Day 1: Hanoi arrival (-/-/D)

Hanoi - Airport: 30km, ~40min drive

Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, meet our guide and driver who then escort you to the city center. After making sure of your successful hotel check-in, they will be pleased to leave you free time for your own lunch and leisure to recover after the long flight.

In the late afternoon, we enjoy Water Puppet Show, the unique Vietnamese traditional art originated from rural festivals in Vietnam. The artists-men and women-stand waist-deep in the water to manipulate the puppets, making them move, talk and laugh and even dance on the surface of the water. Dinner is served at a local restaurant.

Meals Included: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Day 2: Hanoi City - Overnight train to Lao Cai (B/L/-)

Hanoi - Lao Cai: 270km, ~7-8h on train

After a wholesome breakfast at hotel, we start the day trip with a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Complex. This famous site compromises Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum (closed on Mondays & Fridays), his former stilt-house residence, the Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh Museum. Following this, we head to the Temple of Literature constructed in 1070 to worship Confucius. Otherwise known as the first university of Vietnam, the site also honours the eighty-two Vietnamese doctorates that each passed a number of rigid exams in the medieval ages. Their names, birthdays and birthplaces are each engraved in headstones perched on stone tortoises. It is widely believed that touching the heads of these tortoises will bring luck. Its peaceful green compound with its neatly maintained lawns, gardens and lotus ponds make it a tranquil hideaway from the city’s bustle and heat. Next stop, lunch!-which will be served at a popular local restaurant. 

In the afternoon, we visit Museum of Ethnology (closed on Mondays, the alternative is the History Museum) dedicated to Vietnam's 54 officially recognized ethnic groups with both indoor and outdoor sections. While the in-housed exhibition is particularly informative, the outdoor display continues in the museum’s garden with fascinating examples of traditional houses of numerous minority groups, from the Kinhs to the ethnic groups of the Central Highlands. We then enjoy a 45-minute-cyclo tour to the Old Quarter where you can see streets with century-aged trees and French Colonial buildings. We then head to Ngoc Son Temple set on a tiny islet in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake. Ngoc Son Temple dates back to the 13th century, and the lake itself is the picturesque heart of Hanoi, frequented by tourists and locals. 

Time is then free until transfer to Hanoi Railway Station for an overnight train to Lao Cai leaving at around 10p.m.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Overnight on train

Day 3: Lao Cai - Sapa - Cat Cat - Ma Tra Village (B/L/-)

Lao Cai - Sapa : 40km, 1h drive

Arrival Lao Cai Train Station at around 6:00a.m, our guide and driver will meet and transfer you to Sapa, situated just 40km from Lao Cai. After breakfast, we will explore Sapa town, founded by the French as a holiday resort. 

In the afternoon, we will visit Cat Cat village, home to H’Mong people. They are excellent “tho cam” weavers, a kind of brocade fabric. The “tho cam” of Cat Cat village is of especially high quality, as it is dyed with natural colors, polished with beeswax and embroidered with unique designs. Cat Cat silver jewelry such as necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings are known for their sophisticated production techniques. A walk through this old village offers a glimpse into traditional customs and practices of the ethnic Black Hmong. We will stop at a beautiful waterfall and the remains of a hydroelectric plant built by the French during their colonisation of Vietnam.

If time permits, visit Ma Tra Village. Located only about 5km to the south-east of Sapa town, Ma Tra Village was added recently into Sapa’s growing list of stunning destinations. The village is a new must-see for visitors when coming to the mountain town of Sapa and preferring a less commercial track. The Village is home to H’mong ethnic people and only boasts around 50 homes. They survive using their craft such as weaving brocade, silk, forging farming tools and carving silver. They generally only make such items to meet their own needs, but since the growth of tourism in Sapa, many H’mong women make decorated cloth to sell on the town’s main streets.

• Morning : 3km, 2h30m walking
• Afternoon : 3km, 2h trekking

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Sapa

Day 4: Lao Chai - Ta van - Train back to Hanoi (B/L/-)

After breakfast at hotel, we embark on a lovely walk that will take us along small paths and trails and through several hill tribe villages of Lao Chai and Ta Van, home to H'mong, and Dzay people. This is an absolutely spectacular walk through stunning scenery inhabited by some of the friendliest people will ever meet. We enjoy lunch at a family house in Ta Van village.  This is an excellent opportunity to meet with local people and study the art of making batik and local weaving villages, the textile tradition of craft women Black H'mong and Red Dzao. In the afternoon, we drive back to Sapa to prepare for overnight train to Hanoi.

• Distance : 8km
• Duration : 3h30m trekking
• Speed : Average

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Overnight on train

Day 5: Hanoi - Halong Bay (B/L/D)

Hanoi - Halong: 180km, ~3h30m drive

We arrive in Hanoi around 5:00 am in the morning where your new guide will escort you to a hotel to freshen up. After breakfast, we will commence our three-hour journey along the Red River Delta to Halong City. 

