Vietnam Essential and Spa in 13 days 12 nights

Welcome at Hanoi airport by your local English-speaking guide who will wait for you in the exit hall with a card in your name then transfer and installation at the hotel. (Rooms available from 2:00 pm)
OPTION : Early Check-In, according to availability
Hanoi is a true museum of colonial architecture on the banks of the Red River. Capital of unified Vietnam, Hanoi has retained the old-fashioned charm of the French colonial era. The modernization of the city undertaken by the French from 1882 onwards continued until 1955 and the face of Hanoi today has not changed much.
You will then leave for an orientation tour of the city, including the must-sees: Ba Dinh Square, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (exterior), the Presidential Palace, the ambassadors' district, the Opera House, the Long Bien Bridge (formerly Paul Doumer Bridge), the Flag Tower and the remains of the old Citadel...
Typical lunch of Hanoi specialties in a local restaurant while tasting the tasty Cha Ca dish based on grilled fish served with fresh noodles, dill and herbs, symbol of the Vietnamese cuisine.
In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Literature dedicated to Confucius and the literati, which was the first university in Vietnam. Then, a pedicab ride through the lively streets of the old guilds' district, around the Lake of the Restituted Sword and visit of the Ngoc Son pagoda.
At the end of your visits, enjoy free time for shopping at Dong Xuan market.
Dinner at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.

Early wake up, around 06h00, for an original discovery of the city and local life at dawn. Walking tour (about 02km) with your guide from your hotel to the Lake of the Restored Sword.
Typical breakfast in a street restaurant for a tasting of the famous Pho, rice vermicelli soup with beef or chicken broth, then end your walk with another tasting, Cafe Trung (hot coffee mixed with egg)
Transfer to Long Bien district, located on the other side of the Red River. You will leave for a unique meeting with Mr. PHAN Thanh Liem, craftsman and manufacturer of lacquered puppets used for the famous water puppet shows.
You will then be invited to attend a private show of about 30 minutes performed by Mr. Liem and his team. Followed by an initiation course in puppet manipulation and the making of your own puppet.
Typical lunch of Hanoi specialties at the restaurant of our NGO partner KOTO (see description below)
In the afternoon, visit the Women's Museum. About 28,000 objects, representing their eras, constituting a rich and unique collection of this museum away from the crowd. Return to your hotel at the end of the afternoon for a well-deserved rest after the early morning.
Dinner at leisure. Night at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel
Departure for Ninh Binh (120km about 2h30 drive), also known as "Halong Bay". The road is lined with mountains and rice fields. You then enter one of the most bucolic landscapes of North Vietnam. Ninh Binh province is nicknamed "Land Halong Bay" because of its similar landscapes with Halong Bay. It is home to several sites including Trang An, classified as a Unesco Heritage site.
Arrival at Hoa Lu village to visit the archaeological site of the ancient citadel Hoa Lu. It was built in 968 following the proclamation of the independence of the country by King Dinh Bo Linh, the one who put an end to the Chinese domination on Vietnam during 1.000 years. It was the capital until 1010 before King Ly Thai To decided to settle in Thang Long, the place now known as Hanoi.
Visit of Dinh & Le temples: one is dedicated to Dinh Bo Linh who proclaimed himself King after his victory against the invaders and made Hoa Lu the first capital, the other temple is dedicated to the successor Le Hoan and his wife Duong Van Nga; widow of Dinh Bo Linh.
Transfer to Tam Côc in Ninh Binh province.
Lunch in a restaurant with tasting of local specialties based on grilled goat meat
Visit of the Bich Dong pagoda (Jade pagoda), a sanctuary built in the heart of the rock. It houses three small and ancient pagodas built in the early 18th century on three different floors. From the top, you will enjoy a magnificent view on the fields and the surrounding countryside.
Boat ride between karst rocks and rice fields (depending on the season) to visit the Thung Nham nature reserve; beautiful poetic landscapes. The walk on these shimmering waters lasts about 2h30, the natural wild landscape breathes tranquility, the limestone cliffs are rocked by the water like islands, birds swirl from trees to cliffs.
Transfer to the hotel. Installation in your room.
Dinner in a local restaurant. Night at the hotel.
Option: at sunset, enjoy a relaxing moment with a drink and a light aperitif. Then typical dinner in the surrounding countryside of Ninh Binh at a villager's house.  

