Day 1:        Ho Chi Minh City arrival day

There are many direct flies to Saigon, Vietnam via Bangkok, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia and other destinations. According to your arrival time, our guide will be pleased to give you some suggestions what to do on your first day or afternoon in Saigon. In the evening followed by a welcome dinner cruise on mighty Mekong River for our first night in Vietnam. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Meals: Welcome dinner cruise

Day 2:        Cu Chi tunnels and Tay Ninh

Today, after breakfast, we will drive by a private air conditioned vehicle to the province of Tay Ninh, close to the Cambodian border. We will first stop at the Cu Chi tunnels, a place of utmost significance during the Vietnam War. This elaborate network of very narrow tunnels was first dug by the Vietminh in 1948 to conceal weapons and stretched roughly 40 km. Since 1960, the Vietcong rehabilitated and enlarged the tunnel complex to 250 km in length. Built at many levels, the tunnels had living spaces, kitchens and clinics where the wounded were treated and many babies born. The tunnels were a key part of guerilla warfare during the Vietnam War and played a major role in defeating American soldiers. After an audio-visual presentation on tunnel history, we will follow the guide through the undergrowth to visit the area, see the tiny trapdoors and the reconstituted booby traps and for the braver amongst us, enter into one of the claustrophobic tunnels and crawl a short distance underground. After lunch, we visit the Reunification Palace, the former Presidential Palace for the president of the South of Vietnam. After that we will visit War Remnant Museum, where we can see countless artifacts, photographs and pictures documenting about the second Indochina war. We also stop at Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post office to get good shots for our memory of the big, modern city of Vietnam. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 3:        Mekong Delta

Today, we will leave Ho Chi Minh City to explore the Mekong delta, the southernmost region of Vietnam, famous for its rice production with three harvests per year as well as for its tropical fruits and flowers. The Mekong delta is also home to wildlife-rich marshlands and mangrove forests. This is the last stage of the Mekong River’s 4500 km long journey through China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia before flowing into the South China Sea. After an early breakfast, we will drive to the small city of Cai Be where our boat ride will begin. The tour starts by visiting Cai Be, the colourful floating market, packed with vendors selling a range of goods on boats. A small church looming over the shore near the market forms a scenic backdrop.
The trip will continue along the Mekong canals to Dong Hoa Hiep Island located between the cities of Vinh Long and Cai Be. From the boat, you will discover beautiful landscapes along the river and observe the typical Mekong delta rural life. We will stop at a small restaurant serving the local delicacies on the river before continuing to a small village known for its bonsai orchards where we will spend the night in a cosy homestay. The accommodation is basic but will provide you a unique experience to learn more about the local daily life. Overnight in homestay

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 4:        Vinh Long – Saigon

After breakfast, we get in our bike and start cycling around Tan Phong Island and discover the daily life of the locals. We first visit Ms Ba’s house to learn how to make the rice-paper used to make the spring-roll dishes. Then, we go Ms. 6’s house to see the method to knit the banana hammock from the rope of dry banana leaves. The next stop is Ms Yen’s house, where we can learn how to make jackfruit leaf cake – a typical cake of Tan Phong Island. After that, we will visit Ms Muoi to see how to make the leaves that can be the roof of Vietnamese house. Continue riding to Ms. Thao’s house and learn how to knit water hyacinth, we can try our hands in making lovely handmade gift with the guidance of Ms. Thao. The next stop is a local school where we can interact with the children. Finally, we then come back to Mekong Eco-lodge to check out at around noon and transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 5:        Ho Chi Minh – Danang – Hoi An

Time will be free until our car arrives at the hotel to take us to the airport for the flight to Danang. We will arrive at Danang at about Noontime from where we will resume our journey to Hoi An. Check-in at our hotel, having a short rest before we transfer/walk down to the downtown for our walking tour. We will start our walking tour around the ancient town to visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, the Pottery Museum, Tan Ky old house, the Cantonese congregation, the silk street of Hoi An, the temples and pagodas of Chinese appearance. Then we are back to our hotel or overnight stay in Hoi An

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 6:        Hoi An Farming & Fishing Eco Tour

