Vietnam Culture and Heritage

Arriving at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, meet our tour guide and drive to your hotel. Time to relax after your journey.

In the evening, you will join a cooking class to learn how to cook some typical Vietnamese dishes which represent the north of Vietnam. First visit to a local market to have overview about the food and ingredients, accompanied by the chef and have a chance to buy or bargain as a local people at a local market. Then come back the restaurant, Vietnamese chef will prepare and help you to cook your dinner in traditional manners. Enjoy dinner with what-you-have-made.

Overnight in Hanoi

You will have the whole day to explore in depth the capital city of Hanoi. Beginning with a visit to Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum. This imposing monument, was constructed from marble and granite and takes the form of a stylized lotus (closed Mondays and Fridays). Also visit nearby Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts and the One Pillar Pagoda, a symbol of Hanoi. Continue on to the ancient Taoist Temple of Quan Thanh, where lies the genie protector of the city (or Tran Quoc Pagoda located on the shores of Lake West). Next visit the Temple of Literature, a structure dedicated to Confucius, constructed in 1070, the compound soon became first Vietnam’s university.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, where you will have the opportunity to sample some regional delicacies.
Afternoon visit to the renowned Museum of Ethnography (closed Mondays), which houses an interesting collection of artifacts relating to the mosaic of ethnic groups that inhabit Vietnam.

Back to downtown for refreshment by Hoan Kiem Lake, visit Hoan Kiem Lake (Restored Sword Lake) with Ngoc Son Temple before relaxing seat on cyclo tour through the Old Quarter, also known as the 36 streets which have always sold the same wares, this bustling area of narrow streets is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. It’s a great place to explore with plenty of photo opportunities.

Finish the city tour Hanoi with a stop at the food market in Hang Be street. Free for a stroll along the boulevards of the old colonial quarter where you can view some of the best French architecture.

You might opt for a street food evening tour and a performance of the traditional water puppet show.

After dinner, transfer to railway station for the overnight train to Lao Cai. Enjoy the experience the romance of overnight train travel.

Upon arrival early morning in Lao Cai, driver await and transfer to Sapa town. Have breakfast and relax at a restaurant, enjoy Sapa pure atmosphere.

The day is devoted to a beautiful hike through the breathtaking scenery of Sapa valley. Start by road that descends in the wake of the street Cau May (6 km). En route, admire the rice terraces hidden behind mist of the morning, a truly awe-inspiring sight. Follow a small track and cross the Muong Hoa River and pass well tended rice terraces on your way to the Black Hmong village of Lao Chai. Continuing through the colourful rice terraces you will reach the village of Ta Van Giay. As you continue your trek along the Muong Hoa River you will cross a small suspension bridge, roughly 2km from the settlement. Here you can discover a fascinating collection of rock carvings. These engravings depict some beautiful images of man, stilt houses and some beautiful decorative patterns. Lunch at a home in the village. Continue your day’s trekking to the village of Giang Ta Chai, take your homestay accommodation in the village and join with the family in their daily life.

Sunrise breakfast at homestay and free to discover around by yourself.
Our car await and transfer you back to Sapa for a short trek to Cat Cat village. You first sneak through the market and leave the busy town behind. After a couple of minutes, you will follow a road going down hill to Cat Cat village. Stop by a waterfall and a hydroelectric station. Take a rest here before you trek downhill to get Sin Chai village.

Enjoy beautiful scenery on the way back to Sapa town for lunch. Free time to discover by yourself in the afternoon. You can visit the daily market Sapa where ethnic groups come to exchange their agricultural products or sell their traditional costumes. Then you go to climb the mountain Ham Rong (Dragon jaw), where you can not miss the opportunity to take beautiful photos of the region.

In late afternoon, have shower at hotel and then car transfer to Lao Cai station. Dinner. Embarking on board the train to Hanoi. Overnight on board

Arriving in Hanoi station early morning. Meet our guide and transfer to hotel for freshen up and breakfast.
Free time for shopping in the bustling Old Quarter of Hanoi or at leisure before transferring to the airport for a flight to Da Nang.

Upon arrival in Da Nang, you will have a brief look at the remarkable Hindu statuary in the Cham Museum before leaving for Hoi An. Checking in your hotel and rest.

