Vietnam Tour 8 days: A Sweet Honeymoon Vacation

After breakfast, we will enjoy a full day city tour of Hanoi starting with the Ho Chi Minh Complex. This famous site contains the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh
 
Our first stop is to visit the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh. Located in the center of Ba Dinh Square, this is the most important monument of Vietnam in which Ho Chi Minh’s body is preserved. This site only opens on Tuesday to Thursday and weekends from 08:00 – 11:00.
 
The next destination is the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. The Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house was completed on May 19th, 1958 as a birthday present for uncle Ho and becomes a symbol of his simple life.
 
Close to this complex is the One Pillar Pagoda. The pagoda looks like a lotus blossoming from the square pond. It was constructed in 1049 by King Ly Thai Tong based on his dream of Goddess of Mercy seating on a lotus flower and giving him a boy. In 1954, it was destroyed by the French and then restored in 1955.

We follow this with the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam. This temple provides an opportunity to learn more about education in Vietnam since 1000 years ago until recent history.

In the afternoon, visit the impressive Ethnologic Museum that is dedicated to Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups. This museum has both indoor and outdoor exhibition area with the most popular architectural styles of house’s ethnic people. The museum closes on every Monday.
 
In the late afternoon, you continue your trip with a walking street food tour.

18.00- 18:30 Pick-up from the hotel and transfer to our meeting point by local transportation.
18:30 Our professional English-speaking tour guide will meet you in the Old Quarter and introduce you to the culture and daily life of the locals there.
 You will have an opportunity to enjoy green papaya salad, Bun Cha, Pho (Beef or chicken noodle), Banh Cuon, Banh Mi, Hanoi draught beer. 
During the tour, you will not only have an opportunity to enjoy delicious local foods but will also be guided about the ingredients and process of making this local tasty dish, as well as introduced to some destinations of culture, history, and temples such as the local market, Heritage house, and the old city gate of Hanoi Old Quarter.
20:00 Our Barista will introduce the info about the class. Such as history of Vietnamese Coffee, Egg Coffee, Phin Coffee… 
Following the process for the famous cup of Egg Coffee 

Overnight at hotel in Hanoi

After pick-up, travel to Cua Dai Wharf and board a speed boat. Relax on 20 minutes-long ride to Cham Island
When arrival at Hon Nhon Beach, take some time to swim and snorkel at your pleasure.
Discover the area's beautiful sea life. Then, enjoy a delicious seafood lunch at a Cham Jungle Restaurant.

Travel to Bai Chong Beach and take the opportunity to rest in the hammocks, sunbathe or take another swim Return to the boat and the journey back to Hoi An city.
 
We then transfer you back to Hoian town for a fascinating walking tour including of ancient merchants' houses, a Phuc Kien temple, the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, and the colorful riverside markets, workshops where artisans make Hoi An's famous lanterns.
 
Overnight in Hoian 

We start the day (8.15am) with a drink at Hai Scout Café (98 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Hoian Ancient Town, our meeting point. Visit Hoian’s colourful market, and experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy market. We will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers and purchase some of the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later. We board the Red Bridge boat for a leisurely cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoian River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. This is a chance to view local river life, so make sure your camera is handy. On arrival, we explore the cooking school’s herb and vegetable garden, before learning about some of Hoian’s and Vietnam’s well-known dishes. The cooking lesson runs for about 2 hours – each dish is first demonstrated by the Red Bridge chef’s, before we prepare the same dish ourselves. Included in the class is a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving (plate decoration).
After the lesson, we sit down and eat exactly what we have cooked.
 
Recipes (our food contains no MSG):
1. Making fresh Rice paper
2. Fresh Rice Paper Rolls of Shrimp
3. Crispy Hoi An Pancakes with Shrimp, Herbs & a Peanut Sauce
4. Seafood Salad with mixed Vietnamese Herbs served in Half a Pineapple
5. Mi Quang Chicken Noodles
6. Food Decoration – Tomato Rose & Vietnamese Cucumber Hand Fan
 
Our cooking class finishes at approximately 1:00 PM and we then transfer back to central Hoi An.  Free time at your hotel in Hoian.
Overnight in Hoian