Meals

As per the tour program: B=breakfast L-Lunch D-Dinner

Others

Door-to-door pick-up & drop-off services All transportation mentioned above  Halong Bay cruise with double or twin shared cabin Accommodation with double/twin/triple shared room and breakfast (including 5% service fee and 10% VAT tax) Check-in room at 14:00 // Check-out room at noon (Except Early check-in or Late check-out mentioned in the program) All sightseeing tickets according to the itinerary Tissues and water on the coach Service charges and government tax Exclusive and personalized single agent/single customer service 24/7 hotline support guaranteed No extra charge after services confirmation

Guide

- Experienced English-speaking guide - French/German/Spanish/ Russian/ Chinese speaking guides are available upon request. The surcharge will be applied

Flights

v Domestic flights as per itinerary with 20kg luggage ** The cost of internal airfares is paid separately upon arrival to Realistic Asia as a local payment. The airfare fees are separated from the main tour cost because the prices of internal airfare can vary based on a number of factors, such as travel period, availability of flights, and fuel taxes. We keep it as a local payment to benefit our travelers by keeping tour costs lower and providing more flexibility during the booking process, and ensuring that travelers have a smooth and stress-free experience while on their trip.

Accommodation

HOTEL LIST: Hanoi: The Lapis Hotel or similar Ky Son : Moon Garden Homestay Mai Chau: Mai Chau Ecolodge Ninh Binh: Tam Coc Garden Halong Bay: Amanda Luxury Cruise or similar Hue: Hue Ecolodge or similar Hoi An: Hoian Ecolodge & Spa or similar Ho Chi Minh : Silverland Sakyo Hotel or similar Mekong Delta: Coco Riverside Lodge

Transport

- Door-to-door pick-up & drop-off services by private car - Air-conditioned bus or private cars for the excursions - All transportation mentioned above

Hygieneprotocol

For visiting South-East Asia it is recommended (but not mandatory) to be vaccinated against Hepatitis A and B, Japanese Encephalitis, Typhoid, and Covid-19.  Please note, to enter Vietnam you need to provide a vaccination certificate for Covid-19, in Laos and Thailand you can enter without a certificate but need to provide a negative PCR or rapid test issued no earlier than 48 hours before arrival. In Cambodia, if you do not have the vaccination certificate you will be obligated to make a test at the airport upon arrival.  Please contact our team before the trip to get the latest updates on vaccination requirements

Not included:

Insurance

Others

International flights Beverage, Personal expenses, tips, and gratuities Travel Insurance Public holiday surcharge (if any) Compulsory Gala Dinner on 24 Dec and 31 Dec Lunar New Year (8 – 12 Feb 2024) Early check-in and Late check-out (If not mentioned) E-visa to Vietnam Surcharge for airport cabs from 12:00 am – 05:00 am Other services not mentioned above

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Hanoi Arrival – Transfer To Ky Son Village (D)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Hanoi Arrival – Transfer To Ky Son Village (D)

Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, after clearing all customs procedures, please proceed to the exit gate and look for your driver, who will be waiting in the lobby, holding the signboard with your name on it. If you cannot locate your driver, please go to the Airport information counter in the middle of the Domestic and International arrival lobby (inside the terminal) and call the emergency numbers provided in the confirmation voucher for assistance. Your driver will come to meet you up and transfer you to Ky Son Village.

Overnight in Moon Garden.
Day 2 Ky Son Village And Bavi Eco Tour (B/L/D)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Ky Son Village And Bavi Eco Tour (B/L/D)

Wake up early to join in Yijinjing exercises and traditional Vietnamese worship customs honoring ancestors with morning rituals. Then enjoy your breakfast before driving to the Ri village, where you will enjoy a welcome drink at your host’s house. Meet Mr. Duoc – a Vietnam War veteran and tea-farm owner who will tell you interesting historical stories with his own experience. Follow Mr. Duoc to his vast tea farm and learn how to harvest the tea leaves. This is a green and peaceful place where you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the village. You may then help him pick tea leaves, and learn how to collect the best part of the tea tree to make the most wonderful beverage in Vietnam – the traditional tea. Carry on with the process of producing tea at his small workshop, where most of the work is manual. Then take a 10-minute drive to the Moc village, where you will enjoy a fun cooking class with Mrs. Chin. She will teach you how to cook some Vietnamese dishes, and you will then enjoy lunch with the food you helped cook. After that, have a walk around the village and visit some local families to understand the rural lifestyle and learn how tofu, conical hat, and other local products are made. Enjoy a cycling trip through beautiful paddy fields and interact with local farmers by chance.

