Day 1: Hanoi Arrival in Hanoi, the vibrant capital of Vietnam. Our friendly and professional tour guides will welcome you at the airport and will be at your disposal throughout your trip. We will take care of all transportation matters and ensure a smooth check-in at your hotel. In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner in a local restaurant, where you can already immerse yourself in Vietnamese cuisine on the first day. Day 2 : Hanoi City Tour . Hanoi is known for its tree-lined streets and French colonial mansions. Familiarize yourself with the city by taking a traditional cyclo for a slow ride and visit the historic Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature. In the afternoon, drive to Dao Thu village, home to the unique folk art of water puppetry unique to Vietnam. Meet an artisan who has mastered this ancient craft and learn how he and his family carry on the tradition. Then enjoy a 30-minute outdoor water puppet show on a village pond, accompanied by a live traditional music performance. Day 3 : Ha Noi - HaLongBay The landscape of Halong Bay, where thousands of limestone islands rise in bizarre shapes from the emerald sea, is truly an icon for Vietnam. An overnight boat trip is the best way to enjoy this Vietnamese must-see. After breakfast, depart Hanoi for a 3-hour, 30-minute drive to Halong Bay, making a brief stop along the way. Around noon, you will reach the pier in Halong City and complete the check-in formalities. After a welcome on board, lunch will be served as you sail towards the bay itself. Sail through the stunning limestone karsts, visit hidden caves, and engage in exciting activities such as kayaking or swimming in the emerald waters. Our experienced guides will make sure to make the most of your experience in Halong Bay. In the afternoon, you can do some sightseeing and/or activities (depending on each ship's itinerary) or just relax on board. Towards the end of the day, the boat will anchor for the night amidst the karst formations. Dinner will be served on board and you can spend the night in the bay. DAY 4 - HALONG BAY - NOI BAI AIRPORT - DANANG - HOI AN In the morning, the sun rises on Halong and breakfast is served (brunch is also served on some ships) as the ship slowly cruises back to the port. Disembarkation followed by transfer back to Hanoi or Haiphong airport. Upon arrival in Danang, continue 40 minutes to Hoi An, an important Asian trading port in the 17th and 18th centuries, whose architecture and relaxed lifestyle have changed little over the years. Our team will take care of all the logistics, including comfortable transportation and, of course, pre-arranged hotel check-in. Explore the well-preserved ancient city of Hoi An, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with our knowledgeable guides and hear stories about the city's rich trading history and cultural significance. Overnight in Hoi An. Day 5 : Hoi An This morning, take a walking tour of Hoi An, a charming destination with two faces - the old trading port with its narrow streets and traditional houses, and the beach with its new resorts and long, white-sand beaches. In keeping with Hoi An's heritage as a trading port, the town's tiny shophouses now house an array of craft stores and artisans, including some of Asia's finest tailors. Despite 200 years, weather and war, the center of Hoi An has barely moved from its heyday. Walking around the old town, you can see former merchants' houses, the 400-year-old Japanese bridge, a Chinese community hall and the colorful market. In the afternoon, you will cycle about 60 minutes from Hoi An city center to Cua Dai estuary. Upon arrival in the fishing village of Duy Hai, enjoy the lively morning fish market and then visit a family-run fish sauce workshop led by the owner to learn more about this important ingredient in Vietnamese cuisine. Hop on a boat and head upstream on Thu Bon's "Mother River" to Duy Vinh village. These villages are famous for the traditional weaving of reed mats. This land was created by three alluvium rivers such as Thu Bon, Truong Giang and Ly Ly, which provide the perfect soil for planting the materials for sedge mat. We will pass by a shrimp and duck farm to get a glimpse of agricultural life along the river. Depending on the season (from Feb. to Apr. and from Jul. to Sep.), you will see golden rice fields during harvest time or green jute groves on the banks of the Thu Bon River. After arriving at the mat village of Ban Thach, where villagers have been weaving mats for 400 years thanks to the abundant supply of rushes for the weaving mats for 400 years, villagers have been able to develop their own handicrafts and improve their lives.Explore the beauty of a typical village in central Vietnam by bicycle. Learn about the entire process of sedge mat weaving, from the Cutting the sedge in the field to the finished mat using the traditional method. See how local people manage to maintain their traditional profession in a modern and ever-evolving time. Show your personal creativity with unique patterns! End the excursion with a simple but friendly dinner with your hosts and ride your bike back to Hoi An via Cam Kim Bridge. Overnight in Hoi An. Day 6 : Hoi An - Da Nang - Ho Chi Minh Fly to Ho Chi Minh City, where our team will ensure a smooth transfer to your hotel. Our expert guides will be on hand to make recommendations and assist you with any additional arrangements you may need. Explore the city's vibrant streets, famous landmarks and lively markets. April 30, 1975, is going around the world as tanks stormed the gates and Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese. Hear the echoes of the time as you walk through this historic site in the city center. Then take a walk through Ho Chi Minh City's colonial district, passing by Scenes of daily life along the way. Admire the beautiful architecture of the Opera House, City Hall and the old Saigon Post Office. Learn about the glory days of French Indochina and how that era influences modern Vietnamese culture. At the War Remnants Museum, you'll get an insightful, if somber, look at Vietnam's military history. View exhibits featuring images from the French and American wars, learn about the country's struggle for independence, and hear stories about the resilience of the Vietnamese people. Get off the tourist trail and visit a Vietnamese cafe one last time on this Ho Chi Minh City tour, sit down and taste the coffee like the locals. After this enlightening visit, return to the hotel. Overnight stay in Ho Chi Minh City. Day 7 : HCMC to Ben Tre (100 km): 2 hours This tour starts in the morning where we will pick you up from your hotel. Leave behind the busy streets and modern buildings of Ho Chi Minh City on this day trip to Ben Tre. After breakfast, drive south of the city to the Mekong Delta, a remarkable agricultural area known as "the rice bowl of Vietnam." Upon arrival in Ben Tre Province, take a boat to visit riverside activities such as fishing and water transfer. Stop at a brick kiln to watch bricks being made in the traditional style, depending on the time of day. Next, visit one of the many coconut processing workshops and watch the locals open coconuts by hand (coconut shelling) before heading along the canals to a coconut candy workshop. Here you can learn all about making coconut candy. Taste honey harvested by the locals and different types of tropical fruits. Drive along the local streams through the villages and enjoy the tranquility of the countryside. Take a walk to a family workshop that makes sleeping mats. Afterwards, take a 4km bike ride or ride a lambro - short for Lambretta, which was once the iconic vehicle and main mode of transportation in southern Vietnam, dating back to the 1960s. (Please note: Lambro rides must be reserved well in advance due to the limited number of vehicles). Drive through tranquil villages and see vegetable gardens that give a taste of real life and tropical culture of farmers. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant. At the end of the tour, drive back to Saigon. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City. Day 8 : HO CHI MINH CITY DEPARTURE. On the last day of your trip, you can relax and use the time for last explorations in Ho Chi Minh City until your departure flight. Afterwards we will bring you back to the airport and you can say goodbye to Vietnam and its unique culture until next time.