Family vacation in northern and central Vietnam : 10 days

Arrival in Noi Bai airport , you will be picked up then transferred to the hotel in city center. The check-in is available at 2 pm. The day is free for your own exploration and shopping. Overnight at hotel.

You will be picked up at the hotel at 8:00am. Starting the day trip will be a visit of the Ho Chi Minh Complex, which compromises Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum (closed on Mondays & Fridays), his former stilt-house residence, the Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh Museum. We will then visit the Temple of Literature constructed in 1070 to worship Confucius, which served as the first Royal National University in Vietnam. The site also honors 82 Vietnamese doctorates who passed a number of rigid exams in the feudal ages. Their names, birthdays and birthplaces are engraved in 82 headstones perched on stone tortoises. It is widely believed that touching the heads of these tortoises will bring luck. Its peaceful green compound with its neatly maintained lawns, gardens and lotus ponds make it a tranquil hideaway from the city’s bustle and heat.

In the afternoon, we will visit the Museum of Ethnology (closed on Mondays, the alternative being the History Museum), which offers informative and well-documented displays of the country’s 54 ethnic groups, including elaborate and colorful hill tribe costumes. The display continues in the museum’s garden with fascinating examples of traditional houses of numerous minority groups, from the Kinhs to the ethnic groups of the Central Highlands. Then back to the Old Quarter for a 1 hour cyclo tour. We then head to Ngoc Son Temple set on a tiny island in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake. Ngoc Son Temple dates back to the 13th century, and the lake itself is the picturesque heart of Hanoi, frequented by tourists and locals alike.

And in the evening, you will join a culinary tour to experience famous street foods: bun cha, bread, egg coffee, and rolls. At the end of the trip, you will sit and relax in the train street.

Overnight in Hanoi

After breakfast, We will take you to Quang Phu Cau incense village to take beautiful photos. Afterward, we will drive to Tam Coc also known as « Dry Halong Bay». On the way, we will stop to visit Hoa Lu, which used to be Vietnam’s capital during the 10th century. Arrive at Tam Coc, where we will embark a small rowing boat to discover the outstanding karst waterscape on Ngo Dong River. Tam Coc literally translates to « three caves» and is adorned with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites of all sizes shaped like gemstones. When rowing, enjoy the peaceful scenery of rice paddies lining the river bank. After lunch (at your own account) we will visit Mua Cave, with 500 step up to the Top of Mua Mountain. On the Top, you can overview all the nice scene of Hoa Lu. Back to Hanoi for overnight

08:15 – 08:45: Hotel or private address pick up with our shuttle bus. Short break half way.
11:45 – 12:00: Arriving Tuan Chau marina, transferred by tender of La Pandora cruises.

12:45 – 13:00: Welcome aboard the cruise. Refresh with our welcome drink. Meet the captain, crew in the cruise briefing, safety instruction.

13:00 – 13:15: A special lunch in Vietnamese cuisine of fresh seafood and an assortment of appetizing favorites are served while sailing through Islets of Con Vit.
16:00: The Cruise sails through Lan Ha Bay. The area is surrounding of extraordinary limestone karsts landscapes. We progress to Ong Cam Area of Lan Ha Bay- a separate part of Ha Long Bay. This is a quiet tourist paradise in Vietnam, enjoy kayaking and/or enjoy swimming in the crystal-clear waters of the Bay.
17:30: Back to La Pandora Cruise, drop anchor for staying overnight. Enjoy cooking demonstration (teaching you how to make our speciality, Spring rolls) and the complimentary Sunset Party on the sundeck with local wine and fresh fruit.

19:00: Dinner is served in the restaurant. Enjoy delicious local food prepared and served for you by our wonderful onboard catering staff. After dinner, retiring to your cabin or join the fishing excursion, watch a movie, have a drink at the bar, wifi access or play exciting games. Overnight on board.

06:00: Enjoy sunrise and admire the never-ending miraculous scenery of the Bay. Practice an invigorating Tai Chi session on the sundeck.
06:30: Light breakfast, coffee and tea served.
07:00: Visit Dark & Bright Cave and islets by local rowing boats which is a wild and mysterious beauty in the middle of the World Heritage.
09:15: Back to our Cruise, relax before checking out.
10:00: Lunch is served on board.

11:30 Drive to Hanoi, then transfer to the airport for flight to Hue. On arrival, transfer to hotel in Hue for check in & overnight

In the morning, visit the Khai Dinh Tomb, constructed for the emperor in 1920 and constructed on the principle of Feng Shui. Being unique among the royal tombs in Hue, it is monumental in style and bombastic in execution.

Visit the The Citadel, the last royal city in Vietnam that contains the imperial city. It is built by Nguyen Dynasty from 1805 to 1945. This citadel complex is remains Hue’s most popular and most important historic site.

Take on a boat trip to discover the Thien Mu Pagoda (Heaven Fairy Lady Pagoda), a Buddhist monastery which origins dating back to 1601. It is one of the oldest and holiest sites in Hue. This pagoda is also the unofficial symbol of the ancient city Hue. Finally, have a quick stop at incense village to understand more about local life.

Afternoon, drive on the Mandarin road, a scenic journey from Hue to Hoi An, which allows you to see a picturesque Vietnam with stunning beaches and lush tropical forest. Take some photos en route of Danang Beach and visit Marble Mountain, Son Tra Peninsula before arriving in Hoi An’s ancient town. Overnight in Hoi An

07:45 – 8:00: Pick up from the hotel in HoiAn and start transfer to Ba Na Hills

Check in at the Suoi Mo Cable Car Station and transfer to Marseille Station

Explore Golden Bridge (The Hands of The Gods) – majestic and impressive as a scene in “Game of Thrones” or “ The Lords of the Rings”

Drop by Le Jardin D’Amour (the Flower Garden of Love) with 9 gardens of Le Jardin D’Amour are 9 amusing tales in 9 varying architectures, which harmonize so well in a visual sonata of beauty

Continue the trip with Linh Ung Pagoda & Debay Wine Cellar

Afternoon: Discover and play games at the Fantasy Park – a perfect tourist attraction for an entire family as well as to explore King Peak

Return to the Cable Car Station and back to the Gateway then transfer back to hotel

Breakfast at the hotel, then ride bicycles to Tra Que Village. Take around the vegetable village and join in the daily activities with local farmer there. Continue to take bicycles along De Vong River to Hoi An Beach wharf.

Embark on the boat to Cua Dai sand dune, enjoy casting net show and learn how to cast net by local fisher man. Continue to Cam Thanh Water coconut village, have a brief introduce to the history there.

Take on the basket boat along the water coconut river, Fisherman will teach you how to catch the crabs (02 paxs/ boat ). Divide group into 2 teams for basket boat racing and catching crabs. Embark on the boat, enjoy the folk songs show by local people there.

Enjoy special local food such as pancake, Tam Huu spring roll, fried fish …After lunch, learn how to make funny tools by water coconut leaf

Continue to the ancient town, experience the daily life of fisher man along Thu Bon River

Get on Bach Dang wharf, take a bicycle back to Hotel.

14:30 – Arrive at My SonSanctuary and we’ll have 2 hours to discover the site by walking throughout the landscape, learning histories with our local English-speaking guide, and enjoying the Champa’s traditional performances.

Overnight at hotel.

Freely explore Hoian and have relaxing moments on the beach and swimming pool.

You’ll be free to explore and take some time for yourself, before boarding your flight back home.