We have an early start this morning as we head off to our Farming & Fishing Life Eco Tour. Starting at Tra Que Village, we will get a personal insight into the local farming communities. We set about joining the farmers in preparing their land for sowing, helping to fertilize the garden using seaweed from the local river and watering it in using huge tin cans strapped to our backs. Following this, we will begin our leisurely cycling tour through the countryside witnessing local Vietnamese rural life first hand. Late morning we will board our Hoi An Eco-tour boat for a river cruise. Here we will meet and witness local fishermen working their craft, before enjoying a hands-on experience of traditional net fishing. We then transfer to a Vietnamese bamboo basket boat for a quick race and ride down a coconut palm lined waterway. Lunch today, is on board our boat, which is prepared using vegetables picked earlier at Tra Que Village.

After lunch, we have some free time to wander around Hoi An town centre before heading back to the hotel. Overnight in Hoi An

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 7:        Hoi An – Hue

After breakfast, we will drive to Danang where we will visit the Museum of Cham Sculpture which displays items from the 7th to the 13th century; China Beach – where the American named and used to have their Rest and Relaxation; and the Marble Mountain – the five elements of the Universe (water, wood, air, fire and earth). Then, we will continue our journey to Hue. Hue was the capital city of Vietnam under the Nguyen dynasty during the 19th century and is so an important historic and cultural centre and a place of great beauty with the Perfume River flowing through it.
In the afternoon, we will explore the Citadel (a World Heritage site since 1993) containing the Imperial City, the Forbidden Purple City (where no man except the emperor was permitted to set foot) and the royal palaces, theatre and library amongst many other monuments. The Citadel also homes the Museum of Royal Fine Arts set in the beautiful former Long An Palace built in teck-wood. Inside are several displays from the Nguyen Dynasty. Before dinner, we will still visit Dong Ba Market, a popular local shopping centre located between the Southeast corner of the Citadel and the Perfume River. Overnight in Hue

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 8:        Cooking Class – Overnight train to Hanoi

Pick up at hotel in Hue, we will take a short drive to Toa Kham wharf for a leisurely cruise along Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda – the symbol of Hue located by the river. We then stop at Dong Ba market and buy necessary ingredients for the cooking class before continue cruising to Thuy Bieu village – the Garden of Eden in Hue. On arrival, we walk or bike around the village with stops to visit a local garden, old ancestral temple and communicate with local people. Stop at an incense-making family and the locals working strenuously with joy and enthusiasm. Continue to a joss-paper making family, chat over a cup of green tea with the family and see they’re talking about the joss paper, other known as ghost money offering to the dead. Lastly, we stop at a paper-painting family to see countryside painting of young local artists.

Back to Thuy Bieu restaurant for a hands-on cooking class with chief’s instruction, sit down and sample your effort of some traditional Hue dishes. Relax by soaking your foot in a medical herb water and enjoy an excellent massage by the blind people before our car transfer us back to the hotel for freshen up before transfer to the Hue Railways Station to take the night train to Hanoi. Overnight on train

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 9:        Hanoi – Bat Trang Ceramic village

Arrival Hanoi in the morning. Have a rest at hotel. In the afternoon, we will take a 15-Km drive to the outskirt of Hanoi in the East to visit Bat Trang Ceramic Village, which is located on the left bank of Hong River. This ceramic village was dated back from 15th century and soon became one of the most famous ceramic and pottery villages in the North of Vietnam. On arrival at the village, we will visit Bat Trang Communal House, which was built under Le Du Tong King's period, from 1719 to 1720. We then visit the ancient house and ceramic workshops of artist Tran Van Do, To Thanh Son and Vu Duc Thang. If you wish, you can try your hands in making your own ceramic products, something for the beginners such as cup, bowl or flower vases. We finish our trip with a visit to the French ancient building since 1920s. Before returning to Hanoi city centre to enjoy yourself around Hanoi Capital. Overnight in Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast only

Day 10:      Hanoi – City tour

Founded in AD 1010, Hanoi was the capital of Vietnam until 1802 when the nation’s capital moved to Hue under the Nguyen dynasty for about 150 years. In 1954, after the French departed, Hanoi was declared Vietnam’s capital once again. The rich cultural heritage of over 1,000 years of history blends in perfect harmony with growing modernization. In the afternoon, we will explore Ba Dinh district, to the west of the city, containing edifices of very different period, such as Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum (closed on Monday & Friday and usually in October & November for embalming maintenance), the Presidential Palace, the One Pillar Pagoda standing in an elegant lotus pond, Ho Chi Minh Museum, Ho Chi Minh’s House on stilts, a refreshing spot set in a mango-filled parkland around a small pond and the Temple of Literature, the Vietnam’s first university founded in 1070 in honour of Confucius, a fine and opulent architectural complex.

