Highlights:
- Explore an some city attractions in Hanoi to discover history and culture of this bustle capital.
- Visit the ancient capital of Vietnam with a long history and take a boat trip to visit Tam Coc
- Immerse yourself in one of the wonders in the world - Halong Bay.
- Investigate the Imperial citadel and Royal life of Vietnamese Kings in Hue.
- Take a cooking class in Hoi An to learn more about this little culinary world of Vietnam with its refined flavors and tastes.
DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN HA NOI (MEAL: NO)
Arrival at Noi Bai Airport, Our driver will welcome you at airport terminal and transfer you to the hotel in the center. You will check in at the hotel and you will visit the center of the city by your own.
Overnight stay in Hanoi.
Please note that check in time at hotel is 14:00.
Inclusion: Airport pick up service, Accommodation
DAY 2 : HA NOI CITY TOUR (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/-)
At 08:00 Am, Our guide will pick you up at hotel and we will visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum to explore the architectural and historical aspects of Uncle Ho’s final resting place. Just next door is Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. Lying to one side of the mausoleum is the One Pillar Pagoda which was founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049. You will then continue on to the Buddhist Tran Quoc Pagoda in West Lake. It is one of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam. Thereafter, you will visit the Bat Trang pottery village. The visit applies during Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. You will have lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon , after lunch, you will proceed to visit the Ethnology Museum. The tour applies on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. You will visit the Temple of Literature or Quoc Tu Giam and Vietnam’s first university which was constructed in 1070.
Then we past Hoan Kiem Lake to see the peaceful waters and the beauty of Ngoc Son Temple. Transfer to hotel, stay overnight in Hanoi.
Inclusion: Transportation, English speaking guide, meals: breakfast and lunch, all entrance fees, accommodation.
DAY 3: HOA LU – TAM COC (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/-)
At 08:00 Am: Meet your tour guide at your hotel. We will drive around 2.5 hours to Hoa Lu - the historic capital of Viet Nam and the famous ancient temples of the Le and the Dinh Dynasties. You can see the royal citadel where the emperors lived and know more about part of feudal dynasties and historical periods in Vietnamese history.
Then you will have Buffet lunch featuring Vietnamese cuisine.
Continue to take a boat trip to visit Tam Coc, known as “Halong Bay on land”. You will have a chance to see views of majestic limestone cliffs and three mysterious caves, as well as countryside sights, like peaceful streams, rice paddies and deserted green fields.
You can join to ride bicycle around countryside roads and villages to see the local farmers and buffaloes working on the rice fields. Get on bus to transfer back to Hanoi, drop you off at hotel
Inclusion: Transportation, English speaking guide, meals: breakfast and lunch, all entrance fees, accommodation.
DAY 4 : HANOI – HALONG (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER)
08:00 – 08:30: Our tour guide and bus pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi old quarter.
08:30: Departure to Halong Bay for 3.5 Hours.
10:00: Arrive in Hai Duong province, and have 20 minute short break.
12:00: Arrive to Tuan Chau harbor, 12:15 Welcome to cruise and enjoy Welcome drink, get a brief introduction about cruise and safety guidelines. Check-in your cabin.
12:30: Enjoy Vietnamese seafood and vegetarian lunch, while cruising in the magnificent Halong Bay, admiring the fascinating rock formations in the bay.
15:00: You at Tung Gau Area. The airy and fresh air, cool breezes, blue sea and sky, and natural seascape will captivate any visitors setting foot here. Especially, Tung Gau of Lan Ha Bay is extremely suitable for enjoying kayaking and swiming and then Visiting Halong Pearl Farm Village
17.30: Come back to our cruise and relax.
19:30: Time for dinner enjoying special food on the cruise.
21:00: Evening entertainments: play game on the cruise: cards game, chess, karaoke, squid fishing, and overnight on the cruise.
Inclusion: Transportation, English Speaking Guide, All entrance fees, Kayaking, Swimming, meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner, accommodation on cruise
DAY 5: HA LONG BAY - HANOI -– NIGHT TRAIN TO HUE (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/-)
06.30: Early morning sun risers can enjoy Tai Chi lesson on sundeck.
07.00: Morning view of bay’s landscape with a cup of tea or coffee. Have breakfast.
08:00: Arriving Sung Sot Cave (Amazing Cave) and joining with guide to visiting and explore the cave
10:00: Check-out and enjoy a fantastic cruise on the bay. Join cooking class guided directly by Chef of Rosa Boutique cruise. You have chance to practice Vietnamese traditional dishes such as spring roll or famous cuisine of Vietnam.
11:00: Enjoy the lunch on cruise.
12:00: Rosa Cruise are landing Halong Bay harbor, tourist say goodbye to sailors and finish the cruise.
12:30: Return to Hanoi by shuttle bus.
14:30: Stopover in Hai Duong province to visit a ceramics workshop.
