Authentic Vietnam

A fun ride to get away from the bustle of Hanoi city. Chance for you to discover Co Loa acient citadel dating back to the year 257 BC, which still keeps all original features of Red River Delta. Visit other historical relics of Hanoi like Temple Of Literature, West lake shrine, Tran Quoc pagoda, Long Bien bridge ( also known as Eiffel brigde). Meet and experience village life to explore the local culture & lifestyle. Enjoy tasty traditional Bun Cha ( a favorite food of US late president Obama when he came to Vietnam).

After pick up at 8 AM, begin your day trip around Hanoi with a visit to the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum and hear about the man who led Vietnam’s campaign for independence from French colonial rule. Then wander the grounds to see the One Pillar pagoda and the Presidential palace. Next, visit an 11th century relic, the Temple of Literature, which was built in homage to the Chinese scholar Confucius.

In the afternoon, pay a visit to Museum of Ethnology to understand about 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam and their culture. After 1.5 hours there, return Ngoc Son temple set on a tiny island in the middle of picturesque Hoan Kiem lake. You’ll hear how it got its name from a legend of an emperor, a magic sword and a giant turtle!

Spend the last 1 hour on a funny cyclo ride through the Old Quarter’s 36 streets named after the products that were sold from their shops.

Departing from your hotel around 8 AM, head towards Mai Chau. The ride from Hanoi to Mai Chau takes about 4 hours and promises to be a scenic one. Arriving at Mai Chau Lodge around noon, enjoy a freshly prepared lunch before starting your journey to discover the gorgeous surroundings and ethnic minority tribes with a relaxing walk to Thai villages of Pom Coong and Lac. 

After breakfast at the lodge, start a refreshing valley biking tour. Get to know the local hill tribe people and their culture better while passing through charming local villages, lush rice paddies and into the countryside. This is a unique experience where you will get to peek into the homes of locals and watch traditional farming methods up close. 

After breakfast, enjoy the last moment in this rural wonderland before transfer to Cuc Phuong national park, known as wildlife center of Northern Vietnam with a huge system of flora and fauna. Arrive Cuc Phuong after a 2.5 hour drive. Visit the Endangered Primate rescue centre.

After lunch in a local restaurant, hike through the jungle to Cave of Prehistoric Man which contains track of human dating back to 7000 years ago. Chance for you to admire the primary forest with 1000 year Old Tree and awesome jungle life.

Back to Ninh Binh after 1-hour drive. Night at bungalow or hotel.

Start the day with a drive to Trang An, considered as “Inland Halong Bay” featured with karst formations. On arrival, take 3-hour sampan boat ride on a small river and through many tunnel-like caves. Lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch, spend time to visit Hoa Lu - the historical capital of Vietnam and the famous ancient temples of Le and Dinh Dynasties. Here you can learn more about a historical period of Vietnam dating back to 10th century.

Transfer to Tam Coc to start a fun 10-km ride on a quiet biking route with a very nice scenery of mountains & local villages. Head to Thung Nham garden where you can find a lot of birds, storks gathering here especially in the late afternoon. What a sense of adventure you will be adwarded in this countryside.

08:30: Transfer to Cat Hai port from Ninh Binh.

12:00 - 12:30: Embark on the cruise to Ha Long bay, enjoy a welcome drink and cruise briefing.

13:00 – 14:00: A splendid lunch is served while cruising into the primitive bay.

16:15 – 17:45: On a bamboo boat, visit Bright cave, a serene round lake surrounded by lush trees and high stone cliffs. Then enjoy swimming in the private emerald water.

18:00 – 19:30: Return to the cruise for sunset party on the top deck.  Relax with massage and spa treatment, always available upon request.

19:30: Delight in the shimmering atmosphere of thousands of stars while eating a fantastic, expertly prepared dinner on the top deck of your boat, all while floating in the center of the serene bay.

06:00 – 06:30: Begin your new day with a Tai Chi session or a photo hunt.

07:00 - 07:45: Enjoy breakfast in the fresh air and peaceful beauty of the Bay

08:00 – 09:00: Experience kayaking to discover the lovely Tra Bau area. Visit a fish farm and socialize with the resident fishermen in order to know more about life here and how the people work every day.

