Vietnam

Welcome to Vietnam!

Upon arrival, you’ll be picked up at the airport by our private driver and taken to our hotel in the city center. After getting settled and having a good rest, we’ll start off with an evening orientation and group dinner at one of the city’s excellent restaurants.

Today we’ll experience the sprawling metropolis of Ho Chi Minh via a guided cyclo tour where you will be taken around the city in a traditional three-wheel bicycle taxi. This tour will allow us to see and learn about some of the best local spots of the city including niche markets specifically for flowers and fruits in addition to exploring the various neighborhoods, temples and more.

Of course, we’ll enjoy a sampling of southern Vietnamese cuisine along the way as well!

In the evening, we’ll attend an incredible cultural show at the city’s famed opera house where you’ll witness impressive acrobatics and creative choreography to the accompaniment of 17 unique Vietnamese instruments.

We’ll bid farewell to the energy of the big city and board a short flight to Da Nang, from where we'll drive 45 minutes to the beautiful cultural town of Hoi An.

With a relaxed pace of life, Hoi An’s architecture, history, culture and food are sure to delight from the moment we arrive. We’ll check into our centrally-located accommodation and soon head out for an afternoon wander through the atmospheric markets located along the river.

We'll then enjoy a wonderful regional dinner before returning to the river to watch it fill up with floating candles that locals release as traditional offerings.

Today we’ll explore Hoi An on foot, visiting an old merchant’s home, the colorful Hoi An Market, a stunning Chinese temple and the famous Japanese Bridge, all while getting a feel for local life in this charming, French-influenced town.

We’ll participate in a unique lantern making and silk workshop in the afternoon. During this workshop, we’ll learn about the entire production of silk from silkworm to dress before trying our hand at mastering the ancient weaving traditions that have been used in this region for more than 300 years.

This will be followed by lunch back in town and a free afternoon to roam the streets of this quaint destination. Your tour leader will be on hand to assist with any plans or activity ideas.

Hoi An is known for having some of the most delicious cuisine in all of Vietnam. From the savory bun cha soup to the fresh mi quang noodles and delicate white rose dumplings, the local cuisine is beyond outstanding! We’ll therefore spend today learning how to cook some of these famous dishes at a local cooking school.

After explanations and demonstrations from the chef, you’ll get to try your hand at preparing the food yourself, using local ingredients found at the nearby market. We'll then enjoy all of our hard work as we sit down and eat the meal we prepared.

After our class finishes, you’ll then have free time to enjoy even more of this charming town. Options include visiting Hoi An's famous cafes, shopping for clothes (it's well known for its clothing), visiting local art and photography galleries or sitting near the peaceful river watching life go by.

Leaving Hoi An, we’ll travel north by restored vintage jeeps, taking a scenic route through Central Vietnam with several stops along the way.

Our first stop will be Marble Mountain, a cluster of five limestone and marble hills known for their caves, pagodas, and panoramic views. From there we’ll continue up the Hai Van Pass, a winding coastal road with views of the mountains and the sea. We’ll then make our way down toward Lang Co Beach, where we’ll enjoy a relaxed seafood lunch by the water.

Before reaching Hue we’ll make one final stop at An Bang Cemetery, sometimes called the “City of Ghosts,” known for its brightly colored, elaborate tombs built to honor the dead.

We’ll arrive in Hue by late afternoon, checking into our hotel with time to settle in and unwind. In the evening, we'll go for a short walking tour of the city before sitting down for a dinner of local Hue cuisine.

After a relaxed breakfast, we’ll embark on a guided tour to experience the history, culture and architecture of this grand city. This includes the magnificent citadel, the forbidden Purple City and the immaculate mausoleums and pagodas scattered throughout. Our visits to these special places will take much of the day but we'll move at a leisurely pace in order to truly grasp the grandeur of each location.

After an a late afternoon rest, we’ll take a most memorable dinner cruise down the Perfume River, as we admire our beautiful surroundings from our dragon boat.

We’ll begin the day with a short 1.5 hour morning flight from Hue to Hanoi. Upon arrival, we’ll have a quick lunch before embarking on a 3.5-hour drive to the tribal region known as Mai Chau.

After checking into our accommodation, you’ll have some free time to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of the area. This is the perfect opportunity to soak up the tranquil charm of this unspoiled corner of Vietnam before we sit down for a wonderful dinner.

Today we’ll embark on a half-day tour of Mai Chau. Known for tribal customs, craftwork and stunning landscapes, we’ll visit welcoming local communities, learn about their culture and have a chance to walk through the terraced countryside to experience the peaceful lifestyle of the valley.

The day will include genuine local interaction and time to sit down and really get to know the people who call this area home.

You will then have the afternoon to explore town on your own, do some shopping at the famous markets or continue enjoying the serenity of the surrounding nature.

We'll then meet again for a group dinner.

We’ll begin our day with a 3.5-hour drive back to the city of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. We’ll make several stops along the way at impressive ancient pagodas and viewpoints in order to stretch our legs and rest.

Once in Hanoi we’ll check into our conveniently located hotel before an orientation walk and dinner at one of our favorite restaurants!

Today we’ll take part in a guided tour through the heart of Hanoi’s Old Quarter. We’ll wander through its maze-like streets to experience the colorful sights all around us. We’ll explore some of the city’s most important landmarks such as Hoan Kiem Lake and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

We’ll also visit the city's largest covered market where we'll see hundreds of street hawkers selling a variety of fresh produce. In the afternoon, we’ll sit down to treat ourselves to a real Hanoi speciality, egg coffee, at a famous cafe known for this strange but delicious delight.

In the evening, we’ll head out for a typical North Vietnamese dinner experience, set among the atmospheric streets of the Old Quarter.

Leaving Hanoi behind, we’ll have a 2 hour drive to the coast where we'll board our beautiful boat for an overnight cruise. Once onboard, we'll begin with a fresh lunch while our captain takes us through the deep blue waters of the bay.

Our destination will be Bai Tu Long Bay, neighboring the popular and over-crowded Ha Long Bay. This is one of the area's best kept secrets, allowing us to enjoy a less touristy, and even more magical experience.

After lunch, we’ll visit hidden caves and lagoons, swim in the emerald water and watch the sunset over the karst studded landscape. You can then spend the evening relaxing, enjoying a traditional massage or learning more about the people who depend on this unique region for their livelihood.

You can also have a drink on the top deck while enjoying the peace and quiet before we gather for another great meal prepared by the boat's chefs.

We’ll wake up and begin the day floating in the middle of Lan Ha Bay. After breakfast, you’ll have a chance to kayak (optional) or be taken by row boat through a nearby lagoon to admire the impressive surroundings up close.

Our final activity will be a visit to a floating fishing farm in order to learn about the traditional life of Lan Ha Bay’s local fishermen.

We'll then return to port, disembark our boat and return to Hanoi.

After we check into our hotel we'll have a short rest before going out for our special farewell dinner.

You will be picked up at the hotel by a private driver who will take you to the airport for your departing flight.