Vietnam Homestay
TOUR OVERVIEW
- 14 days
- Max people: 25
- Wifi available
- Jan 01 - Dec 31
- Min age:
- Pickup: Airpot
Immerse yourself in the true essence of Vietnam on this tour that will take you through several rural villages, where you will have the opportunity to live in authentic homes of local families.
You will depart from Hanoi to Duong Lam, a picturesque historic village, where you will spend the night in a traditional dwelling, discovering the customs and traditions of the community.
You will continue to Ban Sung, where a trekking experience in the rural landscapes awaits, before reaching the majestic Halong Bay and Phong Nha Park, with its spectacular caves.
In the Hue and Hoi An area, you will immerse yourself in local culture and handicrafts, while to the south, in the Mekong Delta, you will stay with a Cho Lach family, getting to know river life up close.
This responsible tour will allow you to come into direct contact with Vietnamese communities, sharing their daily lives and discovering traditions that have been passed down for generations. An authentic and enriching experience, far from the beaten tourist track.
ITINERARY
Day 1Hanoi Arrival
Meet and greet by the driver (without a guide) at the airport exit (recognizable by the sign with your name) after you have collected your luggage and completed immigration procedures. You will be transferred and checked in at the hotel.
The rooms will be available starting from 2:00 PM. Early check-in is not included, but can be requested for an additional fee.
The rest of the day will be at your leisure (guide, transportation, and visits are not included).
Day 2Hanoi Visit
Breakfast is included at the hotel.
Meet our guide at the hotel reception at 8:30 AM. The guide will accompany you to visit the Ethnography Museum, which offers a unique opportunity to explore the cultural richness of the numerous ethnic groups present in the Vietnamese territory. After the museum visit, you will head to the Temple of Literature (Quoc Tu Giam), considered the first national university of Vietnam. It was built under the Ly dynasty in the 11th century and served as a place of worship for Confucius and a school for the education of royal children.
You will have a free lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, you will visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (exterior only, as it is closed on Mondays and Fridays) and take a pleasant stroll through the botanical gardens. You will also visit the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house, where he lived and worked. Then, we will reach Ba Dinh Square, the place where Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence of Vietnam from the French in 1945. Afterward, you will visit the One Pillar Pagoda, considered one of the most important symbols of the city.
Finally, you will visit the Tran Quoc Pagoda, which dates back to the 6th century during the reign of Emperor Ly Nam De. Lastly, you will take a cyclo (xich lo) ride for about 40 minutes around Hoan Kiem Lake, known as the Lake of the Returned Sword, which brings to life the legend of a giant turtle and a magical sword used to drive the Chinese out of Vietnam. You will also explore the Old Quarter of Hanoi with its famous lively and vibrant streets.
The day will conclude with a water puppet show, which tells the daily life, culture, and beliefs of the Vietnamese people through the captivating water puppets. The tour will end around 6:00-6:30 PM.
Dinner will be on your own, and you will spend the night in a hotel in Hanoi.
Day 3Hanoi - Huong Pagoda - Duong Lam Homestay
Breakfast is served in the hotel.
You will meet with our guide at the hotel reception at 8:30 am. You will depart from the hotel and we will enjoy a scenic two-hour drive to Perfume Pagoda, one of the most important Buddhist centers in Vietnam. Arriving at the Yen Creek Pier, you will board your private sampan boat for an hour-long journey surrounded by nature, crossing crystal clear waters and surrounded by beautiful mountains. Next, you will take an easy walk to the station, where you will take the cable car to Huong Tich limestone mountain and admire its main pagoda, Huong Tich. On the cable car ride back, you will enjoy a beautiful view of the mountain range dotted with small temples, pagodas, houses and farms.
You will have lunch at a small local restaurant.
In the afternoon, you will visit Thien Tru pagoda before taking a boat ride to the harbor.
At the end of sightseeing, you will leave for the ancient village of Duong Lam. Free dinner and overnight stay in homestay in Duong Lam.
Note: The boat ride will be guided by the locals. It would be greatly appreciated if you would be so kind as to leave a small tip (we recommend $10 per boat).
Day 4Duong Lam - Ban Sung Homestay
Breakfast at the hotel.
Your guide will take you to visit the ancient village of Duong Lam, known as a living museum of the countryside and a typical Red River Delta village. You will notice the great difference as you move from the Old Quarter, with its French-style colonial buildings, to the lower, simpler buildings of the countryside. Once there, you will visit the medieval Mia Pagoda, built in the 15th century, which houses about 300 wooden or terracotta statues.
Walking through the narrow streets of the village, you will have the opportunity to visit one of the oldest houses. Next, you can ride (if you prefer) through the ancient lanes to the Mong Phu Communal House, dedicated to the Mountain God, who locals believed could protect the village from all evil. On the way to the original main gate, you will pass by old wells and laterite houses. Continuing along small paths through the fields, you will reach the Temple of King Ngo Quyen, who lived in the 10th century and defeated the Chinese in 938 AD.
