Loved our Vietnam and Cambodia holiday
“Best Organised Tour Ever!”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 14 November 2015 NEW
Four of us (2 couples) outlined a three week tour of Vietnam plus the temples around Siem Reap in Cambodia in an email to Ngoc of ViVuTravel. After a few exchanges of emails our final schedule included what we had proposed, fine-tuned by improvements suggested by Ngoc. The tour only involved the four of us, plus guides and drivers, and was inclusive from arrival until we flew out, apart from evening meals and a few lunches.
At various times we were delivered to, or collected from, five airports and two railway stations; registered in eight hotels and a junk; picked up each day, shown around locations, fed, and returned to our accommodation; as well as being guided through everything else associated with a tour which required different guides, drivers, and bookings in various locations.
ViVuTravel arranged so many different things for us to experience in various places. We kayaked, cycled, had a meal in a family home, rode on the back of scooters, visited coffee plantations and other farms, paddled in round basket boats, handled a boa constrictor, and did all the other touristy things. Sometimes other companies, like Indochina Junks with their fantastic crew, and Jack Tran Eco Tours with wonderful guide Lily, were used. They were all obviously vetted by ViVutravel, and were excellent.
Everything associated with our trip occurred exactly as planned. The guides and drivers were always on time, with vans which were all modern and very clean, and any arrangements had always been completed well before we arrived. Hotel rooms were ready for us, and exceeded the 3-4 star standard we had requested. The guides, Tiep in Hanoi and Halong Bay, Tuan in Sapa, Luat in Hue and Hoi An, Thach in Dalat, Do in Ho Chi Minh City and The Mekong Delta, and Sarat in Siem Reap, were all magnificent, ever helpful, knowledgeable, friendly and very proud of their country.
All four of us completely loved our Vietnam and Cambodia holiday, and so much of our enjoyment was due to ViVuTravel, both for the planning, execution, and the personnel they used. The service they gave us was faultless, and we completely recommend the company.
Gwennyth visited October 2015
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g293924-d2178753-r326633427-VivuTravel_Day_Tours-Hanoi.html#
TOUR NAME: VIETNAM & CAMBODIA HOLIDAY 21 DAYS FROM HANOI
DESTINATIONS: HANOI – HALONG – SAPA – NINH BINH - HUE – HOIAN – DALAT – HO CHI MINH - MEKONG DELTA – SIEM REAP
ITINERARY
Please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for a smilar tour or a new itinerary and quotation!
Day 1:29 Sep Hanoi arrival
Meals: None
+ Guide
Vietnam tops list of the most attractive destinations and tours of Vietnam are diversified. Moreover, your travel in Vietnam organized by Vivutravel, will definitely be the best holiday ever. Upon arrival, our private Vietnam Tours guide and driver will welcome your Vietnam Holiday, pick up and transfer to the hotel for check in. Hanoi, a city where the exotic chic of old Asia blends with the dynamic face of new Asia. Where the medieval and modern co-exist. A city with a blend of Parisian grace and Asian pace, an architectural museum piece evolving
in harmony with its history, rather than bulldozing through like many of the region’s capitals. Hanoi is where imagination becomes reality. Free at leisure and overnight in Hanoi.
Note: Pick up Mr Nelson (02 persons) at VN593 – 15:30
Accommodation: Medallion hotel / Superior
Day 2: 30 Sep Hanoi city tour
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
+ Guide
Today, we enjoy a full day 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 (or Museum of Fine Arts, Army Museum, History Museum, Woman Museum, Hoa Lo Prison), the beautiful West Lake, the Tran Vu Pagoda, the peaceful lake of the Restored Sword.
Afternoon, we take a cyclo tour for a short excursion through the
bustling old quarter streets named after the specific goods once offered for sale at these places before we enjoy a fantastic traditional water puppet show. Overnight in Hanoi
Accommodation: Medallion hotel / Superior
Day 3: 1 Oct Hanoi – Bai Tu Long
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
+Guide
08.00 : Pick up at your hotel in Ha Noi by private tour guide and van
12.00 – 12.30 : Embark at Hon Gai International harbor.
12.30 – 13.00 : Check-in, enjoy welcome drink & cruise briefing.
13.30 – 15.00 : Have lunch while cruising to magnificent BaiTu Long Bay; admire the fascinating formations on the way.
15.15 – 15.40 : Explore the well- hidden ThienCanh Son Cave.
