Today your journey begins and you fly to Hanoi.

Today you reach Hanoi, Vietnam’s lively capital on the Red River. You are met individually at the airport and then taken in comfort to your 5-star hotel. There, your tour guide or a welcome host is on hand to help you settle in and inform you about the rest of the day. If you arrive early, the included early check-in lets you move straight into your room and freshen up or relax for a while. Your start in Hanoi is deliberately flexible: if you arrive early, you can gather first impressions of everyday life in Hanoi in the morning on an orientation walk around the hotel and through a local market. Over a shared lunch at a local restaurant afterwards, you get to know the first facets of Vietnamese cuisine with the traditional pho soup. In the afternoon, the whole group meets and you discover the city’s highlights together: you stroll through the lively Old Quarter with its narrow lanes and visit Hoan Kiem Lake with the Ngoc Son Temple, among other places. This way – depending on your arrival time – you can spend your first day flexibly and start your travel experience without any idle time. The rest of the day is at your leisure: perhaps you explore a little more of the Old Quarter, or you take a break and enjoy the amenities of your 5-star hotel. 2 nights in Hanoi. (L) (Distance: approx. 30 km; driving time: approx. 1 hr)

2 nights · Double room · With breakfast The Grand Mercure Hanoi was chosen because it impresses with its ideal location – central, yet away from the densest bustle – and its mix of modern facilities and traditional Vietnamese design elements. The rooftop pool above the city is a special highlight. Right in the centre of the Vietnamese capital, the Grand Mercure Hanoi welcomes you as an ideal base for discovering the city with its impressive history, architecture and cultural diversity. Important sights such as the One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, the Imperial Citadel and St Joseph’s Cathedral are close by. The hotel offers a wide range of leisure and relaxation options. Relax by the outdoor pool, enjoy soothing hours in the spa and wellness centre, or let the impressions of the city sink in on the terrace and in the well-kept garden. The in-house restaurant serves Chinese, Italian and French specialities, while the bar invites you to end the day pleasantly. The 24-hour reception provides support and comfort at all times. The stylishly designed rooms offer a pleasant retreat after an eventful day. They have a private bathroom with hairdryer, tea and coffee facilities, satellite TV, a safe and a fridge, ensuring a restful stay.

After breakfast, you explore Hanoi’s most important sights. These include the house and the mausoleum of the famous revolutionary Ho Chi Minh, who is still very popular in Vietnam (exterior visit). Experience the unusual architecture of the One Pillar Pagoda and visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first national academy. You can spend lunch and the afternoon just as you wish. In the late afternoon, you drive to West Lake. Here you enjoy a refreshing drink in a relaxed atmosphere – the ideal moment to get to know your fellow travellers and toast the journey ahead. (B)

This morning, you continue your Vietnam tour towards Halong Bay. You travel part of the way by train and stop in a traditional village outside Hanoi. You watch a water puppet show, an art form with a long tradition here that depicts the daily life of the farmers in the delta: rice growing, buffalo keeping, fishing, singing and dancing to celebrate a rich harvest. After the performance, you have some time to explore the village on foot and gain an insight into rural life and local crafts. After a lunch of regional delicacies prepared by a local family, you continue to Halong and your next 5-star hotel. You drive past rice fields and, depending on the season, can see farmers working the fields with their water buffaloes. 1 night in Halong. (B/L) (Distance: approx. 200 km; driving time: approx. 4 hrs)

1 night · Double room · With breakfast The Citadines Marina Halong was chosen because of its open view over Marina Bay, its proximity to the beach and its location as an ideal base for exploring Halong Bay. The modern hotel combines contemporary design with a relaxed holiday atmosphere and is ideal for discovering the impressive coastal landscape and the region’s famous limestone cliffs. The hotel offers many ways to relax: several pools, a sun terrace and a well-kept garden. The spa and wellness centre and the well-equipped gym offer further rest or balance. The in-house restaurant serves local specialities and international cuisine, while the bar invites you to end the day pleasantly. The breakfast buffet offers Asian and American options. The modern rooms offer a pleasant retreat after the day’s experiences. They feature a private bathroom with hairdryer, tea and coffee facilities, air conditioning, satellite TV, telephone and free Wi-Fi.

