Day 1: Hanoi – Ha Long bay (-/L/D)

Get picked up at your hotel in Hanoi and you will be tranferred to Ha Long Bay. The drive is approximately 90 minutes and you will arrive a little before noon. We then embark on a beautifully crafted junk boat for an overnight cruise of the legendary Ha Long Bay. Once on board, we’re served a delicious seafood-based lunch, while enjoying the surrounding limestone outcrops. In the afternoon, we reach a less travelled area where we will devote ourselves to pure relaxation. The program is not fixed and depends on the time of the year and weather, but there will be an opportunity to visit a cave as well as explore a floating village over the course of these 2 days. We end the day on the sundeck as the sun sets on this magical seascape. This evening, you can enjoy an aperitif or attend a cooking demonstration before dinner. Overnight in a comfortable private cabin with an en-suite bathroom.

Note: Cruise itinerary and schedule are subject to change due to weather, tide levels and operating conditions. Swimming or kayaking excursions may be cancelled due to poor weather.

Day 2: Ha Long bay – Hanoi (B/-/-)

For those early birds, start the day with a Tai Chi session on the sundeck as you watch the sunrise in the middle of Ha Long Bay.  We then continue our exploration of the bay. Upon returning to the boat, check-out of your cabin and enjoy a light brunch while cruising back to the pier. We disembark and transfer back to Hanoi.

Day 1: Hanoi – Ha Long bay (-/L/D)

You will be picked up at your hotel in Hanoi and be driven in a private vehicle to Ha Long Bay. The drive is approximately 90 minutes and you will arrive a little before noon. In Ha Long you will board your luxury cruise amongst the more than 3,000 limestone islands rising majestically out of the turquoise bay. Start you cruise with a set-menu lunch while the ship cruises towards the southwest of Halong Bay.

In the afternoon, you will visit Cua Van floating fishing village, which has been listed among 16 most beautiful coastal destinations in the world, by kayaking or traditional rowing boat. Later, you can join exciting “Master-Chef Competition” and fruit carving demonstration, learn and try your hand at cooking authentic Vietnamese food. The winner or the Master-Chef of The Au Co Luxury Cruise would be awarded with surprising gifts. It’s also time to admire the sunset over enchanting Ha long Bay while the ship anchors for overnight stay. After a delightful dinner, you can try your luck at squid fishing or simply get to know the friendly crew. Overnight on board.

Note: Cruise itinerary and schedule are subject to change due to weather, tide levels and operating conditions. Swimming or kayaking excursions may be cancelled due to poor weather. Unused services are not subject to a refund.

Day 2: Ha Long bay (B/L/D)

Early morning, wake up to take part in a Tai Chi class on the sundeck, or simply enjoy the breathtaking views cruising through Lan Ha Bay. After breakfast on board, you’ll dock at Cat Ba Island for cycling and exploring the national park. Then, you’ll visit ancient houses and the “Bhaya Community Farm”, get to know about agricultural life and the story of Bhaya Community project here. Lunch is served back on board. In the afternoon, you’ll have time for kayaking to explore sandy beaches in Ho Ba Ham Area and back to the boat for relaxation on board. Enjoy a barbeque buffet in the restaurant. Overnight on board.

Day 3: Ha Long bay – Hanoi (B/-/-)

Enjoy the sunrise, the lapping waves, the fresh sea air, the gentle breeze or get up at your leisure. Start the day with a Tai Chi lesson on the sundeck or enjoy the breath-taking views of the bay before your guided visit to Tien Ong cave. You then return to the dock and transfer back to your Hanoi hotel.

You will be picked up at your hotel in Hanoi after breakfast and be driven in a private vehicle to Ha Long Bay. The drive is approximately 90 minutes and you will arrive a little before noon. You will then board your boat to cruise around the bay’s myriad of tiny islands. Also enjoy kayaking in the middle of the bay and exploring the grottoes created by the wind and the waves. A delicious seafood lunch will be served on board. You will return to the wharf in the afternoon and transfer back to Hanoi.

