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Firstly, your asia vacation begins with your arrival in Vietnam. Later, our driver will meet and greet you at the airport. And then, he/she will take you to the hotel by private transportation. Check in to the hotel and get over the jet lag. After enjoying the first day yourself and return to the hotel for a relaxing sleep.
Have breakfast at the hotel then an experienced English-speaking guide will take you to the countryside located on the outskirt of Hanoi. The approximate travel time is one hour and 30 minutes.
Then arriving at Mr. Duoc’s house, he will warmly welcome you with fresh honey tea and green lentils or lotus seeds that made by his family. Imagine a Vietnam in the old time of war through the stories of Mr. Duoc, who is not only a veteran who lives during those hard times but also a green tea expert. Later, you will visit his tea plantation which is one of the largest in Ri village, and join with locals in green tea processing. Afterward, have a Vietnamese cooking demonstration with another local host and then enjoy a home-cooked lunch in a lovely garden.
After that, you will wander around the village and mingle with local people. Next, you will visit the local craftsman who has been skilled at making conical hats from a very young age and other workshops in the village to see how people there make tofu or shell the rice. As you meander through the countryside you will experience the friendliness of the local people greeting you along the way. Then, join your guides for a leisurely cycling trip along the country roads.
During the asia vacation trip, you hereby observe traditional Vietnamese rural life as the local people work in the paddy fields. Along the way, watch out for a water buffalo plowing a paddy field while ducks swim across the top. After all, stop at another host family for foot bathing following the recipes of the Muong ethnic group, and relaxing time before embarking on your private boat for a trip along the Da river.
Then we transfer back to Hanoi and overnight in Hanoi.
In the morning, after breakfast at the hotel, the Cruise team will pick you up. Whereas, you take the most scenic route to reach Halong Bay, taking you across the Red River Delta with emerald green rice paddies stretching for as far as the eyes can see. On arrival to Halong, you will enjoy a cruise on the Bay and explore the limestone rocks and the karst grottoes.
After you are done with your exploration of the bay, it is time to enjoy an utterly delicious seafood lunch, after which there will be a trip to the famous limestone cave in Ha Long bay, or otherwise you’ll get to spend some time here, kayaking or swimming, so that you can get closer to the floating villages and shops. Towards the evening, you will return to the boat for an early dinner, followed by some time at leisure. You can also optionally attend the activities taking part on the boat or just relax.
Overnight on cruise.
Rise early for a lesson in Tai Chi or just to enjoy a hearty breakfast. After that, the boat will make its way back to the port stopping at the Limestone Cave, full of stalagmites and stalactites. From here, it’s clear sailing back to the main harbor and returns to Hanoi around 17:00. Then let’s enjoy your leisure time.
Overnight in Hanoi.
The asia vacation today will involve a visit to the ancient culture and history of Vietnam as well as seeing the stunning landscape and beautiful scenery when we travel to the Ninh Binh Province. This area is known as “Ha Long Bay on land” and is located 80 km South of Hanoi.
AM: 8:00 – 8:30. Our guide & driver will pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter, then leave by coach to Hoa Lu (2.5 hrs). During your time here, visit the historic capital of Vietnam and the famous ancient temples of the Le and the Dinh Dynasties. Then our bus will transfer you from Hoa Lu to Tam Coc for lunch around 12:30 PM.
PM: After lunch, a boat trip to visit Tam Coc to see the beauty of the karst formations as you pass along their base and row into one of the many caves carved through the limestone. Then, cycle for an hour on quiet roads through villages, rice fields, rivers, and rocky outcrops in Tam Coc – Bich Dong (around 5 km). After discovering the aesthetics of those places, drive back to Hanoi and drop off at your hotel around 6:00 PM.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Then you will be back at the airport and later you take a flight to Hue – a top-picked tourism spot in Asia vacation.
Overnight in Hue.
