Best of Vietnam
DAY 1 | ARRIVAL – FREE DAY IN HANOI
A private car and guide will welcome you to Hanoi, Vietnam and transfer you to your hotel for relaxation and check-in. Enjoy the night to have a look around the area on your
Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.
DAY 2 | VIETNAMESE ARTIST STUDIO & STREETFOOD TOUR
Tour start 09:00 from Sofitel Metropole Hotel.
Estimated tour completion 12:00
In the morning, we will take a short drive to the outskirt of Hanoi to visit the studio of Dao Anh Khanh, he is one of the very interesting Artist who has a huge collection of lacquer painting, lacquer on canvas and sculptures. His studio is surrounded with tree house type which is now hosted to tourist and there are also many art works be displayed here at his traditional Vietnamese house which was built on stilt. Khanh is a surrealist, he is an internationally recognized leader among Asian artists who are breaking away from traditional, stylistic, and political constraints. His mind knows no limits, escaping to the outer reaches of the universe in search of tranquility, and finding explosions of renewed personal energy on the way. He is the consummate romanticist, hearing musical instruments and enchanting strains even in the most violent windstorms or disturbances at sea. Khanh is also an avowed environmentalist, sculptor, performing artist, musician and painter.
Tour start 12:00 from the studio of Dao Anh Khanh.
Estimated tour completion 15:00
12:00 begin a street tour. First we visit the street stalls and markets, sampling the produce and eating from their dishes and bowls, as well as cooking with the ingredients at home.
which typically includes a street market walk (with ongoing explanations of food practices, strange food items, some delicacies), a visit to ceremonial cake stalls, a special French dessert, the food sections of Hanoi’s main Dong Xuan market, a street food alley for a noodle lunch, fruit stalls and coffee at an historic old quarter cafe.
End tour at 15:00 and transfer back to your hotel.
Overnight at Sofitel Metropole.
DAY 3 | HANOI CITY TOUR
Tour start 09:00 from Sofitel Metropole Hotel.
Estimated tour completion 14:00
Your trip will start with the Ho Chi Minh Complex, containing the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. Close to this site is the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origin dates back to the foundation of Hanoi a thousand year ago. Your tour of Hanoi continues with a trip to the remarkable Temple of Literature, well known as Vietnam’s first university.
Have lunch on local restaurant.
Visit the Museum of Ethnology then on to Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake. Enjoy a cycle excursion (on cyclo) through the bustling Old Quarter streets. A bewildering maze of shopping streets and restaurants with an amazing assortment of architecture – traditional tube houses, countless pagodas, artisans’ workshops and cottages, colonial houses and modern concrete edifices. You’ll enjoy walk around the peaceful Hoan Kiem Lake and through the less peaceful Old
Overnight at Sofitel Metropole.
DAY 4 | HA NOI – HA LONG BAY
Pickup time: 08:30 from hotel in Hanoi.
In the morning [08:30am], the driver will pick you up at your hotel and transfer you to the pier in Ha Long Bay.
12:00 – 12:30: Embark at Hon Gai International harbor.
12:30 – 13:00: Check-in. Cruise begins with welcome drink and safety briefing.
13:30 – 14:30: Set menu lunch served in the outdoor dining room (depending on the weather) while cruising into magnificent Bai Tu Long Bay; admire the fascinating limestone karsts on the way.
15:00 – 17:00: Cruise to Vung Dang – Cong Dam area: Swim or relax on a white sandy beach; Go kayaking through the mystery Karst Mountains in Vung Dang area.
18:00 – 20:30: Return to Dragon Legend Cruise to refresh yourself in Mineral Seawater Pool, Fitness Room or the Spa and Massage Services before dinner.
20:30: Spend the rest of your evening relaxing, talking with the on board team, watching movies, listening to music… Overnight in Tra San
Overnight onboard luxury cruise in Ha Long.
DAY 5 | HALONG – DANANG – HOIAN
Estimated return to the airport in Hanoi: 05:00 pm
(Breakfast/ Lunch)
06:30 – 07:00: Start a new day with a Tai Chi demonstration on the sun-deck.
