Excellent service”

5 of 5 stars Reviewed 30 April 2015

 

VivuTravel organised a 3 1/2 week trip to Vietnam for my partner and I including 4 days cycling in the Mekong, trekking from Sapa, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, HCMC and Hanoi - it was customised perfectly for us and while we were developing our itinerary with them Vivutravel was professional and prompt at all times.

All of our arrangements worked perfectly - every pick up and transfer was hassle free. The hotels were good (we were mainly in 2 -3 *), so we weren't expecting the Hilton, generally well located and with good staff. The added activities and day tours were all excellent.

We had excellent guides, particularly for the cycling in the Mekong Delta which I cannot recommend highly enough - it was the highlight of our trip. If you're going cycling, ask for Loc as your guide!

We weren't entirely happy with our cruise on Halong Bay on the Paloma as it didn't follow the route that was advised so we didn't get as far into the bay as we should have done. Hardest beds in the world as well! That was really our only disappointment.

If you are trekking from Sapa be aware that all the treks go to the same places, so there are a lot more people on the route that what you might expect and the homestays can have quite a few people in them.

I would highly recommend using VivuTravel.

 

Visited April 2015
By Kerry L for Hanoi at: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g293924-d2178753-Reviews-VivuTravel_Day_Tours-Hanoi.html

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TOUR NAME: VIETNAM TOUR FOR KERRY AND PHIL 25 DAYS FROM HO CHI MINH
DESTINATION: HO CHI MINH – CU CHI – TRA VINH – SOC TRANG – CAN THO –HA NOI – SAPA – HA LONG – HUE – HOI AN – HO CHI MINH

CLIENT’S NAME: MS KERRY LEWIS AND MR PHILIP QUINN (02 PERSONS)
ACCOMMODATION IN MIXING 2 - 3 STARS

 

DETAIL ITINERARY:

 

Day 1: 26 Mar  Ho Chi Minh arrival
Meals: None
+ Guide, private car

Vietnam tops list of the most attractive destinations and tours of Vietnam are diversified. Moreover, your travel in Vietnam organised by Vivutravel, will definitely be the best holiday ever.
Arrive at Tan Son Nhat airport, welcome by our private Vietnam tour guide and driver and transfer to you hotel for check in.Free time at leisure.  Overnight in a Ho Chi Minh hotel

Accommodation: Hoang Hai Long South / Premium Deluxe

Day 2: 27 Mar Ho Chi Minh city tour
Meals: B
+ Guide, private car

Our tour guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel in Saigon at 08:00 for departure. We will drive to visit Re-unification palace, the former head quarters of anti-communism in the south during Vietnam War.
We take a short walk to visit the Vietnam War Remnant museum, full of relics from Vietnam war which is scary but really worth to visit. We continue to visit XQ hand embroidery pictures contributed a new color for Vietnam hand embroidery, It contributed to make a typical culture, a precious gift for Vietnamese people and meaningful souvenir for international visitors on their occasion to Vietnam. Embroidery picture of Vietnam are also taken oversea in order to introduce the beauty of Vietnamese traditional culture. Since that, embroidery becomes special art which contribute to enrich international cultural treasure.  The last stop at Minh Long Porcelain products. Have lunch at a local restaurant and then visit Emperor Jade Pagoda.
After lunch, we will visit China Town which has a population of over 1 million Chinese people. The highlight of China Town is the Binh Tay market where you can see busy merchants from every corner of this part of the city. Visit Thien Hau Pagoda and a handicraft factory or Saigon River before driving back to your hotel. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

Accommodation: Hoang Hai Long South / Premium Deluxe

Day 3: 28  Mar Ho Chi Minh - Cu Chi tunnels
Meals: B
+Guide, private car

Almost everyone when traveling to Vietnam, has special interest in Cu Chi tunnels. This is the living place to learn about Vietnam and the Vietnam war. Morning pick up from the hotel for Cu Chi Tunnels tour. Upon arrival in Cu Chi, we visit the incredible underground tunnel network of approximately 200 kilometers hand-constructed by Vietnamese guerillas during the long struggle for independence where you will understand more aboutthe Vietnam War or American War, a must see Vietnam Tour for any tourists to learn about Vietnam past and present days.      Afternoon drive back to Ho Chi Minh. Overnight in a Ho Chi Minh hotel.

