Day 1 - Arrival Vietnam
Upon arrival in Hanoi, your representative will meet you and welcomes you. Later, we will transfer to your hotel. Spend some time with your guide to discuss your program for the next couple of days, then, rest of the day at leisure. Accommodation at your hotel.
Day 2 - Heart of Hanoi
After breakfast, a short drive will bring us through the landmarks of the city, such as the historical Opera House, the French architecture Quarter, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and the Tran Quoc pagoda. Stop to visit the complex dedicated to Ho Chi Minh, the nation’s founder, containing Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum (viewed from outside) and a house on stilts. This complex also comprises the One-Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the foundation of the city. We visit the Museum of Ethnology, which documents the recognition of Vietnam as a multi-ethnic country and its socio-cultural diversity. From here, we will witness the experience of Hoang Hoa Tham Street, which is full of bonsai, flower, and pet shops. Later, we will continue for a walk through hidden alleys and merchant streets of the Old Quarter. Return to your hotel and accommodation at your hotel.
Day 3 - Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Countryside
Leaving Hanoi behind, we head out to Ninh Binh, famous for its amazing karst mountains, misty caves, and historical relics. Stop at a small rural village, in which most people make a living by producing grilled rice paper and dried noodles from rice flour. Stroll through the local market, visit a local family, and learn about making rice paper the traditional way. Enjoy your lunch, served with special local noodles, cooked in the traditional way. After lunch, we continued our drive to Ninh Binh. Upon arrival, we will have an easy bicycle ride through rural villages. We stop anywhere we want to, chatting with the friendly locals to learn more about their lifestyle, followed by an amazing rowed-boat ride along the crystal-water stream to visit Van Long Natural Reserve. Such an amazing trip to this part of Hanoi, you may have a chance to see lots of birds returning to their nets. Accommodation at Ninh Binh.
Day 4 - Ninh Binh – Halong Bay (World Heritage Site)
After breakfast, we set off on a road trip to Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of outstanding natural beauty. The journey may take approximately 2 hours. Upon arrival, we will check in for embarkation. This cruise offers the most memorable experiences throughout Halong Bay, a world heritage site. Let our journey start with a delicious lunch while cruising further. Later, there will be a number of activities, such as bamboo-rowed boats to visit floating markets and grottoes. For those who want to enjoy the cruise, you can relax on board. Return to the boat and enjoy your time with the beautiful sunset over the bay. Dinner and accommodation are onboard. Note: The cruise itinerary is subject to change due to weather conditions and the individual cruise itself.
Day 5 - Ha Long Bay to Hoi An, The ancient city
Watching Sunrise and practicing Taichi on the Sundeck is an amazing experience. Don't miss it. Later, we will have breakfast and continue more activities, such as kayaking, swimming, etc. Enjoy the rest of the morning and lunch onboard before disembarking. The earlier you check-out, the better for you as you'll be continuing to the airport for your next destination. Arrival at the airport in Dannag, the coastal town of Vietnam, and we transfer to Hoi An, a city on Vietnam’s central coast known for its well-preserved Ancient Town, cut through with canals. The former port city’s melting-pot history is reflected in its architecture, a mix of eras and styles, from wooden Chinese shophouses and temples to colorful French colonial buildings, ornate Vietnamese tube houses and the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge with its pagoda. Checking into your hotel and enjoying the rest of the day. Accommodation at your hotel.
Day 6 - Hoi An Walking Tour
After breakfast at the hotel, our walking tour around Hoi An Ancient Town starts with a visit to the Japanese covered bridge, the Chinese assembly hall, a typical Vietnamese merchant’s house, one of the interesting museums, and the local market. There are numerous art galleries, souvenirs, and tailor shops where we can get some express made-to-order clothes if you like. The next visit is to the home of a craftsman in the old streets. Here you’ll get a brief introduction to the history, shape, and color of the lanterns as well as the stages of making them. We make a lantern on our own, decorate, pack, and keep it as a souvenir of our time in this ancient town. It is a lovely experience in Hoi An Town. Lunch at a local restaurant before returning to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. Accommodation at your hotel.
