VIETNAM AUTHENTIC: DISCOVERING THE SOUL OF LOCAL LIFE AND CULTURE

After breakfast, start a full day visiting the thousand-year historical capital with its famous landmarks, including: the President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum (Closed on Monday and Friday) and the House on stilts where he lived on and off from 1958 to 1969, locating nearby is the One Pillar Pagoda which was built by the King Ly Thai Tong who ruled from 1028 to 1054.

After lunch, continue to Temple of Literature – the Vietnam's first national university. The temple was built in 1070 at the time of King Ly Thanh Tong. It is one of several temples in Vietnam which is dedicated to Confucius, sages and scholars.

Visit next the Ethnology Museum – a well worth observing the depth of cultural diversity of Vietnam’s 54 minority groups

In the evening, enjoy water puppet show.

Vietnamese water puppetry is a unique folk art that originated a thousand years ago during the Ly dynasty. Villagers in the Red River delta and other rice-growing regions in Northern Vietnam staged water puppet performances to celebrate the end of the rice harvest, religious festivals, and other important occasions. A water puppet show depicts the daily activities in Vietnamese rural life as well as important historical events and ancient legends.

Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

In the morning, depart Hanoi for Duong Lam Ancient Village, an iconic Red River Delta community renowned as the "Land of Two Kings" and famous for its rustic laterite brick architecture. Upon arrival, cycle or stroll through charming narrow alleys, passing the historic Mong Phu Gate and Temple. Step back in time as you visit 200- to 400-year-old preserved homes, explore sacred temples dedicated to national heroes Ngo Quyen and Phung Hung, and admire the 15th-century Mia Pagoda, home to nearly 300 exquisite historic statues.

Head the road to Mai Chau.

Mai Chau is a charming idyllic valley, hemmed in by hills. The area is a different world away from Hanoi's hustle with its peaceful scenic of tiny villages in the middle of rice fields, and calming sound by gurgling irrigation streams and birdsong.

Upon arrival in Mai Chau, check into your local homestay and enjoy free time to explore the picturesque village at your own pace. Following a delicious traditional dinner, immerse yourself in an authentic Thai cultural evening featuring vibrant folk music and traditional dance performances. Join the friendly local villagers in a lively bamboo dance (Múa Sạp) and experience the warm hospitality of the mountains as you taste Rượu Cần, a famous ethnic rice wine traditionally sipped through bamboo pipes from a shared pottery jar.

Overnight in homestay in Mai Chau.

In the morning, enjoy the fresh valley air as you cycle along scenic paths through lush rice fields and emerald bamboo forests. Meet friendly local villagers along the way and observe local farmers rhythmically working their fields. Complete your morning adventure with a relaxing bamboo rafting trip on the tranquil Xia Stream (suối Xía), floating gently past idyllic mountain landscapes and peaceful rustic scenery.

Return to Hanoi at the end of the afternoon and transfer for dinner. Free time allows you to discover the city at your own pace.

Ovenight in Hanoi.

Leave Hanoi for Ha Long via a country road lined with rice paddies and vegetable fields. Ha Long is one of the new 7 natural wonders of the world.

Arrival at Ha Long, check in on board and 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 discover a water tunnel with many coral reefs in a scenic lagoon or watch the sun set at the horizon line on the bay. Dinner and overnight on board.

-       The program and itineraries are subject to change due to weather and tidal conditions.

-       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 in the morning. Brunch on board before checkout.

At noon, depart from Ha Long back to Noi Bai airport to take flight to Hue.

Upon arrival at Phu Bai airport, pick up by your local chauffer and transfer to hotel for check in.

Hue is the ancient capital of Vietnam from 1802 to 1945 under the Nguyen Dynasty. It is now a cultural city known for its temples, tombs and pagodas.

Begin your morning at the vibrant Dong Ba Market during its most active hours, observing the bustling daily trade and discovering unique local ingredients that define Hue’s famous cuisine. Next, step into history at the Imperial Citadel, built in 1802 by Emperor Gia Long, the founder of the Nguyen Dynasty. For lunch, savor a quiet, specialized vegetarian meal lovingly prepared by nuns.

In the afternoon, pause to visit a traditional handicraft village where artisans craft iconic conical hats and colorful incense sticks. Continue to the poetic Tu Duc Tomb, constructed between 1864 and 1867, designed by the emperor himself to seamlessly blend magnificent royal architecture with serene natural landscapes. Tucked away in a tranquil pine forest nearby lies Tu Hieu Pagoda, one of Hue’s most atmospheric spiritual sanctuaries, historically dedicated to honoring imperial eunuchs. Conclude your day with a relaxing boat trip along the romantic Perfume River, where you can light and set adrift a traditional paper lantern while making a personal wish.

The experience will be mostly enjoyed during the Buddhist festival (15/4 of lunar calendar) when the river will be sparkled with hundreds of colorful lotus lanterns

In the evening, enjoy street food with Hue special dishes.

Overnight in Hue.

Start the journey by riding bicycle to Thanh Toan village where you will have the opportunity to experience the local’s daily life and visit their stalls in the market, enjoy the tranquility of the village and visit Thanh Toan tile roofed wooden bridge – a classic covered Japanese footbridge in picturesque countryside.

Departure to Hoi An, with a stop at Da Nang to visit Cham Museum.

Arrive at Hoi An, transfer to hotel and free time. Overnight in Hoi An.

After breakfast, you will be riding a bicycle to Tra Que vegetable village.

Tra Que is a charming little village on the edge of Hoi An. The village is named of the sweet-scented vegetables that spice up the everyday meals of the Pho Hoi people.

Experience a day of living and working with local people in Tra Que village, where you will have a chance to discover the daily life of farmers. Lunch with degustation of the village’s famous "Tam Huu" – an assortment of shrimp, pork and herbs; as well as other specialty dishes.

After lunch, transfer back to visit Hoi An little ancient town: The Japanese bridge, an old house and the Phuoc Kien temple. Visit a house where they make traditional crafts of Hoi An: silk weaving, hand embroidered paintings, lanterns making, wood carving, mat weaving… At leisure to explore Hoi An at night. Overnight in Hoian.

Morning transfer to Da Nang airport for flight to Saigon.

Arrive in Saigon, pick up by your local guide and transfer for lunch.

In the afternoon, visit the 5^th district “Cho Lon” also known as China town were inhabited by half a million of Hoa people (Vietnamese of Chinese origin). You will be visiting a major center of trade, swarming all day with the wholesale market of Binh Tay, Thien Hau temple, a lacquer ware manufactory where you can learn about the process of making an exquisite lacquer product from wood, pearls and egg shells inlayed.

Back to city center and transfer to hotel for check-in. In the evening, transfer for dinner cruise and enjoy the colorful night view of Saigon River.

Overnight in Saigon.

Begin your Mekong Delta adventure with a scenic cruise through Cai Be, passing the town and its historic church before exploring the peaceful canals of Tan Phong Island by traditional rowing boat. Visit a local orchard to sample seasonal tropical fruits while enjoying traditional Southern Vietnamese folk music.

Continue by bicycle along quiet village paths, discovering orchards, local homes, temples, and everyday rural life. Cross the mighty Mekong River to An Binh Island, where you'll enjoy a home-hosted lunch (optional) and visit local family workshops producing rice paper, coconut candy, popped rice, and handicrafts. The journey concludes with a visit to traditional brick kilns, offering a glimpse into one of the Mekong Delta's most enduring crafts.

Back to Saigon in the late afternoon. Overnight in Saigon.

At leisure until time to transfer to airport for your flight back home or prolong your trip with a wonderful extension to discover the beauty of Vietnam.