The Smile Of Vietnam

Arrive in Hanoi and transfer to hotel. You are then free to unwind after your flight and get settled into your new surroundings.

Overnight in Hanoi.

This entire day is devoted to visiting Hanoi's most famous landmarks: the impressive Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Uncle Ho's final resting place (outside visit), his simple stilt house to gain insight into his pure and noble way of life, and the One Pillar Pagoda, which was built in 1049 out of wood on top of a stone pillar and resembles a lotus blossom. The Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university, is built in 11th-century Vietnamese architecture. Retrace the city's history by paying a quick visit to a nearby historical lake with a B-52 relic and listening to an untold story at a witness's home to learn how the locals recovered from the war.  Wind your way through the maze of backstreets and take in the sights and sounds of this peaceful village.

The lively, hectic, and social atmosphere of Hanoi can be experienced on cyclo (rickshaw) rides through the Old Quarter's "36 streets of 36 wares." What people in the area typically eat? Have fun on the street food walking tour. Discover the history, customs, and cuisine of Vietnam! Learn more about the history of Vietnamese food, the country's culture, and the eating habits of the Vietnamese people as you make your way through the narrow streets of the Old Quarter and watch as the vendors prepare your meals. The tour also includes a ride on a traditional Cyclo through Hanoi's colonial quarter and an evening performance of the city's renowned water puppets.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Notes

• Tour duration: 7.5-8 hours (08.30-17.00)

• Shorts and tank tops are not allowed in Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & pagodas.

Optional: Insight Ha Noi's lifestyle by Jeep

Today, you will have a great opportunity to see Ha Noi from a different perspective from the vintage jeep. Stop at the Opera House for photos while your guide will provide a quick glance of the French architecture, visible by the many colonial monuments scattered throughout the downtown. Visit the biggest second-hand mechanical parts, and electronics market in Vietnam, where you can buy everything from mechanical items to the tiniest screwdrivers, from kitchenware to motorcycle parts, this market has everything! Your trusty driver will take you to the historic Long Bridge, famed with its unique historic, architectural, and cultural value. Get your camera ready to capture picturesque panoramic views or memorable moments of local people or street vendors crossing the bridge on their traditional transportation.

Notes:

• Tour Duration: 2 hours

• Inclusions: Private roundtrip transfer by jeep, English speaking guide

Today you continue to visit the second destination in this Vietnam north to south tour, Ninh Binh which is around 2 hour driving from Hanoi through the lush vegetation of the Red River.

Hop on a local bike, ride 2.5 km (or optional of OX cart) through rural villages, limestone rocks and impressive rice paddy towards Thung Nham. You will have the opportunity to admire a magnificent panorama of the region that is considered the Halong Bay on land.  Along the way, you might see cows or buffalos working on rice fields with farmers or relaxing under shade (depend on rice season). Gain a glimpse of the real Northern countryside by having a chat with friendly locals. Board a sampan rowboat on a small river through caves that give you the impression of being in a magical space & beautiful stalactites come down from the ceiling. 

Notes:

• Tour duration: full day (08.30-17.00)

• Cycling distance: 3-5 km, depending on your physical ability and length you wish

• March-April is the beginning of the rice farming season in Ninh Binh. The fields are greenest here around April and early May, turning golden in late May and early June when the harvest starts.

Overnight in Hanoi

Make an early morning departure from Hanoi and drive 2.5-3 hours through the Red River Delta on your way to Halong Bay.

Upon arrival, the crew will greet us abroad the traditional style junk with a refreshing welcome drink and then the cruise begins! While navigating the way through the emerald waters and limestone islands, lunch is served with delicious fresh seafood (vegetarians are also catered for). As cruising through the bay, marvel at the amazing karst scenery with different formations.

Halong Bay is littered with hidden caves and grottoes and we’ll take some time to explore one of these. For those felling active you then can explore the bay by sea kayak. After the dinner, night fishing is available on the main deck.

Overnight onbroad.

Notes

• Cruise itinerary is subject to change according to weather condition

• The transfer has no guide

Early risers can enjoy the sunrise and the quiet breath-taking beauty of Halong Bay’s landscape.Continue cruising to explore more of the bay and enjoy the brunch breakfast before returning to the Jetty at noon time.

