Discover VietNam 17 days 16 nights from South to North is an ideal tour for those who are the first time in Vietnam and want to learn about the people, culture and history of Vietnam. The journey of discovery through Vietnam will bring you destinations not to be missed when coming to Vietnam, a journey of discovery from South to North like with destinations such as Ho Chi Minh, Mekong Delta, Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue, Quang Binh, Ha Long, Ninh Binh, Ha Noi,…Especially, learn and enjoy the cuisine of 3 regions North, Central and Southern with their unique culinary flavors, imbued with the culture of each region.
17 Days from The South to North of Vietnam it promises to bring you an incredible journey not only in Vietnam’s geography but also culture and history.
DAY 1: HO CHI MINH
Our driver and tour guide will pick you up at Ho Chi Minh airport and depart for Discover VietNam 17 days 16 nights from South to North. Then take you go to hotel.
You are free to discover Ho Chi Minh City.
You have dinner with your own budget. Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
DAY 2: HO CHI MINH - CU CHI TUNNEL (B/L)
After your breakfast, our driver and tour guide pick you up at hotel and take you to visit Independence Palace, also known at the Reunification palace, was built on the sight of the former Norodom palace. The Independence palace is a widely known landmark of Ho Chi Minh City and was designed by the architect Ngo Viet Thu. Continue seeing the beautiful structures from the French Colonial times such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, the historic Central Post Office. Followed by the remarkable site of the War Remnants Museum the museum has a vast display of the both the Indochina wars.
Have lunch at local restaurant.
Depart for Cu Chi tunnel; the trip will take approximately one and a half hours bus driving. Upon arrival, before exploring the tunnels, you will have some short introduction followed by introductory video about how the tunnels were constructed and how the people survived in the harsh conditions of the war time. Then, spend your time to explore the remaining area and tunnel systems which included the special constructed living areas with kitchens, bedrooms side by side with other martial facilities like storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, and command centers helping whoever lives inside the tunnels meet their basic needs. Besides, there are also many hidden trap doors and dangerous traps within the maze-like tunnels for security purpose during the war. Afterward, special tea and cassava (guerilla’s food during the war) will be served.
Break time for relax or time for those who want to try the real shooting gun (personal fee)
Return to hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
You have dinner with your own budget. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
DAY 3: HO CHI MINH - MEKONG DELTA - CAN THO TOWN (B/L)
Leaving the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City and start your trip to depart for My Tho, the town lies on the left side of the Mekong River. Upon arrival, visit Vinh Trang pagoda which sated back to the late 19th century. Then boarding the sampan and cruising down the river around the four beautiful islands known as Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix and Tortoise islands.
Stop over at Unicorn Island, go walking around country lane and seeing orchards, enjoy tropical fruits, folk song music which performed by the local people. Visit the fruit plantation.
Riding a hand-rowed sampan through Thoi Son canal and treat yourself in the beauty of the countryside, visit the family business, visit honey-bee farm, enjoy honey tea and coconut candy workshop.
Have lunch at a restaurant
After your lunch, we will go to Can Tho. You will check-in room.
You are free to discover Can Tho town. You have dinner with your own budget. Overnight in Can Tho village.
DAY 4: CAI RANG FLOATING MARKET - HO CHI MINH CITY (B/L)
After breakfast at the hotel, take an early morning boat trip to visit the Cai Rang Floating Market, a wholesale market of fruit and vegetable at its busiest time of the day. Keep cruising through the small channel system and visit a rice noodle making village. (If you want to go earlier to fully learn about the market, you will have a popular breakfast according to local customs at the noodle factory. You will pay with your own budget)
After visiting Cai Rang Floating Market, we will check-out hotel. We will come back to Ho Chi Minh City. On the way, you have lunch at restaurant.
Come to Ho Chi Minh City, you are free to discover city.
You have dinner with your own budget. Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh city.
DAY 5: HO CHI MINH AIRPORT - MARBLE MOUNTAIN - HOI AN ANCIENT TOWN VIA DA NANG AIRPORT (B/L/D)
After your breakfast, we will go to Ho Chi Minh airport to take flight to Da Nang airport.
Arrive Da Nang airport, our driver and tour guide will pick you up there. Then we take you go to restaurant. You have lunch.
