Quintessence of Vietnam

Itinerary

1. Day 01

   HANOI ARRIVAL - OLD QUARTER TOUR BY CYCLO OR ON FOOT - NGOC SON TEMPLE (D)
   Welcome to Hanoi! Upon arrival at Noi Bai airport, we will be warmly welcomed by our professional Tour guide and transferred to hotel for checkin and refreshment. Travel around by cyclos, a kind of three wheel rickshaws, in the "Old Quarter" of Hanoi, so-called "The Old Hanoi with 36 streets", which are named after the products made and sold by family workshops hereby. This is also a unique chance to take best pictures of the authentic life in Hanoi, especially at Silverware, Ma May or Matress streets. (Optional visit on foots if you love walking). The cyclo tour will end in one of small shrines, ancient temples (on Silver and Drum streets) or traditional houses in Ma May, hearing stories of the city and meet friendly locals in their daily routines. Wrap up our walk with a visit to Ngoc Son temple, Hoan Kiem lake and enjoying an "Egg coffee" at the Water Puppetry Theatre Cafe before joining an exciting show of Puppetry. Meet and discuss with the artists after the show before dinner. Overnight in Hanoi.   
2. Day 02

    HANOI CITY VISIT - MUSEUM OF WOMEN - STREET FOOD TOUR (B)
   (After breakfast at hotel) This morning we will visit the Museum of Vietnamese Women (always rated in top 10 things to see in Hanoi), where we can witness the role of ladies in the local culture, and along with them - the way foods and cuisine of Vietnam become famous. Walk up to the area of St. Joseph Church, north of Hoan Kiem lake, considered the center of Roman Catholicism activities in Hanoi, and visit the exciting surrounding full with good shops and foodstaffs. Taste some Phở (Noodle soup) and try a dish of Bánh Cuốn (a kind of steamed rice rolling pie), best cooked in Hanoi, and share with your Guide and the locals about the way to make different dishes in Hanoi. Thanks to ''Phở'', a lot of Vietnamese restaurants are known now in UK, Germany and France, wherever there are big overseas Vietnamese communities. Continue our walk to one of the most exciting areas in Hanoi, the intersection between Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen Streets, nicknamed “the international crossroad". This is a place with a plethora of tourists and locals alike, gathering, chatting and enjoying "Bia Hơi" (the local draught, fresh beer), which is brewed daily with no preservatives and must be consumed within 24hrs after production. Afternoon stroll around with our Guide to visit the exciting quarter of Hanoi, stop spontaneously at any place you may like to get real local touch of the city. Early dinner with some "Bún chả", a combination of vermicelli served with aromatic herbs and grilled pork, dipped in fish sauce.  Back to hotel in the evening. Overnight in Hanoi.   
3. Day 03

   HANOI - PU LUONG - WATER WHEEL WALK - RIVER RAFTING (B/L)
   After breakfast and checkout, we’ll be transferred to Pu Luong Nature Reserve. Enjoy panoramic view of the mountains and valleys along the way. Upon arrival at this boutique resoort after appx. 5hrs, depending on local traffic, we will enjoy a refreshment with delicious lunch of local mountain dishes (veg available upon request). This afternoon drive to a suspension bridge over Cham River, where we begin our trek passing a stunning water wheel to reach a local fisherman’s house. Have a short rest to gear up for a light rafting with the local experts. Float along the calm river and enjoy scenic view, learn how to paddle and steer the handcrafted rafts. Arrive at Tan Lap bridge, disembark and drive back to Pu Luong Retreat for overnight.  
4. Day 04

   PU LUONG - VILLAGE LIFE AND THE COMMUNITY - “RUOU CAN” EXPERIENCE - NINH BINH (B/L)
   After breakfast, let's pack and leave for visiting villages upon the hills above the Retreat. Meet and experience the daily life with the locals in their routine and visit their farms and fields; upon their guideline, we can also learn how to make rice wine and weave local colorful textiles. Lunch will be at a local house, whilst tasting “rượu cần” (wine drunk via pipes from a jar, in traditional mountain way), which is very healthy and popular among the highlanders.  Afternoon, we will go from Pu Luong to Ninh Binh. Checkin hotel and overnight in Ninh Binh. 
5. Day 05

