Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, after clearing all customs procedures, please proceed to exit gate and look for your guide who will be waiting at the lobby, holding a signboard with your names on it. You are transferred to your hotel.
Early evening transfer from your hotel to a public theatre for a water puppet performance, a uniquely northern Vietnamese art form said to have originated in the flooded rice fields of the Red River Delta where villagers entertained themselves by manipulating puppets over the water. Modern performers stand chest-deep in water behind a screen and use long rods to move the colourful wooden puppets in a life-like way to depict scenes based on Vietnamese folklore. The skits are set to traditional music using drums, wooden bells, horns, bamboo flutes and cymbals. Scenes may also be accompanied by operatic songs narrating the action.
OPTIONAL TOUR: HANOI HALF-DAY CITY TOUR WITH OLD QUARTER CYCLO RIDE (at additional cost)
Explore the charming city of Hanoi, often referred to as the ‘Paris of the East’, with its yellow ochre colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards and scenic lakes. Visit the historic Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, an imposing monument of marble and granite built to house the preserved body of beloved Vietminh leader Ho Chi Minh, affectionately known to the Vietnamese as “Uncle Ho”. Visit the One Pillar Pagoda, a Buddhist temple built in 1049 of wood in the shape of a lotus blossom and set on a single stone pillar, considered by many to be one of Vietnam’s most iconic pagodas. Proceed to Ho Chi Minh's House nearby, a simple wooden house in a tranquil setting where Ho Chi Minh lived and worked. Some of his belongings are on display and visitors can walk up the steps to see his bedroom. Then take a 1hr cyclo tour through the famed Old Quarter known for its ‘36 streets of 36 wares’ named after the original 36 artisan guilds that date as far back as the 13th century. Explore the fascinating maze of back streets, fronted by narrow houses known as “tunnel” or “tube houses”, built to avoid taxes based on the width of their frontage onto the street, a wonderfully eclectic glimpse into Hanoi street life.
Tour duration: 03 hours. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed every Monday & Friday, all afternoons and from September until December.
The regular check-in time is at 1400; early check-in is NOT included, subject to availability and at additional cost.
This one-of-a-kind activity allows you to escape the noises and crowds of Hanoi and discover the lives of the region’s inhabitants with a visit to the beautiful Muong Ethnic village in Ba Vi.
Hydrate with a welcome drink in Moc Village before departing on a cycling journey through nearby rice fields and quaint villages, making stops along the way at the neighbourhood market. You will have a chance to interact and see how the locals sell their own products for a living.
Leave your bicycle behind for a small boat trip down the Da River, passing mesmerizing landscapes and local life on the riverside. After working up an appetite, you go to the home of Mrs. Chin to join in a cooking class that will teach you how to make special bun cha and spring rolls, Hanoi style. With a full belly, say goodbye to the host family as you make your way to a 30-year-old tea plantation in Ri Village. A peaceful place to enjoy the greenery, this plantation plays an important role in providing tea products for the whole north of Vietnam. You will have a chance to help the owners harvest the tea leaves and pick the best part of the tree to make the highest quality beverage. Spend time at Mr. Duoc’s house, the owner of the large tea farm, before departing for a scenic trip back to Hanoi city centre.
Enjoy a 2 hour drive to Ninh Binh province. It is a spectacular landscape of limestone karts peaks permeated with valleys, some of which are submerged, and surrounded by vertical cliffs.
Upon arrival, pay a visit to the complex of Dich Long Cave & Pagoda. There is a remarkable series of temples and communal houses with unique architecture dating back hundreds years ago. Walk up 105 steps to reach the most spectacular cave where the array of light and stalactites make evokes a magical feeling.
Continue to Van Long wharf for a 1.5 hour sampan boat trip through the picturesque scenery with spectacular mountain ranges. This area is also home to 32 stunning grottos named after their different shapes. In the dry season, Van Long is the wintering place of migratory birds from North Asia.
Later, arrive to Van Long wharf and get on a buffalo cart for a slow journey to a local restaurant for late lunch. Then check in your hotel and the rest of the day is free at leisure.
After breakfast, transfer to the meeting point to pick up your bike for another leisurely 7 km cycle on paved roads through sleepy villages. Chat with local people along the way to learn more their farming lives. Enjoy the peaceful scenery of rustic land with rice fields surrounding the majestic limestone mountains. C ontinue riding to a farm where you can join in some agriculture activities such as gardening, collecting eggs, picking up grass and helping the family prepare food for their guests. Enjoy lunch in this cozy setting before you bid farewell to the family and drive back to Hanoi.
Transfer to the airport for your onward flight to Hue.
A flight suggestion will be made and tickets purchased on your behalf.
Upon arrival at Phu Bai Airport, please proceed to exit gate and look for your guide who will be waiting at the lobby, with a signboard with your name on it. Transfer to your hotel.
