Great tour of Vietnam

Welcome to Vietnam! We arrive at Hanoi airport and then we reach the hotel. The day is dedicated to free time and relaxation. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Ready to explore Vietnam? Our journey begins with the arrival at the Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest pagoda in Ha Noi built in the 6th century. We then visit the Ho Chi Minh complex, with the chance to see Ho Chi Minh's embalmed body and to stroll in the garden to see the two houses where he lived and worked from 1954 to 1969. Next, we visit the One Pillar Pagoda where the Goddess of Mercy is worshipped. We visit the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology to learn about the culture of the 54 ethnic groups living in Vietnam. We have lunch at a restaurant where we have the opportunity to taste traditional Vietnamese cuisine with 8 delicious dishes. We continue our tour with a visit to the Temple of Literature - Vietnam's first university, founded in the 11th century. Then we visit Hoan Kiem Lake with the Ngoc Son Temple honoring General Tran Hung Dao in the 13th century. Optional puppet show on water not included, lasting 45 minutes: the traditional art of puppetry of the Vietnamese people is associated with the natural conditions and daily life of wet rice farmers in the Northern Delta. With its unique characteristics as a form of art with folk elements, water puppetry has quickly become a traditional art and is considered a unique intangible cultural heritage of the Vietnamese nation. Overnight in Hanoi.

Our organized trip to Vietnam continues with a transfer to the Sunworld international port. Once on board and checked in, we gather for a welcome cocktail as we proceed towards Bai Tu Long Bay. Vietnamese lunch on board. We head towards Cap La and admire the breathtaking natural scenery of the islands. If the weather allows, we can relax on the beach or swim and enjoy the sunset over the bay as the boat sails to the Cong Do area. Happy hour from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. In the evening, we participate in a traditional Vietnamese cooking class.

We start our day with Taichi on the Sun Deck. We have a light Western-style breakfast while the boat sails towards the most beautiful fishing village in HaLong Bay. HaLong. We will visit the floating fishing village of Vung Vieng, one of the largest villages in HaLong Bay; we will have the chance to learn about the fishermen's life and feel free with some optional activities: bamboo boat or kayak. We return to the main boat to relax and check out at the reception. Brunch is served in the restaurant while the boat heads back to the port on a different route. Disembark at Hon Gai port and transfer to the hotel in Hanoi.

Our journey to discover Vietnam continues with a flight to Hue. Upon arrival in Hue, a driver will pick us up to take us to the hotel. The rest of the day is at our leisure to explore the city and relax.

The tour continues with a day entirely dedicated to visiting the city of Hue. We visit the Thanh Toan Bridge (a tiled roof bridge), a rare arched wooden bridge. It is the most aesthetically valuable bridge in Vietnam. We proceed with the visit to the Tomb of Minh Mang, considered the most majestic of all the royal tombs. Renowned for its architecture, which harmoniously blends with the surrounding natural environment. Then the Khai Dinh Tomb, which represents a mix of Western and Eastern architecture. Lunch at a local restaurant. We visit the imperial citadel of Hue. The imperial city is the home of Vietnam's last royal dynasty, the Nguyen dynasty. After the city tour, we transfer to Hoi An (about a 3-hour journey) where we stay overnight.

We will visit the My Son Sanctuary. Our tour guide will lead us through the My Son Sanctuary, offering opportunities to take pictures and admire the unique architecture. The journey continues towards Hoi Boat, enjoying a splendid natural scenery. Arrival at the Kim Bong Carpentry Village in Hoi An, before stopping at a local restaurant along the way to enjoy delicious Vietnamese cuisine. In the afternoon, we will discover the city of Hoi An on foot. The historic town, which was a thriving port city between the 16th and 18th centuries, is today a magnificent city that cannot be missed during a tour in the Southeast Asian region. As we walk through the town, we will visit: The colorful local market of Hoi An, the ancient Tan Ky house, the Fu Jian assembly hall, the 400-year-old Japanese covered bridge. Additionally, we will have the chance to see the locals raise silkworms and produce silk for Hoi An's thriving textile industry. Overnight stay at a hotel in Hoi An.

Options for the night in Hoi An:
1 - Hoi An Memories Show (1 hour): €32/person
The show, which takes place in the real world, features the traditional Vietnamese ao dai using modern staging techniques, lighting technology, and elegant audio effects. Through these, the 400-year-long story of Hoi An is depicted with all its grace and prosperity.
2 - Teh Dar (1 hour): €32/person
As twilight covers the old town, strolling through the streets also offers the opportunity to witness unique cultural performances Teh Dar Show at the Lune Performing Center of Hoi An. These innovative theatrical works have amazed audiences with the use of iconic bamboo trunks, nouveau cirque, juggling, and acrobatics, not to mention the exotic live music from a collection of over 20 folk instruments. The beautiful cultures of each region of Vietnam are vividly reproduced on the contemporary stage, bringing an unforgettable experience to international visitors.

In the morning, enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Your free time to relax in the ancient city of Hoi An.