07:00 – 07:30: Take in the morning view of the Bay’s landscape with a cup of tea or coffee and enjoy breakfast in the fresh air.
7:30 – 09:45: Cruise to Cong Do area to explore the well- hidden Thien Canh Son Cave.
10:00: Check out your cabin.
10:45 – 11:30: Enjoy a Buffet while cruising towards the harbor.
11:30 – 12:00: Disembark.
Then, our driver will pick you up and transfer you to Hanoi airport connect flight to Danang, Hoian. (Expected flight: VN185 HAN DAD 1830 1950)
On arrival at Danang Airport, a private car/driver will transfer to your hotel in Hoi An for check in.
Overnight at hotel in Hoi An
DAY 6 | HOI AN CITY TOUR
Tour start: 09:00 from Four Seasons The Nam Hai.
Estimated tour completion 16:00
Start your Hoi An city tour with a boat trip on Thu Bon River to the Cua Dai estuary; it will take you to an island called Cam Kim where you can visit a family traditional work of wooden furniture and sculpture. Have an easy work around the village to meet local farmer and school kids.
Continue the boat trip to the estuary where river meets the sea which got amazing view and beautiful fishing nets. Back to town for the city tour on foot or cyclo to visit the Fukien Assembly hall, the finest and oldest Chinese temple in town with ornate architecture and beautiful garden.
Walk to visit the landmark of Hoi An – the Japanese covered bridge – and an old house called Phung Hung. Enjoy your free time at the ancient town in the evening. There plenty of bars and restaurants in town will please all your liking.
You will transfer to your Hotel for relax.
Overnight at Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An
DAY 7 | HOI AN PRIVATE COOKING CLASS
Tour start: 09:00 from Four Seasons The Nam Hai.
Estimated tour completion 13:00
In the morning, meet at Ms. Vy’s Market Restaurant and travel by boat for a guided tour of Hoi An’s colorful central food market. We buy all the ingredients for our class and design our menu based on the best and freshest produce available that day. We then return to Vy’s Market by boat for an interesting and informative tour of the restaurants many street food kitchens, watching live cooking demonstrations with hands on involvement and many food tastings. 2.5 hour hands on in-depth cooking class, lunch, recipes and a Vietnamese cooking utensil to take home.
Back to your hotel and enjoy at your own leisure.
Overnight at Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An
DAY 8 | HOI AN FREEDAY
Enjoys your leisure
Overnight at Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An
DAY 9 | HOI AN – DA NANG – SAIGON
Pickup time: 12:00 from Four Seasons The Nam Hai
In the morning enjoy breakfast at the Hotel and then we will leave Hoi An to Da Nang
Then, transfer to Da Nang Airport for your flight to Saigon and transfer to hotel for
(Expected flight: VN127 DAD SGN 1445)
Pickup time: 20:30 from Park Hyatt Hotel.
21h, they will pick guest up at Nha Rong pier. Our guest spend 3 hours onboard enjoy the sightseeing of Saigon at night while tasting the buffet and free flow soft drink, local beer, and house wine as well. Bonsai will organize special music show for the New Year Eve Gala. Then, ship prepared to welcome the old year to step into the New Year and watch the fireworks together as well as send greetings to the New Year. 00h30, the boat docked and ended the program.
Overnight at Park Hyatt hotel, Saigon
DAY 10 | CITY TOUR HALFDAY – CU CHI TUNNEL
Tour start / pickup time: 09:00 from Park Hyatt Hotel.
Estimated tour completion 17:00
09:00, you will take in the highlights of Ho Chi Minh City. The first stop will be the War Remnants Museum. This museum is a collection of the machinery, weapons, graphic photos, and documentation of Vietnam’s wars with the both the French and Americans.
