After breakfast at the hotel, meet your local guide at 08:30 and start your city tour with a visit to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university, founded in 1076. Known locally as Quoc Tu Giam, this place of learning was established inside a temple to educate Vietnam’s nobles, scholars, and society’s elites. Its well-preserved architecture and tranquil gardens offer intriguing glimpses into Vietnam’s past.

Later on, take a walk around the Old Quarter, also known as "the 36 streets" and Hoan Kiem Lake to learn more about the legend of the lake and the temple of Jade.

Visit St. Joseph’s Cathedral, one of the first buildings built by French colonists during their expansion in Indochina and still intact in Hanoi after two fierce wars, and emerge in the serene and peaceful atmosphere of Pagoda Ba Da, hidden in a very quiet corner in the middle of Hanoi's busy traffic, just a few steps from the cathedral.

First stop at a local restaurant in Ba Dinh District, where you can taste one of the city's specialties, “pho" or rice noodles, served in a variety of ways: rolled, stirred, and fried. After having filled your stomach with delicious food, head off to a hidden farmland on the Red River bank to discover the countryside on the edge of bustling Hanoi, where people plant bananas and vegetables and live in floating homes. On your way back to the city center, stop at Long Bien Bridge, a historic bridge across the Red River that was built by the French from 1898 to 1902.

Next stop is Hanoi’s largest open-air second-hand market in Hai Ba Trung district. Emerge yourself in the narrow alleys of residential areas nearby, then take a walk around a wet market to learn about ingredients used daily in Vietnamese meals and taste tropical fresh fruits.

Continue heading towards Dong Da District, the most populated area of Hanoi with more than 400.000 residents per km2. Stop at the train street, where houses are built just a few meters away from the railway. Later on, visit a local house with a separate kitchen and bathroom that brings back memories of Hanoi in the 1960s. The journey concludes with Hanoian egg coffee at an old coffee shop. 

Return to your hotel at around 16:30. Overnight in Ha Noi.

Depart from your hotel for a drive through rural North Vietnam to Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam in the 10th century. As you explore this important historical site, you’ll have the chance to roam through the Hoa Lu Citadel and visit ancient temples dedicated to Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang (Dinh Dynasty, 968–980) and Emperor Le Dai Hanh (Le Dynasty, 980–1009). After lunch at a local restaurant, head to the UNESCO-listed Trang An Landscape Complex, where you can unwind on a peaceful riverboat ride that passes through a series of caves. Trang An is sure to wow you with its spectacular landscape of jagged karst mountains and valleys. As you float along, take some photos of the enormous karst peaks that jut out from the green rice fields; this landscape is what gives this region the nickname "Halong on Land". At the end of the day, climb the 486 steps to the top of Ngoa Long Mountain to visit Mua Cave and take in the breathtaking rice valley and the surrounding natural beauty. Overnight in Ninh Binh. 

After breakfast at the hotel, depart at 8:00 to Tuan Chau Pier, where you will board a selected cruise for your overnight on Lan Ha Bay. Lunch will be served while the vessel starts cruising through thousands of limestone islets emerging from the emerald water.

Join in some activities such as kayaking or swimming, or just relax on the sun deck and enjoy the stunning scenery of this World Heritage Site. Dinner with fresh seafood and overnight on the cruise.

The itinerary is subject to change due to the weather and operating conditions without prior notice.

Enjoy a beautiful sunrise over the bay, followed by a light breakfast. As the cruise sails back to the pier, enjoy brunch on board while admiring the limestone rock formations glide by. 

Upon disembarkation, your driver will be waiting to take you to Hanoi’s Noi Bai Domestic Airport for a short flight to Hue. Overnight in Hue.

Depart from your hotel at 08:30 for La Chu village, which is located about 8 km from the center of Hue city. This village is well known for its herb and vegetable culture (onions, ciboulettes, coriander, basil, etc.). 

During an 8-kilometer bicycle tour, you pass through peaceful villages, rice terraces, riverbanks, and lush vegetation. It's time to unwind in the paradise of lotus flower ponds and water lilies between the months of February and July.

The first stop is to visit a family that produces votive paper offerings and learn about the very popular custom of burning paper offerings among the Vietnamese.

