Vietnam Honeymoon Experience
Cherish your honeymoon holiday with a myriad of wonderful experiences as you travel across the most romantic destinations from north to south of Vietnam. Explore regional cuisine with a local host and spend a mystical night aboard a cruise on Ha Long Bay. Your honeymoon will be the perfect mix of exploration and relaxation in Vietnam, with an array of unforgettable experiences from pedalling to the ancient towns surrounding Hoi An, to delighting in an idyllic romantic dinner as you witness the sun set on the Saigon River. Cocktail in hand, enjoy the end of your honeymoon on a three-day break on the white pristine beaches of Con Dao. This trip provides unforgettable memories to share with your life partner and celebrate the honeymoon in your own way.
- Learn the local cultural secret recipes to cooking true Vietnamese dishes
- Spend the ultimate romantic evening exploring the stars painting the clear skies of Ha Long
- Explore the world of aromatherapy from an expert and learn how to use it as a method to benefit your body
- Try your hand at crab-fishing and lantern making
- Admire French colonial architecture of Notre Dame Cathedral and City Centre Post Office in Saigon
- Spend your time on one of the most beautiful pristine beaches in Vietnam
Your honeymoon will be experienced across the broad landscapes of Vietnam. All of these regions provide a unique atmosphere to explore with your partner.
Hanoi & The North
Lined with picturesque architecture, inundated by unyielding motorbikes and infused with the fragrant smells of street kitchens, the streets of Vietnam’s vibrant capital are equally enchanting as they are overwhelming. Vietnam’s North is characterised by its stunning natural scenery and a popular destination is the mountain town of Sapa, famous for its iconic rice terraces. In the far north are the soaring mountain peaks of Ha Giang and beautiful Ba Be Lake, whilst south of the capital lies Ninh Binh, often dubbed ‘the Ha Long Bay on land’.
Ha Long Bay & Surrounding Bays
Its translation – ‘Bay of the Descending Dragon’ – seems an apt description for the mythical seascape that is Ha Long Bay. Imagine a forest of foliage-topped limestone karsts rising from the emerald green waters and hidden among them are tiny coves, secret caves and traditional floating villages. The bay was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, and thanks to its close proximity to Hanoi, makes for an easy weekend getaway from the capital.
Hoi An
The coastal town of Hoi An impresses visitors with its picturesque architecture. This city is very well known for its distinctive regional cuisine that blends centuries of cultural influences from East and Southeast Asia. Indigenous and foreign cultures merged to produce a unique heritage site that makes this port city one of the most atmospheric and delightful towns in Vietnam.
Saigon & the South
Vietnam’s largest and most populous city, Ho Chi Minh City has transformed from historic Saigon into a dynamic and modern metropolis, where historic landmarks across the city and beyond (Cu Chi Tunnels!) shed light on its tumultuous past. From Nha Trang to Phu Quoc Island, the southern coast is lined with popular beach destinations, whilst the labyrinth of rivers and rice paddies of the Mekong Delta has been given the nickname ‘rice bowl of Vietnam’.
Your guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel in Hanoi. Spend the rest of your day exploring Hanoi or relaxing with the facilities at your hotel.
Start your half-day culinary journey at a local market, browsing through the colourful and fresh produce on offer. Understand the intricacies of Vietnamese cuisine as you explore the different ingredients that make the region’s food so unique. Take a short walk, arriving at the home of a local family who will lead this intimate cooking class. Become acquainted with your welcoming host over a cup of regional tea before putting on an apron and getting ready to chop, stir and cook. Under the guidance of your friendly hosts, learn how to make a tasty bowl of beef noodles, before delighting in your mouthwatering creation.
In the afternoon, visit the exterior of the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum. Discover the story of the man who led Vietnam’s campaign for independence from French colonial rule. After dedicating his life to the liberation of his country from foreign rule, Ho Chi Minh died in 1969 and his body was preserved for posterity. Wander the grounds with your partner, witnessing the one pillar pagoda and the bright presidential palace. En route, visit the Temple of Literature – an 11th-century relic built in homage to the Chinese scholar, Confucius. Conclude your day in Hanoi with a hospitable environmentally-friendly electric car ride around the West lake, one of the biggest and most beautiful lakes in all of Hanoi.
Highlights
- Mingle with locals in the market
- Learn the local cultural secret recipe to cooking true Vietnamese dishes
- Challenge your cooking skill and enjoy a tasty homemade meal
- Visit must-see highlights of Hanoi: Ho Chi Minh complex and Temple of Literature
- Explore another scenic side of Hanoi on an environmentally-friendly electric car
In the morning, transfer from your hotel in Hanoi to Ha Long City, approximately a three-hour transfer with a refreshment break en route. On arrival in Ha Long, board an overnight cruise to explore the far-most corners of the UNESCO heritage bay site. Savour a delicious lunch on board as you cruise out into the bay, stopping to anchor for an afternoon of exploration of the mystical islets and grottoes situated throughout the bay (subject to change due to cruise selection and weather conditions). End the day on deck, as you and your partner witness the unmissable sight of the Ha Long Bay sunset. A delightfully prepared meal encapsulating the vibrant flavours of Vietnams cuisine will conclude your night aboard the cruise.
