Welcome to Vietnam!

Meet & greet: Upon arrival at airport, you will be welcomed to Vietnam by your private English-speaking guide, and then transferred to your hotel. Early check-in at your hotel is subject to availability on arrival.

Highlights: Arrival and welcome
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Overnight in Hanoi at your selected hotel

Guided tour of Hanoi & time at disposal with your guide: Experience the enchanting atmosphere of Hanoi as it wakes on our Hanoi city tour. This one-of-a-kind, adventure unveils the city’s truly local side, allowing you to experience Hanoi in a new way. Start the tour of Hanoi with the remarkable Long Bien Bridge to enjoy panoramic city views and watch the lively morning commute. Today will be a fun day with your guide to experience the sights, smells and tastes of Hanoi. You will see and learn about the real Hanoi and tasting real Hanoi food not as in usual sightseeing as common tourists. What your guide will introduce you the sites by foot combining with the car to the authentic small streets so you can later by yourself or walk with your partner. He would journey you to so many parts of Hanoi that you would not otherwise see and even imagine about, from the maze of zigzagging backstreets, hectic traffic, old French boulevards, and witnessing some special activities in the Old Quarter.

After exploring the old quarter, option of your choice with going straight to the train street to enjoy egg coffees at a nice shop trackside and experience the unique ambiance. Although train schedules show them to come daily, sometimes they do and sometimes not, so if you’re lucky, you may catch one and experience the huge train passing right in front of your face. When you’re done with the drinks, your guide will take you back the Old Quarter to select by yourself most of the beautiful roses to prepare a lovely roses bouquet for your beloved. Then return back your hotel for relaxation.

Afternoon at leisure in Hanoi: This afternoon you have time at leisure to explore the Vietnamese capital independently. Stroll around the picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake, go shopping in the Old Quarter.

Suggested evening Water Puppet show: Water Puppetry is a traditional and unique Vietnamese Art. This highly entertaining form of theatre uses the water surface as stage. Standing waist-deep in the water, the master puppeteers are hidden behind a bamboo screen. The technical virtuosity of the puppeteers is startling and the music enticing. The entire atmosphere is truly enchanting. Many of the brief episodes relate to scenes of the daily life. (The water puppet show is not included in your itinerary but can be arranged by your guide and paid for locally).

Highlights: Hanoi city tour with cyclo ride
Breakfast
Overnight in Hanoi at your selected hotel

Road journey from Hanoi to Halong Bay: This morning (at approximate 08.00am to 08.30am) you will be met at your hotel by your private guide. Then You will be driven through the Red River delta to the coast and the Gulf of Tonkin, where the waters of Ha Long Bay are found, a journey of approximately 3 hours.

Overnight Ha Long cruise: You will arrive in Ha Long around midday, where you will board your deluxe junk where a welcome drink awaits. After a relaxing break, enjoy a delicious seafood lunch while cruising through the magical bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waters like dragons’ teeth. All activities arranged by the cruise are on a shared basis. After lunch you will explore some of Ha Long Bay’s famous caves and grottos. There will also be the opportunity for swimming on a quiet beach or sunbathing on the sundeck. In the late afternoon there will be an excursion to a local fishing village, and a water tunnel. Return to the boat in time for a pre-dinner drink as the sun is setting. Please note that the cruise itinerary is subject to alteration dependent on sailing conditions.

Highlights: Overnight on bay, swimming
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Sharing on your selected boat in Ha Long/Lan Ha Bay

Morning’s Cruise: Enjoy an early start with Tai Chi on the sundeck, otherwise sleep in until breakfast is served. This morning, you will visit Thien Canh Son Cave – the medium size and less visited cave in Bai Tu Long Bay. After seeing these amazing rock formations return to the quay at Hon Gai in the mid-morning, whilst brunch is served on board. Disembark the junk late this morning.

Road journey from Ha Long back to Hanoi: Travel back by road to Hanoi with sightseeing en-route, a journey of approximately 3 hours. Continue to Hanoi airport in time to catch your onward flight to Hue.

