Day 1 Hanoi

Your tour commences today in Vietnam's capital; the fantastic jumble of styles and influences that is modern-day Hanoi. On arrival at Noi Bai International Airport youi will be met and escorted the short distance to our hotel. Your accommodation will be centrally located, allowing you to explore the surround streets, crammed with food stalls, markets and cafes.

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Day 2 : Hanoi Cultural Tour: Bat Trang (famed for pottery and ceramics), Dong Ky (wood carving) and Do Temple, Van Phuc (silk village)

Escape the morning rush hour as you depart Hanoi and travel approximately one hour through the local countryside to Bat Trang, a village world renowned for its ceramics. Wander through the village with your local guide and see the artisans at work. Witness the process of molding and carving clay pots, dishes and vases, before they are glazed and fired in a kiln, ready for sale.

Afterward, travel to a ‘community house’ to get a glimpse into a former way of life. Community houses were an integral part of traditional life in Vietnam and served as a meeting place to discuss village-related matters – a tradition that has been phased out due to modernization.

Next, visit a local family who specialize in making lacquerware. This ancient tradition of decorating wooden or bamboo objects takes skilled hands and patience, as many layers of lacquer are applied and sanded over and over to achieve a smooth, high-gloss surface.

Then, visit Do Temple, which honors the eight Ly emperors of the Ly Dynasty, who brought an era of prosperity and independence to Vietnam. The temple has been restored several times and in 1989 was restored to its original architecture from the 17th century.

Following lunch at a local Hanoi restaurant, travel to Van Phuc silk village where the local artisans have been weaving the finest quality silk for centuries. Your guide will take you through the village to meet the people and learn about their craft and lifestyles. Return to Hanoi for a Dinner with vietnamese cuisine and introduction to the Sapa region. After dinner, transfer to the train station and board a sleeper train bound for Sapa via the town of Lao Cai (approximately 8 hours). Please note that the train journey is unaccompanied and your driver will pick you up upon arrival in Lao Cai.

Relax aboard the comfortable train car and get a good night's sleep in preparation for the next day's trek.

Day 3 Lao Cai– Sapa

Upon arrival in Lao Cai at dawn, you’re transferred by shuttle bus to Sapa. The bus ride uphill takes a bit more than an hour, giving you a glimpse of the region's stunning vistas and impressive rice terraces along the way.

When you reach Sapa, you can leave your luggage at the tour office and enjoy a shower plus a full buffet breakfast at Chau Long Hotel.

Once you’re refreshed and fortified, your morning trek departs from Sapa to Ta Phin valley. Walk with your experienced guide through the town for about 20 minutes before turning down a dirt road to Ma Tra, a Black Hmong village defined by its traditional clothing and customs.

The moderate hiking route through this rural community offers more picturesque vistas of vegetable gardens and rice terraces flanked by green mountains rising in the background. You have time to visit with local families and learn about traditional fiber processing before continuing your trek to Ta Phin village, located in one of the most scenic valleys in Vietnam.

Stop here for a simple picnic lunch before exploring the village, admiring the embroidered clothing and red headscarves worn by the tribal women of this ethnic group called the Red Dao.

In the afternoon, you’ll return to Sapa by private, air-conditioned vehicle to check in to your hotel and eat dinner. You’re free to explore the charming town's sloping streets or the market with many colorful handicrafts, or head up to Ham Rong peak for a fantastic photo op over Sapa (depending on weather conditions; entrance fee not included).

Day 4 Sapa- Lao Cai - Hanoi

Following a hotel breakfast, meet your guide in the morning and depart on a second trek from the town of Sapa to Golden Stream valley. Today’s hike offers more stunning views of rice terraces and gardens as well as Mt Fansipan, whose summit rises 10,312 feet (3,143 meters) above sea level.

After crossing a suspension bridge, marvel at the breathtaking scenery as you continue through the Golden Stream valley, stopping at Lao Chai village for lunch.

After your meal, follow your guide on a walk through this village where Black Hmong people reside, and continue on to Ta Van village, home to the Dzay tribe. This part of the hike is relatively easy, though the trail can be quite slippery if it rains, so good footwear is recommended.

You’ll visit with some local families and learn about their daily lifestyle and fascinating culture, before departing to the main road to meet up with your driver and return to Sapa.

A shower is available at the hotel, followed by an afternoon free to explore the town on your own.

