DAY 1

• HANOI

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• The Adventure Begins
• Welcome to Vietnam! Please note: Your travel documents contain a Visa-on-Arrival letter (unless otherwise arranged). Please ensure to pack this in your carry-on luggage. Your Visa-on-Arrival letter must be presented to Customs upon entry into the country.
• Upon arrival to Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport you will be welcomed by a hostess holding a sign with your name on it. This hostess will guide you through fast-track security services and, after you obtain a stamp for your Visa and have collected your luggage, will lead the way to your awaiting guide and vehicle.
• You will be privately transferred between your accommodations and Hanoi Airport by a professional driver and an English-speaking guide.

DAY 2

• HANOI

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• Get a Lay of the Land
• Hanoi enjoys a rich Imperial history dating back over a millennium, and a surprising diversity of local ethnic groups weave the fabric of the city’s rich tapestry. Start your day by visiting the Museum of Ethnology with your private driver and English-speaking guide. The museum provides an insightful glimpse into the country’s lengthy history with more than 15,000 photos and 10,000 objects and artifacts depicting a historical perspective of the lives, activities, customs, and habits of the 54 recognized ethnic groups of Vietnam. Drive back into central Hanoi, stopping at the Temple of Literature, built in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius. Enjoy a local Vietnamese lunch at Banh Tom Ho Tay, a restaurant famous for its shrimp cakes in the West Lake area.
• After lunch, visit Hoa Lo Prison, constructed in 1896 by the French to house Vietnamese political prisoners. Under the French regime, it was known as the Maison Centrale and was an important symbol of colonialist exploitation of the era. The Vietnamese took it over in 1954, and the prison was subsequently used to house prisoners of war from 1964 to 1973, where it came to be known sarcastically as the 'Hanoi Hilton' by American POWs.
• Continue to Ngoc Son Temple, a pagoda situated on a small island in Hoan Kiem Lake accessible by a classically painted wooden bridge. The view of the city from the pagoda is particularly popular. End your day at a by walking through the iconic Old Quarter. The streets of this district are bustling with scooters, bicycles, cyclos, and cars zipping around pedestrians. The best way to enjoy the charming colonial architecture is to wander with your guide at a leisurely pace and be sure to stop for a cup of Vietnamese coffee or a local snack from one of the many tantalizing street vendors. Your guide and private driver will accompany you back to your hotel, or if you prefer to enjoy dinner at your pace in the Old Quarter and soak up the atmosphere, you can make your own way back to your hotel at your leisure.
• Water puppetry has a long and storied tradition in Vietnam, dating back to the 11th century and were a main form of communication and storytelling in Vietnam's pre-modern eras. The puppets are made of lacquered wood, and the shows performed in a waist-deep pool, with an accompanying traditional Vietnamese orchestra. This evening, meet with your driver and English-speaking guide for a night out at the a theater for a traditional theatrical performance, followed by a delicious dinner at one of our top picks for local cuisine taking in the nighttime buzz of nearby Hoan Kiem Lake.

DAY 3

• HANOI

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• Hidden Gems
• Today you will be taken to the Bat Trang Pottery Village. The famous village is situated approximately 15 kilometers outside of Hanoi, surrounded by fertile farmland. Watch the artisans forming, painting, and glazing their products, which are then baked for several days in huge kilns.

DAY 4

• HANOI TO SAPA

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• Chasing Waterfalls
• Transfer from Hanoi to Sapa via the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway. The travel time is approximately five hours.
• You will be picked up from your Sapa hotel by private car for a drive to the Silver Waterfall (best in the rainy season from May to November). Take a short walk to the waterfall where a great view is offered of the surrounding mountains and the lush forests of Hoang Lien National Park. Along the way, your guide will explain about this special part of Sapa, where many tree species are grown such as plum and peach trees. Continue by car up to Heaven's Gate where you can see Fansipan Mountain, ‘the roof of Indochina’ at the height of 3143 meters above sea level.

DAY 5

• SAPA

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• Live Like a Local
• Depart from Sapa and enjoy the magnificent view from your private car on the way to Lao Chai village. Along the way, stop at stalls that serve tea, fruit, and sweets. Arrive at the Black H’mong village of Lao Chai, where you will experience the daily life of the community. Afterwards, walk from Lao Chai to Ta Van village, where the Zay hill tribes live. Here you will rest and enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by your local guide. After lunch, enjoy an afternoon of trekking through bamboo forests, followed by relaxation beside a waterfall. Continue and explore the Red Dao village of Giang Ta Chai.

