Things to do in Central Highlands, Vietnam

Discover the verdant beauty of the Mekong Delta on a day trip from Ho Chi Minh city. Travel in an air-conditioned minivan or bus and board a motorboat for a ride through islands on the Tien River. Enjoy a local lunch in an orchard and ride a rowboat under coconut trees on the Bao Dinh canal. Depart from your Ho Chi Minh City hotel and head to the Mekong Delta by minivan or bus. Pass by green rice fields before arriving at the beautiful rural My Tho. Along the way, visit the Vinh Trang pagoda, the biggest pagoda in the Mekong delta.  Go by motorized boat on the Tien River to the Qui (Tortoise islet). See the fishing port, boat-building workshops, and the Dragon, Phoenix, and Unicorn Islet. Walk into the village, where you can visit a local fruit garden and enjoy the tropical fruit while listening to Southern Vietnamese folk music performed by islanders. Join in the daily activities that the locals do and take in the atmosphere of this beautiful natural countryside.  Visit the bee house, and take a picture of the pythons. Lunch will be served right in the heart of the orchard garden. The boat cruise will lead you through the Bao Dinh canal, entering Ben Tre province — the land of coconuts. Here you'll see a typical agricultural model called "Garden – Pond – Cage” before visiting the coconut candy-making shop. Next, enjoy a rowing boat trip on the small canal, fully covered by the shadow of the water coconut trees. After your boat ride, take a bike ride around the island before returning to the bus.

Benefit from pick-up at your hotel in Sa Pa, and then start your 10-kilometer trek through the beautiful valley. Admire the rice terraces hidden behind the morning mist as you follow a small trail to cross the Muong Hoa River. Continue past well-tended, terraced rice fields on your way to the village of Lao Chai, where a local Black Hmong ethnic group live. Hike to the village of Ta Van Giay and trek along the route of the Muong Hoa River to cross a small suspension bridge roughly 2 kilometers from the settlement. Discover a fascinating collection of ancient rock carvings that depict images of men, stilt houses and different decorative patterns. Enjoy lunch at a local house in the village before hiking through a bamboo forest and reaching the Red Dao ethnic minority village of Giang Ta Chai. Enjoy a short rest at a nearby waterfall before climbing uphill to the main road where the driver will be waiting for you to take you back to SaPa. 

Learn about the vibrant culture and history of Vietnam at the iconic A O Show. The performance takes place within the beautiful surroundings of the historic Saigon Opera House, built in a European style. Enjoy humorous and sophisticated stories about rural Vietnamese and urban life. Admire a varied critically-acclaimed performance utilizing simple bamboo props, contemporary cirque acrobatics, and live folk music. Hear traditional Southern Vietnamese work songs played on traditional instruments. Enjoy an exciting spectacle that brings the rural and urban character of Vietnamese culture to life.

Be picked up from your Ho Chi Minh accommodation in the morning and board a comfortable mini van. Head to the Cu Chi tunnels and hear about the Vietnamese resistance to the US Forces. Depart for the Mekong Delta, stopping at a local restaurant on the way to enjoy a delectable lunch of Vietnamese cuisine. Following lunch, arrive in Mekong Delta, and board a row boat to travel along small canals under the coconut tree fronds.  Board a motor boat and cruise to coconut island. Disembark at a local family's residence to enjoy tropical fruits and taste honey tea and wine. See how local products are made and listen to a live local music performance performed by the villagers. Stroll along the country roads in the afternoon to see what local life is like. Relax in the peaceful atmosphere, before saying goodbye and returning to Ho Chi Minh City. Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City in the evening and be taken back to your accommodation.

Follow the ride to the Linh Quang Pagoda, this is the first temple built in this city, so it is also called Linh Quang ancestral house Half an hour hiking on the pink grass hill, morning exercise to admire the beauty of Dalat from above Visit a coffee plantation you can learn about the cultivation and harvesting process, once stop at coffee showroom you can observe the beans being roasted and processed, and taste different types of coffee. Robusta coffee has a strong and bitter taste, Moca coffee is light sweet, and Liberica coffee is a bit sour. Rice wine cooked by traditional manual method for the quintessential drops of ethnic alcohol, the wine is made up of the principle of boiling, the steam that rises to meet the cold will condense into a liquid Visiting a silk weaving facility with the production process from growing mulberries, raising silkworms to lay eggs, releasing cocoons and then weaving silk, silk products made from this silk factory are bold, traditional, soft and full of sophistication. Ride you to Elephant waterfall, also known as Lieng Rowoa waterfall with its wild beauty, charm and mystery, large rocks with a shape as elephants, formation a herd of elephants through the ingenious arrangement of nature Visit the Linh An pagoda nearby with the Vietnam's highest Lady Buddha statue (Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara) at 71 meter hight Visit K'Ho ethnic village in Ta Nung commune, to discover the daily life, spiritual culture of the K'Ho people in the suburb of Da lat city Drive back to Da lat city with the final visit of Crazy House, wild, exotic, wonderful... there are many ways to describe this complex unique (other name: Hang Nga Guest House) Drop you off at your hotel, end tour

