Begin your journey by unravelling the Vietnamese culture and history in the Vietnamese capital.

• Soak in the history of the first president and Great father of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, who dedicated his life to save his country from invaders by visiting Ho Chi Minh Complex.
• Dedicated to Confucius (Khong Tu) in 1070 and the site of Vietnam’s University (1076), the Temple of Literature, is worth the visit to understand how the Vietnamese elite has been educated.
• Visit the Ethnology Museum, a fabulous collection relating to the Vietnamese ethnic minorities and understand the original culture of the country.
• Grab a Vietnamese coffee while waiting for the train to pass by at the Train Street. Here the trains hurling through the narrow street just feet away from people’s everyday life and children are playing on the tracks.
• See the famous Water Puppet Show, dating back to the 11th century and a unique tradition from the North. Get ready to be amazed by the traditional music from drums, wooden bells, bamboo flutes and authentic Vietnamese operatic songs telling folktales and legends.

Highlight experience: Grabbing a coffee at the Train Street

Escape the busy city and head to the countryside west of Hanoi.

• Arrive at the Ri village, where you will visit a 30-year-old tea plantation owned by a Vietnam War veteran. Harvest tea leaves and help with the drying process where the leaves are rolled by hand.
• Be welcomed by the Chin family in their garden. Help Ms. Chin to prepare some of the dishes you are having for lunch while having a chat.
• Bike around rice fields and arrive at the Da River, where a local fisherman will introduce you to traditional fishing techniques. Enjoy the view and the life of the river.
• Watch the local White Thai dances in Mai Chau. Jump in and have fun with the locals after the show.

Highlight experience: Harvest tea with a veteran of the Vietnam War.

Large mountains will rise around you while going to the Mai Hich village. Soak in pictures for the memory while enjoying the fresh air.

• Walk around the small villages or take a cycle trip of 15 km to the Mai Hich Village, while passing rice fields and enjoy the fresh air in the mountain area.
• Meet your host for the lunch oft our recommended homestay. Try fried pineapple or long time cooked meat that melts in your mouth.
• Drive to our retreat hotel in the Don Village, which is located on the top of the nature reserve in Pu Luong. Relax and enjoy the sunset from the infinity pool.

Highlight experience: Lunch created at a homestay that will explode with taste in your mouth.

Go for a trekking tour surrounded by mountains and paddies while passing through small villages.

• Walk through villages, rice terraces and forest to get to the Hieu Village. Take in the sounds from children playing and birds flying by.
• Jump into the waterfall located in the Hieu Village and refresh from the hike. Bring your bathing suit and take a dip in the cold water.
• Enjoy your lunch surrounded by locals before heading back to our retreatment place where you can relax and enjoy the view.

Highlight experience: Bathing in the Hieu waterfall after a long hike.

Travel to the amazing “Halong Bay on land”.

• Tam Coc is home to the country’s first capital called Hoa Lu, making it an important stop on your trip in understanding the Vietnamese culture.
• Board a sampan and navigate Ngo Dong River where limestone towers rise above rice fields.
• Bike to the Bich Dong Pagoda and climb the stairs carved into the rock walls. The view from the top is breathtaking and with the climb.
• End the day at the cosy homestay with the Hiep family, where your host allows you to settle into their daily routine and living like a Vietnamese family.

Highlight experience: Stay with the Hiep family

Transfer to the Cat Ba Island and embark an overnight cruise to explore Lan Ha Bay. A less touristic area in the outstanding southern portion of the UNESCO World Heritage Ha Long Bay.

• Get ready to experience the bay’s treasures and enjoy your time away from the crowd on a fine mid-size cruise ship with 16 cabins.
• Adventure within the fantastically formed Vung Tra Bau and be fascinated by the formations of the bay.
• Participate in kayaking, swimming or relax on the white sand beach of Hon Co Island.
• Join the chef of the boat for a cooking performance where you could learn how to make Vietnamese traditional dishes and taste it.

Highlight experience: Escape the crowd and relax in Rang Dua Sea, nearby Halong Bay and Cat Ba.

Relax in the water and experience Cat Ba National Reserve by bike.

• Start the day by a boat trip to Lan Ha Bay where you can bicycle or use an electric wagon to the Viet Hai village. A village located in the Cat Ba National Reserve.
• Have a nice local lunch where fresh seafood is served before heading back to the cruise.
• Go for a swim or jump into a kayak at Van Boi – a small beach nearby.
• End the day with a dinner and drinks while viewing the bay at night on the top of the deck.

