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Multi Ethnic Groups – The Hidden Charm - 12 days 11 nights

Through this program, you will go over villages of the colorful minority groups in Vietnam. Each group has their own traditional costume to stand out from the others. Meeting them, seeing their daily lives, their customs as well as habits and enjoying the atmosphere, the beautiful places that they are living at… will free you from the bustling urban life meanwhile leaving you time and space to immerse yourself into the Mother Nature together with gentle local people.
 
This trip will bring you unforgettable memories of the charming destinations.
 
Key Highlights:
  • Explore Sapa and its surroundings
  • Interact with local people in the suburb of Hue
  • Visit Champa Kingdom, My Son Ruins in Danang and handicraft villages in Ninh Thuan – the Southern Central province.

Available Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi - Arrival

Arrival flight information (own ticket, flight information to be advised)
Upon arrival, when you leave the airport terminal please look for 4U Tours guide displaying a  welcome signboard with your name on it. Transfer to your hotel.
 
Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital and the second largest city, is a fascinating blend which combines traditional Sino-Vietnamese motifs with French flair, of the East and West. The fact that it was largely unscathed in the decades of war and is now going through a building boom makes it a rapidly developing city in Southeast Asia.
 
Dinner is served at Ly Club Restaurant. Set in a French colonial building which was the former residence of the Governor of Indochina in the 19th century, Ly Club is an elegant setting for enjoying delightful Vietnamese cuisine and live traditional Northern folk opera music performance.
 
ACCOMMODATION: 
Sofitel Legend Metropole (5-star)
Grand Luxury Room
Address: 15 Ngo Quyen Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel: (+84 24) 3826 6919
Hotel information:
Step back into history at Hanoi’s most storied 5-star hotel. A Grand Dame of Southeast Asia Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoï welcomes guests to experience her colonial grandeur and timeless elegance. Located steps from the Opera House in Hanoï's French Quarter, this legendary property brings guests into intimate contact with the opulence of another era. Surround yourself in heritage as you stroll by stately corridors and explore a dramatic past.

Day 2: Hanoi Full Day Sightseeing

After breakfast, start to explore Vietnam’s Capital – Hanoi.
 
This morning, we will drive to Ho Chi Minh’s Complex to visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Ba Dinh Square, Ho Chi Minh’s House-on-Stilts and One Pillar Pagoda.
 
The next stop will be Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university and the very first stop-over of any foreign tourist in Hanoi. It reveals the Hanoians’ spirit of studying in the past. It is also a famous historical and cultural relic nowadays.
 
Lunch is served at Wild Lotus Restaurant. With comfort and relaxation in mind, the designers had done a wonderful job using colors and shapes to create a colonial environment in which one can immediately feel at home while enjoying genuine Vietnamese dishes. 
After lunch, you will visit the serene Museum of Ethnology, a 20 minute drive out of town that offers a fascinating insight into Vietnam’s 54 ethnic minority groups (Museum of Ethnology is closed on Mondays).
 
Stroll through the museum with Mr. Mark Rapport, who has been living in Hanoi for almost 10 years. Interact with him and enhance your understanding of Vietnam’s diverse culture and lifestyle.
 
On the way back to the main town, get a deeper review on ethnology & ethnic life at his 54 Traditions Gallery which as well as focusing on antiques, artifacts and art, which reflects his passion for ethnology studies.
 
Drive back to Hanoi to enjoy cyclo riding around the Old French Quarters. Then, take a guided walking tour to walk along the 36 old streets for insights into the Hanoian’s ordinary life.
 
Dinner is on your own.
 
Free at leisure until you are transferred to the railways station to take the night train to Lao Cai. Spend the night on board where you may purchase food and other essentials although it may be advised to bring your own. Sleeper cabins depending on the train you take vary in comfort.
 
The regular check-out time is noon, late check-out is not included and subject to availability.
 
ACCOMMODATION:
Victoria Train (on board)
Private Deluxe Cabin for 2 persons
Note: Victoria Train is not operated on Saturdays. 

Day 3: Lao Cai - Hill Tribe Market - Sapa

Arrive in Lao Cai in early morning. You will be transferred to Thien Hai Hotel for breakfast. Room is available at Thien Hai Hotel for day-use.
 
After breakfast, depart for a 2.5 – 3.5 hour drive over hills and along a slightly bumpy road to a small tribal market. Depending on the date, you will visit one of the following markets:

Coc Ly Market (only available on Tuesdays).

