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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• See the Signature Sights in Style
• 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 on the outskirts of the city with your private driver and English-speaking guide by visiting the Museum of Ethnology. 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 to the Temple of Literature, built in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius. From here, continue to Bun Cha Huong Lien, the famous local spot where President Barack Obama dined with Anthony Bourdain.
• After lunch, visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex and Ba Dinh Square, an important point of pilgrimage for many Vietnamese. The area surrounding the complex is a traffic-free zone filled with botanical gardens, monuments, memorials and pagodas, and includes the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (outside), Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House, the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh Museum and the One Pillar Pagoda. Travel back in time to the nearby simple cottage on stilts where Ho Chi Minh lived and worked during his humble beginnings as a revolutionary. Walk a few blocks out of the Ho Chi Minh Complex to the 11th century Buddhist One Pillar Pagoda, an elegant construction rising from the center of a square-shaped lotus pond on a solitary pillar. 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.

DAY 3

• HANOI TO HALONG BAY

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• All Aboard!
• In the morning, transfer from Hanoi's Old Quarter to Halong Bay. The transfer is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. You may stop on the way to admire the local scenery. Upon arrival to the port, you'll take a speedboat transfer to your cruise.
• Welcome on board the Orchid Cruise!
• Embark on your cruise and enjoy a welcome cocktail followed by an introduction. Boarding time is at approximately 12:15 PM.
• Next, on to Trung Trang Valley and Cave by bus on Cat Ba Island - the largest island in the Halong Bay area. The valley covers an area of approximately 300 hectares, has a depth of 25-60 feet and is around 10 miles into the middle of Cat Ba National Park. Trung Trang Cave measures 980 ft. lengthwise - it's really a geological wonder. The cave was carved by nature for more than 2000 years with many stalactites that take on various shapes that will awe and inspire.
• Later this afternoon, Orchid Cruise enters the less-populated area at Tra Bau - Lan Ha Bay. Enjoy a nice relaxing swim in the green emerald water and try your hand at kayaking here, which allows you to explore the karst rock formations up close.
• Tonight is also a great night to unwind with the ship's "Enjoy the Happy Hour (buy 1 get 1) at the bar" while watching the view of the bay at sunset.  Or indulge in a massage at the end of your first evening -- Please book with the Cruise Manager directly.
• Return to the cruise and gaze upon the magnificent sunset over the Gulf of Tonkin. On board join in a traditional cooking class in which the chef introduces and instructs you on the preparation of Vietnamese dishes. Dinner is served with delicious local food prepared by the wonderful on-board catering staff. Enjoy the landscape of the bay at night up on the top deck. You can hands-on squid fishing at night or watch a movie in the restaurant. Overnight on board.

DAY 4

• HALONG BAY TO HANOI TO DANANG TO HOI AN

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• The Journey Continues…
• In the early morning, enjoy a Tai Chi class on the sundeck; after that breakfast is served on board. Upon completing breakfast continue your journey and head out in canoes to explore the bay in the area where the Dark & Light Caves are situated.
• Next, your cruise will visit The Ao Ech area, home to Sang Toi Cave, where you can experience the cave via kayaking or on a bamboo boat. Dark and Bright (also known as Day and Night) grotto is not only known for the stunning limestone structure at every turn but also for the interesting natural habitat.
• Later in the morning return to your boat where brunch will be served on board while the vessel cruises back to the harbor.
• Meet your professional driver for a transfer back to Hanoi.
• You will be privately transferred between your accommodations and Hanoi Airport by a professional driver and an English-speaking guide.
• 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 5

• HOI AN

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• It’s All Ancient History
• The historic and quaint Hoi An is perfect for exploring; As a former fishing village set on the banks of the Thu Bon River and strategic trading port for Southeast Asia, centuries of Chinese and Japanese influence have left their unique mark on this town. Your private driver and English-speaking guide will greet you at your hotel and bring you to the edge of the old town for a half-day of exploration. As the streets of the old town are very narrow, cars are not permitted in the historical center. Start with the 200-year-old Tamky House, a beautifully decorated home that has been lovingly preserved over seven generations. Continue on foot to the Museum of Trade Ceramics, with fascinating pottery artifacts from all over Asia and the Middle East. Take a short walk through the historic town to the 17th century Chinese Chua Ong Pagoda – the neighborhood around it has distinctly Chinese inspired buildings and is lovely to explore at a relaxed pace. End with a visit to the Hoi An Market, reputed to be one of Vietnam’s best. Fresh produce and fish are on offer, and this is also an opportune location to pick up some fine silk.

