Hanoi Arrival With Airport Assistance (Own ticket) Located in Vietnam’s north, Hanoi is the country’s capital and second most populous city, with a population of approximately 11 million. Compared to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi is more traditional, renowned for its thriving arts scene and beautiful French architecture. While it is rapidly developing, the city has retained many of its attractive architectural features and cultural traditions. As soon as you deplane, our Immigration Officer and guide will meet you at the end of the jet bridge, holding a signboard with your name(s) on it. Be escorted through the immigration/customs formalities and introduced to your guide, who will be waiting outside the terminal. Our representative will also collect your luggage from baggage reclaim and return it to you. Your guide will come to meet you and transfer you to your hotel. The regular check-in time is at 1400; early check-in is NOT included and subject to availability.

Guide: Included for the day

Accommodation:

• Luxury Accommodation: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

In the morning, follow your tour guide through the city’s bustling streets to the “standing newspaper” and discover how Hanoian citizens would get their daily news when newspapers where considered an expensive luxury. Continue on to a local coffee shop to experience the vibrant sights and sounds of daily life in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Drive to the Old Quarter and visit the home of the last Hang Trong artisan, one of seven children in a family with three generations of history painting in the art style. Meet with this passionate artist and discover how he keeps the craft alive with ancient wooden carving blocks and remarkable artistic skill. Afterwards, drive past Hang Trong Street to see where this art form once flourished. Continue on with your exploration and drive to a rail station in Hanoi’s suburbs to catch a local train back to its center. After a 10-minute train ride that passes over the first French bridge built on the Red River, follow your guide and walk through "cuisine street" where you can find many tasty dishes and discover a life beat of the Old Town in these modern days. This evening, embark on a foodie tour of Hanoi by jeep. Observe the vibrant local night life before transferring to a coffee shop on a busy corner of the Old Quarter, where HRH Prince William once stopped for a cup of coffee on his visit to Vietnam. Then, drive on to Bun Cha Huong Lien, where Barack Obama enjoyed a dinner of savory grilled pork in fish sauce served with noodles. After trying both the coffee and the bun cha, continue on to a 35 year-old Banh Cuon shop which appeared in Anthony Bourdain’s TV show called “Parts Unknown”. Banh cuon is Vietnamese rice pancakes stuffed with pork and mushrooms. Before returning to your hotel, stop at a local bar to sample a variety of locally inspired cocktails, such as: Pho (noodle soup); o mai (sugar dried fruit); and com (young rice cake). Remember to bring your appetite on this flavor some food tour!

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation:

• Luxury Accommodation: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

This morning, you will be transferred by your private vehicle to take a shared seaplane to visit Ha Long bay. Your luxurious floating home, Ginger, sets sail around noontime. Take a quick speedboat transfer to your luxurious floating home before starting our unique journey of exploring one of the wonders of nature – Lan Ha Bay and its main island of Cat Ba. The first highlight of the cruise is lunch, which we serve in Ginger’s nearly 360-degree light-flooded restaurant. While we cruise along in the early afternoon, there is time to enjoy our unique facilities on board. As we reach the shore of a small lagoon on Cat Ba Island, we hop on bicycles (electric cart transfers are also available) for a tour along small paved roads towards Viet Hai village. Situated in a valley within Cat Ba National Park and surrounded on all sides by forest and mountains, the locals are isolated from the island’s other villages and towns. The community is self-sufficient, as the residents provide for themselves by working the farms, fishing, or collecting rain water for drinking. Here you have the unique and authentic opportunity to meet the local inhabitants, learn about the fruits and vegetables grown in the valley, have a glimpse of local households and try some homemade liquors. Back on board, our chef is prepared for an interactive cooking class in the restaurant’s open kitchen. Learn about local ingredients as well as the preparation of classic Vietnamese dishes. As the sun sets, we arrive at a tranquil anchor spot for the night. In this hidden spot, you can revel in the memories of the day’s adventures with a cocktail under the stars. After a delicious dinner, you may like to unwind at our bar with a digestif or watch a movie in the evening cinema which is set up in the dining area later on. Or join our team and have some fun fishing for squid before retiring to your room.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