The tour goes on to a nearby daily market, where you may browse the stalls selling fresh produce, meat, and spices while being greeted with welcoming grins by local women who aren't yet used to seeing tourists. The next stop is the vegetable farm, where you can meet and chat with local farmers.

Last but not least, you won’t miss an opportunity to visit the family that specializes in making "Banh Loc", a kind of Vietnamese pie made of rice flour mixed with shrimp. You also have a chance to try out all the local specialties here. 

A lunch break at a local family restaurant by the rice fields is provided. After lunch, while taking in the magnificent view of rice paddies, relax your feet in a foot soak infused with healing herbs.

Return to the city center at around 14:00 and visit the Imperial Citadel, the seat of the Nguyen Dynasty emperors. The Citadel was inspired by Vauban fortifications and is composed of three sections: the capital city (Kinh Thanh), the Imperial city (Hoang Thanh), and the Forbidden City (Cam Thanh).

Continue to the Buddhist shrine of Thien Mu Pagoda, also known as the Pagoda of the Heavenly Lady. Built in the seventeenth century, it's one of the most fascinating and ancient pagodas in Hue, overlooking the picturesque Perfume River. Overnight in Hue

After breakfast at the hotel, depart at 08:30 from your hotel for a visit to Tu Duc's mausoleum, one of the most beautiful royal tombs of the Nguyen dynasty with unique architecture and perfect harmony with the natural landscape. Visit the nearby Thuy Xuan incense-making village, where you'll be amazed by the smell of aloeswood and the sight of innumerable bouquets of colorful bamboo incense sticks being sundried along the village roads.

Continue to Minh Mang’s mausoleum, a complex of 40 constructions including palaces, temples, and pavilions. Located on the left bank of the Perfume River, it’s a stunning example of how man-made beauty can coexist peacefully with natural beauty.

In the afternoon, leave Hue for Hoi An on a scenic drive through the fishing village of Lang Co and Hai Van Pass. Overnight in Hoi An

This morning, you are invited to come and experience a memorable cooking class with our wonderful Chef Van. Depart from your hotel at around 8:30, and Ms. Van will take you to the market where you purchase fresh ingredients and find out more about local produce. After that, head back to Van’s home to prepare a variety of local dishes of your choice. Under the guidance of Van, you will actively take part in the cooking of delicious meals. Around Van's kitchen table, share your creations and a beverage with one another. 

In the afternoon, stroll through the narrow streets of the atmospheric Hoi An Ancient Town. This UNESCO Site is a precious gem that shows a range of architectural influences. Visit the Japanese covered bridge, one of the Chinese communal halls, and former merchants’ houses. 

At the end of the day, enjoy a cup of tea at Reaching Out Tea House, a lovely and tranquil setting founded to help the disabled grow their artistic talents and lead independent lives through their art.

Return to your hotel at around 17:30 and overnight in Hoi An.

Breakfast and time at leisure until your driver transfers you to Da Nang airport for a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival, you will meet your tour guide and depart for an exciting tour across several districts of the city.  

First stop is the FITO museum (Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine), which offers an in-depth look at the fascinating world of traditional Vietnamese medicine. 

Later on, let’s go back in time to delve into the history of Vietnam with a stop at Đỗ Phủ cafe, which was once the operational base of the Liberation Army of South Vietnam. While the coffee is prepared, discover the secret bunker of weapons used for the Attack on the Independence Palace during the 1968 offensive and take pictures of the old car used to transport weapons to Cu Chi tunnels.

Enjoy your coffee in the atmosphere of this historical house before heading to the hidden Van Phat Pagoda in Jewelry Street of ChinaTown in District 5. You will be amazed by the vibrant colors of the typical Chinese architecture and especially by the ten thousand Buddha statues inside the pagoda. Here at the pagoda you can also learn how Vietnamese people preserve the cremation urns of their family members. Continue to the French Quarter in District 1 to visit Saigon Central Post Office, a vital part of Ho Chi Minh City's colonial legacy and stroll along Nguyen Hue street and Dong Khoi Street, the most busiest streets of the city. The day concludes with the spectacular A O Show (18:00) at the historic Saigon Opera House. Enjoy an hour of acrobatic acts, contemporary dance, and traditional Vietnamese music, and get a deeper look into Vietnamese art and culture.