16:00 – 16:30: Arrive in Hanoi. Free and easy the evening. Free and easy until 18.30, our staff from Indochina Beauty Travel will pick you up and transfer to Hanoi train station to take a train to Hue. Overnight on train.
Inclusion: Transportation, entrance fees, meals: breakfast and lunch, English speaking guide, train ticket - sharing train cabin 4 berth with A/C.
Note: Cruise itinerary and schedule are subject to change due to weather and operating conditions.
DAY 6 : HUE CITY TOUR (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/-)
Arrival in Hue at 08:30 Am, our tour guide will pick you up at train station. Then you will start the Hue city tour. Visit Thanh Toan Bridge - The only other tiled roof bridge in Vietnam aside from the one in Hoi An. This wooden arch bridge has been built for the local villagers who are into farming and fishing. The old bridge served and still serving the local villagers on their daily life needs. The bridge connects the local market and the village houses.
Visit Minh Mang tomb - The tomb of the most beloved Emperor of Nguyen dynasty. Minh Mang Tomb is considered as the most majestic of all of the Royal Tombs. The impressive architecture that complements with the nature gives you a good impression of the Emperor who lives within the walls of the 18 hectares tomb.
Visit Khai Dinh tomb - The smallest but the most expensive tomb of all. Every corner of the tomb is very detailed which reflects how luxurious the emperor was. Lunch in a restaurant that serves Western, Asian and Vietnamese food.
We visit Citadel - Imperial City is the home of Vietnam's last royal dynasty - the Nguyen Dynasty. This is the highlight of the tour. You will learn the rise, struggles and fall of the Nguyen Dynasty and how it affected the whole country.
Visit Thien Mu Pagoda - The oldest pagoda in Hue city.
Get on a dragon boat cruise to see the sunset on the way back to the city.
Drop you off at your hotel in Hue. Stay overnight in Hue.
Inclusion: Transportation, English speaking guide, meals: lunch ; all entrance fees, accommodation.
DAY 7: HUE – HOIAN (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/-)
Breakfast at hotel. At 08:00 Am, Transfer to Hoi An along Highway 1 which links Hanoi to Sai Gon. This drive is reputedly the most beautiful in all Vietnam, taking you past coastal fishing settlements, most notably Lang Co with its stunning lagoon backdrop. The drive also takes you over Hai Van Pass (or ‘pass of the ocean clouds’). Lunch at a local restaurant in Hoian.
The afternoon is spent strolling through the narrow streets of this atmospheric old town. This former port, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is full of architectural gems that show a range of influences. Around the seventeenth century Hoi An was one of the busiest ports in South East Asia. Enriched by the proceeds of this trade many merchants constructed beautiful homes. You should start by visiting Japanese bridge, Quan Cong temple, Fujian temple, one of the old houses and the local market. Then , take a boat trip on Thu Bon river. Dinner on your own. Overnight at hotel in Hoi An.
Inclusion: Transportation, English speaking guide, meals: breakfast & lunch ; all entrance fees, accommodation.
DAY 8: HOI AN COOKING CLASS (BREAKFAST/LUNCH/-)
08:00- 08:30am, a trip to the market to purchase some fresh, locally grown herbs. Then, we board our river boat for a relaxing 30 minutes ride to Thuan Tinh Island, which is recognized by Hoi An as an official ecological zone.
To visit the Local Village, we take a row boat ride through the water coconut trees. We then walk through the gardens to visit Ms. Hoa's house to meet her family and snack on grilled rice cakes and iced tea. From there, we head back to our open-air cooking class overlooking the water coconut trees and river. Our chefs will show you how to make Vietnamese food while you enjoy the cool breeze and peaceful setting.
Our chefs have prepared a 4 course cooking class of traditional Vietnamese dishes. They will demonstrate how to prepare them, and then it's your turn-you prepare your own tasty Vietnamese lunch!! We start with a homemade Passion fruit Juice soda to whet your appetite.
Around at 2 Pm: finish and you will be free in afternoon. Overnight in Hoi An.
Inclusion: Transportation, all entrance fees, meals: breakfast and lunch, english speaking guide, accommodation, all ingredients for cooking
DAY 9: HOIAN FREE AND EASY (BREAKFAST/-/-)
Breakfast at hotel, free and easy visit Hoi An. Stay overnight in Hoi An.
Optional ideas for exploring below will help you make the good plan to discover Hoi An:
Optional 1: HOI AN RICE PLANTING AND FISHING TOUR
https://indochinabeautytravel.com/products/rice-planting-fishing-trip
Optional 2: SEA FISHING & SNORKELING CHAM ISLAND BY SPEEDY (Available from February to September)
https://indochinabeautytravel.com/products/sea-fishing-snorkeling-cham-island-by-speedy-boat
Inclusion: meals: breakfast, accommodation.
DAY 10: HOIAN – DANANG AIRPORT (BREAKFAST/-/-)
Breakfast at hotel. Free at your own time until the driver meets you then transfers to the airport for your flight home or next destination. Tour ends.
Inclusion: Airport transfer service, meals: breakfast