Coc Ly Market is situated alongside Chay River. Every Tuesday morning, locals from the surrounding ethnic villages such as Flower H’mong, Phu La and Black Dao, resplendent in their distinctive costumes, gather here to buy and sell their products. These products may range from livestock to hand woven fabrics.

 
Lung Khau Nhin Market (only available on Thursdays).
Surrounded by pine forests and hill tribe villages, it is one of the most untouched markets in the North, here Flower H'mong, Tu Di, Tay and Giay ethnic minorities come to buy and sell home-made products.
 
There is an optional trekking trip to a Black Dzao Village of Sin Lung Chai where you can interact with the local people. Enjoy a packed lunch at the village before transferring to Sapa.

Can Cau Market (only available on Saturdays).

Situated in the mountains near the Chinese border, Can Cau is a small but very colourful market. Taking place only on Saturdays, it offers a very photogenic display of Flower H'mong, Black Dao, Phu La and Nung ethnic costumes. Chinese people also come to this market for trading.
 
Climb uphill to explore the market where fruits, vegetables, meat, colorful fabrics and traditional dresses are on sale.
 
Muong Khuong Market (only available on Sundays).
different ethnic groups gather once a week to buy and sell livestock. It is also a social gathering where friends meet and chat over rice wine. This market attracts a wide variety of ethnic minority groups including the Flower Hmong, Dao, Phu La, La Chi and Tay who still retain their age-old cultural traditions and distinct costumes.
 
Bac Ha Market (only available on Sundays).
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. You can explore the market where ethnic people sell homemade wares ranging from embroidery, tobacco and rice wine to farmyard animals such as chickens, pigs, horses and buffaloes. This is also a place for the locals to catch up and meet friends, drink rice wine and enjoy life at the end of the week.
 
After the visit, transfer to Sapa and check-into your hotel.
 
Dinner is on your own.
 
Sapa is a frontier town in Northwest Vietnam, 350 km Northwest of Hanoi, close to the border with China. The Hoang Lien Son range dominates the landscape, which is actually the far eastern edge of the Himalayas. Sapa is famed for its terraced fields, diverse mix of hill tribes and magnificent landscape. With an annual average temperature at slightly over 15°C, Sapa is such a remarkably cool place that it is advised to bring warm clothes as nights can be chilly in this part of Vietnam. The area is also home to a large number of ethnic hill tribes.
 
Accommodation: Victoria Sapa Resort (4-star)
Deluxe Room
Address: Sapa District, Lao Cai Province, Vietnam
Tel: (+84.214) 387 1522
 

Day 4: Sapa - Touch To Local Hill Tribe

Take a tour to Ta Van – Lao Chai Villages to experience traditional daily life of the Black H’mong people. Have lunch prepared by your guide in a local house before trekking through the bamboo forest to Giang Ta Chai, where you will have the opportunity to meet with the Red Dao minority people.
 
Your jeep will wait in Giang Ta Chai and take you back to Sapa. The rest of the day is your free time to wander around Sapa Market or the surroundings.
 
Dinner is on your own.
 
Note: Sapa is becoming more and more popular with tourists. Many local people have limited income, therefore selling souvenir items can often be seen as another way to earn money. Expect hill tribe vendors to follow you and to be persistent in persuading you to buy their handicrafts. If you’re not interested, simple say ‘no’ and ask your guide to walk you away.

Day 5: Night Train to Hanoi

Winding through hilly terrain and terraced paddy fields, the road out of Sapa leads to Cat Cat Village, only 2 km from the town. A leisure 3km walk through the old village offers an overview of the traditional customs and practices of the Black H’mong ethnic. Stop by a stunning waterfall and the vestige of a hydroelectric power station constructed by the French during the colonial era. Follow a dirt trail sneaking through the mountains along a narrow river and enjoy the spectacular scenery.
 
Lunch is at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, drive to Cau May then to the Stone Park where there are many amazing sharps and strange carvings.
 
Check-out your hotel and transfer back to Lao Cai Station.
 
Accommodation: on board Victoria Train
Private Deluxe Cabin for 2 persons
Note: Victoria Train is not operated on Saturday.

Day 6: Hanoi - Fly to Hue

Arrive in Hanoi at early morning. Take a visit to the Old Quarter when people prepare for a new day. Enjoy breakfast at a local coffee shop on the lake side of Hoan Kiem Lake and see local people do morning exercises.
 
Transfer to the airport to take the flight to Hue.
 
Domestic flight Hanoi – Hue is on Vietnam Airlines (economy class)
 
Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by 4U tour guide and transferred to your hotel by private vehicle.
 
