Vietnam Odyssey - Colors of the East

Upon your arrival at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi - the capital of Vietnam, our private tour guide will meet you with a welcome signboard and will escort you to your selected hotel in the downtown. 

Check in your hotel and the rest of the day is on your own leisure.

Overnight in Hanoi.

** Please note that the standard check in time at the hotel is 14:00. If your arrival time is earlier, an early check in at the hotel will be subject to the availability **

Immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and smells of Hanoi's morning. Your private tour guide will escort you on a day of exploring Hanoi, including a visit to the Ho Chi Minh complex on the site where he declared Vietnam’s independence in 1945. Nearby, we will visit House 54, Stilt House, Presidential Palace and the One Pillar Pagoda.

Continue our visit to the Museum of Ethnology to learn about the cultural diversity of Vietnam’s ethnic minorities. Established in 1997 by the Vietnamese government, the museum offers a fascinating insight into the diverse cultures, customs and lifestyles of the 54 ethnic groups living in Vietnam.  

Have lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we visit the Temple of Literature. Originally built in honor of Confucius by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong in 1070, a university was added to the grounds six years later. The university provided education for the royal family and the children of the nobility, also known as "mandarins. The university remained here until Emperor Gia Long moved the capital from Hanoi to Hue in the 18th century. 

After that, start a walking tour (food on foot) through the narrow alleys of the Old Quarter and explore many other streets selling Hanoi specialties, as well as tasting some local Vietnamese dishes such as Omai, Nom, Banh Cuon...

This tour also includes visiting some of our special historical sites such as Dong Xuan Market, Ma May Ancient House. Stop by a coffee shop where we can enjoy special Egg Coffee and watch everyday life go by.

Finish the tour and return to your hotel on foot.  

Overnight in Hanoi.

07:00-07:30. Take breakfast boxes from the hotel and travel from your hotel in the Old Quarter Streets of Hanoi to Sapa by shared limousine bus.

13:00-13:30. Arrival Sapa, check in your hotel. Free to relax and have lunch on your own afterwards.

15:00. Your private guide and driver will pick you up and take you to Tram Ton Pass (also named as O Quy Ho Pass by the locals). At the height of 2,047m above sea level, it is the highest pass in Vietnam. Enjoy amazing views of the surrounding mountains and lush forests of the Hoang Lien National Park. 

From the starting point at the foot of Fansipan mountain, trek 30 minutes through a tropical rain forest featuring a primitive beauty with a tacit mossy old canopy of bamboo. Trek along a stream to reach the Love Waterfall, a wonderful place to relax immersing in the cool air of the mountain and the lush greenery of the surroundings.

Return to Tram Ton Pass and drive back to Sapa. The rest of the day is free at leisure.

Overnight in Sapa.

We start our day with a 2 hour drive to the lowest valley of Sapa.  Along the way you will have many chances to see the breathtaking views of the largest terraced paddy fields and cornfields of the Sapa District. Passing Ban Ho village you ascend to My Son Village then Nam Cang Village. Here minorities live, such as Xa Pho, Red Zao and White H’mong. 

Stopping at Nam Than Village we will visit a minority home, then cross a suspension bridge. Along the way you will see many waterfalls, together with stunning views of the lowest valley, paddy terraces and Buffalo houses on stilts, while listening to the birds singing in nearby forests. This wonderful 2 hour trek ends with lunch at a minority stilt house in Thanh Phu Village.

We return to Sapa while viewing the sun setting over the mountains.

Overnight in Sapa.

09:00. Drive to visit Ta Phin village where the Red Dao and Black H’Mong ethnic minority hill tribes live.

Upon arrival, walk around the village to explore the customs, daily life and weaving techniques of the local people.

