08:30 Meet your guide and embark on a captivating journey of cultural discovery through our immersive culinary adventure.

Begin your experience with a charming cyclo ride from your hotel in the Old Quarter to Dong Xuan Market. Here, you'll dive into a vibrant world of bustling trade and tempting street food. As you navigate through the lively crowds, soak in the essence of local culture. The market is a sensory feast, brimming with sights and sounds that offer a window into the everyday lives of the Vietnamese people. Delight your palate with an array of delectable street food specialties.

Arrive at Thom Culinary, a serene oasis amid the city’s energy. Step into a peaceful garden house where you can explore its hidden gems—a sacred worship hall, a tranquil fish pond, and a lush vegetable garden. Connect with time-honored traditions as you gather fresh herbs for your culinary creations. Enjoy refreshing welcome drinks and seasonal fruits as your host shares intriguing insights into Vietnam’s rich culinary heritage. Discover the importance of herbs, spices, and fish sauce in building the harmonious flavors that define traditional Vietnamese cuisine. Learn the art of balancing contrasting tastes and textures, ensuring each ingredient shines.

Roll up your sleeves and dive into the cooking process. With hands-on experience, you’ll chop, sauté, season, and plate authentic Vietnamese dishes under the careful guidance of your host, who will equip you with essential techniques. Relish your culinary masterpieces during a leisurely feast, accompanied by a delightful homemade dessert, endless herbal drinks, and traditional rice wine. Share eating etiquette and the stories behind each dish, enriching your understanding of the cuisine. Finally, bid farewell to Thom Culinary and enjoy a smooth transfer back to your next visit, filled with memories of flavors and connections.

Continue to the Temple of Literature, established in 1076 as Vietnam's first university to educate royalty, mandarins, and the elite. Walk through the well-preserved architecture and gardens that offer a captivating glimpse into Vietnam's rich history. Finally, you will explore the historical Hoa Loa Prison, also known as the Hanoi Hilton, that once incarcerated Vietnamese dissidents, French and American POWs. A haunting glimpse into the past, the majority of the prison was razed for the Hanoi Towers. The preserved southern corner serves as a memorial for the revolutionaries who perished under gruesome conditions.

Finish the day with a Water Puppet show. This is a uniquely northern Vietnamese art form depicting scenes from rural life and episodes of national history.

Return to hotel and the rest of day is free at leisure.

Overnight in Hanoi.

08:30 Nestled in a lush valley in Hoa Binh province, about 150 km northwest of Hanoi and a 4-hour drive away, Mai Chau is a stunning rural destination that offers breathtaking scenery, rich cultural experiences, and a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life.

As you travel through fertile valleys and winding mountain roads, you will encounter vibrant green rice paddies, traditional stilt houses, and the welcoming warmth of the ethnic Thai community.

Upon arriving at your hotel around noon, you'll check in and have some time to relax before heading out for an afternoon biking tour.

Your adventure will begin right outside your lodge as you cycle through the valley, exploring the picturesque landscapes and unique Thai culture in villages like Nà Thia, Chiềng Sại, Cha Village, Cha Long, Tong Dau, and Văn Village. Immerse yourself in the peaceful daily routines of local farmers tending to their lush green paddy fields, cultivating rice and vegetables, raising fish, and grazing livestock in harmony with the seasons.

After your biking tour, you'll return to your hotel for dinner and a restful overnight stay.

Overnight in Mai Chau.

08:30 After breakfast, embark on a 4-hour drive to Ninh Binh. Make sure to have your camera ready as you ascend to the top of Mai Chau Valley— the views there are absolutely breathtaking.

The Ninh Binh region is renowned for its stunning landscapes and historical temples. Here, the rice fields take on an almost otherworldly quality, while the towering mountains have earned the area the nickname “Dry Halong Bay,” thanks to the striking limestone karsts that shape the landscape.

Upon arriving in Tam Coc Town, conveniently located near Ninh Binh City, you'll stop for lunch.

In the afternoon, you will board a sampan for a journey through “Halong Bay on Land”. Admire the views of enormous limestone karsts jutting out of the green rice fields while the boat cruises along the calm waters. Disembark the boat and visit Bich Dong pagoda which was considered to be the most second beautiful grotto in Vietnam in the 17th century.

Later, join the guide for an in-depth exploration of the ruins of Vietnam’s first capital - Hoa Lu. Learn about the Dinh (968-980) and Le (980-1009) Dynasties and about the history of the site. See ancient tombs and the ruins of the once-imposing Citadel. If feeling fit, there is an option to climb into the limestone karst hills. The half-hour walk is rewarded with spectacular views over Hoa Lu and its surroundings.

Afterward, head to your hotel for check-in, and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

Overnight in Ninh Binh.

After breakfast, at 08:00 depart for 3.5-hour drive to Halong Bay

Arrive at the pier, towards noon and proceed with check-in formalities for your overnight cruise. Cast off and cruise across the emerald-green waters of UNESCO-listed Halong Bay. After your welcome onboard, feast on a delicious and fresh seafood lunch while cruising the Bay’s 1,500 limestone islands, providing an opportunity to see these remarkable, geologic wonders both up-close and from afar. Relax on the terrace deck or on your private balcony and soak in the enchanting aura which emanates from the surreal seascape. While we cruise along in the early afternoon, there is time to enjoy the ship’s vast wellness and spa offerings (at your cost).

In the afternoon, enjoy some visits and/or activities (depending on each boat’s itinerary) or just spend some time relaxing on board. Towards the end of the day, the boat sets sail for an exclusive and undisturbed parking spot in the midst of the bay for the overnight mooring.

