Vietnam with beach extension

Welcome to Vietnam!
On arrival at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, you’ll be privately transferred to your lovely hotel. Settle in and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.
Overnight in hotel in Saigon. 
 

Breakfast at hotel. 
Morning, Let’s commence our visit in Saigon at the Ho Chi Minh Square, featured by the graceful colonial–style Notre Dame Cathedral and Saigon Central Post Office & Reunification Palace. After that, we move on to visit Ngoc Hoang pagoda in Saigon where Mr. Barack Obama visited in 2016. Built in 1909 in honour of the supreme Taoist god (the Jade Emperor or King of Heaven, Ngoc Hoang), this is one of the most spectacularly atmospheric temples in Ho Chi Minh City, stuffed with statues of phantasmal divinities and grotesque heroes. We will visit War Remnants Museum, which comprehensively documents the travails of the long Vietnam- American War. Inside are detailed photographic exhibitions; outside is a collection of tanks, planes and weapons. A powerful experience, this museum is guaranteed to provoke strong emotions.
Lunch at local restaurant. 

Afternoon, move on to Cu Chi Tunnels, one of the few remaining monuments to the fierce Vietnam War. We can even crawl a part of the tunnel to experience the real life of the Vietnamese guerrillas, who used to use and live inside this system during the wartime.  Return to Saigon later afternoon.

Back to the hotel, rest of the day is at leisure. 
Overnight in Saigon.

Breakfast at hotel. 
Leave the city by minivan and drive south to Cai Be in the Mekong delta, a journey of approximately 2 hours. The Mekong Delta is Vietnam's 'rice bowl' - a fertile region of flat farmland interlaced with thousands of waterways and tributaries of the Mekong. The delta's waters are interspersed with rice fields, colorful floating markets and isolated villages accessible only by boat. 
Before going to the central of Cai Be market, the car stops at Cai Be Cao Dai Oratories, which is the religious symbol of local uniqueness. Then the visitors are picked up by the tourist boats to visit the floating market of rice in An Cu commune, Cai Be district – where is the rice trade largest exporter Southwest region of Vietnam, tourists will chat to learn more about daily life of the trader. The next destinations are the ancient village of Dong Hoa Hiep commune and Cai Be floating market. Leaving the floating market, tourist boats take visitors to Tan Phong islet and go to the Chin’s house by a rowing boat in the small canal. Here, guests and homeowners drink tea together, chat and learn more about the daily life of the people Tan Phong islet and how to make lotus tea, lotus jam. Then, guests will enjoy a lotus tea, lotus jam while hearing some Vietnamese traditional music performed by Mr. Chin. Goodbye Mr. Chin, tourists continue visiting the orchard of Ms. Hang and enjoy the fruits in the garden picked by guests. The Mekong Eco restaurant is the next destination where the lunch is prepared by diners and staffs. Here, visitors can try to pull the fish hooves, experience the foot bridges – the unique feature of the Southern of Vietnam and take a rest on the hammock woven by wire banana. It will be certainly very interesting.
Around 3p.m: We get back to Cai Be cruise terminal and transfer back to Saigon. Drop off at hotel, the rest of day is at your leisure. Overnight in Saigon.  
 

Breakfast at hotel. Leisure until transfer to airport to Tan Son Nhat for flight to Hue (driver only). 
Suggested flight Saigon to Hue via VN 372  SGN HUI 1110 1235

Upon arrival, our local tour guide and driver are waiting for you at Phu Bai airport to take you to hotel for leaving the luggage at hotel (standard check-in time is 14:00). Lunch at your own arrangement. 

Today we visit the Imperial Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City nearby. Modeled on the Forbidden City in Beijing by the Nguyen emperors in the early 19th century, the city was badly damaged during the war but the imposing city walls surrounded by a large moat afford good views of Hue. The palace retains a feeling of its past scale and importance, with detailed stonework and pavilions and it is at the moment in the process of being restored to its former magnificence. 
Later on, we visit Dong Ba bustling market. 
Overnight in Hue. 