Wrap up your countryside tour with a traditional foot bathing in warm water with herbs, following the traditional recipes of the Muong ethnic minority. This will relax you (and your feet!) after the cycling trip.

Drive back to Ky Son.

Overnight in Moon Garden.
Day 3 Ky Son Village – Travel To Mai Chau (B/L)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Ky Son Village – Travel To Mai Chau (B/L)

Wake up early to join in Yijinjing exercises and traditional Vietnamese worship customs honoring ancestors with morning rituals, then enjoy your breakfast and free at leisure before leaving Ky Sơni for a scenic 4hr drive southwest to Mai Chau. Located in Hoa Binh Province, Mai Chau is known for its splendid vistas of mountains and valleys surrounded by lush landscapes and stilt houses, inhabited mainly by the White Thai ethnic group. On arrival, check-in at Mai Chau Ecolodge. Then walk or cycle to Lac Hamlet to enjoy a traditional home-cooked lunch. Continue cycling for a couple of hours through the beautiful valley of Mai Chau. Your guide will facilitate chats with local hill tribe people to learn about their daily life, including planting rice, herding buffalos, and building traditional houses.

Overnight at Mai Chau Ecolodge.

NOTES:

Suggested departure time: 08:30

Tour duration: 04 hours

Biking distance: 7km (4mi)

Grade: Easy
Day 4 Mai Chau – Join Community Work In Xa Linh Village (B/L)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Mai Chau – Join Community Work In Xa Linh Village (B/L)

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and get ready for a 45-minute drive to Xa Linh village, which is the home of the Hmong Hill tribe. Today you will join our team to renovate the facilities in the local school. Then if time permits, we will join the locals in their farming activities or participate in community work for environmental protection. You will have an opportunity to see the real life of the Vietnamese countryside and engage with the locals and make something meaningful.

Overnight at Mai Chau Ecolodge

NOTES:

Suggested departure time: 09:00

Tour duration: 06 hours

Hiking distance: 4km (2mi)

Grade: Easy

The activities at school are organized in cooperation with the local community authorities and will not disturb the learning process.
Day 5 Mai Chau – Travel To Ninh Binh – Explore The Beauty Of Van Long Nature Reserve (B/L)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Mai Chau – Travel To Ninh Binh – Explore The Beauty Of Van Long Nature Reserve (B/L)

Have an easy start to the day, relax, or take a dip in the natural pool of Mai Chau Ecolodge, then enjoy a scenic 2-hour drive to Ninh Binh province. Ninh Binh is famous for its spectacular landscapes of limestone karst peaks permeated with valleys, some of which are submerged, and surrounded by vertical cliffs.

Upon arrival, take a 1.5-hour sampan boat trip through picturesque scenery with spectacular mountain ranges surrounded by a vast expanse of water. It is also home to 32 stunning grottos named after their different shapes. In the dry season, Van Long is the wintering place of migratory birds from North Asia, which you can observe on the way. Arrive at Van Long Wharf and get on a buffalo car for a slow journey to a local restaurant for the late lunch. Then check in at your hotel and enjoy free time for the rest of the day.

Overnight in Tam Coc Garden

NOTES

Availability: Every day

Suggested time: 08:30

Duration: 6 hours
Day 6 Cycling And Farming In Tho Ha Village – Visiting The Galaxy Groto (B/L)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Cycling And Farming In Tho Ha Village – Visiting The Galaxy Groto (B/L)

After breakfast at the hotel, drive to the Tho Ha village in Nho Quan. Here you will start a leisurely 5-15km (3-10mi) cycling trip passing by sleepy villages and picturesque countryside landscapes. Continue to Dong Tam Hamlet to participate in engaging agricultural activities such as catching crabs, fishing, transplanting, and watering vegetables. After about an hour, return to the hamlet for a cooking class and have lunch with a local family where sweet potato cakes and grilled fish are on the menu.

In the afternoon, board a rowboat at the Nha Le Pier and enjoy a trip to the 900m (2,953ft)-deep Galaxy Grotto, so named for the sea of stalactites growing from the ceiling above, like so many stars. The Grotto is also home to a large bat colony that nests near the end of it.

