On arrival, pick up and transfer to hotel. After check-in, at leisure to relax after your flight. Overnight in Hanoi.

 

8:00am pick up at your hotel for full day tour of Hanoi. A blend of the modern with the mystery and charm of past centuries, Hanoi offers an air of elegance and harmony with nature. Today’s sightseeing begins with a visit to Ba Dinh Square to see Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, museum, and the simple cottage where he lived and worked. Then visit the Presidential Palace and One Pillar pagoda, or Chua Mot Cot, originally built in 1040 A.D. on a pillar constructed of a single large tree trunk. Continue visiting West Lake with Tran Quoc Pagoda. Then explore Van Mieu, also known as the Temple of Literature, which dates to 1070 and is dedicated to the cult of Confucius. Stop at the Fine Arts Museum with its ethnographical displays, paintings and famous lacquerware. Then visit inside the infamous Hoa Lo Prison, which was nicknamed the “Hanoi Hilton” by prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. Onward to beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake, known as the Lake of the Restored Sword. It is closely linked to the legend of Le Loi, the hero who asked the heavens for help in resisting the advance of the Chinese in 1418 A.D. Take a cyclo ride through Hanoi’s Old Quarter, a network of narrow alleys and shop houses also known as “The 36 Streets.” This is a wonderful place to watch local life and peruse items from fabrics to crafts to exotic medicines. Later this afternoon enjoy a delightful water puppet show, a fascinating art form that originated in northern Vietnam. Overnight at the same hotel.

This morning after breakfast, you are free to explore Hanoi on your own. Hanoi is a serene city of lakes, shaded boulevards, verdant parks and grand French architecture. If interested, wander the shops, galleries, and boulevards of the “Paris of the East.” A few of the more popular galleries in the Old Quarter of Hanoi are Hang Gai, Ly Quoc Su, Hang Bo, Nha Tho, Natasha, and Apricot Galleries. At 16:30, meet your guide and walk to Hoan Kiem Street where you can enjoy Nom Bo Kho (Papaya salad with fried beef) at Thanh Hai, and then continue to Hang Be Street. Here you’ll witness the daily life of people in Hanoi’s Old Quarter and visit Hang Be Market, with its food stalls on both sides of the street. Continue to narrow and quiet Trung Yen Alley and Dinh Liet Street. If you’re adventurous, you can try snails, a local delicacy.

 

Next, it’s on to Ta Hien Street where you can enjoy grilled pigeon (Chim Cau Nuong) – a famous dish at Hanoi’s Truong Tho stall. Moving forward, you’ll see Hang Buom Street, Bach Ma temple, Hang Giay (Candy Street) and Hang Chieu Street. The food section of Hanoi’s main Dong Xuan Market includes a street food alley for noodle soup, fruit stalls, and coffee. Here you can enjoy Nem Cua Be (crab spring roll) and Mien Luon (eel vermicelli) at Hang Nga stall. Keep walking to Hang Duong, then to Hang Bo streets where you will stop for traditional Banh Cuon Quang An at 71 Hang Bo and have a cup of egg coffee for dessert at Café Pho Co at 11 Hang Gai Street with a view of Hoan Kiem Lake. At the end of the tour, return to your hotel around 19:30 – 20:00. Overnight at the same hotel.

 

8:00am pick up at your hotel and drive to Ha Long. On the way to Ha Long city, enjoy the journey through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta and the scenery of rice fields, water buffalo and everyday Vietnamese village life.

12:00 – 12:30: Embark at Hon Gai International Harbor.

12:30 – 13:00: Check-in. Enjoy welcome drink & cruise and safety briefing.

13:30 – 14:30: Have set menu lunch in the outdoor dining room (depending on the weather conditions) while cruising to magnificent Bai Tu Long Bay; admire the fascinating formations on the way.

15:00 – 17:00: Cruise to Vung Dang to visit the fish farms and see the daily activities of the local fishermen, such as selling, buying, and feeding fish by kayak or tender. Swim or relax on a white sandy beach or go kayaking through the mysterious Karst Mountains in Cong Dam.

