Honeymoon in the charming Vietnam 13 days

Arriving at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, you’ll be warmly welcome by your local guide with a brunch of flower and then driven to your hotel. You’ll spend the night in Hanoi.

A free day at your leisure in Hanoi to recover after the long-haul flight.

You’ll have the whole day to explore Vietnam’s capital city on the back of a motorbike as a local. Your guide will take you to the Temple of Literature, the first university in Vietnam dating back to the 11th century, and a popular attraction, as is Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, his simple stilt house where he lived and worked and the museum dedicated to his memory. After that, you’ll visit the bustling Old Quarter with its eclectic mix of architectural styles - traditional ‘tube’ houses, religious buildings, colonial houses, vernacular dwellings and modern concrete edifices.

The day also includes a ‘Street Life’ experience, also on the back of a motorbike. You’ll spend a couple of hours wandering around the back streets in and nearby the Old Quarter. A street food brunch is included – take your pick from traditional Hanoi Pho (beef noodle soup), Nom (green papaya salad with seasoned beef), Banh Goi (pillow-shaped rice pastry with minced pork and mushroom), Banh Cuon (hot rice paper with pork and fried onion) or Bun Cha (fresh noodle with grilled pork). If you’re hungry, try two or three varieties – they’re snacks rather than a meal.

Later, you will have tickets for a performance of traditional Water Puppetry, an art form unique to northern Vietnam, and a good, light-hearted introduction to its rural culture. You will spend the night in Hanoi.

After breakfast in hotel, at 8.30AM you’ll leave for Ha Long Bay by private car (no guide), one of the most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Areas and the world’s largest marine limestone ‘karst’ landscape.

Arrival in Tuan Chau Island and check-in at Paradise Suites Hotel.

Transfer to Paradise Sails cruise by Electric cart.

You will be given a short briefing about your cruise itinerary and safety regulations while sipping your welcome drink aboard the Paradise Sails.

Time to enjoy your lunch at the Restaurant while Paradise Sails passes by beautiful islets of Halong Bay.

Visit Tung Sau pearl farm. You will have the chance to explore the process of pearl cultivation or experience kayaking*.

Visit Titov Island – the island is named after the Russian cosmonaut Gherman Stepanovich Titov. You can either choose to hike the mountain to get an overview of Halong Bay or swim at the beach on the island.

At sunset, Paradise Sails will anchor overnight. It is the perfect time to enjoy Happy Hour (buy 1 get 1 free from 17:30 to 18:30) and a cooking class on the notable Vietnamese dish.

Savor your set dinner, which is prepared by our talented chef, at the restaurant.

After dinner, indulge in drinks*, join the squid fishing at the back of the boat.

Boost the energy for the new day with a Tai Chi session at Sundeck.

Enjoy a light breakfast with some freshly baked pastries, coffee, and tea at the Restaurant.

Visit Sung Sot cave – The most beautiful and largest cave in Halong Bay. Let your imagination run wide with stalactites and stalagmites at various shapes and sizes. At the end of the way out, you can have an amazing panoramic view from the viewpoint.

Breakfast will be served at the Restaurant while the cruise passes by Thien Cung and Dau Go Cave and the Fighting Cock Islet.

After breakfast, you may settle your bills and return the room keys at the reception area. Then you may enjoy your remaining moments on the sundeck looking at the astonishing view of Halong Bay.

10.30 Paradise Sails returns to Tuan Chau Marina. You will disembark and finish your journey here. You meet your driver for driving back to Hanoi for your flight to Hue.

Upon arrival, you will be picked up and driven to your hotel for your overnight accommodation.

Your morning will begin with a cruise along the Perfume River to visit to the Thien Mu Pagoda. From there, you’ll drive to the Royal Tombs of Emperor Minh Mang and, in the afternoon, Emperor Khai Dinh. After that, you’ll return to Hue to visit one of city’s ‘garden houses’ and then return to your hotel to freshen-up.

