In the footsteps of the French

In the footsteps of the French

In 1954, the Geneva agreements put an end to French colonization in Indochina. More than half a century has passed. We discover a contemporary, modern Vietnam, following this French heritage, through the architectural and urban remains, the stories of the French who lived in Vietnam, as well as in gastronomy. A trip to Vietnam rich in emotions.

Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi

Stop At: Hanoi, Hanoi
The arrival of French settlers which gave Hanoi, the legendary capital of Indochina a very special character. Our journey begins with a discovery of a traditional Vietnamese city and a city with a colonial past.

The old quarter invites us to walk its streets with 36 corporations, to appreciate the architecture of the Ma May house, a well-preserved residence of a Chinese merchant, the oldest market in Hanoi built by the French - the Dong Xuan market, the Long Bien bridge (former Paul Doumer bridge built according to Eiffel's plans) and the Temple of Literature, the first university in Vietnam.

Next, visit the French district of Ba Dinh, home to various old villas in architectural style, which have now become administrative buildings and embassies. We see a changing of the guard in front of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, visit the gardens inside the presidential palace, the house on stilts where Ho Chi Minh, the One Pillar Pagoda lived.

Nearby, the Quan Thanh temple, dedicated to the cult of the guardian genius of the north, then the Tran Quoc pagoda as posed on an islet, on the shores of West Lake.

Free evening for massage, rest, beer or a walk in the heart of the city on Trang Tien Street (the old Paul Bert Street) which leads to the Opera.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Night at the hotel.

Day 2: Hanoi, Nghia Lo

Stop At: Nghia Lo, Nghia Lo, Yen Bai Province
Direction the mountains of the Northwest. The countryside is revealed to us with its rice fields stretching for kilometers, offering a “healthier” atmosphere than in the mega-city of Hanoi. The valleys and hills follow one another with tea plantations, forests of lacquer trees.

We dive towards Nghia Lo located in a basin. In 1951, this village experienced a battle, being one of the episodes of the Indochina War in 1951, between the Vietnamese army forces and those of General de Lattre.

Small detour in the villages to discover tea plants and daily Thai activities. The sunset over the mountains can be there!

Arrival at Nghia Lo, a family of black Thai people welcomes us this evening for the gîte and a hearty dinner where “local specialties” will be made. Guaranteed surprise!
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Night with the locals.

Day 3: Nghia Lo, Mu Cang Chai

Stop At: Mu Cang Chai, Mu Cang Chai, Yen Bai Province
Today we are climbing real mountain passes. Along the way, a few stops to discover villages of different ethnic groups and rice terraces very well known in the region.

We cross passes in the mountain, some over 1500 m above sea level, where free flight enthusiasts do not hesitate to face the void (Khau Pha pass). The panorama offered to our eyes is incredible over our successive ascents and descents. The photos will be mandatory to immortalize this show which is offered to us.

The 2-3 hour walking tour in the villages of Tu Le or La Pa Tan is suggested.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Night with the locals.

Day 4: Mu Cang Chai, Sapa

Stop At: Mu Cang Chai, Mu Cang Chai, Yen Bai Province
The day begins with a visit to a small Thai village nearby. Then, resumption of the road due north. The valleys and villages follow one another with as much activity linked to the daily work of the Hmong and Thai, the majority in the region. Several passes are crossed and we can admire the mountains of the Hoang Lien range.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Sapa, Sapa, Lao Cai Province
Arrival in Sapa, the summer capital of the French at the beginning of the 20th century. Walk to Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai, Ta Van and its small hamlets of the black Hmong ethnic group. Isolated location, accessible on foot, and in fact less crowded, through terraced rice fields, this is a privileged moment to have a real vision of the daily life of peasants.

Return to Sapa.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Night at the hotel.

Day 5: Sapa, Hanoi

Stop At: Sapa, Sapa, Lao Cai Province
Another 2 hour walk can be offered to us between Matra (Hmong) and Ta Phin (Red Dao) whose women wear a red cap, and have the distinction of having their eyebrows shaved.

Visit the temple of Den Mau (18th century) dedicated to the goddess-princess Lieu Hanh. This temple marks the border with China, a powerful and eternal neighbor! View of the border bridge.

Walk to downtown Sapa for shopping. Visit the church and the market.

Suggestion to take a foot bath with medicinal herbs to relax after the hikes.

Return to Hanoi.
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Night at the hotel.

Day 6: Hanoi, Lan Ha Bay

Stop At: Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba Vietnam
We leave the capital and continue our trip to Vietnam towards Hai Phong to take the ferry which drops us off at Cat Ba Island.

Boarding around noon for a cruise taking place in Lan Ha bay. Warm welcome from the crew. The route crosses a floating fishing village in the bay, before reaching the more picturesque areas of the bay and their hundreds of islets.

Lan Ha is a less touristy extension of Ha Long Bay, a place where the French mapped and baptized certain islets during the colonization of Indochina (1887-1954).

Kayaking through lagoons and caves forming narrow tunnels. Visit caves before continuing navigation further north to Bai Trai Dao beach (Three Peaches). Free time to swim, relax. Back on board to enjoy the sunset over the bay or learn to cook with the chef.

