Culture and Beach Relaxation Holiday

Breakfast at the hotel.

08:30 Pick up by the guide to visit the Ethnology Museum, which offers a unique opportunity to explore the cultural richness of the numerous ethnic groups present in Vietnam. After the museum, it will be the turn of the Temple of Literature (Quoc Tu Giam), considered Vietnam’s first national university; built under the Ly dynasty in the 11th century, the complex served as a place for the worship of Confucius and a school for teaching royal children.

Lunch at leisure in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (from the outside only, as it is closed on Mondays and Fridays) before taking a pleasant walk in the botanical gardens and visiting the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts where he lived and worked, and Ba Dinh Square, the place where Ho Chi Minh read the declaration of Vietnam’s independence from the French in 1945. Next, you will stop at the One Pillar Pagoda, considered one of the city’s most important symbols.

You will then take a rickshaw ride of about 40 minutes (xich lo) around Hoan Kiem Lake (the Lake of the Restored Sword), which evokes the legend of a giant turtle and a magic sword used to drive the Chinese out of Vietnam, and the Old Quarter of Hanoi with its famous streets teeming with life.

At the end of the visits, enjoy a coffee with a view of the Long Bien Bridge at sunset. The tour ends around 18:00 – 18:30.

Dinner at leisure and overnight stay at the hotel in Hanoi.

Breakfast at the hotel.

08:00 – 08:30 In the morning, transfer to Ha Long port (approx. 4h). Upon arrival, board the junk for an unforgettable cruise in Lan Ha Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Extending over an area of more than 1,500 square kilometers, it is home to thousands of small monolithic limestone islands, fantastic caves, and rich biodiversity.

While sailing through the beautiful natural scenery of the bay, it is possible to take part in activities provided by the cruise company’s program, such as: swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, visiting a limestone cave, and visiting a fishing village, or simply relaxing immersed in the unforgettable panorama.

Meals and overnight stay on board.

The cruise continues in the wonderful Lan Ha Bay.Stops and visits according to the cruise company’s program.

The cruise is certainly the best option to fully enjoy the beauty of the bay from up close and experience unforgettable sunsets. On the cruise, it is possible to participate in a Tai Chi class on the deck of the junk at 6:00 am.

After breakfast on board, further activities are scheduled, which vary depending on the program of the specific cruise company.

Brunch will be served while the junk heads back toward Ha Long Bay.

Transfer to Noi Bai airport for the flight to Hue.

Arrival at Phu Bai airport, welcome by the driver for the transfer to the hotel.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 The day begins with a visit to the Hue Citadel, the only remaining vestige of what was once the imperial city of Vietnam. It is composed of three distinct parts: the capital city, the imperial city, and the forbidden city: Kinh Thanh (the capital), Hoang Thanh (the imperial city), and Cam Thanh (the forbidden city). The next stop is the Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the oldest pagodas in Hue, dating back to 1601.

Lunch at leisure in a local restaurant.

The rest of the afternoon will be dedicated to visiting the traditional incense village of Thuy Xuan, where talented artists preserve day after day the “soul” tradition of the Vietnamese nation; then we will visit the imperial tomb of Tu Duc, the most representative monument of Nguyen dynasty architecture and also one of the most spectacular constructions of the 19th century. The day concludes with a boat ride to relax along the Huong (Perfume) River: Truong Tien Bridge – Dap Da dam – Con Hen islet – Tam Giang Lagoon.

Dinner at leisure and overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

08:30 Continue to Tra Que, famous for its aromatic herbs such as, for example, mint and basil. Its leaves are smaller than normal ones and have a special flavor. Visit the village and the vegetable fields, and meet the farmers who work in all seasons of the year. It is a good opportunity to observe the techniques that local farmers apply to grow their crops. You can prepare dishes based on vegetables and herbs from Tra Que village and cook some dishes such as: crispy pancakes (meat, shrimp, bean sprouts…), Hoi An spring rolls, Tam Huu, and grilled fish in banana leaves. At the end of the preparation, you can taste the dishes you have cooked.

Take some well-deserved rest in the local house and enjoy green tea and a foot massage with medicinal herbs gathered directly from the family garden.

Return to Hoi An. Free time available to continue exploring the town of lanterns at your leisure (guide/transfer/tickets not included).

Dinner at leisure and overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Free time at the beach.

Private transfer to Da Nang airport for the domestic flight Da Nang – Saigon.

Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat airport in Saigon, you will be welcomed by our driver without a guide, recognizable by the welcome sign with your name, at the exit after baggage claim.

Transfer and settlement in the hotel in Saigon.

Dinner at leisure and overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Meeting with our guide at the hotel reception at 08:30.

The entire morning is dedicated to visiting the Independence Palace, once the seat of the Presidents of South Vietnam. Our visit includes the North Vietnamese tank that crossed the threshold of the presidential palace in 1975 to end the controversial Vietnam War. Next, the War Remnants Museum (Bao Tang Chung Tich Chien Tranh), which offers a unique opportunity to learn about the Vietnamese perspective on the bloody Vietnam War. Afterward, you will see the Jade Emperor Pagoda, one of the most important temples in Ho Chi Minh City. Built by the city’s Cantonese community at the beginning of the 20th century, it is a place of worship for followers of Buddhism and Taoism.

Lunch at leisure in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, you will see the Thien Hau Pagoda dedicated to the worship of Thien Hau (Thiên Hậu Thánh Mẫu, 天后聖母, Mazu, Holy Celestial Mother), the protective deity of the sea and therefore dear to the sailors and fishermen of Vietnam, China, and many parts of the vast Malay Archipelago. The three large bronze statues depicting her dominate the main hall of worship and Chinatown.

At the end of the visits, return to the hotel.

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Breakfast at the hotel.

08:30 Departure towards the southern provinces of Vietnam in the Mekong Delta. For millennia, this area has played an important role, initially in trade due to its advantageous geographical position on the sea route between India and China, and today primarily in the economic sphere, earning it the title of “Vietnam’s rice bowl.”

10:00 Arrival at An Phu pier, Cai Be, where we board the Song Xanh Sampan junk for a romantic cruise on the tributaries of the Mekong River. During the journey, several stops are planned to visit villages on foot along the riverbank, where we will have the chance to admire colonial-era buildings, ancient traditional houses, colorful flower gardens, and craft workshops for processing coconut and its derivatives. Cross the Co Chien River passing through picturesque villages to visit a terracotta pot factory.

Lunch included on board.

Enjoy shore excursions for a visit to a Caodaism place of worship.

At the end, we return on board for an aperitif as the sun sets.

Meals and overnight stay on board.

Breakfast included on board.

The cruise continues to Can Tho for a visit to the famous Cai Rang floating market (at 06:00), among the most picturesque in the Mekong Delta. Local markets are traditionally held at dawn and are certainly an unmissable appointment to admire with wonder the industriousness of Vietnamese traders.

We venture into the crowded water bazaar, navigating between boats of different sizes used by local merchants. Exotic fruits, vegetables, and flowers in exorbitant quantities contribute to enhancing this vibrant, colorful scene.

Continue the cruise towards Victoria Can Tho, and we will disembark at the hotel’s private pier.

At the end of the visit, we return to the pier and proceed with the transfer to Rach Gia to take the speedboat to Phu Quoc. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel.

Dinner at leisure and overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Free time at the beach.

Overnight stay in Phu Quoc.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Free time at the beach.

Overnight stay in Phu Quoc.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Free time at the beach.

Following, transfer to the airport for the domestic flight to Saigon and transfer to the hotel.

Dinner at leisure and overnight stay at the hotel.

Transfer to Saigon International Airport for the departure flight.

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