The great tour of Viet Nam
2024
Highlights of the trip
During your stay you can enjoy the following highlights: Culture / Heritage, Discovery, Adventure / Sports & Leisure, Free time.
Best times to go
The best time(s) to go is/are : Printemps, Eté, Automne, Hiver.
Petit Futé
Where to stay - Hanoi ?
The map of your stay "The great tour of Viet Nam"
Detail of the stay : The great tour of Viet Nam
How to get there - Hanoi
First steps in Hanoi
Steps: Hanoi
Arrival in Hanoi and tour of the capital. Discover the History Museum, stroll around Hoan Kiêm Lake, the legendary heart of the city, and visit Ngoc Son Temple (Temple of the Jade Mountain) on the islet north of the lake. The walk continues to St. Joseph's Cathedral, next to the Stone Lady Pagoda (Chua Ba Da), and the Old Quarter.
Places of interest : LAC HOÀN KIÊM CATHÉDRALE SAINT-JOSEPH TEMPLE NGOC SON (DE LA MONTAGNE DE JADE)
On the road to Dien Bien Phu
Steps: Mai Châu
Take a day to discover the small, authentic villages that dot the road to Dien Bien Phu. Mai Chau, Lac and Van are all charming villages where you can familiarize yourself with traditional architecture and discover North Vietnamese craftsmanship, particularly weaving.
Great landscapes
Via Dien Bien Phu, which you will visit in the morning, reach Sapa through grandiose landscapes typical of Viet Nam and, once again, ethnic villages where each encounter is a thunderbolt with the country. Sleep in the evening in Sapa, a stage that has unfortunately become very touristy but unavoidable.
Hiking in the rice fields
Stretch your legs and explore the rice fields around Sapa. If you fall on the right day, all the villages around Sapa host beautiful markets once a week, which would be a shame to miss out on and make excellent walking destinations. Reach Halong at the end of the day.
Halong Bay
Discover this splendid site by boarding a small junk for a cruise through the bay's convoluted rocks. The day can be punctuated by swimming stops or kayak explorations. For a magical experience, spend the night on the junk.
Discovering Hué
Spend the day visiting Hué's main attractions: the Imperial City, a tour of the ramparts and a visit to Dong Ba market, the beating heart of the city.
Imperial tombs
Steps: Hue
You'll spend the whole second day visiting the royal tombs around Hué. If you don't have your own vehicle, charter one for the day, otherwise you'll never have time to complete the visits. If you have to make a selection, explore the tombs of Tu Duc and Minh Mang first.
Places of interest : MAUSOLÉE DE TU DUC MAUSOLÉE DE MINH MANG
Hoi An, a guaranteed favorite
Steps: Hoi An
In the morning, drive 150 km to Hoi An. This small architectural jewel will keep you for two days. Spend the first day touring the city and its notable monuments (Ceramic Museum, Phuc Kien Pagoda, French Quarter...) and end the day with a romantic walk on the Japanese pagoda bridge.
Hoi An, a sure-fire hit (continued)
Steps: Hoi An
Take advantage of this 11th day to relax a little. Get up early in the morning to get to the market on time. Take a boat trip aroundCam Nam Island , then put your feet back on the ground to wander around Hoi An, taking time to admire the Chinese houses and the French Quarter.
Inland
Steps: Kontum
Leave the coast and head inland to Kon Tum (again, a trip that can be made by plane if you want to save a few hours). The town's splendid setting makes it the perfect base from which to explore the highlands.
The high plateaus
Steps: Ba Na
Many ethnic villages are accessible from Kon Tum. For this first day, you can simply visit some villages of the Ba Na ethnic group, then push to Plei Chot, where the Gia Rai ethnic group lives. Spend the night in Ciu Mum Ray Nature Reserve.
Mount Ciu Mum Ray
Steps: Buôn Ma Thuôt
Stretching your legs never hurts: embark on the ascent of Ciu Mum Ray Mountain, organized by many local agencies. In the evening, sleep again in the reserve or, depending on your return time, make the trip to Buon Ma Thuot.
Lake Lak
Steps: Lac De Lak
Start in the morning by taking a look at the Ethnic Minorities Museum in Buon Ma Thuot. Then take an excursion to Lake Lak, just under 60 km from Buon Ma Thuot. The road is sublime, don't miss a thing! Spend the night near the lake.
Yok Don National Park
You will probably not have the chance to see leopards or tigers, as they are becoming increasingly rare, but you will have the peace of mind to visit this magnificent park a stone's throw from the Cambodian border. Then take the road to Dalat.
The "Little Paris
Dalat is a small resort village arranged around a central lake suitable for walks and pedal boat excursions. This spa with its old-fashioned charm continues to attract many Vietnamese from all over the country. Take a tour of the pagodas, which are numerous in the city, located on high ground and offering beautiful panoramas.
At the beach
Steps: Nha Trang
Treat yourself to another lazy day in Nha Trang, where you'll have nothing to do but watch time go by, stroll along the beach, swim and drink cocktails in the many paillotes set up all along the beach.
Cham Architecture
Steps: Mui Ne
Back to a bit of culture with a morning visit to Po Klong Garai Chame Tower (13th century). A must-see on this part of the coast and an architectural treasure that will leave you spellbound for a long time. In the afternoon, head for Mui Ne and its sand dunes.
The dunes of Mui Ne
This charming fishing village is sure to be an unforgettable stopover. The orange sand of the dunes contrasts with the blue of the sea, offering one of the most beautiful color combinations in the country. Bicycles are available for hire or loan everywhere, making them the ideal way to get around the seaside.
Hô-Chi-Minh-Ville
Steps: Hô Chi Minh-Ville
Join us in Hô-Chi-Minh-Ville and visit the capital's essential sights: the old colonial center, the red-brick Notre-Dame Cathedral, the central post office, whose steel structure was designed by Eiffel. Stroll along Rue Dông Khoi (formerly Rue Catinat), the city's main thoroughfare, and around the Municipal Theatre. In the afternoon, immerse yourself in the bustling, mysterious atmosphere of Cholon (the big market), the Chinese city.
Places of interest : CATHÉDRALE NOTRE-DAME
The Mekong Delta
Steps: Vinh Long
Take time to discover the delta, because you will often depend on the departure of ferries to cross the different arms. Make sure you get up at dawn every morning. For this first day, direction My Tho and boat walk around the islands of the river. In the evening, take the road for Vinh Long.
The Mekong Delta (continued)
Steps: Vinh Long
From Vinh Long, drive to Tra Vinh and hire a car or motorcycle to tour the Khmer pagodas that line a magnificent dirt road lined with bamboo houses. You'll pass through many Khmer-majority villages. In the evening, drive all the way to Can Tho.
The Mekong Delta (continued)
Rise again at dawn to watch the ballet of the floating market boats. You can rent a boat yourself to go from one market to another and experience this unique way of shopping! At the end of the day, drive back to Ho Chi Minh City.