Note: Cruise itinerary and schedule are subject to change due to weather, tide levels and operating conditions. Swimming or kayaking excursions may be cancelled due to poor weather.

Day 1: Hanoi – Cat Ba and the Lan Ha bay (-/L/D)

You will be picked up at your hotel in Hanoi for an early morning departure to hit the road to the coast and the island of Cat Hai, where we catch a speedboat to Cat Ba Island. After a transfer across the island, we may explore the seafood market if time allows. We will arrive at the pier shortly before noon, where our private boat awaits. This is a traditional wooden junk boat with a very friendly and hospitable crew and is also equipped with kayaks. We commence by cruising across a very large floating village, enabling you to observe the daily life of the people who work on these floating farms. Be on the lookout for Langurs, an endemic specie of primates living in the jungle of Cat Ba national park. Lan Ha bay is the twin sister of Halong bay and is one of the less traveled corners of the Halong archipelago. We go at our own pace, the routing is quite flexible but we recommend to go visit Hang Ca if tide allows: a very nice kayaking expedition along a dark tunnel opening onto a lagoon hidden in the middle of a limestone rock. Lunch and dinner are served on the boat. Overnight on board.

Day 2: Experience the beauty of Bai Tu Long bay (B/L/D)

If you thought yesterday was beautiful, wait to see what is planned for today. After breakfast we visit a small cave and then cruise across Halong bay to the cave of Bai Tu Long. The scenery changes along the density of rocks, Bai Tu Long bay is quiet and offers a different atmosphere.

After lunch on board, we cruise to the South, where very few boats go due to the remoteness of that part of the bay. We will stop at one of the nicest sandy beaches of the North Vietnam. Enjoy a swim here before returning to your boat. This evening enjoy a nice dinner. Overnight on board.

Day 3: Cat Ba – Hanoi (B/L/-)

This morning we stop at Viet Hai pier, on the eastern edge of Cat Ba Island. This area is only accessible by boat or by trekking approximately 4 hours through the dense jungle of the park. We start with a nice cycling excursion on a small road that takes us deeper into the jungle (about a 10-km ride roundtrip). We will arrive at a small viillage whhere you’ll get to meet the locals and have some refreshments before returning to the boat. Eat lunch onboard before disembarking and making our way back to Hanoi.

Day 1: Hanoi – Hang Kia – Ban Buoc (-/L/D)

This is a 4-hour drive, including a leg-stretching break en-route, to the mountainous plateau of Hang Kia. Hang Kia is on H’mong ethnic lands, a remote village known for its plum trees and the beauty of their flowers. You have lunch at a local home, and will be treated on traditional H’mong delicacies. For this meal and the other in the mountainous area, we will dine in the local way: several dishes of meats and vegetables are served at once with rice and broth on the side.

After lunch, you will join the Batik workshop of H’mong people to study their unique wax resist dye technique with symbols for expressions of nature and spiritual depictions. This is an introduction to Hmong culture and batik design, offering a rare insight into the richness of the Hmong culture in a warm and friendly family environment. After the workshop, you will bring back your hand-made Batik cloth as a memory of H’mong unique crafts. Take your time to walk around the village before driving deeper into the valley until we reach a small hamlet called Ban Buoc. Overnight at Masion de Buoc.

Day 2: Ban Buoc – Mai Hich – Hanoi (B/L/-)

Be woken up in the early morning by roosters crowing. This is the best time of day to go for a walk onthe local trails and enjoy the tranquil environment of the countryside. Bicycle rentals are also available if you prefer to explore by bike. We arrive at a local family-run guesthouse in Mai Hich built on stilts where we have lunch. After lunch, we’ll make our way back to Hanoi.

Day 1: Hanoi – Mai Chau (-/L/D)

You will be picked upp at your hotel in Hanoi. We will exit the city and head West towards the Laos border. It takes about 4 hours to reach the valley of Mai Chau.

We leave Mai Chau town behind and travel a few kilometres farther to a remote valley. We reach a a charming village, where lunch is served at a traditional family run guesthouse.

