Discover Duong Lam Ancient Village & Countryside

Arrive in the elegant Vietnamese capital, greeted by A&K’s fast track services and transfer to your iconic hotel
Sofitel Legend Metropole (Grand Luxury Room)

Spend your morning experiencing the many sides to this enthralling city. Begin your tour at the mausoleum of Vietnam’s revered revolutionary leader, Ho Chi Minh. Linger over the iconic One Pillar Pagoda and stroll through the complex of atmospheric halls, pavilions and courtyards of the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university. After lunch, wander through a small community uniquely established either side of the city’s railway lines. Meet the locals as they go about their daily chores and take a peek into their homes as you marvel at how life pauses momentarily to make way for the passing trains.

Then, visit Hoa Lo Prison, used to detain political prisoners of the French and later nicknamed “Hanoi Hilton” by prisoners of the Vietnam War. Most of the buildings here were demolished in the 1990s, but the gatehouse remains open for visitors. Next stop is the beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake, or “Lake of the Returned Sword” and Ngoc Son, a temple dedicated to Tran Hung Dao who defeated Mongolian troops on three unique occasions in the 13th century. Take a stroll around the lake with U.S. veteran, Chuck Searcy, who first came to Vietnam in 1967 to fight in the Vietnam War, but became conflicted between U.S. policy and his newfound respect for Vietnam. Hear first-hand Chuck’s heartwarming story of returning to Vietnam after the war, setting up a disability programme for children and his active involvement in post-war recovery efforts.

Before returning to the hotel refuel on some typical street food snacks and a glass of the refreshing locally brewed bia hoi (beer).
Sofitel Legend Metropole (Grand Luxury Room) | Meals: BL

Today,choose how to enhance your experience of Hanoi.

Join your private guide for a locals-only half day immersion in Hanoi’s food culture. Your degustation begins in the labyrinthine streets and alleyways of the Old Quarter, where street vendors reveal all the flavours of Vietnamese cuisine. Continue to Dong Xuan to discover first-hand how it earned the nickname “Food Street”. Then, take a ride to Truc Bach Lake where a medley of meat-stuffed dumplings, sweet and savoury cakes, and spring rolls await. For dessert, surprise your tastebuds with cà phê trúng (egg coffee), a deliciously sweet Hanoi favourite invented here during a milk shortage in the 1940s.

Or, venture into ancient villages for a full day discovery of rural Vietnam. Begin at the elegant Moon Garden House in Ky Son village, before learning the secrets of traditional Vietnamese cuisine in a cooking class and devouring the fruits of your labour. Later, hop in the saddle for a guided cycling tour through the village. Navigate streets lined with ancient houses and take in the Mia Pagoda, which houses some 270 early Buddhist statues. Pedal on to Duong Lam, where centuries-old houses reveal an ancient way of life.

This evening, take to the busy Hanoi streets on the back of a Vespa for a culinary and cultural tour with a difference. Weave through the maze of streets and narrow passageways stopping at a market where locals busily collect fresh produce for their evening meal. Get a glimpse of neighbourhood life when you peer into tiny homes tucked away behind shopfronts. Sample local street food washed down with a cold brew, visit a local coffee shop and explore the waterfront locale of West Lake.
Sofitel Legend Metropole (Grand Luxury Room) | Meals: B

Today you will take to the skies for an exhilarating seaplane ride over Ha Long Bay. The one-hour flight is the fastest way to arrive at the picturesque bay and offers breathtaking aerial views along the way. Experience the thrill of landing on water as the seaplane makes its approach towards the marina.  Board your boutique wooden junk and enjoy lunch as you drift over emerald waters past towering rocky outcrops, some more than 100 metres high. Venture south into the maze of Lan Ha Bay, the little-visited extension of Halong Bay. Step ashore on the island of Cat Ba and cycle through a wonderland of lush greenery to the remote village of Viet Hai (or take an electric car, if you prefer). Here, meet the islanders and learn about their daily life. Back on board, try your hand at preparing traditional dishes in the restaurant kitchen. After a day of adventure, take your place on the terrace deck and watch the sun sink behind the bay’s myriad islands.
Ginger (Junior Suite Cabin) | Meals: BLD