Accommodation: Hoang Hai Long South / Premium Deluxe

Day 4: 29 Mar  Saigon - Ben Tre - Tra Vinh (25 - 35 km)
Meals: B, L
+ Guide, Bike, private car

You will have 2 hours transfer from Saigon city to rural village of Ben Tre where you start your first day of biking on country roads to though Mo Cai. Stop for lunch at local area. In the afternoon, you continue exploring rural villages on back roads through green gardens, lush orchards...until you have ferry crossing in countryside famous for its coconut and varied products made of coconut trees and fruits. Keep on biking to another province of Mekong Delta- Tra Vinh. Staying a quiet night there.

Accommodation: Cuu Long hotel / First class

Day 5: 30 Mar Tra Vinh - Soc Trang (30 - 65 km)
Meals: B, L, D
+ Guide, Bike, private car

Our bike guides will tailor-make bike routes which you will be the first cyclists to cycle on. Explore hamlets on paths and meet extremely friendly farmers on your ways crossing rice paddy. Stopping at some old Khmer Temples and continue biking on back roads into villages with amazing landscape and learning Khmer cultures in countryside. Explore Soc Trang by night!

Accommodation: Tin Hoa 2 hotel / Double room

Day 6: 31 Mar Soc Trang - Phung Hiep - Can Tho (30 - 70 km)
Meals: B, L
+ Guide, Bike, private car

Have a breakfast at hotel and check out, visit some highlights in town including; Khmer museum,, Bat pagoda before A/C minivan taking you to starting point for a morning bike ride to Phung Hiep town. After your lunch in small town, you will continue your cycle ride to Can Tho city with 2 options: a long distance biking is 25 km and a short ride is about 13 km.

Accommodation: Kim Tho / Superior

Day 7: 1 April CanTho – Saigon (25 - 40 km) flight to Hanoi VN 264 17:30    19:30
Meals: B, L
+ Guide, Bike, private car

The last day of cycling adventures is to see CaiRang floating market before an half day. Lunch will be served in town before a hour transfer back to Ho Chi Minh for left your bike and go ahead to Tan Son Nhat airport for flight to Hanoi

Accommodation: Medallion Hanoi / Superior

Day 8: 2 April Hanoi city tour
Meals: B
+ Guide, private car

Hanoi without a doubt is an exotic city for your Vietnam Tours. Today we enjoy a full day Hanoi city tour of this charming capital city including the mausoleum of the nation's founder Ho Chi Minh (close on Monday & Friday), the Presidential Palace, the Ho Chi Minh's house on stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, the impressive Ethnologic Museum, the beautiful West Lake, the Tran Vu Pagoda, the peaceful lake of the Restored Sword. We end Hanoi city tour with a fantastic traditional water puppet show then overnight in Hanoi.

Accommodation: Medallion Hanoi / Superior

Day 9: 10: 3 – 4 April Hanoi free days
Meals: B

Free to relax or walking around Hanoi old quarter- the bustling old quarter streets named after the specific goods once offered for sale at these places for shopping, drinking famous Hanoi beer. Overnight in Hanoi

Accommodation: Medallion Hanoi / Superior

Day 11: 5 April Hanoi – night train to Sapa
Meals: B
+ Guide, taxi

Free time to discover more Hanoi city by your own until evening when our tour guide come to pick you and transfer you to Hanoi train station for night train to Sapa. Overnight on train

Accommodation: Livitrans tourist train / Soft sleeper with A/ C wooden cabin (4 people sharing)

Day 12: 6 April Lao Cai – Sapa trekking
Meals: B, L,D
+Guide, private car

Arrive in the early morning in the border town of Lao Cai where it's a short transfer to Sapa. In the terraced hills and mountains of this area, the monotony of the expansive green landscape is enlivened by the colors of its hill tribe population. It is here you will find hands stained with color from fabric dyes and shades of blue, red and green intricately embroidered and stitched into jackets, waistcoats, pants, skirts, caps, purses and Sap Holiday leggings.    
After breakfast, we will do one of the most trekking tour by trekking to Y Linh Ho – Lao Chai and Ta Van village of the Black H'mong and the Day people where you can enjoy fresh air, amazing scenery of the imposing mountain range, trek down world's most beautiful terraced rice fields, visit some local family on the way and learn unique culture and life of these ethnic groups. The rest of the day, you are free at leisure, walk up the beautiful mountain or help your guide cook delicious dinner. Overnight in homestay in Ta Van village

Accommodation: Homestay

Day 13: 7 April Ta Van – Giang Ta Chai – Topas Ecolodge
Meals: B, L
+ Guide, private car

After your breakfast with pancake made by your host family, we continue our beautiful Sapa trekking tour to Giang Ta Chai village along the winding stream, among wonderful scenerries of rice terraced fields, bamboo forest... Upon arrival, take the rest at the summit of Giang Ta Chai waterfall before walking into the village for visit. After picnic lunch at a roadside famliy, then walk up the main road where your private car is waiting to take you Topas Ecolodge. Overnight in Topas.

