Timeless Beauty – Vietnam

08:00 – Post breakfast, proceed to explore the charming city of Hanoi, often
referred to as the ‘Paris of the East’ , with its yellow ochre colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards and scenic lakes. Later on, visit the historic Ho Chi Minh
Mausoleum, an imposing monument of marble and granite built to house the
preserved body of beloved revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh, affectionately
known to the Vietnamese as “Uncle Ho”. Visit the One Pillar Pagoda, a Buddhist
temple built in 1049 of wood in the shape of a lotus blossom and set on a single
stone pillar. Continue to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first national
university built in the late 11th century. The picturesque temple is an example of
well-preserved traditional Vietnamese architecture and is featured on the back
of the 100,000 Vietnamese dong banknote.

In the afternoon, visit the fascinating Museum of Ethnology which houses an
extensive collection of traditional costumes and artefacts from Vietnam’s 54
ethnic minority groups. Drive back to central Hanoi for a walking tour through
the famed Old Quarter known for its ‘36 streets of 36 wares’ named after the
original 36 artisan guilds that date as far back as the 13th century. Conclude your
day by watching an entertaining water puppet performance, a uniquely northern
Vietnamese art form said to have originated in the flooded rice fields of the Red
River Delta where villagers entertained themselves by manipulating puppets
over the water. Overnight in Hanoi

EXPLORING NORTHERN VIETNAM’S STUNNING COUNTRYSIDE AT
HOA LU AND TAM COC
07:30 – Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Depart Hanoi for a 2hr drive to the Trang An Landscape Complex in Ninh Binh Province. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014, Trang An is famed for its spectacular landscape of limestone karst peaks whose sheer vertical
walls rise abruptly 200m (656ft) above the surrounding land and water. Dense rain forest covers the landscape, even clinging to the cliffs and peaks, blending naturally with rice paddy fields and rivers, creating a picturesque patchwork of color. Within the complex, visit
Vietnam’s ancient capital of Hoa Lu, the country’s first centralizedfeudal state from the endof   the 10th century. While the ancient citadel has largely disappeared, the temples of the Dinh and Le dynasties still stand surrounded by rice paddies. Continue to Tam Coc, known as “Halong Bay on Land” , where a skilled rower will take you on a 2hr slow journey on the winding river and canals. Enjoy the views of the beautiful karst formations as you
enter three of the many natural caves formed under the hills. Visit Thai Vi temple on the way back to Tam Coc for lunch. Return to Hanoi late afternoon. Evening time for leisure. Overnight in Hanoi.

HANOI – HA LONG BAY – LAN HA BAY

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel.

• 08:30 – Transfer to Ha Long Bay (with guide).
• 11:30 – Upon arrival at Tuan Chau Marina, have check-in procedures at the waiting lounge.
• 12:15 – Transfer to Orchid Classic by a tender boat. Welcome aboard, you will be served some welcome drinks and gather at the restaurant for a cruise briefing and some safety instructions.
• 13:00 – Lunch will be served while we cruise and visit Ha Long Bay – Lan Ha Bay which is one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.
• 15:00 -We progress to Dark and Bright Caves, the ideal place for you to get up and close to Ha Long Bay by bamboo boat or kayak.
• 17:00 – Orchid Classic enters a less populated area at Tra Bau – Lan Ha Bay. Enjoy a nice swim in the green emerald water.
• 18:00 – On board you may join a cooking demonstration, and enjoy the Happy Hour (buy 1 get 1) at the bar while watching the view of the bay at sunset.
• 19:15 – Savor a deluxe dinner made with the freshest ingredients in a sophisticated space with elegant French neoclassical style and traditional oriental touches.
• 21:00 – It’s time to admire the beauty of the night on the bay, our bar on the sundeck and in the restaurant welcomes you. You may want to try your luck with squid fishing or watch a movie in the restaurant, we also have chess and cards for you.
• 23:00 – Overnight on board.

• 06:30 – It is a perfect time to refresh and indulge yourself in the peaceful beauty of the bay with a tai chi session on the sundeck. If you want to hunt for dawn, get up from
  5:30 to 6:00 depending on the season, and consult our sailors.
• 07:00 – Enjoy breakfast at the restaurant while continuing
  the cruise.
• 07:45 – Kayaking activities in the Ao Ech area are held to discover the hidden charm of Ha Long – Lan Ha Bay.
• 08:30 – Orchid Cruises welcomes you back on board and it is time for checking out.
• 10:00 – Enjoy a delightful brunch at the restaurant while cruising back.
• 1:30 – Disembark Orchid Classic at Tuan Chau Marina, say best wishes, and, transfer to the Hanoi airport(170km)  (with a guide) for flight (VN171 16:00 – 17:30/ Economy
  class.)
• Upon arrival at Danang Airport, after clearing all customs procedures, please proceed to the exit gate. Your guide will come to meet you up and transfer you to the hotel in Hoi
  An Overnight in Hoi An