Early in the morning, you go on board a ship – “cast off!” You sail through the impressive landscape of Halong Bay, whose limestone cliffs rise dramatically up to 330 metres out of the water. Enjoy the passing scenery and the relaxed atmosphere on board as you glide through this natural wonder. Since 1994, the area with more than 1,000 rocks, grottoes and islands has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along the way, the ship anchors so that you can visit individual caves (subject to change). Lunch on board is also included. After returning to Halong and disembarking, you drive to the airport in Hanoi. In the evening, you fly on to Danang. From there, you continue to the dreamy trading town of Hoi An further south and check into your 5-star hotel. 2 nights in Hoi An. (B/L) (Distance: approx. 215 km; driving time: approx. 4.5–5 hrs)

2 nights · Double room · With breakfast The Wyndham Hoi An Royal Beachfront Resort & Villas was chosen because it is located right on the wide sandy beach and, thanks to the short drive to Hoi An’s Old Town, offers the perfect combination of beach and city experience. The hotel is not far from Hoi An’s historic Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose lanterns, old merchant houses and quiet lanes create a unique atmosphere. The resort combines modern architecture with spacious gardens and attentive service that makes your stay particularly pleasant. Two restaurants serve Vietnamese specialities and international dishes – with a view of either the sea or the inviting pool area. Several pools, a spa and a private stretch of beach provide relaxing moments and plenty of space to unwind. The invitingly furnished rooms offer a pleasant ambience and feature a bathroom with shower, a seating area and a flat-screen TV.

This morning, on a walking tour, you discover the diversity of the historic town of Hoi An (UNESCO World Cultural Heritage) and have the unique opportunity to gain an insight into the local craft of lantern making. In a lantern workshop, you learn how the colourful lanterns are made and can make your own lantern as a unique souvenir. Around midday, you take an excursion to a herb village outside the town that is known for its organic farming methods. Villages like this in the area are usually non-profit farming cooperatives whose members receive land free of charge as long as they farm it organically. Learn about the herbs native to the area, which also play an important role in medicine. Look forward to a freshly prepared lunch of local specialities, which you can help to prepare, followed by a relaxing herbal foot massage. You spend the evening as you like. The Old Town is particularly atmospheric after dark, when countless colourful lanterns light up the lanes. Try the culinary delights of the local restaurants or stroll leisurely through the illuminated streets. Alternatively, you can let the day come to a relaxed end at your 5-star hotel. (B/L)

Fortified by a generous breakfast at your 5-star hotel, you leave Hoi An towards Hue. Your first stop is the Marble Mountains, where you visit some natural grottoes in which Buddhist sanctuaries have arisen over the centuries. Surrounded by the special atmosphere of the place, you gain an impressive insight into religious traditions and natural formations. The drive continues through picturesque scenery to the Hai Van Pass (Cloud Pass), a natural border between northern and southern Vietnam. At Lang Co Lagoon, you take an extended break: stretch your legs on the beach and then enjoy a lunch of fresh seafood before continuing to Hue. After arriving in the old imperial city, you take a short walk along the Perfume River. There are various theories about how the river got its name. One says that the countless pollen grains and blossoms that cover the water in spring give the river a strong scent – almost like a fragrant perfume. Your walk takes you past impressive sights of the city, such as the railway station, the city hall and the Hai Ba Trung High School. To round off the day, you stroll around Dong Ba Market and take in the variety of goods and the lively atmosphere at the small stalls. After so many impressions, it’s good to end the evening relaxing at your 5-star hotel. 2 nights in Hue. (B/L) (Distance: approx. 165 km; driving time: approx. 3–3.5 hrs)

2 nights · Double room · With breakfast The Senna Hue Hotel was chosen because, despite its central location near the Trang Tien Bridge and Dong Ba Market, its spacious courtyard with pool and garden creates a wonderful retreat in the heart of the city. The hotel offers many opportunities for relaxation and leisure. The inviting pool, the spa and wellness centre and the well-kept garden are ideal places to unwind. On the terrace, you can enjoy the atmosphere of the city, while the restaurant and bar provide culinary variety. The rooms of the Senna Hue Hotel are practically furnished and offer everything you need for a pleasant stay, including a private bathroom, air conditioning, a safe and free Wi-Fi.