15.45 – 18:00 : Enjoy relaxing on a white sandy beach at Hon CoIsland, swimming or kayaking.
18:00 – 19.00 : Back to junk for refreshing before having dinner on board.
20.00 – 21.00 : Relax, enjoy fresh air & overnight on board.
Accommodation: Prince Junk / Private charter 2 cabins junk
Day 4: 2 Oct Halong – Hanoi – night train to Sapa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
+ Guide
07.30 – 08.00 : Morning view of Bay’s landscape with a cup of tea or coffee. Have breakfast in the fresh air.
08.30 – 09.30 : Visit VungVieng fishing village by a rustic row-boat, meet the local peopleand pass through the floating school and fish farms.
10.00 : Check out of the cabin. Start cruising towards the harbor while an A la carte lunch is served.
11.45 – 12.00 : Disembark. Drive back to Hanoi to get night train to Lao Cai ( Sapa)
Accommodation: Livitrans Express / Soft sleeper wooden cabin with A/C ( 4 people sharing
Day 5: 3 Oct Lao Cai –Sapa tour
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
+Guide
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 do one of the most beautiful destinations in Sapa by trekking to Lao Chai, Ta Van villages. The home of Black H’mong and Zay minorities by trekking down to the valley by the small trails through the terrace rice fields to get to Y Linh Ho hamlet, a small village of the Black Hmong people. It is time for you to visit the local families, listen to your guide's explanation about the local culture: how they live, way of building the traditional house, techniques of making clothes...
Get back to Sapa by private car and overnight in Sapa.
Accommodation: Hmong Hotel / Deluxe
Day 6: 4 Oct Sapa – Bac Ha Colorful Market– train to Hanoi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
+ Guide
The markets in the Northern Vietnam are always the colorful meeting places for the hill tribes, spotlight for any Sapa Tours and of course, your unique Vietnam Tours experience. In the morning, drive to visit Bac Ha colorful market on Sunday only where many ethnic minorities such as Flower H'mong, Phu La, Black Dao, Tay and Nung minorities gather to buy and sell local products that cannot be found elsewhere. The maket is also a meeting place for men to drink away troubles, women to talk, the young to find lover. After lunch, if you wish, we take a walking visit to visit Ban Pho village of the Flower H'Mong and
Nung minority, see their dailiy life and learn about their customs and habits...Drive back to Lao Cai with a stop at Trung Do village of the Tay minoriry, explore the village before taking the photo and get a boat trip on Chay River to Bao Nhai where your car is waiting to pick you up. Arrival at t Lao Cai border gate, take a short break to visit Thuong Temple or take some memorial photos.
Back to Lao Cai to catch the night train back to Hanoi. Overnight on the train.
Accommodation: Livitrans / Soft sleeper wooden cabin with A/ C (4 people sharing)
Day 7: 5 Oct Hanoi – Ninh Binh – flight to Hue VN 1545 19:05 20:15
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
+ Guide
This morning we will pick you from Hanoi train station and go ahead to Ninh Binh ( Around 2 hours driving) to visit the site of Vietnam's first capital, Hoa Lu. Visit to the temples dedicated to Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang of the Dinh Dynasty (968-80), and Emperor Le Dai Hanh of the Le Dynasty (980-1009). The ancient Hoa Lu Citadel (most of which has since been destroyed) once covered an area of three square kilometers.
Continue to Tam Coc through stunning limestone karst valleys surrounded by picturesque fields and villages, along the way stop
where you wish to take photographs. On arrival in Tam Coc have a Vietnamese lunch. After lunch, board your private sampan for a leisurely 2.5-hour cruise. As the boat gently slices through the water, notice the enormous limestone karsts jutting out from the green rice fields. After the boat trip, take a leisure walk through rice fields to visit picturesque Thai Vi temple or drive to Bich Dong Pagoda on nearby Ngu Nhac Mountain, dating to 1428 and comprising three structures: Ha, Trung, and Thuong Pagodas, in ascending order before returning to Hanoi airport for late flight to Hue. Upon arrival Hue, our local tour guide in Hue will welcome and transfer you to hotel for check in. Overnight in Hue.
