I dream of Vietnam

Xin Chao and welcome to the modern and cosmopolitan city of Ho Chi Minh City, fondly known by its more evocative name, Saigon. Upon arrival to Tan Son Nhat Airport, our driver will greet you and transfer you to the city center to Hotel De Art Saigon.

Enjoy the day free at leisure to acquaint yourself with the hotel’s surroundings, immersing yourself in the sights and sounds of Vietnam.

Meals: No meals

Accommodation: Hotel Des Art Saigon

Begin your exploration of Ho Chi Minh with a walking tour of the historical heart and colonial area.  Stop at the photogenic Old Saigon Post Office, Ben Thanh Market, Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica,  City Hall, and of course, the Opera House. On either side of the Opera House you will see Graham Greene’s favourite haunt of the Hotel Continental as well as the Hotel Caravelle, a favorite of correspondents during the American-Vietnam War.

Visit the Craig Thomas Gallery or San Art to discover modern and contemporary art mixed with Vietnamese motifs.

Boarding the Bonsai River Cruise to bask in sunset views and delicious freshly cooked cuisine as dance performances and music play throughout the night.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Des Art Saigon

Settle in for a 2-hour car ride this morning to the Mekong River Delta’s quiet town of Ben Tre and board your day cruise to visit the Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix, and Turtle Islands. Stop at local factories specializing in making coconut candy and other oddities before sampling the juicy fruits from a local orchard at a fruit tasting.  Visit local gardens for a honey tasting before hopping into a traditional Vietnamese boat called a sampan to explore the Mekong River canals and tributaries framed by large palm trees.

Disembark from your day-cruise and return by car to Ho Chi Minh City via a stop in My Tho for lunch and a visit to Vinh Trang Pagoda.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel Des Art Saigon

Depart Ho Chi Minh City on a mid-morning 2-hour flight and jet up to the traditional and cultural heart of the country, Hanoi.

Begin your discovery of Hanoi at its heart and literal center, Hoan Kiem Lake. Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of the Hanoi city center by discovering the beauty and historical significance of the area of Ngọc Sơn Temple and the “Turtle Tower”.

Continuing on, you will visit the labyrinth of streets dubbed the “Old Quarter”, famous to international guests and locals alike due to its chaotic but photogenic and charming nature. Visit the 36 streets by cyclo and on foot as you meander past bamboo, silver, silk, gold, and fruit sellers.

Your afternoon is free to wander on your own or to get away from the chaotic Old Quarter at your hotel on the beautiful West Lake in Hanoi’s Tay Ho District, Pan Pacific Hotel. Let the peaceful atmosphere of the largest lake in the city lull you to sleep after an eventful day.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Pan Pacific Hanoi

Dive into the history of Ha Noi by visiting the iconic One Pillar Pagoda, and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, a monument and tribute to Ho Chi Minh, the “uncle” of modern Vietnam. The mausoleum is closed every October and November, as well as every Monday and Friday throughout the year.

Pass by Vietnam’s first university, the Temple of Literature, before stopping for lunch at Koto Training Restaurant, a social enterprise dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty faced by many youths in the city, empowering them by training them in the culinary arts and hospitality training.

Perusing the carefully curated collections of tribal art, clothing, jewelry, and full-size replica houses at The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. All displays are clearly labeled in English, French, and Vietnamese, with guides available at the main entrance for those who want to hear more in-depth information.

Return to the scenic West Lake area by your hotel and enjoy the rest of your afternoon at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Pan Pacific Hanoi

Today you have free time to explore Hanoi independently. Check out Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda and Quan Thanh Taoist Temple on the quaint Truc Bach Lake, shop in the many boutiques and markets of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, or find a quiet café to spend your day relaxing with lake views while savouring the aromatic flavours of delicious Vietnamese-style coffee.

In the evening, transfer to the Ga Hanoi for your overnight sleeper train on the Victoria Express to the steep mountains, terraced rice fields, and remote ethnic minorities of Sapa. Settle down in your deluxe cabin and slowly drift off to sleep.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Night train

Upon arrival to Lao Cai station, make the final 30-minute drive by car to the hill-side station of Sapa. Rejuvenate your body with an early morning breakfast at a local restaurant before beginning our tour today, which focuses on the Black Hmong ethnic minority ’s traditional art and handicraft forms.

Our local guide comes from the Sapa O’Chau social enterprise, a company devoted to responsible tourism, ethical employment and community empowerment, and can give us unique insight into the local people’s culture and everyday life.

A 30-minute car journey will transport us to Ta Phin Village, surrounded by beautiful rice terraces and sweeping valleys.  Try your hand at indigo dyeing, bamboo and hemp weaving, batik art, and embroidery and test your culinary skills with a Hmong/Vietnamese cooking class, feasting on your creations before heading back to Sapa town with the afternoon free to enjoythe city-center. As you wander around the main square you will see many different ethnic minorities meandering around the square, selling their goods.

