Hotel de l'Opera Ha Noi (3 nights)

Mai Chau Ecolodge (1 night)

Only three hours by car from Hanoi, Mai Chau is a completely different world of pure air, untouched nature and fascinating tribal culture. Mai Chau Ecolodge is located right at the heart of Mai Chau valley within walking distance to Lac and Pom Coong villages.

The Mai Chau Ecolodge was built entirely from natural materials with thatched roofs, bamboo interiors, wooden furniture and outdoor jungle showers. Every bungalow was meticulously designed to embody the local stilt house style and traditional Thai ethnic culture. The absence of television and other entertainment facilities keep our lodges true to what it stands for – a place to get back to nature.

Victory Star Cruise (1 night)

Eldora Boutique Hotel (2 nights)

Vinh Hung Riverside Hoi An Resort (3 nights)

Liberty Central Saigon Hotel (3 nights)

Located on Ton Duc Thang Street, along the active Saigon River, Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel provides a romantic and tranquil vibe. The hotel, which is honored Tripadvisor’s Certificate of Excellence, offers everything guests expect of an international 4-star hotel with an added sense of local vitality. Overlooking the Saigon River on the edge of the Central Business District, this upscale hotel is 2 km from both Bến Thành Market and the War Remnants Museum.

Victoria Can Tho Hotel (1night)

EXPLORING VIETNAM CULTURE

17days /14 nights /41 meals

  HOTEL 4* DOUBLE OCCUPANCY

   FROM 5300$ PER PERSON

 Day 01 & 02: Flight from Montreal to Ha Noi

 DAY 03: ARRIVAL – HANOI 

Arrive at Noi Bai airport, meet Escape Vitours tour guide and driver. We will greet you and you’ll be transferred to your first hotel. Free time to relax and enjoy Hanoi Old quarter.

 DAY 04: HANOI COOKING CLASS AND VISITING

Exploration of Vietnam’s charming capital. This is known for its country-style streets, colonial French architecture, peaceful lakes and ancient oriental pagodas. The city tour will include the Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and still house, the Presidential Palace, One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature; West Lake including the sedate Tran Quoc Pagoda & Quan Thanh Temple and a choice between the History Museum or the Ethnology Museum.

 Post-lunch, partake in a culinary lesson that highlights traditional Vietnamese cuisine. After indulging your taste buds, you will enjoy a short walk to the Chau Long Market. A guided tour of the market includes the ‘wet’ / unusual fruits / livestock / silk worms, with chefs will be included.

 DAY 05: HANOI – MAI CHAU 

The northwest highlands of Mai Chau offer some of northern Vietnam’s most captivating scenery. Morning: Drive to Mai Chau valley in the province of Hoa Binh.

Afternoon: a 2.5-hour easy hike allowing you to explore the surrounding villages, rice paddies and gardens. A bicycle trek is also available upon request. This is the best time for you to experience the local life, their agriculture and beautiful handicrafts.

Evening: A unique opportunity to participate in their traditional dance show Ruou Can, a local wine.

 DAY 06: MAI CHAU– HA NOI

DAY 07: HALONG BAY 

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Visit to the UNESCO World Heritage, Halong Bay. Immerse yourself in the tranquility of the natural seascape surrounded by over 3,000 islands. Arrival at the Cua Van floating fishing village. An in-depth exploration of the floating fishing village as well as the Tien Ong cave. A guided bamboo boat tour of this secluded region and up-close and personal encounters with the villagers.

 DAY 08: HALONG BAY – HANOI- HUE 

Early-bird on-site Tai Chi session. The perfect art form to condition and charge your physical and mental energy for the day. The boat continues to sail to Titop Island. Enjoy a rejuvenating swim on this high-rock formation sandy beach. For the trailing enthusiasts, partake in an uphill climb to the top of Titop Island. Enjoy the breathtaking panoramic seascapes over Halong Bay.

Flight to Hue. Check in your hotel and enjoy the Royal banquet for dinner.

 DAY 09: HUE VISITING 

Visit to the Imperial Citadel and Forbidden City. This site was constructed between 1804 to 1833 it served as the administrative Centre of the country from 1802 to 1884. In the afternoon, you will enjoy a visit to two other vital historic sites: Float along the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda, and Khai Dinh’s Tomb (the tomb of a former emperor that melds into the natural landscape)

 DAY 10: DA NANG – HOI AN 

After breakfast, we drive to Hoi An.  Stop on the way at Hai Van Pass to have an impressive panorama view. Spend a day on the beautiful Ba Na Hills an imperial French colony since 1919.  Enjoy a memorable cable car ride to the summit of the mountain. Have a traditional lunch after your visit to the Tinh Tam Garden.

