11 Days Amazing Vietnam Cultural and Culinary Holiday 

DAY 1

Program will depend on the time of arrival. Arrival in Hanoi. Transfer from airport to hotel for check-in.

Welcome Dinner in a famous restaurant for local dining venue with enormous choices of Vietnamese and Hanoi specialties: from live king
size prawns to life fishes and oysters. You name it - everything is there! Located in the population Culinary Culture Sen Tay Ho, International Buffet is the largest buffet restaurant in Vietnam, can serve at the same time 1200. With an abundant menu of over 200 dishes you can find at the International Buffet from rustic delicacies to its excellent cuisine by world-class chefs show. 

Optional: Go for a walk after the enormous meal before going to bed.

DAY 2

See the beautiful landmarks of Hanoi. Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and wander in its beautiful garden. Learn the story behind the One Pillar Pagoda and Hanoi's history in Hanoi Hilton Museum. Also, visit the oldest Confucian Temple also known as Van Mieu.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum - The embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh is preserved in the cooled, central hallway of the mausoleum. The gardens surrounding it has over 250 different species of plants and flowers from different regions of Vietnam.

One Pillar Pagoda - According to the court records, Ly Thai Tong dreamt of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara who handed him a baby son while seated on a lotus flower. Ly Thai Ton ruled from 1028 to 1054. He was childless then married a peasant girl who bore him a son. He then constructed the temple in gratitude for this in 1049.

Temple of Literature - The oldest Confucian Temple, also known as Van Mieu. The temple hosts the "Imperial Academy", Vietnam's first national university. The temple was built in 1070 at the time of King Lý Nhân Tông. It is one of several temples in Vietnam which are dedicated to Confucius, sages and scholars. 

In the afternoon, walk around Hanoi Old Quarter and also see beautiful lakes and temples.

Treat yourself to special dinner of fresh fish dishes.

DAY 3

After breakfast, walk around the Old Town. Enhance your culinary skills with a Vietnamese Cooking Lesson. Learn the secrets on how to prepare a great Vietnamese dish from picking the right ingredients in the famous Chau Long market to creating your own Vietnamese dish in a half day cooking lesson. Your Hanoi cooking tour will begin with a quick walk to the famous Chau Long market, where you will learn more about the various ingredients that go into a Vietnamese dish. The chef will take us by cyclo (Vietnamese rickshaw) to the market to buy some meat, fishes, vegetables and other things for the cooking class. It's then onto the Restaurant Class Room for your hands on cooking lesson followed by a chance to try your new creation.

Enjoy a fabulous evening of culture and tradition in the Water Puppet Show. The show, which appeal to all ages, is charming, picturesque entertainments accompanied by a traditional Vietnamese traditional orchestra. Water puppetry is a tradition that dates back as far as the 11th century CE when it originated in the villages of the Red River Delta area of northern Vietnam. Today's Vietnamese water puppetry is a unique variation on the ancient Asian puppet tradition.  The shows are performed in a waist-deep pool. When the rice fields would flood, the villagers would entertain each other using this form of puppet play.

Satisfy your palate with delicious dinner in an authentic Hanoi restaurant

DAY 4

Drive to Halong Bay after breakfast. On arrival, board Halong Oriental Sails and start of a 2-days cruise to explore the beauty of Halong Bay. Welcome drinks and lunch will be served while you enjoy looking at the stunning limestone islands. Other activities and entertainment will keep you occupied during the cruise. The famous Halong Bay is one of Vietnam's most prize tourist attractions. Explore Halong bay, where about 3,000 limestone islands rise from the clear and emerald water.

Sumptuous dinner will be served. Late night activities are also available.

DAY 5

Join the early morning Tai Chi exercise before sunrise. Cruise will continue around the clear and emerald water to other part of Halong Bay. Continue to be amazed with the stunning limestone peaks of the islets.

 The same evening we will be transferred from Danang to Hoian. Check in to your resort hotel.

