Summary:
Look for a beauty in the Northern Vietnam and spend your beach break in the central part Vietnam including Danang beach and Cua Dai Beach will make your trip more enjoyable!
Details:
Day 1: Hanoi Arrival
Arriving at Noi Bai airport, our guide will be waiting to greet you and take you to your hotel where you can relax after your long flight. You’ll have tickets for a traditional Water Puppetry performance, an unique art form of Northern Vietnam. Your overnight accommodation will be in Hanoi.
Day 2: Hanoi Orientation
After breakfast, your guide will show you around Hanoi. You’ll visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, the large memorial complex with his simple stilt house and museum and the Temple of Literature, the first university of Vietnam as well as the icon of Hanoi before having lunch in a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, you’ll call in at the Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest Buddhist temple in Hanoi located on the bank of the West Lake. You’ll then take a look at Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son temple as well as exploring the bustling Old Quarter – a “must-see” attraction for all tourists. With old-styled narrow streets full of antique brick houses and busy merchants activities, the Old Quarter is an interesting combination of the nostalgic resistance as well as the active adaptation to the dynamic and modern life. You’ll spend the night in Hanoi.
Day 3: Hanoi/Ha Long Bay
At around 08:00, your driver will arrive to pick you up to Ha Long Bay. Arriving at Tuan Chau Island, you’ll be transferred to cruise ship and have your welcome drink onboard, followed by Special Paradise Lunch while cruising passing by islets, Hoa Cuong fishing village. After lunch continues exploration of Halong Bay passing by Soi Sim Beach, Coconut Three Island. You’ll explore Luon Cave by rowing bamboo boats with local people or kayaking by yourself. The Vessels will continue cruising in Lan Ha Bay and Halong bay passing by Cua Van floating Village, Tien Ong Cave, Trong Cave, Ho dong Tien, Luon cave, Ti Top Island and Coconut Three Island for overnight stay. Enjoy spa at your leisure on-board.
In the evening, enjoying “Happy Hour”, pre-dinner cocktail and cooking demonstration with Chef to discover the Vietnamese cuisine of traditional spring rolls. Learn how to toast Vietnamese way through the evening’s toast of the local rice wine. You’ll then have the elegant Paradise dinner. The remaining time will be your own to relax at your leisure, enjoying Movie Night and squid Fishing or Beauty Spa services. You’ll spend the night onboard.
Day 4: Ha Long Bay/Hanoi
Today, you’ll ake up early for a Tai Chi session on Sundeck. At around 07:00 AM, you’ll have coffee & tea with assorted homemade pastries. You can choose to relax or visit Sung Sot Cave – Hiking up and down 600 steps to the magnificent limestone formations of the most beautiful and biggest cave in Halong bay. After returning to the boat for an International A-la-Carte Breakfas, you’ll check-out cabins and settle bills. You’ll return to Tuan Chau Island where your car is waiting to pick you up and take you to Hanoi. The rest of the day will be free time for you to rest or explore by yourself. You’ll spend the night in Hanoi.
Day 5: Hanoi Free
The day will be free for you to rest, relax or do whatever you wish. You’ll spend the night in Hanoi.
Day 6: Hanoi/Danang/Hoi An Ancient Town
Your time will be free until the driver arrives to take you to the airport for your flight to Danang. Upon arriving in Danang, you’ll be greeted by our guide and go to the Cham Museum to have a look at the remarkable Hindu statuary. You’ll then visit Hoi An Ancient Town and discover its influence in Vietnam’s history. Explore the ancient houses, a combination between traditional Vietnamese architecture and influences from China and Japan. You’ll have a walking tour around the charming town with beautiful old houses, small alleys and have a look at the famous attractions, such as Japanese Covered Bridges, Museum of Trade Ceramics, Old house of Tan Ky, Chua Ong Pagoda and lively local market. You’ll understand why many visitors loved Hoi An and wish to return again. Your overnight accommodation will be in Hoi An.
Hoi An Ancient Town is an exceptionally well-preserved trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. Once the largest and most vibrant port in the Indochina, Hoi An was a fine example of an intersection of various cultures, a fusion between traditional culture and foreign influences, which was reflected by its wooden buildings and street plan. In its heyday, the ships from all over East Asia and beyond remained for months before returning home.
The culinary is must-try. There are many good restaurants with a variety of cuisines and different price ranges that you can try. Other unique things many visitors love to try is tailor-made clothes (within one day) and silk shopping.