Breakfast at the hotel
Departure for Lan Ha bay.
Lan Ha is one of the most beautiful bays in Vietnam. It is located south of its sister, Halong Bay, and east of Cat Ba Island, the largest island in the region. It is a quiet bay, shaped like an arc. It is home to 400 islands and islets emerging from the sea, has several beautiful coves. The landscapes are breathtaking. Some people think that Lan Ha Bay is even more beautiful than Halong Bay. Unlike Halong Bay, all the islands and islets of Lan Ha Bay are covered with a rich vegetation layer. While there are very few beaches in Halong, Lan Ha Bay has 139 almost deserted beaches.
Boarding around noon on your junk and installation in your cabin. Welcome drink followed by lunch on board. Visit of a natural cave. Superb panorama on the bay at sunset. Possible activities on board the junk:
- You can learn squid fishing. You will feel like a real fisherman. The junk's team will give you some advices and then you will be able to taste the squids cooked after the fishing.
- Relaxation on the deck: relax on the deck admiring the beauty of Halong Bay or watching the dawn and dusk on the bay. The sunrise and sunset on the bay will remain unforgettable moments.
- Possibility of kayaking (1 kayak for 2 people) depending on the weather. The water of the bay is warm enough even in winter, so kayaking is a pleasant experience all year round. Try to keep your balance and move around, a beautiful adventure in the middle of a fairy landscape.
Dinner and overnight on board your junk.

Breakfast on board
Possibility of initiation to Tai Chi on board at the lever of the day, Chinese martial art which allows to increase its strength and its muscular tonus and to decrease its stress. Continuation of the cruise and brunch on board equivalent to your lunch.
NOTE: The itinerary and the visits on the bay can be modified according to the program of each junk confirmed, according to the tide and the weather of the day.
Arrival in Hanoi in late afternoon. Free shopping in the old Hanoi. In the early evening, transfer to Hanoi airport to take the flight to Hue (flight VN ....).
Your local guide will be waiting for you at the exit hall with a card in your name.
Dinner at leisure. Night at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.
Day dedicated to the discovery of Hue.
Hue, former imperial capital from 1802 to 1945 under the Nguyen dynasty. The city of Hue represents nowadays the cultural and intellectual center of the country. It was classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993.
On the program, discovery of the local market Dong Ba. Then, visit the Imperial Citadel built between 1805 and 1832 under the model of the Chinese imperial palaces before joining the pagoda of the Celestial Lady (Thien Mu), typical of the region of Hue 
Join around noon a restaurant located inside a zen garden, symbol of Hue in the past for your vegetarian lunch
Zen gardens are called "miniature landscapes" because their plants and flowers symbolize aspects of nature. These architectural plants (bonsai) can be characterized in different ways because of the artistic go ȗ ts of the owner . Hue is so well known for its beautiful Zen gardens.
In the afternoon, visit the tomb of Emperor Minh Mang; the most remote and majestic in the Hue countryside. It is one of the most beautiful examples of harmony between architecture and nature. Inspired by Chinese shrines of the Ming period, these tombs were built in the middle of mountains, rivers and pine forests.
Finally, you will leave for a visit of a conical hat and incense stick handicraft factory.
Dinner at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning, you will leave to reach Hoi An, passing by Danang. You will also pass through the Cloud Pass. This pass is the natural border between the province of Thua Thien, Hue and Danang city. It is also the highest pass in Vietnam where you can have a breathtaking view of the East Sea.
Before you arrive in Hoi An, you will stop at the Cham Sculpture Museum. This museum houses the largest collection of Cham and Khmer sculpture in the world. 
Resume driving and arrive in Hoi An in the late morning. Check-in at the hotel. (Room available from 14:00).
Hoi An, a charming city classified as a Unesco Heritage Site, was spared by the war. Located on the banks of the Thu Bon River, 5km from the coast and 30km southeast of Danang, Hoi An was first developed in the 15th century under the name of Faifo before becoming one of the largest trading ports in Southeast Asia under the Nguyen Lords.
Lunch of local specialties; try Cao Lau, a typical dish made of fresh noodles with marinated pork and aromatic herbs from the region.
Then, you will go for a guided walking tour in the old districts of Tran Phu and Nguyen Thai Hoc. You will have the opportunity to visit: Fujian Shrine, Phuc Thanh Pagoda, Phuoc Kien communal house, old wooden houses and finally the famous Japanese style covered bridge.
At the end of your walk, you will enjoy free time at your leisure in the lively neighborhoods on both banks of the Thu Bon River where the entertainment starts when the sun sets.
Dinner at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.

