Morning
- Breakfast will be served at the accommodation. If you wish to indulge in a second cup, you can find a local vendor offering a hot cup of Vietnamese coffee on the streets.
- Visit the Temple of Literature, located on the grounds of Vietnam’s first university. The walk through the ancient courtyards will allow you to observe the details of traditional Vietnamese architecture.
- A walking tour with your Trip Leader through the alleyways of the Old Quarter, among peaceful alleyways and chaotic intersections, complete with everyday Vietnamese commerce.
Afternoon
- Lunch is not included on this day, but your Trip Leader will surely recommend some of the best places to grab a bowl of Pho or a banh mi sandwich!
- Enjoy Hanoi at your leisure with an afternoon of free time before meeting up in the evening for your food tour.
Suggested activities: Learn about the history of the American-Vietnamese war at Hoa Lo Prison, explore the diverse cultures of Vietnam's ethnic groups at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, or pay respects to the nation's founder at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.
Evening
- Rejoin your group on a Hanoi Street Food Experience tour through the Old Quarter to awaken your taste buds with various Vietnamese specialties.
- Along the way, if you’re a fan of beer, you can stop at a bia hoi (beer club) and sample the fresh Vietnamese brew, which is incredibly popular with locals and travelers alike.
- Wrap up your food tour around Hoan Kiem Lake with one of the city's most delicious ice creams.
Morning
- Breakfast will be served at your accommodation once again. However, be sure to eat plenty today, as you’ll be walking up a mountain to one of the most incredible views in Vietnam!
- Drive about 15 minutes to the trailhead.
- This moderate-rated walk to Hang Mua Viewpoint involves climbing over 500 steps to the top! We’ll take our time and offer plenty of stops along the way. But it’s all worth it, since, once atop the mountain, you’ll be rewarded with a panoramic view of Ninh Binh’s stunning countryside.
- After coming down from the mountain, visit Bich Dong pagoda, also known as the "Jade Cave." This small temple complex, built into limestone cliffs, comprises three distinct levels.
Afternoon
- We’ll return to the town of Tam Coc and you’ll have the rest of the afternoon at leisure. Your hotel rooms will be available until 6:00 p.m., so don’t worry about checking out right away!
- Lunch is not included on this day, but your Trip Leader will provide recommendations on where to eat and also offer suggestions on what to do during the afternoon.
Suggested activities: a sampon boat trip to the Tam Coc grottoes, visit the Thai Vi temple, rent a bicycle and explore the countryside, or visit the Thung Nam Bird Park.
Evening
- Check out of your hotel room by 6:00 p.m. and gather with your Trip Leader and group members for dinner at a local restaurant.
- A drive to the train station is a short distance. Additionally, the train journey from Ninh Binh to Hue is in sleeper compartments. The train accommodation will be non-private, soft-sleeper, air-conditioned 4-berth cabins.
Morning
- Arrive at the train station around 9:00 a.m. and take a private vehicle to your accommodation, where you can drop off your luggage and freshen up.
- You can head out to a local restaurant for your first meal in Hue and receive an introduction to this region of Vietnam.
- After breakfast, your Trip Leader will take you on an orientation walk of the town of Hue and explain some of the history and activities you can do in this town.
- Visit an enchanting Garden House, located along the Perfume River, and view various artifacts and antiques at the antique pottery museum. The property is very peaceful and perfect for sipping on a cup of tea and snacking on some cakes in the garden cafe.
Afternoon
- After we return to the town, you’ll have an included lunch of Bun Bo Hue, one of Hue’s signature noodle dishes, a must-try when visiting this town.
- Check into your hotel after lunch, and then spend the afternoon at your leisure.
Suggested activities: visit the Imperial City, go on a boat trip along the Perfume River, check out a collection of artifacts at the Hue Museum, head to the beach if the weather is nice
Evening
- Reunion with your newfound friends for an included dinner at a local restaurant with delicious Vietnamese cuisine.
- After dinner, consider visiting Hue’s night market or ask your Trip Leader about the cultural performances that take place at night.
Morning
- After your breakfast at the accommodation, prepare your day bag for a cycling experience to Hoi An’s countryside. (Expect roughly 5 miles of cycling during this activity.)
- Cycle through the countryside, taking in the rural scenery as you make your way to Tra Que Herbal village.
- You’ll see the local farmers doing their daily work of planting and harvesting vegetables.
- Then enjoy an herbal footbath and massage.
- Enjoy a Bánh xèo cooking demonstration, along with an included lunch featuring village specialties.
Afternoon
- Cycle back to your accommodation and spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing and enjoying the town of Hoi An.
Suggested activities: try to paddle a basket boat, join a lantern-making class, join a Vietnamese coffee-making class, head to a nearby beach to relax, or get a spa treatment.
Evening
- A farewell dinner with your new friends at a restaurant in town.
- Reflect on the cultural experiences you had during your adventure through Vietnam and enjoy one final night out with your group of travelers.
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