This morning, embark on a culinary adventure with a local, highly-motivated woman chef who has been in the industry for over ten years. Sample some local specialties while she explains the customs surrounding Vietnamese cuisine. Check out the spices and herbs that are so crucial to Vietnamese cooking. Take a walk up a so-called "food alley" to peruse the fare at nearby establishments. 

 

Discover the history and contributions of Vietnamese women at the Women's Museum of Vietnam, a fascinating look into their culture, displaying not only their costume and garments but also some fashions and crafts. Walk through the "36 streets of 36 wares" of the Old Quarter. Explore the fascinating maze of back streets, test your bargaining skills, and bring home unique souvenirs to remember this memorable afternoon. There are 2 locations awaiting you, each with its own fascinating history: a handmade flower shop owned by the talented woman known as "The Queen of Hanoi Silk Flowers," where you can admire her skill at creating a silk flower; as well as a quaint store that represents Vietnamese silk culture with a long history of craftsmanship.

 

Overnight stay in Hanoi City

 

Notes:

• Tour duration: Full day (08.00 -17.00)

 

Chau Van, which originated in the Red River delta and primarily practiced in northern Vietnam, is a religious form of art that combines singing and dancing and is frequently performed in the religion's mediumship ritual (hau Dong), which worships Mother Goddess and national heroes.

Notes:

• Tour duration: 2 hours (18.30 – 20.30)

• Inclusions: Transfer, English speaking guide, ticket performance 

 

Inscribed in 2009 on the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding list, Ca Trù is a complex form of sung poetry with lyrics in traditional Vietnamese poetic forms. Three performers make up Ca Tru groups: a female singer who uses breathing techniques and vibrato to create unique ornamented sounds while playing the clappers or striking a wooden box, and two instrumentalists who play a three-stringed lute and a praise drum. 

Notes:

• Tour duration: 2 hours (18.30 – 20.30)

• Inclusions: Transfer, English speaking guide, ticket performance 

After breakfast at hotel, we drive to Sapa (350 km northwest of Hanoi). The town lies amidst beautiful mountains and is surrounded by brilliant green terraced rice fields, the tiny ethnic minorities villages dotted upon the hillside and the Fansipan Mountain. On arrival, visit a local handicraft textile workshop to get a better understanding of the traditional method of H’mong ethnic group that has been handed down for generations. As H’mong people don’t have their written language, this is their unique way of communication by using special symbols to describe their lives and then weaving them on a textile that is made from natural materials. Participate in a hands-on experience to understand a deeply step-by-step process from weaving, drawing by batik to dying a textile product with the guidance of a local artisan.
 

Notes:

• Tour duration: 3 hours (14.00 - 17.00)

The day will be filled with some easy hiking as well as fascinating conversation with an ethnic minority woman who has a special background. The 1.5-hour trek is along a paved road, mostly downhill, and passes by rice paddies, vegetable gardens, and villages inhabited by ethnic minorities. Continue walking uphill for another half an hour to reach the village of Lao Chai, where you will meet a member of the Hmong minority who was featured on the Forbes Vietnam in 2016 for her positive impact on the lives of her people and the community. She has since founded a social enterprise that provides resources for women and girls in rural areas to pursue education and economic independence. Time for her to share with you her life story, and her effoer to bring the new hope for a better life to women in her community
 

Return to the downtown, relax and rejuvenate your feet with a 60-minute spa treatment. 

 

Notes:

• Tour duration: 5 hours (08.30-14.00)

Free at leisure to explore Sa Pa town or enjoy shopping before transferring back to Hanoi, arriving at your hotel at the end of the day. 

Overnight stay in Ha Noi

 

Departure in the morning for the cable car ride up Mount Fansipan. At 3,143m (10,312ft) above sea level, Mount Fansipan is the highest peak in Vietnam, earning it the distinction of being "the Roof of Indochina". Enjoy wonderful panoramic views of the green hills and valleys of northeastern Vietnam from the world's longest three-rope cable car route, which also has the highest ascent between departure and arrival. Instead of the previous two days of trekking, the trip by cable car will take only 15 minutes. On a clear day, you can see beyond the vast horizon to neighboring China and Laos, as well as views of the Muong Hoa Valley below you from the summit of Mount Fansipan. 

 

Notes:

• Tour duration: Half day (08.30-12.30)

• This trip is not suitable for people who don’t like heights

• It’s pretty cold at the mountain top, please make sure you have enough warm clothing and a light raincoat

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. Arrival in Halong and embarkation on the cruise, accompanied by lunch on board. Enjoy tours and/or 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. The boat anchors for the night amid the karst formations at the conclusion of the day. Dinner is served onboard

Note: Cruise itinerary is subject to change due to weather and operation conditions.