Accommodation: Topas Ecolodge / Deluxe room

Day 14: 8 April Topas – Sapa –train to Hanoi
Meals: B
+ Guide, private car

Today you have a day free until check out time at 12h00 then our private tour guide and car transfer you back to Lao Cai train station for night train to Hanoi. Overnight on train.

Accommodation: Livitrans tourist train / Soft sleeper with A/ C wooden cabin (4 people sharing)

Day 15: 9 April  Hanoi - Halong
Meals: B,L, D
+ Guide, private car
Pick you up from Hanoi train station to hotel for breakfast and taking shower
8.00: We start to Halong bay
12.30: Arrive at Paloma office, Halong City. Transferred by tender to Paloma Cruise – enjoy welcome drink. Receive cruise briefing, check in cabins and begin your cruise.
13.30: Having lunch – delicious Vietnamese set menu (Massage service is available after lunch and throughout the tour).
15:0: Head to Bai Tu Long Bay, admiring the fascinating rock formations in the bay. Visit the Vung Vieng fishing village by local rowing boat (01 hour) or Kayak into the village then return to the vessel for your leisure or join one of the following optional activities: Sunbathing, traditional massage, swimming etc.
18:00: Drop anchor in the calm water surrounded by islets near Hang Trong. Happy Hour (sunset party).
18:30: Vietnamese cooking demonstration on boat.
19.15: Sumptuous Set-dinner onboard.
21.00: Relaxing on your cabin or join the on board activities: film entertainment, light music for dancing in the dining room (please book in advance with your tour guide), board games and playing cards are available, and massage services are available. Passengers may also try their luck at squid fishing from the boat.
 
Accommodation: Paloma cruise /Deluxe

Day 16: 10 April Halong – Lan Ha bay
Meals: B, L, D
+ Guide

06.15: Start your day with Tai Chi on the Sundeck while complimentary tea & coffee are served 07.00      Paloma weighs anchor to sail through the bay and pass by several beautiful places such as Trong (Drum) cave, Trinh Nu (Virgin) cave, Coc Ngoi (Toad) Islet, etc. Early breakfast in the dinning room.
08.30: Transfer to Smaller boat for Lan Ha Bay excursion.
09.30: Guided kayaking and swimming at Three Peaches beach, a pristine natural beach lapped by the turquoise water.
12.30: BBQ lunch is served on beach (depend on the weather or tide levels).
14.00: Continue to discovery Toi and Sang Cave (depend on the tide condition ), the most remote point in Lan Ha Bay and bordering the Gulf of Tonkin.Visit its quaint fishing village and lagoon. Possibility of kayaking through an amazing tunnel under a karst mountain (time permitting). 16.00       Return to Paloma Cruise for dinner and overnight.
17.00: The vessel cruises back to the bay for second overnight anchorage near Ho Dong Tien. Happy hour (Sunset party).
19.15: Sumptuous Seafood Set – dinner onboard.
21.00: Relaxing on your cabin or join the on board activities: film entertainment, light music for dancing in the dining room (please book in advance with your tour guide), board games and playing cards are available, and massage services are available. Passengers may also try their luck at squid fishing from the boat

Accommodation: Paloma cruise /Deluxe

Day 17: 11 April Halong – Hanoi – flight to Hue VN 1545 19:15    20:25
Meals: B, L
+ Guide, private car

06.15: Starting your day with Tai Chi on the Sundeck while complimentary tea & coffee are served. 07.00: Have breakfast
08.00: Explore the Surprise Cave (Sung Sot Cave).
08:15: Transfer by tender to the Surprise Cave. Walk up about 100 steps to the cave entrance and tour the cave for approximately 45 minutes. Walk down about 100 steps and return to the boat. 10.00      Upon return to the boat you will have 30 minutes to freshen up and finish packing. Please remove all of your belongings from the cabin, you may leave heavy luggage outside of the cabin (staff will transfer directly to the pier).
10:30: Enjoy Set Menu for lunch in the dining room. We will settle bills after lunch. Relax on the sundeck or in the dining room enjoying the bay scenery as we approach the pier.
11.45: Arrive at Hon Gai Harbor. Transfer by tender to the pier where our private car and tour guide transfer you back to Hanoi airport for flight to Hue. Upon arrival Hue, our local private to our guide and driver in Hue will welcome you to hotel for check in and overnight in Hue.