In the afternoon, we travel across the valley by either leisurely walking or cycling its backroads for a first encounter with the Thai culture and its people. The small pathways take us along rice fields and vegetable gardens. We shall meet with farmers on their way to the fields or the children taking the buffaloes out. We end the afternoon at the other edge of the valley in a seluded nature lodge. Get refreshed by the swimming pool and have some rest before dinner.

Day 2: Mai Chau – Hang Kia – Mai Chau (B/L/D)

We depart from the lodge after breakfast on a 90 minute drive to the heights of Hoa Binh province and the rocky plateau of Hang Kia. The scenery changes as we rise in elevation. Plum trees and corn fields replace the rice paddies. We enter H’mong ethnic lands, where people are colourfully dressed and living in wooden ground floor homes.
We are welcomed by a local H’mong family, whom we will do a traditional Batik workshop with. Learn ancestral techniques and unveil the secrets of the H’mong fabric. We have lunch at the local home, an opportunity to discover a little more about the H’mong culture through their food.

In the afternoon, we will take a 3-hour downhill hike back to the valley of Mai Chau. The hike is scenic, on single trails and rather easy (can be a bit slipery in wet weather). Walking down offers great views over wild stretches of land nestled between the mountains. The journey ends in a sub-valley of Mai Chau, where our vehicle awaits to transfer us back to the lodge (about 20 minutes). If you prefer not to do the hike, the car will drive you back from Hang Kia to the lodge in the afternoon. Enjoy some time by the swimming pool and end the day at your own leisure.

Day 3: Mai Chau – Hanoi (B/L)

After breakfast and check-out, we start our way back to Hanoi. Our first stop after a few minutes will be to visit the local Mai Chau market (or continue on if you prefer). Our next stop will be at Hoa Binh town, where we explore the Muong ethnic culture through the visit of an impressive cultural space. This is an unique place created by a local artist who preserved on 5 hectares of land a huge collection of objects and several traditional houses from the Muong culture (Hoa Binh is the only province in Vietnam where the majority of people are from an ethnic minority, the Muong).

After our visit, we have a lunch there and then hit the road again to reach Hanoi in the mid-afternoon.

Day 1: Hanoi – Suoi Mu (-/L/D)

We depart from your hotel at 8.30am and head Southwest on the Ho Chi Minh Road to the Tam Diep mountain range. We drive up a pass and reach at its crest, the entrance of the Ngoc Son Ngo Luong nature reserve. We have lunch at local restaurant, before descending into the valley to reach the first plateau. The scenery is beautiful,with terraced rice-fields and  lush green mountains. From there, we walk for about 45 minutes on a trail that passed by a high waterfall and winds along the rivere. We reach a private lodge overlooking the cascades and natural pools. We’re hosted by a family of Muong ethnic people, in order to provide you with some greate cultural immersion. Dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Suoi Mu – Ninh Binh (B/L/D)

In the morning we will walk to the highest waterfall of the region, Thac Mu, located about 30 minutes away from our lodge. We leave the reserve after lunch and head to another nature reserve, the largest wetlands reserve of the country, Van Long. Here we check into a beautiful resort. Enjoy the remainder of the day by the swimming pool if or rent some bicycles to go explore the surroundings.

Day 3: Ninh Binh (B/L)

After breakfast, you’ll head early to Trang An, which is probably the most scenic waterway of the entire region. We get there early to avoid the crowd and embark on a rowing sampan for a 2 1/2 hour boat excursion. We then visit Hoa Lu temples before heading to the valley of Tam Coc for a tasty home hosted lunch.

In the afternoon, we visit the Bich Dong pagoda which is 3 separate buidlings in ascending order. Then, climb the 400 steps up Ngoa Long Mount for a panoramic view over Ninh Binh’s lush rice fields, karst mountains and Tam Coc. We return to the resort in the late afternoon. Remainder of the day at leisure.

Day 4: Ninh Binh – Ha Long bay (B/-/-)

Early wake up, early breakfast, and early departure. We drive across the Red River delta and reach the coast little before noon. You end this unforgettable loop with a cruise from Halong.

