Summary: You can either climb to Pnhatt mountain with the elevation of 1696 m, having the great view of Dalat city from there or wandering around Darahoa village, mingle with local people, have a short hike in the jungle along beautiful stream.

Tour Type: Land tour + well selected hotel + domestic flights/trains, private guided with your own English speaking guide ( unless otherwise specified), your own driver at your own pace and schedule.

Day 1: Saigon – Dalat (L)
Pick up at your hotel and transfer to the airport for the flight to Dalat. Upon arrival, you will be met by our guide and car for a short drive to your hotel in Dalat. You will have time to relax in your room before having lunch in Café de la Post, one of the most elegant restaurants in town. In the afternoon, our guide will take you for the orientation work to city center, the market of Dalat and famous XQ embroidery workshop. Dinner on guest’s account. Overnight in Dalat.

Day 2: Dalat (B/L/D)
Today you can start discovering the city of spring by the tour to Dalat Railway station, the most beautiful one in Vietnam. After that, drive to Robin Hill. From the top of the hill, where we take the chair lift down to Tuyen Lam lake, we can view the grandiose mountainous area of the Langbiang plateau. Then below Truc Lam Monastery appears among the pine trees. You will find this place so colorful with many a flower garden, yet so peaceful. After that you will take the steps down toward the Tuyen Lam lake and collect our boat for a ride on the vast lake. On the other side of the lake is the resort of Da Tien.

You will be surprised with the cute rooms in form of the sleeping elephant on the hill side amidst the pine trees. Then our real adventure starts. This may be the most interesting moment when you sit on the back of an elephant wandering in the pine forest, looking over to beautiful Tuyen Lam Lake. Enjoy the romantic time in the beautiful nature nature, under the shade of pine tree with beautiful barbecue lunch at Da Tien Resort. In the afternoon, our car will take you to Nui Voi Eco Resort. Located in the jungle, 16 km away from Dalat, Nui Voi is area of K’Ho people that you can experience difference identities of their culture.

You can either climb to Pnhatt mountain with the elevation of 1696 m, having the great view of Dalat city from there or wandering around Darahoa village, mingle with local people, have a short hike in the jungle along beautiful stream. Stay overnight in the special house built on the tree, there will be two of you with the nature. Then enjoy the simple but beautiful dinner with Dalat red wine at the resort. Overnight at Nui Voi Eco Resort.

Day 3: Dalat (B/L)
This morning, the birds in the jungle will wake you up by their beautiful song in peaceful nature and totally pure and fresh air. After breakfast, our jeep and guide will take you to visit Lat Village of Lach people in Langbiang Mountain. After visiting the wooden church and long house in the village, our jeep will take you to the top of Langbiang with the elevation of 2169 m. From here, you can enjoy the great view of beautiful Dalat city. If you like more adventure, you can do some rock climbing with your honey before coming back to Dalat for lunch in local restaurant. Back to your familiar and cozy room your hotel in Dalat. There will have two bicycles ready for your own use at the hotel till check out time. In the afternoon, you can either relax in the hotel or discover Dalat on the bicycle. Overnight in Dalat.

Day 4: Dalat (B)
Today you can have the whole day together at leisure in Dalat. Dalat is so called a city of flower, that you can see anywhere, even at the simple small corner of the alley. It will be great trip when two of you cycling along Tran Hung Dao Street, that was well known of beautiful French Villas under the shade of hundred year old pine tree. If you have more energy, just take about 7 kms riding to Linh Phuoc Pagoda, which you can admire the great scenery of city, vegetable farm along the way. Upon arrival, visit Linh Phuoc Pagoda with famous dragon have been built from 50.000 bear bottles. Just take a little further walk, you can go and visit the local farm with very hospitable farmers right beside the pagoda. Overnight in Dalat.

Day 5: Dalat – Saigon (B)
You will have free time at leisure in Dalat till your departure time to the airport for the flight back to Saigon. Tour end.

