VIETNAM HERITAGE & CULTURE JOURNEY
(15 Days – 14 Nights)
Ha Noi – Sa Pa – Ninh Binh – Hue – Hoi An – Da Nang – Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta
*The price is determined by the size of your group. For the exact price for your specific group, please contact us directly via our hotline: +61 481 879 798 or +61 401 257 979
Upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport, meet your local guide and driver for a warm welcome. Transfer to your hotel in Ha Noi and check in. (Hotel check-in from approx. 2:00 PM; luggage storage or early check-in subject to availability.)
The remainder of the day is at leisure, allowing time to relax or explore the city independently.
Overnight in Ha Noi.
After breakfast, depart for Duong Lam Ancient Village, located in Son Tay District, about 44 km from Ha Noi. This well-preserved village offers an authentic glimpse into traditional Vietnamese rural life, with ancient laterite houses, red-brick walls, banyan trees, village wells, communal yards, temples, and winding lanes. Many houses here are over 300 years old, built with traditional materials and designed to stay cool in summer and warm in winter.
In the afternoon, return to Ha Noi and visit the Temple of Literature, built in 1070 in honor of Confucius and later recognized as Vietnam’s first university.
Continue with a 1-hour rickshaw ride around the Old Quarter area, providing a close-up view of local daily life and the lively streets surrounding the lake.
Later, enjoy time in the Old Quarter with a coffee stop near the railway tracks (beverage at your own expense).
In the evening, transfer to Ha Noi railway station for the overnight sleeper train to Lao Cai.
Train: SP3 | 22:00 – 06:20
Accommodation: Overnight on train (Chapa Express – 2-berth cabin)
Arrive early morning at Lao Cai Railway Station, where you will be met and transferred to Sapa then depart for Ma Tra Village.
Meet your local guide for a briefing before starting a trekking journey along quiet mountain trails, passing lush vegetation, pine forests, and scenic valleys. Ma Tra Village, home to the Black H’Mong ethnic group, remains largely untouched and is known for traditional flax weaving, silver carving, and forging crafts.
Continue trekking for approximately 3 hours to Ta Phin Village, where the Red Dao and H’Mong communities live together, creating a vibrant cultural blend. Lunch will be served at a local family’s house along the way.
In Ta Phin, visit the Ta Phin Cave, explore the old French-era monastery, and browse locally made handicrafts and jewelry.
Late afternoon, transfer back to Sapa town.
Overnight in Sapa.
Highlight:
• Trek through non-touristy villages and experience authentic ethnic minority life.
After breakfast, meet your guide and driver at 08:00 AM and drive to Sin Chai Village, located at the foot of the Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range and inhabited by the Black H’Mong people.
Begin trekking uphill through scenic mountain trails. Upon reaching the top, descend along a smaller path to Cat Cat Village, famous for its waterfalls and traditional houses. Lunch will be served near the waterfall.
In the afternoon, continue trekking through mountain paths to Y Linh Ho Village, enjoying spectacular valley and mountain views. After a short rest, climb up to the main road where your vehicle will be waiting to transfer you back to Sapa.
Return to hotel and relax.
Overnight in Sapa.
Highlight:
• Stunning landscapes of the Hoang Lien Son range and visits to traditional H’Mong villages.
Enjoy breakfast. Around at 10:00 Am return to Ha Noi by road.
Check in hotel and relax
Overnight in Ha Noi
After breakfast, depart for Ninh Binh to explore Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam in the 10th century. Visit the temples of the Dinh and Le Dynasties, showcasing distinctive ancient architecture and rich historical value.
Continue to Mua Cave (Ngoa Long Mountain). Climb 486 stone steps to the mountain peak, where you will be rewarded with panoramic views of limestone mountains and vast rice fields—one of Ninh Binh’s most iconic landscapes.
In the afternoon, enjoy a visit to the Trang An Landscape Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its spectacular karst scenery, temples, pagodas, rice fields, and peaceful villages.
Return to Ha Noi in the late afternoon.
Overnight in Ha Noi.
After breakfast, transfer to Noi Bai Airport for your flight to Hue. Upon arrival, meet your local guide and begin exploring the former imperial capital.
Start with a visit to the Royal Citadel, including the Purple Forbidden City and the royal altars of the Nguyen Dynasty, gaining insight into Vietnam’s last feudal dynasty and its royal legacy.
In the afternoon, continue to the serene Minh Mang Royal Tomb, renowned for its harmonious architecture set amid landscaped gardens and natural surroundings.
Later in the day, board a dragon boat for a leisurely cruise along the Perfume River. Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and changing colors of the sky as the sun sets. Disembark to visit the iconic Thien Mu Pagoda, beautifully framed in the soft evening light.
Transfer back to your hotel.
Overnight in Hue.
After breakfast, transfer approximately 40 km from Hue to Bach Ma National Park, a biodiversity hotspot rich in endemic flora and fauna.
Visit the Visitor Centre for an introduction to the park before continuing with a scenic uphill drive. Begin hiking along the Five Lakes (Ngu Ho) Trail, passing streams and forest paths. Safety equipment will be provided where needed.
Enjoy a picnic lunch by a natural pool surrounded by pristine forest. Continue along the medicinal plant trail to Rhododendron Waterfall, with time to relax, breathe in fresh air, and swim if conditions permit.
Return to Hue by late afternoon.
Overnight in Hue.