After a walking tour, enjoy a relaxing time with a herbal bath, a healing tradition of Red Dao people, at a local spa in the village. A collection of medicinal plants foraged in the forest, chopped and dried in the sun will be boiled for hours over a fire until the water transforming into a wine-red mixture. When the distinct fragrance of the herbs spreads around, the herbal water will be transferred to a wooden barrel tub and ready for you to sink into the steaming, foamy water; and feel your aches, pains, worries and woes washed away all at once in the privacy of a separate bathhouse.

Have lunch at a local house.

Return to Sapa town by private vehicle to collect your luggage before traveling back to Hanoi by shared limousine bus.

Arrival Hanoi, check in your hotel for leisure time.

Overnight in Hanoi.

08:30-08:50. A limousine bus will pick you up from your hotel in Hanoi and travel to Tuan Chau Harbor in Halong city.

12:00. The crew members of Peony Cruises will welcome you at No.34, Tuan Chau Marina, Quang Ninh. 

12:30. You will be taken aboard our support vessel and travel from the wharf via the bay to board our luxurious craft, Peony Cruises. Itinerary briefing is announced during this time.

13.00. Welcome fresh drinks, wet towels and a special lunch of fresh food and an assortment of appetizing delicacies will be served. You will be enchanted when decadently dining on our luxury junk. Life just doesn't get better than this! We then set sail for Lan Ha Bay - A member of the World’s Most Beautiful Bays.

Enjoy the delicious luncheon of fresh seafood and an assortment of appetizing delicacies while cruising along Lan Ha bay with the breathtaking scenery.

15:30. Visiting Tra Bau area where has known as an area famous for its unspoiled, poetic natural beauty and attractive seascape of Lan Ha Bay. This is the best time for kayaking to discover the truest beauty of the limestone islands.

Immerse yourself in the emerald green water of the bay or enjoy the Jacuzzi pool on the Peony Cruises.

17:30-18:30. Joining us for Cooking demonstration to learn how to make one of the most famous Vietnamese cuisines, the spring rolls. Or reach the top deck of cruise where the guests can admire the magnificent sunset over the Gulf of Tonkin.

Enjoy a Happy Hour time – BUY ONE GET ONE FREE at the bar. It is an ideal time for photography enthusiasts to capture the greatest moment of sunset over Lan Ha Bay.

19.30. Enjoy delicious local food prepared and served by our skillful chef. This is a delightful meal in an intimate romantic setting.

21:00-22.00. Relax and sip the exotic cocktails and drinks at the sky bar (with surcharge). Indulge yourself with spa service (optional) or simply relax on the top deck just under the cover of a brightly illuminated sky.

Or try to get your luck at the squid fishing on the main deck.

Overnight on board.

** Please note the itinerary is subject to change without notice, in accordance with the weather and other operating conditions **

06:00. Begin the day full of energy with the Tai Chi session and enjoy the sun just rising up beyond the horizon.

06:45-07:15. Breakfast is served while cruising back to Gia Luan jetty. (Breakfast time may be adjust and follow the real itinerary)

07:30-09:00. You will join the tour of Cat Ba World Biosphere by transshipment. It takes 30 minutes to transfer from Gia Luan to Trung Trang – one of the most impressive caves in Cat Ba island, Vietnam. The limestone cave has thousands of talactites in various shapes, offering geological values with a typical cave ecosystem.

09:30. Return to the main boat from the cave and the guests will do the cabin check out. Luggage is placed outside of the cabin.

Lunch is served at the restaurant. Settle the bar bill by the desk at the restaurant (if any)

10:30-11:00. Disembark the Peony Cruises and transferred back to Block 34, Big Bay group terminal, Tuan Chau Marina. Relax and wait for the luggage.

Meet your private driver for a private transfer to Ninh Binh province, a destination for nature lovers and history enthusiasts alike.

Upon arrival, check in your hotel for leisure time.

Overnight in Ninh Binh.

