Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City and transfer to hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

From Tan Son Nhat Airport to your chosen hotel in HCMC (8km): 20mins

As an eclectic Asian city Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon by the locals) is best explored on foot. This morning wander with your guide deep into local neighborhoods, visit a family run temple, and spend some time exploring the spiritual beliefs at a small monastery.

0800 pick-up from your hotel by vehicle to the starting point of the walking tour. Begin at a charming and buzzing local market, weave through tiny back alleys into some of the friendliest neighborhoods in the city. Venture into a small temple honoring 5 mother goddesses before continuing to a monastery where the monks are happy to show you their home and can give you an astrology reading.

This afternoon visit Vietnam's first traditional medicine museum, the FITO Museum, which displays an amazing collection of 3,000 items relevant to the development of traditional Vietnamese medicine (which dates as far back as the Stone Age). Implements used to prepare indigenous herbs, objects commonly found in traditional pharmacies as well as ancient books and documents on traditional Vietnamese medicine can be seen in the galleries.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Depart Ho Chi Minh City at 07:30 in the morning for the drive to Tay Ninh. Leaving the city behind, the scenery changes to views of rice paddies, villagers drying noodles by the side of the road and other scenes typical to southern Vietnam.

At Tay Ninh visit the Cao Dai Great Temple, with architecture that could have come straight from a Walt Disney fantasy and where all the major faiths of the world have been blended together in a uniquely Vietnamese religious mosaic.

After lunch in a local restaurant visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels which consist of an incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters (Viet Cong) during both the French and American wars. Start the visit with the Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc sections of the tunnel. Here you can imagine what it was like to be a guerrilla complete with Russian Carbine rifles and AK 47’s on display. In the late afternoon journey back to Ho Chi Minh City. 

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

After breakfast transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for the short flight to the central port city of Da Nang. On arrival in Da Nang transfer to Hoi An, a major Asian trading port in the 17th and 18th centuries whose architecture and relaxed lifestyle has changed little over the years.

Take a cyclo tour of the ancient town, pass by the former merchants’ homes, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the colourful market. This is a great way to see the highlights of this UNESCO World Heritage site.

Rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight in Hoi An

Danang airport to Hoi An Old Town (30km): 50mins

Guests are picked up from their hotel for a short transfer to the Life start Foundation in the centre of Hoi An. 

The class is taught by the local artist Mr. Sinh Trong who has been sponsored and helped by the Lifestart Foundation. The Foundation helped Sinh to realize his passion for painting and turn it into a vocation. At the end of this lively session, guests will be able to keep their own handmade card as a souvenir.

Afterwards, enjoy an hour-long lantern making class. Hoi An’s traditional lanterns are very famous and bring a beautiful charm to houses and streets. While creating their miniature lantern, guests will have the opportunity to learn about Vietnamese life through interesting discussions with the class instructor and Life start members. Learn how the Foundation is helping people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Meet some of these lovely ladies and see how their beautiful products are made. As in the painting workshop, guests will have the chance to keep their lantern as a memory of their time with Lifestart in Hoi An.

In the afternoon, leave Hoi An for Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam. Its mesmerizing tombs and mausoleums of the last emperors of Vietnam reveal fascinating insights into the lives of the imperial families and their subjects. The ancient citadel reflects the pomp and ceremony of the dynastic rulers as well as the scars of many years of turmoil, both ancient and modern (the Royal Citadel was badly damaged in the latter stages of the war) but retains a sense of grace and majesty even today. 

Drive through Danang before climbing over the Pass of Ocean Clouds and dropping down to the wonderfully photogenic fishing village of Lang Co.

Overnight in Hue

Hoi An to Hue (110km):3hrs

Spend the morning visiting a quiet and peaceful pagoda

Transfer by vehicle to the beautiful pagoda which dates back to 1843. Located in a forest of pine trees outside Hue this monastery was once the home of Zen master. One of the most interesting parts of the pagoda is the eunuch tombs from the former Royal Court which in the whole city of Hue are only found here. If in Hue on Thursday or Sunday mornings between 0900-1000 join up to 20 Buddhist monks and nuns who gather together to pray and read aloud scriptures. This is highly recommended. This pagoda is also internationally renowned for its spiritual head Thich Nhat Hanh, who studied as a young novice monk at this pagoda.

