Morning at leisure.

Afternoon, set off on a half day guided tour of Hanoi’s highlights. 

Dive right in with a visit to the Vietnam Women’s Museum – the museum is located near Hoan Kiem Lake and offers wonderful insight into the lives of Vietnamese women.  Displays highlight Vietnam’s vast cultural diversity and educate on the significant role Vietnamese women play in Vietnamese society. Learn historic and modern-day traditions centered around births, weddings, motherhood, spirituality and more

Move on to the Temple of Literature - in 1076 Quoc Tu Giam - Vietnam's first university also referred to as Van Mieu, was established within a temple to educate Vietnam's royalty, mandarins and members of the elite. The university functioned for an incredible 700 years and its gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a fascinating glimpse into Vietnam’s past.

Conclude the exploration with a stroll through Hanoi’s Old Quarter. A maze of alleyways and hidden treasures, learn about local life in the ‘36-guilds’ as you weave through the frenetic streets on foot. Tantalize the taste buds and ignite the senses with Hanoi street food tour. Seek out the city’s typical dishes and exotic delicacies alongside a local. 

The streets of Hanoi are a feast for the senses. Visually appealing, modern style meets history and tradition interlooped with sensational local cuisine. Be introduced to what the locals love; snacks of all types, bowls of noodles, deserts, egg coffee and sweet treats, served streetside or in ‘shophouses’.

With a firm understanding of true Vietnamese flavors and an unforgettable impression of Hanoi street food, return to the hotel.

Overnight        : Hanoi

Meal               : Breakfast | Dinner

Hanoi – Halong : 3 hour drive

The perfect way to see the UNESCO World Heritage areas of Halong and Lan Ha Bay is to spend a night aboard a charming boat. The mystical scenery, where thousands of limestone islands jut out of the emerald sea, sculpted into wonderous shapes covered in lush fauna is truly breathtaking.  

Following breakfast leave Hanoi at 09:00 for the 2.5hours drive to Halong City. Arrive at the pier around noon and proceed with check-in formalities.

After the welcome onboard and checking into the cabin, lunch will be served whilst cruising. In the afternoon, enjoy some visits or activities (depending on the boat’s set itinerary). Towards the end of the afternoon the boat will anchor for the night surrounded by karst formations.

Enjoy a sunset on the deck followed by dinner, then retiring for the evening.

Overnight        : on board

Meal               : Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Hanoi – Danang : 1 hour & 20 min flight

Wake up to the fresh morning amidst the islands of the bay for breakfast (brunch on some boats) while enjoying the serene setting of the spectacular rock formations.

Mid morning, proceed to checkout as the cruise cruises towards port.  Disembark and transfer 2.5hours to Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport for the 1.5 hour flight south to Danang City. On arrival at Danang airport, the gateway to Hoi An, your private guide and driver will assist with the transfer to the hotel for check-in. 

Hoi An, one of Vietnam’s most picturesque towns and UNESCO-heritage listed, once a major Asian trading port in the 17th and 18th centuries now draws international visitors to its streets, for both the history and the surrounding scenes.    

Rest of the afternoon at leisure.

Overnight        : Hoian

Meal               : Breakfast | Brunch

Discover the ancient town during our walking tour, this is a place oozing with charm, and having largely escaped the destruction of successive wars, its streets and architecture are a delight to explore. Stroll past the many Chinese Assembly Halls, from the Cantonese Chinese Congregation with its impressive main altar, to the Hainan Chinese Congregation, which serves as a memorial to 107 merchants from Hainan Island who were mistaken for pirates and killed during the reign of Emperor Tu Duc. Stop by the Japanese Covered Bridge, which was constructed in the 1590s by the town’s Japanese community to link them with the Chinese quarters across the stream.

Lunch is served at Morning Glory Restaurant. Situated in an elegant traditional-style building in the heart of Hoi An’s old town, Morning Glory’s ground floor specializes in local Hoi An ‘street food’, while the upstairs balcony is perfect for small groups as the views over the street are excellent.

The remainder is on your own leisure.

