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QUICK CULTURE’s ART & CULTURE TOUR OF VIETNAM Detailed Itinerary below for 5 of the 16 day trip… |
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APRIL 15th: Arrive Hanoi
Arrive at war-era Noi Bai Airport outside of Hanoi where you will be met by our recommended tour guide. She will settle you at the renowned Sofitel Metropole, made famous by Graham Greene, author of The Quiet American.
After settling in, you will have lunch at the Press Club, right across the street from the hotel, followed by a one-hour cyclo (pedicab) tour of the old city. In the late afternoon, enjoy the Water Puppets Theater, a magical puppet show and performance art unique to Vietnam. Dinner will be at Green Tangerine, a lovingly restored 1928 colonial structure in the center of the Old Quarter featuring French-Vietnamese cuisine. |
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APRIL 16th : Hanoi
The morning tour starts with your private guide who will tell the history behind the tranquil stilt house residence of Ho Chi Minh and his Mausoleum, Quan Thanh temple, Hanoi Hilton Prison site (Hoa Lo), and the Temple of Literature. Lunch will be with a prominent art consultant who has lived in Hanoi since 1992 and manages an art gallery that has the most comprehensive collection of works from artists throughout Vietnam.
This evening you are invited to a cocktail party at the home of internationally-renowned artists. An additional host is an artist and PBS journalist who has retired to Hanoi after 20 years in San Francisco. He has intimate knowledge of the arts community in his native country. Tonight’s dinner will be at Wild Rice, featuring traditional Vietnamese cuisine and contemporary fusion. |
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APRIL 17th: Hanoi to Halong Bay
This morning we leave Hanoi with your private van and guide for Halong Bay. On the way, stop at Noodle Village, the childhood home of your guide, where you will meet the residents and see the delicious noodles being made for the famous traditional soup, Pho.
With 3,000 limestone and dolomite islets sprinkled over an area of 1,500 square kilo meters, Halong Bay is a geographic wonderland and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After arriving, you will board a private traditional wooden cruiser (replica junk) for a private tour of Halong Bay while you enjoy a seafood lunch banquet prepared on board. Afterwards, optional assisted kayaking is offered of Halong Bay so that you can explore the bay by kayak where you will see floating villages, hidden beach coves, caves and lakes. Tonight, feast on a dinner banquet prepared on board and then spend overnight in your luxury private cabin. |
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APRIL 18: Halong Bay to Hanoi
After a farewell lunch with the crew, return to Hanoi with your private guide and van, and stop at an interesting crafts center en route. After arrival back in Hanoi in the late afternoon, relax and then have dinner at Wild Lotus, a popular restaurant with pleasant decor offering delicious Vietnamese fusion. |
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APRIL 19: HANOI to HUE
Start your day with a morning tour of the Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts conducted by a PBS journalist. This museum features impressive work of the 20th century, including unique Vietnamese styles of lacquer and silk painting as well as descriptions of techniques used.
Afterwards, lunch will be at Café des Arts de Hanoi, a popular expatriate cafe with changing exhibits of paintings by local artists. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to the airport for a one-hour flight to Hue, the ancient Imperial Capital and arguably Vietnam's most pleasant city set on the languid Perfume River. After checking into a wonderful 5-star boutique hotel, enjoy an afternoon tour of the waterfront by traditional pedicab (cyclo).
Tonight, you will have dinner at the tranquil private home/restaurant, Y Thao, featuring delicious Hue specialties, including Banh Khoai, a Vietnamese-style crepe. |
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APRIL 20: Hue
After breakfast, venture into the scenic hills around Hue for exploration of two of the finest examples of 18th century Imperial architecture: the tombs of Tu Duc and Khai Dinh. Return to central Hue by traditional dragon boat, during which your onboard chef prepares Hue delicacies for lunch. |
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Sofitel Metropole |
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Dragon Boat |
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Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts |
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Wild Lotus |
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Halong Bay |
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Wild Rice |
