You are met and greeted by your Travel Expert at the airport on arrival and escorted into your hotel.

Pending the time of arrival and energy/interest levels, an afternoon exploration of urban Hanoi can be arranged for an immersive experience into its somewhat chaotic but intoxicating street life and architecture.

We begin at one of Hanoi’s most striking buildings. Standing in the heart of Hanoi, the Opera House was completed in 1911 after 10 years of construction, by two French architects, Broyer and V. Harley, resembling the Opéra Garnier de Paris. Although not open to the public outside of performances it may be possible to have a sneak peak inside with the assistance of your Travel Expert.

Whilst most visitors would head north of here to the commercial Hoan Kiem Lake area, we wander south into the more traditional neighbourhoods. A short stroll down a tree lined street takes us to the Hanoi University of Medicine. Formerly called the Indochina Medical College, it was founded in 1902 and was the first modern university in Vietnam. The facade of the building is a stunning example of French/Vietnamese architecture of the time.

Nearby lies a Taekwondo Centre for youth and a visit to a class may be possible (day time classes on weekends only).

Continuing our stroll, we enter the small flower garden Pasteur park, named after the nearby Statue of Louis Pasteur, the revered French chemist and microbiologist. Opposite lies the Institute of Epidemiology and is another prime example of captivating French architecture in central Hanoi that has been well preserved.

From here we cross down various side streets bustling with commercial activity until we reach the small Ha Ba Trung lake. Across it lies a pristine temple dedicated to the two Trung Sisters, Trung Trac and Trung Nhi, in Vietnam. The Trung Sisters were military leaders who rebelled against Chinese domination. Instead of surrendering and accepting their defeat at the hands of Chinese, they decided to drown themselves and have been revered since then for their courage and strength.

An awaiting vehicle then whisks us off to the Temple of Literature and Imperial Academy, one of Hanoi’s most visited sites. It closes to last visitors at 4pm and therefore this is an opportune time to explore the site without too many people. The complex offers a rich and diverse look into the history and culture of Vietnam since the 10th century. Return to the hotel in the early evening for time at leisure.

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In the mid afternoon we head out to the neighbourhoods surrounding the vast expanse of West Lake. A 20 minute drive from the centre of Hanoi lies Van Nien Pagoda. Although the pagoda is not large, it is situated near the West Lake so it has a spacious and serene landscape with its beautiful teak timber columns and walls generating a warm and calming atmosphere.

Outside the pagoda, our bicycles await to continue the remainder of the journey following the foreshore of the lake. Hanoi’s largest freshwater lake, West Lake has a circumference of 17km and houses many of the city’s historic places of interest around its perimeter – including Vietnam’s four sacred temples, but is also filled with small lanes and alleys that beckon exploration.

These paths often lead us to local street markets, garden cafes, art galleries and various other places of interest far away from the tourist trail. Cycling around the permitter of the lake allows us to make numerous impromptu stops as our Travel Expert immerses you into local life in what is considered a more ‘well to do’ part of Hanoi.

Continuing our cycle ride we enter a peninsula on the lake that is home to the revered Phu Tay Ho pagoda.

The small alleyway leading to the gate is lined with colourful vendors and stalls selling local snacks. There are also cakes, fruit, sweets, and paraphernalia for making offerings at the temple, such as incense and paper money. 

Originally built in the 17th Century, recent restoration work has given Tay Ho Temple a modern air that contrasts with the wonderful, ancient banyan tree nearby. Depending on the time of year and the day, the pagoda can get crowded with local worshippers who come here from throughout the region to offer incense and worship for luck, peace and healthy children.

The final cycle section to the end of the lake is short and is where we can stop to enjoy a local beverage as we overlook the still waters of the lake at Tam Art Gallery and Cafe, next to the Intercontinental Hotel.

Return to the hotel thereafter for an evening of leisure (with our Travel Experts recommendations for dining).

