HANOI ARRIVAL

• Upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport, our guide and driver will pick you up and transfer directly to the Hotel in Hanoi. Free time at leisure. Overnight in Ha Noi. (Diner)

Day 02
HANOI
Visiting the city’s highlights, travelling to French Quarter, Ho Chi Minh complex, leisurely walk by the West Lake

• After breakfast . Get Pick up by tour guide to Temple of Literature which was built under the Ly dynasty in 11th century for worshipping Confucius and teaching Royal children. Enjoy a walk in the garden to the city’s symbol Khue Van Cac. You will then visit the World Heritage “stone steles” which shows the name of outstanding students. Continue to explore the Quoc Tu Giam which is considered as the first national university of Vietnam. Follow it with a visit to one of the city’s museums (choose among the National history museum, Hoa Lo, Museum of Ethnology and Fine art museum) before having a break for lunch or some drink (by your own budget).In the afternoon you visit French Quarter – it is a “little Paris” in Hanoi with tree-lined boulevards, government head offices and a big square.
• Visit (outside) Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum before having a leisurely walk in the botanical gardens to visit the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts where he used to live and work. Towards the unique One – pillar pagoda which is one of the city’s symbols. It takes us from 1 to 2 hours to explore this complex, depending on the number of traveler. Continue to Quan Thanh temple, one of the four most important temples in the city, dated back to the 11th century under Ly Thai To King, worshipping the Tran Vu gods, the principal deities in Taoism. Take a leisurely walk on a romantic road crossing the West Lake with beautiful city views. Stop at the Tran Quoc pagoda which dates back to the 6th century during the reign of Emperor Ly Nam De Dynasty. Finally enjoy the water puppet shows that is the unique performances, first appeared in the 11th century. In these shows, the daily life, culture and belief of Vietnamese people are described by puppets on water. The show usually integrates a traditional music performance as well. Come back to hotel. End of the day. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 03
HANOI – LAN HA BAY
Cruising from Halong to Lan Ha bay, swimming & kayaking, cooking class

• Pick up at your hotel by our driver (no guide. the groupe will have English speaking guide onboard) to Lan Ha Bay on the national highway No5B. Your journey will pass the series of villages and rice fields in the Red River Delta. Have a stop for drink and restroom. Continue driving to the harbor around noon, get warmly welcome at cruise reception.
The Peony Cruises crew will warmly welcome you at their lounge in Tuan Chau.
• Welcome aboard with fresh drinks and wet towels, accompanied by a spread of appetizing delicacies. We then set sail for Lan Ha Bay, a member of the World’s Most Beautiful Bays. Relish a delicious lunch of fresh seafood while cruising along Lan Ha Bay with breathtaking scenery.
• Explore the unspoiled and poetic beauty of Tra Bau area, renowned for its attractive seascape. This is the perfect time for kayaking to discover the true beauty of the limestone islands. Take a dip in the emerald green waters or enjoy the Jacuzzi pool on Peony Cruises.
Join us for a cooking demonstration and master the art of making one of the most famous Vietnamese cuisines, the spring rolls. Alternatively, head to the top deck to admire the magnificent sunset over the Gulf of Tonkin.
• Savor delicious local food prepared by our skillful chef. Relax and enjoy exotic cocktails and drinks at the sky bar (with a surcharge). Indulge yourself with a spa service (with a surcharge) or simply unwind on the top deck under the brightly illuminated sky. Alternatively, try your luck at squid fishing on the main deck. (Breakfast, Lunch, diner)

Day 04 
LAN HA BAY – HANOI – HUE
Visit Trung Trang cave, transferring back to Hanoi for a flight to Hue

• Start your day with a refreshing Tai Chi session on the sundeck, where you can soak in the tranquil beauty of the bay. If you’re eager to catch the dawn, rise early between 5:30 and 6:00, depending on the season, and feel free to consult our sailors for guidance. Join us for breakfast at the restaurant as we continue our scenic cruise.
• We’ll journey by bus to Trung Trang Cave, nestled in the heart of Cat Ba National Park, surrounded by the lush Kim Giao forest. Located 15 kilometers northwest of Cat Ba Town, Trung Trang Cave stretches 300 meters through the mountain, showcasing a captivating beauty shaped by millions of years of geological processes. Inside, you’ll find an array of uniquely shaped stalactites that spark the imagination and leave visitors in awe.
• Welcome back aboard Orchid Cruises as we prepare for check-out. Treat yourself to a delightful brunch at our restaurant. Disembark at Tuan Chau Marina, transfer to Noi Bai airport for your flight to Hue. Arrive in Hue, pick up by our tour guide & driver, transfer to your hotel. (Breakfast, Lunch, diner)

Day 05 
HUE – DA NANG Visit Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue citadel;
Khai Dinh tomb. Transfer to Da Nang, visiting My Khe beach, Hai Van Pass

