Portrayal of Vietnam Multi-Adventure Tour

Arrive and settle into your hotel. Our guide meets you at your hotel at 13:00hrs.

Today walk the busy streets of Hanoi visiting some of the cultural and historical highlights of Hanoi. Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, which was constructed nearly a millennium ago, and is delicately elevated in a pond. Also visit the Temple of Literature, dating back close to a thousand years, is a wonderfully preserved piece of ancient Vietnamese architecture and stands to honor the scholarly achievements of the country’s academics and philosophers. Continue exploring the area around Hoan Kiem (Sword) Lake, old quarter including Ngoc Son Temple, which sits perched on a little island in the lake. In the evening, we convene over dinner.

Today we transfer you to one of the greatest sites in Asia – the spectacular Limestone strewn massif of Lan Ha Bay.

Lan Ha Bay is located just to the south of Halong Bay and is often considered a hidden gem. It offers similar limestone karst scenery but is less touristy and more pristine compared to Halong Bay. Lan Ha Bay is known for its calm and clear waters, making it a great destination for water activities such as swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking. The bay is also dotted with small, untouched sandy beaches and secluded coves, providing a more tranquil and private experience.

The first’s trip stop is the magnificent Dark and Bright Cave; you will be transported there by locals rowing bamboo boats. It is a poetic and stunning location that acts as an accessway to a beautiful and tranquil lake, surrounded by walls of stone in different scales and sizes.

At sundown, Paradise Grand will anchor overnight. It is the perfect time for you to a cooking class on the notable Vietnamese dish at L'Odyssée Sundeck or Piano Lounge.

If you rise early, we recommend a Tai Chi session on the sun deck. Tai Chi helps focus the mind and condition the body and there is no better environment to practice this than amongst the limestone peaks and islands.

Your last trip stop is Ao Ech - a place famous for its unspoiled beauty and tranquillity. Admire rocky mountains surrounding clear water and small pristine sandy beaches.

Check out the cabin and cruise back to Tuan Chau Marina for disembarkation and continue our journey towards Ninh Binh.

Begin your journey at Hang Múa (Mua Cave Viewpoint), where a climb of over 500 stone steps rewards you with sweeping views of Tam Coc’s rice fields, rivers, and dramatic limestone peaks. This invigorating hike is the perfect way to start the day with energy and awe.

Continue to Hoa Lư Ancient City, the capital of Vietnam in the 10th and 11th centuries. On a guided tour, explore the temples dedicated to Kings Dinh and Le, learn about the country’s early dynasties, and gain insights into Vietnam’s cultural and political heritage, all set against a scenic limestone backdrop.

After a traditional countryside lunch, head to the Trang An Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, board a hand-rowed sampan for a peaceful boat journey through a labyrinth of waterways, caves, and hidden valleys. Along the way, you’ll pass ancient temples, limestone cliffs, and serene lotus ponds, immersing yourself in both nature and history.

Transfer to Hanoi, take a morning flight, and arrive at the UNESCO World Heritage town of Hué, the gateway to Central Vietnam. Our guide meets you at the airport and then transfers you to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Explore the ‘purple city’ on a short countryside loop on a bike, swerving to unthreaded nooks and corners through the beautiful rural countryside and absorbing this historic capital city of Vietnam at your own pace.

Take your bicycle out for a leisurely loop around the imperial town of Hué. Ride past the Citadel, Thien Mu Pagoda, Mausoleums, and the merchant’s houses along the banks of the Perfume River and through quiet lanes with lush gardens.

After a hearty breakfast, we take a transfer out of Hue to Hoi An. Appreciate the Lang Co Bay with spectacular views of winding paths, wooden fishing boats, waterfalls, mountains, and forests, and cross over the climb Hai Van pass for views of this splendid bay. This rugged pass is the final section of the Truong Son Range stretching to the sea. From the pass, go downhill to the base and shuttle to Hoi An, a delightful old trading town and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The architectural beauty of Hoi An will captivate you as this UNESCO World Heritage Site offers a melange of Vietnamese, European, Chinese, and Japanese monuments in an unhurried, timeless setting.

