Central and North of Vietnam Tour: from metropolis to Village and Coastline
Authentic Village Adventure, Food Experience & Halong Bay Cruise
Overview
On 11 days Central and North of Vietnam Tour, you’ll see and experience things that seems a bit surreal. The villages are shrouded with a peaceful atmosphere as the locals are making boat, mat, Incense stick, fishing and growing vegetables in the traditional way. The ancient castles, mausoleum, temples and old towns of Hoian and Hue Imperial Citadel are enveloped in history, as if you are entitled to learn all the back stories and events that have happened in this ancient kingdom. The back streets and local markets are noisy, disordered yet charming and magical, making you forget the metropolis. And the landscape is surreal when you cruise through the karst peaks of Halong Bay and explore the caves of Tam Coc.
Duration: 11 days & 10 nights
Destinations: Danang – Hoian – Hue – Hanoi - Halong Bay – Hanoi
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Fly into Vienam, arriving Danang airport, be met and greeted by your guide and driver who will then transfer you to your accommodation in Hoian to settle in. As early as the 17th century, Hoian has became one of the most important trading ports in southeast Asia.
Start the day with an interesting cooking class, with which you will learn from the teacher about how to cook tradiontal Vietnamese food and taste some local foods and snacks.
Afternoon, enjoy a walking tour of Hoian ancient town, a famous World Heritage Cultral Site. For hundreds of years, Chinese people have lived and multiplied here, forming a unique Chinese community. So you can see Chinese-style ancient buildings, temples, ancestor halls, and Chinese shops everywhere. The old town of Hoian is also a place where the cultural elements of many countries in the world meet.
Visit the Japanese Covered Bridge that features a Buddhist pagoda attached to one side and the town's most important landmark, a beautiful Chinese Assembly Hall constructed in 1740 as a meeting place for all Chinese residents of the town. The hall is richly decorated with frescos and a replica of a Chinese ship, awell as Phuoc Kien Pagoda, also named Kim Son Pagoda, which was built by Chinese Phuoc Kien merchants at Hoi An in 1697.
Meal: B, L
This morning, accompanied by your guide, ride a bike from your hotel to the place you board the shuttle to cross the River Thu Bon for about 15 minutes, and getting to the Kim Bong carpenters village. You will visit some local crafts shops, such as shipbuilding workshop, wood carving, mosaic and other workshops. Learn from the local artisan about how to make the traditional wooden boats that move the rivers. Discover the famous basket boats at Mr. Kha’s workshop with a history of 85 years, which manufactures cart boats, woven by bamboo and palm trees.
Continue your biking trip to the Tra Nhieu mat village. With a well-crafted presentation, you’ll learn the war history and their activities. The fishermen leave their nets, boats and prepare their tools for a long sailing of 2 to3 weeks at sea. Spend island hopping via unique bridges made of wood or bamboo. Bike along the river, and see coconut water, fishing nets, and listen to wild birds singing, also see the small pleasants walk on the quiet bamboo bridge in water coconut forest. Thereafer, watch craft mats making in a traditional way.
Ride back to the dock, you board the boat along with local residents and cycle to the Tra Que vegetable village, where there are about 150 farmers and 400 owners live on site, who plant about 20 types of vegetables and herbs including mint, salad, basil, cilantro, broccoli on over 40 hectares of land. It is said that 8 tons of Tra Que vegetables are sold each year. The farmers do not use any pesticides or OGM but natural fertilizers, in particular, a kind of seaweed grown in the river, harvested by villagers by boat every morning.
You will be warmly welcomed by Mr. Minh’s family and invited into his home to enjoy local drinks. Walk around the village and meet locals who work in the garden. The local farmers are glad to teach you all about their cultivation methods and how to protect developing vegetable from the insects. If you wish, join the farmers in preparing gardening activities such as raking the ground, sowing, watering greens, transplanting and tending greens.
Then relax your feet and relieve muscle soreness with a mix of local herbal remedy and Chinese traditional medicine.
Prepare lunch by yourself at a local family’s house. You will learn how to make some popualar Vietnamese dim sum, such as “Tam Huu”, spring roll, “Xeo” pancake. Your lunch will also consist of some other local delicacies, prepared by the host.
Rest for a while before returning to your hotel
Meal: B, L
After breakfast, we depart from Hoian and head for Hue, the previous capital of Vietnam, during Đàng Trong Kingdom from 1738 to 1775 and during the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945. On the way, take in the beautiful view of the coast and Da Nang from the top of Hai Van Pass. On arrival in Da Nang, visit Non Nuoc Beach, Cham Museum that features a wonderful collection of rare works of art, and also, the well-known Marble Mountain. Arrive Hue in the afternoon, check in to your hotel. The rest of the day is for your own arrangement.
Meal: B, L
Today it is time to explore the famous Hue Imperial City and the highlight attractions of Hue, including some nearby villages.Hue Imperial City or Imperial Citadel was the home of Vietnam’s last royal dynasty- the Nguyen Dynasty, and has been a UNESCO World Heritage. Walk through the city to discover palaces, halls, gardens as well as historical ruins. Later, visit the royal Antiques Museum which is a gallery of antiques with a fabulous collection of bronze pottery, Chinaware, Phap Lam enamel, court robes, head- gear and some personal belongings of former Vietnam Emperors of Nguyen Dynasty. Also visit Minh Mang Tomb, the tomb of emperor Minh Mang (1791-1841) the 2nd King of Nguyen dynasty, which is epic and majestic.