From there, we embark an elegant wooden junk for a cruise through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters of Halong Bay. Here we enjoy the striking scenery of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Whilst on board, we will be served a fresh seafood lunch followed by swimming and the chance to explore some of the limestone caves in this area. Witness one of the world’s best the sunsets before you sit down for a lush dinner. The captain then will anchor for the night nearby a remote island where you’ll have the option for night fishing or just sit out on the deck and relax under the stars.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight on Junk

Day 6: Halong Bay - Hanoi - Flight to Hue (Br/-/-)

Hanoi - Hue: 770km, 1h flight

After waking up surrounded by the tranquil beauty of the bay, we have time for an early morning dip. Then it’s time for breakfast whilst you watch the sun rise over Ha Long bay. The cruise continues to move around the bay for in order for us to discover more secluded areas; we then go kayaking and continue swimming around the bay. The boat will be near us at all times for those who prefer to relax on board. Around midday, we will return to the main harbour before transferring to our awaiting vehicle for the three-hour journey to Noi Bai airport for the flight to Hue. Upon arrival at Hue, our driver will meet and transfer you to the hotel for check-in.

Meals Included: Brunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

Day 7: Hue Imperial City (B/L/-)

After breakfast at our hotel, we set out to explore Hue's famous highlights, starting with a boat trip along the Perfume River to reach the picturesque Thien Mu otherwise known as the Heavenly Lady Pagoda. One of the most poignant displays here is the car belonging to a former monk, who in 1963, drove to Saigon and set himself alight to protest against the South Vietnamese regime and its treatment of Buddhists. We then disembark the boat for a visit the elaborate tomb of former emperor Tu Duc, which was built between 1864 and 1867 by 3000 soldiers and workers. It includes fifty monuments surrounded by a 1500m long wall covering. We then head back to Hue for a well-deserved lunch!

In the afternoon, we visit Hue Imperial City, the last royal city of Vietnam with beautiful structures including the Flag Tower, Ngo Mon Gate and Nine Dynastic Urns to name a few. Built in the 19th century by the Nguyen dynasty, the City was home to the former Emperors of Vietnam from 1802 until 1945. We then do some shopping at the Dong Ba Market to enjoy the specialities of Hue city.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hue

Day 8: Hue - Danang - Hoi An (B/L/-)

Hue - Hoi An: 140km, ~2h30m drive

After breakfast at the hotel, we bid Hue farewell and continue our south bound journey to the old trading town of Hoi An via Danang. Along the way, we will stop at Lang Co beach for coffee and refreshments. From here we head up to the Hai Van pass, stopping at the top to take in the stunning views towards Da Nang city. Continuing on our way down the other side and into Da Nang, we will stop at the Museum of Cham Sculpture where the mix between French-colonial architecture and Cham elements are set in picturesque surroundings. Founded during the colonial French rule in 1915, this museum preserves sculpture items featuring the cultural, spiritual and ritual lives of the Cham people. Our next destination is the Marble Mountains - a cluster of five marble and limestone hills located in Ngu Hanh Son District, south of Danang City. All of the mountains have cave entrances and numerous tunnels, and it is possible to climb to the summit of Mt. Thuy. Several Buddhist sanctuaries can also be found within the mountains, making this a popular destination. Upon our arrival in Hoi An, we assist you with check-in and the rest of the day is free for your own exploration of this remarkable town.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Day 9: Hoi An Ancient Town (B/L)

Morning after breakfast at hotel, we take a walking tour to Hoi An Ancient Town – an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15^th to the 19^th century. We start our day with the Japanese Covered Bridge – one of Vietnam’s most iconic attractions. Created by the Japanese living in Hoi An in the 1590s as a way to reach the Chinese quarter across the water, the bridge is a beautiful historical piece of Japanese architecture. It would be a shortcoming without a visit to Tan Ky House – one of the many ancient houses that making up Hoian Ancient Town. Built two centuries ago with both Japanese and Chinese influences on architecture, this house has been preserved through seven generations. While walking, we will encounter pretty houses of Chinese merchants. Another must-see destination is Phuc Kien Assembly Hall – an excellent work of architecture considered as a heritage of historical significance. Built in 1690, this Assembly Hall is in fact a temple dedicated to the sea goddess Thien Hau.

Interestingly, there will be visits to colorful riverside markets and workshops where artisans make Hoi An's famous lanterns. Here, you can learn how the lanterns are made then have a chance to create your own lanterns, from designing the frame to gluing the cloth.