Optional: Seaplane scenic flight over Ha Long Bay 
• Duration: 25 minutes flight 
• 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.

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.

The Ao Dai (traditional Vietnamese long dress) is an undeniable symbol of Vietnamese cultures as it has carried the national identity and spirit, and has never lost its unique vitality, since its creation. The Ao Dai is considered also a distinctive and elegant beauty of the Vietnamese. Today, pretend to be a Vietnamese ladies by dressing up in Ao Dai and explore the Hoi An Ancient Town on foot. Inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site since 1999, Hoi An has been beautifully preserved by its the streets still lined with old tile-roofed shop houses, shady pagodas, and colorful communal halls. Zigzag through scenic narrow streets and alleys that offer you great photo opportunities with the beautiful background of yellow walls or local life.

 

Notes:

• Tour duration: Half day (08.30-12.30) 

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

• The Hoi An entrance ticket is valid for entry to 5 sightseeing spots in Hoi An including merchant houses, the Japanese Covered Bridge, museums, pagodas and assembly halls for 24 hours. It also provides entry into Hoi An Ancient Town for as long as you are in Hoi An. Please keep the entrance ticket with you at all times should you independently visit Hoi An later in the evening or on another day

 

Enjoy sight, sound, and flavor of the market before returning to the cooking school, an elegant old building with a French colonial-style exterior and traditional Hoi An interior. After that, get your hands dirty in the kitchen with a hands-on cooking class led by your chef who is brimming with enthusiasm. The chef will walk you through the unique preparation methods and typical ingredient combinations that are used in arranging and garnishing the foods from Central Vietnam. Take some time to savor what you and the chef have created together. Return to the Old Quarter and join the unique public activity at the outdoor stage along the Hoai River every night: central Vietnamese Bai Choi singing has been added to the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
 

Overnight stay in Hoi An.

 

Notes:

• Tour duration: Half day (15.00-19.00)

This morning, venture to Hoi An’s outskirts to engage with an independent writer, artist, and researcher, who specializes in the Cham culture and contributes to preserve and introduce this unique culture to international friends. In order to get an in-depth knowledge of Cham history and culture, explore her private Cham culture space which is home to daily utensils, objects, instruments, and costumes of the Cham people. She will offer you a unique insight into this formerly powerful civilization. Enjoy Champa dance performances from the lost Kingdom and then drive to Hue. 
 

Travel to the Hai Van pass to see lush mountains, blue skies, and Lang Co beach. From the peak of the mountain, Lang Co beach looks absolutely stunning with its verdant trees, clear waters, and cloud-covered mountains. Check-into your hotel and then head out to Dong Ba Market to try some of the regional specialties, such as Banh Beo, Banh nam, and Banh loc (varieties of soft rice cakes)

 

Notes:

• Tour duration: Full day (08.00-17.00)

 

This evening, visit the home of Vietnamese singer who is a royal descendant. She began her career in Paris in 1986 and moved to Switzerland and performed in Vietnamese community music recitals in France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and elsewhere. The host will greet you with green tea flavored with lotus seeds  and guide you to explore her beautiful home of this accomplished performer and visual artist, soak in her collection of works. Have a chat with her to get an insight of her effort building her private theater and her passion with visual and performed art.

 

Notes:

• Tour duration: 1.5 hour (17.00 – 18.30)

• Capacity: 70pax

 

Overnight stay in Hue 

Hue is the best city to observe the lay-out of Citadel or Royal tomb based on Fengshui. Meet a profound Fengshui specialist to get a glimpse of the history and practice. According to Feng Shui, the river's presence in front of the Citadel can bring fortune to the Dynasty, as water represents wealth, prosperity, and power. Meanwhile, the mountains in the background serve as a protection against evil spirits, and the two sandbanks act as sentries. After visiting, follow her steps to Princess Ngoc Son's former home. The current owner also has an interesting collection of artifacts and mementos from the former Royal Empire. Enjoy a traditional Hue lunch while learning about the city's rich history and listening to some live traditional music performed by the host.
 

The next stop is at the private home of the late Diem Phung Thi, a famous sculptor and professor. Here you can see more than 250 works of art, including sculptures, embroidered images, and items crafted from wood and precious metals. Proceed to the XQ Historical Village to witness the exquisite silk embroidery crafted by some of Hue's most renowned craftspeople. At last, find out more about Phap Lam, a copper art form that combines enamel painting with carving. Famous Enamel Hue expert Mr. Triet Do has just restored the art that arose in Hue in the early 19th century during Emperor Minh Mang's reign. Witness the entire Phap Lam process and have the chance to make your very own or purchase one as a lovely memento.
 