09:00. Meet your private tour guide at the hotel lobby and travel on your private vehicle to Tam Coc pier. Embark on a two-hour excursion by small boat along the Ngo Dong River, beginning at the village of Van Lam and proceeding through a scenic landscape dominated by rice fields and karst towers. The route includes floating through Tam Coc - the three natural grottos (Hang Ca, Hang Hai, and Hang Ba), the largest of which is 125m long with its ceiling about 2m high above the water. The boats are typically rowed by one or two local women who also sell embroidered goods.

Return to the dock and head to visit the nearby site - Bich Dong pagoda, a cave pagoda, built in the 15th century. There are 03 main pagodas here called Chua Ha, Chua Trung and Chua Thuong. Start a walking tour across a stone bridge and hike up the mountains on some stone steps passing through the dark cave. After that find yourselves on top of the mountains with private view of the surroundings.

Have lunch at a local restaurant

In the afternoon, transfer to Thung Nham Ecotourism Zone. Get on a small sampan to discover its ancient cave network known as a “Tropical Symphony” such as But (Fairy), Tien Ca (Mermaid), Ba Co (Three Ladies), Thuy Cung (Water Palace)… to admire diversified-shaped stalactites and listen to the legends on the foundation of the caves.

Leave the boat to visit the thousand-year streblus tree grown completely on a large rock. Its shape and posture are considered as incomparable one in Viet Nam. Especially, you should not miss the ‘moving’ millennia-old banyan tree in Goi Dai Temple. The banyan tree is called "the moving tree" by locals because it has changed its structure thrice since the temple was built under it. According to researchers, this banya tree has been around for thousands of years and changes its structure every 300 years or so. 

Get lost in a flower valley, an orchard with variety of typical tropical fruits such as guava, apple, star fruit, mango, custard… and a primeval forest with diversified ecosystem which is the habitat of hundreds of flora and fauna species.

In the late afternoon, stop by the bird-park to witness the fascinating sight from the observation tower when flocks of white storks and various other birds return to perch on the top of trees and bamboo after a hunting day for food. The scene of thousands of birds flying in the twilight will be a wonder to behold.

Leave the bird-park and be back to your hotel for a check in.

Overnight in Ninh Binh.

After breakfast at hotel, take a private transfer to Mua Cave, one of the most beautiful place to enjoy panoramic views. You can see the city far from the standing in front of, Tam Coc in back and the limestone mountain along to the south of Vietnam. After climbing up 500 stone steps, you are on the top of the mountain where you can enjoy a stunning panoramic view of the countryside and wonderful Ngo Dong River.

Climb down the mountain and have lunch at a local restaurant.

Return to Hanoi by private vehicle. Check in your selected hotel for leisure time.

Overnight in Hanoi.

After breakfast at hotel, take a private transfer to the airport for a flight to Dong Hoi, the gateway city to Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park - the UNESCO's World Natural Heritage Site ideal for cave and grotto exploration.

Upon arrival, your private tour guide will escort you to your selected hotel for a check in.

Free to explore the surrounding on your own leisure.

Overnight in Dong Hoi.

In the morning, travel to Son River in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, one of the UNESCO-designated World Heritage Sites in Vietnam, by private vehicle for a boat trip to visit Phong Nha Cave, from which the name to the whole system and the park is derived. The cave is famous for its rock formations which have been given names such as the "Lion", the "Fairy Caves", the "Royal Court", and the "Buddha". 

Continue visiting Tien Son Cave which was discovered in April 1935 in the limestone mountain of Ke Bang. Located about 400m away from Phong Nha Cave and at the height of 135m, Tien Son has nearly 400m in the total 980m length installed with lighting system to make it safe for visiting. Like Phong Nha cave, Tien Son features spectacular stalactites and stalagmites shaped like several fairy-tales.

Have lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, head to Phong Nha Botanical Garden by private vehicle and embark a trekking tour to explore its diverse ecosystem featuring over 500 plant species. During the trek, make some stops at a Wildlife Enclosure to see animals like Langurs and some others, an area of 100 year old Sao trees, a prototype exhibition house, a propagation section and pristine forest patches. At the end of the garden, there is the fantastic Thac Gio waterfall with 30m height where one can enjoy the powerful cascade of cold refreshing water. The botanical garden is also home to the Vang Anh Lake, a popular destination to take a dip or swim in its amazing fresh blue water after a steamy hike through the wilderness. 