In the afternoon, we enjoy a comfortable ride to Thu Bon river to board a river cruise. Sailing down the river, you can experience the local daily life along the river, such as fishing, farming, catching clam. We then visit Thanh Ha ceramic village to admire its intricate pottery and see old men who produce jars, vases, etc. Getting back to the boat, we cruise down to the Cua Dai estuary for a spectacular view of the sun setting over Thu Bon River and the sea before returning back to harbor where our driver is awaiting to take you back to hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Day 10: Hoi An - Cooking Class (B/L)

After breakfast at hotel, we start the day at 8:45am with a drink at Hai Scout Cafe - our meeting point. Our guide will escort you to a colorful market where you can experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy market. We will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers and purchase some of the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later. We board the Red Bridge boat for a leisurely cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoi An River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. This is a chance to view local river life, so make sure your camera is handy. On arrival, we explore the cooking school’s herb and vegetable garden, before learning about some of Hoi An’s and Vietnam’s well-known dishes. The cooking lesson runs for about 2 hours – each dish is first demonstrated by the Red Bridge chef’s, before we prepare the same dish ourselves. Included in the class is a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving (plate decoration). After the lesson, we sit down and eat exactly what we have cooked.

Recipes:

1. Making fresh Rice paper
2. Fresh Rice Paper Rolls of Shrimp
3. Crispy Hoi An Pancakes with Shrimp, Herbs & a Peanut Sauce
4. Marinated Beef on a Sizzling Plate
5. Vietnamese Eggplant in Clay Pot
6. Food Decoration - Pineapple Boat, 3 Colored Flowers & Vietnamese Hand Fan

Vegetarians are provided with replacement ingridients

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Day 11: Hoi An - Tra Que Village (B/L/-)

After breakfast at the hotel, we depart by bicycle to Tra Que village and drop a nice visit to Chuc Thanh Pagoda, the oldest pagoda in Hoi An, built in 1671 with a great value dated from 17-18 century. Arrival at Tra Que Village, we will meet Mr Chinh - a home gardener. He will tell you the story of the history and customs of this charming village as well as of his family. You are also presented the daily activities of gardeners such as raking, fertilizing, cultivating and watering soil.

We then continue to Cam Thanh village. Stop to take some beautiful photos. A quick stop at the local market - Ba The where local people exchange their self-consumption in the region. Interestingly, we will embark on a sampan bamboo basket: rowing competition, practice of fishing technique. Take a little rest in the house of fisherman (Mr. Phong) with the welcome green tea, a beautiful walk in the village to see the daily activities of fishermen. Relax by a foot massage with medicinal herbs that planted in the family garden. It is an effectively traditional therapy method that enforce your health. Prepare vegetables and herbs from Tra Que, small pratice of cooking the dishes: crispy pancake (meat, shrimp, beansprouts…), spring rolls of Hoi An, Tam Huu, grilled fish in banana leaf… Enjoy the dishes you made before driving back to hotel. The rest of the day is yours for relaxation.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Day 12: Hoi An - Danang - Flight to Saigon (B/L/-)

Danang - Saigon: ~850km, 2h flight

After breakfast at hotel, our driver will meet and transfer you to Danang Airport for flight to Saigon. Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport, meet your new guide and driver who then escort you to the hotel for check-in. You will then have time for your own lunch and some well-deserved relaxation.

In the afternoon, we take a half day to visit all famous sites of this bustling city. The first destination is the now-demolished wartime American Embassy. After that, we head to the Reunification Palace, the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until April 30, 1975 when the North Vietnamese tanks came crashing through the front gates, bringing the U.S.-Vietnam War to a dramatic end. This will be followed by some French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral. Notre Dame Cathedral was built between 1877 and 1883 where the stones used to create it were exported entirely from France. Apart from the religious meaning, the most captivating point of this Cathedral is its special neo-Romanesque style of architecture. Adjacent to the cathedral stands the Central Post Office, finished in 1891. It is another fine example of French architecture and is Vietnam's largest post office. After visiting the Jade Emperor Pagoda and the War Remnant Museum, we continue our trip to the bustling Ben Thanh Market, which is a fantastic place for bargains of all kinds. There are a number of vendors and food stalls in the market food section that offers fresh local dishes. You also can find many goods for daily use as well as a variety of eye-catching souvenirs.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

Day 13: Saigon - Tay Ninh - Cu Chi (B/L/-)

Saigon - Tay Ninh: 90km, ~2h10m drive; Tay Ninh – Cu Chi: 70km, ~1h40m drive

After breakfast, you will be picked up at 8:00 am to drive through archetypal southern Vietnamese countryside heading towards the Tay Ninh Province. Upon arrival, we visit the Cao Dai Holy See temple where the followers of this religion practice a unique religious blend of all the major faiths of the world. The temple is dominated by the all-seeing eye and is an architectural wonder due to its influence from contributing religions. The daily service is impressive where worshippers wear robes of different colours denoting their function and status and kneel in blocks whilst they pray and perform complex rituals. Moving on, we have scheduled a special lunch of the local cuisines in a popular local eatery for your taste of Tay Ninh.