Once the imperial capital of the Nguyen Lords from the 17th to the 19th centuries, Hue’s splendid emperors’ tombs, ancient pagodas and the remains of the Citadel contribute to its undeniable royal charm.
Explore the Imperial Citadel at the center of the Complex of Hue Monuments inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. Enter through the towering main gate and appreciate the magnificent architecture and gardens while your guide explains the events and the intrigue surrounding the former royal court. Despite being heavily bombed during the Vietnam War, there are some incredibly well-preserved sections intact and others which are being carefully restored.
After leaving the citadel, there’s time for a short visit to the Royal Antique Museum. Select one of two royal tombs to visit. After exploring the tomb, return to your hotel.
This afternoon make and fly a kite.
Among many places in the country, Hue is regarded as the most ideal venue for kite flying. Except on rainy days, hundreds of kites can be seen soaring in the sky over Imperial Citadel every afternoon. Kite flying is still an interesting game for all generations in this former Royal city. Visit Mr. Cu’s private home, a 45-year-old kite craftsman. Have a chat with him to understand the history of this traditional pastime and share his passion. Then learn how to create a kite yourself. If the weather allows it, enjoy the excitement as your kite rises into the blue sky.
This morning depart on a 1hr dragon boat ride to Sinh Village which is not only renowned for its annual wrestling festival on January 10 (lunar calendar), but also for its folk paintings featuring religious characters. Take a short walk to the house of Mr.Huu Phuoc, the oldest artisan in the village, to hear about the 400-year-old craft of using “dzo” paper made from tree bark and dyed with natural materials like red earth, sea shells and the ashes of bamboo leaves. The paintings are then protected with a layer of sticky rice paste, resulting in an amazingly long-lasting finish.
Cycle 40mins past rice paddy fields to Thanh Tien Village and learn about the 300-year-old craft of paper flower making. The flowers, including chrysanthemums, roses, orchids and sunflowers, are mainly used to decorate altars for ancestor worship and as offerings in religious rituals. T ry creating your own paper lotus flower under the guidance of one of the artisans.
Continue cycling to Tien Non Village, a scenic flower and vegetable growing area which takes advantage of rich alluvial deposits from the river. Explore the scenic village before cycling back to your hotel.
This afternoon you visit the Uu Dam Orphanage Home, which was established in 2005. Meet and talk with the centre representative for an insight of the daily activities as well as their effort to take care of more than 47 orphans. Chat with some children to understand their life at school as well as their dreams, before joining them to re-paint their bedroom walls, windows or create some art on their wall. Share with them your dreams and passions through art. Roll up your sleeves and help the nuns to prepare the ingredients and cook lunch for the orphans.
Later, bid farewell the children and drive back to hotel.
This morning you meet your guide at 08:00 in the hotel lobby and transfer to the hotel in Hoi An.
Between the 15th and 19th centuries, Hoi An known then as ‘Faifo’, was a prosperous trading port, attracting Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, Portuguese and Spanish ships amongst others. Today, this World Heritage ancient town is recognised for its well-preserved architecture, pedestrian-only streets and distinctive local cuisine, allowing visitors a glimpse of its illustrious past.
Hoi An’s narrow lanes are ideal for a guided walking tour of its many atmospheric sights including:
- the old merchant houses with influences from Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese architecture;
- the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, first built in the 1590s by the Japanese community to link them with the Chinese quarters across the stream;
- the Assembly Hall of the Chaozhou Chinese Congregation with its intricate woodcarvings; and
- the colourful market with stalls brimming with local specialities including silk, which can be turned into fashionable garments within a day or two.
Later today chat with a local handicrafts man for a brief introduction to the history, shape, and colour of the lanterns as well as the stages of production. Silk lanterns, the simple yet colourful handicraft is now an essential part of Hoi An culture. The lantern is inspired and hand-made by local artisans and is meant to bring good fortune. It has really made a comeback thanks to experienced men who were born in traditional lantern making families. Try creating your own lantern and take it home as a souvenir.
The flat, quiet roads around Hoi An’s countryside are ideal for exploring by traditional buffalo cart. In Vietnam, farmers and buffalo working the fields have become a symbol of countryside life, with the buffalo being the most valuable possession of poor farmers, and therefore treated almost as a member of the family.
This morning enjoy a scenic buffalo cart ride passing by rice paddies, shrimp ponds, and vegetable farms with excellent photo opportunities. At the dock, board a local river boat and start cruising down the Hoi An River. The boat will stop along the shore where you can try your hand at casting traditional fishing nets, a common fishing method still practised today. Also learn the art of paddling the unique Vietnamese round basket boats.
Return to your river boat and enjoy light seafood dishes and a refreshing drink as you head back up the river and return to town.