Breakfast at hotel. 
This morning we take a trip to Thien Mu Pagoda along the Perfume River, sitting on the riverbank outside the city, this octagonal seven tier stupa has long been regarded as the symbol of Hue and was founded in 1601. It is still a site of Buddhist worship and its huge bell is said to be audible from the city. We then will visit the Nguyen Emperor’s tombs Minh Mang. 
On the way back to town you will visit a local workshop where you can see how incense sticks and traditional conical hats are made. 

Afternoon lunch at local restaurant, we depart from Hue to Hoi An via the magnificent “Ocean Cloudy”  Pass today, we can stop to visit the Lang Co Beach and Marble Mountain., and contemplate wonderful seascape from the mountaintop halfway thru the Pass. Arrive at our hotel in Hoi An for check-in., The rest of day is at leisure. 
Overnight in Hoian. 

OPTIONAL EXCURSION: 
HOI AN SIGHTSEEING & COOKING CRUISE 
Around 15:00, our chef & guide will take you to the colorful Hoi An market. This is a very good opportunity for you to communicate with sellers, get to know about their daily life in Hoi An and understand more Vietnamese ingredients and its substitution that we use for our cooking class on the boat.

After leaving the market, we walk to the boat anchoring nearby. Upon boarding the boat you will be greeted by our crew and guided to a private table with your welcome drinks, then start cruising for 30 minutes to a very quiet and nice place on Thu Bon river and anchor here for the two- hour Hands-On cooking class conducted in English. You will have chance to discover the culture of Vietnamese culinary art and will prepare the same dish yourself after our chef finishes each dish. Full of joy and pride, you savor your own culinary creation. Back home, with full of emotion and recipes will help you to reproduce the dishes to make surprise to your family, your friends. 

After the cooking lesson, you will have dinner with what you have cooked and an extra dish (freshly prepared by our chef and served directly on board) will be served for you, as well. While you are having dinner, we cruise back to the pier and the crew will bid you a farewell at 19:00. Spend the rest of time to explore the lovely town of Hoi An at night with colorful lanterns. 

Inclusion:
+ Private transport pick-up/drop off 
+ 2.5 hour river cruise
+ Complimentary cocktail
+ English speaking Chef 
+ Spanish speaking guide 
+ Local market visit
+ 2 hour cooking lesson
+ Dinner 
+ Insurance on boat

After dinner, we drive back your hotel in Hoi An. The rest of day is at your leisure. 
 

Breakfast at hotel. The whole day is at your leisure for relax. 
Overnight in Hoi An. 

Breakfast at hotel. 
Morning, you'll be transferred to the airport in time for your flight to Hanoi (driver only).

Suggested flight Danang to Hanoi via VN168 DAD HAN  1030 1150

Upon arrival at Hanoi Airport, you will be privately transferred to your lovely hotel. This afternoon, drive through Colonial Hanoi, seeing the Opera House and other local sights. Go inside infamous Hoa Lo Prison museum (“Hanoi Hilton”), where Senator John McCain and Douglas “Pete” Wilson were once imprisoned, and continue to the Temple of Literature, which dates back to 1070 and is dedicated to the cult of Confucius. Next enjoy a cyclo tour through the Hanoi’s Old Quarter, a network of narrow alleys and shop houses also known as “The 36 Streets.” This is a wonderful place to watch the local life, and peruse items from fabrics to crafts to exotic medicines. Enjoy a traditional Vietnamese water puppet performance, a uniquely North Vietnamese art form celebrating rural life and folklore for over 1,000 years, this evening.
Overnight in hotel in Hanoi.
 