Transfer back to Ha Noi. Transfer to the airport to take the flight to Da Nang.

After landing at Da Nang airport, take a 40 minutes drive to the charming town of Hoi An.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Depart Hoi An on a 3km (2mi) leisurely boat ride along the Thu Bon River to reach Cam Kim Island. Exchange the boat for a bicycle and pedal the six miles to a nearby village, taking in the picturesque countryside along the way.

Travel to the quiet town of Tra Nhieu, where residents still engage in traditional activities like farming, fishing, raising poultry and livestock, and making mats. Learn about the diversity of local plants and herbs and visit the homes of some local families to observe how they make rice wine, rice noodles and rice paper. A local fisherman will take you out on the water so you can learn how to use a cast net to bring in fish, shrimp, and other marine life. Indulge in a home-cooked meal of regional specialties before riding back into town.

Notes:

• Tour duration: 5 hours (08.00-13.00)

• This tour is subject to weather conditions from November to January

• Cycling distance: 5-7 km, depending on your physical ability and length you desire

In the afternoon, you will do an easy walking tour to visit Hoi An ancient town, recently named as World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Visit Tan Ky House, a late 18th-century merchant’s residence. The Fukhien Association, also known as the Assembly Hall of the Fujian Chinese Congregation, was founded as a place where minority Fujian Chinese could hold meetings, the Japanese bridge. Later it became a temple for the worship of Thien Hau, goddess of the sea and protector of fishermen and sailors.

Notes:

• Tour duration: 3 hours (14.00-17.00)

• Walking distance: 2-3km, easy on the flat terrain

• The Hoi An entrance ticket is valid for entry to 5 sightseeing spots in Hoi An including merchant houses, the Japanese Covered Bridge, museums, pagodas and assembly halls for 24 hours. It also provides entry into Hoi An Ancient Town for as long as you are in Hoi An. Please keep the entrance ticket with you at all times should you independently visit Hoi An later in the evening or on another day

Overnight in Hoi An.

Today, you travel to the ancient capital of Hue along one of the most beautiful coastal stretches of Vietnam and over the glorious Hai Van Pass (or the Pass of Ocean Cloud). Make a stop at the small fishing village of Lang Co, often referred to as one of the most beautiful bays in the world, then continue to Hue city. This peaceful city is located in the center of Vietnam, and you will spend full day to visit it in the middle of your tour Vietnam north to south.

Overnight in Hue

Optional Excursion 1: Chat with singer/artist at her private home-theatre
This evening, visit the home of Vietnamese singer who is a royal descendant. She began her career in Paris in 1986 and moved to Switzerland and performed in Vietnamese community music recitals in France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and elsewhere. The host will greet you with green tea flavored with lotus seeds and guide you to explore her beautiful home of this accomplished performer and visual artist, soak in her collection of works. Have a chat with her to get an insight of her effort building her private theater and her passion with visual and performed art.

Notes:

• Tour duration: 1.5 hour (17.00 – 18.30)

• Capacity: 70pax

Optional Excursion 2: Learning about the art of living in garden house

Built based on "Feng Shui" principle, the charming garden houses in Hue were the great living place of mandarins and royal relatives under the Nguyen dynasty.

This morning, set off for a special journey around a tranquil village to retrace the glory of “Great City” (1636-1687) with a cluster of important cultural and historical relics. Walk around the village path and stop at the garden houses hiding themselves after the evergreen hedges, where you can listen to the echo of the past through the stories of the hosts, as well as the theories of preservation and development they have been following. Wrap up the experience at Princess Ngoc Son's former residence, a three-bay building with two-wing wings that has been meticulously preserved; here, you can chat with the current owner to learn more about the princess's life as a royal.

Notes:

• Tour duration: 3 hours (14.00-17.00)

• Capacity: 30pax

This morning, set off for a leisure boat trip floating on the Perfume River that flows through the charming Hue city. Disembark your boat and visit Thien Mu pagoda, one of the oldest ancient architectural structures for religious worship in Hue. Drive to the royal tomb of the King Tu Duc, a peaceful resting place enclosed by walls, featuring pine woods and a lakeside pavilion with lotus blossoms. After exploring the tomb, drive back to downtown Hue with a stop en route at a family-run workshop to learn how incense stick is made.

