Tour Overview:

Blessed with a ravishing coastline, emerald- green mountains, breathtaking national parks, dynamic cities, outstanding cultural interest and one of the world’s best cuisines, Vietnam has it all. In this tour city, countryside, and sea meet. Your family will take a cyclo ride through the Old Quarter of ’36 streets’ in Hanoi, meet a puppet magician, bicycle in the countryside, have a cooking class, check out wood carvers, weavers, and more in Hoi An. Take a sunset basket boat cruise and float colored lanterns in the river. Enjoy a Vespa ride in Saigon and try the diversity of dishes along the way.
Add a 3-night visit to Cambodia. Explore the magnificent Khmer ruins of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. Visit the School of Arts and a Silk Farm. The amazing Cambodian Circus show highlights traditional and modern theatre, dance, acrobatic feats, and juggling.

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Day 1 Monday – Arrive Hanoi

Arrive this evening in Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital for nearly 1,000 years. Historical emphasis on the arts and learning stipulates that Hanoi’s buildings remain small, simple and in harmony with nature. You are met at the airport and escorted to your hotel.

Apricot Hotel is a new boutique property with sweeping views of Hoan Kiem Lake.
Its 123 luxuriously appointed rooms feature original paintings and sculptures by renowned Vietnamese artists. Each of the guestrooms and suites incorporates classic neo-classical design with cutting edge comforts for modern living.
Elegant rooms feature courtyard views, free Wi-Fi, flat-screens, and bathrooms with rainfall showers, plus paintings and sculptures by local artists.
There are 2 restaurants, a tea lounge, and a rooftop bar. Other amenities include a rooftop pool, a spa, and a gym.

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Day 2 Tuesday – Hanoi (B,L)

This morning we explore Hanoi’s illustrious history. Pass the imposing marble edifice housing the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum before moving on to his wooden stilt house and the One Pillar Pagoda. Stop at the first university of Vietnam, the Temple of Literature. We have arranged lunch at Koto Villa – A Training Restaurant. KOTO (Know One Teach One) trains disadvantaged youth for careers in the restaurant industry. Good Food and a Great Cause The balance of the day is at leisure.

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Day 3 Wednesday – Hanoi (B,L)

In the morning, we will meet the water puppet “magician.” Learn more about this traditional art and how to make the puppets. Start your exploration with a short walk through the Hanoi backstreets, alive with daily activities. Later, take a one-hour cyclo ride through Hanoi’s Old Quarter. It is such fun to catch glimpses of the traditional crafts and shops.
Lunch at Pizza 4 P’s Pizza 4 P’s has an interesting story: they have their own cheese factory and raise the vegetables for a farm to pizza experience

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Day 4 Thursday – Hanoi / Ky Son (B,L,D)

After breakfast drive to Ky Son, a traditional village outside of Hanoi. On arrival take a walk to explore the area. There will be a cooking class followed by lunch. Take a bicycle ride with a local guide to discover Ky Son, and the surrounding farming communities. Visit Duong Lam ancient village, Then ride back along the paths of Thang Thac village to discover a temple along the way. Return to Ky Son and enjoy some local snacks, such as maize, sweet potatoes, cassava, and peanuts (depending on the season). Take a traditional, refreshing steam bath with fragrant herbs (lemon grass, pomelo leaves, holy basil leaves) before dinner. You may observe the evening Buddhist worship if you choose. After dinner a foot bath of warm water with ginger, salt and medicinal herbs will surely be refreshing before bedtime.
Overnight at Moon Garden Homestay
This is the perfect place for a family stay, to get a real taste of Vietnam rural daily life and culture .Moon Garden Home Stay is located in Ky Son Village It is 33 miles from Hanoi City Center. Wooden houses have been carefully restored. An unforgettable experience.

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Day 5 Friday – Ky Son / Hanoi /Danang/ Hoi An (B,D)

Early in the morning, join in Yi Jin Ying traditional exercises to energize you . After breakfast we will walk around Ky Son village to further discover the countryside .We’ll transfer to Hanoi Airport for our flight to Danang and drive to Hoi An. Afternoon at leisure.
The evening begins with a private jeep ride from your hotel to the local port. Board a boat that will cruise along the river. Enjoy the day-end ambiance while having a Vietnamese family-style candle-lit 6 – course meal. The cruise journey continues to the town riverfront where shops’ and restaurants’ colourful lanterns give you a magnificent view of Hoi An reflecting on the calm water. Disembark at the Hoi An dock for a walk through the night market and the Japanese Bridge before transferring back to your hotel
Overnight in Hoi An.

Hotel Royal Hoi An, MGallery Grand Deluxe room
Hotel Royal Hoi An, MGallery is a place of heritage and romance. Right next to the majestic Old Quarter of Hoi An and bordered by the tranquil Thu Bon River The Hotel features a harmonious blend of Japanese tradition and Indochinese luxury where “art de recevoir” enhances local discovery and shapes memorable moments. Discover an impressive range of experiences at the hotel featuring 187 beautifully appointed rooms and suites, a rooftop pool and bar with sweeping views overlooking Hoi An and Thu Bon river, an Art-Nouveau outdoor pool on the ground level, a Japanese restaurant, an exclusive spa and so much more. This 5-star hotel brings boutique luxury to the banks of the tranquil Thu Bon River, whisking travelers away to another time and place.

