Vietnam Odyssey 15 days

Upon arrival, you will be greeted by the driver and guide, you will have the chance to experience the life of an Hanoian in the 1950’s and travel through the Old Quarter on a cycle rickshaw for 45 minutes. Discover the bustling streets of the “Quarter of the 36 guilds’’ – a place of unique charm and endless activity: artisans, stalls, tinsmiths, jewelers, calligraphers, carpenters, mobile stalls, leather or rattan goods, people selling fans, votive objects, lacquer ware, silk, mats, paper, pipes and so much more. Then, you will take a stroll around the Sword Lake and stop to visit the beautiful Ngoc Son Temple on an island in the middle of the lake, accessed via a red wooden bridge. 

Overnight in Hanoi.

In the morning, you will begin your full day discovery of the capital with Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum - a tribute to the architecture of Lenin Mausoleum in Moscow, his traditional stilt house and the One-Pillar Pagoda - built in the 11th century. Later on, you will visit the Ethnology Museum. Created in November 1997 at the Francophonie Summit, it is both a research center and a public museum featuring the 54 ethnic groups found across Vietnam. In the afternoon, you will visit the Temple of Literature (Van Mieu in Vietnamese), situated in the place once known as the first university of Vietnam. Built in 1070 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong, the university was first opened for princes and mandarins exclusively. With its ancient 36 courtyards, altars and roofs, Van Mieu is a very fine example of Vietnamese architecture. 

In the evening, you will enjoy a traditional water puppet show, an art form which was invented a thousand years ago by the farmers of the Red River Delta area and then elevated to royal entertainment under the Ly and Tran dynasties. This typical and enchanting art form often portrays scenes of everyday life and legends to a backdrop of traditional music.

In the morning you will depart from Hanoi to Mai Chau, traveling along charming smaller roads. En route, you will find the road ascends gradually until you find yourself in the middle of a landscape of mountains set at a medium altitude.

In the afternoon you will visit a neighboring village, inhabited by one of the Thai ethnic groups of Northern Vietnam, the white Thai. In these mountainous regions, you will discover local crafts and the customs of the inhabitants. You will have the rest of the day to walk around the village. 

Overnight in Mai Chau.

You will depart from Mai Chau and travel to Hoa Lu, one of Vietnam’s most famous historic sites, renowned for its ancient remnants and striking limestone peaks—often called the “Halong Bay on land.” Here, you will explore the 10th-century temples dedicated to the Dinh and Le Kings.

In the afternoon, you will step onto a sampan for a boat ride to the caves of Tam Coc ("the three lagoons") and enjoy the aquatic landscape and gigantic rock formations before returning to your hotel. You will visit Bich Dong Pagoda, also known as the "Jade Cave". By taking a small staircase, which was dug into landscape on the occasion of Emperor Minh Mang’s visit in 1821, you will be offered a stunning panorama of the surrounding valleys between archaeological remains and centuries-old trees.

Overnight in Ninh Binh.

In the morning, you will head towards the famous Halong Bay. There, embark on a cruise through the must-see Halong Bay. This world-famous bay is one of the most beautiful landscapes in Vietnam, with its giant rock islets covered in luxuriant vegetation overlooking the waters. Halong Bay includes some 1,900 islands and islets of rocky peaks, often uninhabited and untouched by human hands. These scenes create a spectacular marine landscape, which earned it UNESCO World Heritage status in 1994.

You will be served lunch and dinner aboard the cruise. Be sure not to miss the sunset on the top deck for beautiful pictures (depending on the weather conditions)

Early in the morning (and depending on the season), you can wake up to enjoy the sunrise over the crystalline, glistening waters of the bay. Then, the cruise will tour around the bay, giving you a chance to take in more of the bay’s incredible, karstic scenery, until you disembark at the end of the morning. 

After disembarking, you will then return to Hanoi for the domestic flight to Hue.

Start the day with a visit to Hue Imperial Citadel, exploring the remaining vestiges of the ancient citadel. Afterwards, enjoy a boat trip along the poetic Perfume River, stopping at Thien Mu Pagoda—built in 1601 and considered the symbol of Hue. Continue cruising toward Thuy Bieu eco-village, a serene riverside community known for its green tea fruit orchards. Upon arrival, join a cooking class to prepare Hue’s signature dishes under the guidance of a local chef, then savor your creations in an open-air riverside restaurant surrounded by lush greenery.

In the afternoon, cycling through the peaceful village to visit communal houses, ancient temples, and traditional garden houses, a unique architectural feature of Hue. A soothing foot soak in medicinal herb water followed by a rejuvenating blind massage offers relaxation after a day of exploration. Conclude with a visit to the Tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh, whose construction began in 1920 and took a decade to complete, resulting in the most elaborate and costly tomb of the Nguyen Dynasty despite its modest size. Return to the hotel.