Rise early for a Tai Chi class on the deck, or simply drink in the first rays touching the water. After breakfast, hop on a small bamboo boat rowed by locals, or paddle by yourself in a kayak through an endless sea of islands. Back on board, enjoy breakfast with more spectacular views as you drift back to port. Transfer to Noi Bai airport for the short flight south to Danang and transfer to the UNESCO World Heritage listed waterside town of Hoi An.
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai (One Bedroom Villa) | Meals: B

Spend your morning at leisure. Later, take an afternoon walking tour to discover this charming historic town, a major south-east Asian trading post in the 16th and 17th centuries and now a living museum. Roam narrow cobbled lanes where Dutch and French colonial houses are squeezed between Chinese tea warehouses and Japanese temples – a clue to the town’s mixed heritage. Inhale the aromas and flavours of Hoi An’s lively market stalls. Step inside the Old House of Duc An and Fukia Assembly Hall. Marvel at the 400-year-old Japanese covered bridge – one of the few built outside Japan. After an afternoon wandering beneath the luminous lanterns, it’s time to make your own. Join a local master in the studio and learn the traditional art of lantern making.
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai (One Bedroom Villa) | Meals: B

Unlock the secrets of time-honoured recipes in a half-day culinary masterclass. Savour the many flavours of Hoi An with a traditional breakfast in Vy’s Market Restaurant, where a central courtyard is lined with individual food stalls. Join your guide for a tour of the town’s markets bursting with tantalising fruits, spices, herbs, fish and noodles. Gain an insight into how ingredients are selected and assembled to create local dishes. Then, return to the Market Restaurant to see how traditional dishes are cooked, from grilling rice crackers to making fresh ‘bun’ and ‘cao lau’ noodles. Now inspired, try your own hand at making local delicacies in a 2.5-hour masterclass, before enjoying the fruits of your labours. Spend the afternoon at leisure.
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai (One Bedroom Villa) | Meals: BL

Journey overland to Hue, the former Imperial capital of Vietnam. Along the way, stop at Cham Museum to lose yourself amongst the finest collection of Cham sculpture in the world. Step inside one of Hue’s beautiful garden houses for a private lunch. Tha Om Garden House offers an excellent opportunity to relax and enjoy traditional Vietnamese hospitality, complete with fascinating stories from your hosts, Pham Ba Vinh and his wife, Ton Nu Cam Tu. Later, take in the Tomb of Khai Dinh, a fascinatingly strange combination of Vietnamese, Chinese and European styles.
Azerai La Residence Hotel & Spa (Colonial Suite) | Meals: BL

Unpeel the layers of this ancient imperial city today. Start at The Imperial Citadel, the seat of Nguyen Dynasty rule between 1802 and 1945. Lose yourself amongst over 100 fascinating buildings and structures that have miraculously survived years of conflict. Take a short drive through the rolling hills that encircle Hue, arriving at the serene tomb of the ‘poet Emperor’, Tu Duc, set in an elegant garden of pine trees and frangipanis. For a stark contrast, continue to the Tomb of Minh Mang where an architectural complex of palaces, temples and pavilions awaits. Next, enjoy true Vietnamese hospitality in a unique home on the banks of the Huong River. Indulge in a private lunch within the walls of this traditional stone mansion, which stands proudly in a serene and expansive garden. Continue by boat along the dreamy Perfume River as far as Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the oldest religious buildings in Hue. Explore the gardens and the distinctive seven-story octagonal tower, before a final stop at the lively Dong Ba Market.
Azerai La Residence Hotel & Spa (Colonial Suite) | Meals: BL

