Romantic journey through Vietnam in utmost luxury – Vietnam’s Heritage In Style tour features many of the popular highlights of Vietnam along with luxurious and characterful hotel choices. This luxury Vietnam tour suggestion features a variety of modes of transport including a scenic sea plane fly past of iconic Halong and Lan Ha Bay, a high quality cruise on Lan Ha Bay and a luxurious train journey from Hoi An to Quy Nhon.

Vietnam’s Heritage In Style – Tour Highlights

Hanoi – Lan Ha Bay – Hoi An – Quy Nhon – Saigon

• Explore the chaotic maze-like old quarter in Hanoi

• Enjoy a scenic flight over Halong Bay

• Take The Vietage luxury train from Hoi An to Quy Nhon

• Rejuvenate on the stunning beaches of Quy Nhon

• Explore Ho Chi Minh City at night on the back of a vintage Vespa scooter

Suggested tour itinerary – we will customise this for you

Day 1 – Arrive in Hanoi: Evening Vespa Food Tour

Upon arrival at Hanoi International Airport, after immigration, customs and baggage claim, your clients will be warmly welcomed by their guide and driver in the arrivals hall and transferred to their hotel for check-in.

This afternoon is free at leisure.

Early evening enjoy a cocktail at a stylish local Café and a delicious snack from one of the nearby night time vendors. Jump on the back of a vintage Vespa for an exiting food tour, a highlight for many on their luxury Vietnam tours. After weaving through the magical, busy back streets of the Old Quarter, we soon arrive at a fascinating local eatery right on the railway tracks (literally!) where we try some infused rice wine and a Buffalo Jerky appetizer. Ride through the narrow streets and head towards the next foodie place, a lively local restaurant serving Bun Cha. This the quintessential, must taste Hanoi dish of rice noodles, grilled pork and meatballs, with a side of Nem (spring rolls). Simple but delicious, all luxury Vietnam tours should include this place!

Later, head out of the Old Quarter and along the side of the lake to the next venue which is very famous in the neighbourhood! Try the local specialty of Pho Cuon, and learn the art of wrap ‘n’ roll with these fresh & fragrant ingredients, and the Pho noodle! Finally, a short ride on the Vespa takes us to a Jazz Club next to the superb Opera House. The halcyon days of the 1930’s may be over however this Jazz Club will wow your clients with a truly unique blend of styles – 30’s style Jazz & traditional Vietnamese music!

Overnight in Hanoi.

Hotel: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi (Luxury Room)

Meals: Dinner

Day 2 – Hanoi: morning walking tour & half day jeep tour

This morning, accompanied by their guide, your clients visit the most unmissable attractions in Hanoi. Highlights include the Temple of Literature (the first university in Vietnam), Phung Hung for its beautiful mural paintings, unique railway street, and a historic cantilever bridge.

After that, return to the hotel for lunch (cost not included).

In the afternoon the clients enjoy a jeep tour around Hanoi. Visit:

• Hoa Lo Museum, called the “Hanoi Hilton” by American pilots during Vietnam War.
• Vietnam Military History Museum – where clients can see documents from the Vietnam War, Indochina Wars, and thousands of years of war with China.
• Huu Tiep Pond in Ngoc Ha Village, where a part of a B-52 bomber that was shot down in 1972 is preserved.

On this tour your clients will pass by Hanoi’s crazily busy streets, which are always full of motorbikes, and pleasant tree lined streets dotted with small parks and yellow colonial-era villas. Today, these one-time colonial villas house foreign embassies, a university, and various government buildings.

Return to the hotel, evening is at leisure.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Hotel: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi (Luxury Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Day 3 – Hanoi – Lan Ha Bay

This morning your clients are transferred to Hanoi Airport where they board their seaplane to Halong Bay. The flight lasts one hour and includes a scenic 15 minute fly past of Halong Bay, a highly recommend experience on your luxury Vietnam tour. Land at Tuan Chau Marina and  transfer to Heritage Line’s welcome lounge.