Lunch on board with variety of local foods. Enjoy the rest of the boat trip before back to Halong dock. Have a full lunch and short break before
en route to Hanoi. After lunch, we will check out from the boat.

In the afternoon, back to Hanoi and take your flight to Danang. Upon arrival, transfer to your resort-hotel in Hoian.

DAY 6

A day to explore Hoian. Visit historical temples and monuments in Hoian Old Quarter. There we will see the famous Japaneses Bridge, 200-years old Chinese traders houses and other historical temples and monuments. Old Quarter has the original street layout and architecture of old Hanoi. Get along the vibrant town famous for its silk shops, small artisams and menrchants.

Relaxing dinner by the riverbank in a beautiful restaurant in the evening. There are lots of beautiful and also historical restaurants famous for different fishes and other local cuisines in this area.

DAY 7

After breakfast we will visit and learn about silk art and get introduced in other workshops. Relax in the fine white sand of Cua Dai Beach. Cua Dai literally means the 'big sea mouth'. It is located in the area of Cam An Ward and  is over 3 km in length. The beach boasts fine white sand, clear and blue water, moderate slopes and small waves, which make it ideal for recreational activities like swimming and other sea sports. This beach is very beautiful and is well worth a visit to cool off when the heats starts to get to you. Explore its natural beauty and beat the heat in its clear blue water. Have fun and enjoy this beauty until the sunset.

After sunset, back to hotel to refresh then off to a lovely dinner nearby riverside.

DAY 8

Transfer back to Danang and take another flight to Saigon. After hotel check-in, have a walk around the area.

Get ready for an exquisite dinner in a famous restaurant. It is a very unique place which is extremely popular with expats and locals as well. It’s a place with a lot of character and a food is really out of the word and extremely authentic. This is not just a restaurant, it’s like a big venue packed with different open kitchens and sitting areas which was also featured repeatedly in different Newspapers.

DAY 9

Explore the beauty of Saigon, Vietnam's largest city. See its 300 years of beautiful history, tradition and culture. Visit the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office with French inspired architecture, the historical City Hall or Hotel de Ville de Saigon and the War Remnants Museum that will take you back in time to learn more on what happened during Vietnam war.

Notre Dame Cathedral - Officially Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. In October 2005, it was reported that the statue have shed tears, but the top clergy of the Catholic Church did not confirmed but nevertheless still a lot of people believe that it did shed a tear.

City Hall or Hotel de Ville de Saigon - A french colonial style building built in 1902-1908. It was renamed after 1975 as Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee. Once known as the Museum of Chinese and American War Crimes, the War Remnants Museum is consistently the most popular museum in Saigon with Western tourists. 

In the evening, experience a special dinner in a local restaurant that will serve you delectable dishes that are hard to find in the big cities.

DAY 10

Appreciate the beauty of the other part of Vietnam, the Mekong Delta, in this whole day sight seeing. Take a boat cruise and visit different villages , farm houses, bee farm and sugar making farms and see a wonderful panoramic views. Experience shopping in Floating Market on arrival in Cai Be.

Lunch at the beautiful Ancient Garden House.

Visit Vinh Long, passing a small and beautiful canal with peaceful tranquil villages, the unique natural setting of Mekong Delta region and stop at An Binh islet to visit famous fruit orchards. There will be a nice chance for bicycle riding through the village and its handicraft shops.

Drive back to Saigon. A one of a kind dinner served by modern Vietnamese chefs awaits you.

DAY 11

Program for this day depends on the timing of departure. Transfer to airport for departure.

Airport pick up and hotel transfer

- 11 days accommodation in 4 star hotel
- Breakfast and dinner
- Private transport for the entire trip
- 2 internal flights
- 2 days, 1 night cruise
- Professional guides on all of the above tours
- All entrance fees, local taxes

- Flights (international)
- Travel Insurance
- Tips/gratuities
- Personal expense for shopping etc.