Return to your hotel at around 19:15 and overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Depart from your hotel at 8:30 for a drive toward Tay Ninh, where you will explore the colorful Caodaism Temple, recognizable by a large eye on the facade and two square pagodas.

Learn about the history and doctrine of this unique religion, which combines elements of Vietnamese folk religion and the world’s different religions, such as Buddhism, Confucianism, and Hinduism, as well as Islam and Catholicism. Don’t miss the chance to witness the mid-day ceremony and listen to music and chants at the temple, where devotees in white robes and priests in colored ones gather and pray.

Continue to the Cu Chi Tunnels, created in 1948 to assist the Viet Minh in combating the French. This is an underground city with living areas, kitchens, storage, weapon shops, field hospitals, and command centers. During the Vietnam War, the entire area of Cu Chi was designated a fire-free zone and was heavily bombarded.

Today you leave bustling Ho Chi Minh City behind and depart from your hotel at 08:00 for a 2-hour drive to Ben Tre province, the largest area of coconut plantations in Vietnam. Situated on the Mekong Delta, Ben Tre is a land of coconuts, fruit orchards, rice fields, narrow canals, and wonderful scenery.

Arrive at Ham Luong pier and take a boat trip to explore the local life and family-owned business activities along the Ben Tre River, one of the Mekong River’s tributaries. Stop at a brick kiln and learn about a traditional method of making bricks. Continue to visit one of the plenty of coconut workshops along the waterway to discover how every single part of the coconut, including the shell, the meat, and the water, is processed to produce a variety of products: coconut milk, coconut candy, coconut oil, and even floor mats and charcoal. Next stop is a sleeping mat workshop, where you can learn about hand weaving techniques and enjoy some fresh fruits and tea.

Later on, take a motor cart (xe lôi) or ride a bike on the shady paths of the peaceful countryside, passing by green rice fields and vegetable plains, to touch on real life and get to know tropical peasant culture. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant with local specialties such as elephant-ear fish and river shrimp. 

In the afternoon, take a rowing boat on small canals shaded by wild coconut palm trees until Hung Vuong Pier, where your driver is ready to transfer you your homestay in Ben Tre.

In the evening, you participate in a cooking class and learn how to make "Bánh xèo" - Vietnamese pancakes made from rice milk. Dinner is ready to be served with fresh dishes cooked in local style, such as caramelized pork and fish soup, spring rolls, etc.

After dinner, relax in a lemongrass and ginger foot bath, a local therapeutic method to relieve the pain and fatigue of the legs. Overnight in Ben Tre. 

After breakfast, start your 2-hour cycling trip to Oc Island on a concrete track lined with fruit trees and coconut trees. On the way, pass by the local market, where various local ingredients such as vegetables, meat, fruits, etc. are sold. Cross a local Mekong River ferry to reach the island, from where you continue cycling on small paths dotted with small huts hidden in lush vegetation while seeing the daily life of the inhabitants of the Mekong Delta, governed by artisanal and agricultural activities. 

Stop at a fish farm to learn more about two species of catfish: ca tra (Pangasius hypophthalmus) and ca ba sa (Pangasius bocourti). Return to Mekong home and spend time at leisure until check-out at around 12:00. Drive back to Ho Chi Minh City, and time to relax in the hotel.

At 18:00 start exploring Saigon like a local on a vintage Vespa! You’ll get a true taste of Saigon nightlife through fabulous eating, drinking, and music venues.

The evening kicks off with a drink at a rooftop bar. Join your tour guide and fellow travelers for a toast while enjoying views over the Saigon skyline! Then the Vespas take you through the city, weaving through the buzzing thoroughfares of Saigon as well as narrow back alleys. 

The tour includes stops at a mix of venues, giving you the opportunity to experience a truly local night out. We take you to two popular restaurants where you’ll sample several beloved Saigon dishes, all washed down with a cold drink. You’ll also kick back at a Vietnamese-style cafe, enjoying live music while sipping a beer or cocktail. And the night wraps up at a lively music bar where you can groove to the tunes alongside the hip young Vietnamese crowd! All food and drinks are included; all you need to bring is your appetite and sense of adventure! Return to your hotel at around 22:00 and overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Breakfast at hotel and time at leisure until check-out at 12:00.

Our driver is ready to transfer you to Tan Son Nhat Airport for your departure flight