Trip includes:

• Transportation in private air-conditioned vehicle
• Accommodation at hotels based on twin sharing with daily breakfast
• Flights: Saigon – Dalat – Saigon
• Meals as indicated (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner)
• English or French speaking guide (other languages upon request)
• Entrance fees to indicated sights
• Cable car, biking

Trip excludes:

• Other meals
• Tips
• Drinks
• International flights and airport tax
• Personal expenses
• Insurance

Day 1: Danang – Marble Moutains – Hoian old town (L/D)

Arrival in Danang. Transfer to restaurant for lunch. Visit to Marble Moutains – named as 5 elements of universe and stone carving village of Hoa Hai. Move to the ancient town of Hoian for a walking tour around the old sections of Hoian (charming and wonderfully preserved, combining Chinese, Japanese and European influences) and get yourself back to the 17th century. Relax and soak up the atmosphere. Dinner and overnight in Hoian.

Day 2: Hoi An old town – Hue (B/L/D)

Breakfast and check-out. Leave Hoi An for Hue, en route, photo stop at the top of Cloud – Ocean pass and fishing village of Lang Co. Luncheon. Afternoon visits of the Imperial Citadel – The grand palace of the last dynasty of Nguyen and Goddess-heavenly pagoda. Dinner and overnight in Hue.

Day 3: Hue (B/L/D)

Breakfast. Boat trip on Perfume river to visit Hon Chen holy temple and Minh Mang mausoleum. Luncheon. Afternoon visits include the typical Royal Tombs of Tu Duc and Khai Dinh and enjoy the beauty of Tu Hieu pagoda. Dinner and overnight in Hue.

Day 4: Hue – Departure (B)

Trip includes:

Trip excludes:

• Air/train/bus tickets: Saigon/Hanoi – Hue – Saigon/Hanoi
• Personal expenses: laundry, telephone,…

Breakfast. Free until transfer to the airport of Hue for departure.

Modern Hue is a delightful city of wide boulevards and period buildings set in a picture-postcard landscape. The local university is renowned as one of the country’s finest and the local cuisine is regarded by many as the best in Vietnam.

Tour Type: Land tour + well selected hotel + domestic flights/trains, private guided with your own English speaking guide ( unless otherwise specified), your own driver at your own pace and schedule.

Day 1: Arrive Hue (B/L)

Arrive in Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam, and transfer to hotel.

Overnight in Hue.

Day 2: Hue (B)

Start by taking a leisurely boat trip on the romantically named Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda. Constructed in 1601, the 21-meter tall tower is the centerpiece of the pagoda and a symbol of the city. Continue to The Imperial Citadel where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. After exploring the ruins of this wonderful monument depart to the Mausoleum of Tu Duc. Built decades before its occupant’s death, the tomb was used as a palace retreat before its final use as the emperor’s resting place. Finish up the day at Khai Dinh’s Tomb which is traditional Vietnamese in design but accented with a European touch, making it unique from the other tombs in Hue.

Overnight in Hue.

Day 3: Hue – Departure (B)

Your private car, driver and guide remain at your disposal until your onward international flight or domestic extension.

Trip includes:

• Accommodation with daily breakfast at selected hotels
• Tours, transfers and all services as mentioned in the itinerary
• Services of a driver and Private air-conditioned vehicles during all tours and transfers
• Services of an English speaking guide during all tours and transfers
• Entrance fees for all sights visited
• Camera and video cameras fees if applicable
• Lunch or dinner if mentioned in itinerary with (L, D)
• Tips for porters.

Trip excludes:

• International flights to and from Vietnam
• Vietnam visa arrangement (Visa is compulsory and must be arranged in advance)
• Meals other than those mentioned above
• All other services which are not mentioned above
• Personal expenses are such as laundry, telephone, drinks etc….
• Tips for guide Travel insurance

Day 1: Arrival – Hanoi (D)

Upon arrival in Hanoi, you will be picked up from airport to a hotel in Hanoi for check in and have our welcome dinner. Go shopping & overnight in Hanoi.
If you come in the morning, you will have welcome lunch and go shopping in the afternoon in Hanoi Old Quarter.

