Ha Noi, Vietnam's capital, is a fascinating synthesis of the traditional and the modern, of Asia and Europe. The city's historic character has survived despite recent fast growth. Let's explore Hanoi's hidden corners on a vintage Minsk with a professional rider, which will provide you with a completely different perspective on the city. Follow the winding, zigzagging backstreets and alleyways with only enough room for one bike. The highlight of the trip is a genuine cultural exchange with a Vietnam War veteran and his family, who have lived in the same tiny Russian apartment building since the 1960s. Part two of our journey is titled "Classical Hanoi Romance," taking us down some lovely French boulevards before stopping for some traditional fare such as Banh Cuon, Pho Cuon, and Egg coffee. The cultural adventure trip comes to an end with many memorable experiences..

 

Notes:

• Tour duration: 4 hours (08.30-12.30 or 13.30-17.30)

• You will be seated behind a driver who understands well his Minsk.

 

Overnight in Ha Noi City 

 

Located at the heart of Ha Noi, Green Palm Gallery is one of the most famous and prestigious institutes for Vietnamese Fine Arts. Artists and collectors visit the gallery to evaluate the market and learn about Vietnamese contemporary art. Our permanent and special exhibitions offer a unique perspective on Vietnamese contemporary art to visitors. The gallery's talented, passionate, and well-educated art consultants create a unique experience with fine arts, music, food, and drinks.

 

Notes:

• Tour Duration: 1 hours, combinable with city tour

• Inclusions: Private roundtrip transfer, English speaking guide, food and drink fee 

his morning, depart Hanoi for a 2-hour drive to the ancient capital of Hoa Lu to get an overview of the first three centralized feudal states of Vietnam: the Dinh Dynasty, the Le Dynasty. Take a leisure walk to the Am Tien Cave, located in a hidden valley surrounded by erect mountains. Observe the majestic and poetry scenery and get to know some mysterious yet interesting stories occurring during the feudal periods. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014, Trang An Landscape Complex is famed for its spectacular landscape of limestone karst peaks permeated with valleys, some of which are partly submerged and surrounded by steep, almost vertical cliffs.  This afternoon, a local skilled rower will take you on a magnificent waterway, enjoy the views of the beautiful karst formations you glide through the mysterious caves in the middle of towering mountains. Every passage brings you the new surprise hidden inside isolated valleys of tranquility that likely transport into another world and time.  

 

Notes:

• Tour duration: full day (08.30-17.00)

• March-April is the beginning of the rice farming season in Ninh Binh. The fields are greenest here around April and early May, turning golden in late May and early June when the harvest starts.

 

Overnight stay in Ha Noi City

After breakfast, meet our driver and travel by road to Ha Long Bay, a place of outstanding natural beauty that is a World Heritage Site with its 3,000 islands rising from the clear, emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Make the journey through the rich farmlands of the Delta of the Red River, with its rice fields, water buffalo, and Vietnamese village life.. Enjoy tours, activities (depending on the schedule of each vessel) as the cruises on emerald green waters among thousands of rugged islands and incredible limestone karsts of Ha Long Bay, stopping at spectacular caves through which you can wander, viewing impressive, centuries-old formations or just relax on board. 

Optional: Seaplane scenic flight over Ha Long Bay 
Flying between limestone karsts and over shimmering beaches is the most thrilling way to see the charming Halong Bay, UNESCO-listed landscape. Today, take a scenic seaplane ride over Ha Long Bay to get a different perspective on this world-renowned heritage site. Duration: 25 minutes flight

Start the day with a demonstration of Tai Chi that combines deep breathing and relaxation with slow and gentle movements. Breakfast consists of coffee, tea, and pastries served in a dining room with a view of the bay's landscape. Enjoy breakfast in the fresh air of Ha Long Bay as the boat continues cruising around the bay, passing the most beautiful and peaceful areas as it makes its way to the wharf.

The vehicle is ready awaiting your disembarkation at approximately 1030 for driving back to Ha Noi for your flight to Danang. When you arrive in Da Nang, our guide will greet you and take you to Hoi An.