Hue was Vietnam’s last feudal capital, and today you will get an insider’s point of view on the highlights of this city. Your first stop is a visit to Tu Duc Tomb, which is located in the quiet Thuy Bieu Village, 6 km from the city centre. It’s a sprawling compound centred on the lake and several waterways, and includes numerous memorials connected by attractive walkways. Next, you’ll visit a local garden house where your host will welcome you with hand-made ginger jam and tea. Veer off the common path and enjoy an easy bicycle ride around the village to explore the daily local life in the peaceful countryside, before enjoying some traditional dishes of Hue. After the delicious home hosted lunch, take a leisurely boat ride across the Perfume River to the Imperial Citadel, the best-preserved remnant of the vast citadel and royal quarters that once existed on the site. Here you can see the ravages of time and war on what was the carefully designed capital of the Nguyen Dynasty. Built in the early 19th century by armies of conscripted labourers under Emperor Gia Long, the citadel was surrounded by a 10 km moat while earthen walls formed the outer perimeter. We exit the citadel to visit the nearby workshop and gallery of famous Vietnamese artist Truc Chi, who is a contemporary artist that created his own art based on bamboo paper carvings. We then head back to the hotel where you can spend the rest of the afternoon at your own leisure.

Hue is the former imperial capital of Vietnam and a true cradle of culture. Buddhism and spirituality remains deeply rooted in the daily life of the locals. Our morning is dedicated to discovering these two aspects. We start by visiting the Tu Hieu pagoda, one of our favourites in Hue. Have a peaceful walk around and if we’re lucky, we’ll hear the monks chanting harmoniously. We then transfer to the Cat Tuong Quan retreat – a perfect combination of Zen architecture and Hue culture. After a warm welcome and enthusiastic instruction on spiritual meaning, you will begin to practice 4 movements of Qigong and meditation. The tranquil environment is conducive to peace and happiness of body and mind. Later, join an open talk with Cat Tuong Quan’s host about Hue’s traditional culture and Zen practice. Lunch is served with nutritious dishes made from organic herbs and products grown in-house. Finish your session with a short meditation, before bidding farewell to Cat Tuong Quan.

After breakfast, we will hop on bikes to discover Hue and its surrounding countryside. We ride on small lanes passing by rice fields and along narrow canals to the Thanh Toan bridge. We will have a here there to enjoy some fresh sugar cane juice. We then visit the small farming museum nearby before continuing again to a farm of organic products. Meet with the farmer and learn more about his crops and daily life. Afterwards we will enjoy a farm to table lunch.

Chuon Lagoon is a part of the Tam Giang lagoon system – the largest lagoon in South East Asia, about 12 km outside of Hue city. On arrival, we embark on a boat ride for a short excursion on the lagoon to discover the ancestral fishing techniques and small huts on the lagoon. Later, stop by a local floating restaurant to enjoy some drinks and the fish you have caught.

We start our walk across the enchanting ancient town of Hoi An. Follow your guide as you meander your way through the beautiful streets and narrow alleys, which are bordered by ancient yellow-walled houses. We reach a market where you can spend some time exploring the colourful stalls and the variety of foods and souvenirs on offer. Try some local delicacies before we venture further into the town. The guide will show you various places of interest and will also arrange some spontaneous food tastings as we walk. Food, drinks and culinary legends are all on the menu today.

Note: Tour starts and ends at hotel if in town (no transfer, walking only). For hotels located out of the town, an additional transfer to the town and back will be required and at surcharge.

On bikes, we’ll cycle our way towards Duy Vinh – in the countryside of Hoi An. This picturesque route is highlighted with rice fields, local garden and markets. . You will then explore the Cam Thanh coco palm forest either by kayak or Stand-Up-Paddle. The area is a unique mangrove ecosystem to Hoi An and the scenery is spectacular. The Coco palm forest provides the locals with products such as fish, shells and Nipa leaves which are commonly used as a roofing material for local homes. Arrive back at the boat pier around noon. Cool down with some local snack before getting back to hotel by a taxi or electric car.