Today you take a tour of the imperial city of Hue (UNESCO World Cultural Heritage) and experience the glorious past of the Nguyen dynasty. Around 40% of all Vietnamese still bear this family name today. After breakfast, you visit the Citadel with the Imperial Palace, which was built on the model of the “Forbidden City” in Beijing. This is followed by an atmospheric stop at a traditional mandarin house, where you enjoy a short tea break with snacks and gain interesting insights into the architecture, everyday life and culture of the region. Next comes a visit to the tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh. This monumental building stands out for its unique blend of traditional Vietnamese architecture and European style, making it one of the most impressive and controversial imperial tombs in Hue. Afterwards, you sit back and let the impressions of Hue sink in on a cyclo ride. You ride through charming lanes and along gentle hills until you reach the famous Thien Mu Pagoda – one of the city’s landmarks, majestically overlooking the Perfume River. You then enjoy an exclusive dinner at a traditional Hue garden house. Here you experience fine regional cuisine in a quiet, stylish setting – a true culinary highlight and the perfect end to this eventful day. (B/D)

Early in the morning, a transfer takes you to Hue airport, from where you continue your journey to southern Vietnam. After a short domestic flight, you reach the lively metropolis of Saigon, officially known as Ho Chi Minh City. Here you experience the pulsating city life up close: countless mopeds and cyclos, colonial architecture, modern high-rises and quiet backyards where worshippers go about their daily rituals. Young people meet in small noodle restaurants, while many locals relax or exercise in the city’s parks. As you explore, Saigon’s diversity unfolds: from the Reunification Palace and Notre-Dame Cathedral to the City Hall, Opera House and Post Office (exterior visits), you see the city’s important buildings. In between, you take a short break at one of your tour guide’s favourite cafés and try a local coffee speciality – whether “egg coffee”, the trendy “salted coffee” or traditional Vietnamese “drip coffee” with sweetened condensed milk. You then continue to Chinatown, where you visit the Binh Tay market hall and the Thien Hau Temple. You also see the old St Francis Church and the so-called “medicine street” before returning to the city centre. To end the day, you enjoy a sundowner in a rooftop bar and feel the pulsating metropolis around you and at your feet, high above the city’s rooftops. 1 night in Saigon. (B)

1 night · Double room · With breakfast The Mai House Saigon was chosen because it impresses with its charming combination of French-Vietnamese aesthetics and modern amenities and offers special experiences such as the traditional tea culture in the Thom Lounge. The centrally located hotel is an ideal base for exploring the lively city life of Ho Chi Minh City with its markets, historic buildings and cultural sights. Several pools, a spa and wellness centre, a sun terrace and a well-equipped gym provide relaxation and well-being. The restaurants serve a selection of Vietnamese and international dishes, while the stylish bar invites you to end the day in a relaxed way. The elegantly furnished rooms offer a comfortable retreat and are equipped with a private bathroom including hairdryer, air conditioning, kettle, satellite TV, telephone, safe and free Wi-Fi.

Depending on your return flight time, you can still enjoy the benefits and facilities of your 5-star hotel before it’s time to say goodbye. At the appropriate time, you transfer to the airport and begin your journey home. If you have opted for a beach extension, we wish you a restful stay and a relaxing continuation of your journey. (B) (Distance: approx. 10 km; driving time: approx. 30 min) Day 11: You arrive back in your home country with wonderful memories.