Day 2: Hanoi city tour (B, L, D)

After breakfast at hotel, start city tour with Ho Chi Minh Complex for visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh Museum and One Pillar Pagoda, Tran Quoc Pagoda. Continue to visit Literature Temple, the first University in Vietnam in 16th century. Have lunch in one of famous restaurant in Hanoi.
PM: Visit Ethnological Museum then have Cyclo in the Old Quarter, enjoy Water Puppet show in the afternoon. Have dinner then relax.
Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 3: Hanoi – Halong Bay on Glory Cruiser (B, L, D)

Pick up at your address in Hanoi at 8:30 by Car and drive to Halong. Arrive at 12:00noon. At Halong port, our Crew welcomes you on Junk, enjoy welcome drink & check into your cabin. Lunch with seafood will be served right after. At 13:00, boat starts 3.5 hours cruising into Halong bay to see the amazing karsts with different formations: Mat Qui (Monster’s face) islet, But Moc islet, Cap De islet, Trong (Drum) cave, Trinh Nu cave, to a Floating Fishing village to se this unique way of life… and then explore Luon cave (from 16:40 to 17:30). There will be lots of time for swimming, sun bathing. Enjoy a great sunset dinner and relax under the starlit sky before retiring to the comfort of your cabin.

Day 4: Halong Bay – Hanoi (B, L, D)

Early risers can enjoy a morning view of Bay’s landscapes with a cup of tea, coffee, fresh fruits. Sitting on the upper deck, we can enjoy the breath – taking beauty of the rocky Islands rising from the crystal-clear waters of the Bay. The quiet is almost eerie; we can hear birds singing, cicadas chirping ashore and the gentle lapping of the waves against our boat, the perfect soundtrack to accompany the fresh air and gentle breeze. And then explore Sung Sot (Amazing) cave (8.00 to 9:00), swim and relax at Titop beach At 9:24, boat start cruising back and brunch buffet will served from 10:30 to 11:30, check out procedure at 11:35. Arrive at harbor by 12:00 noon, and drive back to Hanoi. Arrival in Hanoi at 04:00 PM.
Go shopping for a while then have dinner and overnight in Hanoi.

Day 5: Hanoi departure (B)

Relax until transferred to the airport for your ongoing flight.
End of service.

Trip includes:

+ Private tour
+ Double/ twin share accommodation at hotels & Junk in places as indicated in program
+ Halal meals as indicated in program (B – breakfast, L – lunch, D – dinner)
+ Private transportation at places as indicated in program
+ All admission cost at places mentioned in itinerary
+ English speaking tour guide

Trip excludes:

+ Other meals and drinks/ personal expenses
+ International air fares/ airport taxes
+ Tips for driver and tour guide

The forthcoming regulation will require all passengers on board to be equipped with sufficient life jackets in the bedrooms, while the remainder must be available in dining, bar and working decks.

When coming out the rule will apply to all overnight tourist boats, and floating restaurants and hotels.

Under the draft, overnight tourist boats in lakes, rivers and coastal waters must be equipped with at least eight life-saving buoys, with each side of the boat having four.

Life saving equipment must be easily seen on board the boat and must have detailed instructions on them. If lifesaving jackets cannot be placed near passengers due to the vessel’s specifications, ship owners must increase the number of life saving appliances.

To ensure safety, exit doors must be always unlocked and available to passengers at all time and exit directions must be highlighted for them to recognize in case of emergency.

Owners must equip their ships and floating facilities with loudspeakers to announce emergency situations to each cabin. Announcements and directions must be in both Vietnamese and English.

The draft circular is an effort by authorities to improve waterway tourism safety after heart-rending accidents that killed scores last year. A ship sank while spending overnight in Halong Bay in the middle of 2011, killing 12 tourists, while Din Ky floating restaurant upturned in the Saigon River early last year with 16 killed.

