Vietnam Discovery

Hanoi, with its imperial legacy spanning over a millennium, is a city where ancient history and cultural diversity blend to shape its unique character. The city’s landmarks offer insight into Vietnam's rich heritage. A visit to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology unveils the lifestyles and vibrant identities of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups making it essential for anyone keen to understand the country’s distinctive diversity. Travel back in time to the ancient Temple of Literature, established in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius. This site showcases classic Vietnamese architecture and was also the nation’s first university.

A delightful lunch awaits at Bun Cha Huong Lien, a popular eatery known for its grilled pork with rice vermicelli, one of Hanoi's most flavourful street dishes. Following this, explore the Ho Chi Minh Complex and Ba Dinh Square, a revered pilgrimage site featuring botanical gardens, monuments, and pagodas. Key highlights include the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (viewed from the exterior), Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House, the Presidential Palace, the Ho Chi Minh Museum, and the One Pillar Pagoda.

Meals: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Mai Chau is known for its stunning mountain backdrop and idyllic valley filled with verdant rice paddies. The rustic villages, with their traditional wooden stilt houses, are primarily inhabited by the White Thai ethnic group. A three-hour drive from Hanoi brings you to this peaceful and picturesque destination. At the heart of Mai Chau, take a leisurely walk to Van Mai village, following a serene riverside, passing lush rice fields and traditional local houses on your way to Sam Khoe commune. This route offers stunning views of the valley and surrounding mountains, with several local Thai hamlets, scenic streams, and pristine corn and rice farms dotting the landscape. Along the dirt trails, experience village life among houses on stilts. There are plenty of opportunities to interact with locals, observe their daily lives, learn about house construction, and understand rice and corn farming practices. Later, meet an ethnic Thai family for a firsthand experience of local culture and traditions.

Walking: Distance – Approx. 10 km (6,2 mi.); Grade – Easy

Meals: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Drive through the lush farmlands of the Red River Delta and experience the charming Vietnamese villages on your way to Halong Bay. Majestic limestone islands, topped with trees and bushes, rise from the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Halong Bay, a UNESCO

World Heritage Site, is a breathtaking landscape of caves and dramatic rock formations. Known as ‘Descending Dragon’, the bay’s 1,969 islets and towering rock formations never fail to fascinate visitors, each offering a glimpse of the region’s natural grandeur. Arrive in Halong City and board an overnight cruise through this legendary bay. As you sail, take in the bay’s highlights, from hidden lagoons and grottoes to pristine beaches. The boat anchors in a quiet cove for the evening, where you can relax with a refreshing cocktail and enjoy the sunset over the bay.

Meals: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Formerly known as Faifo, Hoi An was a major Silk Road trading port from the 16th to the 19th centuries. As one of Southeast Asia’s oldest towns, Hoi An is renowned today for its well-preserved architecture, historical sites, charming ambiance, and rich culinary heritage. Take a guided walking tour of the Old Town quarter, exploring its narrow, winding streets and delving into the city’s captivating history. The town’s atmospheric and historic buildings, a blend of Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, and European architectural styles, are concentrated along these quaint streets. Highlights include Chua Ong Pagoda, the Tan Ky ancestral house, the Assembly Hall of the Chaozhou Chinese Congregation, the 16th-century Japanese Covered Bridge – Hoi An’s iconic symbol – and the vibrant market.

Meals: Breakfast | Lunch

Enjoy some leisurely time at the hotel pool or on the beach before departing for Da Nang International Airport for your flight to Bangkok and onward journey.

Flight Info: VZ965 DAD – BKK 10:40 – 12:25 (Tentative)