Dien Bien Phu Victory Historical Site

Only 500km to the West of Hanoi, the battle ground in Dien Bien Phu is a well-known site marking a victorious exploit of Vietnamese people in the Indochina War. It is located in a valley, surrounded by mountains, hills and paddy fields. The valley has a length of 20km and a width of 6km. All year round, the mighty Nam Ron River provides it with fresh water. Realizing the strategic position of this land, in 1953, the French decided to turn it into a military headquarters and equip it with the most powerful weapons at that time.

This was the place where the courageous soldiers of Vietnamese army fought and won the 55 day battle (March 13th – May 7th 1954) against the French Union. The victory indubitable caught the attention of the international community, leading to the end of the war in Vietnam after a few months. The most well-known remnants of the Dien Bien Phu Historical Site are A1, C1, C2, D1 Hills, Beatrice, Isabelle, Independent Hill, Muong Thanh Bridge, Muong Thanh Airport and De Castries Bunker. Nearly 30km away from the center of Dien Bien Phu City, the whole complex (including the shelters of Vietnamese army) situates in Muong Phang village. A 96m underground tunnel connects the working places of General Vo Nguyen Giap and Councillor Hoang Van Thai. As time marches by, the stairs leading to the place of General Giap are now covered with moss, giving the scenery a nostalgic look.

However, even though everybody knows about the Dien Bien Phu victory in 1945, not so many people notice that the site has a much longer history. In the past, Dien Bien Phu used to be the economic and cultural intersection of the Viet, Laos, and Chinese ethnic groups. It was also a crucial place hunted after by many feudal lords. After many battles on the MuongThanh paddy field, in 1777, Dien Bien Phu officially became an administration unit, where people can settle down and enjoy a peaceful life. In addition, because of its unique location, the thriving land became the trading center for entrepreneurs from Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and China.

Nowadays, the distinctive beauty of Dien Bien Phu captures the hearts of every traveler. Everywhere in the valley, we can easily spot the beautiful and friendly ethnic people engaging in their daily activities in the early market by Muong Thanh Bridge, on the paths to their villages, inside the waiting room in Dien Bien Airport, etc. Together with the primitive yet spectacular nature of Dien Bien, these people become parts of the priceless heritage that tourists can find nowhere else in the world.

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Lung Cu

Lung Cu is located in Dong Van, 200km from the center of Ha Giang Borough with a natural area of 3,460 ha. Visitors are attracted by magnificent mountains hiding in the cloud as well as the Flag Tower on top of Dragon Mountain (Long Son), terraces of the local resident and Lo Lo Lake. Also, the winter in this place is very cold so that visiting Lung Cu in that time can give tourists a chance to witness real white snow covering the forests and mountains here.

Lung Cu population consists of many ethnic groups with different and diverse features in culture, beliefs and practices. People here mostly grow rice on the unique terraces and milpas, and even Mong and Lo Lo communities here still practice the traditional textile methods. Traditional features in cultures of these ethnic groups are very diverse and interesting. Many travelers are attracted here to explore these unique aspects of the community.

Many cultural features of ethnic groups here were influenced by the Vietnamese culture, like the silver drum of the Lo Lo which originated from the silver drum of Dong Son. Moreover, Lung Cu is famous by many special foods and drink such as corn alcohol, honey alcohol and “Thang Co” (a kind of soup that Is cooked with almost every part of an animal such as pork, beef, horse…)

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Ba Be National Park

Located 250 km away from Hanoi and 70 km away from Bac Kan’s center, Ba Be National Park belongs to Ba Be district in Bac Kan province. This is a precious natural heritage of Vietnam, a complete and complicated system of primitive forest on stone mountains which are surrounded by tranquil lakes.

The national park covers a total area of 23.240 ha which houses 417 types of plant and 299 types of animal. There are a plenty of precious and endangered species that inhabit in this region.

Visitors who come to Ba Be not only enjoy the charisma of nature but also get to know many traditional and scientific values of this natural park through the helpful and energetic tour guides. In sunny days, the scenery resembles a Feng Shui painting that mesmerizes even the most demanding visitors. The surface of the lake is flat; it transforms the whole lake into a mirror that reflects the figures of the majestic mountains and the shining cloud.

Romantically, the young Tay girls in black outfits stand on different boats, helping travellers to cross the picturesque Ba Be Lake.Without a doubt, they are the knowledgeable amateur tour guides who continuously surprise you in your journey to explore this beautiful land. You will be also amazed to learn about the lives of the ethnic groups: their culture, their routine life, their myths, their traditions, etc. People are extremely hospitable in Ba Be so you can even have a chance to visit their house and experience for yourself the breath of Ba Be’s mountains and forests.

The park is a complex including lakes, rivers, streams, forests, and caves. Mother Nature loves it too much that she decides to give Ba Be a warm weather in winter and a cool weather in summer so that it can become an ideal destination for people from everywhere to come, admire and cherish in just any season.

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Mai Chau Lodge

One of Hoa Binh’s districts, Mai Chau is noted for its beautiful scenery as a mountainous region. The district is about 60km from Hoa Binh and covers an area of 520 km2. In Mai Chau Valley, there are also national caves and grottoes such as Mo Luong Cave, Chieu Cave, Pieng Kem Grotto, and archaeological sites such as Lang Cave and Khau Phuc Cave. When standing on the peak of the Cun Mountain, the first things that catch tourists’eyes are the picturesque panorama of Mai Chau stilt houses along with a lush green valley. Another thing that is unforgettable in Mai Chau is that tourists are warmly hosted by the ethnic groups, especially Thai people in Lac village. Those who are in their spare time away from the rice paddies will cook, lead hikes and pull out a sleeping mat for wandering guests.

Normally, most travelers choose to stay a night in one of the stilt houses to experience the life of the ethnic tribe people. Stilt houses are the typical feature of the ethnic people in Vietnam. The houses border both sides of the roads. The houses are quite large in which up to 60 people can stay together. They are roofed with palm leaves while the floors are made of bamboo. The kitchen is situated in the center of the house. This is the place where cooking and weaving work take place. Thai people make colorful clothes themselves from “Tho Cam” materials. They also make many kinds of souvenirs such as wallets, bags, embroidered pictures, hats etc. Tourists can find those in various types and colors in the Mai Chau market. Mai Chau market, especially in spring, is the mixture of nature and people.  Feeling the cold wind and going around the market to admire the beauty and exquisite talent of the Thai maidens or enjoying the local specialty food or buying local fresh products all gives you great pleasure. 

In the recent time, Mai Chau has undergone considerable changes as it has become a popular break point for travelers. Some areas have now been commercialized; as a result, compared to the past the prices here may go up a little bit. However, this trend is not worrying so much because the breathtaking scenery and hospitality of the people as well as the valuable traditions still remain. It is even more convenient as tourism services are highly developed. Mai Chau never stops being a welcoming place for tourists in general.

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Mekong Delta Adventure

Sai Gon - My Tho - Ben Tre - Can Tho - Long Xuyen - Chau Doc - Vinh Suong

By: boat, bus, mini-bus, xich lo, xe om, xe may loi, xe dap loi, etc.


I returned to Viet Nam for the second time in late April 2005 to attend a veteran's, photojournalist's and war correspondent's reunion to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the end of the war; April 30th. I had already decided to tour the Mekong Delta, where I had never traveled, so, after a week in Sai Gon attending events, photographing the sights and visiting with friends I set out. Delta Adventure Tours offers a 3-day package tour continuing on into Cambodia on the morning of the fourth day but as I wanted to spend more than one night in each town I made arrangements to pick up the trip every other day.
Day One, Friday, 5/6: Sai Gon to My Tho. At 8:00 AM myself and about 14 others board a boat at the wharf on Ton Duc Thang Blvd. for the trip to My Tho. Cruising down the Sai Gon River we pass a large variety of commercial craft heading both up & down-river; merchant ships, heavily-laden cargo boats, small sampans and fishing vessels. As we get further away from the city we pick up speed and the banks change from buildings to lush green foliage. At 11:30 we arrive at My Tho. My hotel, the Chuong Duong, is right on the river. After lunch I explore My Tho, a pleasant little town on the banks of the Tien Giang branch of the Mekong. I visit the Cao Dai temple, the ferry landing, the Central Market and then just wander the streets until dark.
Day Two, Saturday, 5/7: Ben Tre. After an unsuccessful negotiation the previous afternoon to hire a car through Tien Giang Tourist to take me to Ben Tre today, I have to decided to go there on my own. Primary goal is to find and photograph the two Cao Dai temples there. I cross the river on the ferry. After some difficulties and a rather roundabout journey I arrive at the first temple just in time for the noon service. The kindly elders show me around the whole complex which I have carte blanche to shoot. After a late lunch I wander the town visiting the market and waterfront. I pass on trying to find the second temple; my limited Vietnamese language skills are not up to explaining, its Saturday, Ben Tre Tourist offices are closed, there are no taxis, only xe om, xe may loi & xe dap loi so, in the late afternoon I get a xe om back to the ferry landing to return to My Tho.
Day Three, Sunday, 5/8: My Tho to Can Tho. I spend the morning shooting in the market & around town. At 12:30 the Delta guide arrives to inform me that the bus that is to take us to Can Tho will be late due to a flat tire. I wait it out in the rain with the others. We get off around 3:00 PM; it's slow going; traffic + rain = accidents. The highlight of this trip is crossing the new bridge at Vinh Long. At the ferry crossing there's a 30 min. wait to cross the Hau Giang so we don't arrive in Can Tho until well after dark. I get a xe dap loi to my hotel, the A Chau, where, after a little negotiation, I get a balcony room for $2.00 more than an interior. Then it's out for dinner and a quick look around before retiring early.
Day Four, Monday, 5/9: Can Tho. Up early & down to the waterfront, which is bustling with activity. I let an old woman persuade me into going on a 2-hour canal tour in her small boat. Not as interesting as advertised but I get some good shots. After lunch I meet Anh Hau, a former ARVN interpreter who speaks excellent English. I retain his services as a guide & we set off on his xe om to explore the city; the market, a couple of temples and other sights. Can Tho is a really nice town. Friendly people, great sights & good food. I'm having a great time here.
Day Five, Tuesday, 5/10: Can Tho. Up at 6:00 AM for a 7:00 AM departure on a boat trip to the Cai Rang & Phong Dien floating markets. This is very interesting; lots of activity as we move among the boats selling every kind of fruit & vegetable grown in the Delta. After a brief stop at an orchard for fruit and tea we head back to town in the pouring rain. After lunch I hook up with Anh Hau again to continue exploring Can Tho, including a trip to the supermarket to get some provisions for tomorrow's trip.
Day Six, Wednesday, 5/11: Can Tho to Long Xuyen/Chau Doc. At 8:00 AM we're off on the bus to Long Xuyen where we'll get on a boat to continue on to Chau Doc. The bus trip is uninteresting but the boat trip is fantastic. It's great to be back on the river again, this time the Hau Giang, and I'm enjoying, and shooting, the variety of sights along the way including the sunset. We arrive in Chau Doc after dark. While the others pile onto the tour bus I get a xe dap loi to my hotel, the Thuan Loi. It's been an exhausting day so I decide to treat myself and have dinner at the Victoria Chau Doc, the city's luxury hotel. A sumptuous meal served by gorgeous women in a beautiful colonial-style dining room. Who could ask for more!
Day Seven, Thursday, 5/12: Chau Doc. Up and out early to go exploring as I have only one full day here. The morning is spent in Chau Doc town in the markets, temples & waterfront. After lunch I hire a xe om for the trip up Nui Sam, where I go to the temples and get my first look at Cambodia from the summit. The landscape is green & lush with rice paddies extending in every direction. At the base of the mountain I visit two more temples before heading back to town. Dinner at a floating restaurant caps off the day.
Day Eight, Friday, 5/13: Chau Doc - Vinh Suong. My last day in Viet Nam. A few tense moments this AM as I think the Delta folks have forgotten about me & I'm going to be left behind. A few calls solve the problem and as if by magic a xe om appears to take me to the boat landing. The trip to Vinh Suong takes about 2 hours. We disembark and climb up the riverbank to clear Vietnamese immigration & customs. In the customs shed there is a gigantic airport-style X-ray machine; an anachronism in this remote place. Upon exiting a crowd of boys vie to carry our bags for the 200-meter walk into Camdodia. After passing Cambodian immigration it's onto another boat to continue upriver to Phnom Penh, but... that's another story.
Summary: I set out to see if I could travel around Viet Nam by myself with minimal planning and assistance from organized tour operators, as I like the freedom to go where & when I want. Surprisingly, I was able to do so without much difficulty. When I was ready to move on I consulted my guidebook, chose a hotel, called ahead and reserved a room. This worked every time. I then called Delta in Sai Gon and told them I was ready to pick up the tour. To be sure there were a few tense moments when I thought I had been forgotten but they always came through, if a bit late. My limited Vietnamese-language skills came in quite handy and at the very least drew surprise, smiles & laughter from those I was attempting to communicate with. The cell phone I purchased in Sai Gon was a lifesaver. I'd do a similar trip again without reservation. Everybody I met was warm and friendly and eager to help; many even volunteered without my asking. I'd encourage anyone contemplating a similar journey to... GO FOR IT! In short, I had a wonderful time, made some new friends and got to see one of the most fascinating areas of Viet Nam - my way - not sitting on some tour bus.

Want an independent tour and private tour, please email us at: FootStepVietNam@Gmail.Com to get more information and assistance 

The Quan ho singing tradition

For the Bac Ninh people, festivals not only allow them to highlight their own village's specialties, such as ceramics, folk painting, wrestling, kite parades, or bird contest, among a great many other things, but also their common prized heritage, the quan ho singing tradition.
 From the past till now…

Ca quan ho, also called quan ho Bac Ninh singing, originated around the 13th century, and has traditionally been associated with the spring festivals that follow the celebration of the Vietnamese New Year.
According to the tradition, only young people used to sing quan ho songs, as the major body of song texts centers on the subject of love and sentimental desire among young adults. Nowadays, many elderly singers participate in the singing as well in response to the quant ho movement initiated by the provincial government. Originally, quan ho singing were exchange songs between two mandarins' families. Gradually, it spread out and became popular among the northern people. Groups were formed just for singing, and many marriages were formed at these get-together. After centuries, it became the most significant Vietnamese folk-song type.

Characteristics.
Unlike the simple lullabies, which were inspired by daily works, quan ho was always searching for new content and new reforms. Virtually, all songs heard in festivals express personal subject like addressing the beautiful nature and the satisfaction after harvesting crops together. Love in quan ho is not sad and pessimistic as it is in lullabies (ru) or in calls (hò). On the contrary, the tune of this type is rich in tunes and rhythms because it received all the influences of lullabies, poem recitation, etc.

There are four major airs in quan ho singing:
    Giọng sổng (transistor air)
    Giọng vặt (diverse air)
    Giọng hãm (recitative air)
    Giọng bỉ (tunes borrowed from other sources)

The most popular quan ho songs, "qua cau gio bay", "treo len quan doc" (also known as "ly cay da"), "se chi luon kim", were sung in Giọng vặt. (transistor air)

If you did listen or watch a quan ho performance, you will see that it is an antiphonal singing tradition in which men and women take turns singing in a challenge-and-response fashion drawing on a known repertoire of melodies. In general, an initial "challenge phrase" (câu ra) is sung by a pair of female singers, followed by a "matching phrase" (câu đối) from the men, which repeat the melody of the challenge phrase. Once the order is reversed, the men will issue their own challenge phrase with a different melody.

One of the quan ho features that have endured through time is the proper verbal and poetic introduction to every tune. Quan ho singers are not only appreciated for their singing ability, but also for their skill in leaving an impression of their gracefulness and literary adeptness on the audience. Usually, one of the singers will say something to praise the opposing pair and express how fortunate her/his pair has been to be allowed to sing with them before reciting the verses of the song. Not only provides listeners with the basic content of the song, the rhetoric used in the introduction contribute to create the impression of a theatrical act.

The singers also imitated the musical sound, the sound of rice grinding, crying as well as replying in the tunes that their opposing pair had used. The singing ends with songs in the farewell category- a feature that has never been changed as a sense of a completion.

Instrumental accompaniment is welcomed by quan ho singers in some villages. The mono chord is the most common instrument, followed by the bamboo flute and the 36-stringed hammered dulcimer.

Trying to make cultural sense of the quan ho tradition as it is practiced today is not an easy task. Quant ho singing has undergone several changes with regard both to its context and content as its practitioners continue to search for ways to put the puzzle together, while realizing that missing pieces may never be found. Yet, the Bac Ninh locals believe that quan ho singing has always been the window through which outside people can see who they really are- the director of the quan ho troupe maintains.

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Mekong Experience 14 Days

Day 1:Ho Chi Minh City
Upon arrival in HCMC,be greeted by our guide and transferred to the hotel.

Day 2:Ho Chi Minh City Tour
City tour including The Reunification Palace (former Presidential Palace),Post Office,Notre Dame Cathedral,Lam Son Square,Ben Thanh Market and Thien Hau pagoda.

Day 3:Cu Chi Tunnels
Morning boat ride along Saigon River to Cu Chi Tunnels. Return to Ho Chi Minh City to continue city touring.

Day 4:Mekong Delta Pandaw Cruise
Transfer to the My Tho in the Delta and board the boat. The luxury Pandaw boats are boutique ships designed as replicas of colonial river steamers. In the afternoon,take a traditional junk to explore the former Imperial residence. Overnight on boat.

Day 5:Mekong Delta Pandaw Cruise
Take a small boat to visit the floating markets. Return to the ship and cruise to Vinh Long to for more sightseeing.

Day 6:Pandaw Cruise Border Crossing
Travel down the canals and backwaters by local ferry boat. At Chau Doc,transfer to small boats to visit a Cham tribal village. Return to the ship and cast off for the Cambodian border (immigration formalities are arranged by our staff). Moor overnight downstream from Phnom Penh.

Day 7:Phnom Penh
Enjoy a private city tour of Phnom Penh,the capital of Cambodia. Overnight onboard Pandaw boat.

