Vietnam

In flight.

Upon arrival at Hanoi Airport, you will be welcomed by your guide and transferred to your hotel.

Hanoi is a capital city of irresistible charm. It is a city at the crossroads of traditions and legends, dotted with lakes, tree-lined avenues and lush parks. At its center, Hoan Kiem Lake forms the true historic heart of a capital where Asian and European influences blend. Situated on the right bank of the Red River, Hanoi is the capital of a unified Vietnam. The French conquest in 1882 transformed Hanoi’s urban landscape. They set out to modernize the city and sought to achieve a harmonious balance between progress and tradition. Among the French architectural legacies are the Doumer Bridge, the Cathedral, the Dong Xuan Covered Market, the French School of the Far East, the Louis-Finot Museum, Hanoi University, several hotels, an opera house and beautiful colonial villas. The city center has changed little since 1955, and the streets still bear the names of the trades that were practiced there and the products that were sold for generations.

Visit the Old Quarter’s “36 Streets” district by electric car.

Explore Hanoi’s Old Quarter in a very comfortable, eco-friendly vehicle: an electric car. On board, you will see the city of Hanoi, particularly the area around the lake and the Old Quarter, while learning about the city’s history and culture.

In all weather, you will remain sheltered in this golf-cart-style vehicle and benefit from audio commentary in your language to fully enjoy your tour.

Duration: 45 minutes (5–6 people per electric car).

Dinner at a local restaurant where you will taste a traditional dish: “Chả Cá,” a specialty of herb-fried fish served on a small terracotta brazier and accompanied by rice-vermicelli noodles.

Return to the hotel by coach.

In the morning, you begin your exploration of Vietnamese culture with a cooking class. A cooking class always starts with a stroll through the market to carefully select the ingredients that will then be used. A market is also a vibrant hub of daily life and social encounters. Accompanied by a chef and their assistants, you will prepare some traditional dishes for about two hours before tasting your creations.

Dinner with a tasting of banh cuon—steamed rice rolls filled with minced meat and vegetables—a very popular dish from northern Vietnam, along with other dishes.

You will then visit the university of princes and mandarins (the Temple of Literature). Known as Văn Miếu in Vietnamese and built in 1070 by Emperor Lý Thánh Tông, the Temple of Literature was Vietnam’s first university. Intended for the education of noble and mandarin children, it was here that the country’s first literature examination took place. As early as 1484, the names and merits of the laureates were engraved on steles resting on the backs of stone turtles. Today, you can still admire 82 of the 116 steles erected at that time.

Water puppet show. The puppeteers, standing in water up to mid-thigh, hide behind bamboo or rice-straw screens. They move various fig-wood puppets forward and backward using three-meter-long poles and manipulate their movements with finger-controlled strings.

It is at once simple, humorous, beautiful, tasteful, and quintessentially local. Water puppet theater is one of the city’s main attractions and draws many tourists. Water puppetry was invented a thousand years ago by the farmers of the Red River Delta. At that time, it was a pastime for peasants that was elevated to royal entertainment under the Lý and Trần dynasties. Performances were held in flooded rice paddies, on lakes, or rivers. This form of entertainment has remained an art form of northern Vietnam ever since.

Egg coffee tasting – The legend of Hanoi. Discover the now legendary egg coffee created by a Vietnamese barista who worked at the renowned Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi hotel. Although egg coffee is now served in several cafés across Hanoi, it is recommended to try it at a place directly connected to its creator and his family to ensure a special experience. As you savor the coffee, you will no doubt feel the history behind it.

In the morning, you will be picked up from your hotel for the drive from Hanoi to Mai Chau, following charming little roads. Along the way, you will gradually ascend until you find yourself in the heart of a medium-altitude mountain landscape (approximately 4 hours by road).

Stop at Duong Lam, where you’ll discover what makes its houses unique: they are built of laterite blocks with curved roofs. Some dwellings are 400 years old and have hosted dozens of generations. You will then set off on a bicycle ride through the narrow streets of typical Vietnamese villages. Next, you will visit the Phung Hung and Ngo Quyen temples, dedicated to two national heroes of the same names. Your cycling tour will culminate at Mia Pagoda, built in the 15th century, where you can admire 287 statues of various sizes, including depictions of the Buddha in the Himalayas and the eight Vajra deities.

