Breakfast on board.
Arrival at Hanoi airport . Welcome by our driver (without guide) and transfer to the hotel.
Free meals. Overnight at the CHALCEDONY 4* hotel chalcedonyhotel.com or similar.

Extra meal option: Lunch and/or dinner at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Around 08:00 am, welcome at the hotel by your guide.
Depart for the magnificent site of Hoa Lu, also called "Halong Terrestrial". The karst relief is reminiscent of the famous "Dragon Bay" with numerous limestone hills covered with lush vegetation and a succession of natural cirques linked together by tunnels dug by erosion.
Embark on small traditional sampans for a peaceful ride on a river with its still wild and deserted landscapes, in the middle of rice fields (depending on the season), natural caves and limestone peaks.
Lunch of local speciality: goat skewers.
Bike ride through typical villages, on the way to the village to meet the local inhabitants, superb scenery on the road. Visit the Thai Vi temple, well located in an exceptional natural setting.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel HOANG SON PEACE 4*

Breakfast at the hotel.
Depart to Halong through the Red River Delta with scenes of authentic life.

Embark on a junk cruise in this magical place, through the famous karst sugar loaves and the 1600 islands and islets emerging from the emerald green water of the Gulf of Tonkin. The site has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994.
Seafood lunch on the waters of the "8th Wonder of the World". Stopover in natural caves.
Dinner and overnight at the HALONG PLAZA 4* halongplaza.com hotel or similar.

Junk Night Comfort Option: Make the most of a beautiful day on Halong Bay by spending the night on a superior 4★ junk (Signature Cruise signaturehalongcruise.com or similar)

Day 4: Settle into your private cabin on a junk. Cruise on the bay, part BAI TU LONG with much less tourists, through the thousands of sugar loaves emerging from the emerald waters, some of the most sumptuous landscapes in Asia. Lunch on board. Sailing in the bay to discover its karst peaks and visit one of the many magnificent caves dug by time, and hidden in the rocks.
With the boat guide, we will pass through a small floating village to discover an extraordinary way of life, fish farms, fishing boats, etc... The villages are now less and less inhabited but the traditions still survive among this people who do not call themselves "people of the sea".
Dinner on board with seafood specialties. Unforgettable night in junk.

Day 5: At sunrise, the fabulous moment of beautiful photos followed by a Tai Chi session (depending on the weather). Breakfast on board as we continue sailing in the beautiful setting of the bay. Early lunch , brunch style. Disembarkation and reception by the driver. Note: your disembarkation will be around noon, you will not visit the port, the market and the small museum of Halong, whose visit will take place in the morning. We'll join the group during their lunch.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Discover the fishing port and the market of Hon Gai, known for its seafood. Visit the beautiful Halong Museum which presents the entire history, geography, biodiversity of the bay as well as the life of the fishermen of this region. Walk along the coast for a last look at Halong Bay.
Lunch. Drive to an authentic village in the delta for a water puppet show, presented by the village artists (only for groups of 10 or more. Under 10 will be a walk to meet the locals and the show will take place in Hanoi tonight). The Vietnamese art of water puppetry is a cultural experience not to be missed during your stay in Vietnam.
The show is performed entirely in Vietnamese, but the story told by the puppets with music in the background is understandable by all.
Continue to Hanoi. Walk through the old quarter, where the houses still keep the facades since 1954. Rue de l'orfèvrerie, rue des lampions, rue des herbes medices... in a truly exotic atmosphere...
Photo stop in front of St. Joseph's Cathedral, Gothic Revival style, built in 1886, and its charming neighborhood.
(If the group has fewer than 10 travelers, there will be a water puppet show tonight).
Dinner with tasting of fish Cha Ca, a well-known specialty of Hanoi.
Overnight at the CHALCEDONY 4* hotel chalcedonyhotel.com or similar.

HANOI: The capital of unified Vietnam, Hanoi has retained the old-fashioned charm of the French colonial era. The modernization of the city undertaken by the French from 1882 continued until 1955 and the face of Hanoi has not changed much since then. Some of the buildings that have been remarkably well preserved or restored stand out from a harmonious architectural ensemble. Hanoi is undoubtedly the most charming city in Vietnam with all its authenticity, large shady avenues, many lakes, and manicured gardens.

Breakfast at the hotel.
Walking tour of the entire area of the historic Ba Dinh Square where Ho Chi Minh read the Proclamation of Independence in 1945. Photo stop in front of the imposing Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.
Then discover the One Pillar Pagoda, one of the symbols of Hanoi, famous for its original construction entirely in teak emerging from a body of water.
Visit the Temple of Literature, one of the educational, historical and cultural symbols of the country.
Lunch at the local restaurant.
Exploring Hanoi by pedicab that will allow you to discover the main points of interest of the Vietnamese capital:
The district of the "36 corporations" with its small shopping streets: the rue de la soie, the rue du coton...
The embassy district with many colonial houses, the Opera House, the surroundings of Hoan Kiem Lake.
Transfer to the train station. Board the night train to Hue (without accompanying the guide). Dinner in a basket and overnight on board in the air-conditioned cabins with 4 berths.

Hanoi/Hue Flight Option (iso night train): Transfer (without guide) to Hanoi airport for the HAN/HUI flight. Pick up at the airport and transfer (without guide) to the hotel in Hue.

Arrival in Hue. Picnic breakfast on board the train.

HUE: capital of the Nguyen, the lords of the South in the sixteenth century, Hue became the capital of the whole of Vietnam after its reunification by Gia Long in 1802. Having become the imperial residence and the seat of the court, Hue acquired great prestige and refinement, which was reflected in music and cuisine. Under French colonization, Hue became the capital of Annam, one of the subdivisions of French Indochina. The monarchy was maintained but came under tutelage. The French encouraged the architectural development of the city, while keeping it as an imperial city until 1945, when Emperor Bao Dai abdicated. The capital of the Centre region, declared a UNESCO Historical Heritage Site since 1993, offers visitors many very well preserved historical sites.

Visit of the Imperial City: was built between 1805 and 1832. Surrounded by a long and thick wall of 600 meters, ten gates, four of which are the main ones, allow access: the Peace Gate to the North, the Humanity Gate to the East, the Virtue Gate to the West, and the South Gate to the South through which one enters the imperial residence. This opens onto a vast courtyard in the centre of which stands the Pont d'Or, which spans the "Étang des Eaux d'Or", a basin filled with goldfish and water hyacinths. This courtyard gives access to the Palace of the Supreme Harmony, built in 1805.
Lunch with culinary tasting of Bun Bo Hue, "Hue noodles with beef", a dish originating from the former imperial city.
Boat trip on the Perfume River to the Pagoda of the Celestial Lady whose octagonal tower is recognizable from afar.
Visit a royal tomb of the Nguyen dynasties. Stop in a village specializing in the manufacture of incense sticks, an artisanal specialty of the region.
Royal costume dinner accompanied by traditional music and songs (only for groups of 10 or more. Under 10, local dinner in town).
Overnight at the THANH LICH ROYAL BOUTIQUE 4*  hotel or similar.

Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure by road for Hoi An, via the famous Cloud Pass which offers a magnificent panorama of the Lang Co peninsula on the Hue side, then on the East Sea on the Danang side.

HOI AN: Hoi An City is one of the major attractions of the Danang area with more than 800 buildings of historical interest. This former trading port, particularly flourishing from the fifteenth century to the nineteenth century, is far from having stolen its Unesco registration in 1999. Hoi An's well-preserved old quarters reflect the fusion of cultures – between local traditions and foreign influences – that has taken place over the centuries through trade in this traditional Southeast Asian port.

Bike ride (or by our bus for those who don't want to do it) to visit the agricultural village Tra Que, renowned for its aromatic herbs often served in local meals. Cooking class with the preparation of Banh Xeo, a crispy hot pancake stuffed with bean sprouts, pork slices and shrimp.
Lunch on site. Foot massage with medicinal herbs.
Walk in the ancient town of Hoi An, a small town classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. During the visit to Hoi An, we will note the perfect state of conservation of a large number of houses including the famous Tan Ky house at 101 Nguyen Street. Visit the old parts of the city: Fujian Shrine, Chuc Thanh Pagoda, Phuoc Kien Communal House, old wooden houses and the Japanese bridge.
Dinner with tasting of Banh Vac, "white rose", white rice paste stuffed with shrimps, which is prepared only in Hoïan.
Overnight at the hotel HOI AN GARDEN PALACE 4* hoiangardenpalace.com or similar.