Then, we will explore the Old Quarter by cyclo, an area characterised by narrow roads and alleys and a lot of attractive old buildings as well as the relaxing Hoan Kiem Lake area, situated in the heart of Hanoi, with the nice Ngoc Son Pagoda on an island accessible by an old red wooden bridge, the Bridge of the Rising Sun. Our last spot will be the Thang Long Water Puppets Theater where we will enjoy a performance of the traditional art of roi nuoc or water puppetry. Overnight in Hanoi  

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 11:      Hanoi – Halong Bay

After breakfast, we will drive to the marvellous Halong Bay where we will board to a traditional junk. Halong Bay is a labyrinthine seascape of about 2,000 pinnacles-shaped limestone and dolomite outcrops, isolated caves and sandy coves. According to legend, the bay was formed by a gigantic dragon plunging into the sea which gave its name to the bay as ha long means descending dragon. The journey will start and lunch will be served while cruising into Halong Bay. We will stop in one of the numerous limestone caves formed by a selective erosion over the millennia and filled with many strange-shaped stalactites and stalagmites. We will anchor for the night in a secluded bay where you will have the chance to enjoy a swim in the emerald waters (weather permitting) before enjoying our dinner on board during sunset. Overnight on the Junk

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 12:      Halong Bay - Hanoi

This morning, we will see some more beautiful islands, stunning rock formations and floating villages before enjoying our last lunch on the Junk. We will disembark at around midday and transfer to our awaiting vehicle for the 3 hour driving back to Hanoi. We will arrive in the capital city at the end of the afternoon where the remainder of your day will be at leisure. Overnight in Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 13: Hanoi – Hoa Lu & Tam Coc

Pick up at your hotel at 8 AM, we will drive Southward of Hanoi to Ninh Binh province. On arrival, we will visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital dated back from 10th and 11th centuries. The area is one of rice fields broken by picturesque limestone mountains. It features several dozen monuments, including King Dinh and King Le Temple & Tombs….We then stop at a local restaurant for lunch.

After lunch, we take sampan along the Ngo Dong River to visit three caves Hang Ca, Hang Hai and Hang Ba (Tam Coc) in the Ngo Dong River. Our pleasant boat rowing starts from the embroidery village of Van Lam then proceed through a scenic landscape dominated by rice fields and karst limestone to three natural caves, of which, the largest is 125m long with its ceiling about 2m high above the water. The boats are typically rowed by one or two local women who also sell embroidered goods. In the afternoon, we will be driven back to Hanoi for overnight accommodation

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and farewell dinner

Day 14: Departure day

Today is departure day so no activities are planned. There are many interesting museum, like the museum of ethnology, the fine arts museum or the history museum. You can also explore the Old Quarter, the oldest and most lively commercial district in Hanoi or wander through the French quarter with its beautiful colonial building. Your guide will be pleased to give you suggestion and help you organise your day.
There are international flights to Bangkok or Cambodia and many other Asian destinations.

Meals: Breakfast only

End of services…

Service included:

Entrance fees during guiding

Accommodation on twin share basis with all kind of taxes

An experienced English-speaking guide

All private transfer with air-conditioning vehicles

Boat cruise in Halong Bay

Train tickets 

Boat trips as mentioned

Meals as stated on the itinerary

Water and cool napkin during the trip

Homestay with villager

Cyclo tour

Arrival and depart transfer

Service excluded:

Personal travel insurance (compulsory!)

Donation during visit NGOs

Airfare, airport taxes & excess baggage charges

Visa & visa fees, passport & vaccination charges

All optional tours & activities during free time

Expenditure of a personal nature, such as souvenir, laundry, postage, Phone calls…

All beverages during the included meals

Tips

Experience Indochina, the local way…