Dinner at a local restaurant.

You will then arrive in the Mai Chau region, located in the heart of Thai territory. The Vietnamese Thai minority is closely related to the Thai people of Thailand, and their community in Vietnam exceeds one million. By road, you will reach the village of Buoc for an authentic homestay. During your overnight stay, you will sleep in the main room of the house. For optimal comfort, the homes are fully equipped with bedding (mattresses, sheets, pillows, mosquito nets and fans). Beyond that, conviviality, cultural exchange, homemade family cooking and local discoveries will be shared with your hosts.

In the evening, you will have supper at the hotel before enjoying a folk dance performance by the welcoming Thai‐minority residents.

Homestay night | Comfort is simple yet carefully arranged, with floor mattresses under mosquito nets in a dormitory set up in a stilt house. Two clean, shared bathrooms are located outside.

In the morning, you will travel by road to Mai Hich, where you will begin your day’s hike.

Begin walking through the rice paddies and admire the majestic scenery of the surrounding mountains. The trail will lead you through several White Thai ethnic villages. You will pass local plantations such as corn, sugar cane, cassava, peanuts, etc.

You will continue on a gentle ascent to reach the village of Buoc for dinner with a local family.

After dinner and some rest, you will take a short transfer to the village of Van, a region inhabited by the White Thai ethnic minority. Here, you will start your hike along a palm-lined path. This trail will then lead you into a bamboo forest before reaching the village of Hai, where you can admire the magnificent terraced rice fields stretching up to the high mountains. You will then continue to Cun Pheo, where you will begin the climb to the summit. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to admire the natural beauty of the terraces and the local farmers working in the fields.

After a short break, you will start the descent, passing through the village of Cun. You will have the chance to see the stilt houses inhabited by the White Thai and learn more about their life and culture.

At the end, you will rejoin the main road where your driver will be waiting to take you back to your homestay.

Overnight at a local homestay | Comfort is simple but well-maintained, with floor mattresses under mosquito nets in a dormitory set up in a stilt house. Two shared, clean bathrooms are located outside.

Distance and duration of the hike: 15 to 17 kilometers – 5 to 6 hours
Elevation gain: +200 meters
Level: 1

Leave Mai Chau for the Pu Luong Nature Reserve, inhabited by White Thai and Muong. Your journey through the stunning villages, rice terraces framed by karst mountains, and pristine forest will let you discover a region still largely unexplored.

Once you arrive at Pu Luong Centre, you will start a 2-hour hike lasting until late morning. You’ll begin in the village of Ban Don and descend into the valley, surrounded by terraced rice fields, ducks, chickens, and likely locals working in the paddies. You’ll quickly reach a beautiful, photogenic rice terrace amphitheatre. Continue walking along the terraces, passing numerous houses of the Thai minority—a great opportunity to learn about their traditions and how they build their homes. You’ll return to the starting point just before dinner.

Check in at the hotel.

• Distance and duration of the hike: 5.2 km – 2 h 30 minutes
• Level: 1
• Elevation gain/loss: +201 m / –201 m
• Terrain: uphill and downhill, potentially slippery in case of rain showers

After breakfast, you will begin your hike heading towards the village of Ban Hieu (it is recommended to start before 8:30 AM). You will gradually leave the Ban Don Valley and pass through numerous terraced rice fields, then tackle a slightly more challenging section along a narrow path that winds through denser vegetation and small stone steps built by local inhabitants. Upon arrival in the village of Chom Ui, you will cross several rice and maize valleys.

Following the signposts, you will turn onto a dirt track before joining a small concrete road. You will continue towards Ban Hieu, traversing many villages and picturesque rice valleys. Along the way, feel free to photograph the elegant Thai communal houses or the few water wheels you encounter. Upon arrival in Ban Hieu, you will enjoy dinner at one of the village’s guesthouses, then return to the small parking area at the village entrance where your driver will be waiting. You will then go back to your accommodation and spend the rest of the day at your leisure.

Distance and duration of the hike: 12 kilometres – 4 hours
Level: 1
Elevation change: +250 m / -461 m
Terrain: Mainly on small paved roads with some sections on dirt tracks
Note: You must be equipped with good hiking shoes, long trousers, and sun protection.

