Shades of Vietnam – 13 days

Morning: you will discover some of the major landscapes of Ho Chi Minh City: Independence Palace, the Notre-Dame Cathedral with its neo-Romanesque style in red bricks, and Ben Thanh Market.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Drive 60 km to the Cu Chi Tunnels, an extensive underground network built in 1948 to support the Viet Minh against the French, later expanded during the Vietnam War. This hidden city once sheltered around 10,000 people, with living quarters, kitchens, hospitals, and even births taking place underground.

Back to the hotel and free time for the rest of the day.

08:00: Depart for Ben Tre, the land of coconut trees. You embark on a boat for a cruise through authentic landscapes, discovering the daily life as well as the customs and traditions of the Delta inhabitants. Stop at Long Thanh Island to meet a family who raises bees, where you will taste honey and the fruit of water palms...

Your boat sails towards Mo Cay. Short walk in the village to visit coconut processing workshops. Then, an excursion by tuk-tuk (motorized cart) to Ba Van, where local families specialize in making mats.

Next, a peaceful rowboat excursion through small shaded creeks lined with water palms.

Return aboard the large boat, cruise to the restaurant.

After the meal, take your time to walk around for a deeper exploration of local life. En route to Can Tho with a stop along the way to visit a Khmer pagoda, discovering its typical architecture and Theravada Buddhism.

After breakfast, immerse yourself in the vibrant Cai Rang Floating Market, the largest in the Mekong Delta. Here, observe the unique tradition of boats signaling their wares by hanging samples from a pole.

Visit Tu Dung orchard and enjoy tasting fresh tropical fruits, followed by a tour of a vermicelli workshop.

Transfert to Can Tho airport for your flight to Da Nang. You will be picked up and taken to Hoi An.

In the morning: Visit the vegetable village of Tra Que, renowned for its aromatic herbs, specifically mint and basil. This morning will introduce you to the life of farmers and their techniques. You'll learn about hoeing and vegetable harvesting. Continue to Cam Thanh village, known for its Nipa palm mangrove. Here, you'll board a traditional round bamboo basket boat, peacefully cruising through picturesque small canals amidst mangroves, lagoons, and water coconut trees. Experience the serenity of the landscape, learn local crab fishing techniques, and enjoy making fun tools from coconut leaves.

Lunch at a local's house.

Morning: Depart for My Son Sanctuary, Vietnam's foremost Cham archaeological site and a UNESCO World Heritage site, located 40 km from Hoi An. This was the religious and political capital of the Champa Kingdom from the 4th to the 13th century. Explore the impressive red-brick and stone tower-sanctuaries, perfectly illustrating Hinduism's spiritual influence. You may also catch a performance of traditional Champa dances before returning to Hoi An.

Exploring Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage ancient port town that beautifully preserves its 15th to 18th-century charm. Take a leisurely stroll through its narrow streets, admiring the blend of Chinese, Japanese, and French architecture. Visit iconic landmarks such as:

• 17th-century Japanese Covered Bridge
• Phuc Kien Temple, a former meeting hall for Chinese traders.
• Ancient wooden house of wealthy merchants (choose between Tan Ky, Phung Hung)
• A museum (either the Museum of Ceramics or the Cultural Museum of Sa Huynh).

Optional activity: Participate in a lantern-making workshop, where you can design and keep your own lantern as a unique souvenir.

Continue to peacefully stroll through Hoi An's streets, browse art galleries and tailor shops. Don't miss a visit to the "Precious Heritage" gallery-museum by French photographer Réhahn.

Afternoon: Free time at leisure to discover Hoi An on your own

Morning: Drive to Hue, the former capital of Vietnam. On the way, we will stop to visit the Cham Museum in Da Nang, and take a break at the top of Hai Van pass to observe the splendid panorama. After taking a few pictures at the beautiful Lang Co beach, we will reach Hue.

Afternoon: Visit the Imperial City, the heart of Vietnam's last feudal dynasty. Explore its key areas: The Citadel, Imperial City, and Forbidden Purple City, including landmarks like the Flag Tower, Nine Dynastic Urns, South Gate, Palace of Supreme Harmony, Thai Hoa Palace, and the Temple of Nguyen Kings.