Overnight        : Hoian

Meal               : Breakfast | Lunch  

Together at the meeting point, we join a short drive to Tra Que Organic Village, and walk through the market gardens where local farmers work their fields using the traditional methods of hundreds of years ago - no electrical machinery here. We pick fresh saw-tooth coriander and Vietnamese mint for our cooking lesson later, before trying a special herbal drink at a local home.

To the local village market and with shopping list in hand we purchase a range of local ingredients, including star anise, cardamom, sesame rice paper, water spinach and banana flower.

Arriving at Red Bridge Cooking School we have a chance to freshen up before beginning our class. Working together with our Red Bridge Chef we learn the traditional ways of preparing and cooking Vietnamese food from scratch. Using the freshest ingredients and traditional Vietnamese utensils (still in use today) we cook 4 famous dishes, including the national dish ‘Pho’…After the class we sit down and a chance to savour the dishes we have prepared. Leisurely cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoi An River back to central Hoi An.

Overnight        : Hoian

Meal               : Breakfast | Lunch

Hoian – Hue : 3 hour drive

This morning, we will leave Hoian An for Hue. This scenic route passes through Danang then continues over the Pass of Ocean Clouds before dropping down to the wonderfully photogenic fishing village of Lang Co, and finally arriving in Hue.

Evening, we enjoy an exclusive private dinner at the lovely Tha Om garden house. A Hue “nha vuon” usually consists of a main and back entrance, and a small wall, rockwork and plants in the front yard and in the house itself. The path leading around the wall from the entrance gate is lined with tea bushes or apricot trees. The typical house is made with a timber frame and roofed with brick tiles. The whole house stands on big pillars placed on a round or square stone base, which is sometimes decorated. The altar of the family’s ancestors occupies the central room.

Overnight        : Hue

Meal               : Breakfast | Dinner

This morning starts with a visit to Thien Mu (Celestial Lady) Pagoda overlooking the Perfume River. Constructed in 1601, the 21-meter-tall tower is the centerpiece of the pagoda and represents the seven reincarnations of Buddha. Continue to the tomb of the former emperor Minh Mang, which is located in a tranquil setting of gardens and ponds.

Continue to the Imperial Citadel where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. The ancient citadel reflects the pomp and ceremony of the dynastic rulers as well as the scars of many years of turmoil, both ancient and modern (the Royal Citadel was badly damaged in the latter stages of the war) but retains a sense of grace and majesty even today. From here take a cycle through dai noi ‘Old City’ to Tinh Tam Lake where the Emperors used to come to relax; full of lotus flowers in summer there are many local style coffee shops around the lake where university students come to study.

After exploring the ruins of this wonderful monument, we stroll around Dong Ba Market , the market is another of the must see sites in Hue, the stalls are teeming with color and a great place to catch a glimpse of everyday life. 

For lunch, you can try some traditional Hue specialties at one of the best local tables. Frequented only by the locals, this restaurant specializes in banh uot, a steamed rice pancake stuffed with delicate, finely chopped pork, and bun thit nuong, a rice noodle dish served with grilled meat.

Overnight        : Hue

Meal               : Breakfast | Lunch

Hue – Ho Chi Minh: 1 hour & 20 min flight

We today leaving Hue on a short flight heading to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). On arrival, do a guided city tour to enjoy frenetic and fascinating mixture of old and new city. You go to the Reunification Palace, formerly South Vietnam's Presidential Palace, was built in the 1960s and remains largely untouched since the day Saigon finally fell to North Vietnamese troops in 1975; War Remnants Museum offering a shocking reminder of the long and brutal Vietnam War, with many graphic photographs and American military equipment on display, including a helicopter with rocket launchers, a tank, a fighter plane, a single-seater attack aircraft … Others offer visitors a sense of the region’s French Colonial past; Notre Dame Basilica was built in the late 1800s, and the pink neoclassic confection that is Saigon Central Post Office was designed by Gustave Eiffel himself.

Explore a side of city that few tourists even know exists, let alone get to visit, by plunging into the heart of District 1’s maze of narrow alleyways. Walk through the small back alleys and towards the local residential areas, with their bustling, colorful, aromatic markets, and a variety of small-scale businesses that seem a world away from the city you have seen up until this point.