Breakfast at the hotel.
Orientation tour from Da Nang to Son Tra Peninsula with outstanding views of the mountains, sea and famous bridges of the city. Visit the stone carvers' village to appreciate the skill of the craftsmen.
Transfer to the airport for the flight (VN 119: 11:30 - 13:05) to Ho Chi Minh City. Welcome by a local guide. Lunch.
Discovery of the colonial districts and the main historical sites of the city:
The central post office which is an important testimony to French architecture in Vietnam. Founded between 1886 and 1891, it is reminiscent of Parisian constructions. Its glass roof, built by Gustave Eiffel's workshop, resembles that of the Parisian Orsay station.
The municipal theatre was built in 1895 and inaugurated in 1900. The building had a movable ceiling and could accommodate up to 800 people. The government had installed the National Assembly there. Since 1975, it has been restored to its original function.
The City Hall: very controversial at the time of its construction (1901-1908), this enormous building looks quite like a yellow and white birthday cake.
The Notre Dame cathedral was built in red brick on the Place de Paris by a French architect between 1877 and 1880 on the ruins of a pagoda. Masses are still celebrated in Vietnamese (three daily services and six each Sunday) for the faithful, who are still relatively numerous. Its forecourt houses a statue of the Virgin Mary.
Photo stop in front of the Reunification Palace.
Dinner cruise on the Saigon River, with folk music show (only for groups of 10 or more. Under 10, local dinner in town).
Overnight at the ACNOS 3* acnoshotel.com hotel or similar.

Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure for the visit of the Mekong Delta. A vast network of thousands of canals characterizes life in the Mekong Delta, which extends over 40,000 km2. Stop to visit a Caodaist temple, a religion founded in the 1920s by a Vietnamese official who, during a séance of spiritualism, came into communication with a "superior spirit" named Cao Dai (God) who ordered him to create a new religion. Caodaism was recognized by the colonial authorities as the official religion in 1926.
Continue to Cai Be. Embark on a boat ride on one of the branches of the Mekong River, from Cai Be to Vinh Long where you can admire the fruit and flower stalls as well as the orchards.
Visit Binh Hoa Phuoc islet and discover its orchards where you will be offered a tasting of tropical fruits.
Lunch at a local's house.
Visit to an artisanal candy factory with tasting.
Continue by road to Can Tho.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel VAN PHAT RIVERSIDE 4*  or similar.

Departure by boat on the Cai Nong Canal to discover the river activities and the Cai Rang floating market, the liveliest in this region. Tasting of Mekong pineapples on a boat, opportunity to see closer to the floating life of Mekong families.
Return to Saigon on the provincial road with beautiful landscapes of the Delta. Photo stop in a Khmer pagoda.
Lunch along the way.
Arrival in Saigon. Walk to Chinatown for its exotic atmosphere, in front of the large Binh Tay market and the alleys of herbalists, visit the temple of Thien Hau, known for its glazed ceramic statuettes.
Visit of a lacquer factory, a local craft.
Dinner and overnight at the ACNOS 3* hotel or similar in the city center for the latest personal discoveries.

Depending on your flight schedule, transfer without a guide to the airport and fly to your destination. Meals on your own or on board.

Extra meal option: Lunch and/or dinner at the hotel.

Shower and pool option: in a nice little hotel before leaving for an overnight flight.

Cu Chi Tunnel Excursion Option : Direct to travelers on site for return flight at the end of the day.

Departure for Cu Chi. Discovery of a system of underground tunnels of more than 200 km dug by communist soldiers during the conflict, and their living conditions. Possibility of entering the tunnel through a wide entrance. Lunch. Return to Saigon. Shower and pool in a nice hotel.

Arrival in your country.