Overnight stay in Hoi An 

The Ancient Town of Hoi An, which flourished as a port from the 15th to the 19th centuries, is remarkably preserved, making the city a must-visit. This historic district is a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its old tile-roofed shops, shady pagodas, and colorful community halls. Enjoy a guided walking tour of Hoi An Ancient Town, known for its well-preserved architecture, pedestrian-only streets, and local cuisine. Making your way through historic merchant and community houses, ancient pagodas, and traditional places of worship with influences from Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese culture, you will hear the clattering of sewing machines and observe the day-to-day activities that are taking place. 
 

Step into a back alley to visit an elderly man who has a passion for Vietnamese calligraphy. Have some tea and a chat with him to learn that calligraphy is more than just a way to convey information; it can also be used to convey one's innermost thoughts and feelings. See the master at work as he creates a lucky character in calligraphy for you to take home with you as a souvenir.
 

As the sun slowly sets over the river, take some time to marvel at the tranquility of the countryside and the breathtaking scenery that surrounds you. This is an intimate opportunity for two people to engage in a romantic slow journey on a traditional bamboo basket boat, which will take you to a tranquil water coconut jungle. Experience the enchantment of the setting sun as it sets a warm light over the river and the town while sipping a refreshing drink and tasting local snacks. 

 

Notes:

• Tour duration: Half day (08.30-12.30 or 13.30-17.30)

• Walking distance: 2-3km, easy on the flat terrain

• The Hoi An entrance ticket allows 24-hour access to 5 sightseeing spots, including merchant houses, the Japanese Covered Bridge, museums, pagodas, and assembly halls. It also grants you access to Hoi An Ancient Town for the duration of your stay in Hoi An. Please keep the ticket with you at all times if you visit Hoi An independently later in the evening or on another day.

 

Overnight stay in Hoi An 

 

The bamboo tree is an important symbol in Vietnamese culture and daily life. The solid, straight, and tall bamboo trees represent the Vietnamese people's resilience, indomitability, and bravery. Meet a local artisan who inherited from his father skills in making bamboo and coconut products and has helped to resurrect a seemingly lost traditional craft. He has launched many artistic products from the symbolic tree of Vietnam, such as animals, puppets, and household items, with his passion for creating handicrafts. Make a pen holder or a decorative item under his supervision and take it home as a souvenir.

 

Notes:

• Duration: 2-2.5 hours (10.30-12.30; 15-17.00). combinable with sightseeing in Hoi An

• Venue: family-run workshop in Hoi An’s outskirt

• Capacity: 30pax

• Accessibility: all vehicle types

• Inclusion: Private transfer, English speaking guide, visit and interaction fee 

After breakfast, you’re free in Hoi An until our driver comes to pick you up and take you to Da Nang Airport for your flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia. Not only is Siem Reap the gateway to Angkor, but it is also well-known for its many trendy boutiques and artistic studios.
 

Join us this afternoon as we explore the world of traditional Cambodian art at Artisan d'Angkor, a social enterprise that provides training in Cambodian arts and crafts to young people from rural areas. Receive a blessing from the monks at a peaceful riverside pagoda by sitting on carpets while they chant blessings and sprinkle holy water and flowers on you. A sacred thread will be tied around your wrist, allowing to be safe from evil spirits and accidents.

 

Watch the sun go down over the lush rice paddies as you dine in style under the stars. Candlelight and torches create a peaceful and romantic atmosphere for two when the sun sets and the countryside comes alive with the evening chorus of nature. Relax and take in the tranquil feeling being surrounded by rice fields and rural countryside.

 

Notes:

• Duration: 2 hours (18.00-20.00), best time to experience: from November to June

• Venue: rural countryside, 5-7 km away from down tơn Siem Reap

• Capacity: 30pax

• Accessibility: all vehicle types

• Menu: Set menu or BBQ menu

 

Optional: Sunset quadbike tour 

Ride through the backstreets of Siem Reap on the back of a quadbike, then over dirt trails that traverse the local communities, taking in the sights and sounds of rural Cambodia as you pass houses on stilts by the river, water buffalos, cows being herded home, and many happy friendly kids waving and saying hello. Stop in the middle of a rice field for a spectacular view of the sun setting in the west. Close your eyes and relax your body and mind in a peaceful, rural setting.