   NINH BINH SIGHTSEEING OPTIONS (B/L)
   Breakfast at hotel before the trip today. Being a karst formation area with poetic landscape with many caves and grottoes, along with magnificent panorama from top of mountain ranges in between typical Northern villages. We'll have two options today: Option 1: Start our trip at Trang An route today and ending at Hang Mua (Mua Cave). In Trang An, take a boat to visit cave complex: Sang and Toi caves, Ba Giot cave, Nau Ruou cave in mystery and wildness, contemplating the scenery of mountain and rivers hereby; with the same limestone structure of Halong, Trang An is so-called "Ha-Long-bay-on-land". If you have watched “Kong: skull island” movie, you can choose to row thru the Route 2 to the Kong’s open-air studio, settled in 2016. Back to the mountainfoot to climb up 500 steps to Mua Cave on the peak of the mountain, from here we can get grand view of the whole area. Option 2: Let's biking in Ninh binh in the morning. Together with our guide, we will have a leisure bike from the hotel to Hoa Lu, visiting two ancient famous temples, dedicated to King Dinh and King Le who had reigned Vietnam consecutively during the 10th century, before Thang Long (aka Hanoi) became the official capital. The temples are wellknown not only for historic value, but their wonderful lacquer statues and carvings of stone and wood. From Hoa Lu, take our car to Phat Diem, where located an incredible architectural work of a Catholic Church in late 19th century combined with traditional design of a typical Vietnam Communal house. Phat Diem Church is a combination of several churches made of wood, stone, and the whole complex is unique not just in Vietnam but amongst worldwide Roman Catholic churches. Visit the Phat Diem roofed bridge on the way back.  Late afternoon back to hotel. Overnight in Ninh Binh. 
6. Day 06

   NINH BINH - HA LONG - OVERNIGHT ON BOARD (B/L/D)
   Morning at leisure until 09.00am to pack and transfer to Tuan chau island - Halong Bay  for a sea cruise. Appx. 12.30 we will arrive at our Pier at Tuan chau island and take our boat for cruising. After checkin the Cruise, the Manager and Tour guides will advise us Briefings of the program before Lunch being served with delicious seafood and local Vietnamese foods, while the Cruise head to the Bay. At your leisure after lunch to enjoy hundreds of limestone islands with various shapes. This is the best time to contemplate unparalleled scenery of Halong in a slow motion. Around 15.00-15.30, our cruise will anchor and from here we take our tenderboat to discover the area’s tranquility by kayak or rowing boat, which are best mean to really enjoy the seascape and to go between limestone rocks. Join other water activities depending on the option program of each cruise. Later afternoon join a cooking demonstration onboard before having dinner with local cuisine. Free choice of evening activities (movie watching, fishing tools and guitars, cards, etc.) after the dinner. Overnight onboard in Halong Bay.  Please note!  Final cruise itinerary may be varied upon the booking confirmation depending on weather, tidal and seasonal features.   
7. Day 07

   HA LONG - HANOI - HUE (B/L)
   Breakfast and excercises on the sundeck with the guideline of cruise manager (usually taichi-quan or yoga for half hour). After breakfast, we can choose to relax onboard for sunbath or attend morning activities of the cruise (visiting caves or swimming). Back to the boat for brunch after the activities and checkout before embarking at Tuan Chau again. Transfer by our private car to Hanoi airport for flight to Hue.     [Suggested flight VN 1545 HAN HUI 18:15 - 19:25, tentatively]. Upon arrival in Phu Bai airport, welcomed by our guide in Hue and transferred to the hotel to checkin. Evening at leisure to stroll around to enjoy delightful night life of Hue. Overnight in Hue.  
8. Day 08

   HUE CITY TOUR (B/L)
   Breakfast at hotel.  Our day starts with a short visit to Thuy Thanh village, where we can see a lively morning market which consists of every specialty of Central Vietnam. Nearby is the 300-year Thanh Toan Tile-Roofed bridge and an agricultural museum house, where we can discover traditional farming tools of the locals and enjoy talking and exploring their lives. Back to the Forbidden Purple City. The palace retains the ambience of its old-time scale and importance, with delicate stonework and pavilions that captivate visitors for their tranquility and authentic cultural values. After lunch at Vuon Y Thao garden, we'll go on to the expanded Minh Mang Royal tomb and Thien Mu Pagoda, the charming attractions of Hue not only for their historic significance, but magnificent view and landscape.  End our day in a lotus-tea stall in Hue to discuss about the art of making lotus tea in traditional Vietnamese way. At leisure and overnight in Hue.   
9. Day 09