Note: Itinerary subject to change or cancellation due to weather conditions
Highlights
- Sail through UNESCO Heritage Ha Long Bay’s limestone karst and island caves
- Spend the ultimate romantic evening exploring the stars painting the clear skies of Ha Long
- Visit the beautiful Sung Sot cave meaning Surprise Cave on the bay
Optional Tour
Taking off from the Tuan Chau Island Marina, this twenty-five-minute sightseeing flight takes in all the highlights of Ha Long Bay, with amazing views over the magnificent landscape of limestone karst emerging from the emerald waters. The islands, scattered throughout the bay, present different shaped formations, visualising the thousands of years of erosion which have slowly sculpted this mystical landmark. The unmissable sightseeing tour encapsulated the breathtaking beauty you and your partner can experience in this unique journey.
Highlights:
- Discover the beauty of Ha Long Bay from above the clouds
Spend your last morning soaking up the delightful scenic landscape of Ha Long Bay before being transferred to the airport for a flight to Hoi An. Spend the rest of your day at your own leisure in Hoi An.
After breakfast, you will be transferred from your hotel to meet an aromatherapy expert and begin the journey to explore, listen and heal your inner self.
As a chemist and qualified aromatherapist, the expert will share with you the story of aromatherapy, essential oils and the method attributed to these alternate forms of medicine. Explore how each smell and essential oil has a different use and effect on the mind and body. Immerse in the peaceful atmosphere of this cosy and lovely workshop, creating a personal mix of oils just for you.
The remainder of your day is to be filled at your own leisure.
Highlights
- Explore the world of aromatherapy from an expert and learn how to use it as a method to benefit your body
The following day, hop onto a bicycle for a picturesque half-day tour of the countryside surrounding Hoi An. Pass rows of serene rice paddy fields en route to Cam Thanh village, where you’ll experience a taste of local life. Once utilised as a shelter for soldiers during the war, the village is now famous for its thatched roof cottages, woven from the water coconut leaves of the region.
Spend some time with a local family and learn about the villagers’ culture. Board a bamboo basket boat as fishing experts teach you how to catch native sea life. Take a well-earned rest, savouring the refreshing flavour of fresh coconut water before cycling on to the Ha Linh lantern workshop. Learn how to make these delicate creations in a hands-on master class with an opportunity to take home one as a memento of your travels through the Hoi An region. Embrace the charming scenery as you cycle back to Hoi An.
Free to spend the afternoon at your own leisure, be ready to delight in a romantic evening dinner in a small bamboo house, constructed on the rice field next to the Coco Riverbank, presenting you a private and romantic atmosphere while you reflect on the experiences you have gained during your travels. Choose from a selection of fresh seafood caught daily from the surrounding river complemented with fresh vegetables collected from the organic garden nearby.
Highlights
- Travel to the countryside surrounding Hoi An by bike
- Explore the local village life and experience a bamboo basket boat trip
- Try your hand at crab-fishing and lantern making
- Enjoy a romantic dinner at a special romantic venue
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for a flight to Saigon. Upon arrival, you will be picked up and transferred to the hotel.
In the afternoon, visit the War Remnants Museum. Here, your guide will tell the story of the city’s darkest and most tragic hours during the Vietnam War. The museum displays military artefacts from aircraft to weaponry, as well as documentation of this period – warning that some of these photographs are quite graphic in nature. The tour continues with a stop at the Reunification Palace; the historical landmark where the Vietnamese war ended when a North Vietnamese Army tank crashed through its gates in 1975. Visit the city’s Central Post Office, which was designed by the renowned French architect Gustav Eiffel. Here, you could even send a postcard to your family to update them on your honeymoon trip across Vietnam. Just behind the post office is the Notre Dame Cathedral, an iconic Saigon landmark built in a neo-Romanesque style by the French between 1863 and 1880. Its beauty is utilised as a backdrop for many Vietnamese wedding photographs, as well as a backdrop for your Honeymoon photographs.
Stroll down Dong Khoi Street, which featured prominently in Graham Greene’s famous Vietnam novel, ‘The Quiet American’, referred to as its former colonial title ‘Rue Catinat’. Arrive at the Saigon Opera House, a commanding building completed in 1901. Shelled during World War II, the Opera house was used to shelter French citizens fleeing North Vietnam in 1954, the year Vietnam earned its independence from France. From here, transfer to the pier, getting away from the bustling spots of the city to experience a magical sunset onboard a luxury speedboat on the Saigon River. Enjoy the fresh air and beautiful landscapes of Saigon, as you catch glimpses of daily life for the local citizens living along the river bank. Arrive at The Deck restaurant, where you can delight in their happy-hour cocktails. As the sun goes down, the city will be lit by the vibrant city life, highlighting a different perspective of Saigon.