After the museum, you’ll visit the Reunification Palace. It was here that the American led war ended on April 30 1975, when the North Vietnam Army invaded the Palace forcing the president to resign. From here, visit two of Ho Chi Minh’s finest examples of French colonial architecture: the iconic Notre Dame Cathedraland the Central Post Office.
13:00 In the morning, we drive to Cu Chi district. You will have a short film on the history of Cu Chi tunnels before walking in to the forest where the Tunnels located.
There are several choices for distance of tunnel which you can crawl in. The shortest one is 30 meters and longest one is 100 meters. In total the system measures 250 km, connecting several villages together.
After experiencing the tunnels, take a break with some hot green tea boiled in pandan leaves and try with some steamed tapioca in the forest.
15:30 Tour guide and car/driver transfer back to Saigon
Overnight at Park Hyatt hotel, Saigon
DAY 11 | BENTRE DAY TOUR – VESPA TRIP IN SAIGON
Tour start / pickup time: 09:00 from Park Hyatt
Estimated tour completion 17:30
At 09:00am, depart for a 02-hour drive from Saigon to Ben Tre, one of the country’s southern provinces, situated in the Delta of the Mekong River. Take in the highway as you leave behind the busy city. Pass Rach Mieu bridge before reaching Huu Dinh hamlet. Get on a tri-motor cycle (xe loi) ride to enjoy the lush surroundings of rice paddies and fruit farms alongside the narrow village roads.
Arrive at the waterfront, board the charming Mango Cruise for a glimpse at the Delta scenery while enjoying coconut juice. First stop for a visit at the coconut processing, then back to your cruise and the cruise will stop at a brick making shop, where the locals still use centuries-old traditional methods to make the bricks by hand where you will start a Bicycle trip around Phong Nam village around 4km, through gardens and stop at a coconut spirits factory, which is a popular drink among the natives in Vietnam. It is a sweet, fresh or mildly fermented sap taken from tapping the young expanded flowers of the coconut, good for the health. Continue bicycle trip about 10-15 minutes to Mrs. Huong’s home. Her family live on fishing, shrimp and farming. Enjoy the tropical fruits and honey tea in her garden before taking the rowing sampan, be paddled by a personalized rower trip to discover the maze of small canals.
Then rowing you back to your mango boat and head to Mango home restaurant, enjoy your 5 course lunch and freshen up before switch to a bicycle and ride 500m About 4 minutes (or 7-10 minutes walking) on village roads past green gardens and local houses, and stop at another local house of Mr Sau Tuong, a former Vietcong soldier who survived two years fighting the Khmer Rouge in Phnom Penh. Now he and his wife live on making rice paper which is the most famous specialty of My Long village. Have a chat with him and enjoy the crispy rice paper made by his wife, and see how it is made.
After the visit, the boat will be waiting for you at the pier nearby to bring you back to Ben Tre city where your car will be ready to take you back to Saigon.
15:00 Tour guide and car/driver transfer back to Saigon.
Tour start / pickup time: 18:00 from Park Hyatt Hotel.
Estimated tour completion 22:30
In the evening, at 6:00PM, tour guide will pick you up from your hotel for the Saigon After Dark with Vespa Adventures Tour.
This Saigon night tour is part night excursion, part street food adventure. Experience Saigon nightlife the way locals do, all from the back of a vintage Vespa scooter.
To start off this Saigon night tour, enjoy drinks at our Vespa-themed café, Café Zoom, to watch “as the world goes by” (as said in the Lonely Planet guide book). Throughout the night, try a variety of food and drinks at 2 local restaurants and samplings of Saigon’s best authentic local food. Zoom past the famous must-see sights of Ho Chi Minh City while in the bustling traffic. We’ll also go to a Vietnamese-style coffee shop with special live music, and then wrap up the evening at an exciting music bar where the new generation of Vietnamese unwind and flaunt their unique styles.
Overnight at Park Hyatt hotel, Saigon
DAY 12 | SAIGON FLY TO HOME
Pickup time: TBA from Park Hyatt hotel.
Our driver will pick you up and transfer the airport for your home flight.
End of service!
