Introduction
This eight day Highlights of Northern And Central Vietnam Tour starts from stately Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam. We will see the real Hanoi and see the Water Puppet Show – the most impressive, traditional performance of Vietnamese culture.

Following a scenic route through the Red River Delta, the World Heritage site of Ha Long Bay will enchant you with its majestic landscape and many beautiful caves.

In Central Vietnam, you will discover the natural beauty and long standing culture of the ancient cities of Hoi An and Hue with their historic relics and amazing architecture.  You will learn some of the history, meet the friendly locals and wander the tranquil but colourful streets and enjoy the stunning landscapes.  

Day 1: Hanoi Arrive
Welcome to Hanoi, enjoy a Walking Tour in the Old Quarter

Landing at Noi Bai Airport, you are met and welcomed by your tour guide and driver at the pickup lobby. Enjoy the 45-minute drive to the city centre (Hanoi Old Quarter) with an information briefing about the  city's most visited spots, culture, traffic and cuisine. Check in at your hotel and have a rest. 

Continue the day with a Walking Tour. Start with the small pagoda named Ba Da, quietly located in a small alley - only a few steps from the Hanoi Great Cathedral, built by French colonialism in the 19th century. Your guide takes you to typical streets of Hanoi such as Lan Ong Street selling traditional medicine and Lo Ren Street where metal items are produced. Stop to visit the Dong Xuan Central Market - the largest in Hanoi. Continue walking to the area famous for night activities and street food - the vibrant Ta Hien Street, where you can see the amazing local foods and drinks. Try tasting some for an unforgettable experience.  End at your hotel.
 

Note: If your flight arrives late or you are jet lagged after a long journey, the walking tour will be moved to the City Tour, next day.

Day 3: Hanoi - Ha Long Bay - Lan Ha Bay (B,L,D)

8:30 – 9:00 your local English speaking tour guide and ultra-luxurious limousine van will meet you at your hotel, and we depart, travelling to the northeast of Vietnam, along the expressway to Tuan Chau Ha Long Tourist Wharf.
 

12.00: Arrive at Tuan Chau Marina Harbour, and enjoy 20 minutes speed boat ride from the wharf to Gia Luan area where our main vessel is anchored. You will be welcomed onto your Sena Cruise with fresh drinks while listening to a safety briefing, before checking into your cabin.  A beautiful lunch will be served in the luxury restaurant while cruising past the many rocks formations that emerge from the emerald water.
 

14.30: Arrival at Dark and Light Cave area where you are going to enjoy kayaking in the tunnel grotto. With the advantage of engine power, we will arrival at least 30 minutes to an hour before the area becomes busy.
 

16.30: After kayaking, you will return tothe Sena for a shower and to relax on the top deck for a small sunset party and happy hour as darkness comes over.
 

19.00: This evening, a delicious fresh  seafood barbecue will be served at the Roof Top Restaurant. What could be more enjoyable than sharing fine dining and memories of the day? Overnight on your Sena Cruise.

Day 5: Hoi An Explore (B,L)
9:00 AM: You are collected at your hotel for your Hoi An Old Town Highlights Tour. First visit, Cam Pho - one of the oldest communal houses in Hoi An. It was built in the shape of a Chinese character and means the place for worshipping and trading, business and cultural exchange between local, Chinese and Japanese traders. We then go to a non-tourist destination, enhancing your visit making it more enjoyable and enriched by learning about the Japanese Tea Ceremony or making toys from coconut leaves with a local expert. 

We take a leisurely walk to the Hoi An city’s symbol - the Chua Cau or the Japanese Covered Bridge which was built in the 17th century to allow the Japanese quarter access from the Chinese neighbourhoods. The bridge’s original style has been carefully preserved for the last 400 years.

Immersing into the life of the town, we walk through the town to Quan Thang Ancient House - one of the most authentic old houses in Hoi An, with it's lively and fine architecture and sculptures which were made by craftsmen of the famous Kim Bong carpentry village, in the oriental style. The house offers a good insight into Hoi An daily family life. 

Next stop is the Phuc Kien or Fujian Assembly Hall which was built around 1690 and functioned as a traditional assembly hall for the Chinese ethnic group from Fujian, China - to socialise. But later, it was transformed into a temple dedicated to their deity, named Thien Hau – the Goddess of the Sea who protects sailors from danger. We spend some time shopping and have lunch in the town.