Lunch is served at Khong Gian Xua Restaurant.
 
This afternoon, you will visit the Citadel Complex of Hue, set up by Nguyen Dynasty from 1805 to 1945, is now one amongst the relics of the Hue ancient Capital – the World Cultural Heritage, capturing much of tourists’ attention. They are Hue Capital Citadel, Royal Citadel and Forbidden Citadel.
 
Continue to visit Tombs of King Khai Dinh and King Tu Duc, end up with shopping opportunities at Dong Ba Market.
 
Dinner is on your own.
 
Accommodation: La Residence Hotel & Spa (4-star)
Deluxe Riverview Room
Address: 5 Le Loi Street, Hue City, Vietnam
Tel: (+84 254) 3837 475
 
Hotel information:
Step back in time. Indulge serenity. A member of the Mgallery collection of memorable hotels by Accor, La Résidence Hue Hotel & Spa is an enchanting boutique hotel on the banks of the fabled Perfume River overlooking the former Imperial Citadel – once home of Emperors and now preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Endowed with opulence, excellence and warmth, this former residence of the French Colonial Governor was painstakingly restored in 2005 and redeveloped as an exceptional design hotel. The hotel’s distinctive bowed facade, long horizontal lines and nautical flourishes are hallmarks of the 1930’s modern school of art deco architecture streamline.

Day 7: Biking Tour to off the Beaten Track

Meet 4U Tours guide at your hotel and climb on your bike to explore Hue’s countryside, passing over small streams, riding through pretty villages and stopping to chat with locals fishing, farming ducks and going about daily life.
 
Visit a family to learn how they make rice wine. Then make a stop at a local school (on school days) and walk around Lady Pagoda to know more about Hue Buddhism.
 
Drive back to town after the tour.
 
The remainder of the day is free at leisure.
 
Lunch and dinner are on your own.

Day 8: A Day To Former Cham Kingdom

After breakfast, drive 2.5 hours to Danang over the scenic Hai Van Pass – meaning Pass of the Ocean Clouds – which boasts a spectacular panoramic view of the central coastline from the summit.
 
Upon arrival, visit Cham Museum which displays approximately 300 sculptures, among which some are made from terracotta from the period between the 5th to 15th centuries. The works were collected from Cham temples and towers throughout Central Vietnam.
 
Lunch is served at Apsara Restaurant.
 
This afternoon, drive to drive to My Son Ruins, a holy Champa city, built in the fourth century, and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.
 
Upon arrive My Son Ruins; enjoy the special performance of Cham Dance (only available on morning tours).
 
Take a guided walking tour around Cham Ruins. Photo shoots opportunities.
 
Dinner is on your own.
Accommodation:  The Nam Hai (5- star)
One-bedroom Villa
Address: Hamlet 1 Dien Duong Village, Dien Ban District
Tel: (+84 235) 394 0000
 
Hotel information:
The stunning all villa resort located on pristine Hoi An Beach features sixty one-bedroom retreats as well as forty privately owned two-to-five bedroom residences each with a private infinity pool. Resort guests and residence owners at this award winning property enjoy impeccable service amid lush landscaping and unobstructed views of the sea.  The unique and gracious culture of Central Vietnam combines with The Nam Hai’s unprecedented splendor to deliver one of the world’s foremost luxury experiences.

Day 9: Danang - Fly to Nha Trang

This morning, you will take the flight to Nha Trang.
 
Domestic flight Danang – Nha Trang is on Vietnam Airlines (economy class)
 
Upon arrival, you will be welcomed and transferred to your hotel by private vehicle.
 
The remainder of the day is free at leisure.
 
Lunch and dinner are on your own.
 
Accommodation: Evason Ana Mandara (5- star)
Deluxe Seaview Room
Address: Beachside, Tran Phu Boulevard, Nha Trang
Tel: (+84 258) 352 2222
 
Hotel information:
Evason Ana Mandara is Nha Trang’s unique beachfront resort. Its 74 semi-detached garden villas, many with breathtaking views across the bay, offer classic Vietnamese touches. Dining choices include local, regional and international cuisine, presented using the freshest of ingredients.

Day 10: Day Trip To Local Villages

This morning, drive 2 hours to Bau Truc Pottery Village, where Cham people have been making pottery for hundreds of years, was thought to be coming to an end. Only a few out of the village’s more than 400 households have been making some pottery products for a living.
 
Interact with local people to know how they have preserved the ancestral house for generations.
 
