Vietnam Intensive

Meet and greet your guide upon arrival at Hanoi airport and transfer to your hotel for check In. Remaining day at leisure. Overnight in Hanoi.

Full Day City Tour: Hanoi is one of the oldest and most charming cities in Asia, and apart from its traditional Vietnamese architecture, there is a French quarter with grand French colonial villas and broad boulevards lined with sandalwood trees and coffee houses. On this tour you’ll visit Ngoc Son Temple inside Hoan Kiem Lake, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum (morning visit inside only, closed on Monday, Friday and the whole months of October & November), the One-Pillar Pagoda (under construction till further notice), the Museum of Ethnology, the Temple of Literature, and the old quarters. You’ll conclude the tour with a one-hour downtown pedicab ride. Overnight in Hanoi.

After Breakfast, it will be time to immerse deeper into the Vietnamese Culture and to prepare you for your forthcoming Vietnam tour with a 2 hrs Holiday Vietnamese lesson: This equips guests with only short time in Vietnam but would be able directing taxis, haggling in markets for the best prices as well as making orders in restaurants with confidence. Taken on its own, the class is an invaluable to the Vietnamese language and culture.

In the afternoon, another highlight awaits you – the Water Puppet Workshop:

We will meet you at your hotel and then take a short drive to visit the house of the most famous and experienced water puppet artisan, who devoted more than 20 years of his life to water puppet. He changed 10 square meters on his 4th floor into a “mini-home theatre” where he can introduce you the unique traditional art form of Vietnamese water puppetry.

After a short tea break with the host, we’ll have opportunity to watch his own water puppet plays telling both ancient and modern stories of traditions and normal daily life. Furthermore, we can know how the water puppet show performed in a “mini-home theatre” different from that performed in traditional stage. When the show ends, it’s your turn to tuck up your sleeves, touch the puppets and try to control them. The behind-the-scene experience will be a unique and unforgettable memory in your life. Overnight in Hanoi.

Transfer to Halong Bay in the morning. Halong Bay is one of the most magnificent scenic spots in all of Vietnam and was recognized as a world natural heritage site by UNESCO in 1994. Halong is a picturesque bay with almost 2,000 islets rising from the clear emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Cruise for 2 days in the tranquility of Halong Bay. Overnight on board.

Remark: your Focus Asia tour guide will not be on board with you in the overnight cruise. Surcharge is applied if you request Focus Asia tour guide on board with you. Only in-house tour guide is available on board.

*** Note for cruise in Halong Bay: Join cruise, private cabin; kayak offered free or surcharged depends on cruise.

Continue cruising and disembark in the late morning. Transfer to Ninh Binh. Remaining day at leisure. Overnight in Ninh Binh.

Ninh Binh, some 100km (62 miles) south of Hanoi, offers a world of natural wonders and cultural heritage to explore. Stop by Hoa Lu, the capital of Vietnam in the 10th century, known to travelers as Vietnam’s ‘inland Halong Bay.’ After visiting two temples in commemoration of King Dinh Tien Hoang and King Le Dai Hanh in the ancient capital, you will enjoy the amazing boat trip to visit Trang An grottoes which is a gathering of 31 valleys, 50 cross-water caves, and home to 600 kinds of flora and over 200 kinds of fauna, many of them in the Red Book of Vietnam. While rowing through Trang An grotto in the quiet, fresh air of the highlands, with only the sound of birds and the oars stirring the clear water and surrounded by magnificent forested mountains upon which graze white goats, you will enjoy a heaven on earth. Return to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

Transfer to the airport and flight to Hue. Upon arrival you visit the tomb of Tu Duc, which is one of the most beautiful works of royal architecture of the Nguyen dynasty. In a sprawling lush pine forest 8km (5 miles) from Hue, this tomb is the final resting place of Emperor Tu Duc (1848-83) who enjoyed the longest reign of any monarch of the Nguyen dynasty. The construction of the tomb started in December 1864 and was completed in 1867.

Your trip to Hue will be completed by a visit to the tomb of Khai Dinh, Emperor of Vietnam from 1916 to 1925. The tomb is located on the slope of Chau Chu Mountain, about 10km (6 miles) from Hue, and represents a fusion of traditional Vietnamese style and modern influence. The construction of the tomb began in 1920 and lasted 11 years. The tomb’s architecture incorporates many finer points of European architectural style and is made almost entirely of concrete. On the way back to your hotel you stop at a village that is well-known for its production of incense sticks and typical Vietnamese conical hats. Overnight in Hue.

In the morning, meet with your tour guide at a hotel in the center of Hue and start cycling along Le Loi Street. After crossing the Truong Tien Bridge, you will experience the real life of the locals at Dong Ba Market. Proceed cycling along Dong Ba River, you can have a look at the water way by which the Kings getting out of the Citadel. Continue cycling to Bao Vinh, a former trading port of the Ancient Hue.

After cycling through the green fields, you will stop to visit the Imperial Citadel, built in 1804 on a site chosen in accordance with the principles of geomancy. We’ll visit the palaces and temples of the Imperial City, created in the 19th century and modelled after Beijing’s Forbidden City. There are many palaces and temples inside.

After the visit, cycling along the famous Perfume River to visit An Hien Garden House, where a typical wooden home among a variety of flowers and trees can be found.

Leaving the garden house, you will continue cycling to visit Thien Mu pagoda. The pagoda has two sections. The front of the Pagoda houses the seven-storey octagonal Phuoc Duyen tower, which has become the symbol of Hue. The other section of the pagoda is its rear portion, where the monks of the temple live and practice Buddhism. The Pagoda was the center of Buddhism in central Vietnam. In 1963, in an act of defiance against the Diem regime, Thich Quang Duc torched himself in downtown Saigon. Today, pagoda visitors can see the car that took him to Saigon kept in the rear of Thien Mu Pagoda.
From here, you will get on board the Dragon boat and cruise along Perfume River to return to the city in the stunning sunset scene. After arrival at the pier, you cycle back to the hotel in the center of Hue. Overnight in Hue.

In the morning transfer to Hoi An. Enjoy the stunning views on the coast by crossing the Hai Van Pass. Check in at your hotel.

Hoi An was one of the orient’s major trading ports in the 16th and 17th centuries. Despite the passing of 200 years and the ravages of the weather and war, the centre of Hoi An remains much the same as it was in its heyday.

In the afternoon visit of Hoi An’s old quarter with History Museum, Chinese Assembly Hall, Japanese covered bridge and historic old house (walking tour – 3 hrs): You start the walking tour at the Culture and History Museum where you will learn about the history of this charming and peaceful town before you walk around the small market regarded as more authentic than markets in Vietnam’s big cities. Walk along the main street to the Chinese Assembly Hall of Fujien Chinese community. The hall, built in 1697, has been used as the worshipping place to dedicate to Thien Hau (the Goddess of the Sea or Holy Mother) and also the meeting place for the Fujien Chinese community. Continue to the riverbank along narrow streets – on both sides are old houses transformed into beautifully decorated shops with colorful lanterns in different shapes. Next you’ll stop to see the Japanese covered bridge built in the early 17th century by Japanese traders who settled in the town. The special pagoda-shaped bridge is now the official symbol of Hoi An. You finish with a visit to a historic old house of this UNESCO – recognized town. Overnight in Hoi An.

OPTIONAL for the morning: Vespa tour Hoi An countryside – Morning tour (lunch included) 8:00 am – 12:30 pm

Tour includes: Vespas, drivers, tour guide, all entry fees, cold water, drinks & snacks at designated stops, seafood lunch at beach.

Description: Setting off from Café Zoom in Hoi An, we ride over the bridge to Cam Kim island into the beautiful rural countryside, riding along the river, then stopping off at an Ancestral House and a traditional boat builder yard (seasonal) before we set off to explore the sleepy island villages. Zig-zagging through the breath-taking scenery of rice paddies and farmland, taking stops along the way to learn from friendly local families the art of mat weaving, farming and how to make (and eat) the perfect “banh dap” (rice cracker). After our snack, we ride out riverside to cross a spectacular & adrenalin pumping 300-metre-long bamboo bridge to the opposing landscape of the seaboard side of the island. We make our way to the coast at the Thu Bon river mouth, along roads lined with Casuarina pine & cashew nut trees. Riding into a small village, we stop at a local café to fuel up on local drip-coffee & learn the art of coffee roasting. Then, it’s up high and over the new bridge offering spectacular panoramic views of Hoi An, which takes us to the water coconut palm fringed Cam Thanh and then on to a sensational seafood lunch on Hoi An’s glorious beaches.