Accommodation: Romance Hue hotel / Superior

Day 18: 12 April Hue city tour
Meals: B
+ Guide, private car

Have breakfast at hotel then starts our Hue city tour with the visit to Imperial Citadel before taking the beautiful boat trip on the romantic Perfume River and visit Hue's best-known religious site-Thien Mu Pagoda and the Mausoleum of former emperor Minh Mang in a tranquil setting of gardens    
and lakes. Return to the hotel. Free at leisure. Overnight in Hue.

Accommodation: Romance Hue hotel / Superior

Day 19: 13 April Hue day free
Meals: B

Today you have a day free to discover Hue city by your own and overnight in Hue.

Accommodation: Romance Hue hotel / Superior

Day 20: 14 April Hue – drive to Hoian
Meals: B
+ Guide, private car

After breakfast, we drive to Hoi An,  a major Asian trading port in the 17th and 18th centuries whose architecture and relaxed lifestyle has changed little over the years and for sure, Hoi An is a wonderful destination for all kinds of Vietnam Tours. This scenic drive passes through the fishing village of Lang Co before climbing over the Pass of Ocean Clouds. Along the way, stop in Danang to visit the Cham Museum which contains the finest collection of Cham sculptures in the world. Upon arrival in Hoi An, free to take walking tour of the Hoi An ancient town centre. Overnight in a Hoi An hotel

Accommodation: Hoian Riverside Resort / Superior

Day 21: 15 April Hoian – Tra Que tour
Meals: B, L
+ Guide,
08:30 Local guide pick up guests and cycle to An Bang  village. (3 km from Hoi An) .
09’30  Here you will have a brief introduction to the history , daily life of fisherman here such at casting net , mending net..
11:00  Join in the fishing activities  at Co Co River such at casting net,, catch fish with fisher man here ( 02 people/01 small wooden boat + life vest )
12:00 Continue to Tra Que village by bicycle.
12:15  Gather at  Tra Que Vegetable village, there you can enjoy local welcome drink ( mixed of basil, honey, ginger...)
12:30 Local farmer take you around the garden with more than 20 kinds of herbs- most of them have various special smell. Once there, you can get to know each of herds as well as its usefulness for disease treatment.
Experience once day living and working with the local people at Tra Que vegetable village where you can have a chance to discover the daily life of farmers.
13:30 Take a short rest and enjoy foot soaking with lacal herb before getting to enjoy the cooking show with “ Tam Huu “ spring roll, Banh Xeo and luch with Vietnamese local food.

Accommodation: Hoian Riverside Resort / Superior

Day 22, 23: 16 - 17 April Hoian days free
Meals: B

Days free to cycle through rice paddies in the countryside of Hoi An ancient town, shop for souvenirs among the antique shops and art galleries, or just sit at sidewalk cafes and soak up the atmosphere of this quaint town. Overnight in a Hoi An hotel.

Accommodation: Hoian Riverside Resort / Superior

Day 24: 18 April Hoian – Danang – flight to Ho Chi Minh VN 117 14:20    15:35    
Meals: B
+ Guide, private car

Free time to relax until our tout guide and driver come to transfer you to Danang for your flight to Ho Chi Minh. Pick up again in Ho Chi Minh for check in and overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

Accommodation: Hoang Hai Long South / Premium Deluxe

Day 25: 19 April Ho Chi Minh Departure
Meals: B
+ Guide, private car

Free at leisure until our Vietnam tour guide see you off Ho Chi Minh airport with the sincere thanks for traveling with Vivutravel. We goodbye and see you again!!!

Accommodation: Hoang Hai Long / Late check out at 18h00

 

END OF SERVICES! 

 

Inclusion:
•    03 domestic flights: Ho Chi Minh – Hanoi, Hanoi – Hue, Danang – Ho Chi Minh (Economy class)
•    Return train tickets Hanoi – Lao Cai - Hanoi
•    All transfers and transportation in private air-conditioned vehicle with driver
•    Hotel accommodation in twin / double share room
•    2 nights on board in Ha Long
•    Meals as indicated in the itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
•    English speaking guide (except free days)
•    Entrance fees to indicated sights
•    Water puppet show,
•    Bottled mineral water during touring days
•    Visa approval letter on arrival Vietnam

 

Exclusion:
•    International FLIGHTS in/ out Vietnam
•    Stamp fee at the airport of Vietnam = USD 45 per person
•    Late check out and early check in if not mentioned
•    Drinks
•    Other meals
•    Insurance
•    Personal expenses
•    Expenses for any optional tours or activities during free time
•    Others not mention in the itinerary