After your lunch, we will visit the Marble Mountain. The historical story behind the name “Marble Mountains” According to Cham legend, one day a dragon flew to Non Nuoc beach and laid an egg there. After a long time, the egg hatched and a beautiful girl stepped out of the egg. The egg shell was broken into 5 pieces that became the five magical mountains as we see today. In the 19th century, Marble Mountains had been named “Ngu Hanh Son” by Minh Mang (the second King of Nguyen Dynasty) according to the theory of five essential elements of Eastern (water, wood, fire, metal and earth). Vietnamese Government keeps this name until now and it becomes a famous destination in Da Nang.
After visiting Marble Mountain, we go to Hoi an old town, a major Asian trading port in the 17th and 18th centuries and its architecture and relaxed lifestyle has changed little over the years, take a walking tour of the Hoi An ancient town center. Visit Hoi An Ancient Town – immerse yourself in the idyllic beauty of the old town, discover the interference between Eastern cultures from Japan, China and Vietnamese culture, is a trading port. The most crowded and busiest existed under the Nguyen Dynasty about 200 years ago, it was the trade between Vietnam and other countries (Japan, China,…), with highlights such as tourist icons Hoi An – Japanese Covered Bridge, Quang Tay Assembly Hall, Fujian Assembly Hall, Tan Ky Ancient House, Hoi An Handicraft Facility…
Have dinner at a restaurant in Hoi An. After your dinner, you are free to discover Hoi An at night. Overnight in Hoi An.
DAY 6: HOI AN - MY SON SANCTUARY - COCONUT FOREST (B/L)
In the morning: Have breakfast at the hotel, check – out the room. Driver and tour guide take you to visit the capital and religious center of the former Champa Kingdom. The former capital of the ancient Cham civilization that ruled central Vietnam from the second to the thirteenth century is far away 60 km from Da Nang, 150 km from Hue, and 75km from Hoi An ancient town is My Son sanctuary. It is considered to be one of the best-preserved Cham structures in Vietnam. The complex is comprised of seventy Hindu – like towers and temples dating from the second century.
Have lunch at local restaurant.
After your lunch, we will get on the private bus to discover Cam Thanh Coconut Village (Bay Mau Coconut Forest) experience sitting in a basket boat to visit the green coconut forest in the middle of a peaceful space, admire basket dance, boat racing and enjoy special local produce.
After visiting Coconut forest, you will come back to your hotel in Hoi An.
You have dinner with your own budget. Stay overnight in Hoi An.
DAY 7: FREE DAY IN HOI AN (B)
You are free all day to discover Hoi An ancient town.
(Suggestions: Enjoy the typical local experience, join entertainment complexes, take a rest,…)
DAY 8: HOI AN ANCIENT TOWN - HUE CITY (B/L/D)
After your breakfast we will go to Hue city. On the way, we have lunch at restaurant in Hue. Then we will check – in hotel.
In the afternoon, we will visit Tu Hieu pagoda. Located just 5km southwest of the city centre, this pagoda owes its picturesque scene to the pine forest, small stream and of course, elegant architectural style. In Hue – one of Vietnam’s most sacred lands of Buddhism, Tu Hieu is regarded as the largest and oldest pagoda, and also a famous sightseeing spot with historical and cultural value.
After visiting Tu Hieu pagoda, we will visit conical hat and incense village.
You have dinner with local at restaurant. After your dinner, you will be free to discover Hue at night.
(Option for dinner: If you want to enjoy Royal dinner at a restaurant. Visitors will be dressed up as kings, queens, princesses or crown princes as they like, then enjoy the king’s meal modeled after the king’s rice in the past. Hue royal rice has been recreated and has many features of the old royal court: the dish must be light and delicate in addition to the aroma, and the presentation must also be beautiful and eye-catching. From ingredients, cooking methods, using spices and decorating dishes, as well as ways to eat and enjoy, all of them are polite, regal and luxurious. If you choose Royal meal, we will surcharge depending on the group size).
DAY 9: HUE CITY FULL DAY (B/L)
After your breakfast, our driver and tour guide pick you up go to Thanh Toan Bridge. The Central of Vietnam owns plenty of huge and magnificent bridges, but Thanh Toan Bridge is completely different from modern bridges thanks to its exclusive architecture. The architecture style “house above bridge” is preserved in only a few constructions in Vietnam. In the Central, there are two remaining bridges in that style, including Cau Pagoda (Japanese Covered Bridge) in Hoi An and Thanh Toan Bridge in Hue.
Spring and autumn are two festive seasons in Thanh Toan Village. The festivals are held annually to memorize the ancestors founding the village as well as the previous generations who maintained and amortized cultural traits and beliefs to the descendants. The spring and autumn festivals in Thanh Toan Bridge attracts not only the villagers but also the visitors coming to Thanh Toan Village at these times.