Day 7 - Hoi An Countryside by bicycle
Cycling around countryside, Hoi An is surrounded by restful countryside where life is simple and slow with people living close to nature. This morning is filled with interesting activities, offering a closer look into the traditional way of agricultural life in the outskirt of the ancient Hoi An town. Hop on your bicycle and set off for an easy bike ride through picturesque villages, passing by rice paddies and vegetable farms. The earlier the better for morning activities of local farmers, you will witness their dailly life. Then, learn the art of paddling the unique Vietnamese round basket boat and journey through the tranquil coconut-palm flanked waterways while hearing about how the area was important during the war. Lots of fun riding and make sure you bring your sunglasses, lotion and hat to cover the heat and sunburn. We continue cruising on a stunning river, spend some time learning about the local fishermen’s life that is simple yet worthwhile. Arrive in the Tra Que village where the local farmers work on the organic fields and gardens using traditional methods that date back hundreds of years. Join the local host to prepare the tasty dishes of Central Vietnam, a great way to have meal with locals. In the afternoon, return back to Hoi An. Accommodation at your hotel.
Day 8 - Hoi An Leisure
Breakfast at hotel. Day at leisure and enjoy your day. Accommodation at your hotel.
Day 9 - Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
After breakfast, we transfer to Da Nang airport for a short morning flight to Ho Chi Minh city. On arrival, we'll transfer directly to Cu Chi Tunnels, the drive may take approximately 1.5 hours. The Tunnels of Cu Chi are an immense network of connecting tunnels located in the Cu Chi District of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and are part of a much larger network of tunnels that underlie much of the country. The government of Vietnam has preserved the 75-mile (121 km) long complex of tunnels at C Chi and turned it into a war memorial park with two different tunnel display sites, Ben Dinh and Ben Duoc. The tunnels are a popular tourist attraction in Vietnam, and visitors are invited to crawl around in the safer parts of the tunnel system. The Ben Duoc site contains part of the original tunnel system, and the Ben Dinh site, closer to Saigon, has tunnel reconstructions and some tunnels have been made larger to accommodate tourists. Return to Saigon and check-in to your hotel. Later in the afternoon, we enjoy a short walk around the Chinatown area before heading for dinner at local restaurant. Return to your hotel for accommodation.
Day 10 - Mekong Delta
After breakfast, we set off for a drive to Cai Be town. The drive takes about 2 and half hours toward Mekong Delta. Walking on village paths will be so amazing to see the local farms, houses, real life and have an opportunity to see farmers picking up their fruits on the ancestral ways in Mekong Delta… where we can also see how they make rice-net for spring-rolls, sew coconut-leaves for cottage roof. See how they wave the dried water-hyacinth to make many products: baskets, bags, hats, wallets, shoes. We can also walk to Mekong Garden to enjoy some kinds of fruits when listening to the traditional music. Boat to the local garden for lunch. After lunch, the rowing boat will take us deeper into the countryside on smaller canals and to enjoy the peaceful time. Have some fruits and tea when enjoying the traditional music at local home. Check in homestay, cooking some dishes with the owners. Spend the rest of your day at with local community. We enjoy diner & overnight at homestay.
Day 11 - Mekong Delta – Chau Doc
Breakfast at a local house. We walk around the village in the morning to enjoy the fresh air. A boat trip to visit the local workshops where you can see how they make rice paper, coconut candy, and pop-rice and pop-corn. Our boat will travel along the Mekong River, seeing many floating cages for farming fish. Then, we turn onto the My An canal to see many brick kilns on both sides of the canal. From there, we will walk through the peaceful village to see how they make bricks, bamboo trays, bamboo baskets, etc. Our boat continued to come to another village to see how they make conical hats by hand, rice paper for rice noodles, etc. Also, we can visit Vinh Long market in the town. This is the best choice for you to take pictures of fish, shrimp, prawns, crabs, snakes, rice-field rats, tropical fruits, vegetables, etc. The cruise will come to an end at Vinh Long, and you will be driven to Chau Doc and stay overnight at Victoria Chau Doc.
