Once known as Thang Long and the capital of several successive dynasties, the food culture of this city is unique, representing the quintessence of northern flavors. Embark on a street food adventure in Hanoi to uncover the secret eats known only to local food lovers and explore the layered history of this ancient city.

Don't miss a visit to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university, built to train the scions of great houses for court positions. The stone stelae on the backs of stone tortoises still bear the names of the highest ranking graduates of each Imperial Exam, who have gone on to important posts and left their mark on the history of this country. Each year, students still come here to light incense and touch the tortoises for luck in their exams.

After your wander at the Temple of Literature, consider enjoying some refreshments nearby at a quaint tea house run by a master tea maker who has spent years rediscovering the secrets of tea that were largely forgotten during the years of the cultural revolution.

(Breakfast, Lunch)

Optional Activities

Hanoi streetfood tour

Accommodation

 Hanoi La Siesta Classic https://lasiestahotels.com/mamay/ 

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Ninh Binh, considered to be the birth place of Vietnam. Drift along tranquil riverways, nestled between towering limestone cliffs and lush rice paddies, aboard traditional bamboo boats. Explore ancient caves, adorned with mystique and history, and ascend to panoramic viewpoints for breathtaking vistas.

Your guide will pick up the group from your hotel lobby after breakfast and depart for Ninh Binh. We will stop at Hoa Lu, the capital of Dinh and Le dynasties and visit the temples to these early kings. Have lunch with a local family then on to your hotel. 

This afternoon, we head to Bich Dong, a gorgeous temple complex and ride on sampan to soak in the beautiful scenery of this area.

Accommodation:

Ninh Binh Tam Coc Garden https://www.tamcocgarden.com/

Meals:

Breakfast

Enjoy breakfast at your resort. Take a cycling trip (4 hours) to discover the beautiful scenery around Tam Coc and visit Mua Cave which offer a panoramic view of the countryside. A popular spot for photography enthusiasts. 

Activities

Cycling and climbing up Mua Cave

Accommodation

Ninh Binh Tam Coc Garden https://www.tamcocgarden.com/ 

Meals:

Breakfast

You will be picked up at 8AM from your hotel lobby and delivered directly to Ha Long port.

Hạ Long Bay or the Bay of the Descending Dragon. Legend has it that a

dragon created these thousand little islands. Board your luxury cruise boat

and cruise amongst the 2,000 islands that dot this UNESCO world heritage

site until you reach the isolated and lesser-explored Lan Ha Bay. After lunch

on deck, kayak the emerald water and may be explore one of the caves.

Enjoy the gorgeous scenery on deck, cocktails and a sunset dinner.

Seeing the otherworldly limestone landscapes of Ha Long Bay is a must for

most visitors to Vietnam. But you'll experience this singular scenery in a more

intimate way, aboard a boat that plies the less-crowded waters of Lan Ha

Bay. Paddling a kayak into a sea cave and enjoying a sunset onboard are

among the highlights of this exceptional experience.

Included Activities

Halong Bay exploration - Cat Ba Island

Accommodation

Heritage Cruises https://heritagecruises.com/

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Wake up with the sun and enjoy the quietness of the bay, obverse the

activities of the small sampans on which the local fishermen have made their

lives. After breakfast, enjoy the last moments on the bay. You will return to port at

noon. Lunch is served on board as you make your way back to port. Your driver will be waiting to transport you to Noi Bai airport for a short

flight to Hue. Your private transfer await at Hue Airport to deliver you to your hotel.

It would be around 7:30PM when you get to Hue. No activities are planned

this evening. Enjoy the facilities of your hotel. Your adventure continues

tomorrow.

Included Activities

Kayak in Halong

Accommodation

Hue Ancient Hue Garden https://www.ancienthue.com.vn/

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast at your hotel, you will ride pillion on motorbikes around Hue countryside, stopping at Emperor Tự Đức Tomb, the most lavish of all the tombs. Stop for lunch at Đông Thuyền Pagoda for a vegetarian lunch and enjoy this lovely meal in quiet contemplation.

The afternoon is free for you to explore on your own or enjoy the beautiful pool. The

hotel is set within Kim Long village renown for beautiful women. Legend has it that young Emperor Thanh Thai would often leave the palace grounds to wander the lanes of Kim Long seeking beautiful girls for his harem. The truth was that he was secretly training a palace army as part of greater plot to retake the country from

French.