After visiting Thanh Toan bridge, we move to Thieu Tri tomb. The tomb does not have La Thanh, the outermost wall protecting the whole construction. Instead, it utilizes the surrounding mountains as a natural wall, which not only protects the interior but also adorns the imposing appearance of the tomb. Tomb of Thieu Tri leans on Thuan Dao Mountain, the front part is an immense paddy field stretching from the bank of Huong River to Lim Bridge. Due to the geography condition, the tomb faces northwest, an unpopular direction of architecture in general and of Hue’s ancient constructions in particular. In the distance of 1 kilometer in front of the tomb, Vong Canh hill on the right and Ngoc Tran Mountain on the left as a tiger and a dragon guarding the tomb.
Have lunch a restaurant with local food.
After your lunch, we will visit the Imperial. The Imperial is a walled enclosure within the citadel of the city of Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam during the Nguyen dynasty. It contains the palaces that housed the imperial family, as well as shrines, gardens, and villas for mandarins. The Imperial was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 and is undergoing restoration. Coming to Hue, it is impossible to ignore a heritage of extremely meaningful historical value.
After visiting Imperial, we will visit Thien Mu pagoda. It is a historic temple in the city of Hue in Vietnam. Built in 1601 on the order of the first Nguyen lords, Nguyen Hoang, who at that time was the governor of Thuan Hoa (now known as Hue). The Nguyen Lords were in name, officials of the ruling Le Dynasty in Hanoi, but was the de facto independent ruler of central Vietnam. According to the royal annals, Hoang while touring the vicinity was told of the local legend in which an old lady, known as Thien Mu (literally “celestial lady”), dressed in red and blue sat at the site, rubbing her cheeks. She foretold that a lord would come and erect a pagoda on the hill to pray for the country’s prosperity. She then vanished after making her prophecy. Upon hearing this, Hoang ordered the construction of a temple at the site, thus the beginning of Thien Mu Tu.
After visiting Thien Mu pagoda, we take boat on Huong river come to Toa Kham boat station. We will continue to get on the vehicle come to hotel.
You are free to discover Hue city. You have dinner with your own budget. Overnight in Hue.
DAY 10: FREE DAY IN HUE CITY (B)
You are free to discover Hue city. (Suggestions: Enjoy massage, enjoy cooking class, participate in special experiences of local typical activities,….You can choose options and pay with your own budget).
DAY 11: HUE - DONG HOI CITY (B/L)
12:00 AM: You check-out and go to Dong Hoi city. On the way you have lunch at restaurant.
04:30 PM: Arrive Dong Hoi city, we will check-in hotel.
You are free to discover Dong Hoi city. You have dinner with your own budget.
DAY 12: DONG HOI - THIEN DUONG CAVE - PHONG NHA CAVE (B/L)
In the morning: After your breakfast, driver and tour guide will take you to visit Paradise Cave.
Paradise Cave (Thien Duong Cave) is a cave in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, UNESCO’s World Heritage Site. Although it has a long history of formation, Thien Duong cave was only discovered in 2005, by cave experts from the Royal British Cave Association. Also according to the association’s announcement, Thien Duong cave has a length of up to 31.4 km…Thien Duong Cave has a magnificent and magnificent structure created by a combination of natural light from skylights and thousand-year-old stalactites. The beautiful scenery at Thien Duong cave is evaluated and recognized by experts as a beauty like a place on earth, as beautiful as a paradise in the middle of the world.
Enjoy your lunch at local Restaurant.
In the afternoon, we will visit Phong Nha cave. The boat takes you inside Phong Nha cave and begins conquering the beautiful Phong Nha cave. Phong Nha has been voted as one of the most wonderful caves in the world for a number of reasons: for its longest underground river, for its most beautiful underground lake for its highest and widest entrance, for its most beautiful and widest dry cave, for its most beautiful sandbank and reef, as well as for its most spectacular stalactites, stalagmites and longest water grottos.
04: 30 PM: Getting on the car and returning to hotel.
You are free to discover Dong Hoi at night. You have dinner your own budget.
DAY 13: DONG HOI - HA NOI AIRPORT (B/L)
12:00 PM: We will check-out hotel. On the way, you have lunch. After your lunch, you go to Dong Hoi airport to take flight to Ha Noi airport.
Arrive Ha Noi airport, our drive and tour guide pick you up at the airport and take you go to the hotel. You are free to discover Ha Noi capital.
