Experience trip through Vietnam

Upon arrival in Hanoi, you will be greeted by your German-speaking tour guide. Transfer to your hotel. Take a walk around Hoan Kiem Lake in the heart of Hanoi. The beautifully tree-lined lake is surrounded by old colonial buildings and parts of the old town, known as the 'Lake of the Returned Sword', where, according to legend, a turtle lives that once lent a magical sword to King Le Loi. It's a popular spot for Hanoians of all ages. In the middle of the lake, there is a small turtle tower. On the northeastern shore of the lake, accessible via a bridge, is the Ngoc Son Temple on the small Jade Island, built in honor of Confucian and Taoist philosophers as well as the national hero Tran Hung Dao. The rest of the day and evening are at your leisure. In the evening, you will visit a traditional Vietnamese water puppet theater, which will present you with classic performances in the form of traditional music and a series of thematic stories, bringing you closer to Vietnamese beliefs, customs, and practices.

Today you will visit the main attractions of the capital – the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (from the outside), as well as his private residence, a wooden bungalow modeled after the stilt houses of the Thai, which Ho Chi Minh moved into in 1958. The simple building is situated idyllically by a small artificial lake in the midst of a beautiful garden adorned with mighty mango and orange trees. In the same area is the One-Pillar Pagoda, founded by King Ly Thai in 1049. This structure has become an important symbol for the people of Hanoi. Another highlight is the visit to the Temple of Literature, which was established in 1070 as a temple for the worship of Confucius, and shortly after became known as Vietnam's first university. Afterwards, you will continue to the West Lake and visit one of the oldest Buddhist pagodas in Hanoi, Tran Quoc, and the nearby Taoist temple of Quan Thanh, which dates back to the Ly Dynasty. Start your street food tour with one of the finest portions of 'pho' in the city, Vietnam's national dish. Choose from a large selection of 'pho Bo' (beef noodle soup) and 'Pho ga' (chicken noodle soup). Next, head to Hang Be Market, where a variety of products are sold. In the morning, this market is full of shoppers buying what they need for the day. Here you can find everything from tropical fruits to a vast selection of fresh herbs, fresh meats, flowers, and even live fish and frogs. Vietnamese cuisine is considered one of the best in the world, but few realize the variations of this cuisine. At the market, you will try some of the available dishes. Then walk through the alleys where vendors have set up their stalls along the streets. Take a short break and enjoy excellent street food, including 'Banh xeo', 'bun cha' (fresh noodles with grilled pork and herbs) or 'hoa qua dam' (fresh fruits). Stroll through the old town and enjoy a cup of Vietnamese coffee or tea before heading back to your hotel.

After breakfast, you leave Hanoi by land towards Halong Bay. Enjoy the sight of the agricultural areas of the Red River Delta and experience rice fields, water buffalo at work, and daily Vietnamese village life. Upon arrival in Halong, you will board the Huong Hai junk. While sailing over the overwhelming waters, you will enjoy your lunch. Try fresh seafood right from the sea among other delights. You will visit the exciting interior of the recently discovered Surprise Cave and on the next island, the screaming mouth of Bo Nau Cave. Afterwards, you will have the opportunity to swim in the emerald waters of Halong Bay at a location of your choice. While enjoying your dinner, witness the sunset over the bay. Overnight on the junk.

After waking up, enjoy a freshly brewed coffee before being brought back to Halong. On the return trip, you will see unusually shaped rock formations resembling fighting roosters and dragons, even mirroring General de Gaulle's nose! Enjoy an excellent fresh seafood brunch aboard before disembarking from the junk. Return drive to Hanoi. On the way, visit the But Thap Pagoda. The name 'But Thap' (Pen Stupa) was given to it by King Tu Duc in 1876 in Kinh Bac when he saw the beautiful stone stupa resembling a pen, which was previously known as Ninh Phuc Tu (Pagoda of Peace and Happiness). Continue to Hanoi airport for your flight to Danang.

Today you will explore the beautiful old town of Hoi An, starting with a 200-year-old Chinese residence. Its uniqueness comes from the combination of Japanese, Chinese, and Vietnamese architectural styles. Other highlights include the Japanese Bridge and a typical Chinese assembly hall, which encapsulates everyday and spiritual life. Traditional experiences await you when visiting a craft workshop and modern Vietnamese art in a painter's house. The rest of the day is free for you. Option: cooking class in Tra Que. In the morning, visit the local market with your chef and get ready for the subsequent cooking class. Shop together with him and learn about various spices as well as fruit and vegetable varieties. After shopping, cycle (about 2 km) to the nearby village of Tra Que. The village is known for its ecological cultivation. Fields are still tilled by hand here. Refresh yourself with a cool drink. Together with your chef, you will make all the cooking preparations. Learn to prepare spring rolls as well as other specialties. Finally, we will eat together in a sociable setting.