Day 7: Hoi An – Country life experience
In the morning, your tour guide will arrive your hotel and lead the way for you to bike towards the peaceful and picturesque countryside. Your first stop will be Tra Que village, the “Organic Farm” where you’ll meet local farmers and help them with farming activities such as hoeing soil, using seaweed, transplanting and watering vegetable, etc. After that, continue your biking journey to explore the countryside before stopping at a local farmer’s house to have a chat and join them on growing wet rice. You’ll start with befriending the buffalo, then working with it on ploughing and raking. Learn about the process of making white rice by practicing transplanting rice, flooding farm, grinding rice, pounding rice and make local speciality – Banh Xeo for lunch.
After lunch, enjoy a therapist foot massage and have a quick rest to recover your stamina before going to a local fishing village by mini-van. You’ll get on a boat and learn fishing with local fishermen and experience local cast net CHAI. After an interesting ride on the local basket boat, you’ll arrive at coconut palm jungle where you can see a lot of crabs as well as meeting a former soldier and listen to his story about the War. You’ll then continue to learn a lot more about local’s life and fishing at the beach before returning to your boat and enjoy Vietnamese traditional dinner prepared by the crew on board while watching the beautiful sunset at Phuoc Hai fishing village. You’ll then be transferred to your hotel by van. Your overnight accommodation will be in Hoi An.
Due to their lightweight and portability, Thung Chai Basket boats are widely used by fishermen in Central Vietnam. They are constructed in circular shape with bamboo and tarred for waterproofing. The boat can carry up to five people or used as carriers for goods. The experience appears very enjoyable to touch the authentic rural soul of Vietnam. Life jackets are provided for your safety during this excursion.
Day 8: My Grandma’s home cooking class
At 08:00, you’ll be picked up from your hotel to go to Hoi An Market. Here you’ll discover the exotic fruits and vegetables of Vietnam as well as discussing about the culinary and medicinal uses of many different spices and and plants throughout the market. You’ll then get on a 35-minute-boat trip to go to a small island where My Grandma’s home cooking school locates. After being welcomed with the local smoothie made from fresh fruit and a short trip visiting herbs garden, your cooking lesson will begin. Unlike other cooking class, you’ll learn to make the rice paper from grinding the rice to rice flour. You will learn to make some of the very popular dishes of this region, such as:
- Banh Xeo a specialty of Hoi An.
- Grilled, marinated pork brochettes with a special sauce.
- Green papaya salad
- Fish prepared according to a local recipe
You’ll then enjoy the food you made in the tranquil garden. After some rest, you’ll get on your bike and have a relaxing trip back to your hotel with several stops along the way, including trying out the famous basket boats, including the secrets of mother-of-pearl inlays and other artisanal traditions. You’ll arrive at your hotel at 06:00 PM. Your overnight accommodation will be in Hoi An
Day 9 to Day 13: Beach break
Enjoy the beautiful smooth sandy beach to the fullest! With the longest coast line in South East Asia, stunning beaches and delicious seafood, a beach break is definitely unmissable for your Vietnam trip. In addition to the lovely clean blue water, the beaches in this area are also ideal for water activities such as diving and snorkelling. Only 30-minute drive from each other, many beautiful resorts were built along the coastline from Danang to Hoi An. We highly suggest our guests to consider the following resorts for their beach break:
- Boutique Hoi An Resort: Located in Cua Dai Beach with easy access to Hoi An Ancient Town, Boutique Resort reowned with its beautiful and clean private beach, which wasn’t affected by corrosion. The resort is a combination between classic and modern elements with many different areas. Guests can enjoy staying in rooms building area with view to the lush garden or villas with direct access to the beach. Perfect for lone travellers, couples or family with moderate budget.
- Fusion Maia Danang: The only resort with private swimming pool in every villa. Furthermore, guests can enjoy as much spa treatment as they want as the price has been inclusive. With a chic atmosphere of relaxed luxury, very high quality of service, guests can enjoy an absolute feeling of comfort & privacy. Ideal for retreat.
- The Nam Hai Resort: With top service quality, the calm, tropical shore on Ha My Beach, three expansive swimming pools, an excellent the spa on a lotus pond and gourmet Eastern and Western cuisine, the Nam Hai Resort is one of the best luxury resort in the South East Asia. Guests can enjoy their privacy in one of one 100 elegant private retreats, some of which are served by a most attentive butler. Perfect for luxury retreat.
Day 14: Hoi An/Danang/ Ho Chi Minh City Departure
Your time will be your own until your driver arrives to take you to Danang airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City in a good time to connect with your international departure flight