Red River Memmories 10 days

This tour is designed to bring you a feel of Hanoi's unique local culture. Hanoi is a charming city with colorful history and rich culture.

Depart your hotel for a scenic road trip to Tho Ha Village. Upon entering the village via a ferry across Nhu Nguyet River, you will see bamboo grids each covered with sheets of rice paper. The grids are leaning against exterior walls, horizontal supports about 5ft high, and along passenger ways. Visit a house of a local family in the village. Here the host will introduce you the process of making rice paper. One interesting thing is that people move the grids from one location to another as the gelatinous rice sheets dry out; and no one measures moisture content with an electronic device; rather, it is all done by experienced eyes. Enjoy lunch prepared by the host, while watching a traditional music show also performed by the locals. After short break, get on the car back to Hanoi.

Then move on to visit the National Fine Art Museum that is located in a restored French girl school. There you can observe the more than 4000 years of Vietnam Art from Bronze Age to contemporary, as well as folk art in everyday life. Propaganda art took a very important role in Hanoi people life during the war time. That is the next destination before arriving at Apricot gallery where about 50 local artists display their works, both traditional and contemporary.

Visit the home of the last traditional mask making artisan in Hanoi. Entirely handmade and always lingering with the faint smell of paper and glue, the paper masks have been part of the childhood for many generations of Hanoi people who wore them to celebrate the full moon night particularly during the Mid-Autumn Festivals. The visit to the artisan, will serve a cause of raising awareness about the preservation of this multi century old art. Transfer back to your hotel.

Overnight in Hanoi

Enjoy a 2-hour drive to Ninh Binh province. Nestled in the picturesque landscapes of Dam Khe Village, lies the captivating Buffalo Cave. This idyllic destination making it a convenient and must-visit spot for you seeking an authentic taste of Vietnamese countryside life.

Buffalo Cave offers a myriad of exciting activities that allow you to get up close and personal with the vibrant traditions and daily life of Vietnamese farmers. Step into the shoes of a local farmer as you indulge in the unique opportunity to bathe and ride a buffalo. Feel the gentle sway of the majestic creature beneath you as you traverse the picturesque landscape, creating memories that will last a lifetime. Discover the art of fishing alongside local experts who will guide you through the process. Experience the thrill of reeling in your catch and learn about the sustainable fishing practices that have sustained generations of Vietnamese fishermen. Unearth the secrets of rice cultivation as you join local farmers in planting Vietnamese rice. Roll up your sleeves, get your hands dirty, and gain a deeper understanding of the arduous yet rewarding process that goes into producing one of Vietnam’s staple crops. Embark on a culinary adventure by participating in a cooking class led by experienced local chefs. Learn the intricacies of Vietnamese cuisine as you prepare and savor a delicious meal using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. After lunch, keep riding to board the small rowing boat to explore the incredible scenery of Tam Coc - a beautiful natural setting boasts endless rice paddies surrounded by towering limestone karst mountains. The boat floats through the fields and three natural caves - a precious chance to capture the breath-taking scenery and enjoy watching the water-plants underneath

Overnight in Ninh Binh

Notes:

Each activity in Buffalo cave around 30 mins

In the early morning, explore Thung Nham (Bird Valley) of diverse biodiversity and perfect harmony between natural landscapes and the creativity of the locals. The highlight of this ecotourism area lies at the bird's garden - the home to 40 species of birds including some bird species recorded in the Vietnam Red Book. The birds are said to gather on the trees before sunset, most crowded from May to July, which is a vivid and colorful picture.

Then, take a short drive to the Gia Vien Village to learn more historical, visit Dinh Tien Hoang Temple and Ky Lan Pagoda and visit a local house to participate in making your own conical hat by traditional methods that have been passed down for three centuries with local people and have an experience how to draw a nice picture on the conical hat. After an hour or so, transfer back to hotel

Overnight in Ninh Binh

Water puppetry is a unique art that originated in Vietnam’s wet rice civilization. On this day, we drive 1.5 hours from Ninh Binh to a local house situated in Hong Quang village to meet with a water puppetry artisan. Born into a family with a tradition of performing water puppetry in Nam Dinh province, Mr. Phan acquired a passion for this folk art in his childhood. Inherited the talent & tradition from his father, he has profound passion of playing with puppets, making puppets by creating a mini stage for water puppetry and bringing his solo performances to several countries outside Vietnam.  Sit down for a cup of tea and learn his stories about how the water puppet originated, his memorable experience traveling to different corners of the world to bring Vietnamese culture & folklores to international friends. Then join a 30-minute show seeing lion dances, buffalo fighting, rice farming, and boat racing, etc. at his private mini water puppet stage on his top house floor. After the show, get yourself in artisan’s role to handle puppets in the water or join with Mr. Phan to make and paint the puppets. Drive to Ecohost Hai Hau to enjoy a lunch.

