Compare Vietnam Highlands by Swain Destinations vs Vietnam Aqua Life In 12 Days by Realistic Asia

Day 1: USA to Hong Kong

Today you will begin your Swain Destinations customized itinerary. Please note, international air has not been included in this package price. 

Day 2: Welcome to Hong Kong

Accommodation: InterContinental Grand Stanford

You will be met by a representative holding a sign with the company logo at the waiting hall, which is after baggage claim and customs clearance. You will then be transferred to your hotel.

Hong Kong is a place of contrasts: geographically, socially and economically. Although many Asian cities claim to be where East meets West, the former British Crown Colony-whose largely Chinese population was ruled by Europeans for 156 years-is probably the closest the world comes to the genuine article.

Perched precariously on the edge of mainland China, Hong Kong has been battered by geopolitical forces for centuries. Thanks to its strategic deepwater harbor and proximity to Asia's most populous nation, the city profited as the capitalist gateway for the communist giant to the north. What was once a fishing village became one of the world's busiest international ports and business centers.

Scratch the cosmopolitan, high-tech surface, however, and you'll discover vestiges of ancient China lying just below the city's modern urban facade and, in some cases, right alongside it. Residents invariably live in two worlds: Skyscrapers and enormous shopping malls sit next to narrow alleys crowded with traditional vendors' stalls. Businesspeople use cell phones to consult fortune-tellers before making important decisions. Taoist priests exorcise evil spirits from buildings, even from the city's racecourses. In sleepy walled villages, farmers tend their crops in the same way they have for generations.

Day 3: Hong Kong Island Orientation

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: InterContinental Grand Stanford

Pick up from hotel to traverse the World-renowned Victoria Harbour via the Cross-Harbor Tunnel.  We then drive through Wanchai and take the Peak Tram to Victoria Peak, which operates on a double reversible funicular system with a maximum speed of 6 meters per second. Victoria Peak offers a breath-taking 360-degree view of the bustling harbor, Hong Kong Island and Kowloon as far as the eye can see.  From Victoria Peak, the tour continues to Aberdeen village via the scenic resort areas of Repulse Bay and Deep Water Bay. At Aberdeen board a sampan to see the fishing junks and the Jumbo floating restaurant moored there. The tour will continue to Stanley Markets where you will have free time to stroll around historic fishing lanes jam-packed with vendors selling Chinese artwork, silk collectibles and curios.

Day 4: Hong Kong to Hanoi

Accommodation: Nikko Hotel Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Vietnam. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your accommodation by private vehicle.

Hanoi has been forever changed by the introduction of literally millions of motorbikes, which dodge, weave and honk through the narrow streets of the Old Quarter and down the broad, old avenues of the Colonial District. The noise is omnipresent and the streets are packed with traffic, and the sidewalks are covered with parked vehicles and outdoor shops.

Hoan Kiem Lake is the heart of the city. Stroll along the pedestrian paths around its edge, then enjoy an espresso and pastry at the lakeside cafe. Cross red-painted Rising Sun Bridge to enjoy the relative quiet around Ngoc Son temple. Visit the Temple of Literature, the only remaining original building at 1,000-year-old Hanoi University.

Day 5: Hanoi City Tour

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Victoria Express

Hanoi, a capital city of Vietnam, is a very attractive city with French style buildings and less traffic than other cities in Asia. Visit to One Pillar Pagoda which was built by the Emperor Ly Thai Tong, who ruled from 1028 to 1054. Then proceed to Temple of Literature. Temple of Literature is a peaceful series of walled courtyards and graceful gateways, this monument is one of the best-preserved examples of traditional Vietnamese architecture. Next stop is Hoan Kiem Lake. Right in the heart of Hanoi, this lake contains an islet with the tiny Tortoise Pagoda, topped with a red star.

After that visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the final resting place of Ho Chi Minh is a glass sarcophagus set deep in the bowels of a monumental edifice that has become a site of pilgrimage. Following Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is Opera House, a magnificent 900-seat opera house built in 1911. End the tour in Hanoi at St. Joseph Cathedral and Bao Tang Lich which exhibits artifacts from Vietnam's turbulent history including some from prehistory, proto-Vietnamese civilizations, the Dong Son culture, the Oc Eo culture and the Khmer Kingdoms.

Board the Victoria Express to Sapa

The Victoria Express Train is a 10 hour trip from Hanoi to Lao Cai, accommodating 48 passengers with comfortable seating, a dining carriage and two luxurious sleeping carriages.

