Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi. Pickup at airport & transfer to hotel. 

Upon your arrival at Noibai airport in Hanoi, you will be greeted by Lotussia Travel guide, driver and then escorted to your hotel in town.

Check-in hotel(*) and stay free at leisure.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Full day city tour. Overnight train to Laocai (B).

Enjoy a full day tour of Vietnam's capital, Hanoi. Hanoi is a unique city with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and oriental temples. The city tour includes such sights as the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature – The first National University of Vietnam.

In the afternoon, continue our tour visiting the Ethnology museum where you can find the biggest object collection of 54 Vietnamese ethnic groups.

In the evening, transfer to Hanoi Railway Station for overnight train to Laocai. Train???. Departure at??? (To be advised).

Overnight on board train.

Day 3: Arrive Laocai. Visit local hill tribe market. Travel to Sapa (B,L).

Arrive Laocai Railway Station early this morning. You will be greeted by Lotussia local team and transferred to a local restaurant in town for breakfast.

Travel to Muong Khuong district enjoying beautiful scenery along the road. Upon arriving in Muong Khuong, we will take another road which goes up in mountains. Pine trees forests and villages surround the tinny market. Flower Hmong, Tu Di, Tay and Giay ethnic minorities come to buy and sell local products
such as food and material for agriculture and fabric. After exploring the market, we will have a short walk to a Black Dao village. Then head back to Muong Khuong where your lunch will be provided in a local restaurant.

After lunch, travel to Sapa where you will spend the night.

Day 4: Full day trekking. Overnight in Sapa (B,L).

Travel to Sin Chai village. This is a beautiful village, located right at the foot of Hoang Lien mountain range and inhabited by the Black Hmong minority. There we start our trekking journey uphill. Once we reach to the top, you will take a small trail descending to Catcat village.

Your lunch will be provided near a waterfall.

In the afternoon, we will take another trail sneaking through mountain. The scenery is also spectacular. Take a short break upon arriving Y Linh Ho village before climbing up to the main road where our vehicle will be waiting for us for the journey back to Sapa.

Day 5: Half day trekking. Travel to Laocai. Overnight train back to Hanoi (B).

The morning will be free at leisure.

In the afternoon, start a short walk downhill through beautiful orchids gardens and pine forests. You will then reach a small village of Suoi Ho is inhabited by Hmong ethnic minority. Their house normally built of land has no windows because of the cold in the winter. You will then continue your walk through rice paddy fields and spectacular scenery to Ma tra. It is possible to stop by a primary school for a quick visit.

Then get on our vehicle again and travel to Laocai for overnight train back to Hanoi.

Overnight on board train.

Day 6: Arrive Hanoi. Travel to Halong bay. Cruise, kayaking. Overnight on board junk (B,L,D).

Arrive in Hanoi early this morning. You will be greeted by Lotussia Travel team again and transferred to a local restaurant in town for early breakfast and quick shower.

Enjoy the journey through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta and the scenery of rice fields, water buffalo and everyday Vietnamese village life. Arrive in Halong and board the Bai Tho traditional sailing junk (or similar junk). Whilst cruising the exquisite waters sample the regions fresh seafood. Visit the recently discovered Surprise Grotto with its great views, and on the next island see the yawning mouth of Bo Nau Cave. Alternatively journey to Dau Go Cave and nearby see the famous stalagmites and stalactites of Thien Cung Cave. Enjoy a swim in the emerald waters of Halong Bay or have one-hour kayaking trip through strange shaped rock formations.

Watch the sun set over the bay whilst enjoying a delicious dinner.

Overnight on board junk.

Day 7: Halong bay – Hanoi (B).

Wake up to fresh coffee and a wholesome breakfast before cruising back to Halong City. Disembark at the dock at Halong City at 11:00 and travel back to Hanoi.

Enjoy one-hour massage package in one of most finest spa salon in town - A full body massage both invigorating and relaxing. This massage helps to reduce tension, soothe sore muscles and increase circulation.

Overnight in Ha Noi.

Day 8: Fly to Ho Chi Minh city. Half day city tour (B).

Transfer to Noibai airport for a short flight to Ho Chi Minh city, still called “Saigon”. Flight ??? Departure at??? (To be advised).

Welcome at Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh city by Lotussia Travel local team and then escorted to your hotel in town.

In the afternoon, start the half day city tour tour with Ho Chi Minh City major highlights such as the Post Office, cathedral, Reunification palace, centre town, then continue towards Cholon, visit Thien Hau temple and Binh Tay market.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

Day 9: Biking Ho Chi Minh city - Can Tho, Mekong Delta (B,L).

