Taste of Vietnam ( Program 10days / 9nights from South to North)

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City arrival (D)

Welcome upon arrival by Asiatik Travel´s tour guide and driver, we then transfer to hotel. We refresh after a long journey before enjoying an unforgettable dinner on Saigon River cruise. Overnight in Saigon.

Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnels (B,L )

This morning, we visit the Reunification Palace, the former Presidential Palace for the president of the South of Vietnam. After that, we will visit the War Remnant Museum, where we can see countless artifacts, photographs, and pictures documenting the second Indochina war. Before our lunch, we stop at Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office
In the afternoon, we will leave Saigon for the Cu Chi tunnels. On our way there we will drive through the pleasant countryside; rubber plantations and rice paddies. Before entering the tunnels, we will see a short introductory video showing how they were constructed, followed by an exploration of the maze of tunnels, some of which have been widened to allow tourist access. Also on display are various mantraps and the remains of an American tank, as well as numerous bomb craters made by 500lb bombs, dropped by B52 bombers. After that, we transfer back to Saigon. Relax and overnight in Saigon.
Remarks: Upon the seasonal weather so we can decide to visit Cu Chi Tunnel first or later after half day Saigon city tour. Raining season, visitors will be recommended to visit Cu Chi Tunnels in the morning and city tour in the afternoon.

 Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta (B, L)

We start our tour a little bit early today to explore full of Cai Be floating market in Mekong Delta where is about 2,5 hours driving from Saigon. The boat will take us among the local barges full of fruits and farmers’ products. There are many opportunities for photoshoots in one of the most beautiful floating markets in Mekong Delta. We then stop at local workshops to see the rice paste, coconut candy, and pop rice, pop-corn are made.
Later we take the rowing boat entering deeper into the countryside on the smaller canals where we can see the traditional houses made of wood and palm tree leaves, the local daily life…. After lunch at a local house, we take bikes along the village paths to see the farms, houses and the ancestral ways to pick up fruits in Mekong Delta. Mid-afternoon, we cruise back to the city and our awaiting vehicle will take us to Saigon. Overnight in Saigon.
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Day 4: Ho Chi Minh City – Fly to Danang, Transfer to Hoi An – Walking Tour (B, L)

We take a morning flight to Danang from Saigon today after breakfast at the hotel. The local tour guide and driver welcome us at Danang airport then drive you along the coast highway to Hoi An ancient town.

Later afternoon, we have a walking tour in Hoi An town – one of the World’s Culture Heritages of Vietnam. This quaint riverside town still boasts a wealth of century’s old traditional architecture. The influences of several Asian cultures can be seen in old houses and waterside buildings. It is also famous as a place to be instantly created inexpensive tailored outfits. Overnight in Hoi An.


 

 

Day 5: Cooking Class in HoiAn 

 

This morning, we join the special cooking class with the local market shopping all the ingredients for our lesson. We then boat to Vy’s Market restaurant where we can see, smell, hear, taste, touch and interact with many different food-making processes. We can try samples from over 10 different food counters including Banh my, dumplings, pickles, weird….Then we start our 2,5-hour cooking lesson with the chef and enjoy all the food that we cooked before. The gift after the lesson is a copy of the recipes and a Vietnamese cooking utensil to take home. Free for shopping in the afternoon. Overnight in Hoi An.

Remarks: The cooking class can be in morning or afternoon time (upon availability)


 

Day 6: Hoi An Farming & Fishing Eco tour – Danang – Fly to Hanoi (B, L)

 