Explore the Forbidden City, a royal palace built during the Nguyen Dynasty in the early 19th century and served as the residence of the emperors and their households. The City is a walled fortress with a perimeter of almost 2.5 kilometers, and covers an area of about 520 hectares. The complex consists of more than 150 buildings, including palaces, temples, pavilions, and gardens, all built in traditional Vietnamese architectural style. The City was designed with a strict hierarchy, where the innermost area was reserved for the emperor and his family, and the outer areas were used for courtiers, bureaucrats, and soldiers. The Forbidden Purple City, located within the Imperial City, was a private residence of the emperor and was strictly off-limits to outsiders.

Included Activities

Emperor Tự Đức Tomb

Vegetarian lunch at Buddhist Pagoda

Forbidden City

Accommodation

Hue Ancient Hue Garden https://www.ancienthue.com.vn/ 

Meals included: Breakfast, vegetarian lunch

It's all aboard a local train today as you ride the rails on one of the most beautiful train routes in Southeast Asia. The destination? Hoi An.   

The joy is truly in the journey, as scenes of rural life and coastal beauty play out through the train windows as you roll along. Be curious and open during the three- hour ride; you might find that locals are willing to chat about their daily lives in this part of Vietnam. Someone might even offer to share a snack with you. This coastal train ride was voted as one of the 10 most beautiful train rides in the world by Conde Naste.

After checking in at your hotel, your Fun Genie will take you for a wander around the Old Town. Discover the street food tradition of this ancient trading port where you will find influences from southern China, Malay, India, Japan. Graceful, historic Hoi An is Vietnam's most atmospheric and delightful town. Once a major port, it boasts the grand architecture and beguiling riverside setting that befits its heritage, and he 21st-century curses of traffic and pollution are almost entirely absent. Lounge bars, boutique hotels, travel agents, and a glut of tailor shops are very much part of the scene here. And yet, down by the market and over on Cam Nam Island, you'll find life has changed little. Travel a few kilometers further, you'll find some superb bicycle, motorbike, and boat trips, and some of central Vietnam's most enticingly laid-back scenery and beaches are within easy reach.

Included Activities

Hoi An city tour

Accommodation

Allegro Hoi An https://www.littlehoiangroup.com/allegro-hoi-an

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast at the hotel. You will meet with our Fun Genie for a guided tour of Hoi An village life by bicycle. Catch an electric car to the bike shop to set up. Then make your way through scenic rice paddies and village lanes. Try your hands at river reed mat weaving and learn to make rice noodles. Enjoy a simple lunch of traditional Hoi An noodles from what you've just made. The freshly hand made noodles is the best noodles you will ever have. Then wander through a boat making village before catching a boat ride back into town.

There are 4 must try dishes in Hoi An: cao lầu, mỳ Quảng, bánh mỳ, cơm gà. There are numerous street vendors and market stalls that serve up these delectable treats. Within the Old Town are upmarket restaurants that serve up westernised versions or modern fusion re-interpretations. Some have even gone down the path of “deconstruction”. If you prefer the authentic version then we recommend any street vendors or the market stalls. Cheap and wonderful and putting the money in the hands of those who need it. Price should be 30-50,000 VND or USD1.50-2.50.

OPTIONAL: Cooking class (dinner)- Cooking class with one of Vietnam’s leading chef Hai, who paved the way for the new wave of modern Vietnamese re-interpretation. Old tradition meets new techniques. Phở bò, the northern style, which for many is the original true phở. Or, duck breast smoked with green tea is a recipe that will wow many dinner guests at your future parties. 

Accommodation

Allegro Hoi An https://www.littlehoiangroup.com/allegro-hoi-an 

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Enjoy a sumptuous breakfast at your hotel. Then head over to Hoi An's best kept secret to learn the art of brewing egg-coffee, a quintessentially way to enjoy Vietnamese coffee. It's both coffee and breakfast at the same time.

This afternoon, take a stroll over to the private artist studio for a fun hands on experience.  The 2 hours workshop include an introduction to natural indigo dyes following the ancient fermentation process. You will try your hands at dyeing a cotton scarf or shirt that you can take with you as a self-made souvenir.

