Vietnam Like a Local 2 Weeks

Choose a morning (8:00 AM - 8:30 AM) or afternoon (1:00 PM - 1:30 PM) departure for a half-day city tour by motorbike, offering a unique perspective of Ho Chi Minh City. Your ride will take you past iconic landmarks such as the Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office, both showcasing stunning French colonial architecture and intricate Gothic styling. While the Cathedral is currently undergoing renovation, you can still admire its exterior. You'll also see the Saigon Opera House, an architectural gem reflecting Vietnam's colonial history.

Continue to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Head Office and stroll along Nguyen Hue Walking Street, known for its apartment cafes offering great photo opportunities. The tour also includes visits to hidden city gems like the venerable Thich Quang Duc monument, Ho Thi Ky flower market, Thien Hau Pagoda, and the Cambodian market.

The journey concludes with a visit to Nguyen Thien Thuat Oldest Apartment, a famous street food area where you can observe local life. Afterward, you will be driven back to your hotel, passing Nguyen Trai Street in District 5, renowned for its fashion shops. The rest of the day is free for your independent exploration.

After breakfast, depart at 8:00 AM for Cai Be. Your first stop is the Com Candy Craft Village, where you can observe the process of making candy nuggets and sample freshly baked sweets. Next, visit a bee farm to enjoy fresh honey tea and witness the daily life of local people amidst the gardens.

Continue to Tan Phong Islet for garden tourism, where you can enjoy unique tropical fruits like durian, rambutan, and longan (seasonal) and even pick them yourself. At a local house, you'll be treated to a live performance of 'Don Ca Tai Tu', a traditional Vietnamese folk music, accompanied by tea and welcome fruits.

Board a small rowing boat to navigate through narrow canals to Mekong Ecolodge for check-in, followed by lunch at a local restaurant. The afternoon offers time to relax, explore the fruit and flower gardens of the Ecolodge, and pick fruits directly from the trees. Later, participate in 'ditch fishing hook', a traditional local activity, using a traditional fishing tool to catch fish. You'll then gather vegetables from the garden to help prepare dinner with the homestay's local chef. Enjoy your dinner and spend the night at the homestay.

Begin your day with the fresh air and sounds of the countryside. Take a morning stroll around the village to observe local farmers' activities. After breakfast at your homestay, join a cycling tour around Tan Phong Island. You'll visit traditional handicraft workshops, witnessing locals making rice papers and learning how to knit banana hammocks and water hyacinth products. You can even try knitting yourself. The tour also includes seeing the process of making nail files with bamboo sticks and local materials.

Cycle back to the Ecolodge for a cooking class where you'll learn to make jackfruit leaf cake, a specialty of Tan Phong Island, and then enjoy your creation. After checking out, you'll travel from Tan Phong ferry with locals to Hiep Duc, where your driver will pick you up and transfer you to the airport for your flight to Da Nang. Lunch will be provided midway during your return journey to Ho Chi Minh City.

Upon arrival at Da Nang Airport, you'll be transferred to your hotel in Hoi An. The rest of the day is yours to relax and recover or explore the enchanting streets of Hoi An by night.

Enjoy a free day to explore Hoi An at your leisure. You can take a relaxed walk through the charming ancient town, capture some beautiful photographs, or perhaps visit the nearby beaches.

In the late afternoon, your guide will pick you up to begin an exciting walking street food tour through Hoi An's small streets. You'll visit various coffee shops, restaurants, and eateries to sample famous local dishes:

• Banh Mi: The globally renowned Vietnamese sandwich.
• Cao Lau: Hoi An's signature dry noodles with multiple flavorful layers.
• Banh Beo: Traditional Vietnamese steamed rice cakes, unique to Central Vietnam.
• Banh Khot: Round pancakes made from rice flour, turmeric, and coconut milk, topped with quail eggs and vegetables.
• Balut: A unique, protein-rich dish (for the adventurous eater!).
• Vietnamese Coffee: A perfect end to your food tour, often enjoyed with sweet condensed milk.

After a night filled with delicious flavors, return to your hotel for a restful evening.

Today is dedicated to experiencing local farming life. At 8:00 AM, meet your tour guide at the hotel and begin a bicycle ride to Cam Thanh Village, a picturesque area on the outskirts of Hoi An's old town.

Upon arrival, a local host will welcome you to participate in various interesting farming activities. You'll have the chance to try plowing and raking with buffalo, transplanting rice, flood farming, and grinding and pounding rice with assistance from the host family. For a unique photo opportunity, you can even try riding a water buffalo.

Afterward, head to a local fishing village to try fishing alongside professional fishermen. The tour concludes with a memorable basket boat trip, allowing you to explore the lush water coconut jungle. A delicious lunch will be served at a local house before you finish the trip. The afternoon is free for you to return to your hotel and rest after an active day.

After breakfast, prepare for a scenic transfer from Hoi An to Hue, departing at 8:00 AM. This day involves a road journey to your next destination.

Upon arrival at your hotel in Hue, you will check in and have the rest of the day to relax and unwind, preparing for the upcoming exploration of this historic city.

