PICTURESQUE VIETNAM: A JOURNEY THROUGH SCENIC LANDSCAPES

Start a fullday city tour to visit the capital of Vietnam. The first stop is the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (closed on Mondays and Fridays), discover the historical and architectural details of this final resting place of Vietnam's former leader, and see his house on stilts, which sits next door. Next, check out One Pillar Pagoda, founded in 1049 and visit Tran Quoc Pagoda at West Lake for a look at one of the country's oldest Buddhist pagodas.

Lunch with specialties “Cha Ca”, one of the most favorite dishes and the pride of Hanoian. Grilled turmeric marinated fish will be served at your table in a boiling oil pan with vegetables, and accompanied with fresh dill, herbs, peanuts, and rice noodles while eating

Continue your tour at the Temple of Literature and National University, Vietnam's first university, dating back to 1070. Admire its architecture and gardens before you're taken past the Lake of the Restored Sword (Hoan Kiem Lake) to admire its pretty setting and Ngoc Son Temple (Temple of the Jade Mountain).

In the afternoon, visit Ethnology Museum before attending a traditional Water Puppet Show – a unique Vietnamese art form that dates back to the 11th century, showcasing rural life and legends through skillfully crafted wooden puppets and live music.

Overnight in Hanoi.

After breakfast, get picked up from your hotel transfer to Ha Long (~ 2.5 hours) begin program 2D1N visit Halong bay.

Onboard and check-in. Your cruise will set sail through the bay while lunch is served. Passage into the magical bay where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waves like dragons' teeth.

After lunch, you can take a bamboo row boat to visit fishing village or kayaking to discover a water tunnels with many coral reefs in a scenic lagoon or watch the sunset at the horizon line on the bay. Dinner and overnight on board.

Note:

-       There will be English speaking guide onboard to assist you during your stay

-       The program may be canceled without prior notice at the discretion of the bay management based on the weather to ensure navigation safety. In case the trip is canceled due to force majeure, the cost will be fully or partially refunded based on the level of service used.

Wake up early in the morning to enjoy beauty of Ha Long Bay at sunrise and start your day with Tai Chi exercise before breakfast. Continue to visit Ha Long Bay in the morning.

Brunch on board before checkout, disembark and transfer to Ninh Binh. (~ 3 hours)

Arrive in Ninh Binh, transfer to hotel. Overnight in the peaceful Ninh Binh.

     Option 1: Hoa Lu – Tam Coc – Mua Cave

Visit Dinh and Le King Temple from the 10th century, and hear about the heroic histories of the two Kings during the Chinese Wars. At midday, sit down for lunch with Vietnamese cuisine at a local restaurant.

Continue to Tam Coc and take the sampan (traditional river boat) along the Ngo Dong River to visit Tam Coc's three caves. Head back to Tam Coc wharf, take your bicycle, and cycle around traditional villages and Tam Coc town.

Continue to Mua Cave, one of Ninh Binh's most spectacular attractions. Ascend nearly 500 stone steps to the summit of Ngoa Long Mountain, where an unforgettable panorama unfolds before your eyes. Admire the emerald rice fields, the winding Ngo Dong River, and the majestic limestone peaks of Tam Coc, often celebrated as "Ha Long Bay on land."

     Option 2: Bai Dinh – Trang An – Mua Cave

Visit Bai Dinh Pagoda, the biggest pagoda in Vietnam. Explore this beautiful Buddhist place of worship, with 500 La Han statues and the largest bronze Buddha statue in Vietnam, 10 meters tall. Enjoy some free time with your guide to visit the pagoda and learn more about Buddhism.

After lunch, hop back on the bus and continue to Trang An wharf. From here, take a boat trip to visit Trang An cave complex (UNESCO World Heritage Site), exploring limestone caves and river scenery.

The tour continues to Mua Cave. After climbing 500 stone steps, you'll be able to see all the way to Tam Coc. Enjoy the stunning panoramic view of the countryside and Ngo Dong river.

In the evening, transfer to train station to take night train to Hue. Overnight on train.

Arrive in Hue at the morning. Transfer to hotel for breakfast.

After that take a boat trip along the Perfume River. Stop at Thien Mu Pagoda, an active Buddhist monastery with origins dating back to 1601. Admire its iconic 7-story pagoda, the unofficial symbol of the city. 