Morning: Visit Tomb of King Tu Duc, a stunning example of traditional Vietnamese art, offering insights into the Nguyen Dynasty and French colonial history.

Enjoy a photo stop at a craft workshop specializing in incense and conical hats in Thuy Xuan. On the way back to Hue, stop at Bellevue Hill for a panoramic view of the Perfume River.

Next, visit Thien Mu Pagoda, an iconic Hue landmark, notable for its 21-meter-high octagonal tower representing Buddha's seven incarnations.

Embark on a boat trip on the Perfume River to Thuy Bieu village, known for its "Thanh Tra" pomelo trees. Lunch at restaurant.

Afternoon: Take a leisurely walk through Thuy Bieu's orchards and garden houses, soaking in the serene, rustic atmosphere before transfert to Phu Bai Airport for the flight to Hanoi.

You will be picked up upon arrival and taken to the hotel for check-in.

A day dedicated to exploring the city's most iconic landmarks:

Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first national university (established 1070). This serene complex honors Confucius and features well-preserved traditional architecture, courtyards, ponds, and gardens.

Ba Dinh District. This area includes Ba Dinh Square, the botanical garden, the Presidential Palace (formerly the Governor's Palace of Indochina), Ho Chi Minh's stilt house, and the One Pillar Pagoda, one of the city's oldest monuments (built 1049).

Tran Quoc Pagoda: Built in 1615 on the shore of the large West Lake.

Lunch with Hanoi specialties: Grilled pork and Egg Coffee.

Visit the Museum of Ethnology to learn about the diverse lifestyles, customs, and traditions of Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups.

Optional: Train Street: A unique and thrilling attraction where trains pass just inches from the surrounding buildings, offering a rare glimpse into the daily life of Hanoi

(Note: visit the Hanoi night market on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays).

Ha Long – Halong Bay, Overnight On Board (B, L, D)

08:00 – Pick-up at your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter. Enjoy the scenic drive through the Red River Delta.

11:30 – Arrival at Tuan Chau Marina, check-in at the lounge.

12:00 – Board the cruises, welcome drink and safety briefing.

12:30 – Lunch on board while cruising past iconic sites: Incense Burner, Dog Islet, Fighting Cock Islet, Three Coconuts Island.

14:30 – Visit a Pearl Farm and enjoy kayaking amid the bay’s stunning landscape.

16:00 – Explore Sung Sot Cave, the largest in the bay, known for its impressive rock formations.

17:30 – Return to the boat. Join a cooking class, enjoy sunset Happy Hour on the sundeck.

19:00 – Dinner on board.

21:00 – Optional activities: squid fishing, movie in your cabin, card games, or relax on deck.

23:00 – Overnight on the cruise.

06:30: Coffee, tea and pastries for breakfast are served in the restaurant.

07:30: Visit Titov Island. Titov is a small limestone island with one of the best sandy beaches in Ha Long Bay. You can immerse yourself in emerald water and hike to the top for stunning panoramic views of the bay.

09:30: Back to the boat. Check out and settle your bill at the reception.

10:00: Have brunch while cruising back to the habour.

11:30: Disembark at Tuan Chau Marina,

Back to the bus to drive through the Red River Delta from Ha Long to Hai Phong, then Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, and finally Ninh Binh. While on our way, we will make a few stops: visit Tran Temple in Nam Dinh to learn about the most successful dynasty in the history of Vietnam, visit traditional villages specializing in making lacquers and wood carving.

We will check-in at the hotel located in the middle of a rural area. Free time to enjoy the peaceful countryside.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Explore Trang An, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its stunning karst landscapes and as a filming location for "Kong: Skull Island." Enjoy a peaceful 2.5-hour sampan ride, gliding through emerald waters and a series of mystical caves that open into hidden valleys. Enjoy the enchanting landscapes, the beautiful view of karst mountains covered in tropical plants, and the beautiful emerald river. Along the way, visit tranquil pagodas and temples, including the Presentation Temple, where you can see red carp swimming.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: We will go to Bai Dinh pagoda, the biggest in Vietnam & Visit the 10th-century temples dedicated to the Dinh and Le dynasties, admiring their intricate wood and stone carvings.

Finally, we will return to Hanoi and check-in at your hotel.

Free time until the bus picks you up and takes you to the airport for your departure flight.