Your day begins with a unique dragon boat ride from Toa Kham Wharf, offering a serene journey along the Perfume River and a glimpse into Hue's tranquil lifestyle. The boat will make a stop at Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the city's most ancient shrines, known for its seven-story brick pagoda, lush gardens, and peaceful atmosphere.

After your visit, you'll return to the dragon boat and head to Hue Ecolodge, where your guide will lead you to Thuy Bieu Eco-village. This relaxing village is celebrated for its serenity, abundant fruit gardens, and traditional houses, providing a rejuvenating experience. You'll have time to stroll or cycle around the village, visiting local handicraft families to learn about their lifestyle, including incense-making and paper painting.

Later, participate in a cooking class at Hue Ecolodge, where you'll learn to prepare authentic Hue cuisine, such as Vietnamese traditional spring rolls and Banh Khoai. Enjoy the delicious dishes you've created, with feedback and advice from the Eco-chef. The tour concludes with a relaxing foot soak in hot water infused with medical herbs and an excellent massage by blind therapists.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, then you have the entire day to explore Hue at your own pace. This is a perfect opportunity to delve deeper into the city's rich history and culture, revisit favorite spots, or discover new ones.

If you're looking for ideas, you might consider optional day trips such as the 'Hue DMZ Full-Day Tour' to learn about Vietnam's wartime history or 'Explore Hue Countryside by Bicycle' for a more active and scenic experience.

Make the most of your morning in Hue before your driver transfers you to the airport for your flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, a private car will take you to your hotel in Hanoi for check-in. Take some time to rest and refresh before your evening food adventure.

This evening, you'll join an exciting street food walking tour to savor authentic Vietnamese dishes. Stroll through the sparkling Hanoi Old Quarter and try soup-based delicacies like Pho Bo (Vietnamese Beef Noodles), Bun Thang (Rice Vermicelli Noodles With Chicken And Eggs), or Bun Bo Hue. Continue your walk with Banh Cuon (Steamed Rice Rolls) and Banh Mi.

Sample local snacks such as Nom Bo Kho (Dried Beef Salad) and Nem Chua Ran (Fried Fermented Pork Roll). Round off your culinary journey with Ca Phe Trung, the famous Egg Coffee, a unique Hanoi specialty. After a delightful evening, return to your hotel to relax.

At 8:00 AM, meet your tour guide at the hotel to begin a half-day motorbike tour exploring Hanoi's famous sites. You'll start by seeing Long Bien Bridge and the nearby Chuong Duong Bridge, enjoy some famous Trang Tien ice cream, and pass by the Hanoi Opera House, a venue for many art performances.

Visit the beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake, a signature destination in Hanoi, located near the Ly Thai To Monument. Continue to Hoa Lo Prison, also known as Maison Centrale, to learn about its historical significance. Travel to West Lake, Hanoi's largest freshwater lake, where you'll find Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest Buddhist temple in Vietnam, situated on a small island.

The tour also includes a visit to Huu Tiep Lake – B52 crash site, commemorating a victory in the Vietnam War. From here, your guide will take you to a nearby market to observe local daily life. The tour concludes with a trip to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where you can admire the exterior and take pictures (note: the mausoleum is viewed from outside, closed on Monday & Friday, and from June to August). Before returning to your hotel, enjoy tasty Vietnamese food at a nearby restaurant.

The afternoon is free for you to relax or discover more of Hanoi through optional tours such as a cooking class or a pottery adventure.

After breakfast at your hotel, your driver will pick you up at 8:00 AM for the journey to Halong Bay. Arrive at the port and prepare to board your cruise between 11:30 AM and 12:00 PM to begin your exploration of the majestic Halong Bay.

After checking in to your cabin, lunch will be served as the boat sails among the magnificent limestone islands. The afternoon itinerary, which varies by cruise, typically includes exciting activities such as sightseeing, kayaking, or swimming in the bay's emerald waters.

Around 5:30 PM, return to the boat. You can enjoy a sunset party with 'buy-1-get-1-free' cocktails while admiring the gorgeous sunset, or join a cooking class. Dinner is served on board, followed by free time to enjoy nightlife activities such as squid fishing, karaoke, or board games.

Start your day early with a simple Tai-chi exercise on deck, or enjoy a leisurely breakfast. You'll continue with the cruise schedule, which typically includes further exploration of Halong Bay, such as visiting a cave, joining a rowing boat trip, or swimming in the cool waters.

Return to the boat for check-out. A delightful brunch will be served as the cruise makes its way back to the port. Between 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM, disembark and bid farewell to the crew. Your driver will then transfer you back to Hanoi.

Upon arrival at your hotel in Hanoi, you'll have time to relax. The evening is yours to explore the city by night at your leisure, perhaps revisiting a favorite spot or discovering new areas.

Enjoy your final moments in Hanoi. After breakfast, your driver will meet you at the hotel and provide a private transfer to the airport for your departure flight, marking the end of your 'Vietnam Like a Local' tour. Please note that the standard hotel check-out time is 12:00 PM; a late check-out can be arranged with an additional surcharge.

Goodbye and we hope to see you again soon!