In the evening, depart Sapa for Lao Cai, where you’ll take the night train back to Hanoi.

Day 5 Hanoi – Halong Bay

After early morning pickup from your Hanoi station we go for a vietnamese breakfast ' Pho' ,then depart from the capital for Halong Bay – an approximate four-hour drive by comfortable air-conditioned vehicle. Upon arrival at Halong Bay around midday, you’ll be greeted by a tour representative and transferred to the traditional junk boat.

Settle in with a complimentary welcome drink as you begin your cruise around majestic Halong Bay. Meet the expert crew and get acquainted with your small group while you dine on a delicious seafood lunch, including tea and coffee. After lunch, unwind and soak up the sun on the top deck – a great spot for photographing the natural wonders of the bay – as your captain finds a secluded area, perfect for swimming in the clear waters.

You’ll have the chance to try your hand at kayaking and explore some of the ancient limestone caves dotting the bay. As you glide along the most secluded lagoons, admire the surrounding limestone karsts amid unforgettable scenery only accessible by kayak! The modern kayaks are lightweight and easy to maneuver, and all participants will be issued water buoyancy vests. The junk boat will be nearby at all times, serving as a back-up vessel for those who need it.

After exploring, retire to the boat for more relaxation on the deck and enjoy a refreshing drink from the bar if you'd like. In the evening, your cook will prepare a splendid meal comprised of fresh seafood dishes as well as traditional Vietnamese fare as your crew weighs anchor in the heart of the bay. Afterward, you’ll have the opportunity to try some night fishing from the boat.

Day 6 : Halong Bay - Hoi An

Relax with a morning tai chi class on the sundeck, following the fluid movements of your instructor as you practice this ancient martial art.

Then unwind and soak up more sun on the top deck, a perfect spot for photographing the natural wonders of the bay as your light breakfast (think pastries, coffee, and fruit) is served on the boat. From there, visit the Cave of Surprises (Sung Sot Cave), located on Bo Hon Island, which is actually an array of linked limestone islets. Upon arrival, climb the hundred stone steps to the mouth of the cave and explore the lit paths inside on a guided walking tour. The cave is the widest grotto in Halong Bay and features multiple stalactites hanging from its high ceiling!

See more stunning sights on your return to the Halong wharf as you enjoy a buffet brunch on the junk. When you arrive back at the Tuan Chau Marina, you'll be met by a vehicle for the four-hour journey back to Hanoi Airport.
We arrive in time for our flight south to Danang, a popular coastal city home to China Beach, made famous as the GI R&R location during the Vietnam War. On arrival a coach will be waiting to transfer us down the coast to one of Vietnam's most magical destinations: the ancient trading port of Hoi An. Our hotel is located on the edge of the pedestrianised Old Town, making it an ideal spot for personal exploration.

Day 7 Hoi An Walking & Cooking Day Trip

Discover the history and flavors of Vietnam during this walking and cooking tour in Hoi An. Oozing with charm and having largely escaped the destruction of successive wars, Hoi An is lined with streets and architecture that are a delight to explore. After meeting your guide, head straight for Ancient Town, ready to hit its enchanting streets.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ancient Town is packed with buildings of historical and cultural significance, and boasts a number of streets that are off-limits to cars. Stroll past the many Chinese assembly halls, from the Cantonese Chinese Congregation with its impressive main altar, to the Hainan Chinese Congregation, which serves as a memorial to 107 merchants from Hainan Island who were mistaken for pirates and killed during the reign of Emperor Tu Duc. Stop by the Japanese Covered Bridge, which was constructed in the 1590s by the town’s Japanese community to link them with the Chinese quarters across the stream.

At the end of the walking tour, head to a family-run restaurant for your Vietnamese cooking class. The chef will run through the range of delicious dishes that you will prepare, and then it’s time to hit the local market to stock up on all the fresh produce needed to create the feast. Learn how to choose the best supplies and discover some of the less-familiar ingredients before heading back to the restaurant, ready to cook.

Under the watchful eye of your chef, make favorites like spring rolls and grilled tuna (see below for a sample menu), and grab some recipes to take home so you can wow your family and friends. Your experience ends as you sit down to feast on the delicious dishes you’ve created.