Validity date
2+ pax (SIC)
01 Oct.18 – 30 Sep.19 109

Half day trip to My Son: Located 60 km (37 miles) from Danang, My Son is the former capital of the ancient Cham civilization that ruled central Vietnam from the 2nd to 13th century. The Cham religion was primarily derived from Indian Hinduism. My Son is considered to be one of the best-preserved Cham structures in Vietnam. The complex is comprised of 70 Hindu-like towers and temples dating from the second century. This site is a must-see for anyone interested in architecture and ancient civilization and is one of five UNESCO World Heritage sites in Vietnam.

Overnight in Hoi An.

In the morning transfer to the airport Danang and flight to Nha Trang. Nha Trang has fine beaches, islands and mountain views. Fresh seafood and gentle sea breezes have endeared the city to many Indochina travelers. Upon arrival start your sightseeing tour in Nha Trang incl visits of Po Nagar Temple which was built in 8th century and the Xombong bridge with its photogenic, colorful fishing fleet. Afterwards continue with the Long Son Pagoda which was originally built in the 19th century. It houses a huge, white Buddha statute that can be seen from all over the city. Overnight in Nha Trang.

In the morning transfer to Dalat with a visit of the Po Klong Garai tower on the way. It was built in honor of the legendary king Po Klaung Garai by the historic King Jaya Simhavarman III, who ruled Champa in the 13th century. In the afternoon you continue with your sightseeing in Dalat including the Valley of Love, the cremellaire railway station, Bao Dais Summer Palace and the French district. Overnight in Dalat. Note: Train ticket is not included.

In the morning you’ll enjoy a cooking class experience at Ana Mandara Villas. At first vegetables will be picked in the own organic garden, before the cooking demonstration starts. Learn how to prepare a traditional Vietnamese dish from an expert and enjoy lunch afterwards. Dalat is known as a small France in Vietnam. On this tour you will see a beautiful waterfall and the fine arts complex where craftswomen produce handmade embroidered pictures on silk. Also, you will see the Flower Garden with its abundance of handicraft shops and Dalat’s most unusual site: the Hang Nga Art Gallery, nicknamed the Crazy House. Overnight in Dalat.

In the morning flight from Dalat to Saigon. Upon arrival visit to Tay Ninh and Cu Chi. Visit the Tay Ninh Temple at noontime prayer service and stop at Cu Chi, a former guerrilla stronghold.

Going straight to Tay Ninh to arrive at the Tay Ninh Great Temple in the time for its noontide prayer service. We will join a peculiar but solemn ceremony with the congregation attired in lively red, yellow, blue and white and chanting religious hymns. We will return to Ho Chi Minh City, making a stop at the ‘underground village ‘ in Cu Chi District, which used to be a guerrilla stronghold during the Vietnam War. Cu Chi used to be a bitter battleground for many years during the Vietnam War. Visitors cannot miss a visit to this ‘underground village ‘, an intricate network of over 200km-long tunnels, 75km from Ho Chi Minh City. Try a very short segment of this labyrinth of interlaced tunnels and you will find it incredible. Overnight in Saigon.

Today’s full day tour will take you around the city, from downtown Saigon to Chinatown to get a general view of a developing city. You will get to know its history and culture with stops at the History Museum and at the Thien Hau Pagoda. Learn about the past and see the many stalls and diversified products available at Binh Tay Market (close for renovation). Visit the biggest traditional medicine markets in the south, retail and wholesale. All kinds of traditional medicines can be found here, from herbal to animal products. You might view, smell and touch some exotic medicines for the first time in your life. The tour continues with in Chinatown. See other places of interest such as Notre Dame Cathedral (close for renovation until 2019 TBA, but still possible to admire its beauty from outside), The Central Post Office, and the Reunification Palace. Take the rest of the time for shopping activities around Dong Khoi Street and Ben Thanh Market. Overnight in Saigon.

