Xin Chao! Welcome to Hanoi, one of Asia’s most enchanting cities, full of culture and history. You will be welcomed at Noi Bai airport by local guide and learn a bit about this fascinating country on the way to your hotel.

You will have time to relax at your hotel and adjust to the pace of Hanoi. This beautiful city is bustling with energy and will soon dispel even the slightest feeling of jetlag. Try an iced coffee (cafe sua da) or iced tea (tra da) in one of the many typical cafés and learn about the Vietnamese café culture. For those that are hungry there are many small local restaurants and food stalls available. These little food outlets form the pulsating culinary heart of the Vietnamese cuisine.

Overnight in hotel.

Wake up early, grab your cameras and head out to Hanoi’s biggest flower market in Quang Ba. You will have the chance to take in the beauty and wonderful aromas of flowers from villages all around Hanoi, Sapa and Dalat. The diversity and vibrant colours on display guarantee amazing pictures. On your way back to the old centre, you will visit the banks of Truc Bach Lake. Every morning, hundreds of Hanoians gather here to practise Tai Chi, do their daily fitness exercises or play some badminton. You can join in or simply enjoy this oasis of peace and serenity in the middle of the city centre.

Let’s skip breakfast at the hotel and join the locals in the streets for a bowl of Pho. This aromatic beef noodle soup is without a doubt Vietnam’s most famous dish.

Next is a quick stop at Ba Dinh Square for some pictures. This historic spot is where Ho Chi Minh declared the Vietnamese independence in 1945.

Afterwards, you will enjoy the cooking class with Hidden Hanoi restaurant (closed on Sunday) for special dishes in the North of Vietnam. Hidden Hanoi will not just only show you how to cook but also they will teach you more about Vietnamese culture through out the course with the short movie demonstrating a traditional Vietnamese kitchen; by explaining the importance of rice and its cultural significance; the different spices, when and how they are used; the market; and of course fish sauce. Enjoy your own-cooked lunch.

After lunch at the beautiful cooking class location, you are picked up to explore the many sights and sounds of Hanoi: The Old Quarter, 36 Guild Streets, Ba Dinh Square and the One Pillar Pagoda. The program this afternoon is flexible and certain sights and attractions can be added or removed according to your preferences.

Before dinner, you will have the chance to visit the world-famous Water Puppet theatre (Alternatively, there is option to attend a local traditional theatre around Hoan Kiem Lake and witness a ‘Cheo’ performance with the surcharge). For dinner (optional) we recommend some other local specialties such as bun cha (smoked and grilled pork in stock with rice noodles and fresh herbs) or cha ca la vong (a 200-year-old Hanoian specialty of marinated grilled fish served with dill and peanuts).

Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel in Hanoi, you will head out to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On your way there, you will visit a typical Northern Vietnamese village where the younger and older generations still live together in traditional houses.

Arrive at Tuan Chau island – Take break and welcome drink at Pelican Halong Cruise Lounge.

Transfer to Pelican Halong Cruise.

Welcome drink – receive cruise briefing, safety instructions and check in. Start cruising and explore Halong Bay – one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.

Enjoy buffet lunch with Vietnamese dishes served while cruising through the bay, passing the most beautiful and quiet areas, such as Incense Burner, Dog Stone Islet, Fighting Cock, Soi Sim beach, Coconut Three Island.

Visiting Tung Sau area, covered by the leaping rocks and cultured pearl fishery. You can witness yourself the process of the jewel, from culturing to harvesting and sculpting, Moreover, you will have a chance to do kayaking based on your preference. Enjoy busy space with pearl maker, you can experience the completion of pearl.

Visiting the beautiful Ti Top beach for swimming (if the weather permits), Ti Top Beach is especially famous for its fresh atmosphere, clean water, and smooth white sand that create a great ambiance for tourists to relax or passengers can take steps to reach on the top of  Ti Top beach to have a whole panorama view of Halong Bay.

Back to the boat and free time while sailing to Luon Bo area, and anchor overnight.

Option: Massage service available. Please book with Cruise Manager directly (please see massage menu).

Attend the Cooking demonstration on sundeck – How to make Vietnamese spring rolls – traditional Vietnamese food. Then enjoy Happy Hour (Buy one drink-get one free). It is time for chit-chating and relaxing. Watch the magnificent sunset over Halong Bay.

Enjoy dinner with Vietnamese BBQ Set Menu.

Evening activities include: Leisure time to enjoy a chat around the bar, watching movies and many sort of Vietnam cultural films, relaxing and spending a romantic night on Pelican Halong Cruise’s music, playing cards, chess are available, reading magazines in room and dining room. You may also try your luck at squid fishing & fishing from the boat.

The day starts early onboard with Tai Chi session on the sundeck. Tai chi also called Tai chi chuan, combines deep breathing and relaxation with slow and gentle movements. Coffee, tea and pastries for breakfast are served in the dining room with morning view of bay’s landscape.

Transfer by tender to Sung Sot Cave. Walk up about 100 steps to the cave entrance. It takes approximately 45 minutes for cave visiting. Visit Sung Sot Cave, one of the most biggest cave in Halong bay with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. Return to the boat by tender. Proper shoes are highly recommended. Back to Pelican Halong Cruise. Check out and settle your bill at reception.