This morning, we can choose a bus or bike to cycle to a local farming village to join the daily work life of local farmers – hoeing and a soil, watering veggie at an organic herb garden, riding water buffalo in the field and enjoy the freshest air of the countryside beauty. After that, board the Hoi An Eco-tour boat and cruise to the mouth of the river where it meets the Cua Dai Sea. We also learn and try our hand at local traditional fishing techniques using round and cast nets, learn to paddle the strange and unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boats. Explore the now tranquil coconut-palm flanked waterways of a past war and hear of the extreme conditions endured by soldiers on both sides. Have a relaxed fun with catching beautiful purple crabs on bamboo basket boat. After visiting a local water coconut palm village, we take a walk around the village and have some tea and snack with local talks…
Back on-board our Hoi An Eco-tour boat, enjoy our lunch and a cold beer or soft drink on boat, then back to hotel for our luggage packing. We take an afternoon flight to Hanoi. Welcome upon arrival and transfer to hotel. On the way, we may stop at the West Lake area to get a nice sunset view on the largest lake of Hanoi, and enjoy Vietnamese coffee in the coffee shop on the lake bank. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 7: Hanoi Food Tasting & City Tour (B, L)

Today we will venture out to explore Hanoi and enjoy the local food, no breakfast at the hotel taken. Firstly, we meet up at the hotel at 08:00 then walk down to Pho restaurant for our light breakfast. Walking down to Hang Be street for visiting the local market, we are guided all the ingredients as well as inhabit of local people here. After the street market, we continue our trip along different streets, try to taste many kinds of local food such as oil-fried pastry, tofu, egg coffee, Rice pancake, pillow cake, sweet soup, stuff pancake with pork, draught beer… and one of our best surprised is a stop at Dong Xuan wholesales market where we know many kinds of ingredients being sold. Last but not least is our happy ending at the Rue Lamblot restaurant. From here, we enjoy our light lunch with Spring rolls, grilled pork with noodles, fried rice cake, banana flower salad.
In the afternoon, we explore Hanoi city with the first destination of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Ba Dinh Square, Ho Chi Minh Museum, One Pillar Pagoda, the Presidential Palace and the Temple of Literature. End of the day, we take a one-hour cyclo around the Old Quarter, known as the 36 streets. The last activity today is to enjoy the unique Water Puppet show. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 8: Hanoi – Halong Bay (Overnight on Deluxe Junk Cruise) (B, L, D)

After breakfast today, we travel northeast Quang Ninh province to enjoy our time in the tranquil of Halong Bay. Arriving at Tuan Chau pier at midday, we are welcome by the crew team then check in a tender which transfers us to the cruise. Checking in the room before we enjoy the first delicious seafood lunch. The cruise takes us deeper into the Bay passing thousands of islands and islets with various shapes of Fighting Cocks, Dogs islets….The cruise also passes and stops at the floating village that is free from busy traffic, electric lights, houses, shops, and buildings…
Our activities this afternoon are kayaking, cooking demonstration, relax or swim at the beach or climb up to the top of the island to catch the panorama of the Bay…. Enjoying dinner and relax in the evening on the cruise


 

Day 9: Halong Bay – Hanoi (B, L)

 

Sunrise moment is the best time ever in Halong Bay that should not be missed. Getting up little early this morning we enjoy the morning view with a cup of tea or coffee then have breakfast. After that, we continue cruising around this amazing UNESCO World Heritage Site and explore some more of the intricate cave systems (Sung Sot cave) that make Halong truly unique. After a delicious lunch, we head back to Hanoi.
If it’s weekend tonight (Saturday or Sunday night) we will have a chance to walk to the night market for visiting and shopping. Overnight in Hanoi.


 

Day 10: Hanoi Departure (B)

Free at leisure for last-minute shopping before transferring back to the airport for our flight home. Vietnam tour package from south to north ends.

End of services

This price include:

 

1, Weather
Vietnam has a tropical climate, which is characterized by strong sunshine, relatively high temperatures throughout the year and significant rainfall. In general, the country experiences two distinct seasons: a dry and cold season (from November to April) a hot and rainy season (from May to October). But the country stretching over more than 1600km, there are notable differences between the northern and southern provinces. Temperature changes are therefore more noticeable in the more temperate regions of Tonkin (north), while they are barely perceptible in HoChiMinh Ville and in the Mekong Delta. You can visit Vietnam in any season

Bring light everyday clothes, preferably cotton, but woolen fabric is recommended for air-conditioned places (Bus for long distances or restaurants) and the mountainous regions of Upper Tonkin or the Highlands where the thermal amplitude can be important between day and night. A jacket or sweater is  obligatory if you are traveling in winter (September to April). Also bring raincost , as the rains are frequent, brief but often torrential, as well as long clothes and socks to protect you from mosquitoes. When you visit the temples, avoid shorts and sleeveless tops. Bring a hat to protect yourself from the sun, don't forget the sunscreen for the beach and mosquito repellents. Also make sure you have decent attire for visiting places of worship. When visiting a pagoda, men should preferably wear pants, because the shorts would shock the monks, women should have their shoulders covered. It is advisable to have comfortable and easy to remove shoes because you will have to take off your shoes at the entrance of these. Finally, closed high shoes are recommended if you are trekking.

3, Passport and Visa?

To obtain the visa, you have two possibilities of doing it, either you can directly ask for the visa near the Vietnamese embassy or consullate in your country, for that, bring your passport, two photos and 70 euros or 80 euros for a request by correspondence. We can provide you with the forms to complete for your departure.
Less expensive and faster for you, you can get the visa on arrival (VOA Visa Upon, Visa on arrival). This visa will be delivered on site upon arrival at the airport provided that you have a letter of approval. Asiatik Travel will arrange everything and deliver this letter to you, along with your passport details. This letter with the forms will be delivered to you before your departure. When you arrive at the airport, go to the "Landing visa" counter located before passport control, with this invitation letter and a 4x6 photo. With the form, you will pay 25 USD in cash and exclusively in US dollars to obtain a month's visa.
4, Vaccinations and health
Vietnam poses no particular health or safety problems, but it is advisable to consult the "Advice for Travelers" sheets on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website before leaving: www.diplomatie.gouv.fr
No vaccine is required, except for yellow fever if you are coming from an African or Latin American country where it is endemic. However, it is strongly recommended to be up to date with your vaccinations against polio, diphtheria, tetanus, typhoid and hepatitis A and B, as well as meningitis A and C and Japanese encephalitis for long stays
a, Recommandations:
Veillez à vous protéger du soleil et de la chaleur de manière à prévenir tout risque d'insolation et de déshydradation. Exposez-vous progressivement et pensez toujours à porter chapeau, lunettes de soleil et protection solaire, même par temps couvert. il est également important de boire abondamment et fréquemment.
Ne buvez jamais de l'eau du robinet qui ne serait pas préalablement bouillie ou purifiée avec des pastilles, lavez-vous les mains avant et après chaque repas. 
b, Pharmacy kit
If you are following a particular treatment, take your medication in sufficient quantity, with the doctor's prescription
Also think of everyday products such as foam earplugs, razor, shaving cream, tampons and sanitary napkins. But do not worry there either in case of forgetting: all this is on site without difficulty.

5, Telephone and electricity
a, Telephone: 
To call Vietnam from abroad, dial the international access number (00 from Europe) then 84 (for the Vietnam), the regional prefix without the 0 and the number of your correspondent. To call abroad from Vietnam, dial 00, followed by the country code (33 for France and 32 for Belgium, 41 for Switzerland and 1 for Canada...) followed by the regional prefix without the 0 and number
b, Electricity:
The current is in 220volts. In most hotels, the sockets are also designed to work with flat plug devices like those found in the United States (But in this case, you will also need an adapter if your device works in 110volts)
The national network is very reliable in the big cities as generally in the rest of the country.

In luxury hotels and restaurants, the service is generally included (from 10 to 15%), but elsewhere it is left to your discretion and is not systematic. On the other hand, it is traditional to thank the services rendered by the staff such as: luggage port, boat rowers, drivers of the cylos drivers. Our advice for these cases is often 1-2 euros / 1 person if you appreciate the services rendered. For guides and drivers, if you are in a large group (from 10 people), the tip is often at least 2-3 euros / 1 day / 1 person for the guide and half for the driver. If you are in a small group or two, it depends on your sastifaction to leave, the minimum is 3-4 euros / 1 person / 1 day and half for the driver.