Have dinner with your own budget. Overnight in Ha Noi capital.
DAY 14: HA NOI - TRANG AN - HA LONG CITY (B/L)
In the morning: After your breakfast, our tour guide and driver will take you go to Trang An, Ninh Binh. Situated near the southern margin of the Red River Delta, the Trang An Landscape Complex is a spectacular landscape of limestone karst peaks permeated with valleys, many of them partly submerged and surrounded by steep, almost vertical cliffs. Exploration of caves at different altitudes has revealed archaeological traces of human activity over a continuous period of more than 30,000 years. They illustrate the occupation of these mountains by seasonal hunter-gatherers and how they adapted to major climatic and environmental changes, especially the repeated inundation of the landscape by the sea after the last ice age. The story of human occupation continues through the Neolithic and Bronze Ages to the historical era. Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Viet Nam, was strategically established here in the 10th and 11th centuries AD. The property also contains temples, pagodas, paddy-fields and small villages.
With the typical weather of Trang An ecological complex, you can choose to come to Trang An any time of the year. However, to find about its own characteristics, January – April would be better.
This time is the time when Trang An festivals take place; therefore, you can combine doing sightseeing of great views and explore the typical characteristics of festivals here like Trang An festival with water and faith processions on the river.
After visiting Trang An, we have lunch at restaurant.After your lunch, you go to Ha Long city. You check-in hotel. You are free to discover Ha Long city.Have dinner with your own budget. Overnight in Ha Long city.
DAY 15: HA LONG - HA LONG BAY - SUNG SOT CAVE - TI TOP CAVE (B/L)
08:30 am: Our driver and tour guide pick you up at your hotel to visit Ha Long bay. You will go to Hạ Long New International port in Bai Chay.
09:00 AM: You get on standard cruise to enjoy Ha Long Bay (you will join the tour with another groups on the standard cruise).
We will go to Sung Sot cave to discover there. Sung Sot Cave (Surprise Cave), one of the most magnificent and largest caves in Ha Long. To reach the mouth of Surprise Cave, you have to climb more than 50 steps and feast your eye on the mysterious natural vegetation of Ha Long Bay. Discovered in 1901 by the French, its original name is “Grotte Des Surprises” due to the amazing variability in the cave. Sung Sot Cave occupies an area of approximately 10,000m2, divided into two large chambers. Each has its own typical scientific value which features million-year-old stone stalactites and columns formed throughout millions of years. (If you would like enjoy Kayak on bay, you please pay with your own budget).
Then you go to visit Ti Top Island, a crescent-moon-shaped island known for its calmness and crystal clear water. You can climb to the peak of an expansive viewing deck to catch an awe-inspiring 360-degree view of Ha Long Bay. Then, take your time to have a swim and enjoy the beach relaxation.
11:30 -12:00 AM: Have lunch with local food.
02:00 PM: Arrival port, we come back to hotel in Ha Long city. You are free to discover Ha Long city. You have dinner with your own budget.
(Note: If you want to stay overnight on a 4-star or 5-star cruise on a 4 or 5 star cruises. Please contact us to inform the surcharge)
DAY 16: HA LONG - HA NOI (B/L)
After your breakfast, we will check-out. We depart to Ha Noi city.
Have lunch at restaurant in Ha Noi. Check –in room.
You are free to discover Ha Noi capital. You have dinner with your own budge. Overnight at hotel in Ha Noi.
DAY 17: HA NOI AIRPORT (B)
After your breakfast, we will check-out, we go to Ha Noi airport. Finish your trip Discover VietNam 17 days 16 nights from South to North. Thank you and see you again.
If you depart from the North, please refer to: Trip to VietNam 17 days 16 nights with the highlight landscape from the North to South
INCLUDED/EXCLUDED
Pick-ups and transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle as specified in the itinerary
16 nights base in double/twin sharing rooms at centrally located & well selected standard hotels (3 star-hotels)
15 main meals (13 lunches and 2 dinners)
16 breakfasts
Travel by air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced
Sightseeing with local, English-speaking guides as indicated in the itinerary.