SGT

The tours have become particularly popular in spring, the best season to visit the mountainous area. But Sa Pa is popular from August to April, with foreign tourists flocking to the region.

Ta Giang Phinh is 25km from Sa Pa and is home to the Mong and Dao people. The 3,000m-tall Mt Ngu Chi Son is nearby and the second highest peak in the area, after famed Mt Fansipan.

The village connects with Sa Pa on a narrow road which snakes through the mountains, past native chayote. The mountains and valley of maize and terraced rice fields are seen on sunny days when the clouds clear.

“The village is a very new site that we included among our destinations last year,” said Green Sa Pa Tour Co director Dao Van Phong. “We want to introduce an isolated village where the lifestyle has yet to change. People living in the village are always hospitable, and visitors can take break at any house during the two-hour walk around the village.”

Phong said his company brought 500 visitors to the village last year.

As the village is nudged in the large Sin Chai Valley , 500m above sea level, tourists can easily find the local Mong people farming the terraced fields or trek through forests of cardamon. Locals often invite visitors with maize and perform the khen (bamboo pan-pipes) dance as they express their hospitality.

The women often stay at home to weave brocade for clothing. With families scattered in isolated spots around the valley and no means of transportation, the only way to get visitors to explore the village is by walking.

“We set up the village to represent the typical lifestyle of the Mong and Dao people,” said Green Sa Pa product manager Phung Gia Cao. “Tourists can explore the interesting culture of the Mong and Dao themselves.”

Nam Tam Village , in Lai Chau’s Binh Lu District, is another hour’s drive from Ta Giang Phinh and is in the heart of one of the largest granaries in the northwest of Vietnam . The village of ethnic Lao, Thai and Lu people, with a population of 2,600, sits on a bank of the Nam Mu River on low terrain and amid fertile paddies.

The scenery along the 45km route from Sa Pa to Nam Tam fascinates tourists. On sunny days, clouds dot the blue sky over the mountain ranges.

“Our van often takes many stops along the roadside for tourists to grab a quiet moment on sunny days,” said Phong.

As Nam Tam lies along a 20km stretch of the Nam Mu River, rafts are the most popular vehicle for locals to fish or transport rice during the harvest.

“You can easily find a raft on the river as the locals often fish in the daytime,” said Phong. “We have already set up a local service, so tourists can board a raft as soon as they arrive in the village. They can paddle themselves along the river and stop at any village along the bank.”Phong said his agency can also arrange rubber rafts instead of bamboo.

After a short stop on the river bank, visitors can mount bicycles for a 20km ride around the area.

“The cycling is a change after a few hours of rafting,” said Nguyen Anh Manh, a guide from a Hanoi-based travel agency. “Tourists can stop at several points in the village. They can even leave their bikes and keep walking if they want.”

“I’ve been assigned to take tourists to Sa Pa town for years,” Manh added. “Nam Tam and Ta Giang Phinh are actually the best places to stay the night.”

Nam Tam Village , which includes three hamlets, is a recognised place to make a homestay. Tourists can spend the night in a hamlet of the Thai ethnic group and view traditional folk dances around a campfire at night. The Thai people hosting the visitors offer grilled fish and meat as the tourists relax after a hard day of rafting and cycling.

“Travellers can dance with the locals, and roast fish over a wood fire for dinner,” said Manh. “A night in a stilt house will refresh you for your next day’s journey.”

Many tourists making a homestay in the village during the Lunar New Year when Thai people flock in with food and wine to celebrate the new year festival.

(Source: VNA)

The festival is also known by the name “Ong Cau”, which refers to the tradition of soldiers hunting wild pigs in the old capital city of Van Lang. The custom was recently resumed by villagers in 1996.

