Day 1: Arrive Hanoi airport

On arrival, pick up and transfer to hotel. After check-in, at leisure 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.

 

 

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. Cruise begins with welcome drink and safety briefing.

13:30 – 14:30: Set menu lunch served in the outdoor dining room (depending on the weather) while cruising into magnificent Bai Tu Long Bay; admire the fascinating limestone karsts on the way.

15:00 – 17:00: Cruise to Vung Dang – Cong Dam area: Swim or relax on a white sandy beach or go kayaking through the mysterious Karst Mountains of Vung Dang.

18:00 – 20:30: Return to Dragon Legend Cruise to refresh yourself in a mineral seawater pool, fitness room, or visit the spa and massage services before dinner.

20:30: Spend the rest of your evening relaxing, talking with the on-board team, 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 and drive back to Hanoi and straight to airport for your flight to Hue. On arrival, pick up and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Hue.

 

Day 5: (B): Full day Hue tour

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 6: (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.

Day 7: (B, L): Hoi An countryside trip with simple cooking class and lunch

This morning, escape the masses and head out for a bicycle tour through the countryside around Hoi An. Good quality bikes and helmets are provided and technical support is included. Start by biking to Thanh Ha Pottery Village to visit a ceramics workshop where artisans use age-old techniques. Continue to Tra Que, a vegetable and herb-growing village. The country road to Tra Que winds through rice paddies and rural landscapes. At Tra Que, see the gardening of herbs and vegetables using the traditional methods dating back hundreds of years; no electrical machinery here. You’ll pick fresh vegetables and herbs to be used in your upcoming cooking lesson. Continue to the local village market and with shopping list in hand you’ll purchase a range of local ingredients, including star anise, cardamom, sesame rice paper, water spinach and banana flower. From there, continue to a family house in Tra Que with a chance to freshen up and enjoy a cool drink before beginning your cooking class. Working together with the family chef, you’ll learn the traditional ways of preparing and cooking Vietnamese food from scratch. Using the freshest ingredients and traditional Vietnamese utensils (still in use today), you’ll cook four famous dishes and afterwards you’ll have a chance to sit and enjoy your own creations. In the afternoon, bid farewell to your host family before a leisurely boat trip back to Hoi An, stopping on the way at Nhat Tomb and Ba Le well. Overnight at the same hotel.

 

Day 8: (B): Hoi An – Cu Chi – Saigon

Morning transfer to airport for your flight to Saigon. On arrival, pick up 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. Arriving 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 and check in to your hotel. Later, begin 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, see 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 and Ben Thanh Market. Overnight in Saigon.

 

Day 9: (B, L): Mekong Delta tour

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. 

 

Day 10: (B): Saigon – transfer to airport

After breakfast, at leisure on your own until pick up at your hotel and transfer to airport for your flight back home. End service.