Transfer to Ban Sung. Free lunch at a local restaurant. The day continues with a 3 km walk to explore the village. This walk will take you to various points of interest, such as Sung Cave and the forest. Your local guide will tell stories, providing insights to identify different plant varieties, some of which hide medicinal secrets. We will also stop at the community house where locals pass on the traditional Dao language to younger generations, preserving this crucial cultural aspect. Upon returning to the village, visit a family workshop to learn the art of printing textures using beeswax and discover the indigo dyeing process.
Dinner is free and overnight stay in homestay.
Note: Visitors are kindly requested to dress appropriately to visit the pagodas, clothes covering knees and shoulders are recommended.
Day 5Ban Sung trekking - Hanoi
Breakfast in homestay. You’ll undertake an 8 km hike from Sung to Da Bia. The first 4 km will be on a narrow concrete path before you veer right onto a slim forest trail. This path drops for about an hour from 530 m to 400 m elevation, then climbs slightly to 500 m before steadily descending to 120 m at the local boat dock, where you’ll board a vessel to Da Bia.
Return to Hanoi.
Note: The last four kilometers are on ground and could become very slick if it rains. Therefore, the route might be modified, or a different option may be suggested.
Day 6Hanoi - Halong
Breakfast at the hotel.
Meeting at 8:30 with the driver at the hotel reception for the shared bus transfer to Halong Bay (about 4 hours with an intermediate break).
Halong Bay, called “the bay where the dragon descends into the sea” in Vietnamese, is a beautiful bay with thousands of limestone islands, karst caves, cliffs, and islets that make it a picturesque and fascinating place. Magnificent, mysterious, and majestic, Halong Bay has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1994 and is considered one of the new seven wonders of the world.
Arrival at the port is expected around 12:00-12:30. Subsequently, the navigation company’s program will be followed.
PLEASE NOTE:
- Lunch and dinner with a seafood tasting on board the junk (included – no beverages).
- Overnight stay on board in a private deluxe cabin (with air conditioning and shower).
- The cruise program may be subject to changes without notice due to weather conditions or decisions by local authorities.
- Only an English-speaking guide provided by the navigation company is available on the junk.
Day 7Halong - Hanoi - Treno per Dong Hoi
06:30: You can join the sunrise Tai-chi session on the sun terrace or simply enjoy the beautiful view of the bay while sipping a cup of tea or coffee.
07:00: Breakfast will be served Western style to provide you with the energy you need to face a new day of exploring the bay. During breakfast, you will be able to admire the enchanting view that will give you the energy you need to take on new adventures.
08:15: You will have the opportunity to use the kayak to explore the Frog Pond area, the famous location where scenes from Kong Skull Island (King Kong) were filmed in 2018 in Quang Ninh.
09:30: You will return to the ship. You will have 30 minutes to freshen up and check out of your cabin. Please kindly remove all your belongings from the cabin, while heavy luggage can be left outside the cabin (staff will transfer it directly to the pier).
10:00 a.m.: Brunch will be served on board as the Sena Cruise – Luxury Boutique Cruise sails slowly through the emerald-colored waters and through the many karst formations toward the harbor. You will check out from the cruise. Remember to bring all your luggage with you.
11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Return to port and disembark at the Ha Long cruise port.
12:00: You will be escorted back to Hanoi via our private bus/machine.
Return to Hanoi by private car/ship coach and free time in the city. Transfer to Ha Noi station by private car for the train to Dong Hoi.
Day 8Dong Hoi - Paradise Cave - Dark Cave - Phong Nha Homestay
Arrival at Dong Hoi train station around 06:00. Warm welcome by tour guide and driver welcome at Dong Hoi train station.
Breakfast at the hotel or a local restaurant. Afterwards, you will head to Quang Binh. This province offers a wide range of tourist attractions, historical monuments and natural heritages, including Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, which was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003.
Next, you will have the opportunity to visit Paradise Cave, the most impressive and splendid cave in the area. Paradise Cave (Thien Duong) was only opened to the public in 2011 and has become a popular destination for tourists. After a short climb of about 500 steps through the forest, you will begin to explore this earthly paradise through the different halls that will amaze you with their majestic stalactites and stalagmites.
Free lunch with typical regional dishes.
Then, you will head to Dark Cave (Hang Toi). You will trek about 1 km through the forest to get to the entrance of Hang Toi. Cross the underground river by canoe for about 1 km. Inside the cave, admire the beautiful rock formations and stalactites. You will have the opportunity to swim in a natural pool. Explore the cave further, following the safety directions.
At the end of the visit, you will be assigned accommodation and can spend the night in a homestay in Phong Nha.
Day 9Phong Nha - Hue
Breakfast at the hotel.
The day begins with an exciting boat ride to Phong Nha Cave, discovered in 1994. This famous cave is renowned for its underground river and spectacular stalactite and stalagmite system. Free lunch with regional dishes. After sightseeing, you will transfer to Hue.
Dinner will be free and we will stay overnight at the hotel.
Day 10Hue Visit - Danang -Hoi An
Breakfast is served at the hotel.
