On arrival, welcome by local tour guide and transfer to hotel check-in.
The rest of the evening is free on your own activities or take complimentary history tour to “the Lost Bomb Shelter” of your hotel, an honorable mentioned in 2013 UNESCO Heritage Awards (please make reservation in advanced).
Overnight at Sofitel Metropole Hanoi / Premium Room 2 Nights
Today we spend a full day to explore Hanoi, the city’s cultural heart that bears trace of centuries of changing dynasties. We visit Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest pagoda in the city. Driving through Hanoi French Quarter passing by Opera house, Hoan Kiem Lake, and political center Ba Dinh Square. We visit Van Mieu, a famous historical and cultural relic consisting of the Temple of Literature and Vietnam’s first university. Then enjoy a traditional cyclo ride through Hanoi Old Quarter. We continue walking along the narrow streets of the old quarter to Hang Be market. There are many varieties of flowers arranged ready to sell. A lot of delicious confectionery is displayed along the street. Lunch will be served at a local authentic Vietnamese restaurant. After lunch visit “Hanoi Hilton”, where American prisoners of war were once confined. Then we continue to explore the habits of locals, stop at the popular Highland Coffee Shop; you will have the best view of the Hanoi city while enjoying sips of coffee dripping from the filter. Return to hotel and the rest of evening is free at leisure.
Morning, leave your hotel and drive to Halong Bay, UNESCO World Heritage Natural Site. Upon arrival, transfer by tender to the Orchid Cruise. On the way, you will have a chance to see Cai Trap Canal. Onboard the Orchid Cruise with a refreshing welcome drink, cruise briefing and safety instructions. Start cruising and explore Halong Bay.
The Orchid Cruise proceeds to Da Chong Islet, where you can see a lighthouse built by the French over 100 years ago. We have lunch before continuing our journey via the islets of Con Vit and Gia Luan. These amazing limestone karst formations rise up out of the sea in an impressive manner. This area is untouched, as not many cruise ships use the route via the Cat Ba Island – Thoi Quyt area – Coc Ngoi islet – through Cua Van to Ba Trai Dao area.
We progress to the Ba Trai Dao beach area of Lan Ha Bay- a separate part of Halong Bay. The region is known for its pristine beaches, spectacular beauty, and approximately 400 fascinating islands. Unlike the main Ha Long Bay, the islands of Lan Ha Bay are forested, and most are small in stature. You can kayaking or simply just enjoy swimming. This is a great experience, immersed in the crystal clear waters of the bay, in the Ba Trai Dao area.
Returning to the Orchid Cruise you can watch the spectacular sunset view over the Gulf of Tonkin or join a traditional cooking class.
Dinner is served at 19:30. After dinner, enjoy the landscape of the bay up on the top deck. Join squid fishing at night or watching movie.
Overnight Orchid Cruise/ 1 Night
There is a Tai Chi demonstration on the sundeck at the break of dawn. After breakfast continue our journey by canoe to explore the Sang Toi Cave.
9:30 return to Orchid Cruise boat for checkout procedures. Enjoy a delightful buffet breakfast while sailing across its thousands of islets and visiting some of its major highlights. Disembark at 11:35 at Dinh Vu port. Farewell, transfer to Hai Phong airport for flight to Saigon. On arrival in Saigon, welcome from your tour guide and transfer to hotel check-in.
Overnights at Park Hyatt Hotel Saigon / Park Room 2 Nights
Option 1: Cu Chi Tunnels – Saigon City Tour
In the morning, transfer to Cu Chi. Its used to be a bitter battleground for many years during Vietnam War. We visit “underground village”, an intricate network of over 200km-long tunnels at Ben Dinh. We have experience by trying a very short segment of this labyrinth of interlaced tunnels. Lunch will be served at Chopstick Restaurant Saigon
After lunch, take a city tour to visit Reunification Palace, Central Post office, passing by the Hotel de Ville (City Hall), the colonial quarter Opera House. Then stop at Ben Thanh Market before transfer back to hotel. The rest of day is free on your own activities.
