“Travel Vietnam on the less-beaten routes” is a soft adventure tour of Vietnam via the routes less traveled in 12 days, 11 nights.
Adventure Travel Vietnam Overview
Starting at Ha Noi every Friday, we will travel our way to Mai Chau in the mountains of North West of Vietnam, then descend down to the heart of the Red River Delta and visit Ninh Binh, then Ha Long Bay. On the journey, we will have an extensive exploration tour of the Central Highlands before flying down to Sai Gon and sample the Mekong River Delta.
The highlights of the tour include the less-traveled routes, the homestay at Mai Chau, the bicycle amid towering mountain cliffs and green rice fields of Ninh Binh, the junk cruise amid the stunning Ha Long Bay, the elephant ride at Lak Lake, the authentic culture of the ethnic people in the Central Highlands, and the exotic life style on the Mekong River in southern Vietnam.
The pace of the tour is easy-moderate and should be suitable for most travellers. Accommodation for the tour includes: homestay at Mai Chau, 2 star hotel at Ninh Binh, private cabin on a shared junk cruise on Ha Long Bay, and 3-4 star hotels at other cities.
“Travel Vietnam on the less-beaten routes” is an “away-from-the crowd” adventure holiday of the authentic Vietnam by sampling the most typical at each region of the country.
Day-to-day itinerary
Day1 (Friday ) Arrive in Ha Noi (no meal)
Day2 (Saturday) Ha Noi Morning City Tour/Free afternoon (B)
Day3 (Sunday) Ha Noi – Mai Chau/Tour of Mai Chau Villages (B/L/D)
Day4 (Monday) Mai Chau – Ninh Binh/Bicycle Tour of Tam Coc & Bich Dong (B/L)
Day5 (Tuesday) Ninh Binh – Ha Long Bay Junk Cruise (B/L/D)
Day6 (Wednesday) Ha Long Bay – Ha Noi – Buon Ma Thuot (VN 271: 1810-1950) (B/L)
Day7 (Thursday) Buon Ma Thuot: Tour of the Waterfalls & Elephant Ride at the Lak Lake (B/L)
Day8 (Friday ) Buon Ma Thuot – Pleiku/Tour of ethnic villages (B/L)
Day9 (Saturday) Pleiku – Kon Tum – Pleiku (B/L)
Day10 (Sunday) Pleiku (no guide at Pleiku) – Sai Gon (VN 449: 0845-0950)/Tour of Sai Gon (B/L)
Day11 (Monday) Sai Gon – My Tho – Ben Tre – Sai Gon (B/L)
Day12 (Tuesday) Depart Sai Gon (no tour guide) (B)
{Inclusions
English-speaking guide;
Transportation + airlines tickets within Vietnam as indicated on the tour program;
Private cabin on a shared junk cruise on Ha Long Bay;
Boat cruise on the Mekong River as indicated on the tour program;
Bicycle for the cycling tour in Ninh Binh;
Sampan trip in Thung Nang;
Accommodation on twin-shared basis and homestay as indicated on the tour program;
Meals as indicated on the tour program: B= Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner;
All admission fees during the guided times as indicated on the tour program;}
{Exclusions
Insurance of any types;
International airfares and airport taxes;
Drinks or personal expenses;
Others not clearly specified in the inclusions;}
Detailed itinerary
Day1 (Friday ) Arrive in Ha Noi (no meal)
Arriving at Ha Noi Airport, you’ll be welcomed by our tour guide and transferred to the hotel. The rest of the day is free at leisure. Overnight in Ha Noi.
Day2 (Saturday) Ha Noi Morning City Tour/Free afternoon (B)
In the morning, we’ll tour the 1000 year old city of Ha Noi. We’ll visit different highlights of the capital city including: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh Museum, the Ngoc Son temple, the Temple of Literature - 1st University of Vietnam. We will have a walking tour of the Old Quarter, then travel back to the hotel.
Enjoy free time in the afternoon.
Overnight in Ha Noi.
Day3 (Sunday) Ha Noi – Mai Chau/Tour of Mai Chau Villages (B/L/D)
08:30 Leaving the city, we will travel through the countryside out of Ha Noi, then uphill through myriads mountains and valleys to Mai Chau. There are many opportunities to stop en route to take photos of the changing landscape and of local people. Arriving at Mai Chau at mid day, we will be welcomed by our host – a Thai family who live in houses on stilts with basically one big room.
In the afternoon, have a walking tour of the Thai communities of Mai Chau Valley and learn about their life.
Lunch and dinner at the home of the host.
Overnight at Mai Chau.
Day4 (Monday) Mai Chau – Ninh Binh/Bicycle Tour of Tam Coc & Bich Dong (B/L)
Breakfast at the home, then bid farewell to the host for the trip through the mountains to Ninh Binh where the stunning karst formations are seen everywhere you travel. Arriving at Ninh Binh at mid day, we will have time for lunch and refreshment.