After dinner, for the night owls, perhaps visit Quang Ba flower market on the outskirts of town. It trades at its busiest at 1am but late evening is a good time when the market is not overly crowded and the flowers are still beautiful and intact because they are just showcased on the stalls. 

Enjoy a relaxing morning on board your vessel. There are often Tai Chi or Meditation exercises conducted on board before having a leisurely breakfast as the cruise comes to a close by mid morning. Returning to Tuan Chau pier, we disembark and board our waiting vehicle for the journey to Ninh Binh (175kms up to 3.5 hours).

The province of Ninh Binh is blessed with a concentration of natural and cultural attractions. Often referred to as the ‘Halong Bay in the rice fields’ and the karsts here offer a captivating alternative to the oceanic landscape we have just witnessed. The area is characterised by limestone mountains and rocky outcrops that rise like pinnacles out of fields of verdant green. We expect to arrive mid afternoon at your comfortable accommodation with delightful views of this incredibly picturesque area.

After settling into our hotel for a late lunch, we begin our foray into the landscape as we take a bicycle ride on a very quiet and peaceful trail devoid of any tourists. We’ll soak in the magnificent beauty of the surrounding limestone karst mountains and the spiritual atmosphere of the area.

Nearby to Tam Cốc lies Bich Dong Pagoda. The pagoda is absolutely beautiful and the most photogenic spot at this location. We will see an arched concrete walkway that stretches over the water lilies and makes its way through an impressive temple gateway and into the mountains.

There are around 100 steps to reach the top of the mountain and this is where Bich Dong Pagoda can be found. The trail cuts through a large cave in the mountain where looming statues and small bats appear behind the haze of incense.

When you reach the top of the stairs, we’ll be welcomed with a mesmerising view out of the valley with its distant mountain peaks and vast rice fields.

Note: Both Hang Mua and Bich Dong are wonderful places to visit as the sun fades for the day. Your Travel Expert will monitor visitor levels on the day and see which location would be more appropriate for a more peaceful visit at dusk.

Return to the hotel after dusk for an evening of relaxation and leisure.

Our activity today involves 19kms of trails and paths taking approximately 6 hours in total duration (incl lunch). Other, shorter trails are available in the area. Please discuss your interest and walking ability with your Travel Expert to arrange appropriate excursions that meet your needs.

We continue to walk down hill to a local home, where we rest and then board bicycles for a ride through the ‘Lan’ ethnic village nearby. If feasible at the time we will visit a local family where we can learn about their traditional brocade weaving.

We continue cycling through the rice fields, from village to village and across bridges as we explore the scenic landscape surrounding us. All the while we make impromptu stops and your Travel Expert helps you to converse with the locals we meet on the way.

Our final destination is Hieu Village, considered one of the most attractive in the area and home to the only waterfall in the reserve. It is a short hike to the falls and, depending on the time of the year, is a refreshing dip after our activities.

We cycle back to our original departure point and from there our vehicle awaits to transfer us back to Pu Luong Retreat for the remainder of the late afternoon and evening. A poolside sundowner is the perfect way to end the day as the sun dips behind the surrounding hills and dusk sets in about us.

Return to the hotel after dusk for an evening of relaxation and leisure.

The Imperial Citadel is the focal point of most visits to Hue, and for good reason, because behind the fortified rapport walls lies a treasure trove of palaces, pavilions, pagodas, and pond filled gardens that needs to be seen to be believed.

The citadel opens at 7 and we strongly recommend that you are ready to enter at this time which will keep you ahead of the crowds and the rising temperatures. Your Travel Expert will guide you on a carefully planned tour that covers the highlights and also some hidden gems that will ensure a unique and fulfilling citadel experience.

After a coffee, or a cool beverage, at our favourite little cafe hidden away in the royal enclosure, you are met by our cycle drivers who will take you on a short ride through the citadel and across the railways tracks to the Phu Mong village, a delightful residential area on the edge of town populated with an array of garden homes that are unique to Hue.

As you are peddled down leafy lanes and along small shaded canals its quite easy to see why Hue is considered as the romantic city.