Transform what would be ’the usual’ hotel arrival into an unforgettable travel experience. On your arrival from Hue or Danang, we approach a nipa palm mangrove, tucked away between the beach and the ancient port town of Hoi An. Board a private cruise and sip a sunset glass of sparkling wine while the boat is moving slowly along the Mekong-like arroyos and the Thu Bon River. Drawing closer to Hoi An with its yellow walled ancient houses, the township is unveiled along riverside with hundreds of lanterns reflecting in the waters. This first sight of Hoi An will truly be treasured.

Note: Not recommended from Nov to Jan.

This tour starts with a pick up from your hotel to our kayak station in Cam Thanh. After a briefing on paddle safety and the area you will begin kayaking. We’ll start by paddling to the palm islands where the most well-grown Nipa palms (locally known as cocopalm) are found. The palm forests provide the locals with products such as fish, shells and Nipa leaves, which are commonly used as a roofing material on local homes. Enjoy amazing landscapes and talk with local people as we paddle along the river. Lasting about two hours, it’s a great experience for first-time paddlers.

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Set off on a day tour to experience the rural life in Cam Thanh. You’ll begin by riding your bike through picturesque villages, passing rice paddies, local orchards and seeing the locals at work in the fields. Arrive at an organic farm, where you’ll be welcomed by local farmers who happily share with you their story about this community-based project. Following an interesting conversation, you’ll be invited to join in their daily works, such as applying organic manure, making organic pesticides to control and prevent pests, cultivate the soil for planting and watering. On completion of the gardening, you will return to the farmers’ house and use the products harvested from the organic vegetable garden to cook a Vietnamese lunch. Enjoy lunch with the dishes you’ve cooked at a garden-setting table (weather permitting).

In the afternoon, you’ll hop on our bicycles again for a short ride to visit a bamboo studio and then to the village pier where a traditional boat  awaits. The boat takes you to Thuan Tinh island where we change to basket boats – a unique of way of locals to have a closer look at the ecosystem of the mangrove forest and the  daily life of the village fisherman. We return to the boat 30 minutes later and we continue to cruise along the Thu Bon river back to the town centre and enjoy the view of the ancient architecture from the water before getting a transfer back to your hotel.

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Going back in time to French colonial rule begins as you step out of the airport and hop into a gleaming vintage Citroën car. The La Dalat is a cool convertible car, manufactured in Dalat from 1970 to the fall of Saigon in 1975. It is the only vintage vehicle that finds its roots in Vietnam.

The guide and driver will take you on a brief exploration tour of Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1, the colonial part of the city that locals still call Saigon. You can enjoy visiting a mix of old and modern Saigon from the back of the car, passing colonial buildings while the guide explains their history and relevance to the city.

Stop at the Continental Hotel, surely the city’s most stand out colonial building to enjoy a refreshing drink and view from the historical terrace. The transfer ends with you being dropped off at your hotel.

At 7.00am we pick you up at your hotel lobby and drive to the pier. We board a nice boat to venture on the Saigon River. Leave the bustling city behind as the riverside quickly offers a wilder natural scenery made of lush green vegetation and mangroves. We disembark around 9.00am and transfer to the Cu Chi site. Take some time to explore this incredible maze of underground tunnels and learn more about how life was pursued during war time. After a local lunch, we hop in a minivan and journey around a stretch of the countryside. We will have a chance to meet cricket farmers and we visit a family that produces rice paper in the traditional way. We then return to Saigon with an expected arrival planned around 3pm.

We gather in the lobby at 8.00am and head straight to District 10 and its genuine old Saigonese atmosphere. We visit a flower market, take the time to walk past the colourful stalls and wander around the maze of narrow streets and back alleys that shape the character of the area. Next we go nearby to visit the museum of traditional medicine FITO. Walk up the 5 floors of the building, exploring this impressive collection of information and objects that explains the history and philosophy of traditional medicine. We continue to Tao Dan park and enjoy a coffee break. Our morning ends at the Tan Dinh market, the oldest in town, re-built by the French in the early 1920. We then head for a street-food lunch in Tran Khac Chan street (your choice of dish among many available there).