• Pick up from hotel then visit Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the oldest pagodas in Hue, dating back to 1601. This is the spiritual highlight of the city and well known for its majestic octagon tower and beautiful view of the Perfume River. Keep your tour visit the most important sites in city – Hue Citadel, the only vestige symbol for what was once the imperial city of Vietnam. It is inspired by the fortification of Vauban. The city is composed of three parts: **Kinh Thanh (**the Capital city), Hoang Thanh (the Imperial city) and Cam Thanh (the Forbidden City). The most beautiful sites in Hue are concentrated in this area including the flag tower, the South gate, the palace of supreme Harmony, the Dynasty temple area and the settlement area.
• Continue to visit Khai Dinh King’s tomb, built in 11 years (1920 – 1931) on Chau Tru hill. Khai Dinh King’s tomb is distinguished from other emperor’s tombs by the mixture of oriental and western styles. A hundred-step climb will take you to the worship palace at the top. You will discover the amazing decoration with delightful porcelain fragments, a giant painting on the ceiling and a small royal objects museum next door. Finally, the descent offers a panoramic view to the tomb and surrounding area.
• Travel to Da Nang along the sea road. Make a stop at top of the Hai Van pass to enjoy the breathtaking view of the ocean. Then, walk to My Khe beach where you can enjoy the view of giant Goodness of Mercy statues in the Linh Ung Pagoda. Overnight in Da Nang. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 06 
DA NANG – HOI AN – HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON)
A great day to visit Bana hill with the Golden bridge & Hoi An town, take Evening flight to Sai Gon

• our guide will pick you up from your hotel to Ba Na Hill complex. Located at 1478m high above the sea level and 25 km to the west of Da Nang, Ba Na Hill has a year round cool climate which makes it an ideal resort since French colonist time. On arrival, take 20 minutes of the world’s impressive cable car in order to reach the peak of Ba Na hill and observe the beautiful scenery.
• Arrive at the station, take a visit to pagoda with giant Buddha statue, green gardens of multiple kinds of floraand flower interleaved by French architecture buildings and wine storages. Leisurely walk on the World’s top ten impressive architecture bridges – Golden Bridge. Immerse into the stunning views of national park, waterfall, ocean and city in remote distance which can hardly found in other regions.
Enjoy the entertainments in Fantasy Park – the third biggest indoor games zone in Vietnam with series of interesting games before getting transfer back to city. have lunch (combo) at Bana Hill) Descend Ba Na hill and continue the path to Hoi An. Hoi An used to be one of the most typical South-East Asian trading ports dating from the 15th to the 19th century and the Old Town is still well-preserved. The exchanged cultures is displayed on many historic buildings, religion, daily business and enrichedby the authentic lifestyle of local inhabitants.
• First stop is Cam Pho – one of the oldest communal houses in Hoi An. It was built in the shape of Chinese character means the country for worshipping and trading business and cultural exchange between locality and Chinese, Japanese traders. Leisurely walk to the Hoi An city’s symbol – the Chua Cau or the Japanese Covered Bridge, built in the 17th century to allow the Japanese quarter to be accessible from the Chinese neighborhoods. The bridge’s original style has been carefully preserved for the last 400 years.
• Continue walking through the town, immersing into local life and stop at Quan Thang ancient house – one of the most authentic old houses in Hoi An with the lively and fine architecture and sculptures were made by craftsmen of famous Kim Bong carpentry village in the oriental style. The house offers a good look of HoiAn family’s daily life. Enrich your tour by visit Phuc Kien or Fujian Assembly Hall, built since 17th century, is the gathering place for residents, traders and visitors from a specific area in China called Fujian. It is also a religious site to honor the deity Thien Hau. Spend a visit, you will admire the colorful fountains in the courtyard, the ornate gates surrounding the property and the beautiful carved dragons in the main room.
• End of the afternoon : Transfer to Da Nang airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh city/ Pick up and transfert to hotel in the city center.
Overnight in Sai Gon (Ho Chi Minh city) (Breakfast Lunch)

Day 07
HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON) – MY THO – HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON)
Special excursion to Mekong My Tho

• Transfer to Mekong My Tho
The rest stop on the way at the pagoda, the car driver will stop at Vinh Trang pagoda in My Tho which was built in 1849. It is the greatest pagoda of Tien Giang Province and was recognized as a national historical and cultural relic in 1984. Arrive My Tho boat station (where you meet the tour guide), boarding the motorboat at a pier and cruising on the mighty Mekong River. Here, overlooking floating houses where fishes are farmed beneath the house around 4 islands of the Dragon island, Thoi Son island (Unicorn island), Phoenix island, Turtle islet (viewing from the motorboat). On the way, we will have lunch at local restaurant.
• Enjoy the boat trip to small canal, the trip will lead you to the coconut island and visit the village. Stop at a local family to enjoy tropical fruit, taste honey tea, honey wine and listen to Vietnamese traditional music, performance by the villagers. Explore how to do the handicraft coconut candies. Back to Saigon at 16h00: free time for shopping. Overnight in Sai Gon (Breakfast, Lunch, diner)

Day 08 
HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON)
Ho Chi Minh Departure

• Breakfast at hotel. Free time in the modern city, easy for walking down streets, you can find a lots of supermarkets, luxury business centers, or the famous Ben Thanh Market where you can find a lots of goods and souvenirs… Transfer to airport for final departure. (Breakfast )