Hoi An is a former busy trading port between the 16th to 18th centuries. Today Hoi An is well-known for its restored architecture, homemade silk, expert tailors and delicious food. You will take a walking tour around to visit the former merchants’ homes – Hoi An old town, Chua Ong Pagoda, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, Tan Ky House – a 200 year old ancestral house and stroll across 17th century covered bridge built by Japanese craftsmen and finally the colourful riverside market Hoi An. You also see a numerous art galleries and tailor shops, get some made-to-order clothes if you like.

Dinner suggested for a street food tour in Hoi An to discover the flavours and dishes that make this town and its cuisine so unique. Alongside an expert local guide, your journey introduces you to the stories behind Hoi An’s most iconic dishes at the town’s most famous eateries.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Today your day getting to know rural Vietnam in Hoi An surrounding. Ready to ride a bicycle to a local farm in Tra Que village. You will take a trip around the vegetable garden and join the farmers in preparing the land and fertilizing it with seaweed from the local lake. Continuing doing some next steps such as: raking the ground, sowing, watering greens, picking greens and many more gardening activities. Lunch will consist of many local delicacies including ‘tam huu’ spring roll, Banh xeo or local pancake of Hoi An.

Relax by soaking your feet in Vietnamese herbs. This is one of the ways to refresh yourself after the hard time in garden.
Head back to Hoi An and take a short river cruise to meet some fisherman for a hands-on lesson in net-fishing. Here you’ll gain a deep appreciation for how difficult (but amusing) it is to paddle bamboo basket boats.

Free evening at your hotel or head out to the riverside promenade to explore its lantern-lit charm under cover of night.

Morning transfer to Da Nang airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh city (HCMC).

Upon arrival in HCMC (or also known as Saigon), your guide will be waiting to transfer to your hotel.
Start your tour of Saigon with a visit to the War Remnants Museum, you will see the story of the city’s darkest and most tragic hours during the Vietnam War.

Next visit to the Reunification Palace, formally known as the century-old Presidential Office, which witnessed the growth of Ho Chi Minh City during peacetime and throughout the Vietnam War until its end in 1975. Continue to the nearby French colonial area, including a stop at the impressive Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral, discover the magnificent neo-Romanesque architecture as you take in the tranquil atmosphere inside. At the opposite Central Post Office, one of the oldest buildings in Ho Chi Minh City, learn about this significant landmark – the busiest post office in Vietnam.

Then stroll down follow Dong Khoi Street, which figured prominently in Graham Greene’s famous Vietnam novel, The Quiet American, as Rue Catinat. The walk ends at the Saigon Opera House. From a bomb shelter to housing the parliamentary Lower House, the Opera House has had an interesting history.

About 2-hour drive ahead to My Tho in Mekong region you will get away from Ho Chi Minh bustling city. Get on a small boat and then start sailing around four beautiful Islets: Dragon, Unicorn, Tortoise and Phoenix on Mekong River. Visit Mekong traditional houses at Quoi An village (make all from coconut tree). See coconut collection set and how the local make handicrafts from coconut trunk and shell. Visit a coconut candy workshop, taste candy and honey with tea or wine, enjoy seasonal fruits and listening to traditional music. An adventurous sampan ride in palm shading creeks will be the next experience of the riverside region. Lunch to be served at local restaurant.

After lunch, continue the drive to Vinh Long, check-in homestay on an island.
You will find it so amazing to bike on village paths to see the local farms, houses, real life and the ancestral ways to pick up fruits in Mekong Delta.
Cooking some dishes with the host. Enjoy your dinner and have cup of tea or rice wine when talking together. You can ask the local about the culture, people, history of this Island. They do not mind to answer some personal questions.

Overnight at homestay in Vinh Long.

Enjoy a relaxing morning with home breakfast. Transfer to a local boat to visit colorful Cai Be floating market. Then, an optional stop can be made at local workshops where you can see how rices paste, coconut candy and pop-rice, pop-corn are made. Our boat will take you deeper into the countryside on smaller canals and to enjoy the peaceful time before heading to Vinh Long town, visit the local market. Have lunch at a local restaurant and drive back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Our fantastic holiday comes to an end. Be at your own leisure until transferring to airport for your departure flight.