In the evening, you’ll sit down for candlelit dinner in the pleasant surroundings and a comfortable atmosphere of another of the garden houses. The owner will prepare and serve a traditional meal based on the distinctive characteristics of classic Hue cuisine. You’ll spend the night in Hue.

After early breakfast, your guide will arrive to take you on a tour of Hue’s ancient citadel, once the seat of the Emperors of the powerful Nguyen Dynasty that ruled Vietnam from approximately 1800 to 1945. You’ll begin with a stroll around the area between the Citadel’s massive walls and the defensive moat, now filled with lotus flowers. You’ll then enter via the Noon Gate to wander around the Thai Hoa Palace, the Pavilion housing the Nine Urns of the Nguyen rulers, and the remains of the Royal Palaces.

After that, your car will drive you to Danang. On the way, you'll cross the Hai Van mountain pass. The views from the top are excellent – you should be able to see Lang Co beach and village, and the lagoon far below, with Danang spread out before you to the south.

Upon arriving in Danang and a brief look at the remarkable Hindu statuary in the Cham Museum, you’ll arrive at Hoi An. After lunch, your guide will meet you to show you the Ancient Town and explain its considerable significance in the history of Vietnam. You’ll spend the night in Hoi An.

Hoi An town is a UNESCO World Heritage area. An ancient trading port, once the largest in Indochina, Hoi An was a meeting point for many cultures that left their mark in the different architectural features of its wooden buildings. The original traditional street pattern still exists, as does the quay that once welcomed ships from all over East Asia and beyond. Many remained there for months at a time, waiting for favourable trade winds to carry them home.

There are plenty of good restaurants offering a variety of cuisines and price levels. The town is also a good place for shopping for silk. You can have your clothes tailor-made within a day or two at reasonable cost.

The day starts with cycling the narrow roads through the countryside, passing by rice paddy fields, water buffalos, bamboo bridges and local farmers on their daily work. You’ll then board a boat to the mouth of the Thu Bon estuary where the river meets the Cua Dai Sea and cruise along the coastline observing the lives of the local fishermen.

After joining the fisherman to try your hand at catching fish in a traditional ‘Thung Chai’ basket boat, you will meander through the water palm coconut canal. During the American War, Viet Cong soldiers made use of this area as a highly effective hiding place from enemy attacks through their long struggle. Following an insightful visit to a local fishing village, you’ll be free to relax and enjoy a fresh seafood lunch before cycling back to your hotel.

Thung Chai Basket boats, similar in style to coracles in use throughout the ancient world, are widely used throughout Central Vietnam, and are highly suited to the local terrain and lifestyles of local fishermen due to their relative light weight and portability, often doubling as a carrier for various handy items. Circular and constructed of bamboo and tarred for waterproofing, these small boats can typically carry up to five people, and represent a fun-filled opportunity to touch the authentic rural soul of Vietnam. As a precaution, life jackets are provided for your safety during this excursion.

The day will be free for strolling in the town, lazing on the beach, or whatever takes your fancy. You’ll spend the night in Hoi An

You’ll be free in the morning until your car and driver arrive to take you to Danang airport for your flight to Phu Quoc.

On arrival, you’ll be driven to your hotel.

Your time will be your own!

Phu Quoc is Vietnam’s largest island. Located in the Gulf of Thailand, has a wide variety of beaches, some regarded as the best in Vietnam. It’s recently been ‘discovered’, so there’s plenty of development in the tourist area. However, you don’t need to travel far to find seclusion.

Infrastructure is improving, but most roads are rough tracks. There’s plenty of accommodation from friendly family run comfortable tree-shaded chalets on the beach to Deluxe standard. More superior standard hotels and resorts are being built which will be good addtitions to Phu Quoc tourism development. Duong Dong, the main town, is interesting with plenty of restaurants. Diving and snorkelling are available as well as hiking, cycling and similar activities.

Phu Quoc provides a good beach holiday with a range of activities if required.

Your time will be your own until a car and drive arrives to pick up to the airport for your noon flight to Ho Chi Minh City in good time to connect with your international departure flight. Tour ends!