13 Days Discovering Beautiful Vietnam with Home Hosted Dinner

Arrival in Hanoi, check in at hotel

Overnight in Hanoi.

Drive from hotel to visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex: Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and his Stilts House, Presidential Palace and the One Pillar Pagoda nearby. You’ll also wander around the Old Quarter, the Lake of the Resorted Sword, Ngoc Son Temple.

Next, you visit Temple of Literature, the first university in Vietnam.

Lunch on your own

Then, you willl visit Hoan Kiem Lake with The Huc Bridge and Ngoc Son Temple by cyclo.

Then, you visit Hoa Lo Prison, also known as “Hanoi Hilton” and “Maison Centrale”, is a historical site in the French Quarter of Hanoi. Loosely translated as “hell’s hole”, it was originally built by French colonist in 1896 to house and torture revolutionary Vietnam rebels.

Next, visit the home of the last traditional mask making artisan in Hanoi. Entirely handmade and always lingering with the faint smell of paper and glue, the paper masks have been part of the childhood for many generations of Hanoi people who wore them to celebrate the full moon night particularly during the Mid-Autumn Festivals. The visit to the artisan, will serve a cause of raising awareness about the preservation of this multi century old art.

Finally you will enjoy train street with challenging experience when train comes accros, very narrow distance to your table.

Pick up at your hotel and start the trip to Ninh Binh. Ninh Binh Province – located in North Vietnam, famous for the nearby karst scenery and the village of Tam Coc.

Arrive at Hoa Lu Ancient Capital. Hoa Lu ancient capital was the first capital of the feudal state of Vietnam, Truong Yen Commune, Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh Province. It is a tourist destination that will bring you to a few imperial capitals of the country in the ancient and medieval eras. Visiting Hoa Lu, you will not only have a fun and exciting time but can learn more about culture and history as well. Visit King Dinh and King Le’s temples. Then continue the trip to Mua Cave.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant with great local cuisine (on your own expense)

Afternoon, continue to visit Tam Coc Wharf. Get on Sampan boats to get through caves and visit the countryside landscape. A beautiful boat that lives up to its name “Halong Bay on land”. It will take you under some limestone caves and just enjoy looking at the scenery.

Then you will visit Mua Cave, also known as the “Great Wall of China” in Vietnam, and climb 500 steps to reach the peak of Ngoa Long Mountain, overlooking the amazing view of the city and Tam Coc below.

Back to hotel and take a rest.

Overnight in Hanoi.

08.00 – 08.30: Breakfast at hotel, then our driver (no guide) will pick you up to Ha Long.

11.30 – 11.45: You will be welcomed by Genesis Regal's receptionists at the lounge, take a rest, and be registered for the trip.

12.00 – 12.15: Small boat transfer to Genesis Regal Cruise.

12.30 – 12.45: Guests will arrive on the Genesis Regal Cruise in the warm welcome of the crew.

12.45 – 13.30: Enjoy a lunch in the restaurant. The Genesis Regal Cruise started to depart for the voyage to discover the World's Natural Wonder.

13.45 – 15.00: Check in to rest in the room or get on the cruise's roof to relax, savor the scenery, and hunt for beautiful photos of Lan Ha Bay.

15.00: Small boat carrying you to visit Dark and Light cave where you will be sitting on bamboo boats rowed by locals to see the beautiful caves.

17.00 – 18.00: Genesis Regal Cruise will move to the overnight destination, where you can swim on the sea or in the swimming pool and jacuzzi; rest, relax on the roof, or use massage services….

18.00 – 19.15: You join the "sunset party" in the bar area on the cruise's roof. Listen to music and enjoy drinks, fruits, cakes... The cruise moves to the Tra Bau area to anchor for the night.

19.30 – 20.45: You will have dinner in the restaurant, eating and chatting at the same time.

21.00 – 22.00: Guests will be free to choose evening entertainment activities: watching movies, squid fishing, massage...

22.00 – 22.30: Cruise anchors and overnight in the quietest area of the bay.

06.00: Tai Chi exercise to start the day is held on the roof of the cruise. This is also the moment when visitors can catch the sunrise on the bay.

6:30: A nutritious breakfast served at the restaurant will help you enjoy the 2nd day on the bay full of energy.

7.30: Small boat takes you to the Tra Bau floating house, kayaking by yourself to explore the nooks and crannies of Lan Ha Bay.

9.00: Return to the cruise.

9.30: Take a rest and check out.

9.30 – 10.15: Enjoy lunch while the cruise returns to the harbor.

10.15: Cruise arrives at the wharf.

10.45 – 11.00: Small boat takes you to the Tuan Chau Marina.

11.30 – 11.45: Prepare your luggage to depart to Hanoi.

Then you will transfer to airport for flight to Hue

Arrival in Hue, check in at hotel and take a rest

Overnight in Hue.

After breakfast at hotel, depart from the hotel in Hue for a city tour of the ancient town. Start at the Imperial Citadel where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. From there, take a cyclo through Imperial City. Stop for a visit to Tran Dinh Son museum with a collection of everyday items that past Kings have used. Learn how royal descendants are keeping the family’s traditions alive today.

Lunch on your own

In the afternoon, you will take a drive to visit King Minh Mang's tomb & King Khai Dinh’s tomb.  Then take a boat trip to Thien Mu Pagoda, constructed in 1601, the 21-meter-tall tower is the centerpiece of the pagoda and represents seven reincarnations of Buddha. In the grounds of the pagoda is the Austin car made famous when in 1963, a resident monk drove the vehicle to what was then Saigon to protest against the southern regime, the photo of his self-immortalization was captured and was one of the most well-known images of the war.

Last but not least, drive to enjoy a dinner of traditional Hue specialties prepared by the family at their historical home while you unearth Hue’s fascinating past at Former Home of Princess Ngoc Son.