DAY 6

• SAPA TO HANOI

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• Pedal Through the Past
• Depart Sapa by going downhill to the villages. The ride takes you into one of the most beautiful valleys of the area. From Lao Chai you swerve to a dirt trail which sneaks through rice paddy terraces and villages, home to different hill tribes such as Black H'mong and Giay. You will have time to stop by local house as well as enjoy excellent views over huge rice paddy terraces. You will later arrive in Ta Van, where the car will return you to Sapa.
• You will be privately transferred from Sapa to Hanoi via the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway by a professional driver and an English-speaking guide. Approximate travel time is five hours.

DAY 7

• HANOI TO HALONG BAY

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• All Aboard!
• Early this morning, head deep into the Vietnamese countryside with your private driver and English-speaking guide for the scenic drive to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Halong Bay, adjacent to the Gulf of Tonkin. Dotted with scenic limestone karsts, monolithic islands, exciting grottoes waiting to be explored and aquamarine waters, this natural wonder is a must-see for visitors to Northern Vietnam. The transfer is approximately 4 hours. Your guide is happy to make stops along the way to take in the gorgeous scenery.
• Welcome on board the Bhaya Legend Cruise!
• Check-in at Tuan Chau Marina, and get ready to set sail towards Bai Tu Long Bay. After embarkation, enjoy a welcome cocktail during the Cruise Manager’s safety briefing and itinerary introduction. Boarding time is at approximately 12:30 p.m. Enjoy lunch on board as you head towards Halong Bay’s famous limestone formations. The Bhaya Legend is a private chartered cruise, so there is flexibility in the sailing itinerary.
• In the afternoon, visit Thien Canh Son Cave, a fascinating natural cave filled with stalactites and stalagmites. The natural geological formations of the cave include rocks that resemble a lotus and a baby elephant, and the ceiling sparkles with natural gemstones that resemble hanging lamps.
• Afterwards, return to the boat where you can opt to relax on the sundeck or indulge in a massage (Spa can be booked at reception). This is also an opportune time to swim in the azure waters of the bay.
• In the late afternoon join in a Masterchef cooking competition with traditional Vietnamese dishes on the sundeck and watch the sunset over the enchanting Halong Bay while cruising to the overnight anchorage spot. The cooking class may be held inside the restaurant if the weather does not permit.
• Enjoy a candlelit set-menu Vietnamese dinner on board. After dinner, retire to your cabin for the evening or choose to join the crew for a unique opportunity for squid fishing.
• As part of your overnight Halong Bay cruise, free kayak usage is included for your enjoyment, allowing you to set out and explore the bays and rock formations in a more intimate setting. This is a truly beautiful way to discover the natural scenery.

DAY 8

• HALONG BAY TO HANOI TO DANANG TO HOI AN

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• The Journey Continues…
• Start off your day with a Tai Chi lesson on the sundeck with complimentary tea and coffee being served. Rejuvenate your body and mind with the slow movement of Tai Chi and enjoy the dawn on the bay.
• After a light breakfast onboard, visit the traditional fishing village of Vung Vieng by traditional row boat or by kayak. This is the least touristy of the four fishing villages in Halong Bay, where you’ll find approximately 50 families living in clusters of houses anchored within the natural protection of the limestone peaks.
• Later in the morning return to your boat where brunch will be served on board while the vessel cruises back to the harbour.
• Upon arrival to the Tuan Chau Marina in Halong Bay, you'll disembark from the ship.
• You will be privately transferred between your accommodations and Hanoi Airport by a professional driver and an English-speaking guide.
• Meet your private driver and English-speaking guide for a transfer back to Hanoi.
• Board a flight from Hanoi with direct service to Danang. Approximate flight time is one hour and 20 minutes.
• Enjoy a scenic transfer from Danang to Hoi An with a private vehicle and an English speaking guide. The transfer is approximately 40 minutes.

DAY 9

• HOI AN

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• Creative Cuisine
• Begin today's exciting activities with a delicious and insightful cooking class (shared). Meet your Vietnamese chef and your fellow students and start the day with a guided walk through a local market, where the fresh ingredients used in typical Vietnamese recipes are on display. To get to the cooking school from here, hop on a 25-minute boat ride across Hoi An's most prominent feature, the Thu Bon River. At the open-air cooking school, relax river-side as your chef leads an interactive cooking demonstration, teaching the class how to cook traditional Vietnamese dishes featuring many specialities local to Hoi An. Afterward, relax and enjoy the variety of dishes you prepared for lunch.
• In the afternoon, enjoy a leisurely bike ride through the old streets of Hoi An that will take you to the home of a local craftsman and paper artisan. Here, you will have a brief introduction to the history, shape, and color and cultural relevance of paper lanterns and learn the many stages of making them. You can make your own lantern and keep it as a souvenir.
• At the end of this day's activities, you will be transferred back to your hotel by your guide and private driver.