DAY 6

• HOI AN TO HUE

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• City Streets and Tasty Treats
• Hoi An’s rich culture includes an incredibly diverse and mouth-watering cuisine, with one of the best street food scenes in the world. The morning markets are particularly vibrant, as locals stop by their favorite food stalls on their way to work. This morning, your private driver and English-speaking guide will accompany you to the edge of the historic area of Hoi An old town. From here, continue on a walking tour around town to sample some of the delicacies and admire the quaint architecture of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Focus on the unique local specialties, such as banh vac, a subtly-flavored shrimp dumpling topped with crispy onions, and banh bao, a steamed dumpling made with minced pork or chicken, onions, eggs and mushrooms with a distinctly Chinese dim sum influence. Sample the Japanese heritage that flavors the city with cao lau, a Japanese-style noodle dish seasoned with herbs, salad greens, and bean sprouts, and served with slices of roast pork. In total, 10 different dishes will be sampled while your guide shares anecdotes on food culture and local traditions. Rest assured, all food stalls and restaurants use carefully vetted sanitary cooking practices and fresh ingredients. Take a break from strolling the narrow alleyways for a much-needed foot massage – you won’t be hungry for lunch after all that nibbling, and the foot massage will replenish your energy for the afternoon.
• 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.

DAY 7

• HUE

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• Hit the Streets
• In the morning, your guide will meet you at the hotel to take you to visit the Hue Citadel, Vietnam’s former imperial capital and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With an area of 500 hectare and a system of three circles of ramparts, namely from outside to inside: Kinh Thanh Hue (Hue Capital Citadel), Hoang Thanh (Royal Citadel), Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden Citadel), and Khai Dinh Tomb. In the afternoon, you’ll cruise along the Perfume River. Being the former royal capital, Hue's surrounding countryside contains several of the tombs of the former Nguyen Emperors where you will get to see the Minh Mang Tomb. Back on the Perfume River, visit the Thien Mu Pagoda, an active Buddhist monastery with its origins dating back to 1601. Before returning to your hotel, stop at the Dong Ba Market for some shopping.

DAY 8

• HUE TO HO CHI MINH CITY

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• A Change of Scenery
• 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 9

• HO CHI MINH CITY

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• Sights and Insights
• Years of French occupation and a lengthy war with the United States have marked Vietnam since the late 19th century. One of the most impressive feats of wartime engineering is the famed Cu Chi Tunnels, located in the countryside near Ho Chi Minh City. With your private driver and English-speaking guide, head approximately an hour and a half out of the city to explore this monument to perseverance. Gain important insight into the prolonged struggle against invading armies, and appreciation for the resilience and spirit of the Vietnamese people. The residents of Cu Chi took the war underground into a highly developed network of tunnels that at its height stretched as far as Cambodia and included meeting rooms, kitchens and triage areas. Imperceptible from the ground, opposing armies could roll their tanks over the bunkers without causing damage to the tunnels below. Living conditions were harsh – in addition to fighting the war, residents battled food and oxygen scarcity, venomous insects, and cramped living quarters.
• Drive back into the city and stop for a local lunch. In the afternoon start with a moving visit to the War Remnants Museum, a must-see for any war or history buff visiting Vietnam. Delve into the images and sounds of Vietnam’s lengthy war history with the French and Americans. The museum features a comprehensive collection of the machinery, weapons, and photos of the Vietnamese side of the war, and includes a moving tribute to the journalists, civilians, and soldiers lost during the war, as well as a critical look at biological warfare, weaponry, and worldwide movements for peace. It’s a truly moving visit but not for the faint-hearted. Continue to the Reunification Palace, also known as the Independence Palace, which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until the end of April 1975 during the Fall of Saigon. It was here that the Vietnam War ended when a North Vietnamese Army tank crashed through its gates and led to the formal reunification of the two sides.

DAY 10

• HO CHI MINH CITY
• Until Next Time…
• 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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