Highlights of Vietnam 12 Days

Welcome to Vietnam! Arrival in Hanoi. Upon clearing Customs and Immigration, your guide will present you with a welcome packet including all necessary documentation and vouchers and all contact information of your guide and local offices.

Vietnam is rapidly developing but holds onto the charming traditions and culture which make it such a fascinating holiday destination. History has left its mark on Vietnam by way of Chinese, French and American influence.

Transfer by air conditioned vehicle to your hotel and time for leisure.

Full day tour features many highlights: Tran Quoc Pagoda, Presidential Palace (façade only), One Pillar pagoda, the Temple of Literature and Hoan Kiem Lake. Enjoy a traditional cyclo ride through Hanoi's Old Quarter

Transfer to Halong Bay (by Junk’s bus) for an overnight cruise. Relax and enjoy beautiful landscapes. Participate on-board activities. Enjoy visiting grottos, swimming, kayaking, cooking demonstration, and squid fishing.

Early risers can join a Tai Chi session on the sundeck. Late morning, say farewell to the crew and transfer back to Hanoi by Junk’s bus. Then our private transportation (without guide) drive to Noi Bai airport for flight to Hue.

Transfer to hotel in Hue for check-in.

 Flight Hanoi - Hue (offered separately)

Hue day-tour with Aodaigo ladies by car or scouter (our exclusive service) www.aodaigo.com

Visit Thanh Toàn tile-roofed bridge, Vọng Cảnh Hill, Hổ Quyền Arena. Stop at a local cafe with a special war items collection. Next, visit Tu Hieu Pagoda which is oldest pagoda in Vietnam. Afternoon visit the former Imperial Citadel.

Visit Dong Ba Market before departing for Hoi An. Visit Cham Sculpture Museum in Danang.

Afternoon, take a walking tour in Hoi An featuring Phung Hung Ancient House, Museum of Hoi An, Kwan Kung Temple, Japanese Covered Bridge, Workshops of Traditional Handicrafts and Hoi An Market.

Optional biking along the country roads. Visit an organic vegetable village then join in farmer’s daily activities. You can experience riding a water buffalo and paddling bamboo basket boat in the river. Lunch at Tra Que Village.

All day at leisure in Hoi An (without tour guide) or joining the optional tour.

Optional tour:  Red Bridge cooking class with lunch CAD90 per person

We start the day (8.15am) with a welcome drink at Hai Café-our meeting point. Visit Hoi An’s colorful market, and experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy market. We will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers and learn about all the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later. We board the Red Bridge boat for a leisurely cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoi An River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. This is a chance to view local river life, so make sure your camera is handy. On arrival, we explore the cooking school’s herb garden, before learning about some of Hoi An’s and Vietnam’s well-known dishes. The cooking lesson runs for about 2 hours – the Red Bridge chefs first demonstrate each dish before we prepare the same dish ourselves. Included in the class is a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving (plate decoration). After the lesson, we sit down and eat what we have cooked. Bring your swimsuit and after the cooking tour has finished relax and enjoy free use of our new 20 metre swimming pool.

Transfer by vehicle from Hoi An to Danang airport (35 km).

Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and transfer by air conditioned vehicle to your hotel.

Afternoon at leisure (without guide).

 Flight Danang - Ho Chi Minh (offered separately)

In the morning, city tour includes: War Remnants Museum, features Notre Dame Cathedral built by the French in 1880 and City Post office building. Drop by visiting the Reunification Palace, City Post office building. In the afternoon free at leisure or joining the optional tour.

Optional Tour: Saigon foodie tour by scooter with dinner (CAD 130 per person)

Then we will start the journey of getting in touch of Vietnamese culture, drop by Tan Dinh Church It’s still in service Catholic Church and one of the most important in the city, built almost 150 years ago by French Priest. Walking to nearby old market and surrounding corners to see something so interesting in Saigon…with local Saigonese style dishes to get a complete view of the daily lives of food-stall sellers, buyers and vendors on busy street which reflects a major part of daily activity in Vietnamese culture which has been the same for centuries! Tasting some tropical fruits at fruit vendor! We then drop by a well- known local restaurant which quite well known among local people in city to try Vietnamese “Pan cake”. Drive to Ben Thanh market, walking through alleys to see local people in every aspect of their lives, from the way they talk and the way they eat…, get in to the street foods market which is very popular for young travelers! It is time to relax a bit by sitting down at a corner closed by Ben Thanh market to enjoy a Sai Gon beer while seeing the hustle-bustle of the city happening on the street…Then walking back to your hotel.

Drive to Cai Be. On arrival, get on boat to visit Cai Be floating market and local traditional workshops of making pop-rice, rice papers and coconut candy. See the manufacture of country cottage roofs and products for export from hyacynth. We have the option biking on the island. Have lunch with Mekong Delta specialties and enjoy traditional music.

Transfer to the airport by air conditioned vehicle. Departure from Ho Chi Minh City.