 Breakfast at the hotel
Boat trip on Thu Bon river to reach the village of carpenters Kim Bong. Then continue to visit Thanh Ha pottery village in the surroundings of Hoi An.
Lunch of local specialties; Try Cao Lau, a typical dish made of fresh noodles accompanied by marinated pork and aromatic herbs of the region.
Participate in an initiation to the craft of lantern making, one of the symbols of Hoi An. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon.
Dinner at leisure. Night at the hotel

Breakfast at the hotel.
Direct transfer to Danang airport to take your flight to Saigon (flight VN ....). Welcome at the airport by your local guide who will be waiting for you in the exit hall with a card in your name, then transfer and installation at the hotel.
Ho Chi Minh City was nicknamed, when it was still called Saigon, the "Pearl of the Orient" and the "Paris of Asia". Founded under the Second Empire, Saigon was the capital of Cochinchina (now Nam Bô), the only territory constituted as a French colony (the other two, Tonkin and Annam, being protectorates).
Stroll in the city center to see the main emblematic monuments of Saigon: the Reunification Palace (outside), the Post Office, the Cathedral (outside), the Opera House (outside), Dong Khoi street (ex Catinat street) and Nguyen Hue pedestrian street.
Lunch in a typical local restaurant, Pho Vietnam. Taste in a unique way Pho, one of the symbols of Vietnamese cuisine (beef broth with noodles, meat and herbs) served in a boiling stone bowl with fresh rice noodles prepared on site.
Check-in and check-out at the hotel. Afternoon; discovery of Chinatown; with visits to the Binh Tay wholesale market and Thien Hau temple. Then free time at Ben Thanh market.
Dinner at leisure. Night at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel
Departure towards the south for Ben Tre province in the Mekong delta.
The Mekong is the great south of the country, exoticism, but also an immense field of rice fields, a checkerboard of orchards crossed by arroyos.
Arrival in Ben Tre province: the land of coconut trees, located between 2 large arms of the Mekong: Trans-Bassac (Tien Giang) and Cis-Bassac (Hau Giang).
Boat trip on the Ben Tre river, visit of a brick factory. Crossing of the arroyos then discovery of a workshop working the coconut such as: cutting of the coconut, extraction of the coconut milk. Visit of an artisanal workshop of coconut sweets. Tasting of seasonal fruits and tea. Then ride a bicycle or a motorized cart to reach your restaurant. 
Lunch of local specialties with the tasting of "elephant ears" fish.
Sailing in a small sampan with oars in the narrower channels of the delta to join your boat and return to the quay. Disembarkation and return to Saigon.
Dinner at leisure. Night at the hotel

Breakfast at the hotel
Transfer to Long Hai province (130km, about 02h30min drive). Arrival at Ho Tram Melia Beach Resort 5* stars (or equivalent). Welcome cocktail and check-in. Beginning of your beach stay with your feet in the water. Free program to relax and enjoy the place, the pool, the beach
Free lunch and dinner. Night at the hotel

Petit-déjeuner à l'hôtel
Programme libre pour se détendre et profiter du lieu, de la piscine, de la plage
OPTION : Journée complète de découverte de la campagne et cours de cuisine au village de Xuyen Moc à Ba Ria
Déjeuner et dîner libres. Sur la nuit à l'hôtel

Breakfast at the hotel
Free time to relax and enjoy the place, the pool, the beach.
Transfer to Saigon (about 02h30). Direct transfer to the airport for your return flight (flight and schedule to be indicated). Arrival and assistance with formalities.
Options for an evening flight if the timing allows it:
- 01h30 of relaxation and massage in a spa in Saigon
- Farewell dinner of local specialties in a restaurant in Saigon