In this afternoon, cycle through the villages to visit Pham Phao cathedral where is famous for wooden carving and Traditional trumpet making Brass village. On the way, you will also see ‘Chua Luong” tile-roofed bridge, which was built in the 16th century with unique architecture, and many churches in the holy-land of Catholic in Northern Vietnam. En route, you also have chance to explore a small typical local market in Dong Bien village. In this tiny village, find all types of seafood products, fish, meat, fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as many other products for sale. From here wander the path on foot with the guide – a great way to explore and discover the real daily life of a local residents, a traditional forging family in the village. Back to the Ecohost for dinner and overnight.

*Herbal foot bath is recommended to unwind your legs after a tiring day

Overnight in Ecohost Hai Hau

NOTES:

Capacity: Max. 10 pax due to tight space

Early risers can spend time to visit the Hai Ly Rula Church where we can see the amazing sunrise at the beach as well as the work of the fishermen. Afterwards, we explore Hai Chinh Village; where you can experience the traditional way of making salt by local farmers. The trip continues to a shrimp, crab and fish sauce production and have the opportunity to listen to the workers while drinking a cup of tea. A delicious Pho is served based on a family traditional recipe.

After breakfast, visit Ninh Cuong Church – the original church where Christianity enters Vietnam in 1533 for the first time. Experience a garden with a lot of Christian symbols and figures in silent nature. Continue going to Hanh Thien Village, one of the most beautiful villages in Vietnam with the shape of a fish. It’s a place where doctors live and a village of education. We also visit the nearby Keo Pagoda and the land of legend with nearly 1,000 years old.

Have lunch with local food tour in Nam Dinh before you go to Hai Phong; where you can take local ferry connecting Got Pier and Cat Ba Island.  Awaiting vehicle will pick up and transfer to the hotel.

Overnight in Cat Ba

In the morning, depart for Phu Long village (where is the land of Dragon on the south west of Cat Ba Island). Following to the trans–islet road, you can see the wonderful picture of the island. Stop at Moc Trang (white landmark beach) – a long spread beach beside the old coconuts and pine tree forest. Time for a walking, sunbathing, or looking of inhabitants catching oyster, snail on days full of misty.

Continue the trip to Cai Vieng pier, where you board on a local boat to visit salt – marsh Forest & Thien Long cave (Thien Long means Heaven Dragon – a biggest cave in the island was newly found in 1998), here tourists can see many stalactites around the cave, or visit some graves of ancient Viet people who died thousands year ago. On the way to cave, tourists discover the mangrove forest where is the house of many kinds of sea products in the time they are laying eggs.

Afternoon will be at your leisure to relax at the hotel’s beach or enjoy some sunset cocktail with overlooking view to Lan Ha Bay.

Overnight in Cat Ba

After breakfast, go visiting Hospital Cave (Hang Quan Y), which was an army field hospital in the time of Vietnamese peoples’ resistance against French colonization. You can see some stone beds, many stalactites around the cave and imagine to some legends. Afterward, go to Cat Ba National Park, walks through the Kim Giao Forest (the forest on Limestone Mountain) to conquer the Peak of Ngu Lam Mountain, which is 215 meters above sea level. From there, you will be able to enjoy a superb scenery of Cat Ba Archipelago. Return to the hotel for beach leisure

Overnight in Cat Ba

In this morning, you are leisurely enjoying your breakfast until transfer time to Gia Luan pier, where you will take a ferry to Tuan Chau port. From there, you will be welcome at Emperor Cruise’s lounge before boarding. Once the cruise set sails, a set lunch will be served at our Can Chanh Palace Restaurant on the main deck. Enjoy delicious Vietnamese foods while admiring the grace of the bay. The cruises vessel then approaches Me Cung Cave (Cave of Maze) – a spectacular destination with plenty of historical and archaeological values about Ha Long Culture from 10,000 years ago. You will be charmed by the magnificent complex structure with stalactites and stalagmites in various shapes and the most diverse ecological system in Halong Bay. And then, the tender takes the guests to Tung Sau Area, free time for guests to paddle on colorful kayaks to explore the stunning landscape of Halong Bay. Back to the cruise, attend the afternoon tea with music and Canapes on Sundeck and join in the cooking demonstration and try your skills in the art of traditional Vietnamese cooking in a truly stunning setting. Enjoy our A La Carte course menu for dinner at Royal Palace Restaurant on board as you experience the charm of Halong Bay at night.

Overnight on-board Emperor Cruises.

Enjoy Vovinam exercise in the sunshine morning on sundeck, before having light breakfast including tea, coffee, pastries, cookies, fresh juices… on board. Visit Luon Cave. Sitting on a bamboo boat rowed by a local, you can see a variety of plants such as ferns, cycads, Benjamin’s fig trees, and many beautiful orchids. Enjoy brunch A La Carte in CAN CHANH restaurant on the 1st floor while cruising back to the mainland. Arrive in Tuan Chau International Marina and Emperor Cruises lounge for disembarkation your onward journey to Noibai airport.

*Option to visit a traditional pottery workshop en route. Make a stop on the way at a local village for stretching your legs or having a chance to witness the local life of the Northern countryside.

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