Embark on a motorbike trip around 5 of Ho Chi Minh's colorful districts and hidden streets. Immerse yourself in Saigon's culture, blend into local nightlife, and eat mouthwatering local dishes. You'll ride on a pillion behind the drivers to enjoy the unique atmosphere and create unforgettable memories of Saigon. Try the best local foods and enjoy the amazing ride on the back of a scooter. First, hop on the scooter and head into the crowded roundabout and exciting Saigon traffic on the back of your scooter.  Next head to the Ho Thi Ky wholesale flower market. Take a walk in the market and sit down to learn how to make a crispy banana cracker. Continue to ride through the alleys, passing commercial streets and food vendors. After taking in some unbeatable views from your scooter, stop at a local food place for pho (beef noodle soup) and Banh My, Vietnam's most famous street food. After your meal, the Nguyen Thien Thuat area is next on the itinerary. This is one of the most famous street food areas in Saigon with great diversity in both cuisine and culture. Last but not least, discover the best place for dessert at a local favorite spot in district 4. Sit at a small table and chat with your tour guide. Get to know more about the local life and the ingredients of Vietnamese cuisine. The menu for the 11 tastings includes: • Bo La Lot: Grilled Skewer Beef with Betel leaves with a distinctive fragrance and smoky, juicy, tender meat. Enjoy it with a dipping sauce for the ultimate street snack. • Bun Bò Hue: Beef noodle soup • Fresh Spring Rolls with Peanut Sauce • Mini rice pancake with shrimp • Chuoi Nuong: Grilled Banana with coconut milk sauce. A mix of sweet and salty • Crispy Banana Cracker • Bánh Mì: Traditional baguette with sausage, butter, and meat • Banh Trang Nuong: A great mix of melted butter, cheese, egg, and Vietnamese sausage • Cold Sugar Cane Juice with Kumquat • Jasmine Tea: A traditional drink to local Vietnamese restaurants • Dessert with Bánh Flan: Flan cake or sweet soup at a popular place for locals

After pick-up from your hotel at 07:30, depart Ho Chi Minh City and journey to Vinh Trang pagoda, one of the largest in the Mekong Delta. Admire its ornate facade and large Buddha statue. Then, cruise along the Tien River to experience life in the Mekong Delta up close. Pass by 4 small islands - Phoenix, Unicorn, Dragon and Tortoise Island - see lush tropical trees and the typical stilt houses of the fishing villages as you make your way through the narrow canals by rowing boat. Stop for lunch in an orchard garden and then learn how to make coconut candy. Sample sweet pieces of the candy and buy some of your favorites to take home. Savor a snack of fresh fruits and honey tea as locals entertain you with Vietnamese traditional folk music. Return to the minibus for the drive back to Ho Chi Minh City, where you will arrive at approximately 17:00.

Day 1: After getting picked up by your guide in Hanoi Old Quarter, board your tour bus and begin the journey to Sapa, stopping for regular breaks along the way. Arrive in Sapa just in time for lunch at a local restaurant to prepare for your first hike.  After lunch, begin your hike to Y Linh Lo. Trek downhill through the Muong Hoa Valley, passing by rice paddies and small hamlets where you will learn more about the life of local tribes. Continue trekking through villages and rice terraced fields to Ta Van village, a place settled by the Dzay people and is commonly considered to be the most beautiful in the area. Whilst in Lao Chai village, you will also be able to exchange communication with the local villagers. overnight with a local family of the Dzay people in Ta Van. Stay with your family overnight for an evening of rest and relaxation.  Day 2: Commence your day of adventure with a nourishing breakfast prepared by the family you are staying with before setting off on your trek. The trekking distance for this part of the tour is 4 kms and lasts 2-hours. Start your scenic trek to the rice paddies, where upon arrival you will have a fantastic opportunity to take some unique holiday photos of the surrounding landscapes. Enjoy a walk through a bamboo forest and stop to have a panoramic view of Giang Ta Chai village – home of the red Dzao People. Continue on your trek through the Ciang Ta Chai Bridge to the main road, from here, a bus will pick you up to head back into Sapa town.  Upon your arrival in Sapa Town, you can shower in your hotel, check out, have a bite to eat, or relax until all group members are ready to depart. Board your bus back to Hanoi, with two comfort breaks along the way, and be dropped off on Tran Quang Khai street.