Meals included as indicated as in program ( B: breakfast, L: lunch & D: dinner)
Boat in Mekong Delta
Standard cruise on Ha Long bay with the group tour
Boat on Perfumer River in Hue
Basket boat on Coconut forest
Boat on Son River in Phong Nha Cave
Entrance fees according the above program
Local bottled water while sightseeing and transfers
Visa to Viet Nam
Service fee for visa procedures if guests have request
Bank fees for both sides
Any items of purely personal nature such as laundry and telephone calls
Personal, travel and health insurance
Early check in and late check out
Royal dinner
Single room supplement if request
Drinks during meals
Meals that are not specified
Gratuities/tipping to tour guide, driver and hotel staff and restaurant’s staff
Surcharge for peak season & compulsory dinner on X’mas and New Year’s Eve
Any additional expenses caused by reasons beyond our control such as natural calamities (typhoon, flood), flight delays, rescheduling or cancellations, any accidents, medical evacuations, riots, strikes etc…
POLICY
Ages 0- under 2: free of charge for tour. Airfares depend on Airlines’s policy at booking time
Ages 2- under 6: 50% of adult price. Airfares depend on Airlines’s policy at booking time
Ages 6- under 11: 85% of adult price & airfare fully charges
11 years and older: 100% (charged as an adult)
(Notes: There will be a surcharge for the height of children’s entrance tickets when visiting some tourist attractions in your itinerary. Please pay an extra fee if the child’s height is surcharged)
Parents pay for the costs incurred, if any
NOTES
Service Details During The Trip
We’ll immerse you in the diverse cultures of Vietnam by showcasing the unique local flavors. And with the perfect balance of included sightseeing and free time, you can customize your dream vacation with the things you have always wanted to do.
Private Local Tour Guide: You will have legally licensed local tour guide in each destination, from welcome and farewell you at the airport. Your guide will guide, help, assist and taking care of you in order to make your tour worry-free. The good guide for you means we arrange the right guide. Elephant Travel Company will arrange tour guide base on the feature of the itinerary and consists of the group, to maximize your experiences in traveling.
Private Drivers & Vehicle: Safety is first priority for transportation. To maximize your comfort and joyful experience with driving service, cold towel and water bottles are provided in the car.
Local Flavor Meals: Don’t worry about meals; we select both restaurants and menus for you. Elephant Travel Company will select clean and good environment restaurants for our customer. Menu is also carefully selected by us to ensure you try different food every meal.
We will recommend and arrange local cuisine since it is part of the cultural experience while traveling. We also recommend dinners are free on your own so you can choose your favorite food by yourself under necessary assistance of your local guide.
Well-Selected Hotels: Standard, comfort and good value is our priority for choosing hotels for our customers. Comfort of mattress and bedding, joyful decoration style, user friendly facilities, good service and good breakfast!
Travel Visa:
Most countries in South East Asia require you to obtain a visa. Please check carefully with your travel specialist regarding specific visa requirements for each country you plan to visit as the legislation does change frequently. Thailand offers a free visa on arrival to most nationalities. Other countries including Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar offer a “visa-on-arrival” service which requires you to pay a fee at the airport, or you may prefer to obtain this in advance through the relevant embassy or a visa agent. For visa-on-arrival in Vietnam, you must submit some paperwork before you arrive.
If you need our assistance with visa procedures for an option to get your visa for Vietnam instead of getting visa at the Vietnam consulate in your country. Please refer to the following steps:
Step 1: Provide us your application details
Your full name (as exactly seen on your passport)
Your gender
Your date of birth
Your nationality
Your passport number
Your passport expiration dates (with at least 3 vacats pagess and valid for at least 6 months)
Date of arrival ( dd/mm/yy)
Date of exit (dd/mm/yy)
Arrival airport
Step 2: Process your visa information into a visa application
We will contact you for reviewing your visa information and then submit your application on your behalf to Vietnam Immigration department and follow other procedures pursuant to the regulations of Immigration department to get Visa approval letter granted by Immigration department.
We will send the visa approval letter via email to you after 7-14 working days.
After we obtain the visa approval letter from the Immigration department for you, we will forward you a scanned copy of it by email (Your visa information then has been recorded to the Visa system of the Vietnam Immigration department).
Step 3: Get your visa stamp on your arrival
Just print the approval letter out, prepare 2 passport sized photos and an amount of USD for stamping fee ($25 for single entry visa; $50 for 1 month multiple entry visa). Put all above mentioned things along with your passport in a package, and then show them to Immigration officer at Vietnam arrival airports.
Upon arrival at Vietnam’s airport, expect a simple form to fill in (or you can download form to fill beforehand), present the visa approval letter, passport, photos to the Immigration officer inside the counter and look for a place to hear your name be called to get the passport back and pay for the stamping fee.
For those who are applicable for E-visa, instructions will be given at the time you contact us.
