Itinerary
- Day 1
Departure
Today you'll board your flight headed to Hanoi. This is where your Vietnamese adventure kicks off, so take time to mentally prepare for what's ahead.
- Day 2
Hanoi
You'll arrive in Hanoi and check into your hotel. If you're up for it, there's an option to tour the old town by electric car, see the Ho Chi Minh Complex and the one-pillar pagoda. Later, you'll meet up with the group for dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner
Optional Activities
- Guided sightseeing tour of Hanoi old town in electric cars
- Visit to Ho Chi Minh Complex (exterior tour)
- Visit to one-pillar pagoda
Landmarks/POIs One-Pillar Pagoda Ho Chi Minh Complex - Day 3
Hanoi
Start your morning with a cooking class run by Ms. Tran Ngoc Ai. You'll head to a local market first to learn about traditional Vietnamese ingredients, then cook a meal at her house. After lunch, walk through the Temple of Literature and the Vietnamese Women's Museum. Later, wander around the Old Quarter and have green tea at someone's home.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Meal prepared during cooking class)
Included Activities
- Cooking class with Ms. Tran Ngoc Ai including market visit
- Visit to Temple of Literature
- Visit to Vietnamese Women's Museum
- Walk through Old Quarter
- Traditional green tea in local house
Landmarks/POIs Temple of Literature Vietnamese Women's Museum - Day 4
Hanoi
Begin early with a 30-minute tai chi session at Hoan Kiem Lake alongside locals at sunrise. Then you'll meet Doctor Thi Tam Thuan Nguyen at the Central Traditional Medicine Hospital to hear about her work and traditional medicine practices. In the afternoon, head out on Vespas driven by local women through rural villages and rice fields outside Hanoi.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Tai chi class at Hoan Kiem Lake
- Meeting with Doctor Thi Tam Thuan Nguyen at Central Traditional Medicine Hospital
- Vespa tour through rice fields and charming villages outside Hanoi
Landmarks/POIs Hoan Kiem Lake Central Traditional Medicine Hospital - Day 5
Halong Bay
Travel to Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You'll board a ship and cruise through the waters, passing countless islands and dramatic karst rock formations. There's happy hour for cocktails before dinner, and you'll sleep on the ship.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise through Halong Bay
- Cocktail at happy hour
Landmarks/POIs Halong Bay - Day 6
Halong Bay to Hue
Have breakfast on deck while you watch the rock formations as you head into the harbor. After that, you'll drive to Hanoi Airport and fly to Hue, a former imperial city. Later this evening, there's an imperial dinner where you'll wear traditional costumes and watch classical music performances by female musicians.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Imperial dinner in traditional costumes)
Included Activities
- Flight from Hanoi to Hue
- Imperial dinner in traditional costumes
- Performance of classical musical instruments
Landmarks/POIs Hue Imperial City - Day 7
Hue
Check out the UNESCO World Heritage imperial citadel in Hue and see the Dien Tho Palace, which was built for empresses. Visit the Tu Hieu pagoda and eunuch tombs outside the city. Then walk through the peaceful Dong Thuyen Pagoda, which is run by women, and have a fresh vegetarian lunch there.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Freshly prepared vegetarian lunch)
Included Activities
- Visit to Hue Imperial Citadel
- Visit to Dien Tho Palace
- Visit to Tu Hieu Pagoda
- Visit to eunuch tombs
- Visit to Dong Thuyen Pagoda
- Vegetarian lunch at Dong Thuyen Pagoda
Landmarks/POIs Hue Imperial Citadel Dien Tho Palace Tu Hieu Pagoda Dong Thuyen Pagoda - Day 8
Hue to Hoi An
Drive over the Cloud Pass from Hue to Hoi An, and you'll get nice coastal views of the landscape and sea. In the afternoon, explore Hoi An with heritage expert Ms. Vy, walking through historic buildings and narrow streets while learning how this old port city was restored.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Drive over Cloud Pass with scenic views
- City tour of Hoi An with cultural heritage expert Ms. Vy
Landmarks/POIs Cloud Pass Hoi An Old Town - Day 9
Hoi An
Visit an organic farm outside Hoi An where you'll meet Mrs. Hang, a nutritionist and herbalist. She'll show you through the herb garden and talk about Vietnamese cooking and how flavors balance with Ying and Yang principles. You'll prepare and eat an authentic meal together. The rest of the day is yours to explore Hoi An on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Authentic local meal prepared at organic farm)
Included Activities
- Visit to organic farm near Hoi An
- Guided tour of herb garden with Mrs. Hang
- Cooking class and meal preparation
- Authentic local meal
- Day 10
Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City
If you'd like, there's an optional yoga class with Ms. Kamala Dung this morning. Then you'll head to Da Nang Airport and fly to Ho Chi Minh City. Tonight, women will lead you on a scooter tour through hidden alleyways, stopping to try street food, visit the flower market, and check out the night market.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Scooter ride through Ho Chi Minh City led by women
- Local street food sampling
- Visit to flower market
- Visit to night market
Optional Activities
- Yoga class with Ms. Kamala Dung
- Day 11
Ho Chi Minh City
Explore Ho Chi Minh City's landmarks starting with the main post office and its impressive vaulted ceiling. Walk along Dong Khoi Street and see the Gia Long Palace, now a city museum. Watch a traditional engraving artisan work, then visit the central market and a pre-war apartment with boutiques and cafes. Grab lunch at a popular family restaurant known for traditional silken chicken soup. That evening, join a bartender for a cocktail tour of hidden bars to learn about local spirits and mixology.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional silken chicken soup at family-run restaurant established 1948, listed in Michelin Guide)
Included Activities
- Visit to Ho Chi Minh City main post office
- Stroll along Dong Khoi Street
- Visit to Gia Long Palace and city museum
- Watch traditional engraving artisan
- Visit to central market
- Visit to pre-war apartment with boutiques and cafés
- Lunch at traditional silken chicken soup restaurant
- Evening cocktail tour with bartender
Landmarks/POIs Ho Chi Minh City Central Post Office Dong Khoi Street Gia Long Palace - Day 12
Mekong Delta
Head from Ho Chi Minh City into the Mekong Delta. Take a boat through rivers and tropical landscape, then visit a coconut factory to see what's made from coconuts. You'll cycle to meet Mr. and Mrs. Two at their village house to learn about their lives. Ride in sampans through coconut palm-lined canals to lunch. See a folklore performance and watch clay bricks being made by hand before returning to Ho Chi Minh City for a final group dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at idyllic spot in sampan), Dinner
Included Activities
- Boat trip through Mekong Delta rivers
- Visit to coconut factory
- Cycling to village house
- Meeting with Mr. and Mrs. Two
- Sampan ride through canal
- Lunch in idyllic spot
- Folklore performance
- Visit to clay brick-making site
Landmarks/POIs Mekong Delta - Day 13
Ho Chi Minh City
This is your last full day in Vietnam. You have a few hours to explore more of Ho Chi Minh City. You can optionally visit the Cu Chi tunnels to learn about the Vietnam War and the role women played as nurses, cooks, fighters and strategists, or relax by the sea. Later, head to the airport for your flight back to Germany.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Cu Chi tunnels including lunch
Landmarks/POIs Cu Chi Tunnels - Day 14
Return to Germany
Your trip through Vietnam ends this morning as you arrive back in Germany.