Accommodation: Romance Hue hotel / Deluxe mountain view
Day 8: 6 Oct Hue city tour
Meals: Breakfast
+ Guide
Hue is one of places, which has many cultural heritages. Up to now, there is no place like Hue remaining a lot of originally historical vestiges as in this ancient Capital City and favorite destination for all Vietnam Tours. After breakfast, our tour starts 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, Khai Dinh Tomb. And drive back to hotel for relax and overnight in Hue
Accommodation: Romance Hue hotel / Deluxe mountain view
Day 9: 7 Oct Hue drive to Hoian
Meals: Breakfast
+ Guide
After breakfast at hotel, we drive to Hoian. Stop on the way to visit Lang Co beach, Hai Van pass and Marble Mountain before arrive in Hoian ancient town with the visit to the former merchants' homes, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, Phuc Kien Pagoda and the colourful riverside market. Overnight in Hoi An.
Accommodation: Vinh Hung Emerald Resort / Deluxe Pool view
Day 10: 8 Oct Coconut Water Palm Paradise
Meals: Breakfast
+ Guide
Located on Hoi An River nearby the Cua Dai Sea in Hoi An town Viet Nam, 5 km away from the Hoi An old town and the distance of 2 km from Cua Dai Beach. The Coconut Palm Canal Paradise is such a fantastic place and peaceful for you to come explore and relax. During the war between Viet Nam and America before 1975, this was the place where the brave and clever Northern Army soldiers V.C. hid themselves famously in the very large Water Coconut Palm Canal to have fought against the American Southern troops.
Take un opportunity to explore The Coconut Palm Paradise with our very unique round boat or "Basket Boat" locally named “Thung Chai” to see charming beauty of The Water Coconut Palm Canal where there are many interesting stories to hear about the local people who involved during the war in the past. Catch the “ purple crabs ” by fishing rod is a great fun on your great day; taking so much fun adventure with basket boat lessons instructed by our professional fishermen and you will have a go at it will make you have a unique experience. Relaxing with a cold beers or drinks on boat inside the beautiful Water Coconut Palm Paradise Canal will be the very an unforgettable day that you have never experienced on your stay in Hoi An.
Accommodation: Vinh Hung Emerald Resort / Deluxe Pool view
Day 11: 9 Oct Hoi An free day
Meals: Breakfast
+ No Guide
Spend days leisurely cycling though the scenic countryside of Vietnam, far from the traffic the motor scooters, and the noises the city. You will cross the islands on the Song Thu river delta using local transportation, including ferries and floating bridges...
This tour will take you on a visit to artisans making bricks according to age-old. You will discover how wooden river boats are made and learn the secret of weaving the colorful straw Hoi An sleeping mats.
Overnight in Hoian
Accommodation: Vinh Hung Emerald Resort / Deluxe Pool view
Day 12: 10 Oct Hoian – Danang – flight to Dalat VN 1955 08:15 09:40
Meals: Breakfast
+ Guide
This morning, have breakfast at hotel then transfer you to airport for flight to Dalat. Pick up by private tour guide and driver in Dalat to hotel. Check in if the room is available. Free time to relax.
In the afternoon, the guide will take you to Lat Village which is the center of the Lat community located at the foot of Langbian mountain (15km North of Dalat). Strolling in the village for sightseeing plantations of strawberry, coffee, and vegetable are cultivated by Lach people hide behind traditional stilt houses with indigenous kids playing innocently.
Learning about Lat culture in Lat’s traditional house with their farming tools, musical instruments and belonging, taste “T,nom” – a special fermented rice wine of the Lat. Admiring the talent of Lat women in a weaving workshop creating subtle hand-woven brocade products, visit Traditional Architechture Church in order to understand their daily life.
You can take the Jeep car (excluded fee) up to Langbiang mountain – the roof of Dalat (1950m high) to enjoy fantastic views of Silver Stream, Golden Lake, forest and whole Dalat city.
Accommodation: Saigon Dalat hotel / Deluxe
Day 13: 11 Oct Dalat tour countryside tour
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
+ Guide
If you love the peaceful atmosphere of the nature and prefer the learning trip, this tour is designed just for you.
In the morning, you will enjoy fresh air on the way to Van Thanh Flower village to get closer to daily lives of local people. Many kinds of flowers are planted here to make our life more beautiful! We will continue to cross Ta Nung pass, enjoy the whole view of Nam Ban town and the mighty sight of huge jungle. Let’s stop to visit Highlands Coffee Plantation and Weasel Coffee Workshop (Kopi luwak or civet
coffee): tasting coffee (excluded fee) and learn about coffee making process. Then take a walk around K’Ho minority village. The most interesting thing of this tour is the Silk Factory: to watch the silkworm rearing and the process of silk making. Our tour guide will show you how silkworms grow and take a tour around the factory to see how the silk is made.
