VIETNAM ETHNIC MINORITY EXPLORATION TOUR
DURATION: 9 DAYS (The order of tour date could be swopped or extended on your request).
HIGHTLIGHT: SAPA, CENTRAL HIGHLAND
DAY 1 HA NOI – THE CAPITAL DISCOVERY DAY (B/ /)
In the morning tour guide and driver will pick you up at the hotel and start to explore HA NOI, the political and cultural capital of Viet Nam. Firstly, visiting Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum Complex, an also pilgrimage site for many Vietnamese, where he lived and his body is being preserved. Here you could understand more about Hồ Chí Minh life and his careen, the greatest leader of the country. Then visiting One-pillar pagoda, one of the oldest and famous one in the country. Continue to visit Temple of literature founded in 1076, the first university of Vietnam, where educated Vietnam’ royalty, mandarins and members of the elite and Ha Noi Hilton Prison. Also visiting Ngoc Son temple and The Huc bridge on the sword lake. Overnight in Ha Noi.
DAY 2 HA NOI – SAPA (B/ /)
In the morning guide and driver will take you from Ha Noi to Sapa,(about 5-hour drive on new high way)stop at Lao Cai for lunch, rest and a short visit at the border bridge to see China. Then keep driving to Sapa On the way we stop and start trekking on windy trails through into MA TRA and TA PHIN villages of hill tribe called Red Dzao to learn about their life and customs, as well as enjoy the beauty of terraced rice paddy fields. Check-in the hotel end of the day and discover the town in the evening by yourself. Overnight in Sapa.
DAY 3 SAPA – FANSIPAN – MUONG HOA VALLEY (B/ /)
Starting the tour in the morning by catching the longest funicular train in Vietnam designed by Garaventa Company (Switzerland) from the town to cable car station. Then 20 minute long cable car, the world’s longest three-wire cable car system, with fantastic scenery will bring you to the altitude of 2800 meters above sea level where you could see a panoramic view of primary forests, taking pictures, visiting spiritual temples ,etc. Finally trekking up 600 steps brings you to the top of Fansipan Mountain (about 3,143 m high), the highest one in Indochina with its nickname “The roof of Indochina” .Back the town for lunch.
In the afternoon you will trek on lovely trails through the biggest valley which provides the best view for golden rice terraced fields in Vietnam to visit Lao Chai village of Black H’mong ethnic people and Ta Van village of Dzay ethnics to discover their daily life, handicrafts and culture. Lunch and Dinner own your own. Overnight in Sapa.
DAY 4 SAPA – HA NOI – DA NANG CITY (B/ /)
After breakfast check out the hotel and drive back Hanoi for the flight to Da Nang city. Meet and transfer to Hoi An ancient town. Overnight in Hoi An.
DAY 5 DA NANG – MỸ SƠN SANCTUARY – HOI AN (B/L/)
In the morning an one-hour driving to the hilly place to visit Mỹ Sơn UNESCO site to discover the miracle of thousands-year-old Hindu temples built by the native people in the secret lush valley and served as the most sacred religious land from 4th to 13th century under the ancient kingdom of Champa related to the Maritime Silk Route in the past. Walking around the valley of Mỹ Sơn, you seem to be getting lost into the mythological land with ancient temples, epitaphs, mysterious religious rites, statues of deities and sacrifices. Enjoying fresh air, green nature, ancient fine art, and the special architecture of Champa temples whose construction technique remains controversial. Mỹ Sơn temples are unique and without equal in Southeast Asia. That is the reason it was honoured as the World Heritage site by UNESCO.
Lunch at local family to learn more about local life around Mỹ Sơn site and taste local dishes bringing the cuisine integration between Champa and Việt culture.
In the afternoon, taking a walking tour around this fantastic ancient town to explore it beauty and history by paying a visit to Tan Ky old house, a typical represent for wealthy merchant’s house in the past, Chinese Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, a gathering place for home-away Chinese traders, Japanese covered bridge, the symbol for the town, lively market and Hoi An traditional handicraft demonstration where you could see how Hoianian raise silkworms to produce silk for embroidering gorgeous paintings and fold-up lanterns. Check in hotel for a rest and discover the sparkling town in the light of lanterns by yourself. Overnight in Hoi An.
DAY 6 DA NANG – KONTUM (B/L/D)
In the morning guide and driver pick you up at the hotel in Da nang and drive to Kontum (5 hour drive), the north most of Central Highland, on the way enjoying the beauty of mysterious mountains, great waterfalls an green lush forests and visiting a CƠ TU village. Stop for lunch on the way to visit some GIE TRIENG ethic minority villages, Great waterfalls, mysterious mountains and tribes’ thatch roofed houses, called Rông house. Arriving in Kontum visiting Kontum Museum to learn about different ethnic groups living in the province. Check in hotel for a rest. Overnight in Kontum.
DAY 7 KONTUM ETHINIC GROUP DISCOVERY DAY (B/L/D)
In the morning driving around the Kontum city to visit some ethic villages where Sedang, Rongao ,B’rau ethnic living, and photo stop at unique Kontum wooden church. Lunch would be served at local restaurant with typical local restaurant. Back hotel for a rest.
In the afternoon, visiting the old Bana minority village, Konk’tu village, to explore local life, then trekking up the Dakbla river to enjoy the nature, taking a ‘’Piragua” down river. Back the village for dinner and enjoying or dancing together with the ethnics in the traditional dances, miraculous sound of gongs and the yeast of straw jar wine. Overnight in Kontum.
DAY 8 KONTUM – PLEIKU – BUON ME THUOT (B/L/D)
Check out the hotel and drive to Buon Me Thuot, on the way passing through PLEIKU, stop on the way to see Jarai ethnic village, visiting pepper, rubber and coffee plantations and Ede village before check in the hotel. Overnight in Buon Me Thuot.
DAY 9 BUON ME THUOT – LAK LAKE – SAI GON (B/L/)
In the morning, check out the hotel and drive to the Lak Lake, the second natural biggest lake in Vietnam. Arriving there, visiting the local life around M’Nong village, the last king of Vietnam summer palace and especially taking an elephant ride around the lake and see the tribe life. Lunch with local specialities. Joy a cup of coffee before transferring to the airport for the fight to Ho Chi Minh.
End the service.