In case of heavy rain, the first part of the hike will be replaced by a vehicle transfer to the village of Chom Ui, shortening the hike to 9 kilometres and 3 hours. The transfer will depart at 8:30 AM.

Leave Pu Luong and head towards the Hoa Lu site.

You will take a road that passes through lush, picturesque landscapes. You will arrive at noon in a village where you will enjoy lunch in a local home.

In the early afternoon you will return to the village of Gia Hung where you will take a bicycle to explore the surrounding villages and meet the locals. Upon arriving at the Van Long Nature Reserve, you will board small, typical rowboats for a 1h 30min ride through the rice fields and the spectacular landscape of limestone karsts, canals, and lush vegetation. You will visit Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam dating back to the 10th century. With the temples of Kings Dinh Tien Hoang and Le Dai Hanh, Hoa Lu is now a major historic site within the Trang An Landscape Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You will then travel to the hotel.

Bicycle activity distance and duration: 8 kilometers – maximum 1 hour
Level: 0
Road travel: 150 kilometers – 4 hours

You will depart in the morning by road for Ha Long, where you will arrive around noon.

There, you will embark on a cruise in the must-see Lan Ha Bay, part of Halong Bay. This bay, known worldwide, is one of Vietnam’s most beautiful landscapes, with its gigantic rocky islets covered in vegetation that seem to rise from the water. Halong Bay comprises some 1,900 rocky pinnacles—mostly uninhabited and pristine islands and islets. This spectacular marine scenery earned it UNESCO World Heritage status in 1994. Lunch and dinner will be served on board the junk boat, featuring a menu of freshly caught seafood from the bay.

Distance: 170 kilometers – 2 hours 30 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes.

You can start the day with a morning Tai Chi class before enjoying breakfast.

Next, you’ll explore the Ao Ech area by kayak. Back on board the boat, you’ll experience a tea ceremony and enjoy a delicious brunch on deck while the vessel heads back to the pier. You will disembark late in the morning and return to Hanoi, where you’ll then board the night train to Huế. The night train between Hanoi and Huế offers air-conditioned cabins with four berths (2 upper and 2 lower in a shared cabin), equipped with mattresses, sheets and pillows for reasonable comfort. Toilets and washbasins are located at each end of the carriage; they are shared, and cleanliness can vary from train to train.

Distance: 160 kilometres – 3 hours

Arrive in Hue in mid-morning, greeted by your French-speaking guide, then enjoy breakfast at a local restaurant.

After leaving your luggage at the hotel reception, depart with your guide to explore the city of Hue.

In the morning, you will visit the Imperial Citadel, built from 1804 under the orders of the first emperor, Gia Long. Remarkable for its fortress-like appearance (inspired by Vauban’s fortifications) in the heart of the city, it spans over 10 kilometers.

After the citadel visit, you will explore the garden houses, typical of Hue. Built according to geomancy rules, these dwellings create a seamless connection between nature and the city, emanating a particularly pleasant serenity.

The afternoon is dedicated to the visit of Emperor Tu Duc’s tomb, one of the most beautiful sites in Hue, exuding tranquility and showcasing traditional Vietnamese art at its finest. It will also be an opportunity to learn about the history of the Nguyen dynasty (16th–20th centuries) and the French colonial invasion. The visit continues with the Tu Hieu Pagoda, located near Emperor Tu Duc’s tomb. Erected within a vast pine forest and built in 1843 by the monk Nhat Dinh, it offers a very peaceful setting. It also houses a community of active monks. In the garden, you can see the tombs of several royal mandarins.

You will return to Hue late in the afternoon.

To relive the splendor of the imperial era, enjoy the “Emperor’s Dinner” during a costumed evening, featuring Hue’s Vietnamese specialties.

In the morning, you will head to Phuoc Tich, a 500-year-old village surrounded by the Ô Lâu River and known for its shrines, temples, old wooden houses, and long tradition of ceramic production.

Walking along the narrow red-brick roads under the shade of trees, you will have the opportunity to visit Mr. Dien’s house, one of the village’s elders. You will see a traditional ceramic kiln as well as an impressive collection of pottery. Upon leaving the village, you will go to the Tam Giang lagoon and discover the daily life of its inhabitants.

You can refresh yourself before dining in a local home with a beautiful view of the fishing boats and the lagoon. You will be able to observe how local fishermen use small cages and long nets to catch fish.