Discover the natural beauty of Ba Na hill from Hoi An – 08:00 am: Drive about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Hoi An downtown to Ba Na Hills (60km). In the old-growth forest, there are 543 species of flora and 256 species of fauna including many rare animals such as
Crested Argus, Asian Black Bear, and northern buffed-cheeked gibbon. Located at an elevation of 1,487 meters, the temperature of this place is mostly cool year-round.
Arrive at Ba Na Hills Station where you have a chance to ride on a modern system of cable cars. Get a bird’s-eye view of nature which is strikingly beautiful, while enjoying the feeling of flying in the blue sky among the clouds and wind. Next, visit some old French villas as
well as a suspension bridge, Nui Chua, and Mountain Peak. Experience the feeling of walking in the clouds when you walk on the Golden Bridge which is supported by giant hands at a height of over 1,400m above sea level. After your lunch at a local restaurant with a great view, continue to explore Vong Nguyet villa (and its wine cellar), and Linh Ung Pagoda, Sakyamuni Buddha’s monument. Later, transfer back to your hotel in Hoi An. Overnight in Hoi An

Half-day Hoi An walking tour – 09:00 am : Between the 15th and 19th centuries, Hoi An known then as ‘Faifo’ , was a prosperous trading port, attracting Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, Portuguese, and Spanish ships amongst others. Today, this World Heritage ancient town is
recognized for its well-preserved architecture, pedestrian-only streets, and distinctive local cuisine, allowing visitors a glimpse of its illustrious past. Hoi An’s narrow lanes are ideal for a guided walking tour of its many atmospheric sights including the old merchant
houses with influences from Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese architecture; the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, first built in the 1590s by the Japanese community to link them with the Chinese quarters across the stream; the Assembly Hall of the Chaozhou
Chinese Congregation with its intricate woodcarvings; and the colorful market with stalls brimming with local specialties including silk, which can be turned into fashionable garments within a day or two.
Note: The Hoi An entrance ticket is valid for entry to 05 sightseeing spots in Hoi An including merchant houses, the Japanese Covered Bridge, museums, pagodas, and assembly halls for 24 hours. It also provides entry into Hoi An Ancient Town for as long as you are in Hoi
An. Please keep the entrance ticket with you always. You should independently visit Hoi An later in the evening or on another day.

Transfer from the hotel to Danang airport (with a guide) for flight (VN 127 13:10 –
14:55/Economy class ). Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat airport, after clearing all customs procedures, please proceed to the exit gate and look for your guide who will be waiting at the lobby to meet you and transfer you to the hotel. Overnight in Saigon.
Later on in the evening go for a Vespa Tour: Immerse yourself into the cosmopolitan nightlife of this busy city by night. Soak up the energy of this urban metropolis at a top ranking stylish rooftop venue of Saigon in central city location where we sip on our first drinks. Your expert driver will then zoom through the busy streets of Saigon as you check out some of the famous highlights in this bustling city. Feel like a local as we feast on authentic, fresh seafood dishes, eating streetside and then enjoy the local favourite that is the delicious Banh Xeo, a traditional Vietnamese savoury pancake. We then ride off into the night again to experience
music at two very different venues. Firstly, the laid back atmosphere of quieter, softly lit
coffee shop with live music before heading to another live music venue where a new
generation of Vietnamese flaunt their style.

Visit CU Chi tunnels (by road) (Tour duration- 05hrs): From Saigon, take a 2hr drive
northwest to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, an immense network of connecting
underground tunnels started in 1948 to protect the Viet Cong guerrillas from the French
air and ground sweeps. The tunnels also served as living quarters, communication and
supply routes, and housed hospitals, food, and weapons caches. Touring the
underground compounds will provide a better understanding of the history of the
tunnels, the hardship of life in the tunnels.

City Highlights tour (Duration- 04hrs):
14:00: With over eight million inhabitants and four million motorbikes, Saigon is truly a city that never sleeps. Despite its modernity, Saigon maintains a strong link to the past and our city tour takes in some of Saigon’s most historic landmarks including the Notre Dame
Cathedral, a red brick edifice with twin spires constructed from materials imported from France (the entrance is only permitted when no services are being performed). Then head across the square to the Central Post Office, completed in 1891. A short drive away is the
former Presidential Palace, the headquarters of the Saigon Government during the American War. Continue to the War Remnants Museum for a vivid perspective of the American War through the eyes of the Vietnamese. (Please note that some of the displays are
very graphic.) Experience Saigon’s famed street coffee culture while your guide provides a brief language lesson as well as insights into the daily life of a Saigonese before returning to your hotel.

Ben Tre Classic: Depart from Saigon for the 1.5hr (90km) drive to Ben Tre, situated in the Mekong River Delta, exchanging city scenes for lush rice paddies and fruit farms. At the pier, embark on a fascinating motorboat excursion past stilt houses, fish farms, and scenes of countryside living. Arrive at Turtle Island, and sample freshly picked fruit and coconut milk while interacting with a local farming family. Visit a family-run coconut candy workshop, utilizing Ben Tre’s famous coconuts. Explore more of the Delta from a rowing
sampan through a network of small canals. Enjoy country hospitality as you sip a cup of honey tea while taking in a traditional folk song performance. A local lunch of local specialties will be served at the town of My Tho before returning to Saigon in mid-afternoon. Overnight in Saigon.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Then, transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport (with a guide) for your flight back home