Check in to the Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa, an exquisite mountain lodge with views over Sapa, lush gardens and Mount Fansipan, nicknamed “the roof of Indochina” due to it being the tallest mountain within the region of Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: BB Sapa Resort & Spa (Victoria Sapa)

Today is devoted to a gentle hike through Sapa Valley, known for some of the most impressive scenery in all of Vietnam. As your guide leads you along the Muong Hoa River, the blanket of morning mist will start to disappear, leaving us a breathtaking view of gleaming rice terraces. The walk will take us through the Black Hmong Lao Chai Village before leading us to Ta Van Village with its mixture of Hmong, Giay, and Red Dao residents, the latter well-known for their knowledge of herbs and natural medicines.

There is also time to view rock carvings and engravings left by different tribes long ago before sitting down for a carefully packed picnic lunch.

The walk will conclude at Giang Ta Chai Village, home to the Red Dao, where you will not only get a chance to see a bamboo forest and waterfall, but also an opportunity to try a Red Dao herbal medicinal bath to rest your weary feet before the vehicle takes us back to Sapa.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: BB Sapa Resort & Spa (Victoria Sapa)

Breathe in the fresh morning air of Sapa and enjoy the day at leisure. Swim some laps in the hotel’s swimming pool, try a relaxing spa treatment, or meet ethnic minorities at colourful weekly markets while taking in the breathtaking scenery.

In the evening, depart Sapa for Lao Cai where the Victoria Express awaits to bring you back to city life in Hanoi.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Night train

Arrive to Hanoi, take a walk to a hotel nearby station, have breakfast and relaxing in a few hours in this hotel before driving east to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Halong Bay, an otherworldly landscape featuring emerald green waters, sandy white and golden beaches around every corner, and hundreds of thousands of towering limestone karst pillars and islets with dustings of shrubs growing in every which way.

Upon arrival to Gat Pier in Hai Phong, check-in to your cabin on the luxury Indochinese-inspired ship, Ginger Cruise, to experience Lan Ha Bay (a different region of Ha Long Bay) in all her glory. Activities include cooking demonstrations, lounging in the luxurious sundeck Jacuzzi, and exploring Viet Hai Village by bicycle on the largest island in the region, Cat Ba.

At the end of the day, the boat will anchor while guests enjoy a beautiful 5-course dinner. In the evening, watch a film in the colonial dining room or stargaze from the sundeck before retiring to your cabin for a restful sleep.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Ginger cruise

It is a truly a good morning in Vietnam when you wake up in the middle of Halong Bay. Try Tai Chi on the sundeck as the sun rises or simply enjoy breakfast before swimming and kayaking in Frog Lake.

Savor the views and take your last photos as the boat gently glides through the incredible rock formations back to Tuan Chau Pier.  Disembark from the cruise and journey back to Hanoi by car, transferring to Noi Bai Airport for a short flight to the central region of the country, Da Nang Airport.

Check-in to the trendy Fusion Maia in Vietnam’s premiere beach destination, My Khe Beach. With its stunning beachfront location, complimentary spa services, and breakfast served anytime, anywhere, this hotel is the perfect place to relax and unwind.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Fusion Maia Da Nang

Start your day with a walking tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hoi An Ancient Town. The very well-preserved town is filled with quirky shops, antique teahouses, and amazing restaurants. Enjoy views of the Thu Bon River and the many canals found in the city as you learn about the history of the town and admire the interesting mix of Vietnamese, French, Chinese, and Japanese architecture. Pause for a tea at the Reaching Out Teahouse, a lovely old-fashioned teahouse providing work for the hard of hearing, serving up delicious tea samplers and home-made snacks.

The rest of your day is free at leisure to discover the city on your own by foot or on bicycle. Hoi An is not only famous for its ambiance as it is for its tailors. Here tourists can get any manner of clothing made in 24 hours for a fraction of a price that it would cost back home. For those interested in tailoring, we can arrange a visit to one of the best tailors in the city to design your own outfits, bags, and shoes.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Fusion Maia Da Nang

Spend the day with your toes in the sand, feeling the warm sun on your face as you lounge by the gorgeous infinity pool or in the picture-perfect sea. Optional excursions include a half-day jeep tour to the remnants of the Ancient Cham Kingdom, the My Son  Ruins, a collection of ruined Hindu temples dedicated to the god Shiva, kayaking on the Thu Bon or Coco River, cycling through the countryside, creating beautiful dishes during a cooking class, or gazing at the many small art galleries scattered through the old town.

Whatever the case, don’t miss an evening in Hoi An, as the city comes alive with glowing lanterns and the smells of street food wafting along the alleys. Snack on Banh Bao Vac, a type of secret recipe dumpling, or delicious and crispy Vietnamese wontons.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Fusion Maia Da Nang

The day is free to appreciate the many services, on-site activities, and amenities of your luxurious accommodation until your transfer to Da Nang Airport for onward planned travel arrangements.

Meals: Breakfast