After a relaxing time nearby the lake, return to your hotel in Dong Hoi for a check in.

Overnight in Dong Hoi.

** You are recommended to wear non-waterproof shoes that provide great grip or better yet sandals for the trekking tour **

After breakfast, leave Dong Hoi for Hue, the former imperial capital in central Vietnam.

On the way, stop to visit Tam Giang Lagoon, the largest brackish water lagoon in Southeast Asia, known for its serene and picturesque scenery, offering a tranquil haven away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Take a walking tour of Ngu My Thanh, an age-old fishing village with unique stilt houses and aquaculture systems.

Arrival Hue, check in your hotel for leisure time.

Overnight in Hue.

After breakfast, meet your private tour guide at the hotel lobby, then start your day with a visit to Thanh Toan Village to see the bustling morning market where locals buy their daily groceries. From the market, walk to the nearby 300-year old Thanh Toan tile-roofed bridge and a museum displaying agricultural and fishing tools.

Continue to the Forbidden City, the former home of the Nguyen Dynasty (Vietnam's last dynasty) from 1802 to 1945.   

In the morning, meet your private tour guide at the hotel lobby and travel to Bach Ma National Park by private vehicle 

Upon arrival, stop at the "Visitor Centre" to get a brief introduction about the park's rich biodiversity and its trail routes. Continue with a 19km uphill drive passing many twists and turns to the starting point of Vong Hai trail. Take a short hike to Vong Hai Dai peak situated at 1,450m above the sea level and used to serve as a sea observation tower. Enjoy a panoramic view to the ocean, Tam Giang lagoon and the whole strip of Lang Co beach. Blaze the less travelled trails to unveil footprints of wildlife and endemic species. This leisure stroll spreads approximately 3km under the shade and is very kid friendly.

From Vong Hai Dai, hike follow a trail to reach the Five Lakes, a collection of five natural cascading lakes lying peacefully under dense forest canopy. Mind your steps and use supportive ropes as you climb down slippery cliffs. 

Enjoy a picnic lunch in the peaceful atmosphere surrounded by abundant flora and fauna.

In the afternoon, trek along a path through dense jungles to Do Quyen Waterfall, a five-tiered natural wonder that cascades down 300 meters of rugged cliff face. The waterfall derives its nickname from the vibrant rhododendron flowers that bloom nearby, painting the landscape in mesmerizing shades of pink and red during the spring months. Enjoy the beautiful vistas from the top of the falls and soak your feet in the cool water before trekking back to the departure point.

Return to Hue city by private vehicle. 

Check in your hotel for leisure time. Overnight in Hue.

** For a trekking day, gloves, a long sleeve shirt and proper trekking shoes are advisable **

After breakfast at hotel, travel with your private tour guide to the southward of Hue to Danang, a coastal city in central Vietnam.

Upon arrival, have lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, visit Marble Mountains, a cluster of five marble and limestone hills located in Ngu Hanh Son ward, south of Da Nang City. The 'mountains' are named after the five elements: Kim (metal), Thuy (water), Moc (wood), Hoa (fire) and Tho (earth). All of them have cave entrances and numerous tunnels, and it is possible to climb to the summit of one of the peaks. Several Buddhist sanctuaries can also be found within the mountains.

Continue our visit to Cham Museum, built in 1915 according to the motifs of ancient Cham Architecture. The museum displays an intensive and diverse collection of Champa sculpture dating from the 7th to the 15th centuries.

Check in your selected hotel for a relaxing time.

Overnight in Danang.

