The Mystical Vietnam Duration: 18 days Destination: Hanoi, Tamcoc, Maichau, Sapa, Bacha, Halong, Hue, Hoian, Hochiminh

City, Cuchi Tunnel, Caodai Temple, Mekong Delta Arrival City: Hanoi Departure City: Hochiminh City Accommodations: 4 nights in Hanoi, 1 night in Maichau, 1 nights on train, 2 nights in Sapa, 1 night in Halong Bay, 2 nights in Hue, 2 nights in Hoian, 3 nights in Hochiminh City, 1 night in Can tho Transportation: Car, Plane, Train, Cruise, Dragon Boat, Speed Boat, Sampan Tour Guide: Local English Speaking Meals: 17 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

Tour Summary Day 1: Hanoi Arrival (D) Day 2: Hanoi City Tour (B) Day 3: Hanoi - Tam Coc (B) Day 4: Hanoi - Maichau (B) Day 5: Mai Chau - Hanoi - Sapa (B) Day 6: Lao Cai - Sapa (B) Day 7: Sapa - Bac Ha - Night Train (B) Day 8: Hanoi - Halong (B, L, D) Day 9: Ha Long Bay - Hanoi (B, L) Day 10: Hanoi - Hue (B) Day 11: Hue (B) Day 12: Hue - Hoian (B) Day 13: Hoian - Myson Sanctuary (B) Day 14: Hoian - Hochiminh (B) Day 15: Hochiminh - Cuchim Tunnel - Cao Dai Temple (B) Day 16: Hochiminh - Caibe-Vinhlong- Cantho (B) Day 17: Cantho - Hochiminh City (B, D)

Day 18: Hochiminh Depature (B)

Tour Itinerary Day 01: Hanoi Arrival (D) On arrival at Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport, our tour guide will greet and transfer you by private car through the city to your hotel. In the evening, be our guest at Vietnamese restaurant for welcome dinner with authentic Vietnamese cuisines. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Day 02: Hanoi City Tour (B) After breakfast at your hotel, visit Ho Chi Minh Complex including Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh's House on Stilt and One Pillar Pagoda, then visit Temple of Literature, built 1070 which is the first university in Vietnam. The next attraction is Vietnam National Museum of Ethnology, the special collection of 54 ethnic minorities in Vietnam.In the afternoon, make your way to Hoan Kiem Lake for Ngoc son Temple and Dong Xuan Market and in the evening, you will be entertained by Water Puppet Show and Vietnamese traditional music at Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. Overnight hotel in Hanoi

Day 03: Hanoi -Tam Coc (B) After having breakfast, we drive through rural northern Vietnam to the former capital of Hoa Lu where you visit the two remaining sanctuaries for King Dinh and King Le who ruled Vietnam in 10th century. Then move to Tamcoc where you enjoy a leisure sampan trip along the Nhue Dong River to sacred Tam Coc Caves. In the afternoon, return to Hanoi and free at your leisure. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Day 04: Hanoi - Maichau (B) After breakfast at hotel, the morning drive to Hoa Binh allows you to visit Muong and Dao village in evergreen valley then continue to Mai Chau, the home of Thai minority. In the afternoon, visit the Chief of Thai Community to learn the history, traditions, festivals.... Tonight, the special treat is traditional dance by ethnic dancers. Overnight in Mai Chau.

Day 05: Maichau - Hanoi - Sapa (B) Breakfast at Thai house, visit other villages in the town and drive back to Hanoi. The balance of the day is at leisure until departure to Hanoi train station for Sapa overnight train. Your tour guide in Hanoi will go to Sapa. Overnight on train.

Day 06: Laocai Train Station- Sapa (B) At 6 am, disembark Lao Cai Train Station then drive up for 1 hour to Sapa, the home of six different hill tribes. Do pre-check in procedure and enjoy "Pho" the typical breakfast for Vietnamese People. The morning walk to Sapa Market where you can find all local ethnic minority's art and craft items and Cat Cat village for Black Hmong village. Next is the Red Dao Village of Taphin, one of dominant hilly tribe in Sapa. In the afternoon, trek along natural stream for village of Lao Chai where 30 Black Hmong families living together. Continue to Ta Van Village, the home of Zay minority. After 3 hours trekking through beautiful scenery, drive back to your hotel. Tonight is free at leisure. Overnight at hotel in Sapa.

Day 07: Sapa - Bacha Market - Night Train (B) After breakfast at your hotel, check out and enjoy drive on mountain road to Bac Ha Market, the biggest mountainous market where 10 different tribes are selling their home-made products. Lunch at local restaurant then visit Mong Royal Palace built by French in 1923 and drive back to Lao Cai Train Station. On the way, stop at border gate between Vietnam and China. Embark and stay overnight on train.