 

Notes:

• Tour duration: Duration: 1.5-2 hours (17:0-18:30)

• Inclusions: English speaking guide, Quad bike (one pax per quad bike, guide, water & tissue)

 

Phare is more than just a circus; it uses modern circus techniques and traditional Cambodian storytelling to tell the country's historical, folk, and modern stories. This show is the best of its kind in Siem Reap thanks to boundless passion, intelligence, and skill of the youthful circus performers. Following the performance, meet up with the performers and learn more about the Phare Ponleu Selpak (PPS) association, which has been training children in Battambang province since they were toddlers.

 

Notes:

• Tour duration: Duration: 1 hour, everyday nightly performance for one hour Show starting from 20.00)

• Capacity: 150 pax

• Inclusions: Private roundtrip transfer, English speaking guide, show ticket

Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, Angkor Archaeological Park is one of the most culturally significant sites in Cambodia. It showcases a fascinating era in early Khmer culture and is a potent symbol of Cambodia's heritage. Today, don't waste a minute of your time exploring the wonders of the Angkor complex. Follow your guide on the remote trails in order to avoid the crowds. Angkow Wat, a modern wonder of the world, was built by King Suryavarman II in the first half of the 12th century and dedicated to to the Hindu god Vishnu. Incredibly detailed bas-reliefs depicting hundreds of exquisite carvings of Apsara, Hindu mythology, and pivotal events in that tradition's narrative will astound you. Ta Prohm, best known as the temple featured in the Tomb Raider, is the photogenic and atmospheric combination of trees growing out of the ruins and the jungle surroundings.  Learn about the history of one of the largest Khmer cities and the capital from the 12th to the 17th centuries at Angkor Thom. Marvel at the Bayon temple, which is topped by a plethora of sculpted, serene faces. The sunset over Angkor Thom's UNESCO World Heritage temples is best enjoyed with a glass of champagne and some delicious canapés while floating downstream on the holy river that circles the temple.

 

Notes:

• Tour duration: Full day (08.30-18.00)

• Accessibility: 4seats, 7seats. 16 seats, 25 seats vehicle only

 

Overnight stay in Siem Reap 

Venture off to some of the remote outer temples today in order to escape the crowds. Banteay Srei, "the Citadel of Women." This red sandstone temple, dedicated to Shiva and built in the 10th century, is one of Angkor's most important structures. Its walls are decorated with intricate carvings that have survived. Banteay Samre, the 12th Century Hindu temple often compared to a mini Angkor Wat.
 

Set out on a one-of-a-kind historical adventure to discover more about the uncivilized period of Khmer Rouge rule in Cambodia (from 1975 to 1979). Talk to a native Khmer in his remote village home to hear eyewitness accounts of life during and after the Pol Pot era. Even though there are some touching personal stories and situations that are hard to imagine, the overall message is a strong belief in joy and liberty that the local people have for their lives in the country.

 

Notes:

• Tour duration: Full day (08.30-17.00)

• Accessibility: all vehicle type (clients will have to walk around 200m from the main road to the local house in the village)

After breakfast, you will be free until time to check out of your hotel for transfer to the airport to catch your flight to Phnom Penh. Located on the banks of the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers, Phnom Penh was once known as the "Pearl of Asia," one of the most beautiful French-built cities in Indochina.
 

Spend this half-day experience by tuk-tuk with our knowledgeable local guide who is proud of his hometown's architecture. We'll take you back in time, weaving in and out of some of Phnom Penh's most well-known buildings, to see some of the finest examples of traditional Khmer, Chinese, or French architecture. Discover the French's first foray into Indochina in the early nineteenth century, as well as the cultural impact of Chinese settlers. We won't be able to enter private homes, but we'll get as close as we can to fully appreciate this creative mind's genius

 

Notes:

• Duration: 3 hours (09.00-12.00 or 14.00-17.00)

• Capacitiy: 30pax

Optional: Phnom Penh night food safari

This evening, take a stroll through town and you'll likely come across many vendors selling a wide selection of Khmer snacks, fruits, and meals. The tour takes you to the busy night market for a unique glimpse into the nightly life of this busy city and discovers unforgettable street dishes. You have the option of trying insects like grasshoppers, spiders, cockroaches, and crickets, which may look scary and taste awful to some. Experience all your senses being stimulated as your guide explains the history, origins, and preparation of dishes in traditional Khmer cuisine.

