Colors and Tastes of Vietnam

Arrival in Hanoi. Welcome to Vietnam! Upon clearing Customs and Immigration, your guide will present you with a welcome packet including all necessary documentation and vouchers and all contact information of your guide and local offices. Vietnam is rapidly developing but holds onto the charming traditions and culture which make it such a fascinating holiday destination. History has left its mark on Vietnam by way of Chinese, French and American influence. Your guide and driver will meet and transfer you by air-conditioned vehicle to your hotel. The driving distance is approximately 45 minutes, subject to the traffic. NOTE: The standard check-in time is 14:00. Early check-in is not included and subject to hotel availability.

Breakfast is served at your hotel before setting off for a half-day excursion in Hanoi from 08:30 to 12:00. Discover this charming city where ancient traditions and modern life coexist in perfect harmony, blending elegant French colonial architecture, featuring graceful curves and lofty balconies, with traditional Vietnamese houses topped with tiled roofs. Your journey begins at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where his embalmed body rests in a glass case within a dimly lit hall, guarded by a military honor guard. You will then stroll through the surrounding park to admire the former French Governor’s Palace, followed by a visit to Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House, a modest wooden residence where he lived from 1958 until his passing in 1969, preserved exactly as he left it. The tour continues with the iconic One Pillar Pagoda, a unique 11th-century structure shaped like a lotus flower. Next, immerse yourself in Hanoi’s rich history and culture at the peaceful Temple of Literature, before heading to the legendary Lake of the Restored Sword, where locals enjoy leisurely walks along its picturesque shores, offering a tranquil contrast to the city’s vibrant energy. After the excursion, return to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure. As evening falls, from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm, set off on a culinary adventure in the heart of Hanoi. The city comes alive with a vibrant blend of ancient charm and modern energy. This tasting experience immerses you in Hanoi’s rich food culture, leading you to family-run stalls and hidden gems where an array of local flavors unfolds. Each dish tells a story of tradition, community, and everyday life. Savor the famous bun cha (grilled pork served with noodles and fresh herbs), enjoying the perfect balance of flavors in every bite. Then, wander through hidden alleys rarely explored by tourists and discover an ancient well still used by locals today. Embrace a sense of adventure by trying a surprising local specialty: ragworm omelet, near a historic city gate. Continue your journey at Hang Be Market, where locals shop after work for specialties to prepare dinner with their families. Along the way, sample a variety of small bites while soaking in the lively atmosphere. Then, sit like a local on low stools to enjoy dried beef papaya salad, overlooking a colorful lakeside view. End your culinary journey with one of Hanoi’s most unique specialties: egg coffee. This unforgettable experience captures the true essence of the city, where the best memories are made on the street.

Please note that the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed on Mondays, Fridays, and in the afternoons.

Breakfast is served at your hotel. At 9:00 Your guide will meet and transfer you from Hanoi to Halong. The driving distance is approximately 2.5 hours. Surrounding by the hundreds of limestone karst-mountains and rock formations rising dramatically from the emerald green water; Halong bay is listed as one of the must-see place in Vietnam. Let’s spend a night on the cruise with the stunning view of this wonder. Arrive at the harbor at noon time and do the check in procedure on your boat. You will be welcome and served lunch while cruising towards the bay. This afternoon is full of activities such as cave visit, floating farm, beach relax or simply enjoy the sunbathing on the sundeck (the program is varied depending on each boat cruise). Prepare your camera for the amazing photos of the bay, hundreds of boats or sunset. Dinner will be served on the boat and enjoy the relaxing night while boat is anchoring at the quiet water area. NOTE: No Exotik guide on board with guests. There is English-speaking guide of the cruise accompanying guests while onboard.