DAY 10

• HOI AN TO HUE

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• A Dazzling Drive
• You will be privately transferred from Hoi An to Hue by a professional driver and an English-speaking guide. Approximate travel time is three hours and 30 minutes.
• The biking tour along the Perfume River starts in the morning. You will have chance to see how the local people live. In the Vy Da village, visitors can enjoy the Hue coffee and learn more about ancient architecture. Later in the afternoon, you will come back to Hue City and take part in a kite flying contest. The person who can fly their kite the highest, wins.

DAY 11

• HUE

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• Venture into the Outdoors
• Get an early start to the day for the 200 kilometer drive from Hue to the Son River in Quang Binh province. When you arrive, you’ll take a boat ride to the famed caves at Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park. The park is one of the world's two largest limestone regions. In comparison with 41 other world heritage sites which have karsts, Phong Nha has dissimilar geomorphic, geologic, and biotic conditions. The karsts of Phong Nha can be traced back to Palaeozoic 400 million years ago. This makes Phong Nha the oldest major karst in Asia. Vietnamese and British scientists have surveyed a total of 20 caves with a total length of 70 kilometers so far. Of these surveyed caves, 17 were in the Phong Nha area and three in the Ke Bang area. Following the narrow underground river, you’ll explore the most impressive Phong Nha cave. Afterwards, return to Dong Hoi for lunch before driving back to Hue.

DAY 12

• HUE TO HO CHI MINH CITY

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• En Route
• You will be privately transferred between your accommodations and Hue Airport by a professional driver and an English-speaking guide.
• Board a flight from Hue with direct service to Ho Chi Minh City. Approximate flight time is one hour and 30 minutes.
• You will be privately transferred between your accommodations and Ho Chi Minh Airport by a professional driver and an English-speaking guide.
• The history of Ho Chi Minh City has many layers, telling a tale of decades of external influence from the Chinese and the French. With your private driver and English-speaking guide, start your visit today by exploring Dong Khoi Area in the center of the city where French colonial presence can be felt at the Notre Dame Cathedral, a Catholic Basilica commissioned entirely of imported French building materials. Then it's on to a visit to the Saigon Central Post Office, a stunning architectural marvel with rich Gothic, Renaissance, and French influences. From here, continue to the Jade Emperor Pagoda, also known as Phuoc Hai and regarded as one of the most interesting pagodas in the country. Built by the Cantonese community at the early 20th century, worshipers still use this historic landmark to this day. The pagoda, with its elaborately carved figurines and decorated panels of carved gilt woodwork, is dedicated to Buddhist and Taoist deities. If you only visit one pagoda in the city, it should be this one. Finally, head over to Cholon, the city’s Chinatown. Cholon is widely regarded as the largest Chinatown in the world by area.

DAY 13

• HO CHI MINH CITY

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• Winding the Wind-Swept Shorelines
• The mighty Mekong River is the lifeblood for Vietnam and its neighbors. Originating high up in the Tibetan plateau in China, it winds across Southeast Asia for over 2700 miles and reaches its Delta on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City. The Mekong Delta is a veritable biological treasure trove of unique species found nowhere else, the area is also integral to agricultural production in southern Vietnam. This morning, head into the country side for 62 miles to Cai Be on a scenic journey with your private driver and English-speaking guide. Here you’ll hop in a long-tailed boat to cruise around the floating market, where you’ll find villagers exchanging goods and produce from their canoes. The Catholic cathedral in the background of the floating market makes for a dramatic photo opportunity. Head to the opposite side of the Mekong River to Hoa Binh Phuoc islet; a fascinating maze of shady creeks that are best explored from the comfort of your boat. Stop for Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant known for its excellent traditional fare. After lunch, mingle with locals and visit a bonsai garden, where you can learn a few tips on caring for these delicate miniature trees. Visit rural homes of the region where families still produce traditional tiles and ceramics, and check out the home industries at a rice paper kiln and coconut candy kiln. At the end of the day, settle in for the two-hour transfer by car back to the city.

DAY 14

• HO CHI MINH CITY
• Bon Voyage
• You will be privately transferred between your accommodations and Ho Chi Minh Airport by a professional driver and an English-speaking guide.

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Silk Path Hotel Hanoi

Topas Ecolodge

Bhaya Legend Cruise

La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa

Pilgrimage Village

Caravelle