Princess Ngoc Son was a daughter of Emperor Dong Khanh - when she married, her father granted her the land to build a home. Today, it is one of the best garden houses and has been maintained largely in its original form. The house is a classic structure with three bays and two wings. The highlight is a small artificial rock garden. The present owner also has a fascinating collection of artifacts and mementos from the days of the former Royal Empire.

Breakfast at hotel, then you will transfer to Da Nang via Hai Van Pass.

Appreciate the spectacular views at Hai Van Pass and see fishermen living on their boats in Tam Giang lagoon.

Ride along the My Khe Beach, voted as the most beautiful beach on the planet.

Visit Marble Mountain and explore the stunning caves

Then check in at hotel in Hoi An and take a rest. Overnight in Hoi An

After breakfast, depart to My Son Sanctuary and transfer about 1 hour for this 40km long road

My Son – “the spirit and art valley” is a symbol for a brilliant period of the Champa kingdom. Since 1999, My Son has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage

Arrive at My Son Temple, a special electric car will pick you up at the main gate and take you to the place that was chosen to build the temple tower of the Champa Royal for nearly 1000 years with many ancient towers hidden in a discreet valley. The place where the most exquisite focus of ancient Champa culture – is considered to be the Holy Land.

There, you will hear the stone bricks tell about the dancing gods, tell about the gods of worship in the Champa culture, and so many secrets that until now still have no explanation and maybe you will be the first to decode them.

After visiting and listening to the tour guide talk about the mysteries here, you will be back to the main gate of My Son Ruins.

Lunch on your own

In the afternoon, you will visit water coconut palm jungle, enjoying the basket boat and visiting the water coconut palm forest.

After that, take walking tour to visit Hoi An Ancient town. Between the 15th and 19th centuries, Hoi An known then as ‘Faifo’, was a prosperous trading port, attracting Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, Portuguese and Spanish ships amongst others. Today, this World Heritage ancient 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 including: 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.

Back to hotel and take a rest.

Explore Vietnam's extraordinary natural beauty and let the incredible views from Ba Na Hills take your breath away. Ascend the hill via one of the 10 most impressive cable car infrastructure systems worldwide (ranked by CNN), and see the giant hands of the amazing Golden Bridge (Cau Vang). Visitors who travel to Sun World Ba Na Hills are lavished with the changeable four seasons in a single day and a diverse set of festive, recreational activities and places of interest. Sun World Ba Na Hills is on its own a fascinating entertainment world in which grown-ups, children, and young outdoor enthusiasts can figure out their fun in a single complex.

*Buffet Lunch on Bana Hill

Then transfer to airport for flight to Saigon.

Arrival in Saigon, check in at hotel and take a rest.

Overnight in Saigon.

After a chance to rest, you select bicycles for a cycling tour around village paths leading us to home of Mr. Cong where you watch how he makes pop rice, shows you the blend of traditional and modern agricultural method that sustains the local village. He will reveal the secret of making 'rice pop'. This unique and nutritious foodstuff will become a gift for locals or children in school. Your guide explains how the animals are raised and shows you the way they collect 'biogas' to make free and sustainable cooking food.

Continuing riding on quiet village roads passing by a duck farm if we get a chance, green rice paddies, sedge field and small villages. Along the way, you visit one of the dragon or orange fruit plantations and taste it directly at the garden. This is a relaxing time with plenty of chances to capture the picturesque Asian sun set scenes. Enjoy the beautiful sunset before returning to the lodge on your bicycles.

Shower and refresh, you start to walk to home of neighbor who fought during the Vietnam war and be shared with the story, experienced of "poon" lights  and traditional music. End of the show, we walk back in hand of traditional torche made of dried coconut leaves.

You are the chef! A traditional cooking class with Vietnamese pancake made by you. A great learning experience that means you can take a little of Vietnam home with you. Dinner is served at lodge's restaurant

After breakfast, loaded boats are already heading to local squatting market and transporting goods such as coconuts from one factory to the other, crossing local ferry to visit beautiful Cao Dai temple. We also had a chance to see these factories. Situated alongside the river, these are small coconut-processing operations. Once the coconut has been shelled, the coconut fibers are removed from the husk to make rope, which in turn is used to weave rugs. You can watch the whole manufacturing process in a short period of time. Most of the work is done by hand at very low cost. The buyers are mostly foreign companies.       

Back to the Lodge, if time permitted, take some activities as to harvest some water coconut leaves and weave them up by you. These leaves are a key building material in the Mekong Delta as they are used to build the walls and roof of the houses. The local people will show you not only how they use these leaves but also how to make the 'poon' sticks that illuminated in the previous night.

Then you will transfer back to Ho Chi Minh. Take a rest.

After breakfast at hotel, you will transfer directly to Cu Chi Tunnels. The ingenious tunnel complex was initially started in 1948 to protect the Viet Cong guerrillas from the French air and ground sweeps. The tunnels also served as communication routes, storage facilities for food and weapon caches and contained hospitals and living quarters for guerrilla fighters throughout the American War.

Back to Ho Chi Minh.

In the afternoon, you will discover History Museum, which shows you the rich cultural heritage of Vietnam as you explore various exhibits and artifacts on display.

Then you will visit Reunification palace. It was designed by architect Ngô Viết Thụ and was the home and workplace of the president of the Republic of Vietnam. It was the site of the Fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975 that ended the Vietnam War, when a North Vietnamese Army tank crashed through its gates. Finally, you will visit Old Post Office, constructed from 1886-1891 and depicts classic elements of Gothic, Renaissance and French colonial design.

Back to hotel and take a rest.

Free and easy, then transfer to airport for flight to Saigon.

Arrival in Saigon.