Overnight in Tam Coc Garden

NOTES:

Suggested departure time: 09:00

Tour duration: 06 hours
Day 7 Ninh Binh – Halong Bay – Participation In Cleaning The Rubbish On The Bay (B/L/D)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Ninh Binh – Halong Bay – Participation In Cleaning The Rubbish On The Bay (B/L/D)

After breakfast at the hotel, we will take you to Halong Bay, the drive will take around 4 hours, including a 20-minute stop on the way. The scenery of Halong Bay, where thousands of limestone islands jut out of the emerald sea, sculpted into bizarre shapes, is truly an iconic image for Vietnam. An overnight boat trip is the best way to enjoy this Vietnamese must-see.

Arrive at the jetty in Halong City towards noon and proceed with check-in formalities. After a welcome onboard, lunch will be served while cruising towards the bay. In the afternoon, enjoy some visits and activities (depending on each boat’s itinerary) or spend some time relaxing on board. Towards the end of the day, the ship sets anchor for the night among the karst formations. Then you will join “Action for a Green Ha Long” to collect waste from two isolated beaches on the cusp of the bay. Dinner is served on board.

Overnight on Halong Bay.
Day 8 Ha Long Bay- Travel To Hanoi – Hanoi City Tour By Electric Car (B, Br)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Ha Long Bay- Travel To Hanoi – Hanoi City Tour By Electric Car (B, Br)

The sun rises on Halong in the morning, and breakfast is served (also brunch on some boats) while the vessel cruises slowly back toward the port. Disembark and transfer back to the Hanoi center.

Today you will explore the charming city of Hanoi by Electric Car to protect the city environment. Often referred to as the ‘Paris of the East, with its yellow ochre colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards, and scenic lakes, Hanoi is one of the most charming destinations of Vietnam. Visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first national university built in the late 11th century. The picturesque temple is an example of well-preserved traditional Vietnamese architecture and is featured on the back of the 100,000 Vietnamese dong banknote. Then visit Ngoc Son temple, a stunning example of Vietnamese traditional architecture. Then enjoy a walking tour through the famous Old Quarter known for its ‘36 streets of 36 wares’ named after the original 36 artisan guilds that date as far back as the 13th century. Transfer to hotel for check-in and free at leisure.

Overnight in Hanoi
Day 9 Hanoi – Join Our Volunteers To Renovate The Forest Park And Playground For Children – Travel To Hue (B/L)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Hanoi – Join Our Volunteers To Renovate The Forest Park And Playground For Children – Travel To Hue (B/L)

After breakfast at the hotel, you will enjoy an active day with children at the forest park on the Red River bank. Join the local volunteers in support to renovate and taking care of green space in children’s playgrounds: planting trees, watering plants, collecting garbage, decorating, etc. You also can take part in planning to build Green Space for children (planting more trees, making educational signs, seats. etc), feel free to share your ideas with the community.

Then drive to the airport to take a flight to Hue. Upon arrival in Hue, your driver and guide will meet you and transfer you to the hotel.

Overnight in Hue.

NOTES

Suggested departure time: 08:00

Tour duration: 07 hours
Day 10 Explore Hue By Cyclo And Electric Car – Enjoy The Sunset On Tam Giang Lagoon (B/D)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Explore Hue By Cyclo And Electric Car – Enjoy The Sunset On Tam Giang Lagoon (B/D)

Once the imperial capital of the Nguyen Lords from the 17th to the 19th centuries, Hue’s splendid emperors’ tombs, ancient pagodas, and the remains of the Citadel contribute to its undeniable royal charm. Drive to the Imperial Citadel at the center of the Complex of Hue Monuments inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. From there, hop on an electric car to enter the Citadel through the towering main gate and appreciate the magnificent architecture and gardens while your guide explains the events and the intrigue surrounding the former royal court. Despite being heavily bombed during the Vietnam War, there are some incredibly well-preserved sections intact, and others that are being carefully restored.

Then take a cyclo ride to Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue’s best-preserved religious monument. Constructed in 1601, the seven-storied tower pagoda perched on top of a hill overlooking the Perfume River is one of Vietnam’s most recognizable icons. Explore the pagoda before returning to your hotel for some rest.

In the afternoon, you will depart for Tam Giang Lagoon. The first stop is the An Dinh Palace, a stunning European-style palace, that has been recognized as a world cultural heritage site by UNESCO. Then, you’ll visit the Ru Cha mangrove forest, which is named after the type of mangrove tree that grows abundantly in the area. This forest acts as a natural barrier against the Thuan An Sea in Thua Thien Hue province.