In the afternoon: An easy walking tour in the Old Quarter: stopping by sites such as an ancient merchant house, the Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, and the pulsating riverside market. Return to your hotel for refreshment before dinner.

 DAY 11: HOI AN COOKING CLASS & Fisherman eco-tour 

In the morning: Cooking class initiation by a visit to Hoi An’s colourful market. An excellent opportunity to interact with the locals. Red Bridge boat cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoi An River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. Exploration of the cooking school’s herb garden, before lesson on some of Hoi An’s and Vietnam’s well-known dishes.

The class is prefaced by a chefs’ demonstration of the dishes before the cooking class. A brief introduction to Vietnamese plate decoration is also included with a collective degustation of the delights you have prepared.

Today you embark on a family run “fisherman eco-tour”. This includes a brief foray into Hoian’s surrounding farmland and an attempt at their local fishing on their basket boats.

 DAY 12: HOI AN -MY SON & BEACH 

After the breakfast, you will have 1,5-hour drive to My Son Land. You will start the visit of this ancient relics. Photo opportunities abound. We arrive to the haunting sound of Cham music and stop to take in the vibrantly dressed dancers enjoying a traditional dance performance.

Then, the walking tour begins with a short ascent up to the Cham ruins. Walking along a track bordered by jungle. As you reach the top, the fascinating ruins appear. While you explore the area and your guide will explain the history of the religious site which served as a burial place for the Cham monarchs many centuries ago. After lunch, enjoy and relax at the My Khe beach.                                                                                        

 DAY 13: HO CHI MINH CITY & CITY TOUR 

Flight to Ho Chi Minh City after your breakfast. After lunch, explore a guided tour of Saigon, a city that never sleeps! Enjoy the juxtaposition of the lively populated city with its modern energy and its rich heritage. The tour includes visits to the Central Post Office and the Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral. The tour also includes the moving War Remnants Museum. A brief visit to the Reunification Palace. This site was the residence of the President of the Republic of Vietnam.  This is the historical landmark that officially ended the war on April 30^th, 1975.

End the day with a short walk through Ben Thanh market, a good place for you to observe the daily trading activities of the typical Saigonees.

 DAY 14: HO CHI MINH – CU CHI TUNNELS – TAY NINH         

The Cu Chi Tunnels are an underground labyrinth of passageways, used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War as protection against American air raids. Those inclined are invited to crawl through selections of the tunnels to better understand what life was like for the Vietnamese soldiers during wartime.  

Next you will visit the beautiful Cao Dai Temple in Tay Ninh, this large and colorful compound is home to the hybrid religion founded in the 1920s: Caodaism, which combines elements of Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam in order to promote peace. Have lunch in Tay Ninh and return to Saigon in the late afternoon.

 DAY 15: SAIGON – BEN TRE – CAN THO

Departure by private vehicle to the "rice basket" of Vietnam - the Mekong Delta. Mekong River starts as ice melt in the Tibetan Himalayas then flows down across the plains of southern China, tickles Burma and forms part of the border between Laos and Thailand.  Partake in a full day of discovery as you explore the villages, farms, and intricate waterways that form the delta. The venture includes a drive to Ben Tre, which is led to by endless green/yellow rice paddy fields.

On arrival, you will embark on a motorized boat trip around the scenic Ben Tre River. The boat ride will be punctuated by visits to the local industry workshops. In the afternoon you will arrive at your final destination for day: Can Tho City.

 DAY 16: CAN THO – HO CHI MINH 

This day, we take a boat trip and exploring the vibrant floating market of Cai Rang, where the trading way is unique; each boat usually sells one particular item, such as pumpkins, pineapples, sugar canes...

After an impressive boat trip, disembark at Ninh Kieu quay then visit an ancient house in Binh Thuy 10 km from Can Tho city. Lunch at local restaurant.

Arrival in Saigon and free leisure time.

 DAY 17: HO CHI MINH – DEPARTURE (B)

Bid Vietnam farewell, and transfer to the airport for your return flight home

 Tour price includes:

 International flights to Vietnam

 All private transfer(s) and transportation

 Accommodation in double occupancy rooms as hotel list with daily breakfasts

 Experienced French speaking guide (except on free time)

 38 meals as stated in the itinerary (B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner), excluding drinks

 All sightseeing tickets and permits

 Boat trip in Ha Long Bay, Hue and Mekong Delta

 Domestic flights: Hanoi - Hue, Da Nang – Ho Chi Minh (Economy Class)

 Water on car.

 Services charges and government tax.

 tips and gratuities

 24/7 hotline support guaranteed

 Tour price excludes:

  Other meals and drinks

 Travel insurance

 Personal expenses, tips and gratuities

 Vietnam visa

 FICAV fee 1 $ per 1000$

 Others not mentioned above