We finish our ride at the Temple of Literature which was built by Gia Long in 1808 to honour Confucius.

You are then returned to town where you are free for lunch and a siesta to retreat from the mid-day heat. In the afternoon you then venture a little further out of the town to Vong Canh Hill. Set among pine forests at a slight elevation of 43 metres, the Royal family used this as a place of recreation to make merry and enjoy the fresh breezes and wide panoramas of the Perfume River.

Both the French and the Americans used this point as a strategic look out and there are bunkers left by both armies still intact.

From here you will cycle on narrow trails and small roads through pine forests, villages, cemeteries, and rural scenes to Tu Hieu Pagoda. This beautiful Zen temple is one of the most peaceful and atmospheric temples in Hue. Set among ornamental gardens, it is home to the graves of 30 Royal Eunuchs and is the temple where Zen Master Thích Nhất Hạnh was ordained. You will have time to soak up the ethereal charm of this special place before you return to the bikes and continue on your way.. Note : The Monks chant at 04.30, 12.00 at 16.00 and 19.00 PM, we can time this tour accordingly or return here for those with a special interest.

Early in the morning you will be taken to the dock in the centre of town to board a boat on the Huong (Perfume) River.

As we leave the city centre behind, Hue begins to slowly work its magic. On the water we find ourselves embraced by the gently rolling hills that surround us. Grand colonial buildings and the towers blocks of the city are soon replaced by local homes clinging to the river banks, there is little traffic on the river but we pass the occasional small vessel casting fishing nets or transporting goods along the way. It’s a calm and enchanting experience that rally captures the soul.

Enjoy a catered breakfast board (organised the evening prior if an early departure meant breakfast at the hotel was not feasible). We moor our boat and take to 2 wheels for the final leg of our journey to the tomb of Gia Long, the first of the emperors who would rule a united Vietnam under the Nguyen Dynasty.

We follow a riverside trail past local homes with their tidy little gardens of fruit trees and aloe vera plants. Crossing a funky metal bridge takes us to the more remote side of the river and continue through little villages, orchards and ancient tombs and shrines until the trail widens and passes through a forest of pine trees that are home to a low hill where Gia Long’s tomb is to be found.

Although not as extravagant as some of the other tombs, the remote and idyllic location of Gia Long’s resting place makes it well worth the visit. Their are often only a trickle of visitors leaving you with a refreshing and tranquil atmosphere as your travel expert shows you around and explains the history of this historical city that served as the focal point for the development of Vietnamese art, culture and cuisine.

Our vehicle awaits on the other side of the river and ready to begin the drive to Hoi An by way of the Hai Van (Ocean Cloud) Pass, perhaps Vietnam’s most famous road. It offers a short but very scenic route winding its way around a mountain overlooking the sea.

A stop at the elaborate tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh will be made leaving Hue and before joining the main highway.

The construction of the tomb started on 1920 and lasted for 11 years. The architecture of this tomb is the most criticized of all the tombs of the Nguyen dynasty and can be seen as an attempt of fusion building style or a symbol of the decline of Vietnamese culture during the colonial era. Perched on a hill with 127 steps, the most noticeable characteristic of the tomb is the glassy and ceramic mosaics, a masterpiece of Vietnamese artisans early in the 20th century.

Continued overleaf…

Hoi An is one of those rare towns in Asia where one is free and comfortable to wander the streets devoid of traffic. It is also so accessible and filled with shops to browse, cafes to sit in and watch the world go by and restaurants to enjoy a long, lazy lunch.

The beach is also on standby at anytime to relax and pause during this point in the journey. Recharge one’s batteries and enjoy one of the many gorgeous resorts that line this coastline.

When discussing the ancient history of Vietnam, one cannot ignore the Cham people who occupied Central Vietnam before the Vietnamese conquered their Empire. My Son was the most important religious site for the Cham, it was where religious ceremonies for the kings of the ruling dynasties were held, as well as a burial place for Cham royalty and national heroes. It is also Vietnam’s most important ancient ruin.

