Arrival in Hanoi. – Welcome to Vietnam!

Upon clearing Customs and Immigration, your guide will present you with a welcome packet including all necessary documentation and vouchers and all contact information of your guide and local offices.

Vietnam is rapidly developing but holds onto the charming traditions and culture which make it such a fascinating holiday destination. History has left its mark on Vietnam by way of Chinese, French and American influences.

Transfer by air-conditioned vehicle to your hotel (30 km) followed by time for leisure.

Note: Hotel check-in time is 14h00; early check-in can be arranged at additional cost.

Overnight in Hanoi

Meal(s): –

There’s no arguing – Hanoi has to be the coolest city in Vietnam. And no, we’re not just referring to the climate. This chaotic, colourful, motorbike-clogged, 1,000-year-old city is a delicious mix of East and West. Hanoi clings on tightly to its heritage – the Temple of Literature is one of the oldest landmarks. More recent history can be seen in Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House, while the man himself, lies embalmed in an austere mausoleum. There’s picturesque lakes and parks, as well as museums and prominent colonial buildings. Let’s jump right in and experience it all. We’ll even go green and explore the Old Quarter by electric buggy. 

In the evening, see a Water Puppet Show – a fantastic art form originating in northern Vietnam, best seen in Hanoi.

Note: Most of the museums are closed on Mondays; Ho Chi Minh mausoleum is closed on Monday, Friday and in the afternoons.

Overnight in Hanoi

Meal(s): Breakfast

After breakfast, free time for your own exploration.

Late afternoon, around 17:00, enjoy a taste of local Hanoian life as you explore a local market and some of the city’s best street food stalls.

Start at the bustling Hom market, one of the biggest and most popular markets in Hanoi. Wander through the narrow alleyways passing colourful stalls piled high with a vast array of fruit, vegetables, sweets and elaborate temple offerings. Take photos of the vibrant colours and breathe in the aromas of the tropical fruits. If you’re feeling brave, venture to the exotic section to see kicking frogs, silkworms and wriggling eels. The entire market is alive with the buzz and excitement of the locals bartering and haggling for the freshest ingredients at the best prices.

Your guide will take you to popular street food stalls where you can sample some of the city’s signature dishes. Stop at a local coffee shop to taste this rich and flavorful drink then continue your culinary exploration with a stroll through the maze of bustling streets that make up the Old Quarter of Hanoi. Join the locals and pull up a plastic stool at a pavement stall to try Vietnamese snacks and a cup of iced tea, followed by a sweet dessert of fresh fruit and condensed milk. End the tour with a cold draught beer at a sidewalk stall popular with locals.

Overnight in Hanoi

Meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, check out and transfer to the airport (30 km) for the flight to Danang. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel in Hoi An (30 km).

 Afternoon at leisure (without guide).

 Flight Hanoi – Danang offered separately

Overnight in Hoi An

Meal(s): Breakfast

Pretty as a picture Hoi An! The quirky mix of Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and European influences make this ancient town a photographers’ paradise. We’ll walk through the narrow winding streets of the old quarter past ochre-hued stone houses, lantern-filled shops and colourful fishing boats. One of the most iconic sights is the Japanese Covered Bridge. There are also ancient temples and merchant homes over 200 years old. In the afternoon, we’ll take a lazy cruise along the river to traditional pottery villages.

Overnight in Hoi An

Meal(s): Breakfast

Learn the secrets of preparing traditional Vietnamese cuisine with a market tour and cooking class.

Set off to a local market with a chef from the Market Restaurant and Cooking School. Your chef will share shopping tips including how to select fresh eggs and ripe fruit and which herbs are used in Vietnamese cuisine. Continue to the school, an elegant old building with a French colonial-style exterior and traditional Hoi An interior. Then participate in an entertaining, hands-on cookery course held in one of three teaching areas with modern equipment for a truly immersive cooking experience. Chat with your chef to learn more about typical ingredients of Central Vietnamese cuisine then enjoy tasting what you have prepared.

Notes:

• Availability: Morning only.
• Suggested departure time: 09:00.
• Tour duration: 4 hours.
• Capacity: Private group from 1 to max. 25 pax.

Overnight in Hoi An

Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, free time until the transfer  from Hoi An to Danang airport (30 km) for the flight to Saigon.

Note: Hotel check-out time is midday; late check-out can be arranged at an additional cost.

On arrival in Saigon, transfer to your hotel  (10 km). Afternoon at leisure (without guide).

Saigon Street Food Tour By Vespa Wanderer Saigon – Rolling In The “Dip” By Vintage Vespa:

‘Rolls’ hold cultural significance and are often enjoyed as part of Vietnamese traditional meals. Beside popular spring rolls, there are also variations which are less known by tourists. Join us to discover a world of savoury and healthy rolls in the bustling streets of Saigon, where every bite is a celebration of Vietnam’s rich culinary stories.

Hope onto a 1970s vespa. Start this rustic yet healthy food journey with bo pia, a special roll created by local Chinese Vietnamese over hundred years ago. Taste the ingredients of Chinese sausage and Vietnamese vegetables, and a typical sauce topped with fried onion and peanuts. Make you own rolls and enjoy. Next stop is an authentic banh cuon restaurant, showcasing the spirit of steamed rice cakes in southern Vietnam, with a twist of 4 different types of homemade sauces to dip. Wrap your own rolls with flavourful choices of fillings and try all the sauces. We’ll venture deeper into the vibrant alleys and encounter a myriad of stalls dedicated to Vietnamese culinary delights. Stop for a real Saigon roll stuffed with pancake or grilled beef and varieties of fresh vegetables and herbs.

End your journey at a local house for a cup of hot tea and sweet rolls which used to be part of every Saigonese childhood during the 1970s. Our friendly hosts, one of the oldest Chinese Vietnamese clans in Saigon, will share their family stories and traditions. Transfer back to the hotel.

Notes:

• Suggested time: 18:30
• Duration: 3.5 hours
• The stops can be modified depending on availability and on client’s diet.
• This tour is a local food adventure. We have inspected and chosen the best shops with acceptable hygiene, to make sure you can experience the best local food possible.
• Capacity: private group from 1 – 8 pax.

Overnight in Saigon

Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Ever-vibrant, ever-changing – this is the buzzing city of Saigon, where sleek skyscrapers loom over incense-infused temples and motorcycles rule the roads. There’s classic European-style landmarks such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Opera House, the ornate City Hall and the art-deco Post Office. Reminders of a recent past can be seen in the Reunification Palace, famously stormed by tanks in 1975.

We’ll head out to Cholon, the historic Chinatown district to discover colonial-era gems, Chinese temples and vivacious street life. Make sure you save some energy for browsing the stalls in the bustling Ben Thanh Market.

Today’s highlights: War Remnants, Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, Cholon, lantern streets & medicine streets, Chinse temple, Ben Thanh Market.

Overnight in Saigon

Meal(s): Breakfast

Take a journey out of town to the Mekong Delta. Proceed to Ben Tre to take a boat trip on the Mekong River to Vam Xep Canal where local handicrafts and coconut sweets are produced.

Enjoy fresh seasonal fruits, a performance of traditional songs, and observe the local life. Take a short ride on a motor cart to a typical local house to taste some homemade honey-tea.

Proceed by sampan through the small canals to observe the daily life of local people along the riverbanks with some stops for a leisurely stroll.

Overnight in Saigon

Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch

Transfer to the airport (10 km) by air-conditioned vehicle. Departure from Saigon.

Note: Hotel check-out time is midday; late check-out can be arranged at an additional cost.

Meals: Breakfast.