Your guide will then take you to Chuon Lagoon (Tam Giang Lagoon), where you’ll board a boat and receive an introduction to the Tam Giang Lagoon system. You’ll explore Chuon Lagoon, passing by floating houses and taking stunning sunset photos on the lagoon. You’ll also have the opportunity to experience life as a fisherman on the lagoon by participating in activities such as beating the water, pulling fishing nets, and catching fish. Additionally, you can try kayaking on the vast lagoon and jump straight into the crystal blue water for a swim. Be sure to bring your camera for some amazing photo opportunities and soak up the sunshine.

Finally, you’ll stop at a local’s house or restaurant to enjoy local specialty dishes or seafood and chat together. Afterward, you’ll be driven back to your hotel in Hue City and have the rest of the day to relax and explore at your leisure.

Overnight in Hue

NOTES

Suggested departure time: 08:00

Tour duration: 9 hours
Day 11 Hue – Transfer To Hoi An – Hoi An Walking Tour (B/L)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Hue – Transfer To Hoi An – Hoi An Walking Tour (B/L)

Enjoy a delicious breakfast and get ready for the transfer to Hoi An via scenic Hai Van Pass, overviewing the sea and mountains. This road is considered to be one of the most beautiful in Asia. Upon arrival in Hoi An, we will take you to the hotel to check-in.

In the afternoon, join a walking tour to explore the World Heritage ancient town. Between the 15th and 19th centuries, Hoi An was known as Faifo - a prosperous trading port, that attracted Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, Portuguese, and Spanish merchants. This charming town still keeps its special atmosphere with a mixture of cultures from all around the world. Today, Hoi An is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage sight with its well-preserved architecture, pedestrian-only streets, and distinctive local cuisine, allowing visitors a glimpse of its illustrious past.

The perfect way to explore Hoi An is to walk through its narrow lanes and cozy streets. This morning you will explore the old merchant houses that combine the elements of Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese architecture. Then admire the elegant beauty of the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, built in the 1590s by the Japanese community to link them with the Chinese quarters across the stream. Visit the Assembly Hall of the Chaozhou Chinese Congregation with its intricate woodcarvings. And finish your walk with a visit to the colorful market with stalls full of local specialties and products.

Overnight in Hoi An

NOTES

Suggested departure time: 09:00

Tour duration: 07 hours
Day 12 Hoi An Cycling In Cam Thanh & Thanh Dong Organic Farm (B/L)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Hoi An Cycling In Cam Thanh & Thanh Dong Organic Farm (B/L)

After having breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up and taken to Vong Nhi village. You will receive the bikes and start cycling through the village, covering a distance of approximately 6 kilometers. During the cycling trip, you will get to see the breathtaking landscapes of the peaceful countryside, including the green water coconut forest, prawn and red snapper farms, and the rustic beauty of the rice fields. Upon arrival at Thanh Dong organic farm, which is a 10,000 square meter organic garden supporting ten local families, you will take a short stroll around the vegetable garden and listen to the farmers’ life-changing story since they have started using organic methods of cultivating herbs.

Afterward, you will join the farmers in gardening activities such as preparing and applying organic manure to the land, raking the ground, sowing herb seeds, and watering or picking vegetables. Then, you will leave the farm to take a basket boat ride along the Do River to The Field Restaurant. While enjoying the beautiful scenery or fishing life of local villagers on the way, you will have a short cooking class and a Vietnamese family-style lunch. Then we will transfer you to the hotel. The rest of the day is free.

Overnight in Hoi An

NOTES

Suggested departure time: 08:00 or 14:00

Tour duration: 04 hours
Day 13 Hoi An – Travel To Ho Chi Minh – Saigon Sightseeing By Cyclo (B)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Hoi An – Travel To Ho Chi Minh – Saigon Sightseeing By Cyclo (B)

Today, you are free after breakfast at the hotel until transfer to Danang Airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel to check-in.

In the afternoon, take a cyclo journey to explore the most beautiful parts of Ho Chi Minh. With over eight million inhabitants and four million motorbikes, Saigon is truly a city that never sleeps. Despite its modernity, Saigon maintains a strong link to the past, and our city tour takes in some of Saigon’s most historic landmarks including the Notre Dame Cathedral, a red brick edifice with twin spires constructed from materials imported from France (the entrance is only permitted when no services are being performed). Then head across the square to the Central Post Office, completed in 1891. A short drive away is the former Presidential Palace, the headquarters of the Saigon Government during the American War. Continue to the War Remnants Museum for a vivid perspective of the American War through the eyes of the Vietnamese. (Please note that some of the displays are very violent.) Experience Saigon’s famed street coffee culture while your guide provides a brief language lesson as well as insights into the daily life of a Saigonese before returning to your hotel.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh

NOTES

Suggested departure time: 13:00

Tour duration: 04 hours
Day 14 Ho Chi Minh – Coco Riverside Lodge – Explore The Countryside Of The Mekong Delta (B/L)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Ho Chi Minh – Coco Riverside Lodge – Explore The Countryside Of The Mekong Delta (B/L)

After enjoying breakfast at your hotel, head to Coco Riverside Lodge in Trung Nghia - Vung Liem, which is a 2.5-hour drive via Ben Tre or a 3-hour drive through Vinh Long province. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by a representative who will lead you to the lodge along a countryside path. After a short walk, you will be offered a welcome drink and proceed to check in at the lodge’s restaurant, where lunch will be served.