The morning is free for you. Around noon, travel north along one of the most scenic routes in Vietnam. The so-called 'Cloud Pass' offers beautiful views of the dreamlike beaches. It is a must-do for every traveler to cross this beautiful pass that stands 496 m high and stretches 20 km. On the right, you can look down to the sea, and on the left, the bizarre mountain range rises up to 1,000 m high, which forms the weather divide in central Vietnam.

Today, you will take a boat trip to the seven-story Thien Mu Pagoda along the river. The Thien Mu Pagoda has its roots in a local legend: an old woman once climbed the hill and said that a lord would come and build a Buddhist pagoda for the prosperity of the land. This was enough reason for Mr. Nguyen Hoang to construct the pagoda of the 'Heavenly Lady' (Thien Mu). Next, visit the Imperial Citadel of the Nguyen Dynasty, which ruled Vietnam from 1802 to 1945. The Hue Citadel is located on the northern bank of the Perfume River, with an area of 500 ha and a city wall system of three circles, namely: from outside to inside: Kinh Thanh Hue (Hue main citadel), Hoang Thanh (Royal Citadel), and Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden Citadel). In the afternoon, see the Tu Duc Tomb. Built decades ago, it was used as a retreat palace before being transformed into the emperor's final resting place. Finally, take a rickshaw ride with the traditional Vietnamese cyclo to the bustling Dong Ba Market and discover fresh produce from the surrounding area with your tour guide. In Hue, royal chefs have developed a variety of elaborate Vietnamese dishes. Dinner in a garden house. Among locals, this place is known as 'nha vuon', named after one of Hue's most famous architects. This house, built in traditional style, with its large and attractive formal garden, has connections to the old royal court.

After breakfast, you will fly from Hue to Saigon, where you will be welcomed at the airport by your German-speaking tour guide for South Vietnam. Afterwards, you will begin your tour in this exciting city with a walk through the historical center, passing Dong Khoi Street, the main shopping street in the heart of colonial Saigon, and European classical landmarks like the city hall (the former Hotel de Ville) and the old opera house (both can only be viewed from the outside). A brief visit to the Neo-Romanesque Notre Dame Cathedral and the main post office follows. Then dive into modern history with a tour of the Reunification Palace, the former Independence Palace of the South Vietnamese president from the 1960s. Finally, visit Ben Thanh Market, a public market offering a variety of products. In the afternoon, visit Cholon, which means 'Big Market', simultaneously home to the Chinese colony since the 4th century. Cholon is Saigon's 'Chinatown', a bustling and colorful district. You will visit the Thien Hau Temple, Binh Tay Market, and a lacquerware factory, where you can watch workers make their traditional crafts over their shoulders.

After breakfast, drive by car to Cai Be in the Mekong Delta. As you leave the economic center of Ho Chi Minh City, the landscape changes to lush rice fields. This area is also known as Vietnam's rice bowl. At the harbor, board a boat and travel along the waterway to the Mekong Lodge, where lunch will be served to you. The lodge is beautifully situated in nature overlooking a section of the river. In the afternoon, explore the surroundings on foot or by bicycle. Here you will find small home industry operations where coconut sweets are made, among others. Back at the Mekong Lodge, an evening cooking demonstration will take place, where you will learn more about the region's specialties. Of course, you will also enjoy the prepared meals as part of dinner.

After breakfast, visit the floating market of Cai Be. You are also welcome to explore the surroundings of the small Mekong island by bicycle or on foot. You can also pick mangoes, rambutans, or longans in one of the lodge's gardens. Around noon, you will be taken by boat to the port in Cai Be, from where you will continue your journey back towards Saigon, where you will arrive in the early afternoon. The rest of the day is at your leisure.

The day is at your leisure until your airport transfer for departure. Option: excursion to the Cu Chi Tunnels. After breakfast, take an excursion to the tunnels of Cu Chi. Located about 35 km from Saigon, a 48-meter-long tunnel was constructed during the First Indochina War, from which guerrilla fighters operated against the French troops. In the Second Indochina War, it was expanded into a tunnel system of about 250 kilometers that lay 5 to 6 meters underground.