Option:
1. Coconut Village 1-day tour with cooking class at Tra Que (€79/person)
At 8:00 AM: our driver and tour guide will pick you up from your hotel in Hoi An and transfer you to Cam Thanh Coconut Village. Here you will take a boat ride around the coconut forest and learn about the daily life of Vietnamese fishermen, their families, and their community. During the trip, the boatman will use coconut leaves to create fun natural ornaments such as hats, rings, glasses... very pretty for you. You can also participate in a fun boat basket race among the baskets with cheering and musical drumming. Join the local fishermen on the river and experience a round net or a cast net. The locals will teach you how to paddle on the unique bamboo basket boat in Vietnam. You will also hear stories of past wars and the harsh conditions that soldiers had to endure. Later, we will have lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we will cycle to the colorful central market of Hoi An. Here you will have the opportunity to interact with local vendors and learn about the ingredients that will later be used in the cooking class. Make sure to have your camera ready.
We continue cycling to the Tra Que vegetable village, where we will hold a cooking class. At Tra Que, you will enjoy a welcome drink to rest. Afterwards, we will walk through the gardens where local farmers work their fields, using traditional methods of hundreds of years ago, without electric machinery.
Relax with a herbal foot massage After the foot massage, it's time to prepare lunch. We will go to the restaurant and work together with the chef. With the chef's instructions, we will learn the traditional ways of preparing and cooking Vietnamese food. After the class, you will enjoy what you have cooked. Return to your Hoi An hotel

2. Hoi An Countryside 5-in-1 Bicycle Tour (€79/person)
At 08:00 AM: The guide will meet you at the hotel and introduce you to the tour program. Depart by bicycle to the countryside (Cam Thanh village).
08:45 Take photos of beautiful countryside landscapes (shrimp farms, ducks, cows, birds, buffaloes, bamboo, and vegetables).
09:00: get on a bamboo basket boat to reach the water coconut palm forest, have fun catching crabs in the water coconut palm forest. Discover the rural life of Cam Thanh village and learn to make traditional bamboo handicrafts with the locals, in a beautiful and peaceful environment.
10:00: continue cycling to the Thanh Nam fishing village (meeting local fishermen, seeing fish, crabs, and squids). The fishing village is still active today, even with the appearance of modern fishing boats heading to more distant fishing areas in the East Sea.
10:30 Go cycling to the Traditional Craft to see and learn how to make a beautiful lantern (Lantern Making). Alternatively, you can choose the buffalo riding activity to take control of the buffalo with detailed guidance from local farmers. And have time to take pictures with it.
11:30 AM: Arrival at the Tra Que Herb Garden Veggie Village, a small and charming village located just 2.5 kilometers from Hoi An and famous for its many types of herbs and vegetables. Welcome drink, walk in the village-garden, meet local farmers and observe the activities of local farmers!
12:15 PM: Farm with local farmers: Participate in planting vegetables with local farmers: Weeding, digging and landing, preparing the beds, transplanting vegetables.
01:00 PM Herbal foot bath
01:15 PM Participate in a cooking class in the Tra Que village to learn how to prepare the "Tam Huu" spring roll, the Vietnamese crispy pancakes "Banh xeo" - a local pancake of the inhabitants of the central region of Vietnam.
02:15 PM Traditional Vietnamese lunch (7 dishes)
03:15 PM After lunch, rest and go to Bach Dang Dock. Take a boat trip on the Thu Bon River (1 hour), to see local fishermen catching fish, crabs, squids, and shrimps! We will take you on a boat with some local fishermen to learn how to throw the net and hope to catch some fish. After saying goodbye to the local fishermen, we will continue the journey to the Dai Chiem estuary to visit the quiet waterways with their numerous boats and docks.
04:00 PM: After the tour, the guide will take you back to the hotel.

Another day dedicated to leisure time in Hoi An!

Our journey continues with another day that we can dedicate to the activities we enjoy most at Hoi An before moving on to new destinations!

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer from the hotel to the airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City. The subsequent transfer is included. Overnight stay in Ho Chi Minh.

Our journey continues with a visit to Ho Chi Minh City. We begin our tour from these famous places: The Notre Dame Cathedral, the historic Central Post Office, then we explore the Reunification Palace and the remarkable site of the War Remnants Museum. (If we have enough time, we'll leave you at Ben Thanh Market for some shopping). In the afternoon, we depart from Ho Chi Minh to Cu Chi. Upon arrival at the Cu Chi tunnels, before entering the galleries, visitors can watch a short introductory video showing how the tunnels were constructed. The next hour will be dedicated to exploring the tunnels. Afterwards, we can enjoy tea and cassava (food of the guerrillas during the war).

We set off from Ho Chi Minh City at 8:00, heading towards My Tho. After visiting the Vinh Trang Pagoda, we take a boat ride along the river, admiring the stilt houses and fruit plantations on the riverbank. We continue to the Turtle Islands and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. We then take a shaded boat ride to visit a family business that embodies the idyllic rural lifestyle. We savor the delicious seasonal fruits and honey tea while listening to traditional music. We take a rowboat ride along the streams. After a pleasant walk through the fruit plantations and the village, we proceed to Can Tho.

Early in the morning, we set off by boat to visit the floating market of Cai Rang, a wholesale fruit and vegetable market at the busiest time of the day. We continue to sail through the small canal system and visit a village of rice noodle producers. Lunch break. Return to Ho Chi Minh City.

Our organized trip in Vietnam ends here. Free time until the transfer to the airport for the departure flight. See you on the next tour!