• Luxury Accommodation: Heritage Line - Ginger Cruise

Wake up early and join our Tai Chi session on the terrace deck to ease your mind and muscles with the first rays of the sun touching the water. Coffee, tea and breakfast pastries await you in the dining room to start the new day. It is time for Ginger to lift her anchors and cruise to Frog Lake, a secluded spot which is perfect for our morning excursion. Go for a refreshing “bay swim” or explore this captivating marine landscape via kayak. The cliffs stretch vertically out of the water and you feel a sense of freedom while meandering through this green medley of water and tree-topped islets. Back on board, we serve a hearty breakfast while cruising back to our mid-bay anchoring spot, from where we will transfer you back to the welcome lounge at the pier. Savour the last moments of this unique journey while relaxing on comfy sun beds on the terrace deck. Proceed to Hanoi airport by your private vehicle to take the flight to Hue. While imperial rule ended more than six decades ago, the central city of Hue still bears the marks of its royal past. From 1802 to 1945 Hue was home to 13 Nguyen emperors, whose palaces and tombs provide fascinating glimpses into the luxurious and secretive world of the court. During this period, the Imperial City was built according to the practices of Feng Shui that dictates the location and shape of spaces in harmony with both the physical and spiritual. Visitors may explore the red-lacquered pavilions of the Citadel, wander through ancient garden houses, or feast on delicacies once served in the royal palaces.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Snacks

Accommodation:

• Luxury Accommodation: Ancient Hue Garden Houses

Wander around the Imperial Citadel in the magical early morning light, located at the centre of the Complex of Hue Monuments — a UNESCO World Heritage site. Enter through the towering main gate and appreciate the magnificent architecture and gardens while your guide explains the events and the intrigue surrounding the former royal court. Despite being bombed heavily during the Vietnam War, there are some incredibly well-preserved sections intact and others which are being carefully restored. A delicious ending to a peaceful morning, enjoy light snack and green tea at Co Ha Garden, a place where Kings and royals would rest and relax, before transferring back to your hotel for breakfast. This afternoon, visit to the elaborate Khai Dinh Royal Tomb whose architecture showcases elements of Eastern art and Western design. While smaller than many of the other tombs, the Khai Dinh Royal Tomb is more flamboyant, with the largest dragons in the country forming the side walls leading up to the tomb. Drive to the Tu Duc Royal Tomb, the most impressive of all the royal mausoleums, built by Emperor Tu Duc between 1864 and 1867. Interestingly, Tu Duc had 104 wives and countless concubines but left no heirs to the throne. While the complex does include a tomb, together with pavilions and temples, no one knows exactly where Tu Duc was buried, as all 200 servants who buried the king were beheaded to keep his final resting place a secret from grave robbers. Located a short ten minute drive from Hue’s downtown, Vong Canh hill offers an amazing view of both breath-taking scenery and ancient relics. The hill itself is covered with pine trees and daisies. Aside from the hill, visitors can head to Van Nien Water Plant, which is the oldest in the region and was constructed by a French architect following the oriental style. Wander through the idyllic hillside and enjoy panoramic views of the mountains, before settling down for romantic cocktails amidst the stunning natural beauty.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

• Luxury Accommodation: Ancient Hue Garden Houses

Free at your leisure until transfer from Hue hotel to Hoi An hotel. Between the 15th and 19th centuries, Hoi An was a prosperous trading port, attracting Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, Portuguese and Spanish ships amongst others. Today, this World Heritage town is recognised for its well-preserved architecture, pedestrian-only streets and distinctive local cuisine, allowing visitors a glimpse of its illustrious past. Hoi An’s narrow lanes are ideal for a guided walking tour of its many atmospheric sights. These include: the old merchant houses with influences from Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese architecture; the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, first built in the 1590s by the Japanese community to link them with the Chinese quarters across the stream; the Assembly Hall of the Chaozhou Chinese Congregation, with its intricate woodcarvings; and the colourful market with stalls brimming with local specialties, including silk, which can be turned into fashionable garments within a day or two. NOTES • Availability: Afternoon • Suggested departure time: 14:00 • Tour duration: 03 hours • The Hoi An entrance ticket is valid for entry to 5 sightseeing spots in Hoi An including merchant houses, the Japanese Covered Bridge, museums, pagodas and assembly halls for 24 hours. It also provides entry into Hoi An Ancient Town for as long as you are in Hoi An. Please keep the entrance ticket with you at all times should you independently visit Hoi An later in the evening or on another day.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

• Luxury Accommodation: Anantara Hoi An Resort

This day is at your leisure.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

• Luxury Accommodation: Anantara Hoi An Resort

This morning, board a flight to Saigon. Ho Chi Minh City, in southern Vietnam, is a sprawling metropolis of approximately 12 million people. Formerly known as “Saigon” prior to 1975, today the city is Vietnam’s commercial centre. The city’s dynamic energy is apparent in the bustling street scenes with thousands of people on motorbikes constantly on the move. Although Saigon has rapidly developed into a modern city with skyscrapers and shopping centres, there are still remnants of its past visible in the historic landmarks and beautiful French colonial buildings dotted throughout the city. The Cu Chi tunnel complex was dug in 1948 for the guerrillas to hide from French air and ground sweeps. It also served as communication routes and food and weapon caches as well as hospitals and living quarters for guerrilla fighters throughout the American war. Visit the underground villages with a VC veteran who used to live there, to better understand the tunnels’ history, life in the tunnels and the Vietnamese’s resilience during the war. Listen to the veteran’s experiences of living in the subterranean hamlets where a lack of air, food and water made life incredibly hard. Your guide will be on hand to translate the veteran’s experiences. Drive back to your hotel.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

• Luxury Accommodation: Park Hyatt Saigon

Wake up early this morning and start your day like a real Saigonese! Your guide will show you things that make Saigon so different compared to other parts of Vietnam, from the morning crowded street coffee places to the lively local outdoor markets where people shop for their daily needs. Your first stop is a Vietnamese bread stall which is believed to be the first bread stall in Saigon. After breakfast, zig zag through the alleys and stop at a market for a cup of tea or coffee in Saigon’s oldest café. Continue to wind your way through nearby street markets to see how people bargain for fresh vegetables, seafood and other local food. Carry on to the “flower alleys” - the biggest flower market in Saigon. Stop at some vendors to try some favourite Saigonese snacks and desserts such as sponge cakes and sweet soups before heading back to your hotel. Meet with the guide around noon and enjoy a late lunch of pho (noodle soup) at the historic Pho Binh Restaurant, the wartime headquarters where Viet Cong commanders gathered to plan the 1968 Tet Offensive. Continue your tour of the wartime Saigon sites with a visit to the shrine outside of the US Consulate, followed by a walk past the former CIA building (outside visit only), where helicopters evacuated remaining US citizens in 1975. Then head to the rooftop café of the iconic Rex Hotel, for a drink and a spectacular view of downtown Saigon as your guide explains the hotel’s place in history. Visit the Reunification Palace for a guided tour of the former headquarters of the South Vietnamese Government and presidential residence. Drive to the former residence of the US Ambassador of South Vietnam in the early 1960s, Mr. Henry C. Lodge Jr., who supported the overthrowing of the South Vietnamese Government. Enjoy a cold drink while watching a 10min documentary film about 1960s Saigon. A fusion of traditional Vietnamese and western cuisine will be served in the magnificent dining room accompanied by live music.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

• Luxury Accommodation: Park Hyatt Saigon

Early morning departures leave from Saigon for a 1.5hr drive to Ben Tre, the gateway to the Mekong Delta. Escape the high-energy city for a day of exploring sprawling rice paddies and colorful fruit farms. Arrive at the quaint An Khanh hamlet, where travelers will visit a small home factory that makes the traditional dish of sticky rice covered by coconut leaves. Meet with the owner and her hard-working team who will show you how they use century-old traditional methods to make this special and tasty cake. Continue on this rural journey of discovery with a short drive to meet a local family in Quoi Son village. After wandering though the lush gardens of this village, visit a local ship building workshop and meet the owner who has perfected his craft, learning from the three generations of river boat-makers before him. With passion, he is devoted to preserving the traditional craft and supporting the local community. Trade the boat for a bicycle and enjoy a relaxing ride over easy, level terrain as you travel through narrow village lanes lined with fruit orchards and traditional cottages. Stop at a local orchard to sample exotic fresh fruits. Here you can also choose to ride on either a horse-drawn cart or tri-motorcycle through the lush surroundings of the fruit orchards, before boarding a sampan for a ride along the narrow canals of the Mekong. Finish your excursion at a local farmer's house, where a lunch of Mekong Delta specialties will be served, before driving back to Saigon. NOTES: • Suggested starting time: 08:00 • Duration: 7-8 hours • Maximum: 8-10 pax per group per boat • The cycling distance can be 3, 5, or 7 km, depending on your physical ability and length you desire • The exploration can be done on foot, horse cart or tri-motorcycle instead of the cycling

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

• Luxury Accommodation: Park Hyatt Saigon

Free at your leisure until transfer from your accommodation to airport for departure flight to Con Dao Island. Upon arrival, take private airport transfer to your hotel (hotel’s arrangement) .

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

• Luxury Accommodation: Six Senses Con Dao

Free at your leisure.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

• Luxury Accommodation: Six Senses Con Dao

Free at your leisure.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

• Luxury Accommodation: Six Senses Con Dao

Free at leisure until transfer from your accommodation to the airport for flight back to Saigon to connect to your departing flight home (hotel’s arrangement). The regular check-out time is at 1200; late check-out is NOT included and subject to availability.

Meals: Breakfast