Vietnam Essence: 8-Day Journey Through Culture and Nature

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Overview

Vietnam Essence: 8-Day Journey Through Culture and Nature
Vietnam
Duration: 8 days
Travel Neutral image
Travel Neutral
$1,264
Deposit: $200

About your trip

From Hanoi to Saigon, this eight-day group adventure will see you coast between Ha Long Bay’s soaring limestone peaks on a luxury boat. Explore the cities and try authentic street food, meander around the islands of the Mekong Delta and fill up your memory card with breathtaking landscapes on one of the world’s most scenic train ride. You’ll be invited into the homes of hospitable families and learn how to make authentic pho. All in the comfort luxury of handpicked 4 stars accommodations.


Trip highlight

For those time poor, looking to experience authenticity, genuine connections far from the crowds; in style and comfort.


From Hanoi to Saigon, this 8-day group adventure will see you coast between Ha Long Bay’s soaring limestone peaks on a luxury boat. Meander around the islands of the Mekong Delta and fill up your memory card with breathtaking landscapes. You’ll be invited into the homes of hospitable families and enjoy the most authentic Vietnamese meals around.


WHAT'S INCLUDED

Max 16 travellers per group

All activities mentioned on the itinerary

7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners

Two domestic flights

Hand-picked 4 star hotels

Private minibus, train & two boats

Accommodation in twin rooms

Experienced Fun Genie at each city.

What's included

Meals

7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners

Transport

2 domestic flights

Accomodations

Hand-picked 4 star hotels & one 3 star. Accommodation in twin rooms

Private minibus, train &

Private minibus, train & two boats

Professional guide

Experienced Fun Genie with you throughout the trip

Curated experiencesrie

All activities mentioned on the itinerary

What's not included

Vietnam visa

International flights

Travel insurance

Tips and gratuities

Meals not mentioned

Meals and drinks not expressedly mentioned in the itinerary

Departure

Departure airport transfer is not included.

Day 1

Day 1 image

True Hanoian hospitality

Hanoi, where streets blare with the horns of innumerable   scooters, colonial architecture provides a visual feast and the smell of   street food accents the air at every turn. You are invited into the home of a   Hanoian family for a traditional Cha Ca meal. Sitting in their living room   alongside three generations, you’ll get to feast upon a traditional fish or   vegetarian dish that’s near-impossible to find outside of a family kitchen.   Get to know your generous hosts and fellow travellers.
The walk to the family home is about 20 minutes

Included meal: Dinner    

Accommodation: The Q or similar, https://theqhotel.com.vn/

Day 2

Day 2 image

Secret Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay or the Bay of the Descending Dragon. Legend has it that a dragon created these thousand little islands. Board your luxury cruise boat and cruise amongst the 2,000 islands that dot this UNESCO world heritage site until you reach the isolated and lesser-explored Lan Ha Bay. After lunch on deck, kayak the emerald water and may be explore one of the caves. Enjoy the gorgeous scenery on deck, cocktails and a sunset dinner.

You will depart from your hotel after an early breakfast. The drive take about 3 hours. You will embark by noon.

Included meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Cozy Bay Cruise

Day 3

Day 3 image

Sunrise on Halong Bay

When was the last time you saw the sunrise? Sunrise on Ha Long Bay is a singular beauty that will continue to move you after it has passed. Tai Chi class on the top deck to salute the sun. Settle in for breakfast then depart for a short walk to explore Cat Ba Island, the most important in the bay, before heading onward to Hoi An. 

The flight to Hoi An takes a little over an hour. You will be picked up at the airport and delivered to your hotel. Arrival time is around 8PM.

Included meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodations: Silk Eco or similar, https://silkeco.mulberrycollectionvn.com/

Day 4

Day 4 image

Design your own indigo scarf and learn some Vietnamese recipe

Breakfast savored, venture forth to embrace an indigo dyeing workshop led by the talented visual artist, Le Thuy. Immerse yourself in the ancient art of fermenting indigo, crafting your bespoke design with Le Thuy's guidance. Depart with a beautiful cotton scarf of your own creation. Whetted appetite beckons a cooking class, an epicurean adventure through Hoi An's historic streets. Stroll the Old Town's charm, mastering new recipes to delight family and friends and let the flavors linger in the hearts of those dear.
The indigo workshop takes approximately 2.5 hours and is 5 minutes walk from the Old Town.
Cooking class take about 2 hours in total.
Included meal: Breakfast, Lunch

 Accommodations: Silk Eco or similar, https://silkeco.mulberrycollectionvn.com/ 

Day 5

Day 5 image

Cycle Hoi An, learn the secrets of noodles.

After a relaxing evening, you’ll be ready for a day of cycling through Hoi An’s scenic countryside. Pedal through rice fields and swaying palm trees before taking a boat ride across the Thu Bon River to Cam Kim, an isle known for its tranquil village life. Here you’ll take a break from cycling at a noodle workshop. Watch as local craftspeople prepare a noodle that’s unique to Hoi An and taste this key Vietnamese ingredient fresh from the pot. Enjoy the afternoon free at your own pace by the pool or head to the beach. For the fashionable, customize your wardrobe at a Hoi An tailor. 

The bike ride begins after breakfast. You will be taken to the bike shop to get fitted at around 8AM. The ride takes about 4.5 hours in total. You will finish by 12:30 back at the bike shop.

Included meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodations: Silk Eco or similar, https://silkeco.mulberrycollectionvn.com/  

Day 6

Day 6 image

A streetfood adventure in Saigon

After breakfast and some last moments in town, you will be picked up at the hotel for a 45 minutes drive to Danang Airpor. The flight to Saigon is about 1.5 hour, followed by a 45 minutes drive to your hotel.

There’s perhaps nothing more Vietnamese than sitting atop a tiny stool on a busy city street and tucking into a bowl of something brimming with intoxicating flavours. For all the fancy restaurants you could book a table at in Saigon, the city’s street food is where you’ll really feel the pulse of Vietnam’s flavours and people. The places you’ll stop at aren’t in any guide book. These are places that evoke special memories of childhoods in the city for the locals.

Included meal: Breakfast, streetfood dinner

Accommodations: Bach Suites or similar - https://www.thebachsuites.com/

Day 7

Day 7 image

Life on the Mekong Delta

Saigon’s breakneck pace gives way to a totally different cadence once you enter Bến Tre Province in the Mekong Delta, a fascinating region where the locals have learned to be self-sufficient and live in harmony with the river’s natural bounty. Join a local family in the home they built themselves and dig into another authentic feast. Post-lunch, travel deeper into the hidden waterways of the Mekong on a private sampan. 

Return to Saigon and enjoy your final night of adventure in the wild Saigon nightlife.

Ben Tre is 3 hours by private bus.

Included meal: Breakfast, Lunch, 

https://www.thebachsuites.com/

Day 8

Day 8 image

Farewell Vietnam

It's the end of your adventure. Enjoy your last shopping spree of travel gifts. Let your trip leader know of your travel plan so your transfer can be organised. If you plan to spend more time in Vietnam, we'd love to help. Hope to see you soon on another adventure with us.

Included meal: Breakfast

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Vietnam

About your organizer

Travel Neutral Collective is about the love of traveling, of respecting people and tradition and the reverence for nature. Travel Neutral Collective is about leaving things better than when you found it, about walking with a light heart and leaving no baggage, about treading softly and humbly through the wonders of life.

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