After the visit journey on to Minh Mang’s Tomb which is which is located in a tranquil setting of gardens and ponds.

In the afternoon, explore the Imperial Citadel where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. The ancient citadel reflects the pomp and ceremony of the dynastic rulers as well as the scars of many years of turmoil, both ancient and modern (the Royal Citadel was badly damaged in the latter stages of the war) but retains a sense of grace and majesty even today. 

From here transfer to Airport for the 1-hour flight to Hanoi. On arrival, transfer to your hotel.

Overnight in Hanoi

Your chosen hotel in Hue to the Garden of Hue (5km): 10mins

Rise early and head to one of Hanoi’s oldest temples for a 1-hour Tai Chi session, with Master Vuong. Proper breathing and concentration are an integral part of the practice of any martial art and the Tai Chi taught is suitable both for those with no prior experience, and those who have already studied other martial arts.

After breakfast at the hotel, visit Hanoi’s sights including the Temple of Literature. In 1076 Quoc Tu Giam - Vietnam's first university, also referred to as Van Mieu, was established within a temple to educate Vietnam's royalty, mandarins and members of the elite. The university functioned for an incredible 700 years and its gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a fascinating glimpse into Vietnam’s past.

Continue on to picturesque West Lake and the sixth century Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda. From here, transfer (or stroll along the lakeside) 700meters to the nearby Taoist temple of Quan Thanh which is dedicated to Tran Vu, one of the principal deities in Taoism.

In the afternoon, visit a traditional Vietnamese doctor. Based in Hanoi, Dr Huong is an expert in Traditional Eastern Methods through Acupuncture, Acupressure and Cagut Implantation in Hanoi. She has been a practitioner of Traditional Eastern Methods for over 20 years all over the world including France, China, Italy, North Korea and Vietnam.  Following visit ‘traditional medicine street’, your senses will come alive with the variety of traditional medicinal herbs and spices on offer.

The destination for the evening is in the southwest part of Hanoi, where the lifestyle is a mixture of traditional and modern and the crowded streets are intersected by small and narrows lanes. During the American War (as the Vietnam War is called here), the hosts worked for the Vietnamese army. This neighborhood received the first bomb from the B52 planes, and the area was destroyed. Start with a cup of Vietnamese tea followed by a traditional meal, which will be served on a modern style dining table. After the meal, the host will play a traditional one-stringed musical instrument that he has made himself. At the end of the dinner, return to the hotel.

Overnight in Hanoi

After breakfast leave Hanoi for an overnight boat trip on Ha Long Bay. Journey there through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta, observe everyday life of Vietnamese villagers as they work the rice fields, take pigs to the market on bicycles and plough the fields with their water buffaloes.

Arrive in Ha Long City late morning and board your traditional wooden junk or The Emeraude, a classic replica steamship of the colonial era for the overnight journey into the Bay. En-route lunch will be served. Following cruise by rock formations with such names as Sail, Dog and Dinh Huong (incense pot). Towards the end of the day set anchor for the night. As the sun sets over the bay dinner is served on board with fresh seafood, salads, and fruits.

Overnight on Halong Bay

Hanoi to Halong Bay (160km): 3hrs30mins

This morning enjoy a wholesome brunch as your boat weaves through strange-shaped limestone rock formations. Upon disembarkation your driver will meet you for the transfer back to Hanoi.

*As an optional extra and depending to your flight schedule you may have time to stop to visit one of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam ‘But Thap’ on the way back to Hanoi.

At leisure for shopping until your transfer to Noi Bai Airport for onward flight.

Ha Long Bay to Noi Bai Airport (150km): 3hrs