In the morning you will depart from Hue to Hoi An at the end of the morning. 

Starting explore the old town of Hoi An, a World Heritage Site classified by UNESCO. The originality of the place is a mixture of Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese and French architectural elements. Along the small streets you will see Chinese houses dated more than two centuries old, the famous Japanese pagoda bridge, a Chinese temple and the house of Tan Ky (which belonged to a rich Vietnamese merchant 200 years ago and has been kept original ever since). You will also join a lantern workshop, where you will have the chance to discover this traditional form of handicraft. Introduced to Vietnam hundreds of years ago by the Chinese, the crafting of silk lanterns has now become a speciality in Hoi An. On site, you will be guided by local craftsmen to make your own lanterns. The crafting of lanterns is a work of precision and you will need patience and a touch of dexterity to complete yours. At the end of the visit, you will be able to take home your own masterpiece as a souvenir of this experience.

Free day at leisure on the beach.

Free day at leisure on the beach.

Today you will depart from Hoi An in the morning and transfer to Danang International Airport for your domestic flight to Ho Chi Minh City. After arriving in Ho Chi Minh City, you will meet and greet your driver and tour guide. After settling in, you will pay a visit to the historic landmarks of the colonial city once known as Saigon: the old Saigon Post office, Notre Dame Cathedral, Independence Palace and Ben Thanh market.

You will leave early in the morning for the Cu Chi Tunnels. Originally dug by hand by the Viet Minh (Resistance Force) during the French-Indochina War, this network of underground tunnels was expanded during the Vietnam War. At its peak, it was 200 kilometers long, 3-to-4-meters deep, and was very well-equipped with meeting rooms, medical, and sanitary posts. You will begin the visit by watching a documentary on the tunnels and the war in the 60s-70s, and then you can pass through various narrow underground passages in order to discover the many rooms: offices, kitchens, bunk rooms, weapons stores, and even hospitals. At the end of the tour,you will have the chance to taste a culinary specialty of Cu Chi, khoai my luoc (boiled cassava),a Vietnamese dish eaten daily during the war. After your visit, you will return to Ho Chi Minh City.

On the way going back to Ho Chi Minh city, you will have a chance to visit FITO Museum. FITO is the first private museum in Vietnam where you can discover many artifacts and information about traditional Vietnamese medicine: ancient documents, herbs slicers, cutting tools, pestles, mortars, bottles and paraphernalia of herbal medicine... The museum itself is an ancient house made of wood in a traditional Vietnamese style. The visit will start with a video introduction to this
very specific discipline and explains the main principles and processes. Once it is finished, an English speaking guide will invite you to enter and tour the Museum. At the end, you will have a chance to taste some tea in the shop.

In the morning you will depart from Ho Chi Minh City to explore Ben Tre in the Mekong delta, also known as the “Green Venice” of Vietnam. After visiting a brick factory in Phong Nam where bricks are still hand-made, step onto a boat for a cruise along the Chet Say river (one of the Mekong’s arms). You will make several stops along the way to discover different local workshops, allowing you to understand better the specialities of the local economy. The boat will then cross a small canal and stop at a small village, where you will continue your discovery of the delta by visiting a workshop specializing in carpet-weaving. You will even be able to try this activity yourself, before hopping in a xe loi (a kind of motorized rickshaw) or on a bicycle to wander around the village. You will see traditional farms and vegetable plants, before stopping at a small local restaurant to taste a delicious (and generous) lunch made of regional specialties, such as “elephant-ear fish” and freshwater shrimps.

You will transfer to Can Tho. Overnight in Can Tho.

In the morning, you will depart for a day of discovery and wonder along the Mekong River. At the Cai Rang floating market, you will catch a glimpse of the lively atmosphere, where people sell and buy all sorts of fruits and fish fresh from the river delta. On each market boat, a long pole with a piece of fruit or vegetable attached to the end serves as an emblem indicating the type of goods sold on the boat, goods like pineapples, oranges, salad vegetables, and turnips.

After visiting the floating market, you will travel to the Vam Xang Garden and start cycling through the beautiful countryside. You will pass by local houses, board a local ferry to cross the river, and certainly have ample opportunities for pictures of the pristine natural landscapes surrounding the Mekong Delta. Upon your return to the garden, you will enjoy the local meal with a refreshing cup of tea and some delicious fruits to re-energize.

Coming back to Ho Chi Minh city by car.

Free time and then transfer to airport for your international flight. Thank you for traveling with us. See you next time.