The Ultimate Vietnam Honeymoon

Your 11-night trip begins with your arrival into Noi Bai International Airport. You’ll be greeted by your private English-speaking guide, and then private driver, and together they will transfer you to your city hotel.

Located in the northwest of the Red River Delta, Hanoi translates as “the hinterland between the rivers.” It’s also a city of lakes, with 18 found here, the most prominent of which is the picturesque Hoan Kiem lake situated right in the city center, just south of the bustling Old Quarter. A heady mix of Eastern and European styles, Hanoi is a fascinating and fun place to explore independently.

Your guide will provide a brief introduction to the city during the transfer and after checking into your accommodation the rest of the day can be enjoyed at your leisure, allowing you to get settled into the new time zone and enjoy the start of your unforgettable honeymoon. We can recommend a few favorite restaurants so that you can make your reservations in advance.

After breakfast you will meet your guide and head out for a private tour of the city, focusing on its local life and culture. Head first to Hoan Kiem Lake, the spiritual center of the city, which is especially alluring in the morning with locals practicing Tai Chi – join in if you wish! – against the backdrop of the highly photogenic Ngoc Son Temple.

Continue to a small nearby cafe that specializes in ‘Banh Cuon’ – slippery rice noodle parcels, filled with fresh herbs, cucumber, bean sprouts, and invariably pork, chicken, or prawns. Learn how to make this Hanoian specialty, sampling as you go! You’ll then take a gentle rickshaw tour through the atmospheric and energetic Old Quarter, which includes a short stop at Dong Xuan Market, where you’ll stop to sample Hani’s famous ‘egg coffee’.

Later you’ll take in the Temple of Literature, the first university in the country, built in 1070 instructing the teachings of Confucius, and then return to the Old Quarter to visit a small family home. By this time you should have worked up quite an appetite, so the morning finishes with the heartiest of Hanoi lunches: a soothing bowl of pho at Pho Thin, thought to serve the best in the city. The afternoon is then yours to relax back at the hotel or continue exploring independently.

After an early breakfast you’ll be transferred back to Hanoi Airport where you’ll board an unforgettable seaplane flight over to Halong Bay. Lasting around 45 minutes, the flight provides magnificent aerial views of the Red River Delta and finishes with a loop around Halong Bay before a thrilling water landing at Tuan Chau Marina.

At Tuan Chau you will board your two-night cruise. In the first couple of hours enjoy the views from sundeck or private cabin as you sail out beyond the day cruise and short itinerary operators to a more remote corner of the Bay. Later on you will enjoy excursions such as visits to small islets and fishing villages, kayaking or swimming, and cooking demonstrations. In the evening, once cocktail hour is finished, a delicious a la carte dinner is served. Overnight on-board. Please note that your local guide is not permitted to join you onboard; all excursions will be led by cruise guides and shared with other passengers.

It’s worth rising early this morning to catch the sunrise from your balcony, or up on the top deck where staff will lead an energizing Tai Chi lesson. Breakfast is served before you transfer to a comfortable day boat for the day’s excursions, again taking in the dramatic scenery and local lifestyles. Back onboard you will have time for sunbathing on deck, a spa treatment, swimming off-deck, or perhaps joining the staff for some squid-fishing. Another excellent dinner is served onboard.

You have the option of another early start for Tai Chi, before the cruise begins its sail back the mainland. A good breakfast and a further excursion on board will be included before you disembark back in Tuan Chua. You’ll be met by your private guide and driver once more and then transferred to the airport for an onward flight down to Hoi An.

You’ll be met on arrival by a new guide and driver team who will take you to your luxurious beach resort just outside town. Hoi An is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port. It was most active between the 15^th and 19^th centuries, with much of the infrastructure dating back to the time still standing. Hoi An is famous for its tailors and is a great place to pick up well-priced bespoke clothing; please speak to your consultant or guide for a recommendation.

After breakfast you will be met by your guide and an open-top jeep – your transport for the day. Set off on the coast toward the famed Marble Mountains: its five summits are named after five elements – metal, fire, wood, earth and water.  They are home to numerous tunnels, pagodas, caves and many grottoes ready to be explored. Park up and enjoy a short hike to the summit of of Thuy Son (Water Mountain) for a magnificent panorama of the surrounding countryside. You’ll then head down and take rural backroads, enjoying scenery of paddy fields, water buffalo, and small villages – with ample time to stop for photos en route.

At a local restaurant you will enjoy a delicious local lunch of “Mi Quang” – a noodle soup dish which is a speciality of central Vietnam. Your jeep then brings you to My Son: a rural Cham temple site which dates back to the 8^th century. Your guide will lead you a short hike up to the main temple site, bordered by jungle, providing the history of the site as you go. A final scenic drive through the rural outskirts of Hoi An brings you back to your hotel, arriving late afternoon, after which you are at leisure.

This morning you’ll indulge in an exclusive cooking class during which you’ll discover the best of Vietnamese ingredients and cooking techniques. It’s an early start, with a 7am pick-up to arrive at Hoi An’s riverside market at its busiest and most interesting time of day. Led by a private chef, you’ll explore the market and pick up key ingredients – with your host consulting you on food preferences and tailoring the menu accordingly. Travel on to a small restaurant within the old town where you’ll find a private cooking station set up. With the help of your engaging chef hosts, you’ll create a series of delicious dishes that are then enjoyed for lunch. Additional side dishes, drinks, and sweet treats are provided by staff. You’ll also be given a recipe booklet so you can recreate the dishes once back at home.

The rest of the day is then at leisure. There is a wealth of activity on offer in Hoi An: take in a cycling tour of the nearby countryside and villages, shop for clothes or crafts in the Old Town, ask your guide about a side tour to nearby Bach Ma National Park, or spend the day relaxing back at the hotel or on the nearby beach.

Early this morning a private transfer brings you to nearby Danang airport from where you’ll catch a direct flight down to the tropical island of Phu Quoc, located off Vietnam’s southern coast. Upon arrival you will be greeted by a hotel representative and transferred by shared hotel shuttle to your beach resort. A large island, much of which is still undeveloped coast or jungle, Phu Quoc offers a peaceful beach escape just a short flight over from the Vietnamese mainland. Once checked in you have the remainder of the day is at leisure to kick back and enjoy the beach!8i d

These days are left totally free to relax at the hotel and reflect on your many adventures over the last few days. Your time in Phu Quoc is spent enjoying the white sandy beaches and soaking in the tropical ambiance: it’s the kind of destination where you can enjoy doing nothing but relax and gaze out at the scenery. However if you’re keen to get out and explore there’s plenty of dense jungly interior to get stuck into, or spend the day swimming in seductive clear blue waters, dive the reefs, embark on a kayaking excursion, feast on fresh-caught seafood and hire a motorbike to explore the backroads. Guided tours can be arranged to visit pepper farms and factories that process anchovies for Vietnam’s famous fish sauce.

Sadly your luxury honeymoon in Vietnam has come to an end. At the appropriate time you will meet your driver and guide for private transfer back to Phu Quoc Airport to check in for your onward flight. Please speak to our consultants for ideas on how to tailor or extend this tour.