Warmly welcome from Camellia Tours Vietnam’s team on arrival at the Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi. Transfer to the city centre for check in the hotel. Free at your leisure after check in.
In the evening, our expert English-speaking local guide will give you an insight into the intricacies and traditions of Vietnamese food culture including details on ingredients and historical backgrounds of popular northern dishes. We eat as we go, trying seasonal fruits and sampling a tasty French-inspired snack from a street cart.
Walking through the maze of bustling streets that make up Hanoi’s Old Quarter, we tempt our tastebuds with the famed Hanoi dishes such as Bun Cha Ta, Banh Cuon at a local eatery. Watch in awe as the skilled chefs demonstrate for you how this tasty dish is put together. Continuing into the atmospheric heart of the Old Quarter, we wander past street stalls and quiet residential lanes where you can observe local life that has changed little since Hanoi was founded over 1000 years ago.
Our next two snack stops are at outdoor barbeque stalls. We sit down with the Hanoi locals and sample various meat, vegetable and bread specialties that are flame grilled over hot coals for extra flavour. It’s then time for dessert as we venture down a small alley to join in the local tradition of feasting on fresh fruit served in a cup and smothered with crushed iced and condensed milk – this speciality is one not to be missed!
Our local guide will then take you to one of Hanoi’s best kept secrets, a hidden street food restaurant to taste top ten street foods in Hanoi is Banh My Hanoi, Vietnamese Rice Wine and famous Egg Coffee. This hard-to-find café is one of the few left in the narrow street inside the old quarter of Hanoi. Or, if coffee is not your style, a cold beer awaits! At the end of the trip, optional free to continue exploring the area or get back to your hotel.
Overnight at the hotel in Hanoi.

After breakfast, your day trip included Ho Chi Minh Complex, visit The One Pillar Pagoda, founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049, next. This structure is one of Vietnam’s most iconic temples. Close by is the mausoleum of the historic father figure of modern Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh, and the former presidents house on stilts where he lived from 1958 to 1969. His former home illustrates the modesty of this Vietnamese revolutionary.
Continue to the Temple of Literature. In 1076, Vietnam’s first university Quoc Tu Giam, picturesque West Lake and the sixth century Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda. From here transfer (or stroll along the lakeside) 700 meters to the nearby Taoist temple of Quan Thanh dedicated to Tran Vu, one of the principal deities in Taoism.
In the afternoon visit the fascinating Ethnology Museum (closed Mondays), which is both a research centre and a public museum exhibiting the ethnic groups of Vietnam. At the end of the afternoon visit Hanoi’s Old Quarter also known as the ‘36 streets’. Take a walking tour through charming Hang Be Market and around Hoan Kiem Lake. This bustling area of narrow streets and alleys is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. It’s a great place to explore with plenty of photo opportunities all around you.
Finish the day with a Water Puppet show. This is a uniquely northern Vietnamese art form depicting scenes from rural life and episodes of national history.
Overnight in Hanoi.

Today, we depart Hanoi and head west towards Hoa Binh City where we stop for refreshments. Leaving Hoa Binh for Mai Chau valley, about another two hours away, stopping on the way to take in the spectacular scenery. Our hosts for this evening will be the White Thai minority people. In sampling these peoples hospitality, we find out a little more of their lives and cultures with a cultural exchange following the evening meal with the local authentic cuisine.
Dinner and overnight at Thai Home Stay.

Following breakfast we embark on a lovely bicyclo about 2 to 2,5 hours to Lac village and Van village. We will encounter the local villagers going about their daily business tilling the fields, logging or herding the buffalo. Before get back to Hanoi, visit Muong village in Hoabinh. Overnight at the hotel in Hanoi.

Today, drive to Halong bay for 2 days 1 night cruising on the bay. Situated in the Tonkin Golf, Halong bay is one of the world’s natural wonders – a bay with more than 3,000 islands, which time, wind and waves have sculpted into fantastic shapes. The best way to appreciate this magical scene is from a boat, cruising between these karst cliffs, which loom like fairy-tale castles, complete with rocky spires and hidden caves. The bay is dotted with tiny islands, pristine sandbanks on the turquoise water providing an excellent backdrop for swimming or just lazing about on the junk boat.
Overnight on board.