Situated in the shadow of Cat Tooth Mountain (Hon Quap) It’s an incredibly atmospheric and mystical place in a sublime setting with around 20 brick towers with carved sandstone lintels and pillars surrounded by forest and jungle.

Its a captivating visit and understandably popular, for this reason we encourage you to start a visit later in the afternoon to arrive just before they stop admitting visitors.

We provide an archaeologist (subject to availability), who is an authority on this site, to stimulate your imagination and really bring the site to life.

We suggest enjoying a peaceful boat trip on the Thu Bon River, combined with gentle cycling through picturesque countryside and villages. We use the car to cover the majority of the 50kms and focus on the prettiest stretch of river and most interesting trails for cycling. Return to Hoi An in the early evening in time for dinner to enjoy at leisure at your resort or one of the many venues in the old town.

All aboard for the Vietage express train to Quy Nhon.

Travelling through a mixed terrain of plains, seaside and mountains, the Vietage private rail car is Central Vietnam’s most exclusive railway experience, uniting history with nature and providing an elegant form of transportation for international visitors to the region.

The elegant carriage is exclusive to just 12 passengers so bookings well in advance are required. For small groups or families, exclusive use is available for a premium cost.

The Vietage departs from Da Nang every morning at 09.31, arriving at Dieu Tri station in Quy Nhon at 15.43 (scheduled to change in 2022/23), taking approximately 6 hours.

Note: The Vietage train is an investment made by Anantara hotel group linking their Hoi An and Quy Nhon properties, however, access is available to all.

It is intentional that we have focused our beach stay on Quy Nhon. The township is charming and under developed and its coastal areas are home to some of the most rugged and beautiful cliffs, bays, headlands and beaches in the country.

Despite the advent of growing tourism and hotel development there still remains an air of authenticity here and a far cry from the commercialism and reliance on tourism as found in Hoi An.

Quy Nhon is also home to some of Vietnam’s most sensitive and attractive beach developments that have avoided large scale density, hence our recommendations that accommodation is focused on Zannier, Anantara and Avani (pending budget) for this reason.

Due to the attraction of the hotels locations and the overall low key vibe of Quy Nhon we do recommend adequate down time is spent here enjoying the resort and the immediate surroundings of the area. On arrival at Quy Nhon train station you are met by your driver and escorted to your accommodation of choice. Evening at leisure at the resor

If the lure of the beach and resort starts to wane today we have prepared a very special afternoon program to one of the region’s rich cultural sites - the historical Cham towers of Banh It.

Located 45 mins to 1 hour drive away from the main beach resorts, the four surviving Cham towers in this group were probably built towards the end of the 11th century. The main tower, or kalan, and the adjacent repository are at the very summit of a hill overlooking the Highway 1, the town of Binh Dinh, and a river (identified by Tran Ky Phuong as a major arm of the Con River). Two smaller towers are situated at lower levels on the hill, to the south and east of the main tower. These are dubbed, respectively, the stele tower and the gopura (gatehouse).

Vestiges of the Cham civilisation lie scattered throughout south central Vietnam, but nowhere is there a finer location than Banh It with its sweeping views of the countryside and coastal landscape in the distance.

Binh Dinh is also known as the cradle of the powerful martial arts of Vietnam; almost all its residents, men and women, old and young learn and master the arts by tradition. This is very apparent in the Quang Trung Museum dedicated to the history of martial arts in the region and the numerous schools and dojos that can be found in the province.

From the 10th century onward, the Viet Empire in the north of the country expanded south. In doing so, the Viet people brought with them the already thousand-year-old practices of the sword and spear, as well as concepts such as traditional wrestling and unarmed battlefield combat. This cross cohabitation between the Viet, Cham and other martial cultures peaked with the Nguyen progression southwards in the 17th century. The historically significant Tay Son Rebellion during the late 18th century, is seen as a key development in Vietnamese martial arts. The modern Emperor Nguyen Hue and his teachers are widely credited with its development.

The local Viet Anh dojo often chooses the ancient Cham towers to practice so students can feel the majestic and sacred atmosphere of Binh Dinh. With special permission we arrange a private performance of the art form on the hills at Banh It at sundown. An instructor will be on hand to explain the various moves and attacks based on traditional techniques. This is a beautiful evening of arts, culture, history and nature in a very private, spiritual setting.

Ho Chi Minh City is not known for any grand sites as such as is more a city you feel and absorb. Its frantic nature, chaotic traffic, it youthful vibrancy and ‘joie de vie’ approach to life is intoxicating.

The fabric of daily society in Ho Chi Minh City centres around market trade and religious worship. Our morning encompasses this very essence as we explore its cultural heart.

Our first stop is at Hoi Quan Quang Trieu Temple. With the large spiral incense coiling down from the roof and smoke slithering skyward this temple evokes a sense of serenity.

The roar of the traffic from the busy street fades into the background as you step through the gates into the small courtyard. Looking up at the walls, you’ll see surprisingly well-preserved tableaus along the top of the perimeter walls and above the facade of the pagoda. The figures are amazingly detailed and in surprisingly good condition.

A short car ride through the back streets takes us nearby to Tan Dinh Market. Built in 1926, Tan Dinh was originally known locally as the “rich market” because of its high-quality products and fresh foods matched with higher prices. Its original French built façade remains to this day and together with the brightly painted Tan Dinh Church opposite, it is reminder of the architectural value the French brought to this city. Across to nearby Phu Nhuan district lies the largest Mahayana pagoda in the city. Vinh Nghiem pagoda is a center for Buddhist beliefs and practices and considered the city’s most prominent religious site. Meaning ‘Ever Solemn’, Vinh Nghiem pagoda is fairly young, having been built over a span of seven years, from 1964 to 1971 with the assistance of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association and hence, fuses Japanese influence with traditional Vietnamese architecture. Continued overleaf…

Leaving the city behind you will head south to discover the vibrant and beautiful Mekong Delta. Its is a vast and extremely fertile area criss-crossed with a network of rivers, streams and canals.

The area is extremely fertile and provides 70% of the country’s tropical fruit and 60% of its rice. Travelling by road south of Ho Chi Minh City (approximately 1.5 hours) we journey to the small riverine town of Cai Be.

If we time our arrival correctly we should be able to witness a small and intimate Cao Dai ceremony often held at noon. Established in 1926 in the southern Vietnamese city of Tay Ninh, Caodaism is a monotheistic religion, in which Cao Dai is believed to be the creator of the universe. The temple in Cai Be is a smaller offshoot of the main Cao Dai Temple in Tay Ninh (also called the Holy See Temple), and was built in the early 1970s. The colourful structure, which is decorated in every shade of the rainbow and then some, has impressive wooden carvings of deities, immaculately painted iron grillwork, and handsome tiles.

After our visit we board a motorised sampan, a traditional bamboo-covered wooden boat, and begin and exploration of one of the country’s most enchanting landscapes.

Continue across the upper reaches of the river exploring beautiful riverine landscapes and observing typical rural life in the Mekong Delta. The region is rich with fruit orchards and, depending on the season, there will be the opportunity to taste some of the tasty tropical produce. Following lunch at a local fruit plantation we explore the local village by foot or perhaps a short bicycle ride before returning to your boat for the leisurely cruise through the maze of waterways to Vinh Long. From here, we continue by car to Can Tho, the Delta's economic hub. On arrival, check in your hotel in Can Tho and enjoy the evening at your riverside retreat. Dinner is on your own arrangements, although your Travel Expert will be pleased to make some recommendations in town for local fare.

After breakfast your driver will transfer you back to Ho Chi Minh City and to your hotel or to the airport for your onwards travel arrangements. Its been quite the adventure!

PROGRAM CONCLUDES