From Ha Long Bay to the Mekong Delta

Hanoi arrival - Walks (D)

Arrival at Noi Bai International Airport.

Welcome by our French-speaking guide and driver. Transfer to your downtown hotel. Time to rest a little.

Hanoi, the thousand-year-old capital of Vietnam, has retained the charm of the French colonial era. It is undoubtedly the most charming city in Vietnam in all its authenticity, with its wide tree-lined avenues, numerous lakes, and well-maintained gardens. The name Hanoi means "the city beyond the river."

You begin your discovery of Hanoi by taking a stroll through the old quarter of Hanoi's 36 bustling guilds: Hang Bac, Ma May... and the typical market with colonial architecture of Dong Xuan.

One-hour cyclo-pousse ride through the old city.

Visit the Jade Mountain Temple (Ngoc Son) located in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake (the Restored Sword).

Welcome dinner at a local restaurant in the city. Overnight at the hotel in Hanoi.

Hanoi - Visits (B/L/D)

Breakfast at the hotel.

You start the day by visiting the Temple of Literature (Van Mieu). The "First University of Vietnam" Van Mieu was built in 1070 by Ly Thanh Tong. It is the first university in Vietnam for princes and mandarins. Inside, there were 116 steles on which the names of the laureates of the 116 doctoral competitions were engraved. Today, only 82 steles remain. Van Mieu is a very beautiful example of Vietnamese architecture.

Next, you visit the beautiful Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest in Hanoi and Vietnam, on the shore of West Lake. The pagoda is renowned as a spiritual high place of the capital, but also as a cultural and architectural relic.

Lunch at a local restaurant with Hanoi specialties.

In the afternoon, visit the Ethnography Museum (closed on Mondays) which offers its superb collections in pleasant and friendly spaces to revive the culture of Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups. With 15,000 objects and 42,000 films and photos, the Ethnography Museum is a treasure trove of Vietnam's rich culture. Today, this place is not only a museum for domestic and foreign visitors, but also used for popular festivities, craft fairs, and exchanges between Vietnam's ethnic groups.

Water puppet show, a traditional art of the Red River Delta.

Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel in Hanoi.

Hanoi - Mai Chau Valley (B/L/D)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Departure by road for Mai Chau – a beautiful valley home to the White Thai ethnic group, via Hoa Binh city and the Thung Khe pass at 1200m altitude. Stops for taking photos in villages and passes are planned along the way.

Arrival in Mai Chau around noon.

Lunch at a local's home with Thai dishes.

In the afternoon: you take a bike ride or walk through ethnic Thai villages: Lac, Poom Coong, Nhot, Van villages. This beautiful bike ride (which can be flexible depending on your physical condition) allows you to admire the beautiful extended rice fields of the valley, beautiful stilt houses nestled under the trees... Many contacts with White Thai people are planned. With the help of our guide, you will better understand the peaceful life of the villagers as well as their customs and traditions.

Friendly dinner with local dishes.

In the evening: you participate in Thai singing and dancing shows. Opportunity to taste "ruou can" (rice wine). This is an alcohol to sip with a bamboo straw. Consumed both in everyday life and during important cultural ceremonies, this alcohol is made from glutinous rice supplemented with plants (ginger, chili, guava leaves).

Overnight at a local's home (stilt house) or at the hotel.

Mai Chau - Ninh Binh - Hoa Lu - Terrestrial Halong Bay (B/L/D)

Breakfast at the homestay / hotel.

Resume the road to Ninh Binh in the Red River Delta. Located southeast of Hanoi, Ninh Binh province is the southernmost point of Southeast Asia's karst rock plateau... It is also the terrestrial point in Vietnam where these rocks are the most impressive, which gives it the name "Terrestrial Halong Bay".

After you reach the ancient capital of Vietnam, Hoa Lu, you visit the 2 temples dedicated to the kings of 2 feudal dynasties of Dinh and Le.

Lunch at a local restaurant

In the afternoon: transfer to the Tam Coc pier for a rowboat trip on the Ngo Dong River. The cruise lasts about 2 hours and you visit the 3 fabulous caves (this gives the name Tam Coc which means "three caves"), in an aquatic landscape punctuated by immense sugar loaves. Jagged, bored, hollowed out at the base and taking on bizarre shapes.

Option: instead of taking the boat excursion in Tam Coc which is well-known and touristy, you take the sampan rowboat ride at the Thung Nham site for 2 hours (a site preserved from mass tourism). At the end of the ride, you visit the magnificent Thien Ha cave (Paradise cave) by sampan rowboat under the mysterious lights of electric torches.