Evening, explore the colorful nightlife of the city on your own.

Overnight        : Ho Chi Minh

Meal               : Breakfast

Venture off the tourist trail and explore local, authentic Saigon life on this 2-hour market tour...Morning picks up at your hotel to start a short drive to the flower market entrance. Open day and night, this market sells flowers from all over Vietnam. Walk through small alleys and meander through countless flower stalls, taking time to learn the flower names, smell their exhilarating perfume, and interact with the vendors. Exit the quiet freshness of the flower market and delve into a bustling local market. Discover different types of local products such as vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, rice, clothes and jewelry.

Step off the beaten track into the oldest quarter of the city. Explore Saigon’s well-kept secret, Antiques Street (Le Cong Kieu), followed by a visit to the Beaux-Arts Museum, a superb neo-colonial building home to various modern arts.

Return to the hotel and freshen up.

Tonight’s experience starts at 17:30. Once acquainted with the driver and your motorbike, zoom past some of the city’s most popular landmarks before reaching the first stop of the evening, a vibrant rooftop bar with sweeping city views. Take some photos, and sip a refreshing drink whilst enjoying the evening breeze.

From the city height’s, back down at street level cruise through the busy streets. The first food stop, dive into local culture at one of the city’s institutions, a ‘bánh xèo’ restaurant. This savory pancake is highly favored by Vietnamese from Saigon and beyond and is a must-try for any food enthusiast. 

Once sated, ride through the city streets to the city’s main flower market and a nearby lively night market where the city’s youth gather. Sit alongside the locals and order some savory snacks if you fancy, before returning to the Vespa for more riding through the backstreets and vibrant residential areas to the next destination. 

On arrival, sample treats made from single origin, locally-produced Vietnamese chocolate that the New York Times once hailed as ‘the best you’ve never tasted’

The final stop of the evening takes you to a hidden bar. Take a sip from the bar’s signature cocktail and immerse yourself in Saigon’s vibrant atmosphere, before hopping back on the Vespa for the final ride back to the hotel.

Overnight        : Saigon

Meal               : Breakfast | Dinner

Ho Chi Minh – Mekong delta : 2 hour drive

Mekong Delta (or the land of nine Dragons in Vietnamese), the trip today will take you to Cai Be town, in the heart of the Mekong Delta where you will have a glimpse of the region’s unique lifestyle and culture as well as its traditional handicrafts on a nearby island.

On arrival, board a traditional charming boat named Mekong Queen and start cruising along one of the Mekong river’s branches while sampling local fresh fruits, feeling the cool breeze touching your hair.

Your exploration of the land begins with a short cruise through one of the busiest areas of the town with all business activities (mostly rice related) taken place along the river banks as well as on local boats lining up in the middle of the river. It is no surprise if we know that Mekong Delta is the largest rice basket of the country.

The first stop today is a visit to a local ancient house which was dated back to 19th century but has been well preserved and proudly passed down through many generations of the family.

Next, your boat will stroll through the central business district of the town where you will have a close look of what so called “floating market” in this region. Used to be one of the most hustling and bustling trading sites of the region with all-day activities, Cai Be floating market still remains active today but sadly, it is getting smaller in scale and usually being more crowded in early mornings only. This is because most of the local businesses are moving ashore and river transportation is eventually replaced by land.

Cross the mighty Mekong river and temporarily disembark your cruise for quick visits to local families who make traditional and handicraft products such as decorative plates and handbags made from water hyacinth; hammocks made from banana ropes.

Board a sampan (a traditional wooden boat) for a leisure ride through narrow canals on the island. Chance to discover the local river life before taking a leisure walk through the village’s shady backroads with fruitful orchards along the way.

Your journey finally comes to its last part after a tasty home-hosted lunch with Mekong Delta’s specialties is served at a local family.

Take a short cruise to Cai Be pier where your excursion ends. Drive back to Saigon or head to your next destination.

Overnight        : Ho Chi Minh

Meal               : Breakfast | Lunch

At leisure till your departure.

Meal               : Breakfast