Day 1: Departure
Your tour of Vietnam starts with a flight to the commercial center of the country: Ho Chi Minh City. Here you arrive the next day. Your plane lands at Tan Son Nhat airport, where the tour guide will meet you and take you to the hotel.

Day 2: Arrival of Ho Chi Minh city
Free day after arrival. Saigon, officially known as Ho Chi Minh City since 1975, has more than seven million inhabitants. It is a busy city where old and new influences intertwine . There is a lot to see here. Striking are the City Hall, the Opera, the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Main Post Office, which clearly show French influences. It was therefore designed by Gustav Eiffel. In the Dong Khoi street you will find designer shops and various restaurants. The Bitexco skyscraper is a great place for a drink. From the restaurant on the 50th floor you have a beautiful view of the metropolis, especially during sunset!

Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City / Tay Ninh and Cu Chi Excursion
Today you can be on optional excursion to tunnels of Cu Chi in the Vietnam War used by the Viet Cong to resist the Americans. Through the tunnels excavated by hand (!) The surrounding villages were connected and the movements of the enemy troops could be monitored. The complex had a total length of 240 kilometers, divided over several floors with underground hospitals, kitchens and other facilities. You can descend into one of the tunnels and experience a little bit how people lived, suffered and fought here.
Really on a journey TIP
This excursion to Tay Ninh and Cu Chi takes a full day. The temple complex in Tay Ninh is the center of the colorful Cao Dai religion . During séances, media provide contact with the god and the spirit world. There is a church hierarchy like in the Roman Catholic Church: a pope, cardinals, bishops, priests. Each grade wears a different color costume. You can attend the service from noon.

Day 4: Ho Chi Minh City - Danang - Hoi An
At the airport of Ho Chi Minh City, you board the plane in the morning to Danang, in Central Vietnam. Half an hour away is Hoi An, where you spend the night. Hoi An was a major port three centuries ago. Ships from all over the world took the place in search of silk, ceramics and spices . In the 19th century, the river connecting the harbor with the sea became silted up, so that large ships could no longer reach Hoi An. The city fell into a small fishing village. Unesco named the old city World Heritage in 1999 , since then tourism has picked up. The old, charming place is an interesting mix of Chinese, Portuguese and Japanese architecture.

Day 5: Hoi An
Day off. You can stay in Hoi An and wander around there. Also the white sandy beach is not far away. If you are more interested in the old Champa culture, you can consider taking a trip to the ruins of My Son .

The lovely Hoi An has a rich trade past of which the many old, mostly soft-painted, houses and temples testify. Some of the buildings are open for viewing. It resembles a charming open-air museum . The atmosphere is very relaxed. Hoi An has several restaurants on the river, which are illuminated at night with lanterns. Very tasty and atmospheric !
Really on a journey TIP
Enthusiasts can also hire a bicycle on this Vietnam tourand drive to the vegetable and herbal village of Tra Que, where a cooking class can be followed.

Day 6: Hoi An - Marble mountains - Danang - Hué
Just before Danang you stop at the Marble Mountains , five solitary rock humps rising up out of the flat landscape. In one of the mountains is a pagoda in a cave, where the Vietcong hid during the war and had a sickbay. Before you travel to Hué, you can visit the Cham Museum in Danang as an optional extra. In this museum you can admire art treasures that have been found at My Son.

Swinging, you follow the road over the Hai Van pass . On the right side you have a view of the coast that alternately consists of rockeries and pristine bays with sandy beaches. After arriving in Hué you can organize your time according to your own wishes. For example, you can visit the Imperial City and the Citadelsee. Around the Citadel there is a wall of 10 km in circumference, all around with a canal. Inside, the emperor lived with his family and servants, soldiers, counselors and courtiers. You see several pavilions, lotus ponds, bridges ... Especially the many views are beautiful!

Day 7: Hué - Hanoi
Around Hué are burial tombs of emperors from the Nguyen dynasty , who ruled the country from Hué until 1945. You can visit the mausoleums and other monuments as an option. Probably the most interesting are the tombs of the emperors Minh Mang and Khai Dinh , who adorn the UNESCO World Heritage List . The Thien Mu pagoda on the Parfum river is also worth a visit. For a long time it was the symbol of Vietnam.

In the evening you fly to the capital Hanoi (time depends on the final flight). The cityscape is partly determined by the different city lakes. North of the Hoan Kiem lake lies the old town, where the same merchandise concentrates in the various streets and alleys. You have a silk street, a shoe street, one for hardware, sunglasses, souvenirs and even milk (powder). You can barely walk on the sidewalks because they are used as work space, display place of merchandise, terraces where you can eat noodles or as a moped car park. The atmosphere is cozy and cozy .

Day 8: Hanoi - Bac Ha
In the morning you will visit some of Hanoi's main attractions (admission fees are not included). Of course you can not miss the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum . This is where the great hero and burgervader are laid out and you are guided in an ever-lasting procession in appropriate silence past the glass 'coffin' in which he is exhibited. In the autumn, the mausoleum was closed for several weeks in connection with the maintenance of the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh. Nearby is the Eenzuilige Pagode . A visit to the Ethnological Museum , where a picture is sketched of the lives of the Vietnamese ethnic minorities, is also worthwhile.

In the afternoon you drive to the village of Bac Ha. On the way (in consultation with the tour guide) you can stop for photos.

Day 9: Bac Ha Sunday Market - Mu Cang Chai
Every Sunday you will meet the Flower H'Mong, Tao and Nung in their traditional, colorful clothing at the weekly market . A lot of things are traded here. Not only clothing, bags and household items are available, but also buffaloes, bulls, cats, pigs, dogs, etc. Food is prepared where the market goers can satisfy their hunger. ' Pho ' (noodle soup) is a favorite, but there are also more 'exotic' dishes on the menu, in which various types of guts are not lacking. During the day you travel to Mu Cang Chai . Mu Cang Chai consists mainly of rice terraces

. A beautiful environment, where you still see relatively few western travelers (this in contrast to the better known but very touristy Sapa). You spend the night at the people's home, in a simple homestay . Dinner is included.

Day 10: Mu Cang Chai / Optional trek
Day off. It is wonderful to wake up in the countryside, between the rice terraces . Barking of a dog, crowing a rooster ... Stroll between the rice fields. It does not matter when you are here, there is always something for which you have to take your camera. For example, during harvesting of the rice (September and October) you can see rows of rice as far as the eye can see. It is truly a magical panorama! You can relax or join an optional hiking trip .

Day 11: Mu Cang Chai - La Pan Tan - Nghia Lo
A wonderful day! You go from Mu Cang Chai first to the H'Mong village of La Pan Tan , where you will surely enjoy the view over beautiful rice terraces. So beautiful that they have been recognized as 'National Landscape' by the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture. Then you continue on to Nghia Lo, also located rustic between photogenic rice terraces, which provide an almost magical play of lines. Also in Nghia Lo you stay overnight with people at home, in a simple homestay . Dinner is included.

Day 12: Nghia Lo – Hanoi
Just a walk in the beautiful surroundings of Nghia Lo? During the day you drive Vietnam back to Hanoi by bus. Depending on the departure time you can spend a bit more time in Nghia Lo or in Hanoi.

Day 13: Hanoi - Halong Bay
Your Vietnam tour continues to Halong Bay , where you board the boat for a cruise. Halong Bay consists of many larger and smaller islands of limestone that are close to scrub. Since the rock islands are very steep, they can not be inhabited and they almost never have beaches. The bay has already been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site twice , in 1994 because of the beauty of the area and six years later because of the biological value. You stay on the boat on a full-board basis (drinks are not included).

Above one of the few beaches is a viewpoint on top of the rocks. The climb of 400 steps is certainly worth it because of the wide panorama. You also visit one of the many caves located in the limestone rock . Depending on the boat you are sailing with, you will visit the viewpoint and the cave this afternoon or tomorrow morning.

Day 14: Halong Bay - Dau Pagoda – Hanoi
According to legend, Halong Bay (' Bay of the Descending Dragon ') was created because a giant dragon landed in the sea and took part of the land with its tail and then submerged it underwater. Only the higher parts of the coast remained above the water. This morning you sail through the natural spectacle.

You'll be back by noon and drive back to Hanoi via the Dau Pagoda (according to researchers, the oldest Buddhist pagoda in Vietnam). Time for a further exploration! There is a lively crowd in the colonial French Quarter . You can walk along the French-looking buildings with their louvredeurtjes and balconies, such as the Opera and the National Museum and you briefly imagine Paris.

Day 15: Departure Hanoi
Today, depending on the departure time of your flight to Amsterdam / Brussels, you still have some time in Hanoi. The early birds among us can walk around six o'clock in the morning to the nearby Hoan Kiem Lake where many Vietnamese people practice various activities. You see runners, practitioners of morning gymnastics and tai chi, classes for salsa or laughter therapy .

You can also choose to visit the last museums, buy silk in the silk street or just stroll through the streets. In the course of the day you will be taken to the airport for your return home.

Day 16: Arrival
Your beautiful trip to Vietnam is over, fortunately you have lasting memories ...

Travel documents

If you have Dutch or Belgian nationality, you will need a visa for Vietnam for this trip.

On the website of our partner Visumloket you will find all information about the necessary travel documents (such as passport), visa, the visa procedure to be followed and the location of the embassy. Begin 4 to 6 weeks before departure of your trip with the application.

Traveling with
a child with a parent's surname If a child travels with a parent with a different family name, it can be checked whether there is actually a parent-child relationship. The purpose of this extra check is to prevent child abductions.

Some countries require a statement that the accompanying adult is actually the parent or has the authority. Inquire about this at the embassy or consulate of the country of destination. You can download a permission form on the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee website.