Day 8:Phnom Penh - Kampong Cham
Early departure to the little-known Chong Koh silk weaving village. Then cruise past the Mekong’s timeless villages and river life with extensive fishing activities. In the afternoon,stop at Peam Chi Kang village to visit a monastery and school. Overnight on Pandaw boat.

Day 9:Kampong Cham Area
Morning journey up stream to the hilltop pre-Angkorian temple of Wat Hanchey. In the afternoon travel by bus to the temple of Wat Nokor then continue to Phnom Pros and Phnom Srei. Overnight on Pandaw boat.

Day 10:Tonle River
Today is a spectacular cruise on the Tonle River winding our way through jungle. Temples abound along the river banks at Kampong Chhnang,and you will see the rich tapestry of Cambodian rural life. Take a motor boat excursion into the lakeside wetlands that form the mouth of the river. Overnight on Pandaw boat.

Day 11:Tonle Sap - Siem Reap
Depart by speedboat and disembark at Siem Reap Port for onward transfer to the hotel for an afternoon tour of the temples. Overnight in hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 12 - 13:Angkor Complex
Private sightseeing tour of the temples.

Day 14:Siem Reap
Free time until your airport transfer.

North West Loop 7 Days

Day 1:Ha Noi - Mai Chau - Son La (L,D)
Pick you up at hotel. Travel through the Red River Delta before stopping in Mai Chau for a short walk,and then drive onto Son La. Overnight in Son La

Day 2:Son La - Dien Bien Phu (B,L,D)
Son La has an old French prison and museum,perfect for a small walk to visit in the morning before your departure to Dien Bien Phu . You'll enjoy the picturesque scenery as you pass the villages of Black Thai,White Thai,Meo and Muong peoples. Overnight in Dien Bien Phu

Day 3:Dien Bien Phu - Lai Chau (B,L,D)
From Muong Lay,the drive is stunning with tiered tea plantations and verdant rice terraces carved into the landscape. Continue to Lai Chau (formerly Tam Duong) for the night. If you happen to be in Lai Chau on a Sunday morning,the town is bustling with activity as the local hill tribes gather for their weekly market day. Overnight at guesthouse.

Day 4:Lai Chau - Sa Pa (B,L,D)
From Lai Chau to Sa Pa you pass through Tam Duong (formerly Binh Lu),and over the 1900 meter Tram Ton pass,Viet Nam's highest mountain pass and considered the most beautiful stretch of road in the country. Sa Pa is nestled at over 1600 meters in the breathtaking Hoang Lien Son Mountains. After lunch,take a short 3-hour trek down this stunning valley sculpted with steep rice terraces to Ta Van village for a home stay. Enjoy the savoury food and the hospitality of your Dzay hosts.

Day 5:Sa Pa - Ban Ho (B,L,D)
A good day trekking along rice terraces,through lush bamboo forest and local villages including that of the colourful Dzao hill tribe,and down to a rolling stream for a picnic lunch. After lunch,continue trekking along the rice terraces,trails and dirt roads into Ban Ho for an insightful night with your Tay hosts,where you’ll sleep in the cosy loft complete with comfy mattress and a mosquito net.

Day 6:Ban Ho - Sa Pa - Lao Cai (B,L,D)
Short trek to the dirt road for the jeep ride back to Sa Pa. Enjoy an afternoon to explore Sa Pa town,great shopping in the market for local produce and you can buy handicrafts from many of the local hill tribes selling their wares there. Night train back to Ha Noi
 
Day 7:Hanoi - Departure
You will arrive in Hanoi around 05:00 AM. End of tour.

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Northwest Exploration 9 Days

Day 1: Hanoi - Ha Giang (300km)                                                                                               
7.30am:Our guide and car will pick you up at your hotel or at Sinh Adventure Office at 98 Ma May. We set off our trip. We will drive through Thai Nguyen city,and a break at the Museum of Ethnology. This is an important stop as we will be visiting many of Vietnam's ethnic minorities and hill tribe people. Take some extra time to learn about the Dao,Hmong,Muong,Thai,and Bo Y minorities. To continue,we will head North to Tuyen Quang province,visit the historic Tan Trao area then on to Ha Giang. We should arrive in Ha Giang at about 5:00 pm. Dinner and sleep in town.

Day 2: Ha Giang - Quan Ba (50km)                                                                                                        
This will be a short drive but one that will set the tone for the next eight days. The adventure begins as soon as we leave town and enter a land of colorful mountain hill tribes and seemingly impossible landscapes. All around you limestone rock faces will rise straight up perpendicular to the valley bellow and hill tribe people will be smiling and waving you onward.
We will pass Heaven's Gate pass,then on to Quan Ba town for lunch.Afternoon we have some drive with some stops to walk through some nearby ethnic villages. We will return to Quan Ba town for dinner and to retire for the night.

Day 3: Quan Ba - Yen Minh- Meo Vac (100 km)                                                                                         
Have breakfast then hit the road,camera ready! All of our guides will have to agree that this is one of the most beautiful places in Vietnam. The "mother nature will never get enough credit" scenery and the "I cannot believe that that is actually the road" routes will absolutely and positively astound you! There will be ample opportunity to see the ethnic minorities and even visit their traditional homes. We will stop in Yen Minh town for lunch and then continue on our journey drive to a nearby pass and then descending into the Meo Vac valley,very close to the Chinese border,for dinner and an overnight.

Day 4: Meo Vac - Dong Van (50km)
After breakfast,we will first take some time to drive over the Ma Pi Leng Pass. Here is yet another amazing place,with incredible mountain ranges and the Nho Que river winding off in the distance. We will continue to zigzag our way to Dong Van,visiting remote areas and the hard working local people here. It is inspiring to see how they survive as they manage their environment. When we reach town we will have some extra time to wonder the ancient streets lined with Hmong homes of clay bricks and tiles roofs built centuries ago...Dinner and sleep here.

Day 5:Dong Van - Yen Minh - Quan Ba (100km)
At a leisurely pace we will drive on from Dong Van to Quan Ba. Today we will visit the infamous Vuong Palace,where a Hmong family of high rank lived during French colonial rule. This palace attracts keen interest from architecturally minded visitors due to it is mixed style of European and Chinese architecture. We then come back on the car and back to Quan Ba for our overnight. Note:Quan Ba Sunday market is worth an arrangement!

Day 6: Quan Ba - Ha Giang - Hoang Sun Phi (120km)
Today we will double back to Ha Giang then depart for Bac Quang. The drive is a pleasant one with countless meandering turns and winding sections on our way to Hoang Sun Phi. This is your trip and we encourage you to stop as many times as you wish to meet local people or to take those once in a lifetime photographs. We will arrive in the town of Hoang Sun Phi at about 4:00 pm for dinner and sleep.

Day 7: Xin Man - Bac Ha (160km)
Today's dive is longer than yesterday's via Xin Man and the area's tortuous roadways. More picturesque countryside and landscapes,as well as meeting and talking with local ethnic families. The second half of this drive is much easier but one will have to be careful not to get lost in the dense woods. Arrive in the town of Bac Ha (Lao Cai) at about 5:00 pm,dinner and sleep in town.

Day 8: Bac Ha
The morning will provide free time for you to explore Bac Ha. This is a small town built on a desolated highland plain North West of Lao Cai. It is well-known for it's century-old colorful hill tribe market of the Flower Hmong (on Sunday only). All meals served in town and sleep at the same hotel.

Day 9: Bac Ha - Lao Cai – Hanoi
Your last day will include more exploration in Bac Ha and drive downwards to Lao Cai town. We start driving back to Hanoi. We arrive in Hanoi in the evening.

Mount Fansipan Adventure 9 Days

Day 1:Arrival - Ha Noi (Breakfast)
On arrival at Noi Bai Airport,you are met and transferred to hotel. Ha Noi,Vietnam's capital,is a stylish and gracious city that retains an unique old world charm and some Asia ‘s most striking colonial architecture. The many lakes and parks make for relaxing atmosphere. (If time permit) we enjoy a short cyclo excursion through the bustling old quarter streets named after the specific goods once offered for sale at these places.

Day 2:Ha Noi - Lao Cai (Breakfast)
Today we enjoy a half day city tour,seeing the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh,the Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh’s House. Close to this complex is the One Pillar Pagoda. We also visit the Temple of Literature and the peaceful lake of Hoan Kiem with its sacred temple before continuing on to the impressive Ethnologic Museum,dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 ethnic minorities,some of which we will see on our forthcoming days. The reminder of the day is free for your own exploration of Ha Noi until transferring to the rail way station for a night train to Lao Cai. The train conditions are very basic however we will travel in soft sleeper class which is compartment for 4 passengers.

Day 3:Lao Cai - Sapa (Breakfast)
The train journey arrives in Laocai this morning. After breakfast at local restaurant we embark on a scenic drive uphill to SaPa. At an elevation of 1,500 meters,Sa Pa is the former hill retreat for French administrators when the heat in plain became unbearable. The remoteness and simple lifestyle of ethnic minorities are a highlight of Sa Pa although conditions are very basic. After checking into hotel we can soak up the fresh climate as much as we want by spending our time wandering around this charming town and seeing some legacies of the French period.