After resting for a while, you will have the opportunity to choose bicycles for a cycling tour on village paths that will take you to Mr. Cong’s home. Here you will witness the process of making pop rice and the blend of traditional and modern agricultural methods that sustain the local village. Mr. Cong will even teach you the secret of making ’rice pop’, a unique and nutritious foodstuff that can be given as a gift to locals or children in school. Your guide will explain how the animals are raised and show you how they collect ’biogas’ to make free and sustainable cooking food.

Continuing on quiet village roads, you will pass by a duck farm (if possible), green rice paddies, sedge fields, and small villages. Along the way, you will visit one of the dragon or orange fruit plantations and taste the fruit directly from the garden. You will have plenty of opportunities to capture picturesque Asian sunset scenes before returning to the lodge on your bicycles.

After refreshing yourself with a shower, you will walk to the home of a neighbor who fought during the Vietnam War. Here, you will listen to his story and experience ’poon’ lights and traditional music. At the end of the show, you will walk back holding traditional torches made of dried coconut leaves.

In the evening, you will have a traditional cooking class where you will learn to make Vietnamese pancakes. This will be a great learning experience that will allow you to take a bit of Vietnam home with you. Dinner will be served at the lodge’s restaurant.

Overnight at Coco Riverside Lodge
Day 15 Mekong Delta – Back To Ho Chi Minh – Departure (B/L)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Mekong Delta – Back To Ho Chi Minh – Departure (B/L)

After breakfast, we will embark on a boat ride to witness local squatting markets and transport goods such as coconuts from one factory to another. Next, we will cross the local ferry to visit the magnificent Cao Dai temple. On our way back, we will stop at small coconut-processing operations situated along the riverbank. Here, we will see how the coconut fibers are removed from the husk to make rope, which is then used to weave rugs. Most of the work is professionally done by hand, and the buyers are mostly foreign companies.

Once we return to the lodge, we can participate in some activities such as harvesting water coconut leaves and weaving them ourselves. These leaves are a primary building material in the Mekong Delta, used to build walls and roofs of houses. The local people will demonstrate not only how they use these leaves, but also how to make the ’poon’ sticks that illuminated the previous night.

Finally, after checking out, we will transfer you to Tan Son Nhat International Airport, where you will take your flight back home.

Please note, your flight should be in the late afternoon.

+12

15 days tour

Vietnam Responsible Tour: Nature And Culture - Private Tour

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Vietnam Responsible Tour: Nature And Culture - Private Tour

Hanoi Arrival – Transfer To Ky Son Village (D)

Ky Son Village And Bavi Eco Tour (B/L/D)

Ky Son Village – Travel To Mai Chau (B/L)

Mai Chau – Join Community Work In Xa Linh Village (B/L)

Mai Chau – Travel To Ninh Binh – Explore The Beauty Of Van Long Nature Reserve (B/L)

Cycling And Farming In Tho Ha Village – Visiting The Galaxy Groto (B/L)

Ninh Binh – Halong Bay – Participation In Cleaning The Rubbish On The Bay (B/L/D)

Ha Long Bay- Travel To Hanoi – Hanoi City Tour By Electric Car (B, Br)

Hanoi – Join Our Volunteers To Renovate The Forest Park And Playground For Children – Travel To Hue (B/L)

Explore Hue By Cyclo And Electric Car – Enjoy The Sunset On Tam Giang Lagoon (B/D)

Hue – Transfer To Hoi An – Hoi An Walking Tour (B/L)

Hoi An Cycling In Cam Thanh & Thanh Dong Organic Farm (B/L)

Hoi An – Travel To Ho Chi Minh – Saigon Sightseeing By Cyclo (B)

Ho Chi Minh – Coco Riverside Lodge – Explore The Countryside Of The Mekong Delta (B/L)

Mekong Delta – Back To Ho Chi Minh – Departure (B/L)

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