The Vietnam Essence- 12 days Hanoi – Halong – Hue – Hoi An – HCM – Mekong Delta – HCM

After pickup from Noi Bai International Airport by your local guide and driver, get comfortable on an air-conditioned vehicle for a ride to the hotel. Warm welcome dinner at one of the most highly regarded culinary artisan restaurants with local chefs. Overnight in Hanoi.

Get up early in the morning and find out another Hanoi. Hanoi in the morning will leave you spellbound and interested in a tranquil Hanoi. It is the different looks of Hanoi, distinct from the busy & chaotic Hanoi in the daytime.
Stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake and see the olds do morning exercise, sway to the music, capture the dim moment when the sunshine tears cloud, all streets wake up. Later on, enjoy the traditional breakfast with beef noodles and a cup of coffee at a local shop.
After breakfast, take a walk to a wet market where a huge variety of fresh products are bought and sold every day, which is a distinct part of Vietnamese culture. Next, we will visit the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology which successfully presents the recognition of Vietnam as a multi-ethnic country as well as a nation of socio-cultural diversity.
Temple of Literature, the first university in Vietnam, is our next destination. Built-in 1010 under the reign of Ly Thanh Tong, first to honor Confucius and nowadays it’s utilized to celebrate the doctorates and high ranking scholars of Vietnam

In the evening, you can enjoy The show Quintessence of Tonkin.

A special point of Tinh hoa Bac Bo is its 4,300 square metres stage lying at the foot of Thay Pagoda mountain in Sai Son Commune, Quoc Oai District, about 28km from centre of Ha Noi to the west. Performances are supported by technology of sound, lighting, images, modern equipment, telling stories about nature, and the rich spiritual life of the ancient Vietnamese community. Traditional folk elements and cultural quintessence have been recreated, contributing to raising the value of cultural heritage (water puppetry, singing of quan ho, chau van…); The Quintessence of Tonkin delivers audiences a unique and memorable exploration of the Red River Delta – the beating heart of Northern Vietnam – from poetry and music to Buddhism, beliefs…

Overnight in Ha Noi

Get the first-hand look at both the natural beauty and the local life. Embark on a four-hour drive to Halong with the quick stop en route at a souvenir shop. The heavenly journey across Halong Bay starts around at the marina at the doorstep of the most fascinating wonder in Vietnam. Discover the treasures disseminated across the Bay of the Descending Dragon during the afternoon as mysterious caves, pristine beaches, and the floating villages. Defined to be the highlights of the day, a highly refined & varied cuisine will be prepared for lunch and dinner in the elegant dining room.

Overnight on Cruise

Early birds can attend a Tai Chi exercise on the sundeck at the break of dawn. Start the day relishing in some delights with a colorful buffet breakfast. Spend time sailing across 2000 islets and visiting some of its highlights. Check-out the boat and you transfer directly to Ky Son Moon Garden village via Hanoi.

Moon Garden in Ky Son offers a unique opportunity to experience rural life in North Vietnam, it has changed little over the last century. Its architect specializes in the restoration of the ancient buildings and reflected in the design, furniture, antiques that adorn the rooms. Overnight in Ky Son Moon Garden homestay.

Relish in morning exercises before breakfast. Take a ride to Duong Lam ancient village through countryside paths and then return to Ky Son Moon Garden for savoring lunch before flying to Hue. Meet and picked up by the local guide and transfer to the hotel for overnight stay.

Situated on the bank of Perfume River, Hue, the capital of Thua Thien Hue in Central Vietnam, is 700km south of Hanoi, and not far from the sea. Hue is well-known for its historic values; Hue had been recognized as a World Cultural Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Overnight at the hotel in Hue.

A wealth of history, culture, and an extraordinary journey through time is the highlight of today. Nothing is better than visiting a local house in Hue, which still preserves the traditional virtues dating from the feudal time under the Nguyen. You have a couple of hours to join the family activities and enjoy a meal with the host. Embark your exploration with a short drive from the hotel to a local family. You have a chance to interact and chat with the locals and learn about their customs associated with ancestral worship before come back to the hotel for lunch.