Day 4:Sapa - Fansipan Trekking (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
The range of Fansipan boasts Vietnam’s highest mountain and lends an alpine feel to the area surrounding this hill station. The expedition begins as we depart the town and walk through many hill villages,home to the Hmong hill tribe people. They are very poor but have an interesting culture and a colorful history. After a short rest at the peak of 1300m,we trek up to the peak of 1650m. Here we pitch tents and enjoy our dinner around the camp fire in exotic nocturnal sound of the forest.

Day 5:Fansipan Trekking (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Today we spend a full day trekking mountain sides. The walk is very strenuous at times so some physical preparation will enable you to maximize enjoyment from the trip. On arrival at the ridge of 2200m we stop to have lunch,stretch our legs and catch a breathtaking views over the valley of Sapa. The next stop of our trip is the peak of 2900m where will set up our tents.

Day 6:Fansipan Trekking (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
The expedition continues leading us towards Phan Si Pan Summit at 3143 m. The steep path is very challenging as we weave our way through bamboo forest,but the impression of standing on the roof of Vietnam makes the hardship all worthwhile. After lunch and rest at the summit,we descend to our camping place of previous night.

Day 7:Fansipan Trekking - Sapa (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Upon leaving the peak of 2900m.,we begin walking downhill back to Sapa Town. The steep trails is somewhat arduous but we have a chance to get some fantastic views over the surrounding mountains to the valley and the quite villages in the far distance. The memorable expeditions ends as we arrive in Sapa Town. A farewell dinner held at one of the many famous eating spots is the perfect way to thank the local team.

Day 8:Sapa – Lao Cai - Hanoi (Breakfast)
The journey back to Hanoi is also by rail but this time day train. After breakfast we transfer to Lao Cai and set off on a full day journey to Hanoi. The train conditions are basic;however this journey is in keeping with the adventurous nature of our trips and allows you to experience a taste of the 'real Vietnam'. The food on board is not the best you will have in Vietnam,so we recommend you to prepare some foods,water and snack.

Day 9:Hanoi - Departure (Breakfast)
There is free time to relax and further explore Ha Noi. The trip ends after your transfer to Noi Bai Airport for departure.

 

Want an independent tour and private tour, please email us at: Salesdetectvietnam@gmail.com to get more information and assistance.

North East Loop 4 Days

Day 1:Ha Noi - Thai Nguyen - Ba Be National Park (L,D)
At 08:00am:Our guide picks you up for drive through the Red River Delta north along Hwy 3 to Thai Nguyen. Of interest here is the Museum of the Cultures of Viet Nam's Ethnic Groups. Leaving the delta behind,you'll start climbing into the mountainous area of Ba Be National Park. Take a short boat trip (30 minutes) to a Tay village for dinner and home stay in a local house.

Day 2:Ba Be - Cao Bang (B,L,D)
Ba Be Lake,surrounded by rugged limestone mountains,is Viet Nam's only natural mountain lake. This important eco-system is well known for over 330 species of butterflies! Have breakfast with your Tay hosts before exploring the lake with lush forest clinging to the surrounding mountains. Reach the end of the lake and trek to Dau Dang Waterfall before heading north through the mountains to the city of Cao Bang. Overnight in Cao Bang

Day 3:Ban Gioc Waterfall (B,L,D)
Take a scenic day trip north of Cao Bang to the beautiful Ban Gioc Waterfall on the Chinese border for a picnic lunch. This picturesque,cascading waterfall is 53 meters high and has an impressive span of 300 meters. The unique landscape includes limestone karst formations soaring from the verdant rice paddies of Tay,H'Mong and Dzao ethnic minority groups. On the way back to Cao Bang,explore the expansive 2,144 meter Nguom Ngao Cavern to discover its brilliant stalactites. Overnight in Cao Bang

Day 4:Cao Bang - Lang Son - Ha Noi (B,L)
Before departing Cao Bang,consider climbing the hill up to the War Memorial for a great panoramic view. The famous Highway 4 winds its way through steep mountain passes with spectacular vistas! Lang Son,the capital of this mountainous area,is an important crossing and trading route with China. The area is home to Dzao,Man,Tho and Nung ethnic minority groups. Lang Son has two markets,the Old Market and the Dong Kinh Market,where shoppers can find everything from electronics and gadgets to textiles and house wares. Just a couple of kilometers from town are two large,beautiful caves and the ruins of the Mac Dynasty Citadel that are worth a visit,time permitting. Tam Thanh Cave contains a pond and offers great views of the surrounding farmlands. Nhi Thanh Cave,formed by the river that flows through it,has poems carved into the entrance by the man who discovered the cave in the 18th century. The late afternoon trip back to Hanoi from Lang Son is along a modern 4-lane divided highway. Trip ends around 8pm.

Want an independent tour and private tour, please email us at: Salesdetectvietnam@gmail.com to get more information and assistance.

Mai Chau Lodge and Hiking Adventurer 6 Days

Day 1: Hanoi - Mai Chau
Upon arrival in Mai Chau valley you will check into the lodge and have a brief orientation to the facilities and activity options (such as nature walks,cycling,and visiting hill tribe villages). Dinner will be served accompanied by a traditional dance performance by the local Thai people.

Day 2: Mai Chau - Hang Kia Village
Following breakfast in Mai Chau town,you will be driven to the H’mong village of Sa Linh from here commence a three hour hike to the village of Hang Kia. Overnight stay in a village homestay at Hang Kia.

Day 3: Hang Kia - Van Village
Today get truly off the beaten track as you trek (approx. 6-7 hours) through tropical rainforest,using the local tracks and passing through cornfields as you descend into Mai Chau Valley. Arrive at Van village by late afternoon (home to the Thai people) and spend the night here in a traditional house.

Day 4: Van Village - Mai Chau Lodge
After breakfast,continue to walk (approx. 2 hours) to Xam Khoe village where a vehicle will transport you to Mai Chau Lodge where you will be able to rest and relax in comfort.

Day 5: Mai Chau Lodge - Nanh Village
From the lodge drive to the Da River and take a short boat ride to visit this beautiful village of Dzao ethnic minority. Enjoy a picnic lunch and return to the lodge in the early afternoon. There is the option to relax in the lodge grounds. Overnight in Mai Chau lodge.

Day 6: Mai Chau - Hanoi
Breakfast is provided in Mai Chau,followed by your departure to Hanoi in the mid-morning.

Want an independent tour and private tour, please email us at: FootStepVietNam@Gmail.Com to get more information and assistance 

Phu Quoc Island

One of the best beach resort of Vietnam is Phu Quoc Island, which covers an area of 567sq.km (about 62km long and between 3km and 28km wide), and its population is approximately 100,000 (in 2009).

Phu Quoc is called the island of "99 mountains" because of its many sandstone chains gradually descending from the north to the south. The longest one is Ham Ninh which stretches for 30 km along the eastern edge with its highest peak called Mt. Chua (603m).

Phu Quoc has a monsoon sub-equatorial climate. There are two seasons in the year: the rainy season (October only) and the dry season (November to September). The average annual rainfall is 2,879 m and the average temperature is 27oC. Trips to Phu Quoc can be made all year round, but the best time is dry season when the sky is always sunny, clear and blue.

Phu Quoc is also called the Emerald Island because of its natural treasures and infinite tourism potential. The island is well known for its high-quality fish sauce; Phu Quoc fish sauce smells particularly good since it is made from a small fish, ca com, with a high level of protein. The island produces 6 million liters of fish sauce every year.

Phu Quoc Island has many harbors such as An Thoi and Hon Thom where international and domestic ships anchor. Also, there are several historical sites on the island: National Hero Nguyen Trung Truc's military base, King Gia Long relics from the time he spent on the island, and Phu Quoc Prison.

Off the coast of the island emerges a group of 105 islands of all sizes. Some of them are densely inhabited such as Hon Tre and Kien Hai, 25km from Rach Gia. Visitors can spend time on the beach or hike while observing the wild animals.

It is possible to reach the island by either plane or boat from Rach Gia, Ho Chi Minh City ( 1 hour by plane), Rach Gia (2,5 hours by hydrofoil).

Want an independent tour and private tour, please email us at: FootStepVietNam@Gmail.Com to get more information and assistance 

Sai Gon or Ho Chi Minh City

Formerly known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is a sprawling metropolis that is home to more than 5 million people. Vibrant and alluring, this city offers something for everyone. It is a study in contrasts: traditional and modern, young and old, rich and poor.

If you ever wondered what Bangkok must have been like before the gridlock or Hong Kong before the high rises, this is your chance.

But don't wait too long, this place is changing fast. Plan on spending a minimum of 2 or 3 days, longer if you can.

The central downtown area is in District 1. Here's where you'll find the greatest variety of lodgings, including classic hotels like the Grand, the Majestic and the Rex, as well as most of the newer, upscale hostelries. In recent years a lot of new hotel projects have been going up, creating a temporary glut, particularly in the high end of the market. The result is some pretty good deals on some really nice hotel rooms. We recommend first-timers stay in District 1, as it's close to many museums, historical sites, and good restaurants.

Numerous worthwhile sites within Ho Chi Minh City itself include the Historical Museum, Reunification Hall and the War Remnants Museum (formerly the War Crimes Museum). Within a day's drive there are also several attractions well-worth the trip.