 

Notes:

• Duration: 3 hours (18.00-21.00)

• Capacity: 30pax

 

Overnight stay in Phnom Penh 

Crossing into Tan Chau, a thriving border town where you can take a local rickshaw called a xe loi for a ride around town or pedal 18 kilometers to the picturesque island of Long Khanh, you can say "Good morning, Vietnam" as you do so. In the afternoon, we will explore the verdant plantations of My An Hung, a typical village in the Mekong Delta. One of the locals has invited us to their house, where we will be treated to a Unicorn dance and fruit from the area while listening to traditional folk songs sung by the villagers. If you'd rather see the sights from the saddle, you can rent a bike instead.

Overnight on Aqua Mekong Cruise, First Deck Suite

Start the day at the Binh Thanh mat weaving village or head to Sa Dec to explore the hustle and bustle market and visit the household of Marguerite Duras's infamous lover, Mr. Huynh Thuy Le. Our sampan meanders through the water as we pass solitary fishermen in long tail boats as we make our way downstream toward Cai Be. Then, our skiffs will dock at a wooden pier where you  can walk or cycle past houses with wooden houses and open courtyards, some of which date back more than a century and are still inhabited by friendly locals who will likely let us peek inside.

Overnight on Aqua Mekong Cruise, First Deck Suite

Bid farewellto the Aqua Mekong after a delicious breakfast, we visit Vinh Trang Pagoda, one of the largest Mahayana Buddhist temples in the region, en route to Ho Chi Minh City. The eclectic architecture, large Buddha statues, and impressive bonsai tree collection are all immediately noticeable.
 

Venture to a hidden apartment that houses a cocktail bar and kitchen for a truly memorable dining experiecne. Engage in a friendly conversation with passionate mixologists who are delighted to prepare unique menu courses paired in flavors with some uniquely mixed cocktails. Savor some simple traditional dishes while observing the skillful bartender performing his talent in blending the best ingredients for your signature drinks. The experience facilitates a great opportunity for you to chat with the bartender to understand what inspires him in creating these special drinks.
 

Notes:

• Tour duration: 2 hours (18.30-20.30)

• Capacity: 10pax

This morning, go on a thrilling tour of Saigon's historic sites aboard a vintage sidecar motorbike with a personal driver. The ride takes you to some stunning landmarks with fascinating historical connections: 

Reunification Palace, the former residence of the Indochina Governor-General and later of the President of the Republic of Southern, Notre Dame Cathedral, a red-brick structure with twin spires modeled after the original in Paris, Central Post Office, designed by Gustav Eiffel before he built the Eiffel Tower. Cho Lon, a colorful Chinatown with mysterious temples, must be a place to be discovered. Stroll through China town's narrow streets to truly appreciate the local houses, pagodas, and temples' Chinese architecture. Unwind in a coffee shop that was once used as a safe haven and weapon chamber by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War.

 

Notes:

• Tour duration: 6-7 hours (08.00-15.00)

• Maximum 2 passengers per vehicle: one in the sidecar and the other riding pillion on the attached motorbike. If neither guest prefers to ride pillion, a surcharge will apply.

 

This afternoon, take in the waterway for floating on Saigon River to notice the real life of this amazingly diverse and rapidly changing city. Observe a patchwork of magnificent historical and modern constructions of the city and the sunset over the city’s ever-changing skyline.. Circles around the island for its remarkably undeveloped space filled with palm trees and rice paddies despite being just some minutes from the downtown while you enjoy the cool breeze and relaxing atmosphere with cold drinks and finger food

 

Notes:

• Tour duration: 2-2.5 hour (16.30-19.00), including transfer and cruising time

• This experience is combinable with the city tour

 

Overnight stay in Ho Chi Minh City

Morning breakfast at your hotel before transferring to the airport for your departing flight. 

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Accommodation bases on lowest room category of each hotel. Higher room grade can be arranged subject to availability and additional charges

 

• Hanoi: City Sofitel Metropol Hotel - Premium

• Halong: Indochine Premium Cruise – Junior Suite

• Hoian: Anantara Hoian – Deluxe Balcony

• Siem Reap: Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa - Superior

• Phnom Penh: Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra – Superior 

• Mekong: Aqua Mekong Cruise – First Deck – Non Balcony Cabin – First Deck

• Ho Chi Minh City: Park Hyatt Saigon Hotel - Park Room City View