In the afternoon, there are myriad highlights in Hue exploration, that includes visiting the Imperial Citadel, visit the last resting place of the 12th King Khai Dinh. Next, we take a boat trip on Huong River (Perfume River). The boat drops us off at the stunning Thien Mu pagoda, its history drives us back to the year 1601. Turn back to the hotel for relaxation.

Overnight in Hue.

Get entertained by enjoy a traditional Hue breakfast, then hop on a drive through the scenic sceneries here. Visit a typical handicraft village where you can learn more about the daily work of the locals. Savor tea and rice crackers while talking with the local host to understand more about their tradition and customs.

The next place of today is a historic pagoda nestled in a tranquil village in the suburb of Hue. Meet and talk with the host and the master nun who is in charge of the pagoda, home to many homeless elderly and orphans in the area. You can play with disadvantaged kids and teach them some funny English songs. Have a vegetarian meal prepared by the nuns. Hop on a journey to Hoi An through the stunning Hai Van pass and arrive Hoi An town in the early evening.

Overnight in Hoi An.

In the morning, take a closer look into the countryside life in the outskirt of Hoi An Ancient Town. Ride your bike through the picturesque villages, rice fields, water coconut gardens, and then meet the villagers. Later on, take a boat ride in a river to see how fishermen catch fish, and reach Tra Que organic village for a cooking demonstration, enjoy the lunch.

In the afternoon, strolling around Hoi An Ancient Town; visiting the Japanese covered bridge, Chinese Assembly Hall and a local market in Hoi An.
Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure.

Overnight in Hoi An.

After having breakfast, we’re transferred to Da Nang airport for a jump flight to Ho Chi Minh City. As the diamond of the far-east, Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon is now the most populated city in Vietnam with many skyscrapers, food stalls along the street… all roll into a dynamic urban city. The architecture in Ho Chi Minh city is the reconciliation between American and Chinese influence.

Upon arrival, let take a quick visit to these destinations as Presidential Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, Dong Khoi Street, or Rue Catinat. Transferred to the hotel, check-in and enjoy a couple of hour leisure before continuing with another mesmerizing experience.

Hop on the scooter for the evening exploration tour with a glance at the city’s nightlife. On the scooter, we move from the bustling streets to the hidden eateries; from the touristy places to the non-touristy places of Saigon. Also, get into the food heaven, make a few food stops for tasting local treats. Seatback and enjoy the ride.
Back to the hotel for overnight stay.

The program will start with a quick visit of Cai Be town & the ancient church from the boat. Then, we’ll come to Tân Phong island for the rowing boat. They will take you deeper into the countryside on smaller canals to enjoy the peaceful time under the shade of mangrove trees. Stop at local garden to enjoy some fruits with hot tea when listening to the traditional music.

Then, start the biking trip on village paths to see the local daily life: orchard, school, church, pagoda, traditional houses… On the way, we can make some stops to see how they wave the dried water-hyacinth to make many products: baskets, bags, hats, wallets, shoes… (You can walk, but see less).

Back to our boat to go across one of the longest rivers in the world, Mekong River, to come to An Bình Island. Lunch can be served on boat / at homestay (own your cost)

After lunch, check in at Út Trinh homestay. Have biking trip or walking around the local village, stop at local workshop to see how to make rice paper, coconut candy, pop-rice… Enjoy some sweets with a cup of hot tea.

Have a fresh shower before cooking some special dishes with the members of local family – one of the special activities in Mekong Delta Tour with Happy Tours Travel. We’ll enjoy dinner & overnight at homestay.

Have a breakfast and check-out for a walk along the village to enjoy the fresh air in the morning Check out and say goodbye to Út Trinh family. Boat trip to visit the brick kilns where you can see how the local people create beautiful potteries from clay. Our boat will go along the floating village. We will see how to farm catfish on Mekong river. 

Also, we can visit VinhLong market in the town. This is the best choice for you to take pictures of fish, shrimps, prawns, crabs, snakes, rice-field rats, tropical fruits, vegetables… The cruise will end at the new boat station in Vinh Long city around 10:00 AM!

Continue to transfer to Ho Chi Minh city

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh

Your leisure to delve into the city further before departing to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for flight back departure. The exploration of Vietnam ends.