Get picked up from your hotel to embark on a unique food-and-drink sightseeing tour around Saigon, from the back of a stylish vintage Citroën car. Our driver will take you to one of the trendiest rooftops in town. Enjoy a sunset cocktail while admiring the city view.

Your foodie adventure begins with tasting some local street food in the Cho Lon District, followed by a visit to a popular beer garden in District 1, and then off to a trendy café tucked away in a green oasis of the gentrified Phu Nhuan District. Our gastronomic evening around the city finishes with a drop-off back at your hotel.

From Ho Chi Minh City head south to Ben Tre in the Mekong Delta, an area famous for their coconut production. Upon arrival, take a Xe loi – a kind of tuk-tuk ride through the local village to enjoy the green fields and gardens. Continue with a short walk to Huu Phuoc Bridge, where you will start your boat trip through small canals with beautiful tropical scenery. Stop at brick and coconut processing workshops to see how locals make bricks by hand as well as learn how to make a variety of products from the coconuts. Then jump onto your bike and cycle along village roads, through local hamlets, rice fields and coconut groves. Stop to visit a local rice noodle factory and enjoy some fresh fruits and tea at a local house, before boarding a rowing sampan which will take you through lush narrow canals, while revealing the tranquil nature of the region. After lunch at a riverside restaurant, continue your cycling trip to visit Mr. Sau Tuong, a former Vietcong soldier who survived two years fighting the Khmer Rouge in Phnom Penh. He and his wife now live off making rice paper which is the most famous specialty of the village. Enjoy a leisurely chat with Mr. Sau Tuong and see how the crispy rice paper is made by his wife before savouring this local speciality. To end off the day, you’ll return by boat to the pier and drive back to Ho Chi Minh City in the late afternoon.

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh city – Sa Dec – Cai Be (-/L/D)

You’ll be picked up by your giude at 7 am in your hotel’s lobby. We will make our way out of Saigon and reach the doorstep of the Mekong delta. We will pass by the touristiest places behind and continue driving to Sadec town. A charming little town, with canals, narrow streets and flower fields. We take time to enjoy all of this before heading to Cai Be. We will embark on a boat cruise of the river and ride along its arroyos. You will have the opportunity to cycle the rural lanes of the area, meet locals, discover their cooking skills and immerse in their lush orchards. In the late afternoon we are transferred by boat to our lodge. Dinner and overnight in the lodge.

Day 2:  Cai Be –  Ho Chi Minh city (B/L/-)

In the morning, we transfer by car to Vinh Long town and explore its lively market. We then take a boat to An Binh Island and start a leisurely bike ride. We travel across the island to bet back to Cai Be on the other side. We have lunch before driving back to Saigon. Arriving back in Saigon by mid-afternoon.

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh city – Cai Be (-/L/D)

After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Cai Be where you will board your comfortable wooden Mekong Eyes River Cruise around noon. After a refreshing welcome drink we will show you our on-board facilities and your cosy cabin. As lunch is served, the boat starts cruising. Sit back and relax as you watch the fantastic scenery and daily life of the Mekong people.

In the afternoon you can disembark for a leisurely guided stroll through a village and the surrounding fruit orchards or rice fields. Meet the friendly locals and taste the local produce and fruits. Return to the cruise and enjoy a drink at the bar or relax on deck as the sun sets over the Mekong River. The day ends with a delicious on-board dinner. Overnight on board.

Day 2:  Cai Be – Can Tho – Ho Chi Minh City (B/L/-)

Wake-up to the sound of the river, well rested and ready for another exciting day of sightseeing in the Mekong Delta. At 06.30am the cruise vessel sets off for a sunrise cruise, watch the locals go about their daily work drying exotic fruits and building ships on the wooden yards while enjoying an early breakfast.

After breakfast, we will board a sampan boat to Cai Rang floating market, which is considered as iconic as the rice fields or the conical hat that one imagines when picturing Vietnam. Then return to the pier where you will be picked-up and transferred back to Ho Chi Minh City. Lunch is served at a restaurant en route.