Savor a fusion dinner made with the freshest ingredients in a sophisticated space with traditional oriental touches. After dining, you can also opt for one of the best ways to spend the evening by just taking a seat under the stars on the terrace deck or on your balcony to embrace the serenity of this surreal landscape.

Note: This tour may be subject to change depending on weather conditions.

Overnight on board the boat.

Wake up early, a perfect time to refresh and indulge yourself in the peaceful beauty of the bay with a Tai Chi session on the sundeck. If you want to hunt for dawn, get up from 5:30 to 6:00 depending on the season, and consult our sailors. Traditional Vietnamese coffee, tea, and breakfast pastries await in the dining room to start the day. Enjoy a visit and/or activity (depending on each boat’s itinerary) or just spend some time relaxing on board while the vessel cruises slowly through the magnificent rock formations and back towards port.

Say farewell to the ship’s crew and climb back into the vehicle for the return journey to Hanoi Airport for the flight to Hue.

VN 1545 Hanoi 16:35 – Hue 17:50 / Vietnam Airlines

Upon arrival at Hue – Phu Bai Airport, after collecting your luggage, please go to the exit gate and look for your guide holding a signboard with your name on it. Meet your driver and guide for transfer to the hotel located in the city center, the driving will take around 30 mins.

Upon arrival at the hotel, check-in and the rest of the day is free at your own leisure.

Overnight in Hue.

Meet your guide at 08:30 and kick off the UNESCO-Heritage Imperial Citadel. Roam the expansive grounds, admiring buildings that reflect the pomp and ceremony of the once-mighty Nguyen Dynasty. Hear the stories of the majestic buildings and intriguing former emperors. Continue to the characteristic Thien Mu Pagoda, one of Hue’s iconic landmarks. Discover the many unique spiritual and architectural elements of Thien Mu while touring the compound with a guide. As the nation’s capital for roughly 200 years, Hue is the cradle of quintessential cuisines and vegetarian cuisine finds its own fame through the effect of Buddhism on locals’ life, which you should never miss when you visit Vietnam.

After a short drive, take a leisurely stroll around Bao Vinh town with its lively market selling typical commodities, and its charming merchant houses inviting you over for a local-style tea break. Join the old ladies with palm leaf conical hats and aromatic vegetable baskets on a ferry ride to reach the handicraft villages, where you will cycle along the flower and rice fields. Visit a local artisan making colorful Thanh Tien paper flowers. After learning about the aesthetic and ritual aspects, try your hands crafting one and keep it for a souvenir. Your exploration is prolonged through authentic scenes of the countryside, and households producing objects for offerings like votive paper, incense sticks, roasted kernels, etc. Arrive at a home workshop, where Mr. Ky heartily shares his whole-life journey preserving the art of xylographic printings, the nature-based coloring that Sinh village paintings are famous for. The last stop at a centuries-old village pagoda completes the insight into the local spiritual path for wellness. Besides their worshipping practices, almost everyone needs to reside in Buddha’s teachings and blessings to gain a healthy life and to extricate from unpropitious fates. A dragon boat is waiting to slowly ride you back to modern life.

Return to the hotel and free at leisure.

Overnight in Hue.

After breakfast, check out of your hotel by 10:00 AM and meet your guide and driver for your departure to Lang Co Beach, located at the foothills of Hai Van Mountain. Upon arrival at Lang Co lagoon, you’ll board a local boat to take in the stunning views and crystal-clear waters, all set against the backdrop of the Annamite Cordillera Mountain range. This pristine area remains untouched by modern development, and the lagoon is rich with marine life, including snappers, red mullet, grouper, crab, shrimp, and squid.

You’ll have the opportunity to observe local fishing methods before continuing by boat to visit an oyster farm run by a local family. With your guide translating, you’ll learn about the farmers' daily lives and their reliance on the lagoon for their sustenance. Following this insightful experience, enjoy a delicious home-cooked lunch prepared by the family in their traditional stilt house overlooking the water, surrounded by breathtaking scenery.

After lunch, you'll take the scenic route over the Hai Van Pass, also known as the Pass of Ocean Clouds, passing through the picturesque fishing village of Lang Co. This historical pass once marked the boundary between the Dai Viet and Champa kingdoms and separates the climates of northern and southern Vietnam.

Finally, you will continue your drive toward Hoi An. Once you arrive, check in and enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Your adventure begins between 7:20 and 7:50 AM with a minivan pickup from your hotel in Hội An, taking you to Cua Dai pier to embark on your journey to the Marine Protected Areas of Cham Island. Upon arrival, you'll dive into your first snorkeling session, guided by our experienced staff and equipped with all the necessary gear. After exploring the vibrant underwater world, enjoy refreshments on board, including water, coffee, tea, and snacks. Following this, you'll head to a second snorkeling spot.

At 1:15 PM, the boat will take you to Bai Chong tropical beach, where you can relax while savoring a delicious Vietnamese lunch with options for meat, seafood, or vegetarian dishes, along with complimentary water. Spend the afternoon unwinding on the beach, enjoying free hammocks and opportunities for swimming.

Finally, you’ll depart from Cham Island to return to the mainland, arriving at Cua Dai pier between 4:15 and 4:30 PM, where a minivan will be waiting to transfer you back to your hotel in the Hoi An area.

The remainder of the day is free at leisure.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Today you will have free time until your driver (NO GUIDE) picks you up 2.5 hours (domestic flight)/ 3.5 hours (international flight) before your departure time and transfer you to the airport for your flight back home.

**NOTE: The standard check-out time is 12:00 (A late check-out is on request and subject to availability, the extra cost will be applied to guarantee this service).