TET Festival “Vietnam Lunar New Year”

DAY 01: HA NOI ARIVAL.

Arrive Noi Bai international airport. After completing immigration formalities and clearing customs you will be met by our guide outside the baggage claim area who will escort you to a private waiting vehicle for your transfer to your hotel in Ha Noi (35 km | Approx. 45 minutes). Our guide will be holding a welcome board with your name. Check in hotel, you're handed a welcome drink at the check-in desk.

Evening: Enjoy the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long Night Tour.

Start your night adventure around 18:30 to 19:00 at Doan Mon, the grand South Gate of the Forbidden City. Here, you can not only capture captivating photos with "royal guardians" and "palace maidens" but also be mesmerized by art performances on the glass floors of the Doan Mon archaeological pit. Next, immerse yourself in the breathtaking Thang Long Palace Performance, an ancient dance display. The intricate movements and costumes will transport you back in time. Continue the journey to the Kinh Thien Palace to present incense to the 52 kings of the old citadel…

Enjoy the balance of the day at leisure. Overnight in Ha Noi.

DAY 02: HA NOI.

Today, we start visiting the Ethnology Museum, One Pilar Pagoda, and the Temple of Literature. Back to hotel for lunch on your own. Afternoon, we have a tour to Hoan Kiem Lake, visit Ngoc Son temple and enjoy traditional cyclo ride through Hanoi’s Old Quarter.

We continue walking along the narrow streets of the old quarter to Hang Be market, a great way to learn about how Hanoi people preparing for Tet. There are many varieties of flowers arranged ready to sell. A lot of delicious confectionary is displayed along the street. Of course we cannot miss stop at one of local bakeries, where we can see people make a traditional Northern Vietnamese sticky rice cake “banh Chung” (a special cake for Lunar New Year). The tour end at a Coffee Shop, you will have the best view of the city bustling welcome a New Year coming. Evening, dinner will be served at the famous restaurant in town.

DAY 03: HA NOI – HA LONG BAY – A NIGHT ON CUISE.

Breakfast at hotel. Our guide and driver will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel. We depart for Ha Long city to visit Ha Long Bay, a World Natural Heritage site and a World of New7Wonders. (170 km | Approx. 02 hour 30 minutes).
Upon arrival in Ha Long. Check-in between 11:30 - 12:00 at the boat port. 

• Enjoy welcome drinks and cruise briefing.
• Enjoy lunch while cruising to the magnificent Ha Long Bay. Passing the Fighting cocks Islet, the Elephant leg Islet, the Castle Islet, the Soi Sim Island…
• Luon Cave excursion on bamboo rowing boats or kayaks.
• Swimming or sunbathing at Titov beach.
• Pre-dinner sunset cocktail party.
• Enjoy and learn the Vietnamese cooking demonstration on the sundeck.
• Savour a delicious set dinner in dining room.
• Night-time squid fishing.

(The itinerary above may be changed depending on the cruise we choose and weather permitting).

DAY 04: HA LONG BAY – HANOI.

Early risers can attend a Tai Chi demonstration on the sundeck at the break of dawn. Enjoy a delightful buffet breakfast. Continue exploring Halong Bay, sailing across its thousands of islets and visiting some of its major highlights. Your cruise ends on BaiChay/TuanChau late morning. Lunch will be served at local restaurant on the way. We stop at Dong Ho Folk Painting Village; an essential element of the Tet, and the art gallery of the famous artist Nguyen Dang Che. Return back Hanoi late afternoon, the rest of the day is free at leisure.

DAY 05: HANOI – FLY TO HUE.

After breakfast, we will be transferred to the airport for flight to Hue. Arrive Phu Bai airport, transfer to the hotel check in. In the afternoon, we take a boat ride on the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda. It is regarded as the unofficial symbol of the former Imperial Capital. Then visit the Imperial Citadel. Tonight we have a special opportunity to experience the Vietnamese traditional customs from a former royal family- Nguyen family. Enjoy a welcome traditional tea and have an authentic Central Vietnamese dinner.

DAY 06: HUE – HOI AN.