Wake up early to watch a stunning sunrise over the tranquil bay. After visiting the caves, take part in this 1/2-hour class, which help you immerse yourself in the fascinating world of Vietnamese foods with expert guidance and advice from our Master Chef. This class tends to learning to create classic Vietnamese dishes as well as some surprises! Our chef will give you techniques used to create exciting results as well as which ingredients to use in dishes, how they alter the final taste of a dish and where to shop for them.
The junk then sails around the island, back to the port and returns to Hanoi for the flight to Hue

After breakfast, today excursion give you a chance to explore the most beautiful city in Vietnam, visit the ancient walled Citadel containing the former Imperial Palace. In the afternoon enjoy a leisurely Dragon Boat cruise along the timeless Perfume River, stopping at one of the oldest and most significant pagodas in Hue and the tomb of Emperor Tu Duc. Enjoy a spectacular dinner at lovely restaurant.

Today, take a journey along the coast, past the beautiful beach of Lang Co and over the Hai Van Pass, stop in Da Nang for a visit to the Cham Museum and handicraft villages on the foot of Marble Mountain before arriving in Hoi An. Arrival at the charming river port of Hoi An, when there should be time for an introductory tour of this ancient town. Recently declared a World Heritage Site, Hoi An is being beautifully restored and preserved.

Following breakfast at the hotel, we start our cooking class tour by visiting Hoi An’s colourful market, and experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy market. We will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers and learn about all the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later. We board the Red Bridge boat for a leisurely cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoi An River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. This is a chance to view local river life, so make sure your camera is handy. On arrival, we explore the cooking school’s herb garden, before learning about some of Hoi An’s and Vietnam’s well-known dishes. The cooking lesson runs for about 2 hours – the Red Bridge chefs first demonstrate each dish before we prepare the same dish ourselves. Included in the class is a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving (plate decoration). After the lesson, we could enjoy what we have cooked. (should you bring your swimsuit and after the cooking tour has finished relax and enjoy free use of our 20 metre swimming pool – towels and showers provided.)
In the evening, go on the walking city tour to explore this enchanting port town. Follow the narrow lanes lined with centuries-old houses influenced by Chinese, Japanese, French and European architectures and visit its numerous places of interest: the 400-year old Japanese Covered Bridge, the Phuc Kien Assembly Halls, the local fish market… Around the town we can see a numerous art galleries and tailor shops, get some made-to-order clothes if you like.
Overnight at the hotel.

Transfer to Danang Airport and fly to Ho Chi Minh City. This busy city is an interesting blend of old and new, east and west.
In the evening, go on Saigon night tour, this is part night excursion, part street food adventure. Experience Saigon nightlife the way locals do, all from the back of a vintage Vespa scooter. To start off this Saigon night tour, enjoy drinks at our Vespa-themed café, Café Zoom, to watch “as the world goes by” (as said in the Lonely Planet guide book). Throughout the night, try a variety of food and drinks at 2 local restaurants and samplings of Saigon’s best authentic street food. Zoom past the famous must-see sights of Ho Chi Minh City while in the bustling traffic. We will also go to a Vietnamese-style coffee shop with special live music, and then wrap up the evening at an exciting Rock music bar where the new generation of Vietnamese unwind and flaunt their unique styles. Ride pillion behind our drivers to enjoy and experience the Vietnamese nightlife with friends. This tour includes free flowing drinks and all you can eat, so come with an appetite!
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

Head south into the Mekong Delta, known as Vietnam’s ‘breadbasket’, which produces more than enough rice to feed the entire country. After a scenic drive to Vinh Long, take a boat through the floating market to an ancient house, observing typical Mekong Delta rural life and beautiful landscapes along the way. Then return to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Morning excursion is to the remarkable Cu Chi tunnel complex, first used as guerrilla base during the independence war against France, and learn about its history. In the evening you’ll transfer to the airport for your onward flight!