Have your lunch at local restaurant on the way (tour guide will recommend the prestigious restaurant if require)
In the afternoon, you will enjoy the imposing wild scene of Elephant Waterfall, the widest waterfall of Lam Dong province, impressive! roaring like thunder! Climbing up to the hill through the cement stairs, you will see a solemn pagoda – Linh An Pagoda with two august dragons flanking two sides. Then touching the huge Happy Buddha can bring you happiness and luck basing on the belief of local people. Have you ever try local rice wine? Let find out how they make it and taste a little bit at Workshop of Organic Rice Wine! Cricket Farm is the last place of countryside, tasting the fried crickets (included fee) and enjoy it! crunchy! On the way back to Dalat, you will visit Ancient Train Station of Indochina – Dalat Railway Station which is the oldest and the most beautiful railway station in Indochina, one of the precious heritages of Vietnam, a unique cog railway of Asia and second over the world after Switzeland.
Accommodation: Saigon Dalat hotel / Deluxe
Day 14: 12 Oct Dalat – flight to Ho Chi Minh – Cu Chi Tunnels VN 1381 08:35 09:20
Meals: Breakfast
+ Guide
Morning pick up from the hotel to Dalat airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh. Pick up and transfer you to Ho Chi Minh hotel for check in.
In the afternoon, we invite you to visit Cu Chi Tunnels. Upon arrival in Cu Chi, we visit the incredible underground tunnel network of approximately 200 kilometres hand-constructed by Vietnamese guerillas during the long struggle for independence where you will understand more about the Vietnam War, a must see Vietnam Tour for any tourists to learn about Vietnam past and present days. Driver back to Ho Chi Minh for overnight.
Accommodation: Sunland hotel / Deluxe river view
Day 15: 13 Oct Ho Chi Minh city tour
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
+ Guide
Start your day visiting two iconic architectural landmarks the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office built between 1877 and 1883 by renowned designer Gustav Eiffel. The cathedral still remains an active church with services each day and is favored backdrop for Vietnamese wedding photographs.
From the cathedral, take a short stroll along Dong Khoi Street to the Opera House. From a bomb shelter to housing the parliamentary Lower
House, the Opera House has had an interesting history. Restored in
1995 the Opera House has returned to its roots and is once again a theatre.
Next, visit the Reunification Palace, once a symbol of the South Vietnamese Government. It was here on 30 April 1975, that the war ended when a North Vietnamese Army tank crashed through its gates. See the war room, the banquet hall and the presidential office with the unusual gifts which have been received. In the afternoon continue on to the War Remnants Museum. Here, your guide will tell the story of the city’s darkest and most tragic hours during the Vietnam War. The museum contains displays of military aircraft, weaponry and many photographs – some that are quite graphic in nature.
Head to Cholon the city’s Chinatown and Thien Hau Pagoda which is dedicated to the Goddess of the Sea. With intricate friezes, carved tableaus and impressive incense coils make for some great photos. Then observe street life with a cyclo ride through the narrow streets to Binh Tay market that sells everything from hats to dried squid!
Accommodation: Sunland hotel / Deluxe river view
Day 16: 14 Oct Ho Chi Minh – Mekong Delta – Can Tho
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
+ Guide
6:00 AM: we will start our exploration of the Mekong Delta , a major rice producing area. This must be one of the most fascinating riverside deltas in the world. The Mekong splits into nine major arteries. A vast network of rivers and waterways with thousands of ships of all sizes plowing the waters gives the Mekong Delta a very special atmosphere and no double one of the most favorite destinations for Vietnam Tours.
On arrival, we will make a boat trip to the Cai Be floating Market, visit villages and meet the people of the Mekong Delta. Continue your boat trip
to An Binh Island for Lunch in a local family and take a rowing trip to small cannel before ahead to Can tho – the heart of Mekong Delta for check in and overnight in Can Tho.
