DAY 1 Sunday 31ST AUGUST, ARRIVE HANOI

Arrive in Hanoi. Transfer to hotel (group transfer). Enjoy a welcome drink at the hotel after a long day of travelling before catching up on some sleep.

DAY 2 Monday 1ST SEPTEMBER, HANOI (B/L)

Meet with our local guide at the hotel for a city orientation tour. Enjoy a one hour cyclo ride through the streets of the old quarter finishing at Ngoc Son Temple. After visiting the Temple walk around the lake to Nha Tho street for interesting shopping in art, clothing, jewellery and homeware stores.

Lunch at Koto Restaurant, a non profit restaurant and vocational training programme for street and disadvantaged youths.

After lunch visit the ancient Temple of Literature and enjoy a Water Puppet Show. This a unique Vietnamese performing art. Water puppetry is performed in chest deep water, the surface of the water is used as a stage for the wooden puppets.  

DAY 3 Tuesday 2ND SEPTEMBER, HANOI – HALONG BAY (B/L/D)

Depart for Halong Bay, stopping en route at Ba Trang, a traditional pottery village. On arrival at Halong pier we board the luxury replica steamer “Emeraude”.   Enjoy a refreshing welcome cocktail upon boarding, once we depart a buffet lunch is served.

Cruise Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site with calm waters and thousands of islands forming a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars. Time for swimming and relaxation (kayaking at an additional charge) and enjoy an onboard cooking demonstration. Foot and head massages are available on the top deck.

Dinner and overnight on board.

DAY 4 Wednesday 3RD SEPTEMBER, HALONG BAY – HANOI (B)

For early risers, practice tai chi on the sundeck before breakfast.

Return to Halong pier late morning. Transfer back to Hanoi and check into our hotel.

Afternoon free at leisure.

DAY 5 Thursday 4TH SEPTEMBER, HANOI – MAI CHAU (B/L/D)

Depart from Hanoi and travel 150km through picturesque scenery to Mai Chau. Lunch at our lodge.

Optional Tour (own expense):  In the afternoon drive to Hang Kia village, inhabited by the H'mong hill tribe, located 1,000 metres above sea level with a cool climate. Trek through the mountain and visit a local H'mong family (approximately 2 hours).

Dinner accompanied by a traditional dance performance by the local Thai from the village.

DAY 6 Friday 5TH SEPTEMBER, MAI CHAU – HANOI - HOI AN (B/L)

In the morning we take a relaxing walk to the nearby Thai villages of Pom Coong and Lac. There you will have some time for handicraft shopping from the local artisans, strolling around or enjoy a cup of coffee with the friendly villagers. Depart for Hanoi - lunch at a local restaurant.

Later in the afternoon depart by air to Danang then transfer to the enchanting town of Hoi An. Hoi An was once a major international port from the 15th to 19th centuries, trading in such goods as silk, lacquer, porcelain and medicinal herbs. Most original structures of this well preserved town remain intact.

DAY 7 Saturday 6TH SEPTEMBER, HOI AN (B/L)

Meet with our local guide for a morning cooking tour. Start with a drink in ancient Hoi An town, visit the colourful market and experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy market. You will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers and learn about all the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson. Leisure cruise along the Thu Bon River to the Red Bridge restaurant and cooking school. After our cooking lesson enjoy your meal for lunch.

Free time for the rest of the day for leisure or shopping. Hoi An is a shopper’s paradise and one of the best places in Vietnam to get tailor made clothing.

DAY 8 Sunday 7TH SEPTEMBER, HOI AN (B)

Free day in Hoi An. If you don’t feel like shopping, relax and enjoy the range of massage and spa treatments our resort has to offer. Alternatively, you can hire a bike and visit Cua Dai Beach, 5km from town.

DAY 9 Monday 8TH SEPTEMBER, HOI AN - HO CHI MINH CITY (B)

Time for leisure until midday tranfer to the airport at Danang for flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Transfer to our hotel, rest of the afternoon at leisure.

DAY 10 Tuesday 9TH SEPTEMBER, HO CHI MINH CITY (B/L/D)

Meet with our local guide for a city orientation tour. See Notre Dame Cathedral, the old Post Office building and the former Presidential Palace. Visit Ben Thanh Market, a bustling market, selling food, flowers, clothing, accessories, wooden and lacquer home items etc.

After lunch in a local restaurant we return to the hotel. Afternoon free for exploring. Our hotel is in a great shopping location on famous Dong Khoi Street.

Meet in the lobby at 6.45 pm for a special dinner (as we might be back late on Day 11 this will be our “farewell dinner”)  

DAY 11 Wednesday 1OTH SEPTEMBER, HCMC – MEKONG DELTA (B/L)

Today we drive to the heart of the Mekong Delta, famous for its vast rice fields and beautiful landscapes. Visit the beautifully decorated Vinh Trang Pagoda. We then take a boat trip on the Mekong to Phoenix Island where local handicrafts and sweets from coconut are being produced. Take a short ride on a horse drawn carriage and then enjoy fresh seasonal fruits and traditional live music. Proceed by sampan boat through the canal to our lunch stop. Return to Ho Chi Minh City. 

DAY 12 Thursday 11TH SEPTEMBER, HO CHI MINH CITY – DEPARTURE (B)

Enjoy a last free day in the city. Maybe you still need to get that last souvenir…

Transfer to the airport early evening (group transfer).

END OF TOUR.  SEE "WHAT WE OFFER" AND PHOTO GALLERY AT THE TOP OF THIS PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. 

NOTE - IS VISITING ANGKOR WAT ONE OF THE PLACES YOU WISH TO CROSS OFF YOUR LIST?  WHY NOT EXTEND YOUR TRIP WITH OUR 2 NIGHT SIEM REAP STOPOVER WHILE YOU ARE SO CLOSE. 

SEE OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS