Discover Vietnam: Nature, History and Art

After having breakfast at the hotel, we visit Hoa Lo Prison, built and used by French rulers in Vietnam for political prisoners, and then by the government of North Vietnam for war prisoners. This building is also known by the name of “Hanoi Hilton” and “hosted” some American prisoners such as Senator John McCain and Pete Peterson, United States’ first post-war ambassador to Vietnam in 1997.

In the 1972 campaign ‘Hanoi-Dien Bien Phu in the air’, the Vietnamese Air Defense Force shot down 81 American aircraft, one of them being 34 B52. One part of the aircraft fell down in the Huu Tiep Lake of Hanoi. Today, many tourists visit this lake to catch a glimpse of the wreckage including the gear wheels, which now have plants growing around them.

Then continue to visit Huu Tiep Lake – a war memorial located in Hanoi. Popularly known as B-52 lake, it features a US B-52 bomber that was shot down on the night of 27 December 1972 during the Vietnam War. The wrecked bomber in the algae-green water is a symbol of Vietnam’s victory over the United States. It is also a constant reminder of the violence and the endless number of people who lost their lives during the war. An inscription near the lake with the words: “outstanding feat of arm that brought down the bomber of the US imperialist” celebrates the courage and determination of Vietnam that led to its victory.

Then let’s take a tour of the Vietnam Military History Museum, which displays an extensive collection of weaponry that was used throughout Vietnam’s long resistant history. Visitors will follow the instructions in Vietnamese & English to follow the exhibitions of artifacts dating back to the Hong Bang Dynasty (2879 BC) till the recent Border war against the Chinese invasion in 1979. The 2-hour visit would provide you with a good source of information about the powerful military of Vietnam and some simple philosophy to freedom and an independent nation in the eyes of locals. The visit also includes videos about the formation of Viet Minh – the earlier name of the modern Vietnam Military and the documentary of the most recent wars.

Continue to visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex. You have a chance to see the embalmed body of  Ho Chi Minh then walk around the garden to see 2 houses where he lived & worked from 1954 to 1969. Then visit One Pillar Pagoda where one worships the Goddess of Mercy – It is the most unique pagoda in the world

Notes: You should dress modestly by covering from shoulders to knees when visiting Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, temples, and pagodas; Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum is closed on Mondays and Fridays.

Known as the cultural centre of Vietnam, Hanoi is home to more than 250 art galleries. Led by an art curator, your introduction to Hanoi’s art scene begins at the Fine Arts Museum, housed in two colonial-era buildings which were once the French Ministry of Information. Its three floors contain examples of artwork from all periods up to the present, and in a variety of media ranging from woodcarvings and ceramic statues to lacquered furniture and silk paintings.
thenyou will have a short drive to the old quarter, crept into little alley which just fit for one person get in to visit home of the last artisan, who is one of seven children of a family with three generations make this type of art. With the passion and love for art painting, he still devote his energy to preserve the traditional craft even he is 66 years old. Engage with him to find out a glorious time of this art, admire ancient wooden carving block and listen to him share of his works, how hard to maintain this job. You will be stunning with the technique and period to complete a paint and explore the life of the old craftsman before the development of hurried society.
 Also visit the Green Palm Art Gallery. Established in 1996, the gallery is home to one of the finest collections of contemporary art by leading and established Vietnamese artists in Hanoi, showcased in a stylishly modern space.
Finally Conclude your art experience at Manzi café Art Space. Tucked in a colonial villa inside the Heart of Old Quarter, Manzi is an art place of the contemporary Hanoian artists, hosting diverse exhibitions of painting, sculpture and photography, and the compact courtyard garden is perfect for a cup of coffee.
Return your hotel.

Depart Hanoi for a scenic 4hr drive southwest to Mai Chau. Located in Hoa Binh Province, Mai Chau is famed for its splendid vistas of mountains and valleys surrounded by lush landscapes and stilt houses, inhabited mainly by the White Thai ethnic group.