Highlights: Tai Chi on board and fly to Hue
Brunch
Overnight in Hue at your selected hotel

Guided tour of Hue city: This morning, stroll around the Imperial Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City nearby. Modelled on the Forbidden City in Beijing by the Nguyen emperors in the early 19th century, the city was badly damaged during the war but the imposing city walls surrounded by a large moat afford good views of Hué. The palace retains a feeling of its past scale and importance, with detailed stonework and pavilions and it is at the moment in the process of being restored to its former magnificence. Following, we will take a short walk through the beautiful garden home complex of Phu Mong (Kim Long) and stop by a local home for tea-break and possible interaction with local family before visit one of the Royal Mausoleums in Hue, the final resting places of the Nguyen Emperors, which are dotted around the hills surrounding the south bank of the Perfume River. End the day with stop by Thien Mu Pagoda, sitting on the riverbank outside the city, this octagonal seven tier stupa has long been regarded as the symbol of Hué and was founded in 1601. It is still a site of Buddhist worship and its huge bell is said to be audible from the city.

Afternoon at leisure: This afternoon is time at leisure to relax at your hotel or explore Hue city and surrounding area independently.

Home hosted Dinner at local residence: Early this evening, we will visit a special residence in Hue where you can learn from the family members how they bring the essence of the Royal ambiance and culture into their home. It is built in royal architectural style, located on the most beautiful site of the Perfume River, and conceptually designed as an East West cultural meeting place. The owners will welcome you personally for tea-break and following by home hosted dinner. The soirée as the highlight of the evening will unfold in the ambience of the Theatre House, set up with the repertoire and accompanied by the traditional instrument ensemble interpreting Ca Hue Royal Chamber Songs, World lullabies, Vietnamese Art Songs, Folksongs and Western Classical Songs. Your meals is included music Récital in royal architecture, painting exhibition and refreshment.

Highlights: Explore Hue city and home hosted dinner
Breakfast, dinner
Overnight in Hue at your selected hotel

Road journey from Hue to Hoi An: This morning, you will be driven south, along highway 1, to Hoi An, a journey of approximately 3 hours. Soon the highway meets the Hai Van Pass (meaning Pass of the Ocean Clouds). There are some spectacular vista points and photo opportunities en-route as the Truong Son Mountain range cuts across the narrow centre of the country. The mountain range has created a barrier to the cold airstreams from the north which often results in thick cloudbanks over the peaks. The pass has been a strategic military focal point during Vietnam’s turbulent history and from the top there are views of the curve of Danang Bay.  Then, continue transfer to Hoi An and check in your hotel and relaxation.

Afternoon Hoi An walking tour: You will enjoy a walking tour of the ancient town center including temples, old houses, pagodas and the Japanese-covered Bridge to introduce an insight of Hoi An architecture/ history as well as the restoration plan being implemented by UNESCO. Free on your own to explore this ancient town and the colorful market with its stalls brimming with tropical specialties. The market is a good place to buy silk, which can be made upon into fine garments, all within a day. The remainder of the day is free at leisure for your own time of shopping or hanging around.

Highlights: Moving to Hoi An and walking tour
Breakfast
Overnight in Hoi An at your selected hotel

Guided cycling tour to countryside of Hoi An and cooking class at Kumquat: After breakfast, around 08.00am depart the resort to Hoi An to enjoy a soft cycling tour to Hoi An’s countryside. Our ride begins by exploring the hidden passageways and winding alleyways of Hoi An, stopping to photograph the iconic Japanese bridge. Crossing first the canal bridge near the night market we continue to the new metal bike bridge connecting Hoi An proper and its southern villages. We continue riding to one of Hoi An’s most beautiful villages. Next, we pedal past rice fields and vegetable farms along small canals and waterways towards a boat building site. Next, we pedal past rice fields and head to Tra Que vegetable village, which is named after a sweet-scented herb they grow and use to spice up Hoi An specialties. Upon arrival, learn about the history and custom of this charming village. Learn the traditional gardening methods and how they cultivate the vegetables. Arriving at Kumquat Cooking class restaurant, where we have a chance to freshen up before joining our cooking class. Working together with your chef we learn the traditional ways of preparing and cooking Vietnamese food. Using the freshest ingredients and traditional Vietnamese utensils. After the class we sit down and a chance to savour the dishes we have prepared. Recipes from the class will be made available to you so you can recreate them at home. After lunch, take a short ride through alleyways back to ancient town. On the way back, we will visit to local shops selling handmade lanterns, leather, jewellery and textiles. Then, take a walk to local coffee in Hoi An town (near the riverbank) to try a local coffee or local fruit/ice-cream. Remainder of the day is at leisure to explore the charming tour of Hoi and surrounding area independently.

Highlights: Cycling tour and private cooking class
Breakfast, lunch
Overnight in Hoi An at your selected hotel

Private transfer: This morning you will be pick up at your resort by your guide and then be transferred to Da Nang airport for the flight to Saigon and continue fly to Cam Ranh from Saigon.