In the afternoon, enjoy a cycling tour through the villages, karkst formations and rice paddies to Hoa Lu & Tam Coc. Have a sampan trip amid the mesmerizing beauty of Tam Coc which travels through three underwater caves. Then we will cycle further into the rice paddies to Bich Dong Pagoda which was built from the 16th century into a cave of a limestone mountains. Have some moments adoring the nature beauty and of man's work, then travel back to Ninh Binh.
Free time for dinner.
Overnight at Ninh Binh.
Day5 (Tuesday) Ninh Binh – Ha Long Bay Junk Cruise (B/L/D)
08:00 A.M travel through the heart of the Red River Delta where vast green rice paddies and white conical hats are the norm. Our destination is the UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site – Ha Long Bay. We will complete registration formalities at the waiting cafe in Ha Long City and start getting on board at 12:00 Noon.
13:00 the junk starts cruising into the fresh beauty of Ha Long Bay and lunch is being served on board. The junk stops at a cave and a beach during the cruise and anchor at a designated spot for the night.
Overnight on board the junk.
Day6 (Wednesday) Ha Long Bay – Ha Noi – Buon Ma Thuot (VN 271: 1810-1950) (B/L)
Breakfast on board amid the heavenly beauty of Ha Long Bay.
Start our tour of Ha Long Bay with a sampan trip to Luon Cave. Then we will get back to the junk and cruise further into the bay. Enjoy the last feast for lunch at 11:00 A.M and disembarkation at 11:45. Rejoin our car and travel back to Ha Noi center for more discovery of the Old Quarter, then make our way to the Airport for the flight to Buon Ma Thuot.
Arriving at Buon Ma Thuot in the evening, welcomed by our local tour guide and driver and transferred to the hotel.
Overnight at Buon Ma Thuot.
Buon Ma Thuot is well hidden in the heart of the Central Highlands of Vietnam. The city is a good base for a day tour to explore the spectacular waterfalls or the tranquil ethnic villages. For the adventure travelers, riding elephant and trekking in Yok Don National Parks are also on offer. White water rafting is also available, but would require months-in-advance of preparation.
Mother nature has endowed Buon Ma Thuot with temperate climate & basaltic soil which makes the coffee bean here among the top in the World. In early morning and late afternoon when temperatures are low, having a cup of hot local coffee could make life here more than worthwhile...
Day7 (Thursday) Buon Ma Thuot: Tour of the Waterfalls & Elephant Ride at the Lak Lake (B/L)
Today is reserved for our adventure into the greenery of Buon Ma Thuot surrounded by coffee and pepper plantations. We will travel south of the city to visit Dray Sap and Dray Nur Waterfalls, then make our way back to town for lunch.
In the afternoon, we will travel to Lak Lake and have a trip on a dug-out canoe on the serene water to Jun Village of the Mnong People where our elephant would assist with a ride around the community. After the elephant ride, we will travel back to Buon Ma Thuot. Free time in the evening.
Overnight in Buon Ma Thuot.
Day8 (Friday ) Buon Ma Thuot – Pleiku/Tour of ethnic villages (B/L)
08:30 Leaving the hotel at Buon Ma Thuot, we will travel through myriads rubber, coffee and pepper plantations to Pleiku – the capital town of Gia Lai Province. Arriving at Pleiku at mid day, we will have time for lunch and refreshment.
In the afternoon, have a light trekking tour to visit the local Bahnar ethnic villages: Dektu - Deron – Dedoa – Dekop and enjoy a traditional performance by the local ethnic. Travel back to Pleiku and have free time.
Overnight at Pleiku.
Day9 (Saturday) Pleiku – Kon Tum – Pleiku (B/L)
Travel to Plei Phun Village to learn about the Jarai People and their culture. Then we will proceed further to Kon Tum Town for a tour of the Orphanage Village of Vinh Son and the wooden catholic church. Lunch at Kon Tum.
In the afternoon, have a tour the ethnic communities on the outskirt of Kon Tum and travel back to Pleiku.
Overnight at Pleiku.
Day10 (Sunday) Pleiku (no guide at Pleiku) – Sai Gon (VN 449: 0845-0950)/Tour of Sai Gon (B/L)
Have free time until our driver (without tour guide) comes back to your hotel and transfers you to the airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City, still called Sai Gon by the local. Arriving at Sai Gon, welcomed by our local team and transferred to the city. Have a tour of Sai Gon including: the Notre Dame Cathedral, the General Post Office, the War Remnants Museum, the Reunification Palace, Ben Thanh Market and China Town.
Overnight at Sai Gon.
Day11 (Monday) Sai Gon – My Tho – Ben Tre – Sai Gon (B/L)
08:00 Travel into the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. Start our boat trip at My Tho and cruise through different canals and creeks flanked by luxuriant orchards by the riverside to Ben Tre and back. Travel back to Sai Gon in mid afternoon.
Day12 (Tuesday) Depart Sai Gon (no tour guide) (B)
Have free time at leisure until our driver comes back and transfers you to the airport for the departure flight. We trust you had an unforgettable adventure tour of Vietnam with Paradissa Travel.