Disembarkation and then you take a bike ride to authentic villages to visit Bich Dong Pagoda and Thai Vi Temple. A must for encounters and photos, natural beauties and limestone peaks.

Dinner at the restaurant. Overnight at the hotel in Tam Coc.

Hanoi - Halong - Cruise and overnight on board the junk (B/L/D)

In the morning, after breakfast, depart for Halong Bay via the Red River Delta with photo stops along the way.

Arrive in Halong around noon, board the junk for an unforgettable cruise in Halong Bay, a well-known natural site recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since 1994.

The legendary Halong Bay, whose name means "descending dragon", is recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This magical place, considered the "eighth wonder of the world", is a giant geological museum. Over an area of approximately 1500 square kilometers, more than two thousand islands, islets and multi-shaped karst reefs riddled with caves delight tourists.

The three areas of Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long, and Lan Ha (the latter being part of Cat Ba) constitute what is called the "maritime Halong Bay". Bai Tu Long and Lan Ha Bays are less touristy than Halong Bay.

After the welcome drink offered by the junk crew, you settle into your room.

Lunch on board is served on board with seafood while the junk penetrates deeper into the bay.

Along the cruise, you see islands and islets of various shapes and sizes emerging from the emerald water. You stop to visit the natural caves in one of these islands. Possibility of swimming at the beach.

Dinner with seafood and overnight on board the junk in the bay.

(The specific cruise program depends on the period and tide levels)

Halong - Hanoi - Overnight train to Hue (B/L/D)

Early morning, tai chi practice for those who wish on the upper deck.

Then, you have a light breakfast with bread and croissants while admiring beautiful natural landscapes. The junk continues its cruise itinerary to other corners of the bay.

Around 09:30, check out of cabins and then relax on the upper deck of the junk to contemplate the islands and islets before having an early Brunch around 11:00.

Disembark around noon at the pier and resume the road to return to Hanoi.

Dinner at a local restaurant before transfer by private car to Hanoi station to take the overnight train to Hue (air-conditioned cabins with 04 soft berths).

Overnight on board the train.

Hue - Visits and walks (B/L/D)

The train arrives in Hue around 08:48.

Transfer to a local restaurant for breakfast, then to your hotel to drop off luggage.

Hue was the capital of Vietnam between 1802 and 1945, and this chapter was one of the most turbulent in the country. The city's intact architectural and historical heritage deserves all your attention.

Then, it's time for discoveries of the historical and cultural sites of the ancient capital of Hue.

Hue is undoubtedly the capital of Central Vietnam (formerly Annam, during the French colonial era) between 1802 -1945. A few cable lengths from the South China Sea, the city is built on the banks of the Perfume River (Song Huong), so often praised and painted by artists who have stayed there. Hue has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1993. An imperial city erected by the Nguyen dynasty, it is today the cultural and intellectual center of the country with its palaces, pagodas and tombs, all more sumptuous and majestic than each other.

Discovery of the Citadel of Hue with its three enclosures: the Civic City (Kinh Thanh), the Imperial City (Hoang Thanh), and the Forbidden Purple City (Tu Cam Thanh). Built in the 17th century by order of Emperor Gia Long. This enormous and magnificent monument was designed by combining the concepts of Chinese geomancy and French architecture. The resulting final ensemble is precious palaces, magnificent temples blended between walls, bastions and moats, which coexist in total harmony.

Lunch at a local restaurant with local specialties

After the meal, you leave the city center to visit the imperial tomb of Tu Duc. Located in the middle of a pine forest, Tu Duc's tomb, also called Khiem Lang (this word means modest), is undoubtedly the most famous and beautiful among the royal tombs in Hue. His eternal resting place possesses a poetic beauty and perfect harmony with nature. The arrangement of its 50 architectural constructions no longer follows traditional patterns, especially symmetry – a pattern widely used in constructions of Vietnamese dynasties.

On the way back to the city center, several stops are planned to visit the village manufacturing incense sticks and conical hats.

Upon your return to the city center, you stop to visit the sacred Pagoda dedicated to the Celestial Lady (Chua Thien Mu) along the river.

Transfer to your hotel. Dinner at a restaurant in town and overnight at the hotel in Hue.

If your group is 10 people or more, you will have a royal dinner: you will be dressed in the costumes of emperors, queens, princes and princesses; you will taste imperial dishes accompanied by traditional music.

Hue - Hai Van Pass - Hoi An + Visits (B/L/D)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Depart for Hoi An passing through the famous Hai Van Pass from where you have a panoramic view of the South China Sea and the city of Da Nang, the 4th largest city in Vietnam.