Transfer (approx 2 hrs) to My Tho to avoid the teeming traffic. My Tho is the gateway to the Mekong Delta and a wonderful place to start our ride. In My Tho, unload the bikes and start to pedal on the beautiful and quiet country lanes along the Tien River to Cai Be. Along the way, pass through the heart of rural Mekong along narrow lanes, passing banana plantations, sugarcane fields and the lush rural landscape of the Delta.

After Cai Be, cross on Dinh Khao ferry to Cho Lach. After the ferry, cycle for a couple of kilometres and then shuttle the rest way to Can Tho.

Overnight in Can Tho.

Day 10: Biking & travel back to Ho Chi Minh city (B,L).

After enjoying an early morning breakfast visit the Cai Rang floating market, weave through teeming early morning market bustle along the banks of an active riverfront. Ride on a narrow paved road to Phong Dien floating market. Absorb the sights of endless cottage industries, timber merchants, coconut shredders, small docks loading/unloading rice, tiny vibrant markets. Continue by bike on the narrow lane to explore the hidden backwaters of the Mekong Delta.

Lunch in a local restaurant in town.

In the afternoon return to Saigon.

Day 11: Travel to Mui Ne, Phan Thiet. Beach resort (B).

Travel to Phan Thiet (Muine). The scenic 200km drive north on Highway One passes through the bustling city of Bien Hoa before cutting through dense rubber plantations.

Arrive in Muine and check into resort. Overnight in Muine.

Day 12: Mui Ne beach resort (B).

Full day free at leisure to enjoy the prime beach of Muine or just relax on the hotel/resort poolside. Optional golf course or beach activities can be arranged on the spot with hotel/resort. Please check with your hotel/resort staff for more information.

Overnight in Muine.

Day 13: Return Ho Chi Minh city (B).

Free at leisure until transfer back to Ho Chi Minh.

Notes: If your flight on Mar 14, 2010 will be in the afternoon/evening, we suggest you spend one more night in Mui Ne extending the beach vacations.

Day 14: Departure (B).

Breakfast at hotel. Free time till transfer to the airport for your onward flight back home. End tour.

Need further information? Contact us

Lotussia Travel is specialized in value-for-money private customized tours since we understand that every travel experience should be as unique and individual as each traveler.  This tour itinerary is only one sample we try to customize for your information.

This tour departure can be flexible; the tour details can be further customized and adjusted subject to weather conditions and other circumstances. Our travel experts are waiting to hear from you so that we can custom design a Vietnam tour to your individual specifications.

The tour rates change depending on the number/quality of the services that are added on the tour. Most of our first proposal has been designed based on the medium services such as three-star hotels, middle-range restaurants, eco class air tickets, standard train, standard cruises…Please read throughout our proposal and let us know if our proposed itinerary and services respond to your needs.

Here are some sample services we may include by default on this tour:

• Private A/C vehicle with driver for transfers and support.
• Return train tickets Hanoi – Laocai – Hanoi.
• English-Speaking local tour guide.
• Accommodation.
• Hotel day use in Hanoi and Laocai before the train trip.
• Sharing boat trip in Halong bay (private cabin).
• Kayak.
• Local bike hire, spares and helmet for biking days.
• Meals.
• Sightseeing entrance fees and permits where necessary.
• Private boat trip in Can Tho.
• Bottled drinking water.
• Healthy snaks and seasonal fruits for trekking and biking days.

Discounts:

We are offering returning customers a huge discount on any packaged tour they book with us (except air and train tickets reservations). We offer this discount as a simple way to thank them for using our service. Recommend our agency to your friends, colleagues, and they will have the opportunity to save.

As a valued Lotussia Travel Customer, you are entitled to the following discount related to our products:

• One-day, overnight and three-day packaged tours: 3%
• Five-day and longer tours: 5%
• Train or air tickets reservations: no service fee.

Simply email your travel consultant about the tour that you want to book along with your contact information, our travel consultant will make sure that you'll be given discounts on your next bookings.

Promotions:

We sometimes launch special deals, offers, and travel promotions through our monthly newsletter or press releases. Here are some occasions there may be special offers and promotions:

• Low travel seasons (June – September)
• Launch of new tour.

We also keep our Club Members updated about our monthly tour promotions and hotel promotions. So please do not forget to join Lotussia Travel Club.