Gems of Vietnam Tour

Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, you will meet your guide and driver and travel by car to your hotel.

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
Room is at your disposal from 14:00 only

In the morning, you will begin your full day discovery of the capital with Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum - a tribute to the architecture of Lenin Mausoleum in Moscow, his traditional stilt house and the One-Pillar Pagoda - built in the 11th century. Later on, you will visit the Ethnology Museum. Created in November 1997 at the Francophonie Summit, it is both a research center and a public museum featuring the 54 ethnic groups found across Vietnam. You will have the chance to experience the life of a Hanoian in the 1950’s and travel through the Old Quarter on a cycle rickshaw. During this stroll, you will get to discover the bustling streets of the “Quarter of the 36 guilds’’ – a place of unique charm and endless activity: artisans, stalls, tinsmiths, jewellers, calligraphers, carpenters, mobile stalls, leather or rattan goods, vendors selling fans, votive objects, lacquer ware, silk, mats, paper, pipes and so much more. After so many years, the Old Quarter still has many small streets and old houses, which have sometimes been damaged, but no modern buildings could disfigure their charm Vietnamese people believe that when incense is burned, the smoke from it will create a bridge to connect them to family members who have passed away and into the spirit world. This experience will help you to understand the importance of incense whenever they visit a temple or pagoda, as you take part in a small ceremony.

Meals included: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Notes:
- The Mausoleum is closed on Monday and Friday. Easia will arrange a visit outside.
- Every year, the monument will be closed between mid-September and mid-December for regular restoration and preservation of the presidential remains, which is the same as that of Lenin Mausoleum in Russia (exact dates to be checked each year).
- To be allowed to enter the mausoleum, you must cover your legs, stand in pairs in silence without crossing your arms, or putting your hands in your pockets
- The Ethnographic Museum is closed on Monday

Option: Backstreet adventure by Minsk
Your Minsk and driver will be ready for you right outside of the hotel. Sitting on the back of a Soviet-era Minsk, you will travel via backstreets to some virtually unknown parts of Hanoi, ride through the maze of narrow, zigzagging alleyways, have random opportunities to interact with local people and experience the good, the bad and even the quite weird aspects of the city, just as it is. You will travel through the black market section of Hanoi, meet a local in a remote area of the city and then continue around all of the must-see highlights of the capital before stopping at West Lake to experience the local food. You will return to your starting point via the famous Long Bien Bridge and have time to take some pictures. During the tour, you will try traditional Vietnamese dishes from finger foods to the legendary egg coffee or some other traditional drinks. Meal included: Lunch or Dinner + Snacks Duration: 4 hours to 4h 30min OPTION: Evening story of street food Tonight, you'll have a chance to understand what makes Hanoi's Old Quarter such a captivating place. Here, you will be able to taste a wide variety of Vietnamese specialties, such as banh cuon (steamed rolled rice pancake) and banh mi (the famous Vietnamese sandwich that even appears in the Oxford Dictionary). Then, stop at a bia hoi (beer club) and taste the fresh Vietnamese beer that is incredibly popular with locals and travelers alike. After that, you will head to a pho shop, where you will be able to choose between regular pho or pho tron (pho noodles mixed with chicken without soup). Then, make your way along Hoan Kiem Lake for one of the tastiest ice creams in Hanoi. You will then say goodbye to your guide and go on to explore Hanoi by night on your own. Duration: 3 hours Notes: - Starting point: Hotel Quoc Hoa, 10 Bat Dan - Check-in: 35 Trang Tien - The route may change in case of rain

In the morning, you will travel by private vehicle without guide to Hai Phong and arrive around noon. There, you will embark on a cruise in the must-see Lan Ha Bay, a part of Halong Bay. This world-famous bay is one of the most beautiful landscapes in Vietnam, with its giant rock islets covered in luxuriant vegetation overlooking the waters. Halong Bay includes some 1,900 islands and islets of rocky peaks, often uninhabited and unvisited. This scene creates a spectacular marine landscape, which earned it UNESCO World Heritage status in 1994. You will be served lunch and dinner aboard with excellent and freshly caught seafood from the bay.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Overnight on the junk
Distance: 122 kilometers - 2 hours

Early in the morning and depending on the season, you will wake up to enjoy the sunrise over the aquamarine waters of the bay. Then the cruise will tour around the bay until you disembark at the end of the morning. After that, you will then return to Noi Bai aiport for afternoon flight to Da Nang. Pick up at Da Nang airport and transfer with local guide to hotel in Hoi An.

Meal included: Breakfast, brunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An
Distance Ha Long - Ha Noi: 180 kilometers – 2h45 mins on Expressway

In the morning, you will take a walk to explore Hoi An ancient town, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site for its well-preserved century-old streets and houses. Then you will go on a bicycle ride through the rural scenery of Hoi An to Tra Que herb village, known for its aromatic herbs. Join in with the local farmers and observe their daily work of planting and picking vegetables. At lunch, you will have a chance to enjoy the village specialities: tam huu (small skewers of pork and prawns), various kinds of shrimp, pork and herbs, as well as six other dishes of the region. You will return to Hoi An in the early afternoon and have the rest of the day at your leisure to further discover the old streets or relax on the beach.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An
Distance and duration of the cycling tour: 4 kilometers - 20 minutes
Level: 0
OPTION: Quan Thang ancient house: Hands-on "White Rose" at the ancient house
With a unique ancient Chinese architectural style, Quan Thang ancient house is one of the most beautiful ancient houses in Hoi An town. More than 300 years old it is home to three generations living together with that continue the tradition of making White Rose (dumplings stuffed with shrimp or pork), well-known specialties in Hoi An.

When visiting the house, you will be warmly welcomed by the host, listen to a story of his ancestors who were Chinese merchants, as well as learn about the history and architecture of the house. Then, you will make your own White Roses with the guidance of the host and will finish the experience by tasting your own "White Rose".

Duration: 1 hour
Option: Sunset Cruise on the Thu Bon River
In the afternoon, you will reach the dock and embark your wooden boat and sail along the major branch of the lower section of the Thu Bon River. Enjoy the beautiful surrounding where you will see how people live and fish in this area. Your boat trip to Cua Dai Estuary will give your the chance to observe the Bay Mau water coconut forest, the magnificent scenery of the countryside and the activity on Thu Bon River.
At sunset, the view is spectacular and you will have time to enjoy this moment of the day with cocktails and snacks on board, before returning to Hoi An.

At good time, you will travel by car to Danang Airport for your flight.

Meals included: Breakfast
Room is at your disposal until noon time only