Hanoi
Day One: From the Vietnamtourism booth at Noi Bai airport, you will be driven to
your hotel for check-in. Freshen up and then go on a sightseeing tour of the city. Return
to the hotel for dinner and a night of relaxation.
Day Two: A full day of shopping and sightseeing with visits to Ho Chi Minh's
Mausoleum, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, and the Co Loa Citadel. After
lunch, spend your time shopping or just strolling the wide boulevards of Hanoi.
Day Three: After breakfast, transfer to Noi Bai airport for departure.
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Hoa Lu
Day One: Take in the surrounding countryside during the drive from Hanoi to Hoa
Lu. Upon arrival, visit the Tam Coc Temple and then enjoy a boat trip out to see Bich Dong
(pronounced Bich Dong) cave. Overnight in Hoa Lu.
Day Two: Breakfast and then witness Vietnamese conservation in action with a
visit the Cuc Phuong National Park. Later drive back to Hanoi.
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Ha Long Bay
Day One: Leave early for the scenic drive from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay with lunch
en route at the famous port city of Hai Phong. The unusual rock formations which jut out
of the sea around Ha Long Bay are truly magnificent.
Day Two: Get a few up close and personal pics during a boat trip around Ha Long
Bay prior to the drive back to Hanoi.
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Ha Long Bay
Day One: Leave early for the scenic drive from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay with lunch
en route at the famous port city of Hai Phong. The unusual rock formations which jut out
of the sea around Ha Long Bay are truly magnificent.
Day Two: Get a few up close and personal pics during a boat trip around Ha Long
Bay. After the boat ride, return to the hotel for lunch and then drive to Hon Gai for a
visit to a quaint old but lovely temple. Return to Ha Long for the evening.
Day Three: Breakfast and then pack up for the return drive to Hanoi.
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Hai Phong & Ha Long Bay
Day One: Enjoy the relatively short trip to the famous port city of Hai Phong.
After lunch, go on a sightseeing tour of the city with stops at the Du Hang Temple and a
"Communal House" in nearby Hang Kenh Village. Return to Hai Phong for dinner and
overnight.
Day Two: Following breakfast, depart Hai Phong for the ride to Ha Long Bay.
After check-in at the Ha Long Hotel and lunch, take a boat trip on the unbelievably scenic
Ha Long Bay. Return for a relaxing evening at the hotel.
Day Three: Breakfast and then an early departure for the drive back to Hanoi. On
the way back, stop off at the coastal town of Hon Gai, check out the beach and even go for
a swim if you're so inclined.
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Hai Phong & Do Son
Day One: Enjoy the relatively short trip to the famous port city of Hai Phong.
After lunch, go on a sightseeing tour of the city with stops at the Du Hang Temple and a
"Communal House" in nearby Hang Kenh Village. Later, drive out to the seaside
resort town of Do Son for dinner and overnight.
Day Two: Spend some free time during the morning hours sightseeing, swimming, or
sunbathing on the beach. Return to Hanoi after lunch.
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Tam Dao
Day One: Take a road trip from Hanoi to the mountain resort town of Tam Dao. If
you like trees and mountains, you'll enjoy the sights and the cooler mountain air.
Day Two: Sleep in or enjoy an early breakfast and more sightseeing prior to
departing Tam Dao for the return drive to Hanoi.
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Cao Bang & Lang Son
Day One: Head toward the Chinese border for the overland trip to Cao Bang. As
you travel north, watch while time seems to reverse itself as the structures turn from
steel to brick to clay to straw and the road winds through an almost prehistoric
landscape. (I thought I saw Fred and Barney hitchhiking the last time I traveled this
route). Stop for a picnic lunch en route. Overnight in Cao Bang.
Day Two: Following breakfast, go dinosaur hunting in the Pac Bo Grotto and enjoy
a leisurely picnic lunch while you marvel at your surroundings. Return to the hotel and
spend some free time wandering around town.
Day Three: After breakfast, drive southeast toward Lang Son. Later, visit the
Tam Thanh Cave, the Tien Pagoda, and the Ky Cung Temple. Spend the evening checking out
the town and maybe stop in for a sample of Thuoc Lao (a strong tobacco usually smoked from
a water pipe). Overnight in Lang Son.
Day Four: After breakfast, look for bargains during a lunch time stopover in the
border town of Dong Dang on the way back to Hanoi.
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Hoa Binh & Mai Chau
Day One: Depart Hanoi for the drive to Hoa Binh. Upon arrival, visit Mai Chau
village and discover the ways of the ethnic Muong mountain tribe. Go native during an
overnight stay in a traditional Stilt-house.
Day Two: Do some early morning sightseeing and then say bye-bye to the Muong and
return to Hanoi.
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Dien Bien Phu
Day One: Depart Hanoi on the first leg of your journey to Dien Bien Phu.
Experience the beautiful scenery of northern Vietnam during the drive. Stop over at Son La
for dinner and overnight.
Day Two: Eat breakfast and then leave Son La for the remainder of the trip to
Dien Bien Phu. More spectacular scenery awaits. Check-in to your hotel in Dien Bien Phu
and relax.
