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Discover the many places in Vietnam as you explore Hanoi’s Old Quarter, cruise Ha Long Bay, pedal rural Mai Chau, uncover Hue’s imperial heritage, and soak up the magical atmosphere of Hoi An and the bustling street of Ho Chi Minh City. Our Vietnam Eco Tour will take you into local life against contrasting backdrops of rolling countryside and cityscapes. Discover the peaceful face of Hanoi and interact with warm-smile locals in Ba Vi. Drive a couple of hours to the beautiful Mai Chau valley. Work your legs with a cycle through the rolling hills, with waves of vivid green rice paddies, and learn more about the region’s enduring traditions.
Then set sail in Bai Tu Long Bay, and explore magnificent caves and beaches in the less-visited region of Halong Bay, where 3,000 limestone karsts jut forth from emerald waters. Travel to central Vietnam and discover the ancient citadel of Hue on very special transportation back in the day – a cyclo. Then hop embark on a basket boat and learn how local people fish using their technique. Down to the countryside places in the Southern part of Vietnam and the heat is going strong, head away from the bright city lights and take things at a more leisurely pace in the Mekong Delta where you’ll visit an authentic floating market, visit magnificent bonsai gardens and learn from the locals about life in the region.
Your Vietnam adventure begins with your arrival in Hanoi. Your private driver will meet you at the airport, holding a signboard with your name. He will escort you to your accommodation right in the heart of the city, with the fascinating Old Quarter at your fingertips. You can easily explore the city at your own pace or relax at the hotel after the flight.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Enjoy a hearty breakfast at the hotel then our experienced English-speaking guide escorts you on the trip to Ba Vi, a countryside located on the outskirt of Hanoi.
Arrive at Ri village, enjoy the welcome drink and snacks and meet your first host – Mr. Duoc, who is a Vietnam War veteran and tea-farm owner. Listen to the stories of Mr. Duoc’s life during the war while enjoying the drink and then visit his tea plantation. You will learn how to pick the best tea leaves to make the most wonderful beverage in Vietnam. Carry on with the tea production at his small workshop, where most of the work is manual.
Then, have a short drive to Moc village, where you will meet your next host Mrs. Chin, who will teach you how to cook local Vietnamese dishes. Later have the meals you made for lunch in a beautiful tropical garden.
Have a short break after lunch, and join Mrs. Chin for a walk around the village. You will visit some local families to understand the rural lifestyle and learn how tofu, conical hats, and other local products are made. Then have a cycling trip through beautiful paddy fields to meet your last host Mr. Chinh, who will meet you with fresh mint lemon juice. All ingredients are freshly picked from his garden.
Wrap up your countryside tour with traditional feet soak in warm water with herbs, following the traditional recipes of the Muong ethnic minority. It will relax you (and your feet) after cycling around the village. Then your driver will transfer you to Mai Chau.
Overnight in Mai Chau.
Today we will take you on a cycling trip (about 15 km) around the local villages, where you will learn a lot about the unique Thai culture.
Soak up the tranquil daily life by seeing the farmers working on their lush green paddy fields: growing rice, vegetable, and grazing livestock depending on the seasons. The spectacular landscapes with soaring mountains, green paddy fields, and nice traditional houses on stilts, all together with the unique cultural features of Thai ethnic people, which are less affected by modern life, will bring you unforgettable memories.
Overnight in Mai Chau.
Today you will have a great opportunity to discover Da River ( Black River) and enjoy the scenic landscapes with limestone islets sprinkled all around. Jump on a kayak and explore the true beauty of nature in Northern Vietnam. Visit the fishing village, where you will meet and talk to the local fishermen to know more about their lifestyle. Paddle through islets and explore the fairy pond.
Have lunch with local meals and spend more time kayaking. Later you will be back at your hotel.
Overnight in Mai Chau.
Have breakfast at your resort and have some leisure time. Your private driver will meet you at the lobby, and you will be transferred to your accommodation in Hanoi.
Overnight in Hanoi.
In the morning, check out of the hotel, and get picked up by the Cruise team. 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 at Halong, you will board the cruise and enjoy the fantastic views of limestone rocks and the karst grottoes. Have an utterly delicious seafood lunch and enjoy the time at the sundeck exploring the Bay.
The cruise will stop in a secret place where you will spend time kayaking or swimming, so you can explore the karst grottoes closer. Towards the evening, you will return to the boat for an early dinner, followed by some time at leisure. You can optionally attend the activities taking part on the boat or just relax.
Overnight on cruise.