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Day 6 Saturday – Hoi An (B, L)

With Vy’s Market Restaurant, Ms. Vy wanted to recreate the atmosphere and ambience of the local markets as she remembers them growing up and working in her parent’s restaurant as a child. There is a central courtyard surrounded but individual food stalls, guests are invited to see how dishes are prepared and cooked in the traditional way. From grilling rice crackers and roasting peanuts to making fresh ‘bun’ and ‘cao lau’ noodles, the restaurant offers guests a unique culinary experience. Tour the market with an English-speaking guide. The individual stalls also form part of her world-renowned cooking classes. We have included a two-hour hands-on cooking class, lunch, recipes a Vietnamese cooking utensil to take home.
Afternoon at leisure.

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Day 7 Sunday – Hoi An (B,L,D)

After breakfast take a slow ferry ride away from the Ancient Town in Hoi An, Cam Kim sits years back from the rest of town, separated by a small inlet of water. Hop off the ferry and explore by bicycle the thin alleys, rice paddies & floating bridges, and check out furniture makers, wood carvers, and straw mat weavers, who concoct the dyes at home and lay the vibrant colored piles out to dry in front of their houses. Having not been swamped (yet) with tourism, the locals smile, shout hellos, and laugh when they see tourists roaming around on their bicycles. A must see in Hoi An if you would like to experience how things must have been 10 years ago. The balance of the day is at leisure. This evening we have a sunset basket boat cruise and float colored lanterns in the river

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Day 8 Monday – Hoi An / Saigon (B,D)

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Saigon and head to the hotel on arrival. The balance of the day is at leisure. In the early evening, you will be picked up from your hotel to start your Vespa night trip. Take in the scene of complex traffic while riding through old Saigon. Stop by some street food restaurants to try Vietnamese seafood and crepes and discover the diversity of the local Cafés. (Total riding distance: approximately 10 miles).

Sofitel Saigon Plaza
Superior French luxury and local cuisine in one of the world’s most exciting cities. Modern rooms offer stunning view of the city. Facilities include free Internet access, safe box, free coffee/tea making facilities and prime international TV channels. There is an outdoor pool and a fitness center. Mezz Restaurant serves international dishes and Asian specialties. LE 17 Bistro’s French chef serves Provence cuisine in a cozy and relaxed atmosphere.

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Day 9 Tuesday – Saigon (B)

In the morning you will visit the amazing Cu Chi Tunnels where Vietnamese guerrillas built a labyrinth of narrow tunnels as hideouts during the war. Return to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in the afternoon for a half-day city tour. Highlights include the Reunification Palace (photo stop), Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, Chinatown, the Binh Tay Market and either the Thien Hau Temple or the Quan Am Pagoda.

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Day 10 Wednesday – Saigon / Cho Gao /Tam Hiep / Saigon (B,L)

Our excursion leaves the bustle Ho Chi Minh City behind as we travel to the rural area of the Mekong Delta. On our way, we will pass through a landscape of rice paddies and vast waterways.

On the journey we will travel by motorboat to experience how locals make their living along the riverbank making rice cakes, processing coconut, making coconut charcoal. Disembark and start cycling on the island roads to a farm that grows Suong Sam – a native plant in South East Asia which is used in local refreshments. Pick the leaves and learn how to make Suong Sam, a dessert jelly. Enjoy a typical Mekong delta lunch served at a villager’s house. The excursion also includes a chance to visit a family where traditional coconut brooms are still made. We’ll take a sampan ride through a canal lined with water coconut palms to the main Mekong River. Drive back to Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon.

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Day 11 Thursday – Saigon / Departure (B)

Pack your memories and souvenirs as you say Goodbye to Vietnam. Transfer to the airport for your departure flight home or continue to Cambodia.

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Cambodia Extension

Day 11 Thursday – Saigon / Siem Reap (1 hour) (B,L)

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Siem Reap where you will be met and transported to the hotel .In the afternoon enter Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Khmer empire, via the Southern Gate. Explore this city’s ancient ruins: Bayon, Baphoun, Phimeanakas, the Royal Palace, the Elephant Terrace and the Leper King Terrace.
Overnight Jaya House River Park Deluxe
Jaya House River Park is peacefully located alongside the Siem Reap River, surrounded by fully grown trees. A small boutique hotel with only 36 rooms, two swimming pools, a spa, and an all-day-dining restaurant. The hotel is located about a 6-minute tuk-tuk journey from town in the direction of the magnificent temples of Angkor Wat. Each of our 36 rooms has either a balcony or direct garden & pool access. Guests can expect award-winning service, lush grounds, spacious gardens, and charming Khmer art-deco inspired design.

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Day 12 Friday – Siem Reap (B)

After breakfast, we will transfer to the School of Arts, which is a project designed for children studying Cambodian traditional arts. In the afternoon, visit the jungle-clad Ta Prohm temple.
The temple featured in Lara Croft The Tomb Raider

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Day 13 Saturday – Siem Reap (B)

After breakfast, we will travel to the countryside and visit a Silk Farm at Pourk, where visitors can see the process of silk making from start to finish. In the afternoon, we will continue to the magnificent Angkor Wat. The intricately carved Khmer ruins at Angkor Wat are one of the world’s most impressive ruins. This evening enjoy Phare The Cambodian Circus Show – an amazing blend of traditional and modern theatre, music, dance, acrobatic feats, juggling and contortion beautifully choreographed and performed in a story about Cambodian lives and society. The performers are students and graduates of Ponleu Selpak’s vocational training center in Battambang. Founded in 1994,by 9 young men returning from a refugee camp under during the reign of the Khmer Rouge who were influenced by an art teacher in the camp.
Dinner at a local restaurant

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Day 14 – Sunday – Siem Reap: Departure (B)

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

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