Followed by a visit to My Nghiep Weaving Village. Over the years, the local people have maintained techniques on weaving brocade according to the traditional method that helps preserve the Cham cultural features.
 
Enjoy chatting with local people to know how they have conserved throughout decades their family businesses.
 
Lunch is served at local restaurant in Phan Rang City.
 
Drive back to Nha Trang after the tour.
 
Dinner is on your own.

Day 11: Nha Trang – Saigon

This morning, you will take the flight to Saigon.
 
Domestic flight Nha Trang – Saigon is on Vietnam Airlines (economy class).
 
Upon arrival, you will be welcomed and transferred to your hotel by private vehicle.
 
Saigon is the country’s commercial center and, with over eight million inhabitants and four million motorbikes, a city that never sleeps. Despite the well-documented hustle and bustle, Saigon retains its connections with the past.
 
Drive to visit Reunification Conference Hall, Notre Dame Cathedral, and General Post Office.
 
Reunification Conference Hall (the former Presidential Palace), was built on the site of the former Norodom Palace. It was designed by architect Ngo Viet Thu and was the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.
 
Notre Dame Cathedral, a red brick edifice with twin spires based on the original construction from Paris.
 
Notre Dame Cathedral
 
Central Post Office, designed by the French architect, Gustav Eiffel, before he had risen to fame for the Eiffel Tower.
 
Enjoy your lunch with Pho, Vietnamese beef noodle, at Pho Hoa, the most famous Pho restaurant in town.
 
This afternoon, drive to visit China Town.
 
Chinatown (Cho Lon) is an interesting place to see classical Chinese architecture reminiscent of years gone by with plenty of Chinese restaurants. It is also a place of great historical and cultural importance. Chinese minorities hid here from the Tay Son and subsequently had to rebuild the area twice following attack. Those who survived settled and began selling a variety of Chinese products.
 
Then take a cyclo ride to Thien Hau Temple (the Temple of the Lady Thien Hau), a Chinese style temple located on Nguyen Trai Street in the Chinatown. It is dedicated to Thien Hau, the Lady of the Sea. Thien Hau is worshipped in the seafaring Chinese communities of Fujian, Guangzhou, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. She is not specifically a deity of Taoism or Buddhism, though she has been brought into connection with figures and themes from Taoism and Buddhism.
 
Dinner is on your own.
 
Accommodation:  Park Hyatt Saigon (5-star)
Park Room
Address: 02 Lam Son, District 1, Ho Chi Minh city
Tel: (+84 28) 3824 1234
www.saigon.park.hyatt.com

Day 12:

Breakfast at hotel
 
Today, you are free until transfer to the airport for your flight back to home (air ticket is on your own).
 

4U NOTE:
  • Tour cost is in US dollars and based on the above suggested hotels & room categories. It is subject to change due to hotel availability and increase in airfare upon confirmation.
  • Quoted program prices are per person, based on group of 2 persons, double / twin share.
  • Tour cost is valid by March 31th, 2019, except Dec 19, 2018 – Jan 06, 2019 (to be advised upon request)
What to be Included?
Activities
  • Interaction with Mr. Mark Rapport at Museum of Ethnology
  • Cyclo ride in Old Quarters of Hanoi
  • Biking tour to Thanh Toan Village
  • Interaction with local artisans at Bau Truc and My Nghiep Villages
  • Meals as indicated in the program: 11 breakfasts, 8 luncheons, and 1 dinner
  • Admission fees as per itinerary
  • Private air-conditioned transportation
  • Regional English speaking guides during the program
  • Bottled water and wet tissues during transfers
Not to be Included:

 

  • Airport Assistance Service
  • International flights & Airport tax
  • Domestic flights & Airport tax
  • Meals not mentioned in the itinerary and drinks during meals
  • Drinks / water at included lunches and dinners
  • Hotel early check-in / Late check-out
  • Overweight luggage
  • Travel & Trip insurance
  • Other expenses which are not clearly mentioned in inclusive services
  • Gratuities to guides and drivers (suggested USD 10 / person / day)

Airfare Hanoi – Hue; Danang – Nha Trang – Saigon:         

 

Hanoi – Hue:                                    USD 122 / ticket / adult

Danang – Nha Trang:                      USD 122 ticket / adult

Nha Trang – Saigon:                       USD 122 / ticket / adult

**All air tickets are Economy Class, inclusive of 20kg checked luggage and airport tax

Airfare is subject to change by the airlines without prior notice.

 

 

 

 
 

Booking

Multi Ethnic Groups – The Hidden Charm

Package price: USD 3,975 per person



: USD 7,950



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