If a child is traveling with someone other than the parents, for example a family member, some countries require a declaration in which the parents give permission for this trip. You can inquire at the embassy or consulate of the country of destination about the admission requirements that apply to this country.

Land arrangement

It is also possible to book only the land arrangement of this tour. You then arrange the international flights yourself and the transfer on arrival and departure. With the other participants you then make the journey according to program. This gives you the freedom to compose your own trip and choose the flight that suits your travel plans. 
On the booking form you can also indicate whether we have to arrange an additional night on arrival for an additional fee. The transfer on arrival can also be arranged by Koning Aap on an individual basis. 
We need a minimum number of participants for all our trips. Keep this in mind before you book your own tickets.
In all cases, it is your responsibility to be present at the starting point of the journey on time. In addition, we are not responsible for sporadic changes in the departure dates of our group trips. For some periods the price of the land arrangement may deviate from the rest of the year, for example festival trips. When the price of the land arrangement is adjusted, this is mentioned under the 'latest news'.

Accommodation and transport

Transport
During this two-week Vietnam tour, use is made of its own air-conditioned bus. Because you have your own transport throughout the journey, you can - in mutual consultation - stop at any time and at any place to take photos or try a local snack (if time permits). 
Of course there are plenty of opportunities to get acquainted with other means of transport such as the boat (Halongbaai), the cyclo (bicycle taxi) and the bicycle (almost everywhere for rent). There are also some possibilities for a nice walk, for example in the area of Mu Cang Chai and Nghia Lo. There are no 'mandatory' long walks.
During the trip you will use a domestic flight twice, from Ho Chi Minh City to Danang, and from Hué to Hanoi. 

Travel distances
Ho Chi Minh City to Danang: 997 km / 1½ hours (domestic flight) 
Danang to Hoi An: 24 km / 40 minutes  
Hoi An to Hué: 130 km / 3 hours  
Hué to Hanoi: 650 km / 1 hour (domestic flight) 
Hanoi to Bac Ha: 320 km / 5 to 6 hours 
Bac Ha to Mu Cang Chai: 210 km / 6 to 6½ hours 
Mu Cang Chai to Nghia Lo: 90 km / 2 to 3 hours 
Nghia Lo to Hanoi: 250 km / 5 à 6 hours 
Hanoi to Halong Bay: 170 km / 3 hours 
Halong Bay via Dau Pagoda to Hanoi: 190 km / 3½ hours
NB: The mentioned 'bare' travel time per day is strongly dependent on the traffic, the condition of the roads and the weather. The travel time is of course approximate. Accommodation During our travels to Vietnam you mainly stay in hotels with double rooms with shower and toilet, on a bed and breakfast basis. When choosing our hotels, we especially paid attention to location, hygiene and atmosphere. The hotels or guesthouses are generally located in the center of the place where you are staying.

In the fairytale Halong Bay you sleep on the boat, with which you also make a boat trip. You stay in a cabin with shower and toilet. During this boat trip 1x lunch, 1x dinner and 1x breakfast are included. Any drinks are not included. You stay in a boat on a 'join in' basis, which means that other travelers (outside of the Koning Aap group members) can also sit on the boat. It is possible that due to bad weather conditions an overnight stay on board is not allowed by the local authorities. In that case, we deviate to a hotel on the coast. 
In Mu Cang Chai and in Nghia Lo you sleep in a ' homestay'in a communal dormitory, and the bathroom is shared. There are mosquito nets, blankets and pillows available. We advise you to take care of a sheet bag yourself. Dinner (3x) and breakfast (3x) included in the tour price (drinks are exclusive). 
Triple rooms may be available in the planned hotels (on request!). An extra bed or mattress is often placed in the double room. On the boat in Halong Bay it is not possible to share one cabin with three adults. 
The planned hotels in Hoi An and Hué have a swimming pool; nice to wash off the tropical heat from you! In exceptional cases it may happen that another hotel without a pool has to be used. Of course there are other swimming opportunities during this trip; think of your stay in Halong Bay and also the beach in Hoi An or Hué is not far away! 
Most hotels use a check out time of 12 noon. To make your stay more comfortable, we arrange a few 'day rooms' for the group in Hué (day 7) and in Hanoi (day 15), since on that day you only go to the airport at the end of the afternoon. You can refresh yourself before you start the flight. The use of the shared day rooms (an average of 4 people per room) is until 6 pm.
Wifi is pleasant for many travelers to keep in touch with the home front via ' social media '. Most hotels have Wi-Fi, sometimes for a fee, sometimes only in the hotel lobby. Please note that the quality and speed of the internet connection are not optimal everywhere. No Wi-Fi is available on the boat in Halong Bay. 
Participants who register individually share a room with another participant. We naturally take into account that you come to the room of the same sex. It is possible, where present, to request a single room. In that case, you pay a single-room surcharge. Please note that a single room is not possible in the homestays .

Insurances