Watch the beautiful scenery in front of you, from the luxury of your seat, or take a nap in the comfort of our cozy sleeping carriage. If you prefer, you can indulge yourself in our dining carriage, 'Le Tokin', (operating Monday, Wednesday and Friday only) where you can savor the delights of traditional Vietnamese and Western cuisine. Our talented Chef Nguyen Tien Duc will be waiting for you with a selection of the best wines, adding a further exquisite touch to a memorable experience.

Day 6: Hanoi City to Sapa (Via Victoria Express)

Accommodation: Victoria Express

Transfer from Hanoi City to station for departure to Sapa.

The Victoria Express Train is a 10 hour trip from Hanoi to Lao Cai, accommodating 48 passengers with comfortable seating, a dining carriage and two luxurious sleeping carriages.

Watch the beautiful scenery in front of you, from the luxury of your seat, or take a nap in the comfort of our cozy sleeping carriage. If you prefer, you can indulge yourself in our dining carriage, 'Le Tokin', (operating Monday, Wednesday and Friday only) where you can savor the delights of traditional Vietnamese and Western cuisine. Our talented Chef Nguyen Tien Duc will be waiting for you with a selection of the best wines, adding a further exquisite touch to a memorable experience.

With its elegant carriages, the Victoria Express Train recalls a more romantic era. Passing through the exotic landscapes of North Vietnam, between the charming cities of Hanoi and Lao Cai (21 miles from Sapa), it offers every visitor a wonderful travelling experience.

Day 7: Trekking Lao Chai, Ta Van & Giang Ta Chai

Accommodation: Victoria Resort Sapa

Explore the stunning mountain scenery around Sapa, visiting local minority villages on the way. This day's trek is moderately easy, over level terrain.

You will commence your journey by driving south toward Muong Hoa valley to the village of Lao Chai. You will then start your walk by descending into the valley, which is the largest terraced rice paddy in the Sapa area. If you visit the valley sometime in between May and October, you will be able to observe and experience how the locals plant and harvest, one of the most important activities in their daily life. The walk takes you from Lao Chai village of the Black H'mong minority to Ta Van village of the Giay minority, and Giang Ta Chai, another minority village populated by Hmong and Dzay. After your trek, transfer by jeep back to Sapa.

Day 8: Bac Ha Market

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Victoria Express

Bac Ha is the largest and most colorful market in the area. Every Sunday morning, many different ethnic groups 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. In the afternoon, you will walk to the Tay minority village of Trung Do where you will get onboard a traditional boat and cruise along the Chay River.

Transfer Sapa to Lao Cai Station

Transfer by private vehicle to the railway station and board your train – the Victoria Express with overnight service from Lao Cai back to Hanoi. The train departs Lao Cai 9:00 pm and arrives Hanoi 5:30 am the following day.

Day 9: Hanoi to Hoi An

Accommodation: Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort & Spa

You will be met at the train station and transferred by private vehicle to the airport for the flight to Danang. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your accommodation in Hoi An.

Settled on the banks of the Thu Bon River, the charming and colorful market town of Hoi An was a major port in centuries past, with ships arriving from all over the world to obtain silk and other fabrics, sugar, tea and ceramics. ts traditional Vietnamese architecture has been preserved, and there are many historic temples and pagodas in the area.

Popular sights include the 18th-century Tan Ky House, an ornate merchant's house built in traditional Japanese-Vietnamese style; the Phuoc Kien (or Fujian) Assembly Hall, which once served Hoi An's Chinese community, lavishly decorated with murals and a replica of a Chinese ship; the Chaozhou Assembly Hall, noted for fine wood carvings; and the Japanese-style covered bridge, the town's most famous landmark.

Hundreds of shops in Hoi An sell handmade silk and cotton garments, and custom tailoring is fast, inexpensive and mostly of good quality. Hoi An is also known for its silk lanterns. (The flexible bamboo frames are designed to collapse, so they're easily transported home as a souvenir.) If you're in the old section of town after dusk, you'll see the streets beautifully lit with these lanterns. If you time your visit right, you may see the lantern festival-held in November on the eve of the full moon.

