Unesco World Heritage Vietnam

📍 From Noi Bai Airport to your hotel in Hanoi city center (35km): 45 mins

Arrive in Hanoi and be transferred to the hotel in town (Note that hotel check-in time is 14:00).

Spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Inclusions:

📍 Routes can change subject to client’s interest.

Depart the hotel to visit the Temple of Literature, or Quoc Tu Giam. Built in 1076, The Temple of Literature was Vietnam's first university and 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.

Next, visit Hanoi’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Thang Long Imperial Citadel. The Citadel was constructed on a Chinese fortress dating back from the 7th century and re-built in the 11th century by the Ly Viet Dynasty. The historical site and remains reflect a unique South-East Asian culture between influences from China in the north and the ancient Kingdom of Champa in the south.

Visit the One Pillar Pagoda, which was founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049. This structure is one of Vietnam’s smallest but most iconic temples.

Afterwards, visit the fascinating Ethnology Museum (closed Mondays), which is both a research centre and a public museum exhibiting the ethnic groups of Vietnam. Towards the end of the tour, embark on a walk through Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Witness the ancient commercial street names, mirroring the crafts and businesses dating back over a thousand years. Make a stop at Thuong Tra tea house nested in an old apartment building to escape from Hanoi’s bustling life. Learn all about the importance of drinking tea in Vietnamese society shared by the guide, over a cup of tea.

Finish the day with a Water Puppet show. This is a uniquely North Vietnamese art form depicting scenes from rural life and episodes of national history.  

Overnight in Hanoi.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Hanoi to Hoa Lu (100km): 2.5hrs.

This morning, depart the hotel at 08:00 for a 2.5-hour drive through rural northern Vietnam to the site of Vietnam’s first capital, Hoa Lu. Visit the temples dedicated to Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang of the Dinh Dynasty (968-80), and Emperor Le Dai Hanh of the Le Dynasty (980-1009). The ancient Hoa Lu Citadel (most of which has since been destroyed) once covered an area of three square kilometers.

In the late morning depart for Tam Coc Town for a Vietnamese lunch. Along the way, stop for picture moments of local villages and the stunning landscape.

After lunch, visit Trang An Landscape Complex which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in June 2014. Take a relaxing boat ride on a peaceful river passing through a series of caves (one which takes 15-minutes to pass through in darkness). Trang An is a spectacular landscape of limestone karst peaks permeated with valleys, some of which are submerged, and surrounded by steep, almost vertical cliffs. As the boat gently slices through the water, notice the enormous limestone karsts jutting out from the green rice fields giving rise to other name, ‘Halong on Land’. An ‘eco tourism’ area, the only interruptions here are the sound of birds and the gentle paddle of the oar upon the crystal clear river.

If feeling adventurous, climb up to Bich Dong Pagoda on nearby Ngu Nhac Mountain, dating back to 1428 and comprising three structures: Ha, Trung, and Thuong Pagodas, in ascending order.  After that, you will take a boat trip back by sampan to Tam Coc Town.

Transfer to the hotel and spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure.

Overnight in Ninh Binh.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Ninh Binh to Ho Citadel (80km): 2hrs

Following breakfast depart to visit the remote and less visited Ho Citadel, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2011, situated in nearby Thanh Hoa Province. Ho Citadel remains consist of the Inner Citadel, La Thanh Outer Wall and the Nam Giao Altar, which are designed for a centralized imperial city in order to show a concept of royal power, based on the adoption of the Chinese Confucian philosophy. The use of large stone walls with traditional feng shui principles are the main characters that represent the almost intact Ho Citadel.

Enjoy a Vietnamese lunch after the visit then transfer back to the hotel. Along the way, stop for some picture-taking moments of local villages and stunning landscape.

Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. Choose to either relax and enjoy the facilities at the hotel or take a walk or bicycle ride through the surrounding rice paddy fields to soak up the beauty of the countryside.

Overnight in Ninh Binh.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Ninh Binh to Halong Bay (200km): 4.5hrs

Following an early breakfast leave Ninh Binh for an approximately 4-hour drive to Halong Bay, perhaps Vietnam’s most famous and most popular UNESCO World Heritage site! The name ‘Ha Long’ means the dragon descending into the sea and owes its origins to a Vietnamese myth. The towering limestone karsts represent the dragon’s back, surrounded by jade green water creating an unforgettable site. There are more than 1600 limestone islands and islets with different shapes jutting out from the sea.. Most of them are still intact from human activities thanks to their uninhabited and uncultivated characters.

Arrive at the Halong Bay jetty around noon and proceed with check-in formalities before boarding a boat for an unforgettable overnight cruise on Halong bay.

After a welcome onboard, a lunch will be served while cruising towards the bay itself. In the afternoon, enjoy some visits and/or activities (depending on each boat’s itinerary) or just spend some time relaxing on board. Towards the end of the day the boat sets anchor for the night among the karst formations. Dinner is served on board.

Overnight on board the boat in Halong Bay (private cabin on-board the join-in boat cruise).