In the afternoon, we start the day with a welcome drink at Hai Café (98 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Hoi An town).

Visit the colourful Hoi An Market and experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy marketplace. We will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers and learn about all the ingredients to be used in a cooking lesson, later.

We board the Red Bridge boat for a leisurely 25 minute cruise 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 dishes ourselves. Included in the class is a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving (plate decorations). After the lesson, we sit down and eat what we have cooked.

Transfer back to hotel at the end of the day.
 

Day 7: Hue highlights (B,L)
An amazing day exploring Perfume River by boat, an excursion to Tien Non, Thanh Tien, Sinh village and Khai Dinh King's Tomb.

8:00 AM: Transfer to the Huong River (Perfume River) to embark on a Royal Boat trip to the villages to the east of the city. This is an opportunity to discover the local life on both sides of this poetic river. Upon arrival in Tien Non, disembark for a bike ride in the countryside through three villages: Tien Non, Thanh Tien and Sinh. During the trip, you will be immersed in the daily rhythm of life in those villages.

In Tien Non Village, meet the villagers working in the fields and vegetable gardens. Then, visit a family worship house. Next, reach Thanh Tien Village, an artificial paper flower village dating back 400 years. As well as the rural works, they make paper flowers for the New Year festival to offer to their ancestors with best wishes. Visit Mr. Hieu’s family, one of the well-known artisans in the village to learn how to make paper flowers under his instruction. Continue on to Sinh Village, the cradle of 400 year old folklore prints in Hue. Meet Mr Phuoc who will explain the techniques of traditional printing. You will find beautiful souvenirs available on this trip. Later, take the boat back to the city.

In the afternoon, drive to Khai Dinh King's tomb, built over 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 one hundredstep climb will take you to the worship palace at the top. You will discover the amazing decorations 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.

Tour end around 4:00 PM. Overnight in Hue.
 

Exclusions

• International flight from/to your country
• Travel Insurance
• Personal Expenses
• Tipping and Gratuities
• Other not mentioned in the Program

Children Policy

• The rate for children applicable for one child sharing a twin or double cabin with two adults
• For infant (<04 years old): FOC except domestic ticket cost
• 04 - 11 years old without bed: 50% adult rate
• 04 - 11 years old with extra bed: 75% adult rate
• 04 - 11 years old in twin share: 90% adult rate

Service Details During The Trip

We’ll immerse you in the diverse cultures of Vietnam and Cambodia by showcasing the unique local flavors. By balancing included sightseeing and free time, we can customize your dream vacation with the things you have always wanted to do.
 

• Private Local Tour Guide: You will have a fully licensed local tour guide from 'welcome' until you are farewelled at the airport. Your guide will guide, help, assist and take care of you in order to make your tour worry-free. Vietnam Exploration Booking Tours offer the best tour guides based on the features of your itinerary and the make up of the group, to maximize your tour while travelling. Having the right guide means you have the best experience.
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• Private Drivers and Vehicle: Safety is the first priority for transportation. All vehicles are in good condition and are well maintained with fully licensed and experienced drivers ensuring you are in safe hands. To maximize your comfort and enjoyable experience, cold drinking water and refreshing towels are provided in the car. 
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• ​​Local Flavor Meals: You don’t worry about meals; we select both restaurants and menus for you. Vietnam Exploration Booking Tours only chooses clean restaurants with pleasant environments for our guests. The menu is also carefully selected to ensure you can try different food at every meal. We will recommend and arrange local cuisine since it is part of the cultural experience while travelling. We can also recommend where to eat so you can enjoy your favourite food when not eating with the group.
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• Well-Selected Hotels: Comfort and good value are our priorities when choosing hotels for our guests. We do our best to ensure good rest by the comfort of the mattress and bedding and offering rooms with a pleasant decorative style, user friendly facilities, good service and a great breakfast!

Did we hit all the items on your travel bucket list for your holiday?
If not, don’t worry. We specialize in tailor-made tours and can customize this program to create your dream trip. Get in touch with your personal Travel Consultant to create your personalized program.