Hanoi, Halong Bay & Hoi An

Day One
Board your Vietnam Airlines flight from London Heathrow to Hanoi for the direct service to this remarkable city. 

Day Two
On arrival into Hanoi's Noibai Airport, a private transfer will meet you and take you to the Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake where you'll spend the next 2 nights using a Classic City View Room with breakfast included.

Day Three
Take some time to get out and explore the city, in particular make sure you visit the historic old quarter and indulge in this wonderful culture.  Perhaps head to some of the museums or just enjoy the street food from one of the many vendors.

Day Four
This morning, a private transfer will collect you from the hotel and take you on a two and a half hour drive to Halong Bay.  Here, you'll board the Auco Cruise and begin your journey through Halong and Lan Ha Bays.  Activities on this day can include kayaking and trying your hand at creating authentic Vietnamese dishes.

Day Five
The attractions today include visiting Viet Hai Village and Cua Van Floating Village.  Viet Hai is a small village of just 80 households nestled in the midst of jungles and covered by the high mountain range of the Cat Ba National Park, it's a self-sufficient village sustained by fishing, farming and breeding.  Cua Van Floating Village is truly remarkable, home to generations of fisherman families of whom many never set foot on dry land!
Activities today can include cycling, enjoying a village style lunch, swimming int he lagoon, kayaking, rowing, and enjoying a barbecue party on the deck of the ship.

Day Six
Your final day on the ship can begin with a sunrise Tai Chi lesson to rejuvenate the body and soul followed by a visit to the largest cave in Halong Bay, Sung Sot Cave, a truly marvellous spectacle able to display a history you won't want to miss.
Upon return to Halong Bay harbour a private transfer will take you to the airport for your flight to Danang where a further private transfer will meet you for the short drive to Four Seasons The Nam Hai where you'll spend the next 5 nights enjoying a One Bedroom Villa with breakfast included.

Days Seven to Ten
The beaches in this area are incredible, there's a good chance you'll find it difficult to pull yourself away.  If you do manage, the town of Hoi An offers some wonderful experiences.  Try cycling through the local countryside and admiring the views, travel to the former Imperial City of My Son and explore the UNESCO listed My Son Sanctuary or take a thrilling tour through Hoi An's vibrant evening dining scene on the back of a Vespa.

Day Eleven
Your private transfer will pick you up from Four Seasons The Nam Hai to take you back to Danang Airport where you'll board your Vietnam Airways flights back to London Heathrow, via Hanoi.

Hanoi

Hanoi Museum Tour
Absorb and learn about Hanoi's fascinating history and culture through its most important museums. The morning will take in Vietnam’s Fine Arts Museum, the ever-appealing Ho Chi Minh Museum - built in the nineties and devoted to the Vietnamese leader, Ho Chi Minh - and the Army Museum.  In the afternoon, the National Museum will explain the history of this nation from when the Hung Kings first founded the nation, the Museum of Vietnamese Revolution explaining the incredible difficulties the people had prior to the revolution and how they regained their independence, the often over-looked yet inspirational Women’s Museum and finish with a visit to the Museum of Ethnology.

Hanoi Evening Street Eats
Stroll around Hanoi’s Old Quarter as the story of the history and culture of the area is described through eating its iconic street food!
Wandering through the labyrinth of old, narrow streets that make up the Old Quarter with alleys full of lively shops and vendors serving tempting dishes made from generations-old recipes. During the leisurely walk, your senses will come alive as you visit distinctly different eateries and savour iconic, local dishes. Take the opportunity to relish the classic “Pho” noodle soup referred to as Hanoi’s number one speciality. Dine on Banh Cuon, a hot steamed rice pancake rolled with chopped pork. Dig into the street food favourite Bun Cha, grilled pork patties and pork belly served with rice vermicelli. Try the classic Banh Mi, a signature Hanoi experience that fuses the French baguette with Vietnamese inspired fillings such as egg, pâté, pork, or sausage.  A cup of Vietnamese egg coffee or a cup of sweet soup or a fruit shake will complete this wonderful experience leaving you feeling like you’ve been part of the local life, taking away with you the tastes, smells, sounds and vibe that is Hanoi street food.

Hoi An

Cycling & Lantern-Making
Cycle through the picturesque countryside of Hoi An to immerse yourself in the life of its locals, exploring the stunning back roads of Hoi An and its surroundings. Escape the tourist trail and experience the contrast between bustling city life and the elegant charm of rural Vietnam. The friendly and welcoming locals are happy to show you their beautiful homeland, ride along with a patchwork of rice paddies and picturesque landscapes to arrive at a famous lantern-making village. Here, find out how and why this gorgeous symbol of Vietnamese cultural heritage has come to represent the country. Hosted by a local family, try your hand at this exquisite handicraft, something that looks much easier than it is in practice! After the workshop, say goodbye to your hosts and take your lantern home to show family and friends.

My Son & Hoi An City Experience
On this day you will feel like you’ve been transported back in time to the former Imperial City of the Champa Empire, My Son. Beginning at the famous My Son Sanctuary – a large complex of religious ruins comprising of more than 70 architectural remains, primarily in the Hindu style, this UNESCO World Heritage Site was only rediscovered in 1898 after hundreds of years of being hidden and lying in ruin. Explore My Son Sanctuary to get a feel for the cultural and historical significance of the site.  Afterwards, stop for a short visit at the Sa Huynh Champa Culture Museum in Tra Kieu. From here, continue to Hoi An and savour a delicious Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant. Before discovering Hoi An on a leisurely walking tour through the old town. Stop and discover some of the historic merchant and community houses, places of worship and the famous Japanese covered bridge. Transfer back to the hotel in Hoi An.

Hoi An Night Ride for the Foodies
This evening culinary venture begins at a café in the centre of Hoi An where you’ll enjoy a delicious local street food delight called Banh Can, sip a cocktail and watch the streets and stalls around you come to life.  After this first taster, head out on the back of a Vespa to try the famous Hoi An speciality of ‘White Rose’. Continue on to the lantern-lit An Hoi Islet and jump in a local boat for a slow ride alongside the ancient town to Cam Nam Island. At the island, join the locals for a seafood starter overlooking the Thu Bon River sunset. Afterwards, take a leisurely drive along the riverbanks and through the alleyways and narrow streets to arrive at a lively local restaurant where you will enjoy a hot pot at the table and learn the art of wrap ‘n’ roll – Vietnamese style! Then, a short ride through the busy streets and alleys takes you to the last port of call, a recent addition to Hoi An’s vibrant dining scene is a modern Vietnamese restaurant where you’ll tuck into some awesome BBQ specialities, grilled DIY style at your table with a cold beer and finish up with the delicious dessert of Banh Flan, a light version of crème caramel.