Xin chao! Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam. Hanoi, one of Asia’s most enchanting cities, full of culture, history and the engaging contradictions of a rapidly developing and deeply traditional society. You are greeted by your guide and driver at Noi Bai International Airport for your transfer to the hotel. PM: a visit to The Presidential Palace (formerly Palace of the Governor-General of French Indochina), Ho Chi Minh’s house-on-stilt and nearby One Pillar Pagoda. Then take a short transfer to Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, which is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2010, a relic of a succession of dynasties. Dating back over a thousand years to the Chinese Tang dynasty, Hanoi's ancient citadel was the home of Vietnamese sovereigns going back to Dai Viet, when Hanoi was known as Thang Long. You will visit the ruins of royal palaces, a revolutionary bunker and the archeological site. Next to visit Temple of Literature - the first University of Vietnam From here, drive to the city center for an Old Quarter, the bustling heart of Hanoi, has been a commercial centre since King Ly Thai To built his palace there in the 11th century. Skilled craftsmen started to migrate and artisan guilds were formed on the famous "36 Streets". Previously, each street carried the name of the item produced and sold there, and many still have the same names. This is a place you must see to experience Hanoi, where you will find shopping and cultural/historical sites all wrapped into one. Overnight in Hanoi.

08.00 We depart from your hotel and drive to the South. It is an about two-hour drive to the reminiscences of the imperial capital of Hoa Lu. Hoa Lu was Vietnam's capital under the Dinh and Early Le dynasties in the 10th and 11th centuries. Its palaces, pagodas, tombs and pavilions, built by different dynasties, still carry the features of an ancient imperial capital. At nearby Trang An, you'll board a sampan for an extended journey along the winding river lined with trees and limestone mountains. You will stop by several small, historic temples which are the pride of the area’s inhabitants. The lush forests, clear river water, fresh air, magical caves and dramatic mountains will charm you from first glance.

08.00 - 09h00: Shuttles bus pick up and departure in the morning from Hanoi. We drive across the Red River delta and reach the coast a little before noon. We then embark on a beautifully crafted junk for an overnight cruise in the legendary seascape of Ha Long Bay. Once on board, we are served a delicious seafood-based lunch, while the surrounding limestone outcrops make for a truly magical setting. In the afternoon, we reach a less travelled area where we will devote ourselves to pure relaxation. The program is not fixed and depends on the time of the year and weather, but there will be an opportunity to visit a cave as well as explore a floating village or do a little bit of kayaking over the course of these 2 days. We end the day on the sundeck as the sun sets on this magical seascape. This evening, you can enjoy an aperitif or attend a cooking demonstration before dinner. Overnight in a comfortable private cabin with an en-suite bathroom. Note: Cruise itinerary and schedule are subject to change due to weather, tide levels and operating conditions. Swimming or kayaking excursions may be cancelled due to poor weather.

For those early birds, start the day with a proposed Tai Chi session, while tea and coffee are served as the sun rises and illuminates the surrounding seascape. We then continue our exploration of the bay. Upon returning to the boat, check-out of your cabin and enjoy a light brunch while cruising back to the pier. We disembark and transfer back to Hanoi airport. Embark on your flight to Ho Chi Minh city, the big metropolis of the South. You are greeted upon arrival and driven to your hotel in the city center, historically called Saigon.

The guide meets you at your hotel. Hop on the van and depart Saigon with a first stop en route to visit a family producing rice paper. Share a bit of time with them and then continue to Cu Chi Tunnels. Getting at the site in the mid-morning, your guide takes you first through an introductory video before visiting the relics. Along the visit, you will have the chance to see various mantraps, the remains of an American tank and numerous bomb craters. The next hour is dedicated to exploring the maze of tunnels and to understand better how the Viet Cong survived in this underground network. Back to Saigon for lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Independence Palace, the former residence of the President of South Vietnam with the “War Room”, where the South Vietnamese forces were controlled, and the room where the North Vietnamese army finally took control in the Fall of Saigon on in 1975. Next visit is the War Remnants Museum, which was previously known as the “Museum of American War Crimes” and contains countless artifacts and photographs documenting said crimes - the killing of civilians, spreading of chemicals, torturing of prisoners, and the effects of the war on the north. Planes, tanks, bombs, and helicopters displayed, and outside the museum are some rooms displaying cultural products of Vietnam. Then head to Notre Dame Cathedral, which was built between 1877 and 1883 with materials mostly imported from France. Neo-Romanesque in form, it is a major centre of Catholicism in modern Vietnam, and one of the city’s major landmarks. Note: Visit the Notre Dame Cathedral from outside only as it's under renovation

After breakfast at your hotel, transfer to Tien Giang Province in the Mekong Delta. You will take a boat along the Tien River, seeing the 4 islets called Dragon, Unicorn, Tortoise and Phoenix, and visiting a fishing village. Then the boat will take you deeper into the delta via small canals to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere as you pass by traditional wood and palm-leaf houses, and local farmers doing their daily work. Return to the pier and drive to Ho Chi Minh city for stay overnight

The day is free at your leisure until transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your departure flight. We wish you a pleasant flight!