Bargain hunters will find good deals on native handicrafts and custom-tailored clothing. Of course Ho Chi Minh City is also a great place to just sit and watch the action or take a leisurely tour in a cyclo to visit the historical sites, including Notre Dame Cathedral and the former U.S. embassies.

Downtown streets are dominated by two-wheeled traffic. Fashionably-dressed women with designer sunglasses, high heels and elbow-length gloves cruise past on their Hondas, followed by teenage girls wearing traditional Vietnamese ao dai, peddling bicycles and holding hands. With few traffic lights, intersections are negotiated by slowing down and then weaving through the cross traffic, making eye contact with the closest riders. Pedestrians cross the street by simply walking into the melee, hardly breaking stride as the traffic swirls around them. It all sounds crazy, but it works!

Most offices, stores and museums open early, usually around 7:30 a.m. Most close their doors for lunch for up to 2 hours. The city literally shuts down between noon and 1. Doors reopen by 1:30 and stay open until around 4:30 or 5. Most restaurants stop serving at 10 p.m.

Ho Chi Minh City has essentially two seasons: dry and wet. The dry season runs from November through April; the wet season from May through October. Dry or wet, it's always hot! If you arrive during the wet season, bring a raincoat and umbrella.

Want an independent tour and private tour, please email us at: FootStepVietNam@Gmail.Com to get more information and assistance 

Cu Chi Tunnels and Cao Dai Temple

Cu chi district is well-known nationwide as the base where the Vietnamese mounted their operations of the Tet Offensive in 1968.The tunnels are between 0.4 to 1m wide, just enough for a person to walk along by bending or dragging. However, parts of the tunnels have been modified to accommodate visitors. The upper soil layer is between 3 to 5m thick and can support the weight of a 60-ton tank and the damage of light cannons and bombs. The underground network provided meeting rooms, sleeping quarters, commanding rooms, hospitals, and other social rooms. By visiting the Cu Chi tunnels provides a better understanding of the prolonged resistance war of the Vietnamese people and also of the persistent and clever character of the Vietnamese nation

A place that’s physically invisible, the Cu Chi tunnels have sure carved themselves a celebrated niche in the history of guerilla warfare. Its celebrated and unseen geography straddles – all of it underground – something which the Americans eventually found as much to their embarrassment as to their detriment. They were dug, before the American War, in the late 1940s, as a peasant-army response to a more mobile and ruthless French occupation. The plan was simple: take the resistance briefly to the enemy and then, literally, vanish.

Firstly, the French then the Americans were baffled as to where they melted to, presuming, that it was somewhere under cover of the night in the Mekong delta. But the answer lay in the sprawling city under their feet – miles and miles of tunnels. In the gap between French occupation and the arrival of the Americans the tunnels fell largely into disrepair, but the area’s thick natural earth kept them intact and maintained by nature. In turn it became not just a place of hasty retreat or of refuge, but, in the words of one military historian, "an underground land of steel, home to the depth of hatred and the incommutability of the people. "It became, against the Americans and under their noses, a resistance base and the headquarters of the southern Vietnam Liberation Forces. The linked threat from the Viet Cong - the armed forces of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam - against the southern city forced the unwitting Americans to select Cu Chi as the best site for a massive supply base – smack on top of the then 25-year old tunnel network. Even sporadic and American’s grudgingly had to later admit, daring attacks on the new base, failed for months to indicate where the attackers were coming from – and, importantly, where they were retreating to. It was only when captives and defectors talked that it became slightly more clear. But still the entries, exits, and even the sheer scale of the tunnels weren’t even guessed at. Chemicals, smoke-outs, razing by fire, and bulldozing of whole areas, pinpointed only a few of the well-hidden tunnels and their entrances. The emergence of the Tunnel Rats, a detachment of southern Vietnamese working with Americans small enough to fit in the tunnels, could only guess at the sheer scale of Cu Chi. By the time peace had come, little of the complex, and its infrastructure of schools, dormitories, hospitals, and miles of tunnels, had been uncovered. Now, in peace, only some of it is uncovered – as a much-visited part of the southern tourist trail. Many of the tunnels are expanded replicas, to avoid any claustrophobia they would induce in tourists. The wells that provided the vital drinking water are still active, producing clear and clean water to the three-tiered system of tunnels that sustained life. A detailed map is almost impossible, for security reasons if nothing else: an innate sense of direction guided the tunnellers and those who lived in them.

Many routes linked to local rivers, including the Saigon River, their top soil firm enough to take construction and the movement of heavy machinery by American tanks, the middle tier from mortar attacks, and the lower, 8-10m down was impregnable. A series of hidden, and sometimes booby-trapped, doors connected the routes, down through a system of narrow, often unlit and invented tunnels. At one point American troops brought in a well-trained squad of 3000 sniffer dogs, but the German Shepherds were too bulky to navigate the courses. One legend has it that the dogs were deterred by Vietnamese using American soap to throw them off their scent, but more usually pepper and chilly spray was laid at entrances, often hidden in mounds disguised as molehills, to throw them off. But the Americans were never passive about the tunnels, despite being unaware of their sheer complexity. Large-scale raiding operations used tanks, artillery and air raids, water was pumped through known tunnels, and engineers laid toxic gas. But one American commander’s report at the time said: "It’s impossible to destroy the tunnels because they are too deep and extremely tortuous."

Today the halls that showed propagandas films, housed educational meetings and schooled Vietnamese in warfare are largely intact. So too are the kitchens where visitors can dine on steamed manioc, pressed rice with sesame and salt, a popular meal during the war, as they are assailed with true stories of how life went on as near-normal, much of the time. Ancestors were worshipped there, teaching was well-timetabled, poultry was raised – and even couples trusted, fell in love, were wed, and honeymooned there. But visitors have it easier: those re-constructed tunnels give the flavour of the tunnels but not the claustrophobia and the sacrifice of the estimated 18,000 who served their silent and unseen war there with only around one-third surviving, the rest casualties of American assaults, snakes, rats and insects.

Now the unseen and undeclared No Man’s Land is undergoing a revival, saluted as a Relic of National History and Culture with its Halls of Tradition displaying pictures and exhibits. The nearby Ben Duoc-Cu Chi War Memorial, where the reproduced tunnels have been built, stands as an-above ground salute to a hidden war.

Cao Dai Great Temple built between 1933 and 1955. The Great Temple is 140m long and 40m wide. It has 4 towers each with a different name: Tam Dai, Hiep Thien Dai, Cuu Trung Dai, and Bat Quai Dai. The interior of the temple consists of a colonnaded hall and a sanctuary. The 2 rows of columns are decorated with dragons and are coated in white, red, and blue paint. The domed ceiling is divided into 9 parts similar to a night sky full of stars and symbolizing heaven. Under the dome is a giant star-speckled blue globe on which is painted the Divine Eye, the official symbol of Caodaism. Cao Dai followers worship Jesus Christ, Confucius, Taoism, and Buddha.

Everyday, there are 4 times of services, 6 a.m., noon, 6 p.m., and midnight, on our tour visiting Cu Chi tunnels and Tay Ninh province, we can witness the solemn ceremony of the unique religion - Caodaism at Caodai Holly See at its noon tide prayer service with followers dressed in red, blue, yellow and white robes.

Want an independent tour and private tour, please email us at: FootStepVietNam@Gmail.Com to get more information and assistance 

Vietnam Family Vacations 11 Days

Day 1:Arrive Ho Chi Minh City (former Saigon )
On arrival at Ho Chi Minh's Tan Son Nhat International airport,you will be greeted by our guide and transferred to your hotel in town. Overnight in HCMC.

Day 2:Ho Chi Minh City (B)
Morning you enjoy a private city touring HCMC,the country's commercial center and home to a growing number of upscale restaurants and shops. Visit Chinatown,the Thien Hau Pagoda,the Reunification Palace ,the Opera House and Hotel de Ville. Lunch at private home. Also visit the moving War Remnants Museum . Explore colorful outdoor markets and Dong Khoi Street ,the city's upscale shopping boulevard with boutiques selling clothes and accessories designed by new Vietnamese designers,hill tribe crafts,high quality linens and housewares. Try the South's strong Vietnamese iced coffee and a banh mi (baguette sandwich). Overnight in HCMC.

Day 3:Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta (B)
This morning you set off for a drive through the Mekong Delta to the town of Vinh Long ,well-known for its floating market. Here. we will board our private boat Cai Be Princess Cruise for a cruise along the maze of waterways and canals to Vinh Long. We will stop at the home of a Bonsai gardener for a sumptuous Delta lunch,including the popular dish of 'Elephant ear fish,before continuing our exploration of the tributaries and canals of the delta. Toward the end of the day,we arrive in Can Tho city,heart of the Mekong Delta. Overnight in Can Tho.

Day 4:Mekong Delta - HCMC - Hue (B)
You wake up to the sounds of the Mekong River welcoming a new day. Enjoy breakfast on the "Lady Hau" while cruising to the floating market. When the "Lady Hau" arrives at Cai Rang floating market,guests are transferred to a local traditional boat to enter the market. Then,continue cruising with the hotel's guide along narrow creeks to visit a noodle factory and an orchard. After sampling local fruits,our guide will escort the guests back to the hotel by local boat through myriad canals. (Starting at 6:30 AM,the Lady Hau cruise and tour extension takes around 4 hours;minimum 4 persons). Following this we will rendezvous with our vehicle for the drive to the town of My Tho to visit the Vinh Trang Pagoda and the Dong Tam snake farm. Transfer back to HCMC for flight to Hue. Pick up and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Hue .

