At 8 am you leave our family guest house for the Red River. After a short walk you reach what is popularly called 'Banana Island'. That is not without reason because the walk continues along narrow paths surrounded by banana plants. But besides that, you will see - depending on the season - corn, tomatoes and morning glory, among other things. After you have crossed the island you reach the more than a kilometer wide river. If you wish, you can take a refreshing swim here. Then you'll reach the famous Long Bien Bridge. Famous because it was designed by Gustave Eiffel. Via this bridge you walk to Hanoi's Old Quarter where you will be introduced to local culinary specialties during a food tour. Afterwards you will visit a performance in the famous Water Puppet Theatre. You can then choose to stay in center of Hanoi or walk back to our guest house via Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum.
If you are able to wake up early during your vacation, then Taichi in the morning on the sun deck might be your thing. After lunch, you return to the city of Halong where you will get on the bus back to Hanoi.
In the morning, you will visit the Saturday market of Can Cau, an exceptionally colorful market visited by people from the Flower H'mong minority. Oxen, pigs, dogs, and corn wine - with an alcohol percentage of more than fifty percent - are the main commodities. In addition to the local population, the market is also popular among Chinese traders. In the afternoon, you will have plenty of opportunity to explore the local area. A few kilometers from your hotel lies the village of Ban Pho, where you can see how corn wine is made - and you'll almost certainly be invited to toast with the distillers - and how cast-iron agricultural tools are crafted.
The day begins with a visit to the Sunday market in Bac Ha. This market is larger than the one in Can Cau and, in addition to various ethnic groups, you will see many "ordinary" Vietnamese. After the market visit, you will depart for Sapa.
You will arrive in Mai Chau in the afternoon, where you will spend the night in a traditional stilt house with the Tay people
In the valley where Mai Chau is located, you can take a morning walk before returning to Hanoi.
At 9 am you will depart from your hotel to the stunning Paradise Cave - Asia's longest dry cave. After lunch it takes about an hour to reach Phong Nha Cave by car and boat. You'll wander around here for a few hours before returning to your hotel.
Many cultural treasures of the former capital were lost during the Vietnam War - the Vietnamese understandably refer to it as the American War. Thanks in part to extensive restoration work, Hue still exudes a 'royal' atmosphere. A boat trip offers an excellent opportunity to explore the surroundings of Hue. Day of leisure.
Hoi An is a town that has retained much of its charm despite a boom in tourism. It is the ideal place for shopping. Very few leave this place without having a tailor-made suit, an evening dress or traditional Vietnamese clothing made. If you indicate your wishes and measurements in the morning, you can already put on your handmade order in the evening. In addition to tailor-made clothing, you can also buy beautiful woodwork here.
Despite having spent three weeks in Vietnam already, you might still experience a culture shock when walking through the Chinese district of Cho Lon in Saigon. Busy, dirty, and noisy are commonly used terms for the former capital of South Vietnam. And yet, Saigon undeniably has its charm. The best way to immerse yourself in the bustling mass of scooters, cars, and vendors is to use a cyclo: the Vietnamese version of a rickshaw. Those who want to escape Saigon for a day can visit the Cao Dai sect in Tay Ninh and the Cu Chi tunnels from which the Viet Cong made life difficult for the Americans during the war.
Visits to two floating markets are on the schedule today: Cai Rang in Can Tho and Phong Dien. After visiting the Thot Not bird sanctuary and having lunch, you will depart for Chau Doc. From Sam Mountain, you will have a beautiful view of the Mekong Delta as it stretches into Cambodia.
