CULTURAL DISCOVERY & NEW YEAR’S EVE IN VIETNAM (25 Days / 21 Nights)

Flight lands at Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi). Your driver and tour guide will welcome you and transfer you to the hotel for an early check-in.

Afternoon: Free time to rest and recover after your long flight.

Evening: Enjoy a warm welcome dinner. Overnight in Hanoi.

Morning: Visit iconic historical landmarks: the Temple of Literature (Vietnam's first university), the Presidential Palace, and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (outside view). Continue with a visit to the Museum of Ethnology to explore the rich customs and lifestyles of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups.

Afternoon: Experience the historic Hanoi Old Quarter (36 Old Streets) via a traditional cyclo ride. Stop by the Ga Dong Duong (Indochina Rooster) café, located right next to the famous train tracks, to enjoy a local beer (at own expense, approx. $2 USD).

Evening: Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Hanoi.

Morning: Depart for Sa Pa, a picturesque mountain resort town nestled at an altitude of 1,600m at the foot of the majestic Mount Fansipan.

Lunch: Stop for lunch in Lao Cai City before ascending to Sa Pa. Check into your hotel.

Afternoon: Enjoy a walking tour to discover the charming town center of Sa Pa.

Evening: Dinner at your own leisure. Overnight in Sa Pa.

Morning: Embark on a half-day trek (approx. 4-5 km with multiple stone steps) down to Cat Cat Village. Admire the iconic terraced rice fields (whose beauty varies by season: golden harvest, green seedlings, or the reflective water-pouring season) and learn about the daily life of the ethnic minority people.

Lunch: Savor lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon & Evening: Free time to explore on your own. Dinner at your own leisure. Overnight in Sa Pa.

Note: This activity requires good physical condition suitable for walking on steep slopes.

Enjoy a full day to explore Sa Pa at your own pace (lunch and dinner are at your own expense).

SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES:

1. Lao Chai – Ta Van Trekking: Hike through the rustic villages of the Black H'mong and Red Dao ethnic minorities to admire the stunning, sweeping rice terraces (season dependent).

2. Conquer Fansipan Peak (Weather Permitting): Take a modern 15 to 20-minute cable car ride up to the "Roof of Indochina." Once at the summit, explore the majestic spiritual complex featuring a giant Buddha statue and serene mountaintop pagodas, all while enjoying panoramic views of the Hoang Lien Son mountain range

3. Bac Ha Market (Available on Sundays only): Located about 70km from Sa Pa, this is a vibrant, colorful cultural market of the Flower H'mong, Tay, Dao, and Phu La ethnic groups. Arriving by 6:00 AM is highly recommended to fully experience its authentic and bustling morning atmosphere.

Morning: Breakfast at the hotel, then board the vehicle for your return journey to Hanoi.

Lunch: Served at a local restaurant along the way.

Evening: Dinner at your own leisure. Overnight in Hanoi.

Morning: After breakfast, depart through the scenic rural landscapes of the Red River Delta toward Tuan Chau Port (Halong).

Noon: Board your luxury cruise, enjoy a welcome drink, and check into your cabin.

Afternoon: Cruise past magnificent limestone karsts. Visit the spectacular Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Cave) and pass by a floating fishing village. Enjoy swimming or kayaking in the emerald waters.

Evening: Sumptuous dinner and overnight on board the cruise.

Morning: Start your day with a Tai Chi session on the sundeck at sunrise, followed by breakfast. Explore Luon Cave on a traditional bamboo rowing boat.

Noon: Check out of your cabin as the cruise returns to the harbor. Your driver greets you for the transfer to Ninh Binh - the 10th-century ancient capital of Vietnam, often called "Halong Bay on Land" due to its striking limestone peaks rising above peaceful rice paddies.

Evening: Indulge in a Special New Year's Eve Gala Dinner at the hotel in Ninh Binh. Overnight in Ninh Binh.

Morning: Visit the historic Dinh and Le Dynasty Temples in the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital. Afterward, take a peaceful bamboo boat ride through Tam Coc, exploring three stunning river-carved caves. Follow this with a scenic bicycle ride along rice fields and limestone cliffs.

Lunch: Enjoy local specialties, including Ninh Binh’s famous goat meat dishes, at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Drive south to Vinh City (Nghe An Province)—approx. a 3-hour journey.

Optional (time permitting): Visit Sen Village, the birthplace of President Ho Chi Minh.

Evening: Dinner at your own leisure. Overnight in Vinh.

Morning: Breakfast at the hotel, then continue your journey southward.

Lunch: Savor lunch at a local restaurant in Quang Binh Province.

Afternoon: Take a boat trip up the Son River into the magnificent Phong Nha Cave—a UNESCO World Heritage site celebrated for its spectacular underground rivers and majestic stalactites.

