HANOI ESCAPE 7D

HANOI

7days - 6 nights

Departure : On demand

Day 01: Arrival HANOI

Arrive in Hanoi, guide will pick you up and transfer to hotel for check – in and relax.

In this evening, you will have a chance to explore Hanoi – one of the world’s best destinations for street food.

Our guide will lead you through some Hanoi Old Quarter that serve local street food, including Pho Bo (beef noodle soup), robust Banh Xeo (egg crepes), and gossamer-light Banh Cuon, (steamed rice crepes filled with minced pork, shallots and mushrooms).

Later, your tour should end at Pho Co (Old Quarter) Coffee shop, located at 11 Hang Gai Street to taste egg coffee – one of the 40 delicious food in Vietnam. After that, you can keep exploring Hanoi at night on your own or guide will escort you back to hotel.

Overnight in Hanoi.



Day 02: HANOI – DUONG LAM ANCIENT VILLAGE (B,L)

Car and tour guide pick you up to Duong Lam ancient village, a purely agricultural village of the Northern Red   River delta where still preserve many hundred-year-old houses. Upon arrival, walking to explore:

●       Mong Phu hamlet: the only hamlet whose original village entrance gate remains intact, dedicated to national heroes.

●       Enjoy tea and Lac candy:that is snack mostly loved by people in the village

●       Discovery Duong Lam village by bicycle: riding around the village to discover the daily life and farming working of Vietnamese peasants along the terrace with a stop in two ancient houses: the biggest ancient house was build 200 years ago and the most ancient house back to 400 years ago.

●       Learning to make Lac candy or “Chè Lam” – a special candy used with tea

   Have lunch at the ancient house, enjoy special food of Vietnam prepared by local chef.

In the afternoon, continue visiting Ngo Quyen temple and Phung Hung temple, places dedicated to two national heroes Ngo Quyen and Phung Hung. Again biking to visit Mia Pagoda (other hamlet in Duong Lam village), is built in 15th century and admire 287 statues of all sizes, along with are famous sculpture such as the statue of Buddha in the Himalayas and the statues of the Eight Viagra Deities. Drive back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.



Day 03: BIKING TOUR (B,L)

Depart from your hotel this morning at 08:30 and cycle toward the old quarter. You can admire the local daily life: traders selling all kinds of wares and people sitting at street side stalls eating Pho and drinking tea.

And then ride to visit Hanoi’s largest lake, Tay Ho and admire lotus gardens (best seen in summer months) that have attracted hundreds of people to take photo during the blossom. Keep visiting one of the oldest pagoda in Hanoi: The Tran Quoc Pagoda.

Aftern that enjoy one of the specialities that shouldn’t be missed when visiting Hanoi – Banh Tom Ho Tay

( West Lake shrimp cake). Back to hotel for relax.

In the afternoon, it’s time for you to free your mind, body, soul and rejuvenate yourself at Thu Cuc Spa (paid by clients) or just free at leisure.



Day 04: COOKING CLASS (B,L)

Breakfast at hotel. This morning you will have a chance to visit Hoa Sua Vocational Training School is a non-profit organisation for disadvantaged youth and enjoy Vietnamese cooking class here.

The cooking teachers bring their excellent skills to you in a fun environment! They have often practised themselves abroad and thus have numerous experiences and are able to speak good English.

The teacher will take you on a visit of a local market in central Hanoi to choose the ingredients for your lunch. After your practical class, it will be time to taste the dishes you have prepared and an expert chef will be able to give his feedback on your own chef skills!

The menu will be:

1. Fresh spring roll with shrimp and pork

2. Fried spring roll

3. Vermicelli with dried beef salad

4. Sweet black sticky rice porridge

Then back to hotel for relax. Free at leisure.

In the evening, experience a Ca Tru show which is a long-standing and unique form of art which has special meaning in the musical treasures of Viet Nam, associated with the traditional festivals, customs, religions, literature, music, thoughts and philosophy of the Vietnamese. Ca Tru is unique with its private art performing space, musical instruments and distinct style of poetry. The singing technique is very sophisticated. The singers have to practice in very painstaking and meticulous manner. Streamlined instruments with timbres in contrast have elevated the beauty of each performing participant. [Note: if Ca Tru is not available on this evening a traditional water puppet performance will be seen instead.]

Overnight in Hanoi.



Day 05: HANOI – HALONG BAY (B,L,D)

After having breakfast at hotel, take a 4-hour drive to visit Halong Bay – one of the World Seven Wonders. On the way, you can have a great opportunity to see local daily life.

Upon arrival, boarding and check-in with welcome drink, then the cruise starts through Cho Da, Dinh Huong, Ga Choi and Hoa Cuong limestone islets while a lunch is served on board. Then visit Sung Sot Grotto, the “Cave of Surprises”, before taking a swim in Titov Beach or Soi Sim Beach’s pristine waters. The vessel then cruises further to reach its overnight anchorage location near Ho Dong Tien or Luon Cave.

Enjoy the sunset from the sundeck or while swimming; then a dinner will be served on board. Evening is devoted to relaxing in that peaceful piece of a setting, or to experience night-fishing from the boat’s deck.

Overnight on board.



Day 06: HALONG BAY - HANOI (B,L)

Early wake-up for a breakfast with stunning scenery, then a small boat will take you to visit Luon Cave. Back on board the cruise heads to Tuan Chau pier. Transfer by tender to Pelican & Image cafe. Lunch is served on board while the cruise goes back to Halong City for disembarking at noon time.

Carnival guide and car will pick you up at Tuan Chau pier to be back to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.



Day 07: HANOI -Departure (B)

Breakfast at hotel. Free at leisure for last minute shopping or sightseeing before transfer to Noi Bai airport for flight back home. End of services.