Notes:

• Tour duration: Full day (08.30 – 17.00)

 

Meet a renowned female chef responsible for reviving Salt Rice, one of the most opulent and symbolic dishes in Hue, the former Imperial capital. Each dish is prepared in one of three ways: frying, steaming, or braising, and there are up to nine different types of salt to choose from, including sesame, lemongrass, galingale, and shrimp salts. Talk to her about her efforts to find and preserve ancient recipes of her royal family. 

 

Notes:

• Tour duration: 1.5-2  hours (19.00-21.00)

• Capacity: Max. 15 pax      

After breakfast, check-out, then transfer to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City (formerly known as “Saigon”). With over eight million inhabitants and four million motorbikes, Saigon is truly a city that never sleeps.
 

With your guide, explore the city's top attractions: War Remnants Museum, with photos and artifacts from the past, 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. Unwind in a coffee shop that was once used as a safe haven and weapon chamber by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War.
 

The coloful Chinatown is an essential part of any journey to Saigon to appreciate the local houses, pagodas, and temples' Chinese architecture. Take in the ethereal architecture of ancient temples, admire the huge burning incense coils while your guide explains how Chinese immigrants brought their culture, religion, and philosophy to Vietnam. 
 

Note:

• Tour duration: Full day (08:30 - 17:00)

• Outside visit only due to the renovation at Notre Dame Cathedral until further notice from the government

 

Overnight stay in Ho Chi Minh City

Pay the visit to the Women's Cultural House, a popular meet up for Saigonese women. Along with a series of cultural activities and exhibitions to celebrate the beauty and talent of Vietnamese women, the House also offers some special classes to help local women achieve a better life. Participate in some daily activities (cooking, paper flower making, painting, embroidery…) at the House with local women while listening to their stories about their daily and future dreams.

 

Notes: 

• Tour duration: Half day (08.30-12.00) 

• The schedule of the class is subject to change 

 

You want to have fun with shopping? Let us tailor–make the shopping stops and draw the route based on your special interests. Our young local fashionista who has shown her strong passion and amazing taste on fashion, accessories and healthy products since she was 8, will accompany and advise you the most appropriate local shops of Saigon. Opportunity to stop at a shop where you will engage in an interactive casual talk with a passionate designer for an overview about the diversity of the Vietnamese fashion concept (subject to availability)

 

Notes: 

• Tour duration: Half day (afternoon only, 14:00-17:30) 

• Capacity: Maximum 6pax per group

 

This day trip takes you to Ben Tre, which is considered to be one of the gateways to the Mekong Delta. As you make your way out of the bustling central business district, take in the rice paddies and fruit farms that are located along the route. Join us on a relaxing cruise down the Mekong River aboard the lovely Apricot boat, which is a newly-designed river barge inspired by local traditions. Observe the landscapes of the countryside and the riverside communities. Shore excursions include visiting a tropical fruit farmer's home and tasting special rural flavors, along with a family-run business to learn how coconuts are processed and to enjoy country hospitality. Relax while discovering more of the Delta from a small rowing sampan as you are paddle slowly through the maze of small canals covered by water coconut trees. 
 

Finish your memorable journey with a delicious lunch featuring Mekong Delta dishes at the serene Apricot Riverside restaurant while talking to some of the female veterans of the Long-Haired Army about their experiences in the war and how it has shaped their lives today.

 

Notes:

• Tour duration: 7-8 hours (08:00-17:00)

• The cycling distance can be 3, 5, or 7 km, depending on your physical ability and length you desire 

 

In the Mekong delta, sampans are a vital part of daily life. Transporting goods and conducting business along the complex waterway network of the Mekong delta is less expensive and risky. A sampan donation is a meaningful and generous act that will help a low-income family improve their quality of life. Taking a trip to the Mekong delta and helping to host a small sampan donation ceremony will allow you to witness the joy you've helped to bring about.

After breakfast, you will be free at your resort until transferred to the airport for your departure flight.

----------- End of service --------

 

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

 

• Hanoi:  Sofitel Metropol Hotel - Premium

• Sapa: Silk Path Grand Sapa – Classic Garden

• Halong: Indochine Premium Cruise – Junior Suite

• Hoian: Anantara Hoi An – Deluxe Balcony

• Hue: Azerai La Residence Hotel – Superior Standard

• Ho Chi Minh City: Park Hyatt Hotel – Park room City View