Short speedboat transfer to their luxurious floating home. Clients begin their unique journey exploring one of the wonders of nature – Lan Ha Bay and its main island of Cat Ba. The first highlight of the cruise is lunch in Ginger’s nearly 360-degree light-flooded restaurant. Live cooking in the open kitchen is a one of a kind experience – enjoy the culinary display along with fantastic panoramic views of the passing scenery. Clients can relax on the terrace deck or on their private balcony. While cruising along in the early afternoon, there is time to enjoy the unique facilities on board. Take a plunge in the pool with infinity-like vistas or get pampered with a selection of fine treatments and massages in the ship’s spa.

Viet Hai Village

Reach the shore of a small lagoon on Cat Ba Island and hop on bicycles (e-cart transfers are also available) for leisurely pedalling along the small paved roads towards the Viet Hai village. Little has changed in Viet Hai since the ancestors of the 80 households settled here centuries ago. Situated in a valley within the Cat Ba National Park and surrounded on all sides by thick forest and mountains, the locals are isolated from the island’s other villages and towns. The only access is via sea.

The community is self-sufficient. The residents provide for themselves by cultivating vegetables and fruits in the nearby fields, growing rice in the valley, and fishing out in the bay. This is truly unique and authentic opportunity to meet local inhabitants and experience their local daily life. We have a glimpse of local households, see how they make medicine organically from a tree bark and you can also try various homemade liquors.

Back on board the chef invites guests to an interactive cooking class in the restaurant’s big open kitchen. Learn about local ingredients as well as the preparation of classic Vietnamese dishes. Guests are warmly invited to lend a hand. As the sun sets, arrive at the tranquil anchor spot for the night. After a delicious dinner, your clients may wish to unwind at the bar with a digestif or watch a movie in the cinema. Alternatively they may join some fun fishing for squid before retiring to their room.

Cruise: Heritage Line's Ginger Junk (Junior Suite)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, all drinks

Day 4 – Lan Ha Bay – Hanoi – Hoi An

Wake up early and join the Tai Chi session on the terrace deck to ease mind and muscles. Coffee, tea and breakfast pastries await in the dining room to start the day. It is time for Heritage Line Ginger to lift her anchors and cruise to a place called “Frog Lake”.  Go for a refreshing swim in the bay or explore this captivating marine landscape via kayak. The cliffs stretch vertically out of the water and you feel a sense of freedom while paddling through this labyrinth of jade-green water, rocks and vivid tree-topped islets.

Back on board, enjoy a hearty breakfast while cruising back to the off-shore embarkation spot, from where we transfer your clients back to the welcome lounge at the pier by speed boat.

Meet their driver and transfer 3 1/2 hours to Hanoi Airport

Domestic flight 1 1/2 hours to Danang airport. Upon arrival your clients are met by their local guide and transferred 30 minutes to the Four Seasons Nam Hai. Remainder of the afternoon is at leisure.

Hotel: Four Seasons Nam Hai (One Bedroom Villa)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5 – Hoi An: bike and kayak.

This morning the client’s guide will pick them up from their hotel for a day out exploring Hoi An on two wheels. Today’s ride is mostly through small alleyways, quiet lanes and flat tracks, all with no hills in sight. Beginner riders should take care while cycling short sections on small dirt trails.

Bike

The cycling trip begins by exploring the hidden passageways and winding alleyways of UNESCO World Heritage town of Old Hoi An. Hoi An is a very popular stop on luxury Vietnam tours, but the town is so beautiful it really is a worthwhile place to explore. Stop to photograph the iconic Japanese bridge. After crossing the canal bridge near the night market, continue pedalling to the new metal bridge connecting Hoi An and its southern villages. Not far from the bridge, we visit a local family making Banh Dap using the traditional method. These small savoury rice flour bowls are a common breakfast staple in the countryside.

Continue cycling to one of Hoi An’s most beautiful villages. Stop at a family home and learn about the tradition of family chapels. The client’s host is nearly 90 years old and fought in the American war. He has plenty of stories to tell! This is the kind of authentic connection we seek to provide on our luxury Vietnam tours.

Next, we pedal past rice fields, vegetable farms, small canals and waterways towards a boat building site. Fishing is still the lifeblood of the province and the construction of these boats is quite amazing to witness and photograph.

The roads narrow again to concrete paths and our final stops include a traditional mat weaving shop and a family distillery. A delicious homemade lunch of Hoi An specialties will be served at a local house.

