Day 01 Day 02 Day 03 Day 04 Day 05 Day 06 Day 07 Day 08 Day 09 Day 10 Day 11 Day 12 Day 13 Day 01 - Arrive in Hanoi via flight With ochre-colored colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards and scenic lakes, Hanoi is full of charm. Its history is tied to French colonialism and the architecture, cuisine and local culture still bear evidence of the French influence. Embark the comfortable vehicle for transferring (approx. 60mins) to your hotel in downtown of the city, check-in and spend the remainder of the day at leisure. Day 02 - Hanoi Start the tour at the historic Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, an imposing monument lavishly built using marble and granite, and where the preserved body of “Uncle Ho” resides. Next stop is the lotus shaped One Pillar Pagoda – resting on a single stone pillar emerging from the water. Then, visit to the Temple of Literature, the first university for the sons of Mandarins, for an overview about Hanoian culture and appreciation for ancient Vietnamese architecture. An interaction with Director of the Institute for Family & Gender Studies will bring you better understand of Families & marriage in Vietnam, man’s role in a family, gender inequality, the integration of women in modern society, etc. In the afternoon, visit the serene Museum of Ethnology that offers a fascinating insight into Vietnam’s 54 ethnic minority groups. After that, enjoy a cyclo ride through the Old Quarter of “36 streets and 36 wares” to witness the vibrant life along the street sides. Cap off the day with a show at the water puppet theater - a uniquely northern Vietnamese art form depicting scenes of rural life and episodes of national history. Day 03 - Hanoi After breakfast, visit the rural outskirts of Hanoi. Stop at the picturesque Duyen Thai village, where generations of families have been engaged in lacquer ware making. Stroll around this village with the artist to admire the craftsmanship and make a stop at his studio. Then drive to Ninh So village, known as bamboo village. The cradle of rattan and bamboo products, they produce a variety of items - handbags, baskets, lampshades and furniture. You name it, and they have it. Next stop is Nhi Khe village where most of the households here are involved in turning wood, horn and bone into practical and beautiful items such as musical instruments, jewelry or ornaments. End of the day, visit a small home of a family whose three generations have lived together for almost 20 years. Have a chance interact with them about their experience as well as their passion in their life. Followed by a traditional music performance by the son’s wife, a mono-chord musician at Thang Long water puppetry theater. Day 04 - Day trip to Halong Bay Early this morning, embark on a 3.5 hour drive to Halong Bay. Upon arrival we board our boat for a cruise around the 3,000 islets that rise from the clear emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Bizarre rock sculptures jutting dramatically from the sea and numerous grottoes have created an enchanted, timeless world. Enjoy a seafood lunch on board our junk boat before returning to the wharf. Travel back to Hanoi arriving later this evening. Day 05 - Hanoi / Hue via flight Transfer (approx. 1hour) to airport for flight to Hue. Right after, visit the home of a well-known historian, writer and conservationist and get an in-depth view into the culture and history of this former Royal land. Then, stroll around the Imperial Citadel and explore Capital Citadel, Royal Citadel, and the Forbidden Citadel for an insight into the projects. Take a leisurely boat trip on the Perfume River to visit the Thien Mu pagoda. Learn more about Buddhism from your guide and observe how monks put their beliefs into practice. Day 06 - Hue What better way to experience a fascinating culinary tour than to have the artisan take you out for a stroll around the market to enjoy the tantalizing sights, smells and flavors of local produce. Then get to her home for a hands-on cooking class of traditional Hue cuisine. Visit a garden house, an excellent example of traditional Vietnamese architecture, which is an important heritage of the lives of former aristocrats in Hue as most garden houses have a connection with the Imperial Court. Enjoy Royal Martial Arts, a great cultural performance inherited from the Nguyen Dynasty. A 25-minute long performance is reminiscent of the past heroic plots of Vietnamese patriots against colonialists’ suppression. Day 07 - Hue / Hoi An Morning, depart Hue for Hoi An (approx. 2,5 hours) with a stop at the Lang Co Fishing Village located on a sand dune line for a photo opportunity. Continue the scenic drive over the Hai Van Pass (Ocean Clouds Pass), the summit of which presents a spectacular panoramic view of the central coastline. Then, stop at the Cham Museum, where houses the best collection of the Cham ruins dating back to the 2nd to 15th century. This afternoon, enjoy a walking tour around Hoi An Ancient Town. Visit the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge; the Assembly Hall of the Chaozhou Chinese Congregation with outstanding wood carvings; and the colorful market with stalls brimming with local specialties including silk, which can be turned into fashionable garments within a day or two. Day 08 - Hoi An My Son is one of the foremost Hindu temple sites in South East Asia. A 1.5-hour drive from Hoi An will bring you to My Son where there are 20 monuments still standing today. The temples are set in a verdant valley surrounded by hills and overlooked by the impressive Cat Tooth Mountain. Stroll around this UNESCO listed temple complex to learn about the Cham culture, architecture and civilization before returning to Hoi An. Day 09 - Hoi An / Danang / Saigon via flight After breakfast, take the flight to Saigon. Then, visit to the former Presidential Palace, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office. Stroll along Dong Khoi street, or Rue Catinat as it was known in the time of the French occupation, to discover some of the beautiful French colonial buildings built in the late 19th and early 20th century. Late afternoon, visit a local family of musicians and learn about traditional musical instruments through conversations with the artists and listen to the performances from each family member (3-generations). You then have the chance to try the instruments with the musicians, a memorable if somewhat noisy experience. Day 10 - Saigon Morning, enjoy a two hour drive northwest of Saigon to the famous Cu Chi tunnels. Then, you have an opportunity to shoot some live rifles at the shooting range where visitor can shoot many of the same weapons that were used during the war. Visit FITO, the first museum of traditional medicine in Vietnam, offering an insight into how traditional medicine was used in the past. Then, visit to China Town; walk to visit some herbal medicine shops to understand its multiplicity of active chemicals in a single herb and the interaction of a mixture of herbs found in traditional therapies End your trip sipping tea at a calligraphy coffee shop and you may like the chance to try calligraphy yourself. You will quickly realize calligraphy is not only a means of communication, but also a means of expressing one’s inner word. Day 11 - Saigon / Can Tho Depart early in the morning from Saigon and head two hours to the southwest. Along the way, notice lush rice paddies and fruit farms emerging alongside the highway. Then, board a charming wooden boat to enjoy countryside scenery and river life. Then stretch your legs a bit and hop on a bicycle for a short ride of about 7km along narrow village lanes, past fruit orchards and local cottage industries. Locals will often greet you with a hello or “xin chao” as you pedal by. Walk through the sleepy village and have a home-hosted lunch of Mekong Delta specialties. After lunch, continue your journey to Can Tho for the night. Day 12 - Can Tho / Saigon This morning, rise early and get a unique taste of life in the Mekong. Board a local boat and explore the colourful Cai Rang floating market, where many boats laden with fruit, vegetables and fish jostle for trade. Sellers advertise their wares by crying out across the waters or tie their goods to a tall pole attached to their boat so that buyers can see from a distance what is being sold. This memorable experience makes for many excellent photo opportunities. Relax and enjoy the cruise back to the hotel where we will freshen up before we check-out and return to Saigon. Day 13 - Saigon departure via flight Check-out of your hotel no later than 12:00 noon and transfer (approx. 30mins) to the airport for your onward flight to next destination or returns your home.