Day Three: Rise and begin a full day of sightseeing in the city where it all
really began. Visits to the Dien Bien Phu Museum, the People's Army Cemetery, A1 Hill, De
Castries command post, and a captured tank display will be among your stops. Return to the
hotel and rest up for the ride back.
Day Four: This is like day two, only backwards with another overnight stay in
Son La. Feel free to roam around town if you so desire.
Day Five: After breakfast, complete the cycle with a return drive from Son La to
Hanoi.
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Sam Son Beach
Day One: Leave Hanoi and head south for Thanh Hoa (not to be confused with Khanh
Hoa) Province and the beach resort town of Sam Son. Enjoy some sightseeing in the Sam Son
Beach resort area and then return to your hotel for the evening.
Day Two: Pay a visit to Truong Le Mountain and the Doc Cuoc Temple before
loading up and heading back to Hanoi.
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Vinh & Cua Lo Beach
Day One: Depart Hanoi for the drive to Cua Lo (in Ha Tinh Province). Along the
way, you'll be reminded that many sections of National Route One were once prime target
areas for U.S. fighter/bombers. There are still a number of bombed out bridges and giant
roadside "potholes" which attest to this.
Day Two: After breakfast, go on a sightseeing tour in Vinh City and then pay a
visit to Sen Village, the birthplace of Ho Chi Minh.
Day Three: Have an early breakfast and hit the road for the return drive to
Hanoi.
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Nam Dinh & Hoa Lu
Day One: Depart Hanoi for a trip into the past in Nam Dinh and Ninh Binh. This
tour is a temple lovers dream with visits scheduled for the Tran King's and Dinh Le
Dynasty Temples, the Temples at Pho Minh and Bich Dong, as well as the Co Le Temple.
You'll also stop by the Tam Coc Caves during your visit. Overnight in Hoa Lu.
Day Two: If you were unable to make all of the stops on the first day (and you
probably were), visit the remaining temples before returning to Hanoi.
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Nam Dinh & Phat Diem
Day One: Depart Hanoi and drive to Nam Dinh for visits to the Tran King, Pho
Minh, and Co Le Temples. Dinner and overnight in Hoa Lu.
Day Two: Go on a sightseeing tour of beautiful Hoa Lu. Visit the Tam Coc caves
and Bich Dong Temple and then drive to Luu Phuong where you'll tour the Phat Diem stone
Cathedral. Although built as a place of worship for followers of the Christian faith, the
architectural style of this cathedral is patterned after the ancient communal houses and
pagodas of Viet Nam.
Day Three: Enjoy a leisurely breakfast prior to heading back for Hanoi.
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Hoa Lu, Ha Long Bay, & Hai Phong
Day One: Drive from Hanoi to Hoa Lu for a visit to the Tam Coc caves and Bich
Dong Temple. Enjoy dinner and an evening at the Hoa Lu hotel.
Day Two: Be sure to have breakfast in preparation for the busy day which lies
ahead. First, stop by the temples at Pho Minh, Co Le, and Keo on the way to Hai Phong.
After lunch, tour the famous port city and then drive on to Ha Long Bay.
Day Three: After breakfast, enjoy a leisurely cruise on the majestic Ha Long
Bay. Return to the hotel for lunch and then spend an afternoon of free time on the beach
or just taking in the sights.
Day Four: Depart Ha Long Bay and return to Hai Phong. Visit the Du Hang Temple,
Hang Kenh Communal House, and then stop off and explore the Sat Market during the return
trip to Hanoi.
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Bac Giang & Lang Son
Day One: Depart Hanoi and drive north toward the Chinese border for Lang Son.
Stop by for a visit in the town of Bac Giang en route. Upon arrival, tour the Tam Thanh
Temple and search for bargains in the border town of Dong Dang.
Day Two: Sleep in and then enjoy a quite breakfast prior to the drive back to
Hanoi.
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Dien Bien Phu
Day One: Transfer from your hotel in Hanoi to Noi Bai airport and catch the
11:30 AM flight into Dien Bien Phu. Upon arrival, visit the Dien Bien Phu Museum and
People's Army Cemetery. Dinner and overnight.
Day Two: Breakfast and then continue the tour of Dien Bien Phu with visits to A1
Hill, De Castries Command Post, and a captured tank display. After lunch, depart Dien Bien
Phu for the scenic drive to Son La where you will have dinner and stop for the night.
Day Three: An early breakfast and then it's on the road again for the last leg
of your trip back to Hanoi. Sightseeing and a picnic lunch en route.
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Dien Bien Phu
Day One: Depart Hanoi on the first leg of your journey to Dien Bien Phu.
Experience the beautiful scenery of northern Vietnam during the drive. Stop over at Son La
for dinner and overnight.
Day Two: Eat breakfast and then leave Son La for the remainder of the trip to
Dien Bien Phu. More spectacular scenery awaits along with a brief stopover at an ethnic
minority village. Check-in to your hotel in Dien Bien Phu and relax.
Day Three: An early breakfast in preparation for a busy morning of sightseeing
in the city where it all really began. Visits to the Dien Bien Phu Museum, the People's
Army Cemetery, A1 Hill, De Castries command post, and a captured tank display will be
among your stops. Return to the hotel for lunch and then off to the airport to catch the
1:30 PM flight back to Hanoi.
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