Continue today’s trip to Conical hat village, where you see how the local people make the conical hat (non la) and learn it yourself. (Non la is a traditional indispensable accessory showcase the hidden charm and simplicity of women). End today at Incense stick making village. It is interesting to observe how locals make sandalwood and cinnamon incense.
Then transfer back to Hotel in Hue.
Meal: B, L
Relax at hotel or explore the city on your own until your driver pick you up and transfer to airport. Fly to Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam, with unique cultural atmosphere.
In the late afternoon join Hanoi street food tour from from 6PM – 9PM. We start the walking part of our tour early first visiting the colorful and interesting local markets where we see stall holders who are glad to talk with your about their foods. Our stroll then continues along both high streets and back streets exploring secret beaten corners in Hanoi Old Quarter that unknown to the outsiders. Also enjoy the elegance of Hanoi when walking through the tranquility French quarter where the birds are singing.
You will taste vasious kinds of local food, drink endless local beverage while chatting freely with street vendors.
Our food tour is aiming to give you a rare opportunity to experience and learn about exciting history, exceptional culture, as well as distinctive architecture of Hanoi following its unique cuisine trail – we promise you the food is hygienically handled and provide a comfortable venue for the tastings.
Overnight at hotel in Hanoi
Meal: B, D
Start Hanoi city highlight tour visiting the Ho Chi Minh Complex, which includes the mausoleum of the country's founder Ho Chi Minh, the Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh's house on stilts. This place is of secular and spiritual importance for many Vietnamese who come here to show their render respect to the father of their independent nation. Inside the complex, we will also see the One-Pillar Pagoda that can be traced back to the founding of Hanoi in the reign of Emperor Ly Thai Tong (1028-1054). Nor far away is the Temple of Literature, known as Vietnam's first university since 1076.
After Lunch pay a visit to Museum of Ethnology, the perfect place that showcases the various customs of 54 Enthnic groups of People in Vietnam. Thereafter, stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake, visiting St. Joseph's Cathedral, which is one of the most famous and biggest churches in Hanoi, built in late 19th-century. An interesting traditional Vietnamese puppet show is to end your tour today. Transfer back to hotel.
Meal: B, L
110 km (2.5 hours’ drive) from Hanoi, Tam Coc is one of the top places to visit in Ninh Binh. It is famous for its cultural traditions, historical sites, as well as the natural beauty and scenic landscapes. Most of backpacker stops in Ninhbinh when taking a trip through Vietnam before further exploring Tam Coc - Halong bay on land, Cuc Phuong National Park, Van long Floating Chanel, Trang An Eco...
You may visit Hoa Lu to discover the mausoleum and temples worshiping the King of Vietnam in the ancient times. Breathe fresh air and refresh yourself embraced by the natural scenery as you walk into in Tam Coc caves and witness a beautiful nature combined with scenic landscape and rural countryside.
In the morning, take a Tam Coc boat trip to see the surreal natural beauty of the karst formations as you pass by the limestone hill and venture into one of the many karst caves. If you wish, cycle for an hour on quiet country roads through villages, rice fields, rivers and rocky outcrops in Tam Coc. Lunch will be prepared at a local restaurant.
The afternoon time will be more exciting, as you will climb to Mua Cave. From the top of cave you can have a panoramic view of Ninh Binh and see the spectacular mountains of Halong Bay on land. Transfer back to Hanoi.
Meal: B, L
HON GAI HARBOR - BAI TU LONG BAY - CONG DO- CAP LA ISLAND - TRA SAN
07.45 – 8:30: The Swan shutter bus will pick you up from your hotel in Hanoi and heading to northeast of Vietnam. On the way to Halong Bay, the bus will stop for a while for you to stretch your leg and refresh
12.00: Arrive at Swan office in Ha Long, with some time to rest, and then you will transfer to Swan Cruises by tender.
12.45: Enjoy welcome drink, be briefing about safety on boat and activities included before check into your cabin.
13.30: Have lunch when you will find leisurely cruising to the core area of Bai Tu Long Bay.
15.30: Get to Cap La Island - the beautiful place in Bai Tu Long bay. kayak through the karst hills and breathtaking landscape, and relax on the island (Based on Halong Bay Board Management, all cruises in Halong Bay are not allowed to arrange swimming activities)
17.30: Return to the boat and enjoyself at the wonderful Sunset party while our cruise is sailing to the overnight anchorage.
19.00: Have dinner in the dining room on board.
20.30: Free time for joining Games, you may also try your luck with squid fishing.
Meal: B, L, D
06.30: Begin your day with morning Tai Chi practice on the Sundeck, while taking in early morning landscape of the bay.
07.00: Enjoy breakfast on board (tea and coffee are free of charge)
08.00: Explore the magical Thien Canh Son cave. With our tour guide’s explaination, you will learn the history of Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay and this Cave, which are made by Mother Nature
09.30: Finish packing and check out your cabin. Then join in our traditional cooking demonstration. Please take away all of your belongings from your cabin, you may leave heavy baggage outside of the cabin as our staff will support you transfer directly to the pier.
10.30: Watch a Vietnamese cooking demonstration.
11.00: Enjoy that tasty lunch while our cruise is returning Hon Gai harbour.
12.00: Back to the harbor and disembark in Hon Gai pier.
12.30: Farewell Halong Bay before our bus will take you back to Hanoi.
17.00: End of your 2-day-1-night Halong Bay trip on Swan Cruises
Meal: B, L
Time to say goodbye. Your driver will escort you to the airport. Fly back home safe and sound. End fo your 11 days Vietnam tour.
Meal: B