Day 5:Hue (B)
Rising up in the ancient land,breakfast in hotel,we board on a private boat for cruising on the romantic Perfume River. This time we head out for the countryside. Being the ancient capital,Hue is surrounded with ancient tombs of emperors past,and a visit to some of these tombs will be on the itinerary for today. The charming Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda) will be the first stop of the day. Setting in the converge of rivers,and gives you a great view on the Perfume River and surrounding area. From here you will take a drive to visit King Minh Mang's tomb &King Tu Duc tomb.This afternoon we embark on a tour of Hue City including the Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City,the Imperial Museum and the Dong Ba market. Overnight in Hue .

Day 6:Hue &Hoi An (B)
Today you leave the world Heritage Hue to Hoian passing the Hai Van pass. Once in Hoi An we visit one school in Hoi An before check in our hotel and have some free time to explore. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 7:Hoian Ancient town (B)
We enjoy a half day orientation tour of Hoian including the Chinese Assembly Halls,the Japanese Covered Bridge ,Phuc Kien Pagoda and Tan Ky House. Following the tour there will be free time to shopping or relaxing. Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 8:Hoi An - Danang - Hanoi (B)
Transfer to airport for flight to Hanoi for two-night stay. Pick up and transfer to hotel. Evening water puppet performance. Overnight in Hanoi

Day 9:Hanoi (B)
Full Day City Tour in Hanoi:Vietnam 's artistic and intellectual capital. Explore the fascinating Old Quarter and its hundreds of specialty shops selling silk clothing,lacquerware,embroidered linens,furniture,bamboo,cooking utensils,ceremonial objects and more. Enjoy people watching at stylish cafes. Shop for impressive modern art in the city's many galleries. Also visit Hanoi 's main cultural attractions,including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum,his House on Stilts,the One Pillar Pagoda,the Fine Arts Museum,the Temple of Literature and the Vietnam Ethnology Museum. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 10:Halong Bay Excursion (B/L)
In the morning you will drive to Halong Bay City,approximately 3 hours away. Once at Halong Bay City you are welcome on board for a four-hour cruise on the stunning bay,stopping along the way to visit one of the limestone caves in the area. As you are cruising,the boat crew will serve you a sumptuous local seafood lunch. After 4 hour navigation you sail back to harbor and rejoin car back to your hotel in Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 11:Departure (B)
There is no activity planned for today. Enjoy your free time for souvernir shopping until transfer to the airport for your onward flight.

Want an independent tour and private tour, please email us at: FootStepVietNam@Gmail.Com to get more information and assistance 

Motorbike Ha Giang & the Northernmost Regions 7 days

Day 1: Hanoi – Ba Be (~240 km) 
07:30 am at your hotel. Before we kick off, we will spend about 30 minutes to check over the bikes and insure that we have all necessary tools and equipment to guarantee maximum fun. Today, there is not much to see en route, although this will be a great opportunity for you to test your biking abilities and get a feel for your bike (Russian Minsk). We will drive through Thai Nguyen city, keep moving through many other timeless villages linked to the road, which is the main artery of trade between the Northeast region and the Hanoi Capital.
This is our first glimpse of rural Vietnam and sets the tone for the days ahead. Lunch on the way. Depending on traffic conditions, we will arrive at Ba Be Lake  about midday. What is more to take a local boat trip to explore one part of Ba Be Lakes, visit Goa & Han Ma island then more cruise to the village.  After arriving at our home stay in Pac Ngoi village, you are welcome by the host family of Tay people. Free time then to have shower, walk around the village. Dinner and overnight in Ba Be.
Inclusion:
Guide, hotel, lunch, dinner , motor-bike, gas,

Day 2: Ba Be – Tinh Tuc - Bao Lac ( ~ 178km)
Today, with a medium drive with more slopes but we will soon be enjoying the wonderful sightseeing of   mountain, riding through villages. Lunch will be served on the way at a local restaurant then continue our journey to Bao Lac.  Arrival at the town in the late afternoon. Check in hotel and free on your own leisure to have shower and rest. Dinner and stay overnight in Bao Lac.
Inclusion:
Guide, hotel, all meals, motor-bike, gas,

Day 3: Bao Lac - Meo Vac – Dong Van (~ 96 km)
After breakfast, we leave Meo Vac to Ha Giang. Remember to prepare your camera with lots of films for today since we will be hitting the Heaven – a more beautiful place, here we are surrounded by many rocks of all shapes and sizes, chances to see and even visit the traditional houses of the hill tribes here.
The scenic route climbs over a pass, and then we descend down to Meo Vac valley, a beautiful valley situated very close to Chinese border. Have lunch in Meo Vac  then we take time to climb over the Ma Pi Leng Pass where we can enjoy beautiful mountain ranges and the the Nho Que river – just an amazing place to be! We keep hitting the zigzag roadsDetectvietnam to Dong Van, visiting these remote areas, we will witness how hard the locals struggle with their environment for survival and development. We will stay in town to get the chances to visit the ancient streets with old houses of the H’mong made of clay bricks and tile roofs, built centuries ago. Sleep in Dong Van town.
Inclusion:
Guide, hotel, all meals, motor-bike, gas,

Day 4: Dong Van - Yen Minh - Quan Ba - Ha Giang (~ 150 km)  
A leisurely drive from Dong Van, back to Yen Minh & Quan Ba, this day will make your itinerary a good pace, not in a rush. We will visit the infamous Vuong Palace, a H'mong family of high rank during French colonial rule - this palace attracts keen interest from architecturally minded visitors due to its mixed style of European and Chinese architecture. We then hit the road back to Quan Ba and down hill to Ha Giang for the night.
Note: Quan Ba Sunday market is worth an arrangement!
Inclusion:
Guide, hotel, all meals, motor-bike, gas,

Day 5: Ha Giang - Hoang Su Phi - Bac Ha (~ 209km)
A long but stunning scenery along the zigzag road from Ha Giang to Bac Ha will make today a little busier, some parts of the road might be difficult to travel so make sure that you depart early this day from Ha Giang to arrive to Bac Ha in time before dark. Dinner and overnight in town.
Note: Road from Ha Giang to Hoang Su Phi then Xin Man – Bac Ha can be bad and impossible to ride during the raining season, however a backup to travel to Bac Ha is already planned.
Inclusion:
Guide, hotel, all meals, motor-bike, gas,

Day 6: Bac Ha - Sapa (~ 120km)
 We have this morning free in Bac Ha to roam around (if we are lucky on Sunday for the market). In the afternoon 3 hours drive to Sapa. Your free time to visit this tourist town and overnight in town.
Inclusion:
Guide, hotel, lunch, motor-bike, gas.,

Day 7: Explore around Sapa, night train to Hanoi
We suggest to ride down hill to a village then leave your bike there then head out for some hours of trekking to Ta Phin or Ta Van village. We will ride to Lao cai train station (1,5h) in the late afternoon, our bikes are then loaded on the train before your own dinner in Lao Cai. Our train leaves at 8.15 pm to Hanoi, arrival in Hanoi at around 5 am next morning, tour ends at your hotel.
Inclusion:
Guide, train ticket, breakfast, motor-bike, gas,

Want an independent tour and private tour, please email us at: FootStepVietNam@Gmail.Com to get more information and assistance

Vietnam Honeymoon 12 Days

Vietnam is rapidly gaining a reputation as one of the most romantic countries in Asia. With a magical coastline, beautifully restored beach side villas, and a rich colonial history, it is an ideal destination for a honeymoon. This honeymoon trip is a memorable o­ne that we has designed for you. This trip offers relaxation, indulgence, intimate privacy, cultural exploration, and the unique opportunity to meet the friendly local people. Their own laughter and happiness will easily spread to your heart and help you celebrate the joy of your new lifelong partnership with your spouse.

Day 1: Hanoi on Arrival
Up on arrival,welcome by local guide and get private transfer to hotel located in the heart of Old Quarter. Be at your leisure and free to explore Hanoi old town by yourself. Overnight in hotel. 

Day 2: Hanoi – Halong
After breakfast we take a coach to the fabulous Halong Bay,created in Vietnamesefolklore by a descending dragon. We will have our own boat,built in the style of a Chinese junk,opulently decorated. After we set off we have a terrific silver service lunch on board as we head for the Sung Sot cave and its limestone structures. In the soft Vietnamese night you can try your hand at fishing. You sleep anchored in the bay,rocked by the gentle ocean waves. ( B,LD )

 Day 3: Halong – Hanoi
We continue cruising on the bay until just after lunch when we dock again at Halong City. Our coach will meet us and return us to our Hanoi hotel for some free time. Tonight is our last in this city as in the morning we will set off on one of the most interesting trips of the tour. ( B,L,D )

Day 4: Hanoi – Danang – Hoian
Enjoy breakfast before flying to Danang. From here you will drive through picturesque countryside to the quaint fishing village of Hoi An. In the afternoon,,we explore Hoian old town. Visit the Japanese covered bridge to understand part of cultural exchange a few hundred years ago,visit Phuc Kien assembly hall to find out how Hoian has been sucessful and visit the ancient house of Tan Ky to see how Hoian people live and enjoy their peaceful life. End this Heritage Walking Tour by wandering through the Hoian cloth market for your own tailor shopping. Dinner at Restaurant. Overnight in one of the most luxurious resorts( Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner included )

Day 5: Hoi an
Spend the day relaxing on the beach,or participating in a cooking class,shopping or spoiling yourself in the resort spa. In the evening,enjoy dinner in a cozy and cultural restaurant in Old town. Overnight in hotel.