You will meet with our guide at the hotel reception at 08:30 am. The day begins with a leisurely boat ride along the Huong (Perfume) River. During the tour, you will have the opportunity to visit Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the oldest pagodas in Hue, which dates back to 1601. This pagoda is considered an important spiritual place in the city and is famous for its majestic octagonal tower and beautiful view of the Perfume River. Next, you will visit the Hue Citadel, which is one of the most famous vestiges of Vietnam’s ancient imperial city. The Citadel consists of three distinct parts: the capital city, the imperial city and the forbidden city, known as Kinh Thanh, Hoang Thanh and Cam Thanh respectively.
Free lunch at local restaurant.
Depart for the picturesque city of Hoi An through Da Nang. En route, you will have the opportunity to visit the fishing village of Lang Co, where you can observe local residents at work with original old-fashioned tools. Next, you will cross the Cloud Pass, which represents the geographical, climatic and cultural boundary between North and South Vietnam. You will take a short break to admire Da Nang from above, including the famous “China Beach,” which stretches over 30 km. In Da Nang you will visit the Cham Museum, which houses the richest collection of archaeological artifacts from the ancient empire, including splendid works of great importance belonging to this very ancient people.
Arrival in Hoi An. Dinner will be free and we will stay overnight at the hotel.
Day 11Hoi An Visit
Breakfast at the hotel.
The staff of Tra Que Water Wheel will be at your hotel lobby in Hoi An between 8:15 and 8:30 in the morning. The first stop is Cam Pho, one of the oldest communal houses in Hoi An. This structure was built according to traditional Chinese architecture and serves as a center for worship, trade, and cultural exchange between locals and Chinese and Japanese merchants. Take a short walk to Hoi An’s symbol – the Chua Cau or Japanese Covered Bridge, built in the 17th century to connect the Japanese quarter to the Chinese quarters. Continue to the ancient house of Quan Thang, one of the most authentic houses in Hoi An, characterized by lively and refined architecture and sculptures made by artisans from the famous Kim Bong carpentry village in oriental style. This house offers a glimpse into the daily life of a Hoi An family. End the day at the Phuc Kien Assembly Hall or Fujian, built in the 17th century, which is a gathering place for residents, traders, and visitors from a specific region of China called Fujian. You will have free time to continue exploring at your leisure.
Dinner will be on your own, and you will spend the night at the hotel.
Day 12Hoi An - Flight to Saigon - Visit
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to Da Nang Airport in a private car for the flight to Saigon. Meeting with our guide at the airport. The day is dedicated to visiting the Independence Palace, which once housed the Presidents of South Vietnam. During the visit, we will have the opportunity to admire the North Vietnamese tank that crossed the threshold of the presidential palace in 1975, marking the end of the controversial Vietnam War. The palace, which spans five floors, offers rooms with original furnishings reflecting the style of the 1960s and 1970s, and also has a basement transformed into a bunker. A must-see in Ho Chi Minh City is the War Remnants Museum. The permanent exhibitions provide a comprehensive view of the Vietnam War, which may offer surprises compared to what we are used to hearing and seeing.
Lunch will be at your leisure at a local restaurant.
Continue your pleasant tour to Nguyen Hue pedestrian street, walking until you reach an iconic attraction of the city: the Central Post Office of Saigon, a magnificent building designed by the famous architect Gustave Eiffel. The rest of the day will be at your disposal to visit the city’s most famous market, Ben Thanh Market, which has been open since 1870. The tour will end around 3:00 pm/3:30 pm. You will then have the rest of the free time at your disposal (without a guide or driver included).
Dinner will be at your leisure, and you will spend the night at the hotel.
Day 13Saigon - Ben Tre - Cho Lach Homestay
Breakfast is served at the hotel.
You will meet our guide at the hotel reception at 08:30. In the morning, you will head to Ben Tre, a beautiful region located in the Mekong Delta, famous for the production of coconut sweets. Once you arrive at Phong Nam Bridge, you will take a boat trip along the Ben Tre River to discover local daily life. Along the canal, you will visit a brick kiln to observe how bricks are produced according to traditions, as well as one of the numerous workshops dedicated to processing coconuts, where you will have the opportunity to taste fresh coconut and observe how every part of this fruit is transformed into derivative products. You will continue the boat trip to the village of Nhon Thanh. Here, you will have the chance to taste fresh fruit. Afterwards, you will take a bike ride (or Tuk tuk) along a trail that passes through villages, enjoying the view of coconut plantations, rice fields, and surrounding gardens.
Lunch will be at your leisure at a small local restaurant. A short walk will allow us to immerse ourselves more deeply in local life. Later, you can take a boat ride along the narrow canal, shaded by wild palms.
Dinner will be at your leisure, and you will spend the night at Cho Lach homestay.
Day 14Cho Lach Visit - Saigon Departure
Breakfast at the hotel. You will visit Cho Lach by bike and by boat. Discovery local life, school, garden… Transfer to Saigon. You will have free time in Saigon until the transfer to the airport without the presence of a guide. We wish you a good return journey!