   HUE - GOLDEN BRIDGE - HOI AN (B/L)
   After breakfast, pack and go with our Guide along the Highway 1 down to Hoi An, a journey of appx. 03hrs, with a long stop at Ba Na Hills to Golden Bridge, opened in June 2018 near Danang. Located in Thien Thai gardens at Ba Na Hills Resort, built by French in 1919 with hundreds villas, the Golden Bridge has become another reason to explore the Central Vietnam. We will take the Cable Car to Ba Na hills station, with stops to visit many hills and pagodas, French built villas en route, each of them deep in pleasant environment and graceful design. Lunch at the site. Afternoon we will visit Golden Bridge before going on to Hoi An ancient town (70km away) to check-in hotel. The rest of day is at our leisure. Overnight in Hoi An.   
10. Day 10

    HOI AN ANCIENT TOWN (B)
    Breakfast at hotel.  Today we'll discover how traditions of the past are treasured in present Hoi An. Located by Thu Bon River, a key international trading port between the 15th and 19th centuries, Hoi An is no longer a port but turned into the most charming old quarter in Vietnam, recommended by every visitor and recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site for its well-preserved, centuries-old streets, dwellings, temples and pagodas. Together with our Guide, let's explore peaceful tree-lined streets, tiny long alleys, visit the red-painted Chua Cau Bridge and hundred year old houses or old Chinese trading community houses. Stop at some small museums for visits and enjoy folk music. Before ending the trip, we will visit a house of a traditional lantern maker for a demonstration of this time-honored craft; meet the artisans and try our skills when creating our own lantern.  Visit Tra Que vegetable village, a unique graceful village nearby the town and discuss with the locals on the way they use to plant veggies here in traditional way. Overnight in Hoi An.  Optional: Visit Tra Que by motorbikes instead of walking at extra cost. 
11. Day 11

    HOI AN - DANANG - SAIGON (B)
    Morning at leisure until checkout and be transferred to Danang airport for flight to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh city). Upon arrival, we will be welcomed by the Guide in Saigon and visit the city from the center of District 5. Together with our Guide, visit Binh Tay market and walk along to Thien Hau sacred pagoda nearby. Being one of symbols of Saigon, Thien Hau reflects the traces of the Chinese community in Saigon as a part of successful traders of the city. (Depending on arrival flight time, we can stroll around by Cyclo at own cost]. At leisure in the evening. Overnight in Saigon.  
12. Day 12

    SAIGON - CAO LANH - SA DEC (B/D)
    After breakfast, pack and leave Saigon to head to Cao Lanh District. Visit the "Ancestor's pagoda", or Bửu Lâm pagoda, meeting the monks and listening to their introduction about the local areas, habits, and taste healthy drinks made of black bean. Go on to Sa Dec district, visiting great flower garden with more than 2,000 flower species and the original house of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, a local landlord, main hero of the French famous movie "The Lover" based on the real life story of Marguerite Duras, a famous French writer. On the way to our hometay for overnight, visit Ong Quach and Quang Trach temples of the Chinese communities. Checkin a CBT (Community based house) homestay in Sa Dec and enjoy a tasty dinner with Southern Vietnamese cuisine. Overnight in Sa Dec. 
13. Day 13

    SA DEC - LAP VO - CHAU THANH - SAIGON (B/L)
    After breakfast at our CBT Homestay, relax to enjoy the rural landscape before checkout and head back to Saigon, today will be our further discovery at Long Hau boat making village in Lap vo district, where the villagers make all kinds of river boats, from little to huge cargo ones, then Dinh Yen village - where we can watch the locals making seagrass mattress before having lunch with local decicacy. Pass by many orchards with tropical fruits between visits. Afternoon going by ferry over the river and visit Chau Thanh district, where dozens of old brick ovens with beautiful shape like small temples make a special view of the district. Head back to Saigon late afternoon. Overnight in Saigon. 
14. Day 14

    SAIGON DEPARTURE (B)
    At leisure until checkout and transferred to the airport by our Guide to take our departure flight.  End of services.

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