Today you can plan your own day, and enjoy the enchanting Hoi An town at leisure. A paradise for shoppers, a walk through the town gives a feel of an open-air museum.

In the evening, we again regroup and join a classic Vietnamese cooking class.

Today’s adventure invites you to immerse yourself in the serene countryside of Hoi An, combining hands-on gardening and an authentic cooking experience. You’ll uncover the secrets of traditional Vietnamese cuisine and time-honored gardening methods in a truly picturesque setting.

We’ll begin the day with a leisurely warm-up ride through the idyllic Hoi An countryside. Pedal along narrow village paths, past tranquil shrimp farms, lush rice paddies, and scenic waterways, as we make our way to the charming Cam Thanh Village.

Our next stop is the renowned Tra Que Village, named after its signature sweet-scented herb. Here, you’ll stroll through vibrant herb gardens, engage with local farmers, and participate in their daily gardening activities. Dive deeper into the experience by learning how to make rice paper, indulging in a soothing foot massage, and savoring a refreshing herbal drink.

Next, step into the heart of Vietnamese cuisine with a hands-on cooking class. Learn to prepare traditional dishes such as Tam Huu (spring rolls) and Banh Xeo (savory pancakes filled with seafood or a vegan alternative). Once the cooking is complete, sit down to enjoy your creations alongside a sumptuous spread that includes spring rolls, papaya salad, cinnamon or braised fish in a clay pot, sautéed vegetables, steamed rice, and dessert. (Dietary preferences and allergies can be accommodated.)

After lunch, continue cycling to uncover more of Hoi An’s scenic countryside. Soak in the peaceful rural charm and enjoy the beauty of this unique landscape.

By mid-afternoon, we’ll return you to your hotel, where the rest of the day is yours to explore the area at your own pace or simply unwind.

Transfer to Da Nang airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh city. Arrive in Saigon and settle into your hotel. Late morning, our guide meets you at your hotel for a walking tour to explore some of the most popular sites (Ben Thanh Market, Saigon Opera House, Continental Hotel, The Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Post Office, The War Remnants Museum). This walking tour gives an excellent introduction to the city’s history and provides you with plenty of opportunities to soak up the unique mix of chaos and tranquility that is modern-day Saigon.

In the late afternoon, explore Saigon’s amazing street food scene on a culinary walking tour. Sample some of Vietnam’s best street foods including stuffed “banh mi” baguettes, flame-grilled barbecue skewers, tasty noodle dishes, Vietnamese sweet puddings, and perhaps even a grilled rice paper “pizza” served at streetside stalls which pop up just in the evenings.

A shuttle transfer brings us to Cai Lay, the outskirts of Saigon. Continue along a small creek to the Mekong estuary past gorgeous paddy fields and dragon fruit farms. Arrive at Cai Be and take a boat trip along the mighty Mekong River and its tributaries to experience the daily lives of people who work and play on the waterways of the Mekong Delta. We also visit the floating market at Cai Be, and a family-run business producing rice paper – a key ingredient in Vietnamese cuisine. Break for lunch on an island at a local house, set amongst fruit orchards and bonsai trees.

Post-lunch drive about 90min to Can Tho. Set on the southern bank of the Hau River, Can Tho is known for its network of canals and nearby floating markets.

Experience early morning Cai Rang floating market on a boat ride and then cycle to Phong Dien floating market. Weave through the teeming early morning market bustle along the banks of an active riverfront. Absorb the sights of the endless cottage industries, timber merchants, coconuts shredders, small dock loading/unloading rice, and tiny vibrant markets. Continue by bike on the narrow lane and loop round to the main road. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Today we drive to Saigon for an extension here or for your onward flight.