Transfer to Hue airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. This evening, see and taste the city from the back of a vintage Vespa. Enjoy a unique view of the city after dark as your weave through buzzing streets. Plunge into the maze of narrow alleyways to savour the sizzling street food at places only locals know. Then, journey downtown for a taste of Banh Xeo, a local delicacy. Stop at a hidden coffee shop for a taste of Vietnamese acoustic music before finishing the evening with a drink at the city’s top live music venue.
Park Hyatt Saigon (Park Room Garden View) | Meals: BD

Skim along the Saigon River this morning on a private luxury speedboat passing mangroves and palm trees on your way to a small community northwest of Ho Chi Minh City and its famous wartime landmark – the Cu Chi tunnels. This incredible network of narrow tunnels was built during resistance to the French colonisation and used extensively throughout the war. Take a guided exploration of the complex network, discovering underground storage, make-shift hospitals and sleeping quarters.

Return to Ho Chi Minh City for lunch before a visit to the Reunification Palace where the official handover of power took place during the Fall of Saigon in 1975. Then choose between the History Museum or the War Remnants Museum. Built in 1929, the History Museum houses a collection of artefacts illustrating the evolution of Vietnamese culture since ancient times, while the War Remnants Museum contains an at-times grisly display of wartime photographs and relics including an American tank, an original 20th century French guillotine and a UH-1 “Huey” helicopter.

Finish the day on a peaceful note as you venture into Cao Dai Temple, to learn about a unique religion of Southern Vietnam, the result of a colourful range of several religious philosophies. You may wish to stop for a complimentary refreshment at a local place along the way. Return to the hotel driving past Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post office en route.
Park Hyatt Saigon (Park Room Garden View) | Meals: BL

Discover the best of Ho Chi Minh City with your choice of activities. Cruise the Mekong Delta to Ben Tre, a province famous for its coconut production and tranquil network of crisscrossing rivers and canals. Take a xe loi (rickshaw) through the village and onwards to the Huu Phuoc Bridge. Embark on a boat trip through narrow waterways, stopping to watch locals use centuries-old brick-making methods. Then, hop on a bike to cycle through lush tropical scenery to a factory that produces famous Hu Tieu noodles. Take a short stroll to meet a local family and get a unique glimpse into their daily life. Enjoy fresh fruits and tea with your host before heading out again for a trip through the canals by sampan, a boat used on the delta waters for centuries. Pause for a riverside five-course lunch filled with local specialties. Then, cycle to My Long to visit a former Vietcong soldier and watch as he and his wife produce iconic rice paper.

Alternatively, a half-day silversmith tour will showcase the treasures of the city, including the assembly hall built in 1896 using the contributions of Southern Vietnamese craftsmen, silversmiths, goldsmiths and jewellers. Learn about the development of Vietnamese jewellery as you explore. Soak up the vibe in the market, a hive of handicrafts and every type of jewellery imaginable. Then, onwards to a silversmith workshop where the master teaches you how to make a silver ring, from beginning to end. Keep your one-of-a-kind ring as a souvenir of your silversmithing experience.

Or, dive into city life on a half-day cyclo and Vespa tour through the bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh City. Head to Tao Dan Park, one of the largest and oldest city parks, and enjoy famous Saigon coffee with the locals while serenaded by beautiful bird calls. Back in the cyclo saddle, you’ll be whisked to the memorial park dedicated to Thich Quang Duc, the Buddhist monk who famously performed self-immolation to protest the persecution of monks by the South Vietnamese government. Switch from cyclo to vintage Vespa for your tour of iconic markets and little-known sites, including a secret weapons bunker hidden in a busy alley. This weapon store, now recognised as a National Historical Site, went undetected for many years and played a key part in the Viet Cong’s Saigon offensive. Drink in the colours of Ho Thi Ky Flower Market before sampling sensational pho at one of the best-kept secrets in Ho Chi Minh City – the perfect end to your adventure.
Park Hyatt Saigon (Park Room Garden View) | Meals: B