Accommodation: Kim Tho Hotel / Superior
Day 17: 15 Oct Cai Rang floating village – Ho Chi Minh – flight to Siem Reap VN 813 16:30 17:30
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
+ Guide
In the morning, we make the boat cruise to see the Cai Rang floating market (the nicest one with heaps of rowing boats), truly spotlight of your Vietnam Tours where you will enjoy the beautiful scenery and see the daily activities of the locals who live along the Mekong canals and later, you will roam through the village to visit a rice Hoi An husking mill, a rice noodles making shop which are nice chances to discover the daily life of Vietnamese people in Mekong Delta. Drive back to Ho Chi Minh airport for flight to Siem Reap. Pick up and transfer you to Siem Reap for overnight.
Accommodation: Somadevi Angkor Hotel / Superior Room
Day 18: 16 Oct Siem Reap – Angkor Wat
Meals: Breakfast
+ Guide
This morning we will get up early morning to catch up Sunrise at Angkor Wat by car and then back to hotel for breakfast at hotel, after we will start our visit full day to Angkor Thom temples: Victory Gate, Bayon, Baphuon, Phimean Akas, Elephant Terrace, Leper King Terrace, Takeo and Ta Prohm.
Afternoon enjoy the spectacular architecture and sculpture of the World Heritage at Angkor Wat. View the sunset over the Angkor complex on the top of Phnom Bakheng & Overnight in Siem Reap.
Accommodation: Somadevi Angkor Hotel / Superior Room
Day 19: 17 Oct Siem Reap - Banteay Srei – Small circuit – Siem Reap
Meals: Breakfast
+ Guide
Today we will visit to Banteay Srei is considered to be the jewel of classical Khmer art. Then continue to visit small circuit: Banteay Kdei – Surrounded by four concentric walls Thommanon and Chaosay Tevorda temple. We continue to visit the fabulous Ta Prohm embraced by the roots of enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers. Prasat Kravan – With its unique brick sculptures. Srah Srang – The Royal Baths” was once used for ritual bathing. Overnight in Seim Reap.
Accommodation: Somadevi Angkor Hotel / Superior Room
Day 20: 18 Oct Siem Reap – Rolous Group
Meals: Breakfast
+Guide
Today we will explore the Rolous Group including Lolei, PreahKo & Bakong temple. That is an island temple consisting of four brick tower on adouble plate rite platform. Three temples Bakong, Lolei and PrahKo - located 11 Kilometers (6.8 miles) southeast of the Siem Reap Market, comprise the Rolous group of monuments, they are close together and extend over an area of three kilometers ( 1.9 miles ) east of the Great Lake. The Rolous group, dating from the late ninth century, is the earliest site of the 600 years Angkor Periodthat is open to visitors. The three temples belonging to this important group have similar characteristics of architecture, decoration, materials and construction methods, which combine to reveal the beginning of the Classic Period of Khmer art.
After lunch, we will visit Wat Thmey Killing Fields, Old Market and get back to hotel for overnight.
In the evening, our tour guide and driver will transfer Mr Nelson (02 persons) to the airport to catch the flight departing Siem Reap 18 Oct, on VN 816, departing at 22:20
NOTE: Check out time at hotel is 12:00, so you can keep your belonging to at Mr Kevin’s room from this morning.
Accommodation: Somadevi Angkor Hotel / Superior Room (01 room for Mr Kevin)
Day 21: 19 Oct Siem Reap departure
Meals: Breakfast
+ Guide
You will be set free to explore Siem Reap on the last day of the tour. Our tour guide will pick you up at hotel
and transfer you to Airport for departure. We hope that you have enjoyed your Vietnam - CambodiaTours with
us and look forward to organizing your coming Vietnam Tours. Vivutravel says goodbye and see you again!!!
END OF SERVICES!
SERVICES INCLUSIVE:
• Economy flight tickets: Hanoi – Hue, Danang – Dalat,Dalat – Ho Chi Minh, Ho Chi Minh – Siem Reap (Economy class)
• Return train ticket Hanoi – Lao Cai - Hanoi
• Private transportation as program
• Accommodation in twin / double shared room
• 1 night on board in Halong bay in charter private junk
• All entrance fees & boat trips to indicated sights
• English speaking guides (Except for free days)
• Meals as mentioned in the itinerary
• Visa on arrival to Vietnam (Except for $45 usd per person as stamping fee at the airport)
SERVICES EXCLUSIVE:
• Tip for tour guide and driver
• Visa to Cambodia ( $30 usd per person)
• Drinks
• Personal expenses
• Insurance
• Other not mentioned in the itinerary
