Serene Escapes: Senior Adventure Tour in Vietnam

Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi / Orientation Tour

Welcomed by our guide upon arrival at Hanoi airport, you'll be transferred to the city. Check into the hotel to drop off your luggage and set out to discover the city (rooms available from 2:30 PM).

Once in the city, enjoy a walking tour of Vietnam's capital with its thousand years of history, followed by a cyclo rickshaw ride allowing you to explore the old quarter of the city and the French quarter through key sites: the Opera House, the Bank of Indochina, the former supreme residence of Tonkin (Sofitel Métropole Hotel), the street of medicinal plants, the Cathedral, and the surroundings of Hoan Kiem Lake.

In the late morning, relax with a one-hour body massage at a local institute—a unique moment of comfort and relaxation after a night spent on the plane.

The rest of the day is free for your relaxation or personal exploration.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Included: Private transport, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Body massage session

Day 2: Hanoi / City Tour & Show

Breakfast at the hotel.

In the morning, head towards Phu Tay Ho Temple (dedicated to the holy Mother Lieu Hanh), located on the edge of West Lake. Over time, it has become one of the high pilgrimage sites for locals.

Return to the city to visit the Ethnography Museum, inaugurated by JACQUES CHIRAC during a Francophonie summit on November 12, 1997. It's Hanoi's most beautiful and interesting museum, allowing you to discover the cultural richness of the country's fifty different ethnic groups. The site is remarkable, the objects from different ethnicities are numerous, diverse, and well highlighted. Moreover, the explanatory panels are very clear, precise, concise, and allow for a great deal of learning about these amazing and lesser-known peoples. Finally, the space is playful, with full-scale traditional Vietnamese houses reconstructed in the adjoining park.

In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Literature, "Vietnam’s First University".

At the end of the day, transfer without a guide to the theater to enjoy a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show—a musical performance that is both original and typical of Vietnamese culture and will enchant you.

Overnight at the hotel.

Transport private, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast

Optional: Opportunity to attend the "Lang Toi (My Village)" performance by Lune Production, filled with acrobatics, light plays, and bamboo, all seasoned with humor and poetry. Lang Toi (My Village) will evoke emotions while showcasing Vietnamese craftsmanship, the daily life of peasants, children, and much more. Please contact us for the price of this option.

Day 3: Hanoi – Chuong/Vac Villages - Ninh Binh

Depart for a discovery of one of the most famous artisan villages, the village of Chuong (30 km from downtown Hanoi – 30 min drive), inseparable from its "nón," the famous Vietnamese conical hat. Continue then to the village of Vac, specialized in the making of bird cages. Discover this craftsmanship and a skill whose reputation is well established.

Follow the route to Ninh Binh, one of Vietnam's most famous sites, also nicknamed "Inland Halong Bay" due to its reliefs reminiscent of the famous "Halong Bay" with numerous limestone hills covered in lush vegetation, a succession of natural amphitheaters connected by tunnels eroded through them.

Continue the itinerary to visit Phat Diem Cathedral, the most original center of Catholicism in Vietnam with several stone and wood structures built in a style that blends the architecture of Buddhist pagodas and Catholic churches.

On a small path leading to this historical site in Kim Son in Ninh Binh province, you'll be surprised to find plenty of bags, hats, boxes, sandals, bicycles for carrying goods, small baskets of flowers... all made of sedge.

Arrive at the hotel at the end of the day. Check-in at the hotel.

Meals on your own. Overnight in Tam Coc.

Included: Private transport, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast

Day 4: Ninh Binh / Immersion in the heart of limestone peaks and rice fields

Breakfast

Depart in the morning for a small boat ride on the site of Thien Ha - Thung Nham, also nicknamed "Inland Halong" like that of Tam Coc but less touristy. From the authentic village pier of Tho Ha, after a 10-minute cruise, Thien Ha cave (located in Tuong mountain with 700m long and about three meters high) offers you time to contemplate thousands of stalactites and stalagmites shining in all colors. And the boat will take you to But cave (fairy cave, 500m long) through two other caves where you enjoy a unique landscape between flooded rice fields and karst peaks.

Return to your hotel to rest and enjoy the ambiance & swimming pool. Then, transfer to discover Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam dating from the 10th century. Discover its temples dedicated to the emperors Dinh Tien Hoang of the Dinh dynasty (968-80), and Le Dai Hanh of the Le dynasty (980-1009).

In the early afternoon, take a bike ride (possible to replace with a moto-taxi or by car) to visit Thai Vi Temple, located amidst rice fields & mountains. Discover local life and typical landscapes of the region along the way.

Continue the ride to the Hang Mua site, climbing the 486 stone steps to the top of the bell-shaped mountain near Tam Coc. At the top, enjoy a fantastic panorama of the "Inland Halong Bay".