Highlight experience: Biking to the Viet Hai village for fresh seafood lunch.

Wake up, inhale the fresh air and watch the sunrise horizon while admiring the breathtaking seascape.

• Sail to the nearby fishing area by Chã – in a traditional small fishing boat. Watch how the fishermen catch the fish by classic costume netting. The ideal location for the perfect picture.
• Continue the morning by transferring to the Dark & Bright cave and explore the lovely cave by bamboo boats.
• Have a farewell brunch back at the cruise before heading back to the pier.
  Transfer back to Hanoi and spend the evening.

Highlight experience: Watching the sunrise while admiring the breathtaking seascape.

 
Stroll through the delightful trading port and see the remaining century-old buildings in Hoi An.

• Appreciate the narrow alleys, charming homes with wooden balconies, fascinating architectural features, beautiful temples, and the famous Japanese Bridge.
• Try making your own lantern when visiting a lantern factory, which the city got famous for around the world.
• Discovering the historic port, that is lit up at dusk by hundreds of beautifully coloured lanterns creating spectacular photo opportunities.

Highlight experience: Experience how the Hoi An lanterns are created.
 

Enjoy free time to wander the Hoi An ancient town or leisurely lounge on the An Bang beach.

Enjoy free time to wander the Hoi An ancient town or leisurely lounge on the An Bang beach.

Transfer to Hue by train and experience stunning views and arrive to Hue, which has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• The most stunning view of the famous Hai Van Pass, known as “the pass in the clouds”. should be seen from the train to get the most spectacular view. On the one side you have the jungle and on the other the ocean.
• Arrive in Hue which has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for the ancient relics, historical monuments, and fine continuation of imperial traditions such as the imperial city and Khai Dinh’s tomb, the last emperor.
• Experience a village which specialises in incense-making, and a true icon of Vietnam – conical hats!

Highlight experience: The village of conical hats.

Board a boat after breakfast on a cruise on the legendary Perfume River.

• Buy fresh ingredients for the cooking class at Dong Ba in the packed open-air market.
• Continue cruising the picturesque Perfume River, surrounded by rural scenery, before reaching Thuy Bieu Village:
• Go for an adventurous amble or bicycle ride to visit the garden-house styled homes, ancestral temple, and the village.
• Prepare traditional Hue cuisine carefully with the chef and tuck into your “achievement” afterwards.
• Relax by dipping your feet in medicinal herb water – a traditional therapeutic practice – and unwind with an excellent massage by a visually-impaired masseuse.
• Settle into an evening flight from Hue to Saigon.

Highlight experience: Preparing traditional Hue cuisine in a cooking class.

Wake up in Saigon (currently Ho Chi Minh City), the city that varies from the rest of Vietnam due to its modern flair.

• Start the day by visiting Thien Hau Temple and the Binh Tay Market, built by the Cantonese congregation.
• Visit the War Remnants Museum that is home to the history of locals’ perspectives of the American/Vietnam War.
• The old Presidential Palace is where victory was declared after years of fighting and is preserved as found with vehicles still in the garages.
• Visit the Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Saigon Post Office which are both magnificent displays of French architecture.

Highlight experience: The trip to the War Remnants Museum, to understand the American/Vietnam War and how people lived in Vietnam during the time.

Move from Saigon and head for the rich, fertile lands of the Mekong Delta region and its extraordinarily busy inhabitants.

• Wind along narrow waterways on a local sampan and observe productive rice fields, fruit orchards, and historic buildings
• Visit a rice popcorn factory and an ancient colonial house in Vinh Long
• Travel by road to Can Tho, the largest town and trading center in the Mekong Delta

Highlight experience: Experience the local life on the Mekong Delta.

Start the eventful final day in the Mekong Delta full of vibrant opportunities.
Journey to the colourful Cai Rang floating market and Ba Cong fruit orchard to taste their fresh products

• Visit the 100-year-old Binh Thuy Ancient House to appreciate the historic workmanship and architecture
• Admire the lush vegetation and active life of the local people along the riverbanks
• Close the Mekong Delta trip by wandering Can Tho’s bright market.
• On the return journey to Saigon visit either the Vinh Trang Pagoda or Cao Dai Temple and arrive in Saigon in the late afternoon.

Highlight experience: Watch and taste the delicious fruits at the Cai Rang floating market.

Free time to explore the last parts of Saigon until your transfer to the airport for your departure flight.