Authentic Vietnam

Xin chào! Welcome to Vietnam.

Upon arrival at Hanoi airport and after immigration clearance, you will be greeted by local guide who will take you to downtown.

Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam and one of the hidden gems of Southeast Asia, retains an elegance and charm which makes it stand out from other cities. The winding narrow streets of the bustling Old Quarter contrast with wafting incense in the Temple of Literature and the serenity of the many small lakes. The city’s French influence is well present in fine old colonial buildings and tree-lined boulevards.

Check in hotel and free time at your leisure.

Overnight in Ha Noi

Get ready to see Hanoi as very few others do. This tour is the perfect blend of iconic cultural sites of Hanoi and offbeat districts to sample some genuine local life. The guide meets you in the hotel lobby and off we go. After a short car transfer to the South of Hanoi through a busy urban area, we veer off the main road and enter a very special district. It suddenly feels like stepping back in time, into the 1960’s when Hanoi was a quaint capital populated mostly by modest workers. Wander around these narrow alleys covered in colourful market stalls, feel the incredible vibe and let the guide tell you the story of these unusual big yellow buildings.

After a coffee break, we transfer to the Temple of Literature. We visit the little gem of architecture and huge piece of History. Lunch will be served not far from here in a local garden restaurant. Simple setting, but great atmosphere and delicious foods. In the afternoon, we continue to the garden of the Presidential Palace, where you can also see the one-pillar pagoda and the house on stilts where Ho Chi Minh lived. Back to hotel to refresh before taking the gastronomy adventure in the Old Quarter.

The Old Quarter of Hanoi is a bubbling gold mine for just about anything, but above all, food. Follow your guide on a walking tour, or pilgrimage of sorts, to some temples of Hanoian food. Discover different cuisines, experience various atmospheres and have fun! We start our walk from the northern edge of the Hoan Kiem Lake, where we have a Nom as a starter. A kind of local salad. We then stroll around the former Cau Go street market and reach a very narrow alley where we sample our second treat. Few people, even Hanoians, actually know about this well-kept secret of Hanoi’s gastronomy: a delicious fish-roll filled with pork and mushroom. We continue walking, along the way you will spot lots of street food stalls including one of the most popular Pho noodle soup shops in the Old Quarter (often with quite a que in front), and stop for a refreshment break at a sidewalk bia hoi. Bia hoi is an institution of Hanoi, sort of local pub serving fresh beer from the keg to the glass. Sit for a little while, and enjoy a beer as you watch the passers-by. The last stop is a rice wine tavern, also serving traditional ethnic dishes from the mountains of North Vietnam, an iconic name on the food scene in Hanoi.

Overnight in Ha Noi

We depart from your hotel at 7am and drive South. It is an about two-hour drive to the reminiscences of the imperial capital of Hoa Lu. We visit the remaining temples which are dedicated to the Lê and Dinh dynasties.

We then travel deeper into the less travelled region of Mount Tuong. Here we hop onto our bicycles and go for a leisurely ride across the quaint and peaceful surrounding countryside, before stopping for lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we take a sampan ride to journey from Thien Ha grotto to Thung Nham sub valley. We end our exploration by climbing the three levels of Bich Dong pagoda to enjoy spectacular views over the so-called inland Halong. If time permits, we can tread lightly for a little while in the village nearby before we return to Hanoi. Arrival is expected about 5pm.

Overnight in Ha Noi

We gather in the lobby for our departure to Halong Bay. We drive across the Red River delta and reach the coast a little before noon. We embark on a beautifully crafted wooden junk for an overnight cruise in the legendary seascape of Halong Bay. Once on board, we are served a delicious seafood-based lunch, while the limestone rocks set the décor. In the afternoon, we reach a less travelled area and will devote ourselves to relaxation, sunbathing, and a visit to a cave. The program is not fixed and depends on the time of the year and weather. We end the day on the sundeck while the sun sets. Enjoy an aperitif or attend a cooking demonstration before dinner. Overnight in a comfortable private cabin with attached bathroom.

Note:

Cruise itinerary and schedule are subject to change due to weather, tide levels and operating conditions. Swimming or kayaking excursions may be cancelled due to poor weather.

One of the most special experiences for travellers in Vietnam is to watch the sunrise over Halong Bay. Rise early to watch this spectacular and peaceful scene. After a light breakfast we continue cruising through the bay to visit Sung Sot, a beautiful cave but also an archaeological site. We enjoy brunch on board before we arrive at the wharf in the late morning and return to the dock, where you will be met and transferred to Noi Bai airport.

Embark on your flight to Danang, where you are greeted upon arrival and driven to your hotel. Danang is a modern and dynamic coastal city, a regional hub at the doorstep of Hoi An ancient town.