Depart to return to Hiep's in Tam Coc, a warm family, it is possible to participate in some daily activities such as gardening, fishing...

This will be your time to prepare the meal with some local specialties and enjoy a warm dinner with them. A unique moment of conviviality and sharing.

Return to the hotel in Tam Coc to spend the night.

Transport private, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 5: Ninh Binh – Halong

Breakfast at the hotel.

Depart from Ninh Binh to Halong, where you will arrive around noon (170km – 3h30 drive).

Immediately embark on a 24-hour cruise on Halong Bay aboard a beautiful wooden junk. A moment you've long dreamed of. The dream becomes reality... The place is legendary.

Welcomed by the boat's guide.

Welcome drink, presentation of the crew and the cruise program before settling into your cabin.

Enjoy a seafood-based lunch as the boat begins navigating through Bai Tu Long Bay amidst thousands of sugarloaf-shaped islets emerging from the turquoise waters. The landscape gives you the impression of being lost in a legendary world.

After lunch, visit Thien Canh Son cave, go kayaking, or relax on a beach. Return to the boat to freshen up before dinner onboard.

Dinner will be served around 7:00 PM, and after dinner, it's your time to relax.

Included: Private transport, Overnight onboard, English-speaking guide onboard, Entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6: Halong – Hanoi - Flight to Hue

Your second day starts early with tea or coffee. At 07:00 AM, breakfast will be served onboard. After breakfast, continue your cruise around the bay, then visit the Vung Vieng fishing village or explore a cave and other activities (depending on your cruise).

Afterward, return to the boat, check out of your cabin at 10:00 AM, and enjoy a delicious lunch. On the way back to Hanoi, stop at Yen Duc village for a short break while enjoying a water puppet show performed by local artists.

Then transfer to Hanoi airport to catch your evening flight to Hue.

Arrival in Hue, greeted by our local guide and transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Hue.

Note: Option to have a private boat for your Halong Bay cruise.

Included: Private transport, Overnight onboard, English-speaking guide onboard, Entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast, lunch, flight Hanoi – Hue in economy class.

Day 7: Hue / Day of Visit

Breakfast at the hotel.

At 8:30 AM, greeted by the local guide and start the day with a visit to a typical garden house in Hue.

Then explore the Imperial City, a true fortified city built on the same plan as Beijing's Forbidden City, including the Noon Gate, the Palace of Supreme Harmony, the Royal Theatre, and the Palace of Longevity.

The day continues with a “Dragon” sampan ride on the Perfume River to admire the landscapes and local life along the river.

In the afternoon, visit the imperial tomb of Tu Duc, arguably the most beautiful and majestic. Seeking perfect harmony with nature, it is surrounded by lotus ponds. The tomb is surrounded by statues of lions, elephants, and mandarins.

On the way back to Hue, stop to visit families who make conical hats, where we will have the pleasure of offering you this product as a souvenir to take home.

Then, explore the local Dong Ba market.

Dinner on your own and overnight in Hue.

Included: Private transport, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast

Day 8: Hue Countryside – Danang - Hoi An

Breakfast at the hotel.

Depart from the hotel in a private car to La Chu village, located 9 km north of downtown Hue. This village is known for its vegetable and herb culture (onions, chives, coriander, basil, etc.). Visit the temple dedicated to ancestor worship.

You may also see buffaloes plowing the land, peasants wearing their conical hats bending over in the rice fields. Despite the hard labor, they are always smiling and very hospitable. A beautiful agricultural interlude!

Meet at the entrance of the village, where you will be taken care of by your scooter drivers and set off on a ride through the charming countryside of Hue. First stop to discover a family workshop of votive paper offerings (a deeply cherished and strong belief among the Vietnamese). Continue to the small daily local market. Visit the market through stalls of meat, spices, vegetables, and fresh fruits, under the benevolent and intrigued gaze of women unaccustomed to seeing tourists in these places. Then explore the vegetable fields, where you can meet the villagers and chat with them. They will be very happy to pose for a photo with you, what a memory!

Typical countryside landscapes between fields, rice paddies, banana plants, rivers, lotus ponds, and in the background mountains where you can still see today the scars caused by the “Agent Orange” dropped by the American army more than forty years ago.

Arrive at a family specialized in making “Banh Loc” – a small cake made from rice flour mixed with shrimp. You may try your hand at creating these dishes.

Lunch in a family restaurant amidst the rice fields to taste Hue's specialties.

After lunch, take a moment to relax in front of the beautiful Vietnamese rice fields, and you can soothe your feet in a warm bath scented with medicinal plants. A unique, relaxing, beneficial experience enjoyed by all! Pure bliss...