This afternoon meet with Mr. Tan Vo, who represents the creative young generation and brings bamboo products up to another level. Bamboo is a significant symbol in both Vietnamese culture and daily life. The solid, straight and high bamboo trees represent the resilience, indomitably and bravery of the Vietnamese people. Having inherited valuable skills from his father, Mr. Tan Vo has recently created a unique bicycle with the frame and handlebars made from bamboo. The advantage of this type of special bamboo frame is its durability and flexibility. His family also hand-makes many other bamboo items which you can see and discover in the workshop. Try your hands on making a pen holder or a décor item under his guidance and take it home as a souvenir.
Depart Hoi An on a 3km (2mi) leisurely boat ride along the Thu Bon River to Cam Kim Island.
Exchange boat for bicycle and start cycling 10km (6mi) through winding village roads while enjoying the idyllic countryside scenery. Visit the peaceful village of Tra Nhieu which has retained many typical features of Vietnamese livelihoods including farming, fishing, poultry and livestock breeding and mat weaving. Learn about the diversity of local plants and herbs and visit the homes of some local families to observe how they make rice wine, rice noodles and rice paper.
Continue to a scenic water coconut forest and try your hand at rowing the unique Vietnamese round bamboo basket boats. Conclude the trip at a local restaurant where you may choose to pamper yourself with a 30min foot massage (optional) before savouring lunch. Transfer back to Hoi An.
This morning meet your guide at 08:00 in the hotel lobby and transfer to the airport for your onward flight to Saigon.
A flight suggestion will be made and tickets purchased on your behalf.
Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport, please proceed to exit gate and look for your guide who will be waiting at the lobby, with a signboard with your name on it. Transfer to your hotel.
Despite being a modern metropolis, Saigon retains its fascinating connections with the past. Enjoy a half-day city tour to admire Saigon’s historic landmarks from the unique vantage point of a vintage sidecar motorbike with chauffeur. Begin with a visit to the Notre Dame Cathedral, a red brick edifice with twin spires constructed from materials imported from France. Then head across the square to the Central Post Office, completed in 1891. A short drive takes you to the former Presidential Palace, the headquarters of the Saigon government during the American War. Finish the tour with a visit to the War Remnants Museum for a vivid perspective of the American War through the eyes of the Vietnamese. (Please note that some of the displays are very graphic).
Remarks about traffic in Saigon: First-time visitors to Saigon are inevitably overwhelmed by the dense traffic that never seems to stop. Despite its chaotic feel, motorbikes, cars, taxis and buses flow like water in a stream and Vietnamese drivers are skilled at manoeuvring around slowly-moving pedestrians. This tour visits the sights from the safety of a motorbike or sidecar with the drivers doing all the work, allowing you to simply sit back and take in the sights.
OPTIONAL TOUR: A O SHOW (at additional cost)
Late this afternoon depart from your hotel to see “A O Show” - a combination of arts highlighting the peaceful country life and poetic scenery of Vietnam. The show is special in the way it contains episodes of Vietnamese traditional folk games, dances and circus acts performed against the background of traditional and modern music combined with artistic lighting. Bamboo pipes and baskets are used throughout the performance as set decorations and traditional daily activities of villagers and festive celebrations are demonstrated by performers and musicians in farmers’ clothing. Transfer back to your hotel after the show.
Notes:
- Availability: Evening only, upon request (check the show schedule).
- Suggested time: Public show: 18:00, 20:00.
- Duration: 1.5 hours.
- Venue: Saigon Opera House.
- Upgrade with extra charge to W seat zones for better view; the show is only suitable for children from 05 years old
Early morning departures leave from Saigon for a 1.5hr drive to Ben Tre, the gateway to the Mekong Delta. Escape the high-energy city for a day of exploring sprawling rice paddies and colourful fruit farms.
Arrive at the quaint An Khanh hamlet, where travellers will visit a small home factory that makes the traditional dish of sticky rice covered by coconut leaves. Meet with the owner and her hard-working team who will teach you about how they use century-old traditional methods to make this special and tasty cake.
Continue this rural journey of discovery with a short drive to meet a local family in Quoi Son village. After wandering though the lush gardens of this village, a motorboat awaits your arrival to begin a thirty-minute excursion passing peaceful scenes of countryside living. Disembark at a local ship building workshop and meet the owner who has perfected his craft, learning it from three generations of river boat-makers before him. With passion, he is devoted to preserving the traditional craft and supporting the local community.
Trade boat for bicycle and enjoy a relaxing ride over easy, level terrain as you travel through narrow village lanes lined with fruit orchards and customary cottages. When you arrive at your destination, sample exotic fresh fruits on the orchard of a local fruit farmer. Here you can also choose to ride on either a horse-drawn cart or tri-motorcycle through the lush surroundings of the fruit farms before boarding a sampan for a ride along the narrow canals of the Mekong.
End your excursion at a local farmer's house where a lunch of Mekong Delta specialities will be served before driving back to Saigon.
This morning is free at leisure until time you meet your hotel representative in the hotel lobby and transfer to the airport for your onward flight to Saigon.
A flight suggestion will be made and tickets purchased on your behalf.
In Saigon you connect to your international flight.
END OF ARRANGEMENTS
