DAY 1: HANOI ARIVAL (NO GUIDE)
Arrival Noi Bai international airport, you will transfer to your hotel. Free at leisure and overnight in Hanoi
This morning your guide and driver will transfer you 40’ to Nom Village. This ancient and quaint rural village is a gem for cultural and historical experiential appreciation; a wonderful example of a village in Vietnam’s northern delta that follows traditional structural layout. Highlights cover a spectrum of interests. Here are a few examples for you to consider: spend time with the villagers and learn about their personal and village stories, choose from ten ancient houses and seven places of worship, understand and see the typical village layout (communal house, market, entrance gate, pond, wet market, and stone bridge). As a popular spot, if you are fortunate you may even catch a glimpse of a Vietnamese movie being filmed. Then drive back Hanoi.
Free at leisure in the afternoon.
Overnight in Hanoi
After a 4.5 hour drive to Pu Luong Eco Garden, you will arrive at your accommodation followed by free time to explore the beautiful retreat, with its captivating panoramic views and tranquil setting before a delicious lunch. After lunch, you will to get close to village life and interact with locals living in the hills above the Retreat. Glimpse at dailylife, walk around working farmland and rice fields, and get to know more about the local cultrue. Walking back the eco garden.
Overnight at Pu Luong Eco Garden. https://puluongecogarden.com/
Start early to descend into the beautiful valley facing the Retreat where you walk around tumbling rice terraces. Trek through 6km small paths downhill shrouded in vegetation to slowly reveal a picturesque village sitting at the base of a towering mountain. Continuing to Kho Muong which is located in the central of valley, to engage with locals and see their rural life. Heading to “Bat Cave” – where the first ancestors of Muong ethnic group lived. Lunch will served at a local house on stilts. Then trekking 7 km through the jungle to explore the abundant of flora and fauna along the way. The winding road around gorgeous mountains will take you to Uoi village which is located in the middle of the forest. You weave between roads and farmland, villages and wild fields, ponds and rivers, mountains and open land. Savour the ever-changing scenery as you trek to a beautiful spot. Then you will be transferred back to Pu Luong Eco Garden.
Overnight at Pu Luong Eco Garden.
After breakfast at Eco garden, you will depart Pu Luong for a 3.5hr drive to Ninh Binh Province. We visit Vietnam’s ancient capital of Hoa Lu, the country’s first centralized feudal state from the end of the 10th century with the temples of the Dinh and Le dynasties still stand surrounded by rice paddies. Continue to Tam Coc, known as “Halong Bay on Land”, where a skilled rower will take you on a 2hr slow journey on the winding river and canals. Enjoy the views of the beautiful karst formations as you enter three of the many natural caves formed under the hills. Visit Thai Vi temple on the way back to hotel for check in.
Overnight in Ninh Binh.
After enjoying breakfast at hotel, you will drive to the Tho Ha Village in Nho Quan to begin a leisurely 5-15km (3-10mi) biking trip passing by sleepy villages and picturesque countryside landscapes. Continue to Dong Tam Hamlet to participate in some engaging agricultural activities such as catching crabs, fishing and transplanting and watering vegetables. After an hour or so, return to the hamlet in time for a cooking class and lunch with a local family where sweet potato cakes and grilled fish are on the menu. After lunch, board a rowboat at the Nha Le Pier and enjoy a trip to the 900m (2,953ft)-deep Galaxy Grotto, so named for the sea of stalactites growing from the ceiling above, like so many stars. The grotto is also home to a large bat colony which nests near the end of the grotto. Return to Hanoi in the afternoon.
Overnight in Hanoi
9.00 You will be greeted at your hotel by the drive of cruise’s shuttle bus to take the new highway to Tuan Chau.
12:30 Board the Heritage Cruises boat and enjoy a welcome drink as you receive a cruise briefing, safety instructions and check in to your suite. Lunch is served at L’Indochine Restaurant.
12:40 Cruise to Da Chong islet, where you can see a heritage lighthouse built by the French more than 100 years ago. After lunch, cruise to Gia Luan Lagoon where limestone karst formations rise out of the sea. This quiet bay is untouched and remote, as not many cruise ships visit.
15:30 The cruise vessel approaches the Ba Trai Dao or Three Peach beaches in Lan Ha Bay, a natural frontier between the provinces of Halong and Haiphong. This secret hideaway has beaches, caves and coves, plus the spectacular natural beauty of about 400 islands. Guests can try kayaking or simply swim in the clear waters of the bay.
17:30 Back on Heritage Cruises, enjoy life aboard the vessel or in your suite, and with cocktail in hand watch the sunset over the Gulf of Tonkin.
18:30 Activities include afternoon tea and wine tasting, and the chef will lead a Vietnamese cookery class.
19:30 A memorable dining experience will be offered at the restaurant, with local food in an intimate and romantic setting.
21:30 Enjoy evening views of the bay at the bar on the top deck. Try your hand squid fishing, or watch a movie in the restaurant. The bars are open until late.
Overnight on boat
HERITAGE BINH CHUAN CRUISE
Benefits are included in room rate of HERITAGE CRUISE
6:15 Start the day with a session of Vovinam on the sundeck,
6:45 The guests will enjoy a light breakfast on board.
7:15 Head off in a bamboo boat to explore the Bright Cave
9:00-9:30 Return to the ship for checkout.
10:00 Enjoy brunch while cruising back to harbour.
11:00 Return to Got Harbour for the drive back to Hanoi by cruise’s shuttle bus and then private transfer to Noi Bai airport for flight to Danang. Upon arrival, pick up by private car and transfer to hotel in Hoi An. Free at leisure and overnight in Hoi An.
Flight Hanoi – Danang @ 16.00 – 17.20
HOI AN ROSEMARY BOUTIQUE HOTEL
Benefits are included in room rate of HOI AN ROSEMARY BOUTIQUE HOTEL
Overnight in Hoi An
Free at leisure and overnight in Hoi An.
Overnight in Hoi An
HOI AN ROSEMARY BOUTIQUE HOTEL
Free at leisure and overnight in Hoi An.
Overnight in Hoi An
HOI AN ROSEMARY BOUTIQUE HOTEL
After breakfast, you will take private transfer to Danang airport for flight to HCMC. Upon arrival, pick up and transfer to hotel. Free at leisure.
Overnight in HCMC
HARMONY HOTEL
http://www.harmonysaigonhotel.com/vi/
Benefits are included in room rate of HARMONY HOTEL
Depart from Saigon for a 2.5hr drive to Cai Thia in Tien Giang Province. Exchange vehicle for bicycle as you cycle on a 1-2hr trip along quiet paths around the village of Hoa Loc, past rural scenes of wooden homes thatched with palm fronds, and local fishermen and farmers. Take a 45min cruise to An Binh Island in Vinh Long where you will enjoy a lunch of Mekong Delta specialties at the Ut Trinh home restaurant to the soundtrack of traditional folk music. Transfer to a rowboat for an up close and personal experience of the network of narrow canals typical of the Mekong Delta. Shore excursions include workshop visits: a brick kiln where locals make lovely clay pottery and bricks, and the Viet Artisans craft workshop, a non-profit project benefiting unemployed women in the rural Delta. Cruise back to Vinh Long where your car awaits for the drive back to Saigon.
Overnight in HCMC
HARMONY HOTEL
Free at leisure until you will transfer to Ho Chi Minh airport for flight back to UK.
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