 

For your final day it’s time for another 3 hours of trekking, or around 5 to 7 kilometers. Starting with a nice easy stretch, giving you a chance to relax and connect with your surroundings, as well as warming you up for the challenges ahead.

After a short rest in Ban Hieu Village, you’ll conquer some steep climbs and even more thrilling river crossings, before the valley opens up into fantastic views from your elevated position. Once you’ve spent enough time to enjoy these sights, we’ll move on to Pho Doan Village.

Here we’ll take some more time to rest, before heading to the main road where your driver will be waiting to take you back to Hanoi. We’ll stop for lunch along the way, and you’ll arrive at your hotel in Hanoi in the late afternoon.

 

 

In the morning, your personal driver will meet you at your hotel and take you to Ha Long Bay in a comfortable car. Enjoy the views of rice paddies along the scenic route. The drive will take approximately 2.5 to 3 hours.

 

05:30 – 6:30: Greets first light of the Day on Sundeck, warming up your body with Tai Chi lesson or enjoy leisure time in room.

06:30 – 07:00: Light breakfast will be served in our restaurant (pastries, tea, coffee).

7:15 – 8:30: Enjoy the last stage of your trip to Dark & ​​Bright grotto and islets by local rowing boats which is a wild and mysterious beauty in middle of the World Heritage.

09:00 – 10:30: Check out of your cabin as we draw closer to the mainland. Enjoy a brunch before saying goodbye to crew team at 10:30. you will board our tender and head back to the wharf where you will be met by your return trip vehicle to transfer you to Hanoi.

12:10-12:30: Get on the luxury van and get back to Hanoi.

 

Hue is a former imperial capital of Vietnam full of rich history and cultural heritage. Meet your guide at the hotel lobby and immerse yourself in the heritage of this magnificent place. 

Start your exploration with a boat trip along the Perfume river to Thien Mu pagoda, the oldest pagoda in Hue. Then visit the Imperial Citadel, where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. Here you will also visit the Royal Antiques Museum to see the collection of ornaments from the Nguyen dynasty. Then head to the bustling Dong Ba market to see the daily life of local people. 

Enjoy lunch at the local restaurant.

In the afternoon, you will visit the elegant Khai Dinh Royal Tomb, whose architecture combines the elements of Eastern art and Western design. It is smaller compared to many other tombs. However, it is more flamboyant, with the giant dragons forming the side walls, blackened concrete exterior, and colorful mosaic interior with elegant murals. 

Then continue to Tu Duc Royal Tomb, the most impressive of all the royal mausoleums built by Emperor Tu Duc between 1864 and 1867. While the complex includes a tomb with pavilions and temples, no one knows where king Tu Duc is buried, as all the servants who buried the king were beheaded to keep his final resting place a secret. 

After exploring the tombs, you will be transferred back to your hotel.

This morning, we will drive to Vinh Moc Tunnel approximately 2.5 hours away. Our tour guide will recommend stops along the way to see a small church showing the signs of mortar attack in the area and visit former US Bases. You will go through the DMZ, where some of the bloodiest battles were fought during the American War, you will walk cross the Ben Hai River on Hien Luong Bridge that used to demarcate the division between North and South Vietnam (1954-1975).

Then, visit the museums containing photographs and memorials of the war before taking a fascinating tour of the Vinh Moc Tunnels. Your guide will take you into the tunnels and explore the complex; you will walk past huge bomb craters, amazing fighting trench and even venture into the tunnels and explore the tiny living rooms, food and weapon storages and school that villagers would have survived on.