Discover the beauty of Sapa on a 2-day trip from Hanoi. Stay overnight in a hotel, enjoy local cuisine, and fuel your inner adventurer with a diverse variety of treks. Immerse yourself in the local communities while visiting spots like Lao Cai and Ta Van. Day 1: Hanoi – Sapa (Lunch) Start with pickup from your hotel in the Old Quarter of Hanoi and depart for Sapa. Follow the highway to Lao Cai city where you will make your first stop for breakfast by yourself. Stop off at Lao Cai city before arriving in Sapa, where you'll see the colorful traditional costumes of H’mong, Dzao, and Tay People. Here enjoy a lunch of local Vietnamese dishes at the hotel. Take a short trek to the gate of Cat Cat village, home of the Black H’mong ethnic people and located near the bottom of a deep valley at the foot of Fansipan Peak. A local guide will give you insight into the daily life of the locals. Trek down to the bottom of the valley to the waterfall, where the French built a hydraulic power station. Stop to take photos before walking back uphill to meet the bus. The trek is approximately 2.5 kilometers and lasts for 2 hours. In the evening, return to Sapa Town, where you can enjoy your evening at your leisure. Stay overnight in Sapa Lodge/Charm Sapa Hotel or similar. Day 2: Sapa – Hanoi (Breakfast/Lunch) Have breakfast at your hotel and prepare a light pack for trekking. You can keep your luggage in storage at the reception. Take a Trek to Lao Chai Village through the rice terraces and along Muong Hoa Streams to the Black Hmong village of Lao Chai.  See the spectacular landscape of Hoang Lien Son Mountain before heading to Ta Van village, home of the Dzay People. The trek takes around 3.5 hours and covers about 9-12 kilometers. The tour guide will make the best itinerary for the trek depending on your ability of trekking. The bus will pick you up at Ta Van Bridge to take you back to the center of Sapa. Take a break at the hotel and have lunch, before enjoying some time to explore at your own leisure. After some free time, meet the rest of your group at the hotel to prepare for your return to Hanoi. Get back on the bus around 2:30 PM to go back to Hanoi. During the journey, stop for a break. Arrive back at your accommodation in Hanoi in the late evening at about 9:00 PM. Set Menu 1 • Pumpkin soup • Sauteed chicken with mushrooms Sapa Charm Salad • Sauteed vegetables local style • Steam rice • Seasonal fresh fruit Set Menu 2• Tomatoes soup • Marinated sizzled beef on the iron plate • Deep-fried spring rolls • Sauteed vegetables local style • Steam rice • Seasonal fresh fruit Set Menu 3 • Vegetable soup • Stir fry pork sweet and sour • French fries • Sauteed vegetables local style • Steam rice • Seasonal fresh fruit Vegan Menus: Set Menu 7 • Vegetable soup • Vietnamese fried • Tofu in tomato sauce deep-fried spring rolls • French fries • Sauteed vegetables local style Steam rice • Seasonal fresh fruit Set Menu 8 • Pumpkin soup • Marinated sizzled tofu on the iron plate • Sauteed mushrooms and garlic • Omelette • Sauteed vegetables local style • Steam rice • Seasonal fresh Ffruit

Sample 5-6 of the best street foods in Ho Chi Minh City, along with 2 drinks and a dessert, on a guided food tour. Visit the places where actual locals go with your guide and gain insights into Vietnamese culture. Sample must-have food and drinks, including banh mi, noodle soup, beer, and more. After pickup from your hotel by motorbike, you will have a chance to see the real Ho Chi Minh City away from the crowds of tourists. Stop at local street food hubs where locals gather and socialize. Explore and immerse yourself in the local culture in the craziness of Saigon's traffic and markets. Eat and sample 8 must-have treats in the city's back alleys. Warm up your taste buds with Bun bo hue beef noodle soup. Then, take a stroll, trying grilled pork with ride noodles on the way. Next, try the traditional Vietnamese banh mi sandwich before enjoying a refreshing sugar cane drink. Next, discover Vietnam's best culinary hidden gem: chuoi nuong grilled banana with coconut milk. Sample this traditional sweet and salty mix of tropical fruits and coconut milk sauce. Then, have a sit-down and relax, sipping a Saigon beer on the terrace of a local restaurant. Then, watch your banh xeo Vietnamese savory crispy pancake being made in front of you. Finally, finish off with the perfect treat, a sweet soup dessert. Be taken back to your hotel, having sampled the must-have delicacies of Ho Chi Minh and experienced Vietnamese culture with your student guide.