Day 12 - Chau Doc to Cambodia, Kampot
After breakfast at hotel, we drive along the border road toward the check point and it takes approximately 2 hours to Ha Tien Border. Cross into Cambodia and drive toward Kampot, the Cambodia’s coastal town. It will take an hour drive. Rest of the day at leisure and sunset over Kampot River. Dinner at local restaurant and accommodation at your hotel.
Day 13 - Kampot – Phnom Penh – Siem Reap
Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, visit the Kampot Pepper plantation and Kep crab market for lunch. Then, drive 2 hours to Phnom Penh and catch your domestic flight to Siem Reap. Arrival at Siem Reap and we'll transfer to your hotel. Accommodation at your hotel. Later in the afternoon, enjoy a ride on Tuk Tuk to local night market, where you will see a variety of local food, snacks, fruits, clothes on display on the roads for sales. Walks through the market, we will find the Cambodian snacks with all fries includes grasshoppers, spiders, cockroaches, crickets, baby frogs, and so on. These are all Cambodian favorite. Try it out and take a picture of it to show your friends back home. Afterward, we reach a local but clean restaurant to enjoy our dinner with Khmer cuisine. The food could always be catered to any allergy restriction. Accommodation at your hotel.
Day 14 - Angkor Wat & Ta Prohm Temple
Breakfast at the hotel. Today, we visit the "City of Kings," which boasts some of the largest religious monuments ever constructed, and is a vast and mysterious complex of hulking lateritic and sandstone blocks. We will start exploring the most impressive temples with a visit to Angkor Thom, the ancient royal city of the Khmer Empire, with its centre piece, the Bayon temple. As we approach, we will notice the enigmatic faces of former King Jayavarman VII looking in every direction. The guide will take us to the Terrace of the Elephants, which served as a platform from where the King could welcome back his victorious army, and the Terrace of the Leper King, which holds detailed carvings winding along a narrow passageway that leads to the Baphuon complex. Continue to Ta Prohm, the most amazing temple complex. Absolutely fascinating, from the 600-year old trees and their fantastic root systems to the intricate carvings on the temple walls. This is where part of the first tomb raider was filmed. In the afternoon, we visit the famous Angkor Wat, a temple complex in Cambodia that is the largest religious monument in the world, on a site measuring 162.6 hectares. It was built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II. Before getting back to the hotel, we visit a local school (on a school day). Spending time with children, knowing local education and sharing your experience with them. Accommodation at your hotel.
Day 15 A Touch of Siem Reap
Breakfast at the hotel Today, participate in the Khmer ceramics class where we will personally meet with one of the skillful and passionate craftsmen for insight about the traditional methods of making simple yet sturdy ceramics meant during temple times, showcasing modern art as it is today. Khmer ceramics refer to ceramic art and pottery designed or produced as a form of Khmer art. This ancient art defines and decorates the ruin temples' walls and facades. The intricacy and mystery surrounding how ceramic and brickwork were carried out from Angkorian times to now are featured through hands-on experience with local artisans at a local workshop, dedicated to the renaissance and appreciation of lost Cambodian art, pottery, and ceramics. The Center has been contributing to local communities for their education, social, and economic development. It is an experience to be a real potter at your own potter’s wheel under the guidance of your instructor, who could be a disadvantaged young person from orphanages or have a bodily disability, but still very skillful. The instructor will show us the traditional methods of creating pieces on the pottery wheel, then help us shape our masterpiece. The next step is to create Khmer-Canadian designs with the proper carving tools, adding our flair and creativity under the craftsman's watchful eye and assistance. Our masterpiece will be ready for pick-up the next day to bring home as a great souvenir, along with a potter’s diploma, after firing in a kiln overnight. This is a great way to get close to Siem Reap differently through the work Khmer Ceramics undertakes in the community, from the development of beautiful handmade ceramics and painted items. This evening, we will experience an exciting Phare circus performance with live music, dances, juggling, acrobatics, aerial acts, and contortions by a younger generation of talented Cambodian artists. Accommodation at your hotel.
Day 16 - Departure Morning
Breakfast at your hotel before transferring to the airport for your departing flight.
