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.
Transfer by air-conditioned vehicle to your hotel and time for leisure.

NOTE: Hotel check-in time is 14h00; early check-in can be arranged at additional cost.

There’s no arguing - Hanoi has to be the coolest city in Vietnam. And no, we’re not just referring to the climate. This chaotic, colourful, motorbike-clogged, 1,000-year-old city is a delicious mix of East and West. Hanoi clings on tightly to its heritage - the Temple of Literature is one of the oldest landmarks. More recent history can be seen in Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House, while the man himself, lies embalmed in an austere mausoleum. There’s picturesque lakes and parks, as well as museums and prominent colonial buildings. Let’s jump right in and experience it all. We’ll even go green and explore the Old Quarter by electric buggy.

FOODIES AFOOT IN HANOI (TOUR DURATION: 17H30 – 20H30)
Enjoy a taste of local Hanoian life as you explore a local market and some of the city’s best street food stalls. Start at the bustling Hom market, one of the biggest and most popular markets in Hanoi. Wander through the narrow alleyways passing colourful stalls piled high with a vast array of fruit, vegetables, sweets and elaborate temple offerings. Take photos of the vibrant colours and breathe in the aromas of the tropical fruits. If you’re feeling brave, venture to the exotic section to see kicking frogs, silkworms and wriggling eels. The entire market is alive with the buzz and excitement of the locals bartering and haggling for the freshest ingredients at the best prices.
Your guide will take you to popular street food stalls where you can sample some of the city’s signature dishes. Stop at a local coffee shop to taste this rich and flavourful drink then continue your culinary exploration with a stroll through the maze of bustling streets that make up the Old Quarter of Hanoi. Join the locals and pull up a plastic stool at a pavement stall to try Vietnamese snacks and a cup of iced tea, followed by a sweet dessert of fresh fruit and condensed milk. End the tour with a cold draught beer at a sidewalk stall popular with locals.

NOTE: Most of the museums are closed on Mondays; Ho Chi Minh mausoleum is closed on Monday, Friday and in the afternoons.

Today we will drive from Hanoi to Halong Bay (160 km) and stop en-route for stretching our legs and use the restroom at one of the souvenir shop for charity.
Transfer to/from Tuan Chau Marina Port (10 km).
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, relax on the beach or simply enjoy 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 boat and enjoy the relaxing night while boat is anchoring at the quiet water area.

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 boat while cruising back to the port, passing the majestic peaks. Disembark from the cruise.
Transfer by vehicle from Halong to the Noi Bai Airport (160 km).
Arrival in Hue and transfer by air-conditioned vehicle (15 km) to your hotel.

NOTE: The program can be changed due to the weather condition, tide condition and local authorization.

Hue served as the capital of Vietnam for more than 140 years. It houses ancient temples, imperial buildings and French-style edifices. It was established in the 17th century.
Starting your day by taking a boat trip to visit one of the oldest pagoda which is called Thien Mu Pagoda. Its iconic seven-story pagoda is regarded as the unofficial symbol of the city and the temple has often been the subject of folk rhymes about Hue.
Visit the Royal Imperial City, located in the heart of Hue is the Imperial Citadel, a vast complex built in the early 19th century and modeled after the Forbidden City of Peking. The original walls stretched for 10 km and were surrounded by a wide moat. Today, most of the buildings have been destroyed due to bombing during the Vietnam-American War, but the monuments that remain provide a fascinating glimpse into the court life of the Nguyen Dynasty.
Approach the city past the striking Flag Tower, where a giant Vietnamese flag waves proudly overhead, to the imposing Ngo Mon Gate, the main entrance to the Imperial Enclosure. Enter into an area of spacious courtyards and serene lotus ponds, including a visit to the Hue Royal Antiquities Museum.
Next, venture into the countryside around Hue to the Imperial Tomb of Tu Duc. Tu Duc, the longest reigning Vietnamese emperor, designed and built this elegant tomb during his lifetime, using it as a retreat for meditation, reading and theatre performances. Take some time to soak in the tranquil atmosphere, wandering among the gracefully proportioned pavilions, courtyards and lotus ponds. Visit Garden House, special place reflect the ancient atmosphere of the imperial city, it is the manor of mandarin of the feudal court. The house has garden covered with full of fruit trees including mangosteens, sapodilla plums, apricots, lychee, baccaurea, figs and grapefruits.
In the evening, enjoy a Hue royal meal, a culinary style conceived to serve the Nguyen court for more than a century. Hue royal cuisine is always highly appreciated by not only the recipe and processing way but also the decoration of the dishes.

Twisting winding curves, sudden bends, views that take your breath away - welcome to the Hai Van Pass. We get to drive along this incredible mountain pass on the way to Danang.
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.
Afternoon at leisure (without guide).

Pretty as a picture 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. 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 instruction of local skillful master, you will experience how to fold the silk into a colorful lantern to create a unique souvenir to take home.

MARKET VISIT AND VIETNAMESE COOKING CLASS (JOIN-IN TOUR)
We start the day with a welcome drink at a local café.
Visit Hoi An’s colourful 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.
Board 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.

Transfer by vehicle from Hoi An to Danang airport (35 km).
Arrival in Saigon, we’re going underground - deep into the Cu Chi Tunnels! These hand-dug tunnels changed the course of the Vietnam War. The well-camouflaged entrance holes lead into a network of incredibly narrow tunnels that stretch for over 200 kilometres connecting command posts, hospitals and shelters. We’ll learn about the life of the Vietcong and venture into some of the tunnels. The deadly, bamboo-spiked booby traps are another must-see.

SAIGON AFTER DARK (JOIN-IN TOUR, TOUR DURATION FROM 6PM TO 10PM)
Part night excursion, part street food adventure. Your culinary adventure starts at a local vendor cafe to “watch the world goes by” (quoted by The Lonely Planet). Enjoy cocktail and appetizer before adventuring into favorite local eating spot. Experience the nightlife of Saigon the way locals do, all from the back of a vintage Vespa scooter. Take a ride to part Chinatown and then heading to District 4 through busy streets and alleys to see the night life of locals and enjoy street seafood and cold drinks. Leaving district 4 to district 3 the tour pass through downtown district 1 to take in the sights on the way to Banh Xeo, specialty of Saigon, and southern food with the locals. Then continue to a hidden Vietnamese-style coffee shop to have a taste of Vietnamese music. Finally, tour concludes at lively bar to enjoy the drinks with live music.

FULL DAY SIGHTSEEING IN SAIGON WITH CHINATOWN
Ever-vibrant, ever-changing - this is the buzzing city of Saigon, where sleek skyscrapers loom over incense-infused temples and motorcycles rule the roads. There’s classic European-style landmarks such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Opera House, the ornate City Hall and the art-deco Post Office. Reminders of a recent past can be seen in the Reunification Palace, famously stormed by tanks in 1975.
We’ll head out to Cholon, the historic Chinatown district to discover colonial-era gems, Chinese temples and vivacious street life. Make sure you save some energy for browsing the stalls in the bustling Ben Thanh Market.
Today’s highlights: War Remnants, Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, Cholon, lantern streets and medicine streets, Chinse temple, Ben Thanh Market.

The Mekong Delta is a watery world where everyday life floats on the rivers, canals and streams. From Cai Be, we’ll board a local boat to explore the narrow waterways that cut through lush green orchards. We’ll go ashore to explore a riverside village to sample locally-made, traditional treats including dried longans, rice pancakes and puffed rice candies.

Transfer to the airport by air-conditioned vehicle. Departure from Saigon.