In the afternoon, depart from Hue to Hoi An (150 km - 3 hours drive) passing by the Hai Van Pass which offers a superb panorama of the central coastline at its summit. Stop at the top of the pass for beautiful photos. On the descent, make a stop at Lang Co beach to visit a fishing village. You might have the pleasure of meeting oyster farmers, yes, there are also oysters in Vietnam, and they are delicious! Overnight at the hotel in Hoi An.

Included: Private transport, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 9: Hoi An / Old Town & Calligraphy Course

Breakfast at the hotel.

In the morning, take a walk through the small streets of the town to discover houses over two centuries old: visit the old town where you'll see the Japanese bridge built in 1593; (this is the time to dig into your wallet, if you have a 20,000 DONGS bill, you’ll be surprised to find the image of the bridge on it!) the Folklore Museum, the Tan Ky House, the Tran Family Chapel, beautiful houses of Chinese merchants and notables over two centuries old... Discover the Phuoc Kien Assembly Hall built in 1690, which houses a pagoda dedicated to Thien Hau Thanh Mau, the goddess of the sea and protector of sailors.

Then, meet with the calligrapher to discover this ancestral art practiced in Vietnam for several hundred years. We offer you to meet one of these artists. He will tell you the history of calligraphy, then demonstrate his talents.

Next, an optional visit to the Thang Loi silk factory listed in the Guide du Routard as a good address in Hoi An, to have silk clothes tailor-made.

Then, transfer towards the Van Lang fishermen’s village and the Bay Mau water coconut forest.

This forest covers about 7 hectares, surrounded by mangroves, you can observe beautiful traditional houses covered with water coconut leaves. During the Vietnam War, Bay Mau was a refuge for the population and soldiers, making it a historically charged place.

You will then set off on a cruise in a “thung chai,” a round bamboo basket boat, much more stable than it appears, and fishermen will teach you traditional fishing techniques. Guaranteed fun!

Afterwards, return to the road to Hoi An.

Dinner on your own. Overnight at the hotel.

Included: Private transport, Accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast

Day 10: Hoi An / Free Day

Breakfast at the hotel.

A full day free for your personal exploration or to enjoy the beach (weather permitting).

Meals on your own. Overnight at the hotel in Hoi An.

Note: There is an option to enjoy a beach stay at Hoi An Beach if your visit to this city falls between mid-March and the end of August (when the climate is favorable for beach activities).

Included: Accommodation, Meals: Breakfast

Day 11: Hoi An – Danang - Saigon / City Tour

In the morning, transfer to Danang airport to catch a flight to Saigon.

Arrive in Saigon, welcomed by our local guide and transfer to the city.

Take a walking tour for an orientation of the city's historic sites:

Saigon Central Post Office, the largest post office in the country, built in the early 20th century by the French Postal Administration. It's one of the best examples of colonial architecture: its metal frame was designed by Gustave Eiffel himself, making it one of the most famous buildings in the city. Besides the counters, the telephone booths topped with various clocks showing the time in different countries, you will admire the giant portrait of "Uncle Ho" at the back of the vast hall.

Notre-Dame Cathedral: Built between 1877 and 1883, it's one of the finest examples of French colonial architecture. Every stone used for its construction was imported from France.

Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat), favored by the French, with all its luxury shops and lively atmosphere. A must-visit for tourists and locals alike, where one can find typical souvenirs (crafts, propaganda posters, etc.) as well as international brands and restaurants housed in old colonial buildings.

In the afternoon, explore the large Cho Lon Market and the Thien Hau Temple in the Chinatown area. This area hosts restaurants, temples, markets, and the Redemptorist Cathedral.

Meals on your own and overnight at the hotel in Saigon.

Included: Private transport, accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast

Optional: At the end of the day, you can visit the BITEXCO FINANCIAL TOWER. Located in Saigon's historic district, Bitexco Tower stands 262 meters high with 68 floors. It's the tallest building in Saigon and symbolizes Vietnam's modernization and economic development. The sky deck on the 49th floor is open to the public and offers a breathtaking 360-degree view of Saigon. You can walk around the floor and enjoy the panorama. There's an option to have a coffee or a drink (at your expense).

On the way back to the city, you can stop to visit the Ao Dai Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, a sanctuary for the Vietnamese dress, near the Bitexco building.

Day 12: Saigon / Organic Vegetable Village & Cu Chi Tunnels

Breakfast at the hotel.

Depart for the organic vegetable village in Cu Chi (30km-1h). At this village, you will be guided by the farm owner to "become" real farmers. You start by touring the farm, discovering fertile, lush fields where there are over a hundred species of aromatic herbs, vegetables, and other agricultural crops typical of Vietnam. The owner not only explains the characteristics and uses of the vegetables and aromatic herbs—often used in traditional Vietnamese dishes—but also teaches you how to grow and harvest them.

