Cultural immersion

Day 1

• Arrival in Hanoi and check-in at a hotel in the Old Quarter.
• Cyclo ride through the Old Quarter, Ô Quan Chưởng Gate and Đồng Xuân Market.
• Tasting bún chả and egg coffee.
• Optional: water puppet show at the Thăng Long Theatre.

Day 2

• Temple of Literature, Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum and the One Pillar Pagoda.
• Lunch at a traditional restaurant: nem, phở and chả cá.
• Museum of Ethnology, to meet Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups.

Day 3

• Excursion to Bát Tràng ceramic village and a hands-on pottery session.
• Trấn Quốc Pagoda.
• Free time for Hanoi's street food.

Day 4

• Drive to Hạ Long Bay and board your cruise.
• Caves, and a floating village explored by kayak.
• Dinner and overnight on board, anchored in the bay.

Day 5

• Sunrise Tai Chi on the deck.
• Return to Hanoi for a quiet evening and a light dinner.

Day 6

• Bái Đính Pagoda.
• The ancient capital of Hoa Lư and a boat ride through Tràng An.
• Overnight in a countryside homestay.

Day 7

• Climb to Múa Cave for the panoramic view over Ninh Bình.
• Flight to Huế and overnight there.

Day 8

• The Imperial Citadel, Thiên Mụ Pagoda and the Nguyễn dynasty tombs.
• Make incense and traditional conical hats with local artisans.
• Taste bún bò Huế and small dishes such as bánh bèo and bánh nậm.
• Evening of traditional music on the Perfume River.

Day 9

• Excursion to Chuồn Lagoon and its quiet waterscape.
• An Bằng Cemetery, known as the “City of Tombs”.
• Transfer to Hội An and overnight in the Old Town.

Day 10

• Walk through Hội An's Old Town: the Japanese Covered Bridge and Tấn Ký House.
• Lantern-making workshop, or have clothes made by a local tailor.
• Evening boat ride and lantern release on the Hoài River.

• Kim Bồng carpentry village and Trà Quế vegetable village.
• A morning in the fields, then a traditional cooking class.
• Optional: the “Hội An Memories” show, with more than 500 performers.

Day 12

• The Marble Mountains, and the Golden Bridge in the Bà Nà Hills.
• Evening flight to Hồ Chí Minh City.

Day 13

• Excursion to Mỹ Tho: Đờn ca tài tử folk music and a coconut candy workshop.
• Evening on Nguyễn Huệ Walking Street with bánh mì and cơm tấm, Saigon's broken rice.

Day 14

• The Củ Chi Tunnels and the history of the Vietnam War.
• Rice paper workshop and a spring roll cooking session.
• Reunification Palace, the Central Post Office and Bến Thành Market.

Day 15

• Free time for last souvenirs and a Vietnamese coffee.
• Departure, with a suitcase full of memories.