After lunch, we drive to the incredible Cu Chi tunnel, a 250 km underground tunnel system which was created manually by Vietnamese resistance fighters often known as Viet Cong during their long struggle for independence. Also on display are various mantraps and the remains of an American tank, as well as numerous bomb craters made by 500-pound bombs, dropped by B52 bombers. After this fascinating visit, we drive back to Saigon for your last night.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

Day 14: Saigon - Ben Tre - Saigon (B/L/-)

Saigon - Ben Tre: 107 km, ~2h drive

After breakfast at the hotel, we leave the bustling city of Saigon behind us and depart for the Mekong Delta known to local as ‘Vietnam’s biggest rice basket’. Upon arrival at Hung Vuong pier in Ben Tre, we embark a boat to cruise along Ben Tre River, a tribute to the Mekong. With stops at the brickfield to see how bricks are made by hand and a coconut candy home factory located along the canal where we witness how to make these local delicacy. You will then have the opportunity to taste bee honey tea at a local honey farm and a variety of tropical fruit that grow abundantly in the orchards of the Mekong Delta. You can then walk or cycle through the coconut groves and green rice paddies to soak up and relax in the tranquil countryside atmosphere.

After lunch at a local restaurant, we will take a trip on small rowing boats through a maze of waterways lined by two rows of palm trees. We cruise back to the pier and disembark for a drive back to Saigon

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon

Day 15: Saigon - Flight to Siem Reap (B/-/-)

Saigon - Siem Riep: 668km, 1h flight

Time is free until our driver meet you for a drive back to airport in Saigon for flight to Siem Riep. Upon arrival, our guide and driver will meet and transfer you to hotel in city center for check-in.

After lunch on your own cost, we will visit the Roluos Group which served as the capital of Indravarman I (reigned 877-89), are among the earliest large, permanent temples built by the Khmers and mark the beginning of Khmer classical art. Preah Ko erected by Indravarman I in the late 9th century dedicated by the King to his ancestors in 880. Bakong the largest and most interesting of the Roluos group temples, with his active Buddhist monastery just to the north of the east entrance. Lolei built on an islet in the center of a large reservoir (now rice fields) by Yasovarman I, the founder to the first city at Angkor.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Riep

Day 16: Siem Reap - Angkor Wat (B/-/-)

In the morning after breakfast, we visit the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Angkor Wat's five towers symbolize Meru's five peaks - the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat, the ocean beyond. 

After lunch at a local restaurant on your own cost, we visit the South Gate , the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century), Bayon Temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara), the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Sunset at Angkor Wat.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Riep

Day 17: Banteay Srei - Ta Prohm - Preah Khan (B/-/-)

Morning after breakfast, we travel to Banteay Srei temple (10th century) which is regarded as the jewel in the crown of Classical Khmer Art. Our next destination is Ta Prohm - one of the area's most beautiful temples. Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery.

In the afternoon, we continue our temple visits to Preah Khan. Built by the King Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulder hugging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, however, the temple of Prea Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation. Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool (representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake), Ta Som and Banteay Samre, built in the third quarter of the 12th century. It consists of a central temple with four wings preceded by a hall and accompanied by two libraries, the southern example remarkably well preserved. Two concentric walls enclose the ensemble.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Riep

Day 18: Siem Riep - Tonle Sap Lake - Apsara Dance (B/-/D)

After breakfast at hotel, we drive south to visit the floating village of Chong Khneas, located 10km from Siem Reap. Arrival there, we will take an excursion in a traditional wooden boat on the Tonle Sap Lake, the "Great Lake" of Cambodia, one of the largest in Asia.

After lunch on your own cost at a local restaurant, we visit "Les Artisans d'Angkor - Chantiers Ecoles" of Siem Reap and time at leisure at a local market before back to hotel for your last night in Cambodia.

This evening, enjoy Dinner with Apsara Dance Show. No visit to Cambodia is complete without at least a quick glimpse of women performing the ancient art of Apsara dance, as depicted on the walls of Angkor’s temples. Wearing glittering silk tunics, sequinned tops (into which they are sewn before each performance to achieve the requisite tight fit) and elaborate golden headdresses, they execute their movements with great deftness and deliberation, knees bent in plié, heels touching the floor first at each step, coy smiles on their faces. Every position has its own particular symbolism – a finger pointing to the sky, for instance, indicates “today”, while standing sideways to the audience with the sole of the foot facing upwards represents flying.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Riep

Day 19: Siem Riep - Departure (B/-/-)

After having breakfast at the hotel, you have free time to relax until our driver meet and transfer you to Siem Riep International Airport for departure flight to the next destination. End of our services!

Meals Included: Breakfast