Kayak

After fuelling up, cycle along the riverside and board the kayaks. Enjoy a paddle past water-coconut plantations, shrimp farms and little fishing hamlets. If your clients are lucky, they may see fishermen emptying their nets, a spectacular sight. Along the way, we will make a stop at one of the little islands to rest and enjoy the views.

Arrive at the Cam Thanh area of Hoi An, from where your clients will be dropped back to their hotel by 2:30 pm.

Remainder of the afternoon is fee at leisure.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Hotel: Four Seasons Nam Hai (One Bedroom Villa)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6 – Hoi An

Free day to relax and explore Hoi An.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Hotel: Four Seasons Nam Hai (One Bedroom Villa)

Meals: Breakfast

Day 7 – Hoi An – Quy Nhon

Transfer to Danang railway station and board the Vietage train to Quy Nhon. Departure is at 0930 am and the journey takes approximately six hours. Embark on a luxurious railway adventure through the lush landscapes and spectacular coastlines of Central Vietnam aboard The Vietage. Embrace the epic romance of rail travel on an exquisite journey that links the heritage charm of Hoi An and the sparkling shores of Quy Nhon. The Vietage is a new addition to luxury Vietnam tours and combines old-world comfort, breath-taking views and gourmet dining to leave you inspired, refreshed, and ready for your next destination. Included in your ticket is three-course gourmet dining, snacks, selected free-flow wines, beers, soft drinks, tea, coffee, and head and shoulder treatments.

Upon arrival at Quy Nhon your clients are met by an Anantara representative and transferred to their beach resort. Remainder of the day is at leisure.

Hotel: Anantara Quy Nhon Villas (Beachfront Pool Villa)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Days 8 & 9 – Quy Nhon

Free time to relax and enjoy the resort and beach.

Hotel: Anantara Quy Nhon Villas (Beachfront Pool Villa)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 10 – Quy  Nhon – Saigon

Transfer to Qui Nhon airport. Domestic flight approximately one hour to Saigon.

Upon arrival in Saigon, a driver and guide will meet your clients and transfer them to their hotel for check-in.

Evening VESPA tour (private)

Explore Saigon at night on the back of a Vespa with a real local expert. Tonight, witness the diversity of this vibrant city. Starting from the client’s hotel, we dive into the chaotic traffic of Saigon and travel through District 1 via hidden shortcuts and pass Ben Thanh Market. Sizzling cake restaurant is very famous and so this is our first stop. Also known as Vietnamese Pancakes (Southern style), clients will learn how to make the best roll!

Hop back on our scooters and ride through the crisscross back alleys of District 4. Pass lots of food stall areas which are well known with locals as “Street food heaven”. Despite the small size of the road, hundreds of local food stalls and carts sell side by side with all varieties of street food.

The next stop is to taste delicate yet trendy seafood such as steamed clams with lemongrass, deep fried frogs with lemongrass and grilled mussels with green onion oil and peanut. Vegetarian options include steamed tofu with mushroom and stir-fried noodle with vegetables. We’ll then drive your clients to a riverside park near Bach Dang Pier for an awesome view of District 1 at night.

Later we ride to a hidden coffee shop on a quiet street. Listen to romantic melodies performed by a Vietnamese singer with a beautiful voice. Finally, before heading back to the hotel, we travel up top of one of highest buildings in Saigon. Clients can grab a wine or a beer, enjoy the music and watch the traffic flow around them below.

Overnight in Saigon.

Hotel: Park Hyatt Saigon (Park Room Garden Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 11 – Saigon: Cu Chi Tunnels

This morning your clients will enjoy a  boat trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels. Embark on the speed boat from Ho Chi Minh City’s pier. Note the boat is not private and shared with other tourists. The client’s English-speaking guide will introduce them to life along the banks of the Saigon River as their boat gracefully slips through knots of floating water hyacinths on this scenic one-hour boat trip.

A traditional Vietnamese lunch of local specialties like lemongrass chicken and caramelized clay pot pork will be served on arrival to the tunnels. After a short documentary, their guide will lead them through the historic Cu Chi Tunnels.  The tunnels were dug by resourceful guerrilla fighters to provide communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon caches and living quarters during numerous conflicts.

Return to the hotel, afternoon is free at leisure.

Overnight in Saigon.

Hotel: Park Hyatt Saigon (Park Room Garden Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 12 – Saigon departure

Transfer to the airport for the departure flight.