Wake up and enjoy the fresh morning in the middle of the bay. Start your day by joining in a Tai Chi lesson on the sundeck. Rejuvenate your body and mind with the slow movement of Tai Chi. Breakfast (or brunch) will be served on the boat while cruising back to the port, passing the majestic peaks. Disembark from the cruise. NOTE: The program can be changed due to the weather condition, tide condition and local authorization. Upon disembarkation, your guide will meet you at the pier and transfer you back to Noi Bai Airport. The driving distance is approximately 2.5 hours. Suggested flight: VN1545 HAN/HUI 1635/1750. On arrival at Phu Bai Airport (Hue City), your guide will meet and escort you to hotel for check in. The driving distance is approximately 25 minutes.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before setting off for a full day of exploration in Hue from 08:30 to 16:30. Former imperial capital of Vietnam for over 140 years, Hue is a city rich in history, home to ancient temples, royal architecture, and elegant French-style buildings dating back to the 17th century. Begin your day with a peaceful boat trip to the iconic Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the oldest in the city, whose seven-story tower has become an unofficial symbol of Hue and a source of inspiration in local folklore. Continue your journey to the Royal Imperial City, a vast complex built in the early 19th century and inspired by Beijing’s Forbidden City. Once enclosed by 10 kilometers of fortified walls and a wide moat, the site still bears traces of its grandeur despite the damage suffered during the Vietnam-American War. Passing by the impressive Flag Tower, where the Vietnamese flag flies proudly, you will enter through the majestic Ngo Mon Gate into a world of spacious courtyards, serene lotus ponds, and historic treasures, including the Hue Royal Antiquities Museum. The visit continues with the Khai Dinh Royal Tomb, renowned for its opulent interior blending Eastern and Western influences, standing in contrast to the more traditional tombs of earlier emperors. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant before returning to your hotel for a short break. In the evening, from 18:00 to 21:00, experience Hue in a different way with a foodie tour by cyclo. Embrace a slower pace of life as you begin with a welcome drink and light bites in a charming bar, where your guide will introduce you to Hue’s unique culinary culture and teach you a few useful Vietnamese phrases. You will then head to a vegetarian restaurant to discover the influence of Buddhist traditions on local cuisine. As you move further away from the tourist areas aboard your cyclo, the peaceful atmosphere of Hue at night reveals its authentic charm. Street food stalls come into view, inviting you to taste local specialties such as crispy Hue-style pancakes or fragrant lemongrass skewers. End your evening on a sweet note with Hue’s famous sweet soups, whose colorful variety of flavors promises a delightful and memorable finale to your night.

At 08:30, your guide will meet and escort you on a 3.5 hours transfer to Hoi An via spectacular Hai Van Pass. Before heading to Hoi An, stop to explore Da Nang City. This city is home to beaches made famous by American soldiers during the Vietnam War, several quirky bridges, and the wonderful Cham Museum containing the best collection of Cham sculpture. We’ll also stop at the Marble Mountains, a group of limestone and marble hills filled with caves. Head to your hotel in Hoi An. The standard check-in time is 14:00. Early check-in is not included and subject to availability. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure.

Breakfast is served at your hotel. Today, visit the pretty city of Hoi An. The quirky mix of Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and European influences make this ancient town a photographers’ paradise. We’ll walk through the narrow winding streets of the old quarter past ochre-hued stone houses, lantern-filled shops and colourful fishing boats. One of the most iconic sights is the Japanese Covered Bridge (under renovation). There are also ancient temples and merchant homes over 200 years old. Pause to visit a local workshop and try your hands to make a Hoi An lantern. Under the instructions of local skillful master, you will experience how to fold the silk into a colorful lantern to create a unique souvenir to take home. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure.