Have a buffet brunch while cruising back to the Tuan Chau Wharf. Relaxing on the sundeck or in the dining room enjoying the bay scenery while approaching the wharf.

Continue on to Noi Bai airport for a short flight to Hue (Suggested flight: VN1545/1915 – 2030). You will be greeted at the airport and transferred to your hotel.

Overnight in Hue.

After breakfast at the hotel, take a boat ride along the romantic Perfume River. Stop off at the Thien Mu Pagoda on the banks of the river to see the 7-storey Stupa. The pagoda is also home to the old Austin car driven to Saigon by the Venerable Thich Quang Duc in 1963 for his self-immolation. Continue on to visit the mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang (1791-1841), built between 1841 and 1843. The Emperor’s mausoleum complex consists of 40 constructions (palaces, temples, pavilions etc.) designed on a symmetrical axis.

Enjoy your vegetarian lunch in the serene atmosphere of the pagoda’s Meditation Hall.

In the afternoon, you will travel down to Da Nang then stop at Lang Co beach, one of the most beautiful bays in the world, before we arrive in Hoi An. This World Heritage site was home to merchants from all over the world. The guided walk through this enchanting and peaceful town will take you back in history. You will have a closer look at the Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese and French influences and visit some of its characteristic trade houses, bridges and temples.

Spend the night in your hotel in Hoi An.

After breakfast, jump on your bicycles and take a beautiful scenic route through the rice paddies to Tra Que Village just outside Hoi An. This little town is well-known for supplying the many restaurants and hotels in the area with fresh herbs and vegetables. Take a walk through the vegetable gardens, experience how the local farmers work the land and learn more about the history of the village and the importance of herbs in Vietnamese medicine and cuisine.

Have some central Vietnamese specialties for lunch such as Tam Huu spring rolls, the local pancakes. After lunch, you can relax before cycling back to Hoi An.

In the afternoon, you can further explore the old quarter and learn more about its rich history, or relax by the pool or on one of the many beautiful beaches.

For dinner (optional), we highly recommend a meal at one of the many fusion restaurants in Hoi An that offer a unique blend between Vietnamese and Western cuisine.

Overnight in hotel.

Breakfast at your hotel. Free time in Hoian to enjoy the beautiful beach in Centre Vietnam.

For the more active, these are several excursions you can arrange:

• My Son Sanctuary
• Fishing & snorkeling trip at Cham Island
• Local food tasting by sidecar & jeep tour in Hoian

Overnight in hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Da Nang for your short flight to Saigon (Suggested flight: VN117/1015 – 1145), also known as Ho Chi Minh City.

Drop your bags at the hotel, have a quick shower, and explore the sights of Saigon. For lunch, you will have the chance to try Banh Xeo, a big savoury pancake made out of rice flour, coconut milk and freshly ground turmeric. The pancake is filled with fresh herbs and vegetables, pork and prawns, and served with nuoc cham (the famous Vietnamese fish sauce thinned with water, lemon and chilli).

In the afternoon, follow the Graham Greene Trail to a journey from colonial to modern Saigon. You will visit the places where Greene lived and worked, past by the HCMC Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Metropole Hotel – famous place from the ‘Quiet American’ novel and film. There is time for an optional tea or coffee at the historical bar before heading off to the other famous Saigon hotel, The Majestic. This hotel and its bar were home to many foreign reporters and secret agents during the Vietnam War. Head up to the rooftop bar to try one of Saigon’s many local beers and enjoy a panoramic view of the city with live music.

Overnight in Saigon.

Breakfast at your hotel.

At 8.00am, depart for a 1.5 hour drive from Saigon to Ben Tre, one of the country’s southern provinces, situated in the Delta of the Mekong River.  Take in the highway as you leave behind the busy city. Pass Rach Mieu bridge before reaching Huu Dinh hamlet. Get on a tri-motor cycle (xe loi) ride to enjoy the lush surroundings of rice paddies and fruit farms alongside the narrow village roads.

Arrive at the waterfront, board the charming Mango Cruise for a glimpse at the Delta scenery while enjoying coconut juice. First stop for a visit at the coconut processing, then back to your cruise and the cruise will stop at a brick making shop, where the locals still use centuries-old traditional methods to make the bricks by hand where you will start a Bicycle trip around Phong Nam village around 4km, through gardens and stop at the a rice noodles factory “hu tieu”, one of most popular breakfast dishes in the region. Walk about 3 minutes to visit at Mrs. Huong’s home. Her family live on fishing, shrimp and farming. Enjoy the tropical fruits and honey tea in her garden before taking the rowing  sampan, be paddled by a personalized rower trip to discover the maze of small canals.

Then rowing you back to your mango boat and head to Mango home restaurant, enjoy your 5 course lunch and freshen up before switch to a bicycle and ride 500m About 4 minutes (or 7-10 minutes walk) on village roads past green gardens and local houses, and stop at another local house of Mr Sau Tuong, a former Vietcong soldier who survived two years fighting the Khmer Rouge in Phnom Penh. Now he and his wife live on making rice paper which is the most famous specialty of My Long village. Have a chat with him and enjoy the crispy rice paper made by his wife, and see how it is made.

After the visit, the boat will be waiting for you at the pier nearby to bring you back to Ben Tre city where your car will be ready to take you back to Saigon.

You will have your last breakfast in HCMC and do some last minute shopping before flying back home or on to your next destination