18:00 – 20:30: Back to junk to enjoy a cooking class, then refresh yourself in the outdoor or indoor mineral seawater pool or fitness room or enjoy spa and massage services before having à la carte dinner onboard.

20:30: Free time for relaxing, visiting with the staff, watching movies, listening to music, etc. Overnight on Dragon Legend Boat.

 

6:30 – 7:00: Start your day with a Tai Chi demonstration on the sun-deck.

7:00 – 7:30: Take in the morning view of the bay’s landscape with a cup of tea or coffee and enjoy breakfast in the fresh air.

7:30 – 9:45: Cruise to Cong Do to explore the well-hidden Thien Canh Son Cave.

10:00: Check out of your cabin.

10:45 – 11:30: Enjoy a buffet while cruising towards the harbor.

11:30 – 12:00: Disembark. Pick up & transfer back to Hanoi.

Transfer to airport for your flight to Hue. On arrival, pick up and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Hue.

 

Day 6: (B): Full day Hue

After breakfast, depart with your personal guide and driver and begin exploring Hue. First, visit the former Imperial Citadel and Forbidden Purple City. Hue was the capital of Vietnam until the early 20th century, and generations of royalty lived in the Forbidden Purple City, inside the walled exterior of the Citadel. This was also the site of some of the most brutal fighting during the infamous Tet Offensive. This afternoon depart on a boat trip up the Perfume River past some lush, dreamlike countryside and charming scenes of Vietnamese life to the Royal Tombs of the Nguyen Emperors. The Royal Tombs, with their vast, lovingly-tended botanical gardens, beautiful open air pavilions and numerous shrines, were to provide the seven Nguyen Emperors noble burials as well as comfortable afterlives. The tombs of Minh Mang and Tu Duc are the most elegant while that of Khai Dinh is the most unusual, combining Western architecture with Vietnamese style. Continue to Thien Mu Pagoda, one of Vietnam’s oldest and most beautiful Buddhist temples. In a corner of the grounds, note the aged, pale blue Morris automobile, which transported a local monk to Saigon where he immolated himself in 1963 in protest against the anti-Buddhist laws of the Ngo Dinh Diem regime. Finish the day with a visit to the Dong Ba Market. Overnight at the same hotel.

 

Day 7: (B): Hue – Hoi An

This morning, depart Hue and drive to Hoi An. On the way stop to visit Lang Co Beach and Hai Van Pass. Arrive at Da Nang for a visit to the Cham Museum and Marble Mountain. Continuing south, enjoy a stop at Non Nuoc Beach. This afternoon arrive in Hoi An. After check-in, enjoy walking tour around the ancient town of Hoi An with your guide. Highlights of your tour through its charming streets include the Japanese Covered Bridge, the local produce market, Tan Ky House, and the Fukhien Association. Later, enjoy a boat trip along the Thu Bon River. Then have free time relax or shop in Hoi An on your own. Overnight in Hoi An.

This morning, you will be met and transferred to the Market Restaurant where you will take part in a join-in cooking class at Miss Vy’s Cooking Academy. A local success story, Vy now owns and operates several restaurants in town including the well-regarded Cargo Club, Moring Glory, and Market Restaurants. Enjoy an introduction to traditional methods and ingredients used in Vietnamese dishes. Your lesson will start with the purchase of various ingredients at the nearby riverside market. Instructions and recipes will be given while each dish is prepared. Today’s dishes will be curry vegetable soup, white rose, and grilled tuna with saffron in banana leaf. After class, you’ll have lunch at the Market Restaurant and perhaps try some of your own creations or order off the menu prepared by the professionals. Afterward, leisure time to explore Hoi An or shopping on your own. The cobblestone streets in the old French Quarter are a delight to roam with many cafes, art galleries and handicraft shops. Hoi An is especially well known for its local artists and tailor-made clothing, with over sixty shops providing this service in town. Overnight at the same hotel.