In the evening we can try our luck at squid fishing.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight on board.

Day 7: Lan Ha Bay, Hanoi, Hue

Stop At: Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba Vietnam
We witness the sunrise over the bay and have breakfast while the junk heads for Viet Hai harbor on Cat Ba Island. Disembark for a bike ride through the forest to the village of Viet Hai. This visit allows us to understand what the people of this village, surrounded by the mountains of the island's national park, live for.

Back on the boat for lunch.

Disembark at the port of Ben Beo and return to Hanoi for our flight to Hue to continue our trip to Vietnam.
Duration: 12 hours

Stop At: Hue, Hue, Thua Thien - Hue Province
Arrival in Hue.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Night at the hotel.

Day 8: gee up

Stop At: Hue, Hue, Thua Thien - Hue Province
Day dedicated to the visit of Hue, the imperial capital of the Nguyen dynasty. At the time of French Indochina, Hue was the capital of the Annam Protectorate, a territory placed under the protection of France. The French then encouraged the architectural development of the city and Hue kept its status as an imperial city until 1945, the date of the abdication of the emperor Bao Dai.

We take the Perfume River to the pagoda of the Heavenly Lady (Thien Mu). This Buddhist pagoda is wonderfully located, overlooking the river facing the mountains on the horizon.

Return to the city to visit the imperial citadel, where the last emperors of Vietnam lived.

Located in the surrounding countryside, in places that breathe tranquility, the tombs of the kings Tu Duc and Khai Dinh fuel our curiosity in the afternoon.

On the way back, we discover all the secrets of making incense sticks.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Night at the hotel.

Day 9: Hue, Danang, Hoi An

Stop At: Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture, No 2, 2 Thang 9 Street, Da Nang Vietnam
Our stage of the day takes us to Hoi An. After the lagoons which border the mandarin route, we climb the famous Col des Nuages. On one side, Lang Co lagoon, on the other, Da Nang bay, so many expanses of the sea bordered by white sand beaches.

A visit to the Cham Museum in Da Nang shows us the importance of the ancient Hindu kingdom of Champa (192 - 1832) established in this region. The ruins of this kingdom disappeared in the forest were discovered in 1889 by Camille Paris, an official who participated in the Tonkin campaign. Then the works of the French School of the Far East revealed the traces of Cham culture.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: The Marble Mountains, Hoa Hai, Ngu Hanh Son, Da Nang 550000 Vietnam
A few kilometers away, while following the sea, the Marble Mountain reveals us skillful stonecutters. The Tam Thai pagoda, the Huyen Khong cave invite us to climb the side of the mountain. An elevator can also be used.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Hoi An, Hoi An, Quang Nam Province
The charming little town Hoi An welcomes us. Many merchants, mainly Chinese and Japanese settled there in the 16th century, giving the various buildings this typical and original architecture. Discovery of the Japanese bridge, the sanctuary of Fugian - goddess of the sea, the old house Phung Hung.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Night at the hotel.

Day 10: Hoi An, Da Nang, Buon Me Thuot

Stop At: Hoi An, Hoi An, Quang Nam Province
Free morning for a swim at the beach, a quiet moment in a cafe or tasting typical dishes of this city such as banh mi (sandwich) at Madame Phuong's. This dish is an example of the heritage of French gastronomy becoming a world recognized specialty of Vietnam
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Buon Ma Thuot, Buon Ma Thuot, Dak Lak Province
Transfer to Da Nang, port city where in 1858, the Franco-Spanish troops began the colonial occupation of Vietnam. Flight to Buon Ma Thuot, the largest city in the Highlands.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Night at the hotel.

Day 11: Buon Ma Thuot, Ban Don, Buon Ma Thuot

Stop At: Buon Ma Thuot, Buon Ma Thuot, Dak Lak Province
From the 19th century, the French led a series of expeditions to conquer the highlands. The missionaries were the pioneers arriving at this wild and preserved land. Then for almost a hundred years, scientists studied the region and the minority groups in a comprehensive and comprehensive manner.

Our day begins with the discovery of Ban Don, village of elephants. Visit the 120-year-old wooden stilt house, the legend of the king of the elephant hunters, the 750-meter-long bamboo suspension bridge over the Serepok River.

In the afternoon, visit the Dray Nur Falls near Buon Ma Thuot.

Return to Buon Ma Thuot.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Night at the hotel.

Day 12: Buon Ma Thuot, Nha Trang

Stop At: Buon Ma Thuot, Buon Ma Thuot, Dak Lak Province
Visit to the Akodhong village of the Edes, a fine outcome of the development among the minorities.

After leaving for Lake Lak (a large natural lake surrounded by beautiful villages of the Mnong ethnic group), on the way we can stop to taste the coffee honey and discover large and vast plantations of coffee, rubber and pepper. Canoe trip on the lake and visit the Jun and Mlieng villages.

Return to Buon Ma Thuot for transfer to Nha Trang.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Night at the hotel.

Day 13: Nha Trang

Stop At: Nha Trang, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province
The next destination of our trip to Vietnam is a seaside resort, whose bay is part of the Club of the most beautiful bays in the world. In 1894, doctor Alexandre Yersin settled there. After creating the Pasteur Institute in Nha Trang, he set up a laboratory and the equipment necessary to prepare the plague vaccine.

Day dedicated to the visit of Mieu, Tam, Mot and Mun islands. Suggestion: fishing and scuba diving in an ocean full of coral from Mun Island. It is also an opportunity to taste fresh seafood accompanied by local beers and exotic fruits.

Swimming or resting on the beach before returning to the port. Discovery of the life of fishermen.

Free time in Nha Trang for relaxing on the beach under the sun and nautical activities (diving, surfing).
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Night at the hotel.

Day 14: Nha Trang, Dalat

Stop At: Dalat, Lâm Đồng, Vietnam
Departure to Dalat, "city of eternal spring" or "city with a European flavor". Alexandre Yersin and his expedition group found Dalat in 1893, and at that time there were only a few ethnic minority villages. Nowadays, this city exerts an important tourist attraction thanks to its landscapes: waterfalls, lakes, fir forests, flowering valleys, colonial villas whose art-deco style recalls the architecture of the French provinces.

We visit the summer palace of Bao Dai, the last emperor of Vietnam and some other villas in the area. Then, discovery of a fantastic place called "Crazy House". It is a villa inspired by nature, fairy tales and the works of Gaudi.

Travel to Trai Mat in the vicinity of Dalat to admire its natural landscape, flower farms, vegetables and coffee trees. Visit the Linh Phuoc pagoda built with thousands of pieces of porcelain and the Cau Dat tea fields.

Possibility to go to Trai Mat by train from the famous Da Lat station, inspired by that of Deauville.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Night at the hotel.

Day 15: Dalat, Saigon

Stop At: Dalat, Lâm Đồng, Vietnam
Morning at Lang Biang mountain where we enjoy a superb view of the mountains and valleys. The name Langbiang comes from a “Romeo and Juliet” style tale: a couple of lovers who cannot be together because of conflicts between their tribes. After their suicide deaths, their families and people decided to erase the hatred and merge the tribes to form the Kho minority group. They named Lang Biang mountain paired with the two first names of the unhappy couple

Then we go to Lat, the village of several minority groups: Lat, Chil, Ma, Kho, ... Visit an embroidery workshop and taste traditional tea.

Return to the city center to stroll along the lake Xuan Huong, the central square Lam Vien and visit the market in the style of the 60s.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Flight to Saigon. Free evening to discover the nightlife of this dynamic city.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Night at the hotel.

Day 16: Saigon, Ben Tre, Can Tho

Stop At: Ben Tre, Ben Tre, Ben Tre Province, Mekong Delta
Road to the Mekong Delta. In Ben Tre, a sampan ride on the river, at the heart of the incessant activity of the Vietnamese. Visit a coconut candy workshop. We disembark in Nhon Thanh, and go about the streets of the village. Tasting of tea, tropical fruits. Visit a carpet factory.

We ride bikes to cross rice fields, orchards. The countryside is rich and prosperous. Lunch break by the river.

Tasting of multiple and varied seasonal fruits at the Cai Mon orchard.
Duration: 6 hours

Stop At: Can Tho, Can Tho, Mekong Delta
Continue to Can Tho: we are at the heart of the Mekong Delta! Possibility to discover the surroundings on foot or by bike.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Night at the hotel.

Day 17: Can Tho, Sadec, Saigon

Stop At: Can Tho, Can Tho, Mekong Delta
The visit to the floating market of Cai Rang, typical in this region of the delta, is the highlight of the morning. Sale of agricultural products but also of everyday consumer products. In this colorful atmosphere, each boat identifies its cargo by a pole at the end of which is hung the product sold! You said "ingenuity"!

Then, road to the family tomb at the bridge of Tam Vu, historic site of four battles of the Indochina war.

Our next destination is Sa Dec, where Marguerite Duras lived. The Lover's House, which became famous thanks to this author's novel and the shooting of the film in 1992, is today a national historic site. Then visit the Kien An Cung pagoda.
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Night at the hotel.

Day 18: Saigon

Stop At: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Ancient Saigon, today Ho Chi Minh, a city with a rich and tormented past, nicknamed the Paris of the Far East, was the capital of French Indochina. Saigon was destined to become the Singapore of the French. After Dien Bien Phu and the Geneva Agreements, it became the capital of the Republic of Vietnam before the American conflict. Saigon will keep some beautiful colonial buildings, an urbanization with wide streets and influences from different cultures.

Panoramic tour of the city: the central post office (1886 - 1891, framework created by Gustave Eiffel), the Reunification Palace - the former residence of the presidents of the Republic of Vietnam (1962, architect Ngo Viet Thu, winner of the Prix de Rome in 1955), the Town Hall (1898 - 1909, architect Femand Gardès), Notre Dame cathedral (1877 - 1880, architect Jules Bourard), the pagoda of the celestial lady Thien Hau (built in the 18th century by traders Chinese). You will be charmed by the style of the Romanesque-Gothic with Indochinese or traditional Asian motifs.

Free time for final shopping and dinner until transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Night at the hotel.