Optional Evening Program: Saigon Night Programme (A O Show – Contemporary circus)
À Ố Show is a new kind of art performance commonly acknowledged globally as “contemporary circus”. The show surpasses all the limits that were previously constructed by many other art shows in Vietnam over years. Audience is offered the opportunity to experience the new imagination set by the visual creation and
The word “amaze” cannot even describe the moment when audience see themselves walking on a small walkway of the sweet and breezy South Vietnam, from wandering pass the sand dunes of the Southern Central to finding themselves ended up in front of a lotus pond in the Mekong Delta. Every now and then audience can hear echoes of a southern chantey and the traditional music of “Don Ca Tai Tu”.
The simplicity of bamboo, basket boat and its use in the daily life of many Vietnamese are the leading visuals for the show. À Ố Show has no script, no climax and no sequence. During the sixty-minute-long show, audience is gently introduced to many different tones of emotion as some may see flashes of their own reflection through the vivid yet poetic rendering as if they are captured in a Vietnamese dream of life, survival, love and anything else in between. À Ố Show may still be within the path of pursuing perfection but it does take pride in providing an-hour-long show of peace, comfort, and serenity mixed with astonishment and joy.

This morning one more highlight is waiting for you: Walking Street Food Tour with Chef at Hoa Tuc.
The Chef will bring you first to a very local market and then to our favourites street vendors and “cantines” in district 3, 10 to sample at least 4 Vietnamese delicacies, fresh fruits, snack, local drinks and desserts. On our way we will visit the biggest flower market, a Cao Dai temple and many charming places! You will discover the real Saigon’s labyrinth, local habits, food and culture.
We don’t claim to bring you to the best places ever as this is too subjective and there are thousands of street food stalls, but we are sure that you will discover with us very good food where people cook with care since years.

As this is physically impossible to eat all what you will see on the tour, let our chef be your guide through a thrilling journey across Saigon small alleys!

(Schedules: 8am till 12am. Vegetarian: accepted. Let us know in advance we will accommodate) In the afternoon, you will visit the Fito Museum, the first museum dedicated to traditional medicine in Vietnam, with collections of items relevant to traditional Vietnamese medicine, implements used to prepare the medicine, and tools used in a traditional pharmacy, as well as books and documents. The tour ends with a massage by the blind massage therapist to soothe your muscles and relieve any pain and stress. Overnight in Saigon.

Pick up by shuttle of Mekong Eyes at your hotel; drive to Mekong Delta in the early morning to embark the Mekong Eyes in Cai Be or Can Tho (depending on the day).

You board your comfortable wooden river cruise vessel around noon. After a refreshing welcome drink the boat starts cruising. Sit back and watch the fantastic scenery and the daily life of the Mekong people.
In the afternoon you can disembark for a guided leisurely stroll through a village and the surrounding fruit orchards or rice fields. Meet the friendly locals and taste the local produce and fruits. Get back on board and enjoy a drink at the bar or relax on deck as the sun sets over the magnificent water landscape of the Mekong River. The cruise boat will anchor for the night. The day ends with a delicious on-board dinner. You stay overnight on board your floating hotel in the Mekong Delta. Overnight on board.

Wake up well rested to the sound of the river and get ready for another exciting day of sightseeing in the Mekong Delta. At 6.30h 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, you will board a sampan boat to Cai Be or Cai Rang floating market, the region’s busiest and most lively markets. Marvel at the sheer abundance of exotic fruits, vegetables and skilfully handcrafted regional products. You will pull up to the boats for talking and bargaining with the merchants. You will also visit some of the local candy and cake making factories or boat through the green water landscape to see local houses, verdant orchards and ship-building yards. After brunch, disembark the Mekong Eyes and return to Saigon by shuttle of Mekong Eyes.

Overnight in Saigon.

Optional for the evening: Asia-Europe Buffet Dinner on Bonsai Cruise
06:30 PM pick up with guide at the hotel. Transfer to the pier and board the Bonsai Cruise. Dinner will be served on board. You will have the wonderful trip and enjoy the dinner with cruise along the Saigon River. Return to the hotel (or go ahead with your nice night at some Saigon night clubs – own account).

Transfer to the airport for your flight back home or to another destination. Or book your individual Beach extension.