Next, visit the serene Khai Dinh Royal Tomb, designed to blend in with its natural surroundings and built on principles of feng-shui. Explore the final resting place of a Nguyen Emperor.

Have lunch and continue to visit Hue’s most prominent tourist attraction, the Imperial Citadel - also known as the first Emperor who established the Nguyen dynasty and the Hue Museum of Royal Fine Arts Museum where imperial past and arts of that era are being displayed. Finish the tour at Dong Ba Market for shopping and admiring local market style.

Overnight in Hue.

Morning transfer to Hoi An via Hai Van pass and enjoy the panoramic sea view from the top of the mountain.. On the way visit Cham Museum where holding the world’s largest collection of Cham artefacts, and the Marble Mountains (Ngu Hanh Son) which is a well-known pilgrimage site with peaks, caves, tunnels and temples.

Arrive in Hoi An and wander around Hoi An Ancient Town with the town’s highlighted attractions including Phuoc Kien Pagoda, Tan Ky old house, Japanese Covered bridge…

Overnight in Hoi An.

Seat-on-Coach Morning Cooking Tour (8.15am to 1.00pm)

Visit Hoi An’s colorful market, and experience the sights, sounds and aromas of this busy market. You will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers and purchase some of the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later on.

Embark on a boat trip along the Hoi An River to the cooking school.

During the cooking class, you will be able to learn to use different herbs used in Vietnamese dishes, prepare the dishes by yourselves with demonstrations by cook chef and you will also get to know a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving for plate decoration.

Transfer back to hotel and at leisure for personal discovery.

Tour includes: welcome drinks, local English-speaking guide/chef, boat trip from Hoi An Old Town, Cooking class & lunch, transfer from Cooking School to central Hoi An.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Transfer to Da Nang airport to take flight to Saigon (Expecting flight DAD/SGN 13:35 – 15:15)

Arrive in Saigon. Transfer to hotel. Overnight in Saigon.

Start a full day exploring the fascinating city of Saigon, also known as Ho Chi Minh City.

Head first to the Reunification Palace, also known as the Independence Palace, the latter site is a landmark of Saigon history and architecture, which once served as the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.

Next, pay a visit to the neo-Romanesque Notre - Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, admire the surprising architecture at your next stop, the Saigon Central Post Office.

Stop by Ben Thanh Market. Snap photos of the lively market's activities, or take the opportunity to buy kitchen equipment, souvenirs, garments, fruit, and many other foods.

Finally, end your tour at the Jade Emperor Pagoda. See the local worshippers in prayer for their careers, love, and fertility. Enjoy this taste of Taoist worship culture, before being dropped off back at your hotel.

Overnight in Saigon.

Depart from Ho Chi Minh City for Cu Chi Tunnels, just 60 kilometers outside the city. Visit the heroic district and learn about its role in the anti-American war in Vietnam. Explore the 220-kilometer-long tunnel system with a vision back when it was a "Free Target Zone" and suffered great destruction and damage due to bombing.

At the end of the tour, transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Overnight in Saigon.

Depart Saigon for a 2-hour drive to Ben Tre, the coconut capital. At An Hoa Bridge, visit a traditional workshop to see how locals peel and process coconuts by hand, then stop by a colorful Cao Dai Temple. Cruise along the river to see traditional coconut charcoal kilns before crossing to peaceful Tam Hiep Island for a home-cooked lunch.

In the afternoon, ride a local tuk-tuk through lush green paths to a Lá Sâm farm, pick fresh leaves, and sample homemade herbal jelly. Enjoy making local cakes with a welcoming family, then glide through quiet, palm-shaded canals on a traditional rowing boat. Return to your homestay to join a fun cooking session and share a warm, heartfelt dinner with your hosts.

Overnight in homestay in Ben Tre.

After breakfast, enjoy a refreshing bicycle ride through fruit orchards, visiting a vibrant morning market, village school, bonsai garden, bee farm, and local pagoda.

Say goodbye to your hosts, check out, and take a boat to visit the historic Long Thanh Communal House, a national heritage site. Return to An Hoa Village and transfer comfortably back to Saigon.

Overnight in Saigon.

Free at leisure. (Check out before 12:00 AM)

Transfer to airport for departure.

Late check-out will be surcharged upon your requirement.