Summertime Vietnam

Day 1 - Hanoi

Arrival in Hanoi

Upon clearing Customs and Immigration, a guide will present you with a welcome packet including all necessary documentation and vouchers and all contact information of your guide and local offices. Transfer to the hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Meals Included – None

Day 2 - Hanoi

Morning at leisure

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. And then there's the Old Quarter, best seen by foot - a maze of narrow alleyways that date back to the 13th century. We'll stop to sample Vietnamese coffee and pop into see an ancient house.

Enjoy a taste of local Hanoian life as you explore a local market and some of the city's best street food stalls. Meet your guide 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 flavourful 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.

Meals Included - Breakfast

Day 3 - Hanoi - Ninh Binh

Start the day with the first sightseeing site, Hoa Lu, which was the initial capital of Vietnam. Visit the temples dedicated to Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang of the Dinh Dynasty (968-80), and Emperor Le Dai Hanh of the Le Dynasty (980-1009). The ancient Hoa Lu Citadel (most of which has since been destroyed) once covered an area of three square kilometers. After a visit to Hoa Lu, depart for Tam Coc town, along the tour stops wherever guests wish to take photographs of local villages and the stunning landscape. On arrival in Tam Coc, board a private sampan. As the boat gently slices through the water, notice the enormous limestone karsts jutting out from the green rice fields giving rise to its other name, 'Halong on Land'.

Meals Included - Breakfast

Day 4 - Ninh Binh

Enjoy a full day of leisure in Ninh Binh.

Meals Included - Breakfast

Day 5 - Ninh Binh - Halong Bay

Transfer by vehicle from Ninh Binh to Halong

Board the Bhaya Classic and inspect your cabin before heading to the restaurant for a safety briefing. Enjoy the welcome drink while meeting the Cruise Manager and the crew. Try an assortment of Vietnamese dishes during a buffet lunch as the Bhaya Classic cruises towards the southeast of Halong bay, passing Trong Mai islet, Ngon Tay islet, Con Coc islet, Cua Van Floating Culture Centre. Kayak to Trinh Nu cave - one of the finest sunlight-filled cave in Halong Bay covering an area of 2,000m2 with stunning stalactites and stalagmites. Take a swim or sunbathe on Trinh Nu Cave's beautiful private beach. Return to the cruise, freshen up for the evening's activities. Join the exciting the cooking and fruit carving demonstration on the sundeck. Savor the delicious set-menu dinner in the restaurant.

Spend the night on board

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6 - Haalong Bay - Hoi An

Start off your day with a Tai Chi lesson on the sundeck with complimentary tea and coffee being served. Rejuvenate your body and mind with the slow movement of Tai Chi and enjoy the dawn on the bay. Light breakfast is served onboard. Explore Sung Sot Cave, the largest cave inside Halong Bay with 10,000 square meters of space hold thousands of stalactites and stalagmites and are threaded by a 500-meter paved passageway. Return to the cruise and prepare to check out. Enjoy the brunch buffet as Bhaya Classic cruises back to the port, passing Lom Bo island, Trong Mai islet and Ba Hang fishermen village. Disembark from Bhaya Classic at Tuan Chau International Marina.

Transfer by vehicle from Halong to Noi Bai Airport (via new highway) for the flight to Danang. On arrival in Danang, transfer by vehicle to Hoi An

Meals Included - Breakfast

Day 7 - Hoi An

The exquisitely preserved merchant town of Hoi An was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1999. Its colourful shop houses and temples reflect a diverse heritage, dating back to the 16th and 17th century, when it was a major port for Western, Chinese and Japanese traders. Today it is a thriving centre of traditional crafts and a shoppers' paradise, best explored on foot. Wander through the cobbled streets, past low tile-roofed buildings, the bustling central market and the small harbour where colourfully painted boats are moored. The walking tour will include visits to a private house, where members of the same family have lived continuously for centuries in a traditional setting; to one of the family chapels built by prominent merchant or official families as centres for ancestor worship; and to a typical Chinese-style Pagoda or assembly hall. Finally, continue to the famous Japanese Covered Bridge, first constructed in 1593 by the Japanese community of Hoi An to link the town with the Chinese quarters across the stream. In the afternoon, board a local boat and cruise down the Thu Bon River, enjoying the unspoiled countryside and stopping to visit a pottery village and before returning to Hoi An harbour.

Meals Included - Breakfast

Day 8 - Hoi An

Enjoy a full day at leisure in Hoi An

Meals Included - Breakfast

Day 9 - Hoi An

Relax with  a full day at leisure in Hoi An

Meals Included - Breakfast

Day 10 - Hoi An

Enjoy a full day at leisure in Hoi An Ask your consutant for options regarding day trips and tours

Meals Included - Breakfast

Day 11 - Hoi An

Enjoy a full day at leisure in Hoi An

Meals Included - Breakfast

Day 12 - Hoi An

Enjoy a full day at leisure in Hoi An

Meals Included - Breakfast

Day 13 - Hoi An - Danang

Transfer back to Danang airport, for your homeward (or onward flight) where this tour concludes

Meals Included - Breakfast