 

Begin today relaxing on the beach or exploring Hoi An or shopping on your own. The cobblestone streets in the old French Quarter are a delight to roam with many cafes, art galleries and handicraft shops. Hoi An is especially well-known for its local artists and tailor-made clothing, with over sixty shops providing this service in town. This afternoon transfer back to airport for your flight to Saigon. On arrival, pick up & transfer to your hotel. After check-in, relax or explore Saigon on your own. At 18:00, pick up from your hotel and transfer to Le Van Tam Park to the starting point of your walking tour. The first stop is a public park where local people enjoy some dancing exercises and Goi Du Du (Papaya salad with fried beef). They gather here when the sun goes down to socialize and dance together. It is up to you to dance with them or just watch. Then, after a short walk, try your first meal of the evening: Banh Xeo, on Dinh Cong Trang. Banh Xeo is a large rice pancake filled with vegetables, shrimp and pork. Hidden in a small alley, this local street restaurant has become very famous and serves some of the best banh xeo in Saigon. The second stop is a street food place located near Tan Dinh Market where you can try a delicious local soup inspired by Chinese recipes. After another short walk, it is time for a tasty com suon non nuong, a local Saigon dish with rice and pork ribs. After crossing a busy intersection, indulge yourself with a delicious dessert and a Vietnamese café. Finally, after 10 minutes walking, enjoy the end of this evening at a live music café featuring piano and Vietnamese songs (Ban Sonate café at 52 Dang Dung Street). At the end of the tour, return to your hotel around 22:00. Note: Places are subject to change upon availability. Overnight in Saigon.

8:00am pick up at your hotel and drive to Cu Chi. Enjoy scenic drive through the countryside as people work in their rice paddies with thatched hut villages scattered along the way.  Visit a local village where they make rice paper, a well- known product used in delicious spring rolls. Upon arrival at the tunnels you will have an opportunity to go underground to see the intricate system of tunnels and learn tactics of the Revolutionary Forces. After emerging from the tunnels, you’ll have an opportunity to take target practice with an AK-47, M-16, M-60, 30 Cal & machine gun. The cost is around 1 – 1.5 USD per bullet (on your account). Back to Saigon in the afternoon for visits to the highlights of downtown including Reunification Palace, formerly South Vietnam’s Independence Palace, until stormed by tanks on April 30, 1975. Preserved in its original state, the original war tanks are on display. Later visit the War Remnants Museum, featuring a detailed photographic exhibition and vast collection of planes, tanks and weapons. See the Emperor of Jade Pagoda and Notre Dame Cathedral and the 1880s General Post Office & Ben Thanh Market. Overnight at the same hotel.

.  

Day 11: (B, L): 1-day Mekong Delta with Cai Be – Vinh Long

7:30am departure from hotel. If time is limited and you really want to experience the fascinating Mekong in a breath, then this trip is for you. Located a little more than 3 hours south of Saigon is the beginning of your discovery of the Deep South. Upon arrival at Cai Be, embark on a junk boat, where clients are welcomed with fresh rolled cotton towels. The tour will begin with a visit to Cai Be’s colorful floating market. We will proceed by exploring some local home factories which produce such items as rice paste, rice popcorn, coco candies, and dried longyans. You will then return by boat for an excursion to Dong Phu, Binh Hoa Phuoc, and An Binh islands located between Vinh Long and Cai Be. These evergreen islands along the Mekong River create large networks of meandering rivers, crisscrossed with countless arroyos, and remain unknown to many people. Lunch will await you at a fruit orchard where family descendants will welcome you with a cup a warm green tea. After lunch and a short walk to visit the orchard, you’ll board a boat for a 45-minute cruise to discover beautiful landscapes along the river and observe typical Mekong delta rural life. A stop can be made on the way at An Binh ancient Church. After crossing the Co Chien River, the excursion will end at Vinh Long Pier. Then pick up and drive back to Saigon. Drop off at your hotel around 17:30. Overnight at the same hotel. 

 

Enjoy your day in Saigon on your own until transfer to airport for your flight back home. End services.