Day 8 My Son - UNESCO World Heritage Site

From the 4th to the 13th centuries, the Champa Kingdom flourished on the coast of Vietnam with My Son as its religious and intellectual center. After your private guide picks you up at your hotel, head out on the 30-mile (50-km) drive to the stunning ancient temple complex, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

Located in a valley of dramatic beauty, the monuments of My Son are the most important constructions of the Champa Kingdom. As your guide takes you through the complex, learn about the history, architectural styles and cultural significance of the temples. Some 20 remain out of more than 70 temples that once spread out over this beautiful valley; several are well-preserved while others are in ruins, some damaged during the Vietnam War.

While you walk, get out your camera for photographs of the temples with dramatic mountain backdrops, and listen as your guide explains the influence of India and Hinduism on the Champa people and points out the Hindu deities memorialized at My Son.

After a fascinating morning of exploring the My Son temples, depart around noon to return to your Hoi An hotel.

Day 9 Hoi An - Hue

Traveling by minibus after breakfast, head south on a four-hour drive to Hue. Pass coastal rice paddies before crossing the scenic and mountainous Hai Van Pass, a 14-mile (21-km) stretch of road that winds through spectacular mountains and borders the sparkling South China Sea.

After checking in to your hotel overlooking the Perfume River the remainder of the day is at leisure to explore

Day 10 Hue

Begin your private tour of Hue with pickup from your hotel by private vehicle, and head out for a full day of sightseeing in Vietnam’s former capital. First, your private guide will take you on a 1to1.5-hour tour of Hue Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site containing the former Imperial Palace. Modeled on the Forbidden City in Beijing, Hue Citadel consists of a royal palace, tombs, hallways and ornate temples that showcase the former capital city’s regal past.

Walk around the complex, located inside high stone walls, with your guide and learn about Hue’s Nguyen Emperors who ruled the former capital of Vietnam until the early 20th century. Bombed by both French and American forces, and heavily damaged during the 1968 Tet Offensive, much of the Imperial City lies in ruins and is slowly being restored to its former glory.

Once you’ve explored the grounds and discovered Hue’s royal treasures, enjoy a relaxing 45-minute cruise on the enchanting Perfume River. Disembark for a brief visit to the seven-story Thien Mu Pagoda, the tallest pagoda in Vietnam, which stands on the northern bank of the meandering river.
After a delicious lunch at a local restaurant, set out on a tour of the Emperor's residence, located about six miles (10 km) away from Hue in a surrounding countryside of lush pine forest. See two of the most impressive Royal Tombs – Tu Duc Tomb and Khai Dinh Tomb – the final resting place of the Nguyen Emperors. As you follow your guide around the beautiful complexes set amid temples, courtyards and pavilions, admire the ornate tombs built above ground to honor the emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty.

Day 11: Siem Reap Arrival – Angkor Thom – Siem Reap

We wave farewell to Vietnam this morning and take the short flight over the border to Siem Reap in Cambodia. After completing customs and immigration procedures, we meet our local guide and drive the short distance to town where we check in and freshen up before our afternoon adventure commences.
Hop in a private remork (tuk-tuk) for the 15-minute ride to the South Gate and walk along the ancient city wall with your guide, stopping for photos of magnificent demons lining the causeway. Explore the lost temple of Prasat Chrung for approximately one hour before continuing to the 12th-century Bayon Temple, surrounded by 51 stone towers; each features four serene faces of a smiling bodhisattva.

Your knowledgeable guide then accompanies you the Terrace of the Elephants, the Royal Palace and the Terrace of the Leper King, where you can spend up to two hours. Hear fascinating stories about the Khmer kings that once ruled the ancient city.

After your private tour, spend your evening at your leisure. If you're feeling social, take a dip in the outdoor pool that hosts a happy hour. Otherwise head to your air-conditioned room and enjoy dinner and drinks ordered from the room service menu.

Day 12: Siem Reap – Ta Prohm – Angkor Wat– Banteay Srei – Pre Rup – Siem Reap

Rise early and depart from your hotel approximately 30 minutes before sunrise, traveling by remork to the jungle-covered temple of Ta Prohm. The UNESCO-listed temple complex is one of the most popular at Angkor. The monuments have been left in the same condition in which they were discovered in the 19th century.

Return to your hotel for breakfast, after which you visit the world-famous Angkor Wat, another UNESCO World Heritage site and the best preserved of all the temples in the Angkor Archaeological Park. Your private tour around this magnificent 12th-century structure lasts a few hours. Discover numerous surviving stone temples, once surrounded by wood palaces, public buildings and houses that have since disappeared.

Following lunch at a local restaurant in the afternoon, drive to the temple of Banteay Srei, built in the 10th century. Located 19 miles (32 km) from Siem Reap, the small UNESCO-listed temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, but is dubbed ‘Citadel of Women’ for its ornate sandstone carvings, a crown jewel of Angkor art.

After your 1.5-hour private tour, take some time to explore on your own and enjoy a provided lunch. When it's time to head back to Siem Reap, you might even catch the sunset descending behind prongs of Pre Rup.

Day 13: Siem Reap – Tonle Sap Lake – Siem Reap

Following breakfast, take a 30-minute morning drive by remork to the edge of Siem Reap for a 15-minute ox-cart ride through the countryside. Then continue by air-conditioned vehicle to reach Cambodia’s largest freshwater lake, Tonle Sap. Classified as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the lake feeds the Mekong River during the dry season and swells during monsoons.

Board a local boat at the riverbank for an approximate 30-minute ride to Kompong Phluk, the largest floating village on the lake, where you’ll spend the rest of the morning. Here, observe the fascinating daily activities of the Cambodian villagers who reside along the shore, gaining a better sense of how their lives are shaped by the water’s rhythms.

After lunch at a local restaurant, the rest of your day is free to spend as you like.

Day 14 Ho Chi Minh City

This morning we continue our journey south with a flight to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's most energetic and electric city. After check-in hotel, follow your guide on a private group walking tour through the back streets of Chinatown.

Visit Thien Hau Temple, built in the early 19th century and dedicated to the goddess of seafarers. Explore Chinatown’s bustling markets -- Cholon Market and Binh Tay Market – where street vendors spread out their wares, from soup to sophisticated electronics. Stop at a local café and relax over a delicious cup of Vietnamese coffee as you watch the fast pace of urban life pass by in Vietnam's largest city.

Following your market visit, slurp up a bowl of traditional Vietnamese pho (noodle soup) for lunch before a sightseeing tour of Ho Chi Minh City's iconic buildings. First, learn about the ravages of the Vietnam War with a visit to the War Remnants Museum, where you’ll see displays of old military machinery including an F5A fighter jet and a UH1-Huey helicopter.

Then, head on a walking tour to the Reunification Palace, formerly known as the Presidential Palace, the site of South Vietnam's surrender in 1975. Visit Notre Dame Cathedral, the General Post Office and the Saigon Opera House – all beautiful examples of architecture from the French colonial period.

Day 15 Mekong Delta Day Trip with Cooking Class and Cai Be Floating Market Tour

After pickup from your hotel, transfer by air-conditioned vehicle to the town of Cai Be, located approximately 100 miles (160 km) southwest of Ho Chi Minh City. On the way, stop to take photos of the beautiful landscapes and typical farmers working in the rice fields.

Upon arrival in Cai Be, hop on a motorboat with your small group and visit the Cai Be Floating Market, established in the 19th century on the Tien River. Observe locals trading fruit and other wholesale goods, hung from poles aboard boats and rafts, in the bustling floating market. Then, disembark for a short walk to a coconut candy factory and tour the facility to learn how the sweets are produced.

You’ll have the opportunity to purchase some candy before meandering with your guide around the small villages of the Mekong Delta. Visit a fruit orchard and plantation, and listen to traditional southern Vietnamese music called don ca tai tu, which combines elements from court music and folk music.

Afterward, cruise along the Mekong Delta to Tan Phong Island. Here, join your small group in a half-day cooking class with your guide. You’ll learn to prepare Vietnamese dishes from several regions as you discover the many cultural influences at play in Vietnamese cuisine. Try your hand at making savory specialties like fried elephant-ear fish, grilled steak cooked in a bamboo cylinder, grilled fish in banana leaf and fish braised in a clay pot.

Enjoy your delicious creations with your fellow food lovers before hopping on a bicycle to ride along the village path. Pass fruit orchards and a bonsai garden as you explore the neighborhood with your guide and mingle with the local villagers. Your day trip ends with a boat ride back to Cai Be and return transport to your Ho Chi Minh City hotel.

Day 16 Ho Chi Minh Depature

Sadly your trip comes to an end today, and your guide will collect you at a pre-arranged time today for the short transfer back to the International Airport for your onward flight.