VIETNAM

Ho Chi Minh City / Arrival Day

Upon arrival, you’ll be picked up at the airport 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.

Included meals: Dinner

Ho Chi Minh City

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, electronics, and motorbikes 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.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Ho Chi Minh City / Hoi An

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, culture and food are sure to delight from the moment we arrive. We’ll check into our central accommodations, head out for an evening wander through the atmospheric night markets along the river and enjoy a wonderful regional dinner.

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Hoi An

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 silk weaving traditions that have been used in this region for more than 300 years.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Hoi An

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 a demonstration from the chef, you’ll get to try your hand at preparing these well-known dishes yourself and then we’ll enjoy all of our hard work as we sit down and eat what we cooked. After our class finishes, you’ll then have free time to enjoy even more of this charming town.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Hoi An / Hue

Leaving Hoi An, we’ll travel over the famous Hai Van Pass. This narrow coastal highway winds its way up and over a mountain pass near Da Nang and showcases Vietnam’s stunning coastal scenery. We’ll make a few stops along the way to admire the pristine views and enjoy some local cuisine for lunch before arriving in the fascinating imperial city of Hue in the late afternoon.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hue

After breakfast, we’ll embark on a guided tour to experience the history, culture and architecture of this grand city, including the magnificent citadel, the forbidden Purple City and the immaculate mausoleums and pagodas scattered throughout. After an action-packed day, we’ll take a most memorable dinner cruise down the Perfume River, as we admire our beautiful surroundings from our dragon boat. After the cruise, we’ll return to our hotel.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hue / Hanoi / Mai Chau Valley

We’ll begin our day with a morning flight from Hue to Hanoi, where we’ll have a quick lunch before embarking on a 3.5-hour drive to Mai Chau. Upon arrival, 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.

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Mai Chau Valley

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 plenty of 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 enjoy the surrounding nature.

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Mai Chau Valley / Hanoi

We’ll begin our day with a 3.5-hour drive back to Hanoi. We’ll make several stops at impressive ancient pagodas and dramatic viewpoints to gain an even more complete understanding of this region. Upon arrival in Hanoi we’ll check into our conveniently located hotel before heading out for an orientation walk and dinner at one of our favorite restaurants!

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Hanoi

Today we’ll take part in a guided tour through the heart of Hanoi’s Old Quarter. We’ll traverse 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 will 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 delight. In the evening, we’ll head out for a typical North Vietnamese dinner experience.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hanoi / Bai Tu Long Bay

Leaving Hanoi behind, we’ll enter one of the most gorgeous natural destinations in Vietnam - 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. We’ll board our traditional junk boat and sit down for a fresh seafood lunch while heading out on the deep blue waters of the bay and taking in the lush green scenery. 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.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lan Ha Bay / Hanoi

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) through a nearby lagoon to admire the serene surroundings up close. After a visit to a floating fishing farm - to learn about the traditional life of Lan Ha Bay’s local fishermen - we’ll disembark our boat and return to Hanoi. We’ll check into our hotel in the evening and soon head out for our farewell dinner.

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Hanoi / Departure Day

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

Included meals: Breakfast