Day 10: Hoi An City Tour

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort & Spa

Hoi An is a picturesque riverside town south of Danang. Known as Faifo to early western traders, it was one of South East Asia's major international ports during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. This old town is best explored on foot or by cyclo. The walking tour of Hoi An will visit five following sites. Quan Cong Temple is a Chinese temple dedicated to Quan Cong, whose partially gilt statue is in the central altar at the back of the sanctuary. Phuoc Kien Pagoda is a Chinese pagoda built around 1690 and then restored and enlarged in 1900. It is typical of the Chinese 'clans' that were established in the Hoi An area.

Japanese Covered Bridge was built by the Japanese community of Hoi An to link them with the Chinese quarters across the stream. Tran Family Chapel is a house for worshipping ancestors was built about 200 years ago with donations from the family members. Sa Huynh Museum contains exhibitions from the earliest period of Hoi An's history. Phung Hung House is a combination of Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese style. Quang Dong Pagoda is a small Chinese style temple dedicated to Thien Hau with a lintel gate, a rockery courtyard and lucky animals depicted in statuary.

Day 11: My Son and Thu Bon River Tour

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort & Spa

Journey to My Son, the former religious center of the Champa Kingdom, a sophisticated civilization which held sway over the region from the 4th to the 13th centuries. Today, all that are left are five archaeological sites from different periods, in a beautifully green setting of hills and winding streams. After a brief visit to the Visitor's Center for an overview of Cham history and culture, visit each ruin in turn, walking along forested paths. On the way back to Hoi An, board a local boat and cruise down the Thu Bon River, enjoying the unspoiled countryside and stopping to visit a Pottery Village and a Wood Carving Village before drawing into Hoi An harbor.

Day 12: Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon

Transfer to the airport for your onward flight. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your accommodation by private vehicle.

Vietnamese seem to use the names Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City or simply HCMC interchangeably. But by any name, it's the economic center of the country. With a rapidly growing population, new hotels, chic bars and trendy clubs, Ho Chi Minh City is enjoying its current climate of prosperity and growth. The old landmarks including Notre Dame Cathedral,the Rex Hotel and the Hotel de Ville still remain. But new office towers, built by multinational corporations now setting up shop in Vietnam, are radically changing the skyline. Ho Chi Minh City's millions of motorbikes emit a constant roar and palpable exhaust, and the city's two- and three-hour traffic jams are legendary.

Amid all this, there are nearly 200 temples and pagodas in the city. The Emperor of Jade Pagoda is filled with gilded figures and papier-mâché statues of Buddhist and Taoist divinities. History buffs should stop by the Reunification Palace, where the South Vietnamese government officially turned over power to the North in 1975. It's a trip back in time; particularly the 'strategy rooms' in the basement and the upper floors filled with 1960s furnishings.

The most interesting markets are Cho Binh and Cho Ben Thanh. Shop in Dong Khoi Street for the city's highest-quality wares (antiques and other souvenirs). Cholon is the city's Chinatown and is worth a visit for the bustle, the temples and assembly halls. Ho Chi Minh City is 700 mi/1,120 km south of Hanoi.

Day 13: Saigon City Tour

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon

Saigon is the largest of Vietnamese cities, and one will see the hustle and bustle of Vietnamese life everywhere. There are street markets, pavement cafes and sleek new cafes and pubs. The city churns and bubbles. Yet within this teeming metropolis are 300 years of timeless traditions and the beauty of an ancient culture. The sightseeing starts with a visit to Notre Dame Cathedral.

Then head to City Hall located at the northern end of Nguyen Hue Boulevard and continue the tour to Opera House. Next stop is Jade Emperor Pagoda, a key meeting place for Chinese secret societies.

Following Jade Emperor Pagoda is Reunification Palace and War Remnants Museum. Reunification Palace was the Independence Palace of the South Vietnamese president and was stormed by tanks on April 30, 1975 signifying the fall of South Vietnam. It has been preserved in its original state.

War Remnants Museum houses collections of weapons and photographs from 2 Indochina wars are exhibited along with the original French 'Guillotine' brought here in the early 20th century. See the oldest and the most active pagodas at Giac Lam Pagoda and Thien Hau Pagoda on the way to Ben Thanh, the central market of Saigon.

Day 14: Mekong Delta Cruise

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon

Your Mekong River cruise excursion aboard the Cai Be Princess, a deluxe sampan offering more comfort than a regular cruise of the Mekong, will begin with a hotel pickup before heading south towards the Mekong Delta. Upon embarkation of the Cai Be Princess you will be welcomed with fresh cotton towels.