Breakfast is served at your hotel. Market visit and Vietnamese cooking class at Red Bridge (join-in tour) including with private return transfer with ESG to the meeting point. At 08:00, your guide will escort you on a private transfer/walk (subject to hotel) to the meeting point for join-in cooking class. Start your day with a welcome drink at a local café. Visit Hoi An’s colorful market and experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy market. We will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers and learn about all the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later. Aboard a boat for a leisurely cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoi An River to the cooking studio. This is a chance to view local river life, so make sure your camera is handy. On arrival, we explore the cooking school’s herb garden, before learning about some of Hoi An’s and Vietnam’s well-known dishes. The chef will first demonstrate each dish before we prepare the same dishes ourselves. Included in the class is a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving (plate decoration). After the lesson, we sit down and eat what we have cooked. Note: Bring your swimsuit and after the cooking tour has finished, relax and enjoy free use of our 20-metre swimming pool, towels and showers provided. Vegetarians are provided with replacement ingredients. Return to town where your guide will transfer you back to your hotel, approximately 13:30. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before meeting your guide at 08:30 for your transfer to Da Nang Airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), a journey of approximately 45 minutes. Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport, you will be greeted by your guide and transferred to your hotel, located about 35 minutes away. After check-in, continue your day with a visit to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, an extraordinary underground network that played a key role during the Vietnam War. These hand-dug tunnels extend over 200 kilometres and once connected command posts, hospitals, and shelters. You will learn about the daily life of the Vietcong, explore parts of the tunnels yourself, and discover the infamous bamboo booby traps used during the conflict. Lunch will be at your own arrangement before returning to your hotel for a short rest ahead of your evening experience. From 18:30 to 22:00, set off for an unforgettable Ho Chi Minh City nightlife and culinary adventure by vintage Vespa. As night falls, the city comes alive, revealing a vibrant energy and a rich street food culture. Your first stop will be a popular Vietnamese banh mi stall to enjoy a freshly made sandwich, followed by a brief stop at a local coffee shop for an introduction to the evening. You will then ride to a hidden restaurant to taste traditional Southern Vietnamese home-cooked dishes, before weaving through the lively streets and exploring an old apartment complex bustling with food and drink stalls. The journey continues with a stop at a traditional dessert shop to sample handmade sweet soups or grilled banana. The evening ends in a cozy hidden bar tucked away in a quiet alley, where you can enjoy signature cocktails and relax before returning to your hotel. Please note that vegetarian meals are not available on this tour.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before setting off for a full-day discovery of Ho Chi Minh City from 08:00 to 17:00. Begin your exploration in Cholon, the city’s historic Chinatown district, where you will discover a fascinating blend of colonial-era architecture, vibrant street life, Chinese temples, and bustling markets. Highlights include Binh Tay Market, the Chinese Francis Xavier Cathedral, Thien Hau Temple, and the traditional medicine streets that reflect the district’s rich cultural heritage. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing your journey back to the city center for further sightseeing. Ho Chi Minh City, ever vibrant and constantly evolving, offers a striking contrast between modern skyscrapers and incense-filled temples, with motorbikes weaving through its lively streets. Discover iconic European-style landmarks such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Opera House, the ornate City Hall, and the elegant Art Deco Central Post Office. You will also visit the Reunification Palace, a powerful historical site famously stormed by tanks in 1975, symbolizing the end of the Vietnam War. Conclude your day with a visit to the bustling Ben Thanh Market, a lively hub where local life and commerce come together.

Breakfast is served at your hotel. Full day excursion Cai Be - Vinh Long. At 08:00, your guide will meet and transfer you on a 2.5-hour drive to Cai Be town where you will embark on a boat trip to discover the Mekong Delta. Then, the rowing boat will take you deeper into the countryside on smaller canals to enjoy the peaceful time. Back to our boat to go across one of the longest rivers in the world, Mekong River, to come to An Bình Island. Travel on a handmade canal to Ut Trinh home & enjoy lunch there. After lunch, we can walk around this orchard & enjoy some cups of tea when listening to the traditional music in the ancient house. Walk in the local village to visit the local workshop to see how to make rice paper, coconut candy, pop-rice... Enjoy some sweets with a cup of hot tea. Optional biking can be made for leisure! It will be so amazing to bike on village paths to see the local daily life: orchard, school, church, pagoda, traditional houses... Visit the brick kilns where you can see how the local people create beautiful pottery from clay. The cruise will end at Vinh Long city! Return to your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Breakfast is served at your hotel. Today is yours to enjoy at leisure until your departure flight. The driving distance is approximately 35 minutes, subject to traffic. NOTE: The standard check-out time is 12:00. Late check-out is not included and subject to hotel availability.