After a morning full of discoveries and joy in the fields, with vegetables you have just harvested from the garden, you will be guided in preparing simple yet delicious Vietnamese dishes such as mushroom soup, sautéed vegetables, vegetable salad with shrimp and pork, soups, etc.

At lunch, taken together, you will enjoy the dishes you have just prepared. After lunch, you will also receive additional details and information about Vietnamese cuisine and the dishes you enjoyed.

Then, transfer to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels. This underground tunnel system, extending over 200 km and consisting of three depth levels, played a key and essential role during the 60s as it served as secret bases for the Viet Cong. Exploring this impressive complex will provide you with a unique experience and you will realize the extremely difficult conditions of Vietnamese soldiers' lives during the war against the Americans. Note that the entrances to some tunnels have been widened for visitors. Most of us wouldn't be able to enter otherwise!

Return to Saigon. Overnight in Saigon.

Optional: There is an option to replace the discovery of the organic vegetable village in Cu Chi with a visit to the Cao Dai holy see temple in Tay Ninh.

Included: Private transport, accommodation, English-speaking guide, Entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Day 13: Saigon – Ben Tre – Dong Hoa Hiep

Breakfast at the hotel.

After a 2-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City, you will arrive at An Hoa Bridge, Ben Tre Province. Take a walk to a workshop to see how locals traditionally peel and split coconuts. Then, take a boat to visit a local factory to see several kilns used for making activated charcoal from coconut shells. Crossing the Mekong River, called Cửa Đại & Cửa Tiểu, 30 km from the East Sea, we arrive at Tam Hiêp Island. Next, a rowboat will take you deeper into the countryside through smaller canals to enjoy some peaceful time. Visit a local family to taste fruits, honey, and tea. Walk or bike on small village paths through vast orchards to a special farm where climbing plants (called LÁ SÂM) are grown. We pick some leaves to taste this special herbal jelly. Bike or walk to have an excellent lunch at Ut Trinh's home. After lunch, we return to our boat to visit the Long Thanh communal house, a national architectural heritage before returning to the car. Lunch may be served on board as the boat directs you through the AN HÓA canal towards BaLai & HàmLuông. Visit a local factory to see how locals make mats from soft coconut shells. End of the trip at Hùng Vuong pier in Ben Tre city.

Transfer by road to Dong Hoa Hiep Island located between Vinh Long and Cai Be. Board a boat for about a 15-minute journey to Mekong Lodge, located in a typical village in the heart of the Mekong Delta. You will discover beautiful landscapes along the river and observe typical rural life in the Mekong Delta. These islands, always above water, are still unknown to many. Free time for your personal discovery. Dinner and overnight in a bungalow at the Lodge.

Included: Private transport, accommodation, English-speaking guide, entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 14: Dong Hoa Hiep – Can Tho

Breakfast at the Lodge.

Walk or bike around the island. Discover the lush, green landscapes of the Mekong. Visit one of the orchards where you can pick fruits (mangoes, rambutans, longans, etc.). Lunch at the Lodge.

In the afternoon, transfer by road to Can Tho (80km – 1h40), an important rice center in the Mekong Delta, known as the Western Capital, located along the Hau Giang, the southernmost branch of the Mekong. Along the way, explore the lively Vinh Long market by the Mekong and then a Khmer temple in Can Tho.

End of the day, free time for your personal discovery. Accommodation at a hotel in Can Tho.

Included: Private transport, accommodation, English-speaking guide, entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Day 15: Can Tho – Cai Rang - Flight to Phu Quoc

Breakfast at the hotel.

In the morning, take a motorboat ride on the Cai Nong canal to visit the Cai Rang floating market. You will appreciate the great variety of products sold at the market, from well-known fruits like mangoes and bananas to more exotic ones like mangosteens, milk apples, sweet longans, and pungent durians, all infused with the sweet smells and fruity flavors of the market.

After the market, continue the boat ride to visit one of the largest orchards in the region & taste seasonal fruits.

Greeted by our driver and transferred to Can Tho airport to catch a flight to Phu Quoc. Welcomed by the hotel shuttle bus and transferred without a guide to the hotel. Check into the hotel.

Meals on your own. Overnight at the hotel in Phu Quoc.

Included: Private transport, accommodation, English-speaking guide, entrance fees, Meals: Breakfast

Day 16: Phu Quoc – Free Day at the Beach

Breakfast at the hotel.

A free day without a guide or driver for your relaxation at the beach.

Meals on your own. Overnight at the hotel in Phu Quoc.

Included: Accommodation, Meals: Breakfast

Option:

Main sites: Phu Quoc Prison, National Park, Nuoc Mam Factory, Pearl Cultivation, Vietnam's First Safari, Phu Quoc Pepper, Rach Vem Fishing Village, and Duong Dong Market.

Excursion to islets: Snorkeling, Hon Rom Islet, May Rut, and a Robinson Crusoe-like island escape…