Rise early today to view the sunrise at the wonder of nature with breakfast served in the dining room. A Tai Chi class on the sun deck will awake your mind and muscles.
Then head off to visit the limestone cave full of stalagmites and stalactites. After your exploration return to the boat to check out and enjoy the brunch while the cruise is sailing back to the harbor. Later you will be transferred to your accommodation in Hanoi.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Relish the remaining moment in Hanoi before your private driver escorts you to the airport to take the flight to Hue. When you arrive at Hue airport, your driver will pick you up and transfer you to your accommodation. The rest of the time is free at leisure.
Overnight in Hue.
Today you will explore Hue city in old-style – by cyclo, which will bring you a new experience and make you feel the charming atmosphere of this old town. Meet your guide at 08:00 am and head to the Imperial Citadel, where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. After exploring the ruins of this beautiful monument, take a cyclo ride through the ‘Old City’ to Tinh Tam Lake, where the Emperors used to come to relax. In summer, this lake is full of lotus flowers, it also has many local style coffee shops around, where university students often come to study. Drive onto Thien Mu Pagoda, constructed in 1601. It is one of the most remarkable pagodas in Vietnam and a symbol of Hue.
Enjoy local food for lunch. In the afternoon, take a car drive to the Mausoleum of Tu Duc, built decades before its occupant’s death. This tomb had been used as a palace retreat before becoming the Emperors’ resting place. Continue to Khai Dinh’s Tomb, which combines traditional Vietnamese style with a European touch, making it unique from the other tombs in Hue. If you wish, before visiting the tombs, we can have a stop at the vibrant Dong Ba Market, where you could explore its colorful stalls and do some shopping. Then head back to your hotel.
Overnight in Hue.
Have breakfast at the hotel and get ready for the 3 hours trip from Hue to Hoi An by private vehicle via one of the most scenic routes in the world – Hai Van Pass.
Upon arrival in Hoi An, you will have free time. You could rent a bike at the hotel and explore this charming town at your own pace, or cycle to the beach. We recommend you to have a walk around the Hoi An in the evening when the Old Town in Hoi An transforms into a mystical row of lights and lanterns.
Overnight in Hoi An.
Today your English-speaking guide will meet you at the hotel around 8:00 am and take you for a cycle trip to the countryside and rivers around Hoi An. As you meander through the countryside, you will experience the friendliness of the local people greeting you along the way and enjoy the beautiful views of the neighborhood. After that, you will board a boat for a river cruise to meet and engage with local fishermen. Enjoy a hands-on experience of traditional net fishing. Later, you will take a paddle boat trip in a unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boat down the waterways of a coconut palm paradise. After the boat trip, have delicious lunch and cycle back to your hotel.
Overnight in Hoi An.
Relish the remaining moment in Hoi An before your private driver escorts you to the airport to take the flight to Ho Chi Minh. When you arrive at Ho Chi Minh airport, your driver will pick you up and transfer you to your accommodation. The rest of the time is free at leisure.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.
Have an early breakfast and check out of the hotel. Your private driver will take you to the Cai Be pier, where you will embark on the boat. Start cruising toward the Cai Be floating market, where you will immerse in the lively atmosphere and see how the farmers sell their products from the boats. Then visit Com candy craft village, where you will see the production process of candy nuggets and try freshly made candies. The next destination is the bee farm to see how the bees are grown and enjoy honey tea.
Continue cruising to Tan Phong Island, where you will visit local gardens, and see how local fruits are grown such as durian, rambutan, longan, plum, and jackfruit. Here you will visit Uncle 5 On’s house to participate in the garden folk music exchange with local garden artists and enjoy a cup of tea and welcome the fruits from the host.
Then, sail a small canal to your Mekong Eco Lodge to check-in. Have lunch and take some rest. Around 16:00 join the fishing activities or pick up the vegetables from the garden for dinner. After picking vegetables and catching fish, you will work with our chef to make the dinner.
Overnight in Mekong Eco Lodge.
Enjoy a hearty breakfast and take some rest before checking out. After breakfast, you can take a bicycle to cycle around Tan Phong Island to understand more about the daily life of the people on the island. Feel free to pick some fruits on the spot. Turn back to Mekong Eco Lodge around 10:00 and take part in making Jackfruit leaf cake and enjoy the snack you have made with your hands. At 11:30 am you will take a ferry ride to the pier, where your private driver will meet you and take you back to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.
Relish a healthy breakfast on the final day of your trip to Vietnam. Complete the hotel check-out formalities, after which you can visit the local markets to buy souvenirs for your loved ones. Later your private driver will transfer you to the airport to take your flight back home.
Trip Ends.