Stop in Da Nang to visit the Cham Sculpture Museum. The museum was inaugurated in 1919, at the initiative of the French School of the Far East, to gather sculptures discovered at surrounding archaeological sites located mainly in the southern part of the Center and on the Tay Nguyen Highlands. The works are exhibited according to the places where they were found. Thus, there are rooms such as My Son, Tra Kieu, Dong Duong, and Thap Mam.

Continue the journey to Hoi An.

Upon arrival in Hoi An, visit a silkworm breeding house and then discover the ancient town of Hoi An (an ancient traditional house, the Japanese Covered Bridge Pagoda, the Chinese Phu Kien Assembly Hall, the craft quarters).

Hoi An: As Vietnam's most important ancient port city, formerly known as Faifo, Hoi An was very lively from the 17th and 18th centuries as Chinese and Japanese had their quarters there. It was also here that the first traders from Portugal, Holland, England, and France docked. This charming city captivates travelers with its peaceful life, architecture, and the authentic life of its people. Currently, Hoi An is also a seaside resort known for its beautiful An Bang and Cua Dai beaches.

Lunch and dinner at restaurants with local specialties

In the evening: free stroll amidst ancient houses with hanging lanterns. A magical multi-colored image of Hoi An city. You can play folk games and set floating lanterns on the Thu Bon River…

Overnight in Hoi An.

Hoi An - Da Nang - Saigon (B/L/D)

Breakfast at the hotel.

A half day free for your relaxation by the pool/beach and your own discovery of Hoi An city…

Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: transfer to Danang airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City.

Meet and greet by the guide and driver upon your arrival at Saigon airport. Transfer to your hotel in the city center. Check-in, free time.

Dinner at a restaurant in the city and overnight in Saigon

Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) is often contrasted with "Hanoi, the traditional," as this economic capital embodies Vietnamese modernity and the hope of catching up with the country's economic lag after various wars. Located in the heart of Cochinchina in the Mekong Delta, it is also the largest city with a population of over 14 million inhabitants.

Saigon - Cai Be - Vinh Long - Can Tho (B/L/D)

After breakfast, you leave the bustling city of Saigon and head towards Cai Be – the entrance to the Mekong Delta.

Upon arrival in Cai Be, board a private boat for an excursion through the arroyos and a crossing of the Cai Be floating market. Then, you visit local manufactures: puffed rice candies and caramel candies...

Lunch at a local's home with typical local dishes.

Continue the cruise towards Vinh Long with fruit tasting on board. Disembark in Vinh Long city and resume the journey to Can Tho, the largest city in the Mekong Delta.

Dinner at a restaurant in the city and overnight in Can Tho

The Mekong splits into 9 large rivers in the very South of Vietnam, forming a delta of over 100 kilometers. The lands, humid and flooded every year, produce lush and varied vegetation… The delta is vast and can be discovered by visiting several sites… by strolling on the rivers, canals, visiting the islands, discovering local life and especially… by passing through the floating markets.

Can Tho - Cai Rang Floating Market - Saigon (B/L/D)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning, depart by private sampan to see the most typical floating market of the Mekong – Cai Rang market. Located 5km from the center of Can Tho city, Cai Rang is a wholesale market with a myriad of boats and sampans loaded with watermelons, mangoes, bananas, papayas, pineapples, onions, etc. The main items sold there are agricultural products and regional specialties. Many producers and farmers come here to sell their harvest to wholesalers. While the first boats arrive very early in the morning, Cai Rang market is in full swing a little later, around 7 or 8 am.

Then, continue the excursion to an ecological garden with exotic fruit trees from the South. Fruit tasting on site and then disembark at the local An Binh market.

Resume the journey to return to Saigon.

Arrival in Saigon. Visit the Chinese Quarter. Discover its old quarters, its Binh Tay wholesale market (Cho Lon), and Thien Hau Pagoda, which is considered the most beautiful pagoda in the city.

Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at the hotel in Saigon

Saigon - Visits - Departure (B/L/-)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Today, you enjoy time to continue visiting Saigon before your departure flight.

Visit and discover the colonial quarter with charming colonial buildings: the Notre Dame Cathedral (which was built between 1877 and 1883 and the stones used for its construction were imported directly from France), the City Hall, the Municipal Theater (external visits), the Central Post Office. These are the best examples of French colonial architecture in Saigon.

Lunch at a local restaurant

Free time for last minute shopping at Ben Thanh Market until transfer to the airport for your return flight.