Option 2: Cooking Class – Saigon City Tour
Today, we will join “Grain by Luke Nguyen cooking class”. Grain studio has its own fresh market on site. You will hand on cooking 4-course meal, and demystify Vietnamese cuisine so you will gain a new-found confidence that will inspire you to cook more at home. Lunch will be your own prepared and served at the cooking class. It will be a great Vietnamese cultural and culinary experience.
After lunch, take a city tour to visit Reunification Palace, Central Post office, passing by the Hotel de Ville (City Hall), the colonial quarter Opera House. Then stop at Ben Thanh Market before transfer back to hotel. The rest of day is free on your own activities.
We will collect you at the Ho Chi Minh meeting point and transfer you by air-conditioned coach to My Tho dock where we will welcome you aboard the Aqua Mekong. Settle into your floating retreat, with its window wall conferring an endlessly captivating panorama. Enjoy these private Mekong moments on your California king bed, terrace or daybed.
Overnight Aqua Mekong Cruise / 4 Nights
Begin the day at Binh Thanh mat weaving village or opt to visit Sa Dec where we will peruse the vibrant market and see the famous house of Marguerite Duras’ legendary lover, Mr. Huynh Thuy Le. In the afternoon, visit a typical Mekong Delta village called My An Hung where we will walk through verdant plantations. We will be invited to a local’s home to taste local fruits while hearing traditional folk songs performed by villagers followed by a unique unicorn dance. A 17-kilometer Biking option is also available.
Travel by skiff along Bassac Canal to Chau Doc floating market then head off by van to Long Son Pagoda atop Sam Mountain. Ask the monks about their age-old Buddhist practices. Return via the bustling morning market. Optional 18 kilometers bike ride on Long Khanh Island or take a rickshaw ride to visit Tan Chau Market with chef. After lunch, relax by the pool, try traditional Khmer massage or learn to cook Mekong inspired dishes while we cross the border.
On this river of time we admire dexterous Khmer artisans dyeing and weaving kroma, the ubiquitous item no Khmer lives without. Explore the riverbank on two wheels if you wish, past Buddhist temples and thatch houses perched on spindly wooden stilts while white oxen wade just offshore. After lunch, we board our marine-grade aluminum skiffs and head towards the tamarind trees of Preah Prosop, a remote village little changed over several lifetimes.
We show off the Cambodian capital to our passengers by motorized tuk-tuk, the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and the National Museum of Cambodia, home to the world’s largest collection of Khmer art. For those who wish, we visit the Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocide or choose to shop at the Russian Market. Disembark in Phnom Penh. Transfer to local restaurant for lunch. After lunch visit Siem Reap Market (if time permit) before transfer to the airport for flight to Siem Reap. Arrive in Siem Reap, you have welcome from your tour guide and transfer to hotel check-in. The rest of evening is at leisure.
Overnight at Raffles Grand D’Angkor Siem Reap / State Room 2 nights
In the morning, visit the National Angkor Museum for an overview of Angkor history before heading to the famous Angkor Wat, the world’s largest temple with the longest intricately carved bas-relief panels. Explore this 3-tier pyramidal structure with massive galleries of thousand Buddha, interior walls, and niches decorated with stone aspires (celestial dancers) and devatas (goddesses). Take a walk around the top terrace for a great view of Angkor. After lunch, visit Angkor Thom means the “Great City” in Khmer. The 12th-century royal Buddhist city especially famed for its grand Bayon temple. Also including the South Gate, Bapoun, the Terrace of the Elephant, and the Terrace of the Leper King. The tour ends with a hike up Phnom Bakheng for spectacular sunset views of Angkor Wat.
Spend the morning explore Banteay Srei, the Citadel of Women with its very attractive carvings. Next visit Ta Prohm – the 12th-century temple that has been left largely unrestored and is in its natural state surrounded by jungle with massive Banyan roots and limbs enveloping the stone-like tentacles. After lunch, visit Les Artisan D’Angkor and Siem Reap Market before transfer to the hotel. Transfer to airport for departure.