 Day 6: Hoian – Nha Trang
Fly to Nha Trang and Enjoy pure privacy and tranquility in your luxury villa and pool overlooking the beach. Savour spectacular cuisine made from the resort’s organically grown fruit and vegetables. In the afternoon,Relax by the pool,stroll along the beach,cycle around the island,practice yoga,go scuba diving or get a massage… Overnight in hotel (B)

Day 7: Nha Trang
Spend the day at leisure on beach or take a gourmet picnic basket and go on a boat cruise,island hopping and reenergizing from the sea breezes. Overnight in Nha Trang (B)

Day 8: Nha Trang – Sai Gon
After breakfast,we transfer to Cam Ranh airport to take flight to HCM City. Be at your leisure and free to explore the city. There are some highlights to visit:the former Presidential Palace,the Notre Dame Cathedral,Old Saigon Post Office. Overnight in hotel in Sai Gon.

 Day 9: Sai Gon – Mekong delta
With memories of Halong bay cruising still fresh,from HCM City we travel south west by coach to the Mekong Delta area for another boat cruising at Vinh Long. We transfer from the coach to boat,as the best way to get around and see life on the Mekong is on the water. Previous tour members have said that these opportunities to meet the locals are the
highlight of the tour. Overnight in Sai Gon ( B,L,D )

Day 10: Sai Gon – Phu Quoc Island
Transfer to airport for short flight to Phu Quoc island,a private car take you to hotel/ resort. Check- in. In the afternoon,swim in the resort’s swimming pool or the private beach. Dinner. Camping fire activities at the resort’s beach (Guest’s Account). Overnight in Phu Quoc

Day 11: Phu Quoc Relaxation
Free day in Phu Quoc paradise island. Swimming,sunbathing,scuba diving or biking inside the island or just simply enjoy your resort facilities. Romantic dinne at your resort/ hotel. Overnight in Phu Quoc. ( Breakfast included )

Day 12: Phu Quoc – Sai Gon – Departure
Free time until transfer to airport for your flight to Saigon.


Want an independent tour and private tour, please email us at: FootStepVietNam@Gmail.Com to get more information and assistance

Viet Nam Travel Guide

Verdant patchworks of rice paddies, pointed lampshade-style hats, a country ravaged by war, and economic repression - these are the international images of Vietnam, seen on worldwide television and read about in the newspapers. But there are other scenes to be found, ones of natural beauty, ethnic culture, and imperial history, of timeless traditional villages, idyllic sea resorts and dynamic cities.

Shaped like an elongated 'S', Vietnam stretches along the east coast of the Indochinese Peninsula and is likened by its people to a long bamboo pole hung with two baskets of rice, represented by the two fertile regions at either end of the country. Between the lush Red River Delta and the highlands in the north, known for their magnificent scenery and colourful hill tribes, and the agricultural plains and floating markets of the Mekong Delta in the south, lie miles of white sandy beaches, towering mountains, rivers and dense forests, and the thousands of bizarre rock and cave formations on the islands of Halong Bay.

The impact of Japanese and Chinese trade, French occupation and American intervention has left its stain on Vietnam, smeared over a period of more than two thousand years of recorded history. However, the country has also been left with a vivid legacy from different cultures evident in the character of its towns, as well as in the architecture and food. The quaint town of Hoi An, once a major trading port, boasts the perfectly preserved architectural influences of the Asian merchants from the north, while the broad leafy boulevards of the capital Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are reminiscent of France. Menus offer Chinese variations of spring rolls, steamed dumplings and noodles. Hué is the old imperial capital of Vietnam with its royal palaces and palatial mausoleums, and nearby the battle sites of the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) are reminders of the brutality of war.

Ancient temples and colourful pagodas are scattered throughout the urban centres, while among them stand hotels of modern luxury, and the development of tourism infrastructure is a booming business. Vietnam is a perfect balance between ancient times and the here and now, a country that reveres its past heroes, a nation that has collectively put the woes of war behind it, and people who welcome visitors to their country with open arms and friendly smiles.

Hue, Imperial City

Still remaining its form of City underMiddle Age and the constructions of monarchic, a invaluable museum of Vietnam, this is Imperial City - the last remaining section of 19th-century Hue, and it is now a modern experiment in recreating traditional Vietnam. The Imperial City was recognized as a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO on December 1993. Let’s take a trip through the most  important historical and cultural monument of Vietnam.

Dominating the skyline is the 37m (120ft) high Cot Co or Flag Tower, first erected in 1809. Cot Co achieved international renown on the morning of 31 January 1968, when communist forces seized the Citadel and ran their yellow-starred banner up its tall mast.

The lower part of the gate is stone, while on top is the "Belvedere of the Five Phoenixes" where the emperor appeared on important occasions, and where the last emperor abdicated to Ho Chi Minh's Revolutionary Government in 1945.

Just inside the gate is a lotus pond with a bridge once reserved for the emperor's private use. Across the bridge is the Thai Hoa Palace used for official receptions and other important court ceremonies. The columns supporting the roof are lacquered and inlaid with gold.

Thai Hoa Palace
 Behind the Thai Hoa Palace are a pair of smaller halls used by mandarins to prepare for court ceremonies. The halls form a courtyard, the fourth side of which was once a wall dividing the more public area of the citadel from the emperor's private residence, the "Forbidden Purple City." The name conjures up images of grand palaces like Beijing. Unfortunately, it takes quite a bit of imagination to picture the buildings that once occupied what is now a grassy expanse. What wasn't destroyed by a fire in 1947 was bombed in the 1968 Tet Offensive. The picture at above left was taken from the upper-most level looking back at the Thai Hoa palace and the Flag tower.

Off to one side of the central axis of the forbidden city, about midway, is the Thai Binh Lau or Royal Library. This small building stands in a garden and is fronted by small pond mostly taken up by a mountain-island well-grown with moss and bonsai. You will find similar ponds, fountains or even large bowls of water in many structures all over Vietnam.

Although you must enter the citadel through the main gate, you can exit it at several other points. Between the Thai Hoa palace and the halls of the mandarins, a path leads to the Hien Nhon gate (left). Leaving by this gate is the shortest route to get from the forbidden city to the museum at Long An palace. Along the path are a couple of buildings worth a look.

A visit to Hue might be considered incomplete without a boat trip on the outstandingly lovely Perfume River. Boats are readily available for hire, either for an exploratory trip in the vicinity of Hue, or for a longer journey upstream to the tombs of Minh Mang and Gia Long.

Perfume River
It's hard to explain the uncanny beauty of the river, though doubtless the irridescent, aquamarine waters, together with the profusion of colourful craft and boat women sporting non la--the ubiquitous cream-coloured conical hat of Vietnam--all contribute to the effect. On a clear, sunny day the Perfume River can indeed be magical.

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Mui Ne beach – a naturally gifted sea Cape

1. Whoever visiting Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province could not help a journey to Mui Ne – a gracefully seductive sea cape!
   
   Introduction
   22 kilometers North Eastern Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan Province, Mui Ne is a group of beaches, such as Ong Dia beach, Front beach and Back Beach.
   The name “Mui Ne” derived from the fact that fishersmen get in here to hide the storm on their fishing days. “Mui” means cape, and “Ne” means hiding. Tourists can easily be attracted by the deep blue of the sea, the goldern of the sun and sand, all converging in warmth and purity.
   
   Quick look
   What makes Mui Ne a different fascinating seaside painting? The answer consists of quite a few elements, such as beautiful beaches gently sloping to the sea, gentle breezes, pure sea, blue sky, and cristine reddish sand dunes. More importantly, though grown up from a distant seaside far from the highway (with scattered poor fishing villages) to a community of hundreds of high-quality resorts, Mui Ne is still called the “Desert of golden sand”. Still, visiting Mui Ne, you can see by your own eyes the fishing village “Mui Ne” – a typical Vietnam’s fishing seaside land in its daily life.
   What is more, the all-the-year-round sunny weather facilitates any swimmer.
   
   Zoom
   Mui Ne is a precious gift of Nature, with the most beautiful sand – banks in Vietnam. The sand gathers together making the endless accumulated hills. Sand hills have been sources of inspiration for numerous photographers for years. Standing on top of the hills, you can easily feel the cool winds from the sea. Seldom can tiredness so quickly disappear!
   