Evening: Transfer to the coastal city of Dong Hoi (1 hour from Phong Nha). Dinner at your own leisure. Overnight in Dong Hoi.

Morning: Travel south along National Highway 1A. En route, stop to explore the Vinh Moc Tunnels (an incredible underground civilian bomb shelter from the war) and cross the historic Hien Luong Bridge over the Ben Hai River (the 17th Parallel, which divided North and South Vietnam from 1954 to 1975).

Lunch: Arrive in Hue and enjoy lunch featuring imperial Hue cuisine specialties.

Afternoon: Enjoy a relaxing cyclo ride around the poetic city, stopping for shopping and sightseeing at the bustling Dong Ba Market.

Evening: Dinner at your own leisure; feel free to explore the ancient capital at night. Overnight in Hue.

Morning: Explore the Imperial Citadel (The Grand Palace)—the home and workplace of the 13 emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty, featuring the Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace, and the Forbidden Purple City.

Afternoon: Board a traditional dragon boat for a cruise along the Perfume River. Stop to visit the iconic Thien Mụ Pagoda and the poetic Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc, renowned for its classical, harmonious architecture.

Evening: Dinner at your own leisure. Overnight in Hue.

Morning: Depart for Hoi An via the Hai Van Pass (Ocean Cloud Pass)—one of the most scenic coastal coastal roads in the world. Stop to capture spectacular views at Lang Co Bay.

Afternoon: Arrive in Hoi An and take a walking tour of the Hoi An Ancient Town (UNESCO World Heritage): the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, Chuc Thanh Pagoda, centuries-old merchant houses, and a traditional lantern-making workshop.

Evening: Dinner at your own leisure. Overnight in Hoi An.

Morning: Cycle to the eco-friendly Tra Que Vegetable Village. Step into the shoes of a local farmer as you try your hand at tilling the soil, planting vegetables, fertilizing with organic seaweed, and learning about traditional herbal remedies.

Lunch: Participate in a Cooking Class to prepare and enjoy classic local delicacies.

Afternoon: Experience a fun ride on a traditional Bamboo Basket Boat through the lush Bay Mau coconut forest before returning to central Hoi An.

Evening: Free time to stroll along the atmospheric, lantern-lit streets. Dinner at your own leisure. Overnight in Hoi An.

Morning: Transfer to Da Nang Airport for your flight to Phu Quoc, a tropical paradise island famous for its crystal-clear waters.

Afternoon: Arrive in Phu Quoc; transfer to your resort for check-in. The rest of the day is yours to unwind on the beach.

OPTIONAL PHU QUOC ACTIVITIES (At own expense):

Relax on the sands of Long Beach or Sao Beach.

Join a snorkeling or scuba diving boat tour.

Visit a traditional fish sauce distillery, a pearl farm, a black pepper plantation, or Ham Ninh ancient fishing village.

Experience the Hon Thom Cable Car—the world’s longest 3-wire oversea cable car, offering 360-degree views of the An Thoi archipelago.

Explore local street food at the Dinh Cau / Phu Quoc Night Market.

Enjoy two full days completely free to lounge by the pool, swim in the ocean, indulge in traditional spa massages, or rent a scooter/bicycle to explore the hidden corners of the island. All meals except breakfast are at your own leisure. Overnight in Phu Quoc.

Morning: Breakfast at the resort, then enjoy free time until your transfer to Phu Quoc Airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

Afternoon: Arrive in Saigon; transfer to your hotel for check-in. Free time to explore or shop. Meals at your own leisure. Overnight in TP.HCM.

Morning: Visit the city's historic landmarks: Independence Palace (outside view), Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, and the War Remnants Museum to gather deep insights into Vietnam’s modern history.

Evening: An exhilarating and unique adventure awaits: The Ao Dai Motorbike Street Food Tour. You will ride pillion behind professional local guides dressed in traditional Ao Dai tunics, zipping through bustling districts and hidden alleys to taste Saigon’s finest street food delicacies. Overnight in TP.HCM.

Morning: Depart for the legendary Cu Chi Tunnels—an immense 200km underground network dug entirely by hand, which served as a hidden city during the war.

Afternoon: Return to the city center. Enjoy free time for shopping at the historic Ben Thanh Market or relaxing. Dinner at your own leisure. Overnight in TP.HCM.

All Day: Free time to explore this dynamic metropolis at your own pace.

Evening: Gather for a warm and wonderful Farewell Dinner to share memories of your incredible cross-country journey through Vietnam. Overnight in TP.HCM.

Enjoy your last day free for packing or buying souvenirs until your transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your return flight to Montreal (Canada). Overnight stay on board.

Arrive in Montreal. End of our services. We look forward to welcoming you on your next journey!