Classic Vietnam

Welcome to Hanoi! Upon arrival at Hanoi Airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The afternoon can be spent exploring the wide, tree-lined streets of Hanoi, resplendent with French colonial architecture and the scenic Hoan Kiem Lake. This evening attend a traditional Vietnamese water puppet performance.

This morning there is an optional 'Good Morning Hanoi' excursion that can be booked locally. On this excursion start the day sampling a traditional Vietnamese breakfast, with a bowl of steaming Pho at one of Hanoi's most popular eateries. After enjoying the national dish take a stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake, a focal pointfor many of the local residents who gather there each day to practice Tai Chi, play badminton and do aerobics. End the excursion with a visit a local coffee shop to observe how Hanoi locals enjoy sipping Vietnamese bitter sweet coffee at Café Giang.

Take in the highlights of Hanoi on a guided tour today, including the Temple of Literature - Vietnam’s first university dating to 1070, Ho Chi Minh’s humble “stilt house”, the French colonial Governor’s Palace and the 11th century One-Pillar Pagoda. A short drive into the countryside takes you to a village on the outskirts of Hanoi where you'll enjoy a cooking demonstration hosted by a local family. After a delicious lunch return to Hanoi and embark on a cyclo (rickshaw) tour of the winding alleys that make up the atmospheric Ancient Quarter, otherwise known as the 36 Streets of Hanoi.

The remainder of today is at your leisure, alternatively you can book an optional “Taste of Hanoi” walking tour of the city to discover the unique flavours of Vietnamese cuisine.

Hanoi - Halong Bay. Early this morning journey north to Halong Bay (approx 4 hours drive), stopping for a refreshment break en route. UNESCO Listed Halong Bay is undoubtedly one of Vietnam's most spectacular regions. Thousands of karst limestone and jungle covered peaks and isles, rise dramatically out of the emerald waters of the bay. Spend the day cruising around the islands onboard a traditional junk boat. Stopping to explore caves and coves and to swim in the emerald waters. Enjoy a cooking demonstration on board and tuck into a scrumptious lunch and dinner.

Please note: the cruise itinerary and schedule is subject to change and dependent upon weather conditions.

Halong Bay - Hue. Enjoy the fresh air and the gentle breeze from the top deck this morning as you relax onboard the junk and cruise around different parts of the bay. Brunch is served onboard.

Check out at around noon time and transfer back to Hanoi airport, stopping en route in Bac Ninh to visit Dong Ho Village. Dong Ho Village is famous for its long-preserved art of making pictures. Visit a studio in village where you can watch the procedure of carving and printing these paintings and learn about the local folk tales represented in the paintings. Onward to Hanoi Airport for your evening flight to Hue in central Vietnam. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Enjoy a full day tour of Hue including a boat trip on Perfume River (Huong River) to Thien Mu Pagoda and Minh Mang tomb. Thien Mu Pagoda is an octagonal tower of seven tiers that rises majestically over the Perfume River. Continue to the mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang, an incredible complex which consists of 40 palaces, temples and pavilions, designed on a symmetrical axis. Later, visit the Imperial Citadel and Forbidden City which was created in the 19th century for the Emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty. Enjoy free time for some “retail therapy” at Dong Ba Market before transferring back to the hotel.

Hue - Hoi An. This morning continue your journey by road to Hoi An via spectacular Cloudy Pass. A stop is made in Danang to visit the Cham Museum, once centre of the ancient Cham civilization. UNESCO Listed Hoi An is a former merchant trading post, famed for its beautifully preserved Chinese, Japanese and European architecture. Picturesque Hoi An has managed to retain its traditional character and charm, with its cobbled streets, markets and row upon row of tailors shops. This afternoon, enjoy a walking tour around the cobbled streets of this ancient town, which was once of the busiest trading ports in Asia.

Spend a day at leisure in this enchanting riverside town or head to the nearby An Bang beach.

Alternatively there's an optional cooking class or a half day excursion to My Son, the holiest and evocative of Vietnam’s Cham sites. Here at the ancient Kingdom of Champa you can see the burial tombs of the Cham royals and national heroes.

Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh City. Fly to Ho Chi Minh City today and transfer to your hotel. Ho Chi Minh City, though still referred to as Saigon to all but city officials is Vietnam's most lively, modern and cosmopolitan city. In the afternoon discover the highlights of the city on a guided tour, taking in the Notre Dame Cathedral (outside only as renovating), the Central Post Office and Chinatown. End the day with a visit to the sobering War Remnants Museum.

Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta - Can Tho. Explore the beautiful Mekong Delta today! Early this morning drive to Ben Tre and board a traditional Sampan boat at around 10:00am to explore the peaceful waterways. During the boat trip, visit a local cottage industries making bricks, producing rice paper and Mr. Sau Khanh’s house - who has been collecting antiques which include ancient and valuable ceramics, pottery pieces like bowls, dishes and vases, to ceiling lights, sculptures and Buddha statues. In the afternoon we travel onto Can Tho for the night.

Can Tho - Ho Chi Minh City. Morning cruise along the Mekong's small and picturesque tributaries where we will visit the bustling Cai Rang Floating Market. Take in the beautiful scenery and watch the locals going about their daily lives along the Mekong canals. Then return to Ho Chi Minh City mid afternoon and transfer to the airport in time for your international flight.

Please note: Flights should not depart before 17.00hrs. If you'd like to extend your stay in Ho Chi Minh City we recommend exploring the Reunification Palace and taking a day trip to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels.