Vietnam Heritage Tour (Hanoi – Halong – Hue – Hoi An)

On arrival in Hanoi transfer to the hotel. You meet your leader here who will organise a pre-trip briefing about Vietnam Heritage Tour, also you have the opportunity to meet your fellow travellers before a short walk to the epicentre of old Hanoi, Hoan Kiem Lake and Jade Hill. This enchangting body of water is one of Hanoi's main attractions. We will then enjoy a Wecome dinner and the taste of Vietnam in one of the many local restaurants.

In the morning we go on a bus tour to the capital’s most important and interesting locations: the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Uncle Ho’s house (from here Ho Chi Minh led governmental affairs), the One-Column-Pagoda (Chua Mot Cot), the Temple of Literature (Van Mieu, Vietnam’s first university) and the Maison Centrale (a prison dating from the French colony). We eat lunch at KOTO, a restaurant managed by former street kids. We have an unhurried afternoon, exploring the old French quarter in cyclos (Vietnamese bicycle-rickshaws). The literary expression for Hanoi is “city of the 36 alleys”. In the tree-lined alleys we watch the local craftsmen going about their business. We will have a coffee break at the banks of the “lake of the returned sword” (Hoan Kiem Lake) with its jade mound temple (Den Ngoc Son).

Today we depart on a trip that provokes goose bumps with every photographer. After breakfast we go by bus to the dry version of Halong Bay, arguably the most beautiful landscape in Vietnam. In small sampan boats we explore the extradonary scenery and arrive at the Tam Coc Grottos (length of the biggest and longest grotto is 160m). This beautiful route against the background of bizarre sugar loaf mountains takes about two hours. Another highlight is the hike to Bich Dong Pagoda with its three stone-carved Buddha statues, representing the past, the present and the future. The panorama of a wide, emerald-green sea of rice paddies is unbeatable.
Prior to diner, we ride around the fantastic landscape by bike, watch farmers and children and pay a visit to Hoa Lu, the former imperial city of the Dinh Dynasty, and its renovated ancient temples. We stay overnight in Ninh Binh.

Today we carry on our Vietnam Heritage Tour to visit the Perfume Pagoda (Chua Huong), a must-see for fans of nature and art. The trip to Huong Tich (Mountain of the Fragrant Traces) takes two hours and can only be done by boat. This important place of pilgrimage consists of a a complex of pagodas, temples and shrines, carved into grottos, caves and cliffs. The two-hour hike leads us through limestone cliffs and lush vegetation up to the peak of Huong Tich with the main Grotto of the Scenting Traces, the final destination of the pilgrimage. Return to Hanoi.

This morning we fly with Vietnam Airlines to Hue, the ancient imperial city in central Vietnam. Transfer to the hotel. Cyclos (bicycle rickshaws) bring us to the colorful market, renown for the “cai non” (Vietnamese cone hats) on sale. Lunch at the market. Afternoon: A visit to the citadel, the former imperial city. From 1802 until 1945 this was the residence of the emperor.

Boat trip on the Perfume River to the Thien Mu Pagoda, the city’s oldest pagoda. We go on to see the palace-like tombs of emperors Tu Duc, Khai Dinh and Minh Mang. Our friendly Honda drivers bring us back to the hotel. Free time.

Together with our Honda chauffeurs we make an unforgettable trip to the Japanese Wood Bridge from 1776. The scenery, the daily market, the green rice paddies - time seems to have stopped here. After lunch we go to the lagoon peninsula Lang Co. Hotel in Lang Co.

Lang Co - Cloud Pass - Hoi An
An stunning bus trip over the Cloud Pass to Danang. We make a stop at the Marble Mountains. After a steep hike we arrive at the Rock Pagoda. Brilliant view of the four other Marble Mountains and China Beach. We go on to the Chinese-Japanese port town Hoi An.

Walking the ancient city: Japanese Bridge, merchants houses from the 16th and 18th centuries, wood craft shops, Chinese temples and community houses. We have lunch at a mobile soup kitchen. The afternoon will be an interesting boat trip to Kim Bong Island (famous for its excellent wood carvings).

A half-day bus trip. The route goes through the countryside, passing by picturesque rice paddies to My Son. Visit to the Cham temple compounds from the 7th, 11th and 13th century. Great photo opportunities.

A day off for relaxation. Trip to nearby Cua Dai Beach.

Airport transfer and short Vietnam Airlines flight to Hanoi. Transfer to the hotel. Free time.

Free time. Our Vietnam Heritage Tour ends with the transfer to the airport.