In the morning, travel to My Son Sanctuary, a cluster of abandoned and partially ruined Hindu Temples constructed between the 4th and the 14th century AD by the kings of Champa. The temples are dedicated to the worship of the god Shiva, known under various local names, the most important of which is "Bhadresvara". The temples are in a valley roughly two kilometers wide, surrounded by two mountain ranges. It was the site of religious ceremonies for the Kings of the Champa dynasty, and was also a burial place of Champa royals and national heroes. The My Son temple complex is one of the foremost temple complexes of Hinduism in South East Asia and is the foremost heritage site of this nature in Vietnam. Though much of the complex has been destroyed over time, there are still many majestic ancient temples to see in this area.

After discovering the complex, take a private transfer to Hoi An, an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. Have lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, embark on a 2-hour walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the ancient town, visiting the Tan Ky house, the 400-year old Japanese Covered Bridge, the Assembly Hall of the Chaozhou Chinese Congregation and the markets.

Visit to the home of a local lantern maker. You will get a brief introduction about the history, shape, and color of lanterns and the many stages of making them. You will then be shown how to decorate and make your own lantern which you can keep as a souvenir.

Return to your hotel in Danang for a relaxing time.

Overnight in Danang.

Have breakfast and enjoy your whole free day at the hotel or on the beach.

Overnight in Danang.

After breakfast at hotel, take a private transfer to Danang airport for a flight to Ho Chi Minh City (also known as Saigon).

Upon arrival, your private tour guide in Ho Chi Minh City will escort you to your selected hotel in the downtown for a check in.

Free to explore the surrounding on your own arrangement.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

In the morning, your private tour guide will come to your hotel and pick you up for a private excursion to the Cu Chi Tunnels - one of the most famous battlegrounds of the Vietnam War. The network of Tunnels included innumerable trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens. Today, the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction, giving you a unique experience and a feel of what underground life during the U.S.-Vietnam War must have been like.

In the afternoon, join in a city sightseeing to the War Remnants Museum and the former Presidential Palace. From there, take a short walk to the Old Saigon Post Office, Dong Khoi Street, Continental Saigon Hotel and the Saigon Opera House. Stop in front of the Ho Chi Minh City Hall, an iconic landmark in Saigon, to have some photos.

Return to your hotel for a relaxing time.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

After breakfast at the hotel, meet your private tour guide at the hotel lobby and travel to Vung Liem District in Vinh Long Province, a part of the Mekong Delta. Be driven in a private vehicle along some scenic countryside roads. This area is commonly known as the “rice bowl” of Vietnam, famous for its vast rice fields, orchards, coconut trees, and numerous waterways. 

Upon arrival, meet a representative who will guide you to the lodge located by the river, where you will be greeted with a welcome drink.

Check in and enjoy lunch at the lodge, then take some time to relax before choosing bicycles for a village tour. Visit Mr. Cong’s home to observe the traditional process of pop rice production and gain insights into this age-old technique. Experience his daily life firsthand and learn about his craft.

Next, stop by another local home to harvest and weave water coconut leaves, used in Mekong Delta construction. Mrs. Chien will also demonstrate making 'poon' sticks. Further, your guide will explain animal raising and biogas collection.

Cycle along serene village paths, explore rice paddies, and visit a dragon fruit plantation (you can discuss with your guide if you'd like to extend the ride). Enjoy the sunset before returning to the lodge to freshen up. Later, visit home of Mr. Hai Luong, a war veteran, who will share his memories of the Vietnam War in this village. Enjoy traditional military music, illuminated by the soft glow of poon candles. At the end of the show, walk back holding torches made from dried coconut leaves, a traditional local custom for nighttime.

Conclude the evening with a cooking class where you will learn to make Vietnamese pancakes, followed by dinner at the lodge's restaurant. Have a free evening on your own leisure.

Overnight in Vinh Long.