Highlights:
• Easy-to-moderate guided hike (5–10 km, customizable).
• Insight into local biodiversity and ecosystems.
• Picnic lunch by waterfalls and forest streams.
0After breakfast, take a short drive to Bao Vinh Ancient Town. Stroll through the local market and historic merchant houses, enjoy a tea break, and take a ferry ride to nearby handicraft villages. Cycle through rice fields and flower-lined paths (optional).
Visit Thanh Tien Paper Flower Village, where you will learn and try your hand at making traditional paper flowers. Continue to Sinh Village to discover the art of woodblock printing with natural dyes. Visit a centuries-old village pagoda to gain insight into local spiritual life and wellness traditions.
Enjoy lunch at a local home. Return by dragon boat.
Around 13:00, transfer to Hue Railway Station for the scenic train journey to Da Nang.
Train: HD3 | 14:25 – 17:40
The route passes through Hai Van Pass and Lang Co Bay, offering breathtaking coastal views.
Upon arrival in Da Nang, transfer to Hoi An.
Overnight in Hoi An.
Note: Guests not cycling may ride pillion on a motorbike (surcharge AUD 15/pax).
After breakfast, explore the enchanting Hoi An Ancient Town on foot. Visit a well-preserved 200-year-old Chinese merchant house, showcasing a harmonious blend of Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese architectural styles. Continue to key landmarks such as the Japanese Covered Bridge and a traditional Chinese Assembly Hall, where daily life and spiritual traditions come together.
Later, join a hands-on lantern-making workshop, where you will craft your own lantern—an iconic symbol of Hoi An, known as the Lantern City.
In the evening, enjoy the spectacular Hoi An Memories Show, an open-air performance featuring over 500 actors and dancers on a 25,000 m² stage. The show vividly portrays 400 years of Hoi An’s history through music, movement, and visual storytelling, celebrating everyday life without dialogue or language.
Overnight in Hoi An.
At 08:00, meet your local guide and cycle through Hoi An’s local market to purchase fresh ingredients for your cooking class. Continue cycling through peaceful villages, rice paddies, and areca palm gardens to Tra Que Vegetable Village.
Take a walk through the herb gardens and learn about local vegetables before meeting your chef. Join a Vietnamese cooking class, preparing dishes such as Banh Xeo (Vietnamese pancake), fresh spring rolls, and Tam Huu salad. Enjoy lunch with the dishes you have prepared, followed by time to relax.
In the afternoon, continue to Cam Thanh Water Coconut Village. Learn about its history before boarding a traditional bamboo basket boat to explore the palm forest waterways. Enjoy fun activities such as crab catching and friendly basket boat racing (2 pax per boat).
Overnight in Hoi An.
After breakfast, check out from your hotel in Hoi An and transfer to Da Nang.
En route, visit the Marble Mountains (Ngu Hanh Son), a cluster of five limestone hills representing the five elements. Explore impressive caves, pagodas, and scenic viewpoints, each with its own legends and historical significance.
Continue into Da Nang city to visit the Champa Sculpture Museum, home to the most comprehensive collection of Cham artifacts, offering insight into the ancient Cham civilization that once flourished in Central Vietnam.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
Next, drive along the coastal road towards Son Tra Peninsula, passing My Khe Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam. Visit Linh Ung Pagoda, featuring the 67-meter-tall Lady Buddha statue overlooking the sea and city.
In the afternoon, visit Han Market, a lively traditional market well known for local specialties, fresh produce, and souvenirs.
Transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure.
Overnight in Da Nang.
After breakfast, transfer to Da Nang Airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, meet your local guide and begin a guided walking tour through the historic heart of the city.
Stroll along Dong Khoi Street, once the elegant boulevard of colonial Saigon, passing by notable landmarks such as the City Hall, Opera House (exterior view), Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Central Post Office. Continue to the Independence Palace, a key historical site and former residence of the South Vietnamese President.
Conclude the day with a visit to Ben Thanh Market, where you can browse local products and souvenirs.
In the evening, enjoy a dinner cruise on Saigon River, offering beautiful night views of the city skyline and a relaxing atmosphere on board.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Depart for the Mekong Delta. Upon arrival in Cai Be, enjoy a short boat ride passing Cai Be town and its historic church. Continue to Tan Phong Island and explore peaceful canals by rowing boat, surrounded by lush greenery.
Visit a local garden to enjoy tropical fruits with hot tea while listening to traditional folk music. Continue with a bicycle ride along village paths to observe daily rural life, including orchards, schools, pagodas, and traditional houses. Stop to learn about handicrafts made from dried water hyacinth.
Cross the Mekong River by boat to An Binh Island.
Enjoy lunch at a local homestay, then check in at Út Trinh / Út Quỳnh / Út Bình Homestay.
In the afternoon, explore the village by bike or on foot, visiting small workshops producing rice paper, coconut candy, and popped rice. Later, join the host family in preparing traditional dishes.
Enjoy dinner and overnight at the homestay.
After breakfast, take a morning walk through the village and visit local workshops producing rice paper, coconut candy, and popped rice, with tea and local sweets.
Enjoy a boat trip to see traditional brick kilns, floating houses, and fish farming along the Mekong River. Visit Vinh Long Market, a lively local market offering excellent photo opportunities of fresh seafood, fruits, and local produce.
The cruise ends around 10:00 AM.
Transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City and take the flight back home
Recommended international departure flights: after 20:00
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