The Mekong River tour will first visit the local colorful floating markets of Cai Be, where you will cruise among local barges full of fruits and vegetables. The Mekong cruise will then take you to some local home factories to discover traditional production of rice paste making, rice pop corn, coco candies, and the longans fruit drying process. Cruising on you will visit Dong Hoa Hiep Island, a peaceful escape where you will be able to visit an ancient mandarin house dating from late 19 century and where some green tea will be served to you. Its then onto Phu An for lunch at a superb Indochine villa, Le Longanier, located in a luxuriant garden by the river.

After lunch, your Mekong river cruise will head towards Vinh Long, passing beautiful landscapes along the river such as Dong Phu canal, Binh Hoa Phuoc and An Binh. These evergreen islands on the Mekong River bring about large networks of meandering rivers, criss-crossed with countless arroyos, and are unknown to most travelers who cruise the river. Stops can be made at An Binh ancient Church or Tam Ho bonsais garden to stretch the legs of for photographs.

After crossing the Co Chien River, your tour of the Mekong River aboard the Cai Be Princess will end at the Vinh Long pier around 3.30pm, where your vehicle will await you for your transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 15: Ho Chi Minh City to USA

Meals: Breakfast

Transfer from your hotel to Saigon airport for your return flight to the USA.

Day 1 WELCOME TO VIETNAM - HANOI ARRIVAL

Your Vietnam adventure begins with your arrival in Hanoi. Your private driver will meet you at the airport, holding a signboard with your name. He will escort you to your accommodation right in the heart of the city, with the fascinating Old Quarter at your fingertips. You can easily explore the city at your own pace or relax at the hotel after the flight.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2 DISCOVER THE LIFESTYLE OF VIETNAMESE COUNTRYSIDE (B/L)

Enjoy a hearty breakfast at the hotel then our experienced English-speaking guide escorts you on the trip to Ba Vi, a countryside located on the outskirt of Hanoi.

Arrive at Ri village, enjoy the welcome drink and snacks and meet your first host - Mr. Duoc, who is a Vietnam War veteran and tea-farm owner. Listen to the stories of Mr. Duoc's life during the war while enjoying the drink and then visit his tea plantation. You will learn how to pick the best tea leaves to make the most wonderful beverage in Vietnam. Carry on with the tea production at his small workshop, where most of the work is manual.

Then have a short drive to Moc village, where you will meet your next host Mrs. Chin, who will teach you how to cook local Vietnamese dishes. Later have the meals you made for lunch in a beautiful tropical garden.

Have a short break after lunch, and join Mrs. Chin for a walk around the village. You will visit some local families to understand the rural lifestyle and learn how tofu, conical hats, and other local products are made. Then have a cycling trip through beautiful paddy fields.

Wrap up your countryside tour with traditional feet soak in warm water with herbs, following the traditional recipes of the Muong ethnic minority. It will relax you (and your feet) after cycling around the village. Later, enjoy a transfer from Ba Vi back to your accommodation.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 3 CRUISING TO THE LEGENDARY HALONG BAY (B/L/D) - SHARED CRUISE

In the morning, check out of the hotel, and get picked up by the Cruise team. Take the most scenic route to reach Halong Bay, taking you across the Red River Delta with emerald green rice paddies stretching for as far as the eyes can see. On arrival at the pier, you will board the cruise and enjoy the fantastic views of limestone rocks and the karst grottoes. Have an utterly delicious seafood lunch and enjoy the time at the sundeck exploring the Bay. The cruise will stop in a secret place where you will spend time kayaking or swimming, so you can explore the karst grottoes closer. Towards the evening, you will return to the boat for an early dinner, followed by some time at leisure. You can optionally attend the activities taking part on the boat or just relax.

Overnight on cruise.

Day 4 DISCOVER FISHING VILLAGE - SWIM AND KAYAK AROUND BEAUTIFUL ISLANDS (B/L/D)

Start your day with the Tai Chi session on the sundeck and enjoy the beautiful view of the sunrise. Have a delicious breakfast and head to the fishing village. On the way, see the beauty of the karst islands and islets which will surround you and pass by the local floating hamlets. Spend time with locals in the fishing village and get to know better the local lifestyle. Later you will have lunch on board and we will take you to another area for swimming and kayaking. In the evening return to the boat to enjoy the sunset before having dinner.

Overnight on cruise.

Day 5 HALONG BAY - BACK TO HANOI - FLIGHT TO HOI AN (B/L)

Rise early today to view the sunrise at the wonder of nature with breakfast served in the dining room. A Tai Chi class on the sun deck will awaken your mind and muscles.

Then head off to visit the limestone cave full of stalagmites and stalactites. After your exploration return to the boat to check out and enjoy the brunch while the cruise is sailing back to the harbor. Later you will be transferred to Hanoi, from where you will have a flight to Da Nang. Upon arrival at Da Nang Airport, your driver will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel in Hoi An.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 6 HAVE A LEISURE DAY IN HOI AN (B)

Have a free day to explore Hoi An at your own pace. The best way to explore this charming town is to rent a bicycle at the hotel and cycle around the town towards the riverside or the beach. At the beach, you will find many small cafes where you could relax with a fresh fruit drink after swimming. The water in the sea is warm and calm.

You could visit a tailor-shop which could make you and your loved ones a new piece of clothes, bag or shoes overnight.

In the evening we recommend you to walk around the Old Town area, which looks charming when the shops light their lanterns. You and would really feel like being in a fairy-tale. And don’t skip the colourful performances organized on the street in the evening.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 7 LEISURE TIME IN HOI AN LANTERN TOWN (B)

Have one more free day to explore the beauty of Hoi An or relax at the local beach.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 8 TRAVEL TO THE PEARL OF THE ORIENT (B)

Relish the remaining moment in Hoi An before your private driver escorts you to the Da Nang Airport to take the flight to Ho Chi Minh. When you arrive at Tan Son Nhat Airport, your driver will pick you up and transfer you to your accommodation in the city centre. The rest of the time is free at leisure.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

Day 9 DISCOVER THE MIGHTY MEKONG DELTA (B/L/D)

In the morning we pick you up at your hotel in Saigon and take you to Can Tho or Cai Be. You board your wooden river cruise vessel around noon. After a refreshing welcome drink, we show you our onboard facilities and your cosy cabin. As lunch is served, the boat starts cruising. Sit back and watch the fantastic scenery and the daily life of the Mekong people.

In the afternoon you can disembark for a guided stroll through a village and the surrounding fruit orchards or rice fields. Meet the friendly locals and taste the local produce and fruits.

Get back on board and enjoy a drink at the bar or relax on deck as the sun sets over the magnificent water landscape of the Mekong river. The cruise boat will anchor for the night. The day ends with a delicious onboard dinner.

Overnight on cruise.

Day 10 EXPERIENCE THE FLOATING MARKET (B/L/D)

Wake up well-rested to the sound of the river and get ready for another exciting day of sightseeing in the Mekong Delta. At 6.30 am the cruise vessel sets off for a sunrise cruise. Watch the locals go about their daily work drying exotic fruits and building ships on the wooden yards while enjoying an early breakfast.

After breakfast, we will board a sampan boat to Cai Rang floating market, the region’s busiest and most lively market. On even dates, you will explore the small channels of the Mekong delta around Cai Be with a small sampan or by foot. Marvel at the sheer abundance of exotic fruits and vegetables. We will pull up to the boats for talking and bargaining with the merchants. We will also visit some of the local candy and cake-making factories or boat through the green water landscape to see local houses, verdant orchards, and ship-building yards.
Later in the morning your can boat through the green water landscape on a little rowing sampan to see local houses, verdant orchards, and ship-building yards. Alternatively, you can discover the nearby town on foot or explore the small side canals of the Mekong river on a bicycle.

The cruise boat then resumes its journey as lunch is served. In the afternoon there will be another side trip to one of the exotic villages along the way.

Overnight on cruise.

Day 11 EXPLORE THE LOCALS LIFE OF MEKONG DELTA (B/L)

After breakfast and an early start through the glorious morning atmosphere on the Mekong river.

Take a sampan side trip right into the lush rural landscape, the fertile fields, and the exuberant green. Visit the local workshops and cycle along cozy village roads. Then it’s time to pack up and return to the pier from which we started.
The Mekong Delta cruise boat tour ends at around 11.00 — 11.30h on the pier. You will be transferred back to Ho Chi Minh with a stop for lunch on the way.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

Day 12 TIME TO SAY GOODBYE - HO CHI MINH DEPARTURE (B)

Relish a healthy breakfast on the final day of your trip. Complete the hotel check-out formalities after which you can visit the local markets and buy souvenirs for your loved ones. Later, proceed for departure and board your flight back home.

Trip Ends.