Highlights
- Admire the French colonial architecture of Notre Dame Cathedral and City Centre Post Office
- Learn about Vietnam’s history at Reunification Palace and the museum
- Enjoy a cocktail while experiencing the beautiful sunset
You are free to explore Saigon at your own leisure on day 8 or participate in one of the optional tours highlighted below.
Optional Tours
Cu Chi Tunnels Private Tour
Begin your journey to the Cu Chi Tunnels by departing at around 8 am from your hotel and travel through the countryside which was once a stronghold of the Viet Cong. Upon arrival, watch a short video about what life was like for soldiers who lived there during the war. The cramped tunnels were central to a few of the war’s strategic operations, including the famous 1968 Tet Offensive. These tunnels didn’t escape the collateral damages of war, as American B52 bombers dropped hundreds of missiles leaving huge tell-tale craters behind. The tunnels served not only as living quarters but as supply routes and hospitals for thousands of guerilla fighters.
Many died here from malaria and other diseases, as well as a few records of births and marriages in the tunnel. Today they are viewed by some as a testimony to the Vietnamese people’s resiliency. The tour will return to Ho Chi Minh City around 1 pm.
Highlights:
- Learn about the Cu Chi tunnel system and a part of Vietnam’s history in wartime
- Enjoy the peaceful scenery surrounding Ho Chi Minh city
- Estimated pick-up time: 8 am or 1.30 pm – Estimated duration: five hours
Cai Be Princess Cruise – A taste of Mekong Delta Full-Day Private Tour
Departing from your hotel around 8 am, you will be driven two hours from Saigon to the town of Cai Be, where you will board the sampan known as Cai Be Princess. You will be welcomed aboard with cold towels and a refreshing drink, and the crew of the Cai Be Princess will be attentive and hospitable as it sets off for its leisurely cruise on the busy waterways of the Mekong Delta.
On the river, all sorts of boats ply the water, from small fishing boats to cargo barges loaded with fruit and vegetables. Observe a glimpse at life on the river banks, noting the daily tasks of the communities inhabiting the stunning landscapes.
Explore the canal’s hidden mangroves onboard a small rowing boat at Tan Phong Islet, before returning to the sampan to visit a nearby house built in the 19th century. Stop along the way to witness the local cottage industries where the majority of the river communities make a living producing coconut candy and puffed rice – the local equivalent of popcorn.
Your cruise ends at Le Longanier Restaurant. Lunch is served in this exquisite colonial-style villa set in a luscious tropical garden. Surrounded by fruit trees, the villa elicits a sense of life during the Indochina period. After lunch, take a short walk along a canal, towards the Ba Bon Bridge where your personal vehicle awaits to drive you to Ho Chi Minh City. You shall arrive at your hotel in the afternoon.
Highlights:
- Explore the canal’s hidden mangroves and the busy waterways of the Mekong Delta
- Take a glimpse of local life and the production of coconut candy and puffed rice
- Enjoy a succulent meal in an exquisite colonial-style restaurant
In the morning, take a short flight to Con Dao Island. Upon arrival, you shall be picked up and transferred to your hotel. From here, you will be free to spend the next three days delighting in the pristine paradise-like landscape of Con Dao Island. Long whitewashed beaches and grand crystal oceans provide the perfect setting to find tranquillity alongside your partner as you soak in the end of this unforgettable journey under the soaring sun.
Highlights
- Spend your time on one of the most beautiful pristine beaches
On your last day, transfer to the airport for your last flight home.
Dates are flexible so please make an enquiry and tell us a range of dates you are considering so we can check availability.
- Accommodation listed in the itinerary with daily breakfast
- Check-in time is 2 PM and check-out time is 12 PM. Early or late service is subject to
- availability with surcharges
- English-speaking guides
- Tours and transfers as mentioned by air-conditioned vehicle
- Sightseeing fees and permits during guided time
- Meals as mentioned
- Boat cruises as mentioned in the itinerary
- Service charge and current government VAT tax
- VISA – Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam visa must be arranged for non-ASEAN citizens
- Arrival and departure international flights and flights as mentioned above
- Surcharge during peak season, public holidays and compulsory meals on New Year
- Christmas Eve, Tet holidays
- Please make sure you have 6 months of passport validity. We can help with visas on arrival if requested
- VISA stamp fee at the arrival airport (the fee is varied based on nationality and
- destination)
- Early/late check-in/out service at hotels (surcharge if requested)
- Tips and gratuities
- Services and meals if not mentioned in the itinerary
- All drinks, including water, soft drink and alcohol on all included or optional excursions
- Laundry, telephone calls and expenditure of a personal nature
