Day 1 Hanoi - Arrival
Arrive in Hanoi and transfer to hotel. The rest of the morning is free for rest or to begin
exploring the city. In the afternoon, take a one-hour cyclo ride through the old quarter to
enjoy
the Hanoi’s beautiful late-afternoon colors and to visit a traditional Vietnamese “long house”.
OVERNIGHT IN HANOI.
Day 2 Hanoi - Sightseeing
A full day to explore Hanoi’s illustrious history. In the morning, visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex
containing his mausoleum, former residence and the One Pillar Pagoda. Also visit the Temple of
Literature. In the afternoon visit the Vietnam Museum of Fine Arts, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son
Temple
and the 36 streets of the Old Quarter.
OVERNIGHT IN HANOI. [Breakfast]
Day 3 Hanoi - Ha Long Bay
Drive to Ha Long Bay. Board a refurbished wooden sailing junk for a cruise among hundreds of
islets
of Hal Long Bay, where you will enjoy a seafood lunch and a swim (weather permitting). Afternoon
visit a grotto before dropping anchor for the night on Ha Long bay.
OVERNIGHT ON JUNK. [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]
Day 4 Ha Long Bay - Boat Cruise - Water Puppet - Ninh Binh
Spend the morning cruising through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters of Ha Long Bay before
getting back to the wharf. In the afternoon proceed through picturesque scenes of rice fields
and
rural life to a small village known as the birthplace of water puppetry in the Red River Delta.
Witness the unique spectacle of an outdoor water puppet performance whilst sampling local
delicacies
and be presented with a wooden water puppet by local artisans. Proceed to Ninh Binh for
overnight.
OVERNIGHT IN NINH BINH. [Brunch]
Day 5 Ninh Binh - Sightseeing - Hanoi
Drive to Van Long and on arrival enjoy a panoramic bicycle ride taking in paddy fields, pagodas,
small villages and the village market. Next stop, Vuon Thi village where you will be able to
interact with local people and participate in daily activities. You will soon discover the
lifestyle, hospitality and friendliness of the local Northern people. Experience the preparation
of
lunch with a local family and then sit down with them for a feast to remember. After lunch,
stroll
around the village and discover the traditional techniques used in the growing of rice and local
methods of fishing. You can even roll up your sleeves and join the farmers in the fields! Later
on,
experience the dramatic soaring limestone cliffs on a peaceful river boat cruise. Back to Hanoi
in
the late afternoon.
OVERNIGHT IN HANOI [Breakfast]
Day 6 Hanoi - Danang - Hoi An - Sightseeing
Morning flight to the central coastal city of Danang. Upon arrival, transfer to the ancient port
town of Hoi An. En route, visit the Cham Museum, housing the world’s finest collection of Cham
artwork. Upon arrival in Hoi An, embark on a walking tour of this charming town, visiting
ancient
merchants’ houses, a Hokkien temple, the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, and the colorful
riverside market. Trip to one of Hoi An’s famous lantern workshops. Guests learn how the
lanterns
are made and then have a chance to create their own.
Enjoy a candlelit dinner set in a vegetable garden at Tra Que Village. Your appetizer will be
popular finger foods such as marinated beef with fresh mustard leaves from the garden
accompanied by
local wine from the family’s wine collection. For those who are not confident with local wine,
cocktails will be available. Then enjoy delicious Hoi An specialities cooked by the family’s
chef.
Before leaving, enjoy a relaxing foot treatment using a local homegrown remedy.
OVERNIGHT IN HOI AN. [Breakfast, Dinner]
Day 7 Hoi An - Thanh Ha - Hue - Sightseeing
Morning boat cruise to Thanh Ha pottery village and visit a traditional ceramic workshop.
Visitors
have a chance to “get their hands dirty” making their own creations. Depart Hoi An for the
ancient
capital of Hue. The three-hour drive hugs the ocean coastline, winds through emerald-green paddy
fields and climbs over the dramatic Hai Van Mountain pass. Upon arrival in Hue, visit the
elaborate
tomb of Emperor Tu Duc before transferring to the hotel.
OVERNIGHT IN HUE. [Breakfast]
Day 8 Hue - Sightseeing
Morning boat cruise on the romantic Perfume River to visit the elegant Thien Mu Pagoda on the
riverbank and continue by car to the elaborate tombs of Emperor Minh Mang. In the afternoon
visit
the Imperial Citadel and Dong Ba market. The spectacular Citadel is built on the same principles
and
design as Beijing's Forbidden Palace and contains a series of palaces, ornate halls, libraries,
residences, and colleges. This evening dine at Tha Om Garden House situated in Nha Ruong's, Hue
garden with lotus ponds and trees.
OVERNIGHT IN HUE. [Breakfast, Dinner]