BEST OF VIETNAM

After breakfast, exploring the highlights of Hanoi city. Walk through Jang Be market with its vast array of goods. Witness the diverse architecture of the Old Quarter and learn about how the history of different cultures has affected the city's architecture and urban development. Other highlights include Hanoi's first University - the Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the One-Pillar Pagoda. In the afternoon there is the opportunity to taste local Hanoi coffee and learn about its evolution. The day ends with a Water Puppet Show, a uniquely northern Vietnamese art form depicting scenes from rural life and episodes of natural history before returning to the hotel for your overnight stay.

After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Halong City passing through Red River Delta. Stopping on the way for refreshments and to meet the locals, you’ll arrive in Halong City by noon to board the traditional wooden ‘junk’ boat and explore the UNESCO World Heritage Halong Bay. Halong Bay is famous for its scattering of limestone isles and karsts. You’ll also spend the night on board the comfortable and charming ‘junk’ boat.

Breakfast is served on the boat today as you continue to cruise beautiful Halong Bay, disembarking later in the morning. If time permits, you’ll stop at a pottery village on your way to Hanoi Airport for the brief flight to Danang. Arriving in Danang, you’ll be greeted by your local guide and transferred to Hoi An Town to your hotel for check in. Overnight stay at hotel.

Start the day with a leisurely 20 minute trip to Tra Que village riding a 3 wheeled cyclo or bike. Renowned as the ‘village of vegetables’, Tra Que is famous for its special aromatic herbs. The unique farming practices used for centuries means leaves of the plants grown here are actually smaller than usual, however they pack a very particular aroma. The local people will show you how they grow the herbs and vegetables as well as teaching you how to cook some of the local specialties including a popular pork, shrimp and herb dish called Tam Huu.

The afternoon offers free time for you to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hoi An Town, recognised for its incredibly well-preserved streets and ancient homes. The quaint cobblestones follow the Chinese Temple, Japanese Bridge, Phung Hung Chinese trading house and 200 year old Chinese houses. Dinner is at your leisure before an overnight stay at the hotel.

There’s time this morning to enjoy free time exploring Hoi An on your own before your transfer to Danang Airport for your afternoon flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival you’ll be greeted by your local guide and transferred to your hotel for check-in. Enjoy dinner at your leisure before returning to the hotel for your overnight stay.

Discover Ho Chi Minh City today taking in famous historical sites such as the Palace of Reunification, Thien Hau Pagoda, Dong Koi Street, Binh Tay Market, the red brick Notre-Dame Cathedral resembling its Paris counterpart and the large metal central post office designed by Gustave Eiffel. In the afternoon, meet in your hotel lobby for a car transfer to Ho Chi Minh City central pier.

Departing by boat, watch the city sprawl give way to gorgeous jungle cruising the river to the Cu Chi Tunnels. An amazing network stretching 250km, the tunnels were once used for shelter against French air and ground sweeps but have gone on to serve as the living quarters of Vietnamese fighters during the American war. Visit underground bunkers, explore a firing range, weapon and booby trap exhibitions and more as well as the opportunity to try cassava root, a local crop which sustained the Viet Cong for years.

Traditional Vietnamese specialties such as lemongrass chicken and caramelised clay pot pork will be served for dinner before being transferred back to Saigon central pier where a car will return you to your hotel by 6.30pm for your overnight stay.

A 2 hour drive from Saigon to Phong Nam in Ben Tre District marks the beginning of your day and the start of your journey into the Mekong Delta. Boarding the boat at Phong Man pier you’ll cruise the Chet Say River stopping at a coconut processing factory and coconut activated charcoal factory to experience how the local economy works. You’ll then continue on a small canal spotting local wildlife before a stop at a quiet village to experience real Delta life. Here you’ll visit a mat weaving house and try your hand at weaving before making your way into the village by bike or xe loi motorised rickshaw. Discover farms, vegetable crops and rice fields before enjoy a lunch of local specialties including elephant-ear fish and river shrimp at a local house. You’ll then enjoy a relaxing sampan trip along narrow canals before taking the boat back to the pier and transferring to Saigon for dinner is at leisure and overnight at the hotel.

There’s time for breakfast at the hotel this morning before transferring to the airport for your flight home or to your next destination. Your hotel room is at your disposal until 12 noon only.