The ong cau is a male pig which has a black mane, and is sought after by locals during the several months leading up to Tet. On the 23rd of the lunar month of December, villagers choose a local house for building a “house” for the pig. The household must be successful with well-off, law-abiding citizens.

The “house” of ong cau is made with a bamboo frame, and covered with palm leaves to keep out the cold. Weapons, such as knife and spears, are displayed around the house.

The pig is kept at there from the 23rd of the lunar December (the Day of Kitchen God) until the 5th day of the lunar January. Then the villagers release the animal in order to chase and hunt it.

The festival opened with an incense and flower offering ceremony in memory of King Quang Trung-Nguyen Hue and Tay Son soldiers.

A series of cultural, artistic and sports activities and martial art performances have taken place from January 26-27, or the fourth and fifth days of the first lunar month.

In the early spring of 1789, Nguyen Hue, who was later proclaimed Emperor Quang Trung, led his guerrillas from Hue imperial palace to Hanoi, which was then occupied by the Qing army.

He launched a surprise attack and defeated more than 29,000 Qing soldiers during a five-day Lunar New Year battle.

(VNA)

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Da Nang
Pick up upon Da Nang International airport and transfer to the city for hotel check-in. Overnight at hotel/resort in Da Nang.

Day 2: Free at Leisure (B)
You will be free at your own leisure at the resort.

Day 3: Hoi An Sightseeing Tour (B/L)
Morning tours to visit Hoi An ancient town. Visiting the landmarks of the town. Break time for lunch and in the afternoon, we take an excursion to see My Son ruins. Transfer back to the resort. Overnight at resort in Da Nang

Day 4: Free at Leisure (B)
You will be free at your own leisure at the resort.

Day 5: Free at Leisure (B)
Morning tours to visit lantern making village. Boat trip on Thu Bon river to visit handicraft villages. Back to the town for shopping. Transfer back to the resort. Overnight at resort in Da Nang.

Day 6: Free at Leisure (B)
You will be free at your own leisure at the resort.

Day 7: Da Nang – Departure (B)
Free at leisure until transferring to the airport for departure flight onward. End of service.

Trip include:

+ Private tour
+ Pick up & drop off at hotels at the tour places
+ Accommodation based on twin sharing at places as indicated in program
+ Food as mentioned in the itinerary (B- breakfast, L- lunch, D- dinner)
+ All transfers and transportation
+ All guided sightseeing fees and entrance fees as per itinerary
+ Professional English speaking tour guide at places

Trip excludes:

+ Visa application fee to Vietnam
+ Personal expenses
+ Other meals and drinks
+ Late check out & early check in for accommodation at the places
+ Airport tax and departure tax
+ All other service not made on the written form Insurance
+ Tips and gratuities

Departing from Hue, the tour stops first at Thu Le Temple in Sia Town, recognized as a national historical relic, with ancient architecture, according to VietnamPlus.
From the temple, the tour continues to Ngu My Thanh fishing village, which has small museums displaying sea creatures. There travelers can observe how local residents make nets and use devices for fishing.
Next is a bicycle trip to visit vegetable farms and joining farmers in tending vegetables, and buying products from the farms.
Then, at Thuy Lap Village, travelers will learn how to make bamboo products and join in weaving with local artisans. After lunch and a short nap in Ngu My Thanh Village is the time for exploring Tam Giang Lagoon.
Next stop, Quang Ngan Commune, in Quang Dien District, includes a visit to royal tombs and ethnic dance shows by local children. Then follows relaxing with waves on a beach in Tan My Hamlet.
The final activity before returning to Hue City is a visit to Bao La bamboo weaving village, where travelers can learn more about the craft and perhaps buy from a wide choice of items of bamboo.
“The tour has a significant meaning,” Ngo Hoa, vice-chairman of Thua Thien-Hue Provincial People’s Committee, said. “It helps not only diversify tourism services in Thua Thien-Hue Province but also enhance the life of local residents in remote areas and give them the opportunities to be exposed to different cultures.”
(Source: the saigontimes)