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Halong Bay to Hanoi (180km): 3.5hours Danang to Hoi An (30km): 45 minutes

Enjoy the morning in the middle of Halong Bay as the sun rises on Halong and breakfast is served (brunch on some boats) while the vessel cruises slowly through the magnificent rock formations and back towards the port. Mid-morning the boat will return to shore. Disembark and transfer to Hanoi Airport for the mid-late afternoon onward flight to Danang in Central Vietnam.

On arrival in Danang transfer the short distance to nearby historic Hoi An town. Hoi An was a major Asian trading port from the 15th to the 19th centuries whose architecture and relaxed lifestyle has changed little over the years making it traditionally a favourite destination for international visitors. The ‘Hoi An Ancient Town’ was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

This evening is at leisure.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Routes can change subject to client’s interest.

This morning, be picked up by a jeep from the hotel in Hoi An to journey to another of Central Vietnam’s UNESCO World Heritage sites – the temple complex at My Son Sanctuary. This Jeep trip turns a day tour to My Son into an unforgettable outing. In an open-air, fully renovated, American war-era jeep set off from Hoi An toward the ruins of My Son. My Son was the homeland of the grand Champa Kingdom who built dozens of red brick towers during the 7th – 13th centuries. The sanctuary is situated in an impressive location surrounded by hills, around 35 km inland from the coast at Hoi An. Whilst not as spectacular as the great Angkor complexes in Cambodia, the remaining structures are atmospheric enough to conjure images of the majesty of the Champa Kingdom.

Reach My Son in the late morning hours; stop to have lunch in a local restaurant before setting off on foot to the ruins of My Son. Venture around the paths, visiting the numerous ruins and soaking in the atmosphere of this historic site. Mid afternoon begin the drive back to Hoi An along different back roads that run parallel to the Thu Bon River. The afternoon light casts a different hue on the farms, water and roads, great for photos or as a scenic backdrop for the jeep ride. All good things must come to an end however, and reach Hoi An just in time for a sunset walking tour.

Despite the passing of 200 years and the ravages of weather and war, the centre of Hoi An remains much the same today as it was in its heyday, when it was one of Asia’s busiest trading ports. Hoi An is an exceptionally well-preserved example of trading port from the 15th century to the 19th century in South East Asia. This walking tour is the best way to explore this UNESCO World Heritage Ancient Town, the wooden-fronted houses that once belonged to the town’s prosperous merchants, the Japanese-covered Bridge and the wonderful market as well as the silk, handicrafts, antique shops and galleries that takes one back in time.

After the tour, enjoy strolling around town and choose to have some pieces of clothes tailor-made or simply immerse in the environment of this enchanting ancient town that is lit up by thousands of lanterns at night by  along the sleepy river banks.

The evening is at leisure.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Hoi An to Hue (150km): 3hrs

Today, leave the hotel at 08:15 for a short ride to the organic farm.

Located about 3km from the Old Town centre, this quietly tucked away farm was established by an expert in nutrition and team based out of the love of food and local cuisine. Be greeted by the passionate team at the farm and start the experience today.

Just like the varied landscape of Vietnam, the cuisine contains a brilliant balance of aromatics, heat, sweetness, sourness, and umami flavour from the use of fish-sauce. The cuisine is all about the balance between yin and yang; the sweet and the salty, the cool and the warmth, the fresh and the fermented. Follow the expert in nutrition and explore the farm while listening to inspiring stories about how to use food and vegetables for healthy living. Pick-up some ingredients before heading to the lovely kitchen to make dishes. 

There will be five dishes to learn to make, have a chance to get hands-on on making rice flour with the old stone grinder, rice paper with copper vessels and invent a personal organic juice recipe. Once ready, sit down and feast on a delicious meal of authentic local cuisine.

After filling up on these home-cooked delights, take a short break and depart from Hoi An for a 3-hour drive through Hai Van Pass to Hue, the former citadel of the very last Nguyen Dynasty. Upon arrival in Hue, check-in at the chosen hotel and take some time to relax.

Notes for cooking class:

Dishes vary based on the seasonal availability of fresh ingredients.

Note: Cooking Class in the program is private

Overnight in Hue.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Routes can change subject to client’s interest.

This morning after breakfast, depart from the hotel in Hue for a city tour to explore the UNESCO World Heritage listed ‘Complex of Hue Monuments’. The structures of The Complex of Hue Monuments are carefully placed within the natural setting of the site and aligned cosmologically with the Five Cardinal Points (centre, west, east, north, south), the Five Elements (earth, metal, wood, water, fire), and the Five Colours (yellow, white, blue, black, red).  The Imperial Citadel is where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945, this 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 and is an outstanding example of an eastern feudal capital. 

From here take a cyclo through dai noi ‘Old City’ visit Tran Dinh Son private museum with a collection of everyday items that past Kings have used, and learn how royal descendants are keeping the family’s traditions alive today. Continue to visit Thien Mu (Celestial Lady) Pagoda overlooking the Perfume River; constructed in 1601, the 21-meter tall tower is the centerpiece of the pagoda and represents seven reincarnations of Buddha. In the grounds of the pagoda is the Austin car made famous when in 1963, a resident monk drove the vehicle to what was then Saigon to protest against the southern regime, the photo of his self immortalization was captured and was one of the most well known images of the war.

