Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
You'll arrive in Hanoi and get settled at your hotel, leaving the morning open to relax or wander around on your own. At 2pm, meet up with your guide for a walking tour through the Old Quarter, where you'll walk the famous 36 streets including Silver Street, Silk Street, and Hang Ma street. Along the way, you'll learn about Vietnam's Full Moon Festival and get to try traditional Mooncakes.
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Hanoi's Old Quarter
- Exploration of the '36 streets' - Silver Street, Silk Street, Comb Street, Paper Street
- Visit to Hang Ma street and learning about Full Moon Festival traditions
- Tasting of traditional Mooncakes
Landmarks Old Quarter (36 Streets) Hang Ma Street 
- Day 2
Hanoi to Halong Bay
Head out to Halong Bay and board a junk boat to explore the water surrounded by limestone peaks. Lunch comes on board with views across the bay. From there, you'll visit Tien Ong Cave to see the rock formations, then return to the boat for the evening. A Vietnamese cooking demonstration happens on the sundeck before dinner featuring fresh seafood.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch on board junk boat with bay views), Dinner (Sumptuous seafood dinner)
Included Activities
- Junk boat cruise in Halong Bay
- Visit to Tien Ong Cave with exploration of stalagmites and stalactites
- Vietnamese cooking demonstration on sundeck
- Lunch on board with bay views
Optional Activities
- Swimming in Halong Bay
- Kayaking in Halong Bay
Landmarks Halong Bay Tien Ong Cave - Day 3
Halong Bay to Hanoi to Hue
The morning offers optional tai chi or traditional massage on the sundeck if you're interested. After that, kayak through Cua Van Floating Village to see how local fishing families live in their wooden houses. You'll head back to Hanoi in the mid-afternoon and tour the French Quarter by cyclo, passing by the Opera House and Ly Thai To Park. Later, walk through Old Quarter streets before catching an overnight train to Hue.
Included Activities
- Tai Chi class on sundeck
- Traditional massage on junk boat
- Kayaking exploration of Floating Village of Cua Van
- Viewing traditional floating wooden houses and fishing village life
- Cyclo (rickshaw) tour of French Quarter with Opera House and Ly Thai To Park
- Walking tour of the Old Quarter '36 streets'
- Overnight train journey to Hue in 4 berth sleeper cabin
Optional Activities
- Flight from Hanoi to Hue
Landmarks Floating Village of Cua Van Hanoi Opera House Ly Thai To Park - Day 4
Hue
Once you arrive in Hue, a guide takes you through the 19th-century imperial city. You'll see the city's oldest monastery and Thien Mu Pagoda, which has a 21-metre-tall tower, plus the walled Imperial Purple Palace. In the afternoon, drive out to the Royal Tombs of the Nguyen kings in a valley with pine forest around it, including Emperor Tu Duc's mausoleum. An optional sunset cruise on the Perfume River happens in the evening if you want it.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Hue's imperial city
- Visit to oldest monastery in Hue
- Visit to Thien Mu Pagoda with 21-metre-tall tower
- Exploration of walled Imperial Purple Palace
- Visit to Royal Tombs of the Nguyen kings in pine forest valley
- Visit to mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc
Optional Activities
- Sunset cruise on Perfume River
Landmarks Thien Mu Pagoda Imperial Purple Palace Royal Tombs of Nguyen Kings Mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc - Day 5
Hue to Hoi An
Travel along the coast over Hai Van Pass to Hoi An, stopping to walk on My Khe Beach. Once you arrive in the historic riverside town, take a short walking tour through spots like Chua Ong Pagoda, the Chinese Assembly Hall, the 200-year-old Tam Ky house, and the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge.
Included Activities
- Drive via Hai Van Pass (Road of the Ocean Clouds)
- Walk along My Khe Beach ('China Beach')
- Walking tour of Hoi An
- Visit to Chua Ong Pagoda
- Visit to Chinese Assembly Hall
- Visit to 200-year-old Tam Ky house
- Exploration of former merchants' homes
- Visit to 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge
Optional Activities
- Hoi An Street Eats add-on - explore city's popular local haunts by vintage Vespa and enjoy Vietnamese cuisine (book early, limited numbers)
Landmarks Hai Van Pass My Khe Beach Chua Ong Pagoda Chinese Assembly Hall Tam Ky House Japanese Covered Bridge - Day 6
Hoi An (Full Moon Festival)
Take part in the Full Moon Festival celebrations with locals by riding rickshaws to a local home where you'll learn lantern-making and create your own. Wander through market stalls and lantern shops throughout the day. The afternoon is free to relax, shop around, get clothes tailored, row a boat down the river, or hang out at the hotel pool. By evening, head to the water's edge with hundreds of locals to release your lanterns into the river.
Included Activities
- Rickshaw ride to local home for lantern-making demonstration
- Handcrafting of lanterns with Ha Linh family
- Exploration of local market stalls and lantern shops
- Release of lanterns onto the river during Full Moon Festival celebration
Optional Activities
- Clothes tailoring at local tailor shops
- Row boat ride down the river
- Relaxation at hotel swimming pool
Landmarks Hoi An Ancient Town - Day 7
Hoi An (Tra Que Village)
Bike through the countryside to Tra Que village (other transportation options available if needed). You'll learn traditional farming methods and help out in the fields yourself. A cooking demonstration follows where you'll prepare food, then sit down to eat what you've made for lunch.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch featuring food prepared during cooking demonstration)
Included Activities
- Scenic bike ride to Tra Que village
- Learning about age-old farming techniques
- Hands-on field tending experience
- Interactive cooking demonstration
- Lunch featuring food you prepared
Optional Activities
- Alternative transportation to Tra Que village at no extra cost (for those not wishing to cycle)
Landmarks Tra Que Village - Day 8
Departure
On your final day, a transfer takes you to Danang Airport so you can catch your flight out.