Overnight in Hoi An

The Great Outdoor Community Outreach in Hoi An & Orientation walk of Hoi An town

On bike, we’ll then set off towards Duy Vinh – the country side of Hoi An. The picturesque cycling route is highlighted with rice fields, local garden and markets. Stop as often as you wish for taking photographs or some easy chats with locals. There’s also time for a visit to a local family who are making sleeping mats in traditional way or a local carving workshops nearby. You will then meet your water gears in order to explore the Cam Thanh coco palm forest either by kayak or SUP (Stand-Up-Paddle). The area is a unique mangrove ecosystem to Hoi An and the scenery is spectacular. The Coco palm forest provides the locals with products such as fish, shells and Nipa leaves which are commonly used as a roofing material for local homes. Arrive at boat pier around noon. Cool down with some local snack before getting back to hotel by a taxi or electric cart. In the afternoon, walk the ancient streets of Hoi An, lined with Chinese traders’ homes and wooden houses reincarnated as restaurants, cafés, and outlets for local artists, craftsmen and tailors. Hoi An’s unique architecture is well displayed in what is arguably Vietnam’s most tourist-friendly town. Explore the beautiful 16th century Japanese Bridge. A symbol of Hoi An and a testament to its fascinating history, the Japanese Bridge was constructed around the early 17th century, though the exact date is unknown. The bridge, also known as the

Pagoda Bridge (Chua Cau), was built by Japanese craftsmen who were part of a larger community of foreign merchants active in Hoi An.

Overnight in Hoi An

Today we depart to the North and Hue. After passing the city of Danang, we start a scenic drive up and down the Hai Van Pass with opportunities to stop and enjoy breathtaking views over the sea and Lang Co Bay. The journey is about 3 and a half hour before we reach the ancient Imperial Capital.

If you would like to spice up the commute, we can offer you options with additional visits in Danang such as the Cham Museum or the Han market; a cruise to My Son ruins; or a boat trip on the scenic Dam Chuon lagoon escorted by a local fishermen. There are plenty of possibilities to enrich your travel experience.

Free time at your leisure and overnight in Hue.

Hue was Vietnam’s last feudal capital, and today you will get an insider’s point of view to the highlights of this nostalgic city. Your first stop is a visit to Tu Duc Tomb, which is located near the quiet Thuy Bieu Village, 6.5-km from the city centre. It’s a sprawling compound centred on the lake and several waterways, and includes numerous memorials connected by attractive walkways. Next, you’ll visit a local garden house where your host will welcome you with hand-made ginger jam and tea. Veer off the common path and enjoy an easy bicycle ride around the village to explore the daily local life in the peaceful countryside, before enjoying some traditional dishes of Hue. After the delicious home hosted lunch, take a leisurely boat ride across the Perfume River then transfer to Imperial Citadel, the best-preserved remnant of the vast citadel and royal quarters that once existed on the site. Here you can see the ravages of time and war on what was the carefully designed capital of the Nguyen Dynasty. Built in the early 19th century by armies of conscripted labourers under Emperor Gia Long, the citadel was surrounded by a 10-kilometre moat while earthen walls formed the outer perimeter. We exit the citadel to visit the nearby workshop and gallery of famous Vietnamese artist Truc Chi, who is a contemporary artist that created his own art based on bamboo paper carvings. We

then head back to the hotel where you can spend the rest of the afternoon at your own leisure.

 Note: the boat from Thuy Bieu to Hue city centre may not operate in mid-Oct – mid-Nov due to the rainy weather. In case the boat is not available, we will drive about from Thuy Bieu to Hue city centre.

You are met in the lobby of your hotel for a 30-minute drive to the airport. Embark on your flight to Ho Chi Minh city, the big metropolis of the South. You are greeted upon arrival and driven to your hotel in the city center, historically called Saigon.

Overnight in Saigon

The guide meets you at your hotel. Hop on the van and depart Saigon with a first stop en route to visit a family producing rice paper. Share a bit of time with them and then continue to Cu Chi Tunnels. Getting at the site in the mid-morning, your guide takes you first through an introductory video before visiting the relics. Along the visit, you will have the chance to see various mantraps, the remains of an American tank and numerous bomb craters. The next hour is dedicated to exploring the maze of tunnels and to understand better how the Viet Cong survived in this underground network. Back to Saigon for lunch.

In the afternoon, visit the Independence Palace, the former residence of the President of South Vietnam with the “War Room”, where the South Vietnamese forces were controlled, and the room where the North Vietnamese army finally took control in the Fall of Saigon on in 1975. Next visit is the War Remnants Museum, which was previously known as the “Museum of American War Crimes” and contains countless artifacts and photographs documenting said crimes – the killing of civilians, spreading of chemicals, torturing of prisoners, and the effects of the war on the north. Planes, tanks, bombs, and helicopters displayed, and outside the museum are some rooms displaying cultural products of Vietnam. Then head to Notre Dame Cathedral, which was built between 1877 and 1883 with materials mostly imported from France. Neo-Romanesque in form, it is a major centre of Catholicism in modern Vietnam, and one of the city’s major landmarks.

Departing from your hotel, we exit Ho Chi Minh city and drive towards the Mekong delta. We reach a little pier tucked away in the buffer zone of Cai Be, a quaint place where fewer people go. Upon arrival, hop on a bicycle and venture on winding concrete pathways passing through fields and little hamlets. Visit a local home, meet the lovely family living here and try your hand at making local cake with them. We continue our little exploration, feel free to stop anytime, anyplace to take a picture or simply contemplate a slice of local life.

Around lunch time, we board a private boat to explore the mighty Mekong River. We enjoy lunch onboard while cruising and watching the riverside passing by. Later, we set out on a rowing sampan to further explore the thick mangrove and its narrow canals. Our last stop for the day will bring you to visit two local workshops where you will learn how to make different products out of coconut as well as the local rice wine. Return to the pier and drive back to Ho Chi Minh City. Arrival at your hotel to be expected in the late afternoon.

Overnight in Sai Gon

The day is free at your leisure until transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your departure flight.