   Among others, Ong Dia beach is the finest one in Mui Ne, the beauty of which is revealed in the ever cristine state, long-lasting sand banks and coconut-palm paths. As one of the best seasides in Vietnam in terms of both natural beauty and sea entertainment kinds. Just take a holiday here, you will have chances to taste a series of delicious seafood, and enjoy various interesting activities, for example, swimming, boat sailing, sun bathing, surfing, golf, scuba-diving and snorkeling, hunting, sight-seeing, or hide into a charming and relaxed night life with live music or local sea festivals. If you would like to try something more uniquely typical Mui Ne beach, you could spend time visiting the oldest towers in Vietnam, Ponshanu or
   
   Mui Ne sand
   Phu Hai, 1,200 years old, which are luckily to be located here. Those are the work of Cham people. As years have gone, leaving time raveges down on here, their solid existence is the firm witness of Cham culture improvement. For further sight-seeing, tourists may take a walk to Ong Hoang Storey, Rom Island, or Mui Ne Sand dune (or in other words, Flying Sand dune).
   Flying Sand dune is one of the longest Sand banks stretching a series of kilometers and areas. Its name derives from the main golden color with the existence of hundreds of years. Why is it “flying”? It is the answer that makes it differ: the shape changes hourly, daily, monthly, etc. due to the wind, which absorb a number of tourists elsewhere. The dunes are frequently tectonics of different shapes: animal, lying lady, etc. Also, its varied color, such as red, white, pink, whitish grey, and reddish grey, etc. are inspiration of so many artists, among whom is Y Lan, who has created such a new special kind of art – sand painting. This is one of the brand new unique modern kinds of arts in current Vietnam, truly worth your discovery!
   
   Thanks to Sand Dunes, the premium special element of Mui Ne seaside, the local government has built Binh Thuan’s special tourism product, that is, modern golf on sand with planted green confetti, poplar, etc. The golf zone is a part of a qualitative resort area, hostel system, great destination of relaxation for all tourists.
   
   I have asked a number of foreign tourists to Vietnam the same question, “What do you like most in Vietnam?” The most frequent answer is Beaches, and one of the top seaside around Southern Vietnam is Mui Ne! You should also come and feel the beautiful sea, long sand dunes and fresh breeze yourself!

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Phu Quoc – a passionate island involved with nature

The biggest island in Vietnam – Phu Quoc or “Pearl Island” - is loved by thousands of people thanks to it beautiful natural sea landscape and huge potential

Overview
“Pearl Island” Phu Quoc is a large tropical island off the coast of Vietnam. It is the biggest one in the 22-island complex of Vietnam in the Gulf of Thailand, Kien Giang province. Its northeast cape is 4 sea miles from the neighbour Cambodia. The island is 62 sea miles east of Kien Giang capital (Rach Gia town), and 25 sea miles from Ha Tien town. Phu Quoc together with other 22 islands makes up an island district of 56,500 hectares in total area, which approximates that of Singapore island nation. Wheareas Phu Quoc itself has a total area of as much as 574 sq. km, in a triangular shape. Some author has compared the island to a swimming fish with its head turning to the North. Phu Quoc is ringed with some of most beautiful beaches and best seafood in Vietnam, promising quite a few absorptive elements for tourists.
Climate

Phu Quoc is featured with a monsoon tropical climate (hot, wet and rainy), but its special location in Gulf of Thailand minimizes natural calamities. It has two seasons, dry season from December to May, and rainy season from June to November. The former is affected by Northeast monsoon with an average humidity of 78%, temperature goes up to 35oC as the highest in April and May. In rainy season, the island acts as the gateway to West-South West monsoon. The annual average rainfall is around 3,000 mm.

History
The island has a special name attached to an interesting historical story. In 1671, about 400 Chinese people led by a man from Guang Dong, China took a ship to cross the ocean to reach and settle down in a wild islands land in the Gulf of Thailand.
In 1680, they established a series of hamlets, which were scattered around in the land. Some soon became significant commercial ports where ships, boats and junks gathered and traded with one another. The increasingly bustling and eventful atmosphere led to their idea of setting up 7 casinos, each in an individual island, one of which was situated in Koh Tral island (today’s Phu Quoc island). The success of commercial and entertainment activities resulted in that the whole island area was renamed into “Căn Khẩu quốc” or “Kingdom of Prosperity”, and Koh Tral island was also recalled “Phú Quốc” (Phu Quoc: “Fu Guo” in Chinese transcription), which meant an Affluent Land in Vietnamese.
Phu Quoc Island served as a base for French missionary Pigneau de Behaine from the 1760-80s and once provided shelter for Prince Nguyen Anh (later Emperor Gia Long) when he was hunted by the Tay Son rebels. During the Vietnam war, there was little fighting here but the Island was used by the Americans as a prison for captured Viet Cong.
The island of today still retains what was expressed in its righteous name in the past, and has become one of the nation’s ideal tourist destinations to lure huge numbers of visitors.

Religion
Many religious people would like to visit Phu Quoc since this is where Cao Dai religion descended. Today there is still a Cao Dai oratories in Duong Dong town, Phu Quoc.
The only Catholic Church on the island is situated in An Thoi, which was the gathering site of migration from the North in 1954.
One has said: “Visiting pagodas in Duong Dong town on the occasion of the “wandering souls day” on mid Lunar July, you will explore the Buddhist religious life of Phu Quoc indeed”. This is a very rare occasion, so you should really come and join it yourself!

Specialties
Should you ever have a vacation in Vietnam, you must have heard about Phu Quoc fermented fish source (nước mắm), the best one in the nation! Talking about Phu Quoc, this specialty, which is worldwide famous for a unique delicious taste, could not be missed. Another special spice of Phu Quoc is high quality pepper, an agricultural product of the local traditional craft villages, sold around the world.

In addition to the two special specialties, Phu Quoc’s seafood is also fantastic. Numerous fish, dried fish, lobsters, crabs, squid, oyster, arca, etc. are available at your enjoyment. Just come and taste delicious seafood and the local unique specialties, you will feel the very tasty and fragrant Island zone!

By the way, another point of interest in Phu Quoc that must be mentioned is the island's native Dog, which was originally a wild animal and later trained as a hunting dog by local people. These days they are very domesticated and it's unusual to go anywhere on the Island without seeing one of these dogs! These animals have unusually sharp teeth (as they tear their food when they eat it rather than bite) and have claws that over the years have been conditioned for catching their prey and are razor sharp.

Where to go and what to do?
Phu Quoc is considered a famous national tourism zone of Vietnam. The island’s beautiful beaches have been voted to be "The Cleanest and Most Beautiful Beaches of the World" by ABC News ever since the end of February, 2008. 
Coming here, tourists are lured away from their busy daily life. Phu Quoc National Park should be on top of the visiting places. Here is covered with a plentiful fresh & green floristic composition and natural resources of jungle & sea. Thanks to the tropical favorable climate, Phu Quoc is of great potential for ecological tourism development. Try to get out on a boat in the evening for some squid fishing yourself, or make a visit to Phu Quoc National Park and swim in a quiet pool! This will be very relaxing!
Pristine beaches here are seemingly captivating to those fond of unspoilt beauties. The one listed in the “World Hidden Beaches” is “Long Bank” (“Bãi Dài”), which is most beautiful from October to March. The beach honorably ranks higher in the list to many other world famous beaches, such as Wildcat Beach in California, the USA, Pink Beach in Barbuda, or Cayo Costa State, south Florida, and so forth.
Besides, other suggested beaches to visit are Kem Bank, Dam Bank, Sao Bank, Ong Doi Cape, and so forth. You can come here by ship or airplane (Hochiminh City – Phu Quoc Flight). Swimming, sun bathing, boat-sailing, scuba-diving, etc. are all the exciting and relaxing seaside activities, healthful for every individual tourist. Try SCUBA diving: the shallow waters (max deep to 12-16m) allow even unexperienced divers to have nice dives. There is some nice coral to see and if you are lucky you might see a bamboo shark. After about an hour dipping yourself in the cool and clean blue sea water, imagine that you are now served with a series of specially tasty seafood, you would feel like you were the happiest guy in the world!
In case one has interest in the local fishing life, he may pay a visit to Ham Ninh fishing village, where the routine daily fishing work of the locals are available at your observation.
Motorcycles are plentiful and cheap, hire one off a local and go cruising around the island. Petrol can usually be purchased around the island at various beaches served fresh in glass bottles. Also Bicycles is a great way to observe the island. You can rent a mountain bike for around 50,000 VND per day at Saigon Phu Quoc Hotel or some local shops (be sure to write 'xe dap' because few Vietnameses here could speak English well). A few days could not be enough to contemplate all the special beauties, thus you should best come back at least once.

Huge potential
The seaview, the beautiful islands and the precious tropical jungle with a priceless flora-fauna  system contribute to a huge tourism potential of Phu Quoc. On understanding of this, the Government has allowed huge investment in the island district. In the long run, we will have an enormously marvellous tourism-entertainment complex of extremely high quality. A project with hotels zone, 5-star casinos, 2 four-star hotels, 1 three-star hotel, a number of resorts, restaurants, shopping areas, high-quality entertainment area (with waterparks, cinemas, etc.), international hospital, a 3-golf ground system of international quality, international airport services and so on, is going to turn up in this “Pearl Island”. The project will hopefully make Phu Quoc a much greater destination for tourists worldwide.

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