After breakfast, we visit Thanh Toan, a unique village with an ancient bridge built over 200 years ago, located not far from the city. We have free time at Dong Ba market. Here, during Tet we can share the local custom of buying “five – color” cakes, which are small & square cakes made of bean and rice powder. This is a unique Hue specialty. The most delicate cultural artifacts of this city can be found here in the local traditional products, like Phu Cam conical hat, Phuoc Tich pottery, rattan and bamboo products, and Tinh Tam lotus, etc. After lunch, we drive to Hoian for check in hotel. The rest of evening is free at leisure.

DAY 07: TRA QUE VILLAGE – HOI AN. 

Breakfast at hotel. Our guide and a Xe Lam-Auto rickshaw will transfer you to Hoian’s colorful market, experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy market, interact with the local sellers and learn about all the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later to Tra Que village. 

• Auto rickshaw to Tra Que village, a charming little village on the edge of Hoi An, visit Reu Tra Que.
• Enjoy a signature hand & foot massages, delivered with a unique musical therapy that synchronize song with rhythmic acupressure.
• Learn to prepare Bánh Xèo (Vietnamese Crispy Rice Pancake) and be given a sound understanding of the ingredients and flavors used in Vietnamese cooking. You will also be introduced to tastings of local specialty dishes that you may be yet to try.
• Enjoy a delightful lunch prepared by you. 

Afternoon: 

Enjoy a walking around the historic town to visit: 

• Phuc Kien Assembly Hall - One of five official assembly halls in Hoi An (was established in 1697).
• 400-year old Japanese Covered Bridge - The symbol of Hoi An.
• Chua Ong Pagoda (Quan Cong Temple), a centuries-old spiritual treasure trove of Hoi An was established in 1653.
• Tan Ky old house, a living museum with more than 200 years old in Hoi An.
• The silkworm & handicraft workshops.
• Enjoy a short cruise on the river to experience the lantern floating with a lantern drop for good luck. 

Our guide will help you enjoy an authentic Hoi An ancient town, enjoy a cup of egg coffee by the riverside and witness the local life.

Enjoy the balance of the day at leisure and overnight in Hoi An.

DAY 08: HOI AN – DA NANG – FLY TO SAIGON.

After breakfast, we will be transferred to airport for flight to Saigon. Arrive in Saigon, transferring to hotel check in. After lunch at local restaurant, a tour begins with a walking tour around downtown Saigon: Colonial Quarter Opera House, Hotel de Ville (City Hall), Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Central Post Office. As one of Vietnamese traditions before Tet, we visit calligraphers at the Youth Cultural House asking for New Year’s greetings, wishing for happiness, health, wealth, or longevity for the upcoming year. Then continue to visit the Saigon Flower Market and Ben Thanh Market to witness everyone preparing for the Lunar New Year. Tonight, enjoy your own time to explore the bustling city of Saigon.

DAY 09: SAIGON – MEKONG – CAN THO.

Today, we drive to Cai Be to visit some local villages with traditional workshops doing Tet preparations, such as pop-rice, rice-paper, coconut candy, and other special candies. We will have a chance to learn how to make Southern Vietnamese rice cake, “banh tet” (a special cake for Lunar New Year). Then continue to Binh Hoa Phuoc Island to visit the Bonsai and flower garden. Lunch will be served at a local house with a special menu prepared for celebrating the New Year. After lunch, we take a boat trip to Vinh Long town and a walking tour to Vinh Long market before driving to Can Tho where we stay overnight.

DAY 10: CAN THO - SAIGON.

After breakfast, we visit Cai Rang Floating Market, the biggest floating market in the Mekong Delta. All the shops and stalls at the market are boats and barges of different sizes. This is the most interesting sight of the abundant, colorful and bustling river life in

the Delta. We drive to Sa Dec visiting one of the flower centers in the South of Vietnam. All type of flowers and bonsai are shipped to Saigon and other provinces to show-off their beauty for the Tet Holiday. Then continue to the Sa Dec Central Market and return

to Saigon. Check in to the hotel. The rest evening is free time.

DAY 11: SAIGON – CHINA TOWN – DEPARTURE.

Breakfast at hotel. Our guide and driver will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel and then we visit:

• Explore the China Town called “Cho Lon”.
• Visit the Thien Hau Temple - most well-known sacred site in the heart of prosperous Saigon.
• Visit the amazing Cho Lon and Binh Tay Markets, which are full of energy and dazzling array of goods.
• Witness the TET atmosphere of Saigon people.

Free your time at leisure until our guide and driver pick you up then transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport (12 km | Approx. 30 minutes) to take your departure flight.