You will return home and take a bike to explore the village, ride through lovely rice fields, and stop along the way to see how rice seedlings are replanted by hand. If you feel like it, you can pedal on to a nearby beach to see the incredible tombs built by the Vietnamese in honor of their ancestors. After that, you will head back to Huế.

You will leave the hustle and bustle of Hue behind to head toward Bach Ma National Park. After a 90-minute drive, you will arrive at the park, which sits at an altitude of 1,450 meters and is home to a rich variety of flora and fauna. After a 2-kilometer walk in the direction of Hai Vong Dai, you will be rewarded with a splendid panorama of the surrounding mountains, lagoons, and charming villages.

Your hike will continue through the jungle as you explore the park’s Five Lakes. You will pause at the fifth lake to enjoy your dinner before immersing yourself in the cool water. Then you will make your way to the impressive Do Quyen Waterfall, surrounded by the famous rhododendron flowers that bloom in spring. From the top of the waterfall, you will enjoy a spectacular view of water cascading over the rocks, the dense green forest, and the blue sky above.

Afterward, you will return to the parking area to continue your journey toward Hoi An.

Level: 1
Distance and duration of the hike: 7–8 kilometers – 4 hours 30 minutes
Route from Hue to Bach Ma National Park: 60 kilometers – 1 hour 30 minutes

Notes: Departure time from Hue – we strongly recommend leaving at 7:30 AM. Because the hike includes cliff areas, we do not recommend this experience for anyone who suffers from vertigo.

In the morning, you will embark on a bicycle ride to the Tra Que Vegetable Village, renowned for its aromatic herbs (mint and basil in particular). This outing will also be an opportunity to discover the lives of the local farmers and their techniques. They will even introduce you to the art of hoeing and harvesting vegetables. For dinner, you will sample the village’s famous specialty, tam huu—an assortment of shrimp, pork, and aromatic herbs—along with six other regional dishes.

Then you will return to Hoi An in the early afternoon.

The afternoon is devoted to a visit to Hoi An’s Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The uniqueness of the town lies in its blend of Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese, and French architectural elements. Along the narrow streets you will see Chinese houses over two centuries old, the famous Japanese Covered Bridge, a Chinese temple, and the Tan Ky House (which belonged to a wealthy Vietnamese merchant 200 years ago and has been continually restored ever since).

You will then attend a folk performance in one of these ancient houses.

You will have the remainder of the afternoon free to explore the town or relax on the beach.

Distance: 90 kilometers – 2 h 30 min

In the morning, you will head west of Hoi An to reach the Co Tu ethnic minority village. You will pass through rice fields and mountains before stopping at a Co Tu family’s home for a coffee.

There, you will meet an elderly gentleman, the village chief, who will introduce you to the traditional values of Co Tu culture by showing you a small museum in his house. Next, you will take a short walk to visit the tea plantation, where you may have the chance to meet locals working there.

You will then continue your journey to visit a traditional wooden tomb and a communal house to learn about Co Tu sculptures and their culture. Afterwards, you will arrive at the village of Bho Hoong.

At midday, you will be welcomed in the village and, after a short tea break, participate in a cooking demonstration to better understand the distinctive dishes and traditions of the minority group. Following lunch in the communal house, you will meet Co Tu musicians who will perform some folk tunes called “Hat Ly” for you.

Finally, you will stroll through the village to discover local crafts and interact with the residents before returning to Hoi An in the late afternoon.

This morning, you will leave Hoi An for Cham Island aboard a speedboat—a 25-minute crossing. Upon arrival, you will stroll through Bai Lang Village to discover the Cham Island Biosphere Reserve, the ancient Champa well, and a historic pagoda. You will also have the opportunity to experience local culture and daily life on the island. Next, enjoy a snorkeling session to admire the underwater scenery. Return to Bai Chong Beach to savor a barbecue dinner at a local restaurant. After dinner, take time to unwind, swim, and relax on the beach.

Finally, you will return to Hoi An by speedboat. Upon arrival at the pier, you will meet your driver, who will transfer you to your hotel.

Distance and walking duration: 5 kilometers – 1 hour
Difficulty level: 0

Free day for your last-minute purchases. According to your flight schedule, transfer to Da Nang International Airport for your flight to Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City), where you will board your return flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Montreal.