In the Morning: 07h50 – 08h10 Pick up you at your hotel and then take a full day to discover Hue: in detail, you visit Emperor Khai Dinh’s tomb, Performing Programs Of VO KINH VAN AN – Vietnam Traditional kungfu and Emperor Tu Duc’s tomb. Additionally, stop on the way to see how conical hats and incense sticks are made. Lunch at a local restaurant.
In the Afternoon, visit the Imperial capital during Nguyen Dynasty, An Hien Garden House as well as the seven-story Thien Mu Pagoda on the riverbank. After that, return by boat on the gentle Perfume River.
17:00 Arrive at your hotel.
Overnight in Hue.
On this day, we will be transferring to Hoi An by car. On Hoi an arrival, we will be picked up and then transfer to hotel in Hoi an for check-in.
Overnight in Hoi An.
At Vy’s Market Restaurant you will pass by many live food counters in this unique first-of-its-kind interactive dining venue in Vietnam. Not to mention, here you can see, smell, hear, taste, touch, and interact with many different food-making processes. You can also try samples from over 10 different food counters including “Banh Mi”, dumplings, pickles, weird & wonderful foods, our rationing foods in Vietnam that were in place for 45 years, and many more.
Furthermore, you can see rice paper being made from ground rice and water, laid out to dry on bamboo, and then later roasted for rice crackers to eat with Hoi An chili sauce and salads, and various shapes and sizes of rice noodles. In addition, experience our famous local noodle dish Cao Lau, and see the noodles rolled out by hand and cut traditionally with a long knife and then steamed over an open fire. After that, you may participate in many of the street food counters cutting noodles, making rice paper and wontons, using the bun noodle machine, and more. You then make 4 different recipes at our street food counters. We then sit down to eat what we have cooked. Besides, you will receive a copy of the recipes and a Vietnamese cooking gift to take home.
Overnight in Hoi An.
Today you will have free time explore Hoi An at your own pace, at the same time seeing what interests you. This ancient town is full of Japanese merchant houses and pagodas, temples and antique warehouses. Or just lounge about in a laid-back riverside café on the bank of the Thu Bon river.
Overnight in Hoi An.
Then you will be transferred to the airport. Take a flight to Ho Chi Minh city.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.
Arrive in a charming village, hidden under hundreds of coconut palm trees. Welcome to Mekong Home, a charming familial house composed of several bungalows, set in a tropical garden and on the Mekong river bank. Fresh coconut juice will be served, then check in your room. Take a rest for a while then depart with a member of the family for an introduction to the local fishing. Return to the restaurant at the end of the afternoon and participate in a cooking class: “Bánh xèo” – a Vietnamese pancake made from rice milk. Dinner is ready to serve with fresh dishes including local vegetables, ingredients, and flavors cooked in local styles such as caramelized pork, fish soup, young coconut, shrimp salad, and spring rolls…
After dinner, relax with lemongrass and ginger foot bath, a local therapeutic method to relieve the pain and fatigue of the legs.
Overnight at Mekong Home.
Enjoy the fresh air while breakfast is served.
After that, start a cycling trip (from 2 hours to 2.5 hours) to the island of Oc on a concrete track, lined with fruit trees and coconut trees. On the way, pass by the local market where various local ingredients such as a vegetable, meat, and fruits,.. are sold. Subject to availability, visit a workshop of baskets made of coconut stems and a coconut processing operation. You will have a chance to interact with the workshop owners on different braiding techniques.
Then return to the bicycles and cross a local Mekong River ferry to reach the island. From there, cycle on small paths dotted with small huts hidden in lush vegetation while seeing the daily life of the inhabitants of the Mekong Delta, governed by artisanal and agricultural activities. Stop at a fish farm, to know more about two species of catfish: ca tra (Pangasius hypophthalmus) and ca ba sa (Pangasius court), raised in ponds. These catfish are the two main species of fish production in Vietnam. Continue biking and back to Mekong Home. Check out at around 12:00 AM.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.