Hotel transfer: Airport transfer in Cam Ranh is arranged by your hotel

Highlights: Fly to Cam Ranh via Saigon
Breakfast
Overnight in Nha Trang at your selected hotel

Day at leisure: Free day to relax on beach. Activities can be arranged by your hotel including a water sports, scuba diving, trekking and other recreational activities.

Highlights: Free day on beach
Breakfast
Overnight in Nha Trang at your selected hotel

Day at leisure: Free day to relax on beach. Activities can be arranged by your hotel including a water sports, scuba diving, trekking and other recreational activities.

Highlights: Free day on beach
Breakfast
Overnight in Nha Trang at your selected hotel

Hotel transfer: This morning, staff of the resort will transfer to the airport for the flight to Saigon.

Private transfer: On arrival, your guide and driver will transfer you to your hotel for check-in. With over eight million inhabitants and four million motorbikes, Saigon is truly a city that never sleeps. This afternoon is at leisure in Saigon to explore independently and hunt for souvenirs.

Explore Saigon nightlife by vintage Vespa motorbike: This evening, you will be picked up at your hotel to enjoy a fun tour with a local guide on the back of a vintage Vespa motorbike. You will be briefed of tour program and learn more about the nightlife in Saigon. The evening kicks off with drinks at a rooftop bar, while enjoying views over the Saigon skyline! Then your expert driver will take you through the city, weaving through the buzzing thoroughfares of Saigon as well as narrow back alleys. Sitting on the back of the Vespas, you’ll be able to soak it all in: the glittering illuminated sites, the smells of streetside food stalls, the sounds of the city and more. The tour includes stops at a mix of venues, giving you the opportunity to experience a truly local night out. We take you to two popular restaurants where you’ll sample several beloved Saigon dishes, all washed down with a cold drink.

After dinner, you’ll also kick back at a Vietnamese-style cafe, enjoying live music while sipping a beer or cocktail. You then have the option of returning back to your hotel to relax, or continuing the night wraps up at a lively music bar where you can groove to the tunes alongside the hip young Vietnamese crowd. If the latter you will end the trip at around 10.00pm and your Vespa driver will bring you back the hotel for the night. All food and drinks are included – all you need to bring is your appetite and sense of adventure.

Highlights: Move to Saigon
Breakfast, dinner
Overnight in Saigon at your selected hotel

Guided cycling tour to Mekong Delta/ Ben tre: This morning you will be met at your hotel and head one and half hours southwest of Saigon and along the way notice lush rice paddies and fruit farms emerging alongside the highway. Upon arrival Ben Tre, we will take a short walk through a local village to enjoy the landscape of local houses and gardens. Then we board the charming wooden boat sailing across the Mekong Rivers. Our first stop at Coconut Garden, enjoy fresh coconut juice and visit local coconut processing operation. Our ride begins by exploring Huu Dinh village (approx. 4 kilometers), including stop at a brick making factory, where the locals still use centuries-old traditional methods to make the bricks by hand. Crossing to the other side of the river by a hand-rowing sampan, which takes you through narrow canals under a green canopy of water-coconut trees to catch a glimpse of the daily activities of the local people. We will stop to visit a local house where their family lives on fishing, shrimp trapping and farming. The owner will welcome you personally for tropical fruits and honey tea-break.

Afterward, you will get on a rickshaw motorcycle riding on narrow village roads to enjoy the lush surroundings of rice paddies and fruit farms alongside. Return back your boat and take you to a nice local restaurant for lunch, offering Mekong Delta specialties. After Lunch, continue your leisure cycling to nearby village to visit another local house to learn the fascinating process of rice wine making. Lastly, a memorable visit to house of a former Vietcong soldier, who survived two years fighting the Khmer Rouge in Phnom Penh. Today, he and his wife live on making rice paper. Have a chat with him and enjoy the crispy rice paper made by his wife and see how it is made. After the visit, re-embark your boat to ride back to the pier in Ben Tre for disembarkation and drive back to Saigon.

Highlights: Full day tour to Mekong Delta including cycling
Breakfast, lunch
Overnight in Saigon at your selected hotel

Morning at leisure: This morning is at leisure in Saigon to explore independently and hunt for souvenirs. You will have to check out of your room at noon time and then be transferred to the airport for your departure flight home. **note: check out time at your hotel is at 12:00pm.

Highlights: Ends of your trip in Vietnam
Breakfast

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