Lunch at a local restaurant for an authentic Hue style cuisine.

In the afternoon see the tomb of the former emperor Khai Dinh which is Vietnamese in design with European influences, making it unique from the other tombs in Hue.

Spend your evening for a culinary adventure on the back of a vintage Vespa. The old imperial capital of Hue is popular not only for its attractive historical monuments of the Nguyen Dynasty but also for its richness in culture and cuisine. There’s no better way to explore the night life of Hue and its tasteful flavors than sitting on the back seat of a vespa for an adventure through charming streets.

This experience offers a great chance for visitors to get the best of what Hue has to offer in terms of gastronomy and local culture. The vintage vespa will take you to a visit the vintage vespa collector and taste food with the family. Then ride to some hand-picked local family-run venues that serve the best authentic local foods. Immerse yourself in a world of Hue specialties, including Bun Bo Hue (Hue beef noodle soup), “banh Khoai” – Hue sizzling pancake, sweet soups and variety of Hue green leave cakes. A leisurely ride on the back of the Vespa takes you back to your hotel.

Overnight in Hue.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Hue to Dong Hoi (180km):4hours

This morning after breakfast you will transfer from Hue to Dong Hoi. You will stop at a couple of historic sites and monuments to understand the past history and story of Vietnam War.

Continue up Highway 1 across the Hien Luong Bridge, and over the Ben Hai River which demarcated North and South Vietnam, this area saw some of the heaviest fighting during the war.

The journey from here to Vinh Moc Tunnels is scenic after you leave the main highway, pass through quaint villages and skirt along Cua Tung Beach. The village of Vinh Moc found itself tragically positioned in one of the most heavily bombed areas of Vietnam.  In order to escape this bombardment, the villagers constructed approximately 2.8 km of underground tunnels which they used as a refuge to survive the bombings. Three hundred people lived intermittently in the tunnels from 1966 to 1971.  

Towards the end of the afternoon drive back to Dong Hoi where you will arrive in the late afternoon.

Later in the afternoon, you will check in at your hotel in Phong Nha National Park to relax and the rest of the day is free time at your own leisure.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Hue to Phong Nha National Park (220km):4.5hours Phong Nha National Park to Dong Hoi (50 km): 1.5hours

This morning, after breakfast you will transfer from your hotel to the Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003. The National Park contains and protects over 104 km of caves and underground river, making it one of the most outstanding limestone karst ecosystems in the world.

The karst landscape is not only complex but also ancient (more than 400 million years ago), with high geo-diversity and geomorphic features of considerable significance in the world.

On arrival in Phong Nha area visit the Paradise Cave, which was opened to the public in 2010. Here you have a chance to see one of the larger and most impressive accessible caves in the area. After you climb over 400 stairs, you will see the large entrance of this cave. Descend into the cave on a wooden walkway, made to protect and preserve the fragile cave formations. This walkway continues for 1 km through the enormous, well lighted cave. After the visit, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch board your private boat for the 2.5 km leisurely boat trip down the Son River to the mouth of the Phong Nha cave.

Pass by the entrance to the 'Cave of Teeth and Wind' and enter the mystical tunnels, filled with giant stalactites and stalagmites and crystal clear waters. The area has numerous grottos and caves and so far only a total of 20 caves with a total length of 70km have been surveyed.

Late afternoon transfer back to your hotel, and the evening is free at your own leisure.

Overnight in Phong Nha.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Routes can change subject to client’s interest.

This morning after breakfast transfer to Dong Hoi Airport for your Ho Chi Minh City bound flight. Upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh City, often referred to by the locals as Saigon, will meet your guide and transfer to your chosen hotel to check-in.

Meet with a local guide and set off on a half day tour in Ho Chi Minh City. Start with a visit to the city’s most iconic building: Reunification Hall. Formerly called the Presidential Palace, images of the building were seen around the world on 30 April 1975 when tanks stormed the gates as Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese. Hear the echoes of time while walking through this historic downtown site.

Then take a stroll to Ho Chi Minh City’s colonial quarter, walking past scenes of everyday life on the way. Admire the beautiful architecture of the Opera House, City Hall, the old Saigon Post Office, Hear about the glory days of French Indochina and how that era continues to influence aspects of modern Vietnamese culture. Step inside the War Remnants Museum for an insightful, yet sombre, look into Vietnam’s military history. See exhibitions displaying imagery from the French and American wars, learning more about the country’s struggle for independence and hearing tales of the resilience of the Vietnamese people.

Then step off the tourist trail for one last visit on this Ho Chi Minh City tour at a Vietnamese coffee shop, sit down and taste the coffee like locals. After this insightful visit, return to the hotel.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Your hotel in the City Centre to Tan Son Nhat International Airport (less than 10km):30mins

This morning is at leisure until time to transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for your onward flight to your next destination. Note that  hotel check-out time is 12 noon, and check-in time for international flights is usually minimum two hours prior to departure.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast