MT Sobek
OFFER ID 1479532
Experience the wonders of Vietnam on this action-packed adventure! Savor delicious street food in historic Hoi An before exploring rice fields and tranquil villages by bike. Then gear up for an epic hike in Bach Ma National Park, where scenic trails ascend through majestic mountains. In Hanoi, see the impressive Ho Chi Minh complex and take a rickshaw ride through the bustling Old Quarter, before trying your hand at traditional Vietnamese cooking. Delight in the lush green landscapes of Ninh Binh and visit the ancient temples at UNESCO-listed Hoa Lu. End your adventure with a magical overnight junk cruise on Lan Ha Bay.
Highlights:
8 nights | Call for pricing
MT Sobek: Vietnam Mountains & Bay Multi-Adventure
Day 1 Arrive in Danang & Hoi An Street Food Tour
45-minute private van transfer
3-hour street food tour
Meet your guides in Danang and transfer to your hotel in historic Hoi An. Explore the atmospheric narrow streets of the city's UNESCO-listed old town and marvel at the mix of Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese, and French architecture. Enjoy views from the famous Japanese Bridge, the Chinese Temple and Tan Ky trading house, and savor gastronomical delights on an evening street food tour. Try delicious Hoi An specialties, from white rose dumplings to green bean cakes, and wash it down with a traditional Vietnamese coffee. Expect warm welcomes on this immersive insider experience. Relax at your hotel tonight.
Accommodation: Almanity Hoi An Wellness Resort
(D)
Day 2 Explore Hoi An by Bike
45-minute boat ride
1-2 hours/6-7 miles biking on paved roads or optional cyclo ride
Start your morning with a bicycle ride across Cam Kim Bridge to a small village on the other side of Thu Bon River. Here, amidst peaceful rice fields and bamboo groves, you'll visit a Vietnamese family in their ancestral home. Learn about their genealogy and traditions, including sedge mat weaving. Continue cycling among nut trees and sedge fields on shady paths that meander through quiet villages. Take a break and enjoy lunch at a local house, before cruising back to Hoi An. The afternoon is free to explore Hoi An at your leisure.
Accommodation: Almanity Hoi An Wellness Resort
(B, L)
Day 3 Hike in Bach Ma National Park & Travel to Hue
3.5-hour private van transfer
4-5 hours/5 miles hiking with 515' elevation gain and 240' loss
Wake for an early drive up to beautiful Hai Van Pass (1,627') and on to Bach Ma National Park, where the mountains reach 4,750 feet. Follow scenic trails to Hai Vong Dai and enjoy stunning panoramic views of majestic mountains, lagoons, and quaint local villages. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant, before trekking into the jungle to explore the Five Lakes. Immerse yourself in serene nature and take a dip in the cool water of lake number five. Next it's on to the pretty Do Quyen Waterfall set in a dense forest. From here, head back to the start and continue your trip to Hue — your home for the night.
Accommodation: Eldora Hotel
(B, L)
Day 4 Explore Hue’s Ancient Past & Fly to Hanoi
1-hour flight
This morning explore the majestic Imperial Citadel of Hue, built in 1804 and perched along the Perfume River. Inspired by French military engineer Vauban, it originally encompassed the capital city (Kinh Thanh), the Imperial City (Hoang Thanh) and the Forbidden City (Cam Thanh). Though largely destroyed during the Vietnam War, parts have been restored allowing visitors to imagine its former glory. This afternoon, visit an impressive private collection of ancient ceramic artifacts pulled from the Perfume River and other antique treasures at an enchanting garden house. Cap off your visit with a tea tasting in this serene setting before heading to the airport for your flight to Hanoi. You will be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel de l'Opera
(B)
Day 5 Traditional Vietnamese Cooking Experience
Savor the flavors of Vietnamese cuisine with a chef-led cooking class. First stop is the local market, where you'll meet your chef and wander the stalls in search of the freshest ingredients. With the shopping done, you'll be ready to head to your chef's kitchen and learn how to cook several traditional Vietnamese dishes. Wrap up your epicurean adventure by eating your tasty lunch! Bid farewell to your chef and host before returning to the hotel. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided visit to Ba Dinh square, center of the impressive Ho Chi Minh complex. See the historic Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh Museum, One-Pillar Pagoda, and Presidential Palace. Then go back in time on a rickshaw ride through the bustling Old Quarter, where artisans have sold their crafts for over 500 years!
Accommodation: Hotel de l'Opera
(B, L)
Day 6 Discover Ninh Binh’s Natural Wonders
3-hour private van transfer
2-3 hours hiking with various options
Journey to Ninh Binh and experience the region's majestic landscapes. Head to Cuc Phuong National Park, the oldest nature reserve in Vietnam! Immerse yourself in rare and remarkable wildlife on a jungle walk. Next, visit Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam and part of the UNESCO-listed Trang An Landscape Complex. Marvel at Hoa Lu's ancient temples with their scenic mountain backdrop.
Accommodation: Ninh Binh Hidden Charm Hotel & Resort
(B, L)
Day 7 Cruise Lan Ha Bay
2-hour private van transfer
Short cycling and kayaking options while on cruise
Start the day with a journey to Hai Phong, where you'll embark on an epic cruise of must-see Lan Ha Bay, part of UNESCO-listed Halong Bay. This world-famous bay is one of the most beautiful landscapes in Vietnam, with its giant rock islets covered in lush green vegetation. Experience it up close with a magical night aboard a traditional junk! Dine on freshly caught seafood and let the motion of the bay rock you to sleep in your well-appointed cabin.
Accommodation: Orchid Trendy Cruise
(B, L, D)
Day 8 Morning Cruise & Return to Hanoi
2-hour private van transfer
Wake for sunrise over the aquamarine waters of La Ha Bay and enjoy a morning cruise. Return to your hotel in Hanoi and relax in the afternoon. Gather for a festive farewell dinner this evening.
Accommodation: Hotel de l'Opera
(B, L, D)
Day 9 Depart from Hanoi
After a leisurely breakfast, transfer to Noi Bai airport for your departure flight.
Accommodation: Hotel de l'Opera
(B)
The provincial capital of Ninh Binh, 62 mi/100 km south of Hanoi, is worth a two- or three-day visit on its own, rather than the usual day trip from Hanoi. It is a bit off the trodden tourist trail, and there the life of contemporary Vietnam is visible without the prepackaged spin that most resorts put on the traveler's experience.
The haunting landscapes of Tam Coc are 6 mi/9 km from Ninh Binh. In scenery reminiscent of classic Chinese scroll painting, tiny wooden rowboats will take you on a river journey through brilliant green rice fields farmed by men and women wearing the traditional Vietnamese conical straw hats and country dress. Rising from the fields are sheer-sided limestone karsts very similar to those found in Halong Bay, but hung with tropical vegetation and home to darting cliff swallows. Three of the karsts are so large that naturally occurring caverns pass through them, and the effect of the vibrant landscape framed by the arched openings of the tunnels is breathtaking.
This is no commercial conceptualization—it is the real, rural life of Vietnam happening alongside the narrow river. At the end of the journey, your oarsman will most probably offer you examples of the high-quality local embroidery on tablecloths, napkins or T-shirts—at amazingly low prices, though as always, a certain amount of bargaining is expected.
Cuc Phuong National Park is 28 mi/45 km from central Ninh Binh, measures 106 sq mi/275 sq km, spans three provinces and protects some of the oldest forests in Vietnam. An hour's trek takes you to the Big Tree, an ancient forest giant with roots so widespread, 16 people must join hands in order to circle it.
Up several steep flights of stairs is the vast Cave of Prehistoric Man, where an estimated group of 25 protohumans lived together at the edge of the sea. Dinh May Bach (Silver Cloud Peak) has rugged hiking trails up its 2,125 ft/648 m height.
The Endangered Primate Resource Center near the entrance is a kind of mental and physical rehabilitation center for gibbons, several kinds of languars and lorises, all of which have been rescued from cages or illegal traders. The center's breeding program has been a great success, and infant monkeys are a common site as they cling to their mother's fur. The park has basic cabins for rent within the grounds, where visitors can experience the vibrant, complex life of the jungle at length.
Hanoi - Hon Gai / Hai Phong Port
Hanoi Full Day Tour (10 Hours)
Shore Excursion Hai Phong - Hanoi
Shore Excursion Halong - Hanoi
Hoi An’s Countryside & Ancient Town – 8 hours - Hue
Highlights:
Hue - Full Day Hue Classic Tour / Chan May Port
Royal Culinary & Historic Landmark - Hue
Hue - Home Hosted Lunch & Historic Landmark
Hoi An - Full Day Hoi An Town with Lantern Making
FULL DAY HOI AN TOWN WITH LANTERN MAKING
Destination: Hoi AnHoi An Culinary Experience at Market Restaurant
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
Travel 15 Limited
A Branch of Tzell Travel Group
293 Eisenhower Parkway
Livingston, New Jersey 07039
(973) 228-3033 Local
(973) 422-0030 FAX
© Copyright 2023. All Rights Reserved. Travel 15 Limited, LLC.
Florida SOT license: ST39501
CST: 2123878-70