Breakfast at hotel then drive to Ninh Binh, 90km from Hanoi where will give you other images of the daily life of the local people and landscape in the countrysides. 
Once had been the Capital of many dynasties, Ninh Binh, though, preserves very few traces of the old citadel and palace. Yet, the natural landscape is outstanding with mountain ranges, rivers and limestone caves. The  visit  in Ninh Binh  starts at the two remaining sanctuaries of the  ancient citadel (Temple Of Dinh Tien Hoang and Temple Of Le Dai Hanh who had reign in Vietnam during 10th century) in Hoa Lu. Continue driving to Tam Coc. Take a boat  trip  in Tam Coc where  spectacular limestone karsts  jut out  from  the green paddy  fields  reminding about Guilin  (China) and Halong Bay of Vietnam, which gives this scenery the name “Halong-bay-on-land”. The trip will take about 2 hours taking you to visit the three caves of Tam Coc. 
Enjoy your lunch at local restaurant before visiting Bich Dong pagoda nearby Ngu Nhac Mountain dating to 1428, comprising three structures: Hạ Pagoda (Lower Pagoda), Trung Pagoda (Middle pagoda), and Thượng Pagoda (Upper Pagoda), in ascending order. Guided tours generally cover historical points and end with a pleasant view from the top. Afternoon drive back Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

 

If you wish to see how the Hanoi people rise and shine in the morning, wake up early and you can join an exciting scene of hundreds of locals, passionately attentive in their morning exercises of Tai Chi Quan, jogging, martial arts, classical dance and so on.
After breakfast at the hotel, we will go ahead to Halong Bay, a Natural World Heritage as designated by UNESCO since 1994 and 2006. The road will pass by the Red River delta with many rural villages, fascinating towns, and paddy fields with many peasants with their farming jobs.

Please note! 
•    This below cruise program 2days/1night belongs to Halong Paradise Elegance Cruise. It may be little varied upon the weather. 
•    Transfer by Cruise’s shuttle bus + English speaking guide on board (Spanish speaking guide is not available on board). 

12:00        Check-in at the Paradise Suites Hotel – Tuan Chau Island
12:15        Transfer to Paradise Elegance
12:30    Welcome drinks, cruise information and safety briefing at the restaurant
13:00 – 14:30    Lunch at Le Marin Restaurant
14:30 – 15:30    Cruising and sightseeing along Halong Bay
Enjoy an afternoon spa treatment at Le Parfum Spa* (at your own cost) 
15:45 – 16:45    Visit Sung Sot Cave or kayak around the islets
Enjoy an afternoon tea at Le Piano Bar and a spa treatment
17:00 – 18:30    Happy Hour* (at your own cost) at Le Piano Bar with live music
17:30 – 19:00    Anchor near the Coconut Tree Island
Cooking demonstration at L'Odyssée Sundeck
19:00 – 22:00    À la carte dinner is served at Le Marin Restaurant    
21:00    Enjoy some drinks* (at your own cost) and live music at Le Piano Bar, squid fishing, Spa* or movies in your cabin
(Live music is not available on Mondays)
 

06:30 - 7:00    Tai Chi at L'Odyssée Sundeck
07:00 – 08:00    Light breakfast with coffee & pastries at Le Piano Bar 
08:00    Stay on board relaxing, or enjoy a spa treatment at Le Parfum Spa*
09:00    Breakfast Buffet at Le Marin Restaurant
Pass by Thien Cung and Dau Go Cave and the Fighting Cock Islet
    Bill settlement and check out at the reception
10:30    Return to Tuan Chau Marina 
10:45 – 12:00    Light lunch at the Paradise Suites Hotel
12:00     Return to Hanoi by Paradise shuttle bus
Arrive in Hanoi around 16:00, re-check in the hotel. The rest of day is at your leisure. 
Overnight in Hanoi. 

Please note! 
-    (*) = additional charges (at your own cost)  
-    Wi-Fi is available in the restaurant/bar area, but internet connectivity is limited due to the geography of Halong.
 

Breakfast at hotel. Leisure until transfer to airport to Noi Bai airport for flight to Phu Quoc Island (driver only).
Suggested flight Hanoi  to Phu Quoc via VN1237 HAN PQC 1140 1350

Picked up and transferred to hotel for check-in. 
Overnight in Phu Quoc. 

Breakfast at hotel.  The whole day is at your leisure. 
Overnight in Phu Quoc. 
 

Breakfast at hotel.  The whole day is at your leisure. 
Overnight in Phu Quoc. 

Breakfast at hotel.  The whole day is at your leisure. 
Overnight in Phu Quoc. 
 

Breakfast at hotel.  Leisure until departure to airport for departure flight. 
Please note! Check-out time is at 12:00.