Highlights of Vietnam Tour (14 Days)

Sapa-Hanoi. Morning drive to Lao Chai, staging point for the day's hike. Begin the 6km trek by descending into a rice-terraced valley. Walk though isolated villages, rice fields, and thatched roof homes where H'mong peoples live. See the H'mong at work and at play in their distinctive dark blue dress. Continue hiking to the village of Ta Van, one of the few villages in Vietnam inhabited by the Zay tribe. Return to Sapa along a scenic ridgeline trail. In the afternoon visit Black H'mong, Zay and Red Dao minority peoples at Ta Phin villages before proceeding to Lao Cai train station for overnight train (2115) to Hanoi. En route stop to visit the Sino-Vietnamese border at Lao Cai (Lunch)

Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi (0500)and transfer to the hotel.
We will arrange an early check-in including breakfast for you

Day 7

Danang-Hoi An. Arrive Danang (1023) and transfer to the hotel. Free at leisure. Overnight Hoi An.

Saigon-Cu Chi Tunnels. After breakfast, drive to the extraordinary Cu Chi tunnels, just outside Ho Chi Minh City. During the war for independence, "Viet Cong" guerillas built the labyrinth of narrow tunnels virtually underneath U.S. bases, using them to hide during bombing raids and to stage surprise attacks. En route to Cu Chi, seasonally we can see how rural people live and work. View occupations such as cashew nut farming, rice farming and production of rice paper, a key ingredient in Vietnamese cuisine.

Return to Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon for a half-day city tour. Visit the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, Chinatown, Binh Tay Market and Thien Hau Temple. Overnight Saigon. (Lunch)

Victoria Express
From Hanoi to Lai Cai, the station closest to Sapa we include the Victoria Express Train. This luxury overnight train departs on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. There are deluxe 2 berth and superior 4 berth sleepers. The elegant compartments are all wood panelled and feature air conditioning and oversized windows. The service is excellent and you will be able to sample food and wine in the train's restaurant car 'Le Tonkin'.

Victoria Hotels
Victoria Hotels used on this itinerary include their Sapa Hotel, Hoi An Beach Resort and Can Tho Hotel

SAPA Hotel
Built as a traditional mountain chalet with an accented wooden decor and a welcoming stone hearth fireplace, Victoria Sapa hotel overhangs the village, blending perfectly with the natural surroundings. The scenery is a spectacular combination of jungle with rural terraces and rich areas where locals harvest their crops.

Hoi An Resort
Referring to Hoi An history and mix of cultures, Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort is built like a small fisherman's village, with narrow streets and water ponds, small houses with clay-tiled roofs and round Chinese cloth lanterns. The old town is three miles away, but a complimentary bus service links the hotel with the centre.

Can Tho Hotel
A wonderful colonial style hotel, set in magnificent gardens on the banks of the Hau River, one of the nine estuaries of the mighty Mekong. All rooms are well-appointed and many have river views. This is an ideal place to explore the colourful floating markets and rural river life.