The rest of the day is left free for your to explore on your own. Chilling around town or head to the beach or enjoy your beautiful hotel. 

This evening, enjoy a fantastic theatre telling the story of the highlands through dance and traditional music.

Accommodation

Allegro Hoi An https://www.littlehoiangroup.com/allegro-hoi-an 

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, you will be transported to Danang airport for a short flight to Saigon.   

Welcome to Saigon, a city that truly embodies the vibrant spirit of Vietnam. As the country's most dynamic city and a melting pot of cultures, it promises a captivating experience. From early morning until late at night, the streets of Saigon come alive with an enchanting mix of life, aromas, and sounds. Prepare to indulge your senses on this epic culinary tour. But before we delve into the food, let's uncover a little history. Formerly known as Gia Dinh, Saigon spent 100 years under French control until after World War II. During this period, the city gained recognition as the "Pearl of the Orient."  

Accommodations:

Bach Suites - https://www.thebachsuites.com/    

Meals:

Breakfast

Enjoy the finest hotel breakfast in Saigon and head out to explore the "rice bowl" of Vietnam. The Mekong Delta is carpeted in a dizzying variety of greens. It's a water world that moves to the rhythms of the mighty Mekong, where boats, houses, and markets float upon the innumerable rivers, canals, and streams that criss-cross the landscape like arteries. The bustling commerce of its towns contrasts sharply with the languid, almost-soporific pace of life in the countryside. Here buffalo wallow in rice paddies, coconut- and fruit-laden boats float slowly along the mud-brown waters, and two-wheeled exploration of the narrow lanes is amply rewarded with a true taste of rural hospitality (and delicious river fish).

A journey of three hours will drive you to the heart of the peaceful countryside. Discover the daily life enrolling right in front of you on a river-cruise. Stop by the different sites, observe in detail the different artisanal workshops.

On your way to Ben Tre province, the farmer life will disclose to you around the charming villages. Enjoy a local lunch prepared by an experienced cook before hopping on a sampan to the small canals to feel the peace of the countryside.

Included Activities

Mekong Delta tour

Accommodation

Mekong du Jardine Lodge

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast in the garden, enjoy a few moments of peace and tranquility before heading back into the frenetic energy of Saigon.

You'll have a blast this morning, cycling through the fruit orchards surrounding your farmstay in Bến Tre. You'll also get an introduction to the tropical fruits that grow here, which you may or may not recognize from your supermarket back home.

Meals included:  Breakfast 

Accommodation

Bach Suites Saigon https://www.thebachsuites.com/

After breakfast at your hotel, embark on an exhilarating day tour to explore Saigon. Visit the historic Presidential Palace and delve into its intriguing past. Experience the vibrant atmosphere of Ben Thanh Market and wander through its colorful stalls. Admire the stunning French-inspired architecture of Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica and explore the Old Post Office. For some war propaganda 50 years on, War Remnants Museum and conclude the day with a leisurely stroll along Dong Khoi Street, soaking in modern Saigon's charm. 

This evening at 5:30PM, your streetfood adventure on the back of vintage Vespa begins. There's perhaps no better way to be introduced to Vietnam than by sitting atop a tiny stool on a busy street and tucking into a bowl of something brimming with intoxicating flavors. For all the fancy restaurants in Saigon, the city's street food scene is where you'll really feel the pulse of the country. Almost as thrilling as the dishes you'll sample is the chance to zip around the city on the back of a restored vintage Vespa, guided by an experienced driver who puts safety first (and intrepid, local eating at a close second). The places you'll stop on this tour aren't the ones you'd find in any guide book; they're closely guarded, local secrets

Included Activities

Streetfood tour of Sai Gon in vintage Vespas

Accommodation

Bach Suites Saigon https://www.thebachsuites.com

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, streetfood dinner

Departure transfer  Included

You’ve sampled streetfood and private dinner, tasted regional flavours and appreciated the variety of tastes. Slept in one of wonders of the natural world and enjoyed a humble vegetarian meal in quiet contemplation. Your adventure in Vietnam comes to end today and we hope you take with you many wonderful memories of your time across this ancient land.

No activities are planned. Check out at your leisure to catch your return flight. 

Meals included:  

Breakfast

Included Activities

N/A

Accommodation

N/A