board a wooden sailing junk for a cruise through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters of Ha Long Bay, giving us the chance to take in the stunning scenery of this World Heritage Site. While on board we will be served a sumptuous fresh, local seafood lunch followed by a swim and exploring some of the limestone caves in this area. When the sun comes down we drop anchor for the night nearby a remote island. Dinner served on board. Overnight on Junk
Reunification Palace is a unique construction designed for the President of South Vietnam during Vietnam War. When entering, visitors can not only admire its architectural beauty but also enjoy fresh atmosphere created by trees and grasses around.
Continue our trip to some French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Sai Gon Post Office.
Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the most famous architectural monuments influenced by European architecture. Both its exterior and interior are impressive with bright red color of bricks, stained glass panels and carved tiles, attracting many tourists.
After seeing the Jade Emperor Pagoda and the War Remnant Museum
War Remnants Museum primarily contains exhibits relating to the American phase of the Vietnam War. War Remnants Museum comprises a series of themed rooms in several buildings, with period military equipment placed within a walled yard.
Our last stop today is the bustling Ben Thanh Market where anything and everything is for sale. Overnight at the hotel in HCM city
For nature lovers, a trip to Nam Cat Tien National Park would be a memorized experience. Coming here, you can explore not only the nature but the culture and traditional work of hill tribe people by visiting Ta Lai village.
We have lunch at the park and prepare for a hike into Crocodile Lake. A jeep takes us along a 10km-long concrete road before the 5km trekking into the forest begins. The sounds of thousands of insects and long howls of grey monkeys and the startling strange chirps of a forest bird keep us company. A rustic forester outpost is the only facility out on the lake. Accommodation is Spartan, but looking into the red eyes of a crocodile while out on the lake in a small canoe makes the visit well worth it. Tonight, enjoy a simple dinner made by forest rangers.
Morning at 08:30 depart from the southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City to the area referred locally as ‘the rice bowl of Vietnam’. On arrival in Ben Tre Province head towards Tien Giang where you will board your local boat for a cruise among the aptly named Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle and Phoenix Islands. En-route visit a small factory producing handicrafts made of coconut and Turtle Island, where a stop will be made in a tropical orchard to taste some exotic fruit. After the boat trip, take a ride on a horse driven cart along country roads to a famed garden for a honey tasting session. Continue on a smaller rowing boat for a more adventurous cruise on the Xep Canal which is set amongst a forest of palm trees. In the afternoon return to Ben Tre for lunch. Afternoon transfer back to HCM city. Overnight at the hotel in Ho Chi Minh
Today is at your leisure before checking out and transferring to Tan Son Nhat airport for your onward flight. Thank you for choosing our Vietnam Tour 17 days!
Trip notes
Tour includes:
- Accommodation in a double or twin share room with daily breakfast
- 1 night at homestay in Cuc Phuong National Park
- Private air-conditioned vehicle during all tours and transfers.
- Entrance fees for all visits as mentioned in the itinerary
- Experienced English speaking guide during all tours and transfers
- Meals as indicated by Vietnamese foods at the restaurant (B= breakfast; L=Lunch; D = Dinner)
- Local private boat excursions in Ninh Binh, Mekong Delta
- Water Puppet show ticket & cyclo tour in Hanoi
- Bicycle in Nam Dinh
- Hydrofoil from Hai Phong to Cat Ba
- Sharing Can Gio forest trip on speed boat
- 2 days 1 night in ha long bay cruise
- Water & cool towels during transfer
- Government taxes & service charge
Tour excludes:
- Vietnam Visa stamp fee: USD 25/person
- International airfare and departure taxes
- Meals, if not specified in the itinerary
- Early check in/late check out
- Domestic flights and domestic airport taxes
- Gala dinner on 24th and 31st December if any
- Surcharged for Public holidays
- Drinks and meal not mentioned
- Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone, drinks … etc.
- Personal travel insurance (we highly recommend that you purchase adequate insurance).
- Gratuities/ Tipping
- All other services not specified in the itinerary
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