After the tunnels, you will be transported to Cua Tung beach; you can have some time to swim and relax. Mid-afternoon driving all the way back to Hue. Meals on your own. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, our private car driver and English speaking tour guide will pick you up at your hotel lobby and depart for Bach Ma National Park.
Arrive at the Bach Ma National Park Visitor Center for registration and briefing regarding the rules, safety and preservation of the national park. Note that the mountain may be dangerous to unsupervised explorers due to wild plants and animals, undetonated bombs and deadly traps made during the Indochina War. Listen carefully and always stay close to your tour guide.
Start the hike and explore the Hai Vong Dai or the Sea Observation Post. This is where you will have best panoramic view of Hue Province, it’s mountains, lagoons, villages, lakes and beaches.
After visiting Hai Vong Dai, the car will take you to the parking area at km 17, the start of the Five Lakes trail.  It is advisable to wear proper hiking shoes as the trail may get slippery since it is next to the river. You will stop at Lake No. 5 for a light lunch and enjoy the cool water of the lake.
Start the trek to the famous Rhododendron Fall or locally known as  Do Quyen waterfall, a beautiful and majestic waterfall of Bach Ma National Park. This stunning silver waterfall is about 300 meters in height and surrounded by tall trees and blooming rhododendron flowers, the flower where the waterfall gets its name. You should be able to reach the top of the waterfall first, which gives you the most fascinating view of the Do Quyen water falling down the forest. The foot of the waterfall is just a little more than 600 steps away. The beauty of the waterfall viewed from its foot is definitely worth your effort.

 

After having breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up and taken to Vong Nhi village. You will receive the bikes and start cycling through the village, covering a distance of approximately 6 kilometers. During the cycling trip, you will get to see the breathtaking landscapes of the peaceful countryside, including the green water coconut forest, prawn and red snapper farms, and the rustic beauty of the rice fields. Upon arrival at Thanh Dong organic farm, which is a 10,000 square meter organic garden supporting ten local families, you will take a short stroll around the vegetable garden and listen to the farmers’ life-changing story since they have started using organic methods of cultivating herbs.

Afterward, you will join the farmers in gardening activities such as preparing and applying organic manure to the land, raking the ground, sowing herb seeds, and watering or picking vegetables. Then, you will leave the farm to take a basket boat ride along the Do River to The Field Restaurant. While enjoying the beautiful scenery or fishing life of local villagers on the way, you will have a short cooking class and a Vietnamese family-style lunch or dinner. Then we will transfer you to the hotel. The rest of the day is free. 

Today you’ll learn about Vietnam’s war history with a trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels, where the Viet Cong fought American soldiers in the 1960s. Located just northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, this complex of underground tunnels stretches over 155 miles (250 km) and was a bitter battleground during the war. You’ll learn how the Viet Cong used these tunnels as communication routes, storage facilities, hospitals, and living areas for fighters. You’ll even get the chance to crawl through a section to experience the tunnels’ narrow dimensions.

Return to Ho Chi Minh City this afternoon, where you’ll visit the Independence Palace, also known as the Reunification Palace, a symbol of the end of the American war when Ho Chi Minh’s tanks stormed the complex in 1975. Continue with a tour of the city’s French colonial landmarks, such as Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office. You’ll also visit Ben Thanh, one of the biggest markets in the city.

This morning you’ll drive south to the lush Mekong Delta. Known as Vietnam’s rice bowl, this region is full of mangroves, sugar cane plantations, and water-logged paddies. Board a boat to sail along Ben Tre River, one of the tributaries of the mighty Mekong. You’ll visit local businesses like a brick workshop and honey bee farm along the way. Tour one of the coconut candy workshops that Ben Tre is famous for to sample these tasty treats and learn how they’re made.

Next, you’ll stop at a small riverside village for a cup of tea with a local family that makes hand-woven rush mats. Explore the village by bike or xe loi (motor cart) to observe daily life. You’ll pass lime-green rice fields, vegetable farms, and exotic fruit orchards. Have lunch at a local restaurant on the banks of the river before trying your hand at rowing along a creek. Afterward, head back to Ho Chi Minh City for a laid-back evening.

After breakfast, spend a few hours soaking up the atmosphere in Ho Chi Minh City, perhaps shopping for souvenirs in the markets before your flight home. Safe travels!