Breakfast, loaded boats are already heading to local squatting market and transporting goods such as coconuts from one factory to the other, crossing local ferry to visit beautiful Cao Dai temple. We also had a chance to see these factories. Situated alongside the river, these are small coconut-processing operations. Once the coconut has been shelled, the coconut fibers are removed from the husk to make rope, which in turn is used to weave rugs. You can watch the whole manufacturing process in a short period of time. Most of the work is done by hand at a professional way. The buyers are mostly foreign companies.     

Back to the Lodge, if time permitted, take some activities as to harvest some water coconut leaves and weave them up by you. These leaves are a key building material in the Mekong Delta as they are used to build the walls and roof of the houses. The local people will show you not only how they use these leaves but also how to make the 'poon' sticks that illuminated in the previous night.

Check-out of the lodge and travel to Can Tho, the largest city in the Mekong Delta. The name comes from "Cam Thi Giang", a poetic name given to the river, and it is also known as "Tay Do" meaning "Western Capital".

Upon arrival, check in your hotel for relaxing time.

Overnight in Can Tho.

06:30. Meet your private guide at the hotel lobby and travel to Ninh Kier pier to embark a boat trip to visit Cai Rang floating market, the famous one in the Mekong Delta. The shops and stalls at the market are boat of different sizes. Cai Rang Floating Market is open all day but it is busiest from sunrise to about 9am. The main items sold there are farm products and specialties of Cai Rang Town, Chau Thanh District and neighboring areas. Every boat has a long upright pole at its bow on which samples of the goods for sale are hung.

Return to the shore and back to your hotel for a breakfast.

11:00. Check out the hotel and proceed for a visit to Binh Thuy Ancient House, a rare and perfect example of the character of the Mekong Delta. It is special thanks not only to an ancient house whose design is a combination of Vietnam and France with interesting involved stories but also a garden with various flowers and fruits, including a wide range of orchids and a record cactus. One more special thing of the house that has so far attracted a lot of local and foreign visitors, it is an exciting address for film directors. The famous French movie L’amant directed by J.J Annaud is an example.

Have lunch at a local restaurant.

Travel on your private vehicle to Chau Doc, a border town brimming with lush forests, bustling riverbanks and brilliant temples.

Check in your hotel for refreshing time.

Overnight in Chau Doc.

In the morning, your private vehicle will take you to Tra Su Cajeput Forest, the forest that covers an area of 850 hectares and is an important natural habitat for many colorful birds and other rare animals.

Upon arrival, walk on the bamboo bridge holding the distinction of being the longest in Vietnam and immerse in the feeling of time slowing down to fully immerse in the nature. Take a short trek to the observatory to admire the panoramic views, the majestic tapestry of the sprawling cajeput trees and the surrounding wetland. Embark a traditional paddle boat rowing through narrow channels surrounded by tall cajeput trees while admiring the tranquil beauty of the surroundings, capturing picturesque views of the serene environment and encountering various wildlife species.

Return to the wharf and drive back to the town for having lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, visit Sam Mountain. On the way, stop at The Lady Temple and Thoai Ngoc Hau Tomb. The former was built in 1820 in a solemn and ancient architectural style. The latter was a mandarin in the Nguyen Dynasty and a pioneer in this area who reclaimed and developed the land in Chau Doc; he established living settlements as well as the digging of the Thoai Ha and Vinh Te channels.

Continue hiking up the mountain. The views from the top are spectacular (weather depending) and you can easily look out over Cambodia.

Back down the mountain foot and revert to your hotel for a check in.

Overnight in Chau Doc.

Have breakfast at the hotel and farewell Chau Doc for a private transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City. On the way, stop by Sa Dec flower village in Dong Thap province. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, the village boasts a rich history of flower cultivation that dates back over 100 years and is renowned for its vibrant and diverse flora including exotic water lilies, exquisite lotus flowers, and intricate bonsai trees.

Check in your hotel for a relaxation after a long drive. The rest of the day is on your own leisure.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Hotel breakfast is included. Check out time is 11:00 am. 

Free time until your private driver arrives to take you to the airport for your departure flight. 

End of services.