Today you will be picked up by an experienced English-speaking guide to Cu Chi Tunnels, located in the countryside near Ho Chi Minh City. The approximate travel time is one hour and 30 minutes. The residents of Cu Chi took the war underground into a highly developed network of tunnels that at its height stretched as far as Cambodia and included meeting rooms, kitchens, and triage areas.
Imperceptible from the ground, opposing armies could roll their tanks over the bunkers without causing damage to the tunnels below. Furthermore, living conditions were harsh – in addition to fighting the war, resident’s battled food and oxygen scarcity, venomous insects, and cramped living quarters. Overall, gain important insight into the prolonged struggle against invading armies, and an appreciation for the resilience and spirit of the Vietnamese people. After that, travelers can try the delicious manioc which was the main food for guerilla warriors in Cu Chi during the war. There, visitors can try to fire off an AK47 or MK16, or machine gun at the nearby shooting range.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.
Cambodia will be the next destination for your asia vacation. After breakfast, transfer by bus from Ho chi Minh city to Phnom Penh. On arrival, hotel check-in. Visit Royal Palace is a royal residence now where His Majesty, the King of Cambodia, and the royal families live. It is like a small town of royal dynasties. Continue to Silver Pagoda, which serves less as a functioning temple than a repository for cultural treasures such as a 90 kg golden Buddha encrusted with 2086 diamonds. Finally visit Wat Phnom Temple is one of the most important pagodas in Phnom Penh. Built-in 1373 on an artificial hill by the wealthy widow Daun Chi Penh.
Overnight in Phnom Penh.
Breakfast at the hotel. Visiting the historical site is fundamental in our asia vacation to update visitors with remains of the past. Therefore, you will have a chance to visit Tuol Sleng Museum (also known as S-21 prison). This former school was used as a prison by Pol Pot’s security forces. More than 17,000 people held at S-21 were taken to the extermination camp at Choeng Ek to be executed. Then drive to visit the “Killing Fields” of Choeng Ek (15 km south of Phnom Penh). Between 1975 and 1978 about 17,000 men, women, children, and infants (including nine westerners) were detained and tortured at the S-21 prison and transported to the extermination camp of Choeng Ek.
Visit Russian Market (Toul Tumpong Market), the Market has gained a reputation for cheap clothing, a large selection of Buddha images and woodcarvings, betel-nut boxes, silk, silver jewelry, and classic musical instrument. Finally, enjoy Sunset Cruise on the Tonle Sap and Mekong Rivers in Phnom Penh, it bursts into 4 branches.
Overnight in Phnom Penh.
Breakfast at the hotel and then to Siem Reap by bus. Upon arrival, pick up and transfer to the hotel check-in. Afternoon visit to Wat Thmey or Killing Field contains a unique glass-walled stupa containing the bones of victims of the Khmer Rouge. After that, visit Wat Memorial Mountain.
Overnight at the hotel in Siem Reap.
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Angkor Thom – a notable destination for asia vacation, the South Gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon Temple, built from the late 12th century to the early 13th century by King Jayavarman VII and consists of 54 towers, the Royal Enclosure, the Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King, then visit Ta Prohm, surrounded by jungle. After that, visit Angkor Wat, the largest temple in the world and covers an area of 200 hectares and is surrounded by a moat and an exterior wall measuring 1300 meters x 1500 meters. Early this evening, we will take the Tuk Tuk (the most common taxi in Cambodia) to cruise around Siem Reap and the town as well as for a blessing ceremony by Buddhist monks for happiness, prosperity, and safety for your journey.
Overnight at the hotel in Siem Reap.
After you have breakfast in Siem Reap. Take the flight to Phuket to continue your Asia vacation here.
The asia vacation will momentarily be suspended for energy recover. Have a leisure day and immerse yourself into the emerald water.
Overnight in Phuket.
In brief, you have a leisure day and immerse yourself into the emerald water.
Overnight in Phuket.
Relish a healthy breakfast on the final day of your trip. Complete the hotel check-out formalities after which you can visit the local markets and buy souvenirs for your loved ones. Later, proceed for departure and board your flight back home. Asia vacation officially ends.