09:00 – 09:45: Pack your luggage and check out of your cabin while cruising towards the port.

10:00 – 11:45: Join a cooking demonstration before enjoying an extraordinary buffet lunch.

12:00 – 12:15: Disembark the cruise & farewell.

15.00: visit Phu Lang ceramic village in Bac Ninh where you can enjoy a walk and visit a variety of small ceramic workshops. If time permits, stop along the way for a visit to the But Thap pagoda. 

Enjoy an early dinner before a night train to Dong Hoi.

07:45- 08:00: Arrive Dong Hoi city. Transfer to Dark cave on a 1-hour drive (located in Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park). Discover Dark cave by participating in the many adventure activities like zip line, mudbath, swimming,… etc.

12:30: Lunch at local restaurant in Phong Nha village. Here you will enjoy a traditional Vietnamese dish.

13:30: Depart  for  exploration  of  impressive Phong Nha cave. Take a 25 minute ride to the cave via traditional dragonboat. This cave is called a water cave as it boasts an underground river. After going into the cave by boat, explore 300 meters into the cave on foot. Then, you will be taken back by boat. This cave is famous for its spectacular rock formations. It has been given names such as the “Lion”, the “Fairy Caves”, the “Royal Court”, and the “Buddha”…

16:00: Back to your famstay in Phong Nha.

Get a transfer to Hue on a 4–hour drive. Visit Vinh Moc, a tunnel complex in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The tunnels were built to shelter families from the intense bombings of the area during the American war. Over 600 people lived and 17 babies were born in these tunnels between 1965 and 1972. 

After lunch, pay a visit to the Mine action visitors centre in Dong Ha. This centre looks at the effects of the war that still remains today, even after hostilities ended in 1975. Arrive in Hue early in the afternoon. Now time for you to discover Thien Mu pagoda which rests on the bank of the perfume river. This is the tallest pagoda in Vietnam with 7 tiers reading up high into the sky, each storey of which represents a step in enlightenment.

Spend the morning with a visit to the Imperial citadel. This majestic architecture, built by Emperor Gia Long, has faced destruction over the years during the fierce conflicts which took place here. It is the scars on these buildings that tell the stories of the battles fought here.

As your time in Hue comes to an end, you can prepare for the next part of your journey to the energetic and dynamic metropolis of Ho Chi Minh city. You will be collected and taken to Phu Bai airport where you board your onward flight to Ho Chi Minh. Once you arrive in Ho Chi Minh City, you will notice the warmer temperatures and the buzz of the city, ever moving and changing. The fusion of traditional Vietnamese towns and contemporary structures illustrates the dizzying rate at which this city has been developing.

Meet your guide and drive to the town of Vinh Long. Upon arrival, take a boat trip to visit a brick & pottery factory, a bonsai garden or an orchard. Enjoy some Southern traditional music performed by the local people and a sumptuous delta lunch, including the popular dish of elephant ear fish. Next move to Can Tho - the heart of Mekong Delta.

Leave behind the green, tropical waterways and head to Phu Quoc island. The next 3 nights are for you to relax on the island and explore many sandy beaches. You will be greeted at the Duong Dong airport on the island and transferred to your resort where you do check- in. The rest of the day is free at your leisure.

Two days for you to relax on the serene island of Phu Quoc. Until recently, this stunning retreat has remained relatively untouched. This is evident in its amazing natural beauty and relatively undeveloped surroundings. There is a border of fine sand dividing the crystal clear turquoise water and the dense jungles and mountains of the island. Phu Quoc is the perfect place to relax in the sun or cool off in the water. The clean waters are great for diving amongst the coral or kayaking around the island. You can head deeper into the island to discover the dense jungles and the wild animals that live there. However you choose to spend your time here, you will be sure to enjoy the magnificent sunsets that grace the island each night.

After 3 days in the serene atmosphere of Phu Quoc, you will return to Ho Chi Minh city. Now it is time to discover the city on your own before saying goodbye to Vietnam and finish your great adventure. It is recommended that you pay a visit to Ben Thanh market, Tao Dan park, Reunification palace…etc.