Vietnam Beach Holiday 12 Days

Upon your arrival, an enthusiastic guide will be there to welcome you and ensure a seamless transfer to downtown Hanoi. During the journey, your guide will provide you with a brief introduction to this captivating city. Look for your guide holding a distinctive welcome sign adorned with the ASIA TOUR ADVISOR LOGO and your name. Once you're settled, the rest of the day is yours to explore the city's tree-lined boulevards, French Indochinese architecture, and serene lakes.

Hanoi - Where Tradition Meets Refinement

Hanoi, Vietnam's capital, is a bustling metropolis of seven million residents. This city seamlessly blends tradition with refinement, boasting elegant French colonial architecture, charming tree-lined boulevards, picturesque lakes, and a vibrant Old Quarter. Hanoi exudes a sophisticated charm that invites exploration. As you wander the streets, you'll likely encounter locals practicing Tai Chi by the lakeshores, while sidewalk barbers and food vendors go about their trades.

Notes:

• Hotel check-in time is from 14:00; early check-in is subject to room availability.
• We are flexible and can adjust the itinerary to accommodate starting or ending your trip in another city.

It is unmissable in terms of its pretty pagodas, ancient temples, enchanting French colonial quarter and cultural institutions. Just as fun, however, is darting down its winding lanes and discovering your own favourite hidden corners.

After a satisfying breakfast at your hotel, our local tour guide will pick you up to embark on an exploration of Vietnam's capital city, Hanoi. With over a thousand years of history, this city is rich with captivating cultural and historical sites. Your itinerary includes visits to the imposing Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, home to the preserved body of "Uncle Ho."  and his House on Stilts to observe how he lived and how his life unfolded to become one of modern history’s greatest names. 

You'll also experience the delicate beauty of the One Pillar Pagoda, Tran Quoc Temple are a spiritual and cultural symbol of Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam. With special features in its structure along with historical values, the temple will surely be a real eye-opener for tourists.

After lunch, continue to visit the millennia-old Temple of Literature and explore its role in the country’s past, as both a university and a Confucius temple. Next is Hoa Lo , a prison used by the French colonists in Vietnam for political prisoners, and later by North Vietnam for U.S. Prisoners of War.

To cap off your day, enjoy a one-hour cyclo tour through the bustling and lively Old Quarter, immersing yourself in the vibrant marketplace atmosphere.  Sample delicious dishes like Nom Du Du (green papaya salad), Banh Mi Pa Te (a sandwich that reflects Vietnam’s culinary heritage)

Our journey embarks from Hanoi where we'll pick you up for a scenic drive through the verdant landscapes of the Red River Delta. Our destination: the world-famous UNESCO World Heritage site, Halong Bay, Lan Ha Bay. Here, you'll embark on a luxurious cruise for an enchanting overnight cruise.

As you relax on board, you'll be captivated by the breathtaking limestone karsts that majestically emerge from the azure waters, surrounded by thousands of jungle-clad islands seemingly suspended on the gentle waves. The turquoise waters of the Gulf of Tonkin conceal hidden grottoes and ancient caves, creating a timeless and mesmerizing world.

Enjoy a delicious seafood lunch with breathtaking views and a refreshing drink. Our next destination is a charming fishing village, where locals have ingeniously turned their boats into a floating community. Meet fishermen, explore a stunning lagoon by kayak or rowboat, and unwind on deck as the sun sets. Spend a delightful overnight stay on board!

Kickstart your day with Tai Chi on the top deck or savor the sunrise over the bay. Sip on morning coffee or tea before setting out to explore nearby islands via rowboat.

Upon returning to the junk, witness a fruit carving demonstration and participate in a cooking class, learning to create traditional Vietnamese cuisine from scratch. Enjoy a Vietnamese lunch on board as you cruise back to Halong City. Upon arrival, your driver will be waiting at the dock to take you to Noi Bai Airport for your short flight to Danang.

Upon arrival in Danang, your tour guide and driver will transfer you to your hotel in Hoi An—a destination that seamlessly blends old-world charm with pristine beaches and luxurious resorts.

Option 1 – Cooking Class:

Your cooking adventure begins with a visit to vibrant local markets to procure all the necessary ingredients. You'll then return to a prepared kitchen, where your skilled chef will demonstrate the preparation of typical Vietnamese cuisine. Following the chef's guidance, you'll have the opportunity to cook these dishes yourself and savor your creations.

In the afternoon, you'll explore the enchanting time-capsule town of Old Hoi An on a guided walking tour. Hoi An was once a major Asian seaport, resulting in a fusion of styles and cultures that have been beautifully preserved. Wander through traditional Chinese shops, elegant French residences, and an ancient Japanese bridge. The town also boasts silk markets, Vietnamese street food stalls, and talented street performers, all of which are sure to captivate you.

Option 2 – Vegetable Village:

Begin your day with breakfast at your hotel, followed by an invigorating bike ride to Tra Que Village, where you'll embark on an insightful visit to a local farm. This experience immerses you in authentic Vietnamese rural life. Learn about the village's history and gain insight into the daily activities of vegetable cultivation. Discover how vegetables are used in traditional Vietnamese medicine. Engage in farming tasks, including raking, sowing, watering, and harvesting vegetables, among others. After these activities, take a short break and enjoy a foot bath before preparing lunch with a local family.

Lunch will feature a variety of local delicacies, including 'tam huu' spring rolls and Banh xeo, a regional pancake. You'll have the chance to join the chef in the cooking process. After your morning activities and lunch, indulge in a traditional Vietnamese post-meal nap before learning how to harvest and package the vegetables. Around 1:00 p.m., bid farewell to your host family and cycle back to Hoi An. Upon your return, you'll have the opportunity to explore Hoi An's Old Quarter. A walking tour of Hoi An's ancient town center will transport you back in time to its heyday as a major trading port in Asia. Visit old shophouses, the 400-year-old Japanese Bridge, a Chinese communal hall, and the vibrant local market. The remainder of the day is yours to relax on An Bang Beach.

Option 3 – Countryside Biking or Motor Riding:

Our guide will pick you up at the hotel on a motorbike, and you'll ride to Tra Que Village before heading to the river to board a local ferry to Kim Bong Village. This village is renowned for its wood carving and traditional weaving of sleeping mats. You'll stop at a local family to witness the art of mat weaving and learn about the traditional use of mats in Vietnam. You'll also visit a local family that specializes in making the famous local noodle, Mi Quang. Take part in making and tasting the perfect banh dap (rice cracker). Afterward, ride through a small village, gear up for an adrenaline-pumping 300-meter bamboo bridge river crossing to the opposite landscape of the sea-side of the island. You'll make your way to Duy Hai market and harbor, where you can have lunch at Cam Thanh homestay.

Return to your hotel by motorbike or bike. Please note that if you prefer biking over a scooter tour, we can adapt the route to match your skill level.

You'll have the morning to enjoy a leisurely breakfast before our team picks you up and takes you to Danang for a flight to Saigon.

Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

Today you'll take a deep dive into Vietnamese history and explore the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, used as a shelter for Vietnamese soldiers during the war. Learn about why the tunnels were constructed and how they helped people survive in harsh wartime conditions. 

Wander the remaining tunnel systems, which include the living areas, kitchens, and martial facilities, as well as hidden doors and dangerous traps. Finish the tour with Try some of the main food of the Viet Cong Soldiers with a cassava tasting served with tangy tea. 

In the afternoon, return to the city to visit Independence Palace, also known as the Reunification Palace, built on the sight of the former Norodom Palace. The Independence Palace is a widely known landmark of Ho Chi Minh City and was designed by the architect Ngo Viet Thu. Continue exploring the beautiful buildings from French Colonial times, such as the Notre Dame Cathedral.Then visit Ben Thanh Market, one of the largest markets in Ho Chi Minh, to see the local life here. After the tour, return to your hotel.

After breakfast, your private guide and driver will take you out of Ho Chi Minh City in a private vehicle and onto some beautiful country roads to Ben Tre Town in the Mekong Delta, famous for its vast rice fields, numerous waterways, and beautiful landscapes. Known as the ‘rice bowl’ of Vietnam, this region produces most of Vietnam’s fruit, rice, sugar cane, and coconuts.

After the two-hour drive through the lush farming land, you will arrive in Ben Tre where you will set out on a motorized boat trip on narrow channels winding through the coconut forest. During the boat ride, you will stop at the local cottage industries to see how the local people make bricks and weave sleeping mats by hand. Learn about their craft handed down through generations.

Take a leisure walk along the village lanes, visiting the local homes to try fresh fruits, taste delicious honey tea while enjoying a local Tai Tu music show. Continue to visit another workshop where the local delicacy of coconut candy is produced and a wide range of coconut husk and fiber products are skillfully handcrafted.

Next, take a small sampan through palm-fringed back canals, gliding peacefully along the hidden waterways surrounded by an immense variety of tropical plants. The quiet, rural setting is a welcome and restorative retreat to the frenetic buzz of Ho Chi Minh City which seems far, far away.

Enjoy sitting in the back a Motor Cart (xe lôi) passing local hamlets, rice fields, coconut groves, and lush orchard farms while meeting with local people.

After enjoying lunch at a local restaurant you will return to Ben Tre town and continue the drive through the fields and towns of the Mekong to Can Tho city.

Spend the evening at your leisure. Explore Can Tho night market by yourself and try some local food. The market streets come alive with dozens of bustling food stalls selling grilled meats and tofu on skewers, as well as grilled rice-paper banh trang nuong(‘Vietnamese pizza’)…etc.

Rise early for a boat trip to Cai Rang market, the biggest floating wholesale market of the Mekong region. The market is filled with hundreds of small boats darting through the water as vendors sell their wares. Glide through the matrix of boats to see how the locals trade their fruits and vegetables and learn more about the floating marketing culture and the floating life on the boats. After that, you will be treated with a delicious local breakfast (rice noodle soup) on the boat just like the way the local people do. You will also have a chance to stop at a local boat to enjoy some of the succulent fruit in the season.

Leaving the market, continue your boat ride along narrow canals to visit a traditional homemade rice noodle factory where you can see how the locals make rice noodles, and enjoy the homemade “rice noodle pizza”.

Get back to the City to visit Binh Thuy Old House where you will meet the present owner of this beautiful home and its furnishings. Then transfer to Can Tho airport to board a flight to Phu Quoc. Upon arrival, a driver will be waiting to transport you to your beautiful resort on Phu Quoc Island.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the hotel and spend your day at your own pace.

Phu Quoc Island, often referred to as the "Pearl Island," boasts stunning beaches, beautiful islands, and deserted shores. Whether you seek relaxation or outdoor activities, our travel experts are at your disposal to provide recommendations and help you tailor your day to your preferences.

Savor your breakfast at the hotel and take your time at leisure until your flight back to Saigon. Airport transfers will be arranged.