This afternoon, visit the Imperial Citadel at the centre of the Complex of Hue Monuments inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. Some sections suffered the most extensive damage during the Vietnam War, but most of them are incredibly well-preserved.

After breakfast, check-out, then transfer to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City (formerly known as “Saigon”). With over eight million inhabitants and four million motorbikes, Saigon is truly a city that never sleeps.

With your guide, explore the city's top attractions: War Remnants Museum, with photos and artifacts from the past, Reunification Palace, the former residence of the Indochina Governor-General and later of the President of the Republic of Southern, Notre Dame Cathedral, a red-brick structure with twin spires modeled after the original in Paris, Central Post Office, designed by Gustav Eiffel before he built the Eiffel Tower. Free to explore the famous Dong Khoi area, home to the legendary Continental Hotel, made famous by Graham Greene in the Quiet American, and lots of popular restaurants, bars and boutiques. Weave through back alleys and meet some of the locals who live in narrow small houses in space-starved Saigon. Unwind in a coffee shop that was once used as a safe haven and weapon chamber during the Vietnam War.  

Situated not too far away from downtown Ho Chi Minh, Cho Lon is a historic and cultural Chinatown.

Walk past by the scenes of daily life on the way and get a chance to observe the street life of the area by venturing through Cho Lon’s busiest streets. You may also choose to stop at a local traditional medicine shop for a pulse diagnosis from a practitioner who will give you a general health assessment based on your pulse readings and the practitioner's observations of your eyes, tongue, and skin. 

Note:

• Tour duration: 5-6  hours

• Outside visit only due to the renovation at Notre Dame Cathedral until further notice from the government

• Capacity: 15 pax for pulse diagnosis at medecine shop

Mekong Delta, known as "the rice bowl of Vietnam," has many canals, beautiful paddy fields, tropical fruit plantations, and fish farms. Rural life here reflects the lifestyle of the past.

This day trip takes you to Ben Tre, which is considered to be one of the gateways to the Mekong Delta. As you make your way out of the bustling central business district, take in the rice paddies and fruit farms that are located along the route.

Join us on a relaxing cruise down the Mekong River aboard the lovely Apricot boat, which is a newly-designed river barge inspired by local traditions. Observe the landscapes of the countryside and the riverside communities. Shore excursions include visiting a tropical fruit farmer's home and tasting special rural flavors, along with a family-run business to learn how coconuts are processed and to enjoy country hospitality. Don't miss a tuk tuk or bicycle ride through the sleeping village, as well as a sampan ride through the maze of small canals lined with water coconut trees. Locals will greet you with "xin chao" or "hi" as you pass.

Enjoy a peaceful lunch serving up delicious authentic dishes from the Mekong Delta at the tranquil Apricot Riverside restaurant to round out your unforgettable trip. While away in a hammock while soaking upcool breeze from the serene Mekong River.

Notes:

• Tour duration: Full day (08.30-17.00)

• Cycling distance: 5-7 km, depending on your physical ability and length you desire

Enjoy the morning and complete any last-minute Saigon shopping before being transferred to the airport for your departing flight.

Optional: Visit Cu Chi tunnels and learn about agriculture life

This morning, you will take 1 hour drive to outskirt of the city to visit Cu Chi tunnels, the “Iron Triangle”, our Viet Cong basement in the American war. You can crawl through a tunnel and even fire an AK47 rifle (on your own account). Check-out the green side of Cu Chi with a stop at a local agricultural village where you will meet local farmers and observe how buffalo, fish, and prawns are raised. The visit to a mushroom farm that offers you the opportunity to participate in some farming activities yourself, either at a garden or rice field (depending on the season), working alongside friendly farmers using traditional gardening methods. Savor a flavorful lunch of fresh, garden-grown vegetables and return to town in the mid-afternoon.

Notes:

• Tour duration: 5-6 hours (08.00-13.30)

• The Cu Chi Tunnels have been widened in places for western visitors, however they can still be dark, hot and claustrophobic inside so please bear this in mind if you do not like enclosed spaces. For those who choose to stay above the ground there are plenty of easily accessible rooms and excavated areas to visit.