Day 8: Hanoi - Halong Bay (B, L, D) Today, Upon Arrival enjoy "Pho" the typical breakfast for Vietnamese people. Leaving Hanoi by road for Halong Bay, the world natural heritage site. Drive though the rural area with scenic view of rice paddy field in the Red River Delta. You may be lucky enough to see cows or pigs on motor bike or Vietnamese kids ridding on water buffalo flying kites. On the way enjoy fresh coffee at Vietnam Handicraft Center, check in Vietnamese Wooden Junk. Star journey along the spectacular limestone islands, floating villages while having sea food lunch then disembark to visit 'Sung Sot' or "Surprising Cave", one of the most beautiful grottos of the Bay. Next stop is Titop Island where you could swim or climb up to the top for panoramic view. In the evening,

you will be delighted by candle light dinner on board with sea food. Overnight on board in Ha long Bay.

Day 9: Ha Long Bay - Hanoi (B, L) A breakfast will be served in the restaurant with the combination of western style and local dishes. Experience the Bay up close and personal with a leisure sampan tour to "Hang Luon" or "Lagoon Cave" which allows you to see flora and fauna system of Catba National Park, then continue to Halong City. Disembak and enjoy seafood lunch in local restaurant then drive back to Hanoi . Overnight at hotel in Hanoi

Day 10: Hanoi - Hue (B) This morning, transfer to Noi Bai airport for 1 hour flight to Hue, the last Imperial City. In the afternoon, visit to the city's vibrant Dong Ba Market then The Imperial Citadel where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled the country between 1802 and 1945. In the evening free at your leisure. Overnight in Hue hotel.

Day 11: Hue (B) Today, enjoy sightseeing tour in Hue city with dragon boat trip on The Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda which allows you to go through history of Buddhism in Vietnam then visit King Minh Mang's Tomb and King Khai Dinh' Tomb the blend of traditional and modern architectures. In the afternoon, visit Tu Hieu Pagoda where the locals worship and hornor eunuches during Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945. Overnight in Hue hotel

Day 12: Hue - Hoian (B) Today, enjoy scenic to Hoi An. A stop at Cham Museum in Danang, the forth biggest city in Vietnam, allows you to discover Cham Civilization and powerful Kingdom of Champa then visit the Marble Mountain and Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village. Checking in the hotel and enjoy relaxation on the sunny beach of Cua Dai or Hotel facilities. In the evening, free at your leisure. Overnight in Hoian hotel

Day 13: Hoian - My Son Sanctuary (B)

Hoi An, formerly know as Faifo, is a charming, small town which can be easily explored on foot. Start our morning tour at Japanese Covered Bridge, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, 200 years old Hoian Traditional House, Chua Ong Pagoda then cruise along the Thu Bon River to the Ceramic Village of Thanh Ha. In the afternoon, visit Myson Sanctuary, the temple complex of lost Kingdom of Champa. The evening, free at your leisure. Overnight hotel in Hoian

Day 14: Hoian - Hochiminh (B) After breakfast at hotel, we transfer to the Danang International airport for a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City. In the afternoon, enjoy the oriental tour to the War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace, China Town, Ben Thanh Market. In the evening, enjoy free time for your own discovery. Overnight at hotel in Hochiminh.

Day 15: Hochiminh - Cuchi Tunnel - Caodai Temple (B) Today, we take a half day trip to Cu Chi Tunnel built by Vietnamese fighters during the Vietnam War. Discover the various mantraps, the remains of an American tank, different kind of bombs and stories of their life underground. After the tunnel, drive to Tay ninh for Cao Dai's religious service. In the afternoon, enjoy half day city tour to the former Presidential Palace and The Notre Dame Cathedral and the colonial Post Office. Overnight in Hochiminh City hotel.

Day 16: Hochiminh- Caibe - Vinh Long - Cantho (B) Today, Depart for the Mekong Delta Tour. The first stop is My Tho City where you embark on boat to visit colorful Cai Be Floating Market and privately-owned factories that produce rice papers and coconut candies then enjoy sampan trip to smaller tributaries and canals. In the afternoon, continue the cruise to Vinh Long to discover beautiful landscapes along the river and observe the typical Mekong Delta rural life. Drive to Can Tho and check in hotel. Overnight in Can Tho.

Day 17: Cantho - Hochiminh City (B, D) Today, enjoy morning cruise to Cai Rang Floating Market and Rumani Von Xa Pagoda, one of the typical Khmer' s pagoda. Then leave Can Tho for Ho Chi Minh City. In the evening, our tour guide will host farewell dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at hotel in Hochiminh City.

Day 18: Hochiminh City Departure ( B ) You enjoy the free time until transfer to airport for your interracial flight or domestic extension.

This article written by Lanh Nguyen from Vietnam Travel Agent For original article, please visit: http://www.travelagentinvietnam.com/vietnam-tours/the-mystical-vietnam.html Vietnam Vacation Tour Operator in Vietnam [URL=http://www.vacations-vietnam.com]Vietnam Vacation [/URL] [URL=http://www.touroperatorvietnam.com] Tour Operator in Vietnam [/URL] <a href="http://vacations-vietnam.com"> Vietnam Vacation </a> <a href="http://www.touroperatorvietnam.com"> Tour Operator in Vietnam </a>