Vietnam Honeymoon Experience

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.